A microfluidic system and a quantitative device for microchannels thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses a microfluidic system and a quantitative device for its microchannel, the quantitative device comprising at least one branch channel, the first end of the branch channel being connected to a liquid inflow channel, the second end of the branch channel being connected to a gas exhaust channel; a cut-off portion and at least one quantitative chamber are provided on the branch channel, the cut-off portion being located on a side of the branch channel close to the gas exhaust channel; the cut-off portion is filled with an expansion material, and the expansion material can expand to cut off the branch channel after absorbing the liquid. The quantitative device provided by the present invention utilizes the settings of the cut-off portion and the quantitative chamber, when the quantitative chamber completes the quantification of the microfluid, the liquid flows into the cut-off portion, and under the action of the expansion material, the branch channel is cut off, and the liquid cannot continue to be transported to the branch channel, thereby completing the quantitative purpose; the device is accurate in quantitative measurement, can realize the stable storage of the liquid, and avoids the risk of leakage and seepage under the condition that other parts of the system continue to operate, and has high reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of microfluidic devices, and in particular to a microchannel quantitative device. In addition, the present invention also relates to a microfluidic system comprising the microchannel quantitative device. Background Art

[0002] Microfluidics refers to the technology that can rationally manipulate micro-volume fluids at the millimeter to micrometer scale and realize corresponding functions.

[0003] In the prior art, the method of quantifying and distributing microfluids is mainly carried out by the volume limitation method of micro-quantifying chamber and the method of power source + switching valve. The principle of the volume limitation method of micro-quantifying chamber is to centrifuge or squeeze the liquid through external force into one or more micro-volume chambers, and the volume of the micro-chamber is equal to or less than the volume of the liquid. By arranging and repeating the micro-chambers, equal distribution of the liquid can be achieved. The method of power source + switching valve, that is, the external power continuously acts on the liquid to be quantified and distributed, driving the liquid to be displaced, and at the same time, a microfluid switching valve is set in the flow path, and the flow path is controlled by opening / closing the switching valve, thereby controlling the movement direction of the liquid, so that it enters different chambers to complete the distribution of the liquid.

[0004] When the volume of a micro-quantitative cavity is limited for microfluid quantification and switching, one of the problems is that the same type of micro-quantitative cavities must be arranged on the same centrifugal radius. The liquid first enters a pre-distribution pool and then enters the quantitative micro-quantitative cavity after secondary centrifugation. This process requires centrifugation at different speeds to achieve gas-liquid exchange and liquid filling, which places high demands on the stability of the equipment and the design and processing of the microfluidic structure. In addition, when the liquid fills the quantitative micro-cavity, the next reaction begins immediately, that is, the process is a serial relationship and cannot be achieved in parallel. The overall reaction end time is limited by the slowest reaction hole.

[0005] When a power source + switching valve method is used for microfluidic quantification and switching, a large number of channels need to be connected to the gas valve layer interfaces on different microchannels respectively, and the air pressure is controlled by the opening and closing of the solenoid valve to drive the microfluidic, which makes the control method complicated, and the air tightness between the gas channel and the microchannel needs to be paid special attention.

[0006] Therefore, how to improve the reliability of the quantitative device of the microchannel is a technical problem that those skilled in the art need to solve at present. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a microchannel quantitative device, which can effectively improve its own reliability and is not prone to the risk of leakage and seepage. Another object of the present invention is to provide a microfluidic system including the above-mentioned microchannel quantitative device.

[0008] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0009] A quantitative device for a microchannel comprises at least one branch flow channel, wherein the first end of the branch flow channel is connected to a liquid inlet channel, and the second end is connected to a gas outlet channel; a cut-off portion and at least one quantitative chamber are provided on the branch flow channel, and the cut-off portion is located on a side of the branch flow channel close to the gas outlet channel; an expansion material is provided in the cut-off portion, and the expansion material can expand and cut off the branch flow channel after absorbing liquid.

[0010] Preferably, the quantitative chamber is filled with an adsorption component.

[0011] Preferably, a reaction reagent or a reaction system is provided in the quantitative chamber.

[0012] Preferably, the quantitative chamber is filled with an adsorption component, and a reaction reagent or a reaction system is preset in the adsorption component.

[0013] Preferably, the number of the branch flow channels is at least two.

[0014] Preferably, the quantitative chambers of different branch flow channels are filled with adsorption components provided with different reaction reagents or reaction systems.

[0015] Preferably, the second ends of at least two of the branch flow channels are connected to the same gas exhaust channel.

[0016] Preferably, the second end of each branch flow channel is connected to the same gas exhaust channel, and the gas exhaust channel is connected to a driving device capable of providing negative drive to the branch flow channel.

[0017] Preferably, the expansion material includes at least one of water-absorbing resin, sodium alginate, hydrogel, gelatin and collagen.

[0018] Preferably, the liquid inflow channel is connected to a driving component capable of pushing the liquid to flow toward each of the branch flow channels; and the second end of each of the branch flow channels is respectively connected to the same or different gas exhaust channels.

[0019] Preferably, the cut-off portion is a groove arranged on the branch flow channel, and the expansion material can be arranged in the groove.

[0020] Preferably, the cross-sectional area of ​​the branch flow channel near the groove is smaller than the cross-sectional area near the quantitative chamber, and the volume of the groove is smaller than the volume of the quantitative chamber.

[0021] Preferably, the first end of each of the branch flow channels is connected to the same liquid inflow channel, and at least two of the branch flow channels have different heights in the vertical direction.

[0022] Preferably, the first end of each branch flow channel is connected to the same liquid inflow channel, and at least two branch flow channels have the same height;

[0023] Furthermore, the branch flow channels with the same height have the same distance from the liquid inlet channel and different cross-sectional areas; or, the branch flow channels with the same height have the same cross-sectional areas and different distances from the liquid inlet channel.

[0024] The present invention also provides a microfluidic system, comprising any one of the above-mentioned microchannel quantitative devices.

[0025] The quantitative device of the microchannel provided by the present invention comprises at least one branch channel, the first end of the branch channel is connected to a liquid inflow channel, and the second end of the branch channel is connected to a gas exhaust channel; a cut-off portion and at least one quantitative chamber are provided on the branch channel, and the cut-off portion is located on a side of the branch channel close to the gas exhaust channel; the cut-off portion is filled with an expansion material, and the expansion material can expand to cut off the branch channel after absorbing the liquid. The quantitative device of the microchannel provided by the present invention utilizes the settings of the cut-off portion and the quantitative chamber. When the quantitative chamber completes the quantification of the microfluid, the liquid flows into the cut-off portion. Under the action of the expansion material, the cut-off effect of the branch channel is achieved, and the liquid cannot continue to be transported to the branch channel, thereby completing the quantitative purpose; the device has accurate quantitative measurement, can realize the stable preservation of the liquid, and effectively avoids the risk of leakage and seepage under the condition that other parts of the system continue to operate, and has high reliability.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the first end of each branch flow channel is connected to the same liquid inflow channel, and at least two branch flow channels have different heights in the vertical direction. With the above arrangement, after the quantitative measurement of one branch flow channel is completed under the action of gravity, the liquid automatically enters the next branch flow channel with a higher height. After the quantitative measurement of the quantitative chamber in one branch flow channel is completed, the corresponding detection or reaction can be performed without affecting the quantitative work of the next branch flow channel, thereby effectively improving efficiency.

[0027] The microfluidic system provided by the present invention is provided with the above-mentioned microchannel quantitative device. Since the microchannel quantitative device has the above-mentioned technical effects, the microfluidic system provided with the microchannel quantitative device should also have corresponding technical effects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a first specific embodiment of a microchannel quantitative device provided by the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the quantitative process of the quantitative device of the microchannel shown;

[0031] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the quantitative process of the second specific embodiment of the microchannel quantitative device provided by the present invention;

[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of a third specific embodiment of the microchannel quantitative device provided by the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the quantitative process of the fourth specific embodiment of the microchannel quantitative device provided by the present invention;

[0034] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the quantitative process of the fifth specific embodiment of the microchannel quantitative device provided by the present invention;

[0035] Among them: liquid inflow channel-1; branch flow channel-2; quantitative chamber-3; cut-off part-4; cut-off step-4-1; gas exhaust channel-5; plate body-6; microfluid-7; adsorption component-8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The core of the present invention is to provide a microchannel quantitative device, which can effectively improve its own reliability and is not prone to the risk of leakage and seepage. Another core of the present invention is to provide a microfluidic system including the above microchannel quantitative device.

[0037] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0038] Please refer to Figures 1 to 6 , Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a first specific embodiment of a microchannel quantitative device provided by the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the quantitative process of the quantitative device of the microchannel shown; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the quantitative process of the second specific embodiment of the microchannel quantitative device provided by the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of a third specific embodiment of the microchannel quantitative device provided by the present invention; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the quantitative process of the fourth specific embodiment of the microchannel quantitative device provided by the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the quantitative process of the fifth specific implementation manner of the microchannel quantitative device provided by the present invention.

[0039] In this embodiment, the quantitative device of the microchannel includes at least one branch channel 2, the first end of the branch channel 2 is connected to the liquid inlet channel 1, and the second end of the branch channel 2 is connected to the gas outlet channel 5; that is, one end of the branch channel 2 inputs liquid, the liquid includes but is not limited to reaction liquid, washing liquid, and waste liquid, and the other end of the branch channel 2 discharges gas; further, the branch channel 2 is provided with a cutoff portion 4 and at least one quantitative chamber 3, the quantitative chamber 3 is used to receive and hold a certain volume of liquid, in each branch channel 2, the quantitative chamber 3 can be one or more, and with the same liquid Different branch channels 2 connected to the body inflow channel 1 may each contain a different number of quantitative chambers 3; the cut-off portion 4 is located on the side of the branch channel 2 close to the gas exhaust channel 5, that is, the microfluid 7 will first flow to the position of the quantitative chamber 3, and then flow to the position of the cut-off valve; the cut-off portion 4 is filled with an expansion material, which can expand to cut off the branch channel 2 after absorbing the liquid, thereby preventing the microfluid 7 from further flowing into the branch channel 2, but flowing into other branch channels 2 to continue the quantitative operation. The branch channel 2 that has completed the quantitative operation can be tested first.

[0040] Specifically, the quantitative device of the microchannel can be used for the quantification of microfluids 7 and the cut-off of the branch channel 2, and can be processed on a specific plate body 6, including a liquid inlet channel 1, at least one branch channel 2, the branch channel 2 is provided with at least one quantitative chamber 3 and at least one cut-off portion 4, and also includes at least one gas exhaust channel 5; the branch channel 2 is for liquid to flow from the liquid inlet channel 1 into the quantitative chamber 3, the liquid inlet channel 1 is arranged at the front end of the branch channel 2, and its upstream can be a liquid storage chamber, a sample processing chamber, a reaction chamber or other structures or their supporting structures well known to those skilled in the art, these upstream structures are connected to the liquid inlet channel 1, and are used to transport liquid to the quantitative chamber 3 through the liquid inlet channel 1; the liquid inlet channel 1 is reusable, that is, all liquids flowing out from the upstream can pass through the same liquid inlet channel 1; in some cases, the upstream of the liquid inlet channel 1 is connected to the positive pressure provided by the outside world, which is used to provide a positive driving force to the liquid in the liquid inlet channel 1 and the liquid to be transported in the structure at the rear end of the liquid inlet channel 1. In some cases, specifically, the upstream of the liquid inlet channel 1 is connected to the positive pressure provided by the outside world, and the downstream of the gas exhaust channel 5 may not be connected to the interface of the external power source. It may correspond to each branch flow channel 2 one by one, or it may be merged into one or more, only serving as the gas outlet at the end of each flow channel to ensure air pressure balance.

[0041] In a specific embodiment, the plate body 6 includes an upper plate and a lower plate, the lower plate is provided with a groove, the groove constitutes a channel, a flow channel, a cut-off portion 4, a chamber, etc., and the bottom surface of the upper plate is pressed and sealed on the lower plate; of course, other processing methods can be used, such as 3D printing the channel structure, or using a three-layer plate setting method, etc.

[0042] Furthermore, the cut-off portion 4 is used to receive excess liquid after the quantitative measurement of the liquid is completed, and to cut off the corresponding branch flow channel 2. Specifically, when the liquid enters the corresponding branch flow channel 2 and the quantitative chamber 3 through the liquid inflow channel 1, and the quantitative chamber 3 is filled, the branch flow channel 2 is still driven by the external driving device or driving component, and the liquid continues to move downstream of the quantitative chamber 3.

[0043] Preferably, the cross-sectional area of ​​the branch channel 2 near the groove is smaller than the cross-sectional area near the quantitative chamber 3, and the volume of the groove is smaller than the volume of the quantitative chamber 3; the groove is close to the quantitative chamber 3 so that after the quantitative chamber 3 is filled, the excess liquid that subsequently flows into the branch channel 2 can completely seal the branch channel 2 in the shortest possible time, thereby saving reagent consumption.

[0044] Specifically, the cut-off portion 4 is arranged downstream of the quantitative chamber 3, the expansion material is placed in the groove, the distance between the cut-off cavity and the quantitative chamber 3 is as close as possible, and the cross-sectional area of ​​at least one part of the two parts of the branch flow channel 2 connected to the inlet and outlet of the cut-off portion 4 is the smallest in the entire flow channel, such as Figure 1 As shown, this can be achieved by providing a cut-off step 4-1 at a position close to the cut-off portion 4 on the branch flow channel 2, so that after the quantitative chamber 3 is filled, the excess liquid that subsequently flows into the branch flow channel 2 can complete the cut-off of the branch flow channel 2 in the shortest possible time, that is, saving the consumption of reagents;

[0045] Furthermore, the gas discharge channel 5 is arranged at the end of the branch flow channel 2, and its upstream is connected to the outlet of the cut-off portion 4, and its downstream is an interface with an external power source, and is connected to a driving device capable of providing negative pressure. The function of the gas discharge channel 5 is to conduct the driving force provided by the external power source to the liquid inflow channel 1 through the cut-off portion 4, the quantitative chamber 3, and the branch flow channel 2, so as to drive the liquid to the corresponding branch flow channel 2; preferably, when a negative pressure driving device is used as the driving force, a positive pressure driving force may not be set upstream of the liquid inflow channel 1; of course, negative pressure and positive pressure may also be set at the same time.

[0046] The microchannel quantitative device provided by the present invention utilizes the settings of the cut-off portion 4 and the quantitative chamber 3. When the quantitative chamber 3 completes the quantification of the microfluid 7, the liquid flows into the cut-off portion 4. Under the action of the expansion material, the cut-off effect of the branch channel 2 is achieved, and the liquid cannot continue to be transported to the branch channel 2, thereby achieving the quantitative purpose. The device has accurate quantitative performance. If the quantified liquid is used as waste liquid or temporary storage liquid, the liquid can be stably stored. Under the condition that other parts of the system continue to operate, the risk of leakage and seepage can be effectively avoided, and the reliability is high.

[0047] In the above-mentioned embodiments, the quantitative chamber 3 is filled with an adsorption member 8 .

[0048] That is to say, the method for the quantitative chamber 3 to achieve liquid quantification can be achieved through chamber volume limitation or non-chamber volume limitation; through chamber volume limitation, that is, setting a quantitative chamber with a specific volume and structure, the shape and opening size of the quantitative chamber need to be designed so that it can match the size of the corresponding positive pressure or negative pressure driving force, and on the material with corresponding surface characteristics, it can be completely filled with liquid, that is, the quantitative function is achieved. At the same time, after the quantitative chamber 3 is filled, the excess liquid that subsequently flows into the branch channel 2 flows to the downstream microchannel cut-off structure; non-chamber volume limitation refers to setting an adsorption component 8 that can quantitatively absorb liquid in the quantitative chamber 3. After the liquid enters the quantitative chamber 3, it first fully contacts and is fixed by the adsorption component 8 that quantitatively absorbs the liquid. When the adsorption component 8 that quantitatively absorbs the liquid reaches saturation, the excess liquid flows to the downstream cut-off part 4; the absorption of the liquid by the adsorption component 8 is reversible, that is, the adsorbed liquid can be released again under specific conditions, such as centrifugation, extrusion, etc. Specifically, possible materials of the adsorption component 8 include but are not limited to absorbent cotton and sponge.

[0049] On the basis of the above-mentioned embodiments, a reaction reagent or reaction system is preset in the adsorption component 8; the reaction system is a combination of multiple reaction reagents, such as a PCR reaction system. That is, the adsorption component 8 can also be pre-soaked or pre-embedded with a reaction reagent or reaction system that can be mixed, combined or reacted with the liquid flowing into the quantitative chamber 3. Of course, the adsorption component 8 can also be omitted, and the reaction reagent can be directly set in the chamber by other reagent fixing methods, such as spraying, printing, or placing freeze-dried balls. It should be noted that the adsorption component 8 can also be omitted in the quantitative chamber 3, and there is no other reagent in the quantitative chamber 3.

[0050] On the basis of the above embodiments, the number of branch flow channels 2 is at least two. With the above arrangement, when the quantified liquid is used as the reaction liquid, it can start the next reaction independently immediately after the quantification is completed, without waiting for all the quantification chambers to complete the liquid distribution; when the reaction result needs to be read out, the setting cost of the detection equipment is correspondingly reduced, that is, the same detection device scans each quantification chamber 3 participating in the reaction one by one in sequence, which can ensure that the reaction time of each quantification chamber 3 is the same, without the need to set up multiple detection devices in parallel.

[0051] On the basis of the above embodiments, the quantitative chambers 3 of different branch flow channels 2 are filled with adsorption components 8 having different reaction reagents or reaction systems to achieve different reaction requirements and improve the diversity design requirements. Specifically, when using the detection disk or cartridge with the quantitative device for biochemical reactions and detection, since multiple branch flow channels 2 are arranged in parallel, different reaction reagents or reaction systems can be preset in each branch flow channel 2 for high-throughput, multi-index detection.

[0052] On the basis of the above-mentioned embodiments, the second ends of at least two branch channels 2 are connected to the same gas exhaust channel 5. Preferably, the second ends of each branch channel 2 are connected to the same gas exhaust channel 5, and the gas exhaust channel 5 is connected to a driving device that can provide negative drive to the branch channel 2. With the above arrangement, when there are multiple branch channels 2, after the upper-level branch channel 2 completes the quantitative measurement and is cut off, the next-level channel automatically starts to be filled, and the microfluid 7 can be driven only by the same external power source to achieve the distribution of multiple quantitative chambers 3; the structure of the equipment used in conjunction with this structure is simple, and only a positive driving force or a negative driving force needs to be provided to the microchannel through an interface, without the need to set up multiple power sources or multiple switching control modules; when providing a positive driving force, the power source should be connected to the liquid inlet channel 1, that is, each branch channel 2 is connected to the same liquid inlet channel 1.

[0053] On the basis of the above embodiments, the expansion material includes at least one of water-absorbing resin, sodium alginate, hydrogel, gelatin, and collagen. Specifically, in the cut-off portion 4, an expansion material of a specific specification is provided. The expansion material is in powder or block form when not in contact with the liquid in the flow channel. In the cut-off portion 4, the expansion material does not affect the driving force of the external power source output on the liquid in the flow channel. When encountering excess liquid overflowing from the quantitative chamber 3, it can quickly undergo a cross-linking reaction or a swelling reaction to increase in volume, and the material that does not affect the properties of the liquid in the quantitative chamber 3 includes, but is not limited to, one or more of water-absorbing resin sodium acrylate, sodium alginate, hydrogel, gelatin, collagen, etc. The expansion material that undergoes cross-linking or swelling reaction increases in volume and fills the cut-off portion 4, blocking the pressure transmission from the external power source, thereby achieving the cut-off of the branch flow channel 2.

[0054] Based on the above embodiments, the liquid inflow channel 1 is connected to a driving component that can push the liquid to flow to each branch channel 2, that is, a power source that provides positive pressure; the second end of each branch channel 2 is respectively connected to the same or different gas exhaust channels 5.

[0055] On the basis of the above-mentioned embodiments, the cut-off portion 4 is a groove arranged on the branch channel 2, and an expansion material can be arranged in the groove. The groove can be located on the upper side or the lower side of the branch channel 2, and of course it can also be located on the left or right side of the branch channel 2, and the left and right sides refer to the left and rear sides in the vertical direction of the plate body 6; preferably, the expansion material is preferably arranged in the groove on the lower side; of course, in other embodiments, the position of the cut-off portion 4 can also be without a groove or only with a groove on the upper side or the lower side of the branch channel 2. It is preferred to arrange the expansion material in the groove on the lower side, that is, in the groove on the same side as the quantitative chamber 3, in order to ensure that the position of the expansion material is more stable. When negative pressure is provided on the gas discharge channel 5, the expansion material is not easily sucked away under the restriction of the groove, which can effectively prevent the powder material from being dispersed and ensure the expansion cut-off effect.

[0056] On the basis of the above-mentioned embodiments, the first end of each branch channel 2 is connected to the same liquid inflow channel 1, and at least two branch channels 2 have different heights in the vertical direction. It should be noted here that the branch channel 2 refers to the part provided with the quantitative chamber 3 and the cut-off portion 4. With the above-mentioned arrangement, after the quantitative measurement of a branch channel 2 is completed under the action of gravity, the liquid automatically enters the next branch channel 2 with a higher height. After the quantitative measurement of the quantitative chamber 3 in a branch channel 2 is completed, the corresponding detection or reaction can be carried out, which will not affect the quantitative work of the next branch channel 2, and effectively improve the efficiency.

[0057] Preferably, the cross-sectional area of ​​each branch channel 2 is consistent with the cross-sectional area of ​​the liquid inflow channel 1, or slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the liquid inflow channel 1, so as to ensure that each quantitative chamber 3 can completely and fully accommodate the liquid flowing in from the liquid inflow channel 1 in the open state; the branch channel 2 is disposable, that is, when liquid flows into a branch channel 2, and the quantitative chamber 3 completes the quantitative measurement, and the flow path is cut off by the cut-off portion 4, no other liquid will flow into the branch channel 2. When there are multiple branch channels 2, each branch channel 2 is arranged in parallel with different heights. The lowest position is the first branch channel 2. The liquid first enters the first branch channel 2. The second branch channel 2 is higher than the first branch channel 2. After the quantitative chamber 3 of the first branch channel 2 and its rear end is cut off, the liquid enters the second branch channel 2. And so on.

[0058] Of course, in other embodiments, the first ends of the branch flow channels 2 are connected to the same liquid inflow channel 1, and at least two branch flow channels 2 have the same height; the branch flow channels 2 with the same height have the same distance from the liquid inflow channel 1 and different cross-sectional areas. In other words, in addition to using gravity as a method for different inflow orders of the branch flow channels 2, it can also be achieved by using the method that the branch flow channels 2 have the same distance from the liquid inflow channel 1 and different cross-sectional areas.

[0059] Alternatively, the first ends of the branch flow channels 2 are connected to the same liquid inflow channel 1, and at least two branch flow channels 2 have the same height; the branch flow channels 2 with the same height have the same cross-sectional area and different distances from the liquid inflow channel 1. In other words, in addition to using gravity as a method for different inflow orders of the branch flow channels 2, it can also be achieved by using the same cross-sectional area of ​​the branch flow channels 2 and different distances from the liquid inflow channel 1.

[0060] It should be noted here that when the heights of the branch channels 2 are the same, this can be achieved by placing the plate body 6 horizontally. When the plate body 6 is placed horizontally, it is preferred to set an adsorption component 8 in the quantitative chamber 3 to prevent the liquid from flowing directly to the position of the stop valve.

[0061] Embodiment 1

[0062] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the quantitative device of the microchannel includes a liquid inflow channel 1, three branch channels 2, and the heights of the branch channels 2 are different, which can be achieved by setting the plate body 6 vertically or obliquely; each branch channel 2 corresponds to a quantitative chamber 3, a cut-off portion 4, and the embodiment also includes a gas exhaust channel 5; when the driving force provided by the outside is distributed approximately evenly to each branch channel 2 through the gas exhaust channel 5, and acts on the liquid inflow channel 1 to drive the liquid into the structure, when the liquid reaches the branch channel 2, the driving force is not large enough to drive the liquid to overcome its own gravity through the higher branch channel 2 and enter the branch channel 2, so the liquid first passes into the first branch channel 2 with the lowest height until it fills the quantitative chamber 3 in the first branch channel 2, and then the liquid continues to move under the action of the driving force, overflows the quantitative chamber 3, and contacts the cut-off part 4. The expansion material in the cut-off part 4 quickly swells or cross-links after encountering the liquid, and the volume expands, thereby blocking the transmission of the driving force through the branch channel 2, thereby realizing the cut-off of the branch channel 2; at this time, the driving force can only act on the liquid inflow channel 1 through the second and third branch channels 2 with higher positions and drive the liquid, and the liquid enters the second branch channel 2, and fills the quantitative chamber 3 in the second branch channel 2 as described above.

[0063] Embodiment 2

[0064] like Figure 3As shown, an adsorption component 8 for quantitatively absorbing liquid is provided in the quantitative chamber 3. When a certain amount of liquid enters the quantitative chamber 3 of the first branch channel 2, it is captured and fixed by the adsorption component 8 until the adsorption component 8 reaches saturation, and the excess liquid overflows and contacts the cut-off portion 4. The expansion material in the cut-off portion 4 rapidly swells or cross-links after encountering the liquid, and the volume expands, thereby blocking the transmission of the driving force through the branch channel 2, and realizing the cut-off of the branch channel 2. At this time, the driving force can only act on the liquid inflow channel 1 through the second and third branch channels 2 at higher positions and drive the liquid. The liquid enters the second branch channel 2 and fills the quantitative chamber 3 in the second branch channel 2 as described above.

[0065] Embodiment 3

[0066] like Figure 4 As shown, in the quantitative device of the microchannel, in the same branch flow channel 2, there may be corresponding quantitative chambers 3 of different numbers, and in different branch flow channels 2, the number of quantitative chambers 3 may be the same or different; when a plurality of quantitative chambers 3 are arranged in a branch flow channel 2, the beneficial effect that may be produced is that when it is necessary to perform multiple parallel measurements on the signal reacting in the quantitative chamber 3 to ensure that the data is authentic and stable, a plurality of parallel quantitative chambers 3 may be used to achieve parallel comparison of the detection results.

[0067] Embodiment 4

[0068] like Figure 5 As shown, the quantitative device of the microchannel includes a liquid inflow channel 1, three branch channels 2, each branch channel 2 corresponds to a quantitative chamber 3, a cut-off portion 4, and a gas discharge channel 5 in this embodiment. As a preferred solution, an adsorption component 8 for quantitatively absorbing liquid is provided in the quantitative chamber 3. Among them, the three branch channels 2 are arranged horizontally, that is, each branch channel 2 is arranged on the same horizontal plane, and there is no gravity difference when the liquid flows between each branch channel 2. The difference is that the distance between each branch channel 2 and the liquid inflow channel 1 is different. The first branch channel 2 is closest to the liquid inflow channel 1, the third branch channel 2 is farthest from the liquid inflow channel 1, and the second branch channel 2 is between the first and third branch channels 2. When driven by the same power source, the liquid flows to each branch channel at a constant speed. Due to the difference in the distance between the branch channel 2 and the liquid inlet, the time or sequence of the reagent flowing into the quantitative chamber 3 to complete the filling and then flowing into the cut-off portion 4 is different. However, after the upper-level channel is cut off by its corresponding cut-off portion 4, the liquid flow rate in the remaining branch channels will be increased due to the increase in driving force, and finally the filling and cut-off are achieved respectively.

[0069] Embodiment 5

[0070] like Figure 6As shown, the quantitative device of the microchannel includes a liquid inflow channel 1, two branch channels 2, each branch channel 2 corresponds to a quantitative chamber 3, a cut-off portion 4, and a gas discharge channel 5 in this embodiment. As a preferred solution, an adsorption component 8 for quantitatively absorbing liquid is provided in the quantitative chamber 3. The two branch channels 2 are arranged horizontally, and are at equal distances from the liquid inflow channel 1, and there is no gravity difference when the liquid flows between the branch channels 2. The difference lies in that the cross-sectional areas of the branch channels 2 are different. When driven by the same power source, the liquid flows to each branch channel at the same speed. Due to the different cross-sectional areas of the branch channels 2, the time or sequence of the reagent flowing into the quantitative chamber 3 to complete the filling and then flowing into the cut-off portion 4 is different. However, after the branch channel 2 with the smallest cross-sectional area is cut off by its corresponding cut-off portion 4, the liquid flow rate in the remaining branch channels will be increased due to the increase in driving force, and finally the filling and cut-off are achieved separately.

[0071] Of course, the distance between the branch channel 2 and the liquid inflow channel 1 and the cross-sectional area of ​​the branch channel 2 may also be different, so that the liquid can enter each branch channel 2 in sequence under the premise of the same driving force.

[0072] In the above embodiments, the time and sequence controllability of the liquid filling the quantitative chamber 3 can be achieved by setting the branch flow channel 2. A biochemical reaction occurs in the quantitative chamber 3, and the reaction result needs to be read out by signal. For example, when the light signal is detected, this time and sequence controllability can reduce the setting cost of the detection equipment accordingly, that is, the same detection device scans each quantitative chamber 3 one by one in sequence, which can ensure that each quantitative chamber 3 is detected at the same reaction time without setting multiple detection devices in parallel. The plate body 6 in the quantitative device is preferably an optically transparent material, that is, the quantitative cut-off structure is set on an optically transparent material, such as PMMA, PC, PS, PP, glass, etc., and the relevant structure and cavity are formed by molding processes well known to those skilled in the art, such as injection molding, processing, etc., and related packaging processes, such as hot pressing, gluing, etc. In each quantitative chamber 3, an adsorption component 8 for quantitatively absorbing liquid is pre-set, in which reagents such as fluorescent dyes can be pre-set. When the inflowing liquid contains a substance that can be combined with the fluorescent dye, the two are combined in the quantitative chamber 3. At this time, the externally arranged fluorescence excitation and detection module scans each quantitative chamber 3 one by one in sequence according to the filling order of the quantitative chamber 3, so that each quantitative chamber 3 can be detected separately within the same reaction time.

[0073] Of course, there can be no restrictions on the positional relationship, size, etc. of each branch flow channel 2. The liquid is driven by the positive pressure provided by the outside world upstream of the liquid inflow channel 1, or the negative pressure provided by the external power source downstream of the gas discharge channel 5, and enters each branch flow channel 2 freely and non-selectively. The filling of the quantitative chamber 3 is completed respectively. Since the driving force always exists, when one or several branch flow channels 2 and the quantitative chamber 3 are filled, the cut-off part 4 blocks the corresponding flow channel, and the liquid in the remaining branch flow channel 2 will be accelerated and driven, and finally the filling of all the quantitative chambers 3 and the cut-off of the flow channel are realized. However, compared with the aforementioned embodiment, the filling order of each flow channel is uncontrollable, and accordingly, the order of occurrence of the reaction in each quantitative chamber 3 is also uncontrollable. Therefore, when the quantitative chamber 3 is detected by an external detection device, it is difficult to achieve the controllability of the reaction time and the detection time. It is only an optional solution, not a preferred solution.

[0074] In addition to the above-mentioned quantitative device of the microchannel, the present invention also provides a microfluidic system including the above-mentioned quantitative device of the microchannel. For the structures of other parts of the microfluidic system, please refer to the prior art and will not be described in detail herein.

[0075] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referenced to each other.

[0076] The quantitative device of the microchannel provided by the present invention is introduced in detail above. The principle and implementation mode of the present invention are described in detail using specific examples herein, and the description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method of the present invention and its core idea. It should be pointed out that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the principle of the present invention, several improvements and modifications can be made to the present invention, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A microchannel quantitative device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a branch flow channel (2), the number of the branch flow channels (2) being at least two, the first end of the branch flow channel (2) being connected to a liquid inflow channel (1), the second end being connected to a gas discharge channel (5), and the second ends of at least two of the branch flow channels (2) being connected to the same gas discharge channel (5); a cut-off portion (4) and at least one quantitative chamber (3) being provided on the branch flow channel (2), the cut-off portion (4) being located on a side of the branch flow channel (2) close to the gas discharge channel (5); the first end of each of the branch flow channels (2) being connected to the same liquid inflow channel (1), and at least two of the branch flow channels (2) being connected to the same liquid inflow channel (1). The branch channels (2) have different heights in the vertical direction; when the branch channel (2) of the previous level has completed quantitative measurement and has been cut off, the next level channel automatically starts to be filled; the cut-off portion (4) is provided with an expansion material, and the expansion material can expand and cut off the branch channel (2) after absorbing liquid, so as to prevent the microfluid (7) from further flowing into the branch channel (2) and flowing into other branch channels (2); the quantitative chamber (3) is provided with a reaction reagent or a reaction system; the same detection device sequentially scans each of the quantitative chambers (3) participating in the reaction one by one, so as to ensure that the reaction time of each of the quantitative chambers (3) is the same.

2. The microchannel quantitative device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The quantitative chamber (3) is filled with an adsorption component (8).

3. The microchannel quantitative device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The quantitative chamber (3) is filled with an adsorption component (8), and a reaction reagent or a reaction system is preset in the adsorption component (8).

4. The microchannel quantitative device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The quantitative chambers (3) of the different branch flow channels (2) are filled with adsorption components (8) provided with different reaction reagents or reaction systems.

5. The microchannel quantitative device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second end of each branch flow channel (2) is connected to the same gas exhaust channel (5), and the gas exhaust channel (5) is connected to a driving device capable of providing negative drive to the branch flow channel (2).

6. The microchannel quantitative device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The expansion material includes at least one of water-absorbing resin, sodium alginate, hydrogel, gelatin and collagen.

7. The microchannel quantitative device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid inflow channel (1) is connected to a driving component capable of pushing the liquid to flow toward each of the branch flow channels (2); the second end of each of the branch flow channels (2) is respectively connected to the same or different gas exhaust channels (5).

8. The microchannel quantitative device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cut-off portion (4) is a groove arranged on the branch flow channel (2), and the expansion material can be arranged in the groove.

9. The microchannel quantitative device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The cross-sectional area of ​​the branch flow channel (2) at a position close to the groove is smaller than the cross-sectional area at a position close to the quantitative chamber (3), and the volume of the groove is smaller than the volume of the quantitative chamber (3).

10. A microfluidic system, comprising a microchannel quantitative device, characterized in that: The microchannel quantitative device is the microchannel quantitative device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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