STORAGE CASE FOR BIOCHIP

Abstract

There is provided a storage case for a biochip including: a case body; and a partition formed in the case body, forming a mounting space such that a biochip formed of at least two layers is not separated, and having a recess exposing a portion of the biochip such that the biochip mounted in the mounting space to be easily grasped.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0049033 filed on May 24, 2011, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a case for keeping a thin biochip in storage and, more particularly, to a storage case for a biochip capable of stably fixing a biochip, in which a biomaterial is cultivated, such that the biochip may not move, and allowing the biochip kept in storage to be easily drawn therefrom.

2. Description of the Related Art

As research into genetic engineering has been actively ongoing, experiments at measuring biomaterials have increased. In the measurement of a biomaterial, a biomaterial is cultivated on a thin plate made of glass and is then examined by using a measurement device such as a scanner, or the like.

Meanwhile, experimental results or research results with respect to a biomaterial are obtained by repeatedly experimenting with and measuring the same biomaterial (or a test sample). Thus, in order to repeat experiments and measurements, a plurality of biochips may be required.

A plurality of biochips may be kept in storage in a case. However, a storage case according to the related art has a structure which simply supports a biochip such that the biochip does not collapse, and fails to reliably protect the biochip from an external impact.

In addition, since the storage case according to the related art may not provide a structure allowing an experimenter to easily mount or easily grasp a biochip, a biomaterial cultivated in the biochip may be deformed in the process of mounting or grasping the biochip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides a storage case for a biochip capable of stably keeping a plurality of biochips in storage.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a storage case for a biochip capable of allowing an experimenter to easily select and withdraw a required biochip from among a plurality of biochips mounted in the case or easily mount an experiment-finished biochip in the case.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a storage case for a biochip capable of tightly attaching and keeping a two layered biochip in storage such that a biomaterial cultivated in the biochip is not deformed while being kept in storage.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage case for a biochip, including: a case body; and a partition formed in the case body, forming a mounting space such that a biochip formed of at least two layers is not separated, and having a recess exposing a portion of the biochip such that the biochip mounted in the mounting space to be easily grasped.

The partition may be integrally formed in the case body.

The case body may have a recess allowing the biochip mounted between the case body and the partition to be easily grasped.

Edges of the partition in a lengthwise direction may be chamfered or filleted such that an entrance of the mounting space is outwardly widened.

Both ends of the mounting space in a lengthwise direction may have a cross-sectional shape different from that of end portions of the biochip in such a manner that the both ends of the mounting space are not in contact with the end portions of the biochip.

The both ends of the mounting space may have extending portions formed therein such that the both ends of the mounting space and the end portions of the biochip are not in contact with each other.

The partition may have a plurality of through holes or recesses in order to reduce a contact area between the partition and the biochip.

The case body may have a plurality of fixing recesses into which the partition is inserted.

A side of the case body may have an opening which communicates with the mounting space.

The opening may be extendedly formed in an arrangement direction of the biochip.

An end of the partition may have a recessed portion allowing an end of the biochip to be easily grasped through the opening.

The case body or the partition may be made of a polymer including an ABS resin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage case for a biochip according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a biochip is mounted in the storage case for a biochip of FIG. 1, taken along line A-A;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a storage case for a biochip according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a storage case for a biochip according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a storage case for a biochip according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of partitions illustrated in FIG. 5, taken along line B-B;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a modified example of the partitions illustrated in FIG. 5, taken along line B-B;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a storage case for a biochip according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified example of partitions according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a storage case for a biochip according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which a biochip is mounted in the storage case for a biochip of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, shapes and dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout to designate the same or like components.

In order to prevent a biomaterial cultivated in a biochip from coming into direct contact with the outside, a biochip formed of two thin plates is used. Since a biomaterial is cultivated between the plates, there is no restriction on an experimenter in touching or handling an external surface of the biochip.

However, when a gap between the plates is widened, the biomaterial cultivated in the biochip may be separated from the biochip. Thus, in order to stably keep the biochip, a storage case for maintaining a uniform gap between the plates of the biochip is required.

The present invention relates to a storage case for a biochip, and the storage case for a biochip may allow a uniform gap between the plates of a biochip to be maintained.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage case for a biochip according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a biochip is mounted in the storage case for a biochip of FIG. 1, taken along line A-A.

A storage case 10 for a biochip according to the first embodiment of the present invention may include a case body 20 and partitions 30.

The case body 20, having a substantially hexahedral shape, may include a receiving space 21 having an open side thereof. The receiving space 21 may be utilized as a space in which partitions 30 and biochips 40 are mounted. The case body 20 may be made of ABS resin, or polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), or polypropylene (PP) resin. In addition, the case body 20 may be made of a polymer having excellent chemical resistance, hygienic characteristics, and processability.

The case body 20 may have first recesses 24. The first recesses 24 may be formed in portions of the case body 20, facing both faces of the partitions 30, and may be disposed to be parallel to second recesses 34 of the partitions 30 in a Y-axis direction.

Although not shown, a handle may be formed on the case body 20 in order to facilitate transportation of the storage case 10 for a biochip. In addition, the storage case 10 for a biochip may include a cover formed thereon, the cover being capable of opening and closing the receiving space 21.

The receiving space 21 may have a first length L1 in an X-axis direction, and a second length L2 in the Y-axis direction. Here, the first length L1 may be longer than a length of the biochips 40 to be mounted in the case body 20, and the second length L2 may be determined by a thickness W1 of each partition 30 and the number n1 of the partitions 30, and a thickness W2 of each biochip 40 to be mounted in the case body 20 and the number n2 of the biochips 40. Namely, the second length L2 may be expressed by Equation 1 shown below:

Second length (L2)=(W1×n1)+(W2×n2)  [Equation 1]

A depth h (See FIG. 2) of the receiving space 21 may be equal to or greater than a height h2 of the biochip 40. For reference, in the former case (namely, when the depth h of the receiving space 21 is equal to the height h2 of the biochip 40), the biochip 40 may be easily protected against an external impact and in the latter case (namely, when the depth h of the receiving space 21 is greater than the height h2 of the biochip 40), the biochip 40 may be easily drawn from the receiving space 21.

The partitions 30 are installed in the case body 20. In detail, the partitions 30 are installed at predetermined intervals in the receiving space 21, dividing the single receiving space 21 into a plurality of mounting spaces 22. In the embodiment, it is illustrated that the partitions 30 are separated from the case body 20. However, as necessary, when the case body 20 is molded, the partitions 30 may be integrally formed, or the case body 20 and the partitions 30 are separately manufactured and then integrally coupled in an assembling process. Here, a length L3 of the partitions 30 may be equal to the first length L1 of the receiving space 21, and a height h1 of the partitions 30 may be equal to the depth h of the receiving space 21.

The partitions 30 may be tightly attached to both side faces of the biochip 40 such that the biochip 40 mounted in the mounting space 22 may not be separated therefrom, the biochip 40 being formed of two layers. Namely, the partitions 30 may be tightly in contact with the both faces of the biochip 40 to support the biochip 40. Thus, according to the embodiment, the biochip 40 may be prevented from being separated from the storage case 10 for a biochip due to an external impact or the biochip 40 may be prevented from being damaged by an external impact.

Meanwhile, the partitions 30 may have the second recesses 34. The second recesses 34 may be formed in one faces (upper faces based on FIG. 1) of the partitions 30 in a lengthwise direction (the X-axis direction based on FIG. 1). The second recesses 34 may expose a portion of the biochip 40 mounted in the mounting space 22 as shown in FIG. 2.

As for the storage case 10 for a biochip having the recesses 24 and 34, since a portion of the biochip 40 may be exposed through the first recess 24 and the second recess 34 neighboring thereto or two neighboring second recesses 34, the experimenter may easily grasp the biochips 40 with his or her fingers.

Thus, in the storage case 10 for a biochip according to the present invention, the biochip 40 may be stably supported through the partitions 30 and the biochip 40 mounted in the mounting space 22 may be easily withdrawn.

Meanwhile, the biochip 40 may be withdrawn by a separate pick-up device (not shown), and by doing so, an operation of withdrawing the biochip 40 may be automated.

Other embodiments of the present invention will now be described. For reference, in other embodiments, the same reference numerals will be used to designate the same elements as those of the first embodiment of the present invention, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a storage case for a bio-chip according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The storage case 10 for a biochip according to the second embodiment of the present invention may differ from the first embodiment in the number of recesses 24 and 34 thereof.

In the storage case 10 for a biochip according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the recesses 24 and 34 are formed in two rows in the Y-axis direction. However, the recesses 24 and 34 may be formed in plurality of rows, such as three or more rows as necessary.

The recesses 24 and 34 formed in the plurality of rows provide the experimenter with a larger space to grasp the biochip 40. For example, in second embodiment of the present invention, the experimenter may grasp the biochip 40 with both hands.

Thus, according to the embodiment, since the experimenter may grasp the biochip 40 with both hands and withdraw the biochip 40 from the storage case 10 for a biochip, a phenomenon in which the experimenter mishandles or drops the biochip 40 while withdrawing the biochip 40 may be reduced.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a storage case for a bio-chip according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The storage case 10 for a biochip according to the third embodiment of the present invention may include extending portions 222 formed in the case body 20, and the partitions 30 may be integrally formed with the case body 20.

The case body 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention may have the extending portions 222 at both ends of the mounting space 22. In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the extending portions 222 have a circular shape, and may have a size sufficient for accommodating end portions 42 of the biochips 40.

The extending portions 222 formed in this manner may allow for considerably reduced collisions between the end portions 42 of the biochip 40 and end portions of the mounting space 22 during the inserting of the biochip 40 into the mounting space 22.

Here, the extending portion 222 may have a cross-sectional area gradually decreasing in a direction inward of the mounting space 22 (i.e., in a −Z-axis direction). In detail, the extending portion 222 may have a sectional shape which narrows to meet the end portion 42 of the biochip 40 at a certain distance inward of the end thereof.

In the embodiment having such a structure, frictional resistance of the biochip 40 with respect to the corner portion of the mounting space 22 may be minimized, such that the biochip 40 may be easily mounted and damages to the biochip 40 caused in the process of mounting thereof may be remarkably reduced.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a storage case for a bio-chip according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of partitions illustrated in FIG. 5, taken along line B-B. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a modified example of the partitions illustrated in FIG. 5, taken along line B-B.

The storage case 10 for a biochip according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is different from the foregoing embodiments in that edges 32 of the partitions 30 form inclined or curved faces. FIGS. 5 and 6 show the partitions 30 having the edges 32 in the form of inclined faces (fillet), and FIG. 7 shows the partitions 30 having edges 32 in the form of curved faces (chamfer).

The partitions 30 having such a configuration provide the mounting space 22 gradually enlarging in a +Z-axis direction. Thus, even in a case in which the experimenter does not accurately position the biochip 40 in an upper portion of the mounting space 22, the biochip 40 may be naturally inserted into the interior of the mounting space 22 along the inclined or curved faces of the partition 30. Thus, according to the embodiment, the biochip 40 having a small thickness may be easily mounted in the mounting space 22 having a narrow width, and damage to a lower edge 44 of the biochip 40 may be effectively prevented in the process of mounting the biochip 40.

In addition, since the edges of the partitions 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention are not sharp, a phenomenon in which the biochip 40 collides with the edges of the partitions 30 in the process of mounting the biochip 40, thereby being damaged may be significantly reduced.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a storage case for a bio-chip according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified example of partitions according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The storage case 10 for a biochip according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention is different from the foregoing embodiments in that through holes 36 or third recesses 362 are formed on the partition 30. In addition, the case body 20 has fixing recesses 26 in which the partitions 30 are inserted.

The partition 30 according to the foregoing embodiments is in surface-contact with the surface of the biochip 40 mounted in the mounting space 22, thereby stably supporting and maintaining the biochip 40.

However, in the foregoing embodiments, since the entire surface of the biochip 40 is completely tightly attached to the surface of the partition 30, the biochip 40 may not be easily drawn from the mounting space 22.

Thus, in consideration this fact, in the present embodiment, the partition 30 having a configuration capable of reducing a contact area with the biochip 40 is provided. FIG. 8 shows the partition 30 having a plurality of the through holes 36 formed in a side surface thereof and FIG. 9 shows a partition 30 having a plurality of the third recesses 362 formed along the direction in which the biochip 40 is mounted (namely, in a Z-axis direction).

Since the partition 30 formed thusly have a small contact area with the biochip 40 as compared with the foregoing partition 30, friction between the partition 30 and the biochip 40 may be reduced. In addition, in the embodiment, since air communicates through the through holes 36 and the third recesses 362 of the partition 30, the biochip 40 and the partition 30 may be restrained from being completely tightly attached to each other.

Thus, in the embodiment, a phenomenon in which the biochip 40 having a small thickness is so tightly attached to the mounting space 22 that the biochip 40 is not able to be separated therefrom may be prevented.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a storage case for a bio-chip according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which a bio-chip is mounted in the storage case for a bio-chip of FIG. 10.

The storage case 10 for a biochip according to the six embodiment of the present invention is different from the foregoing embodiments in that openings 28 are formed in the case body 20 and recessed portions 38 may be formed in the partition 30.

The openings 28 are formed in both ends of the case body 20. The openings 28 are in communication with the mounting spaces 22, and expose the partitions 30 and the biochips 40.

The recessed portions 38 are formed in both ends of the partition 30. In detail, the recessed portions 38 are formed in the centers of the both ends of the partition 30, thereby exposing portions of the biochip 40 mounted in the mounting space 22. Namely, a length L4 between the recessed portions 38 of the partition 30, is shorter than the length of the biochip 40.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 11, when the biochip 40 is mounted in the storage case 10 for a biochip, the partition 30 and the biochip 40 are exposed from the openings 28. Since the biochip 40 is protruded, compared with the recessed portions 38 of the partition 30, the experimenter may grasp the biochip 40 alone. In the storage case 10 for a biochip having such a structure, since the experimenter may also lift the biochip 40 through the openings 28, the biochip 40 may be more easily drawn.

Namely, in the embodiment, the biochip 40 may be withdrawn in following order.

First, the experimenter selects a required biochip 40 from among the biochips 40 exposed through the openings 28. When one biochip 40 is selected, the experimenter grasps both ends of the corresponding biochip 40 exposed from the openings 28 and lifts the biochip 40. Thereafter, when an upper portion of the biochip 40 is protruded upwardly from the case body 20, the experimenter grasps the upper portion of the protruded biochip 40 and withdraws the biochip 40.

The method of withdrawing the biochip 40 from the storage case 10 for a biochip having such a structure is somewhat complicated. However, since the storage case 10 for a biochip according to the embodiment provides the openings 28 allowing the experimenter to grasp both ends of the biochip 40, the biochip 40 may be stably drawn and thus a formation of the recesses 24 and 34 may be omitted.

The embodiment is appropriate for keeping the biochip 40, which may require delicate handling, or be required to be relatively large and thin, in storage.

As set forth above, according to the embodiments of the invention, since a plurality of biochips could be stably fixed, the biochips could be prevented from being damaged against an external impact.

Also, since the biochips could be easily mounted and detached, the deforming or separating of a biomaterial generated in the process of mounting and detaching the biochip may be prevented.

In addition, due to the stable storage of the biochip, a transfer or transportation of the biochip through the storage case could be facilitated.

While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with the embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A storage case for a biochip, the storage case comprising:

a case body; and

a partition formed in the case body, forming a mounting space such that a biochip formed of at least two layers is not separated, and having a recess exposing a portion of the biochip such that the biochip mounted in the mounting space to be easily grasped.

2. The storage case of claim 1, wherein the partition is integrally formed in the case body.

3. The storage case of claim 1, wherein the case body has a recess allowing the biochip mounted between the case body and the partition to be easily grasped.

4. The storage case of claim 1, wherein edges of the partition in a lengthwise direction are chamfered or filleted such that an entrance of the mounting space is outwardly widened.

5. The storage case of claim 1, wherein both ends of the mounting space in a lengthwise direction have a cross-sectional shape different from that of end portions of the biochip in such a manner that the both ends of the mounting space are not in contact with the end portions of the biochip.

6. The storage case of claim 1, wherein the both ends of the mounting space have extending portions formed therein such that the both ends of the mounting space and the end portions of the biochip are not in contact with each other.

7. The storage case of claim 1, wherein the partition has a plurality of through holes or recesses in order to reduce a contact area between the partition and the biochip.

8. The storage case of claim 1, wherein the case body has a plurality of fixing recesses into which the partition is inserted.

9. The storage case of claim 1, wherein a side of the case body has an opening which communicates with the mounting space.

10. The storage case of claim 9, wherein the opening is extendedly formed in an arrangement direction of the biochip.

11. The storage case of claim 9, wherein an end of the partition has a recessed portion allowing an end of the biochip to be easily grasped through the opening.

12. The storage case of claim 1, wherein the case body or the partition is made of a polymer including an ABS resin.