Patents Assigned to Fluid Incorporated
  • Patent number: 10040070
    Abstract: A reaction container 10 of the PCR device 1 has a tubular ring channel 20 formed by a substrate 11, a channel forming plate 12, and a cover plate 13. The ring channel 20 comprises an electrode pair 21 disposed, in a diametrical direction of an inner surface of one side wall of the ring channel 20, to face each other with a horizontal gap interposed therebetween, and is vertically erected. The gap length of the electrode pair 21 is across the entire width within a cross-section of the ring channel 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Fluid Incorporated
    Inventor: Shuzo Hirahara
  • Patent number: 9050597
    Abstract: Provided on an inner surface of a container to carry out polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are an electrode pair 22 to be disposed to face each other with a gap along a flow of a reaction solution interposed therebetween, and an AC voltage is applied to the electrode pair 22 to make an AC current flow through the reaction solution, whereby Joule heat is generated to control the reaction solution in temperature. Accordingly, a PCR method and a PCR device that allow generating sufficient Joule heat for a PCR cycle even when an applied voltage is low, and do not electrolyze a reaction solution even by making an electric current flow through the reaction solution can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Fluid Incorporated
    Inventor: Shuzo Hirahara
  • Patent number: 8313626
    Abstract: The conventional micropump and the conventional micromixer have the following problems. In a mechanical or hydrodynamic method, the structure of the inside of a flow path is complex so as to easily cause clogging, and manufacturing cost is high, and dead volume is large. Additionally, in an electrical method, the conventional micropump or the conventional micromixer was incapable of operating with a liquid having the concentration of a physiological saline that is important in the medical or biological field although the structure of the flow path is simple. These problems are solved by applying an AC voltage to a pair of electrodes in which an electrode-to-electrode gap between the pair of electrodes is vertically arranged and by generating the flow of a fluid in the direction opposite to gravity along the electrode-to-electrode gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Fluid Incorporated
    Inventors: Shuzo Hirahara, Tomoyuki Tsuruta, Haruyuki Minamitani
  • Publication number: 20110284375
    Abstract: The conventional micropump and the conventional micromixer have the following problems. In a mechanical or hydrodynamic method, the structure of the inside of a flow path is complex so as to easily cause clogging, and manufacturing cost is high, and dead volume is large. Additionally, in an electrical method, the conventional micropump or the conventional micromixer was incapable of operating with a liquid having the concentration of a physiological saline that is important in the medical or biological field although the structure of the flow path is simple. These problems are solved by applying an AC voltage to a pair of electrodes in which an electrode-to-electrode gap between the pair of electrodes is vertically arranged and by generating the flow of a fluid in the direction opposite to gravity along the electrode-to-electrode gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Fluid Incorporated
    Inventors: Shuzo Hirahara, Tomoyuki Tsuruta, Haruyuki Minamitani
  • Publication number: 20080237046
    Abstract: The conventional micropump and the conventional micromixer have the following problems. In a mechanical or hydrodynamic method, the structure of the inside of a flow path is complex so as to easily cause clogging, and manufacturing cost is high, and dead volume is large. Additionally, in an electrical method, the conventional micropump or the conventional micromixer was incapable of operating with a liquid having the concentration of a physiological saline that is important in the medical or biological field although the structure of the flow path is simple. These problems are solved by applying an AC voltage to a pair of electrodes in which an electrode-to-electrode gap between the pair of electrodes is vertically arranged and by generating the flow of a fluid in the direction opposite to gravity along the electrode-to-electrode gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Fluid Incorporated
    Inventors: Shuzo Hirahara, Tomoyuki Tsuruta, Haruyuki Minamitani