Polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding device

Abstract

This utility model discloses a polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding device, including a housing. Guide rods are respectively provided between the upper and lower inner walls of the housing, and a pressure plate is slidably connected between the four guide rods. A base is provided on the bottom wall of the housing, and a fixing mechanism is also included. The fixing mechanism includes a groove, a slider, a telescopic column, a spring, and a fixing block. A groove is respectively formed on the upper surface of the base, and a slider is slidably connected inside each groove. A groove is formed in the middle of each slider, and a fixing block is slidably connected inside each groove. A telescopic column is provided on the bottom wall of each groove, and the telescopic end of the telescopic column is fixedly connected to the lower surface of the fixing block inside the same groove. This polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding device can ensure that the microchannel pattern is precisely overlapped during molding, avoiding problems such as channel misalignment and dimensional errors caused by positional deviations, and ensuring the accuracy of chip function.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of microfluidic chip microchannel processing technology, specifically to a polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] Microfluidic chips are devices that construct micrometer-scale fluid manipulation systems on chips using micro- and nanofabrication techniques. Their structure includes numerous microchannels and reaction chambers, enabling precise control of fluid flow and reactions at the micrometer scale. Their applications are wide-ranging: in the biomedical field, they can be used for cell culture, disease diagnosis (such as COVID-19 detection), and drug screening; in chemical analysis, they enable rapid analysis of trace samples; and in environmental monitoring, they allow for real-time detection of pollutants. Because microchannels are the core structure of microfluidic chips, their precision and consistency directly affect chip performance. Traditional fabrication methods struggle to meet the demands of mass production of micrometer-scale structures. However, microfluidic chip microchannel molding devices, by heating and softening polymer materials and using cylinder pressure in conjunction with a mold, can efficiently and precisely manufacture chips with complex microchannels.

[0003] In existing polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding devices, the mold with microchannel protrusions and the chip are first placed on a support platform. Then, a cylinder drives a pressure plate to press down, applying pressure to the chip. The heating wire inside the pressure plate heats the chip and transfers the heat through the pressure plate, causing the molten material to fill the microchannel details of the mold under pressure. After static cooling, the cylinder drives the pressure plate to lift up and remove the molded chip.

[0004] Existing polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding devices place the chip and mold on a support platform without fixing them during processing. Before the pressure plate contacts the chip, the chip may be affected by equipment vibration or other factors, causing the position of the chip substrate and the mold to change during the molding process. As a result, the microchannel pattern cannot be accurately copied onto the chip substrate, resulting in positional deviations that affect the performance and function of the microfluidic chip. To address this, we propose a polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding device. Utility Model Content

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to overcome the existing defects and provide a polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding device that can ensure that the microchannel pattern is accurately overlapped during molding, avoid channel misalignment and size error caused by positional deviation, ensure the accuracy of chip function, and effectively solve the problems in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding device, including a housing, guide rods respectively provided between the upper and lower inner walls of the housing, a pressure plate slidably connected between the four guide rods, a base provided on the bottom wall of the housing, and a fixing mechanism;

[0007] The fixing mechanism includes a sliding groove, a slider, a telescopic column, a spring, and a fixing block. The upper surface of the base has a sliding groove, and a slider is slidably connected inside each groove. A groove is formed in the middle of each slider, and a fixing block is slidably connected inside each groove. A telescopic column is provided on the bottom wall of each groove, and the telescopic end of the telescopic column is fixedly connected to the lower surface of the fixing block inside the same groove. Springs are movably sleeved on the outside of the telescopic column, and the springs are located between the bottom wall of the groove and the lower surface of the fixing block. This ensures that the microchannel pattern accurately overlaps during molding, avoiding channel misalignment and dimensional errors caused by positional deviations, and guaranteeing the accuracy of the chip's function.

[0008] Furthermore, a microcontroller is provided on the front side of the enclosure. The input terminal of the microcontroller is electrically connected to an external power source to provide electrical connections for various electrical appliances.

[0009] Furthermore, the fixing mechanism also includes a rotating column, a turntable, an arc-shaped drive groove, and a sliding column. The rotating column is rotatably connected between the upper and lower inner walls of the base. The turntable is fixedly sleeved on the outside of the rotating column. The upper surface of the turntable has evenly distributed arc-shaped drive grooves. The lower surface of the slider is fixedly connected to the sliding column. The outside of the sliding column is slidably connected to the inside of the vertically adjacent arc-shaped drive groove to realize the synchronous movement of the fixing block.

[0010] Furthermore, the fixing mechanism also includes a worm wheel and a worm. The worm wheel is fixedly sleeved on the outside of the rotating column, and the worm is rotatably connected between the front and rear inner walls of the base. The worm wheel and the worm are meshed together to ensure stable rotation of the rotating column.

[0011] Furthermore, the fixing mechanism also includes a right-angle motor, which is disposed on the front side of the base. The rear end of the output shaft of the right-angle motor is fixedly connected to the front end of the worm gear, and the input end of the right-angle motor is electrically connected to the output end of the microcontroller to provide rotation drive.

[0012] Furthermore, the pressure plate is equipped with a heating wire inside, and the input end of the heating wire is electrically connected to the output end of the microcontroller, which facilitates the processing of microfluidic chips.

[0013] Furthermore, the top wall of the housing is equipped with a cylinder, the bottom end of the cylinder's extension end is fixedly connected to the upper surface of the pressure plate, and the cylinder's air inlet is connected to the air outlet of an external air pump to provide a driving force for the pressure plate to press down.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: This polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding device has the following advantages:

[0015] A right-angle motor drives a worm gear to rotate, which in turn drives a rotating column. The turntable fixed to the outside of the rotating column rotates accordingly. The arc-shaped drive groove drives the sliding column to move, thereby causing the slider to move synchronously and centripetally within the groove. Adjusting the position of the fixing block achieves precise chip fixation, firmly fixing the substrate and mold on the placement table. This reduces displacement caused by external vibrations (such as equipment operation and ground vibration) or pressure fluctuations during molding, preventing substrate slippage and avoiding microchannel deformation or breakage due to positional misalignment. This reduces the defect rate when processing microchannels in microfluidic chips. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the base of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 4 This is an enlarged structural schematic diagram of point A of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the transmission component of the fixed mechanism of this utility model.

[0021] In the diagram: 1. Box body, 2. Guide rod, 3. Pressure plate, 4. Base, 5. Microcontroller, 6. Fixing mechanism, 601. Slide groove, 602. Slider, 603. Telescopic column, 604. Spring, 605. Fixing block, 606. Rotating column, 607. Turntable, 608. Arc-shaped drive groove, 609. Slide column, 610. Worm gear, 611. Worm, 612. Right angle motor, 7. Heating wire, 8. Cylinder. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0023] Please see Figure 1-5This embodiment provides a technical solution: a polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding device, including a housing 1, guide rods 2 respectively provided between the upper and lower inner walls of the housing 1, a pressure plate 3 slidably connected between the four guide rods 2, a base 4 provided on the bottom wall of the housing 1, and a fixing mechanism 6. A microcontroller 5 is provided on the front side of the housing 1, the input end of the microcontroller 5 is electrically connected to an external power source, a heating wire 7 is provided inside the pressure plate 3 (resistance heating is generated when current passes through the metal wire, converting electrical energy into heat energy), the input end of the heating wire 7 is electrically connected to the output end of the microcontroller 5, a cylinder 8 is provided on the top wall of the housing 1, the bottom end of the telescopic end of the cylinder 8 is fixedly connected to the upper surface of the pressure plate 3, the air inlet of the cylinder 8 is connected to the air outlet of an external air pump. When processing microchannels on a microfluidic chip, the housing 1 is first... Place the mold and chip with microchannel protrusions in the designated position, then open the hinged front door. Place the resin mold and chip in the middle of the upper surface of the base 4. The microcontroller 5 controls the heating wire 7 to be energized and heat up. The heat generated by the heating wire 7 is transferred to the pressure plate 3, causing the temperature of the pressure plate 3 to rise. An external air pump supplies air to the air inlet of the cylinder 8 through the air pipe. The telescopic end of the cylinder 8 pushes the pressure plate 3 downward. Under the guidance of the four guide rods 2, the pressure plate 3 moves downward smoothly, applying pressure to the chip on the base 4. The cylinder 8 maintains a certain pressure for a period of time to ensure that the chip is fully formed. After that, stop the operation of the heating wire 7 and let the chip cool naturally or quickly through other cooling methods to fix the formed microchannel structure. Loosen the fixation on the chip. At this time, the formed chip can be removed from the base 4.

[0024] Fixing mechanism 6 includes a sliding groove 601, a slider 602, a telescopic column 603, a spring 604, and a fixing block 605. The upper surface of the base 4 is provided with sliding grooves 601. Slider 602 is slidably connected inside each sliding groove 601. A groove is provided in the middle of each slider 602. A fixing block 605 is slidably connected inside each groove. A telescopic column 603 is provided on the bottom wall of each groove. The telescopic end of the telescopic column 603 is fixedly connected to the lower surface of the fixing block 605 inside the same groove. Springs 604 are movably sleeved on the outside of the telescopic column 603. Each spring 604 is located between the bottom wall of the groove and the lower surface of the fixing block 605. Fixing mechanism 6 also includes a rotating column 606, a turntable 607, and an arc-shaped drive. The base 4 has a rotating groove 608 and a sliding column 609. A rotating column 606 is rotatably connected between the upper and lower inner walls of the base 4. A turntable 607 is fixedly sleeved on the outside of the rotating column 606. The upper surface of the turntable 607 has evenly distributed arc-shaped drive grooves 608. The lower surface of the slider 602 is fixedly connected to the sliding column 609. The outside of the sliding column 609 is slidably connected to the inside of the vertically adjacent arc-shaped drive grooves 608. The fixing mechanism 6 also includes a worm gear 610 and a worm 611. The worm gear 610 is fixedly sleeved on the outside of the rotating column 606. The worm 611 is rotatably connected between the front and rear inner walls of the base 4. The worm gear 610 and the worm 611 are meshed together. The fixing mechanism 6 also includes a right-angle motor 612, which is mounted on the base 4. On the front side, the rear end of the output shaft of the right-angle motor 612 is fixedly connected to the front end of the worm gear 611. The input end of the right-angle motor 612 is electrically connected to the output end of the microcontroller 5. Through the control of the microcontroller 5, the output shaft of the right-angle motor 612 drives the worm gear 611 to rotate. Since the worm wheel 610 is meshed with the worm gear 611, the rotation of the worm gear 611 will drive the worm wheel 610 to rotate, thereby causing the rotating column 606 to rotate. The turntable 607 fixedly sleeved on the outside of the rotating column 606 rotates accordingly. The evenly distributed arc-shaped drive grooves 608 on the turntable 607 also rotate together (the centers of the circles containing the four arc-shaped drive grooves 608 are not on the central axis of the turntable 607). When the turntable 607 rotates, it drives the arc-shaped drive grooves 608 to move, and the arc-shaped drive grooves 608 move. The groove 608 drives the internal sliding column 609 to move, and the sliding column 609 drives the slider 602 to slide linearly within the groove 601. This causes the four sliders 602 to drive the fixing block 605 to move synchronously towards the center within the groove 601. The position of the fixing block 605 is adjusted according to the size and shape of the chip to achieve precise fixing of the chip. When the pressure plate 3 presses down and contacts the fixing block 605, the fixing block 605 slides downward within the slider 602, and the spring 604 contracts, allowing the pressure plate 3 to fully contact the chip and apply pressure. After cooling, the microcontroller 5 controls the right-angle motor 612 to reverse, driving the turntable 607 to rotate in the opposite direction, causing the slider 602 to drive the fixing block 605 to move to both sides, releasing the fixing of the chip.

[0025] The working principle of the polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding device provided by this utility model is as follows: When processing microchannels on a microfluidic chip, first, the housing 1 is placed in a designated position, then the hinged front door is opened, and the resin mold with microchannel protrusions and the chip are placed in the middle of the upper surface of the base 4. Through the control of the microcontroller 5, the output shaft of the right-angle motor 612 drives the worm gear 611 to rotate. Since the worm wheel 610 is meshed with the worm gear 611, the rotation of the worm gear 611 will drive the worm wheel 610 to rotate, thereby causing the rotating column to rotate. As 606 rotates, the turntable 607, which is fixedly sleeved on the outside of the rotating column 606, rotates accordingly. The evenly distributed arc-shaped drive grooves 608 on the turntable 607 also rotate. When the turntable 607 rotates, it causes the arc-shaped drive grooves 608 to shift. The arc-shaped drive grooves 608 drive the internal sliding column 609 to move. The sliding column 609 drives the slider 602 to slide linearly within the slide groove 601. This causes the four sliders 602 to drive the fixed block 605 to move synchronously and centripetally within the slide groove 601. The fixed block 605 is adjusted according to the size and shape of the chip. Position 05 ensures precise chip fixation. The microcontroller 5 controls the heating wire 7 to be energized and heat up. The heat generated by the heating wire 7 is transferred to the pressure plate 3, raising its temperature. An external air pump supplies air to the air inlet of the cylinder 8 through an air pipe. The telescopic end of the cylinder 8 pushes the pressure plate 3 downwards. Guided by the four guide rods 2, the pressure plate 3 moves smoothly downwards, applying pressure to the chip on the base 4. When the pressure plate 3 presses down and contacts the fixing block 605, the fixing block 605 slides downwards inside the slider 602. Spring 604... The cylinder 8 contracts to ensure that the pressure plate 3 fully contacts the chip and applies pressure. The cylinder 8 maintains a certain pressure for a period of time to ensure that the chip is fully formed. After that, the heating wire 7 is stopped, and the chip is allowed to cool naturally or quickly through other cooling methods to fix the formed microchannel structure. After cooling is completed, the microcontroller 5 controls the right-angle motor 612 to reverse, driving the turntable 607 to rotate in the opposite direction. This causes the slider 602 to move the fixing block 605 to both sides, releasing the fixation of the chip. At this time, the formed chip can be removed from the base 4.

[0026] It is worth noting that the microcontroller 5 disclosed in the above embodiments can be an LPC810, the right-angle motor 612 can be a RAX-271E, and the microcontroller 5 controls the right-angle motor 612 and the heating wire 7 using methods commonly used in the prior art.

[0027] The above description is merely an embodiment of this utility model and does not limit the patent scope of this utility model. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the content of this utility model specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding apparatus, comprising a housing (1), wherein guide rods (2) are respectively provided between the upper and lower inner walls of the housing (1), and a pressure plate (3) is slidably connected between the four guide rods (2), and a base (4) is provided on the bottom wall of the housing (1), characterized in that: It also includes fixed mechanisms (6); The fixing mechanism (6) includes a sliding groove (601), a slider (602), a telescopic column (603), a spring (604), and a fixing block (605). The upper surface of the base (4) is provided with a sliding groove (601). The slider (602) is slidably connected inside the sliding groove (601). The middle part of the slider (602) is provided with a groove. The fixing block (605) is slidably connected inside the groove. The bottom wall of the groove is provided with a telescopic column (603). The telescopic end of the telescopic column (603) is fixedly connected to the lower surface of the fixing block (605) inside the same groove. The spring (604) is movably sleeved on the outside of the telescopic column (603). The spring (604) is located between the bottom wall of the groove and the lower surface of the fixing block (605).

2. The polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front side of the housing (1) is equipped with a microcontroller (5), and the input terminal of the microcontroller (5) is electrically connected to an external power supply.

3. The polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fixing mechanism (6) further includes a rotating column (606), a turntable (607), an arc-shaped drive groove (608), and a sliding column (609). The rotating column (606) is rotatably connected between the upper and lower inner walls of the base (4). The turntable (607) is fixedly sleeved on the outside of the rotating column (606). The upper surface of the turntable (607) is provided with evenly distributed arc-shaped drive grooves (608). The lower surface of the slider (602) is fixedly connected with the sliding column (609). The outside of the sliding column (609) is slidably connected to the inside of the vertically adjacent arc-shaped drive groove (608).

4. The polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The fixing mechanism (6) also includes a worm wheel (610) and a worm (611). The worm wheel (610) is fixedly sleeved on the outside of the rotating column (606), and the worm (611) is rotatably connected between the front and rear inner walls of the base (4). The worm wheel (610) and the worm (611) are meshed together.

5. The polymer microfluidic chip microchannel molding device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The fixing mechanism (6) also includes a right-angle motor (612), which is located on the front side of the base (4). The rear end of the output shaft of the right-angle motor (612) is fixedly connected to the front end of the worm (611), and the input end of the right-angle motor (612) is electrically connected to the output end of the microcontroller (5).

6. The polymer microfluidic chip microchannel die molding apparatus of claim 2, wherein: The pressure plate (3) is equipped with a heating wire (7) inside, and the input end of the heating wire (7) is electrically connected to the output end of the microcontroller (5).

7. The polymeric microfluidic chip microchannel compression molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein: The top wall of the box (1) is provided with a cylinder (8), the bottom end of the telescopic end of the cylinder (8) is fixedly connected to the upper surface of the pressure plate (3), and the air inlet of the cylinder (8) is connected to the air outlet of the external air pump.

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