Microchemical chip

Abstract

A microchemical chip ( 10 A) comprises a plate-shaped substrate ( 12 ), with a channel ( 14 ) formed on a surface of the substrate ( 12 ) through which a fluid flows. A fluid storage section ( 16 ) for storing the fluid communicates with the channel ( 14 ) at a starting end of the channel ( 14 ). A fluid discharge section ( 18 ) communicates with the channel ( 14 ) at a terminal end of the channel ( 14 ). An extruding pump section ( 22 ) is formed integrally on the substrate ( 12 ), at a portion of the channel ( 14 ) in the vicinity of the fluid storage section ( 16 ).

1 - 22 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         23 . A microchemical chip comprising one or more channels for allowing a fluid to flow therethrough on a substrate, wherein: 
 a pump section is provided on an upstream side and/or a downstream side of said channel; and    said pump section is formed integrally on said substrate.    
     
     
         24 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 23 , further comprising a valve section disposed on at least said upstream side of said channel, wherein: 
 said valve section is formed integrally on said substrate.    
     
     
         25 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 24 , wherein said valve section has a heater for applying heat to a part of said channel.  
     
     
         26 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 24 , wherein said valve section has a vibration-generating section for applying vibration to a part of said channel.  
     
     
         27 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 24 , wherein said valve section includes a cavity that makes communication with said channel, and an actuator section that varies a volume of said cavity.  
     
     
         28 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 23 , further comprising electrodes for performing electrophoresis on said fluid, disposed on said upstream side and/or said downstream side of said channel.  
     
     
         29 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 23 , wherein said channel includes one or more sample channels for allowing one or more samples as inspection objectives to flow therethrough.  
     
     
         30 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 29 , wherein said one or more samples and a transport fluid, which correspond to said one or more sample channels, flow through said one or more sample channels respectively.  
     
     
         31 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 29 , wherein a sample supply section is provided for said one or more sample channels, for supplying said one or more samples corresponding thereto respectively.  
     
     
         32 . (Previously Presented)The microchemical chip according to  claim 31 , wherein said channel includes a merging channel, in which said one or more samples are merged with each other from said one or more sample channels.  
     
     
         33 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 32 , wherein each of said one or more sample channels has a valve section disposed upstream of said merging channel.  
     
     
         34 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 33 , wherein said valve section has a heater for applying heat to a part of said channel.  
     
     
         35 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 33 , wherein said valve section has a vibration-generating section for applying vibration to a part of said channel.  
     
     
         36 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 33 , wherein said valve section includes a cavity that makes communication with said channel, and an actuator section that varies a volume of said cavity.  
     
     
         37 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 32 , further comprising a vibration-generating section disposed at a portion at which merging occurs.  
     
     
         38 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 31 , wherein said one or more sample channels intersect with each other.  
     
     
         39 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 38 , wherein each of said one or more sample channels has a valve section disposed upstream of a location at which intersecting occurs.  
     
     
         40 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 39 , wherein said valve section has a heater for applying heat to a part of said channel.  
     
     
         41 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 39 , wherein said valve section has a vibration-generating section for applying vibration to a part of said channel.  
     
     
         42 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 39 , wherein said valve section includes a cavity that makes communication with said channel, and an actuator section that varies a volume of said cavity.  
     
     
         43 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 38 , wherein a vibration-generating section ( 190 ) is provided at said location at which intersecting occurs.  
     
     
         44 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 31 , wherein said sample supply section comprises: 
 a nozzle;    a cavity that makes communication with said channel; and    a pump actuator section that varies a volume of said cavity.    
     
     
         45 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 44 , wherein a valve section is provided between said channel and said cavity.  
     
     
         46 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 45 , wherein said valve section includes a valve plug arranged at a communicating section between said channel and said cavity, and a valve actuator section for operating said valve plug to selectively open and close said communicating section.  
     
     
         47 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 23 , wherein said channel includes one or more sample channels for allowing one or more samples as inspection objectives to flow therethrough respectively, and one transport channel for allowing a transport fluid for transporting said one or more samples to flow therethrough.  
     
     
         48 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 47 , wherein said channel includes a merging channel in which said one or more samples from said one or more sample channels are merged with said transport fluid from said one transport channel, or a merging channel in which a fluid obtained by mixing said one or more samples from said one or more sample channels is merged with said transport fluid from said one transport channel.  
     
     
         49 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 48 , wherein each of said one or more sample channels has a valve section disposed upstream of said merging channel.  
     
     
         50 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 49 , wherein said valve section has a heater for applying heat to a part of said channel.  
     
     
         51 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 49 , wherein said valve section has a vibration-generating section for applying vibration to a part of said channel.  
     
     
         52 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 49 , wherein said valve section includes a cavity that makes communication with said channel, and an actuator section that varies a volume of said cavity.  
     
     
         53 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 48 , further comprising a vibration-generating section disposed at a portion at which merging occurs.  
     
     
         54 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 47 , wherein said one or more sample channels and said one transport channel intersect with each other, or a merging channel of said one or more sample channels and said one transport channel intersect with each other.  
     
     
         55 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 54 , wherein each of said one or more sample channels has a valve section disposed upstream of a location at which intersecting occurs.  
     
     
         56 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 55 , wherein said valve section has a heater for applying heat to a part of said channel.  
     
     
         57 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 55 , wherein said valve section has a vibration-generating section for applying vibration to a part of said channel.  
     
     
         58 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 55 , wherein said valve section includes a cavity that makes communication with said channel, and an actuator section that varies a volume of said cavity.  
     
     
         59 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 54 , wherein a vibration-generating section is provided at said location at which intersecting occurs.  
     
     
         60 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 23 , wherein said pump section includes a cavity that makes communication with said channel, and a pump actuator section that varies a volume of said cavity.  
     
     
         61 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 60 , wherein a valve section is provided between said channel and said cavity.  
     
     
         62 . The microchemical chip according to  claim 61 , wherein said valve section includes a valve plug arranged at a communicating section between said channel and said cavity, and a valve actuator section for operating said valve plug to selectively open and close said communicating section.