Patent ID: 7931789

Claim:
A separation buffer solution filling device, for a microchip, the microchip having reservoirs opened on a surface, said reservoirs fluidly communicating with channels including at least a main separation channel in which analysis is performed while a solution moves therein, said filling device comprising: an air supply port is an opening on disposed at a front end of an air cylinder, said air supply port having a seal configured to be pressed against said surface about a selected reservoir to establish an air-tight seal about the selected reservoir; an air cylinder moving/driving mechanism for moving said air cylinder in a vertical direction with respect to the surface and for operating a plunger disposed in said air cylinder, said air cylinder moving/driving mechanism comprising: an air cylinder holding member for holding said air cylinder, a plunger holding member for holding said plunger above said air cylinder holding member, a guide for slidably supporting said air cylinder holding member and plunger holding member, an elastic member disposed between said air cylinder holding member and plunger holding member, a driving mechanism for moving said plunger holding member in the vertical direction, and a stopper for defining a top dead center of said plunger holding member; wherein said elastic member is set in a manner such that in a decent of said plunger holding member toward said surface which accompanies an operation of said driving mechanism, said air cylinder holding member is pushed toward said surface by said elastic member until said seal of said air supply port sealingly contacts said surface, and said plunger is pushed further within said air cylinder by the air cylinder moving/driving mechanism to supply air from said air supply port into the selected reservoir.