Micro-fluidic chip and micro-fluidic module comprising same
By designing a microfluidic chip, the shape of the carrier chamber makes microorganisms respond to the microenvironment and selective separation is achieved through the movement of the communication holes, the problem of difficult to screen and separate microorganisms that respond to the microenvironment in the prior art is solved, and efficient screening and separation of microorganisms is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202421474482.X
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-25
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-04
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-06-25
AI Technical Summary
The prior art is difficult to effectively screen and selectively separate microorganisms that respond to the microenvironment.
A microfluidic chip is designed, including a slidable upper chip and a lower chip. The lower chip surface is provided with a liquid carrier chamber that is recessed inwardly. The walls of the chambers on both sides of the liquid carrier chamber are gradually narrowed and intersected at one point. The upper chip surface is provided with upper and lower communication holes, and the communication holes can be moved along the sliding direction of the microfluidic chip to achieve selective separation of microorganisms of different properties.
The shape of the carrier chamber allows microorganisms to respond to the microenvironment accordingly, and selective separation of microorganisms is achieved through the movement of the connecting holes, simplifying the screening and separation process.
Smart Images
Figure CN222709695U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of life science instruments, in particular to a microfluidic chip and a microfluidic module comprising the same. Background Art
[0002] The response of microorganisms to the microenvironment is a complex and diverse process involving multiple aspects, such as changes in cell membranes, regulation of metabolism, response to temperature changes, response to changes in pH, adaptation mechanisms, etc. Therefore, the response of microorganisms to the microenvironment involves changes in cell membranes, regulation of metabolism, coordination with other organisms, and adaptation mechanisms to environmental factors such as temperature and pH. These reactions and mechanisms enable microorganisms to survive and reproduce in various microenvironments.
[0003] Among them, quorum sensing is a bacterial communication mechanism that allows bacteria to coordinate their behavior by releasing and sensing compounds called signal molecules (also called autoinducers). At present, researchers have found that the gene expression of a variety of bacteria is interconnected with bacteria in their surrounding environment, and these genes regulate various processes including symbiosis, toxicity, antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation. At present, how to effectively and simply screen and selectively separate microorganisms that respond to the microenvironment has become the focus of research and development personnel. Utility Model Content
[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to overcome the defect in the prior art that it is difficult to screen and selectively separate microorganisms that respond to the microenvironment accordingly, and to provide a microfluidic chip and a microfluidic module containing the same.
[0005] The utility model solves the above technical problems through the following technical solutions:
[0006] A microfluidic chip, comprising an upper chip and a lower chip which are stacked and relatively slidable, wherein a surface of the lower chip facing the upper chip has an inwardly concave liquid-carrying chamber, and along a first direction in which the upper chip can slide relative to the lower chip, chamber walls on both sides of the liquid-carrying chamber gradually narrow and converge at a point, and a communicating hole which passes through the upper chip from top to bottom is provided on the surface of the upper chip, and along a vertical projection direction, the communicating hole is located within the range of the liquid-carrying chamber;
[0007] The microfluidic chip has a sample outlet, and the sample outlet is formed at the communicating hole.
[0008] The microfluidic chip is provided with an inwardly recessed liquid-carrying chamber on the surface of the lower chip facing the upper chip, so that the chamber walls on both sides of the liquid-carrying chamber gradually narrow and converge at a point, so that the microorganisms located in the liquid-carrying chamber can respond to the microenvironment in accordance with the shape of the liquid-carrying chamber, so that the microorganisms tending to a narrower space can be relatively concentrated at one end of the liquid-carrying chamber where the chamber narrows and converges at a point, and the microorganisms tending to a more open space can be relatively concentrated at the other end of the liquid-carrying chamber.
[0009] On this basis, a connecting hole that passes through the upper chip from top to bottom is arranged so that the connecting hole is located in the area where the liquid-carrying chamber is located, and the connecting hole can move along the sliding direction of the microfluidic chip, that is, the gradually narrowing direction of the liquid-carrying chamber, so that microorganisms with different properties (which respond differently to the microenvironment) can be selectively separated by moving the connecting hole to the corresponding area.
[0010] Preferably, the microfluidic chip further has an injection port, and the injection port is formed at the connecting hole.
[0011] By making the connecting hole also have the sampling function, a simpler sampling solution is provided.
[0012] Preferably, the communication hole is located at the center of the upper chip;
[0013] Preferably, the liquid-carrying chamber is located at the center of the lower chip.
[0014] By arranging the connecting hole at the central position of the upper chip and arranging the liquid-carrying chamber at the central position of the lower chip, the upper chip and the lower chip of the microfluidic chip can slide effectively.
[0015] Preferably, the liquid-carrying chamber further comprises a third side chamber wall surface respectively connected to the two side chamber walls, and the third side chamber wall surface is perpendicular to the first direction.
[0016] Preferably, the distance from the intersection of the two side chamber walls to the third side chamber wall is defined as L1, and the value range of the distance L1 is 1 mm to 20 cm;
[0017] Preferably, the length of the third side chamber wall is defined as L2, and the value range of the length L2 is 1 mm to 10 cm.
[0018] Preferably, the chamber depth of the liquid-carrying chamber is defined as D, and the value range of the chamber depth D is 10 μm to 1 cm.
[0019] Preferably, the included angle between the chamber walls on both sides of the liquid-carrying chamber is defined as α, and the value range of the included angle α is 5° to 60°.
[0020] Preferably, the radius of the connecting hole is defined as r, and the radius r ranges from 10 μm to 5 mm.
[0021] A microfluidic module comprises the microfluidic chip as described above, wherein the upper chip is transparent and further comprises an image acquisition unit, wherein the image acquisition unit is arranged above the upper chip, and a camera of the image acquisition unit is arranged toward the upper chip.
[0022] In the case where the microfluidic chip of the microfluidic module is transparent, an image acquisition unit is further arranged above the upper chip of the microfluidic chip. The camera of the image acquisition unit captures the image of the microfluidic chip to show the response of different microorganisms to the microenvironment in which they are located according to the shape of the liquid-carrying chamber.
[0023] Observation of microfluidic chips can be achieved through this automated method, which can simplify the observation process compared to the current manual observation method.
[0024] Preferably, the image acquisition unit has an image analysis function.
[0025] By providing the image acquisition unit with an image analysis function, it is possible to directly analyze the image of the microfluidic chip acquired by the camera to directly output the analysis results, thereby simplifying the process and reducing the number of devices required on site.
[0026] The positive and progressive effects of the utility model are:
[0027] The microfluidic chip and the microfluidic module including the same are configured with an inwardly recessed liquid-carrying chamber on the surface of the lower chip facing the upper chip, so that the chamber walls on both sides of the liquid-carrying chamber gradually narrow and converge at a point, so that the microorganisms located in the liquid-carrying chamber can respond to the microenvironment in accordance with the shape of the liquid-carrying chamber, so that the microorganisms tending to a narrower space can be relatively concentrated at one end of the liquid-carrying chamber where the chamber narrows and converges at a point, and the microorganisms tending to a more open space can be relatively concentrated at the other end of the liquid-carrying chamber.
[0028] By arranging a connecting hole that passes through the upper chip from top to bottom, the connecting hole is located in the area where the liquid-carrying chamber is located, and the connecting hole can move along the sliding direction of the microfluidic chip, that is, the gradually narrowing direction of the liquid-carrying chamber, so as to selectively separate microorganisms with different properties (which produce different responses to the microenvironment) by moving the connecting hole to the corresponding area. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] Figure 1 The schematic diagram is a structural diagram of an upper chip of a microfluidic chip according to an embodiment of the utility model.
[0030] Figure 2This is a schematic structural diagram of a lower chip of a microfluidic chip according to an embodiment of the utility model.
[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of a microfluidic chip according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the use status of the microfluidic chip according to one embodiment of the utility model (I).
[0033] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the use status of the microfluidic chip according to one embodiment of the utility model (II).
[0034] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the distribution relationship of microorganisms in the liquid-carrying chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the microfluidic chip in use according to one embodiment of the utility model (III).
[0036] Figure 8 This is a schematic structural diagram of a microfluidic module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] Fig. 9 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the dimensions of a liquid-carrying chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] Description of reference numerals:
[0039] Chip 100
[0040] Communication hole 101
[0041] Chip 200
[0042] Liquid-carrying chamber 201
[0043] Microbiology 300, 301, 302
[0044] Image acquisition unit 400
[0045] First direction A DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] A preferred embodiment is given below, and the present invention is described more clearly and completely in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0047] The utility model provides a microfluidic chip and a microfluidic module comprising the same, wherein the structure of the microfluidic chip is as follows Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, it includes an upper chip 100 and a lower chip 200 stacked up and down, the upper chip 100 is stacked on the upper side of the lower chip 200, and the upper chip 100 and the lower chip 200 can slide relative to each other.
[0048] like Figure 1 As shown, the upper chip 100 has a connecting hole 101 extending vertically therethrough. Figure 2 As shown, the upper surface of the lower chip 200 has an inwardly recessed liquid-carrying chamber 201. Along the first direction A of relative sliding of the upper chip 100 and the lower chip 200, the chamber walls on both sides of the liquid-carrying chamber 201 gradually narrow and converge at a point on the right.
[0049] At the same time, if Figure 3 As shown, it is a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the connecting hole 101 and the liquid-carrying chamber 201 after the upper chip 100 and the lower chip 200 are stacked. Since in this embodiment, the upper chip 100 and the lower chip 200 are both transparent, the specific situation in the liquid-carrying chamber 201 of the lower chip 200 below can be seen through the upper chip 100 above. Among them, along the vertical projection direction, the connecting hole 101 is located in the range of the liquid-carrying chamber 201, so that the sample outlet of the microfluidic chip is formed at the connecting hole 101, and the sample in the liquid-carrying chamber 201 is sampled at the connecting hole 101. Among them, after the microorganism 300 is placed in the liquid-carrying chamber 201, the microorganism 300 responds to the microenvironment in accordance with the shape of the liquid-carrying chamber 201, so that the microorganisms in the microorganism 300 that respond differently to the microenvironment can be separated.
[0050] The specific separation method is to slide the upper chip 100 relative to the lower chip 200 along the first direction A. Figure 4 As shown, by sliding the upper chip 100 to the right relative to the lower chip 200 along the first direction A, the connecting hole 101 moves to the right side of the liquid-carrying chamber 201, so as to separate the microorganisms on the right side of the liquid-carrying chamber 201 through the connecting hole 101. Figure 5 As shown, by sliding the upper chip 100 to the left relative to the lower chip 200 along the first direction A, the connecting hole 101 moves to the left side of the liquid-carrying chamber 201 , so as to separate the microorganisms on the left side of the liquid-carrying chamber 201 through the connecting hole 101 .
[0051] Therefore, by setting an inwardly recessed liquid-carrying chamber 201 on the surface of the lower chip 200 facing the upper chip 100, the chamber walls on both sides of the liquid-carrying chamber 201 are gradually narrowed and converge at one point, so that the microorganisms located in the liquid-carrying chamber 201 can respond accordingly to the microenvironment in accordance with the shape of the liquid-carrying chamber 201, so that the microorganisms tending to a narrower space can be relatively concentrated at one end of the liquid-carrying chamber 201 where it is narrowed and converges at one point, and the microorganisms tending to a more open space can be relatively concentrated at the other end of the liquid-carrying chamber 201.
[0052] On this basis, a connecting hole 101 that passes through the upper chip 100 from top to bottom is provided, so that the connecting hole 101 is located in the area where the liquid-carrying chamber 201 is located, and the connecting hole 101 can move along the sliding direction of the microfluidic chip, that is, the gradually narrowing direction of the liquid-carrying chamber 201, so as to selectively separate microorganisms with different properties (which produce different responses to the microenvironment) by moving the connecting hole 101 to the corresponding area.
[0053] Specifically, if Figure 6 As shown, the microorganisms 300 located in the liquid-carrying chamber 201 may include microorganisms 301 and microorganisms 302 that respond differently to the microenvironment. For example, the microorganism 301 can move in the liquid-carrying chamber 201 and tend to be more inclined to the narrow space, so it will move to the narrower end, that is, move to the right side of the liquid-carrying chamber 201. The microorganism 302 tends to be more inclined to the open space, so it will move to the more open end, that is, move to the left side of the liquid-carrying chamber 201. Therefore, by providing a gradually narrowing liquid-carrying chamber 201 at the lower chip 200 of the microfluidic chip, it is used to separate microorganisms that can respond differently to the microenvironment.
[0054] Specifically, if Figure 7 As shown, by sliding the upper chip 100 to the right, the communicating hole 101 is moved to the right side of the liquid-carrying chamber 201, so that the microorganisms 301 on the right side of the liquid-carrying chamber 201 are separated through the communicating hole 101, while the microorganisms 302 on the left side of the liquid-carrying chamber 201 are not affected. Conversely, by sliding the upper chip 100 to the left, the communicating hole 101 is moved to the left side of the liquid-carrying chamber 201, so that the microorganisms 302 on the left side of the liquid-carrying chamber 201 are separated through the communicating hole 101, thereby achieving the purpose of selectively separating microorganisms of different properties.
[0055] In this embodiment, the culture medium, buffer solution or water can be placed in the liquid-carrying chamber 201 of the lower chip 200 before the upper chip 100 and the lower chip 200 are assembled. Of course, in other embodiments, they can also be injected into the liquid-carrying chamber 201 through the connecting hole 101 after the upper chip 100 and the lower chip 200 are assembled. In this case, the connecting hole 101 also serves as the sample inlet and sample outlet of the microfluidic chip.
[0056] Further, such as Figure 8 As shown, the microfluidic module using the microfluidic chip further includes an image acquisition unit 400, which is arranged above the upper chip 100 (at Figure 8The setting position in the specification is only for illustration), and the camera of the image acquisition unit 400 is set toward the upper chip 100. In the case where the microfluidic chip is transparent, the microfluidic module further sets the image acquisition unit 400 above the upper chip 100 of the microfluidic chip, and the camera of the image acquisition unit 400 captures the image of the microfluidic chip to show the response of different microorganisms to the microenvironment in which they are located according to the shape of the liquid-carrying chamber 201.
[0057] Observation of microfluidic chips can be achieved through this automated method, which can simplify the observation process compared to the current manual observation method.
[0058] Furthermore, the image acquisition unit 400 used in this embodiment also has an image analysis function, so that the image of the microfluidic chip acquired by the camera can be directly analyzed to directly output the analysis result, so as to simplify the process and reduce the number of equipment required on site.
[0059] Among them, it should be clearly stated that the image acquisition unit 400 with image analysis function used in this embodiment belongs to the existing technology product. Therefore, the image capture principle of the camera of the image acquisition unit 400 and the principle of analyzing the image also belong to the scope of the existing technology and will not be elaborated here.
[0060] In addition, other structural features and size selection ranges of the microfluidic chip are further described below to provide a relatively preferred structural setting scheme and size value range.
[0061] Specifically, the liquid-carrying chamber 201 further has a third side chamber wall surface connected to the chamber walls on both sides respectively, and the third side chamber wall surface is perpendicular to the first direction A.
[0062] Among them, Fig. 9 As shown, the distance from the intersection of the two side chamber walls to the third side chamber wall is defined as L1, and the preferred value range of the distance L1 is 1 mm to 20 cm.
[0063] At the same time, the length of the third side chamber wall is defined as L2, and the preferred value range of the length L2 is 1 mm to 10 cm.
[0064] The included angle between the chamber walls on both sides of the liquid-carrying chamber 201 is defined as α, and the preferred value range of the included angle α is 5° to 60°.
[0065] Meanwhile, the chamber depth of the liquid-carrying chamber 201 is defined as D, and the preferred value range of the chamber depth D is 10 μm to 1 cm.
[0066] By restricting the size of the liquid-carrying chamber 201 of the microfluidic chip, a more efficient and flexible research system for the interaction between microorganisms and the environment can be achieved.
[0067] In addition, for the upper chip 100 , the radius of the communication hole 101 is defined as r, and the preferred value range of the radius r is 10 μm to 5 mm.
[0068] By constraining the size of the connecting hole 101 of the microfluidic chip, more efficient and flexible injection and recovery of samples / reagents can be achieved.
Claims
1. A microfluidic chip, characterized in that: It comprises an upper chip and a lower chip which are stacked and relatively slidable, a surface of the lower chip facing the upper chip having an inwardly concave liquid-carrying chamber, along a first direction in which the upper chip can slide relative to the lower chip, chamber walls on both sides of the liquid-carrying chamber gradually narrow and converge at a point, a communication hole which passes through from top to bottom is provided on the surface of the upper chip, and along the vertical projection direction, the communication hole is located within the range of the liquid-carrying chamber; The microfluidic chip has a sample outlet, and the sample outlet is formed at the communicating hole.
2. The microfluidic chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microfluidic chip also has an injection port, which is formed at the communicating hole.
3. The microfluidic chip according to claim 2, characterized in that: The communication hole is located at the center of the upper chip; And / or, the liquid-carrying chamber is located at a central position of the lower chip.
4. The microfluidic chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid-carrying chamber further comprises a third side chamber wall surface connected to the two side chamber walls respectively, and the third side chamber wall surface is perpendicular to the first direction.
5. The microfluidic chip according to claim 4, characterized in that: The distance from the intersection of the two side chamber walls to the third side chamber wall is defined as L1, and the value range of the distance L1 is 1 mm to 20 cm; And / or, define the length of the third side chamber wall as L2, and the value range of the length L2 is 1 mm to 10 cm.
6. The microfluidic chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The chamber depth of the liquid-carrying chamber is defined as D, and the value range of the chamber depth D is 10 μm to 1 cm.
7. The microfluidic chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The included angle of the chamber walls on both sides of the liquid-carrying chamber is defined as α, and the value range of the included angle α is 5° to 60°.
8. The microfluidic chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The radius of the connecting hole is defined as r, and the value range of the radius r is 10 μm to 5 mm.
9. A microfluidic module, characterized in that: It includes the microfluidic chip as described in any one of claims 1-8, the upper chip is transparent, and the microfluidic module also includes an image acquisition unit, which is arranged above the upper chip, and the camera of the image acquisition unit is arranged toward the upper chip.
10. The microfluidic module according to claim 9, characterized in that: The image acquisition unit has an image analysis function.