Microchip, microchip device, and evaporation operation method using the microchip

摘要

Provided is a microchip capable of integrating liquid evaporation as an operation on the microchip. In the microchip 10 having a gas flow path 13 inside, liquid is dispersed by capillary action and pooled in a pool portion 12 at a bottom of the gas flow path 13, and at least a part of the liquid pooled in the pool portion 12 is evaporated. As the capillary action is used, the liquid can be dispersed and pooled in the pool portion 12 at the bottom of the gas flow path 13 inside the microchip 10. Besides, the liquid pooled in the pool portion 12 remains in the pool portion by a surface tension even if gas is made to flow in the gas flow path 13 or the gas flow path is evacuated for evaporation. This enables highly efficient evaporation inside the microchip 10.

主权项

1. A microchip comprising:
a gas flow path, which is operable of being in fluid communication with a gas source disposed outside of the microchip, and a pool portion which is operable of being in fluid communication with a liquid source disposed outside of the microchip, the pool portion being formed at a bottom of the gas flow path for pooling liquid that is dispersed by capillary action and being open into the gas flow path over the pool portion, the pool portion comprising: at least one groove formed in a bottom surface of the gas flow path for a liquid to flow in, and a counterbore is provided at the downstream side end of the at least one groove, the counterbore being wider than the at least one groove, and the pool portion being operable to evaporate at least a part of a liquid pooled in the groove of the pool portion into a space of the gas flow path, the pool portion being configured so that the liquid does not flow into the counterbore of the pool portion and remains in the groove of the pool portion due to the surface tension when the liquid is evaporated.