Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha

Shigeru Komai

Yutaka Takarada

Katsuya Daimon

Yozo Yamada

Takayuki Horino

The present invention provides a method of extracting and isolating nucleic acids from a material containing nucleic acids using a nucleic acid-binding particulate carrier. More specifically, the present invention provides a nucleic acid extraction method using a particulate carrier having a particle diameter of 0.5 to 15.0 &mgr;m, a pore diameter of 50 to 500 nm and a pore volume of 200 to 5000 mm /g. According to the method of the invention, nucleic acids can be efficiently extracted from a biological material, in particular a material containing a large amount of contaminants, such as a clinical sample.

Method of extracting nucleic acids using particulate carrier

This invention provides an apparatus for extracting nucleic acids from nucleic acid-containing samples. The nucleic acid extraction apparatus of the invention comprises (1) a group of extraction vessels each comprising a reactor tube in which a sample, a reagent solution, and a magnetic carrier are admixed and reacted, a drain cup for pooling an unwanted component solution, and a nucleic acid recovery tube all as secured to a support, (2) a distribution means for introducing a solution into each of the extraction vessels, (3) a stirring means for mixing the solution and magnetic carrier in the reactor tube, (4) a holding means for holding the magnetic carrier stationary within the vessel, (5) a discharging means for discharging the solution from the reactor tube while the magnetic carrier is held stationary, (6) a heating means for heating the solution and magnetic carrier in the reactor tube, and (7) a transfer means for serially transferring the vessels to the given positions.

Nucleic acid extraction apparatus

This invention provides an apparatus for extracting nucleic acids from nucleic acid-containing samples, particularly biological samples, and more particularly to a nucleic acid extraction apparatus well suited for the nucleic acid extraction method utilizing a nucleic acid-binding magnetic carrier. The nucleic acid extraction apparatus of the invention comprises (1) a group of extraction vessels each comprising a reactor tube in which a sample, a reagent solution, and a magnetic carrier are admixed and reacted, a drain cup for pooling an unwanted component solution, and a nucleic acid recovery tube all as secured to a support, (2) a distribution means for introducing a solution into each of the extraction vessels, (3) a stirring means for mixing the solution and magnetic carrier in the reactor tube, (4) a holding means for holding the magnetic carrier stationary within the vessel, (5) a discharging means for discharging the solution from the reactor tube while the magnetic carrier is held stationary, (6) a heating means for heating the solution and magnetic carrier in the reactor tube, and (7) a transfer means for serially transferring the vessels to the given positions where the distribution means, stirring means, holding means, discharging means and heating means are respectively disposed.

Nucleic acid extraction method

Method for judging a color difference between a color of an object and a reference color and apparatus therefor in which it is judged at first if the color difference exists within a predetermined range in which it is difficult to determine whether or not the color difference is definite and, if it exists within the predetermined range, the color difference is judged whether it is substantial or nealigible according to rules according to Fuzzy inference.

Growing community of inventors

Otsu, Japan

Shigeru Komai