Patents by Inventor Nobuya SUNAGA

Nobuya SUNAGA has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11311881
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a liquid handling method that makes it possible to simply isolate a droplet, a fluid handling device used in this method, and a fluid handling system. This fluid handling method serves to flow a fluid including a solvent and a droplet through a fluid handling device comprising an inlet, a first flow path having one end connected to the inlet, a chamber connected to the other end of the first flow path, a second flow path having one end connected to the chamber, and an outlet connected to the other end of the second flow path. This fluid handling method includes an introduction step for introducing the fluid through the inlet and accommodating the droplet in the chamber, a rotation step for rotating the fluid handling device after the introduction step, and a removal step for removing the droplet from the inside of the chamber after the rotation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuya Sunaga
  • Publication number: 20220097053
    Abstract: A fluid handling device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a fluid handling device that includes a substrate and a film bonded to the substrate and that is configured to process a fluid, the fluid handling device including: a channel; a well connected to the channel; a rotary membrane valve disposed between the channel and the well; and a rotary membrane pump connected to the channel. For example, in the fluid handling device according to the embodiment of the present invention, a filter is disposed in the well or between the well and the rotary membrane valve for separating a blood cell component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuya SUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20220082170
    Abstract: A fluid handling device, comprising: a substrate including a first channel, a second channel and a partition wall formed between the first channel and the second channel; a film including a diaphragm, the film being disposed on the substrate so that the diaphragm faces the partition wall; and a sliding member slidable on the film while contacting with the film, the sliding member including a protrusion formed on an underside thereof, and the sliding member being disposed on the film with the underside facing the film, wherein: the sliding member is capable of switching between a first state and a second state by sliding on the film, wherein the protrusion is positioned so as not to face the partition wall with the diaphragm therebetween in the first state, and the protrusion is positioned so as to face the partition wall with the diaphragm therebetween in the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Koichi ONO, Nobuya SUNAGA
  • Patent number: 11268620
    Abstract: A channel chip having a channel for running a fluid that is opened and closed by sliding on a film a sliding member slidable on the film while contacting with the film, the channel chip comprising: a substrate including a first channel, a second channel and a partition wall formed between the first channel and the second channel; a film including a diaphragm having a substantially spherical crown shape, the film being disposed on the substrate so that the diaphragm faces the partition wall; and a positioning section for holding the sliding member in such a way that the sliding member is slidable on the film while the positioning section positions the sliding member, the positioning section being disposed on the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Ono, Nobuya Sunaga
  • Publication number: 20220034806
    Abstract: A fluid handling device includes a channel including a roughened surface that causes irregular reflection of light. A fluid handling system includes the fluid handling device, an irradiation part for irradiating the roughened surface of the channel with light, and a light detection part for detecting light reflected by the roughened surface or light transmitted through the roughened surface after irradiation from the light irradiation part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventor: Nobuya SUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20210370302
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a liquid handling method that makes it possible to simply isolate a droplet, a fluid handling device used in this method, and a fluid handling system. This fluid handling method serves to flow a fluid including a solvent and a droplet through a fluid handling device comprising an inlet, a first flow path having one end connected to the inlet, a chamber connected to the other end of the first flow path, a second flow path having one end connected to the chamber, and an outlet connected to the other end of the second flow path. This fluid handling method includes an introduction step for introducing the fluid through the inlet and accommodating the droplet in the chamber, a rotation step for rotating the fluid handling device after the introduction step, and a removal step for removing the droplet from the inside of the chamber after the rotation step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuya SUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20210299659
    Abstract: A liquid handling device includes a chamber including a first opening and a second opening in a wall surface; a first channel connected to the first opening of the chamber; and a second channel connected to the second opening of the chamber. The chamber includes a recess and a film disposed to cover an opening of the recess, the film including an air chamber part curved to a side opposite to the recess. In plan view, an entirety of the air chamber part is disposed inside the opening of the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Nobuya Sunaga
  • Publication number: 20210283603
    Abstract: A liquid handling device includes a common channel, a plurality of wells, a magnetic beads chamber and a plurality of valves. The plurality of valves are rotary membrane valves disposed on the circumference of a first circle. The magnetic beads chamber is disposed on a circumference of the second circle concentric with the first circle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuya SUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20210283602
    Abstract: A liquid handling device includes a common channel, a first liquid inlet channel connected to the common channel, a first liquid outlet channel connected to the common channel, a second liquid inlet channel connected to the common channel, and a second liquid outlet channel connected to the common channel. The ratio between the volume between the confluence part of the first liquid inlet channel and the confluence part of the first liquid outlet channel, and the volume between the confluence part of the second liquid inlet channel and the confluence part of the second liquid outlet channel in the common channel is X:Y. The liquid handling device can mix first liquid and second liquid in a volume ratio of X:Y.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuya SUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20210283604
    Abstract: A liquid handling device includes a plurality of first wells configured for a first sample; a first channel connected to the plurality of first wells; a plurality of second wells configured for a second sample; a second channel connected to the plurality of second wells; a plurality of processing agent wells configured for a processing agent configured to process the first sample and the second sample; a processing agent channel connected to the plurality of processing agent wells; and a common channel connected to the first channel, the second channel and the processing agent channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi YAMAUCHI, Nobuya SUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20210252511
    Abstract: This fluid-handling device has: a first rotary member having a first protrusion that expands a diaphragm of a valve and closes off the valve, the first rotary member being capable of rotating about a rotational axis; a second rotary member disposed so as to surround the first rotary member, the second rotary member having a second protrusion that expands the diaphragm of the valve and closes off the valve, and being capable of rotating about the rotational axis independently from the first rotary member; and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the first rotary member and the second rotary member, the plurality of rolling elements being in contact with the first rotary member and the second rotary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuya SUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20210107005
    Abstract: This liquid handling device has a first flow passage and a second flow passage. The first flow passage is a flow passage through which first droplets containing a plurality of objects to be sorted can move, and includes a first branching portion. The second flow passage has a droplet dividing portion and a second branching portion. The droplet dividing portion is disposed on the downstream side of the first branching portion, and divides the first droplets containing a prescribed object to be sorted, to generate second droplets containing at most one object to be sorted. The second flow passage is a flow passage through which the second droplets can move. The second droplets can be sorted in the second branching portion. The cross-sectional area of the first flow passage is greater than the cross-sectional area of the second flow passage at an exit of the droplet dividing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventor: Nobuya SUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20210086185
    Abstract: A first fluid handling device according to the present invention has: a first liquid introduction part; a first cleaning liquid introduction part; a first flow path through which a liquid introduced to the first liquid introduction part or to the first cleaning liquid introduction part flows; a second liquid introduction part; a second cleaning liquid introduction part; a second flow path through which a liquid introduced to the second liquid introduction part or to the second cleaning liquid introduction part flows; a third flow path which allows flowing therethrough of the liquid having flowed through the first flow path and the liquid having flowed through the second flow path; a first diaphragm valve that is disposed between the first and third flow paths; a second diaphragm valve that is disposed between the second and third flow paths; and a chamber that is connected to the third flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Nobuya SUNAGA, Takumi YAMAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210031194
    Abstract: This fluid handling device has a rotary member that is rotatable around the central axis. In the rotary member, a first protruding part for pressing and closing a valve of a flow channel chip and a recessed part for opening the valve without pressing the valve are disposed on the circumference of a first circle around the central axis. The rotary member further has a second protruding part for, when the recessed part is located at the valve in a state where the rotary member is rotated, pressing the valve so as not to open the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Nobuya SUNAGA, Takumi YAMAUCHI, Satomi YABUUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210018104
    Abstract: A channel chip having a channel for running a fluid that is opened and closed by sliding on a film a sliding member slidable on the film while contacting with the film, the channel chip comprising: a substrate including a first channel, a second channel and a partition wall formed between the first channel and the second channel; a film including a diaphragm having a substantially spherical crown shape, the film being disposed on the substrate so that the diaphragm faces the partition wall; and a positioning section for holding the sliding member in such a way that the sliding member is slidable on the film while the positioning section positions the sliding member, the positioning section being disposed on the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Koichi ONO, Nobuya SUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20210008551
    Abstract: A flow channel chip has: a common flow channel; introduction flow channels that are respectively connected to the common flow channel; introduction valves that are respectively disposed in the introduction flow channels; a cleaning liquid flow channel that is connected to the common flow channel; and a cleaning liquid valve that is disposed in the cleaning liquid flow channel. This fluid handling device has: a rotary member for controlling opening/closing of the introduction valves; and a cleaning liquid valve control unit for controlling opening/closing of the cleaning liquid valve. After the rotary member is rotated so as to open/close one of the introduction valves, the cleaning liquid valve control unit causes the cleaning liquid valve to open and causes the cleaning liquid to flow in the common flow channel before the rotary member is rotated so as to open/close another of the introduction valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Nobuya SUNAGA, Takumi YAMAUCHI, Satomi YABUUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210008545
    Abstract: This liquid handling device includes: a first flow passage through which a first liquid can flow; a second flow passage through which a second liquid can move; a third flow passage through which the second liquid can move; and a droplet generating unit, which is a merging portion of the second flow passage and the third flow passage with respect to the first flow passage, and which is configured in such a way that the first liquid flowing through the first flow passage is divided in the form of droplets by means of the second liquid flowing through the second flow passage and the third flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Yuya OSHIMA, Nobuya SUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20210008558
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a fluid handling device capable of easily isolating droplets. This objective is achieved by means of a fluid handling device which includes a first flow passage through the interior of which, when a fluid containing a droplet is delivered, the droplet can move, a first chamber which captures the droplet moving through the first flow passage, a second chamber into which the droplet captured by the first chamber can move, and a second flow passage providing communication between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the second flow passage is capable of selectively allowing the droplet to pass, or restricting passage of the droplet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuya SUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20200368749
    Abstract: A fluid handling device has an introduction port, a first flow channel which is connected to the introduction port and in which a droplet can move when a fluid including the droplet is caused to flow therein, a first chamber for capturing the droplet moving through the first flow channel, and a second chamber through which the droplet captured by the first chamber can move via the first flow channel. The liquid handling device is capable of switching between a first state in which a droplet moving through the first flow channel is captured by the first chamber, and a second state in which the droplet captured by the first chamber moves to the second chamber via the first flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuya SUNAGA
  • Patent number: 10830362
    Abstract: This fluid handling device has a substrate, a film, and a sliding member. The substrate has first flow paths, second flow paths, and partition walls formed between one end of the first flow paths and one end of the second flow paths. The film includes a diaphragm, and is arranged above the substrate such that the diaphragm and the partition walls oppose one another. The sliding member has protrusions formed on the back surface thereof, and is arranged above the film with the back surface facing the film. By sliding on the film the sliding member is able switch alternately between a first state in which the protrusions are arranged so as not to oppose the partition walls, and the diaphragm is sandwiched therebetween, and a second state in which the protrusions are arranged opposing the partition walls, and the diaphragm is sandwiched therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Ono, Nobuya Sunaga