WO2000053320A1

WO2000053320A1 - Pumping device for transferring at least a fluid into a consumable

Info

Publication number: WO2000053320A1
Application number: PCT/FR2000/000580
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruno Colin
Original assignee: Biomerieux S.A.
Priority date: 1999-03-09
Filing date: 2000-03-09
Publication date: 2000-09-14
Also published as: JP2003517368A; FR2790681A1; EP1159069A1; FR2790681B1; AU3295200A; CA2362739A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a pumping device (1) for transferring a fluid sample (2) into a sealed consumable (3), the transfer being performed between at least a first compartment, said to be initial, (4) and at least a second compartment, said to be, receiving, (5) via a narrowed section such as a flow path (6). The invention is characterised in that the point of intersection between an initial compartment (4) and the narrowed section is located in the lower part, and preferably at the lowest level, of said initial compartment (4), that the point of intersection between the receiving compartment (5) and said narrowed part is located in the upper part, and preferably at the highest level, of said receiving compartment (5), and at least one of the initial (4) and/or receiving (5) compartment can be deformed, such that each deformation activates the transfer of all or part of the sample (2), The invention is particularly applicable to microfluidic devices used in biology.

Description

Pumping device for transferring at least one fluid into a consumable

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a pumping device to allow the transfer of a fluid sample into a sealed consumable, the transfer taking place between at least a first compartment, called the departure, and at least a second compartment, called the arrival, via a narrowing such as a canal. The invention also relates to a method for implementing such a device.

The state of the art consists of document EP-A-0.381.501 which proposes an apparatus for carrying out amplification of nucleic acids using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology, while preventing the release of nucleic acids into the atmosphere. To do this, this device is sealed and the transfer of biological liquids contained therein between compartments is effected by the external action exerted on a flexible wall of a compartment. To do this, he uses a roller which compresses the starting compartment only once in order to expel the liquid towards an arrival compartment.

Document WO-A-97/27324 uses substantially the same configuration since the transfer of liquids in a sealed compartment is carried out by the external action exerted on a flexible wall of a compartment. The objective is also identical because it allows amplifications of nucleic acids using PCR technology, without contamination, the device being sealed. It comprises a pumping device to allow the transfer of a fluidic sample into a sealed consumable, the transfer taking place between at least a first compartment, said to start, and at least a second compartment, said to arrive, via a narrowing such as a canal. In addition, he adds that at least one of the departure and / or arrival compartments can be deformed, so that each deformation activates the transfer of all or part of the sample.

Nevertheless, the position of the departure and arrival compartments is not important according to the invention of the applicants, only the position of the points of intersection is essential, more precisely: "the point of intersection between a departure compartment and the narrowing is positioned in the lower part, and preferably at the lowest level, of this departure compartment, and the point of intersection between an arrival compartment and said narrowing is positioned in the upper part, and preferably at highest level, of this arrival compartment. It is these two characteristics which allow the complete transfer of the liquid contained in the departure compartment to the arrival compartment while playing on gravity. This is not the case with the document cited above since for the supply chambers which contain and which contain either the structural elements for carrying out the amplification or the polymerase enzyme, this point of intersection is not in the lowest position. Besides, the map of this international application is not in a vertical position but horizontal, since it is specified an upper surface and a lower surface connected to each other by an edge. This document of the state of the art provides that a compartment can be deformed, so that each deformation activates the transfer of all or part of the sample, this deformation is not due to the deformation of the film only but it is due to the presence of an added cushion on the film, which does not facilitate the manufacture of such a system.

According to document EP-A-0.705.978, the problem addressed concerns the precision of the pumped volume. The solution provided is therefore to delimit the movement of this membrane precisely by the shape of the structure of the pump. This pump structure consists of a diaphragm which separates a cavity into two concave parts, one upper (liquid) and the other lower (air or vacuum). The liquid can enter or leave this concave upper part only by a single channel, referenced 41, which is in the upper position.

This structure is completely different from that according to the applicant's invention, and the problem-solution approach is also different, since our invention aims to optimize the transfer of a liquid by avoiding bubbles.

All these devices have a major drawback with regard to the efficiency of the transfer. Thus, they do not take into account the position of the compartments between themselves and the compartments relative to the transfer channels. It is therefore possible that the presence of at least one air bubble could harm or prevent the proper transfer of a liquid from a departure compartment to an arrival compartment. This can lead to amplification disturbances and distort the results of the analysis.

The present invention proposes to solve this problem by advantageously positioning, on the one hand, the departure compartment or compartments relative to the arrival compartment or compartments, and on the other hand, the compartments with respect to the transfer channels.

To this end, the present invention relates to a pumping device to allow the transfer of a fluidic sample into a sealed consumable, the transfer being effected between at least a first compartment, called the start, and at least a second compartment, said of arrival, via a narrowing such as a channel, characterized in that the point of intersection between a starting compartment and the narrowing is positioned in the lower part, and preferably at the lowest level, of this starting compartment , that the point of intersection between an arrival compartment and said narrowing is positioned in the upper part, and preferably at the highest level, of this arrival compartment, and that at least one of the departure compartments and / or arrival can be deformed, so that each deformation activates the transfer of the sample. This narrowing can be constituted, in addition to a channel, by a pipe of more or less large dimension, whether in length, in diameter or in section, it can also be a simple bottleneck. The only necessity lies in the fact that at the point of intersection of this narrowing with the departure or arrival compartment, the section of the narrowing is less than the section of the compartment.

According to a preferred embodiment, the point of intersection between a departure compartment and the narrowing is in contact with the sample, and the point of intersection between an arrival compartment and said narrowing is not in contact with said sample. According to an alternative embodiment, the departure compartment or compartments are placed vertically, substantially above the arrival compartment or compartments. The term substantially should be interpreted as meaning that the two compartments are not positioned one above the other with respect to the vertical. The concepts of verticality and horizontality are always given in the present application in relation to the force of gravity. However, we can also consider that we can overcome this force, for example by performing a centrifugation in which case, these concepts are then related to the centrifugal force undergone by the sealed consumable, the verticality being constituted by a plane containing the result of this centrifugal force and the horizontality consisting of a plane perpendicular to this result. Other systems make it possible to overcome this force, such as the action of a magnetic field with ferrofluid transport systems, the action of an electric field as described for electric and hydrodynamic pumps (Richter et al. , Sensors and Actuators, 29, pi 59-165, 1991). As with centrifugation, the concept of verticality and horizontality is defined in relation to the result of the force which induces the displacement. In this case this force aims to position the liquid at the intersection between the starting compartment and the narrowing.

According to a preferred embodiment, the point of intersection between a departure compartment and the narrowing is in the upper position relative to the point of intersection between an arrival compartment and said narrowing. This upper position must be interpreted as being in a first horizontal plane, containing the first point of intersection mentioned above, in a higher position relative to a second horizontal plane, containing the first point of intersection mentioned above.

Preferably, each compartment which can be deformed comprises at least one partition which can be deformed, such as a flexible film glued on at least one side of the consumable.

The consumable is a card that works in an inclined or vertical position, preferably in a vertical position. In the case of the force of gravity described above, the notion of inclined position is measured in relation to the angle made by the card with a horizontal plane. This angle must be greater than 10 °, advantageously greater than 45 ° and preferably 90 ° which corresponds to the vertical position. According to an alternative embodiment, each narrowing is traversed longitudinally, in whole or in part, by at least one tab which facilitates the drainage of the fluid sample.

According to another alternative embodiment, at least one of the compartments is associated with a buffer volume.

Such a buffer volume is well described and protected in the patent application filed by the applicant on the same day as the present invention and entitled: "Analysis card with improved filling". The content of the description of this patent application is considered to be incorporated into the present invention.

The present invention also relates to a pumping method, which consists in deforming at least once a device as described above.

According to a first variant, this process consists in deforming at least one of the starting compartments to create a higher than normal pressure in the gas volume of this compartment, in order to transfer all or part of the liquid contained by said liquid in at least one compartment of arrival.

According to a second variant, this method consists in deforming at least one of the inlet compartments to create an overpressure in the gas volume of this compartment, in order to transfer all or part of the gas contained by said liquid in at least one starting compartment.

According to a third variant, the process combines the two previous techniques. It alternately consists of:

deforming at least one of the starting compartments to create a pressure greater than normal in the gas volume of this compartment, in order to transfer all or part of the liquid contained by said liquid in at least one inlet compartment, and

- Deform at least one of the inlet compartments to create a higher than normal pressure in the gas volume of this compartment, in order to transfer all or part of the gas contained by said liquid in at least one outlet compartment.

According to a fourth variant, in the case where a buffer volume is associated with at least one of the departure and / or arrival compartments, the method consists in simultaneously deforming the departure and / or arrival compartment and the buffer volume. So in the case of an analysis card whose cavities are covered by a flexible film, when the flexible film is pressed to compress the volume of one of the compartments, it is also possible to simultaneously compress the buffer volume which is associated with it. It is therefore particularly advantageous to have a compartment and a buffer volume which are situated on two opposite faces of the card, at the same level from one another, so that the two pressures exerted on each of the two containers add up . Of course, it is necessary that each container is covered with a flexible film, which can be the same, provided that said film sandwiches said card. It is of course possible to combine this fourth embodiment with the other embodiments.

Various means exist for compressing the compartment, for example, a striker movable between two positions exerting a series of successive pressures on the compartment. This striker can be mobile for example by the action of an electric or pneumatic motor. This striker can be made of any material such as metal, plastic, provided that its mechanical strength allows it to exert pressure or successive pressures on the compartment which can be deformed.

The use of such a device relates to a consumable for the analysis of one or more different liquid samples, in which it is sought to identify one or more analytes according to all the simple or complex analysis processes involving one or more different reagents depending on the chemical, physical or biological nature of the analyte (s) sought. The technical principles defined below are not limited to a particular analyte, the only condition being that the analyte is distributed in the sample to be analyzed in suspension or in solution. In particular, the analysis process implemented can be carried out, in homogeneous or heterogeneous or mixed form.

One particular, non-limiting mode of such a consumable relates to the biological analysis of one or more ligands, requiring for their detection and / or their quantification the use of one or more anti-ligands. By ligand is meant any biological species such as, for example, an antigen, an antigen fragment, a peptide, antibody, antibody fragment, hapten, nucleic acid, nucleic acid fragment, hormone, vitamin. An example of the application of analytical techniques concerns immunoassays, whatever their format, by direct analysis or by competition. Another example of application relates to the detection and / or quantification of nucleic acids comprising all the operations necessary for this detection and / or this quantification from any sample containing the target nucleic acids. Among these various operations, mention may be made of lysis, fluidification, concentration, the steps of enzymatic amplification of nucleic acids, the detection steps incorporating a hybridization step using for example a DNA chip or a labeled probe. WO-A- patent application

97/02357 explains the various steps required in the case of nucleic acid analysis.

The notion of sealed consumable is particularly important in the case where an enzymatic amplification reaction is carried out in the consumable, since the contamination problems linked to these reactions can be avoided by the use of a sealed consumable and that it is particularly advantageous to have a simple system for moving liquids as described in the present invention. The notion of sealed consumable must be understood as a sealed consumable during certain phases of the process and in particular during the phase of displacement of fluids by pumping. In fact, it is necessary to introduce a sample containing one or more ligands to be analyzed into a consumable in order to carry out the analysis of said ligands.

At this stage of the process, the consumable must therefore be opened. Similarly, it is not necessary for the entire consumable to be sealed in order to carry out the invention. The fluid part concerned by the pumping device can be isolated for example by a valve system while another part is open towards the outside to bring reagents to a predetermined place of the consumable for subsequent reactions.

The attached figures are given by way of explanatory example and are in no way limiting. They will allow a better understanding of the invention. FIG. 1 represents a view in partial longitudinal section of a device for pumping a sealed consumable, according to the present invention, in the simplest possible embodiment, since there is a departure compartment and a compartment d 'arrival. Figure 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the compartment of a pumping device according to Figure 1

FIG. 3 represents a partial longitudinal section view of a device for pumping a sealed consumable, according to the present invention, in a more complex embodiment, since there is a departure compartment and three arrival compartments .

FIG. 4 represents a view in longitudinal section of a sealed consumable, which comprises a pumping device according to the present invention, in a complex embodiment substantially identical to FIG. 2, but comprising three important differences. First of all, there is a departure compartment and five arrival compartments. Then, the arrival compartments have a particular configuration. And the layout of the departure compartment compared to the arrival compartments is different from the previous figures.

FIG. 5 represents a partial longitudinal section view of a device for pumping a sealed consumable, according to the present invention, in a more complex embodiment, since there are three departure compartments and three arrival compartments .

Finally, Figure 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view identical to Figure 2, but in which the flexible film of the pumping device is subjected to an external force which induces pumping.

The present invention relates to a pumping device 1, well represented in FIGS. 1 to 5, which is particularly well suited to the transfer of fluids, whether in liquid or gaseous form, inside a sealed consumable 3.

It should first be noted that Figures 1 to 3 and 5 are views in longitudinal section along different embodiments of the pumping device

1, but scratches, which would normally be present around the periphery of said device 1, have been removed to facilitate understanding of the mechanism. It is therefore quite obvious that it must be understood that the elements which are represented, namely the starting compartments 4, the arrival compartments 5, the narrowing or channels 6, are in fact embedded in a consumable 3 as is indeed shown in figure 4.

Figure 1 shows a simple embodiment of the present invention. It is characterized by the presence of a first said departure compartment 4 located in the upper part and a second said arrival compartment 5 located in the lower position. Of course, the shape of these compartments 4 and 5 as well as their respective volume can be different from each other but also with respect to the representations in the figures. The two compartments 4 and 5 are connected to each other by a channel 6, the shape of which is adapted. Similarly, the volume of this channel 6 must be of a volume adapted to the size of the compartments and the positioning of the compartments between them. Details will be provided later.

Note that the location of channel 6 relative to the compartment meets certain characteristics. Thus, this insertion point is located at the bottom of the start compartment 4 while it is located at the top of the arrival compartment 5. As can easily be seen, a fluid sample 2 is present in the pumping device 1. This sample 2 is in fact liquid. The point of intersection between the channel 6 and the starting compartment 4 is therefore in contact with the sample 2 which, under the action of gravity, is found at the bottom of said compartment 4. Conversely the point of intersection of channel 6 with compartment 5 is in contact with the air contained in said compartment 5, the liquid 2 being present throughout the pipe 6. The fluid sample 2 is therefore present only at the bottom of compartment 5. As this is represented in FIG. 1, there is therefore an alternation between the gas constituted by air and the sample constituted by a liquid 2.

The sealed consumable 3 containing the pumping device 1 is partially represented in FIG. 2, which represents a sectional view along AA of FIG. 1. It is noted that it is essentially a card comprising cavities, said cavities being delimited on one side by the material constituting the consumable 3, for example plastic, and on the other side by a very thin partition 7 which is endowed with flexibility, it may be a polyethylene film or any other material which can be deformed, such as silicone, latex, a polyimide. The nature of the flexible film can also vary depending on the nature of the analysis card and the fluids tested, in particular for compatibility reasons. For example, a TPX (polymethylethylpentene) or BOPP (bi-oriented polypropylene) polymer film makes it possible to carry out biological tests. The fixing of these films can be carried out by gluing (coating of glue, such as for example silicone glues on the film) or by welding. An example of adhesive BOPP is provided by the company

BioMérieux Inc (St Louis, MO, USA) under the reference 022004-2184.

In terms of implementation, the analysis card is obtained by machining a technical plastic material such as impact polystyrene reference R540E from the company GOODFELLOW, compatible with the treated liquids. In an industrial embodiment, the card could be obtained by precision molding, but all other manufacturing methods, and in particular those used in semiconductor techniques such as those described in patent application WO-A-97/02357 , can be used for the manufacture of the analysis card.

It is therefore easy to understand the operation of this internal pump in the sealed consumable 3 which operates by simple external pressure F on the flexible film 7, as is well represented in FIG. 6. When said film 7 is compressed the volume of air of the starting compartment 4 will therefore decrease, the liquid 2 itself being incompressible, it will therefore transit along the channel 6 and come to flow into the arrival compartment 5. Of course, in order to be able to initiate such a device pumping 1, it is necessary that the displacement of the flexible film 7 be of a sufficient volume to allow the transfer of a quantity of liquid sample 2 which is greater than the total volume of the channel 6.

Another condition for operating the device is to have a drop in the liquid when this liquid is at the intersection of the channels

6 or 8 and from the inlet compartment 5. The liquid falling to the bottom of compartment 5 cannot go back up in channels 6 or 8 when the pressure on the part which can be deformed is released.

By several successive actions on said film 7, it is possible to transfer the entire fluid sample 2 from the departure compartment 4 to the arrival compartment 5.

It is also possible to imagine that this system is also found at the level of the inlet compartment 5 only and that the pumping is then carried out by actuating a film 7 present only at the level of this inlet compartment 5. In this case, the volume of departure from the inlet compartment, once compressed, is reduced and the air is transferred via channel 6 to the departure compartment 4. In the same way as previously, it is necessary that the volume of exhaust air of the arrival compartment 5 is large enough to reach the departure compartment 4.

To do this, this volume of air displaced must be greater than the volume of channel 6.

According to a last variant, it is possible to press alternately on the film 7 covering the departure compartment 4 and then on the film 7 covering the arrival compartment 5, in order to accelerate the transfer movement of the pumping device 1.

According to FIG. 3, another embodiment is shown comprising a single starting compartment 4 and three arrival compartments 5. To do this, the channel 6 has a particular structure, since there is a primary channel 8 for each compartment 4 or 5 and an intermediate channel 9 making it possible to make the connection between all of the primary channels 8. Although this is not shown in the figures, the shape of the different channels, such as channels 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11, must have a shape adapted to the various embodiments, and in particular when a distribution function exists in the system with a multitude of inlet compartments, the person skilled in the art will choose a shape for each channel allowing distribution balanced including by playing on the pressure drops. Elbows, narrowing are, for example, means to modulate this pressure drop and not to favor the preferential filling of an inlet compartment. On the contrary, in the case where the volumes transferred to the arrival compartments must be different depending on the reaction conditions which must occur in these compartments, a person skilled in the art can play on these forms of channels to promote filling.

The size and nature of the channel will also be chosen to allow the liquid-gas exchange necessary for the operation of the pumping device. For example, in the case of transfer of a liquid according to FIG. 1, the section of the narrowing channel 6 will be adapted as a function of the viscosity of the liquid to allow the air bubble to rise. It is particularly advantageous to minimize the volume of the narrowing channel 6 relative to the volume of liquid to be transferred to avoid dead volumes, especially in the case where the starting compartment is not located above, compared to the concept of gravity. , of the arrival compartment (s).

A system of judiciously arranged valves also makes it possible to control the filling of the inlet compartments possibly in combination with the shape of the channels. These valves can have different functions such as for example a distribution function used to direct the fluid in a particular direction, to replace the distribution channel 11 in FIG. 4 or a closing / opening function to isolate the card or a compartment such as on valve 15 in Figure 4.

Figure 5 is also a particular embodiment in which there are three starting compartments 4 and three arrival compartments 5. The channel or narrowing 6 is then of a slightly more complex structure since there is for each compartment 4 or 5 a primary channel 8, as already shown in FIG. 3, but also an intermediate channel 9 for each group of departure 4 or arrival compartments 5. Preferably, the two intermediate channels 9 are positioned parallel l to each other. Between these two channels 9, there are present two so-called secondary channels 10. The number of these secondary channels 10 is absolutely not imposed. There may be one or more. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the two channels 10 are in fact arranged to allow a better distribution of the liquid samples 2, which are transferred from the departure compartments 4 to the arrival compartments 5. This type of reaction also requires a good quantification of the volumes transferred. The present invention allows such a controlled distribution. This function will be explained later.

In another embodiment not shown, it is also possible to envisage transferring the gas and using the liquid as an insulator between the different gas samples.

The present invention should therefore be understood as being capable of reversing the role of the gas and the liquid since each compartment, at one time of the pumping process, is partially filled with one and the other constituent. In this regard, it should be noted that at the start of pumping, the starting compartment may be full of liquid and the arrival compartment full of gas. Likewise, it is also possible that said inlet compartment already contains at least one substance, which may be liquid and / or solid. It may for example be a coating containing at least one reagent intended to react with the transferred sample 2.

FIG. 4 represents an embodiment substantially closer to the industrial models which can be manufactured. It is a system substantially identical to FIG. 3 since there is a single departure compartment 4 and five arrival compartments 5.

There are also substantial differences between these Figures 3 and 4. Thus in Figure 4, we immediately notice that the starting compartment 4 is located below the arrival compartments 5. In fact, there is no limitation positioning of the various compartments 4 and 5, with respect to each other, nevertheless and preferably, it is easier to use such a device when the liquid column 2 present in the starting compartment 4 facilitates the transfer by gravity to compartments 5. The embodiments of Figures 1 to 3 and 5 are therefore particularly interesting. A second difference lies in the structure of the arrival compartments. These include in the upper position a device 13 for breaking bubbles which has also been the subject of a patent application by the applicant as indicated above. Still within the framework of this other patent application, we note the presence in the upper position of the device 13, an orifice 14 which allows communication between said device 13 and a buffer volume whose role is well explained in this other patent application, buffer volume which is present on the other side of the consumable 3 having a card shape. Another difference lies in the presence of an inlet channel 12 making it possible to inject or transfer the fluid sample 2 from another consumable or from another part of this consumable 3, an embodiment which is not shown in this figure, the sample 2 is thus transferred to a distribution channel 11 located substantially in the center of the card. From this distribution channel 11, a certain number of primary channels 8 connects to this channel 11 all of the compartments 4 and 5. Thus, it is possible to have a liquid 17 within the starting compartment 4, this liquid 17 being inert with respect to the liquid sample 2 which has been introduced. This liquid 17 is used to enable the sample 2 present in the distribution channel 11 to be actuated and pushed towards the inlet compartments 5 via the primary channels 8. We also note in this FIG. 4, the presence of a outlet channel 16 for the consumable 3. This outlet 16 allows the exit of a sample 2 contained in at least one of the inlet compartments 5. The choice of the inlet compartment or compartments 5 which will be emptied is carried out by by means of valves 15 situated at the level of the assembly of the outlet pipe 16. It is also noted that there is a valve 15 at the level of the inlet channel 12.

The total volume of liquid transferable by this device can vary from 0.5 to 5000 microliters, advantageously from 2 to 2000 microliters and preferably from 5 to 1000 microliters. In the case of a large volume, such as for example greater than 500 microliters, it is preferable to choose an embodiment by successive pressure for transferring fractions of liquid with a volume of between 5 and 100 microliters (μl). The volume of the starting compartment varies in the same proportions or can be significantly greater than the total volume to be transferred. By way of example in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the chamber 4 has a volume of between 2 and 5 ml for a transfer of liquid of between 250 and 500 μl. The total volume for the fluid part represented by the channel 8 connecting the starting compartment 4 and the inlet compartment 5 is 120 μl broken down between 20 μl for the part of the channel 8 connecting the compartment 5 and the distribution channel 11 and 5 times 20 μl for the part of the channel 8 connecting the distribution channel 11 and the compartments 5 The channel 8 in this example is of semicircular section with a diameter of 0.5 mm. The transfer from another consumable 3 as well as the valves 15 have already been the subject of a patent application filed by the plaintiff on September 8, 1998, under the filing number FR98 / 11383, and entitled: "Device allowing reactions, transfer system between devices and method of implementing such a system ”. The content of the description of this patent application is considered to be contained in the present invention.

Although inlets 12, outlets 16 and valves 15 are not described in relation to FIGS. 1 to 3, 5 and 6, it is of course obvious that these pumping devices 1 are equipped with them, even if this is not not shown in the figures, in order to allow them to function properly.

REFERENCES

I. Pumping device 2. Fluid sample

3. Sealed consumable

4. First compartment called departure

5. Second compartment called arrival

6. Narrowing or channel 7. Partition which can be deformed or flexible film

8. Primary channel

9. Intermediate channel

10. Secondary channel

I I. Distribution channel 12. Input channel in the consumable 3

13. Apparatus for breaking bubbles

14. Communication port between the device 13 and a buffer volume

15. Valve

16. Consumable outlet channel 3 17. inert liquid to activate the sample 2

F. Force exerting external pressure on the film 7

Claims

1. Pumping device (1) to allow the transfer of a fluid sample (2) into a sealed consumable (3), the transfer taking place between at least one first compartment, called the starting compartment, (4) and at least a second compartment, said to arrive, (5) via a narrowing such as a channel (6), characterized in that the point of intersection between a starting compartment (4) and the narrowing is positioned in the lower part , and preferably at the lowest level, of this departure compartment (4), than the point of intersection between an arrival compartment

(5) and said narrowing is positioned in the upper part, and preferably at the highest level, of this arrival compartment (5), and that at least one of the departure (4) and / or arrival compartments ( 5) can be deformed, so that each deformation activates the transfer of all or part of the sample (2).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the point of intersection between a departure compartment and the narrowing is in contact with the sample, and that the point of intersection between an arrival compartment and said shrinkage is not in contact with said sample.

3. Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the departure compartment or compartments (4) are placed vertically, substantially above the arrival compartment or compartments (5).

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the point of intersection between a starting compartment (4) and the narrowing (6) is in the upper position relative to the point of intersection between an inlet compartment (5) and said narrowing (6).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each compartment (4 or 5) which can be deformed comprises at least one partition which can be deformed (7), such as a flexible film (7) bonded to at least one side of the consumable (1).

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the consumable is a card which operates in an inclined or vertical position.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each narrowing is traversed longitudinally, in whole or in part, by at least one tab which facilitates the drainage of the fluid sample.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one of the compartments is associated with a buffer volume.

9. A pumping method, characterized in that it consists in deforming at least once a device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that it consists in deforming at least one of the starting compartments to apply an overpressure in the gas volume of this compartment, in order to transfer all or part of the liquid contained by said liquid in at least one inlet compartment.

11. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that it consists in deforming at least one of the inlet compartments to create a pressure greater than normal in the gas volume of this compartment, in order to transfer all or part of the gas. contained by said liquid in at least one starting compartment.

12. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that it alternately consists of:

deforming at least one of the starting compartments to create a pressure greater than normal in the gas volume of this compartment, in order to transfer all or part of the liquid contained by said liquid in at least one inlet compartment, and - Deform at least one of the inlet compartments to create a higher than normal pressure in the gas volume of this compartment, in order to transfer all or part of the gas contained by said liquid in at least one outlet compartment.