Air pressure adjusting assembly of single-cell liquid drop generator

Abstract

The utility model is suitable for the technical field of single-cell liquid drop generator accessories, and provides a single-cell liquid drop generator air pressure adjusting assembly which comprises a supporting frame. The storage cylinder is arranged on the support frame and is used for storing a single-cell dropping liquid raw material; the top cover is detachably installed on the storage cylinder and used for sealing the storage cylinder, an inlet and an outlet are formed in the top cover, a pressure sensor and an air path plate are arranged on the inlet, and a flow divider valve is arranged on the outlet; the air inlet pipe is installed in the inlet, and the air pump is fixed to the supporting frame, connected with the air inlet pipe and used for adjusting the air pressure in the storage cylinder. According to the air pressure adjusting assembly of the single-cell liquid drop generator, the two air pressure adjusting structures which do not affect each other are arranged, and it can be guaranteed that equipment can continue to operate normally after a single structure is damaged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the technical field of accessories for single-cell droplet generators, and particularly relates to a gas pressure regulating component for a single-cell droplet generator. Background Technology

[0002] Single-cell sequencing refers to sequencing technology that obtains genetic information from a single cell. That is, at the level of a single cell, the genome or transcriptome is extracted, amplified, and analyzed in high-throughput sequencing. Commercial single-cell droplet generation mainly uses air pressure to drive the flow of liquid within a microfluidic chip, and the oil phase cuts the water phase to form single-cell droplets. Currently, the methods on the market often apply positive pressure to the sample, reagent, microsphere, oil, and other channels of the chip to drive the microfluidic fluid to enrich single-cell droplets at the collection port connected to the atmosphere, or apply negative pressure to the collection port, with each channel connected to the atmosphere, and use negative pressure to drive the liquid in each channel to form single-cell droplets.

[0003] Existing pressure regulation components mostly only have a single regulation structure and no backup pressure regulation structure. If this structure is damaged, the single-cell droplet generator will not be able to function properly, affecting processing efficiency and reducing the selectivity of operation. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention provides a pressure regulating component for a single-cell droplet generator, aiming to solve the problem mentioned in the background art that existing pressure regulating components mostly only have a single regulating structure and do not have a backup pressure regulating structure.

[0005] To solve the above problems, this utility model is implemented as follows: a pressure regulating component for a single-cell droplet generator, comprising: a support frame; a storage cylinder mounted on the support frame for storing single-cell droplet raw materials; a top cover detachably mounted on the storage cylinder for sealing the storage cylinder, the top cover having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet having a pressure sensor and an air circuit board, and the outlet having a flow divider valve; an air inlet pipe installed in the inlet and an air pump fixed on the support frame and connected to the air inlet pipe for regulating the air pressure inside the storage cylinder; a drain pipe fixed in the outlet for discharging the single-cell droplet raw materials; and a regulating component disposed on the storage cylinder for assisting in regulating the air pressure inside the storage cylinder.

[0006] Preferably, the adjustment assembly includes: a piston plate slidably mounted inside the storage cylinder; an adjustment rod fixed to the bottom of the piston plate and extending outside the storage cylinder; and an adjustment plate mounted at the bottom of the adjustment rod for providing an operating grip point.

[0007] Preferably, an adjusting frame is slidably mounted on the support frame, an extension rod is slidably mounted inside the adjusting frame, a locking plate is fixed on the extension rod and locked outside the adjusting plate, and a power structure for adjusting the height of the adjusting frame is provided on the support frame.

[0008] Preferably, the power structure includes a fixed plate fixed on the support frame, a threaded rod rotatably mounted on the fixed plate, an adjusting frame threaded onto the threaded rod, and a stepper motor fixed on the support frame for driving the threaded rod to rotate, wherein the output shaft of the stepper motor is connected to the threaded rod.

[0009] Preferably, the support frame is provided with a sliding groove, and a slider connected to the adjustment frame is slidably installed in the sliding groove. The sliding groove and the slider cooperate to limit the movement path of the adjustment frame.

[0010] Preferably, the support frame is provided with a support plate for supporting the storage cylinder and a clamping plate for stabilizing the storage cylinder, and a limiting bolt that contacts the outer wall of the storage cylinder is threaded onto the clamping plate.

[0011] Preferably, the adjusting frame is threaded with a fixing bolt that can be threadedly connected to the extension rod to stabilize the extension length of the extension rod, and the clamping plate is provided with an anti-slip pad that contacts the adjusting plate to increase friction.

[0012] Preferably, the storage cylinder is provided with an observation window for displaying the liquid level, the air inlet pipe is provided with a one-way valve for preventing backflow of liquid raw materials, and the drain pipe is detachably installed with an extension pipe that can extend to the bottom of the storage cylinder.

[0013] Compared with related technologies, the gas pressure regulating component of the single-cell droplet generator provided by this utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0014] Compared with existing technologies, the single-cell droplet generator pressure regulation component provided in this solution uses a support frame as the basic support structure to stably install and fix key components such as the storage cylinder, top cover, air inlet pipe, and air pump, forming a complete and reliable pressure regulation system. The inlet and outlet design on the top cover, along with the matching pressure sensor, air circuit board, and diverter valve, not only provides channels for the entry and exit of raw materials but also enables real-time monitoring and precise control of air pressure, meeting the requirements for droplet generation. Through the sliding and connection design of the components in the regulation component, operators can assist in adjusting the air pressure inside the storage cylinder from the outside, especially... In the event of a failure in the main regulating structure, this device can serve as a backup to ensure the normal operation of the single-cell droplet generator. Furthermore, the design of components such as the regulating frame, extension rod, and clamping plate enables precise control of the vertical movement of the entire regulating assembly. The power structure, including components such as the fixing plate, threaded rod, and stepper motor, provides a precise power source for the vertical movement of the regulating frame, thereby ensuring the accuracy and stability of the entire air pressure regulating system. The observation window allows operators to directly observe the liquid level in the storage cylinder, and the one-way valve prevents the liquid from flowing back into the air inlet pipe due to changes in air pressure. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a front view schematic diagram of the air pressure regulation component of a single-cell droplet generator provided by this utility model;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a rear view structural schematic diagram of the air pressure regulation component of a single-cell droplet generator provided by this utility model;

[0017] Figure 3 for Figure 1 An enlarged structural diagram of part A shown in the figure;

[0018] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the adjustment frame in this utility model.

[0019] Reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Support frame; 2. Support plate; 3. Clamping plate; 4. Storage cylinder; 5. Top cover; 6. Pressure sensor; 7. Diverter valve; 8. Drain pipe; 9. Air inlet pipe; 10. Air pump; 11. Limit bolt; 12. Adjusting rod; 13. Adjusting plate; 14. Clamping plate; 15. Extension rod; 16. Adjusting frame; 17. Fixing bolt; 18. Slide groove; 19. Fixing plate; 20. Threaded rod; 21. Stepper motor; 22. Slider. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs; the terminology used herein in the specification of the application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and foregoing description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, or foregoing drawings are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a particular order; the terms "inner," "outer," "left," and "right" indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0021] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0022] This utility model embodiment provides a gas pressure regulating component for a single-cell droplet generator, such as... Figure 1-4 As shown, the pressure regulating component of the single-cell droplet generator includes: a support frame 1; a storage cylinder 4 mounted on the support frame 1 for storing single-cell droplet raw materials; a top cover 5 detachably mounted on the storage cylinder 4 for sealing the storage cylinder 4, the top cover 5 having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet having a pressure sensor 6 and an air circuit board, and the outlet having a diverter valve 7; an air inlet pipe 9 installed in the inlet and an air pump 10 fixed on the support frame 1 and connected to the air inlet pipe 9 for regulating the air pressure inside the storage cylinder 4; a drain pipe 8 fixed in the outlet for discharging single-cell droplet raw materials; and a regulating component mounted on the storage cylinder 4 for assisting in regulating the air pressure inside the storage cylinder 4.

[0023] In this embodiment, the support frame 1 serves as the basic support structure for the entire pressure regulation assembly, used to install and fix other components, ensuring the stability of the assembly and the integrity of the overall structure. The storage cylinder 4 stores the single-cell droplet raw material, which is one of the core components for generating single-cell droplets, ensuring a stable supply of raw materials. The top cover 5 seals the storage cylinder 4 to prevent raw material leakage and external contamination. The inlet and outlet provide channels for the entry and exit of raw materials, which are key to realizing raw material flow and pressure regulation. The pressure sensor 6 (PA9020 as an example) is used to monitor the air pressure in the storage cylinder 4 in real time, which helps to accurately control the air pressure and ensure the stability and consistency of droplet generation. The gas flow board works in conjunction with the pressure sensor 6 to be responsible for the introduction and export of gas, which is essential for pressure regulation. The diversion valve 7, an important component of the unit, controls the discharge volume and direction of the raw material, improving operational flexibility and selectivity. The air inlet pipe 9 is connected to the air pump 10 and is used to introduce gas into the storage cylinder 4 to regulate its internal air pressure. The air pump 10 is the main power source for regulating the air pressure inside the storage cylinder 4. By controlling the operation of the air pump 10, the air pressure can be precisely adjusted to meet the needs of droplet generation. The drain pipe 8 is used to discharge the processed single-cell droplet raw material. It is a key channel for outputting the finished product. The regulating component is used to assist in regulating the air pressure inside the storage cylinder 4. The existence of this component increases the flexibility and reliability of air pressure regulation. In particular, it can serve as a backup when the main regulating structure (such as the air pump 10) fails, ensuring the normal operation of the single-cell droplet generator.

[0024] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adjustment assembly includes: a piston plate slidably mounted inside the storage cylinder 4; an adjustment rod 12 fixed to the bottom of the piston plate and extending outside the storage cylinder 4; and an adjustment plate 13 mounted at the bottom of the adjustment rod 12 for providing an operating grip point.

[0025] In this embodiment, the piston plate changes the internal volume of the storage cylinder 4 by sliding up and down inside the cylinder, thereby achieving auxiliary regulation of the air pressure. When the piston plate moves upward, the air pressure in the storage space inside the storage cylinder 4 increases and pushes out the raw material. When the piston plate moves downward, the air pressure decreases. The adjusting rod 12 serves as a bridge connecting the piston plate and the external operating components, allowing the operator to control the piston plate from outside the storage cylinder 4. The adjusting plate 13 provides an operating grip point, enabling the operator to easily move the adjusting rod 12 manually or mechanically, thereby driving the piston plate to slide inside the storage cylinder 4.

[0026] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, an adjusting frame 16 is slidably mounted on the support frame 1, an extension rod 15 is slidably mounted inside the adjusting frame 16, a clamping plate 14 is fixed on the extension rod 15 and locked outside the adjusting plate 13, and a power structure for adjusting the height of the adjusting frame 16 is provided on the support frame 1.

[0027] In this embodiment, the adjustment frame 16 serves as the base for supporting and adjusting the extension rod 15 and its components, allowing the operator to move the entire adjustment assembly up and down as needed. The extension rod 15 further adjusts the relative position between the locking plate 14 and the adjustment plate 13, thereby achieving more precise control of the piston plate. The locking plate 14 connects the extension rod 15 and the adjustment plate 13 through its locking action, allowing the operator to drive the adjustment plate 13 and its adjustment rod 12 and piston plate by moving the extension rod 15. The power structure is used to adjust the height of the adjustment frame 16, and through its driving action, it enables the adjustment frame 16 and its components to move up and down.

[0028] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power structure includes a fixed plate 19 fixed on the support frame 1, a threaded rod 20 rotatably mounted on the fixed plate 19, an adjusting frame 16 threadedly sleeved on the threaded rod 20, and a stepper motor 21 fixed on the support frame 1 for driving the threaded rod 20 to rotate, wherein the output shaft of the stepper motor 21 is connected to the threaded rod 20.

[0029] In this embodiment, the fixing plate 19 serves as the basic component for mounting the threaded rod 20 and the stepper motor 21, ensuring the stability and reliability of the entire power structure. The threaded rod 20 functions to move the adjusting frame 16 up and down through its threaded engagement with the adjusting frame 16. When the threaded rod 20 rotates, the adjusting frame 16 moves along the axial direction of the threaded rod 20, thereby achieving height adjustment of the entire adjusting assembly. The stepper motor 21 serves as the power source, driving the threaded rod 20 to rotate through its precise step rotation, thereby achieving precise adjustment of the adjusting frame 16 and its components.

[0030] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support frame 1 is provided with a sliding groove 18, and a slider 22 connected to the adjustment frame 16 is slidably installed in the sliding groove 18. The sliding groove 18 and the slider 22 cooperate to limit the movement path of the adjustment frame 16.

[0031] In this embodiment, the slide 18 serves as a guide rail for the movement of the adjustment frame 16, enabling the adjustment frame 16 to move along a predetermined path during the movement, thus avoiding deviation and swaying. The slider 22 connects the adjustment frame 16 to the slide 18, allowing the adjustment frame 16 to move up and down along the trajectory of the slide 18. At the same time, the tight fit between the slider 22 and the slide 18 also ensures the stability and accuracy of the adjustment frame 16 during the movement.

[0032] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support frame 1 is provided with a support plate 2 for supporting the storage cylinder 4 and a clamping plate 3 for stabilizing the storage cylinder 4, and a limiting bolt 11 that contacts the outer wall of the storage cylinder 4 is threadedly installed on the clamping plate 3.

[0033] In this embodiment, the support plate 2 is used to support the bottom of the storage cylinder 4, so that the storage cylinder 4 can be stably placed on the support frame 1, avoiding errors and malfunctions caused by shaking or tilting. The clamping plate 3 is used to stabilize the side wall of the storage cylinder 4. Through its clamping action, the storage cylinder 4 is fixed on the support frame 1 to prevent it from shaking or tilting during movement or adjustment. The limiting bolt 11 is used to further fix the position of the storage cylinder 4 to prevent it from shifting or shaking during adjustment. By adjusting the tightness of the limiting bolt 11, the stability and fixation of the storage cylinder 4 can be precisely controlled.

[0034] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adjusting frame 16 is threadedly fitted with a fixing bolt 17 that can be threadedly connected to the extension rod 15 to stabilize the extension length of the extension rod 15, and the clamping plate 14 is provided with an anti-slip pad that contacts the adjusting plate 13, the anti-slip pad being used to increase friction.

[0035] In this embodiment, the fixing bolt 17 is used to lock the extension length of the extension rod 15 to prevent it from shaking or shifting during adjustment. By tightening the fixing bolt 17, the connection between the extension rod 15 and the adjustment frame 16 can be ensured to be stable and reliable, thereby ensuring the accuracy and stability of the entire adjustment assembly. The anti-slip pad is used to increase the friction between the clamping plate 14 and the adjustment plate 13. This design can effectively prevent the adjustment plate 13 from sliding or shifting due to insufficient friction during movement, thereby further improving the accuracy and stability of air pressure adjustment.

[0036] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the storage cylinder 4 is provided with an observation window for displaying the liquid level, the air inlet pipe 9 is provided with a one-way valve for preventing backflow of liquid raw materials, and the drain pipe 8 is detachably installed with an extension pipe that can extend to the bottom of the storage cylinder 4.

[0037] In this embodiment, the observation window allows the operator to visually observe the liquid level in the storage cylinder 4, enabling timely replenishment or replacement of the liquid material and ensuring the continuity and stability of single-cell droplet generation. The one-way valve ensures that the gas flows in only one direction, preventing the liquid material from flowing back into the air inlet pipe 9 due to pressure changes, causing blockage or contamination. This design improves the reliability and durability of the air inlet pipe 9 and also protects other components of the single-cell droplet generator from damage by the liquid material. The extension pipe design allows the drain pipe 8 to more effectively discharge the liquid material in the storage cylinder 4, especially when the liquid level is low. The extension pipe ensures that the liquid material is completely discharged, avoiding residue and waste. At the same time, the detachable design of the extension pipe also prevents it from affecting the use of the adjustment components.

[0038] In summary, compared with related technologies, this device, using the support frame 1 as the basic support structure, stably installs and fixes key components such as the storage cylinder 4, top cover 5, air inlet pipe 9, and air pump 10, forming a complete and reliable air pressure regulation system. The inlet and outlet design on the top cover 5, along with the matching pressure sensor 6, air circuit board, and diverter valve 7, not only provides channels for the entry and exit of raw materials but also enables real-time monitoring and precise control of air pressure, meeting the requirements for droplet generation. Through the sliding and connection design of the components in the adjustment assembly, operators can externally assist in adjusting the air pressure inside the storage cylinder 4, especially in the main adjustment structure. In case of failure, it can serve as a backup to ensure the normal operation of the single-cell droplet generator. This utility model also achieves precise control of the up-and-down movement of the entire adjustment assembly through the design of components such as the adjustment frame 16, extension rod 15, and clamping plate 14. The setting of the power structure, including components such as the fixing plate 19, threaded rod 20, and stepper motor 21, provides a precise power source for the up-and-down movement of the adjustment frame 16, thereby ensuring the accuracy and stability of the entire air pressure adjustment system. The design of the observation window allows the operator to intuitively observe the liquid level of the liquid raw material in the storage cylinder 4. The setting of the one-way valve prevents the liquid raw material from flowing back into the air inlet pipe 9 due to changes in air pressure.

[0039] It should be understood, in the several embodiments provided in this application, that the disclosed apparatus may be implemented in other ways.

[0040] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, not all embodiments. Based on these embodiments, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can still combine, add, delete, or otherwise adjust the features of the various embodiments of this utility model according to the circumstances without conflict or creative effort, thereby obtaining different technical solutions that do not fundamentally depart from the concept of this utility model. These technical solutions are also within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A pressure regulating component for a single-cell droplet generator, characterized in that, include: Support frame (1); A storage cylinder (4) for storing single-cell droplet raw materials is installed on the support frame (1); A top cover (5) is detachably installed on the storage cylinder (4) for sealing the storage cylinder (4). The top cover (5) is provided with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is provided with a pressure sensor (6) and an air circuit board, and the outlet is provided with a diverter valve (7). An air inlet pipe (9) installed in the inlet and an air pump (10) fixed on the support frame (1) and connected to the air inlet pipe (9) for adjusting the air pressure in the storage cylinder (4); A drain pipe (8) is fixed inside the outlet for discharging single-cell droplet raw materials; An adjustment component is installed on the storage cylinder (4) to assist in adjusting the air pressure inside the storage cylinder (4).

2. The gas pressure regulating component of the single-cell droplet generator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The adjustment component includes: A piston plate is slidably installed inside the storage cylinder (4); An adjusting rod (12) is fixed to the bottom of the piston plate and extends to the outside of the storage cylinder (4); and an adjustment plate (13) installed at the bottom of the adjustment rod (12) to provide an operating grip point.

3. The gas pressure regulating component of the single-cell droplet generator as described in claim 2, characterized in that, An adjusting frame (16) is slidably mounted on the support frame (1), and an extension rod (15) is slidably mounted inside the adjusting frame (16). A clamping plate (14) is fixed on the extension rod (15) and is locked outside the adjusting plate (13). The support frame (1) is provided with a power structure for adjusting the height of the adjusting frame (16).

4. The gas pressure regulating component of the single-cell droplet generator as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The power structure includes a fixed plate (19) fixed on the support frame (1), a threaded rod (20) rotatably mounted on the fixed plate (19), an adjusting frame (16) threadedly sleeved on the threaded rod (20), and a stepper motor (21) fixed on the support frame (1) for driving the threaded rod (20) to rotate. The output shaft of the stepper motor (21) is connected to the threaded rod (20).

5. The gas pressure regulating component of the single-cell droplet generator as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The support frame (1) is provided with a slide groove (18), and a slider (22) connected to the adjustment frame (16) is slidably installed in the slide groove (18). The slide groove (18) and the slider (22) cooperate to limit the movement path of the adjustment frame (16).

6. The gas pressure regulating component of the single-cell droplet generator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The support frame (1) is provided with a support plate (2) for supporting the storage cylinder (4) and a clamping plate (3) for stabilizing the storage cylinder (4). A limiting bolt (11) that contacts the outer wall of the storage cylinder (4) is threaded on the clamping plate (3).

7. The gas pressure regulating component of the single-cell droplet generator as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The adjusting frame (16) is threaded with a fixing bolt (17) that can be threadedly connected to the extension rod (15) to stabilize the extension length of the extension rod (15). The clamping plate (14) is provided with an anti-slip pad that contacts the adjusting plate (13) to increase friction.

8. The gas pressure regulating component of the single-cell droplet generator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The storage cylinder (4) is provided with an observation window for displaying the liquid level, the air inlet pipe (9) is provided with a one-way valve for preventing the backflow of liquid raw materials, and the drain pipe (8) is detachably installed with an extension pipe that can extend to the bottom of the storage cylinder (4).

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