Patent ID: 7316802

Claim:
A device for the stepwise transport of liquid, particularly of sample liquid to be analyzed, through several reaction chambers located in series in terms of flow while utilizing capillary forces, comprising a channel ( 14 ) through which liquid is transportable on the basis of capillary forces, and at least two closed vent holes ( 38 , 40 , 42 ) which are in fluid communication via respective fluid connections ( 30 , 32 , 34 ) with the channel ( 14 ) at connection sites ( 22 , 24 , 26 ) spaced from each other along the channel ( 14 ), the connection sites ( 22 , 24 , 26 ) dividing the channel ( 14 ) into several channel sections ( 44 , 46 , 48 ), the vent holes ( 38 , 40 , 42 ) allocated thereto being able to be opened separately, thereby allowing stepwise fluid flow into said respective channel sections ( 44 , 46 , 48 ), and at least one chamber ( 50 , 52 , 54 ) being arranged in the channel sections ( 44 , 46 , 48 ) upstream of each connection site ( 22 , 24 , 26 ) in flow direction.