Microfluidic device

Abstract

The micro-fluidic device comprises a shell, and the shell is internally provided with a micro-fluidic chip which is provided with a reaction bin; the micro-fluidic chip is characterized in that the top layer of the micro-fluidic chip is provided with an elastic layer, and the mixing module comprises a pressing piece which corresponds to the elastic layer of the reaction bin and can press the elastic layer and move within a certain range in the circumferential direction along the reaction bin; the driving mechanism comprises a motor and a transmission mechanism connected with the output end of the motor, and the transmission mechanism is connected with the pressing piece used for driving the elastic layer to be pressed. The mode of pressing the elastic layer with elasticity indirectly acts in the reaction bin, and the mode of acting on a mixed sample in the reaction bin is smaller than the acting force of vibration and magnetic force, so that the phenomenon that magnetic beads are thrown to the inner wall of the reaction bin is effectively avoided; meanwhile, the pressing piece can rotate in the circumferential direction of the reaction bin, so that the disturbance range in the reaction bin is enlarged, and fluid in the reaction bin can fully flow.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of microfluidics, in particular to a microfluidics device with a stirring module. Background Art

[0002] It is common to use enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in microfluidic chips to determine the concentration of the substance to be detected in the sample solution. Generally, microfluidic chips include a mixing chamber. In the immune reaction, reagent balls with capture reagent balls and labeling reagent balls are often used, wherein the capture reagent balls have magnetic beads coated with antibodies, antigens or secondary antibodies, and the labeling reagent balls are fluorescent microspheres coated with antibodies, antigens or secondary antibodies. When the sample and reagent balls enter the mixing chamber, the reagent balls are dissolved to obtain a mixed sample. After the mixed sample enters the reaction chamber, an immune reaction occurs, that is, the capture of the substance to be detected is completed by the coupling reaction of the antigen on the surface of the immunomagnetic beads in the reaction chamber with the substance to be detected. However, the reaction time of simply allowing the immunomagnetic beads and the substance to be detected to react naturally in the reaction chamber is long, generally taking several days, which obviously cannot meet the needs of high-throughput detection of microfluidics. For the specific chip structure, reference can be made to the chip structure involved in patent 2023202090755 applied for by the applicant. In response to the above problems, the prior art has adopted the use of adding a vibration module or a knocking module to speed up the reaction rate of the antigen-antibody in the reaction chamber. For example, a Chinese utility model patent with patent number ZL202121684618.6 (publication number CN215586516U) "A microfluidic chip system for active and passive mixing of liquid and magnetic beads" uses a knocking device to knock on a mixing chamber covered with an elastic membrane, vibrating the liquid and magnetic beads in the mixing chamber to achieve mixing of the object to be detected and the magnetic beads. Another Chinese invention patent with patent number ZL202010108597.7 (publication number CN111135892B) "Microfluidic chip manipulation equipment, microfluidic system and microfluidic chip" uses an ultrasonic device to vibrate the liquid and magnetic beads in the reaction chamber to achieve the purpose of accelerating the coupling reaction.

[0003] The above-mentioned devices for accelerating the reaction speed all accelerate the antigen-antibody reaction in the reaction chamber by applying disturbance to the liquid in the reaction chamber, thereby improving the detection efficiency of the operator. Utility Model Content

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide another microfluidic device capable of generating disturbances on the mixed sample in the reaction chamber to accelerate the reaction in response to the above-mentioned existing technical status.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above technical problems is as follows: the microfluidic device includes a housing, wherein the housing is provided with:

[0006] The microfluidic chip has a reaction chamber containing a mixed sample consisting of a sample and a reagent ball; a mixing module acts on the reaction chamber to disturb the mixed sample in the reaction chamber;

[0007] It is characterized in that the top layer of the microfluidic chip has an elastic layer, and correspondingly, the mixing module includes:

[0008] A pressing member, corresponding to the elastic layer of the reaction chamber, capable of pressing the elastic layer and moving along the reaction chamber within a certain range in the circumferential direction;

[0009] The driving mechanism includes a motor and a transmission mechanism connected to an output end of the motor, wherein the transmission mechanism is connected to the pressing member for driving the elastic layer to be pressed.

[0010] To ensure a stable motion trajectory of the pressing member, the transmission mechanism further includes a gear driven by the motor and a transmission member driven by the gear to move within a certain range in the circumferential direction. The transmission member includes a rack portion for engaging with the gear, and the pressing member is connected to the transmission member. The engagement of the gear and rack portion prevents the transmission member from suddenly sliding relative to the gear.

[0011] In order to expand the range of motion of the transmission member, the transmission member further includes a plate body, a ring guide rail is arranged in the center of the plate body, the ring guide rail is provided with the rack part meshing with the gear, the ring guide rail includes a first guide rail that limits the circumferential direction, a second guide rail that is parallel to the first guide rail and opposite to the transmission direction of the first guide rail, and a connecting guide rail connecting the first guide rail and the second guide rail. The pressing member can follow the transmission member along the left and right lateral movement defined by the first guide rail or the second guide rail or the front and back vertical movement defined by the connecting guide rail.

[0012] Furthermore, the plate body partially protrudes on one side close to the microfluidic chip and extends toward the direction close to the microfluidic chip to form an action arm, and one end of the action arm is connected to the pressing member.

[0013] To ensure uniform pressure applied by the pressing member, a limit assembly is further provided within the housing. This limit assembly restricts the pressing member's ability to follow the transmission member in either the left-right lateral movement defined by the first or second guide rails, or the forward-backward vertical movement defined by the connecting guide rails. The limit assembly ensures that the lower end of the pressing member is in constant contact with the elastic layer, thereby stabilizing the downward deformation of the elastic layer.

[0014] In order to facilitate the circumferential movement of the motor-driven plate body within the limit assembly, the limit assembly further includes a frame body, the frame body having a first opening toward the front side of the reaction chamber for the action arm to move horizontally or vertically forward and backward, the first opening dividing the frame body into an upper top wall, a lower bottom wall, and a side wall connecting the two, the lower bottom wall having a second opening for the power output end of the motor to pass through, and the upper top wall having a third opening having a length and width greater than the second opening, the third opening intersecting the annular guide rail of the plate body, and the plate body being inserted between the upper top wall and the lower bottom wall and capable of vertically moving forward and backward along the side wall. The provision of the first opening enables the pressing member to move forward and backward in the elastic layer; the provision of the second opening enables the power output end of the motor to extend into the annular guide rail, thereby reducing the assembly space between the limit assembly and the plate body; the provision of the third opening having a length and width greater than the second opening is to provide the lower bottom wall with space to support the plate body, while also making the engagement of the gear with the rack portion of the annular guide rail more stable.

[0015] In order to facilitate the user to install the limit assembly, the limit assembly further includes a first limit bar and a second limit bar respectively passing through the side wall of the frame in the horizontal direction of the left and right, the first limit bar and the second limit bar are arranged in parallel and spaced apart, and correspondingly, the housing is provided with slots for inserting the first limit bar and the second limit bar;

[0016] When the plate follows the frame body and moves from left to right to the edge of the slot, the plate body follows the frame body and moves in the opposite direction from right to left by virtue of the pressure of the slot edge.

[0017] Compared with the existing technology, the advantages of the present invention are: it indirectly acts on the reaction chamber by pressing the elastic layer with elasticity. This method of acting on the mixed sample in the reaction chamber is smaller than the force of vibration and magnetic force, which effectively avoids the phenomenon of magnetic beads being thrown to the inner wall of the reaction chamber. At the same time, the pressing part can rotate along the circumferential direction of the reaction chamber, which increases the range of disturbance in the reaction chamber and is conducive to the full flow of fluid in the reaction chamber. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0020] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the local structure of the mixing module, housing, and microfluidic chip according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0021] Figure 4This is a schematic structural diagram of a mixing module and a microfluidic chip according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the structure of the mixing module and the microfluidic chip according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0023] Figure 6 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of a frame according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0024] Figure 7 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of a hybrid module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 8 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of a track plate retracted into a first opening in a hybrid module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 9 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of a track plate partially extending out of a first opening in a hybrid module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the mixing module and the microfluidic chip in the first state of the embodiment of the utility model (the direction of the hollow arrow is the movement direction of the plate);

[0028] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the mixing module and the microfluidic chip in the second state of the embodiment of the utility model (the direction of the hollow arrow is the movement direction of the plate);

[0029] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the mixing module and the microfluidic chip in the third state of the embodiment of the utility model (the direction of the hollow arrow is the movement direction of the plate);

[0030] Figure 13 Schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the mixing module and the microfluidic chip in the fourth state of an embodiment of the utility model (the direction of the hollow arrow is the movement direction of the plate). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 to 13, this is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The microfluidic device of this embodiment mainly uses the ELISA technique to detect the concentration of reactants. The reaction chamber contains magnetic beads and a solution of the substance to be detected. It is necessary to disturb the fluid in the reaction chamber to mix the two to accelerate the coupling reaction between the magnetic beads and the substance to be detected. Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a microfluidic device that can disturb the fluid in the reaction chamber to accelerate the reaction. The detailed structure of this microfluidic device will be described below:

[0033] See Figures 1 to 5 The microfluidic device includes a shell 1, in which a microfluidic chip 2 and a mixing module 3 are arranged, wherein the microfluidic chip 2 has a reaction chamber 21, and the reaction chamber 21 contains a mixed sample composed of a sample and a reagent ball; the mixing module 3 acts on the reaction chamber 21 to disturb the mixed sample in the reaction chamber 21; the top layer of the microfluidic chip 2 is an elastic layer 22, and the mixing module 3 includes a pressing piece 4 and a driving mechanism 5, wherein the pressing piece 4 corresponds to the elastic layer 22 of the reaction chamber 21, can press the elastic layer 22 and move along the reaction chamber 21 within a certain range in the circumferential direction; the driving mechanism 5 includes a motor 51 and a transmission mechanism 52 connected to the output end of the motor 51, and the transmission mechanism 52 is connected to the pressing piece 4 for driving the elastic layer 22 to be pressed.

[0034] The transmission mechanism 52 includes a gear 521 driven by the motor 51, and a transmission member 522 that is driven by the gear 521 to move within a certain range in the circumferential direction. The transmission member 522 includes a rack portion 5221 for engaging with the gear 521. The pressing member 4 is connected to the transmission member 522. The cooperation between the gear 521 and the rack portion 5221 prevents the transmission member 522 from suddenly sliding relative to the gear 521, thereby ensuring a stable motion trajectory of the pressing member 4.

[0035] See Figure 5 The transmission member 522 also includes a plate body 5222, a ring guide rail 6 is provided in the center of the plate body 5222, the ring guide rail 6 is provided with a rack portion 5221 meshing with the gear 521, the ring guide rail 6 includes a first guide rail 61 that limits the circumferential direction, a second guide rail 62 that is parallel to the first guide rail 61 and opposite to the transmission direction of the first guide rail 61, and a connecting guide rail 63 connecting the first guide rail 61 and the second guide rail 62. The pressing member 4 can follow the transmission member 522 to move horizontally to the left and right as defined by the first guide rail 61 or the second guide rail 62 or to move vertically forward and backward as defined by the connecting guide rail 63, thereby expanding the motion range of the transmission member 522.

[0036] The plate body 5222 partially protrudes on one side close to the microfluidic chip 2 and extends toward the microfluidic chip 2 to form an action arm 5223 , one end of which is connected to the pressing member 4 .

[0037] See Figure 5 A limit assembly 7 is disposed within the housing to restrict the pressing member 4 from following the transmission member 522 along the left-right lateral movement defined by the first guide rail 61 or the second guide rail 62, or the forward-backward vertical movement defined by the connecting guide rail 63. The provision of the limit assembly 7 ensures that the lower end of the pressing member 4 is always in contact with the elastic layer 22, thereby stabilizing the downward deformation of the elastic layer 22 and ensuring a uniform pressing force from the pressing member 4.

[0038] See Figure 6 and Figure 7 The limiting assembly 7 includes a frame body 71, and the frame body 71 is provided with a first opening 711 for the action arm 5223 to move horizontally left and right or vertically forward and backward toward the front side of the reaction chamber 21. The first opening 711 divides the frame body 71 into an upper top wall 71a, a lower bottom wall 71b and a side wall 71c connecting the two. The lower bottom wall 71b is provided with a second opening 712 for the power output end of the power supply machine 51 to pass through, and the upper top wall 71a is provided with a third opening 713 whose length and width are both larger than the second opening 712. The third opening 713 is connected to the annular guide rail 6 of the plate body 5222, and the plate body 5222 is inserted between the upper top wall 71a and the lower bottom wall 71b, and can move vertically forward and backward along the side wall 71c. The setting of the first opening 711 enables the pressing member 4 to move in the front-rear direction in the elastic layer 22; the setting of the second opening 712 enables the power output end of the motor 51 to extend into the annular guide rail 6, reducing the assembly space between the limit assembly 7 and the plate body 5222; the setting of the third opening 713 makes the meshing relationship between the gear 512 and the annular guide rail 6 more stable, making it convenient for the motor 51 to drive the plate body 5222 to move circumferentially in the limit assembly 7, and at the same time, it also allows the lower bottom wall 71b to have space to support the plate body.

[0039] See Figure 3 and Figure 5 The limit assembly 7 also includes a first limit bar 72 and a second limit bar 73 that pass through the side walls 71c of the frame 71 along the left and right lateral directions respectively. The first limit bar 72 and the second limit bar 73 are arranged in parallel and spaced apart. Correspondingly, a slot 8 for inserting the first limit bar 72 and the second limit bar 73 is provided on the shell 1; when the plate 5222 follows the frame 71 to move from left to right to the edge of the slot 8, the plate 5222 follows the frame 71 to move in the opposite direction from right to left with the help of the pressure of the edge of the slot 8, which facilitates the user to install the limit assembly 7.

[0040] The working principle of the microfluidic device of this embodiment is as follows: the motor 51 is turned on, Figure 8 and Figure 9 The gear 521 rotates and drives the plate 5222 to retract and extend in the first opening 711. The pressing member 4 moves on the elastic layer 22 according to the annular track 6. At the same time, the pressing member 4 presses the elastic layer 22. Specifically, see Figures 10 to 13 There are various motion states between the limit assembly 7 and the drive mechanism 5. Figure 10 In the first state, the gear 521 is at the leftmost end of the first guide rail 61, the motor 51 drives the gear 521 to rotate counterclockwise, and the plate 5222 drives the frame 71 to move leftward along the first limit bar 72 and the second limit bar 73. When the gear 521 is at the rightmost end of the first guide rail 61, see Figure 11At this time, the gear 521 is located at the junction of the first guide rail 61 and the connecting guide rail 63. This is the second state. The gear 521 continues to rotate counterclockwise. The plate 5222 drives the frame 71 to move along the first limit bar 72 and the second limit bar 73 while moving forward in the first opening 711. Figure 12 , the plate 5222 makes an arc motion, and the gear 521 is located at the junction of the connecting guide rail 63 and the second guide rail 62, which is the third state; after that, the plate 5222 drives the frame 71 to move rightward along the second guide rail 62, and the gear 521 is located at the leftmost end of the second guide rail 62, see Figure 13 At this time, the gear 521 is located at the junction of the second guide rail 62 and the connecting guide rail 63. This is the fourth state. After that, the plate 5222 makes an arc motion. When the gear 521 is again located at the leftmost side of the first guide rail 61, that is, returns to the first state, the plate 5222 completes one circumferential motion.

[0041] The above-mentioned plate 5222 causes continuous periodic disturbances in the reaction chamber 21, which has a stirring effect on the fluid in the reaction chamber 21. The indirect effect of the pressing method is smaller than that of the fluid in the reaction chamber 21, and the force of vibration and magnetism is smaller, which avoids the phenomenon of magnetic beads being thrown to the inner wall of the reaction chamber 21. At the same time, the pressing part 4 can rotate in the circumferential direction to increase the range of disturbance in the reaction chamber 21, which is conducive to the full flow of the fluid in the reaction chamber 21.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device comprising a housing (1), wherein the housing (1) is provided with: The microfluidic chip (2) has a reaction chamber (21), wherein the reaction chamber (21) contains a mixed sample consisting of a sample and a reagent ball; A mixing module (3) acts on the reaction chamber (21) to disturb the mixed sample in the reaction chamber (21); It is characterized by: The top layer of the microfluidic chip (2) is an elastic layer (22), and correspondingly, the mixing module (3) includes: A pressing member (4), corresponding to the elastic layer (22) of the reaction chamber (21), capable of pressing the elastic layer (22) and moving along the reaction chamber (21) within a certain range in the circumferential direction; The driving mechanism (5) comprises a motor (51) and a transmission mechanism (52) connected to the output end of the motor (51); the transmission mechanism (52) is connected to the pressing member (4) for driving the elastic layer (22) to be pressed.

2. The microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein: The transmission mechanism (52) includes a gear (521) driven to rotate by the motor (51), and a transmission member (522) driven by the gear (521) to move within a certain range in the circumferential direction. The transmission member (522) includes a rack portion (5221) for engaging with the gear (521). The pressing member (4) is connected to the transmission member (522).

3. The microfluidic device according to claim 2, wherein: The transmission member (522) further includes a plate body (5222), a ring guide rail (6) is provided at the center of the plate body (5222), the ring guide rail (6) is provided with the rack portion (5221) meshed with the gear (521), the ring guide rail (6) includes a first guide rail (61) defining a circumferential direction, a second guide rail (62) parallel to the first guide rail (61) and opposite to the transmission direction of the first guide rail (61), and a connecting guide rail (63) connecting the first guide rail (61) and the second guide rail (62), and the pressing member (4) can follow the transmission member (522) to move horizontally to the left and right defined by the first guide rail (61) or the second guide rail (62) or to move vertically to the front and back defined by the connecting guide rail (63).

4. The microfluidic device according to claim 3, wherein: The plate body (5222) partially protrudes on one side close to the microfluidic chip (2) and extends in a direction close to the microfluidic chip (2) to form an action arm (5223), one end of which is connected to the pressing member (4).

5. The microfluidic device according to claim 4, wherein: A limiting assembly (7) is provided in the housing, and the limiting assembly (7) limits the pressing member (4) from following the transmission member (522) to move horizontally to the left and right as defined by the first guide rail (61) or the second guide rail (62), or to move vertically to the front and back as defined by the connecting guide rail (63).

6. The microfluidic device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The limiting assembly (7) includes a frame (71), and the frame (71) is provided with a first opening (711) on the front side of the reaction chamber (21) for the action arm (5223) to move horizontally left and right or vertically forward and backward. The first opening (711) divides the frame (71) into an upper top wall (71a), a lower bottom wall (71b), and a side wall (71c) connecting the two. The lower bottom wall (71b) is provided with a first opening (711) for the motor ( 51) through a second opening (712) through which the power output end of the upper top wall (71a) passes, and the upper top wall (71a) is provided with a third opening (713) whose length and width are both larger than the second opening (712), and the third opening (713) is connected to the annular guide rail (6) of the plate body (5222), and the plate body (5222) is inserted between the upper top wall (71a) and the lower bottom wall (71b), and can move vertically forward and backward along the side wall (71c).

7. The microfluidic device according to claim 6, wherein: The limiting assembly (7) further comprises a first limiting strip (72) and a second limiting strip (73) respectively passing through the side peripheral wall (71c) of the frame (71) in the transverse direction of the left and right sides. The first limiting strip (72) and the second limiting strip (73) are arranged in parallel and spaced apart. Correspondingly, a slot (8) for inserting the first limiting strip (72) and the second limiting strip (73) is provided on the housing (1); When the plate (5222) follows the frame (71) and moves from left to right to the edge of the slot (8), the plate (5222) follows the frame (71) and moves in the opposite direction from right to left by virtue of the pressure of the edge of the slot (8).

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