# US 2019/0314809 A1 · Bubble eliminating structure, bubble eliminating method, and agitating method using the same

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- Number: US 2019/0314809 A1
- Document ID: US20190314809A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/313,485
- Filed: 2017-06-26
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-25
- Assignees: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
- Applicants: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
- Inventors: Yoshihiro NAGAOKA; Taro NAKAZAWA; Mitsuhiro MIYAZAKI; Ryusuke KIMURA; Motohiro YAMAZAKI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190314809A1

## CPC

- B01L 3/502: {with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures}
- B01L 3/502723: {characterised by venting arrangements}
- B01L 3/567: {Valves, taps or stop-cocks}
- G01N 35/08: using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis
- B01L 2200/0684: Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
- B01L 2300/049: Valves integrated in closure
- B01L 2300/0636: Integrated biosensor, microarrays
- B01L 2300/0816: Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
- B01L 2300/123: Flexible; Elastomeric
- B01L 2400/0481: squeezing of channels or chambers
- B01L 2400/0487: fluid pressure, pneumatics
- B01L 2400/0666: Solenoid valves
- B01L 2400/086: using baffles or other fixed flow obstructions
- C12M 1/00: Apparatus for enzymology or microbiology
- C12M 29/20: {Degassing; Venting; Bubble traps (means for collection or storage of gas C12M23/36; gas collection apparatus for laboratory use B01L5/02)}
- G01N 37/00: Details not covered by any other group of this subclass
- G01N 2021/054: {Bubble trap; Debubbling}
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}

## Abstract

Provided are a bubble eliminating structure and a bubble eliminating method which eliminate bubbles in a liquid by agitating the liquid, and an agitating method using the same. A first groove 114, which is an upstream bubble eliminating groove, and a second groove 131, which is a downstream bubble eliminating groove, are branched from a mixing well 13. After starting suction of the liquid from mixing well 13 into the first groove 114, suction of the liquid from the mixing well 13 into the second groove 131 is started, and after completion of discharge of the liquid from the first groove 114 into the mixing well 13, discharge of the liquid from the second groove 131 into the mixing well 13 is completed. This operation is repeated to eliminate bubbles.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bubble eliminating structure comprising:
an elastic membrane;
an analysis chip installed on an upper surface side of the elastic membrane; and
a driving portion installed on a lower surface side of the elastic membrane, wherein
the driving portion includes a plurality of recesses being separated from each other by mounting the analysis chip on the driving portion through the elastic membrane,
the analysis chip includes a vessel provided on the upper surface, a bubble eliminating groove, and a plurality of liquid delivery grooves, the bubble eliminating groove and the plurality of liquid delivery grooves being provided on the lower surface, and
the liquid delivery grooves are separated from each other by bringing the elastic membrane into close contact with the analysis chip, the bubble eliminating groove communicates with the vessel in a middle of the bubble eliminating groove, and an end portion of the bubble eliminating groove is configured to communicate with the liquid delivery grooves through a gap between the analysis chip and the elastic membrane, the gap being generated when the elastic membrane is deformed in the recesses.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bubble eliminating structure according to claim 1, wherein
the plurality of recesses includes a first recess and a second recess that are each coupled to the end portion of the bubble eliminating groove through the elastic membrane, and
decompression of the second recess is started after decompression of the first recess is started, and after the decompression of the first recess is stopped or pressurization of the first recess is started, the decompression of the second recess is stopped or pressurization of the second recess is started.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The bubble eliminating structure according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of recesses in the driving portion includes a pressurizing pipe and a decompression pipe.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The bubble eliminating structure according to claim 2, wherein a total volume of the first recess and the second recess is smaller than a volume of the vessel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The bubble eliminating structure according to claim 1, wherein
the plurality of recesses includes a first recess and a second recess that are each coupled to the end portion of the bubble eliminating groove through the elastic membrane, a third recess coupled to the first recess in one of the liquid delivery grooves through the elastic membrane, and a fourth recess coupled to the third recess in one of the liquid delivery grooves through the elastic membrane,
after the third recess is decompressed while the first recess is pressurized, the third recess is pressurized while the fourth recess is pressurized, to send the liquid to the vessel, and
decompression of the second recess is started after decompression of the first recess is started, and after the decompression of the first recess is stopped or the pressurization of the first recess is started, the decompression of the second recess is stopped or pressurization of the second recess is started to eliminate bubbles of the liquid.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The bubble eliminating structure according to claim 5, further comprising a liquid vessel coupled to the fourth recess in one of the liquid delivery grooves through the elastic membrane.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The bubble eliminating structure according to claim 6, wherein the liquid vessel consists of a plurality of vessels including a sample vessel and a reagent vessel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The bubble eliminating structure according to claim 6, further comprising:
a fifth recess coupled to the second recess in one of the liquid delivery grooves through the elastic membrane; and
a processing groove coupled to the fifth recess in one of the liquid delivery grooves through the elastic membrane.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The bubble eliminating structure according to claim 6, further comprising:
at least one recess coupled to the second recess in one of the liquid delivery grooves through the elastic membrane; and
a processing groove coupled to any one of the at least one recess in one of the liquid delivery grooves through the elastic membrane.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The bubble eliminating structure according to claim 8, further comprising a sixth recess coupled to the processing groove in one of the liquid delivery grooves through the elastic membrane.

### Claim 11

A bubble eliminating method using a bubble eliminating structure, the bubble eliminating structure including an analysis chip installed on an upper surface side of an elastic membrane, and a driving portion installed on a lower surface side of the elastic membrane, the analysis chip including a vessel provided on the upper surface, and a first groove and a second groove that are provided on the lower surface and are branched from the vessel,
the bubble eliminating method comprising:
starting suction of a liquid from the vessel into the second groove after starting suction of a liquid from the vessel into the first groove, and completing suction of a liquid from the second groove into the vessel after completion of discharge of a liquid from the first groove into the vessel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The bubble eliminating method according to claim 11, wherein
the driving portion includes a plurality of recesses provided on the upper surface and configured to deform the elastic membrane, the plurality of recesses including a first recess and a second recess that are coupled to the first groove and the second groove, respectively, through the elastic membrane, a third recess coupled to the first recess, and a fourth recess coupled to the third recess, and
after the third recess is decompressed while the first recess is pressurized, the third recess is pressurized while the fourth recess is pressurized, to send the liquid to the vessel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The bubble eliminating method according to claim 11, wherein suction of the liquid into the first groove and the second groove and discharge of the liquid from the first groove and the second groove are repeated.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The bubble eliminating method according to claim 11, wherein
the driving portion including a plurality of recesses provided on the upper surface and configured to deform the elastic membrane, the plurality of recesses including a first recess and a second recess that are coupled to the first groove and the second groove, respectively, through the elastic membrane,
after the first recess is decompressed to start suction of a liquid from the vessel into the first groove, the second recess is decompressed to start suction of a liquid from the vessel into the second groove, and
after the first recess is pressurized to complete suction of a liquid from the first groove into the vessel, the second recess is pressurized to complete discharge of a liquid from the second groove into the vessel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The bubble eliminating method according to claim 14, wherein decompression and pressurization of the first recess and the second recess are performed by controlling an open state and a closed state of each of a pressurizing solenoid valve and a decompressing solenoid valve that correspond to the first recess and the second recess, respectively.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The bubble eliminating method according to claim 15, wherein
the decompressing solenoid valve corresponding to the first recess is brought into the open state to decompress the first recess and generate a gap between the elastic membrane and the analysis chip,
after completion of suction of the liquid from the vessel into the first recess, the decompressing solenoid valve corresponding to the second recess is brought into the open state to decompress the second recess and generate a gap between the elastic membrane and the analysis chip, and
after completion of suction of the liquid from the vessel into the second recess, the decompressing solenoid valve corresponding to the first recess is brought into the closed state.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The bubble eliminating method according to claim 16, wherein after the decompressing solenoid valve corresponding to the first recess is brought into the closed state, the pressurizing solenoid valve corresponding to the first recess is brought into the open state to pressurize the first recess.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The bubble eliminating method according to claim 15, wherein
the decompressing solenoid valve corresponding to the first recess is brought into the open state to decompress the first recess and generate a gap between the elastic membrane and the analysis chip,
after suction of the liquid from the vessel into the first recess is started, the decompressing solenoid valve corresponding to the second recess is brought into the open state to start decompression of the second recess and generate a gap between the elastic membrane and the analysis chip, and
before completion of suction of the liquid from the vessel into the second recess, the decompressing solenoid valve corresponding to the first recess is brought into the closed state.

### Claim 19

An agitating method for mixing a plurality of liquids, the agitating method comprising:
branching a mixing vessel into a first groove and a second groove, and causing the plurality of liquids to be joined in the mixing vessel by using the first groove;
starting suction of the liquids from the mixing vessel into the second groove after starting suction of the liquids joined from the mixing vessel into the first groove; and
completing discharge of the liquids from the second groove into the mixing vessel after completion of discharge of the liquids from the first groove into the mixing vessel.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The agitating method according to claim 19, wherein suction of the liquids into the first groove and the second groove and discharge of the liquids from the first groove and the second groove are repeated.