Organ chip culture device

Abstract

This application provides an organ-on-a-chip culture device, comprising: a culture box having a physiological simulation chamber inside, and an air inlet communicating with the simulation chamber; and an air guide having an air outlet communicating with the air inlet, and an elastic sealing element on the air guide, which forms a sealed channel between the air outlet and the air inlet when they are connected. Through the sealing structure design of the culture box and the air guide, a sealed channel is formed between the air outlet and the air inlet, effectively solving the problem of poor sealing in traditional press-fit structures. This provides advantages such as improved sealing performance, prevention of culture medium leakage and abnormal gas exchange, and ensuring the reliability of long-term culture experiments.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of organ-on-a-chip, and more particularly to an organ-on-a-chip culture device. Background Technology

[0002] Organ-on-a-chip (OAS) is defined as a miniature cell culture device used to simulate the functional units of human organs in vitro. It is based on a microfluidic chip and composed of materials such as transparent plastic, glass, or flexible polymers. It has multiple cell culture zones that simulate the environment of human tissues and organs, and these zones are connected by a circulation system. Currently, organ-on-a-chip culture is mostly carried out in a specific carbon dioxide incubator, which provides the necessary growth conditions for organ-on-a-chip culture, such as carbon dioxide concentration, temperature, and humidity.

[0003] Common organ-on-a-chip culture equipment includes a gas delivery device and multiple culture boxes placed on a tray. The gas delivery device has an air outlet, and the culture boxes have air inlets. The gas delivery device is manipulated to press downwards against the culture boxes, connecting the air outlet and the air inlet. The gas in the gas delivery device enters the culture boxes, driving the liquid flow in the incubator. However, under long-term compression, gaps can easily appear between the gas delivery device and the incubator, leading to culture medium leakage and seriously affecting the accuracy of hypoxic microenvironment simulation.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an organ-on-a-chip culture device that can achieve long-term airtightness between the air guide components and the culture chamber, ensuring the accuracy of air pressure control and the stability of the culture environment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides an organ-on-a-chip culture device that achieves long-term airtightness between the gas delivery component and the incubator, ensuring the accuracy of gas pressure control and the stability of the culture environment.

[0006] This application provides an organ-on-a-chip culture device, comprising: a culture box having a physiological simulation chamber inside, and an air inlet communicating with the simulation chamber; an air guide having an air outlet communicating with the air inlet, and an elastic sealing element provided on the air guide, the elastic sealing element being used to form a sealed channel between the air outlet and the air inlet when the air outlet and the air inlet are connected.

[0007] In one possible implementation, this application also proposes that the elastic seal is a sealing gasket, the sealing gasket having a through hole communicating with the air outlet, and when the air guide is pressed against the culture box, the air inlet is located in the through hole to form a sealed channel.

[0008] In one possible implementation, this application also proposes that the bottom of the air guide is provided with a positioning groove, a sealing gasket is provided on the inner edge of the positioning groove, the top of the culture box is provided with a positioning head, an air inlet is provided on the top of the positioning head, and the air guide is pressed against the culture box so that the positioning head and the sealing gasket are engaged to form a sealed channel.

[0009] In one possible implementation, this application also proposes that the gas guide has a gas channel inside, a gas source for filling the gas channel is connected to the outside of the gas guide, and a plurality of gas outlets communicating with the gas channel are provided at the bottom of the gas guide.

[0010] In one possible implementation, this application also proposes that the air guide is provided with a solenoid valve for opening or closing the corresponding air outlet.

[0011] In one possible implementation, this application also proposes: a support frame having a vertically downward track, with the air guide slidably disposed within the track; and a lifting mechanism disposed on the support frame, the lifting mechanism being used to drive the air guide to descend or rise vertically.

[0012] In one possible implementation, this application also proposes that the lifting mechanism includes: a transmission rod, which is slidably mounted on the support frame in a vertical direction and contacts the air guide; a cam, which is rotatably mounted on the support frame and rolls with the transmission rod; and a drive, which drives the cam to rotate and cause the transmission rod to slide downward so that the air guide is pressed against the culture box.

[0013] In one possible implementation, this application also proposes that the support frame is provided with an elastic reset member for applying an upward preload to the gas guide, thereby separating the gas guide from the culture box.

[0014] In one possible implementation, this application also proposes that a fixing rod is fixedly provided on the top of the air guide, and the transmission rod contacts the fixing rod and drives the air guide to move downward during the downward movement.

[0015] In one possible implementation, this application also proposes that the gas guide has a gas channel inside, a gas source for filling the gas channel is connected to the outside of the gas guide, a plurality of air outlets communicating with the gas channel are provided at the bottom of the gas guide, and a solenoid valve for opening or closing the corresponding air outlet is provided on the gas guide.

[0016] The organ-on-a-chip culture device provided in this application provides a sealed channel between the air outlet and the air inlet through the sealed structure design of the culture box and the gas guide, which effectively solves the problem of poor sealing of traditional pressing structure. It has the advantages of improving sealing performance, preventing culture medium leakage and abnormal gas exchange, and ensuring the reliability of long-term culture experiments. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the culture device provided in this application;

[0019] Figure 2 Another structural schematic diagram of the culture device provided in this application;

[0020] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the culture box for the culture device provided in this application;

[0021] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the gas guide structure of the culture device provided in this application;

[0022] Figure 5 A partial cross-sectional view of the air guide and culture box of the culture apparatus provided in this application.

[0023] Reference numerals: 100, culture platform; 101, upper support platform; 102, support frame; 103, lower support platform; 104, guide rod; 105, drive frame; 106, fixing rod; 107, support lug; 108, elastic reset component; 200, culture box; 201, air inlet; 202, positioning head; 300, air guide component; 301, air outlet; 302, positioning groove; 400, elastic sealing component; 401, through hole; 500, solenoid valve; 600, bracket; 700, lifting mechanism; 701, drive body; 702, output shaft; 703, cam component; 704, transmission rod; 800, sealing channel.

[0024] The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of this application to those skilled in the art through reference to particular embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0026] Currently, organ-on-a-chip culture devices typically employ a method of pressurizing the gas delivery component with the culture chamber to achieve gas transfer. Under prolonged pressurization, gaps can develop at the contact surface between the gas delivery component and the culture chamber due to material deformation or assembly errors, leading to gas and liquid leakage. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced during dynamic culture processes, affecting the accuracy of hypoxic microenvironment simulation and causing fluctuations in culture environment parameters.

[0027] To address the aforementioned issues, a sealing structure capable of compensating for gaps in the contact surfaces is needed. Traditional sealing solutions rely on rigid clamping force to maintain airtightness, but cannot adapt to the cumulative deformation during long-term use. Analysis of the gas leakage path revealed that placing an elastic sealing element at the interface between the gas guide and the culture chamber can create an adaptive sealing interface during clamping, compensating for microscopic unevenness. Based on this, a deformable elastic sealing element is proposed to be introduced between the gas guide and the culture chamber, filling the gaps in the contact surfaces through elastic deformation.

[0028] Therefore, this application provides an organ-on-a-chip culture device, including a culture box and a gas guide. The culture box has a physiological simulation chamber inside and an air inlet communicating with the physiological simulation chamber. The gas guide has an air outlet communicating with the air inlet and an elastic sealing element is provided on the gas guide, forming a sealed channel when the air outlet and air inlet are connected. Through the sealing structure design of the culture box and the gas guide, a sealed channel is formed between the air outlet and air inlet, effectively solving the problem of poor sealing in traditional press-fit structures. It has the advantages of improving sealing performance, preventing culture medium leakage and abnormal gas exchange, and ensuring the reliability of long-term culture experiments.

[0029] The technical solution of this application and how the technical solution of this application solves the above-mentioned technical problems are described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments. The embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] Combination Figures 1 to 5 This application provides an organ-on-a-chip culture device, including a culture platform 100, a culture box 200, and an air guide 300.

[0031] The culture platform 100 includes an upper support platform 101 and a lower support platform 103. The upper support platform 101 is used to support the air guide 300. The culture box 200 is installed on the lower support platform 103 via a bracket 600. The lower support platform 103 has an installation groove. The bracket 600 is slidably fitted into the installation groove in a lockable manner. Specifically, the bracket 600 is made of metal sheet. The bracket 600 has a hollow design to form a support part for fixing the culture box 200. Multiple culture boxes 200 are placed in the corresponding support parts to prevent the culture boxes 200 from moving horizontally on the bracket 600.

[0032] Specifically, the bracket 600 has four support sections spaced apart along its length, meaning that chips in four culture boxes 200 can be cultured at the same time.

[0033] The culture box 200 is a container for containing cell culture medium and organ-on-a-chip. Specifically, it can be made of polycarbonate or polydimethylsiloxane. The culture box 200 has a physiological simulation chamber inside, which contains culture medium and can simulate the blood / tissue fluid flow environment. The culture box 200 is provided with an air inlet 201 that communicates with the simulation chamber.

[0034] The gas guide 300 is a component used to deliver gas to the culture box 200. Specifically, it can be made of metal or polymer material into a hollow cavity. Its function is to deliver gas into the culture box 200 through an external gas source. It has a gas distribution channel inside.

[0035] Specifically, the air inlet 201 at the top of the culture box 200 and the air outlet 301 at the bottom of the air guide 300 are axially connected. When the air guide 300 moves towards the culture box 200, the elastic seal 400 is compressed and expands radially, forming an annular seal around the outer edge of the air inlet 201. Gas enters the sealed channel 800 from the internal channel of the air guide 300 through the air outlet 301, and is then guided along the inner wall of the elastic seal 400 to the air inlet 201, preventing contact with the external environment. During the compression process, the elastic modulus of the elastic seal 400 allows it to compensate for minor displacements of the contact surface caused by temperature changes or mechanical vibrations.

[0036] Compared to related technologies, traditional solutions rely solely on the machining precision of the rigid contact surfaces between the gas guide 300 and the culture box 200 to maintain a seal. This solution, however, introduces an independent elastic sealing element 400 to form a secondary sealing interface. In related technologies, gas is directly transmitted through the metal-to-metal contact surface, which is prone to leakage due to surface roughness. In this solution, the elastic deformation capability of the elastic sealing element 400 can actively fill microscopic gaps, creating a dynamic sealing effect.

[0037] Through the above technical solution, this application effectively solves the problem of gas leakage under long-term compression, ensuring stable gas pressure inside the culture chamber and avoiding contamination of the culture medium.

[0038] This application further proposes that the elastic sealing element 400 is a sealing gasket, and the sealing gasket has a through hole 401 communicating with the air outlet 301. When the air guide 300 is pressed against the culture box 200, the air inlet 201 is located in the through hole 401 to form a sealing channel 800.

[0039] The sealing gasket is an elastic component used to form a seal between the air guide 300 and the culture box 200, and can be made of elastic materials such as silicone or rubber.

[0040] The through hole 401 is a channel structure that penetrates the sealing gasket. Its diameter is matched with the air inlet 201 to achieve a wrap-around seal, ensuring that the gas discharged from the air outlet 301 flows only through the contact area between the through hole 401 and the air inlet 201.

[0041] Specifically, when the gas guide 300 is pressed against the culture box 200, the through hole 401 of the sealing gasket is completely enclosed by the outer wall of the air inlet 201. At this time, an annular contact surface is formed between the inner wall of the through hole 401 and the outer wall of the air inlet 201. Due to the elastic deformation of the sealing gasket after being compressed, the contact surface is filled into a gapless sealing state, and gas can only enter the interior of the culture box 200 through the limited path between the through hole 401 and the air inlet 201. Thus, during long-term compression, the elastic restoring force of the sealing gasket continuously compensates for the wear or deformation of the contact surface, maintaining the integrity of the sealing channel 800.

[0042] Compared to related technologies, traditional gas guides 300 and culture boxes rely solely on rigid contact surfaces for compression. Over long-term use, these surfaces are prone to wear or material fatigue, leading to gaps and gas leakage. This solution transforms rigid contact into elastic contact by using a sealing gasket to enclose the air inlet 201, thus maintaining a stable seal during dynamic compression.

[0043] Through the above technical solution, this application solves the problem of sealing failure between the gas guide 300 and the culture box 200 under long-term compression, avoids culture medium contamination or gas pressure runaway caused by gas leakage, and ensures precise control of culture medium flow and stability of environmental parameters during organ-on-a-chip simulation in a low-oxygen environment.

[0044] This application further proposes that the bottom of the air guide 300 is provided with a positioning groove 302, the sealing gasket is provided on the inner edge of the positioning groove 302, the top of the culture box 200 is provided with a positioning head 202, the air inlet 201 is provided on the top of the positioning head 202, and the air guide 300 is pressed against the culture box 200, so that the positioning head 202 and the sealing gasket are engaged to form a sealing channel 800.

[0045] The positioning groove 302 is a recessed structure at the bottom of the air guide 300 used to accommodate the sealing gasket. Specifically, it can be implemented by using an annular groove or a rectangular groove to limit the lateral displacement of the sealing gasket.

[0046] The sealing gasket is an elastic sealing material, which can be made of silicone or rubber, and fills the gap through compression deformation.

[0047] The positioning head 202 is a raised structure on the top of the culture box 200 that cooperates with the air guide 300. It can be implemented in a cylindrical or conical geometric shape and is used to guide the air inlet 201 and the air outlet 301 to be aligned.

[0048] The snap-fit ​​is a mechanical locking state formed after the positioning head 202 is embedded in the sealing gasket. It can be achieved through interference fit or elastic clamping to maintain the stability of the sealing channel 800.

[0049] Specifically, when the gas guide 300 moves downward to press against the culture box 200, the positioning head 202 inserts into the through hole 401 of the sealing gasket. The sealing gasket is constrained by the inner edge of the positioning groove 302 and cannot shift laterally. An annular sealing interface is formed between the positioning head 202 and the sealing gasket through elastic compression. During this process, the air inlet 201 is completely enclosed by the through hole 401, and gas can only enter the culture box 200 through the internal channel of the sealing gasket, thereby preventing gas leakage or liquid seepage.

[0050] The existing gas guide 300 and culture box 200 rely solely on planar compression to achieve a seal. After long-term use, the sealing material is prone to creep or wear, leading to seal failure. In contrast, this solution uses the mechanical cooperation between the positioning groove 302 and the positioning head 202 to keep the sealing gasket in a controlled deformation state. Even under prolonged pressure, it can maintain a stable sealing pressure, significantly reducing the risk of media leakage.

[0051] Through the above technical solution, this application solves the problem of sealing failure caused by long-term compression between the gas guide 300 and the culture box 200. Through the synergistic effect of the positioning structure and the elastic sealing material, the gas channel is ensured to maintain a stable seal during dynamic operation, thereby improving the reliability of the organ-on-a-chip culture environment and the accuracy of microenvironment simulation.

[0052] This application further proposes that the gas guide 300 has a gas channel inside, and the gas guide 300 is connected to a gas source for filling the gas channel. The bottom of the gas guide 300 is provided with a plurality of gas outlets 301 that communicate with the gas channel.

[0053] The gas channel is a pipeline structure set inside the gas guide 300 for transmitting gas. Specifically, it can be implemented using a hollow cavity or an independent pipeline structure, and its function is to provide a directional path for gas flow.

[0054] Among them, the gas source is an external gas supply device that can input gas into the gas channel. Specifically, it can be an air pump or a compressed gas cylinder. Its function is to provide a controllable pressure gas input to the culture chamber.

[0055] Among them, the air outlet 301 is an opening distributed at the bottom of the air guide 300 and connected to the gas channel. Specifically, it can be a circular hole with a diameter range of 0.1-1 mm. Its function is to evenly disperse the gas into the culture chamber.

[0056] Specifically, the gas channel extends longitudinally along the gas guide 300 to form a continuous passage. The gas source is connected to the inlet end of the gas channel through a pipeline, and multiple gas outlets 301 are arranged in an array along the bottom of the gas channel. When the gas source is activated, gas enters the interior of the gas guide 300 through the gas channel and is simultaneously output to the culture chamber from the multiple gas outlets 301 at the bottom. By controlling the gas source pressure and the distribution density of the gas outlets 301, the gas can form a uniform flow in the culture chamber, avoiding excessive local pressure that could lead to seal failure.

[0057] Compared to related technologies, existing gas guide components 300 typically employ a single gas outlet structure. Concentrated gas output can easily cause sudden pressure changes in the culture chamber, leading to uneven stress on the sealing gasket and subsequent leakage. This solution, through a multi-outlet design 301, disperses the gas output, reducing the peak pressure per unit area. Simultaneously, an external gas source allows for precise control of the gas flow rate, preventing deformation of the sealing interface caused by pressure fluctuations.

[0058] Through the above technical solution, this application achieves uniform gas distribution in the culture chamber, effectively reduces the risk of leakage caused by local high pressure at the sealing interface, and ensures stable and controllable gas input process through active pressure control of external gas source, thereby maintaining the micro pressure accuracy of organ-on-a-chip culture environment.

[0059] This application further proposes that the air guide 300 is provided with a solenoid valve 500 for opening or closing the corresponding air outlet 301.

[0060] The solenoid valve 500 is an automated component that controls the opening and closing of the fluid channel via an electrical signal. Specifically, it can be implemented by using a coil to drive the valve core to move, thereby opening or closing the vent 301 by changing the direction of the current or the on / off state. The vent 301 is a perforated structure at the bottom of the gas guide 300 that communicates with the gas channel. Specifically, it can be a circular hole with a diameter of 0.5-2 mm, used to transfer the gas in the gas channel to the physiological simulation chamber of the culture box 200.

[0061] Specifically, when gas needs to be supplied to a specific area of ​​the culture box 200, the corresponding solenoid valve 500 is energized and opened, and the gas flows from the gas source through the gas channel to the target gas outlet 301; when it is necessary to stop the gas supply or switch the gas supply area, the current solenoid valve 500 is closed and other solenoid valves 500 are opened to achieve time-sharing independent control of different gas outlets 301.

[0062] Compared with related technologies, traditional air guide components 300 use mechanical valves or fixed opening and closing structures, which require manual adjustment and cannot achieve independent control of multiple channels. In contrast, this solution uses the electrified control of the solenoid valve 500 to precisely adjust the gas flow and opening and closing sequence of each air outlet 301, avoiding sealing failure caused by mechanical wear.

[0063] Through the above technical solution, this application achieves independent and precise control of multiple vents 301, maintains a stable sealing state during long-term use, effectively prevents culture medium leakage, and ensures that different cell culture zones can obtain differentiated gas environment conditions, thereby improving the in vitro simulation accuracy of organ-on-a-chip.

[0064] This application further discloses an organ-on-a-chip culture device, including a support frame 102, an air guide 300, and a lifting mechanism 700. The support frame 102 has a track extending in a vertical direction, and the air guide 300 is slidably fitted within the track; the lifting mechanism 700 is disposed on the support frame 102 and is used to drive the air guide 300 to descend or rise in a vertical direction.

[0065] The support frame 102 is a rigid structure used to support and fix the components. It can be made of metal frame or engineering plastic. The support frame 102 is set between the upper support platform 101 and the lower support platform 103. It provides vertical guidance for the air guide 300 through the track to prevent horizontal deviation. The track is a guide structure set in the vertical direction. It can be in the form of slide rail or guide groove, which restricts the movement of the air guide 300 only along the set path to ensure the linearity of the pressing action.

[0066] Specifically, the longitudinal section of the support frame 102 is cross-shaped. Guide rods 104 are provided at both ends of the support frame 102 and at the two ends of the air guide 300 along the length direction. Support ears 107 are provided on the air guide 300. The support ears 107 are slidably fitted in the guide rods 104 along the vertical direction to form a track, so as to ensure that the air guide 300 remains stable during movement.

[0067] The lifting mechanism 700 is a mechanical component that drives the air guide 300 to move vertically. Specifically, it can be implemented by cam drive, screw drive or pneumatic device. By precisely controlling the lifting stroke of the air guide 300, it can achieve pressing or separation from the culture box 200.

[0068] Specifically, the air guide 300 is restricted to moving only vertically via the track of the support frame 102. When the lifting mechanism 700 drives the air guide 300 downward, the air outlet 301 of the air guide 300 aligns with and presses against the air inlet 201 of the culture box 200, forming a sealed channel 800. When it is necessary to release the seal, the lifting mechanism 700 drives the air guide 300 upward along the track, completely separating the air guide 300 from the culture box 200. By constraining the movement path of the air guide 300 via the track, wear or misalignment of the sealing gasket caused by lateral offset can be avoided. At the same time, the lifting mechanism 700 provides controllable clamping force to ensure that the elastic seal 400 is subjected to uniform force during the clamping process.

[0069] Compared to related technologies, existing air guide components 300 typically compress the culture box 200 directly via manual or simple mechanical means, lacking precise vertical guidance and controllable lifting stroke. This makes the elastic seal 400 prone to deformation or misalignment due to prolonged compression. This solution, through the synergistic action of the track and lifting mechanism 700, achieves precise vertical alignment between the air guide component 300 and the culture box 200, avoiding the impact of lateral displacement on sealing performance. Simultaneously, the controllable compression force extends the service life of the elastic seal 400.

[0070] Through the above technical solution, this application solves the problem of sealing failure caused by long-term compression between the air guide 300 and the culture box 200. By constraining the movement direction of the air guide 300 by the track and combining the lifting mechanism 700 to precisely control the compression stroke, the stability and reliability of the sealing channel 800 are ensured, thereby maintaining the accuracy of air pressure regulation and the simulation effect of low oxygen microenvironment in the culture box 200.

[0071] Among them, a drive frame 105 is provided on the upper support platform 101. The drive frame 105 is used to support the drive component and the cam component 703. The drive component is a power output device, which includes a drive body 701 and an output shaft 702. The drive body 701 can be a stepper motor or a servo motor, and the output shaft 702 is used to transmit the power of the drive body 701.

[0072] The cam component 703 is a rotating part with a specific contour curve, which can be an eccentric wheel or a curved cam structure. By rotating, it changes its contact position with the transmission rod 704, thereby converting the rotational motion into the linear motion of the transmission rod 704. Specifically, the cam component 703 is rotatably mounted on the drive frame 105, and a connecting shaft is coaxially fixed to the axis of the cam component 703. The connecting shaft is coaxially connected to the output shaft 702 through a coupling, which is used to transmit the power of the drive body 701 to the cam component 703, thereby controlling its rotation angle and speed.

[0073] Among them, the transmission rod 704 is a rigid rod-shaped component that moves in the vertical direction. It can be made of metal or high-strength plastic material and is driven by a cam mechanism. Its function is to convert the external driving force into vertical displacement, thereby precisely controlling the lifting stroke of the air guide 300. Its lower end is in contact with the air guide 300.

[0074] Specifically, after the drive unit is activated, it causes the cam component 703 to rotate around its axis. The contact point between the contour curve of the cam component 703 and the transmission rod 704 gradually changes with rotation, pushing the transmission rod 704 to slide downwards in the vertical direction. The lower end of the transmission rod 704 contacts the air guide component 300 and applies downward pressure, causing the air guide component 300 to be stably pressed against the top of the culture box 200. During this process, the continuous rotation of the cam component 703 ensures that the movement trajectory of the transmission rod 704 is controllable, thereby avoiding displacement of the culture box 200 or seal failure due to sudden pressure changes.

[0075] Compared with related technologies, the clamping action of the air guide 300 in traditional culture devices mostly relies on manual operation or simple spring mechanisms, making it difficult to achieve uniform and stable clamping force. This solution, however, utilizes the rolling contact between the cam 703 and the transmission rod 704, combined with precise control of the drive component, to adjust the application speed and amplitude of the clamping force according to actual needs, effectively eliminating the sealing problems caused by the wobbling or positioning deviation of the bracket 600.

[0076] Through the above technical solution, this application can accurately control the pressing contact state between the gas guide 300 and the culture box 200, ensuring that the sealed channel 800 maintains stable airtightness during long-term use, preventing culture medium leakage or abnormal air pressure fluctuations, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of organ-on-a-chip in hypoxic environment simulation.

[0077] This application further proposes that a fixed rod 106 is fixedly installed on the top of the air guide 300, and the transmission rod 704 contacts the fixed rod 106 during the downward movement and drives the air guide 300 to move downward.

[0078] The fixing rod 106 is a rod-shaped structure that is rigidly connected to the top of the air guide 300. It can be made of metal or hard plastic material and fixed by welding or bolts. It is used to provide a stable force transmission path when the transmission rod 704 is pressed down.

[0079] Among them, the transmission rod 704 is a driving component that moves in the vertical direction. Specifically, it can be a cylindrical metal rod that is implemented through a sliding fit mechanism. When it moves downward, it directly contacts the fixed rod 106 to form a rigid linkage relationship to drive the air guide 300 to move synchronously.

[0080] Specifically, when the transmission rod 704 moves downward vertically under external driving force, its bottom end contacts the top surface of the fixed rod 106, and the driving force is transmitted to the fixed rod 106 through the pressure of the contact surface, thereby driving the air guide 300 to move downward as a whole. During this process, the rigid contact between the fixed rod 106 and the transmission rod 704 avoids displacement deviation caused by elastic deformation or gaps, ensuring that the air guide 300 presses the culture box 200 with a stable trajectory, so that the air outlet 301 and the air inlet 201 are precisely aligned and form a sealed channel 800.

[0081] In some specific embodiments, the fixed rod 106 may be designed with a cylindrical or rectangular cross section, for example, using stainless steel to enhance structural strength; the bottom end of the transmission rod 704 may be provided with a flat or arc-shaped contact surface, for example, by polishing to reduce frictional resistance, thereby improving linkage efficiency.

[0082] Compared to related technologies, traditional solutions typically rely on elastic elements or indirect connections between the air guide 300 and the drive mechanism, which are prone to deformation or displacement due to long-term pressure, leading to seal failure. This solution, however, eliminates the risk of deformation in intermediate force transmission links through direct rigid contact between the fixed rod 106 and the transmission rod 704, ensuring that the air guide 300 maintains a stable movement trajectory and contact pressure throughout the pressing process.

[0083] Through the above technical solution, this application solves the problem of sealing failure caused by long-term compression between the gas guide 300 and the culture box 200. The rigid linkage structure realizes the precise pressing and stable positioning of the gas guide 300, effectively preventing gas or liquid leakage, thereby ensuring the accuracy of gas pressure regulation and the long-term stability of microenvironment simulation in the culture device.

[0084] This application further proposes that the support frame 102 is provided with an elastic reset member 108 for applying an upward preload to the air guide 300, so that the air guide 300 is separated from the culture box 200.

[0085] Among them, the elastic reset member 108 is a mechanical element that can generate elastic deformation to provide restoring force. Specifically, it can be implemented by using a helical spring or an elastic rubber pad. Its function is to provide a continuous upward thrust when the air guide member 300 is not subjected to external force, so as to ensure that the air guide member 300 and the culture box 200 remain separated.

[0086] The upward preload force is the vertical force applied by the elastic reset member 108 to the air guide member 300 in its natural state. Specifically, it can be achieved by adjusting the compression amount or material stiffness of the elastic reset member 108. Its function is to drive the air guide member 300 to automatically reset when the lifting mechanism 700 stops applying pressure, so as to avoid deformation or wear of the elastic seal member 400 due to long-term contact between the air guide member 300 and the culture box 200.

[0087] Specifically, when the lifting mechanism 700 is not activated, the elastic reset member 108 is in a naturally extended state. At this time, the air guide member 300 is completely separated from the culture box 200 under the action of the upward pre-tightening force, forming a gap between the two to prevent the elastic sealing member 400 from being continuously compressed. When the lifting mechanism 700 drives the air guide member 300 to move downward, the elastic reset member 108 is compressed, and the air guide member 300 is pressed against the culture box 200 to form a sealed channel 800. When the lifting mechanism 700 stops applying pressure, the restoring force of the elastic reset member 108 pushes the air guide member 300 upward to reset, causing it to quickly separate from the culture box 200.

[0088] Compared with related technologies, the existing air guide 300 is prone to gap expansion due to material creep or fatigue of the elastic seal 400 under long-term compression. However, this solution, through the pre-tightening force design of the elastic reset element 108, can actively separate the air guide 300 from the culture box 200 in the non-working state, eliminate the influence of continuous pressure on the sealing structure, and thus significantly reduce the risk of leakage.

[0089] Through the above technical solution, this application effectively solves the problem of sealing failure caused by long-term compression between the air guide 300 and the culture box 200. Through the automatic reset function of the elastic reset component 108, it ensures that the elastic seal 400 is only compressed during necessary working periods, which not only maintains the reliability of the airtight connection, but also extends the service life of the elastic seal 400, and simplifies the operation process.

[0090] This application further proposes a cultivation device, wherein a gas channel is provided inside the gas guide 300, and a gas source for filling the gas channel is connected to the outside of the gas guide 300. Multiple air outlets 301 communicating with the gas channel are provided at the bottom of the gas guide 300, and a solenoid valve 500 for opening or closing the corresponding air outlet 301 is provided on the gas guide 300.

[0091] The gas channel, located inside the gas guide 300, is a channel for transporting gas. It can be implemented using a hollow tubular structure or a branched flow channel design. Its function is to provide a path for gas flow, ensuring uniform gas distribution to each outlet 301. The gas source is an external gas supply device that injects gas into the gas channel, which can be implemented using a compressed gas cylinder or a gas pump. Its function is to provide a controllable gas input to the culture environment. The outlets 301 are perforated structures distributed at the bottom of the gas guide 300 and communicating with the gas channel. They can be implemented using an array of micro-holes or conical holes. Their function is to directionally deliver gas to the inlet 201 of the culture box 200. The solenoid valve 500 is an electronic valve installed at each outlet 301 to control the gas flow. It can be implemented using a normally closed solenoid valve 500 or a proportional valve. Its function is to prevent gas leakage and achieve precise gas pressure regulation by independently controlling the opening state of each outlet 301.

[0092] Specifically, after the gas enters the gas channel of the gas guide 300 from the gas source, it is delivered to the culture box 200 through multiple gas outlets 301 at the bottom. The solenoid valve 500 independently adjusts the opening or closing state of each gas outlet 301 according to a control signal. When a gas outlet 301 needs to be closed, the corresponding solenoid valve 500 cuts off the airflow channel, preventing seal failure due to prolonged compression. For example, during the culture process, if the gas supply to a certain area needs to be stopped, local airflow control can be achieved by closing the corresponding solenoid valve 500, while the remaining gas outlets 301 remain sealed, ensuring that the gas only enters the culture box 200 through the designated path.

[0093] Compared with related technologies, the existing air guide 300 usually adopts mechanical compression sealing method. After long-term use, it is prone to gas leakage due to material deformation or uneven pressure. However, this solution independently controls each air outlet 301 through solenoid valve 500, which can achieve dynamic sealing without continuous compression, while reducing the dependence on physical contact force, thereby improving the stability of air tightness.

[0094] Through the above technical solution, this application solves the problem of gas leakage caused by long-term compression between the gas guide 300 and the culture box 200. The high-precision opening and closing of the gas outlet 301 is achieved by the independent control of the solenoid valve 500, avoiding the risk of culture medium leakage, while ensuring the uniformity of gas delivery and the accuracy of gas pressure regulation, and maintaining the stability of the organ-on-a-chip culture environment.

[0095] Finally, it should be noted that other embodiments of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This invention is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein, and is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An organ-on-a-chip culture device, characterized in that, include: A culture box, the interior of which has a physiological simulation chamber, and the culture box is provided with an air inlet communicating with the simulation chamber; An air guide is provided, wherein an air outlet is provided that communicates with the air inlet, and an elastic sealing element is provided on the air guide, wherein the elastic sealing element is used to form a sealing channel between the air outlet and the air inlet when the air outlet and the air inlet are connected.

2. The organ-on-a-chip culture device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic sealing element is a sealing gasket, and the sealing gasket has a through hole that communicates with the air outlet. When the air guide is pressed against the culture box, the air inlet is located in the through hole to form the sealing channel.

3. The organ-on-a-chip culture device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom of the air guide is provided with a positioning groove, the sealing gasket is provided on the inner edge of the positioning groove, the top of the culture box is provided with a positioning head, the air inlet is provided on the top of the positioning head, and the air guide is pressed against the culture box so that the positioning head and the sealing gasket are engaged to form the sealing channel.

4. The organ-on-a-chip culture device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas guide has a gas channel inside, and a gas source for filling the gas channel is connected to the outside of the gas guide. The bottom of the gas guide has a plurality of gas outlets that communicate with the gas channel.

5. The organ-on-a-chip culture device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The air guide is equipped with a solenoid valve for opening or closing the corresponding air outlet.

6. The organ-on-a-chip culture device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A support frame having a vertically downward track, wherein the air guide is slidably disposed within the track; A lifting mechanism is provided on the support frame and is used to drive the air guide to descend or rise in the vertical direction.

7. An organ-on-a-chip culture device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The lifting mechanism includes: A transmission rod, which is slidably mounted on the support frame in the vertical direction and contacts the air guide component; A cam component, which is rotatably mounted on the support frame and rolls in contact with the transmission rod; A driving component is used to drive the cam component to rotate, causing the transmission rod to slide downwards and press the air guide component against the culture box.

8. The organ-on-a-chip culture device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The support frame is provided with an elastic reset member for applying an upward pre-tightening force to the gas guide, thereby separating the gas guide from the culture box.

9. An organ-on-a-chip culture device according to claim 7, characterized in that: A fixing rod is fixedly installed on the top of the air guide component. During the downward movement of the transmission rod, it contacts the fixing rod and drives the air guide component to move downward.

10. A culture device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas guide has a gas channel inside, and a gas source for filling the gas channel is connected to the outside of the gas guide. The bottom of the gas guide has a plurality of air outlets communicating with the gas channel, and the gas guide is provided with a solenoid valve for opening or closing the corresponding air outlet.

Images