Integrated microfluidic chip preparation device

Abstract

The present invention provides an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device, comprising a base, a microfluidic mold, a fixing part and an inlet and outlet mold. The base is provided with a mold placement groove, a microfluidic molding part is provided on one side of the microfluidic mold and protrudes from the surface of the microfluidic mold, the microfluidic mold is arranged in the mold placement groove, and the microfluidic molding part protrudes from the surface of the base, the fixing part is arranged on the side of the base where the mold placement groove is opened, a prepolymer placement groove coaxially arranged with the mold placement groove is arranged inside the fixing part, the size of the prepolymer placement groove is greater than or equal to the mold placement groove, the inlet and outlet molds are arranged on the side of the fixing part away from the base, and the inlet and outlet molds are provided on the side of the fixing part facing the fixing part, so that the width of the microfluidic channel can be less than 20 microns, or even less than 10 microns, and functional units such as microfluidic channels and liquid storage tanks of different scales and distribution states can be integrated into one piece.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of mold forming, and in particular to an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device. Background Art

[0002] In response to the urgent demand for simultaneous testing of multiple samples and low sample usage in current fields such as in vitro diagnostics, microfluidic chip technology will develop in the direction of higher microchannel density and higher functional unit integration.

[0003] Higher microchannel density means that the size of the microchannel is no longer limited to the range of conventional machining accuracy. The width of the microchannel will be less than 20 microns, or even less than 10 microns. Higher integration means that the microfluidic chip must integrate functional units such as liquid reservoirs.

[0004] However, in current production, on the one hand, in order to ensure the reliability of detection, there are usually strict minimum requirements for the amount of samples or reagents used, which leads to the large size of single functional units. For example, a volume of microliters only requires the functional unit to reach millimeter size. On the other hand, there may be differences between the functional unit and the microfluidic molding surface, making it difficult to meet the needs of simultaneous detection of multiple samples and low sample usage. Summary of the invention

[0005] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is that in the prior art, in order to ensure the reliability of detection in the production of microfluidic chips, there are usually strict minimum requirements for the amount of samples or reagents, which leads to the large size of single functional units. For example, a volume usage of microliters only requires the functional unit to reach a millimeter size. On the other hand, there may be differences between the functional units and the microfluidic channel molding surfaces, making it difficult to meet the needs of simultaneous detection of multiple samples and low sample usage.

[0006] To this end, the present invention provides an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device, comprising:

[0007] A base having a mold placement groove thereon;

[0008] A microfluidic channel mold, one side of which is provided with a microfluidic channel forming part protruding from the surface of the microfluidic channel mold, the microfluidic channel mold is arranged in the mold placement groove, and the microfluidic channel forming part protrudes from the surface of the base;

[0009] A fixing part is arranged on one side of the base where the mold placement groove is opened, and a prepolymer placement groove is arranged coaxially with the mold placement groove inside the fixing part, the size of the prepolymer placement groove is greater than or equal to the mold placement groove, and one side of the mold placement groove is opened;

[0010] The inlet and outlet mold is arranged on the side of the fixing member away from the base, and the inlet and outlet mold is provided with an inlet and outlet forming part on the side facing the fixing member.

[0011] Optionally, the forming portion is a plurality of strip-shaped protrusions protruding from the surface of the microfluidic channel mold.

[0012] Optionally, the strip-shaped protrusion has a width of 10 microns to 20 microns.

[0013] Optionally, any of the strip-shaped protrusions comprises:

[0014] The front end is raised;

[0015] Two middle end protrusions are respectively connected to the two ends of the front end protrusion;

[0016] Two terminal protrusions, one end of any middle end protrusion is connected to a terminal protrusion, and is arranged on a side where the two middle end protrusions are close to each other.

[0017] Optionally, a cylindrical protrusion is provided at one end of the terminal protrusion away from the middle protrusion.

[0018] Optionally, the strip-shaped protrusions arranged on the surface of the microfluidic channel mold are divided into two rows, and the front end protrusions of the strip-shaped protrusions in the two rows are close to each other.

[0019] Optionally, the inlet and outlet forming parts are a plurality of protrusions formed on the surface of the inlet and outlet mold, and the protrusions are arranged at equal intervals.

[0020] Optionally, a first gap is provided in the middle of the inlet and outlet forming parts, and a second gap matching the first gap is provided in the middle of the microchannel forming part.

[0021] Optionally, a sealing member is further included, which is arranged between the base and the fixing member, and the sealing member is provided with a through groove, and one side of the through groove is open.

[0022] Optionally, a positioning member is further included, connected between the base and the inlet and outlet molds.

[0023] The integrated microfluidic chip preparation device provided by the present invention has the following advantages:

[0024] 1. The present invention provides an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device, comprising a base, a microfluidic mold, a fixing part and an inlet and outlet mold, wherein the base is provided with a mold placement groove, a microfluidic forming part is provided on one side of the microfluidic mold and protrudes from the surface of the microfluidic mold, the microfluidic mold is arranged in the mold placement groove, and the microfluidic forming part protrudes from the surface of the base, the fixing part is arranged on the side of the base where the mold placement groove is opened, a prepolymer placement groove coaxially arranged with the mold placement groove is arranged inside the fixing part, the size of the prepolymer placement groove is greater than or equal to the mold placement groove, and one side of the mold placement groove is opened, the inlet and outlet molds are arranged on the side of the fixing part away from the base, and the inlet and outlet molds are provided with an inlet and outlet forming part facing the fixing part.

[0025] The integrated microfluidic chip preparation device of this structure is provided with a microfluidic mold and an inlet and outlet mold, and fixing parts and a base are provided on the microfluidic mold and the inlet and outlet mold, so that a molding cavity is formed between the microfluidic mold and the inlet and outlet mold, and the microfluidic molding part of the microfluidic mold and the inlet and outlet molding part of the inlet and outlet mold are both arranged in the molding cavity, and the prepolymer is placed in the molding cavity so that the prepolymer is molded into an integrated microfluidic chip in the molding cavity, so that the width of the microfluidic channel can be less than 20 microns, or even less than 10 microns, and functional units such as microfluidics and liquid storage tanks of different scales and distribution states can be integrated into the molding. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific implementation methods of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the specific implementation methods or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some implementation methods of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0027] Figure 1 A schematic structural view of an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 An exploded view of an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of a base in an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5A schematic structural diagram of a microfluidic channel mold in an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A magnified view of the structure at the center circle A;

[0033] Figure 7 It is a schematic structural diagram of a fixing member in an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 8 A schematic structural diagram of a sealing member in an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of an inlet and outlet mold in an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Fig.10 It is a schematic structural diagram of a base, a microchannel mold, a fixing part and a sealing part after installation in an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Fig.11 It is a schematic structural diagram of another direction of an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Fig.12 A schematic diagram of the structure of a strip-shaped protrusion on a microchannel mold in an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Fig.13 It is a schematic diagram of the cooperation between the cylindrical protrusion on the surface of the inlet and outlet forming part and the cylindrical protrusion arranged at the end of the terminal protrusion when installing an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Description of reference numerals:

[0041] 1- base;

[0042] 2-microfluidic channel mold; 21-front end protrusion; 22-middle end protrusion; 23-end protrusion;

[0043] 3-Fixer;

[0044] 4-import and export molds; 41-import and export molding department;

[0045] 5- Seal;

[0046] 6- Positioning piece. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] The technical solution of the present invention will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 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.

[0048] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "up", "down", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate directions or positional relationships based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. In addition, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0049] Example

[0050] This embodiment provides an integrated microfluidic chip preparation device, such as Figures 1 to 13 As shown, it includes a base 1, a microfluidic channel mold 2, a fixing member 3, an inlet and outlet mold 4, a sealing member 5 and a positioning member 6. The microfluidic channel mold 2 is a silicon wafer.

[0051] By setting a microfluidic mold 2 and an inlet and outlet mold 4, and setting a fixing part 3 and a base 1 on the microfluidic mold 2 and the inlet and outlet mold 4, a molding cavity is formed between the microfluidic mold 2 and the inlet and outlet mold 4, and the microfluidic molding part of the microfluidic mold 2 and the inlet and outlet molding part 41 of the inlet and outlet mold 4 are both arranged in the molding cavity. By placing a prepolymer in the molding cavity, the prepolymer is molded into an integrated microfluidic chip in the molding cavity, which can achieve a microfluidic width of less than 20 microns, or even less than 10 microns, and can achieve integrated molding of functional units such as microfluidics and liquid storage tanks of different scales and different distribution states, so that the width of the microfluidic channel is no longer limited to the range of conventional machining accuracy.

[0052] Among them, by setting the microfluidic mold 2 as a silicon wafer, a prepolymer such as PDMS is covered on the silicon wafer. PDMS is a thermosetting material and has viscosity, and the higher the temperature, the more PDMS solidifies until it reaches a peak. Compared with injection molding, injection molding is for thermopolymers such as PMMA, which can melt when the temperature rises to a certain level, and needs to be molded by an injection molding machine, and needs to ensure high pressure and temperature. The present invention can be directly molded on such a silicon-based mold, which is simple and direct, does not require special pressure, and the temperature only needs to be more than 100 degrees.

[0053] Specifically, Figure 3 As shown, the base 1 is arranged at the bottom end, a microfluidic mold 2 is arranged above the base 1, a fixing part 3 is arranged above the microfluidic mold 2, and a sealing part 5 is arranged between the fixing part 3 and the microfluidic mold 2 for sealing, an inlet and outlet mold 4 is arranged above the fixing part 3, and a plurality of positioning holes are arranged on the base 1, the fixing part 3 and the inlet and outlet mold 4, and a positioning part 6 is inserted into the positioning hole to prevent misalignment.

[0054] Specifically, Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, a mold placement groove is provided in the middle of the base 1, a microfluidic mold 2 is provided on one side of the microfluidic mold 2, and the microfluidic mold 2 protrudes from the surface of the microfluidic mold 2, the microfluidic mold 2 is arranged in the mold placement groove, and the microfluidic mold protrudes from the surface of the base 1, further, the surface of the microfluidic mold 2 is flush with the surface of the base 1, in order to prevent the microfluidic mold 2 from breaking under pressure.

[0055] like Figure 7 As shown, a prepolymer placement groove coaxially arranged with the mold placement groove is provided inside the fixing part 3, one side of the mold placement groove is open, the edge of the prepolymer placement groove is stepped, and the inner diameter of the prepolymer placement groove is larger than the mold placement groove. When installed, the prepolymer placement groove is inverted on the surface of the base 1 in the direction of the base 1, and the seal 5 is filled in the edge of the stepped placement groove to press the microfluidic mold 2 with the seal 5. Here, the role of the seal 5 is to make the microfluidic mold 2 evenly stressed and fixed on the base 1, and secondly, to play a sealing role to prevent the prepolymer from overflowing. The seal 5 is made of flexible materials, such as silicone rubber, fluororubber, etc.

[0056] Among them, Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, one side of the mold placement groove on the fixing member 3 is open, and one side of the through groove in the sealing member 5 is also open. During installation, the fixing member 3, the sealing member 5, and the microchannel mold 2 are fixed to the base 1 in sequence by screws to form a structure as shown in FIG. Fig.10 Then pour the prepolymer into the prepolymer filling tank, and then tighten the inlet and outlet molds 4 and the fixing member 3 by threaded connection to form a prepolymer filling tank as shown in FIG. Fig.11 The complete assembly is shown. In order to make the patterns on the microfluidic mold 2 and the inlet and outlet molds 4 correspond, the microfluidic mold 2 is positioned by the groove of the base 1, and the overall structure is positioned by a plurality of positioning members 6. The prepolymer is preferably a thermosetting material, such as PDMS. Since prepolymers such as PDMS are viscous, they will not flow out from the opening of the prepolymer filling groove.

[0057] In some other embodiments, the inner diameter of the prepolymer placement groove may also be equal to the size of the mold placement groove.

[0058] Further, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the microchannel forming portion on the microchannel mold 2 is a plurality of strip-shaped protrusions protruding from the surface of the microchannel mold 2, and the width of the strip-shaped protrusions is 10 microns to 20 microns, wherein, as Fig.12 As shown, any strip-shaped protrusion includes a front end protrusion 21, two middle end protrusions 22 and two terminal protrusions 23. The two middle end protrusions 22 are respectively connected to the two ends of the front end protrusion 21. The other end of any middle end protrusion 22 is connected to an terminal protrusion 23, and is arranged on the side where the two middle end protrusions 22 are close to each other. The terminal protrusion 23 is provided with a cylindrical protrusion at one end away from the middle end protrusion 22.

[0059] By providing a plurality of strip-shaped protrusions, the width of the microchannel line is no longer limited by the precision of mechanical processing, and the width of the strip-shaped protrusion is 10 to 20 microns. Compared with conventional mechanical processing, the present invention can achieve a smaller microchannel size and thus a higher microchannel density.

[0060] For further information, see Figure 5 and Figure 6 The microfluidic forming portion on the microfluidic mold 2 is composed of a plurality of strip-shaped protrusions, and the strip-shaped protrusions arranged on the surface of the microfluidic mold 2 are divided into two rows along the vertical center line of the microfluidic mold 2, and the front end protrusions 21 of the two rows of strip-shaped protrusions are close to each other, and the front end protrusions 21 are vertically arranged in the middle position of the surface of the microfluidic mold 2.

[0061] Further, such as Figure 5 As shown, the middle end protrusions 22 of the strip-shaped protrusions in each column are arranged horizontally, and the length of the middle end protrusions 22 gradually increases from the vertical center line of the microfluidic mold 2 to the edge of the microfluidic mold 2, so that a gap is formed between the end protrusions 23 connecting the ends of two adjacent middle end protrusions 22, and a second gap is arranged in the middle of the microfluidic molding part.

[0062] Further, such as Fig. 9 As shown, the inlet and outlet mold 4 is provided with an inlet and outlet forming portion 41 on the side facing the fixing member 3. The inlet and outlet forming portion 41 is a plurality of protrusions formed on the surface of the inlet and outlet mold 4. The protrusions are arranged at equal intervals. When the inlet and outlet mold 4 and the microchannel mold 2 are installed, as shown in FIG. Fig.13 As shown, the cylindrical protrusion on the surface of the inlet and outlet forming part 41 coincides with the axis of the cylindrical protrusion set at the end of the terminal protrusion 23, and a gap is set between the two, so that after the forming is completed, there will be a thin film between the inlet and outlet and the microchannel, and the film can be punctured when in use to connect the inlet and outlet and the microchannel. A first gap is set in the middle of the inlet and outlet forming part 41.

[0063] like Figure 2As shown, a gap is provided between the cylindrical protrusion on the surface of the inlet and outlet molding portion 41 and the cylindrical protrusion provided at the end of the terminal protrusion 23 to prevent the microchannel made of the silicon membrane from being too fragile at the micron level and directly contacting the inlet and outlet mold 4 to damage the microchannel structure on the silicon membrane.

[0064] The present invention provides a microfluidic mold 2, and the microfluidic mold 2 is formed with a front end protrusion 21, a middle end protrusion 22 and a terminal end protrusion 23, and the widths of the front end protrusion 21, the middle end protrusion 22 and the terminal end protrusion 23 are all set between 10 microns and 20 microns. The size of the microfluidic channel that can be produced by the molding method is simple in production steps and can achieve a smaller size compared to conventional mechanical processing precision.

[0065] When in use, firstly, the fixing member 3, the sealing member 5, and the microchannel mold 2 are fixed to the base 1 in sequence by screws to form a Fig.10 The prepolymer filling groove is shown, and then the prepolymer is poured into the prepolymer filling groove, and then the inlet and outlet molds 4 are fastened to the fixing member 3 by threaded connection, and the device is cured with the open end facing upward, and finally an integrated microfluidic chip with a two-sided structure is formed.

[0066] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely examples for the purpose of clear explanation, and are not intended to limit the implementation methods. For those skilled in the art, other different forms of changes or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is not necessary and impossible to list all the implementation methods here. The obvious changes or modifications derived therefrom are still within the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. An integrated microfluidic chip preparation device, characterized in that: include: A base (1) having a mold placement groove thereon; A microfluidic mold (2), one side of which is provided with a microfluidic molding portion protruding from the surface of the microfluidic mold (2), the microfluidic mold (2) being arranged in the mold placement groove, and the microfluidic molding portion protruding from the surface of the base (1); A fixing member (3) is arranged on a side of the base (1) where the mold placement groove is provided, wherein a prepolymer placement groove is arranged coaxially with the mold placement groove inside the fixing member (3), the size of the prepolymer placement groove is greater than or equal to the mold placement groove, and one side of the mold placement groove is arranged to be open; An inlet and outlet mold (4) is arranged on a side of the fixing member (3) away from the base (1), and an inlet and outlet molding portion (41) is arranged on a side of the inlet and outlet mold (4) facing the fixing member (3); The forming portion is a plurality of strip-shaped protrusions protruding from the surface of the micro-channel mold (2); Any of the strip-shaped protrusions comprises: A front end protrusion (21); Two middle end protrusions (22) are respectively connected to two ends of the front end protrusion (21); Two terminal protrusions (23), one end of each of the middle-end protrusions (22) being connected to a terminal protrusion (23), and being arranged on a side where the two middle-end protrusions (22) are close to each other; The inlet and outlet forming parts (41) are a plurality of protrusions formed on the surface of the inlet and outlet mold (4), and the protrusions are arranged at equal intervals; When the inlet and outlet mold (4) and the microchannel mold (2) are installed, the inlet and outlet molding portion (41) is aligned with the terminal protrusion (23) and a gap exists between the ends of the two.

2. The integrated microfluidic chip preparation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The strip-shaped protrusion has a width of 10 micrometers to 20 micrometers.

3. The integrated microfluidic chip preparation device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A cylindrical protrusion is provided at one end of the terminal protrusion (23) away from the middle end protrusion (22).

4. The integrated microfluidic chip preparation device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The strip-shaped protrusions provided on the surface of the microfluidic channel mold (2) are divided into two rows, and the front end protrusions (21) of the two rows of strip-shaped protrusions are close to each other.

5. The integrated microfluidic chip preparation device according to claim 4, characterized in that: A first gap is provided in the middle of the inlet and outlet forming portion (41), and a second gap matching the first gap is provided in the middle of the microchannel forming portion.

6. The integrated microfluidic chip preparation device according to claim 5, characterized in that: It also comprises a sealing member (5) disposed between the base (1) and the fixing member (3), wherein the sealing member (5) is provided with a through groove, and one side of the through groove is open.

7. The integrated microfluidic chip preparation device according to claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes a positioning member (6) connected between the base (1) and the inlet and outlet mold (4).

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