FINE OBJECT SEPARATION DEVICE AND FINE OBJECT SEPARATION METHOD USING FINE OBJECT SEPARATION DEVICE

Abstract

A fine object separation device includes: a first channel in which a subject solution including a plurality of different fine objects having a size of 1 micrometer or less flows in from one side and flows to the other side; and a second channel that communicates with a first wall surface of the first channel at an angle greater than 0°, parallel to the flow direction of the subject solution, and less than 90°, perpendicular to the flow direction of the subject solution, wherein the second channel merges a buffer solution with the first channel.

Description

Claims

1. A fine object separation device comprising: a first channel in which a subject solution including a plurality of different fine objects having a size of 1 micrometer or less flows in from one side and flows to the other side; anda second channel that communicates with a first wall surface of the first channel at an angle greater than 0°, parallel to a flow direction of the subject solution, and less than 90°, perpendicular to the flow direction of the subject solution, wherein the second channel merges a buffer solution with the first channel,wherein the buffer solution supplied through the second channel separates the fine objects according to size in a direction intersecting with the flow direction of the subject solution, and the fine objects are separated such that the smaller fine objects are disposed closer to the first wall surface and the larger fine objects are disposed closer to a second wall surface that is spaced apart from and facing the first wall surface.

2. The fine object separation device of claim 1, further comprising an output channel having one side communicating with the other side of the first channel and having a larger channel width than the first channel.

3. The fine object separation device of claim 2, wherein the output channel comprises: an inclined portion having one side communicating with the other side of the first channel, extending obliquely upwards from an upper surface of the first channel so that a width of the inclined portion becomes larger than the first channel and extending obliquely downwards from a lower surface of the first channel; anda horizontal portion having one side communicating with the other side of the inclined portion and extending parallel to each of the first wall surface and the second wall surface.

4. The fine object separation device of claim 2, wherein the output channel comprises a plurality of outlets formed to be spaced apart from each other in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the subject solution flows, so that the fine objects are classified according to size and are discharged.

5. The fine object separation device of claim 1, wherein a temperature gradient in which temperature decreases from the first wall surface to the second wall surface, is formed in the first channel.

6. The fine object separation device of claim 1, wherein the fine objects comprise fine particles.

7. The fine object separation device of claim 1, wherein the fine objects comprise bio-molecules.

8. A fine object separation method comprising: a subject solution flowing step in which a subject solution including a plurality of different fine objects having a size of 1 micrometer or less flows in a first channel;a buffer solution merging step in which a buffer solution merges into the first channel through a second channel that communicates with a first wall surface of the first channel at an angle greater than 0°, parallel to a flow direction of the subject solution, and less than 90°, perpendicular to the flow direction of the subject solution; anda fine object separating step in which the buffer solution supplied through the second channel separates the fine objects according to size in a direction intersecting with the flow direction of the subject solution, and the fine objects are separated such that the smaller fine objects are disposed closer to the first wall surface and the larger fine objects are disposed closer to a second wall surface that is spaced apart from and facing the first wall surface.

9. The fine object separation method of claim 8, wherein the fine object separation device further comprises an output channel having one side communicating with the other side of the first channel and having a larger channel width than the first channel.

10. The fine object separation method of claim 8, wherein the output channel comprises a plurality of outlets formed to be spaced apart from each other in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the subject solution flows, so that the fine objects are classified according to size and are discharged.

11. The fine object separation method of claim 8, wherein the fine object separating step further comprises forming a temperature gradient in which temperature decreases from the first wall surface to the second wall surface, in the first channel.

12. A fine object separation method comprising: a subject solution flowing step in which a subject solution including a plurality of different fine objects having a size of 1 micrometer or less flows in a first channel and a buffer solution flows in a second channel that merges by forming an acute angle in the first channel; anda fine object separating step in which the buffer solution separates the fine objects according to size in a direction intersecting with the flow direction of the subject solution, and the fine objects are separated such that the larger fine objects are disposed far from the second channel.

13. The fine object separation method of claim 12, wherein the fine object separating step further comprises forming a temperature gradient in which temperature decreases as it gets farther from the second channel with respect to a direction perpendicular to a flow direction of the subject solution, in the first channel.

14. A fine object separation method comprising: a subject solution flowing step in which a subject solution including a plurality of different fine objects having a size of 1 micrometer or less flows in a first channel and vertical component forces are provided in a flow direction of the subject solution; anda fine object separating step in which the fine objects are separated according to size in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the subject solution flows, by the vertical component forces and the fine objects are separated such that the larger fine objects are disposed far from the vertical direction.

15. The fine object separation method of claim 14, wherein the fine object separating step further comprises forming a temperature gradient in which temperature decreases as it gets farther from the vertical direction, in the first channel.