Analysis cartridge

An analysis cartridge comprising a cartridge body, a first cover, a liquid storage box and a sealing film is disclosed. The cartridge body has an accommodation portion and a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The first cover covers the first side or the second side of the cartridge body and has a first through hole. The liquid storage box is disposed in the accommodation portion and has a liquid through hole. The sealing film seals the liquid through hole of the said liquid storage box and passes through the first through hole of the first cover, wherein the liquid through hole is exposed by removing the sealing film.

This application claims the benefit of People's Republic of China application Serial No. 201210155013.7, filed May 18, 2012, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to an analysis cartridge, and more particularly to the design of a sealing film of an analysis cartridge.

2. Description of the Related Art

The in vitro diagnostic testing process comprises the following operation sequence: (1) a test specimen is infused; (2) the test specimen is diluted; (3) the test specimen is mixed with a reagent; (4) an optical signal is measured. The main purpose of diluting the test specimen is for reducing the disruptor and increasing the volume of the specimen so that a multi-objective test can be performed on a tiny quantity of test specimen. Therefore, the diluent will be mixed with the test specimen according to a particular proportion.

Of the products currently available in the market, a diluent box pre-filled with a diluent is packaged in an analysis cartridge. After the analysis cartridge is loaded into an analyzer, the mechanism design of the analyzer opens an opening of the diluent box for allowing the diluent pre-filled in the diluent box to flow out the diluent box to be mixed with the test specimen in the analysis cartridge so that the test specimen can be diluted.

However, the procedure of opening the diluent box requires a complicated mechanism design, which not only increases the operation complexity, but further increases the size and weight of the analyzer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to an analysis cartridge, which dispenses with a mechanism of opening a liquid through hole of a liquid storage box so as to effectively reduce cost and increase market competiveness.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an analysis cartridge comprising a cartridge body, a first cover, a liquid storage box and a sealing film is disclosed. The cartridge body has an accommodation portion, and a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The first cover covers the first side or the second side of the cartridge body and has a first through hole. The liquid storage box is disposed within the accommodation portion and has a liquid through hole. The sealing film seals the liquid through hole of the said liquid storage box and passes through the first through hole of the first cover, wherein the liquid through hole is exposed by removing the sealing film.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an analysis cartridge comprising a cartridge body, a liquid storage box and a sealing film is disclosed. The cartridge body has an accommodation portion, and a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The liquid storage box is disposed within the accommodation portion and has a liquid through hole. The liquid storage box comprises a liquid storage tank having an opening and a tank cover covering the opening of the liquid storage tank, and the liquid through hole is formed on the bottom of the liquid storage tank. The sealing film seals the liquid through hole, wherein the liquid through hole is exposed by removing the sealing film.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, an explosion diagram of an analysis cartridge according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The analysis cartridge100comprises a first cover110, a cartridge body120, a liquid storage box130, a second cover140and a sealing film150.

The first cover110covers a first side120uof the cartridge body120and has a first through hole111. The first cover110may be formed by a high polymer such as polypropylene (PP) or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Under such design, the first cover110may be bonded to the cartridge body120by hot melting method or ultra-sound bonding technology. Alternatively, the first cover110may be formed by an adhesive material such as an adhesive tape. Under such design, the first cover110may be adhered on the cartridge body120.

The cartridge body120has an accommodation portion121, a second through hole122, and a first side120uand a second side120bopposite to the first side120u.The cartridge body120may be formed by plastics such as polypropylene.

The liquid storage box130, used for storing a diluent, can be contained within the accommodation portion121of the cartridge body120. The liquid storage box130has a liquid through hole131via which the diluent flows out the liquid storage box130to be mixed with the test specimen. The sealing film150seals the liquid through hole131of the liquid storage box130to avoid the diluent flowing out when analysis is not performed.

Referring toFIG. 2, an assembly diagram of a cartridge body, a liquid storage box, a second cover and a sealing film ofFIG. 1is shown. The accommodation portion121may contain the liquid storage box130. When analysis is not performed, the liquid through hole131of the liquid storage box130is sealed by the sealing film150to avoid the diluent L (FIG. 4) inside the liquid storage box130flowing out via the liquid through hole131.

Referring toFIG. 3, a schematic diagram of the sealing film ofFIG. 2being torn apart and exposing the liquid through hole is shown. When analysis is performed, the operator may pull another terminal152of the sealing film150for exposing the sealed liquid through hole131. Then, after the analysis cartridge100is loaded into an analyzer (not illustrated), the analyzer drives the analysis cartridge100to rotate around the axis AX, so that the diluent L stored in the liquid storage box130(FIG. 4) is driven by a centrifugal force to flow out and enter liquid channel123via the exposed liquid through hole131. In addition, the axis AX is such as the center of the analysis cartridge100.

The cartridge body120further has at least one reaction chamber124, wherein the liquid channel123interconnects the reaction chamber124with the liquid through hole131of the liquid storage box130, such that the diluent L inside the liquid storage box130may flow to the reaction chamber124via the liquid through hole131and the liquid channel123to react with the reactive substance1241stored in the reaction chamber124.

In the present embodiment, the reaction chamber124is realized by a blind hole (referring toFIG. 5). In another embodiment, the reaction chamber124is realized by a through hole. Despite the reaction chamber124is a through hole, the reactive substance1241inside the reaction chamber124is blocked by the second cover140(FIG. 5) and will not flow out.

As indicated in an enlargement diagram ofFIG. 3, the liquid channel123has a liquid accumulation tank1231, a first distribution channel1232and a second distribution channel1233, wherein the first distribution channel1232and the second distribution channel1233are connected to the liquid accumulation tank1231. Through the design of the distance between the first distribution channel1232and the axis AX, the flow of the diluent L entering the first distribution channel1232from the liquid accumulation tank1231can be controlled, so that the predetermined or expected reaction between the diluent L and the reactive substance1241inside the reaction chamber124can be achieved.

Since the distance between the first distribution channel1232and the axis AX is larger than that between the second distribution channel1233and the axis AX, the centrifugal force driving the diluent L in the first distribution channel1232is larger than the centrifugal force driving the diluent L in the second distribution channel1233, making most or all of the diluent L inside the liquid accumulation tank1231enter the first distribution channel1232and flow to the reaction chamber124. In addition, the second distribution channel1233interconnects with the ventilation hole112of the first cover110, so that the gas inside the liquid channel123may be discharged off the analysis cartridge100through the second distribution channel1233and the ventilation hole112of the first cover110(FIG. 1).

Referring toFIG. 4, a cross-sectional view along a direction4-4′ ofFIG. 2is shown. The liquid storage box130is disposed within the accommodation portion121. In an embodiment of the invention, the outer diameter of the liquid storage box130is larger than the inner diameter of the accommodation portion121, such that the liquid storage box130is tightly located within the accommodation portion121. In another embodiment, the liquid storage box130is bonded to the first cover110by using such as hot melting method or ultra-sound bonding technology. Under such design, the outer diameter of the liquid storage box130does not have to be larger than the inner diameter of the accommodation portion121. Instead, the outer diameter of the liquid storage box130may be smaller than or equal to the inner diameter of the accommodation portion121.

The liquid storage box130comprises a box body132and a tank cover133. The box body132further has a liquid storage tank1321and a tank bottom1322. The liquid storage tank1321extends to the tank bottom1322from the terminal surface132s. The tank bottom1322faces the first cover110. The liquid through hole131penetrates the tank bottom1322and interconnects with the liquid storage tank1321. The tank cover133is adhered on a terminal surface132sof the box body132to cover an opening1321aof the liquid storage tank1321which is exposed from the terminal surface132s. In other words, the liquid storage tank1321has an opening facing the second side120bof the cartridge body120, and the tank cover133covers the opening of the liquid storage tank1321. The tank cover133is formed by a metal or a high polymer, wherein the metal is such as aluminum, and the high polymer is such as plastics.

In the present embodiment, the tank bottom1322of the box body132has a flange1323, and the liquid through hole131penetrates the flange1323. Through the design of the flange1323, the sealing film150seals the liquid through hole131more tightly.

The second cover140covers the second side120bof the cartridge body120. The second cover140and the first cover110may be formed by similar materials, and the similarities are not repeated here. In addition, the second cover140and the first cover110may be formed by the same material or different materials. In addition, the second cover140is bonded to the cartridge body120by using such as hot melting method, ultra-sound bonding technology or adhering method.

Referring toFIG. 5, a cross-sectional view along a direction5-5′ ofFIG. 2is shown. In the present embodiment, the sealing film150is strip-shaped. The sealing film150passes through the first cover110through the second through hole122of the cartridge body120and the first through hole111of the first cover110.

The sealing film150penetrates the second through hole122and the first through hole111by way of reversely bending the sealing film150. To put it in greater details, one terminal151of the sealing film150is reversely bended after sealing the liquid through hole131, so that another terminal152of the sealing film150passes through the first cover110through the second through hole122and the first through hole111. In addition, the sealing film150may seal the liquid through hole131by using hot melt method.

Referring toFIG. 6, a partial enlargement diagram of a portion6′ ofFIG. 2is shown. The sealing film150is such as a multi-layer structure. For example, the sealing film150comprises a bonding layer153, a metal layer154and an adhesive layer155.

The bonding layer153seals the liquid through hole131, and the adhesive layer155is formed between the bonding layer153and the metal layer154for bonding the bonding layer153to the metal layer154. In an embodiment, the bonding layer153and the cartridge body120may be formed by the same material such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). During the hot melt process, after the bonding layer153reaches the glass transition temperature, the bonding layer153may be bonded to the liquid storage box130.

The metal layer154is formed by a metal having superior thermal conductivity such as aluminum or other metal. Due to the superior thermal conductivity, the thermal conductive layer154, without contacting the sealing film150, may transmit the heat to the bonding layer153via the metal layer154for heating the bonding layer153.

Referring toFIG. 7, an explosion diagram of an analysis cartridge according to another embodiment of the invention is shown. The analysis cartridge200comprises a first cover110, a cartridge body220, a liquid storage box230, a second cover140and a sealing film150.

The first cover110covers a second side120bof the cartridge body220. The cartridge body220further has a second through hole222. In comparison to the liquid storage box130, the liquid storage box230has a third through hole231. The second cover140covers the first side120uof the cartridge body220.

Referring toFIGS. 8 and 9.FIG. 8shows an assembly diagram of a cartridge body, a liquid storage box and a sealing film ofFIG. 7.FIG. 9shows a cross-sectional view along a direction9-9′ ofFIG. 8.

The liquid storage box230is contained within the accommodation portion121of the cartridge body220. One terminal151of the sealing film150seals the liquid through hole131, and another terminal152of the sealing film150passes through the first cover110through the third through hole231, the second through hole222and the first through hole111(the first through hole111and the first cover110are not illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9).

When analysis is performed, the operator may pull another terminal152of the sealing film150for exposing the sealed liquid through hole131. Then, after the analysis cartridge100is loaded into an analyzer (not illustrated), the analyzer drives the analysis cartridge100to rotate around the axis AX, so that the diluent L stored in the liquid storage box230is driven by the centrifugal force to flow to the liquid channel123through the exposed liquid through hole131. In addition, the axis AX is such as the center of the cartridge body220.