Sealing matching joint module and operation platform applied to rapid disconnection of microfluidic chip

Abstract

The present application discloses a sealed matching joint module and its operation platform for quick disconnection, which are used for connecting a micro-fluidic chip and a dispenser. The joint module comprises at least one first coupling member and at least one second coupling member. The first coupling member has a first end and an opposite second end, and the first end is arranged at an injection port of the micro-fluidic chip. The second coupling member has a third end and an opposite fourth end, and a pipe connecting the third end and the fourth end. The third end is coupled to the second end of the first coupling member. The dispenser is arranged in the pipe by the fourth end. The sealed matching joint module and its operation platform can facilitate medical detection personnel or researchers to conveniently and intuitively operate the fluid such as a specimen and inject it into the micro-fluidic chip for detection.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a liquid injection joint module for convenient use, in particular to a quick disconnection sealed matching joint module for facilitating liquid injection of a microfluidic chip and an operation platform thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] In recent years, the demand for health care is increasing day by day, and the traditional medical technology cannot meet the demand. The main reason is that most of the existing medical equipment is still based on traditional large-scale machines, so the equipment is bulky, expensive, not easy to transport and carry, and requires professional technical personnel during operation. In addition, a large amount of reagent and sample is required during detection.

[0003] In order to meet the above-mentioned needs, the existing micro-electro-mechanical system technology is used to develop biomedical micro-electro-mechanical systems, which miniaturize the entire detection system and combine it on a single chip, becoming a so-called laboratory chip (Lab on a chip). It can be combined with microfluidic systems to enable medical detection to be completed on the microfluidic chip, and has the advantages of high efficiency, low reagent consumption and rapid detection. SUMMARY

[0004] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the above-mentioned prior art, the present application provides various embodiments to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a quick disconnection sealed matching joint module for a microfluidic chip and an operation platform thereof, which can facilitate medical detection personnel or researchers to conveniently and intuitively operate fluids such as blood, reagents or buffer solutions of test subjects, and inject them into the microfluidic chip for detection, facilitating metering, mixing, washing, separation, reaction or testing.

[0006] In order to achieve one or part or all of the above-mentioned purposes or other purposes, the embodiments of the present application provide a quick disconnection sealed matching joint module for a microfluidic chip, which is used for connecting a dispenser and a microfluidic chip, wherein the microfluidic chip has at least one injection port.

[0007] The above-mentioned joint module includes at least one first coupling member and at least one second coupling member. The first coupling member has a first end and an opposite second end, and the first end is arranged corresponding to the injection port. The second coupling member has a third end and an opposite fourth end, and a pipe connecting the third end and the fourth end, and the third end is coupled to the second end of the first coupling member. The dispenser is placed in the pipe from the fourth end.

[0008] In one embodiment, the first coupling member is located on an upper cover sheet, which is placed on the microfluidic chip.

[0009] In one embodiment, the second end of the first coupling member is a protruding ring. The third end of the second coupling member is a circular groove, which can accommodate and engage the protruding ring. The conduit is a circular cone, which has a narrow opening and a wide opening. The narrow opening is connected to the circular groove, and the dispenser is placed in the conduit through the wide opening.

[0010] In one embodiment, the dispenser includes a micropipette, which can be a plastic micropipette, a glass micropipette, or a micropipette made of other materials. The adapter module can directly engage a commercially available disposable plastic micropipette thereon, forming a microwell that can carry a liquid.

[0011] In one embodiment, the microfluidic chip includes an upper cover sheet, a microfluidic channel structure, and at least one filter. The microfluidic channel structure has a microhole array, which has a plurality of microholes and each microhole is shaped as an inverted funnel, the entrance of which is slightly larger than the size of a cell, so that the flow resistance of each cell entering the entrance of each inverted funnel increases, passively adjusting the distribution of the cells in the fluid to achieve uniform cell screening results in each microhole.

[0012] In another embodiment, the filter includes a micropore filter paper, which can be directly attached below the microhole array, so that the micropore filter paper drains the liquid to retain cells smaller than the filter holes on the micropore filter paper.

[0013] In one embodiment, the adapter module applied to the microfluidic chip further includes an operation platform to facilitate medical detection personnel or researchers to conveniently and intuitively operate the specimen and other fluids and inject them into the microfluidic chip for detection. The operation platform includes an upper cover and a lower plate having a base for sequentially placing the microfluidic chip and the adapter module. The base has a filter hole and a container groove located below the filter hole. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 and Figures 1A-1C are respectively schematic diagrams of an adapter module applied to a microfluidic chip and different size designs of the adapter module in embodiments of the present application.

[0015] Figure 2A and Figure 2B are respectively a microfluidic chip and a layered schematic diagram of the microfluidic chip in embodiments of the present application.

[0016] Figure 3A and Figure 3B are respectively schematic diagrams of the engagement of the first coupling member and the second coupling member in the adapter module.

[0017] Figure 4A practical product schematic diagram of the microfluidic chip and the dispenser being connected by the joint module in the embodiment of the present application.

[0018] Figure 5A And Figure 5B A microfluidic chip and its explosion schematic diagram in another embodiment of the present application.

[0019] Figure 5C A microfluidic chip and its explosion schematic diagram in another embodiment of the present application. Figure 5A A microfluidic chip and its explosion schematic diagram in another embodiment of the present application.

[0020] Figure 6 An operation schematic diagram of a simple operation platform applied to the microfluidic chip in the embodiment of the present application.

[0021] Figure 7A And Figure 7B An operation schematic diagram of a simple operation platform applied to the microfluidic chip in the embodiment of the present application.

[0022] Figure 7C An operation schematic diagram of a simple operation platform applied to the microfluidic chip in the embodiment of the present application.

[0023] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] 10 Joint module

[0025] 110 First coupling member

[0026] 111 First end

[0027] 112 Second end

[0028] 120, 120A, 120B, 120C Second coupling member

[0029] 121 Third end

[0030] 122 Fourth end

[0031] 123 Pipe

[0032] 20, 20A Microfluidic chip

[0033] 21 Upper cover piece

[0034] 22 Microfluidic channel structure

[0035] 221 Patterned glue layer

[0036] 222 Microfluidic channel

[0037] 223 Microporous glue layer

[0038] 23 Body

[0039] 24 Filter member

[0040] 25 injection port

[0041] 30 dispenser

[0042] 50, 50A operation platform

[0043] 51 upper plate

[0044] 51A upper cover

[0045] 52, 52A lower plate

[0046] 520, 520A base

[0047] 53 moving mechanism

[0048] 54 driving unit

[0049] 521 filter hole

[0050] 522 container

[0051] H, Ha, Hb micropore

[0052] La, Lb, Lc (second coupling member) length DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] Those skilled in the art can understand that the foregoing and other technical contents, features and effects of the present application will be clearly presented in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The directional terms mentioned in the following embodiments, such as up, down, left, right, front or back, etc., are only used for the direction of the accompanying drawings. Therefore, these directional terms are only for illustration and not for limiting the present application.

[0054] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figures 1A-1C and Figures 2A-2B , which disclose a joint module 10 and a microfluidic chip 20 applied thereto. Figure 2B is a schematic view of the microfluidic chip 20 in FIG. 2A. As shown in Figure 2A and 2B , the microfluidic chip 20 is engaged with a dispenser 30 through the joint module 10. The microfluidic chip 20 has at least one injection port 25, and the microfluidic chip 20 includes an upper cover sheet 21, a microfluidic channel structure 22 and a body 23, and the microfluidic channel structure 22 has a plurality of injection ports 25. The upper cover sheet 21 and the body 23 can be an elongated plastic sheet.

[0055] The connector module 10 includes at least one first coupling member 110 and at least one second coupling member 120, 120A, 120B, or 120C. The first coupling member 110 has a first end 111 and an opposite second end 112, with the first end 111 correspondingly disposed at the injection port 25. In this embodiment, the first coupling member 110 is located on an upper cover plate 21, which is placed on the microfluidic chip 20, allowing the first end 111 of the first coupling member 110 to be correspondingly disposed at the injection port 25 of the microfluidic chip 20. In a preferred embodiment, the second end 112 of the first coupling member 110 is designed as a protruding ring, allowing testing personnel or researchers to easily hold the dispensing device 30 directly to inject a small amount of liquid into the microfluidic chip 20.

[0056] like Figures 1A-1C As shown, in this embodiment of the invention, the second coupling element 120 has three design types 120A, 120B, or 120C. Each type consists of a group of three second coupling elements 120. The main difference between the three types lies in their lengths, i.e., the lengths of their conduits. By using different length designs, medical testing personnel or researchers can easily use them in conjunction with different dispensing devices 30. The length of the second coupling element 120A is La, the length of the second coupling element 120B is Lb, and the length of the second coupling element 120C is Lc. The length relationship of the second coupling elements 120A, 120B, and 120C is La>Lb>Lc. It should be noted that the second coupling element 120 is not necessarily designed with three second coupling elements per group; its number is not limited. It can also be designed with two second coupling elements per group, or five second coupling elements per group, etc.

[0057] The following is a simplified description, focusing on the second coupling member 120A to illustrate its components in detail. The second coupling member 120 has a third end 121 and an opposite fourth end 122, as well as a conduit 123 connecting the third end 121 and the fourth end 122. The third end 121 is used to couple to the second end 112 of the first coupling member 110, and the fourth end 122 is designed to facilitate medical testing personnel or researchers to place the dispensing device 30 into the conduit 123 of the second coupling member 120A. In this way, through the design cooperation of at least one first coupling member 110 and at least one second coupling member 120A, 120B or 120C in the connector module 10, medical testing personnel or researchers do not need to hold the dispensing device 30, but can directly place and connect the dispensing device 30 to the microfluidic chip 20 through the connector module 10.

[0058] Figure 3A and Figure 3BFigure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the coupling of the first coupling member 110 with the second coupling members 120A and 120B in the junction module 10. In the embodiment of the present application, the first coupling member 110 is located in the upper cover sheet 21, so that the second coupling members 120A and 120B in the junction module 10 can be easily coupled with the upper cover sheet 21 through the first coupling member 110. Referring to Figures 6 and 7 simultaneously, Figure 1A The third end 121 of the second coupling member 120A is a circular groove 121, which can accommodate and engage the protruding circular ring 112 of the first coupling member 110. In addition, the duct 123 of the second coupling member 120A is a circular cone 123, which has a narrow opening (not labeled) and a wide opening 122, and the narrow opening is connected to the circular groove 121, so that the dispenser 30 can be easily placed in the duct 123 through the wide opening 122 of the fourth end 122 of the second coupling member 120A.

[0059] Figure 4 Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the actual product of the present application, in which the microfluidic chip is coupled with the dispenser through the junction module. Through the design of different junction modules 10 (with the second coupling members 120A, 120B or 120C), different sizes of dispensers 30 can be externally connected to supply long-term and large amounts of liquid input slowly into the microfluidic chip 20 through gravity. The dispenser 30 includes a micropipette, which can be a plastic pipette, a glass pipette or a pipette made of other materials. In other words, the junction module 10 can directly couple with a commercially available disposable plastic micropipette 30 to form a microwell capable of carrying liquid.

[0060] Figure 5A and Figure 5B Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing the microfluidic chip and its explosion in another embodiment of the present application. In this embodiment, the microfluidic chip 20 in the foregoing embodiment is replaced by an improved microfluidic chip 20A. The improved microfluidic chip 20A is a new passive microfluidic cell separation chip with a micro-mechanical micropore array, which is used for BeWo single cell separation, where BeWo (also known as ATCC CCL-98) is a human placental choriocarcinoma cell. At present, several techniques such as flow cytometry, serial dilution, manual cell picking and cell printer are required for cell separation and analysis. However, in order to simplify the preparation, culture and analysis of samples, the improved microfluidic chip 20A is used in combination with the junction module 10 in the embodiment of the present application, and only reagents and professionals are required for the cell separation process.

[0061] The microfluidic chip 20A comprises a cover sheet 21, a microfluidic channel structure 22, and at least one filter 24. The first coupling member 110 of the adapter module 10 is located on the cover sheet 21. The microfluidic channel structure 22 comprises a patterned adhesive layer 221 connecting the cover sheet 21 and the microfluidic channel 222, the microfluidic channel 222, and a microporous adhesive layer 223 connecting the microfluidic channel 222 and the filter.

[0062] By way of reference Figure 5C For Figure 5A An enlarged schematic view of the microfluidic channel structure layer of the microfluidic chip. In a preferred embodiment, both the cover sheet 21 and the microfluidic channel structure 22 can be made of COC plastic which is biocompatible with cells, and a laser micro-machining technique is used to form a 50 μm micropore array 222 on the plastic substrate. In this embodiment, the filter 24 comprises a microporous filter paper, and the micropore array 222 can be directly attached to the microporous filter paper 24 below, so that the microporous filter paper 24 drains the liquid to retain the cells on the microporous filter paper 24. For example, the filter 24 such as a 5 μm filter paper is adhered to the lower layer of the chip 20A, and the cells will flow into the micropores and reach the filter 24 for further culture. Each micropore H in the micropore array 222 has a shape of an inverted funnel, each inverted funnel-shaped micropore H has a narrow hole Ha and a wide hole Hb at the bottom, and the entrance Ha of the inverted funnel is slightly larger than the size of the cells, so that the flow resistance of each cell entering the entrance Ha of each inverted funnel increases, and the distribution of the cells in the fluid is passively adjusted to achieve uniform cell screening results in each micropore H.

[0063] The microfluidic chip 20 or 20A in the foregoing embodiments can be used by the manual drop method of the adapter module 10, that is, by using the handheld dispensing tube 30; or by using an operation platform to provide a larger pressure and a faster input flow rate when a larger amount of liquid is injected.

[0064] By way of reference Figure 6 A schematic view of an operation platform for a microfluidic chip in an embodiment of the present application. The operation platform 50A is a simple and convenient portable platform, which is convenient for medical detection personnel or researchers and other operating personnel to carry and move. The microfluidic chip 20 can be easily placed on the operation platform 50A, which is beneficial for the operating personnel to pass the fluid (reagent, buffer solution, etc.) into / out of the microfluidic channel of the microfluidic chip 20, so as to facilitate metering, mixing, washing, separation, reaction, or testing.

[0065] The operating platform 50A includes an upper cover 51A and a lower plate 52A. The lower plate 52A has a base 520A for sequentially placing the microfluidic chip 20 or 20A and the connector module. The upper cover 51A or the lower plate 52A has a sealing member (not shown) that allows them to press together, enabling the operator to easily move along... Figure 6 As indicated by the middle arrow, the upper cover 51A is pressed onto the lower plate 52A. The base 520A has a filter hole 521 and a receiving groove 522 located below the filter hole. The filter hole 521 has a plurality of holes, which are arranged radially in concentric circles in this embodiment. The receiving groove 522 can be used to collect waste liquid, such as the liquid discharged from the aforementioned microporous filter paper 24, which reaches the receiving groove 522 through the filter hole 521.

[0066] Please refer to Figure 7A and Figure 7B These are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of an operating platform for a microfluidic chip according to another embodiment of the present invention. Compared to operating platform 50A, operating platform 50 has multifunctional characteristics. Operating platform 50 includes: an upper plate 51 for placing the connector module 10; a lower plate 52 having a base 520 for placing the microfluidic chip 20; and a moving mechanism 53, which actuates the upper plate 51, allowing the upper plate 51 to move along a vertical direction (e.g., ...). Figure 7A (As indicated by the middle arrow) and fits tightly against the lower plate 52, as... Figure 7A Past Figure 7B As indicated by the arrows, the connector module 10 and the microfluidic chip 20 are joined; and a drive unit 54 is disposed on the base 520. The drive unit 54 can be a manual pump or an electric pump. Additionally, a magnet seat is disposed below the base 520 of the lower plate 52, which can be used for magnetic actuation of the microfluidic chip 20.

[0067] Figure 7C This is a schematic diagram of an actual product of an operating platform for a microfluidic chip according to an embodiment of the present invention. A first coupling member 110 is located on the upper plate 51. The upper plate 51 and the lower plate 52 are pressed together by a sealing member (not labeled). Through the stage design of the upper and lower plates 51, 52 and the moving mechanism 53, the microfluidic chip 20 can be easily placed on the base of the lower plate 52. The operating platform 50 facilitates the introduction / exit of fluids (reagents, buffer solutions, etc.) into / out of the microchannels of the microfluidic chip 20, thereby facilitating biochemical reactions. The upper plate 51 houses a plastic connector module 10 corresponding to the injection / output port of the microfluidic chip 20. The tight seal between the plastic connector module 10 and a sealing member, such as an O-ring, allows for fluid propulsion, and the design of the connector module 10 facilitates reagent injection.

[0068] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the application described herein is susceptible to variations and / or modifications as can be best deduced from the spirit and scope of the application as set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A quick-release sealed mating joint module for a microfluidic chip for a dispenser to engage with the microfluidic chip, wherein the microfluidic chip has at least one injection port, comprising: at least one first coupling member having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end is configured to be disposed at the injection port; and at least one second coupling member having a third end and an opposite fourth end, and a conduit connecting the third end and the fourth end, the third end is coupled to the second end of the first coupling member; wherein the dispenser is inserted into the conduit from the fourth end.

2. The splice module of claim 1, wherein the first coupling member is located on an upper cover, the upper cover is configured to be placed on the microfluidic chip.

3. The splice module of claim 1, wherein the second end of the first coupling member is a protruding ring.

4. The splice module of claim 3, wherein the third end of the second coupling member is a circular groove, the circular groove is configured to accommodate and engage the protruding ring.

5. The splice module of claim 4, wherein the conduit is a conical body having a narrow opening and a wide opening, the narrow opening is connected to the circular groove, and the dispenser is inserted into the conduit from the wide opening.

6. The splice module of claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes a plastic micropipette, and the joint module is directly engaged with the commercially available disposable plastic micropipette to form a microwell body capable of carrying liquid.

7. The splice module of claim 1, wherein the microfluidic chip includes an upper cover, a microfluidic channel structure, and at least one filter member.

8. The splice module of claim 7, wherein the microfluidic channel structure has a microhole array, the microhole array has a plurality of microholes, and each microhole has a shape of an inverted funnel, the entrance of the inverted funnel is slightly larger than the size of the cell, so that the flow resistance of each cell entering the entrance of each inverted funnel is increased, and the distribution of the cells in the fluid is passively adjusted to achieve uniform cell screening results in each microhole.

9. The splice module of claim 8, wherein the at least one filter member includes a microporous filter paper, the microporous filter paper is directly attached below the microhole array, so that the microporous filter paper drains liquid to retain cells on the microporous filter paper.

10. The joint module of claim 1, further comprising an operation platform, the operation platform comprising: an upper cover; a lower plate having a base, the base is configured to sequentially place the microfluidic chip and the joint module.

11. The splice module of claim 10, wherein the base has a filter hole and a container groove located below the filter hole.

12. The splice module of claim 10, wherein the upper cover and the lower plate are pressed together by a sealing member.

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