Droplet forming mechanism

Abstract

The invention relates to a dropping liquid forming mechanism which comprises a dropping pipette, a liquid storage tank and a liquid separator arranged between the dropping pipette and the liquid storage tank, the dropping pipette is provided with a dropping liquid channel, the liquid storage tank is arranged above the dropping pipette, the liquid separator comprises a liquid separation rod, the liquid separation rod is perpendicular to the dropping pipette, one end of the liquid separation rod extends into the dropping liquid channel, and the other end of the liquid separation rod extends into the liquid storage tank. The lower end of the liquid dropping channel is sealed, the liquid separating rod is provided with a plurality of liquid dropping containing grooves, the liquid dropping containing grooves are evenly formed in the same height of the liquid separating rod, and a rotary driver is arranged at the other end of the liquid separating rod. On one hand, the highest point of the cornea simulant can be intelligently identified, so that the dropping liquid is dropped from the highest point and is uniformly distributed on the surface of the whole cornea simulant, on the other hand, the dropping liquid can be controlled to flow out of the liquid storage tank drop by drop, and the size of the dropping liquid is adjustable, so that micro accurate control is realized, and the situation that the cornea surface is full of tears is simulated more truly; the physiological environment of the cornea surface is comprehensively simulated for the first time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of cell culture apparatus, and in particular relates to a droplet forming mechanism. Background Art

[0002] At present, there is no comprehensive simulator for the corneal physiological environment. People's research on corneal pathology or physiology is mainly based on theoretical calculations and the accumulation of pathophysiology, which restricts the development of corneal tissue engineering. The existing corneal physiological environment simulator is mainly based on the simulation of intraocular pressure. Intraocular pressure is very important for the embryonic development and homeostasis of the eyeball. In addition, the intraocular environment is a liquid environment, and hydrostatic pressure also promotes cells such as the corneal endothelium. For example, the application number is 201811044716.6, and the application name is a bioreactor simulating intraocular pressure. It adopts a continuously circulating culture medium to provide corneal cells with a mechanical pressure similar to the intraocular pressure, which can better maintain the characteristics of corneal stromal cells, promote the generation of extracellular matrix, and promote the extension and arrangement of corneal stromal cells and collagen fibers secreted by cells along the stress direction, and promote the construction, differentiation and maturation of tissues that are more in line with the physiological state, thereby improving the transparency and mechanical toughness of tissue-engineered corneas, and making tissue-engineered corneas more in line with the biological characteristics of the cornea in vivo. It is relatively successful in solving the problem of corneal intra-pressure, but does not involve the relatively complex external environment of the eye and cannot truly reflect the actual physiological environment of the cornea. There is still a large gap between the fine cultivation of corneal cells and the formation of good biological properties of tissue-engineered corneas.

[0003] The simulation of the external environment of the cornea mainly lies in the simulation of the physiology of the tear film, and the core of the simulation of the physiological phenomenon of tear film rupture lies in how to evenly disperse the tears on the surface of the cornea. To solve the problem of evenly dispersing the tears on the surface of the cornea, the tears need to be separated drop by drop and need to enter from the highest point of the cornea. Therefore, in order to solve this technical problem, this application proposes a drop forming mechanism. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a drop forming mechanism that can intelligently and evenly disperse tear simulant drop by drop onto the surface of the corneal simulant, creating conditions for simulating the physiological phenomenon of tear film rupture, and solving the problem that the prior art cannot simulate the tear film rupture function.

[0005] The objective of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0006] The liquid drop forming mechanism comprises a liquid drop tube, a liquid storage tank and a liquid separator arranged between the liquid drop tube and the liquid storage tank, wherein the liquid drop tube has a liquid drop channel, the liquid storage tank is arranged above the liquid drop tube, and the liquid separator comprises a liquid separator rod, which is arranged vertically with the liquid drop tube, one end of which extends into the liquid drop channel to form a closure for the lower end of the liquid drop channel, and a liquid drop receiving groove is arranged at the end of the liquid drop rod extending into the liquid drop channel, and a plurality of liquid drop receiving grooves are evenly arranged at the same height of the liquid drop rod, and a rotary driver is arranged at the other end of the liquid drop rod, which drives the liquid drop rod to rotate under the action of the rotary driver, and when the liquid drop receiving groove faces upward, the liquid drop channel above is connected, the liquid drop enters the receiving groove and continues to rotate, and when the liquid drop receiving groove faces downward, the liquid drop channel below is connected, the liquid drop therein flows out into the liquid drop channel, and drips onto the surface of the corneal simulator through the liquid drop channel.

[0007] Furthermore, the rotary driver includes a servo rotary motor, a driving wheel and a driven wheel. The servo rotary motor is fixed on the liquid storage tank, the driving wheel is fixed on the main shaft of the servo rotary motor, and the driven wheel is fixed to the other end of the liquid separation rod located in the drip receiving groove, meshing with the driving wheel for transmission, and driving the liquid separation rod to rotate.

[0008] Furthermore, it also includes a driving mechanism, which includes a left-right movable push rod fixed outside the liquid storage tank and a forward-backward movable push rod fixed on the telescopic rod of the left-right movable push rod. The liquid storage tank is fixed on the telescopic rod of the forward-backward movable push rod, and the drip tube is fixed below the liquid storage tank.

[0009] Furthermore, it also includes a positioning system, which includes a high-definition scanner and a PLC controller. The high-definition scanner is used to scan and image the morphology of the corneal simulant and transmit the data to the PLC controller. The PLC controller filters out the highest position based on the data, determines the coordinate value of the position, and then moves the center of the dropper to the coordinate position (height, adjustment of any position).

[0010] Furthermore, a rolling bearing is provided between the liquid separation rod and the dropper tube.

[0011] Furthermore, the bottom of the drip receiving tank is made of an elastic film, and an air pressure bag for squeezing the elastic film to adjust the volume of the drip receiving tank is arranged in the liquid separation rod.

[0012] Furthermore, the number of the drip receiving grooves is 2-6.

[0013] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0014] The present invention sets a plurality of drip receiving grooves at the same height of the liquid dispensing rod. Under the action of the rotary driver, the liquid dispensing rod is driven to rotate. When the drip receiving groove faces upward, the drip channel above is connected, and the dripping liquid enters the receiving groove and continues to rotate. When the drip receiving groove faces downward, the drip channel below is connected, and the dripping liquid in it flows out into the dripping channel and drips onto the surface of the corneal simulant through the dripping channel. Thus, the dripping liquid is dispersed drop by drop onto the corneal simulant, and the dripping liquid slowly diffuses on the upper surface of the corneal simulant, thereby constructing a scene in which the tear film is broken and the tear liquid soaks the corneal surface.

[0015] Furthermore, the present invention can intelligently identify the highest point of the corneal simulant through a positioning system, so that the drops of liquid can be dripped in from the highest point and more evenly distributed to the entire surface of the corneal simulant, thereby more realistically simulating the situation where tears soak the corneal surface, and for the first time providing the possibility for comprehensive research on the physiological environment of corneal epithelial cells, stromal cells, and endothelial cells.

[0016] Other advantages, objectives and features of the present invention will be described in the following description to some extent, and to some extent, will be obvious to those skilled in the art based on the following examination and study, or can be guided by the practice of the present invention. The objectives and other advantages of the present invention can be realized and obtained through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clear, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 It is a front view of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 A top view of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid storage tank and a dropper;

[0021] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser;

[0022] Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional view of the liquid dispensing rod along the drip receiving groove;

[0023] Figure 6 This is a control diagram of the present invention.

[0024] Description of reference numerals:

[0025] 1-dropping tube; 2-liquid storage tank; 3-dispenser; 4-dispensing rod; 5-dropping storage tank; 6-rotation drive; 7-corneal simulant; 8-servo rotation motor; 9-driving wheel; 10-driven wheel; 11-left and right moving push rod; 12-front and back moving push rod; 13-high-definition scanner; 14-PLC controller; 15-rolling bearing; 16-elastic membrane; 17-air pressure bag; 18-display screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments are only for illustrating the invention, rather than for limiting the protection scope of the invention.

[0027] like Figure 1-6 As shown, the drop forming mechanism includes a dropper 1, a liquid storage tank 2 and a liquid separator 3 arranged between the dropper and the liquid storage tank. The dropper has a dropper channel. The liquid storage tank is arranged above the dropper. The liquid separator includes a liquid separator rod 4. The liquid separator rod is vertically arranged with the dropper, one end of which extends into the dropper channel to form a closure for the lower end of the dropper channel. The end of the liquid separator rod extending into the dropper channel is provided with a dropper receiving groove 5. A plurality of dropper receiving grooves are evenly arranged at the same height of the liquid separator rod. A rotary driver 6 is provided at the other end of the liquid separator rod. Under the action of the rotary driver, the liquid separator rod is driven to rotate. When the dropper receiving groove faces upward, the dropper channel above is connected, and the dropper enters the receiving groove and continues to rotate. When the dropper receiving groove faces downward, the dropper channel below is connected, and the dropper therein flows out into the dropper channel and drips onto the surface of the corneal simulator through the dropper channel. The droplets slowly diffuse on the surface of the corneal simulant 7, thereby constructing a scene in which the tear film ruptures and tears soak the corneal surface. This is the first time that the physiological phenomenon of tear film rupture is simulated, and the physiological environment of corneal cells is fully simulated, making it possible to comprehensively analyze the proliferation and cultivation of corneal-related cells.

[0028] In this embodiment, the rotary driver includes a servo rotary motor 8, a driving wheel 9 and a driven wheel 10. The servo rotary motor is fixed on the liquid storage tank, the driving wheel is fixed on the main shaft of the servo rotary motor, and the driven wheel is fixed to the other end of the liquid separation rod located in the drip receiving groove, and meshes with the driving wheel for transmission. The rotation of the servo rotary motor drives the driving wheel to rotate, and the driving wheel drives the driven wheel to rotate, thereby driving the liquid separation rod to rotate.

[0029] In this embodiment, a driving mechanism is also included, which includes a left-right moving push rod 11 fixed outside the liquid storage box and a forward-backward moving push rod 12 fixed on the telescopic rod of the left-right moving push rod. The liquid storage box is fixed on the telescopic rod of the forward-backward moving push rod. The dropper is fixed below the liquid storage box, and the dripping channel of the dropper is connected to the inner cavity of the liquid storage box. The left-right direction is adjusted by the left-right moving push rod, and the forward-backward moving push rod is adjusted by the forward-backward moving push rod, so as to move the dropper to the center above the corneal simulation.

[0030] In this embodiment, a positioning system is also included. The positioning system includes a high-definition scanner 13 and a PLC controller 14. The high-definition scanner is used to scan and image the morphology of the corneal simulant and transmit the data to the PLC controller. The PLC controller selects the highest position based on the data, determines the coordinate value of the position, and then moves the center of the dropper to the coordinate position.

[0031] When it is necessary to simulate tear film rupture for dripping operation, first determine the highest point of the corneal simulant through the positioning system, then send the moving coordinate value through the PLC controller, and drive the forward and backward moving push rod and the left and right moving push rod to move the center of the dropper to above the highest point of the corneal simulant, and then according to the number of concave grooves on the dispensing rod, evenly distribute them at 360 degrees / number to obtain the rotation arc value of the dispensing rod, and then control the servo rotary motor to rotate the same arc value through the preset program in the PLC controller to complete one dripping. Of course, when necessary, it can be rotated multiple times to achieve multiple continuous dispersed dripping operations.

[0032] PLC controller, i.e., Programmable Logic Control, is a digital operation electronic system designed for use in industrial environments. It uses a programmable memory to store and execute logic operations, sequence control, timing, counting and arithmetic operations, and controls various types of machinery or production processes through digital and analog input and output. In this embodiment, the PLC controller writes a coordinate value screening program to perform coordinate value screening operations, and writes a radian calculation program to calculate the radian value of rotation according to the number of concave grooves.

[0033] In this embodiment, the positioning system also includes a display screen 18 that can be used for command input and operation display. The display screen can display the scanner imaging and the positions of each push rod in real time, and can also perform operation control through the display instead of program control.

[0034] In this embodiment, a rolling bearing 15 is provided between the liquid dispensing rod and the dropper. The rolling bearing makes the rotation more labor-saving and the control more accurate and effective.

[0035] In this embodiment, the bottom of the drip receiving groove is made of an elastic membrane 16 to form a deformed groove body with a variable volume. An air pressure bag 17 is provided in the dispensing rod for squeezing the elastic membrane to adjust the volume of the drip receiving groove. The air pressure bag is arranged on the center line of the dispensing rod. When the air pressure bag expands, it can form a uniform squeezing force on all elastic membranes, so that all drip receiving grooves are deformed and the volume changes uniformly, thereby realizing the adjustment of the drop size to conduct quantitative research on its corneal cells under various changes.

[0036] The number of the concave grooves of the liquid dispensing rod is not limited, and can usually be 2-6. In this embodiment, there are 4 concave grooves, and the 4 concave grooves are evenly distributed, that is, the angle between any adjacent concave grooves is 90 degrees.

[0037] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solution of the present invention can be modified or replaced by equivalents without departing from the purpose and scope of the technical solution, which should be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A droplet forming mechanism, characterized in that: The invention comprises a dripping tube, a liquid storage tank and a liquid separator arranged between the dripping tube and the liquid storage tank, wherein the dripping tube has a dripping channel, the liquid storage tank is arranged above the dripping tube, and the liquid separator comprises a liquid separator rod, which is arranged vertically with the dripping tube, one end of which extends into the dripping channel to form a closure for the lower end of the dripping channel, and a liquid separator rod is provided with a liquid separator receiving groove at the end portion extending into the dripping channel, and a plurality of liquid separator receiving grooves are evenly arranged at the same height of the liquid separator rod, and a rotating driver is arranged at the other end of the liquid separator rod, which drives the liquid separator rod to rotate under the action of the rotating driver, and when the liquid separator receiving groove faces upward, the liquid separator rod is connected to the dripping channel above, and the liquid drops enter the receiving groove and continue to rotate, and when the liquid separator receiving groove faces downward, the liquid separator rod is connected to the dripping channel below, and the liquid drops therein flow out into the dripping channel and drip onto the surface of the corneal simulator through the dripping channel.

2. The droplet forming mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotary driver includes a servo rotary motor, a driving wheel and a driven wheel. The servo rotary motor is fixed on the liquid storage tank, the driving wheel is fixed on the main shaft of the servo rotary motor, and the driven wheel is fixed to the other end of the liquid separation rod located in the drip receiving groove, meshing with the driving wheel for transmission, and driving the liquid separation rod to rotate.

3. The droplet forming mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a driving mechanism, which includes a left-right moving push rod fixed outside the liquid storage tank and a forward-backward moving push rod fixed on the telescopic rod of the left-right moving push rod. The liquid storage tank is fixed on the telescopic rod of the forward-backward moving push rod, and the drip tube is fixed below the liquid storage tank.

4. The droplet forming mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a positioning system, which includes a high-definition scanner and a PLC controller. The high-definition scanner is used to scan and image the membrane structure below, and transmit the data to the PLC controller. The PLC controller selects the highest position based on the data, determines the coordinate value of the position, and then moves the center of the dropper to the coordinate position.

5. The droplet forming mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: A rolling bearing is arranged between the liquid separation rod and the dropper.

6. The droplet forming mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The bottom of the drip receiving tank is made of an elastic film, and an air pressure bag for squeezing the elastic film to adjust the volume of the drip receiving tank is arranged in the liquid separation rod.

7. The droplet forming mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The number of the drip receiving grooves is 2-6.

Images