Printing nozzle device based on micro-fluidic chip

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of printing nozzles, and particularly discloses a printing nozzle device based on a micro-fluidic chip, the printing nozzle device comprises a printing nozzle main body, a fluid control plate is arranged above the printing nozzle main body, the top of the fluid control plate is fixedly connected with a connection control plate, and the top of the connection control plate is fixedly connected with a material control plate; through arrangement of a fluid control plate, a connection control plate, a material control plate, connecting grooves, an air pump, a flexible film and a circulating groove, during use, the fluid control plate is connected with an injection pipe in an inserted mode through the multiple sets of connecting grooves in the inner wall of the fluid control plate, and the flexible film in the connection control plate is matched with the air pump and an exhaust pipe to adjust opening and closing of a fluid channel through elastic deformation; the controllable distribution of the fluid is realized; the circulating groove of the material control plate and the flexible film work cooperatively, the fluid path is optimized, it is ensured that materials are evenly distributed, the air pump is fixed through the sleeving frame, the sleeving frame is connected with the injection pipe, a closed pressure transmission system is formed, and therefore high-precision control, quick response and stable output of fluid are achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of printing nozzles, and particularly relates to a printing nozzle device based on a microfluidic chip. Background Art

[0002] As an important cross - field of modern micro - nano manufacturing and fluid control, microfluidic chip technology has shown significant application potential in biomedical, chemical analysis, and functional material preparation in recent years. This technology realizes precise control of fluids through a micron - scale channel network. Its core advantage is that it can complete high - throughput and high - precision experimental operations with extremely low reagent consumption. With the rapid development of 3D printing technology, the combination of microfluidic technology and printing processes has become a research hotspot, especially the manufacturing method of microfluidic chips based on printing nozzles, which has attracted much attention because it can achieve rapid prototyping of complex three - dimensional structures.

[0003] In the prior art, although the printing nozzle device based on micro - valve control can achieve on - off control of fluids, it relies on the opening and closing actions of mechanical valves, resulting in problems such as large response delays (usually in milliseconds) and decreased sealing performance due to valve wear after long - term use. In addition, due to the redundant design of the fluid path in the traditional micro - valve structure, dead volume is easily generated, which in turn affects the uniformity of material distribution and printing resolution. For example, when printing microfluidic chips with multi - channel intersections or gradient concentration distributions, the existing nozzle devices are difficult to achieve rapid fluid switching and precise mixing, resulting in uneven material distribution or blurred interfaces in the channels. More critically, the prior art lacks the ability to dynamically optimize the fluid path and cannot adjust the channel geometry or flow resistance according to real - time printing requirements, thus limiting the manufacturability of complex microfluidic structures. Therefore, it is necessary for workers to improve it. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a printing nozzle device based on a microfluidic chip to solve the problems raised in the above - mentioned background art.

[0005] To achieve the above - mentioned purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0006] A printing nozzle device based on a microfluidic chip, comprising:

[0007] A printing nozzle main body;

[0008] A fluid control board is arranged above the printing nozzle main body, an adapter control board is fixedly connected to the top of the fluid control board, and a material control board is fixedly connected to the top of the adapter control board;

[0009] The inner wall of the fluid control plate is provided with multiple groups of connecting grooves. One end of each connecting groove is inserted with an injection pipe. One end of the injection pipe is fixedly connected with a socket frame. The inner wall of the socket frame is fixedly connected with an air pump. The output end of the air pump is equipped with an exhaust pipe, and the front end of the exhaust pipe is inserted into the inner wall of the injection pipe;

[0010] The inner wall of the connection control plate is penetrated with a connection groove. The inner wall of the connection groove is fixedly connected with a flexible film, and the bottom end of the connection groove is fixedly connected to the top end of the connecting groove;

[0011] The inner wall of the material control plate is penetrated with a flow-through groove, and the top of the flexible film is lapped on the surface of the flow-through groove.

[0012] Preferably, one side of the material control plate at one end of the flow-through groove is fixedly connected with an installation pipe. The front end of the installation pipe is sleeved with an addition pipe. The other side of the material control plate at the other end of the flow-through groove is fixedly connected with a discharge pipe, and the bottom end of the discharge pipe is fixedly connected to the top of the printing head body.

[0013] Preferably, the top of the material control plate is fixedly connected with a circulation pipeline. The bottom end of the circulation pipeline is inserted into the inner wall of the flow-through groove. The inner wall of the circulation pipeline is fixedly connected with a partition plate.

[0014] Preferably, both ends of the circulation pipeline are fixedly connected with sealing boxes. The inner wall of the sealing box is fixedly connected with a micro electric telescopic rod. The output end of the micro electric telescopic rod is equipped with a baffle, and the surface of the baffle is inserted into the inner wall of the circulation pipeline.

[0015] Preferably, the surface of the circulation pipeline is fixedly connected with an inlet pipe. The top end of the inlet pipe is fixedly connected with a storage bin. The top of the storage bin is fixedly connected with a liquid addition pipe. The inner wall of the storage bin is fixedly connected with a sealing partition.

[0016] Preferably, one side of the inner wall of the storage bin below the sealing partition is fixedly connected with a first pump body. The input end of the first pump body is equipped with a first suction pipe, and the output end of the first pump body is installed at the top end of the inlet pipe.

[0017] Preferably, the other side of the inner wall of the storage bin below the sealing partition is fixedly connected with a second pump body. The input end of the second pump body is equipped with a second suction pipe, and the bottom end of the second suction pipe is fixedly connected to the surface of the circulation pipeline. The output end of the second pump body is equipped with a recovery pipe, and the top end of the recovery pipe penetrates and is inserted into the top of the sealing partition.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0019] (1) Through the settings of the fluid control board, connection control board, material control board, connection slots, air pump, flexible membrane, and flow channels, during use, the fluid control board is plugged into the injection pipe through multiple groups of connection slots on its inner wall. The flexible membrane in the connection control board cooperates with the air pump and exhaust pipe to adjust the opening and closing of the fluid channel through elastic deformation, achieving controllable distribution of the fluid. The flow channels of the material control board work in coordination with the flexible membrane to further optimize the fluid path and ensure uniform distribution of the material. The socket frame fixes the air pump and connects the injection pipe, forming a closed pressure transmission system, thereby achieving high-precision control, rapid response, and stable output of the fluid, which is particularly suitable for printing requirements in complex microfluidic environments and improves printing resolution and efficiency.

[0020] (2) Through the settings of the material control board, circulation pipeline, partition board, storage bin, first pump body, and second pump body, during use, the material control board is connected to the circulation pipeline through the flow channels, forming a closed-loop cleaning system. The partition board divides the circulation pipeline into different functional areas, one side is responsible for cleaning, and the other side is responsible for recycling. The first pump body pumps the cleaning agent into the inlet pipe through the first suction pipe and injects it into the flow channels for efficient cleaning. The second pump body then pumps the waste liquid after cleaning back to the upper layer of the storage bin through the second suction pipe and realizes purification and recycling through the recovery pipe. The installation pipe and addition pipe are used to supplement new materials, and the discharge pipe ensures accurate output of the printing material, thereby not only improving the cleaning efficiency, avoiding blockage of the nozzle by residual materials, but also reducing the consumption of the cleaning agent through the closed-loop recycling design, while ensuring the continuity and stability of the printing process, which is particularly suitable for high-precision and high-frequency microfluidic printing scenarios. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 is a three-dimensional view of the flexible membrane of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 is a three-dimensional view of the fluid control board of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 is a three-dimensional view of the material control board of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 is a three-dimensional view of the circulation pipeline of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 is a three-dimensional view of the storage bin of the present invention;

[0027] In the figure: 1. Print head main body; 2. Fluid control board; 3. Connection control board; 4. Material control board; 5. Connection groove; 6. Injection pipe; 7. Socket frame; 8. Air pump; 9. Exhaust pipe; 10. Flexible film; 11. Flow groove; 12. Installation pipe; 13. Adding pipe; 14. Discharge pipe; 15. Circulation pipeline; 16. Partition board; 17. Sealing box; 18. Micro electric telescopic rod; 19. Baffle; 20. Inlet pipe; 21. Storage bin; 22. Liquid adding pipe; 23. Sealing partition board; 24. First pump body; 25. First suction pipe; 26. Second pump body; 27. Second suction pipe; 28. Recovery pipe. Detailed implementation manner

[0028] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0029] Embodiment 1:

[0030] Please refer to Figures 1 to 6 As shown, a print head device based on a microfluidic chip includes: a print head main body 1;

[0031] A fluid control board 2 is arranged above the print head main body 1. The top of the fluid control board 2 is fixedly connected with a connection control board 3, and the top of the connection control board 3 is fixedly connected with a material control board 4;

[0032] Multiple groups of connection grooves 5 are opened on the inner wall of the fluid control board 2. One end of the connection groove 5 is plugged with an injection pipe 6. One end of the injection pipe 6 is fixedly connected with a socket frame 7. An air pump 8 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the socket frame 7. The output end of the air pump 8 is provided with an exhaust pipe 9, and the front end of the exhaust pipe 9 is plugged into the inner wall of the injection pipe 6;

[0033] A connection groove is penetrated through the inner wall of the connection control board 3. A flexible film 10 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the connection groove, and the bottom end of the connection groove is fixedly connected to the top end of the connection groove 5;

[0034] A flow groove 11 is penetrated through the inner wall of the material control board 4, and the top of the flexible film 10 is lapped on the surface of the flow groove 11.

[0035] During use, the printing nozzle body 1 serves as the core carrier to support the operation of the entire device. The fluid control board 2 is inserted into the injection pipe 6 through multiple connecting grooves 5 on its inner wall. The flexible membrane 10 in the connection control board 3 is a key component, which cooperates with the air pump 8 and the exhaust pipe 9 to adjust the opening and closing of the fluid channel through its elastic deformation, realizing the controllable distribution of the fluid. The flow-through groove 11 of the material control board 4 works together with the flexible membrane 10 to further optimize the fluid path and ensure the uniform distribution of the material. The socket frame 7 fixes the air pump 8 and connects the injection pipe 6 to form a closed pressure transmission system, and the discharge pipe 14 transports the processed fluid to the printing nozzle body 1 to complete the printing.

[0036] Embodiment 2:

[0037] Please refer to Figures 1 to 6 As shown, at one end of the flow-through groove 11 on one side of the material control board 4, a mounting pipe 12 is fixedly connected. The front end of the mounting pipe 12 is sleeved with an adding pipe 13. At the other end of the flow-through groove 11 on the other side of the material control board 4, a discharge pipe 14 is fixedly connected, and the bottom end of the discharge pipe 14 is fixedly connected to the top of the printing nozzle body 1. The top of the material control board 4 is fixedly connected with a circulation pipeline 15, and the bottom end of the circulation pipeline 15 is inserted into the inner wall of the flow-through groove 11. A partition plate 16 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the circulation pipeline 15. Sealing boxes 17 are fixedly connected to both ends of the circulation pipeline 15. A micro electric telescopic rod 18 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the sealing box 17. A baffle 19 is installed at the output end of the micro electric telescopic rod 18, and the surface of the baffle 19 is inserted into the inner wall of the circulation pipeline 15. An inlet pipe 20 is fixedly connected to the surface of the circulation pipeline 15. The top end of the inlet pipe 20 is fixedly connected with a storage bin 21. A liquid adding pipe 22 is fixedly connected to the top of the storage bin 21. A sealing partition 23 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the storage bin 21. A first pump body 24 is fixedly connected to one side below the sealing partition 23 on the inner wall of the storage bin 21. A first suction pipe 25 is installed at the input end of the first pump body 24, and the output end of the first pump body 24 is installed at the top end of the inlet pipe 20. A second pump body 26 is fixedly connected to the other side below the sealing partition 23 on the inner wall of the storage bin 21. A second suction pipe 27 is installed at the input end of the second pump body 26, and the bottom end of the second suction pipe 27 is fixedly connected to the surface of the circulation pipeline 15. The output end of the second pump body 26 is installed with a recovery pipe 28, and the top end of the recovery pipe 28 penetrates and is inserted into the top of the sealing partition 23.

[0038] In use, the material control board 4 is connected to the circulation pipeline 15 through the circulation groove 11 to form a closed-loop cleaning system; the partition board 16 divides the circulation pipeline 15 into different functional areas, one side is responsible for cleaning and the other side is responsible for recycling, and the micro electric telescopic rod 18 drives the baffle 19 to adjust the fluid path to ensure the directional flow of the cleaning agent. The storage bin 21 is divided into a cleaning agent storage area and a recycling area by the sealing partition board 23. The first pump body 24 pumps the cleaning agent into the inlet pipe 20 through the first suction pipe 25 and injects it into the circulation groove 11 for efficient cleaning; the second pump body 26 then pumps the waste liquid after cleaning back to the upper layer of the storage bin 21 through the second suction pipe 27, and realizes purification and recycling through the recycling pipe 28. The installation pipe 12 and the addition pipe 13 are used to supplement new materials, and the discharge pipe 14 ensures the accurate output of the printing material.

[0039] Embodiment Three:

[0040] Please refer to Figures 1 to 6 As shown, in the field of biomedical, drug screening requires a highly precise microfluidic chip to simulate the human microenvironment to achieve high-throughput and low-cost drug testing. The manufacturing process of traditional microfluidic chips is complex and it is difficult to achieve precise integration of multiple materials and multiple channels. This application is a printing nozzle device based on a microfluidic chip, which can directly print a microfluidic chip with a complex structure through high-precision fluid control and self-cleaning function, significantly improving the drug screening efficiency.

[0041] According to the drug screening requirements, design a microfluidic chip structure with multiple channels and multiple reaction zones.

[0042] Inject biocompatible materials (such as hydrogel, polymer solution) into the storage bin 21 through the addition pipe 13 and supplement the cleaning agent through the liquid adding pipe 22.

[0043] Start the device. The air pump 8 adjusts the flexible membrane 10 to dynamically adjust the opening and closing according to a preset program through the injection pipe 6 and the exhaust pipe 9, controls the distribution path of the material in the circulation groove 11, and ensures the accurate deposition of multi-channel materials.

[0044] The printing nozzle body 1 outputs the material through the discharge pipe 14 and gradually constructs the complex structure of the microfluidic chip (such as blood vessel network, reaction chamber).

[0045] After completing the printing of one material, start the closed-loop cleaning system:

[0046] The first pump body 24 injects the cleaning agent into the circulation groove 11 to dissolve the residual material;

[0047] The second pump body 26 recovers the waste liquid to the upper layer of the storage bin 21 through the second suction pipe 27 and circulates it after purification;

[0048] The micro electric telescopic rod 18 drives the baffle 19 to switch the path of the circulation pipeline 15 to ensure thorough cleaning.

[0049] Switch to another biological material (such as cell culture medium) through the installation pipe 12 and continue to print the next functional layer.

[0050] The printed microfluidic chip can be directly used for drug screening experiments. Its precise channel structure and material distribution can simulate the real biological environment and improve the test reliability.

[0051] The closed-loop cleaning system avoids cross-contamination and is especially suitable for high-throughput screening of multiple batches and multiple drugs.

[0052] Working principle: The printing nozzle body 1 serves as the core support structure. The fluid control board 2, the connection control board 3, and the material control board 4 are sequentially integrated above it to form a complete fluid path; multiple groups of connection grooves 5 are opened inside the fluid control board 2 and are connected to the injection pipe 6. The air pump 8 generates elastic deformation of the flexible membrane 10 in the connection control board 3 through the exhaust pipe 9 under the action of air pressure, dynamically adjusting the opening and closing degree of the connection groove to achieve precise on-off control of different fluid channels; the flow groove 11 of the material control board 4 works in coordination with the flexible membrane 10 to ensure that the materials are evenly distributed and then output to the printing nozzle through the discharge pipe 14 to complete deposition; when it is necessary to switch materials or clean, the closed-loop system composed of the circulation pipeline 15 and the storage bin 21 starts to work. The partition plate 16 divides the circulation pipeline 15 into a cleaning area and a recycling area. The first pump body 24 pumps the cleaning agent in the lower layer of the storage bin 21 into the inlet pipe 20 through the first suction pipe 25 and injects it into the flow groove 11 for flushing. At the same time, the micro electric telescopic rod 18 drives the baffle 19 to adjust the pipeline flow direction; the waste liquid after cleaning is pumped back to the upper layer of the storage bin 21 by the second pump body 26 through the second suction pipe 27 and can be recycled after being filtered by the recycling pipe 28; during the whole process, the sealing partition plate 23 ensures strict separation of the cleaning agent and the recycled liquid, and the installation pipe 12 and the addition pipe 13 support the rapid replenishment of new materials; this integrated design not only ensures the printing accuracy at the micron level but also realizes long-term stable operation through automatic cleaning and maintenance, and is especially suitable for the complex structure manufacturing requirements in fields such as biomedicine and microelectronics.

[0053] All standard parts used in the present invention can be purchased from the market. Special-shaped parts can be customized according to the description in the specification and the drawings. The specific connection methods of each part all adopt conventional means such as bolts, rivets, and welding that are mature in the prior art. The machines, parts, and equipment all adopt conventional models in the prior art. In addition, the circuit connection adopts the conventional connection method in the prior art, which will not be elaborated here. The content not described in detail in this specification belongs to the prior art well-known to those skilled in the art.

[0054] In the description of the present invention, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features. The meaning of "a plurality" is two or more, unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0055] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, terms such as "mounted", "connected", "coupled", "fixed", etc. shall be construed in a broad sense. For example, it may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; it may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it may be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it may be the internal communication of two components or the interaction relationship between two components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0056] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the first feature being "on" or "under" the second feature may be that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "over" and "on top of" the second feature may be that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or merely indicates that the first feature has a higher horizontal height than the second feature. The first feature being "under", "below" and "beneath" the second feature may be that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or merely indicates that the first feature has a lower horizontal height than the second feature.

[0057] In the description of this specification, the descriptions with reference to terms such as "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example" or "some examples" etc. mean that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic descriptions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0058] In the attached drawings of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention, only the structures related to the disclosed embodiments are involved, and other structures can refer to the general design. Without conflict, the same embodiment and different embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0059] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A printing nozzle device based on a microfluidic chip, characterized in that: include: Print head body (1); A fluid control plate (2) is arranged above the print head body (1), a connection control plate (3) is fixedly connected to the top of the fluid control plate (2), and a material control plate (4) is fixedly connected to the top of the connection control plate (3); The inner wall of the fluid control plate (2) is provided with a plurality of connection grooves (5), one end of the connection groove (5) is plugged with an injection pipe (6), one end of the injection pipe (6) is fixedly connected with a sleeve frame (7), the inner wall of the sleeve frame (7) is fixedly connected with an air pump (8), an exhaust pipe (9) is installed at the output end of the air pump (8), and the front end of the exhaust pipe (9) is plugged with the inner wall of the injection pipe (6); The inner wall of the connection control plate (3) is provided with a connection groove, the inner wall of the connection groove is fixedly connected with a flexible membrane (10), and the bottom end of the connection groove is fixedly connected to the top end of the connection groove (5); A flow groove (11) is formed through the inner wall of the material control plate (4), and the top of the flexible membrane (10) overlaps the surface of the flow groove (11).

2. A print head device based on a microfluidic chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: One side of the material control plate (4) is located at one end of the circulation slot (11) and is fixedly connected to a mounting tube (12), the front end of the mounting tube (12) is sleeved with an addition tube (13), and the other side of the material control plate (4) is located at the other end of the circulation slot (11) and is fixedly connected to a discharge tube (14), and the bottom end of the discharge tube (14) is fixedly connected to the top of the print head body (1).

3. A print head device based on a microfluidic chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the material control panel (4) is fixedly connected to a circulation pipe (15), and the bottom end of the circulation pipe (15) is plugged into the inner wall of the circulation slot (11), and the inner wall of the circulation pipe (15) is fixedly connected to a partition plate (16).

4. A print head device based on a microfluidic chip according to claim 3, characterized in that: Both ends of the circulation pipe (15) are fixedly connected to a sealing box (17), the inner wall of the sealing box (17) is fixedly connected to a micro electric telescopic rod (18), the output end of the micro electric telescopic rod (18) is installed with a baffle (19), and the surface of the baffle (19) is plugged into the inner wall of the circulation pipe (15).

5. A print head device based on a microfluidic chip according to claim 3, characterized in that: The surface of the circulation pipe (15) is fixedly connected with an inlet pipe (20), the top of the inlet pipe (20) is fixedly connected with a storage bin (21), the top of the storage bin (21) is fixedly connected with a liquid adding pipe (22), and the inner wall of the storage bin (21) is fixedly connected with a sealing partition (23).

6. A printing nozzle device based on a microfluidic chip according to claim 5, characterized in that: A first pump body (24) is fixedly connected to one side of the inner wall of the storage bin (21) below the sealing partition (23); a first suction pipe (25) is installed at the input end of the first pump body (24), and an output end of the first pump body (24) is installed at the top end of the inlet pipe (20).

7. A print head device based on a microfluidic chip according to claim 5, characterized in that: The inner wall of the storage bin (21) is located below the other side of the sealing baffle (23) and is fixedly connected to a second pump body (26); a second suction pipe (27) is installed at the input end of the second pump body (26), and the bottom end of the second suction pipe (27) is fixedly connected to the surface of the circulation pipe (15); a recovery pipe (28) is installed at the output end of the second pump body (26), and the top end of the recovery pipe (28) is inserted through the top of the sealing baffle (23).

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