Liquid detection system with automatic chip buckling function

By designing an automated liquid detection system, the automatic fastening of the chip is achieved by combining motors and mobile parts, the deviation and low efficiency caused by manual operation in the prior art are solved, and efficient and accurate liquid detection is achieved.

CN111487424BActive Publication Date: 2025-06-24HANGZHOU ZHUNXIN BIOTECHNOLOGY CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202010308780.1
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2020-04-18
Publication Date
2025-06-24
Estimated Expiration
2040-04-18

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The existing liquid detection system has problems of manual operation deviation and low efficiency in the automatic snap-up of samples and reagents, and the up and down movement structure of the motor is complex.

Method used

An automated liquid detection system is designed, and the combination of chip and frame is used to realize the automatic fastening of the housing and the first base through the combination of the first motor, the connector and the moving parts to ensure the accurate conduction of the liquid flow path.

Benefits of technology

It realizes automated bonding, improves work efficiency and accuracy, simplifies the structure, and reduces the need for manual operation.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The present invention provides a liquid detection system with an automatic chip buckling function. The liquid detection system includes a chip and a frame. The chip includes a housing, a cover body, a first base, and a multi-channel direction selector valve. The linkage part of the multi-channel direction selector valve passes through the first base and the housing, and has a first mating part at the upper end. The liquid detection system further includes: a carrier member is disposed on the frame and is adapted to carry the chip; a fixing plate has a first through hole and is disposed on a guide rail through a sliding member; the guide rail is horizontally disposed on the frame; a first motor is fixed on the fixing plate; a connecting unit passes through the first through hole of the fixing plate and is connected to a moving member, and the first motor drives the connecting unit to move downward; the moving member is disposed on the lower side of the fixing plate and on the upper side of the cover body. The present invention has the advantages of simple structure and automation, etc.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to liquid detection, and in particular to a liquid detection system with an automatic chip-fastening function. Background Art

[0002] In various analyses, samples and multiple reagents need to be added to a mixing chamber, such as a test tube. These samples can be human and animal samples, such as whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, saliva, feces, cerebrospinal fluid or lavage fluid, wax-sealed tissues and slices, tissue homogenates, plants, including Chinese medicine, food raw materials, processed foods, meat, beverages and alcoholic beverages, and raw materials and semi-finished products in the manufacturing process of beverages, as well as cell culture fluids or pathogenic virus culture fluids. The types of components analyzed include minerals, inorganic substances, organic substances, nucleic acids DNA, RNA, proteins or fats. At present, the common liquid detection systems are:

[0003] The chip has a liquid selection structure, a mixing structure, and a conveying structure; the selection structure has a rotating disk and a motor, and the rotating disk has a channel that selectively connects the liquid cavity when it rotates; before the chip is loaded with a sample, the liquid will be separated from the channel in the rotating disk, and it needs to be connected after the sample is loaded. At this time, the liquid cavity and the rotating disk are manually fastened; when the chip is fixed, the motor shaft moves downward, and the bottom end of the shaft cooperates with the rotating disk, thereby driving the rotating disk to select different liquid cavities. This technical solution has many shortcomings, such as:

[0004] 1. Manual fastening, deviation and low efficiency;

[0005] 2. The rotating shaft is connected to the rotating disk from top to bottom. If there is a slight deviation, the two cannot cooperate, which increases the requirements for motor positioning.

[0006] 3. The up and down movement structure of the motor is complex. Summary of the invention

[0007] In order to solve the deficiencies in the above-mentioned prior art solutions, the present invention provides an automated, simple-structured, high-efficiency liquid detection system with an automatic chip-fastening function.

[0008] The objective of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0009] A liquid detection system with an automatic chip buckling function, the liquid detection system comprises a chip and a frame, the chip comprises a shell, a cover, a first base and a multi-channel directional selection valve; the shell has a plurality of liquid chambers, the cover is buckled on the top of the shell, the multi-channel directional selection valve is fixed on the first base and blocked by the first base; the linkage part of the multi-channel directional selection valve passes through the first base and the shell, and has a first matching part at the upper end; the liquid detection system also comprises:

[0010] A carrier, which is arranged on the frame and is suitable for carrying the chip;

[0011] A fixing plate, which has a first through hole and is arranged on the guide rail through a sliding member;

[0012] A guide rail, which is horizontally arranged on the frame;

[0013] A first motor, which is fixed on the fixing plate;

[0014] A connecting member, which passes through the first through hole of the fixing plate and is connected to a moving member, and the first motor drives the connecting member to move downward;

[0015] A moving member, which is arranged on the lower side of the fixing plate and the upper side of the cover body.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0017] 1. Automatic buckling;

[0018] After adding the sample, pull out the safety pin. By using the combination of the first motor, the connecting member and the moving member, the moving member that moves downward is used to push the housing downward. The housing and the first base are buckled, and the internal flow path is connected, realizing automatic buckling, and does not affect the rotation of the internal components of the multi-channel selection valve. There is no need for manual pressing, which is automatic, time-consuming and accurate;

[0019] The design of the guiding member connected to the moving member and the guiding hole ensures the downward translation of the housing, improves the stability and accuracy of the cooperation between the housing and the first base, that is, the internal liquid flow path is accurately and reliably conducted;

[0020] 2. Simple structure;

[0021] The moving platform of the present patent application: the combination of the fixing plate, the sliding member and the horizontal guide rail realizes the automatic buckling of the housing and the first base, and at the same time realizes the accurate connection and disconnection between the transmission member and the chip, which is convenient for the insertion and removal of the chip;

[0022] 3. High working efficiency;

[0023] The cover body has a second groove extending to the rotating member. On the one hand, it is suitable for the insertion and pulling out of the safety pin, realizing the safety function. On the other hand, it is suitable for the bottom end of the transmission member to move back and forth in the second groove; when moving forward, the bottom end of the transmission member first passes through the second groove and then cooperates with the rotating member to drive the multi-channel selection valve to work; when moving backward, the bottom end of the transmission member moves out of the rotating member and the second groove, so as to take out the used chip and put in a new chip, with fast and accurate cooperation and no need for manual alignment;

[0024] 4. Good working performance;

[0025] The design with different widths of the first mating part and the corresponding design with different widths of the second mating part help the transmission part to cooperate with the rotating part and fit tightly, improving the positioning accuracy of the multi-channel direction selection valve. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the disclosure of the present invention will become more readily understood. It is easy for those skilled in the art to understand that these drawings are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. In the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the liquid detection system with an automatic chip fastening function according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 is another schematic structural diagram of the liquid detection system with an automatic chip fastening function according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0029] Figure 1 - Figure 2 The following description and the following illustrate alternative embodiments of the present invention to teach those skilled in the art how to implement and reproduce the present invention. To teach the technical solutions of the present invention, some conventional aspects have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art should understand that variations or substitutions derived from these embodiments will be within the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the following features can be combined in various ways to form multiple variations of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the following alternative embodiments and is only defined by the claims and their equivalents.

[0030] Example 1:

[0031] Figure 1 - Figure 2 Schematically shown is the basic structural diagram of the liquid detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, as Figure 1 - Figure 2 shown, the liquid detection system includes:

[0032] A frame for carrying components such as chips and guide rails;

[0033] A carrier provided on the frame and adapted to carry a chip; for example, the bottom end of the carrier is two V-shaped detection grooves, adapted for the insertion and fixation of the two V-shaped detection cavities of the chip;

[0034] Fixing plate 41, the fixing plate 41 has a first through hole and a third through hole, and is arranged on the guide rail 43 through a sliding member 42; when the fixing plate 41 is in the working position, from top to bottom, the third through hole and the first groove (first mating portion) of the linkage portion 21 of the chip (safety pin removed) on the carrier are vertically corresponding;

[0035] Guide rail 43, the guide rail 43 is horizontally arranged at the top of the frame and extends along the front-rear direction;

[0036] First motor 31, the first motor 31 is fixed on the fixing plate 41, drives the connecting member 32 to move up and down, and then drives the moving member 32 to move up and down;

[0037] Connecting member 32, the upper part of the connecting member 32 is on the upper side of the fixing plate 41, the lower part passes through the first through hole of the fixing plate 41, and is connected to the moving member 33 on the lower side of the fixing plate 41;

[0038] Moving member 33, the moving member 33 is arranged on the lower side of the fixing plate 41 and on the upper side of the chip, and moves up and down under the drive of the connecting member 32;

[0039] Second motor, the second motor is fixed on the fixing plate, and the encoder is connected to the rotating shaft of the second motor for determining the position of the rotating shaft of the second motor;

[0040] Transmission member, the transmission member passes through the third through hole, and the transmission member is driven by the second motor; when the fixing plate is in the working position, the key (second mating portion) at the bottom end of the transmission member cooperates with the first groove of the linkage portion of the chip; in the vertical direction, the position of the bottom end of the transmission member is not lower than the height of the first groove and not higher than the height of the top end of the linkage portion; when the fixing plate moves forward along the guide rail, the bottom end of the transmission member moves forward in the second groove of the cover body and snaps into the first groove; when the fixing plate moves backward along the guide rail, the bottom end of the transmission member moves out of the first groove and the second groove in sequence, so as to take out the tested chip and load a new chip;

[0041] Guide member 34, at least two cylindrical guide members 34 are fixed on the upper side of the moving member;

[0042] Guide holes, guide holes matching the number of the guide members are arranged on the fixing plate and are suitable for the guide members to pass through;

[0043] The chip includes a cover body 11, a housing, a first base and a second base arranged from top to bottom;

[0044] A housing, within which there is a cylindrical channel. A plurality of liquid chambers are arranged around the cylindrical channel and are respectively used to accommodate samples and reagents. The bottom of each liquid chamber has an outlet distributed along the outer side of the cylindrical channel, such as in the form of concentric circles or on non - concentric circumferences. A film for closing the liquid chamber is provided at each outlet. The housing has a closure member that closes the plurality of liquid chambers from above. The closure member has a through - hole communicating with the interior of the liquid chamber and is suitable for adding samples, etc.

[0045] A safety pin, which has a horizontal portion. The length of the horizontal portion is greater than the length of the second groove, that is, the horizontal portion extends outside the second groove and is suitable for an operator to pull out the safety pin. Opposite sides of the horizontal portion along the length - extending direction have strip - shaped protrusions extending outward. For example, strip - shaped protrusions are provided at the bottom or middle of the two sides (the left and right sides of the horizontal portion, not the upper and lower sides and the front and back sides). The strip - shaped protrusions extend continuously or discontinuously along the length direction. The two sides have a first set of grooves suitable for the ends of the elastic portions to be snapped into, such as vertically extending vertical grooves or inclined grooves. The width of the end of the horizontal portion becomes smaller and is suitable for inserting into the first groove of the linkage portion. For aesthetics, the upper end of the end further has a sheet - shaped protrusion extending outward and along the length direction. For the convenience of pulling out the safety pin, the top of the sheet - shaped protrusion further has a plurality of protrusions extending perpendicular to the length direction (i.e., the width direction). The horizontal portion adopts a non - solid hollow structure. The safety pin fixed in the second groove prevents the housing from moving downward, and the sheet - shaped protrusion covers the top of the linkage portion.

[0046] A cover body 11, which is located on the upper side of the housing and closes the upper - end through - hole of the housing. For example, it is closed by inserting a protrusion into the through - hole, making the liquid chambers in the housing a closed environment. The cover body has a second groove 12 that extends to the cylindrical channel. The linkage portion of the rotating body of the first base passes through the cylindrical channel, and its upper end is located in the second groove. Opposite walls of the second groove have oppositely arranged wing portions, and the distance between the two wing portions is less than the width of the second groove. The second groove is suitable for the strip - shaped protrusions to be snapped into, and the two wing portions prevent the strip - shaped protrusions from moving upward, that is, prevent the housing from moving downward. The horizontal portion is inserted between the two wing portions. The two wing portions respectively have suspended elastic portions adjacent to the side of the safety pin. For example, the elastic portions are machined on the wing portions. In the free state, the distance between the two elastic portions located opposite to each other is less than the width of the portion of the horizontal portion with strip - shaped protrusions. When the horizontal portion is inserted into the groove of the closure member, the portion where the width of the horizontal portion gradually becomes smaller passes between the two elastic portions, and the distance between the two elastic portions is gradually enlarged until they are finally snapped into the first set of grooves on the two sides.

[0047] The first base has a fifth through-hole, a second opening, and a third opening. The bottom end of the first base has a first opening and a first set of openings that are concentric circles surrounding the fifth through-hole. The upper end has a second set of openings and an eighth opening that are concentric circles or on non-coincident circumferences surrounding the fifth through-hole. The upper end of the second set of openings has a hollow pointed protrusion, which is suitable for piercing the film and inserting into the outlet at the lower end of the liquid chamber. The first base has a plurality of mutually isolated channels for respectively connecting the first set of openings and the second set of openings, so that the first set of openings corresponds to the liquid chamber one by one and is internally connected. The inner diameter of the channels is small, so that the liquid in the liquid chamber cannot flow to the first set of outlets by its own gravity alone. The first base also has a second opening and a third opening, which are respectively connected to the eighth outlet. The lower end of the first base has a fifth groove, such as a circular groove, and the fifth through-hole is located in the fifth groove.

[0048] A multi-channel directional valve, the multi-channel directional valve includes a rotating body, and the rotating body includes:

[0049] A linkage part, a rotating disk, and a hollow rotating part whose central axes are collinear from top to bottom; the linkage part passes through the fifth through-hole and is located in the cylindrical channel; the upper end of the part of the linkage part located in the second groove has a first groove; in order to cooperate with the transmission part, preferably, in the extending direction of the horizontal second groove, the width of the first groove becomes larger: the rotating disk includes a first part with a larger radius (greater than the fifth through-hole) and a second part with a smaller radius. The first part and the second part are accommodated in the fifth groove; the upper end of the rotating disk has a fourth opening, and the rotating disk internally has a second channel that is connected to the inside of the rotating part; when the rotating disk rotates, the fourth opening is respectively connected to the first opening and the first set of openings, realizing the selective connection of the first opening and the first set of openings, that is, realizing the selective connection between the inside of the rotating part and the liquid chamber.

[0050] A second base, the lower end of the second base has a cavity, and the cross-sectional area of the cavity gradually becomes larger from bottom to top; the second base in the upper part of the cavity has a sixth through-hole and a circular groove surrounding the sixth through-hole; a rubber O-ring is sleeved on the rotating part and is located in the circular groove, realizing the seal between the rotating part and the cavity; there is an annular protrusion outside the circular groove, and the second part is located in the space surrounded by the annular protrusion and the second base, and the first part is blocked by the annular protrusion; the annular protrusion is located in the fifth groove, and the rotating disk is located in the space surrounded by the fifth groove, the annular protrusion, and the second base; the rotating part passes through the sixth through-hole and extends into the cavity, and the distance between the bottom end of the rotating part and the bottom wall of the cavity is less than 1 mm, such as 0.5 mm; the lower end of the second base outside the cavity has a fifth opening, a filter membrane is provided at the fifth opening, and the second base internally has a third channel for connecting the cavity and the fifth opening.

[0051] An air pump, the air pump is connected to the fifth opening;

[0052] The storage device includes a main body and a thin film. A detection cavity is provided inside the main body, and the thin film is attached to both sides of the main body. The main body has a convex sixth opening and a convex seventh opening that are respectively communicated with the detection cavity. The sixth opening and the seventh opening are inserted into a flexible material in the fourth groove and are communicated with the second opening and the third opening.

[0053] Before the formal detection, the distance between the housing and the first base is greater than zero, and the second set of openings is not communicated with the liquid chamber. At the same time, since the safety pin is inserted into the first groove of the linkage part, the housing cannot move downward.

[0054] A light source that emits light of multiple wavelengths.

[0055] A first selection module that is used to select excitation light of different wavelengths from the light of multiple wavelengths, and the excitation light is respectively incident into the detection cavity in the detection groove.

[0056] A second selection module that is used to select outgoing light of different wavelengths from the light emitted from the detection cavity.

[0057] A detector that converts outgoing light of different wavelengths into electrical signals.

[0058] An incident optical fiber that transmits the light emitted from different light sources to the detection cavity, and the output end of the incident optical fiber is fixed on the V-shaped groove.

[0059] An outgoing optical fiber that transmits the light in the detection cavity to different detectors, and the input end of the outgoing optical fiber is fixed on the V-shaped groove.

[0060] A temperature control unit, which includes a main body, a heater, and a cooler. The main body is made of heat-conducting materials such as metal aluminum and copper, and has a sixth groove suitable for placing the cavity. The heater uses a sheet-shaped heating ring and is arranged in the annular groove on the lower side of the main body. The cooler uses a TEC, the cold surface is attached to the main body, and heat dissipation teeth and a heat dissipation fan are arranged at the hot surface.

[0061] The electromagnet and the ultrasonic module are arranged on the lower side of the main body and are located under the cavity.

[0062] A temperature control channel is formed in a rectangular channel surrounded by iron sheets, and one end of the temperature control channel is connected to a ventilator. An electric heating sheet is arranged outside the detection groove.

[0063] The detection method of this application example, the detection method includes a preparation stage, a mixing stage, a conveying stage, and a detection stage; the preparation stage includes the following steps:

[0064] (A1) Push the fixed plate backward, and the fixed plate moves backward along the guide rail.

[0065] Pull out the safety pin on the chip. The safety pin disengages from the first groove and the second groove of the cover successively. The distance between the housing and the first base is greater than zero. The liquid channels in the first base, such as the second channel, are not connected to the liquid cavity in the housing. Then, place the chip on the carrier on the lower side of the fixing plate. The two V-shaped grooves of the carrier carry the two V-shaped detection cavities of the storage device, as Figure 2 shown;

[0066] (A2) Pull the fixing plate forward. The fixing plate moves forward along the guide rail;

[0067] The transmission member passing through the fixing plate moves forward in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the guide rail. The bottom end of the transmission member moves forward in the second groove, thereby engaging with the first groove at the upper end of the linkage part of the multi-channel selector valve, so that the second motor drives the linkage part and the rotating disk to rotate through the transmission member, as Figure 1 shown;

[0068] (A3) The first motor rotates, driving the connecting member to move downward, thereby pushing the cover downward. The downward-moving housing and the stationary first base are buckled together. The second set of openings enter the outlet of the liquid cavity, piercing the film, so that the liquid channels in the first base are connected to the liquid cavity in the housing;

[0069] The mixing stage includes the following steps:

[0070] The second motor drives the linkage part, the rotating disk and the rotating member to rotate by using the transmission member, and positions by using the encoder, so that the fourth opening on the rotating disk selectively communicates with the first set of openings; in this state, the liquid cavity selectively communicates with the second set of openings, the first set of openings, the fourth opening, the inner channels of the rotating disk and the rotating member, and the cavity. However, due to the resistance of the narrow channels, the liquid cannot flow out of the liquid cavity to the first set of openings only by gravity; at the same time, the liquid in the liquid cavity not communicating with the fourth opening also cannot flow out to the first set of openings only by its own gravity;

[0071] The air pump works, and the gas in the cavity is discharged from the third channel and the fifth opening in sequence. The cavity becomes negative pressure; the liquid in the liquid cavity breaks through and passes through the second set of openings, the inner channel in the first base, the first set of openings, the fourth opening, the second channel and the inner channel of the rotating member in sequence and enters the cavity, so that a variety of liquids (samples and reagents) are selectively extracted from the liquid cavity and mixed in the cavity;

[0072] During the reaction process of the mixed liquid in the cavity, the temperature control unit maintains the set temperature of the mixed liquid through the heater and the cooler;

[0073] When there are magnetic beads in the mixed liquid, an electromagnet is used to adsorb the magnetic beads, and the magnetic beads gather at the bottom of the cavity; an ultrasonic module is used to disperse the gathered magnetic beads.

[0074] The conveying stage includes the following steps:

[0075] The second motor drives the linkage part to rotate. Through the positioning of the encoder, the fourth opening on the rotating turntable is communicated with the first opening.

[0076] Gas is injected into the cavity through the air pump and the fifth opening. The pressure above the liquid surface in the cavity is positive, which compresses the mixed liquid in the cavity to sequentially pass through the hollow rotating part, the second channel, the fourth opening, the first opening, the first channel, and then enter the detection cavity in the storage device through the second opening and the third opening.

[0077] The detection stage includes the following steps:

[0078] (B1) Excitation light of different wavelengths emitted by multiple light sources is incident into each detection cavity through the incident optical fiber. Using the first switching module, part of the excitation light output by different light sources enters the detection cavity respectively; through the second switching module, the emitted light in different detection cavities enters the detector for reception, and the parameters of the sample are obtained through analysis.

[0079] An electric heating sheet is used to raise the temperature of the liquid in the detection cavity, and the airflow generated by the fan is used to lower the temperature of the liquid in the detection cavity, so that the liquid in the detection cavity maintains a set temperature.

[0080] Embodiment 2:

[0081] An application example of the liquid detection system with an automatically buckling chip according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention in fluorescence quantitative PCR.

[0082] In this application example, as Figure 1 - Figure 2 shown, the liquid detection system includes:

[0083] A chip, the chip includes a cover body 11, a housing, a first base, and a second base arranged from top to bottom;

[0084] A housing, the housing has a cylindrical channel, and a plurality of liquid cavities are arranged around the cylindrical channel, which are respectively used to accommodate samples and reagents. The bottom of the liquid cavity has outlets distributed in concentric circles along the central axis of the cylindrical channel, and a thin film for closing the liquid cavity is provided at each outlet; the housing has a closure for closing a plurality of liquid cavities from above, and the closure has through holes communicating with the inside of the liquid cavity, which is suitable for adding samples, etc.

[0085] Safety pin, the safety pin has a horizontal portion, the length of the horizontal portion is greater than the length of the second groove, that is, the horizontal portion extends outside the second groove and is used by the operator to pull out the safety pin; two side portions of the horizontal portion opposite to each other along the extending direction of the length have strip-shaped protrusions extending outwards, for example, strip-shaped protrusions are provided at the bottom end or the middle of the two side portions (the left and right side portions of the horizontal portion, not the upper and lower side portions and the front and rear side portions), and the strip-shaped protrusions extend continuously or intermittently along the length direction; the two side portions have a first set of grooves adapted for the ends of the elastic portions to be snapped into, such as vertical grooves or inclined grooves extending in the up and down direction; the width of the end of the horizontal portion becomes smaller and is adapted to be inserted into the first groove of the linkage portion; the upper end of the end has a sheet-shaped protrusion extending outwards and along the length direction; in order to facilitate the extraction of the safety pin, the top end of the sheet-shaped protrusion further has a plurality of protrusions extending perpendicular to the length direction (i.e., the width direction); the horizontal portion adopts a non-solid hollow structure;

[0086] Cover body 11, the cover body 11 is located on the upper side of the housing and closes the upper end through hole of the housing, for example, it is closed by inserting a protrusion into the through hole, so that the liquid cavity in the housing becomes a closed environment; a second groove 12 is provided in the cover body, and the second groove extends to the cylindrical channel; the linkage portion of the rotating body of the first base passes through the cylindrical channel, and the upper end is located in the second groove; the opposite walls of the second groove have wing portions arranged opposite to each other, and the distance between the two wing portions is less than the width of the second groove; the second groove is adapted for the strip-shaped protrusions to be snapped into, and the two wing portions block the upward movement of the strip-shaped protrusions, that is, prevent the downward movement of the housing, and the horizontal portion is inserted between the two wing portions; the two wing portions respectively have suspended elastic portions adjacent to the side portions of the safety pin, such as elastic portions machined on the wing portions. In the free state, the distance between the two elastic portions opposite to each other is less than the width of the portion of the horizontal portion having strip-shaped protrusions. When the horizontal portion is inserted into the groove of the closure member, the portion where the width of the horizontal portion gradually becomes smaller passes between the two elastic portions, and the distance between the two elastic portions is gradually enlarged, and finally is snapped into the first set of grooves of the two side portions;

[0087] The first base has a fifth through-hole, a second opening, and a third opening. The bottom end of the first base has a first opening and a first set of openings that are concentric circles surrounding the fifth through-hole. The upper end has a second set of openings and an eighth opening that are concentric circles surrounding the fifth through-hole. The upper end of the second set of openings has a hollow pointed protrusion, which is suitable for piercing the film and inserting into the outlet at the lower end of the liquid chamber. The first base has a plurality of mutually isolated channels for respectively connecting the first set of openings and the second set of openings, so that the first set of openings corresponds to the liquid chambers one by one and is internally connected. The inner diameter of the channels is small, so that the liquid in the liquid chamber cannot flow to the first set of outlets only by its own gravity. The upper end of the first base also has a ninth opening and a tenth opening. The eighth opening is connected to the first opening through a channel in the first base. The ninth opening is connected to the second opening through a channel in the first base. The tenth opening is connected to the third opening through a channel in the first base. The upper end of the first base has an annular protrusion. The second set of openings, the eighth opening, the ninth opening, and the tenth opening are located in a third groove surrounded by the annular protrusion. One side of the connecting piece has a "Y"-shaped groove, which is buckled in the third groove, so that a "Y"-shaped channel isolated from the outside is formed between the eighth opening and the ninth opening and the tenth opening. The second opening and the third opening are arranged in a fourth groove at the lower end of the first base and outside the rotation radius of the rotating disk. The fourth groove has a flexible material. The lower end of the first base has a fifth groove, and the fifth through-hole is located in the fifth groove.

[0088] A multi-channel selection valve, the multi-channel selection valve includes a rotating body, and the rotating body includes:

[0089] A linkage part 21, a rotating disk, and a hollow rotating part whose central axes are collinear from top to bottom; the linkage part passes through the fifth through-hole and is located in the cylindrical channel; the upper end of the part of the linkage part located in the second groove has a first groove; in the extending direction of the horizontal second groove, the width of the first groove becomes larger: in this application example, the linkage part is cylindrical and has two grooves with different widths; the rotating disk includes a first part with a larger radius (greater than the fifth through-hole) and a second part with a smaller radius. The first part and the second part are accommodated in the fifth groove. The upper end of the rotating disk has a fourth opening, and the rotating disk internally has a second channel connected to the inside of the rotating part. When the rotating disk rotates, the fourth opening is respectively connected to the first opening and the first set of openings, realizing the selective connection of the first opening and the first set of openings, that is, realizing the selective connection of the inside of the rotating part and the liquid chamber; the end of the horizontal part is inserted into the first groove of the linkage part: first insert into the groove with a larger width, and then insert into the groove with a smaller width. The safety pin fixed in the second groove prevents the downward movement of the housing, and the sheet-like protrusion covers the top of the linkage part.

[0090] The second base, the lower end of the second base has a cavity, and from bottom to top, the cross-sectional area of the cavity gradually increases; the second base in the upper part of the cavity has a sixth through-hole and a circular groove surrounding the sixth through-hole; a rubber O-ring is sleeved on the rotating member and is located in the circular groove, realizing the seal between the rotating member and the cavity; there is an annular protrusion outside the circular groove, the second part is in the space enclosed by the annular protrusion and the second base, and the first part is blocked by the annular protrusion; the annular protrusion is in the fifth groove, and the rotating disk is in the space enclosed by the fifth groove, the annular protrusion and the second base; the rotating member passes through the sixth through-hole and extends into the cavity, and the distance between the bottom end of the rotating member and the bottom wall of the cavity is less than 1 mm, such as 0.5 mm; the lower end of the second base outside the cavity has a protruding fifth opening, a filter membrane is provided at the fifth opening, and a third channel is provided in the second base for communicating the cavity and the fifth opening;

[0091] An air pump, the air pump is connected to the fifth opening;

[0092] The storage device includes a main body and a thin film. The main body has a detection cavity, and the thin film is attached to both sides of the main body; the main body has a protruding sixth opening and a protruding seventh opening respectively communicating with the detection cavity; the sixth opening and the seventh opening are inserted into the flexible material in the fourth groove and communicate with the second opening and the third opening;

[0093] Before the formal detection, the distance between the housing and the first base is greater than zero, and the second group of openings is not communicated with the liquid chamber; at the same time, in view of the safety pin being inserted into the groove of the linkage part, the housing cannot move down;

[0094] A frame, the frame is used to carry components such as the chip and the fixing plate;

[0095] A carrier, the carrier is arranged on the frame and is suitable for carrying the chip; the bottom end of the carrier is two V-shaped detection grooves, suitable for the insertion and fixation of the two V-shaped detection cavities of the main body;

[0096] The fixing plate 41, the fixing plate 41 has a third through-hole and is arranged on the guide rail 43 through a sliding member 42; when the fixing plate is in the working position, the third through-hole and the first groove of the chip (the safety pin is removed) on the carrier are vertically corresponding;

[0097] The guide rail 43, the guide rail is horizontally arranged at the top of the frame and extends along the front-back direction;

[0098] A second motor, the second motor is fixed on the fixing plate, and an encoder is connected to the rotating shaft of the second motor for determining the position of the rotating shaft of the second motor;

[0099] The transmission part passes through the third through hole and is driven by the second motor. When the fixing plate is in the working position, the bottom end of the transmission part is snapped into the first groove. Correspondingly, in the horizontal direction, the width of the bottom end of the transmission part becomes larger from one end to the other end. In the vertical direction, the position of the bottom end of the transmission part is not lower than the height of the first groove and not higher than the top height of the linkage part. When the fixing plate moves forward along the guide rail, the bottom end of the transmission part moves forward in the second groove and is snapped into the first groove. When the fixing plate moves backward along the guide rail, the bottom end of the transmission part moves out of the first groove and the second groove in sequence, so as to take out the detected chip and load a new chip.

[0100] The first motor 31 is fixed on the fixing plate 41.

[0101] The connecting plate 32 has its upper part on the upper side of the fixing plate 41 and has a second through hole (rectangular through hole), and its lower part passes through the first through hole of the fixing plate 41 and is fixedly connected to the moving plate 33 on the lower side of the fixing plate 41.

[0102] The eccentric wheel is arranged in the second through hole, and the rotating shaft of the first motor is connected to the eccentric wheel. The rotating eccentric wheel drives the up and down movement of the connecting plate: when the eccentric wheel rotates against the bottom wall of the second through hole, it drives the connecting plate and the moving plate to move downward, and when the eccentric wheel rotates against the top wall of the second through hole, it drives the connecting plate and the moving plate to move upward.

[0103] The moving plate 33 is arranged on the lower side of the fixing plate 41 and above the chip, and has a fourth through hole suitable for the transmission part to pass through.

[0104] At least two cylindrical guiding parts 34 are fixed on the upper side of the moving plate 33.

[0105] Guiding holes, which are arranged on the fixing plate and match the number of the guiding parts, are suitable for the guiding parts to pass through.

[0106] The guiding component is arranged on the upper side of the fixing plate, and the guiding parts are suitable for passing through the guiding holes and the inside of the guiding component, so as to limit the moving plate to move up and down only perpendicular to the guiding parts.

[0107] The first selection module and the second selection module are shared. The first selection module includes:

[0108] The rotating part has mounting positions distributed concentrically around the rotating shaft.

[0109] The third motor drives the rotating part to rotate.

[0110] Multiple sets of detection units, and the detection unit includes:

[0111] A transmitting module and a detecting module, the transmitting module and the detecting module are spaced apart and are respectively fixed on the installation positions; a light source, a collimating lens group and a filter are respectively arranged in the transmitting module, and the collimating lens group, the filter and a detector are arranged in the detecting module; when the transmitting module rotating with the rotating member corresponds to the incident optical fiber, the adjacent detecting module corresponds to the outgoing optical fiber; the transmitting modules of each set of detection units emit excitation light of different wavelengths;

[0112] An incident optical fiber, which transmits the light emitted by the light sources in different transmitting modules to the detection cavity, and the output end of the incident optical fiber is fixed on the V-shaped groove;

[0113] An outgoing optical fiber, which transmits the light in the detection cavity to different detecting modules, and the input end of the outgoing optical fiber is fixed on the V-shaped groove; by rotation, different detection units respectively correspond to the incident optical fiber and the outgoing optical fiber, that is, excitation light of different wavelengths enters the detection cavity through the incident optical fiber, and fluorescence of different wavelengths excited in the detection cavity is sent to the detection module for reception through the outgoing optical fiber; in this embodiment, four sets of detection units are adopted, so that excitation light of four different wavelengths is respectively incident on two detection cavities, and fluorescence of different wavelengths emitted by the detection cavities is respectively received by the detecting module;

[0114] A temperature control unit, the temperature control unit includes a body, a heater and a cooler, the body is made of heat-conducting materials such as metal aluminum and copper, and has a sixth groove suitable for placing the cavity; the heater is a sheet-shaped heating ring and is arranged in the annular groove on the lower side of the body; the cooler uses a TEC, the cold surface is attached to the body, and heat dissipation teeth and a heat dissipation fan are arranged at the hot surface;

[0115] An electromagnet and an ultrasonic module are arranged on the lower side of the body and are located on the lower side of the cavity;

[0116] A temperature control channel is formed in a rectangular channel surrounded by iron sheets, and one end of the temperature control channel is connected to a ventilator; an electric heating sheet is arranged outside the detection groove.

[0117] The detection method of this application example, the detection method includes a preparation stage, a mixing stage, a conveying stage and a detection stage; the preparation stage includes the following steps:

[0118] (A1) Push the fixed plate backward, and the fixed plate moves backward along the guide rail;

[0119] Pull out the safety pin on the chip. The safety pin disengages from the first groove and the second groove of the cover successively. The distance between the housing and the first base is greater than zero. The liquid channel in the first base is not in communication with the liquid chamber in the housing. Then place the chip on the carrier on the lower side of the fixing plate. The two V-shaped grooves of the carrier carry the two V-shaped detection chambers of the storage device, as Figure 2 shown;

[0120] (A2) Pull the fixing plate forward. The fixing plate moves forward along the guide rail;

[0121] The transmission member passing through the fixing plate moves forward in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the guide rail. The bottom end of the transmission member moves forward in the second groove, thereby engaging with the first groove at the upper end of the linkage part of the multi-channel selector valve, so that the second motor drives the rotation of the linkage part through the transmission member, as Figure 1 shown;

[0122] (A3) The first motor rotates, driving the eccentric wheel to rotate against the bottom wall of the second through hole of the connecting plate, pushing the connecting plate downward, thereby pushing the moving plate and the cover downward. The downward-moving housing and the stationary first base are buckled together. The second set of openings enter the outlet of the liquid chamber, piercing the film, so that the liquid channel in the first base is in communication with the liquid chamber in the housing;

[0123] The mixing stage includes the following steps:

[0124] The second motor drives the linkage part, the rotating disk and the rotating member to rotate by using the transmission member, and positions by using the encoder, so that the fourth opening on the rotating disk selectively communicates with the first set of openings; in this state, the liquid chamber selectively communicates with the second set of openings, the first set of openings, the fourth opening, the inner channels of the rotating disk and the rotating member, and the cavity. However, due to the resistance of the narrow channels, the liquid cannot flow out of the liquid chamber to the first set of openings only by gravity; at the same time, the liquid in the liquid chamber not communicating with the fourth opening also cannot flow out to the first set of openings only by its own gravity;

[0125] The air pump works, and the gas in the cavity is discharged from the third channel and the fifth opening in sequence. The cavity becomes a negative pressure; the liquid in the liquid chamber breaks through and passes through the second set of openings, the inner channel in the first base, the first set of openings, the fourth opening, the second channel and the inner channel of the rotating member in sequence and enters the cavity, thereby realizing the selective extraction of various liquids (samples and reagents) from the liquid chamber and mixing in the cavity;

[0126] During the reaction process of the mixed liquid in the cavity, the temperature control unit maintains the set temperature of the mixed liquid through the heater and the cooler;

[0127] When there are magnetic beads in the mixed liquid, an electromagnet is used to adsorb the magnetic beads, and the magnetic beads gather at the bottom of the cavity; an ultrasonic module is used to disperse the gathered magnetic beads.

[0128] The conveying stage includes the following steps:

[0129] The second motor drives the linkage part to rotate. Through the positioning of the encoder, the fourth opening on the rotating disk in rotation communicates with the first opening;

[0130] Gas is injected into the cavity through the air pump item and the fifth opening. The liquid surface in the cavity is under positive pressure, and the mixed liquid in the cavity is pressed to sequentially pass through the hollow rotating part, the second channel, the fourth opening, the first opening, the first channel, and the eighth opening, and then enters the detection cavity in the storage device through the ninth opening and the second opening;

[0131] The detection stage includes the following steps:

[0132] (B1) The third motor drives the rotating part to rotate, so that different groups of detection units are respectively corresponding to the incident optical fiber and the outgoing optical fiber. The excitation lights with different wavelengths output by each emission module are respectively injected into the detection cavity through the incident optical fiber. The lights emitted from the detection cavity are respectively transmitted to each detection module through the outgoing optical fiber, and the parameters of the sample are obtained through analysis;

[0133] An electric heating sheet is used to raise the temperature of the liquid in the detection cavity, and the airflow generated by the fan is used to lower the temperature of the liquid in the detection cavity, so that the liquid in the detection cavity maintains a set temperature.

[0134] Embodiment 3:

[0135] An application example of the liquid detection system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention in fluorescence quantitative PCR is different from Embodiment 2 in that:

[0136] 1. The bottom openings of each liquid cavity are non-concentrically distributed, and the first group of openings are also non-concentrically distributed.

[0137] 2. An annular groove is provided around the sixth through hole. The seal is located in the annular groove and sleeved outside the rotating part.

[0138] 3. The horizontal part of the safety pin further has a vertical part at the end far from the end inserted into the first groove. When the safety pin is inserted into the second groove, the vertical part is exposed, which is convenient for the operator to hold and pull out.

[0139] 4. The first switching module adopts a combination of multiple reflectors, which is used to combine the excitation lights with different wavelengths output by multiple emission modules. The combined light is coupled into the incident optical fiber, and the incident optical fiber is split and then incident into each detection cavity; different wavelength lights are selectively incident into the detection cavity by turning on and off the power supply of the light source;

[0140] The output optical fibers corresponding to each detection cavity are combined, and then divided into multiple beams by an optical beam splitter. The optical beam splitter adopts a combination of a reflector and a dichroic mirror. The detection modules are respectively placed on each optical path after beam splitting; an optical switch is provided on the output optical fiber to achieve the switching function; compared with the switching in Embodiment 2, no moving parts are used, improving the operation stability and reliability.

[0141] In the above embodiments, the first mating part adopts a groove, and the second mating part adopts a key. Of course, they can also be interchanged, that is, the first mating part adopts a key and the second mating part adopts a groove.

Claims

1. A liquid detection system with an automatic chip buckling function, the liquid detection system comprising a chip and a frame, the chip including a housing, a cover, a first base, and a multi-channel directional valve; a plurality of liquid chambers are provided in the housing, the cover is buckled on the top end of the housing, the multi-channel directional valve is fixed on the first base and blocked by the first base; the linkage part of the multi-channel directional valve passes through the first base and the housing, and has a first mating part at the upper end; characterized in that: The first base has a second opening, a third opening, and a fifth through hole adapted for the linkage part to pass through. The bottom end of the first base has a first opening and a first set of openings distributed concentrically around the fifth through hole, and the upper end has a second set of openings. The second set of openings and the first set of openings arranged up and down are respectively communicated through mutually isolated channels in the first base; the second set of openings is adapted to communicate with the liquid chambers; the first opening is communicated with the second opening and the third opening through a first channel; The multi-channel directional valve further includes a rotating body, the rotating body having a linkage part passing through the fifth through hole, a rotating disk with a radius larger than the fifth through hole and located below the first base, and a rotating member extending downward, arranged in sequence from top to bottom; the upper end of the rotating disk has a fourth opening that selectively communicates with the first set of openings and the first opening when it rotates, and the rotating disk has a second channel communicating the fourth opening and the hollow rotating member; The chip has a detection chamber, and the second opening and the third opening are respectively communicated with the detection chamber; The liquid detection system further includes: A carrier, the carrier is arranged on the frame and is adapted to carry the chip; A fixing plate, the fixing plate has a first through hole and is arranged on the guide rail through a sliding member; A first motor, the first motor is fixed on the fixing plate; A connecting member, the connecting member passes through the first through hole of the fixing plate and is connected to a moving member, and the first motor drives the connecting member to move downward; A moving member, the moving member is arranged on the lower side of the fixing plate and on the upper side of the cover; A guide rail, the guide rail is horizontally arranged at the top end of the frame and extends along the front-back direction; A transmission member, when the fixing plate moves forward along the guide rail, the bottom end of the transmission member moves forward in the second groove of the cover and snaps into the first groove; when the fixing plate moves backward along the guide rail, the bottom end of the transmission member sequentially moves out of the first groove and the second groove.

2. The liquid detection system according to claim 1, wherein: The connecting member includes: A connecting plate, the connecting plate has a second through hole, and the moving member is connected to the connecting plate passing through the first through hole; An eccentric wheel, the eccentric wheel is arranged in the second through hole, and the rotating shaft of the first motor is connected to the eccentric wheel; the rotating eccentric wheel drives the up and down movement of the connecting plate.

3. The liquid detection system according to claim 1, wherein: The liquid detection system further includes: A guiding member, at least two guiding members are fixed on the upper side of the moving member; Guiding holes, guiding holes matching the number of guiding members are arranged on the fixing plate and are adapted for the guiding members to pass through.

4. The liquid detection system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The liquid detection system further includes: a guiding member disposed on the upper side of the fixing plate and having a through hole adapted for the guiding member to pass through.

5. The liquid detection system according to claim 1, wherein: The liquid detection system further includes: a second motor fixed to the fixing plate; The transmission member is driven by the second motor and sequentially passes through the third through hole of the fixing plate and the fourth through hole of the moving member; when the fixing plate is in the working position, the second engaging portion at the bottom end of the transmission member engages with the first engaging portion and drives the linkage portion to rotate.

6. The liquid detection system according to claim 5, wherein: The first engaging portion is a first groove; in the horizontal direction, the width of the first groove becomes larger; the bottom end of the transmission member is not lower than the bottom wall height of the first groove and not higher than the top end height of the linkage portion; in the horizontal direction, the width of the bottom end of the transmission member becomes larger from one end to the other end.

7. The liquid detection system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The cover body has a second groove extending in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the guide rail; when the fixing plate moves forward along the guide rail, the end portion of the connecting member moves forward in the second groove and engages with the linkage portion.

8. The liquid detection system according to claim 7, wherein: The liquid detection system further includes: A safety pin having a horizontal portion; two side portions at positions opposite to each other along the length direction of the horizontal portion respectively have strip-shaped protrusions extending outward, and the strip-shaped protrusions extend continuously or discontinuously along the length direction; the two side portions have a first set of grooves adapted for the elastic portions to snap into; the end portion of the horizontal portion is adapted to be inserted into the first groove; The opposite walls of the second groove respectively have wings for blocking the upward movement of the strip-shaped protrusions snapped into the second groove, and the distance between the two wings is less than the width of the second groove; the two wings respectively have suspended elastic portions.

9. The liquid detection system according to claim 1, wherein: The chip further includes a second base and a storage device. The lower end of the second base has a cavity adapted for the rotating member to extend into, and the cavity is sealed between the rotating disk or the bottom end of the first base; on the second base outside the cavity, there is a fifth opening communicating with the cavity; The detection cavity is provided in the storage device.

10. The liquid detection system according to claim 9, wherein: The bottom end of the first base has a third groove surrounding the fifth through hole, and the first set of openings and the first opening are located in the third groove; the upper end of the second base has an annular protrusion adapted to be snapped into the third groove, and the rotating disk is located in the third groove.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Liquid detection system with automatic chip buckling function

    CN213813638U