US 12,290,814 B2
Bubble discharging method, particle trapping apparatus, and particle analyzing apparatus
Kenji Ikeda, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to SONY GROUP CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Appl. No. 17/424,258
Filed by SONY GROUP CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
PCT Filed Dec. 4, 2019, PCT No. PCT/JP2019/047523
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 20, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/158183, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 6, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-011785 (JP), filed on Jan. 28, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0111382 A1, Apr. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 37/00 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502738 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502715 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0673 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0819 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0487 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bubble discharging method carried out in a chamber including a microchip that includes at least one well or through hole to divide a space into a first space and a second space, the bubble discharging method comprising:
applying a positive pressure greater than a threshold to a fluid in the chamber based on presence of a bubble in the chamber;
opening a first flow path connected to the first space or a second flow path connected to the second space based on the application of the positive pressure greater than the threshold;
discharging the bubble from the chamber based on the application of the positive pressure greater than the threshold, and the opening of the first flow path or the second flow path; and
closing the first flow path or the second flow path based on the discharge of the bubble from the chamber, wherein
based on a determination that the first flow path is opened, the first flow path is closed, and
based on a determination that the second flow path is opened, the second flow path is closed.
 
11. A particle trapping apparatus, comprising:
a pressure control unit configured to:
control, in a chamber including a microchip that includes at least one well or through hole to divide a space into a first space and a second space, application a positive pressure to a fluid in the chamber;
control opening of a valve for opening a first flow path connected to the first space and a second flow path connected to the second space based on the application of the positive pressure greater than a threshold;
discharge a bubble in the chamber based on the application of the positive pressure and the opening of the valve, wherein the particle trapping apparatus is further configured to trap a particle into the well or the through hole; and
control closing of the valve for closing the first flow path connected to the first space and the second flow path connected to the second space based on the discharge of the bubble in the chamber.
 
14. A particle analyzing apparatus, comprising:
a pressure control unit configured to:
control, in a chamber including a microchip that includes at least one well or through hole to divide a space into a first space and a second space, application of a positive pressure to a fluid in the chamber;
control opening of a valve for opening a first flow path connected to the first space and a second flow path connected to the second space based on the application of the positive pressure greater than a threshold;
discharge a bubble in the chamber based on the application of the positive pressure and the opening of the valve; and
control closing of the valve for closing the first flow path connected to the first space and the second flow path connected to the second space based on the discharge of the bubble in the chamber;
an observation unit configured to image, with a microscope, a bubble in the chamber or a particle trapped in the well or the through hole; and
an analysis unit configured to conduct an analysis relating to the bubble or the particle trapped based on information acquired from the observation unit.