Abstract: There are provided a micro mixer capable of efficiently mixing at least two types of liquids in a simple structure and a microfluidic chip provided with the micro mixer. In order to achieve the object, the micro mixer includes a minute passage through which first and second liquids are caused to flow respectively, and a mixing vessel in which a liquid injecting port caused to communicate with the minute passage is provided in a bottom part, and the liquid injecting port is provided in a shifted position from a center of the bottom part in the bottom part. Moreover, the liquid injecting port may be provided in a shifted position from a center line of the mixing vessel.

Abstract: A test device having a micro flow channel including a reaction part where a reactant that is reactive to a tested chemical dispersed in a tested fluid is fixed, and at least one actuator for actuating the tested fluid to move in at least one of two opposite sides of the micro flow channel so as to homogenize a density distribution of the tested chemical in the tested fluid. The tested fluid is sent in the micro flow channel a plurality of times.

Abstract: A microreactor capable of reaction between a sample and a mixed reagent containing a mixture of multiple reagents, which microreactor avoids the interposition of air between driving solution and reagents and realizes high-precision controlling of the timing of mixing of reagents and other liquids, the mixing ratio of liquids, the pressure for liquid feeding, etc. Further, there is provided a method of liquid feeding making use of the same. Accordingly, a flow path branched at the position of an inlet from a flow path through which an opening communicating with an external pump communicates with the inlet is provided with an air evacuation flow path with its terminal open outward. Further, the flow path resistance of the air evacuation flow path for a liquid is made greater than the flow path resistance, for the liquid, of a flow channel from the reagent storage chamber to a reagent feed-out flow path.

Abstract: A microchip capable of sending liquid in a micro flow channel to a predetermined place irrespective of the pressure difference and sending a mixture of two or more liquid masses to a predetermined place even if the channel structure is simple. The microchip comprises an intermediate reservoir portion provided in a micro flow channel and adapted for temporarily holding liquid sent through the micro flow channel. The microchip is characterized in that the intermediate reservoir portion has a side channel, the volume of the intermediate reservoir portion is smaller than the total volume of the liquid sent into the intermediate reservoir portion, the side channel is provided for communication of a micro flow channel on the upstream side of the intermediate reservoir portion with a micro flow channel on the downstream side thereof, and the cross-section area of the side channel is smaller than that of the micro flow channel.

Abstract: An analyzer for analysis of a specimen in a testing chip that includes a micropump connecting section that is connected with a micropump to take in liquid from the micropump and includes a micro flow channel in which a reagent and the specimen are mixed so as to react with each other, the analyzer including: a mounting section for mounting the testing chip attachably and detachably thereto; a micropump unit that has a testing chip connecting section to be connected with the micropump connecting section of the testing chip which is mounted on the mounting section, and feeds liquid to the testing chip through the testing chip connecting section; and a pressing mechanism that presses the micropump connecting section and the testing chip connecting section against each other, the connecting sections being connected with each other.

Abstract: A micro integrated analysis system includes a testing chip, system main body and heat insulating section. The chip has a pump connecting section to communicate with micro pumps; a mixing flow path for mixing a specimen and reagent and for reaction processing by heating; and a testing flow path for performing a predetermined test of a mixed solution heated and processed for reaction. The system main body has a holding section to hold the testing chip; micro pumps for injecting a specimen and reagent; a heating section for heating the mixing flow path; and a detection section for performing a test in the testing flow path. The heat insulating section insulates flow path portions continuing from both an inlet end and outlet end of a heated flow path area of the mixing flow path, from heat of the heating section so as to prevent a rise in temperature.

Abstract: Provided is a microchip which is capable of determining the quantity of the liquid in the chip and dividing the liquid, and has a relatively simple flow passage structure. In the microchip liquid supply system, a portion of the liquid in an upstream passage among the liquid injected into a first flow passage is supplied from a liquid discharge passage by operating a suction pump connected to a liquid supply passage in such a state that an air vent hole is closed. Thereafter, the suction pump is operated with the air vent hole closed, whereby a portion of the liquid in a quantity determination passage among the liquid injected into the first flow passage is supplied from a liquid supply passage.

Abstract: There is described a microchip inspection system, which makes it possible not only to correct the influence of the viscosity change of the liquid, but also to accurately conduct the liquid conveyance controlling operation. The microchip inspection system includes: a micro pump to inject a driving liquid from a liquid flow path into a microchip; a liquid temperature adjusting section to adjust a liquid temperature of the driving liquid; a driving liquid detecting section to detect presence or absence of the driving liquid at two predetermined positions located in the liquid flow path, so as to output detection signals; a fluid velocity calculating section to calculate a fluid velocity based on the detection signals outputted by the driving liquid detecting section; and a liquid temperature controlling section to control the liquid temperature adjusting section, based on the fluid velocity calculated by the fluid velocity calculating section.

Abstract: A micro-reactor for analyzing a sample, comprises (1) a plate-shaped chip; (2) a plurality of regent storage sections each having a chamber to store respective agents; (3) a regent mixing section to mix plural regents fed from the plurality of regent storage sections so as to produce a mixed reagent; (4) a sample receiving section having an injection port through which a sample is injected from outside; and (5) a reacting section to mix and react the mixed regent fed from the reagent mixing section and the sample fed from the sample receiving section. The plurality of regent storage sections, the regent mixing section, the sample receiving section and the reacting section are incorporated in the chip and are connected through flow paths, and the regent mixing section includes a feed-out preventing mechanism to prevent an initially-mixed regent from being fed out to the reacting section.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microchip reaction detection system comprising: a microchip comprising a driving liquid injection unit into which a driving liquid for driving a solution is injected and a detection unit on which a substance to be reacted is supported and where the reaction between the substance and the solution is detected; a driving liquid pump for injecting the driving liquid into the driving liquid injection unit; an air pump for injecting a gas into the detection unit; and a control unit for controlling the driving liquid pump so that the driving liquid can be injected into the driving liquid injection unit and also controlling the air pump so that the gas can be injected into the detection unit intermittently in an amount at least effective for pushing away the solution injected in the detection unit while feeding the solution to the detection unit.

Abstract: A testing chip that analyzes a specimen includes: a reagent storage section; a mixing and reaction flow channel to perform a series of operations to mix a specimen and aqueous reagent, make the specimen and reagent react with each other, and detect the reaction; and a liquid feed control section provided between an outlet flow channel of the reagent storage section and the inlet of the mixing and reaction flow channel. Herein, aqueous reagent, lipophilic liquid, and aqueous liquid having greater surface tension than that of the aqueous reagent are disposed in the reagent storage section in this order toward the outlet flow channel, the aqueous liquid being stored in contact with the liquid feed control section; and aqueous liquid passes the micro flow path of the liquid feed control section by applying a liquid feed pressure higher than or equal to a predetermined pressure to the reagent storage section.

Abstract: In the case of passing a reagent in a reaction channel in a microchip, which carries a reactant capable of reacting with the reagent on the wall thereof, and bringing the reactant into contact with the reagent so as to carry out a reaction, the reagent is efficiently passed to the reactant to thereby promote the progress of the reaction. In carrying out the reaction as described above, the reagent (30a) is passed in such a manner that the periphery of the gas/liquid interface at the front end of the reagent moves forward and backward along the wall face of the reaction channel (10). After the completion of the reaction between the reagent (30a) and the reactant, another reagent (30b), which is to be reacted with the reactant capable of reacting with the reagent that is carried on the reaction channel, is passed into the reaction channel (10) while providing a gas in the front edge side thereof.

Abstract: A testing microchip includes a specimen storage section; a reagent storage section; a reaction section; a testing section for a test of a reaction product obtained from the reaction; a liquid feed control section; and a gas bubble trapping structure. The sections are connected continuously by a series of flow channels. The liquid feed control section stops passing of liquid until a liquid feeding pressure reaches a predetermined pressure, and passes the liquid when the liquid feeding pressure becomes higher than the predetermined pressure; and the gas bubble trapping structure traps a gas bubble in the liquid that flows in the flow channel so that the gas bubble does not flow to the downstream side and only the liquid passes to the downstream side. A testing apparatus that performs testing in the testing section of the testing microchip, wherein the testing microchip is attachably and detachably mounted to the apparatus.

Abstract: A micro total analysis system, comprising: an examination chip provided with a micro flow path and a flow path opening section communicating with a micropump on the upstream side of a reagent containing section, a drive fluid tank containing drive fluid, a micropump unit provided with a plurality of the micropumps such that the upstream side of each micropump communicates with the drive fluid tank and a flow path opening communicating with the micro flow path of the examination chip is provided on the downstream side, and a system body including the micropump unit and the drive fluid tank in one storing body, wherein analysis is performed while the examination chip is attached to the system body, and a mechanism for altering the direction of pressure at the flow path opening of the micropump unit depending on attaching/detaching of the examination chip to/from the system main body is provided.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for performing a test on the reagent includes a fill port formed on the chip to inject the reagent into at least one of the channels, one or more heating portions for performing a test on the reagent injected into the channel, and a micropump. An inside of the micropump and a vicinity of the channel connecting to an inlet and an outlet of the micropump are filled with a drive solution that is driven by the micropump, a gas is sealed between the reagent and the drive solution in the channel to prevent the reagent from contacting the drive solution directly, and the micropump directly drives the drive solution in the forward and backward directions, so that the reagent is repeatedly moved to the test portions through the gas in an indirect manner or is repeatedly passed through the test portions through the gas.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a micro fluid transferring system that comprises a micropump having a chamber, a first fluid transferring portion connected to the chamber, and a second fluid transferring portion connected to the chamber. This system is characterized in that at least one of the first and second fluid transferring portions comprises a pressure absorbing section for absorbing or alleviating a liquid vibrational pressure therein.

Abstract: A system including an inspection chip equipped with at least a pump connection having a flow path opening for interconnecting to a micro-pump, a flow path through which a fluid flows, and a fluid mixing section for joining and mixing two or more fluids, and including a system body equipped with at least a base body, a chip connection having a flow path opening for interconnecting to the inspection chip, a micro-pump unit in the base body including micro-pumps in substantially the same shape, a detection processor and a controller for controlling at least the functions of the micro-pump unit and the detection processor, and the joining amount ratio is adjusted to set the mixing ratio of two fluids to be joined in the fluid mixing section to be approximately m:n (not 1:1) by making the drive voltages of the micro-pumps substantially equal to each other.

Abstract: A channel switching system includes two microvalves i.e. a first valve (stopper valve) and a second valve (water retaining valve). The first valve is openable and closable, and the second valve is operable to block fluid flow by a surface tension force. Changing the first valve from an open state to a close state enables to switch the system from a condition that the fluid flows through the channel where the first valve is mounted by blocking the flow at the second valve by the surface tension force to a condition that the fluid flows through the channel where the second valve is mounted by releasing the system from the condition that the flow is blocked at the second valve by the surface tension force.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a micro fluid transferring system that comprises a micropump having a chamber, a first fluid transferring portion connected to the chamber, and a second fluid transferring portion connected to the chamber. This system is characterized in that at least one of the first and second fluid transferring portions comprises a pressure absorbing section for absorbing or alleviating a liquid vibrational pressure therein.

Abstract: A fuel cell device has a small and compact structure as a whole. The fuel cell device employs a fuel cell (e.g., direct methanol fuel cell of an MEA structure) using liquid fuel. Diluted liquid fuel is prepared by diluting the liquid fuel (methanol-contained liquid in the case of DMFC) with dilution liquid, and is supplied to the fuel cell. A first pump unit stacked on the fuel cell supplies the diluted liquid fuel to the fuel cell while diluting the liquid fuel by mixing the liquid fuel and the dilution liquid together. A second pump unit stacked on the fuel cell collects liquid (water usable as dilution liquid in DMFC) produced by an electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell.