Abstract: A method for isolating a nucleic acid from a cell-containing sample by using a magnet with a removable cover attached thereto and a plurality of containers arranged on a table, the plurality of containers having (1) a first container for mixing a cell-containing sample and magnetic beads to which cells can be adhered, (2) a cleaning tank for cleaning the magnetic beads with cells adhering thereto, and (3) a second container for heating the cleaned magnetic beads, the method includes: mixing a liquid including cell-containing sample and magnetic beads in the cell-containing sample in the first container so as to adhere cells in the cell-containing sample to magnetic beads; taking out the magnetic beads from the first container and cleaning the magnetic beads; and suspending the magnetic beads in a re-suspension buffer in the second container and heating the second container at 80 to 120° C. for 20 to 30°.

Abstract: An objective is to provide a microchip inspection system in which an amount of driving liquid filled in a flow path between a micropump and a microchip is kept constant. Also disclosed is a microchip inspection system possessing a micropump by which driving liquid is injected into a microchip from a flow path; a driving liquid sensing device by which a sensing signal is output by sensing presence or absence of the driving liquid at a predetermined position of the flow path; and a pump driving control section by which the driving liquid is moved to a position based on the predetermined position as a reference position by driving the micropump in response to the sensing signal obtained from the driving liquid sensing device.

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: There is described a micro total analysis chip, which makes it possible not only to stabilize the liquid transportation amount and the liquid conveying velocity of the sample liquid, but also to improve the accuracy of analysis. The chip includes: a first connecting section to connect with a first liquid conveying device; a sample liquid injecting section coupled to a downstream side of the first connecting section; a first sample liquid conveying path coupled to a downstream side of the sample injecting section; a second connecting section to connect with a second liquid conveying device; a sample liquid reservoir coupled to the second connecting section and a downstream side of the first sample liquid conveying path, to accommodate the sample liquid; and a second sample liquid conveying path coupled to a downstream side of the sample liquid reservoir, so that the sample liquid is conveyed downstream.

Abstract: A micro total analysis chip including: a main flow path for feeding a liquid; and a divided flow path branched into a plurality of divided paths for dividing and feeding the liquid fed from the main flow path at a predetermined division ratio, wherein a ratio of flow path resistance between each of the divided paths is approximately equal to a reciprocal of the predetermined ratio with which the liquid is divided and fed to the each of the divided paths.

Abstract: A micro total analysis chip including: a main flow chip for feeding a liquid; and a divided flow path for dividing and feeding the liquid at a predetermined division ratio, each divided path of the plurality of divided paths having a high flow path narrower than a preceding part and a subsequent part of the each divided path, wherein a flow portion of a first divided path in the divided paths satisfies and expression of: R×Q>?×L/S, where, Q is a flow rate of the first divided path, S is a sectional area and L is a sectional circumferential length of a flow path of other divided path of the plurality of divided paths, and ? is a surface tension liquid.

Abstract: An objective is to provide a microchip exhibiting no scattering of stored reagent together with reduced size, which is capable of rapidly mixing the reagent when used. Also disclosed is a microchip possessing a reaction section in which reaction with a reagent or a specimen supplied from a flow path is conducted via heat, wherein the reaction section possesses a storage section to store the reagent in advance, and the reagent previously stored in the storage section is sealed with a material which generates phase transition from a solid phase to a liquid phase between a storage temperature and a reaction temperature.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a micro-reactor, equipped with a high-precision liquid feed system of simple structure, capable of high-precision analysis of at least one item. The present invention provides a micro-reactor for biological substance inspection including a sample storage section, a reagent storage section, a sample pre-processing section, a micro-pump connecting section and a branched minute flow path. And a sample pre-processed by the sample pre-processing section is fed into the minute flow path branched off into at least two parts by a micro-pump and a liquid dividing section, and on the downstream side of each of the branched minute flow paths, the sample is fed to a flow path constituting a reaction site, and then to a flow path constituting the detection site, thereby providing simultaneous measurement of a plurality of items of a sample.

Abstract: A silver salt photothermographic dry imaging material comprising a support having thereon a photosensitive layer and a polymer layer, wherein the polymer layer comprises a copolymer of: (i) a fluorine containing acrylate or a fluorine containing methacrylate; and (ii) a monomer having a hydrophobic group in the molecule.

Abstract: A testing chip includes (1) a first chip having a micro flow path that stores reagent; upstream-side opening provided on upstream-side of the micro flow path; downstream-side opening provided on downstream-side of the micro flow path; and one or more sealing members in a small thickness stuck to at least one surface of the first chip to seal the upstream-side opening and the downstream-side opening until the testing chip is used and (2) a second chip having a micro flow path for mixing and reaction between reagent and a specimen and detecting the reaction; and an opening provided on upstream-side of the micro flow path, wherein, when the testing chip is used, the first and second chips are superimposed on each other so that the downstream-side opening of the first chip and the opening of the second chip are positioned on each other.

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 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: 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: At the joining section where two flow paths join, a reverse flow preventing means is installed in one flow path on the upstream side of the joining section and the flow path resistance of the reverse flow preventing means is set so as to be larger than the overall flow path resistance which is the total flow path resistance of the upstream and downstream sides of the joining section in the other flow path.

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 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 photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising on a support a light-sensitive layer comprising a light-insensitive silver salt of an aliphatic carboxylic acid, light-sensitive silver halide grains, a reducing agent for silver ions and a binder, wherein the light-sensitive layer further comprises nonaqueous dispersion particles insoluble in organic solvents.

Abstract: A micro reactor for inspecting a biological material, comprising: a first substrate on which a minute flow path is formed; a second substrate laminated on the first substrate so as to cover the minute flow path; a detection section provided on the minute flow path formed between the first and second substrates so as to inspect a liquid mixture of a sample and a reagent; (4) an opening section formed at a region on the second substrate corresponding to the detection section so as to irradiate inspection light to the liquid mixture arriving the detection; and (5) a transparent member to cover the opening section.

Abstract: The invention provides gene-inspecting micro-reactor for detecting a bacterial cell wherein flexibility and high sensitivity are secured, low cost by a disposable type is realized, highly accurate detection is possible in a simple structure, and preliminary processing suitable for amplification reaction can be done for specimen efficiently and rapidly. After lysing a bacterial cell in the specimen by bacteriolysis reagent stored in bacteriolysis reagent storage section 3, and after adsorbing bacterial genes on carriers filled in carrier filling section 4, there is conducted preliminary processing for washing and detecting bacterial genes. Further, there are provided a control means that switches the direction of liquid-feeding for a liquid containing bacterial genes fed to carrier filling section 4, a check valve, amplified reagent storage section 7 and a cooling means such as Pertier element that cools reagent mixing section.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a micro-reactor, equipped with a high-precision liquid feed system of simple structure, capable of high-precision analysis of at least one item. The present invention provides a micro-reactor for biological substance inspection including a sample storage section, a reagent storage section, a sample pre-processing section, a micro-pump connecting section and a branched minute flow path. And a sample pre-processed by the sample pre-processing section is fed into the minute flow path branched off into at least two parts by a micro-pump and a liquid dividing section, and on the downstream side of each of the branched minute flow paths, the sample is fed to a flow path constituting a reaction site, and then to a flow path constituting the detection site, thereby providing simultaneous measurement of a plurality of items of a sample.