Liquid inlet head stabilization protection device and cell detector

Abstract

The utility model discloses a liquid inlet head stabilization protection device and a cell detector, the liquid inlet head stabilization protection device comprises a base plate, a fixing frame and a limiting head, the base plate is used to support a microfluidic chip; the fixing frame is fixed to the base plate and is arranged to avoid the microfluidic chip supported on the base plate; the limiting head is installed on the fixing frame, the limiting head is provided with a through hole connected to the liquid inlet tube of the microfluidic chip, the through hole is used to limit the suction tip of the pipette inserted therein to abut against the liquid inlet tube. The liquid inlet head stabilization protection device of the utility model can protect the liquid inlet tube through the fixing frame, the limiting head and the collar, reducing the possibility of deformation and position displacement under the pressure of the suction tip, thereby avoiding the dripping of the cell suspension as much as possible, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the experiment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of cell detection, and in particular relates to a liquid inlet head stabilizing protection device and a cell detector. Background Art

[0002] In cell biology research experiments, it is necessary to detect the concentration (quantitative counting) of cells or other biological particles. The concentration of cell suspension is not only a monitoring parameter for cell culture, but also a necessary parameter in many experimental projects, which affects the successful completion of biological research experiments.

[0003] Cell detectors usually use the Coulter principle to detect the cell concentration in a cell suspension. During the detection process, the cell suspension to be detected is first sucked up by a pipette, and then the cell suspension is dripped into the microfluidic chip, so that the cell suspension flows through the flow channel of the microfluidic chip, and current is applied on both sides of the flow channel to count the number of cells in the cell suspension.

[0004] Reference Figure 1 In the prior art, the automated pipette sucks the cell suspension through the pipette tip and moves it to the top of the microfluidic chip. A liquid inlet tube is provided above the microfluidic chip (see Figure 1 The automatic pipette inserts the pipette tip into the liquid inlet tube to complete the delivery of the cell suspension. In actual work, after the pipette tip is inserted into the liquid inlet tube, the pipette tip exerts a certain squeezing force on the liquid inlet tube, which may eventually cause the liquid inlet tube of the microfluidic chip to produce a certain deformation or offset, affecting the normal delivery of the cell suspension. If the cell suspension leaks and is not discovered in time, it may also affect the experimental results.

[0005] Therefore, in view of the above technical problems, it is necessary to provide a liquid inlet head stabilization protection device and a cell detector.

[0006] The information disclosed in this background technology section is only intended to increase the understanding of the overall background of the present invention, and should not be regarded as acknowledging or suggesting in any form that the information constitutes the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0007] The utility model aims to provide a liquid inlet head stabilization protection device and a cell detector, which can solve the technical problem that the liquid inlet tube on the microfluidic chip is deformed or offset, and finally affects the normal delivery of the cell suspension.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the utility model discloses a liquid inlet head stabilization protection device and a cell detector.

[0009] In the first aspect, the utility model discloses a liquid inlet head stabilization protection device. A specific embodiment of the liquid inlet head stabilization protection device provides a technical solution as follows:

[0010] A liquid inlet head stabilization protection device comprises a base plate, a fixing frame and a limit head, wherein the base plate is used to support a microfluidic chip; the fixing frame is fixed to the base plate and is arranged to avoid the microfluidic chip supported on the base plate; the limit head is installed on the fixing frame, and the limit head is provided with a through hole which is in liquid communication with a liquid inlet tube of the microfluidic chip, and the through hole is used to limit the pipette tip inserted therein to abut against the liquid inlet tube.

[0011] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the through hole is coaxially arranged with the liquid inlet tube of the microfluidic chip, and the aperture of the through hole is set so that the liquid inlet tube can receive the front end portion of the suction tip inserted in the through hole.

[0012] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, when the pipette tip of the pipette is inserted into the through hole, the outer side wall of the pipette tip abuts against the through hole.

[0013] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the liquid inlet head stabilization protection device also includes a ring, and the limit head is also provided with an installation groove connected to the through hole, the ring is fixed in the installation groove and is sleeved on the circumference of the liquid inlet pipe, and the ring is coaxially arranged with the through hole.

[0014] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, a clamping portion is provided on the outer peripheral side of the collar, a recessed portion is provided at the mounting groove, and the clamping portion is clamped in the recessed portion.

[0015] In one or more embodiments of the present utility model, the clamping portion is configured as a clamping ring, the recessed portion is configured as a groove corresponding to the shape of the clamping ring, and the clamping ring is clamped in the groove.

[0016] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the fixed frame includes multiple groups of vertical frames and horizontal frames fixedly connected to each other, the vertical frame is located on the side of the microfluidic chip, the vertical frame is fixedly connected to the bottom plate, the horizontal frame is fixedly connected to one end of the vertical frame away from the bottom plate, and the limit head is fixed to a side of the horizontal frame away from the vertical frame.

[0017] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, a structural reinforcement portion is provided at the inner corner where the horizontal frame is connected to the vertical frame.

[0018] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, an inclined surface is provided at one end of the limiting head away from the fixing frame, and the inclined surface is used to guide the sealing device to move horizontally to seal the through hole.

[0019] In a second aspect, the utility model discloses a cell detector. A specific embodiment of the cell detector provides the following technical solution:

[0020] A cell detector comprises the above-mentioned liquid inlet head stabilizing and protecting device.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the liquid inlet head stabilization protection device of the utility model can protect the liquid inlet tube through the fixing frame, the limiting head and the collar, reducing the possibility of deformation of the liquid inlet tube under the pressure of the suction head. At the same time, the collar can also limit the liquid inlet tube, reducing the possibility of position deviation of the liquid inlet tube, thereby avoiding the leakage of the cell suspension as much as possible, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the experiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in the utility model. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0023] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a microfluidic chip involved in the prior art;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid inlet head stabilization protection device in one embodiment of the utility model;

[0025] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure after the microfluidic chip is installed in the liquid inlet head stabilization protection device in one embodiment of the utility model.

[0026] Figure 4 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a liquid inlet head stabilizing protection device in one embodiment of the utility model.

[0027] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged schematic diagram at point A in the middle.

[0028] Description of main reference numerals:

[0029] 1. Bottom plate; 11. Avoidance groove; 2. Fixed frame; 21. Vertical frame; 22. Horizontal frame; 23. Structural reinforcement part; 3. Limiting head; 31. Through hole; 32. Mounting groove; 33. Concave part; 4. Ring; 41. Clamping part. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in the present invention, the following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] The utility model discloses a liquid inlet head stabilization protection device and a cell detector.

[0032] First, refer to Figure 2 An embodiment of the utility model discloses a liquid inlet head stabilization protection device including a bottom plate 1, a fixing frame 2, a limiting head 3 and a collar 4.

[0033] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 The bottom plate 1 is used to support the microfluidic chip. The fixing frame 2 is fixed on the bottom plate 1 and is arranged to avoid the microfluidic chip supported on the bottom plate 1. The fixing frame 2 can be fixedly connected to the bottom plate 1 by screws. The limit head 3 is installed on the fixing frame 2, and the limit head 3 is provided with a through hole 31 that is connected to the liquid inlet pipe of the microfluidic chip. The through hole 31 is used to limit the pipette tip inserted therein to abut against the liquid inlet pipe.

[0034] After the pipette tip absorbs the cell suspension, the pipette tip is first controlled to move above the through hole 31, and then the pipette tip is controlled to move downward, so that the liquid in the pipette tip flows into the liquid inlet tube through the through hole 31. Among them, since the through hole 31 can limit the contact between the pipette tip and the liquid inlet tube, it is possible to avoid the squeezing force on the liquid inlet tube when the pipette tip moves downward, thereby avoiding the deformation of the liquid inlet tube. If the liquid inlet tube is deformed, the cell suspension may not be able to effectively enter the flow channel of the microfluidic chip, affecting the detection result of the concentration value of the cell suspension. The through hole 31 of the limit head 3 in this embodiment can effectively reduce the occurrence of the above-mentioned adverse conditions.

[0035] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, the through hole 31 is coaxially arranged with the liquid inlet tube of the microfluidic chip, and the aperture of the through hole 31 is set so that the liquid inlet tube can receive the front end portion of the suction tip inserted into the through hole 31. It should be noted that the front end portion of the suction tip involved in this embodiment can be the entire vertebral body of the suction tip, or it can be a part of the spiked end of the vertebral body. When the suction tip of the pipette is inserted into the through hole 31, the outer side wall of the suction tip of the pipette abuts against the through hole 31. Therefore, at this time, the through hole 31 can limit the suction tip from continuing to move in the direction close to the liquid inlet tube, thereby avoiding the suction tip from abutting against the liquid inlet tube to ensure that the suction tip does not squeeze the liquid inlet tube.

[0036] Reference Figure 4 The fixed frame 2 includes a plurality of sets of vertical frames 21 and horizontal frames 22 fixedly connected to each other, the vertical frames 21 are located at the side of the microfluidic chip, the vertical frames 21 are fixedly connected to the bottom plate 1, the horizontal frames 22 are fixedly connected to one end of the vertical frames 21 away from the bottom plate 1, and the limiter 3 is fixed to the side of the horizontal frame 22 away from the vertical frame 21. In this embodiment, the horizontal frame 22 and the vertical frame 21 can be integrally formed and fixedly connected, and the angle between the horizontal frame 22 and the vertical frame 21 is 90 degrees. In other embodiments, the angle between the horizontal frame 22 and the vertical frame 21 can also be other angles.

[0037] Reference Figure 4 In order to improve the bearing strength of the fixing frame 2, a structural reinforcement portion 23 is provided at the inner corner where the horizontal frame 22 and the vertical frame 21 are connected. In this embodiment, the structural reinforcement portion 23 is formed by thickening the inner corner where the horizontal frame 22 and the vertical frame 21 are connected. In other embodiments, a support rod or other structure may also be provided at the inner corner where the horizontal frame 22 and the vertical frame 21 are connected.

[0038] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 , in order to further reduce the problem of deformation or position deviation of the liquid inlet tube. In this embodiment, the limit head 3 is also provided with a mounting groove 32 connected to the through hole 31, and the collar 4 is fixed in the mounting groove 32, and is sleeved on the peripheral side of the liquid inlet tube (not shown in the figure), and the collar 4 is coaxially arranged with the through hole 31. The collar 4 is fixed in the limit head 3 to reduce the possibility of its own shaking. Therefore, the collar 4 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the liquid inlet tube to limit the possible shaking of the liquid inlet tube, so as to ensure that the suction head is accurately aligned with the liquid inlet tube to ensure the stability of the cell suspension delivery. At the same time, under the protection of the collar 4, the possibility of deformation of the liquid inlet tube is further reduced, thereby ensuring the smooth delivery of the cell suspension. In this embodiment, the collar 4 is made of elastic material, which can effectively tighten the liquid inlet tube, thereby filling the gap between the liquid inlet tube and the limit head 3 to ensure sealing, and further reducing the possibility of cell suspension dripping.

[0039] Reference Figure 5 The outer peripheral side of the collar 4 is provided with a clamping portion 41, and the mounting groove 32 is provided with a recessed portion 33, and the clamping portion 41 is clamped in the recessed portion 33. Specifically, the clamping portion 41 is provided as a clamping ring, and the recessed portion 33 is provided as a groove corresponding to the shape of the clamping ring, and the clamping ring is clamped in the groove. After the clamping ring is clamped in the groove, the movement of the collar 4 can be effectively restricted, and the movement of the liquid inlet head can be further restricted.

[0040] It is understandable that in other embodiments, the clamping portion 41 may also be configured as a plurality of clamping blocks, and the recessed portion 33 may be configured with a plurality of grooves corresponding to the shape of the clamping blocks. The above method can also effectively achieve the limiting fixation of the collar 4.

[0041] Reference Figure 5 In an optional embodiment, an end of the stopper head 3 away from the fixing frame 2 is provided with an inclined surface, and the inclined surface is used to guide the sealing device to move horizontally to seal the through hole 31. The sealing device is provided with a sealing head, and when the sealing head moves horizontally, the inclined surface of the stopper head 3 can guide the sealing head to generate a downward component force, thereby sealing the through hole 31. When it is not necessary to inject a cell suspension into the microfluidic chip, the sealing device seals the through hole 31; when it is necessary to inject a cell suspension into the microfluidic chip, the sealing device is away from the through hole 31, and the pipette injects the cell suspension into the liquid inlet head.

[0042] For example, Figure 5 Taking the viewing direction as an example, the sealing device is arranged on the right side of the limit head 3 , and the sealing head of the sealing device moves from right to left until it abuts against the inclined surface of the limit head 3 , thereby completing the sealing of the through hole 31 .

[0043] It can be understood that in other embodiments, if the limit head 3 is not provided with an inclined surface but is provided with a flat surface, a vertically movable sealing device can also be selected to seal the limit head 3 accordingly.

[0044] Reference Figure 4 In an optional embodiment, the bottom plate 1 is provided with an avoidance groove 11 for electrical connection of the microfluidic chip. Since the microfluidic chip applies current on both sides of its flow channel, the setting of the avoidance groove 11 facilitates the electrical connection between the microfluidic chip and the external power supply.

[0045] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the utility model discloses a cell detector including the above-mentioned liquid inlet head stabilization protection device, a pipette and a sealing device.

[0046] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 3 The microfluidic chip is installed in a stable protection device. The pipette includes a manipulator and a tip. After the tip absorbs the cell suspension, the manipulator controls the tip to move above the liquid inlet tube, and then moves downward to insert the tip into the through hole 31 of the limit head 3. The through hole 31 can limit the contact between the tip and the liquid inlet tube, thereby reducing the possibility of deformation or position displacement of the liquid inlet tube, and further reducing the possibility of cell suspension dripping, thereby ensuring the experimental results.

[0047] The sealing device includes a moving component and a sealing head, and the moving component drives the sealing head to approach or move away from the through hole 31 of the limit head 3. When the pipette inputs the cell suspension into the microfluidic chip, the moving component drives the sealing head away from the limit head 3; when the liquid is applied, the pipette moves away from the limit head 3, and the moving component drives the sealing head to approach the limit head 3 to seal the through hole 31, thereby reducing the possibility of other impurities in the air entering the microfluidic chip from the liquid inlet pipe, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the experiment. Among them, since the moving component is a prior art, it only needs to drive the sealing head to move, so the specific structure of the moving component is not described here.

[0048] It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be regarded as exemplary and non-restrictive from any point of view, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the above description, and it is intended that all changes falling within the meaning and scope of the equivalent elements of the claims be included in the present invention. Any reference numeral in a claim should not be regarded as limiting the claim to which it relates.

[0049] In addition, it should be understood that although the present specification is described according to implementation modes, not every implementation mode contains only one independent technical solution. This description of the specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment may also be appropriately combined to form other implementation modes that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A liquid inlet head stabilization protection device, characterized in that: include: A bottom plate (1), used for supporting the microfluidic chip; A fixing frame (2) is fixed on the base plate (1) and is arranged to avoid the microfluidic chip supported on the base plate (1); and A limit head (3) is mounted on the fixing frame (2), and the limit head (3) is provided with a through hole (31) which is in liquid communication with the liquid inlet tube of the microfluidic chip, and the through hole (31) is used to limit the pipette tip inserted therein to abut against the liquid inlet tube.

2. The liquid inlet head stabilization protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The through hole (31) is coaxially arranged with the liquid inlet tube of the microfluidic chip, and the aperture of the through hole (31) is arranged so that the liquid inlet tube can receive the front end portion of the suction tip inserted into the through hole (31).

3. The liquid inlet head stabilization protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the pipette tip of the pipette is inserted into the through hole (31), the outer side wall of the pipette tip abuts against the through hole (31).

4. The liquid inlet head stabilization protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The invention also comprises a collar (4), the limit head (3) is further provided with a mounting groove (32) communicating with the through hole (31), the collar (4) is fixed in the mounting groove (32) and sleeved on the circumference of the liquid inlet pipe, and the collar (4) is coaxially arranged with the through hole (31).

5. The liquid inlet head stabilization protection device according to claim 4, characterized in that: A clamping portion (41) is provided on the outer peripheral side of the collar (4), a recessed portion (33) is provided at the installation groove (32), and the clamping portion (41) is clamped in the recessed portion (33).

6. The liquid inlet head stabilization protection device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The clamping portion (41) is configured as a clamping ring, the recessed portion (33) is configured as a groove corresponding to the shape of the clamping ring, and the clamping ring is clamped in the groove.

7. The liquid inlet head stabilization and protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixed frame (2) comprises a plurality of groups of vertical frames (21) and horizontal frames (22) fixedly connected to each other, the vertical frames (21) being located at the side of the microfluidic chip, the vertical frames (21) being fixedly connected to the bottom plate (1), the horizontal frames (22) being fixedly connected to one end of the vertical frames (21) away from the bottom plate (1), and the limit head (3) being fixed to one side of the horizontal frame (22) away from the vertical frame (21).

8. The liquid inlet head stabilization and protection device according to claim 7, characterized in that: A structural reinforcement portion (23) is provided at the inner corner where the horizontal frame (22) is connected to the vertical frame (21).

9. The liquid inlet head stabilization and protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: An inclined surface is provided at one end of the limit head (3) away from the fixing frame (2), and the inclined surface is used to guide the sealing device to move horizontally to seal the through hole (31).

10. A cell detector, characterized in that: It comprises a liquid inlet head stabilizing and protecting device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images