Micro-droplet generating equipment and micro-droplet collecting device

By designing automated micro droplet generation equipment and collection devices, the problems of pressure instability, mass fluctuations and fluid leakage in the prior art are solved, and more efficient and stable micro droplet generation and curing are achieved.

CN222969856UActive Publication Date: 2025-06-13GUANGZHOU NAT LAB
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202421632556.8
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-07-10
Publication Date
2025-06-13
Estimated Expiration
2034-07-10

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The existing micro droplet generation equipment has the risk of unstable pressure, large fluctuations in the mass of micro droplets, and fluid leakage or contamination, and the curing channel increases the total flow resistance, affecting the generation speed and mass.

Method used

A micro droplet generation device is designed, including a carrier assembly, a feeding device and a micro droplet collection device, which automatically provides fluid through actuators, shortens the total flow path length of the microfluidic chip, and uses a collection container to disperse and solidify the fluid to avoid mutual occlusion.

Benefits of technology

The automation level and speed of micro droplet generation is improved, the total flow resistance is reduced, and the mass stability and curing consistency of micro droplets are enhanced.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The utility model provides micro-droplet generating equipment and a micro-droplet collecting device.The micro-droplet generating equipment comprises a bearing assembly, a feeding device and the micro-droplet collecting device.The bearing assembly comprises an operation table, the operation table is used for placing a micro-fluidic chip, the feeding device comprises a liquid inlet pipeline and an actuating piece, the liquid inlet pipeline is communicated with a channel inlet of the micro-fluidic chip, and the actuating piece is arranged on the operation table; the actuating part is used for driving fluid to be conveyed to the micro-fluidic chip along the liquid inlet pipeline so as to generate micro-droplets in the micro-fluidic chip, the micro-droplet collecting device comprises a collecting container, the collecting container is used for receiving the micro-droplets, and the collecting container is used for enabling the fluid carrying the micro-droplets to be dispersed on the wall surface of the collecting container so as to solidify the micro-droplets. Therefore, the micro-droplet generation equipment is beneficial for improving the automation level of micro-droplet generation and the quality and speed of micro-droplet generation. The micro-droplet generation equipment is used in the field of micro-droplet generation.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of micro-droplet generation, in particular to a micro-droplet generation device and a collection device. Background Art

[0002] Microfluidic technology can generate micro-droplets through the interaction between a dispersed-phase fluid and a continuous-phase fluid, and is widely used in fields such as cell culture and sample detection.

[0003] The micro-droplet generation device conveys the dispersed-phase fluid and the continuous-phase fluid to the microfluidic chip through the action of pressure. Some related technologies generate pressure by manually squeezing a piston, resulting in unstable pressure, which will reduce the quality stability of the micro-droplets.

[0004] Some related technologies use an electric control method (such as using a pressure generating device and a mass flow control device in combination) to generate pressure. However, the quality of the micro-droplets is still affected by other factors. Therefore, when the pressure is relatively stable, there will still be a certain fluctuation in the quality of the micro-droplets.

[0005] Moreover, since the pressure generating device and the mass flow control device directly act on the fluid to be conveyed, there is a risk of leakage or contamination of the fluid when it passes through the pressure generating device and the mass flow control device.

[0006] In addition, according to different usage scenarios, the micro-droplets may contain components that need to be cured, such as gel microspheres. Therefore, curing treatment is also required. The conventional curing method is ultraviolet curing.

[0007] Some related technologies choose to set a curing channel at the end of the microfluidic chip and configure a curing light source in the area where the curing channel is located to cure the micro-droplets flowing through the curing channel, and finally discharge the cured micro-droplets into a collection container. Since the generated micro-droplets pass through the curing channel in sequence, there will be no overlapping and blocking phenomenon between different micro-droplets. Therefore, the curing speed and curing consistency of the micro-droplets are relatively high. However, adding a curing channel increases the total length of the channel through which the micro-droplets flow, which is likely to increase the total flow resistance of the microfluidic chip and is not conducive to improving the generation speed of the micro-droplets.

[0008] Some other related technologies choose to directly convey the micro-droplets to a transparent collection container and then perform curing. Since there is no need to set a curing channel, it is helpful to obtain a higher micro-droplet generation speed. However, at this time, the micro-droplets gather in the container. The micro-droplets relatively far from the light source are easily blocked by the micro-droplets relatively close to the light source and cannot be fully irradiated by ultraviolet light, resulting in an extended curing time. There are also defects in the curing consistency of the micro-droplets located at different positions. Summary of the Invention

[0009] This application aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. For this purpose, this application provides a micro-droplet generation device and a collection device. The micro-droplet generation device helps to improve the speed and quality of micro-droplet generation.

[0010] The micro-droplet generation device provided by this application includes a carrier assembly, a feeding device, and a micro-droplet collection device. The carrier assembly includes an operating table for placing a microfluidic chip. The feeding device includes a liquid inlet pipe and an actuator. The liquid inlet pipe is communicated with the channel inlet of the microfluidic chip. The actuator is used to drive the fluid to be conveyed to the microfluidic chip along the liquid inlet pipe to generate micro-droplets in the microfluidic chip. The micro-droplet collection device includes a collection container for receiving the micro-droplets. The collection container is used to disperse the fluid carrying the micro-droplets on the wall surface of the collection container so as to solidify the micro-droplets.

[0011] The micro-droplet generation device provided by this application has at least the following technical effects: By using an actuator to automatically supply the required fluid to the microfluidic chip, the fluid can automatically generate micro-droplets in the microfluidic chip under the pushing action, so that the micro-droplet generation device helps to improve the automation level of micro-droplet generation; By using a collection container to collect and then solidify the micro-droplets, the total length of the flow channel of the microfluidic chip can be shortened, thereby reducing the total flow resistance and helping to improve the speed of micro-droplet generation; By dispersing the micro-droplets on the wall surface of the collection container, the micro-droplets can be prevented from blocking each other, which helps to improve the quality of micro-droplet generation.

[0012] According to some embodiments of this application, the micro-droplet generation device includes a micro-droplet collection device. The micro-droplet collection device includes a liquid discharge pipe and a collection container. The liquid discharge pipe is communicated with the channel outlet of the microfluidic chip and is used to convey the micro-droplets to the collection container.

[0013] According to some embodiments of this application, the actuator includes a gas control component. The feeding device further includes a feeding container. The liquid inlet pipe is communicated with the feeding container for storing the fluid. The gas control component is configured to convey a pressure medium to the feeding container so that the fluid moves to the microfluidic chip through the liquid inlet pipe.

[0014] According to some embodiments of this application, the gas control component includes a proportional valve for adjusting the pressure of the pressure medium.

[0015] According to some embodiments of this application, the micro-droplet generation device includes an imaging component for photographing the microfluidic chip. The gas control component can adjust the pressure of the pressure medium in response to the imaging information of the imaging component.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present application, the micro-droplet generating device includes a bright-field lamp for providing a bright field for the microfluidic chip. The bright-field lamp includes a lamp base and a lamp arm. The lamp arm is movably mounted on the lamp base and can be switched between a first position and a second position. A light-emitting body is mounted on the lamp arm. In the first position, the projection of the light-emitting body on the operating table falls on the microfluidic chip, so that the light-emitting body faces the microfluidic chip directly. In the second position, the projection of the light-emitting body on the operating table leaves the microfluidic chip. The light-emitting body can be turned off in response to the lamp arm being switched from the first position to the second position, and the light-emitting body can be turned on in response to the lamp arm being switched from the second position to the first position.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present application, the bright-field lamp includes a trigger assembly. The light-emitting body is electrically connected to the trigger assembly. The trigger assembly can turn the light-emitting body off or on in response to the switching of the lamp arm between the first position and the second position. The trigger assembly includes a first conductor and a second conductor that are paired with each other. The first conductor is located on the lamp base, and the second conductor is located on the lamp arm. In the first position, the first conductor and the second conductor are in contact with each other. In the second position, the first conductor and the second conductor are separated from each other. The first conductor and the second conductor are at least used to position the lamp arm in the first position.

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present application, the lamp arm can be switched between the first position and the second position by rotation. The light-emitting body is eccentrically arranged relative to the rotation axis of the lamp arm. The second conductor and the first conductor are eccentrically arranged relative to the rotation axis, so that the second conductor can approach or move away from the first conductor in response to the rotation of the lamp arm.

[0019] According to some embodiments of the present application, the micro-droplet generating device includes a display terminal, and the display terminal is communicatively connected to the imaging assembly.

[0020] According to some embodiments of the present application, the carrier assembly includes a first adjustment mechanism, a second adjustment mechanism, and a third adjustment mechanism. The first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism are used to adjust the position of the operating table in two horizontally intersecting directions, and the third adjustment mechanism is used to adjust the position of the operating table in the vertical direction.

[0021] The micro-droplet collection device provided according to the present application is adapted to be used in the micro-droplet generating device provided by the present application.

[0022] According to some embodiments of the present application, the micro-droplet collection device includes a collection container, a drainage pipeline, and an ultraviolet light source. The drainage pipeline is configured to convey a fluid carrying micro-droplets to the side wall of the collection container, so that the fluid flows along the side wall towards the bottom of the collection container. The ultraviolet light source is configured to irradiate the side wall to cure the micro-droplets during the flow of the fluid.

[0023] The micro-droplet collection device provided by the present application has at least the following technical effects: on the one hand, the micro-droplet collection device cures the micro-droplets after the fluid leaves the microfluidic chip, thus avoiding the setting of curing channels with complex and tortuous shapes in the microfluidic chip, which helps to reduce the total flow resistance of the microfluidic chip and the flow time of the fluid in the microfluidic chip, thereby improving the collection efficiency of the micro-droplets; on the other hand, the fluid cures during the process of flowing along the side wall, which helps to fully receive the irradiation of the ultraviolet light source, thus reducing the risk of mutual occlusion of the micro-droplets and inconsistent light intensity, improving the curing speed of the micro-droplets and the consistency of the curing effect. Therefore, the micro-droplet collection device helps to shorten the time required for curing the micro-droplets and improve the curing consistency of the micro-droplets.

[0024] According to some embodiments of the present application, the side wall can increase the specific surface area of the fluid.

[0025] According to some embodiments of the present application, the contact angle between the side wall and the fluid is less than 90°.

[0026] According to some embodiments of the present application, the fluid flows continuously between the drainage pipeline and the side wall to reduce the impact of the fluid on the side wall.

[0027] According to some embodiments of the present application, the drainage pipeline is inclined towards the side wall.

[0028] According to some embodiments of the present application, the side wall is inclined.

[0029] According to some embodiments of the present application, the micro-droplet collection device includes a mounting assembly, and the collection container, the drainage pipeline, and the ultraviolet light source are mounted on the mounting assembly.

[0030] According to some embodiments of the present application, the mounting assembly includes a first fixing frame, and the first fixing frame is configured to form a first groove and a first window. The collection container is inserted into the first groove, and the first window is located on one side of the first groove in the horizontal direction. The first window communicates with the first groove to expose the flow path of the fluid.

[0031] According to some embodiments of the present application, the installation assembly includes a second fixing frame, the second fixing frame is configured to form a second groove and a second window, the first fixing frame is inserted into the second groove, the second window is located on one side of the second groove in the horizontal direction, the second window communicates with the second groove, and the second window and the first window are at least partially aligned.

[0032] According to some embodiments of the present application, the ultraviolet light source includes a circuit board and lamp beads, the circuit board is fixedly connected to the second fixing frame, the circuit board covers the second window, the lamp beads are soldered on the circuit board, and the lamp beads are located within the second window.

[0033] According to some embodiments of the present application, at least one side of the second groove in the horizontal direction penetrates the second fixing frame to allow the first fixing frame to be inserted and withdrawn in the horizontal direction.

[0034] According to some embodiments of the present application, the micro-droplet collection device includes a handle, the handle is fixedly connected to the first fixing frame, and the first fixing frame is withdrawn by grasping the handle.

[0035] According to some embodiments of the present application, the installation assembly includes a pipe sleeve, the drain pipe is inserted through the pipe sleeve, and along the insertion direction of the drain pipe, the inner diameter of the pipe sleeve gradually decreases to guide and position the drain pipe.

[0036] According to some embodiments of the present application, the installation assembly includes a third fixing frame, and the pipe sleeve is inserted on the third fixing frame.

[0037] According to some embodiments of the present application, the third fixing frame includes a connecting arm and a first mounting seat, the connecting arm extends in the horizontal direction, the first mounting seat is magnetically connected to one end of the connecting arm, the first mounting seat is at least partially aligned with the collection container in the vertical direction, and the pipe sleeve is inserted on the first mounting seat.

[0038] According to some embodiments of the present application, a plurality of the collection containers are arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction, and the installation assembly further includes a driving mechanism, and the driving mechanism can drive the drain pipe to move so that the drain pipe is switched and paired with different collection containers.

[0039] According to some embodiments of the present application, the collection container is configured to form an upwardly open cavity, the driving mechanism includes a first driver and a second driver, the first driver is used to drive the drain pipe to move in the vertical direction to enter or leave the cavity, and the second driver is used to drive the drain pipe to move in the horizontal direction to align different collection containers in the vertical direction.

[0040] According to some embodiments of the present application, the driving mechanism includes a lead screw and a slider. The output end of the second driver is drivingly connected to the lead screw. The lead screw extends in the horizontal direction. The slider is drivingly connected to the lead screw. The first driver is installed on the slider, and the liquid discharge pipe is installed at the output end of the first driver.

[0041] According to some embodiments of the present application, the driving mechanism includes a position sensor, and the position sensor can stop the first driver in response to the liquid discharge pipe descending to a set position.

[0042] The micro-droplet generating device provided by the present application includes the micro-droplet collecting device provided by the present application, and thus correspondingly has the beneficial effects provided by the micro-droplet collecting device, which will not be elaborated here. Description of the Drawings

[0043] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present application will become obvious and easy to understand from the description of the embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, where:

[0044] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the micro-droplet generating device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the micro-droplet generating device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 3 is a schematic overall structural diagram of the bright-field lamp according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 4 is a schematic semi-sectional structural diagram of the bright-field lamp according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Figure 5 is a schematic partial structural diagram of the bright-field lamp according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Figure 6 is a schematic partial structural diagram of the bright-field lamp according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] Figure 7 is a schematic partial structural diagram of the bright-field lamp according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] Figure 8 is a schematic partial structural diagram of the bright-field lamp according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0052] Figure 9 is a schematic principle diagram of the micro-droplet collecting device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] Figure 10 is a schematic structural diagram of the micro-droplet collecting device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] Figure 11 It is a schematic structural diagram of the micro-droplet collection device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] Figure 12 It is a schematic structural diagram of the micro-droplet collection device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0056] Reference numerals:

[0057] Collection container 1100, drainage pipeline 1200, ultraviolet light source 1300, circuit board 1310, lamp bead 1320, first fixing bracket 1410, first groove body 1411, first window 1412, second fixing bracket 1420, second groove body 1421, second window 1422, handle 1430, pipe sleeve 1440, third fixing bracket 1450, connecting arm 1451, first mounting seat 1452, magnetic attraction block 1453, first driver 1461, second driver 1462, lead screw 1463, slider 1464, second mounting seat 1465, position sensor 1466, induction piece 1467, third mounting seat 1468;

[0058] Operating table 2110, first adjusting mechanism 2120, second adjusting mechanism 2130, third adjusting mechanism 2140, locking knob 2141, lifting knob 2142, fixing seat 2143, lifting block 2144, locking plate 2145, base 2150, proportional valve 2310, pressure regulating knob 2320, imaging assembly 2400, display terminal 2500, bright field lamp 2600, host 2700;

[0059] Lamp holder 2610, first conductor 2611, first conductive plate 26111, first elastic probe 26112, first limiting groove 26113, first circuit board 2612, first isolation block 2613, stop portion 26131, positioning sink 26132, seat body 2614, first wire passing channel 26141, second circuit board 2615, third conductor 2617, second elastic probe 26171, second conductive plate 26172, second isolation block 2618;

[0060] Lamp arm 2620, second conductor 2621, third circuit board 2622, first cover plate 2623, second cover plate 2624, second wire passing channel 26241, pressing rib 26242, light guide cover 2625;

[0061] Microfluidic chip 9000. Detailed implementation manners

[0062] Embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, where like or similar reference numerals denote like or similar elements or elements having like or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below by referring to the accompanying drawings are exemplary only for explaining the present application and should not be construed as limiting the present application.

[0063] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that with respect to the orientation description, such as "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., the orientation or positional relationship indicated is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus should not be construed as limiting the present application.

[0064] In the description of the present application, the meaning of "a number of" is one or more, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more, and understandings such as "greater than", "less than", "exceeding", etc. do not include the present number, and understandings such as "above", "below", "within", etc. include the present number. If there is a description of "first" and "second", it is only for the purpose of distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features or implicitly indicating the sequence relationship of the indicated technical features.

[0065] In the description of the present application, unless otherwise clearly defined, words such as "set", "installed", "connected", etc. should be understood in a broad sense, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above words in the present application in combination with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0066] A microdroplet refers to a droplet with a size in the micrometer range. Due to its small volume and large specific surface area, microreactors constructed based on microdroplets are widely used in various experimental scenarios.

[0067] A microdroplet generation device is adapted to generate microdroplets through a microfluidic chip. In the related art, the microdroplet generation device generates microdroplets by manually squeezing a piston, which has defects such as unstable pressure and large fluctuations in the quality of microdroplets.

[0068] Exemplarily, refer to Figure 1, The micro-droplet generating device provided by the present application includes a carrier assembly and a feeding device. The carrier assembly includes an operating table 2110 for placing a microfluidic chip 9000. The feeding device includes a liquid inlet pipe (not shown in the figure) and an actuator (not shown in the figure). The liquid inlet pipe is communicated with the channel inlet of the microfluidic chip 9000, and the actuator is used to drive the fluid to be transported along the liquid inlet pipe to the microfluidic chip 9000 to generate micro-droplets in the microfluidic chip 9000.

[0069] By automatically supplying the required fluid to the microfluidic chip by using an actuator, it is possible to enable the fluid to automatically generate micro-droplets in the microfluidic chip under the pushing action. Therefore, the micro-droplet generating device helps to improve the automation level of micro-droplet generation.

[0070] It can be understood that one microfluidic chip 9000 is paired with at least two liquid inlet pipes to respectively provide a continuous-phase fluid and a shear-phase fluid. One microfluidic chip 9000 is generally paired with one liquid discharge pipe 1200 to uniformly collect the generated micro-droplets. Of course, the specific number of pairings can be flexibly adjusted according to the design of the microfluidic chip 9000. The above is only an exemplary description.

[0071] Exemplarily, the actuator may include a gas control assembly. The feeding device further includes a feeding container. The liquid inlet pipe is communicated with the feeding container. The feeding container is used to store the fluid (herein referring to the dispersed-phase fluid and the continuous-phase fluid for generating micro-droplets). The gas control assembly is configured to transport a pressure medium to the feeding container so that the fluid moves through the liquid inlet pipe to the microfluidic chip 9000.

[0072] In other words, the feeding container is configured to form a storage cavity that is sealed relative to the external environment. The storage cavity is communicated with the liquid inlet pipe and the gas control assembly. The liquid inlet pipe extends and is immersed in the fluid. The gas control assembly transports the pressure medium into the storage cavity, so that the pressure in the storage cavity increases, and the fluid enters the liquid inlet pipe under the action of the pressure and is sent to the microfluidic chip 9000. By using the method of adjusting the pressure to supply the fluid, it is possible to make the fluid maintain a stable transportation speed and improve the consistency of the micro-droplets. The pressure medium of the gas control assembly can be sourced from an external gas source, or can also be generated by an air pump, an air tank, etc. equipped in the gas control assembly.

[0073] Since the gas control assembly does not directly act on the fluid, but indirectly acts on the fluid through the pressure medium, it avoids the direct contact between the fluid and the gas control assembly and the related connecting pipelines, and can also achieve the effects of preventing the fluid from leaking from the gas control assembly and the fluid from being contaminated by the gas control assembly.

[0074] In order to flexibly adjust the pressure of the pressure medium, optionally, refer to Figure 1, the gas control component includes a proportional valve 2310, which can accurately adjust the output pressure parameter by adjusting the input electrical signal. The specific model parameters of the proportional valve 2310 can be determined according to specific requirements and will not be elaborated here.

[0075] Furthermore, the gas control component may further include a pressure regulating knob 2320, which is communicatively connected to the proportional valve 2310 to achieve manual adjustment of the pressure parameter. Of course, the gas control component can also choose to automatically adjust the pressure parameter through a pre-set algorithm, or first manually adjust the pressure parameter roughly and then finely adjust it through the algorithm. The relevant control logic and circuit design can refer to the relevant existing technologies and will not be elaborated here.

[0076] It can be understood that due to the existence of other influencing factors, when the pressure of the gas medium remains stable, there will still be a certain fluctuation in the mass of the micro-droplets. Therefore, it is necessary to perform feedback adjustment.

[0077] To achieve feedback adjustment, optionally, referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the micro-droplet generating device may further include an imaging component 2400, which is used to photograph the microfluidic chip 9000, and the gas control component can adjust the pressure of the pressure medium in response to the imaging information of the imaging component 2400. That is to say, the micro-droplet generating device can obtain the image information of the micro-droplets and adjust the input pressures of the continuous-phase fluid and the dispersed-phase fluid in response to the image information, and balance the influence of other influencing factors on the quality of the micro-droplets through the real-time change of the input pressures, thereby improving the stability of the quality of the micro-droplets.

[0078] Here, the image information may include at least one of size information and shape information, so that the size and shape of the micro-droplets can be controlled according to the feedback adjustment, enabling the micro-droplets to be automatically generated according to the pre-set target parameters.

[0079] Exemplarily, the feedback adjustment scheme can be carried out according to the following process. First, the imaging component 2400 acquires the current image of the intersection region of the continuous-phase fluid and the dispersed-phase fluid. The image enters from the objective lens of the imaging component 2400 and reaches the image sensor (such as CMOS) along the optical path, thereby being converted into a digital signal and sent to the control board (which can be integrated with the imaging component 2400 or other components, or set independently); next, the control board processes the image, acquires the image information of the newly generated micro-droplets therein, and obtains the control signal of the pressure through algorithm processing; finally, the control board sends a control signal to the gas control component to control the increase or decrease of the input pressures of the continuous-phase fluid and / or the dispersed-phase fluid.

[0080] Exemplarily, referring to Figure 1, the micro-droplet generating device may include an independently arranged main unit 2700 which has a control board. The main unit 2700 is communicatively connected to the imaging component 2400 and the gas control component to receive, process and send data so as to achieve feedback regulation.

[0081] Of course, other designs can also be adopted for the feedback regulation scheme, as long as the negative feedback regulation of the pressure according to the quality of the micro-droplets can be achieved. The braking component for regulation is not limited to the gas control component, and will not be elaborated here.

[0082] The optical path design of the imaging component 2400 and the selection of the image sensor can refer to the relevant existing technologies and will not be elaborated here. The algorithms for processing can also refer to the relevant existing technologies. For example, the size data of the micro-droplets can be input into a preset look-up table to obtain a control signal, or the preset size of the micro-droplets can be input into an image actual measurement size calculation function to obtain a control signal, which will not be elaborated specifically.

[0083] In addition, the micro-droplet generating device may also include a display terminal 2500 which is communicatively connected to the imaging component 2400. On the one hand, the display terminal 2500 can display the influence of parameter changes on the morphology of the micro-droplets, facilitating the user to observe and adjust in real time. On the other hand, the display terminal 2500 can also be used as a graphical user interface to facilitate the adjustment of the control logic or control parameters of the gas control component. Similarly, the display terminal 2500 can also be communicatively connected to the main unit 2700.

[0084] It can be understood that different microfluidic chips 9000 have different channel structures. To ensure that the imaging component 2400 accurately focuses on the position where the micro-droplets are generated, the carrying component may include an adjustment mechanism which is used to adjust the spatial position of the operating table 2110.

[0085] Optionally, the adjustment mechanism may include a first adjustment mechanism 2120, a second adjustment mechanism 2130 and a third adjustment mechanism 2140. The first adjustment mechanism 2120 and the second adjustment mechanism 2130 are used to adjust the position of the operating table 2110 in two horizontally intersecting directions, and the third adjustment mechanism 2140 is used to adjust the position of the operating table 2110 in the vertical direction.

[0086] Specifically, a standard three-axis motion platform can be selected as the adjustment mechanism. The three-axis motion platform is equipped with a first adjustment mechanism 2120, a second adjustment mechanism 2130, and a third adjustment mechanism 2140. Alternatively, the bearing assembly can also be designed and constructed with the first adjustment mechanism 2120, the second adjustment mechanism 2130, and the third adjustment mechanism 2140 by itself, which is not limited herein as long as three degrees of freedom of motion in three directions can be provided. The first adjustment mechanism 2120, the second adjustment mechanism 2130, and the third adjustment mechanism 2140 can be controlled manually and / or electrically.

[0087] Exemplarily, in a scenario of using manual control, the third adjustment mechanism 2140 can further include a locking knob 2141. After the lifting is in place, the third adjustment mechanism 2140 is locked by the locking knob 2141 to prevent the height from changing due to changes in load or other factors during operation, which may reduce the imaging quality.

[0088] Exemplarily, the third adjustment mechanism 2140 can further include a lifting knob 2142, a fixed seat 2143, and a lifting block 2144. By rotating the lifting knob 2142, the transmission mechanism connected between the fixed seat 2143 and the lifting block 2144 is driven, thereby realizing the lifting of the third adjustment mechanism 2140 (that is, the distance between the fixed seat 2143 and the lifting block 2144 is increased or decreased).

[0089] Specifically, referring to Figure 1 , the third adjustment mechanism 2140 further includes a locking plate 2145. The locking plate 2145 is fixedly installed on the lifting block 2144. The locking plate 2145 is provided with a locking groove in the vertical direction. The locking knob 2141 passes through the locking groove and is connected to the fixed seat 2143 through a threaded hole. By rotating the locking knob 2141 forward, the locking knob 2141 can be pressed against the locking plate 2145 along its own axis direction, thereby pressing the locking plate 2145 against the fixed seat 2143 to achieve the effect of locking the lifting block 2144. Of course, the locking knob 2141 can also adopt other installation and locking methods. For example, the locking knob 2141 can be installed on the lifting block 2144, which will not be elaborated herein.

[0090] In addition, the transmission mechanism can include a worm and worm gear mechanism or other transmission mechanisms with self-locking ability to improve the reliability of lifting. Taking the worm and worm gear mechanism as an example, optionally, the lifting knob 2142 drives the worm to rotate, thereby driving the worm gear to rotate, and then the rotation of the worm gear is converted into the linear motion of the lifting block through a rack or other structures meshing with the worm gear.

[0091] Referring to Figure 1, the carrier assembly may further include a base 2150, a first adjustment mechanism 2120, a second adjustment mechanism 2130, and a third adjustment mechanism 2140 are sequentially installed on the base 2150, and an operating table 2110 is installed on the third adjustment mechanism 2140.

[0092] Of course, the installation sequence of the first adjustment mechanism 2120, the second adjustment mechanism 2130, and the third adjustment mechanism 2140 can be exchanged, which is not limited here. Optionally, in order to further improve the clarity of micro-droplet imaging, referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the micro-droplet generating device may further include a bright-field lamp 2600, and the bright-field lamp 2600 is arranged facing the microfluidic chip 9000 to provide a bright field for the imaging assembly 2400.

[0093] The bright-field lamp 2600 irradiates the microfluidic chip 9000 from above. The light source located above will interfere with the operation of the sample, and the reflected light of the light source may stimulate the human eye and cause fatigue. Therefore, it is required that the bright-field lamp 2600 can be avoided and turned off. In the related art, the avoidance and turning off are independent of each other and need to be completed in two steps. Therefore, the use of the bright-field lamp 2600 is relatively cumbersome.

[0094] For this reason, optionally, referring to Figure 3 , the bright-field lamp 2600 may include a lamp base 2610 and a lamp arm 2620. The lamp base 2610 is fixedly installed, and the lamp arm 2620 is movably installed on the lamp base. The lamp arm 2620 can be switched between a first position and a second position. A light-emitting body (not shown in the figure) is installed on the lamp arm 2620. In the first position, the projection of the light-emitting body on the operating table 2110 falls on the workpiece, and the light-emitting body faces the workpiece. In the second position, the projection of the light-emitting body on the operating table 2110 leaves the workpiece, and the light-emitting body can be turned off in response to the lamp arm 2620 switching from the first position to the second position, and the light-emitting body can be turned on in response to the lamp arm 2620 switching from the second position to the first position.

[0095] In the first position, the light-emitting body faces the workpiece (such as the microfluidic chip 9000) to provide a bright field. In the second position, the lamp arm 2620 moves away to facilitate the operation of the workpiece. By establishing a coupling relationship between the position switching of the lamp arm 2620 and the on / off of the light-emitting body, the bright-field lamp 2600 can be automatically turned off when avoiding, and can be automatically turned on when reset to the use state. Therefore, only by operating the lamp arm 2620, the avoidance and turning off of the bright-field lamp 2600 can be completed simultaneously, and the use of the bright-field lamp 2600 is more convenient.

[0096] It can be understood that the lamp arm 2620 can be switched between the first position and the second position by moving and / or rotating.

[0097] Exemplarily, in Figure 2In the usage scenario, the lamp arm 2620 can be switched between a first position and a second position by rotation, and the rotation axis of the lamp arm 2620 is perpendicular to the operation table 2110. Correspondingly, the light-emitting body is eccentrically arranged relative to the rotation axis of the lamp arm 2620. Therefore, the rotation of the lamp arm 2620 can drive the light-emitting body to move in the horizontal direction and move away from above the workpiece (that is, switch to the second position).

[0098] More specifically, referring to Figure 3 , the lamp arm 2620 can extend in the horizontal direction. One end of the lamp arm 2620 is rotatably connected to the lamp base 2610, and the light-emitting body is located at the other end of the lamp arm 2620. In order to miniaturize the design of the bright-field lamp 2600 and improve the aesthetics of the bright-field lamp 2600, at this time, the lamp base 2610 can extend in the vertical direction, thereby further reducing the projected area of the bright-field lamp 2600 on the horizontal plane and compressing the occupied space of the bright-field lamp 2600.

[0099] Of course, the lamp arm 2620 is not limited to extending horizontally. The lamp arm 2620 can also be designed to extend obliquely, or the lamp arm 2620 can adopt more complex shapes such as multi-segmented or irregular curve shapes. For example, the lamp arm 2620 can include a first section extending vertically and a second section extending horizontally. The first section is rotatably mounted on the lamp base 2610, and the second section is connected to one end of the first section away from the lamp base 2610.

[0100] The rotation axis of the lamp arm 2620 is not limited to the vertical direction. For example, the rotation axis can be designed to be in the horizontal direction, and the extension direction of the lamp arm 2620 is perpendicular to the rotation axis direction. In the first position, the lamp arm 2620 extends in the horizontal direction, and in the second position, the lamp arm 2620 is switched to extend in the vertical direction by rotation, thereby reducing the projected area of the lamp arm 2620 on the horizontal plane and moving the light-emitting body away from above the workpiece.

[0101] All in all, the bright-field lamp 2600 can be constructed with a rotatable lamp arm 2620 in different ways, as long as it is ensured that the light-emitting body is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis of the lamp arm 2620 so that the position can be changed by rotation.

[0102] In some other usage scenarios, the lamp arm 2620 can be configured to be movably mounted on the lamp base 2610, for example, by a guide rail slider mechanism, so that the lamp arm 2620 can extend or retract relative to the lamp base 2610. When extended, the lamp arm 2620 is in the first position, and when retracted, the lamp arm 2620 is in the second position.

[0103] Similarly, the bright-field lamp 2600 can be constructed with a movable lamp arm 2620 in different ways, or the lamp arm 2620 can also combine movement and rotation to achieve switching between the first position and the second position, which will not be elaborated here.

[0104] The bright-field lamp 2600 can control the turn-off of the light-emitting body through the trigger component. Specifically, the light-emitting body is electrically connected to the trigger component, and the trigger component can respond to the switching of the lamp arm 2620 between the first position and the second position to turn off or turn on the light-emitting body.

[0105] It can be understood that the trigger component turning off or turning on the light-emitting body means that the trigger component can respond to the movement of the lamp arm 2620 to disconnect or conduct the circuit where the light-emitting body is located, so that the light-emitting body loses power and goes out or is charged.

[0106] Exemplarily, referring to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the trigger component can include a first conductor 2611 and a second conductor 2621 that are paired with each other. The first conductor 2611 is located on the lamp base 2610, and the second conductor 2621 is located on the lamp arm 2620. In the first position, the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621 are in contact with each other. In the second position, the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621 are separated from each other.

[0107] Specifically, referring to Figure 5 , the trigger component can be further set to include two first conductors 2611 and two second conductors 2621. The two first conductors 2611 are respectively used to electrically connect the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the power supply, and the two second conductors 2621 are respectively used to electrically connect the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the light-emitting body.

[0108] That is to say, the trigger component forms two switch structures in the circuit through the pairing of the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621. In the second position, both switch structures are in the off state. In the first position, both switch structures are simultaneously conducted.

[0109] Of course, the trigger component can also turn off or turn on the light-emitting body only through one first conductor 2611 and one second conductor 2621. This application does not limit the number of the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621.

[0110] In addition, optionally, the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621 can also be at least used to position the lamp arm 2620 in the first position. That is to say, while realizing the on-off of the circuit, the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621 also take into account the function of accurately positioning the light-emitting body. By integrating the positioning function and the conducting function on the trigger component, the structure of the bright-field lamp 2600 can be simplified, which helps to realize the miniaturized design of the bright-field lamp 2600.

[0111] The positioning function can be achieved by constructing positioning structures with matching shapes on the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621, and making the positioning structures in a paired state in the first position. Optionally, the positioning structures can be achieved by physical cooperation of concave and convex structures such as shaft-hole fitting and gear meshing, or can also be achieved by non-physical cooperation such as magnetic attraction.

[0112] In order to form a stable contact relationship between the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621 to ensure the effect of the conduction loop and / or the positioning effect, the first conductor 2611 and / or the second conductor 2621 can be designed to be elastic. The acting force generated by elastic deformation can make the contact surfaces of the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621 press tightly together. Optionally, the first conductor 2611 and / or the second conductor 2621 includes at least one of a spring piece, a spring plunger, and an elastic probe.

[0113] It can be understood that the spring plunger and the elastic probe are common standard parts. The spring plunger and the elastic probe are basically composed of a base, a contact head, and a spring. The contact head is movably inserted into the base, and both ends of the spring abut against the contact head and the base. Through the elastic deformation of the spring, a force pressing the contact head towards the target is applied.

[0114] Unless otherwise specified, all spring plungers in this application, such as the first spring plunger and the second spring plunger, and elastic probes, such as the first elastic probe and the second elastic probe, etc. all adopt the above basic structure. The specific models of the spring plunger and the elastic probe can be flexibly adjusted according to the specific design of the bright field lamp 2600, which will not be elaborated here.

[0115] Exemplarily, in Figure 4 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6 's embodiments, only the second conductor 2621 is elastic, and the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621 can be used to achieve loop on / off and light-emitting body positioning simultaneously.

[0116] Referring to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the lamp arm 2620 can be switched between the first position and the second position by rotation. The second conductor 2621 and the first conductor 2611 are eccentrically arranged relative to the rotating shaft, so that the radial position of the second conductor 2621 can change in response to the axial rotation of the lamp arm 2620, and thus approach or move away from the first conductor 2611 to achieve the function of controlling the loop on / off.

[0117] Specifically, the first conductor 2611 includes a first conductive plate 26111, and the second conductor 2621 includes a first spring plunger. During the switching process from the second position to the first position, the contact of the first spring plunger contacts the first conductive plate 26111 to turn on the light-emitting body.

[0118] At the same time, the first conductive plate 26111 is also provided with a first limiting groove 26113, and the contact of the first spring plunger (specifically a spherical rolling ball head) is clamped in the first limiting groove 26113, so that the lamp arm 2620 is positioned at the first position through the physical cooperation of the concave structure (first limiting groove 26113) and the convex structure (ball head), thereby realizing the function of positioning the light source. In the case of needing to avoid, it is only necessary to apply a certain force to the lamp arm 2620, so that the ball head can overcome the thrust of the spring 8300 and retract, thereby releasing the positioning relationship between the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621, and causing the lamp arm 2620 to move.

[0119] Since the ball head can roll in the first spring plunger, when the lamp arm 2620 moves, rolling friction is formed between the ball head and the first conductive plate 26111. On the one hand, it can reduce the movement resistance of the lamp arm 2620, making the use of the bright field lamp 2600 smoother. On the other hand, it can also reduce the wear on the first conductive plate 26111 and increase the service life of the bright field lamp 2600.

[0120] Continue to refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 For example, the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621 may be designed to be arranged opposite to each other in the axial direction of the rotating shaft. Alternatively, the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621 may also be designed to be arranged opposite to each other in the radial direction of the rotating shaft.

[0121] For example, in some Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the embodiment, the first conductor 2611 may include a second spring plunger electrically connected to a power source, the second spring plunger is arranged radially (that is, the contact is facing in a radial direction), the contact of the second spring plunger protrudes from the side wall of the lamp holder 2610, and the second conductor 2621 includes a conductive ring, which is used to be sleeved on the lamp holder 2610, so that the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621 are arranged relative to each other in the radial direction of the rotating shaft.

[0122] A positioning hole is provided inside the conductive ring, and a contact point is formed on the surface of the positioning hole, and the contact point is electrically connected to the light emitter through a first circuit pattern on the conductive ring. In the first position, the contact head is inserted into the positioning hole, and the contact head contacts the contact point, thereby realizing positioning and conducting the circuit at the same time.

[0123] Since the second spring plunger is arranged radially at this time, the space occupied by the first conductor 2611 in the radial direction increases, which is not conducive to the miniaturization of the size of the bright-field lamp 2600. However, in Figure 4 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the embodiments shown, the first spring plunger is arranged axially, which helps to reduce the diameter size of the bright-field lamp 2600.

[0124] It should be noted that when the lamp arm 2620 is rotatably installed, as long as the second conductor 2621 and the first conductor 2611 satisfy the condition of "being arranged eccentrically with respect to the rotation axis", a torque resisting the movement of the lamp arm 2620 along the rotation axis can be generated, thus realizing the function of positioning the light-emitting body. Similarly, when the lamp arm 2620 is movably installed, as long as the second conductor 2621 and the first conductor 2611 can generate a force resisting the movement of the lamp arm 2620 along the moving direction of the lamp arm 2620, the function of positioning the light-emitting body can be realized. The positional layout of the second conductor 2621 and the first conductor 2611 can be flexibly adjusted according to the design requirements of the bright-field lamp 2600, and the present application does not limit this.

[0125] Since the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621 are arranged at the connection part of the lamp socket 2610 and the lamp arm 2620, and there is contact friction between the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621, both the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621 will be worn, and there is a need for maintenance and replacement.

[0126] If the first conductor 2611 is directly electrically connected to the power supply through a wire, and the second conductor 2621 is directly electrically connected to the light-emitting body through a wire, it is easy to increase the replacement difficulty of the first conductor 2611 and the second conductor 2621, resulting in a decrease in the maintainability of the bright-field lamp 2600.

[0127] Therefore, optionally, the lamp socket 2610 includes a first adapter assembly, the first conductor 2611 is detachably electrically connected to the first adapter assembly, and the first conductor 2611 is electrically connected to the power supply through the first adapter assembly. The lamp arm 2620 includes a second adapter assembly, the second conductor 2621 is detachably electrically connected to the second adapter assembly, and the second conductor 2621 is electrically connected to the light-emitting body through the second adapter assembly.

[0128] Exemplarily, referring to Figure 6 , the first adapter assembly may include a first circuit board 2612. The first circuit board 2612 is located on the side of the first conductor 2611 away from the lamp arm 2620. The first conductor 2611 further includes a first elastic probe 26112. The first elastic probe 26112 is installed on the first conductive plate 26111, and the first elastic probe 26112 abuts against the first circuit board 2612.

[0129] The first circuit board 2612 is used for switching, that is, the first conductor 2611 is indirectly electrically connected to the power supply through the first circuit board 2612, and the first conductor 2611 is not directly connected to the wire. On the one hand, there is no relative movement between the first conductor 2611 and the first circuit board 2612 during daily use, so the first circuit board 2612 is less worn and has a much longer service life than the first conductor 2611. During maintenance, it is generally only necessary to replace the first conductor 2611. On the other hand, the first conductor 2611 and the first circuit board 2612 are electrically connected through the first elastic probe 26112, so the first conductor 2611 and the first circuit board 2612 can be easily separated. Therefore, such a design helps to improve the maintainability of the bright field lamp 2600. The first elastic probe 26112 can also ensure the stability of the electrical connection.

[0130] Reference Figure 6 Optionally, the lamp holder 2610 is provided with two first conductors 2611 to be respectively connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the power source. Correspondingly, two second circuit patterns that are not connected to each other are formed on the surface of the first circuit board 2612 to respectively electrically connect the two first conductors 2611. The side of the first circuit board 2612 that is away from the first conductor 2611 is used for welding the wires connected to the power source (not shown in the figure). In addition, the first conductor 2611 may include two or more first elastic probes 26112, so as to reduce the resistance of the loop by connecting the first elastic probes 26112 in parallel.

[0131] Further, in order to avoid exposing the first elastic probe 26112 and other charged structures to the surface of the bright field lamp 2600, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 6 The first adapter assembly may further include a first isolation block 2613, the first isolation block 2613 is located between the first conductive plate 26111 and the first circuit board 2612, and the first elastic probe 26112 passes through the first isolation block 2613 and abuts against the first circuit board 2612. The first isolation block 2613 is made of insulating material, which protects the internal circuit from environmental corrosion on the one hand, and avoids the risk of electric shock caused by exposure of the live structure on the other hand.

[0132] The first isolation block 2613 may further be provided with a positioning recess 26132, the shape of which matches the first conductive plate 26111, and the first conductive plate 26111 is embedded in the positioning recess 26132 to achieve the positioning and installation of the first conductive body 2611. The bottom of the positioning recess 26132 is correspondingly provided with a through hole for inserting the first elastic probe 26112, and a clearance fit may be adopted between the through hole and the first elastic probe 26112, which can avoid over-positioning on the one hand, and facilitate the removal of the first elastic probe 26112 when replacing it on the other hand.

[0133] The first isolation block 2613 can also participate in limiting the position of the lamp arm 2620. Exemplarily, the first isolation block 2613 is provided with a stopper 26131, and the stopper 26131 and the first conductive plate 26111 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. When the bright field lamp 2600 is in a state of being installed, the top surface of the stopper 26131 is higher than the top surface of the first conductive plate 26111 in the axial direction, and the stopper 26131 is used to abut against the base of the first spring plunger to limit the rotation range of the lamp arm 2620. Alternatively, the first isolation block 2613 can also be provided with a second limiting groove similar to the first limiting groove, and the contact of the first spring plunger is stuck in the second limiting groove, so as to accurately position the lamp arm 2620 in the second position.

[0134] The "installed state" refers to the state where the bright field lamp 2600 is assembled and the first conductive plate 26111 is placed in place. For example, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 6 In the "installation completed state", the first conductor 2611 is placed on the first isolation block 2613 along the axial direction, so that the first conductive plate 26111 is embedded in the positioning groove 26132, and the first elastic probe 26112 is inserted into the corresponding via hole. Figure 1 The thickness of the first conductive plate 26111 is the same as the depth of the positioning recess 26132 , and the stopper 26131 is higher than the positioning recess 26132 , so that the top surface of the stopper 26131 is higher than the top surface of the first conductive plate 26111 in the axial direction.

[0135] It is understandable that if the bright field lamp 2600 is installed by plug-in installation or other quick-release installation methods, the connection between the lamp holder 2610 and the power supply will also have the problem of wear and replacement.

[0136] To this end, optionally, the lamp holder 2610 may further include a third conductor 2617 , and the third conductor 2617 is used to plug in a power source, and the first adapter component can be detachably electrically connected to the third conductor 2617 .

[0137] Specific reference Figure 7 The first adapter component may also include a second circuit board 2615, the second circuit board 2615 is located on the side of the third conductor 2617 away from the power supply, the third conductor 2617 includes a second conductive plate 26172 and a second elastic probe 26171, the second elastic probe 26171 is installed on the second conductive plate 26172, and the second elastic probe 26171 passes through the second isolation block 2618 and abuts against the second circuit board 2615.

[0138] The second circuit board 2615 can adopt a design similar to that of the first circuit board 2612, that is, the second circuit board 2615 can also form two third circuit patterns that are not connected to each other, and the second conductive plate 26172 can also form two fourth circuit patterns that are not connected to each other. The two fourth circuit patterns are respectively electrically connected to the two third circuit patterns through two groups of second elastic probes 26171, so that the two third circuit patterns are respectively connected to the positive and negative poles of the power supply. The side of the second circuit board 2615 facing away from the second conductive plate 26172 is then connected to the first circuit board 2612 through a welded wire (not shown in the figure), completing the connection of the entire circuit in the lamp holder 2610. The number of a group of second elastic probes 26171 can be two or more, thereby reducing the resistance of the loop.

[0139] Of course, the first conductor 2611 can also adopt a design similar to that of the third conductor 2617, that is, the positive and negative poles of the power source are respectively connected through two unconnected circuit patterns, which will not be elaborated here.

[0140] Similarly, the first adapter assembly may further include a second isolation block 2618 , where the second isolation block 2618 is located between the second conductive plate 26172 and the second circuit board 2615 , and the second elastic probe 26171 passes through the second isolation block 2618 and abuts against the second circuit board 2615 .

[0141] The function of the second elastic probe 26171 is similar to that of the first elastic probe 26112 , and the function of the second isolation block 2618 is similar to that of the first isolation block 2613 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0142] Next, return to Figure 2 Exemplarily, the lamp holder 2610 includes a seat body 2614, a first isolation block 2613 and a second isolation block 2618 are mounted on the seat body 2614, the first isolation block 2613 and the seat body 2614 clamp and fix the first circuit board 2612, and the second isolation block 2618 and the seat body 2614 clamp and fix the second circuit board 2615, thereby realizing the installation of the first adapter assembly in the lamp holder 2610. The first isolation block 2613 and the second isolation block 2618 can be installed by conventional installation methods such as screw connection and riveting, which will not be repeated here.

[0143] Further references Figure 3 The seat body 2614 can be designed as a column extending in the axial direction. The first circuit board 2612 and the second circuit board 2615 are respectively arranged at the two ends of the seat body 2614. The first circuit board 2612 and the second circuit board 2615 are electrically connected through a wire. The seat body 2614 is provided with a first wire passing channel 26141 which passes through in the axial direction, and the wire is located in the first wire passing channel 26141.

[0144] It should be noted that Figure 2 andFigure 3 What is shown is only an exemplary design scheme of the seat body 2614. The seat body 2614 can also be designed into other shapes. The first isolation block 2613 and the second isolation block 2618 may also be arranged at other positions of the seat body 2614. As long as the seat body 2614 has a first wire passage 26141 extending between the first circuit board 2612 and the second circuit board 2615, the requirements can be met. This application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0145] For example, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The second adapter assembly may include a third circuit board 2622, the first spring plunger is inserted into the third circuit board 2622, and the light-emitting body is electrically connected to the third circuit board 2622 through a wire.

[0146] The third circuit board 2622 is used for switching, that is, the second conductor 2621 (here, the first spring plunger) is indirectly electrically connected to the power supply through the third circuit board 2622. On the one hand, there is no relative movement between the second conductor 2621 and the third circuit board 2622 during daily use, so the third circuit board 2622 is less worn and has a much longer service life than the second conductor 2621. During maintenance, it is generally only necessary to replace the second conductor 2621. On the other hand, the first spring plunger is installed by plug-in, and the first spring plunger is not directly connected to the wire, so the first spring plunger and the third circuit board 2622 can be easily separated. Therefore, such a design helps to improve the maintainability of the bright field lamp 2600.

[0147] In order to ensure the stability of the electrical connection, the first spring plunger can be welded on the third circuit board 2622. During maintenance, the first spring plunger can be removed by desoldering, which has little impact on maintainability.

[0148] To ensure safety, the third circuit board 2622 and other live structures need to be prevented from being exposed on the surface of the lamp arm 2620. Figure 8 The lamp arm 2620 may further include a first cover plate 2623 and a second cover plate 2624 , the first cover plate 2623 is mounted on the lamp holder 2610 , the first cover plate 2623 and the second cover plate 2624 are respectively located on both sides of the third circuit board 2622 , and the second cover plate 2624 presses and fixes the third circuit board 2622 .

[0149] While being pressed, the first cover plate 2623 and / or the second cover plate 2624 also encloses a second wire passage 26241 with the third circuit board 2622 to facilitate connection between the third circuit board 2622 and the light-emitting body through wires.

[0150] Exemplarily, the second cover plate 2624 has pressing ribs 26242 arranged at intervals. The pressing ribs 26242 press the third circuit board 2622 against the first cover plate 2623, and a second wire passing channel 26241 is formed between the pressing ribs 26242.

[0151] It should be noted that Figure 4 、 Figure 5 and Figure 8 The exemplary design shown for the lamp arm 2620 is only one example. The lamp arm 2620 can also be configured in other forms, as long as the lamp arm 2620 can enclose the third circuit board 2622 and form the second wire passing channel 26241 to meet the requirements. This application does not limit this.

[0152] Exemplarily, the lamp arm 2620 may further include a light guide cover 2625. The light guide cover 2625 is installed on the first cover plate 2623. The light guide cover 2625 encloses to form a light source chamber with a light outlet. The light emitting body is installed in the light source chamber. The light guide cover 2625 is used to guide the emission direction of light, so as to provide a better bright field effect.

[0153] In addition, an outlet hole communicating with the light source chamber is formed in the side wall of the light guide cover 2625, and the second cover plate 2624 forms the second wire passing channel 26241 communicating the outlet hole and the third circuit board 2622.

[0154] It should be pointed out that in addition to the feeding device, the micro-droplet generating device may further include a micro-droplet collecting device for collecting micro-droplets. Under the action of the actuating member, the generated micro-droplets automatically flow to the micro-droplet collecting device and are collected, thereby further improving the automation level of the micro-droplet generating device.

[0155] Therefore, this application provides a micro-droplet collecting device, and the micro-droplet collecting device is suitable for use in the micro-droplet generating device.

[0156] In the preparation of cell gel microspheres and some other usage scenarios, the generated micro-droplets need to be cured (such as ultraviolet curing or thermal curing).

[0157] Taking ultraviolet curing as an example, since a microfluidic chip 9000 is often used to prepare micro-droplets in the related art, when curing is required, in some related technologies, a curing channel is added at the end of the microfluidic chip 9000, and then the micro-droplets are cured by irradiating the curing channel with ultraviolet light.

[0158] It is understandable that there are frictional resistance along the way and local resistance when the fluid flows. The frictional resistance along the way depends on the friction between the fluid and the pipe wall, and the local resistance depends on the local shape of the flow channel. On the one hand, adding a curing channel prolongs the length of the flow channel, resulting in an increase in the total frictional resistance along the way. On the other hand, some related technologies design a curved serpentine tube as the curing channel in the microfluidic chip 9000, which will also increase the total local resistance, thereby causing an increase in the total flow resistance of the microfluidic chip 9000, which is not conducive to improving the flow velocity and generation efficiency of microdroplets.

[0159] Therefore, in some other related technologies, building a curing channel is abandoned. Instead, the microdroplets are first discharged and collected in a container, and then the microdroplets are cured by irradiating the container with ultraviolet light. However, due to the small size of the microdroplets, the microdroplets in the container are prone to mutual occlusion, resulting in differences in the light intensity received by the microdroplets at different positions in the container, and defects such as extended curing time and reduced curing consistency. Some types of microdroplets may also fuse with each other before curing, resulting in limited application scope of collecting first and then curing.

[0160] Therefore, optionally, the microdroplet collection device may include a collection container 1100. The collection container 1100 is used to receive microdroplets, and the collection container 1100 is used to disperse the fluid carrying the microdroplets on the wall surface of the collection container 1100 so as to cure the microdroplets.

[0161] On the one hand, using the microdroplet collection device provided by the present application enables the microdroplets to be cured after leaving the microfluidic chip 9000, thereby avoiding setting a curing channel in the microfluidic chip 9000 or extending the length of the drain pipe 1200 to build a curing channel, which helps to reduce the total flow resistance of the microfluidic chip 9000 and the flow time of the fluid carrying the microdroplets in the microfluidic chip 9000, thereby improving the collection efficiency of the microdroplets.

[0162] On the other hand, the fluid is dispersed on the side wall, so the microdroplets in the fluid are also dispersed from each other. When curing, the microdroplets are not easily blocked from each other, which helps each microdroplet to fully receive the irradiation of the ultraviolet light source or evenly receive the heat from the heat source, improving the curing speed of the microdroplets and the consistency of the curing effect. Therefore, the microdroplet collection device helps to shorten the time required for curing the microdroplets and improve the curing consistency of the microdroplets at the same time.

[0163] Optionally, referring to Figure 9 , the microdroplet collection device may further include a drain pipe 1200. The drain pipe 1200 is communicated with the channel outlet of the microfluidic chip 9000, and the drain pipe 1200 is used to transport the microdroplets to the collection container 1100.

[0164] In addition, in the case of photocuring, the micro-droplet collection device may further include an ultraviolet light source 1300, which is used to irradiate and cure the micro-droplets.

[0165] It can be understood that this application does not require the fluid to always be in a dispersed state in the collection container 1100, as long as it is in a dispersed state during the curing process. For example, the fluid can first be in a dispersed state and then converge at the bottom of the collection container 1100 after curing is completed.

[0166] Exemplarily, the drainage pipeline 1200 can be configured to convey the fluid carrying micro-droplets to the side wall of the collection container 1100, so that the fluid flows along the side wall towards the bottom of the collection container 1100. The ultraviolet light source 1300 can be configured to irradiate the side wall to cure the micro-droplets during the flow of the fluid.

[0167] It can be understood that the micro-droplet collection device is suitable for being paired with the microfluidic chip 9000. At this time, the drainage pipeline 1200 is communicated with the channel outlet of the microfluidic chip 9000, so as to obtain the fluid carrying micro-droplets from the microfluidic chip 9000 and send the fluid to the side wall. Since the microfluidic chip 9000 generates micro-droplets in sequence, the micro-droplets basically pass through the drainage pipeline 1200 in an arranged order.

[0168] On the one hand, at this time, the fluid has just left the drainage pipeline 1200 and has not converged or only has a small degree of convergence. On the other hand, the fluid is further dispersed on the side wall. Therefore, it is not easy for the micro-droplets to block each other in this state. Finally, the fluid flowing along the side wall will be at the bottom of the collection container 1100, thus leaving the dispersed state.

[0169] Moreover, compared with curing after collection is completed, advancing the curing can also improve the processing efficiency of micro-droplets and avoid the mutual fusion of micro-droplets during collection.

[0170] It should be noted that in the related art, the microfluidic chip 9000 is often used to prepare micro-droplets. Therefore, this application takes the scenario based on the microfluidic chip (that is, the micro-droplet generation device) as an example to introduce the micro-droplet collection device. The micro-droplet collection device can of course also be used alone without the micro-droplet generation device for other scenarios of preparing micro-droplets, as long as the prepared micro-droplets are suitable for being conveyed to the collection container 1100 through the drainage pipeline 1200.

[0171] As mentioned above, generally, the micro-droplets pass through the drainage pipeline 1200 in sequence one by one. Therefore, the micro-droplets on the side wall usually do not block each other. However, it does not rule out that in some other scenarios, such as scenarios where micro-droplets are prepared by other methods or scenarios where multiple micro-droplets are output simultaneously at the channel outlet of the microfluidic chip 9000, there may be a slight mutual blocking phenomenon of the micro-droplets on the side wall, affecting the curing effect.

[0172] For this reason, optionally, the side wall of the collection container 1100 can be designed to increase the specific surface area of the fluid. Specifically, for a fluid microelement of unit volume, an increase in the specific surface area correspondingly increases the light-receiving area of the fluid. Therefore, the micro-droplets are more sparsely distributed on the light-receiving surface and are less likely to block each other, ensuring that different micro-droplets are evenly illuminated and obtaining a consistent curing level.

[0173] The side wall can achieve the effect of increasing the specific surface area of the fluid in different ways. Exemplarily, the contact angle between the side wall and the fluid is less than 90°. In other words, the fluid is prone to spread on the surface of the side wall, thereby achieving the effect of increasing the specific surface area and improving the light-receiving area. It can be understood that in a microfluidic chip, micro-droplets are generated by separating the dispersed-phase fluid with the continuous-phase fluid. Therefore, the fluid carrying the micro-droplets is the continuous-phase fluid. When the continuous-phase fluid is an oil phase, selecting an oil-loving material for the material of the collection container 1100 can increase the specific surface area of the fluid. When the continuous-phase fluid is an aqueous phase, selecting a hydrophilic material for the material of the collection container 1100 can increase the specific surface area of the fluid.

[0174] At the same time, since the contact angle between the side wall and the fluid is less than 90°, the contact angle between the side wall and the micro-droplets is often greater than 90°, making it difficult for the micro-droplets to spread on the side wall and reducing the risk of adjacent micro-droplets contacting and merging with each other.

[0175] Of course, optionally, the effect of increasing the specific surface area of the fluid can also be achieved by designing a special surface structure on the side wall. However, this method requires the use of a special collection container 1100, which will increase the use cost of the micro-droplet collection device.

[0176] It should be noted that during the transfer of the fluid from the drainage pipeline 1200 to the side wall, it is necessary to reduce the impact of the fluid on the side wall to prevent part of the fluid from splashing from the side wall under the impact and directly falling to the bottom of the collection container 1100, resulting in micro-droplets that are not fully cured.

[0177] Optionally, the micro-droplet collection device can be designed to enable the fluid to flow continuously between the liquid discharge pipe 1200 and the side wall, thereby avoiding the impact caused by the intermittent flow of the fluid (for example, first converging into droplets of a certain size at the end of the liquid discharge pipe 1200 and then dripping onto the wall surface). Exemplarily, referring to Figure 9 , the micro-droplet collection device can be designed such that the end of the liquid discharge pipe 1200 is arranged close to the side wall (for example, arranged at a distance less than a set distance), and further can be designed such that the end of the liquid discharge pipe 1200 abuts against the side wall, so that the distance between the end and the side wall is close enough, and the fluid leaving the liquid discharge pipe 1200 can contact the side wall in a timely manner.

[0178] Optionally, the micro-droplet collection device can also be designed such that the liquid discharge pipe 1200 is inclined towards the side wall. Specifically, in the liquid discharge pipe 1200, the flow direction of the fluid is along the axial direction of the liquid discharge pipe 1200, and on the side wall, the flow direction of the fluid is parallel to the surface of the side wall. Since the flow direction changes during the transfer process, if the end of the liquid discharge pipe 1200 is perpendicular to the side wall, the fluid is likely to splash under the impact during high-speed flow. However, using an inclined angle design can reduce the amplitude of the flow direction change and slow down the impact on the fluid when the flow direction changes, avoiding the fluid from splashing, which helps to increase the flow rate of the fluid (that is, the outlet speed of the liquid discharge pipe 1200) and accelerate the micro-droplet collection process.

[0179] After the flow rate of the fluid increases, the fluid may reach the bottom of the collection container 1100 too quickly under the acceleration of gravity, resulting in the problem of insufficient curing. For this reason, the side wall can be inclined so that the fluid flows obliquely downward along the side wall, thereby reducing the effect of gravity to a certain extent and slowing down the speed of the fluid. In other words, the side wall defines an obliquely downward flow path for the fluid, thereby prolonging the residence time of the fluid on the side wall.

[0180] Exemplarily, referring to Figure 9 , when the collection container 1100 is selected as a centrifuge tube, the effect of defining an obliquely downward flow path can be achieved by placing the collection container 1100 obliquely (that is, obliquely to the Figure 9 Z direction in

[0181] For ease of use, optionally, the micro-droplet collection device can include a mounting assembly, and the collection container 1100, the liquid discharge pipe 1200, and the ultraviolet light source 1300 are mounted on the mounting assembly.

[0182] Exemplarily, referring to Figure 10 and Figure 11 , the mounting assembly includes a first fixing frame 1410, and the first fixing frame 1410 is configured to form a first groove 1411, and the collection container 1100 is inserted into the first groove 1411.

[0183] The insertion method facilitates the placement and replacement of the collection container 1100, reduces the time-consuming for replacing the collection container 1100, and thus improves the overall efficiency of micro-droplet generation. Additionally, as mentioned before, the direction of the first trough 1411 can be inclined with respect to the vertical direction, so that the collection container 1100 is positioned obliquely in the first fixing bracket 1410. Multiple first troughs 1411 can also be formed on the first fixing bracket 1410 simultaneously, allowing multiple collection containers 1100 to be arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction, thereby improving the accommodation capacity of the micro-droplet collection device.

[0184] Further, with continued reference to Figure 10 and Figure 11 , the installation assembly may further include a second fixing bracket 1420, and the second fixing bracket 1420 is configured to form a second trough 1421, and the first fixing bracket 1410 is inserted into the second trough 1421.

[0185] Correspondingly, the micro-droplet collection device can prepare multiple first fixing brackets 1410. After the collection container 1100 on the first fixing bracket 1410 is full, a new first fixing bracket 1410 can be directly replaced, further reducing the time-consuming for replacing the collection container 1100.

[0186] It should be noted that since the fluid flows from top to bottom, the drain pipe 1200 is basically located above the collection container 1100, and interference is likely to occur between the drain pipe 1200 and the first fixing bracket 1410 when the first fixing bracket 1410 is taken out from above. Therefore, optionally, at least one side of the second trough 1421 in the horizontal direction penetrates the second fixing bracket 1420 to allow the first fixing bracket 1410 to be inserted and withdrawn in the horizontal direction. When taking out the first fixing bracket 1410, the drain pipe 1200 does not need to be avoided, so the use of the micro-droplet collection device is more convenient.

[0187] Further, with reference to Figure 11 , the micro-droplet collection device may further include a handle 1430, and the handle 1430 is fixedly connected to the first fixing bracket 1410, and the handle 1430 is grasped to withdraw the first fixing bracket 1410.

[0188] Of course, in addition to designing the through second trough 1421, a second trough 1421 that can be closed or opened on the side can also be designed. For example, a foldable baffle is designed in the second fixing bracket 1420, and the baffle forms the side wall of the second trough 1421. By flipping the baffle, the first fixing bracket 1410 can be exposed, which is convenient for replacement. Based on a similar idea, other second fixing brackets 1420 that are convenient for replacement can also be designed for the micro-droplet collection device, which will not be elaborated here.

[0189] Since the ultraviolet light source 1300 does not need to be replaced, the ultraviolet light source 1300 can be fixed on the second fixing bracket 1420 and does not move with the first fixing bracket 1410. It can be understood that in order for the ultraviolet light source 1300 to irradiate the collection container 1100, the first fixing bracket 1410 is configured to form a first window 1412, and the second fixing bracket 1420 is configured to form a second window 1422. The first window 1412 is located on one side of the first trough 1411 in the horizontal direction, and the first window 1412 communicates with the first trough 1411 to expose the flow path of the fluid. The second window 1422 is located on one side of the second trough 1421 in the horizontal direction, and the second window 1422 communicates with the second trough 1421. The second window 1422 and the first window 1412 are at least partially aligned.

[0190] That is to say, the ultraviolet light sequentially passes through the second window 1422, the first window 1412, and the collection container 1100 to irradiate the fluid located inside the collection container 1100.

[0191] Exemplarily, referring to Figure 11 , the ultraviolet light source 1300 includes a circuit board 1310 and a lamp bead 1320. The circuit board 1310 is fixedly connected to the second fixing bracket 1420. The circuit board 1310 covers the second window 1422. The lamp bead 1320 is soldered on the circuit board 1310, and the lamp bead 1320 is located inside the second window 1422. On the one hand, the circuit board 1310 plays a role in positioning the lamp bead 1320 and supplying power to the lamp bead 1320. On the other hand, the circuit board 1310 covers the lamp bead 1320 inside the second window 1422, avoiding the leakage of ultraviolet light to irradiate the user. While improving the use safety, it also makes the light more concentrated, which helps to promote the solidification of microdroplets.

[0192] It can be understood that when paired with the microfluidic chip 9000, the diameter of the drainage pipe 1200 generally matches the channel size of the microfluidic chip, that is, at the micron level. For example, the outer diameter is 2μm - 3μm. At this time, the drainage pipe 1200 is not suitable for positioning and installation by clamping, so as to avoid the reduction of the inner diameter of the drainage pipe 1200 or even blockage when clamping.

[0193] Therefore, optionally, the drainage pipe 1200 can be installed by passing through the positioning hole. The diameter of the positioning hole is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the drainage pipe 1200, so as to achieve a good positioning effect without squeezing the drainage pipe 1200. However, if the diameter of the positioning hole is too small, it will cause inconvenience for the user to find the insertion position, making the operation of the microdroplet collection device not simple enough.

[0194] For the convenience of positioning and installation of the drainage pipe 1200, referring to Figure 9 and Figure 11, optionally, the mounting assembly may include a sleeve 1440 through which the drain pipe 1200 is inserted. Along the insertion direction of the drain pipe 1200, the inner diameter of the sleeve 1440 gradually decreases to guide and position the drain pipe 1200.

[0195] Referring to Figure 9 , on the one hand, the large end of the sleeve 1440 has a larger diameter, allowing the user to easily insert the drain pipe 1200 into the sleeve 1440. On the other hand, the small end of the sleeve 1440 has a smaller diameter, thus limiting the position of the drain pipe 1200 and ensuring an appropriate relative position between the drain pipe 1200 and the collection container 1100. It can be understood that Figure 9 is only used to schematically show the installation relationship between the sleeve 1440 and the drain pipe 1200, Figure 9 the actual gap between the sleeve 1440 and the drain pipe 1200 in Figure 9 is smaller than the gap shown.

[0196] Furthermore, the mounting assembly may include a third fixing bracket 1450, and the sleeve 1440 is inserted into the third fixing bracket 1450. The insertion installation facilitates the disassembly and replacement of the sleeve 1440. That is to say, the sleeve 1440 can be taken out first, and then put back after the drain pipe 1200 is inserted, making the use of the micro-droplet collection device more flexible.

[0197] Moreover, referring to Figure 11 , the third fixing bracket 1450 may further include a connecting arm 1451 and a first mounting seat 1452. The connecting arm 1451 extends in the horizontal direction, and the first mounting seat 1452 is quickly detachably connected to one end of the connecting arm 1451. The first mounting seat 1452 is at least partially aligned with the collection container 1100 in the vertical direction, and the sleeve 1440 is inserted into the first mounting seat 1452.

[0198] At this time, the user can selectively remove the sleeve 1440 and / or the first mounting seat 1452 according to the needs of the specific scenario, further improving the flexibility of the micro-droplet collection device during use.

[0199] Exemplarily, referring to Figure 11 , the third fixing bracket 1450 may further include magnetic blocks 1453. The two magnetic blocks 1453 are respectively fixed to the connecting arm 1451 and the first mounting seat 1452, and the connecting arm 1451 and the first mounting seat 1452 are quickly detachably connected by magnetic attraction. Of course, in addition to magnetic attraction, quick detachable connection can also be achieved by other common methods such as buckles and clamping, which will not be elaborated here.

[0200] As mentioned above, in order to improve the accommodation capacity of the micro-droplet collection device, a plurality of collection containers 1100 can be arranged horizontally at the same time. Correspondingly, the installation assembly further includes a driving mechanism, and the driving mechanism can drive the liquid discharge pipe 1200 to move so that the liquid discharge pipe 1200 switches and mates with different collection containers 1100.

[0201] Referring to Figure 11 and Figure 12 , the collection container 1100 is configured to form a cavity that is open at the top. The driving mechanism can at least include a first driver 1461 and a second driver 1462. The first driver 1461 is used to drive the liquid discharge pipe 1200 to move in the vertical direction to enter or leave the cavity, and the second driver 1462 is used to drive the liquid discharge pipe 1200 to move in the horizontal direction to align different collection containers 1100 in the vertical direction.

[0202] The first driver 1461 can drive the liquid discharge pipe 1200 to move in different ways, and the second driver 1462 can drive the liquid discharge pipe 1200 to move in different ways.

[0203] Exemplarily, the collection containers 1100 are arranged at intervals in the same direction. Referring to Figure 12 , the driving mechanism can include a lead screw 1463 and a slider 1464. The output end of the second driver 1462 is drivingly connected to the lead screw 1463. The lead screw 1463 extends in the horizontal direction (the extending direction is parallel to the arrangement direction of the collection containers 1100). The slider 1464 is drivingly connected to the lead screw 1463. The first driver 1461 is installed on the slider 1464, and the liquid discharge pipe 1200 is installed at the output end of the first driver 1461.

[0204] Specifically, the driving mechanism can further include a second mounting seat 1465. One end of the second mounting seat 1465 is fixedly connected to the slider 1464, and the first driver 1461 is fixedly connected to the other end of the second mounting seat 1465. The second mounting seat 1465 extends in the vertical direction, thereby forming an installation space for accommodating the first driver 1461. The driving mechanism can further include a third mounting seat 1468. The third mounting seat 1468 is fixedly connected to the second fixing frame 1420. The second driver 1462 is fixedly connected to the third mounting seat 1468. One end of the lead screw 1463 is rotatably inserted through the third mounting seat 1468, and the other end is connected to the output shaft of the second driver 1462. The slider 1464 is slidably installed on the third mounting seat 1468.

[0205] In addition, in order to ensure the accurate positioning of the liquid discharge pipe 1200, the driving mechanism can further include a position sensor 1466, and the position sensor 1466 can stop the first driver 1461 in response to the liquid discharge pipe 1200 descending to a set position.

[0206] Exemplarily, with reference to Figure 11 and Figure 12 , the drive mechanism further includes an induction sheet 1467, the induction sheet 1467 is installed on the third fixing bracket 1450, the position sensor 1466 is installed on the first driver 1461, the induction sheet 1467 rises and falls following the third fixing bracket 1450. When the liquid discharge pipe 1200 descends to the set position, the induction sheet 1467 is just between the transmitting end and the receiving end of the position sensor 1466, thereby triggering the position sensor 1466 to stop the first driver 1461. At this time, the position sensor 1466 can adopt an optoelectronic sensor.

[0207] Of course, according to the specific specifications of the position sensor 1466, other different installation and triggering methods can also be designed, which will not be elaborated here.

[0208] The present application also provides a micro-droplet collection method, and the micro-droplet collection method can be executed by the micro-droplet collection device of the present application.

[0209] Exemplarily, the micro-droplet collection method includes:

[0210] Step S100: Obtain a fluid carrying micro-droplets.

[0211] It can be understood that when used in pairing with a microfluidic chip, obtaining a fluid carrying micro-droplets includes providing a continuous-phase fluid and a dispersed-phase fluid to the microfluidic chip; the continuous-phase fluid shears the dispersed-phase fluid to form micro-droplets from the dispersed-phase fluid.

[0212] Optionally, the micro-droplet collection method can also introduce feedback regulation during the formation of micro-droplets, that is, obtain the image information of the micro-droplets, and adjust the input pressures of the continuous-phase fluid and the dispersed-phase fluid in response to the image information. The way of feedback regulation can refer to the previous description and will not be elaborated here.

[0213] Step S200: Deliver the fluid to the side wall of the collection container 1100 through the liquid discharge pipe 1200 so that the fluid flows downward along the side wall;

[0214] Step S300: Irradiate the fluid located on the side wall with ultraviolet light to cure the micro-droplets.

[0215] The micro-droplet collection method helps each micro-droplet to fully receive the irradiation of the ultraviolet light source, thereby reducing the risk of inconsistent illumination intensity of the micro-droplets, improving the curing speed of the micro-droplets and the consistency of the curing effect. The micro-droplet collection method helps to shorten the time required for curing the micro-droplets and improve the curing consistency of the micro-droplets at the same time.

[0216] The micro-droplet collection method is implemented by a micro-droplet collection device, and thus correspondingly also has the beneficial effects provided by the micro-droplet collection device, which will not be elaborated here.

[0217] Optionally, referring to the introduction of the micro-droplet collection device, the micro-droplet collection method can also define that the fluid flows obliquely downward along the side wall to extend the residence time of the fluid on the side wall. Further, the side wall can increase the specific surface area of the fluid to increase the light-receiving area of the fluid.

[0218] In the description of this specification, the description of reference terms such as "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "schematic embodiments", "examples", "specific examples", or "some examples" means 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 application. In this specification, the schematic expressions 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.

[0219] In some alternative embodiments, the functions / operations mentioned in the block diagram may not occur in the order mentioned in the operation diagram. For example, depending on the functions / operations involved, two consecutive blocks shown can actually be executed substantially simultaneously or the blocks can sometimes be executed in the reverse order. In addition, the embodiments presented and described in the flowcharts of the present application are provided by way of example for the purpose of providing a more comprehensive understanding of the technology. The disclosed method is not limited to the operations and logical flows presented herein. Alternative embodiments are foreseeable, in which the order of various operations is changed and the sub-operations described as part of a larger operation are executed independently.

[0220] Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described, those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and purposes of the present application. The scope of the present application is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A micro-droplet generation device, characterized in that: include, A carrying component, the carrying component includes an operating table, and the operating table is used to place the microfluidic chip; A feeding device, the feeding device comprising a liquid inlet pipeline and an actuator, the liquid inlet pipeline is connected to the channel inlet of the microfluidic chip, and the actuator is used to drive the fluid to be transported along the liquid inlet pipeline to the microfluidic chip to generate micro droplets in the microfluidic chip; A micro-droplet collecting device comprises a collecting container, wherein the collecting container is used to receive the micro-droplets and the collecting container is used to disperse the fluid carrying the micro-droplets on the wall surface of the collecting container so as to solidify the micro-droplets.

2. The micro-droplet generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The micro-droplet collecting device comprises a liquid discharge pipe, which is communicated with the channel outlet of the microfluidic chip and is used to transport the micro-droplets to the collecting container.

3. The micro-droplet generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The actuator includes a gas control component, the feeding device also includes a supply container, the liquid inlet pipe is connected to the supply container, the supply container is used to store the fluid, and the gas control component is configured to transport pressure medium to the supply container so that the fluid moves toward the microfluidic chip through the liquid inlet pipe.

4. The micro-droplet generation device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The gas control assembly includes a proportional valve, and the proportional valve is used to adjust the pressure of the pressure medium.

5. The micro-droplet generation device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The micro-droplet generation device includes an imaging component, which is used to photograph the microfluidic chip. The gas control component can adjust the pressure of the pressure medium in response to imaging information of the imaging component.

6. The micro-droplet generation device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The micro-droplet generation device comprises a bright field lamp, and the bright field lamp is used to provide a bright field for the microfluidic chip; The bright field lamp includes a lamp holder and a lamp arm, wherein the lamp arm is movably mounted on the lamp holder, and the lamp arm can be switched between a first position and a second position. A light-emitting body is mounted on the lamp arm, and in the first position, a projection of the light-emitting body on the operating table falls on the microfluidic chip so that the light-emitting body is directly opposite to the microfluidic chip, and in the second position, a projection of the light-emitting body on the operating table leaves the microfluidic chip, and the light-emitting body can be turned off in response to the lamp arm being switched from the first position to the second position, and the light-emitting body can be turned on in response to the lamp arm being switched from the second position to the first position.

7. The micro-droplet generation device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The bright field lamp comprises a trigger assembly, the light emitter is electrically connected to the trigger assembly, and the trigger assembly can turn off or on the light emitter in response to the switching of the lamp arm between the first position and the second position; The trigger assembly includes a first conductor and a second conductor that are paired with each other, the first conductor is located in the lamp holder, and the second conductor is located in the lamp arm. In the first position, the first conductor and the second conductor are in contact with each other, and in the second position, the first conductor and the second conductor are separated from each other; the first conductor and the second conductor are at least used to position the lamp arm in the first position.

8. The micro-droplet generation device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The lamp arm can switch between the first position and the second position by rotating, the light-emitting body is arranged eccentrically relative to the rotating axis of the lamp arm, and the second conductor and the first conductor are arranged eccentrically relative to the rotating axis so that the second conductor can move closer to or away from the first conductor in response to the rotation of the lamp arm.

9. The micro-droplet generation device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The micro-droplet generating device comprises a display terminal, and the display terminal is communicatively connected with the imaging component.

10. The micro-droplet generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bearing assembly includes a first adjusting mechanism, a second adjusting mechanism and a third adjusting mechanism. The first adjusting mechanism and the second adjusting mechanism are used to adjust the position of the operating table in two horizontally intersecting directions, and the third adjusting mechanism is used to adjust the position of the operating table in the vertical direction.

11. A micro-droplet collection device, characterized in that: The micro-droplet collecting device is suitable for use in the micro-droplet generating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 11, characterized in that: include: Collection container; a liquid discharge pipe, the liquid discharge pipe being configured to transport the fluid carrying the micro-droplets to the side wall of the collection container so that the fluid flows along the side wall to the bottom of the collection container; An ultraviolet light source is configured to irradiate the sidewall to solidify the micro-droplets during the flow of the fluid.

13. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 12, characterized in that: The side wall can increase the specific surface area of ​​the fluid.

14. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 13, characterized in that: A contact angle between the side wall and the fluid is less than 90°.

15. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 12, characterized in that: The fluid flows continuously between the drainage channel and the side wall to reduce the impact of the fluid on the side wall.

16. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 12 or 15, characterized in that: The drainage pipe is inclined toward the side wall.

17. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 12, characterized in that: The side wall is arranged inclined.

18. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 12, characterized in that: The micro-droplet collecting device comprises a mounting assembly, and the collecting container, the liquid discharge pipe and the ultraviolet light source are mounted on the mounting assembly.

19. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 18, characterized in that: The mounting assembly includes a first fixing frame, which is structured to form a first trough body and a first window. The collecting container is inserted into the first trough body. The first window is located on one side of the first trough body in the horizontal direction. The first window is connected to the first trough body to expose the flow path of the fluid.

20. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 19, characterized in that: The mounting assembly includes a second fixing frame, the second fixing frame is structured to form a second slot body and a second window, the first fixing frame is inserted into the second slot body, the second window is located on one side of the second slot body in the horizontal direction, the second window is connected to the second slot body, and the second window and the first window are at least partially aligned.

21. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 20, characterized in that: The ultraviolet light source includes a circuit board and a lamp bead. The circuit board is fixedly connected to the second fixing frame. The circuit board covers the second window. The lamp bead is welded on the circuit board and is located in the second window.

22. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 20, characterized in that: At least one side of the second slot body in the horizontal direction penetrates the second fixing frame to allow the first fixing frame to be inserted and withdrawn in the horizontal direction.

23. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 22, characterized in that: The micro-droplet collecting device comprises a handle, which is fixedly connected to the first fixing frame. The first fixing frame can be pulled out by grasping the handle.

24. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 18, characterized in that: The installation assembly includes a pipe sleeve, and the drainage pipe is inserted into the pipe sleeve. Along the insertion direction of the drainage pipe, the inner diameter of the pipe sleeve gradually decreases to guide and position the drainage pipe.

25. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 24, characterized in that: The installation assembly comprises a third fixing frame, and the pipe sleeve is inserted into the third fixing frame.

26. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 25, characterized in that: The third fixing frame includes a connecting arm and a first mounting seat, the connecting arm extends in the horizontal direction, the first mounting seat is magnetically connected to one end of the connecting arm, the first mounting seat is at least partially aligned with the collection container in the vertical direction, and the pipe sleeve is inserted on the first mounting seat.

27. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 18 or 26, characterized in that: The plurality of collecting containers are arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction, and the mounting assembly further comprises a driving mechanism, which can drive the drainage pipe to move so that the drainage pipe can be switched and paired with different collecting containers.

28. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 27, characterized in that: The collecting container is constructed to form a cavity open at the top, and the driving mechanism includes a first driver and a second driver. The first driver is used to drive the drainage pipe to move in a vertical direction to enter or leave the cavity, and the second driver is used to drive the drainage pipe to move in a horizontal direction to align different collecting containers in the vertical direction.

29. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 28, characterized in that: The driving mechanism includes a screw and a slider. The output end of the second driver is connected to the screw, the screw extends in the horizontal direction, the slider is connected to the screw, the first driver is installed on the slider, and the drainage pipe is installed at the output end of the first driver.

30. The micro-droplet collecting device according to claim 28, characterized in that: The drive mechanism includes a position sensor capable of stopping the first driver in response to the discharge pipe descending to a set position.