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  Biochemical reaction cassette and detection apparatus for biochemical reaction cassetteUSPTO Application #: 20070122848Title: Biochemical reaction cassette and detection apparatus for biochemical reaction cassette Abstract: A biochemical reaction cassette comprises: a substrate carrying probes immobilized thereon, the probes being adapted to be specifically bound to a target substance; a reaction space forming member for forming a reaction space with the substrate; an elastic member; and an anchor member for supporting the substrate so as to keep it movable relative to the reaction space forming member by way of the elastic member. (end of abstract) Agent: Fitzpatrick Cella Harper & Scinto - New York, NY, US Inventor: Yuri Mizutani USPTO Applicaton #: 20070122848 - Class: 435007100 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Chemistry: Molecular Biology And Microbiology, Measuring Or Testing Process Involving Enzymes Or Micro-organisms; Composition Or Test Strip Therefore; Processes Of Forming Such Composition Or Test Strip, Involving Antigen-antibody Binding, Specific Binding Protein Assay Or Specific Ligand-receptor Binding Assay The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070122848. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a biochemical reaction cassette, a detection apparatus to be used for such a biochemical reaction cassette and a detection method for detecting a target substance caught by the probes of such a biochemical reaction cassette. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Currently, massive research efforts are being paid in a short period of time to look into the polymorphism and the expression amount of genes in conjunction with the progress of the technology of analyzing genomic information. DNA micro-arrays are being popularly used as means for analyzing genomic information under the circumstances where genomic information is required to be analyzed with such a high degree of throughput. A DNA micro-array is prepared by highly densely immobilizing a large number of probes that can specifically be bound to a biomolecule such as DNA on a substrate such as a glass slide. Genes are extracted from a specimen such as blood taken from a subject, then amplified and labeled typically by a fluorescent dye. As the labeled genes are developed on a DNA micro-array by an appropriate means and the reaction conditions including the temperature are adjusted, a hybridization reaction takes place between the developed genes and the probes. When the specimen contains genes that can specifically be bound to the probes, they are bound to the corresponding probes. Since the genes are labeled in advance, it is possible to determine the type and the quantity of the genes contained in the specimen from the positions on the DNA micro-array where the labels emit a signal and the intensity of the signal. [0005] Known specimen analyzing apparatus adapted to use a DNA micro-array include those for extracting genes from a specimen, those for amplifying the extracted genes and those for labeling genes with a fluorescent dye as well as those for developing the genes labeled by means of any of above listed apparatus and causing a hybridization reaction to take place and those for detecting the positions of fluorescent labels and the intensities of fluorescence on the DNA micro-array after the reaction. However, the operation of any of such apparatus is time consuming and cumbersome because the genes extracted from the specimen have to be moved from apparatus to apparatus by hand. Additionally, a huge space is required to install all such apparatus. Currently, such specimen analyzing apparatus are mostly for research applications. In other words, the time-consuming and cumbersome operation and the requirement for a large space may not raise a particular problem for the present. However, as the performance of DNA micro-arrays is improved in the near future, specimen analyzing apparatus of the type under consideration will find applications in the field of clinical practice for the purpose of examinations. Then, the time-consuming and cumbersome operation and the requirement for a large space will constitute a barrier against quick examinations. [0006] A compact biochemical reaction cassette realized by integrally combining such apparatus other than a fluorescence detection apparatus has been developed to dissolve the problem of cumbersomeness operation and the requirement for a large space (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-050540). The DNA micro-array that is arranged in such a biochemical reaction cassette is downsized as compared with the micro-arrays arranged in known apparatus. To accurately detect signals of fluorescence by means of such a downsized DNA micro-array, the DNA micro-array has to be arranged in parallel with the detection surface of the detection apparatus and secured there. Then, a highly precise adjustment mechanism is required to accurately place the DNA micro-array in position. Additionally, in the analysis of genomic information that utilizes a specific binding of DNA, a denaturing process (of heating to a temperature level higher than the melting temperature Tm) for the purpose of reducing a double-stranded DNA to a single-stranded DNA and/or a hybridization reaction or some other reaction that needs to be conducted at high temperature are often required. Then, the biochemical reaction cassette itself can be deformed by heat applied to it. Thus, even if the DNA micro-array is successfully arranged in parallel with the detection surface of the detection apparatus and secured there initially, the plane of the DNA micro-array may not be kept in parallel with the detection surface of the detection apparatus. In such a case, it may not be able to accurately define the focal point of the detection apparatus. The net result will be that the operation of detecting signals of fluorescence may not reliably be conducted. [0007] In view of the above-identified circumstances, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of using a biochemical reaction cassette comprising a DNA micro-array and keeping the plane of the DNA micro-array in parallel with the detection surface of a detection apparatus in order to make it possible to accurately detect a desired target substance such as genes by way of a simple operation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a biochemical reaction cassette and a detection apparatus to be used for such a biochemical reaction cassette to which the method of the present invention is applicable. [0008] It may be needless to say that the scope of application of the present invention is by no means limited to DNA micro-arrays and the present invention can be applied to probe arrays where biomolecules of any of various types are arranged on a substrate as probes. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a biochemical reaction cassette comprising: a substrate carrying probes immobilized thereon, the probes being adapted to be specifically bound to a target substance; a reaction space forming member for forming a reaction space with the substrate; an elastic member; and an anchor member for supporting the substrate so as to keep it movable relative to the reaction space forming member by way of the elastic member. [0010] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detection apparatus provided with a biochemical reaction cassette for detecting a target substance caught by probes, the apparatus comprising: the biochemical reaction cassette including: a substrate carrying probes immobilized thereon, the probes being adapted to be specifically bound to the target substance; a reaction space forming member for forming a reaction space with the substrate; an elastic member; and an anchor member for supporting the substrate so as to keep it movable relative to the reaction space forming member by way of the elastic member; a detector having a detection surface for detecting the target substance caught by the probes of the biochemical reaction cassette; three or more than three supports having respective front end sections; a mechanism for contacting the supports to the substrate; and a holding structure for holding the biochemical reaction cassette; wherein the plane including the front end sections of the three or more than three supports is parallel to the detection surface. [0011] In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detection apparatus provided with a biochemical reaction cassette for detecting a target substance caught by probes, the apparatus comprising: a biochemical reaction cassette including: a substrate carrying probes immobilized thereon, the probes being adapted to be specifically bound to the target substance; and a reaction space forming member for forming a reaction space with the substrate; a detector having a detection surface for detecting the target substance caught by the probes of the biochemical reaction cassette; three or more than three supports having respective front end sections; a mechanism for contacting the supports to the substrate; a holding structure for holding the biochemical reaction cassette; and an elastic member for supporting the biochemical reaction cassette so as to be movable relative to the holding structure; wherein the biochemical reaction cassette is anchored to the holding structure by way of the elastic member; and the plane including the front end sections of the three or more than three supports is parallel to the detection surface. [0012] In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of detecting a target substance caught by probes of a biochemical reaction cassette, the method comprising steps of: supporting the biochemical reaction cassette by means of a holding structure; the biochemical reaction cassette including: a substrate carrying probes immobilized thereon, the probes being adapted to be specifically bound to a target substance; a reaction space forming member for forming a reaction space with the substrate; an elastic member; and an anchor member for supporting the substrate so as to keep it movable relative to the reaction space forming member by way of the elastic member; correcting a posture of the substrate relative to the reaction space forming member, while pressing three or more than three supports having respective front end sections against the substrate and elastically deforming the elastic member; and detecting the target substance caught by the probes of the substrate by a detection means having a detection surface; wherein the plane including the front end sections of the three or more than three supports is parallel to the detection surface. [0013] In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of detecting a target substance caught by probes of a biochemical reaction cassette, the method comprising steps of: supporting the biochemical reaction cassette by means of a holding structure by way of an elastic member; the biochemical reaction cassette including: a substrate carrying probes immobilized thereon, the probes being adapted to be specifically bound to a target substance; a reaction space forming member for forming a reaction space with the substrate; and an anchor member for supporting the substrate so as to keep it movable relative to the reaction space forming member by way of the elastic member; correcting a posture of the substrate relative to the reaction space forming member, while pressing three or more than three supports having respective front end sections against the substrate and elastically deforming the elastic member; and detecting the target substance caught by the probes of the substrate by a detection means having a detection surface; wherein the plane including the front end sections of the three or more than three supports is parallel to the detection surface. [0014] Thus, according to the present invention, when mounting a biochemical reaction cassette in a detection apparatus, it is possible to correct with ease the posture of the substrate arranged in the biochemical reaction cassette so as to make it run in parallel with the detection surface of the detection apparatus and hold it in position if the substrate is initially not highly accurately held in parallel. Then, as a result the detection accuracy is improved to make it possible to highly accurately detect the target substance. [0015] Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of the reaction space provided in the first embodiment of a biochemical reaction cassette according to the present invention, illustrating the first feasible arrangement thereof. [0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross sectional view of the reaction space provided in the first embodiment of a biochemical reaction cassette according to the present invention, illustrating the second feasible arrangement thereof. [0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view of the reaction space provided in the first embodiment of a biochemical reaction cassette according to the present invention, illustrating the third feasible arrangement thereof. [0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross sectional view of the reaction space provided in the first embodiment of a biochemical reaction cassette according to the present invention, illustrating the fourth feasible arrangement thereof. [0020] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross sectional view of the reaction space provided in the first embodiment of a biochemical reaction cassette according to the present invention, illustrating the fifth feasible arrangement thereof. [0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the first embodiment of a detection apparatus according to the present invention, where the first embodiment of the biochemical reaction cassette showing the first feasible arrangement is mounted. Continue reading... Full patent description for Biochemical reaction cassette and detection apparatus for biochemical reaction cassette Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Biochemical reaction cassette and detection apparatus for biochemical reaction cassette patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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