A microchannel manufacturing method for medical test kits

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing a microfluidic channel for a medical kit, belonging to the technical field of medical devices; it includes: Step (1): Place the resin material on the working platform, and the outer surface of the resin material is marked with a microfluidic channel processing route; Step (2): Select a magnetic block, and the magnetic block is used for processing the microfluidic channel; Step (3): Arrange a magnetic field and an ultraviolet curing instrument; Step (4): Use the magnetic block to process the resin material to form a microfluidic channel. By controlling the movement of the magnetic block inside the resin material, the present invention completes the processing of the microfluidic channel, can ensure the accuracy of the microfluidic channel processing, and improves the success rate of the microfluidic channel processing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of medical devices, and particularly relates to a method for manufacturing microfluidic channels for medical test kits. Background Art

[0002] The high cost of new drug research and development has become a global challenge, leading to rising medical service prices and longer R & D cycles. Statistics show that the average R & D cost of each new drug has exceeded $1 billion. A large part of this cost comes from professional equipment, tools, reagents, and a large amount of monotonous and repetitive experimental work.

[0003] Microfluidic chips are a chip technology for precisely controlling and manipulating microscale fluids. They are usually made of resin materials, are transparent as a whole, and have a series of micron-scale channels inside. They have become an important tool for drug research and development. Due to their characteristics such as extremely small sample and reagent requirements, controllable liquid flow, and high automation, they have played a great role in reducing costs and shortening the cycle.

[0004] There are two types of microfluidic chips (MicrofluidicChips). In one type, the microfluidic channels are arranged on the surface of the substrate. Currently, most of these microfluidic chips can be obtained by the mold forming method or completed by PDMS soft lithography. This process requires using photolithography to make an inverse mold and intensive manual processes in a clean room. In the other type, the microfluidic channels are arranged inside the substrate, which is difficult to process. The currently commonly used method is stereolithography (VatPhotopolymerization) technology, which can manufacture more complex 3D geometries to achieve more powerful functions, and can be processed in one step in an ordinary environment, facilitating the research, popularization, and sharing of microfluidic technology. However, currently, it is difficult to achieve micron-level accuracy (less than 100 microns) in the printing direction for stereolithography 3D-printed microfluidic devices. In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing microfluidic channels for medical test kits. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: A method for manufacturing microfluidic channels for medical test kits, comprising the following steps:

[0006] Step (1): Place the resin material on the working platform, and a microfluidic channel processing route is marked on the outer surface of the resin material.

[0007] Step (2): Select a magnetic block, and the magnetic block is used for processing microfluidic channels.

[0008] Step (3): Arrange a magnetic field and an ultraviolet curing instrument.

[0009] Step (4): Process the resin material with a magnetic block to form a microchannel.

[0010] Furthermore, the magnetic block described in step (1) can be at any position within the resin material along the marked microchannel processing route.

[0011] Furthermore, the magnetic field arrangement is such that a magnetic sphere is connected to a robotic arm, the gradient of the magnetic field is adjustable, and there are three robotic arms.

[0012] Furthermore, an ultraviolet curing instrument is fixedly installed on the robotic arm.

[0013] Furthermore, step (4) further includes: heating the position where the microchannel processing route is located in step (2) by a movable laser so that the position of the marked microchannel route on the resin material reaches the softening temperature of the resin material.

[0014] Furthermore, when the position of the resin material where the microchannel processing route is located reaches the softening temperature, place the magnetic block inside the resin material and make the magnetic block move along the microchannel processing route under the action of the magnetic field to form a microchannel within the resin material.

[0015] Furthermore, when the magnetic block moves along the microchannel processing route to form a microchannel, the ultraviolet curing instrument cures the microchannel passed by the magnetic block so that the microchannel is fixed in shape.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the present invention compared with the prior art are: (1) By controlling the movement of the magnetic block inside the resin material, the present invention completes the processing of the microchannel, which can ensure the accuracy of microchannel processing and improve the success rate of microchannel processing; (2) After the magnetic block processes the microchannel, it can be cured in time by the ultraviolet curing instrument, ensuring that the microchannel is shaped in time and effectively preventing deformation inside the microchannel; (3) The present invention can flexibly adjust the movement route of the magnetic block according to actual processing requirements through an adjustable gradient magnetic field, meeting the processing shapes of different microchannels, and has strong practicability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a processing schematic diagram of the manufacturing method of the microchannel chip of the present invention.

[0018] Reference numerals in the drawings: 1 - working platform; 2 - magnetic sphere; 3 - laser; 4 - ultraviolet curing instrument; 5 - resin material; 6 - magnetic block. EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the drawings and through specific embodiments.

[0020] Example: As Figure 1A microchannel manufacturing method for a medical kit is shown as follows, including the following steps:

[0021] Step (1): Place the resin material 5 on the working platform 1, and the microchannel processing route is marked on the outer surface of the resin material 5.

[0022] Step (2): Select a magnetic block 6, which is used to process the microchannel.

[0023] Step (3): Arrange a magnetic field and an ultraviolet curing instrument 4.

[0024] Step (4): Use the magnetic block 6 to process the resin material 5 to form a microchannel.

[0025] In step (1), the magnetic block 6 can be at any position of the marked microchannel processing route inside the resin material 5.

[0026] Specifically, the magnetic block 6 can be in the shape of a sphere, a cube, a triangular prism, etc., and the shape and size of the magnetic block 6 match the path and cross-section of the microchannel, that is, when the magnetic block 6 moves inside the microchannel, it will not exceed the edge of the microchannel, so as to ensure the processing accuracy.

[0027] The magnetic field arrangement method is that a magnetic sphere 2 is connected to the robotic arm, the gradient of the magnetic field is adjustable, and there are three robotic arms.

[0028] Specifically, the magnetic field can be adjusted by changing the current intensity and direction inside the magnetic sphere 2 and by changing the displacement of the robotic arm in three-dimensional space. The displacement control of the robotic arm is carried out by a computer. After receiving the position of the magnetic block 6, the computer sends it to the robotic arm to make it follow the magnetic block 6 closely. As the magnetic block 6 opens up a channel inside the resin material 5, the ultraviolet curing instrument 4 can directly follow up to cure the corresponding position.

[0029] An ultraviolet curing instrument 4 is also fixedly installed on the robotic arm.

[0030] Step (4) also includes: heating the position where the microchannel processing route in step (2) is located by a movable laser so that the position of the marked microchannel route on the resin material 5 reaches the softening temperature of the resin material 5.

[0031] When the position of the resin material 5 where the microchannel processing route is located reaches the softening temperature, place the magnetic block 6 inside the resin material 5 and make the magnetic block 6 move along the microchannel processing route under the action of the magnetic field to form a microchannel inside the resin material 5.

[0032] When the magnetic block 6 moves along the microchannel processing route to form a microchannel, the ultraviolet curing instrument 4 cures the microchannel passed by the magnetic block 6 to make the microchannel fixed and formed.

[0033] Specifically, while the magnetic block 6 is moving, the ultraviolet light in the ultraviolet curing instrument 4 controlled by the robotic arm accurately irradiates the place where the magnetic block 6 passes, and cures the still softening internal microchannel propped up by the magnetic block 6. In short, a certain area is softened by laser processing, the magnetic block shapes the microchannel under the control of the magnetic field, and finally the ultraviolet light cures this position, thus realizing the processing of an entire microchannel.

[0034] Working principle: First, according to the shape of the microchannel to be formed, marks are made on the surface of the resin material 5. The shape of the microchannel can be marked on the surface of the resin material 5 by means of a marker pen or the like. Then, according to the shape and size of the microchannel, a magnetic block 6 with a micron scale having an optical surface finish and high shape accuracy of the corresponding shape and size is selected. The selected magnetic block 6 can ensure that it can smoothly pass through the turning of the microchannel. That is to say, when the magnetic block 6 processes the microchannel, the edge of the magnetic block 6 will not exceed the edge of the microchannel route and will not interfere with the size of the required microchannel. After the magnetic block 6 is selected, the resin material 5 is placed on the working platform 1.

[0035] After the resin material 5 is placed on the working platform 1, the magnetic field is adjusted according to the microchannel processing route. In this embodiment, the three robotic arms are respectively located in front of three adjacent faces of the working platform 1. Then, the three ultraviolet curing instruments 4 and the three magnetic balls 2 are installed on the robotic arms, and at the same time, the current intensity and the direction of the current in the magnetic balls 2 are adjusted to meet the requirement for the magnetic balls 2 to control the walking route of the magnetic block 6 when the magnetic block 6 processes the microchannel.

[0036] After the magnetic field is adjusted, the movable laser moves along the microchannel route marked on the surface of the resin material 5. In this way, the part of the resin material 5 where the microchannel route is set will be gradually heated and softened by the laser. At this time, the magnetic block 6 will gradually pass through the softened resin material 5 under the action of the magnetic field, thereby forming a channel, that is, a microchannel, inside the resin material 5. Since the ultraviolet curing instrument 4 is fixedly installed on the robotic arm where the magnetic block 6 is located, after the magnetic block 6 passes through the softened part and forms the microchannel, the ultraviolet curing instrument 4 will also pass through the microchannel behind the magnetic block 6, and the ultraviolet curing instrument 4 will cure the microchannel at any time until the magnetic block 6 moves out from the exit of the route, and the processing and shaping of the microchannel are completed. It should be noted that if multiple microchannels are required, the above steps can be repeated.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a microchannel for a medical test kit, characterized in that, It includes the following steps: Step (1): Place the resin material (5) on the working platform (1), and a microchannel processing route is marked on the outer surface of the resin material (5). Step (2): Select a magnetic block (6), and the magnetic block (6) is used for processing the microchannel. Step (3): Arrange a magnetic field and an ultraviolet curing instrument (4). Step (4): Use the magnetic block (6) to process the resin material (5) to form a microchannel.

2. The microchannel manufacturing method for a medical test kit according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step (1), the magnetic block (6) can pass through any position of the marked microchannel processing route inside the resin material (5).

3. The microchannel manufacturing method for a medical kit as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The magnetic field arrangement method is that a magnetic sphere (2) is connected to a robotic arm, the gradient of the magnetic field is adjustable, and there are three robotic arms.

4. The microchannel manufacturing method for a medical test kit according to claim 3, characterized in that: An ultraviolet curing instrument (4) is also fixedly installed on the robotic arm.

5. The microchannel manufacturing method for a medical kit according to claim 4, wherein: Step (4) further includes: heating the position where the microchannel processing route in step (2) is located by a movable laser so that the position of the marked microchannel route on the resin material (5) reaches the softening temperature of the resin material (5).

6. The microchannel manufacturing method for a medical kit according to claim 5, characterized in that: After the position of the resin material (5) where the microchannel processing route is located reaches the softening temperature, place the magnetic block (6) inside the resin material (5) and make the magnetic block (6) move along the microchannel processing route under the action of the magnetic field to form a microchannel in the resin material (5).

7. A method for manufacturing a microfluidic channel for a medical test kit according to claim 6, characterized in that: When the magnetic block (6) moves along the microchannel processing route to form a microchannel, the ultraviolet curing instrument (4) cures the microchannel passed by the magnetic block (6) to make the microchannel fixed and formed.

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