Liquid suction device

Abstract

A liquid suction device used to suction a liquid contained in a well of a microchip which includes the well and a microchannel in fluid communication with the well. The liquid suction device includes: a suction nozzle having a tip opening at a tip thereof and being connected to piping at a rear end thereof, the suction nozzle suctioning the liquid through the tip opening; a pump connected to the piping, the pump supplying a suction pressure to the suction nozzle; and a driving unit for moving the suction nozzle relative to the well. In liquid suction device, the suction nozzle is moved by the driving unit until the tip opening contacts a bottom surface of the well while the suction nozzle applies a suction force produced by the suction pressure, thereby enabling suction of the liquid from the well and/or the microchannel.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . A liquid suction device for suctioning a liquid contained in a well of a microchip, the microchip including the well for containing the liquid and a microchannel in fluid communication with the well, the liquid suction device comprising:
 a suction nozzle comprising a tip opening at a tip thereof and being connected to piping at a rear end thereof, the suction nozzle suctioning the liquid through the tip opening;   a pump means connected to the piping, the pump means supplying a suction pressure to the suction nozzle; and   a moving means for moving the suction nozzle relative to the well, wherein the suction nozzle is moved by the moving means until the tip opening contacts a bottom surface of the well while the suction nozzle applies a suction force produced by the suction pressure, thereby enabling suction of the liquid from the well and/or the microchannel.   
   
   
       7 . A liquid suction device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein, after the suction nozzle has contacted the bottom surface of the well, the moving means causes relative movement of the suction nozzle in a direction away from the bottom surface of the well while the suction nozzle applies the suction force. 
   
   
       8 . A liquid suction device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the tip opening is formed to be parallel to the bottom surface of the well. 
   
   
       9 . A liquid suction device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the tip opening is formed to be parallel to the bottom surface of the well. 
   
   
       10 . A liquid suction device as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a cushioning mechanism for cushioning the contact between the tip opening of the suction nozzle and the bottom surface of the well when the suction nozzle is moved down. 
   
   
       11 . A liquid suction device as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a cushioning mechanism for cushioning the contact between the tip opening of the suction nozzle and the bottom surface of the well when the suction nozzle is moved down. 
   
   
       12 . A liquid suction device as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a cushioning mechanism for cushioning the contact between the tip opening of the suction nozzle and the bottom surface of the well when the suction nozzle is moved down. 
   
   
       13 . A liquid suction device as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising a cushioning mechanism for cushioning the contact between the tip opening of the suction nozzle and the bottom surface of the well when the suction nozzle is moved down. 
   
   
       14 . A liquid suction device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the cushioning mechanism comprises an elastic member. 
   
   
       15 . A liquid suction device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the cushioning mechanism comprises an elastic member. 
   
   
       16 . A liquid suction device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the cushioning mechanism comprises an elastic member. 
   
   
       17 . A liquid suction device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the cushioning mechanism comprises an elastic member.