# US 9,517,472 B2 · Device and method for processing target component in tube > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,472 B2 - Document ID: US9517472B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/995,270 - Filed: 2011-07-13 - Published: 2013-10-17 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-21 - Assignees: Shimadzu Corporation - Applicants: Tetsuo Ohashi - Inventors: Tetsuo Ohashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517472B2 ## CPC - G01N 35/0098: {involving analyte bound to insoluble magnetic carrier, e.g. using magnetic separation (magnetic particles used in immunoassays G01N33/54326; magnetic separation in general B03C)} - B01L 3/5025: {for parallel transport of multiple samples} - B01L 3/5082: {Test tubes per se} - B03C 1/00: Magnetic separation - B03C 1/01: by addition of magnetic adjuvants - B03C 1/0332: {using permanent magnets} - B03C 1/12: with magnets moving during operation; with movable pole pieces - B03C 1/288: {disposed at the outer circumference of a recipient} - B03C 1/30: Combinations with other devices, not otherwise provided for - B01J 2219/00364: Pipettes - B01J 2219/00466: in a slurry - B01J 2219/00468: by manipulation of individual beads - B01L 2200/0647: Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles - B01L 2200/0673: Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid - B01L 2300/0832: cylindrical, tube shaped - B01L 2300/0861: Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices - B01L 2300/087: Multiple sequential chambers - B01L 2400/043: magnetic forces - B03C 2201/18: Magnetic separation whereby the particles are suspended in a liquid - B03C 2201/26: for use in medical or biological applications - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - 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) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - B03C: MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS (separating isotopes B01D59/00; combinations of magnetic or electrostatic separation with separation of solids by other means B03B, B07B) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention provides a small and low running-cost device capable of minimizing the generation of contamination sources as much as possible while performing a series of all the desired manipulations. A device for manipulating a target component in a manipulation tube, comprising: a manipulation tube comprising a tube having an optionally-closeable open end for supplying a sample containing a target component at one end and a closed end at the other end, and a manipulation medium accommodated in the tube and having a gel layer and an aqueous liquid layer multilayered in a longitudinal direction of the tube; magnetic particles that should transport the target component; and magnetic field applying means capable of applying a magnetic field to the manipulation tube to move the magnetic particles in the longitudinal direction of the tube. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for manipulating a target component in a manipulation tube, comprising: a manipulation tube comprising a tube having an optionally-closeable open end for supplying a sample containing a target component at one end and a closed end at the other end, and a manipulation medium accommodated in the tube and having a gel layer and an aqueous liquid layer alternately layered in a longitudinal direction of the tube, wherein the gel layer is a gel plug provided on either side of the aqueous liquid layer so that the aqueous liquid layer is sandwiched between the gel plugs in the longitudinal direction of the tube, and is fixed in a predetermined position in the tube; magnetic particles that should capture and transport the target component; and a magnetic field applying member capable of applying a magnetic field to the manipulation tube to move the magnetic particles in the longitudinal direction of the manipulation tube through the gel layer in a gel state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the tube has an approximate inner diameter of 0.1 mm to 5 mm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field applying member can move the magnetic particles in the longitudinal direction of the manipulation tube from an outside position of the manipulation tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, further comprising a holding member capable of holding the manipulation tube almost vertically in such a manner that the open end faces upward. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein the holding member is a holding substrate having a plurality of holding holes capable of holding the closed end of the manipulation tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein the holding member has a temperature control function. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein the holding member has a recess allowing the magnetic field applying member to be moved in the longitudinal direction of the manipulation tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein the holding member has an optical detection port. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field applying member has a system that controls movement of a magnetic field in the longitudinal direction of the manipulation tube and strength of the magnetic field. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field applying member has a temperature control function. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic field applying member comprises a movable substrate capable of moving in the longitudinal direction of the manipulation tube, and a plurality of magnetic sources held in the movable substrate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the system that controls movement of a magnetic field in the longitudinal direction of the manipulation tube and strength of the magnetic field simultaneously moves the plurality of magnetic sources in the movable substrate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic particles have an ability to bind to or adsorb to nucleic acid as the target component, and the manipulation medium includes an aqueous liquid layer composed of a liquid that liberates the nucleic acid to bind or adsorb the nucleic acid to the magnetic particles and/or an aqueous liquid layer composed of a liquid for washing the magnetic particles. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device according to claim 13, wherein the manipulation medium further includes an aqueous liquid layer composed of a nucleic acid amplification reaction liquid; or an aqueous liquid layer composed of a reverse transcription reaction liquid and an aqueous liquid layer composed of a nucleic acid amplification reaction liquid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the tube is integrally formed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the manipulation tube has a manipulation part A and a recovery part B; the tube constituting the manipulation tube has a manipulation tube portion a and a recovery tube portion b corresponding to the manipulation part A and the recovery part B, respectively; the manipulation part A comprises the tube portion a, and the manipulation medium accommodated in the tube portion a; and the recovery part B comprises the tube portion b, and a recovery medium accommodated in the tube portion b and including at least one of an aqueous liquid layer and a gel layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the manipulation tube portion a and the recovery tube portion b are separable from each other. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the tube is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, fluorine resin, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer, acrylonitrile styrene copolymer, acrylic resin, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene terephthalate, cyclic polyolefin, and glass. ### Claim 19 A manipulation tube for manipulating a target component, comprising: a tube having an optionally-closeable open end for supplying it sample containing a target component at one end and a closed end at the other end; a manipulation medium accommodated in the tube and having a gel layer and an aqueous liquid layer alternately layered in a longitudinal direction of the tube, wherein the gel layer is a gel plug provided on either side of the aqueous liquid layer so that the aqueous liquid layer is sandwiched between the gel plugs in the longitudinal direction of the tube, and is fixed in a predetermined position in the tube; and magnetic, particles that should capture and transport the target component, wherein the manipulation tube is constituted so that the magnetic particles are moved in the longitudinal direction of the manipulation tube through the gel layer in a gel state by applying a magnetic field to the manipulation tube.