Microfluidic device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a micro-fluidic device. The micro-fluidic device comprises a micro-fluidic chip and a fluid driving mechanism, the micro-fluidic chip comprises a chip body, the chip body comprises an oil injection hole, a sample hole and a waste liquid hole, a micro-droplet tiling area is arranged between the sample hole and the waste liquid hole, the oil injection hole and the sample hole are both communicated with an inlet of the micro-droplet tiling area, and the waste liquid hole is communicated with an outlet of the micro-droplet tiling area; the fluid driving mechanism comprises an oil pump, a sample pump and a vacuum pump, the oil pump injects generated oil through the oil injection hole, the sample pump injects a sample through the sample hole, and the vacuum pump vacuumizes through the waste liquid hole. Pre-filling oil is added into the oil filling hole and the sample hole, then the vacuum pump is used for vacuumizing the micro-fluidic chip through the waste liquid hole, so that the pre-filling oil flows into and fills the interior of the chip to complete pre-filling, and then a sample and generated oil are added to generate micro-droplets under the driving of a certain pressure. The stability of the driving pressure in the micro-droplet generation process is improved in a pre-perfusion mode, so that the generated micro-droplets are kept uniform, and the detection accuracy is effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of digital PCR, in particular to a microfluidic device. Background Art

[0002] The basic experimental steps of digital PCR include reaction system segmentation, PCR amplification, detection and analysis. In droplet digital PCR, oil-in-water droplets are used to achieve the segmentation of the reaction system. The more uniform the droplet generation is, the more conducive it is to the uniformity of the reaction system segmentation. The more uniform the droplet generation is, the better. The generation of digital PCR droplets is generally achieved through a microfluidic chip, which generally includes an oil hole, a sample hole and a waste liquid hole. The oil hole and the sample hole are driven by air pressure to make the oil and sample flow. Under a stable and appropriate flow rate, uniform droplets of fixed size will be generated. Unstable flow will cause the inhomogeneity of droplets, so it is very important to maintain the stability of the flow rate. In the process of droplet generation, there are many factors that affect the flow of oil and samples, such as unstable air pressure drive, changes in the viscosity of oil or samples, and changes in flow resistance during droplet generation. Among them, the change in flow resistance during droplet generation will significantly cause the size of droplets to be uneven. One of the important reasons for the change in flow resistance is the switching of mobile phase.

[0003] In the prior art microfluidic device, microdroplets are generated after the oil injection hole and the sample hole are pressurized. However, the flow rates of the oil injection hole and the sample hole change when the microdroplets are generated, thereby making the droplets generated subsequently very non-uniform.

[0004] Therefore, the prior art still needs to be improved and developed. Utility Model Content

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the utility model is that, in view of the above-mentioned defects of the prior art, a microfluidic device is provided, so that the generated droplets are kept uniform, thereby effectively improving the accuracy of detection.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by the utility model to solve the technical problem is as follows:

[0007] A microfluidic device comprising:

[0008] Microfluidic chips and fluid drive mechanisms;

[0009] The microfluidic chip comprises a chip body, the chip body comprises an oil injection hole, a sample hole and a waste liquid hole, a droplet tiling area is arranged between the sample hole and the waste liquid hole, the oil injection hole and the sample hole are both connected to the inlet of the droplet tiling area, and the waste liquid hole is connected to the outlet of the droplet tiling area;

[0010] The fluid driving mechanism comprises an oil pump, a sample pump and a vacuum pump. The oil pump injects generated oil through the oil injection hole, the sample pump injects the sample through the sample hole, and the vacuum pump draws a vacuum through the waste liquid hole.

[0011] Preferably, it further comprises a connector plate, on which a plurality of connectors connected to the oil pump, the sample pump and the vacuum pump are arranged.

[0012] Preferably, the oil pump, sample pump and vacuum pump are all connected to the connector via a hose.

[0013] Preferably, it also includes a screw rod, and the connector plate is fixedly mounted on the action end of the screw rod.

[0014] Preferably, the connector plate is provided with a through hole communicating with the connector.

[0015] Preferably, two of the oil injection holes, sample holes and waste liquid holes are provided.

[0016] Preferably, the droplet paving area is provided with a serpentine flow channel.

[0017] Preferably, the oil injection hole and the sample hole are injected with pre-injected oil.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the microfluidic device provided by the utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] Pre-infusion oil is added to the oil injection hole and sample hole, and then a vacuum pump is used to evacuate the microfluidic chip at the waste liquid hole, so that the pre-infusion oil flows into and fills the inside of the chip to complete the pre-infusion. Then, the sample and generated oil are added to generate droplets under a certain pressure. The pre-infusion method improves the stability of the driving pressure during the droplet generation process, so that the generated droplets remain uniform, which effectively improves the accuracy of the detection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the scheme of the present application, a brief introduction is given below to the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0021] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a microfluidic device of the utility model.

[0022] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a microfluidic device of the utility model.

[0023] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of a connector plate in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 of a microfluidic device of the utility model.

[0024] Figure 4 It is a stereoscopic diagram of a microfluidic chip in an embodiment of a microfluidic device of the utility model.

[0025] Figure 5 It is a left view of a microfluidic chip in an embodiment of a microfluidic device of the utility model.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a diagram of the effect of droplets generated by the microfluidic device of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by technicians in the technical field of this application; the terms used in the specification of the application herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application; the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. The terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of this application or the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order.

[0028] Reference to "embodiments" herein means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of the phrase in various locations in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It is explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0029] The present invention provides a microfluidic device. Figures 1 to 5 As shown, it includes: a microfluidic chip 100 and a fluid driving mechanism 200; the microfluidic chip 100 includes a chip body 101, the chip body 101 includes an oil injection hole 111, a sample hole 121 and a waste liquid hole 131, a droplet tiling area 102 is arranged between the sample hole 121 and the waste liquid hole 131, the oil injection hole 111 and the sample hole 121 are both connected to the inlet of the droplet tiling area 102, and the waste liquid hole 131 is connected to the outlet of the droplet tiling area 102; the fluid driving mechanism 200 includes an oil pump (not shown in the figure), a sample pump (not shown in the figure) and a vacuum pump (not shown in the figure), the oil pump injects generated oil through the oil injection hole 111, the sample pump injects a sample through the sample hole 121, and the vacuum pump evacuates through the waste liquid hole 131. The microfluidic device of the present application can be provided with multiple microfluidic chips 100 and fluid driving mechanisms 200, for example, 4 are provided.

[0030] In a specific implementation, the oil injection hole 111 and the sample hole 121 are injected with pre-injected oil.

[0031] The oil injection hole 111 and the sample hole 121 are driven by air pressure to make the oil and sample flow. At a stable and appropriate flow rate, uniform droplets of a fixed size will be generated. Unstable flow will cause uneven droplets, so it is very important to maintain a stable flow rate. The present application adds pre-injection oil to the oil injection hole 111 and the sample hole 121, and then applies negative pressure to the waste liquid hole 131 through a vacuum pump to make the pre-injection oil flow into and fill the chip to complete the pre-injection. Then, the sample and generated oil are added through the oil pump and the sample pump, and droplets are generated under a certain pressure drive. The generated droplets have the following effect: Figure 6 shown.

[0032] In a specific implementation, the fluid driving mechanism 200 further includes a connector plate 201 , on which a plurality of connectors 202 connected to an oil pump, a sample pump, and a vacuum pump are disposed.

[0033] In a specific implementation, the oil pump, sample pump and vacuum pump are all connected to the connector 202 via a hose.

[0034] In a specific implementation, a screw rod is also included, and the connector plate 201 is fixedly installed on the action end of the screw rod.

[0035] In a specific implementation, the connector plate 201 is provided with a through hole 203 communicating with the connector.

[0036] In a specific implementation, two of the oil filling hole 111 , the sample hole 121 and the waste liquid hole 131 are provided.

[0037] In specific implementation, the droplet paving area 102 is provided with a serpentine flow channel, and of course, it can also be any other chip that can divide the sample unit to form droplets. The microfluidic chip 100 of the present application includes but is not limited to a plastic chip.

[0038] The pre-injection oil and the droplet generation oil have the same or similar fluidity and surface tension, or the pre-injection oil and the generation oil are the same oil. The generation oil used for pre-injection includes but is not limited to fluorinated oil, silicone oil, paraffin oil, etc.

[0039] In summary, the utility model discloses a microfluidic device, including: a microfluidic chip and a fluid driving mechanism; the microfluidic chip includes a chip body, the chip body includes an oil injection hole, a sample hole and a waste liquid hole, a droplet tiling area is arranged between the sample hole and the waste liquid hole, the oil injection hole and the sample hole are both connected to the inlet of the droplet tiling area, and the waste liquid hole is connected to the outlet of the droplet tiling area; the fluid driving mechanism includes an oil pump, a sample pump and a vacuum pump, the oil pump injects generated oil through the oil injection hole, the sample pump injects a sample through the sample hole, and the vacuum pump vacuumizes through the waste liquid hole. The utility model adds pre-infusion oil to the oil injection hole and the sample hole, and then uses a vacuum pump to vacuumize the microfluidic chip at the waste liquid hole, so that the pre-infusion oil flows into and fills the inside of the chip, completes the pre-infusion, and then adds the sample and the generated oil to generate droplets under a certain pressure drive, and improves the stability of the driving pressure during the droplet generation process by the pre-infusion method, so that the generated droplets are kept uniform, which effectively improves the accuracy of the detection.

[0040] Obviously, the embodiments described above are only some embodiments of the present application, rather than all embodiments. The preferred embodiments of the present application are given in the accompanying drawings, but they do not limit the patent scope of the present application. The present application can be implemented in many different forms. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the understanding of the disclosure of the present application more thorough and comprehensive. Although the present application is described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, for those skilled in the art, it is still possible to modify the technical solutions recorded in the aforementioned specific implementation methods, or to perform equivalent replacement of some of the technical features therein. Any equivalent structure made using the contents of the specification and drawings of this application, directly or indirectly used in other related technical fields, is similarly within the scope of patent protection of this application.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device, characterized in that: include: Microfluidic chips and fluid drive mechanisms; The microfluidic chip comprises a chip body, the chip body comprises an oil injection hole, a sample hole and a waste liquid hole, a droplet tiling area is arranged between the sample hole and the waste liquid hole, the oil injection hole and the sample hole are both connected to the inlet of the droplet tiling area, and the waste liquid hole is connected to the outlet of the droplet tiling area; The fluid driving mechanism comprises an oil pump, a sample pump and a vacuum pump. The oil pump injects generated oil through the oil injection hole, the sample pump injects the sample through the sample hole, and the vacuum pump draws a vacuum through the waste liquid hole.

2. The microfluidic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a connector plate, on which a plurality of connectors connected to the oil pump, the sample pump, and the vacuum pump are arranged.

3. The microfluidic device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The oil pump, sample pump and vacuum pump are all connected to the joint through a hose.

4. The microfluidic device according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a screw rod, and the connector plate is fixedly installed on the action end of the screw rod.

5. The microfluidic device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The connector plate is provided with a through hole communicating with the connector.

6. The microfluidic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are two oil filling holes, two sample holes and two waste liquid holes.

7. The microfluidic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The droplet paving area is provided with a serpentine flow channel.

8. The microfluidic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The oil injection hole and the sample hole are injected with pre-injection oil.

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