A microfluidic device

Abstract

The application discloses a micro-fluid device, comprising: a first electrode, a light-emitting device layer and a second electrode constitute a light-emitting unit; a first hydrophobic layer is located on the side of the second electrode away from the light-emitting device layer; a micro-fluid droplet layer comprises a plurality of droplets, and the micro-fluid droplet layer is located on the surface of the first hydrophobic layer away from the second electrode; a second hydrophobic layer is located on the surface of the micro-fluid droplet layer away from the first hydrophobic layer; a driving backplate layer is located on the surface of the second hydrophobic layer away from the micro-fluid droplet layer, and the second electrode, the first hydrophobic layer, the micro-fluid droplet layer, the second hydrophobic layer and the driving backplate layer constitute a micro-fluid unit; the second electrode of the light-emitting unit is multiplexed as an electrode of the micro-fluid unit, the second electrode controls the light-emitting unit and the micro-fluid unit to work separately through an external circuit, and the droplets move under the control of the external circuit. The application can make the integration of the whole device higher and the structure simpler through optimization of the device structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of microfluidics, and more particularly to a microfluidic device. Background Technology

[0002] Digital microfluidics technology integrates basic operational units such as sample preparation, reaction, separation, and detection in biological, chemical, and medical analyses onto a single micrometer-scale chip, automating the entire analytical process. Due to its advantages such as reduced cost, short detection time, and high sensitivity, it has shown great promise in fields like biology, chemistry, and medicine. However, current technologies suffer from complex device structures and low integration levels. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a microfluidic device that can achieve higher integration and a simpler structure.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a microfluidic device, comprising:

[0005] First electrode;

[0006] A light-emitting device layer is located on the first surface of the first electrode;

[0007] The second electrode is located on the surface of the light-emitting device layer away from the first electrode. The first electrode, the light-emitting device layer and the second electrode constitute a light-emitting unit.

[0008] The first hydrophobic layer is located on the side of the second electrode away from the light-emitting device layer;

[0009] A microfluidic droplet layer comprising multiple droplets is located on the surface of the first hydrophobic layer away from the second electrode.

[0010] The second hydrophobic layer is located on the surface of the microfluidic droplet layer away from the first hydrophobic layer.

[0011] A driving backplate layer is located on the surface of the second hydrophobic layer away from the microfluidic droplet layer. The second electrode, the first hydrophobic layer, the microfluidic droplet layer, the second hydrophobic layer, and the driving backplate layer constitute a microfluidic unit.

[0012] The second electrode of the light-emitting unit is reused as the electrode of the microfluidic unit. The second electrode controls the light-emitting unit and the microfluidic unit to work intermittently through an external circuit, and the droplet moves under the control of the external circuit.

[0013] Optionally, the first hydrophobic layer can be reused as an encapsulation layer for the light-emitting unit.

[0014] Optionally, the driving backsheet layer includes multiple driving electrodes, which are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the light-emitting unit and pointing towards the microfluidic unit.

[0015] Optionally, the microfluidic device also includes a photoelectric sensor, which includes multiple photoelectric sensing units. The photoelectric sensing units are used to convert the light emitted by the light-emitting unit into an electrical signal after passing through the microfluidic unit and illuminating the photoelectric sensing unit.

[0016] Optionally, the microfluidic device further includes a first processing unit, which is used to acquire the position of the driving electrode to which an electrical signal is applied, and then determine the position of the droplet moving to the surface of the driving backplate layer.

[0017] Optionally, the microfluidic device further includes a second processing unit, which is electrically connected to the photoelectric sensor. The second processing unit is used to determine whether there is a difference in the spectrum between the light emitted by the light-emitting unit and the light irradiated by the photoelectric sensor unit based on the electrical signal converted from the light emitted by the light-emitting unit passing through the microfluidic unit and irradiating the photoelectric sensor unit, thereby determining the position of the droplet moving to the surface of the driving backplate layer.

[0018] Optionally, the second processing unit is also used to determine the spectral difference between the light emitted by the light-emitting unit and the light irradiated by the photoelectric sensing unit based on the electrical signal of the light converted from the light emitted by the light-emitting unit after passing through the microfluidic unit and irradiating the photoelectric sensing unit, thereby determining the composition of the droplet.

[0019] Optionally, the drive backplane layer includes a printed circuit board having multiple drive electrodes.

[0020] Optionally, the driving backplane layer includes a thin-film transistor array layer and multiple driving electrodes. The thin-film transistor array layer includes multiple thin-film transistors, which are used to drive the driving electrodes.

[0021] Optionally, the microfluidic device may also include a sealing layer located between the first and second hydrophobic layers, and the sealing layer is disposed around the droplet.

[0022] This invention provides a microfluidic device, comprising: a first electrode, a light-emitting device layer, a second electrode, a first hydrophobic layer, a microfluidic droplet layer, a second hydrophobic layer, and a driving backplate layer. The first electrode, the light-emitting device layer, and the second electrode constitute a light-emitting unit, and the second electrode, the first hydrophobic layer, the microfluidic droplet layer, the second hydrophobic layer, and the driving backplate layer constitute a microfluidic unit. The second electrode in the light-emitting unit is reused as an electrode in the microfluidic unit. The light-emitting unit and the microfluidic unit are controlled by an external circuit to operate intermittently. During the operation of the microfluidic unit, the droplet moves under the control of the external circuit. This technical solution, by sharing the second electrode between the light-emitting unit and the microfluidic unit, achieves higher integration and a simpler structure for the entire device.

[0023] It should be understood that the description in this section is not intended to identify key or essential features of the embodiments of the present invention, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the invention. Other features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a microfluidic device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another microfluidic device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of the invention described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0029] This invention provides a microfluidic device. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a microfluidic device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to... Figure 1The microfluidic device includes: a first electrode 101; a light-emitting device layer 102 located on a first surface of the first electrode 101; a second electrode 103 located on the surface of the light-emitting device layer 102 away from the first electrode 101, the first electrode 101, the light-emitting device layer 102, and the second electrode 103 constituting a light-emitting unit 100; a first hydrophobic layer 201 located on the side of the second electrode 103 away from the light-emitting device layer 102; and a microfluidic droplet layer 202 including a plurality of droplets 2021 located on the surface of the first hydrophobic layer 201 away from the second electrode 103. The second hydrophobic layer 203 is located on the surface of the microfluidic droplet layer 202 away from the first hydrophobic layer 201; the driving backplate layer 204 is located on the surface of the second hydrophobic layer 203 away from the microfluidic droplet layer 202; the second electrode 103, the first hydrophobic layer 201, the microfluidic droplet layer 202, the second hydrophobic layer 203, and the driving backplate layer 204 constitute the microfluidic unit 200; the second electrode 103 of the light-emitting unit 100 is reused as the electrode of the microfluidic unit 200; the second electrode 103 controls the light-emitting unit 100 and the microfluidic unit 200 to work intermittently through an external circuit; the droplet 2021 moves under the control of the external circuit.

[0030] The light-emitting unit 100 further includes a substrate 104. A first electrode 101 is located on the surface of the substrate. The first electrode 101 can be a reflective electrode, and its material can be a metal or metal alloy, such as silver or aluminum. The first electrode 101 can reflect the light-emitting device layer 102 to the second electrode 103. The light-emitting device layer 102 can be an organic light-emitting layer, which can be an OLED material layer, emitting light of any wavelength according to the light source requirements to be detected. The second electrode 103 can be a transparent electrode, and its material can be a metal oxide or a thin metal layer, such as indium tin oxide (ITO) film or thin silver film, allowing light emitted from the light-emitting device layer 102 and light reflected from the first electrode 101 to pass through. The first hydrophobic layer 201 and the second hydrophobic layer 203 are made of hydrophobic materials, such as at least one of polyolefin, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, polyester, acrylate, fused paraffin, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated polyethylene, and fluorocarbon wax.

[0031] In this embodiment, the second electrode 103 in the light-emitting unit 100 can also be reused as an electrode of the microfluidic unit 200. The second electrode 103 can be used as an electrode of both the light-emitting unit 100 and the microfluidic unit 200. The specific working process is as follows:

[0032] For example, when the light-emitting unit 100 emits light, the first electrode 101 and the second electrode 103 receive electrical signals from the external circuit for the light-emitting unit 100 to emit light. When the light-emitting unit 100 does not emit light, for example, during the interval between two light-emitting cycles of the light-emitting unit 100, the external circuit no longer applies electrical signals to the second electrode 103 to emit light, but instead applies electrical signals to the second electrode 103 and the driving backplate layer 204 to control the movement of the droplet 2021. That is, the external circuit controls the light-emitting unit 100 and the microfluidic unit 200 to operate intermittently by applying electrical signals of different timings to the second electrode 103.

[0033] The driving backplane layer 204 can be a printed circuit board or a thin-film transistor array layer. A voltage can be applied between the second electrode 103 and the driving backplane layer 204 to control the droplet 2021 to move in a direction perpendicular to the first hydrophobic layer 201 and pointing towards the second hydrophobic layer 203. Controlling the movement of the droplet 2021 can dissipate heat from the light-emitting device layer 102. This dissipation can be explained as the droplet 2021 moving to the location in the light-emitting unit 100 where heat dissipation is needed, carrying away heat through its movement.

[0034] This invention provides a microfluidic device comprising: a first electrode 101, a light-emitting device layer 102, a second electrode 103, a first hydrophobic layer 201, a microfluidic droplet layer 202, a second hydrophobic layer 203, and a driving backplate layer 204. The first electrode 101, the light-emitting device layer 102, and the second electrode 103 constitute a light-emitting unit 100. The second electrode 103, the first hydrophobic layer 201, the microfluidic droplet layer 202, the second hydrophobic layer 203, and the driving backplate layer 204 constitute a microfluidic unit 200. The second electrode 103 in the light-emitting unit 100 is reused as an electrode in the microfluidic unit 200. The light-emitting unit 100 and the microfluidic unit 200 are controlled by an external circuit to operate intermittently. During the operation of the microfluidic unit 200, the droplet 2021 moves under the control of the external circuit. This technical solution, by sharing the second electrode between the light-emitting unit 100 and the microfluidic unit 200, achieves higher integration and a simpler structure for the entire device.

[0035] Optionally, the first hydrophobic layer 201 can be reused as an encapsulation layer for the light-emitting unit 100.

[0036] The first hydrophobic layer 201 can also serve as an encapsulation layer for the light-emitting unit 100, further increasing the device integration and simplifying the structure.

[0037] Optional, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another microfluidic device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to... Figure 2The driving backplate layer 204 includes a plurality of driving electrodes 2041, which are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the light-emitting unit 100 pointing to the microfluidic unit 200.

[0038] The external circuit applies a driving voltage to the driving electrode 2041 and the second electrode 103, which makes the voltage between adjacent driving electrodes 2041 different, thereby forming an electric field between adjacent driving electrodes 2041. This causes a pressure difference and asymmetric deformation inside the droplet 2021, enabling the droplet 2021 to move. The direction of movement of the droplet 2021 can be changed according to the different potentials of the driving electrodes 2041.

[0039] Optional, see reference Figure 2 The microfluidic device also includes a photoelectric sensor 300, which includes multiple photoelectric sensing units 301. The photoelectric sensing units 301 are used to convert the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 100 into an electrical signal after passing through the microfluidic unit 200 and illuminating the photoelectric sensing unit 301.

[0040] The photoelectric sensor 300 is used for photoelectric detection. It can generate an electrical signal based on the incident light signal. The photoelectric sensor 300 receives the light signal after the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 100 passes through the microfluidic unit 200, thereby generating a photoelectric reaction and converting it into an electrical signal.

[0041] Optionally, the microfluidic device further includes a first processing unit, which is used to obtain the position of the driving electrode 2041 to which an electrical signal is applied, and then determine the position of the droplet 2021 moving to the surface of the driving backplate layer 204.

[0042] For example, the first processing unit obtains the position of the driving electrode 2041 to which the external circuit applies an electrical signal. If the electrical signal is applied to the leftmost driving electrode 2041 of the driving backplate layer 204, then the voltage between the driving electrode 2041 adjacent to the leftmost driving electrode is different, thereby forming an electric field between the adjacent driving electrodes 2041, causing a pressure difference and asymmetric deformation inside the droplet 2021, so that the droplet 2021 moves to the leftmost driving electrode 2041. Then the first processing unit can determine the position of the droplet 2021 moving to the surface of the driving backplate layer 204.

[0043] Optionally, the microfluidic device further includes a second processing unit, which is electrically connected to the photoelectric sensor 300. The second processing unit is used to determine whether there is a difference in the spectrum between the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 100 and the light irradiated by the photoelectric sensor 301 based on the electrical signal converted from the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 100 passing through the microfluidic unit 200 and irradiating the photoelectric sensor 301, thereby determining the position of the droplet 2021 moving to the surface of the driving backplate layer 204.

[0044] In this process, the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 100 may pass through the microfluidic unit 200 and then be irradiated by the droplet 2021 to the photoelectric sensing unit 301, or it may not pass through the droplet 2021 to irradiate the photoelectric sensing unit 301. The light that passes through the droplet 2021 to irradiate the photoelectric sensing unit 301 will have a portion absorbed by the droplet 2021, so the spectrum of the light that passes through the droplet 2021 to irradiate the photoelectric sensing unit 301 will change. It will be different from the spectrum of the light that does not pass through the droplet 2021 to irradiate the photoelectric sensing unit 301, which is the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 100. The electrical signal converted by the photoelectric sensing unit 301 will also be different. Therefore, the second processing unit can determine the difference in the spectrum between the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 100 and the light irradiated by the photoelectric sensing unit 301 based on the electrical signal converted by the photoelectric sensing unit 301, and thus determine the position of the droplet 2021 on the surface of the driving backplate layer 204.

[0045] Optionally, the second processing unit is also used to determine the spectral difference between the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 100 and the light irradiated by the photoelectric sensing unit 301 based on the electrical signal converted from the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 100 passing through the microfluidic unit 200 and irradiating the photoelectric sensing unit 301, thereby determining the composition of the droplet 2021.

[0046] In this process, the wavelength of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 100 will change after passing through the droplet 2021 and illuminating the photoelectric sensing unit 301. Some of the light illuminating the photoelectric sensing unit 301 after passing through the droplet 2021 will be absorbed by the droplet 2021, and the wavelength of the light will decrease. This will be different from the wavelength of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 100 that has not passed through the droplet 2021 and is not illuminating the photoelectric sensing unit 301. The difference between the spectrum of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 100 detected by the photoelectric sensing unit 301 and the spectrum of the light illuminating the photoelectric sensing unit 301 after passing through the droplet 2021 received by the receiver will determine the composition of the droplet.

[0047] Optionally, the drive backplane layer 204 includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of drive electrodes 2041.

[0048] The printed circuit board contains a driving circuit that can provide a voltage signal to the driving electrode 2041.

[0049] Optionally, the driving backplane layer 204 includes a thin-film transistor array layer and a plurality of driving electrodes 2041. The thin-film transistor array layer includes a plurality of thin-film transistors, which are used to drive the driving electrodes 2041.

[0050] Multiple thin-film transistors can form a driving circuit, which controls the driving electrode 2041.

[0051] Optional, see reference Figure 2 The microfluidic device also includes a sealing layer 2022, which is located between the first hydrophobic layer 201 and the second hydrophobic layer 203, and is disposed around the droplet 2021.

[0052] The sealing layer 2022 provides a sealed environment for the movement of the droplet 2021, preventing the movement of the droplet 2021 from being affected by external environmental conditions.

[0053] Note that the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, and various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, although the present invention has been described in detail through the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and may include many other equivalent embodiments without departing from the concept of the present invention, the scope of which is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device, characterized in that, include: First electrode; A light-emitting device layer, wherein the light-emitting device layer is located on the first surface of the first electrode; The second electrode is located on the surface of the light-emitting device layer away from the first electrode, and the first electrode, the light-emitting device layer, and the second electrode constitute a light-emitting unit; A first hydrophobic layer is located on the side of the second electrode away from the light-emitting device layer; A microfluidic droplet layer comprising multiple droplets, wherein the microfluidic droplet layer is located on the surface of the first hydrophobic layer away from the second electrode; A second hydrophobic layer is located on the surface of the microfluidic droplet layer away from the first hydrophobic layer; A driving backplate layer is located on the surface of the second hydrophobic layer away from the microfluidic droplet layer. The second electrode, the first hydrophobic layer, the microfluidic droplet layer, the second hydrophobic layer, and the driving backplate layer constitute a microfluidic unit. The second electrode of the light-emitting unit is reused as the electrode of the microfluidic unit. The second electrode controls the light-emitting unit and the microfluidic unit to work intermittently through an external circuit. The droplet moves under the control of the external circuit. An external circuit applies an electrical signal to the second electrode and the driving backplate layer to control the movement of the droplet, controlling the droplet to move to the position where the light-emitting unit needs heat dissipation, and dissipating heat for the light-emitting device layer by controlling the movement of the droplet; The drive backplate layer includes multiple drive electrodes; The microfluidic device further includes a first processing unit, which is used to obtain the position of the driving electrode to which an electrical signal is applied, and then determine the position of the droplet moving to the surface of the driving backplate layer. The microfluidic device also includes a photoelectric sensor, which comprises multiple photoelectric sensing units; The microfluidic device further includes a second processing unit, which is electrically connected to the photoelectric sensor. The second processing unit is used to determine whether there is a difference in the spectrum between the light emitted by the light-emitting unit and the light irradiating the photoelectric sensor unit based on the electrical signal converted from the light emitted by the light-emitting unit passing through the microfluidic unit and irradiating the photoelectric sensor unit, thereby determining the position of the droplet moving to the surface of the driving backplate layer.

2. The microfluidic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first hydrophobic layer is reused as the encapsulation layer of the light-emitting unit.

3. The microfluidic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of driving electrodes are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the light-emitting unit and pointing towards the microfluidic unit.

4. The microfluidic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second processing unit is further configured to determine the spectral difference between the light emitted by the light-emitting unit and the light irradiated by the photoelectric sensing unit based on the electrical signal converted from the light emitted by the light-emitting unit passing through the microfluidic unit and irradiating the photoelectric sensing unit, thereby determining the composition of the droplet.

5. The microfluidic device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The drive backplane layer includes a printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board is provided with a plurality of drive electrodes.

6. The microfluidic device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The driving backplane layer includes a thin-film transistor array layer and a plurality of driving electrodes. The thin-film transistor array layer includes a plurality of thin-film transistors, which are used to drive the driving electrodes.

7. The microfluidic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a sealing layer located between the first hydrophobic layer and the second hydrophobic layer, and the sealing layer is disposed around the droplet.

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