Magnetic attraction device of microfluidic equipment

Abstract

The utility model discloses a magnetic attraction device for microfluidic equipment. The magnetic attraction device comprises a magnetic attraction assembly, a first driving assembly, a second driving assembly, a third driving assembly and a control assembly, the magnetic attraction assembly is in transmission connection with the driving end of the first driving assembly. The first driving assembly is in transmission connection with the driving end of the second driving assembly; the second driving assembly is in transmission connection with the driving end of the third driving assembly; the first driving assembly, the second driving assembly and the third driving assembly are all in communication connection with the control assembly. The first direction, the second direction and the third direction are perpendicular to one another; in conclusion, the moving distances of the first driving assembly, the second driving assembly and the third driving assembly are respectively controlled by utilizing the control assembly, the moving position of the magnetic attraction assembly can be efficiently and accurately controlled, the moving path of the magnetic attraction assembly can be effectively repeated, and in a large number of repeated nucleic acid extraction experiments, the nucleic acid extraction efficiency is greatly improved. The moving accuracy of the nucleic acid-magnetic bead compound can be effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of microfluidics, in particular to a magnetic attraction device for microfluidics equipment. Background Art

[0002] The standard experimental procedure for nucleic acid extraction using magnetic beads is as follows: a biological sample (such as blood, cells, or tissue) is mixed with a lysis solution, which disrupts the sample's cell walls or membranes, releasing the nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) present. Magnetic microspheres (magnetic beads) with a specific surface modification are added to the lysed sample. These beads specifically bind to the nucleic acids in the sample, forming a nucleic acid-magnetic bead complex. An external magnetic field (magnet) is used to separate the nucleic acid-magnetic bead complex from the liquid phase, causing the beads to adhere to fixed positions on the container wall or plate wells under the influence of the magnetic field. At this point, impurities in the sample that do not contain nucleic acids remain suspended in the liquid. The supernatant (the impurities not bound to nucleic acids) is removed, and the beads are washed with wash solutions several times to remove non-specifically bound proteins, salts, and other impurities, thereby ensuring nucleic acid purity. The washed beads are suspended in an eluent. By varying the solution's ionic strength and pH, the nucleic acids on the beads' surface dissociate from the beads and are released into the eluent. The magnetic beads are separated again using a magnetic field, and the supernatant containing the purified nucleic acids is removed. At this point, the supernatant is the extracted high-purity nucleic acid sample, which is suitable for subsequent analysis and experimental applications.

[0003] During this experimental process, manually controlling the movement of magnets is often used to separate the nucleic acid-magnetic bead complex from the liquid phase. However, this control method cannot accurately position the magnets, and the position of the manually controlled magnets has poor repeatability, making it inconvenient to operate. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of the utility model is to disclose a magnetic attraction device for microfluidic equipment, which solves the problem in the existing microfluidic technology that the position of the magnet needs to be manually adjusted, the position cannot be accurately positioned, and the repeatability is poor.

[0005] In order to achieve the above purpose, the utility model adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] A magnetic attraction device for a microfluidic device comprises: a magnetic attraction component for adsorbing liquid on a microfluidic chip to control the flow direction of the liquid, a first drive component for controlling the linear movement of the magnetic attraction component along a first direction, a second drive component for controlling the linear movement of the magnetic attraction component along a second direction, a third drive component for controlling the linear movement of the magnetic attraction component along a third direction, and a control component; the magnetic attraction component is transmission-connected to the drive end of the first drive component; the first drive component is transmission-connected to the drive end of the second drive component; the second drive component is transmission-connected to the drive end of the third drive component; the first drive component, the second drive component, and the third drive component are all communication-connected to the control component; the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are all perpendicular to each other.

[0007] Optionally, the magnetic attraction assembly includes: a magnet and a connector; the magnet is fixedly connected to one end of the connector; and the other end of the connector is transmission-connected to the driving end of the first driving assembly.

[0008] Optionally, the first drive assembly includes a first structural member, a first guide rail, a first slider and a first screw motor; the first screw motor is communicatively connected to the control assembly; the first structural member is fixedly connected to the driving end of the second drive assembly; the first guide rail and the first screw motor are both fixedly connected to the first structural member; the first slider is slidably connected to the first guide rail, the first slider is fixedly connected to the first screw nut of the first screw motor, and the other end of the connecting member is fixedly connected to the first screw nut.

[0009] Optionally, the second drive component includes: a second structural member, a second guide rail, a second slider and a second screw motor; the second screw motor is communicatively connected to the control component; the second structural member is fixedly connected to the driving end of the third drive component; the second guide rail and the second screw motor are both fixedly connected to the second structural member; the second slider is slidably connected to the second guide rail, and the second slider is fixedly connected to the second screw nut of the second screw motor; the first structural member is fixedly connected to the second screw nut.

[0010] Optionally, the second drive assembly further includes: a third structural member; the third structural member is fixedly connected to the second screw nut and the second slider respectively; the first structural member is fixedly connected to the third structural member; the third structural member and the first structural member are perpendicular to each other.

[0011] Optionally, the third drive component includes: a base plate, a third guide rail, a third slider and a third screw motor; the third screw motor is communicatively connected to the control component; the third guide rail and the third screw motor are both fixedly connected to the base plate; the third slider is slidably connected to the third guide rail, and the third slider is fixedly connected to the third screw nut of the third screw motor; the second structural member is fixedly connected to the third screw nut.

[0012] Optionally, the connecting member includes: a horizontal connecting rod, a vertical connecting rod, a spring and a fixed block; the magnet is fixedly connected to one end of the fixed block; the other end of the fixed block is slidingly connected to the bottom of the vertical connecting rod; the top of the vertical connecting rod is fixedly connected to one end of the horizontal connecting rod; the other end of the horizontal connecting rod is transmission-connected to the driving end of the first driving assembly; the spring is accommodated inside the vertical connecting rod, one end of the spring abuts against the inner wall of the vertical connecting rod; the other end of the spring abuts against the fixed block.

[0013] Optionally, the control component is an MCU or a single chip microcomputer.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] The present invention provides a magnetic attraction device for a microfluidic device, comprising: a magnetic attraction component for adsorbing a nucleic acid-magnetic bead complex, a first driving component for controlling the linear movement of the magnetic attraction component along a first direction, a second driving component for controlling the linear movement of the magnetic attraction component along a second direction, a third driving component for controlling the linear movement of the magnetic attraction component along a third direction, and a control component; the magnetic attraction component is transmission-connected to the driving end of the first driving component; the first driving component is transmission-connected to the driving end of the second driving component; the second driving component is transmission-connected to the driving end of the third driving component; the first driving component, the second driving component and the third driving component are all communication-connected to the control component; the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are all perpendicular to each other; in summary, the present invention utilizes the control component to respectively control the moving distances of the first driving component, the second driving component and the third driving component, which can efficiently and accurately control the moving position of the magnetic attraction component, and can also effectively repeat the moving path of the magnetic attraction component, and can effectively improve the accuracy of droplet movement in a large number of repeated microfluidic experiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative labor.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a magnetic suction device for a microfluidic device of the present invention;

[0018] In the figure, 11, magnet; 12, horizontal connecting rod; 13, vertical connecting rod; 15, fixed block; 21, first structural member; 22, first guide rail; 23, first slider; 24, first lead screw motor; 25, first lead screw nut; 31, second structural member; 32, second guide rail; 33, second slider; 34, second lead screw motor; 35, third structural member; 41, bottom plate; 42, third guide rail; 43, third slider; 44, third lead screw motor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] To make the objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention more readily apparent, the following detailed description of the present invention is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings illustrate several embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0020] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it 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 a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be a communication between the two components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances. The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features.

[0021] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or may include the first and second features being in contact not directly but through another feature between them. Moreover, a first feature being "above," "above," and "above" a second feature includes the first feature being directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below," "below," and "below" a second feature includes the first feature being directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," "above," "below," and similar expressions are for illustrative purposes only and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0022] Example 1

[0023] like Figure 1 A magnetic attraction device for a microfluidic device is shown, comprising: a magnetic attraction component for adsorbing a nucleic acid-magnetic bead complex, a first drive component for controlling the linear movement of the magnetic attraction component along a first direction, a second drive component for controlling the linear movement of the magnetic attraction component along a second direction, a third drive component for controlling the linear movement of the magnetic attraction component along a third direction, and a control component; the magnetic attraction component is transmission-connected to the drive end of the first drive component; the first drive component is transmission-connected to the drive end of the second drive component; the second drive component is transmission-connected to the drive end of the third drive component; the first drive component, the second drive component, and the third drive component are all communication-connected to the control component; the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are all perpendicular to each other.

[0024] Specifically, the present application sets three mutually perpendicular drive components, which can drive the magnetic component to move in the XYZ space respectively, and uses the control component to control the moving distance of the first drive component, the second drive component and the third drive component respectively, which can efficiently and accurately control the moving position of the magnetic component, and can also effectively repeat the moving path of the magnetic component. In a large number of repeated nucleic acid extraction experiments, it can effectively improve the accuracy of droplet movement. Among them, the first drive component is used to control the up and down movement of the magnetic component in the vertical direction, and can control the strength of the magnetic attraction by controlling the distance between the magnetic component and the microfluidic chip. The second drive component and the third drive component are used to control the position of the magnetic component on the horizontal plane. The two components cooperate with each other to accurately adjust the position of the magnetic component, thereby controlling the flow direction of the liquid in the microfluidic chip.

[0025] In one embodiment, the magnetic attraction assembly includes: a magnet 11 and a connector; the magnet 11 is fixedly connected to one end of the connector; and the other end of the connector is transmission-connected to the driving end of the first driving assembly.

[0026] Specifically, in the present application, the magnet 11 is used to adsorb the nucleic acid-magnetic bead complex in the microfluidic chip, so that the nucleic acid-magnetic bead complex can flow along the pipeline in the microfluidic chip under the control of the magnet 11. Since the driving component is large in size, if it is close to the microfluidic chip, it will occupy a large amount of space and affect the observation of the microfluidic chip. Therefore, a longer connecting piece is used to maintain a certain distance between the magnet 11 and the driving component, so as to avoid the driving component blocking the observation line of sight.

[0027] In one embodiment, the first drive assembly includes a first structural member 21, a first guide rail 22, a first slider 23 and a first screw motor 24; the first screw motor 24 is communicatively connected to the control assembly; the first structural member 21 is fixedly connected to the driving end of the second drive assembly; the first guide rail 22 and the first screw motor 24 are both fixedly connected to the first structural member 21; the first slider 23 is slidably connected to the first guide rail 22, the first slider 23 is fixedly connected to the first screw nut 25 of the first screw motor 24, and the other end of the connecting member is fixedly connected to the first screw nut 25.

[0028] In the present application, the first screw nut 25 on the first screw motor 24 is meshed with the screw of the first screw motor 24; the first screw nut 25 is fixedly connected to the first slider 23, which limits the rotational freedom of the first screw nut 25. Therefore, when the first screw motor 24 drives the screw to rotate, the first screw nut 25 can convert the rotation of the screw into linear motion of the first screw nut 25 and the first slider 23, and then can drive the connector and magnet 11 fixedly connected to the first screw nut 25 to perform linear motion. Since the first screw motor 24 is a servo motor or a stepper motor, the angle of motor rotation can be controlled by a pre-programmed program of the control component, and the amplitude of motor rotation can be accurately calculated according to the movement distance of the magnet 11. The connection between the connector and the first screw nut 25 is a screw connection, which can be disassembled and maintained as needed, thereby increasing the service life of the equipment.

[0029] In one embodiment, the second drive assembly includes: a second structural member 31, a second guide rail 32, a second slider 33 and a second screw motor 34; the second screw motor 34 is communicatively connected to the control assembly; the second structural member 31 is fixedly connected to the driving end of the third drive assembly; the second guide rail 32 and the second screw motor 34 are both fixedly connected to the second structural member 31; the second slider 33 is slidably connected to the second guide rail 32, and the second slider 33 is fixedly connected to the second screw nut (not shown in the figure) of the second screw motor 34; the first structural member 21 is fixedly connected to the second screw nut.

[0030] In the present application, the second lead screw nut on the second lead screw motor 34 is meshed with the lead screw of the second lead screw motor 34 . The second lead screw nut is fixedly connected to the second slider 33 , limiting the rotational freedom of the second lead screw nut. Therefore, when the second lead screw motor 34 drives the lead screw to rotate, the second lead screw nut can convert the rotation of the lead screw into linear motion of the second lead screw nut and the second slider 33 , thereby driving the first drive assembly and the magnetic assembly fixedly connected to the second lead screw nut to perform linear motion. The direction of the linear motion is parallel to the direction of the second guide rail 32 .

[0031] In one embodiment, the second drive assembly further includes: a third structural member 35; the third structural member 35 is fixedly connected to the second screw nut and the second slider 33 respectively; the first structural member 21 is fixedly connected to the third structural member 35; the third structural member 35 and the first structural member 21 are perpendicular to each other.

[0032] In the present application, the third structural member 35 is used to adjust the angle of the first driving assembly to avoid interference between the first driving assembly and the second driving assembly. In the present application, the third structural member 35 is perpendicular to the first structural member 21 .

[0033] In one embodiment, the third drive component includes: a base plate 41, a third guide rail 42, a third slider 43 and a third screw motor 44; the third screw motor 44 is communicatively connected to the control component; the third guide rail 42 and the third screw motor 44 are both fixedly connected to the base plate 41; the third slider 43 is slidably connected to the third guide rail 42, and the third slider 43 is fixedly connected to the third screw nut (not shown in the figure) of the third screw motor 44; the second structural member 31 is fixedly connected to the third screw nut.

[0034] In the present application, the third screw nut on the third screw motor 44 is equal to the screw meshing connection of the third screw motor 44, and the third screw nut is fixedly connected to the third slider 43, which limits the rotational freedom of the third screw nut. Therefore, when the third screw motor 44 drives the screw to rotate, the third screw nut can convert the rotation of the screw into the linear motion of the third screw nut and the third slider 43, and then can drive the second drive assembly, the first drive assembly and the magnetic attraction assembly fixedly connected to the third screw nut to perform linear motion. And the direction of the linear motion is parallel to the direction of the third guide rail 42. The second drive assembly and the third drive assembly cooperate with each other to control the magnet 11 to move to any position on the horizontal plane. When the control assembly pre-calculates, it can effectively improve the control efficiency of the magnet 11 in repeated actions. Compared with manual control of the movement of the magnet 11, the repetition efficiency is fast and the control accuracy is high.

[0035] In one embodiment, the connecting member includes: a horizontal connecting rod 12, a vertical connecting rod 13, a spring, and a fixed block 15; the magnet 11 is fixedly connected to one end of the fixed block 15; the other end of the fixed block 15 is slidably connected to the bottom of the vertical connecting rod 13; the top of the vertical connecting rod 13 is fixedly connected to one end of the horizontal connecting rod 12; the other end of the horizontal connecting rod 12 is transmission-connected to the driving end of the first driving assembly; the spring is accommodated inside the vertical connecting rod 13, one end of the spring abuts against the inner wall of the vertical connecting rod 13; the other end of the spring abuts against the fixed block 15. The spring is used to provide an elastic stroke for the fixed block. When the fixed block and the magnet are pressed against the microfluidic chip, the spring provides a buffering effect for the magnet.

[0036] In one embodiment, the control component is an MCU or a single-chip microcomputer, an MCU module or a single-chip microcomputer, which can calculate the rotation angles of the first screw motor 24, the second screw motor 34 and the third screw motor 44 according to a pre-set program and specific input parameters, so that the magnet 11 can be moved to the required position under the drive of three mutually perpendicular screw motors, and the nucleic acid-magnetic bead complex in the microfluidic chip is adsorbed, so that the nucleic acid-magnetic bead complex in the microfluidic chip can move along a predetermined trajectory under the action of the magnetic field.

[0037] In summary, the utility model proposes a magnetic suction device for a microfluidic device, which realizes the XYZ three-dimensional movement of the magnetic suction component in space through three mutually perpendicular drive components. This design can accurately control the position of the magnetic suction component, thereby accurately controlling the flow direction and position of the liquid in the microfluidic chip. The control component can preset and control the movement path of the magnetic suction component, so as to maintain the accuracy of droplet movement in a large number of repeated experiments. This repeatable path control greatly improves the efficiency of the experiment and reduces the errors and inconsistencies caused by human operation. The distance between the magnet 11 and the microfluidic chip is controlled by the first drive component, so as to accurately adjust the magnetic suction force. The connections between the various structural parts are all screwed, which is convenient for disassembly and maintenance. This modular design extends the service life of the equipment and reduces the maintenance cost of the equipment.

[0038] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. If various changes or modifications to the present invention do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and if these changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claims and equivalent technologies of the present invention, the present invention is also intended to include these changes and modifications.

Claims

1. A magnetic attraction device for a microfluidic device, characterized in that: include: A magnetic attraction component for adsorbing nucleic acid-magnetic bead complexes, a first driving component for controlling the linear motion of the magnetic attraction component along a first direction, a second driving component for controlling the linear motion of the magnetic attraction component along a second direction, a third driving component for controlling the linear motion of the magnetic attraction component along a third direction, and a control component; The magnetic attraction component is in transmission connection with the driving end of the first driving component; the first driving component is in transmission connection with the driving end of the second driving component; the second driving component is in transmission connection with the driving end of the third driving component; The first drive component, the second drive component, and the third drive component are all in communication connection with the control component; The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are all perpendicular to each other.

2. A microfluidic device magnetic suction device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The magnetic attraction assembly comprises: a magnet (11) and a connecting piece; The magnet (11) is fixedly connected to one end of the connecting member; The other end of the connecting member is drivingly connected to the driving end of the first driving assembly.

3. A microfluidic device magnetic suction device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first driving assembly comprises a first structural member (21), a first guide rail (22), a first slider (23) and a first screw motor (24); The first screw motor (24) is in communication with the control component; The first structural member (21) is fixedly connected to the driving end of the second driving assembly; The first guide rail (22) and the first screw motor (24) are both fixedly connected to the first structural member (21); The first slider (23) is slidably connected to the first guide rail (22), the first slider (23) is fixedly connected to the first screw nut (25) of the first screw motor (24), and the other end of the connecting member is fixedly connected to the first screw nut (25).

4. A microfluidic device magnetic suction device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The second driving assembly comprises: a second structural member (31), a second guide rail (32), a second slider (33) and a second screw motor (34); The second screw motor (34) is in communication with the control component; The second structural member (31) is fixedly connected to the driving end of the third driving assembly; The second guide rail (32) and the second screw motor (34) are both fixedly connected to the second structural member (31); The second slider (33) is slidably connected to the second guide rail (32), and the second slider (33) is fixedly connected to the second screw nut of the second screw motor (34); The first structural member (21) is fixedly connected to the second screw nut.

5. A microfluidic device magnetic suction device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The second driving assembly further includes: a third structural member (35); the third structural member (35) is fixedly connected to the second screw nut and the second slider (33) respectively; the first structural member (21) is fixedly connected to the third structural member (35); the third structural member (35) and the first structural member (21) are perpendicular to each other.

6. The microfluidic device magnetic suction device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The third driving assembly comprises: a base plate (41), a third guide rail (42), a third slider (43) and a third screw motor (44); The third screw motor (44) is in communication with the control assembly; The third guide rail (42) and the third screw motor (44) are both fixedly connected to the base plate (41); The third slider (43) is slidably connected to the third guide rail (42), and the third slider (43) is fixedly connected to the third screw nut of the third screw motor (44); The second structural member (31) is fixedly connected to the third screw nut.

7. The microfluidic device magnetic suction device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The connecting member comprises: a horizontal connecting rod (12), a vertical connecting rod (13), a spring and a fixing block (15); The magnet (11) is fixedly connected to one end of the fixed block (15); The other end of the fixed block (15) is slidably connected to the bottom of the vertical connecting rod (13); The top of the vertical connecting rod (13) is fixedly connected to one end of the horizontal connecting rod (12); The other end of the horizontal connecting rod (12) is drivingly connected to the driving end of the first driving assembly; The spring is accommodated inside the vertical connecting rod (13), one end of the spring abuts against the inner wall of the vertical connecting rod (13); the other end of the spring abuts against the fixing block (15).

8. The magnetic attraction device for microfluidic equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control component is an MCU or a single chip microcomputer.

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