Universal jig structure for droplet generation chip

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of microfluidic devices, in particular to a universal jig structure for a droplet generation chip, which comprises an upper pressing plate, a sealing silica gel pad, a bottom plate and a butterfly nut, a quick connector is mounted on the upper end face of the upper pressing plate, the sealing silica gel pad is adhered to the lower end face of the upper pressing plate, the bottom plate is provided with a hollow part, and the butterfly nut is arranged in the hollow part. A chip fixing plate is placed and fixed in the hollow part, a groove for placing a liquid drop chip and a hole for observing the generation state of liquid drops in a flow channel in the liquid drop chip are formed in the chip fixing plate, and a butterfly nut is used for locking the upper pressing plate and the bottom plate; and the inlet and outlet of the liquid drop chip are propped against the sealing silica gel pad and are communicated with the quick connector. The device can be adapted to various liquid drop chips and is convenient to fix, the liquid drop generation state can be observed from the bottom, and the sealing performance is good.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of microfluidic devices, in particular to a universal fixture structure for a droplet generation chip. Background Technique

[0002] Droplet generation chips are a type of chips widely used in the field of microfluidics. Oil and water are introduced at the inlet of the chip, and after passing through a special flow channel structure inside the chip, tiny oil-in-water or water-in-oil droplets are generated at the outlet. Tiny droplets are the key raw materials for QPCR (Quantitative Real-time PCR) detection.

[0003] There are already many types of droplet chips on the market. Although the basic principles are the same, the chip sizes and the layouts of the inlets and outlets are all different, and each type of chip needs to be equipped with a corresponding fixture; the original fixtures of some chips do not have bottom observation holes, and the droplet generation state cannot be observed under an inverted microscope, which is not conducive to the adjustment of experimental parameters; there are defects in the sealing design of some fixtures, resulting in leakage at the inlet, and droplets cannot be generated normally, causing losses of raw materials and time.

[0004] Adapting to a variety of droplet chips, being able to observe under an inverted microscope, and good sealing have become the problems that need to be solved emphatically for droplet chip fixtures. Content of the Utility Model

[0005] The purpose of the utility model is to provide a universal fixture structure for a droplet generation chip to solve the problems raised in the above background technique.

[0006] To achieve the above purpose, the utility model provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] A universal fixture structure for a droplet generation chip, comprising:

[0008] An upper pressing plate, on which a quick connector is installed on the upper end surface;

[0009] A sealing silica gel pad, which is pasted on the lower end surface of the upper pressing plate;

[0010] A bottom plate, which has a hollow on it, and a chip fixing plate is placed and fixed in the hollow;

[0011] The chip fixing plate is provided with a groove for placing a droplet generation chip and a hole for observing the generation state of droplets in the flow channel of the droplet generation chip;

[0012] A wing nut, which is used to lock between the upper pressing plate and the bottom plate, so that the inlets and outlets of the droplet generation chip are pressed against the sealing silica gel pad and are connected to the quick connector.

[0013] Further, the upper pressing plate and the sealing silica gel pad have communication holes, and the quick connector is communicated with the inlet and outlet through the communication holes.

[0014] Further, the upper pressing plate moves relative to the bottom plate through a guiding structure.

[0015] Further, the guiding structure includes symmetric guiding columns. The guiding columns are sleeved on the upper pressing plate and the bottom plate, and the upper pressing plate and the bottom plate are provided with guiding holes for the guiding columns to be sleeved and slide.

[0016] Further, the hollow is located at the central position of the bottom plate, the groove is located at the central position of the chip fixing plate, and the hole is located at the central position of the groove.

[0017] Further, the hollow is provided with a step for supporting the chip fixing plate, and both ends of the groove are provided with gaps for conveniently taking out the droplet chip from the groove.

[0018] Further, a component for strengthening the sealing performance between the sealing silica gel pad and the inlet and outlet is provided under the sealing silica gel pad.

[0019] Further, the component includes an elastic buckle cover. The top end of the buckle cover has a cover groove and a buckle groove located outside the cover groove. The buckle cover is provided with a cover hole communicated with the communication hole. When the inlet and outlet are adaptively inserted into the cover groove, the buckle groove is used to clamp the top of the inlet and outlet.

[0020] Further, there is a gap between the cover groove and the buckle groove, and the inner diameter of the top end of the cover hole is larger than that of the bottom end.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present utility model are as follows:

[0022] In the present utility model, the upper pressing plate is provided with threaded holes according to the positions of the inlet and outlet of the droplet chip and a quick connector is installed; the wing nut is locked, which is convenient to operate and has a large locking force, and can well compress the silica gel sealing pad to realize the sealing of the droplet chip; the sealing silica gel pad is pasted at the bottom of the upper pressing plate, which has good sealing performance for the droplet chip, and can effectively avoid problems such as leakage at the inlet, inability to generate droplets normally, and loss of raw materials and time. The middle position of the bottom plate is hollowed out, and a chip fixing plate made of a transparent material is placed in the hollowed-out part. An observation hole is arranged at the middle position of the chip fixing plate, which can conveniently observe the state of droplet generation in the droplet chip by using an inverted microscope. The present utility model can be adapted to a variety of droplet chips, and only needs to replace some parts to realize model change, which reduces the cost and shortens the model change time. Description of the Drawings

[0023] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the present utility model without the droplet chip structure.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a bottom view of the present utility model. Figure 1

[0025] Figure 3 This is an exploded structure schematic diagram of the present utility model.

[0026] Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the present utility model. Figure 3

[0027] Figure 5 This is an exploded structure schematic diagram of the present utility model including a droplet chip.

[0028] Figure 6 This is a diagram of the cooperation state between the inlet / outlet and components of the present utility model.

[0029] Figure 7 This is a diagram of the specific structure and state change of the components of the present utility model.

[0030] In the figure: 1 - upper pressing plate, 2 - bottom plate, 3 - guiding column, 4 - quick connector, 5 - wing nut, 6 - Teflon gasket, 7 - T-bolt, 8 - chip fixing plate, 9 - sealing silicone gasket, 10 - hollow, 11 - groove, 12 - gap, 13 - communication hole, 14 - guiding structure, 15 - guiding hole, 16 - hidden groove, 17 - through hole, 18 - step, 19 - hole, 20 - droplet chip, 21 - buckling cover, 22 - cover groove, 23 - buckling groove, 24 - cover hole, 25 - inlet / outlet, 26 - component, 27 - L-shaped screw rod, 28 - nut, 29 - interval. Specific embodiments

[0031] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present utility model, rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0032] In the description of the present utility model, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "upper end", "lower end", "inner", "outer", "front end", "rear end", "both ends", "one end", "the other end", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present utility model 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 therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present utility model. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0033] In the description of the present utility model, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, terms such as "installation", "provided with", "sheathed with", "socketed", "connection", etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the communication inside two components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present utility model can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0034] Please refer to Figures 1 to 7 , the present utility model provides a technical solution:

[0035] A general fixture structure for a droplet generation chip, comprising:

[0036] An upper pressing plate 1, and a quick connector 4 is installed on the upper end surface of the upper pressing plate 1;

[0037] A sealing silica gel pad 9, and the sealing silica gel pad 9 is pasted on the lower end surface of the upper pressing plate 1;

[0038] A bottom plate 2, and a hollow 10 is provided on the bottom plate 2, and a chip fixing plate 8 is placed and fixed in the hollow 10;

[0039] The chip fixing plate 8 is provided with a groove 11 for placing a droplet chip 20 and a hole 19 for observing the generation state of the flow channel of the droplet in the droplet chip 20;

[0040] A wing nut 5, and the wing nut 5 is used to lock between the upper pressing plate 1 and the bottom plate 2, so that the inlet and outlet 25 of the droplet chip 20 abuts against the sealing silica gel pad 9 and is communicated with the quick connector 4.

[0041] Specifically, as Figure 3 shown, the upper pressing plate 1 and the sealing silica gel pad 9 have a communication hole 13, and the quick connector 4 is communicated with the inlet and outlet 25 through the communication hole 13. Connecting the inlet and outlet pipelines to the quick connector 4 can start droplet generation for the droplet chip 20.

[0042] Specifically, as Figures 1 - 3 shown, the upper pressing plate 1 moves relative to the bottom plate 2 through a guiding structure 14. The guiding structure 14 includes symmetric guiding columns 3, the guiding columns 3 are sheathed on the upper pressing plate 1 and the bottom plate 2, and the upper pressing plate 1 and the bottom plate 2 are provided with guiding holes 15 for the guiding columns 3 to be sheathed and slide. By tightening the wing nut 5, the upper pressing plate 1 and the bottom plate 2 are relatively close to each other. Due to the setting of the guiding structure 14: the upper pressing plate 1 and the bottom plate 2 are relatively close to each other on the guiding columns 3, ensuring that the upper pressing plate 1 only makes a vertical movement (relative to the bottom plate 2), thereby achieving better stability when tightening the upper pressing plate 1 and the bottom plate 2.

[0043] Specifically, as Figures 3 - 4 shown, the hollow 10 is located at the center of the bottom plate 2, the groove 11 is located at the center of the chip fixing plate 8, and the hole 19 is located at the center of the groove 11. A step 18 for supporting the chip fixing plate 8 is provided in the hollow 10, and gaps 12 for facilitating the removal of the droplet chip 20 from the groove 11 are provided at both ends of the groove 11. Due to the provision of the hollow 10, it is convenient to place the chip fixing plate 8 and fix the connection between the chip fixing plate 8 and the bottom plate 2 by using the T-shaped bolt 7. Due to the provision of the step 18, the chip fixing plate 8 can be held when placed in the hollow 10, preventing the chip fixing plate 8 from falling out from the bottom of the bottom plate 2. The groove 11 is used to place the droplet chip 20. When the droplet chip 20 needs to be taken out, it can be easily taken out through the gap 12.

[0044] Specifically, as Figures 6 - 7 shown, a component 26 for strengthening the sealing performance between the sealing silicone pad 9 and the inlet / outlet 25 is provided under the sealing silicone pad 9. The component 26 includes an elastic buckle cover 21. The top end of the buckle cover 21 has a cover groove 22 and a buckle groove 23 located outside the cover groove 22. The buckle cover 21 has a cover hole 24 communicating with the communication hole 13. When the inlet / outlet 25 is adaptively inserted into the cover groove 22, the buckle groove 23 is used to clamp the top of the inlet / outlet 25. There is a gap 29 between the cover groove 22 and the buckle groove 23, and the inner diameter of the top end of the cover hole 24 is larger than that of the bottom end. When the wing nut 5 is tightened to lock the upper pressing plate 1 and the bottom plate 2, at this time, the top of the inlet / outlet 25 is located in the cover groove 22, and at the same time, the buckle groove 23 clamps the inner wall and the outer wall at the top of the inlet / outlet 25: the inner wall and the outer wall at the top of the inlet / outlet 25 are stuck in the buckle groove 23 formed between the gap 29 and the buckle groove 23, achieving a further sealing effect on the inlet / outlet 25, and thus cooperating with the sealing silicone pad 9 to achieve the purpose of double sealing of the inlet / outlet 25 of the droplet chip 20. Moreover, the inner diameter of the cover hole 24 gradually decreases from top to bottom. When droplet generation starts at the inlet / outlet 25 through the quick connector 4 and the communication hole 13, when the droplet passes through the cover hole 24 with a smaller inner diameter at the bottom, due to the decrease in the hole diameter, the cover hole 24 is squeezed under the pressure, thereby squeezing the gap 29. And because the buckle cover 21 is elastic, the gap 29 can squeeze the inner wall of the inlet / outlet 25, so a good sealing effect can be achieved.

[0045] The utility model has a hollowed-out part 10 in the middle position of the bottom plate 2 and is provided with a step 18. The hollowed-out part is provided with a chip fixing plate 8 made of a transparent material. The chip fixing plate 8 is connected to the bottom plate 2 by a T-shaped bolt 7. A groove 11 for placing the droplet chip and an observation hole 19 are arranged in the middle of the chip fixing plate 8, ensuring that the internal flow channel in the droplet chip is not blocked from the bottom, and facilitating the observation of the droplet generation state using an inverted microscope. The chip fixing plate 8 is processed with a groove 11 according to the shape of the droplet chip, ensuring that the droplet chip can be positioned while having a certain gap 12 for convenient picking and placing. A number of guide posts 3 are arranged on the bottom plate 2, and the upper pressing plate 1 is positioned through the guide posts 3, ensuring that the upper pressing plate 1 only moves vertically to prevent the horizontal position movement of the upper pressing plate 1 and the droplet chip. Threaded holes are arranged on the upper pressing plate 1 according to the inlet and outlet positions of the droplet chip and quick connectors 4 are installed. A sealing silicone pad 9 is pasted on the bottom of the upper pressing plate 1. The sealing pad 9 is punched according to the inlet and outlet positions of the chip and the threaded hole positions of the upper pressing plate 1 to ensure smooth inlet and outlet. Threaded holes are arranged on the upper pressing plate 1 according to the inlet and outlet positions of the droplet chip and quick connectors 4 are installed. A Teflon gasket 6 is placed between the wing nut 5 and the upper pressing plate 1 to reduce the resistance when the wing nut is tightened and reduce the wear on the upper pressing plate 1. As Figure 1 described, the wing nut 5 includes an L-shaped screw rod 27 and a nut 28. The L-shaped screw rod 27 passes through the bottom of the bottom plate 2, and the bottom is in the hidden groove 16, and then the upper part is used to penetrate through the through hole to sleeve the upper pressing plate. When it is necessary to fix the upper pressing plate 1, the nut 28 is tightened on the L-shaped screw rod 27.

[0046] During use, loosen the wing nut 5, remove the upper pressing plate 1, place the droplet chip, install the upper pressing plate 1, tighten the wing nut 5, and connect the inlet and outlet pipelines to the quick connectors 4 to start droplet generation. Placing the fixture structure on the stage of an inverted microscope can also observe the droplet generation state. If the type of the droplet chip is changed, only the adapted chip fixing plate 8, silicone sealing pad 9, and upper pressing plate 1 need to be replaced, greatly reducing the number of newly processed parts and the time for replacing the droplet chip 20.

[0047] Generally speaking, the utility model can be adapted to a variety of droplet chips and is convenient to fix, can observe the droplet generation state from the bottom, and has good sealing performance.

[0048] For the utility model, the un-described parts are existing or well-known technologies.

[0049] Although the embodiments of the utility model have been shown and described, for those of ordinary skill in the art, it can be understood that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principle and spirit of the utility model. The scope of the utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A general fixture structure for a droplet generation chip, characterized in that, Comprising: An upper pressure plate (1), on the upper end surface of which a quick connector (4) is installed; A sealing silicone gasket (9), which is pasted on the lower end surface of the upper pressure plate (1); A bottom plate (2), with a hollow (10) formed thereon, and a chip fixing plate (8) is placed and fixed in the hollow (10); The chip fixing plate (8) is provided with a groove (11) for placing a droplet chip (20) and a hole (19) for observing the generation state of the flow channel of the droplet in the droplet chip (20); A wing nut (5) for locking between the upper pressure plate (1) and the bottom plate (2), so that the inlet and outlet (25) of the droplet chip (20) abuts against the sealing silicone gasket (9) and is communicated with the quick connector (4).

2. The general fixture structure for a droplet generation chip according to claim 1, wherein, The upper pressure plate (1) and the sealing silicone gasket (9) have a communication hole (13), and the quick connector (4) is communicated with the inlet and outlet (25) through the communication hole (13).

3. A general fixture structure for a droplet generation chip according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper pressure plate (1) moves relative to the bottom plate (2) through a guiding structure (14).

4. The general fixture structure for a droplet generation chip according to claim 3, characterized in that, The guiding structure (14) includes symmetric guiding columns (3), the guiding columns (3) are sleeved on the upper pressure plate (1) and the bottom plate (2), and the upper pressure plate (1) and the bottom plate (2) are provided with guiding holes (15) for the guiding columns (3) to be sleeved and slide.

5. A general fixture structure for a droplet generation chip according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hollow (10) is located at the central position of the bottom plate (2), the groove (11) is located at the central position of the chip fixing plate (8), and the hole (19) is located at the central position of the groove (11).

6. A general fixture structure for a droplet generation chip according to claim 1, characterized in that, There is a step (18) for supporting the chip fixing plate (8) in the hollow (10), and gaps (12) for facilitating the taking out of the droplet chip (20) from the groove (11) are provided at both ends of the groove (11).

7. A general fixture structure for a droplet generation chip according to claim 2, characterized in that, A component (26) for strengthening the sealing performance between the sealing silicone gasket (9) and the inlet and outlet (25) is provided below the sealing silicone gasket (9).

8. A general fixture structure for a droplet generation chip according to claim 7, characterized in that, The component (26) includes an elastic buckle cover (21), the top end of the buckle cover (21) has a cover groove (22) and a buckle groove (23) located outside the cover groove (22), and the buckle cover (21) has a cover hole (24) communicated with the communication hole (13). When the inlet and outlet (25) is adaptively inserted into the cover groove (22), the buckle groove (23) is used to clamp the top of the inlet and outlet (25).

9. A general fixture structure for a droplet generation chip according to claim 8, characterized in that There is a gap (29) between the cover groove (22) and the buckle groove (23), and the inner diameter of the top end of the cover hole (24) is larger than that of the bottom end.

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