# US 7,406,858 B2 · Scientific phenomena evaluation device, diffusion velocity measurement experimental device, and manufacturing method of the device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,406,858 B2 - Document ID: US7406858B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/059,344 - Filed: 2005-02-17 - Published: 2005-08-25 - Granted: 2008-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2004-02-20 - Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation - Inventors: Yasunori Ichikawa; Tomohide Ueyama; Fumiko Shiraishi; Akira Kato - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7406858B2 ## CPC - B29C 39/026: {characterised by the shape of the surface} - B01L 3/50273: {characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids} - G01N 13/00: Investigating surface or boundary effects, e.g. wetting power; Investigating diffusion effects; Analysing materials by determining surface, boundary, or diffusion effects (scanning-probe techniques or apparatus G01Q) - G09B 23/12: of liquids or gases - B01L 2200/0642: Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques - B01L 2200/12: Specific details about manufacturing devices - B01L 2300/028: Graduation - B01L 2300/0816: Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions - B01L 2300/0864: comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting - B01L 2400/0472: Diffusion - B01L 2400/0481: squeezing of channels or chambers - G01N 2013/003: {Diffusion; diffusivity between liquids} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - 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) - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) ## Abstract According to the present invention, a continuous layer liquid used as a continuous layer of a diffusion phenomenon is injected into the first reservoir, and passed through the channels to the second reservoirs to fill the plurality of radially formed channels with the continuous layer liquid. Then, a predetermined amount of diffusion experiment reagent, for example, a coloring liquid used as a diffusion substance of the diffusion phenomenon is injected into the first reservoir. This causes the diffusion experiment reagent to be diffused from the first reservoir to the second reservoirs only by the diffusion phenomenon. At this time, the radially formed channels have the different sectional areas, and thus the diffusion experiment reagent is diffused through the channels at different velocities. This allows the diffusion phenomena that occur in the micro channels or the diffusion velocities to be observed or measured with ease using an inexpensive device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A scientific phenomena evaluation device, comprising: a first reservoir; a plurality of second reservoirs formed around the first reservoir; and a plurality of channels for communicating the first reservoir and each of the plurality of second reservoirs, wherein the first reservoir and the plurality of second reservoirs communicate with each other radially through the plurality of channels, the plurality of channels are minute channels having different sectional areas of 1 mm2 or less, and scientific phenomena in the channels are visually perceivable. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein lengths of the channels are equal and the sectional areas of the channels are different at a fixed ratio. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein graduations indicating a diffusion distance are provided along each channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 2, wherein graduations indicating a diffusion distance are provided along each channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 1, further comprising: a base plate in which a plurality of radially extending long grooves, the first reservoir, and the second reservoirs are formed; and a cover plate bonded to a surface of the base plate and cover the long grooves to form the plurality of radial channels in the base plate, wherein the base plate and/or the cover plate being transparent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 2, further comprising: a base plate in which a plurality of radially extending long grooves, the first reservoir, and the second reservoirs are formed; and a cover plate bonded to a surface of the base plate and cover the long grooves to form the plurality of radial channels in the base plate, wherein the base plate and/or the cover plate being transparent. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 3, further comprising: a base plate in which a plurality of radially extending long grooves, the first reservoir, and the second reservoirs are formed; and a cover plate bonded to a surface of the base plate and cover the long grooves to form the plurality of radial channels in the base plate, wherein the base plate and/or the cover plate being transparent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 4, further comprising: a base plate in which a plurality of radially extending long grooves, the first reservoir, and the second reservoirs are formed; and a cover plate bonded to a surface of the base plate and cover the long grooves to form the plurality of radial channels in the base plate, wherein the base plate and/or the cover plate being transparent. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 5, wherein through-holes that allow communication between the first and second reservoirs and outside air are formed in the cover plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 6, wherein through-holes that allow communication between the first and second reservoirs and outside air are formed in the cover plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 7, wherein through-holes that allow communication between the first and second reservoirs and outside air are formed in the cover plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 8, wherein through-holes that allow communication between the first and second reservoirs and outside air are formed in the cover plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A diffusion velocity measurement experimental device, wherein the device is a portable experimental device for measuring diffusion velocity of a substance by the scientific phenomena evaluation device of claim 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) A diffusion velocity measurement experimental device, wherein the device is a portable experimental device for measuring diffusion velocity of a substance by the scientific phenomena evaluation device of claim 2. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) A diffusion velocity measurement experimental device, wherein the device is a portable experimental device for measuring diffusion velocity of a substance by the scientific phenomena evaluation device of claim 4. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) A diffusion velocity measurement experimental device, wherein the device is a portable experimental device for measuring diffusion velocity of a substance by the scientific phenomena evaluation device of claim 8. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A diffusion velocity measurement experimental device, wherein the device is a portable experimental device for measuring diffusion velocity of a substance by the scientific phenomena evaluation device of claim 12. ### Claim 18 (depends on 4) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 4, wherein the lengths of the channels are measured with respect to a direction parallel to a continuous layer liquid flow direction in the channels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of the channels comprises eight channels, and the sectional areas of the channels are different at the fixed ratio with respect to a section area of a channel among the plurality of the channels having a maximum sectional area, wherein the sectional areas of the other seven channels among the plurality of the channels are reduced by the fixed ratio of 10%. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 19, wherein the channel among the plurality of the channels having the maximum sectional area has a sectional area of 1 mm2, and the sectional areas of the other seven channels among the plurality of the channels are 0.9 mm2, 0.8 mm2, 0.7 mm2, 0.6 mm2, 0.5 mm2, 0.4 mm2, and 0.3 mm2, respectively. ### Claim 21 (depends on 2) The scientific phenomena evaluation device according to claim 2, wherein the sectional areas of the plurality of the channels are different at the fixed ratio with respect to a section area of a channel among the plurality of the channels having a maximum sectional area, wherein the sectional areas of the other channels among the plurality of the channels are reduced by the fixed ratio. ### Claim 22 A manufacturing method of a scientific phenomena evaluation device, comprising: forming a first reservoir in a surface of an inverted mold; forming a plurality of second reservoirs in the surface of the inverted mold around the formed first reservoir; forming a plurality of channels in the surface of the inverted mold through which the formed first reservoir radially communicates with the formed plurality of the second reservoirs; applying a resin material to the surface of the inverted mold; curing the resin material; and releasing the cured resin material from the inverted mold to form a base plate, wherein the formed plurality of the channels have different sectional areas of 1 mm2 or less, and wherein scientific phenomena in the formed plurality of the channels are visually perceivable. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The manufacturing method according to claim 22, wherein the forming the plurality of the channels further comprises forming the plurality of the channels such that lengths of the plurality of the channels are equal, and the sectional areas of the channels are different at a fixed ratio. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The manufacturing method according to claim 23, the method further comprising: forming graduations along each of the plurality of the channels, wherein the graduations indicate a diffusion distance. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The manufacturing method according to claim 24, the method further comprising: bonding a cover plate to the surface of the base plate to cover the formed first reservoir, the formed plurality of the second reservoirs, and the formed plurality of the channels, the base plate and/or the cover plate being transparent. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The manufacturing method according to claim 25, the method further comprising: forming through holes in the bonded cover plate that allow communication between the formed first reservoir and the formed plurality of the second reservoirs and outside air. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The manufacturing method according to claim 24, wherein the lengths of the plurality of the channels are measured with respect to a direction parallel to a continuous layer liquid flow direction in the plurality of the channels. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The manufacturing method according to claim 23, wherein the plurality of the channels comprises eight channels, and the sectional areas of the channels are different at the fixed ratio with respect to a section area of a channel among the plurality of the channels having a maximum sectional area, wherein the sectional areas of the other seven channels among the plurality of the channels are reduced by the fixed ratio of 10%. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The manufacturing method according to claim 28, wherein the channel among the plurality of the channels having the maximum sectional area has a sectional area of 1 mm2, and the sectional areas of the other seven channels among the plurality of the channels are 0.9 mm2, 0.8 mm2, 0.7 mm2, 0.6 mm2, 0.5 mm2, 0.4 mm2, and 0.3 mm2, respectively. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The manufacturing method according to claim 23, wherein the sectional areas of the plurality of the channels are different at the fixed ratio with respect to a section area of a channel among the plurality of the channels having a maximum sectional area, wherein the sectional areas of the other channels among the plurality of the channels are reduced by the fixed ratio. ### Claim 31 A manufacturing method of a portable diffusion velocity measurement experimental device for measuring diffusion velocity of a substance, comprising: forming a first reservoir in a surface of an inverted mold; forming a plurality of second reservoirs in the surface of the inverted mold around the formed first reservoir; forming a plurality of channels in the surface of the inverted mold through which the formed first reservoir radially communicates with the formed plurality of the second reservoirs; applying a resin material to the surface of the inverted mold; curing the resin material; and releasing the cured resin material from the inverted mold to form a base plate, wherein the formed plurality of the channels have different sectional areas of 1 mm2 or less, and wherein scientific phenomena in the formed plurality of the channels are visually perceivable. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The manufacturing method according to claim 31, wherein the forming the plurality of the channels further comprises forming the plurality of the channels such that lengths of the plurality of the channels are equal, and the sectional areas of the channels are different at a fixed ratio. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The manufacturing method according to claim 32, the method further comprising: forming graduations along each of the plurality of the channels, wherein the graduations indicate a diffusion distance. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The manufacturing method according to claim 33, the method further comprising: bonding a cover plate to the surface of the base plate to cover the formed first reservoir, the formed plurality of the second reservoirs, and the formed plurality of the channels, the base elate and/or the cover plate being transparent. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The manufacturing method according to claim 34, the method further comprising: forming through holes in the bonded cover plate that allow communication between the formed first reservoir and the formed plurality of the second reservoirs and outside air.