US 12,228,126 B2
Liquid supply device, microdevice system, and liquid supply method
Yuji Kimura, Hamamatsu (JP); and Hiroyasu Itoh, Hamamatsu (JP)
Assigned to HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K., Hamamatsu (JP)
Appl. No. 17/310,814
Filed by HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K., Hamamatsu (JP)
PCT Filed Feb. 19, 2020, PCT No. PCT/JP2020/006615
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 25, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/175289, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 3, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-036380 (JP), filed on Feb. 28, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0120271 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. F04B 53/16 (2006.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); F04B 43/04 (2006.01); F04B 53/10 (2006.01)
CPC F04B 53/16 (2013.01) [C12M 29/00 (2013.01); F04B 43/043 (2013.01); F04B 53/10 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A liquid supply device comprising:
a pump unit comprising a single pump having a discharge port for discharging a fluid;
a branch pipe having a connecting portion connected to the discharge port and a first and a second pipe portion branching off from the connecting portion;
a first and a second introduction unit connected to the branch pipe, each of the first and second introduction units being arranged to supply a liquid to a microfluidic device having a first flow channel, a second flow channel running along the first flow channel, and a communication hole allowing the first flow channel and the second flow channel to communicate with each other; and
a stopping portion arranged to stop flow of the fluid in the second pipe portion, wherein
the first introduction unit is connected to the first pipe portion and is arranged to introduce a first liquid into the first flow channel at a first flow rate corresponding to a flow rate of the fluid flowing through the first pipe portion, the second introduction unit is connected to the second pipe portion and is arranged to introduce a second liquid into the first flow channel at a second flow rate corresponding to a flow rate of the fluid flowing through the second pipe portion, and
when the stopping portion switches from allowing to stopping flow of the fluid in the second pipe portion, a pressure change in the first flow channel is suppressed.