A drug gradient osmotic device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of drug gradient permeation devices, including three inlet channels and main channel, equal length snakelike buffer channel is fixedly connected between each group of inlet channel and main channel, the main channel is arranged with the shunt structure of gradually reducing sub-channel width in interval, transverse mixing structure is arranged between adjacent shunt structure, the main channel end fixedly connected with expansion channel. In the utility model, equal length snakelike buffer channel is fixedly connected between each group of inlet channel and main channel, ensure that three-way fluid has same flow resistance before entering main channel, while eliminating the flow deviation caused by pipeline difference.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of drug gradient permeation technology, and in particular to a drug gradient permeation device. Background Technology

[0002] The design background of the drug gradient permeation device mainly stems from the need in the field of biomedical research to precisely control the distribution of drug concentration, especially in in vitro cell experiments, drug screening and tissue engineering.

[0003] A Chinese invention patent with publication number CN104928178B discloses "a three-inlet concentration gradient generator, with three inlet channels at one end, the three inlets being connected to a main channel; a series of flow dividers are arranged near the inlets in the main channel; the flow dividers are elongated structures parallel to the length direction used to separate fluids; flow dividers at the same position in the length direction are considered as one stage, and a total of three stages of flow dividers are required; the first stage contains 2 flow dividers, the second stage contains 4 flow dividers, and the third stage contains 8 flow dividers; wherein, the two flow dividers in the first stage isolate the main channel into three smaller channels, which are respectively connected to the three inlet channels; the eight flow dividers in the third stage are evenly arranged in a direction perpendicular to the main channel."

[0004] However, this scheme has obvious shortcomings: First, the three-inlet structure is naturally asymmetrical (middle and two sides). If the three small channels are directly connected, the fluid diffusion path on the two sides is longer than that in the middle, which can easily cause gradient nonlinearity or edge distortion. Second, the manifold is parallel to the direction of the main channel and only longitudinally separates the flow. There is no transverse turbulence structure. It relies on pure diffusion mixing, which has extremely low mixing efficiency at low Reynolds numbers and slow and uneven gradient establishment. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a drug gradient permeation device in order to solve the technical problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A drug gradient permeation device includes three inlet channels and a main channel. Each inlet channel and the main channel are fixedly connected by an equal-length serpentine buffer channel. The main channel is provided with a diversion structure that gradually reduces the width of the sub-channels. A transverse mixing structure is provided between adjacent diversion structures. The end of the main channel is fixedly connected to a flow-expanding channel.

[0008] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0009] Within the main channel, along the fluid flow direction, the diversion structure includes two sets of primary diversion plates that divide the main channel into three first sub-channels, five sets of secondary diversion plates that divide the main channel into six second sub-channels, and eight sets of tertiary diversion plates that divide the main channel into nine third sub-channels.

[0010] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0011] The lengths of the primary, secondary, and tertiary splitter plates gradually decrease.

[0012] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0013] The exit size of the serpentine buffer channel is the same as the inlet size of the first sub-channel.

[0014] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0015] Each group of first and second sub-channels has a corresponding transverse mixing structure at its end, which consists of two rows of alternating tilted arrays of micropillars.

[0016] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0017] The bottom of the flow amplification channel is provided with herringbone-shaped grooves that correspond to the third sub-channels in each group and are arranged in an alternating tilted array.

[0018] In summary, due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0019] 1. In this utility model, each inlet channel and the main channel are fixedly connected by an equal-length serpentine buffer channel to ensure that the three fluids have the same flow resistance before entering the main channel, and at the same time eliminate the flow deviation caused by pipeline differences.

[0020] 2. In this invention, the transverse velocity component is induced by micro-pillar turbulence, which promotes the convection-diffusion mixing of drug molecules between adjacent sub-channels and accelerates gradient formation.

[0021] 3. In this invention, the herringbone groove induces a full-section spiral vortex, which fully homogenizes the concentration in the lateral direction and outputs a continuous, linear, and stable drug gradient. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a drug gradient permeation device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0023] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of a drug gradient permeation device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0024] Figure 3 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the main channel provided according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0025] Legend:

[0026] 1. Inlet channel; 2. Serpentine buffer channel; 3. Main channel; 4. Primary flow divider; 5. Lateral mixing structure; 6. Secondary flow divider; 7. Tertiary flow divider; 8. Flow expansion channel; 801. Herringbone groove. Detailed Implementation

[0027] 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 skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0028] Please see Figure 1-3 This utility model provides a technical solution: a drug gradient permeation device, comprising three inlet channels 1, into which high, medium and low concentration drug solutions (or different drugs) are respectively introduced; each inlet channel 1 and the main channel 3 are fixedly connected by a serpentine buffer channel 2 of equal length, ensuring that the three fluids have the same flow resistance before entering the main channel 3, and eliminating flow deviation caused by pipeline differences; the outlet size of the serpentine buffer channel 2 is the same as the inlet size of the first sub-channel, avoiding eddies caused by sudden expansion / contraction.

[0029] Specifically, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the main channel 3 serves as the core region for gradient generation, with a fixed width and constant height. Within the main channel 3, following the fluid flow direction, there are: a primary flow divider 4 that divides the main channel 3 into three first sub-channels, each corresponding to one of the three inlets; five secondary flow dividers 6 that divide the main channel 3 into six second sub-channels, achieving initial concentration mixing and refinement; and eight tertiary flow dividers 7 that divide the main channel 3 into nine third sub-channels, providing high-resolution gradient output. The lengths of the primary flow dividers 4, secondary flow dividers 6, and tertiary flow dividers 7 gradually decrease, ensuring effective initial fluid isolation while saving chip area in the later stages.

[0030] Specifically, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, a transverse mixing structure 5 is arranged between adjacent flow splitting structures. Each set of first and second sub-channels corresponds to a set of transverse mixing structures 5 at its end. The transverse mixing structure 5 is composed of two rows of alternating inclined arrays of micropillars. The end of the main channel 3 is fixedly connected to a flow expansion channel 8. Through the micropillar turbulence, the transverse velocity component is induced, which promotes the convection-diffusion mixing of drug molecules between adjacent sub-channels and accelerates gradient formation.

[0031] Specifically, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the main channel 3 is fixedly connected to a flow-expanding channel 8 at its end. The flow-expanding channel 8 is a straight channel with a constant or slightly expanded width, used to collect the fluid from the nine third sub-channels, providing sufficient diffusion time to fuse the discrete concentrations into a continuous gradient. The bottom of the flow-expanding channel 8 is provided with herringbone-shaped grooves 801 that correspond to each group of third sub-channels and are arranged in an alternating inclined (±45°) array, which further enhances the three-dimensional vortex mixing in the outlet area and ensures a smooth gradient without step effects.

[0032] Working principle: During use, three drug solutions of different concentrations are injected from three sets of inlet channels 1. After passing through the serpentine buffer channel 2, the three fluid flow rates are precisely proportional and synchronously enter the main channel 3. The first-stage diversion plate 4 divides the main channel 3 into three independent first sub-channels, each carrying the original concentration fluid to avoid early cross-contamination. When flowing through the transverse mixing structure 5, the micro-column disturbance causes preliminary diffusion and convection mixing at the edges of adjacent sub-channels, forming an intermediate transition concentration. The second-stage diversion plate 6 redistributes the fluid into six second sub-channels, improving the concentration gradient resolution. After being further mixed by the transverse mixing structure 5, the third-stage diversion plate 7 finally generates nine third sub-channels, achieving a high-density concentration distribution. The nine fluids converge into the expansion channel 8, and the bottom herringbone groove 801 induces a full-section spiral vortex, which fully homogenizes the concentration laterally, outputting a continuous, linear, and stable drug gradient.

[0033] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, but the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or changes made by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present utility model, based on the technical solution and the inventive concept of the present utility model, should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A drug gradient permeation device, comprising three inlet channels (1) and a main channel (3), characterized in that, Each group of inlet channels (1) and main channels (3) is fixedly connected by an equal-length serpentine buffer channel (2). The main channel (3) is provided with a diversion structure that gradually reduces the width of the sub-channels. A transverse mixing structure (5) is provided between adjacent diversion structures. The end of the main channel (3) is fixedly connected to a flow expansion channel (8).

2. The drug gradient permeation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Within the main channel (3), along the fluid flow direction, the diversion structure includes two sets of primary diversion plates (4) that divide the main channel (3) into three first sub-channels, five sets of secondary diversion plates (6) that divide the main channel (3) into six second sub-channels, and eight sets of tertiary diversion plates (7) that divide the main channel (3) into nine third sub-channels.

3. The drug gradient permeation device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The lengths of the first-stage diverter (4), the second-stage diverter (6), and the third-stage diverter (7) gradually decrease.

4. The drug gradient permeation device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The outlet size of the serpentine buffer channel (2) is the same as the inlet size of the first sub-channel.

5. The drug gradient permeation device according to claim 4, characterized in that, Each group of first and second sub-channels has a corresponding transverse mixing structure (5) at its end, which is composed of two rows of alternating tilted arrays of micropillars.

6. The drug gradient permeation device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The bottom of the flow-expanding channel (8) is provided with a herringbone-shaped groove (801) corresponding to each group of third sub-channels and arranged in an alternating inclined array.

Images