Flow channel installation mechanism

Abstract

A flow channel mounting mechanism includes a guide assembly and a watertight connecting element. The guide assembly guides a detected block into itself. The guide assembly includes a support body, a support body, and a roller assembly. The support body has a chamfer. The roller assembly is connected to the support body via at least one first elastic element, wherein the detected block is adapted to be inserted between the support body and the roller assembly. The watertight connecting element is connected to a force-applying body via at least one second elastic element and has at least two openings. The force-applying body moves toward the support body to apply pressure to the detected block. The support body, support body, and force-applying body are arranged on an optical channel. A flow channel system is also proposed.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a flow channel installation mechanism and a flow channel system. [Previous Technology]

[0002] The application needs for fluid sample detection exist in various fields such as the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries, the semiconductor industry, and the environmental engineering industry. Fluid imaging detectors can be used to observe and capture information about samples flowing in channels. However, in current fluid imaging detectors, the channels are difficult to install quickly and securely without causing damage. [Summary of the Invention]

[0003] The present invention provides a flow channel installation mechanism that can be installed quickly and securely without causing damage.

[0004] The present invention provides a flow channel system that can be quickly disassembled for cleaning or replacement.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention provides a flow channel mounting mechanism, including a guide assembly and a watertight connecting element. The guide assembly is used to guide a detected block into the guide assembly. The guide assembly includes a support body, a support body, and a roller assembly. The support body has a chamfer. The roller assembly is connected to the support body through at least one first elastic element, wherein the detected block is adapted to be inserted between the support body and the roller assembly. The watertight connecting element is connected to a force-applying body through at least one second elastic element and has at least two openings, wherein the force-applying body is used to move toward the support body, thereby applying pressure to the detected block. The support body, support body, and force-applying body are arranged on the optical channel, and the structure of the support body, support body, and force-applying body is hollowed out or obstructed to allow light to pass through unimpeded.

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention provides a flow channel system, including a transparent flow channel element, a particle size screening element, a conical container, a three-way switching valve, a pump, and an air particle filter. The particle size screening element is disposed upstream of the transparent flow channel element. The conical container is disposed upstream of the transparent flow channel element. The three-way switching valve is disposed downstream of the transparent flow channel element. The pump is disposed downstream of the three-way switching valve and is used to pump fluid. The air particle filter is connected to the conical container.

[0007] The flow channel installation mechanism of the embodiments of the present invention employs a guide assembly, thus enabling rapid installation of the detection block. Furthermore, since the supporting body has a chamfer and the guide assembly has a roller assembly, the detection block will not be scratched. Because the supporting body presses down on the detection block, and the detection block and the watertight connecting element are physically pressed together, the flow channel installation mechanism can be securely installed. Moreover, the flow channel system according to the embodiments of the present invention can be quickly disassembled for cleaning or replacement, and features a particle size screening design without significant pressure drop. Furthermore, the flow channel system of the embodiments of the present invention employs a pump for extracting and discharging samples and an air particle filter, thus preventing contamination of the flow channel system itself or the environment.

Implementation Method

[0009] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a flow channel installation mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG1, the flow channel installation mechanism 100 of this embodiment includes a guide assembly 200 and a watertight connection element 110. The guide assembly 200 is used to guide the detected block 50 into the guide assembly 200. The guide assembly 200 includes a bearing body 210, a support body 220, and a roller assembly 230. The bearing body 210 has a chamfer 212. The roller assembly 230 is connected to the support body 220 through at least one first elastic element 240, wherein the detected block 50 is adapted to be inserted between the bearing body 210 and the roller assembly 230.

[0010] The watertight connecting element 110 is connected to the force-applying body 250 through at least one second elastic element 260 and has at least two openings A and B, wherein the force-applying body 250 is used to move toward the support body 210 to apply pressure to the detected block 50. In this embodiment, each of the first elastic element 240 and the second elastic element 260 is, for example, a spring. The support body 210, the support body 220 and the force-applying body 250 are arranged on the light channel 102, and the structure of the support body 210, the support body 220 and the force-applying body 250 is hollowed out or obstructed to allow light (such as beam 122) to pass through unobstructed.

[0011] In this embodiment, the detected block 50 is a transparent body and has a first flow channel 52 inside. The first flow channel 52 has two openings E and F on the same side of the detected block 50, and the two openings E and F of the first flow channel 52 are used to connect with the two openings A and B of the watertight connection element 110.

[0012] In this embodiment, the flow channel mounting mechanism 100 further includes a light source 120, an image sensor 130, and a lens assembly 140. The light source 120 provides a light beam 122, wherein the detected block 50 is disposed in the path of the light beam 122. The image sensor 130 is disposed in the path of the light beam 122 from the detected block 50. The lens assembly 140 is disposed in the path of the light beam 122 between the detected block 50 and the image sensor 130.

[0013] In this embodiment, the watertight connection element 110 has at least four openings A, B, C, and D. Two of the at least four openings A, B, C, and D are connected to the detected block 50, and the other two openings C and D are connected to a plurality of fluid conduits 150. The watertight connection element 110 also has a second flow channel 112 to communicate with the detected block 50 and the fluid conduits 150. In this embodiment, the first flow channel 52 and the second flow channel 112 are, for example, micro-flow channels.

[0014] In this embodiment, the flow channel installation mechanism 100 employs a guide assembly 200 to facilitate the rapid installation of the detected block 50, including the micro-flow channel. Furthermore, since the supporting body 210 has a chamfer 212 and the guide assembly 200 has a roller assembly 230, the detected block 50 will not be scratched. Because the supporting body 210 presses down on the detected block 50, and because the openings E and F of the detected block 50 are physically pressed together with the openings A and B of the watertight connecting element 110, the micro-flow channel of the detected block 50 is watertight and resistant to liquid pressure. From the perspective of hardware structure and connection method, the watertight connecting element 110 and the supporting body 220 are independent of each other, meaning that the watertight connecting element 110 and the supporting body 220 can move independently. The support body 220 provides convenient guidance for the detected block 50, enabling it to reach the correct position. The support body 220 also provides support to the detected block 50, preventing it from becoming loose. The watertight connecting element 110 is connected to the detected block 50, thus connecting the first flow channel 52 and the second flow channel 112. In this embodiment, the pressure applied to the detected block 50 by the watertight connecting element 110 is greater than the pressure applied by the support body 220, thereby preventing liquid leakage at the connection point.

[0015] Furthermore, the structure of the supporting body 210, the supporting body 220 and the force-applying body 250 adopts a hollow or obstructed manner, so that light (e.g., beam 122) can pass through unobstructed, so that the image sensor 130 can obtain the image of the first flow channel 52 on the detected block 50.

[0016] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a flow channel system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG2, the flow channel system 300 of this embodiment includes a transparent flow channel element 310, a particle size screening element 320, a conical container 330, a three-way pipe switching valve 340, a pump 350, and an air particle filter 360. The particle size screening element 320 is disposed upstream of the transparent flow channel element 310. The conical container 330 is disposed upstream of the transparent flow channel element 310. In this embodiment, the conical container 330 is located upstream of the particle size screening element 320. The three-way pipe switching valve 340 is disposed downstream of the transparent flow channel element 310. The pump 350 is located downstream of the three-way pipe switching valve 340 and is used to pump fluid. The air particle filter 360 is connected to the conical container 330.

[0017] In this embodiment, the conical container 330 includes a liquid level detector 332. Furthermore, the flow channel system 300 also includes a liquid fill detector 370 disposed downstream of the transparent flow channel element 310. The sample can flow sequentially through the liquid inlet 60, the conical container 330, the particle size screening element 320, the transparent flow channel element 310, and the liquid fill detector 370. In this embodiment, the conical container 330 has a conical bottom to ensure that precipitated particles in the sample can also be detected. In one embodiment, the conical bottom has an inclination angle of 10 to 45 degrees relative to the horizontal plane, as shown in FIG2, but the invention is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the transparent flow channel element 310 can be the detected block 50 of FIG1. ​​Furthermore, the liquid fill detector 370 can ensure that the first flow channel 52 (e.g., a microchannel) is filled with the sample without being affected by air bubbles.

[0018] The structures in Figure 1 and Figure 2 can be combined. For example, the particle size screening element 320 in Figure 2 can be positioned upstream of the watertight connection element 110 via the fluid conduit 150 at the top of Figure 1, while the liquid fill detector 370 in Figure 2 can be positioned downstream of the watertight connection element 110 via the fluid conduit 150 at the bottom of Figure 1. Furthermore, when the image sensor 130 detects an image of the first flow channel 52, the pump 350 extracts a sample from the liquid fill detector 370, and the three-way valve 340 is configured to prevent the sample from flowing out of the liquid outlet 70. After the image sensor 130 detects an image of the first flow channel 52, the pump 350 discharges the sample from the liquid outlet 70, and the three-way valve 340 is configured to prevent the sample from flowing upward into the liquid fill detector 370.

[0019] FIG3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the details of the particle size screening element in FIG2. Referring to FIG2 and FIG3, the particle size screening element 320 of this embodiment includes a mounting member 322, a cover 324, a screen 326, and at least one waterproof ring 328 (two waterproof rings 328 are shown exemplarily in FIG3). The mounting member 322 has a receiving recess 323. The cover 324 is disposed on the mounting member 322. The screen 326 is located within the receiving recess 323 and between the mounting member 322 and the cover 324. The waterproof ring 328 is located between the mounting member 322 and the cover 324.

[0020] The flow channel system 300 of this embodiment can be quickly disassembled for cleaning or replacement, and features a particle size screening design without significant pressure drop. Furthermore, the flow channel system 300 of this embodiment employs a pump 350 for sample extraction and discharge, and an air particle filter 360, thus preventing contamination of the flow channel system 300 itself or the environment. In addition, the flow channel system 300 of this embodiment uses a three-way pipeline switching valve 340. When the three-way pipeline switching valve 340 is configured to prevent the sample from flowing out of the liquid outlet, the pump 350 extracts the sample from the liquid-filled detector 370; when the three-way pipeline switching valve 340 is configured to prevent the sample from flowing upwards to the liquid-filled detector 370, the pump 350 discharges the sample from the liquid outlet 70. This avoids the generation of gas in the pipeline when switching valves to update the sample, as the generated gas may affect the detection. In addition, in the flow channel system 300 of this embodiment, the conical container 330 has a conical bottom, which can prevent particles in the sample to be tested from being unable to be transported to the detection area (i.e., the first flow channel 52) due to sedimentation.

[0021] In summary, the flow channel installation mechanism of the embodiments of the present invention employs a guide assembly, thus enabling rapid installation of the detection block. Furthermore, since the supporting body has a chamfer and the guide assembly has a roller assembly, the detection block will not be scratched. Because the supporting body presses down on the detection block, and the detection block and the watertight connecting element are physically pressed together, the flow channel installation mechanism can be securely installed. Moreover, the flow channel system according to the embodiments of the present invention can be quickly disassembled for cleaning or replacement, and features a particle size screening design without significant pressure drop. Furthermore, the flow channel system of the embodiments of the present invention employs a pump for extracting and discharging samples and an air particle filter, thus preventing contamination of the flow channel system itself or the environment. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0008] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a flow channel mounting mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a flow channel system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG3 is a schematic diagram showing details of the particle size screening element in FIG2.

Claims

1. A flow channel installation mechanism, comprising: A guiding assembly for guiding a detected block into the guiding assembly, the guiding assembly comprising: a support body having a chamfer; a support body; and a roller assembly connected to the support body via at least one first elastic element, wherein the detected block is adapted to be inserted between the support body and the roller assembly; and a watertight connecting element connected to a force-applying body via at least one second elastic element and having at least two openings, wherein the force-applying body is used to move toward the support body to apply pressure to the detected block, wherein the support body, the support body, and the force-applying body are arranged on a light channel, and the structures of the support body, the support body, and the force-applying body are hollowed out or obstructed to allow light energy to pass through unimpeded.

2. The flow channel mounting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detected block is a transparent body and has a first flow channel therein, the first flow channel having two openings on the same side of the detected block, the two openings of the first flow channel being used to connect with the two openings of the watertight connecting element.

3. The flow channel installation mechanism as described in claim 2 further includes: A light source for providing a light beam, wherein the detected block is located in the path of the light beam; An image sensor is disposed on the path of the light beam from the detected block; and a lens assembly is disposed on the path of the light beam between the detected block and the image sensor.

4. The flow channel mounting mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the watertight connecting element has at least four openings, two of the at least four openings are connected to the detected block, the other two of the at least four openings are connected to a plurality of fluid conduits, and the watertight connecting element has a second flow channel for communication with the detected block and the plurality of fluid conduits.

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