Fluid chip, fluid movement control method using the same, and chemical reaction apparatus
AssigneePanasonic Corporation
InventorsYukari Hataoka, Tetsuo Yukimasa, Hiroaki Oka
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid chip has a liquid support 25 for supporting a liquid 24, a fluid passage 22 formed by being surrounded by the liquid support 25 and through which the liquid 24 moves, and a plurality of magnetic particles 21 disposed in the fluid passage 24. The magnetic particles 21 are aggregated by a permanent magnet 23 so as to block the fluid passage 22 and thus cut off flow of the liquid 24. The magnetic particles 21 are dispersed along a part of a wall of the fluid passage 22 so as to open the fluid passage 22 and thus allow the liquid 24 to flow.
Claims26
A fluid chip, comprising:
- a liquid support for supporting a liquid;
- a fluid passage defined by being surrounded by the liquid support and through which the liquid moves;
- and
- a plurality of magnetic particles disposed in the fluid passage,
- wherein reversible switching is possible between a closed state in which a first magnetic force acts on the magnetic particles so as to aggregate the magnetic particles, thereby blocking the fluid passage and cutting off a flow of the liquid, and an open state in which a second magnetic force weaker than the first magnetic force acts on the magnetic particles so as to disperse the magnetic particles along a part of a wall of the fluid passage, thereby opening the fluid passage and allowing the liquid to flow, and
- wherein at the closed state at least some of the plurality of magnetic particles contact with both of the liquid support and the liquid.
A method of controlling movement of liquid in a fluid chip, wherein the fluid chip comprises a liquid support for supporting a liquid, a fluid passage defined by being surrounded by the liquid support and through which the liquid moves, and a plurality of magnetic particles disposed in the fluid passage,
- wherein the method comprises:
- making a first magnetic force act from a magnet on the magnetic particles so as to aggregate the magnetic particles, thereby blocking the fluid passage and cutting off a flow of the liquid;
- and
- making a second magnetic force weaker than the first magnetic force act from the magnet on the magnetic particles so as to disperse the magnetic particles along a part of a wall of the fluid passage, thereby opening the fluid passage and allowing the liquid to blow,
- wherein reversible switching is possible between the aggregation of the magnetic particles by making the first magnetic force act thereon, and the dispersion of the magnetic particles by making the second magnetic force act thereon, and
- wherein when the liquid is allowed to flow at least some of the plurality of dispersed magnetic particles contact with both of the liquid support and the liquid.
A chemical reaction apparatus comprising:
- a fluid chip having at least one fluid passage, at least one chamber, and a plurality of magnetic particles disposed in the fluid passage, a liquid being introduced from outside into the fluid passage and the chamber followed by a chemical reaction in the chamber or the fluid passage;
- and
- a magnetic field generator capable of controlling a magnetic field generated in the fluid chip such as to reversibly switch between a closed state in which a first magnetic force acts on the magnetic particles so as to aggregate the magnetic particles, thereby blocking the fluid passage and cutting off a flow of the liquid, and an open state in which a second magnetic force weaker than the first magnetic force acts on the magnetic particles so as to disperse the magnetic particles along a part of a wall of the fluid passage, thereby opening the fluid passage and allowing the liquid to flow,
- wherein at the closed state at least some of the plurality of magnetic particles contact with both of the liquid support and the liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.