A multi-association inspection test paper sample flow director

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of multi-association test paper sample adding flow director, belong to in-vitro diagnostic equipment technical field.The flow director includes one sample adding port, its bottom is integrally connected with at least two upper wide narrow, size consistent flow port, each flow port is respectively communicated with one independent flow channel, each flow channel is finally directed to corresponding test paper.Flow port is preferably conical structure, its top end section area is at least 1.5 times of bottom, and can be coated with hydrophobic coating to reduce residual.Flow channel section area is greater than or equal to flow port bottom outlet, ensure smooth liquid flow, its outlet section can also be provided with hydrophilic coating to accelerate sample liquid infiltration.The utility model is integrally shunt design, realizes that uniform, synchronous distribution of multi-association test paper can be completed by disposable sample adding, effectively solve the problem, such as sample uneven, operation cumbersome and big result error caused by multiple sample adding, improve the accuracy and efficiency of detection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of detection technology, specifically to a multi-connection test strip sample feeder. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of in vitro diagnostic technology, immunochromatographic test strips have been widely used in clinical testing, home testing, and food safety monitoring due to their speed, convenience, and low cost. In particular, multi-analytical test strips can simultaneously detect multiple targets in the same sample, greatly improving testing efficiency and meeting the needs of parallel screening for multiple indicators, such as common triple detection of cardiac markers and multiple-analytical detection of infectious diseases.

[0003] However, multi-sample test strips also face a significant technical challenge in practical applications: sample application. Currently, mainstream multi-sample test strips typically employ an independent sample application area design, meaning each test line (T-line) or each test unit corresponds to a separate sample well. Operators need to sequentially add a sample (such as blood, serum, or urine) to each well. This method has several drawbacks: firstly, multiple sample applications are not only cumbersome and time-consuming, but more importantly, it's difficult to ensure that the sample volume received by each well is completely consistent. Differences in sample volume directly lead to inconsistencies in reaction time, flow rate, and final colorimetric depth across different test channels, severely affecting the accuracy, repeatability, and comparability of test results, potentially causing misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis.

[0004] Secondly, during multiple sample additions, issues such as sample splashing, cross-contamination, or deviations in sample addition position can easily occur, further introducing human error and reducing the reliability of the test. This problem is particularly prominent for tests requiring precise quantification or semi-quantification.

[0005] To address these issues, some tentative solutions have emerged in existing technologies. For example, some designs use a common sample loading chamber, distributing samples to different test strips via simple channels or grooves. However, these simple split-flow designs often lack precise fluid control, making them prone to severe sample unevenness due to factors such as surface tension and uneven fluid resistance. Commonly, samples preferentially fill channels with lower resistance, while other channels may fill slowly or not at all, resulting in a "flow bias." Consequently, some test strips overreact while others underreact, ultimately rendering the results of multiplexed assays meaningless.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field for a dedicated sample feeder for multi-channel test strips. This device should be able to achieve uniform, synchronous, and rapid filling of multiple detection channels with a single sample application, fundamentally eliminating errors caused by multiple sample applications. Furthermore, through a sophisticated fluid structure design, it should ensure the uniformity of the sample and the stability of the flow rate during the splitting process, thereby guaranteeing the accuracy, reliability, and consistency of multi-channel test results. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing a multi-connection test strip sample feeder.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A multi-strip test strip sample dispenser includes a sample inlet for dispensing sample solution. At least two guide ports are integrally connected to the bottom of the sample inlet. Each guide port is connected to an independent guide channel, and each guide channel extends and connects to the sample dispensing end of a corresponding test strip. The guide ports are designed with a tapered structure, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, and all guide ports maintain the same size and shape to ensure uniform fluid resistance and thus achieve even distribution of the sample solution.

[0009] As a further improvement of this invention, the inner wall surface of the guide port can be coated with a hydrophobic coating. This coating helps reduce sample residue, ensuring that the vast majority of the sample liquid can flow smoothly into the guide channel, thereby improving sample utilization.

[0010] As a further improvement of this invention, the cross-sectional area of ​​the top of the guide port is at least 1.5 times the cross-sectional area of ​​its bottom end. More preferably, the cross-sectional area of ​​the top of the guide port can be 2 to 3 times the cross-sectional area of ​​its bottom end. This specific tapering ratio can effectively converge and accelerate the sample liquid, forming a stable liquid flow, and further optimize the consistency of the diversion.

[0011] As a further improvement of this invention, the cross-sectional area of ​​the guide channel is designed to be greater than or equal to the outlet cross-sectional area at the bottom of the guide port. This design ensures that the sample liquid does not experience fluid resistance due to the sudden narrowing of the channel when entering the guide channel from the guide port, and that the flow velocity of the sample liquid in the guide channel is not lower than its flow velocity at the end of the guide port, thus ensuring rapid and smooth forward delivery of the liquid.

[0012] As a further improvement of this utility model, the guide port is preferably a conical structure with a simple manufacturing process, such as a cone or a square cone.

[0013] As a further improvement of this invention, the inner wall surface of the outlet section of the guide channel can be coated with a hydrophilic coating. This coating can enhance the hydrophilicity of the end of the guide channel, generate capillary pull, and actively "draw" the sample liquid to quickly and evenly wet the test strip, further accelerating the detection process and reducing waiting time.

[0014] As a further improvement of this utility model, the lengths of each of the guide channels are the same.

[0015] This utility model of sample dispensing device allows users to simply drop the sample into one dispensing port at a time, and the device will automatically and synchronously distribute it to multiple test strips, completely avoiding the tediousness and errors of multiple sample dispensing and greatly simplifying the operation process.

[0016] This invention employs multiple guide ports that are wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, and of the same size, to provide a completely consistent fluid path and resistance for sample liquid diversion. This ensures that an equal amount of sample liquid is accurately distributed to each detection channel, fundamentally solving the problem of uneven distribution and greatly improving the accuracy, repeatability, and comparability of multi-detection results.

[0017] This invention avoids liquid flow deceleration by designing the cross-sectional area of ​​the guide channel to be greater than or equal to the cross-sectional area of ​​the guide port end. Combined with the acceleration effect of the guide port tapering structure and the hydrophilic coating at the guide channel outlet, it ensures that the sample liquid can flow at a stable and relatively fast speed in each channel, enabling each detection line to complete the reaction simultaneously, shortening the detection time and improving the detection efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model (top view).

[0019] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the present invention.

[0020] In the diagram, 1-sample inlet, 2-flow outlet, 3-flow channel, 4-test strip, 5-hydrophobic coating, 6-hydrophilic coating. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0022] Example 1 See Figure 1 This embodiment provides a sample feeder for dual-sample test strips. The main body of the feeder is made of transparent plastic (such as PMMA or polystyrene) through a one-time injection molding process, which facilitates observation of the liquid flow process.

[0023] The sample delivery device includes: A sample inlet 1, which is a concave funnel-shaped structure with an open top, is used to receive the sample liquid (such as blood or urine samples) dripped in by the user.

[0024] The bottom of the sample inlet 1 is integrally connected to two identical guide ports 2. Both guide ports 2 are conical structures that are wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, and their size, taper, and inner wall smoothness are completely consistent to ensure that the fluid resistance is absolutely uniform.

[0025] Each flow inlet 2 is connected at its bottom to an independent flow channel 3. The cross-section of the two flow channels 3 is semi-circular, and their diameter is slightly larger than the outlet diameter at the bottom of the flow inlet 2. Specifically, the outlet diameter at the bottom of the flow inlet 2 is approximately 0.5 mm, while the pipe diameter of the flow channel 3 is approximately 0.6 mm, thus satisfying the requirement that the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow channel 3 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the outlet at the bottom of the flow inlet 2, and avoiding the formation of a flow resistance bottleneck.

[0026] Two guide channels 3 extend in parallel and are designed to be exactly the same length, and eventually connect to the sample application end (i.e., sample pad) of a corresponding test strip 4.

[0027] Working principle: After the user drips the sample into the sample inlet 1, the sample solution flows simultaneously into the two guide ports 2 under the action of gravity. Since the two guide ports 2 have identical structures, the sample solution experiences the same path and resistance during splitting, thus achieving equal distribution of the sample solution. Subsequently, after being converged and accelerated by the guide ports 2, the sample solution smoothly enters the guide channel 3 with a larger cross-sectional area and flows rapidly to the test strip 4 at the end, thereby initiating the immunochromatographic reaction.

[0028] Example 2 See Figure 2 This embodiment is a further optimization based on embodiment 1 and is applicable to triple or more joint inspections.

[0029] The sample delivery device includes: The system includes a sample inlet 1, with four integrated flow guide ports 2 at its bottom. Each of the four flow guide ports 2 is a square-pyramidal structure, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, with the cross-sectional area at the top approximately 2.5 times that of the bottom outlet. This design significantly optimizes the convergence and acceleration of the liquid flow.

[0030] The inner wall surface of each inlet 2 is coated with a hydrophobic coating 5 (e.g., Teflon material) by a spraying process. This coating effectively reduces the adhesion and residue of viscous sample liquid on the surface of the inlet 2, ensuring that more than 99% of the sample can be transported downstream, greatly improving the utilization rate of precious samples and preventing cross-contamination.

[0031] Each flow inlet 2 is connected to an independent flow channel 3. The cross-sectional areas of the four flow channels 3 are all equal and slightly larger than the outlet cross-sectional area of ​​the flow inlet 2.

[0032] The inner wall surface of the outlet section of each guide channel 3 (i.e., the section closest to the test strip 4, approximately 2-3 mm in length) is coated with a hydrophilic coating 6 (e.g., treated with polyvinylpyrrolidone solution). This coating generates strong capillary force, actively drawing in the sample liquid like a "pump," allowing it to quickly and evenly wet the entire sample application end of the test strip 4. This effectively solves the problem of insufficient or uneven wetting sometimes caused by sample surface tension or viscosity, further shortening the detection time.

[0033] Through the aforementioned precise structural design and surface treatment, this utility model achieves the core objective of "one-time sample addition and synchronous uniform flow distribution," completely eliminating human error and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of multi-unit testing results.

[0034] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, but the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or changes made by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present utility model, based on the technical solution and the inventive concept of the present utility model, should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A multi-parallel detection test paper sample injector, characterized in that, It includes a sample inlet for adding sample solution, and at least two flow guides are integrally connected to the bottom of the sample inlet. Each flow guide is connected to an independent flow channel, and each flow channel extends and connects to the sample inlet of a corresponding test strip. The flow guides have a tapered structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, and all flow guides have the same size and shape.

2. The multi-project test paper sample injector according to claim 1, wherein, The flow guide has a hydrophobic coating.

3. The multi-project test paper sample injector according to claim 1, wherein, The cross-sectional area of ​​the top end of the guide port is at least 1.5 times the cross-sectional area of ​​the bottom end.

4. The multi-parallel detection test paper sample injector according to claim 1, wherein, The cross-sectional area of ​​the top of the guide port is at least 2-3 times that of the bottom.

5. The multi-connection test paper sample flow guide according to claim 1, wherein, The cross-sectional area of ​​the guide channel is greater than or equal to the bottom cross-sectional area of ​​the guide port, so that the flow velocity of the sample liquid in the guide channel is not lower than the flow velocity of the sample liquid at the guide port.

6. The multi-project test paper sample injector according to claim 1, wherein, The flow guide is a conical structure.

7. The multi-parallel detection test paper sample injector according to claim 1, wherein, The outlet section of the guide channel has a hydrophilic coating.

8. The multi-parallel detection test paper sample injector according to claim 1, wherein, The lengths of all the guide channels are the same.

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