Micro-fluidic chip elastic switch valve jacking mechanism
By designing the elastic switch valve hoisting mechanism of the microfluidic chip, and using the extrusion method to control the elastic switch valve, the problem that existing chips cannot achieve secondary loading is solved, and efficient continuous injection and cost reduction are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202421489131.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-02
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-06-27
AI Technical Summary
The existing microfluidic chips cannot achieve secondary loading during cell sorting, resulting in the chip being unable to be reused and increases costs.
A microfluidic chip elastic switch valve hoisting mechanism is designed to realize the conduction and closing of the elastic switch valve through extrusion. Combined with the chip clamp seat, the pinch rod mounting seat, the pinch rod and the chip locking device, it ensures accurate positioning and simple operation.
It realizes precise control of elastic switch valves on microfluidic chips, supports continuous injection, improves working efficiency and reduces costs.
Smart Images
Figure CN222821540U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of microfluidic chips, and in particular relates to a microfluidic chip elastic switch valve lifting mechanism. Background Art
[0002] In the process of cell sorting, the current microfluidic chip usually sets a sample pool and injects cell samples into the sample pool. For details, please refer to Chinese invention patent 202011027416.4, which discloses a microfluidic chip for particle screening and separation. Due to the characteristics of its structure, it is impossible to achieve secondary sampling, and the chip cannot be reused, which makes the cost higher. Based on this, it is necessary to develop a microfluidic chip that can be sampled continuously, and based on the continuous sampling link, a corresponding lifting mechanism needs to be configured to control the conduction and closure of the elastic switch valve on the microfluidic chip. Utility Model Content
[0003] Details of one or more embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the following drawings and description to make other features, objects, and advantages of the present application more readily apparent.
[0004] The utility model provides a lifting mechanism for an elastic switch valve on a microfluidic chip, which realizes the conduction and closure of the elastic switch valve on the microfluidic chip by extrusion, has accurate positioning, convenient operation, simple structure, and can greatly improve work efficiency.
[0005] The utility model discloses a microfluidic chip elastic switch valve lifting mechanism, comprising:
[0006] Chip holder;
[0007] A push rod mounting seat, arranged at a window on the chip clamp for placing a microfluidic chip;
[0008] A push rod is installed on the push rod mounting seat for lifting; the upper end of the push rod is a pressing part for elastically extruding the elastic switch valve on the microfluidic chip, the middle part of the push rod is a sliding part connected to the push rod mounting seat, and the bottom of the push rod is a pressure-receiving part for abutting against the lifting mechanism;
[0009] The chip locking device is arranged above the chip clamp and is used for fixing and installing the microfluidic chip.
[0010] In some embodiments, it further comprises:
[0011] The lifting mechanism is used to drive the lifting and lowering movement of the lift rod; the rotating end of the lifting mechanism is rotatably installed on the lower side of the chip clamp, and the extrusion end of the lifting mechanism abuts against the pressure-bearing part through deflection to drive the lifting and lowering movement of the lift rod.
[0012] In some embodiments, the rotating end of the lifting mechanism is a rotating arm; the extruding end of the lifting mechanism is an extruding wheel; the inner end of the rotating arm is rotatably connected to the lower side of the chip clamp and is connected to a servo; the extruding wheel is rotatably connected to the outer end of the rotating arm.
[0013] In some embodiments, the upper end of the push rod mounting seat is an inner groove structure; the pressing portion is embedded in the inner groove structure.
[0014] In some embodiments, a spring is provided between the push rod mounting seat and the pressure receiving portion.
[0015] In some embodiments, a guide sleeve is provided between the sliding portion and the push rod mounting seat.
[0016] In some embodiments, a limiting ring is provided on the sliding portion.
[0017] In some embodiments, it further comprises:
[0018] An upper pressure ring and a lower pressure ring are respectively arranged at the upper and lower parts of the sliding part;
[0019] An upper limit plate and a lower limit plate are respectively arranged on the upper and lower parts of the mandrel mounting seat;
[0020] An upper pressure sensor is provided at any end surface of the abutting end surfaces of the upper pressure ring and the upper limit plate, and the push rod moves upward to make the upper pressure ring and the upper limit plate abut to squeeze the upper pressure sensor and send a closing signal of the elastic switch valve of the microfluidic chip;
[0021] The lower pressure sensor is arranged at any end surface of the abutting end surfaces of the lower pressure ring and the lower limit plate. The push rod moves downward to make the lower pressure ring and the lower limit plate abut against each other to squeeze the lower pressure sensor and send a conduction signal of the elastic switch valve of the microfluidic chip.
[0022] In some embodiments, the upper pressure sensor and the lower pressure sensor are respectively disposed on the upper limit plate and the lower limit plate.
[0023] In some embodiments, the chip locking device is an elastic metal sheet and is rotatably mounted on one side above the window of the chip clamp.
[0024] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the utility model are as follows:
[0025] 1. In the process of cell sorting, the chip holder is often moved and optical tweezers are used to achieve single cell sorting. In order to ensure the precise positioning of the ejector and the elastic switch valve on the microfluidic chip, the overall structure is installed on the chip holder to ensure the simplicity and controllability of its structure. Considering the upward force of the ejector, the corresponding chip locking device is used to ensure that the chip will not be lifted during the lifting process to affect the cell sorting operation under the microscopic level.
[0026] 2. Considering that the equipment structure itself needs to be compact and small, as well as accurate in operation, the driving mode of the top rod is adjusted by deflection extrusion, which has higher accuracy and more sensitive adjustment than vertical lifting.
[0027] 3. Considering the accuracy of the opening and closing of the elastic switch valve at the microscopic level, a corresponding pressure sensor is set for monitoring to prevent the ejector rod from excessively squeezing the microfluidic chip and causing structural damage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of the present invention. The illustrative embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present invention.
[0029] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the utility model.
[0030] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the upper pressure sensor and the lower pressure sensor of the utility model.
[0031] Description of the drawings: chip clamp 1, push rod mounting seat 2, sliding part 3, pressing part 4, pressure-bearing part 5, spring 6, guide sleeve 7, limit ring 8, servo 9, rotating arm 10, extrusion wheel 11, upper limit plate 12, lower limit plate 13, upper pressure ring 14, lower pressure ring 15, upper pressure sensor 16, lower pressure sensor 17. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the utility model clearer, the utility model is described and illustrated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the utility model and are not used to limit the utility model. Based on the embodiments provided by the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.
[0033] Obviously, the drawings described below are only some examples or embodiments of the utility model. For ordinary technicians in this field, the utility model can also be applied to other similar scenarios based on these drawings without creative work. In addition, it can be understood that although the efforts made in this development process may be complicated and lengthy, for ordinary technicians in this field related to the content disclosed by the utility model, some changes in design, manufacturing or production based on the technical content disclosed by the utility model are just conventional technical means, and should not be understood as the content disclosed by the utility model is insufficient.
[0034] Reference to "embodiments" in the present invention 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 invention. 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 in the present invention may be combined with other embodiments without conflict.
[0035] A microfluidic chip elastic switch valve lifting mechanism, comprising:
[0036] Chip holder 1;
[0037] The ejector rod mounting seat 2 is arranged at the window of the chip clamp 1 for placing the microfluidic chip;
[0038] The push rod is installed on the push rod mounting seat 2 for lifting; the upper end of the push rod is a pressing portion 4 for elastically extruding the elastic switch valve on the microfluidic chip, the middle part of the push rod is a sliding portion 3 connected to the push rod mounting seat 2, and the bottom of the push rod is a pressure receiving portion 5 for abutting against the lifting mechanism;
[0039] The chip locking device is arranged above the chip clamp 1 and is used to fix and install the microfluidic chip.
[0040] The microfluidic chip is mounted on the chip clamp 1, and the position of the push rod mounting seat 2 corresponds to the position of the elastic switch valve of the microfluidic chip, firstly to ensure accurate triggering, and secondly to avoid interference with normal cell sorting. The sliding part 3 plays a guiding role to ensure the accuracy of the direction, and the structural size of the top of the top pressing part 4 is adapted to the size of the elastic switch valve of the microfluidic chip to ensure smooth alignment and extrusion to achieve closure. The chip locking device is used to tighten the microfluidic chip to prevent the microfluidic chip from being lifted up due to the action of the push rod. Among them, the chip locking device can be made of an elastic metal sheet and rotatably mounted on one side above the window of the chip clamp 1, so as to achieve rapid fixation of the microfluidic chip. It should be noted that: from a microscopic perspective, even if an elastic metal sheet is provided for limiting, the chip will be slightly lifted up, so when selecting the elastic metal sheet, a metal material with higher strength should be selected to reduce its influence as much as possible, or a corresponding threaded locking structure can be set to squeeze and fix the microfluidic chip from top to bottom to ensure the reliability of its locking and positioning.
[0041] The above process mainly achieves reset by its own weight, but considering the reliability of the structure, a spring 6 is further provided between the push rod mounting seat 2 and the pressure-bearing part 5, and a certain pre-pressure and reset force are given by the spring.
[0042] In some embodiments, a corresponding mechanical structure is used for control. Considering that the microfluidic chip itself is small in size, there is no corresponding operating space for manual operation. Therefore, specifically, the following is also included:
[0043] The lifting mechanism is used to drive the lifting rod to move up and down; the rotating end of the lifting mechanism is rotatably installed on the lower side of the chip clamp 1, and the extrusion end of the lifting mechanism abuts against the pressure-bearing part 5 through deflection to drive the lifting rod to move up and down.
[0044] In this embodiment, the lifting and lowering motion of the ejector rod is driven by deflection to improve the control sensitivity relative to the linear drive method, and at the same time, the overall structure is more compact. Specifically, the rotating end of the lifting mechanism is the rotating arm 10; the extruding end of the lifting mechanism is the extruding wheel 11; the inner end of the rotating arm 10 is rotatably connected to the lower side of the chip clamp 1 and is connected to the servo 9; the extruding wheel 11 is rotatably connected to the outer end of the rotating arm 10. The above-mentioned structural form can also adopt a cam structure, and the effect is consistent with the above-mentioned scheme. Specifically, the servo 9 drives the rotating arm 10 to rotate, so that the extruding wheel 11 squeezes the pressed part 5 to drive the ejector rod to move.
[0045] In some embodiments, it further comprises:
[0046] The upper pressure ring 14 and the lower pressure ring 15 are respectively arranged at the upper and lower parts of the sliding part 3;
[0047] The upper limit plate 12 and the lower limit plate 13 are respectively arranged on the upper and lower parts of the mandrel mounting seat 2;
[0048] The upper pressure sensor 16 is arranged at any end surface of the upper pressure ring 14 and the upper limit plate 12. The push rod moves upward to make the upper pressure ring 14 and the upper limit plate 12 abut against each other to squeeze the upper pressure sensor 16 and send a closing signal of the elastic switch valve of the microfluidic chip;
[0049] The lower pressure sensor 17 is arranged at any end surface of the lower pressure ring 15 and the lower limit plate 13. The push rod moves downward to make the lower pressure ring 15 and the lower limit plate 13 abut against each other to squeeze the lower pressure sensor 17 and send a conduction signal of the elastic switch valve of the microfluidic chip.
[0050] In some embodiments, the upper pressure sensor 16 and the lower pressure sensor 17 are respectively disposed on the upper limit plate 12 and the lower limit plate 13. The upper limit plate 12 and the lower limit plate 13 are fixed and located on the mandrel mounting seat 2 for external connection. For details, please refer to Figure 2 shown.
[0051] Since it is difficult to judge the opening and closing of the elastic switch valve in the microscopic field, especially if excessive movement occurs, it is very easy to cause damage to the structure of the microfluidic chip. Therefore, according to the actual action situation, the corresponding upper pressure sensor 16 and lower pressure sensor 17 are set. When the upper pressure sensor 16 senses a signal, it means that the elastic switch valve of the microfluidic chip is closed at this time. When the lower pressure sensor 17 senses a signal, it means that the elastic switch valve of the microfluidic chip is in conduction at this time, thereby ensuring the accuracy of subsequent operations.
[0052] In some embodiments, the upper end of the push rod mounting seat 2 is an inner groove structure; the push portion 4 is embedded in the inner groove structure. In a non-stressed state, the push portion 4 is located in the inner groove structure to avoid affecting the placement and installation of the microfluidic chip.
[0053] In some embodiments, a guide sleeve 7 is provided between the sliding portion 3 and the push rod mounting seat 2 .
[0054] In some embodiments, a limiting ring 8 is provided on the sliding portion 3. If the pressure sensor is not used, a corresponding limiting ring can be provided to play a limiting role.
[0055] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.
Claims
1. A microfluidic chip elastic switch valve lifting mechanism, characterized in that: include: Chip holder; A push rod mounting seat, arranged at a window on the chip clamp for placing a microfluidic chip; A push rod is installed on the push rod mounting seat for lifting; the upper end of the push rod is a pressing part for elastically extruding the elastic switch valve on the microfluidic chip, the middle part of the push rod is a sliding part connected to the push rod mounting seat, and the bottom of the push rod is a pressure-receiving part for abutting against the lifting mechanism; The chip locking device is arranged above the chip clamp and is used for fixing and installing the microfluidic chip.
2. The microfluidic chip elastic switch valve lifting mechanism according to claim 1 is characterized in that: Also includes: A lifting mechanism, used for driving the lifting and lowering movement of the ejector rod; The rotating end of the lifting mechanism is rotatably mounted on a lower side of the chip clamp, and the extruding end of the lifting mechanism abuts against the pressure-bearing part through deflection to drive the lifting and lowering movement of the ejector rod.
3. The microfluidic chip elastic switch valve lifting mechanism according to claim 2 is characterized in that: The rotating end of the lifting mechanism is a rotating arm; the extruding end of the lifting mechanism is an extruding wheel; the inner end of the rotating arm is rotatably connected to the lower side of the chip clamp and is connected to a steering gear; the extruding wheel is rotatably connected to the outer end of the rotating arm.
4. The microfluidic chip elastic switch valve lifting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end of the push rod mounting seat is an inner groove structure; the push-pressing portion is embedded in the inner groove structure.
5. The microfluidic chip elastic switch valve lifting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: A spring is arranged between the push rod mounting seat and the pressure receiving portion.
6. The microfluidic chip elastic switch valve lifting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: A guide sleeve is provided between the sliding portion and the push rod mounting seat.
7. The microfluidic chip elastic switch valve lifting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: A limiting ring is arranged on the sliding portion.
8. The microfluidic chip elastic switch valve lifting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The chip locking device is an elastic metal sheet and is rotatably mounted on one side above the window of the chip clamp.