Liquid analysis system and cartridge
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsYoshihiko Kikuchi, Kazuo Kusakabe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus main body is loaded with a cartridge that contains a sensor and is capable of processing liquid contained in it without moving it from the inside to the outside of the cartridge. The cartridge is loaded into the apparatus main body in such a way that the direction of feeding liquid in the span of the flow channel where the sensor is arranged is vertical and the cartridge can be accessed from the apparatus main body from above.
Claims27
A liquid analysis system designed to operate a cartridge loaded in an apparatus main body, comprising:
- an apparatus main body;
- a cartridge comprising:
- a flow channel system capable of carrying out a process on a liquid within the cartridge;
- a sensor arranged in a part of the flow channel system;
- and
- a ceiling surface provided with a signal output section for outputting signals from the sensor to the apparatus main body and a drive force input section for receiving a drive force for flowing the liquid from the apparatus main body,
- wherein the part of the flow channel system carrying the sensor extends in a direction allowing fluid to be fed in a vertical direction by loading the cartridge in the apparatus main body,
- wherein the cartridge has a shape having two opposite surfaces having a largest area and at least one lateral surface having a smaller area than the two opposite surfaces, one said lateral surface being the ceiling surface provided with the signal output section and the drive force input section;
- and
- a tray for placing a plurality of the cartridges arranged so as to face one of the opposite surfaces of each other,
- wherein the apparatus main body has:
- a reception section for receiving the signals from the signal output section, the reception section being adapted for arrangement opposite to the signal output section arranged on the ceiling surface, and
- a drive force transmission means for applying the drive force to the drive force input section, the drive force transmission means being adapted for arrangement opposite to the drive force input section arranged on the ceiling surface, and
- wherein the signal output section and the drive force input section are disposed on the ceiling surface along a straight line parallel to the two opposite surfaces having the largest area.
A cartridge for liquid analysis adapted to be loaded in an apparatus main body, the cartridge comprising:
- a flow channel system capable of carrying out a process on a liquid within the cartridge;
- a sensor arranged in a part of the flow channel system;
- and
- a ceiling surface provided with a signal output section for outputting signals from the sensor to the apparatus main body and a drive force input section for receiving a drive force for flowing the liquid from the apparatus main body,
- wherein the part of the flow channel system carrying the sensor extends in a direction allowing the fluid to be fed in a vertical direction by loading the cartridge in the apparatus main body,
- wherein the cartridge has a shape having two opposite surfaces having a largest area and at least one lateral surface having a smaller area than the two opposite surfaces, one said lateral surface being the ceiling surface provided with the signal output section and the drive force input section, and
- wherein the signal output section and the drive force input section are disposed on the ceiling surface along a straight line parallel to the two opposite surfaces having the largest area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.