Microchip and analyzer using the same

A microchip comprising:

• a storage chamber for storing a liquid sample;
• at least one capillary cavity for collecting a specific amount of the liquid sample from the storage chamber by capillary force;
• and
• a holding chamber for receiving the liquid sample transferred from the capillary cavity by centrifugal force generated by rotation about an axis, the holding chamber communicating with the capillary cavity, wherein
• a cavity is provided to one side face of the capillary cavity connecting the storage chamber with the holding chamber, the cavity communicating with an atmosphere without generating capillary force.

The microchip according to one of claim 12, wherein:

• a portion of a cross section of the capillary cavity is arc-shaped;
• a cross section of the cavity is rectangular;
• the cavity is greater in cross-sectional size in a thickness direction than the capillary cavity;
• and
• the cavity is formed to one side or opposite sides of the capillary cavity.

A microchip comprising:

• an inlet for collecting a liquid sample therethrough;
• a first capillary cavity for collecting a specific amount of the liquid sample through the inlet by capillary force, the first capillary cavity communicating with the inlet;
• a first holding chamber for receiving the liquid sample transferred from the first capillary cavity by centrifugal force generated by rotation about an axis, the first holding chamber communicating with an outer peripheral end of the first capillary cavity;
• a second capillary cavity for collecting a specific amount of the liquid sample through the first capillary cavity by capillary force, the second capillary cavity communicating with the first capillary cavity;
• and
• a second holding chamber for receiving the liquid sample transferred from the second capillary cavity by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation about the axis, the second holding chamber communicating with an outer peripheral end of the second capillary cavity, wherein:
• a cavity is provided to one side face of each of the first capillary cavity and the second capillary cavity, the cavity communicating with an atmosphere without generating capillary cavity;
• a boundary between the first capillary cavity and the second capillary cavity has a curved shape, projecting in an inner peripheral direction, on an inner peripheral side with respect to the first holding chamber and the second holding chamber;
• and
• the boundary has a wall on an outer peripheral side.

A microchip comprising:

• an inlet for collecting a liquid sample therethrough;
• a first capillary cavity for collecting a specific amount of the liquid sample through the inlet by capillary force, the first capillary cavity communicating with the inlet;
• a first holding chamber for receiving the liquid sample transferred from the first capillary cavity by centrifugal force generated by rotation about an axis, the first holding chamber communicating with an outer peripheral end of the first capillary cavity;
• a second capillary cavity for collecting a specific amount of the liquid sample through the first capillary cavity by capillary force, the second capillary cavity communicating with the first capillary cavity;
• a second holding chamber for receiving the liquid sample transferred from the second capillary cavity by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation about the axis, the second holding chamber communicating with an outer peripheral end of the second capillary cavity;
• N−2 capillary cavities formed in contiguous communication with one another from the second capillary cavity to an Nth (N is a positive integer equal to or greater than 3) capillary cavity;
• and
• N−2 holding chambers for receiving the liquid sample transferred from the respective N−2 capillary cavities by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation about the axis, the N−2 holding chambers communicating with outer peripheral ends of the respective N−2 capillary cavities, wherein:
• a cavity is provided to one side face of each of the first capillary cavity, the second capillary cavity, and the N−2 capillary cavities formed contiguously from the second capillary cavity to the Nth capillary cavity, the cavity communicating with an atmosphere without generating capillary force;
• a boundary between the first capillary cavity and the second capillary cavity has a curved shape, projecting in an inner peripheral direction, on an inner peripheral side with respect to the first holding chamber and the second holding chamber;
• N−2 boundaries of the respective N−2 capillary cavities formed contiguously from the second capillary cavity to the Nth capillary cavity each have a curved shape, projecting in an inner direction, on an inner peripheral side with respect to the N−2 holding chambers from the second holding chamber to the Nth holding chamber;
• and
• N−1 boundaries from a first boundary to an N−1th boundary each have a wall on an outer peripheral side.

A microchip comprising:

• a storage chamber for storing a liquid sample;
• a fourth capillary cavity for collecting a specific amount of the liquid sample from the storage chamber by capillary force, the fourth capillary cavity communicating with the storage chamber;
• a fourth holding chamber for receiving the liquid sample transferred from the fourth capillary cavity by centrifugal force generated by rotation about an axis, the fourth holding chamber communicating with an outer peripheral end of the fourth capillary cavity;
• a fifth capillary cavity for collecting a specific amount of the liquid sample through the fourth capillary cavity by capillary force, the fifth capillary cavity communicating with the fourth capillary cavity;
• and
• a fifth holding chamber for receiving a liquid sample transferred from a second capillary cavity by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation about the axis, the fifth holding chamber communicating with an outer peripheral end of the fifth capillary cavity, wherein:
• a cavity is provided to one side face of each of the fourth capillary cavity and the fifth capillary cavity, the cavity communicating with an atmosphere without generating capillary force;
• a boundary between the fourth capillary cavity and the fifth capillary cavity has a curved shape, projecting in an inner peripheral direction, on an inner peripheral side with respect to the storage chamber and the fourth holding chamber;
• and
• the boundary has a wall on an outer peripheral side.

A microchip comprising:

• a storage chamber for storing a liquid sample;
• a second capillary cavity for collecting a specific amount of the liquid sample from the storage chamber by capillary force, the second capillary cavity communicating with the storage chamber;
• a second holding chamber for receiving the liquid sample transferred from the second capillary cavity by centrifugal force generated by rotation about an axis, the second holding chamber communicating with an outer peripheral end of the second capillary cavity;
• a third capillary cavity for collecting a specific amount of the liquid sample through the second capillary cavity by capillary force, the third capillary cavity communicating with the second capillary cavity;
• a third holding chamber for receiving the liquid sample transferred from the third capillary cavity by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation about the axis, the third holding chamber communicating with an outer peripheral end of the third capillary cavity;
• N−2 capillary cavities formed in contiguous communication with one another from the third capillary cavity to an Nth (N is a positive integer equal to or greater than 3) capillary cavity;
• and
• N−2 holding chambers for receiving the liquid sample transferred from the respective N−2 capillary cavities by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation about the axis, the N−2 holding chambers communicating with outer peripheral ends of the respective N−2 capillary cavities, wherein:
• a cavity is provided to one side face of each of the second capillary cavity, the third capillary cavity, and the N−2 capillary cavities formed contiguously from the third capillary cavity to the Nth capillary cavity, the cavity communicating with an atmosphere without generating capillary force;
• a second boundary between the second capillary cavity and the third capillary cavity has a curved shape, projecting in an inner peripheral direction, on an inner peripheral side with respect to the second capillary cavity and the third capillary cavity;
• N−2 boundaries of the respective N−2 capillary cavities formed contiguously from the third capillary cavity to the Nth capillary cavity each have a curved shape, projecting in an inner peripheral direction, on an inner peripheral side with respect to the N−2 holding chambers from the third holding chamber to the Nth holding chamber;
• and
• N−1 boundaries from the second boundary to an N−1th boundary each have a wall on an outer peripheral side.