Multistage particle sorting chip and sorting device

Abstract

This utility model relates to the biomedical field and discloses a multi-stage particle sorting chip and sorting device. The multi-stage particle sorting chip includes: a tube body with a liquid inlet at one end, the liquid inlet end being provided with a sheath flow inlet and a sample inlet, and a sorting outlet on the outside of the tube body. The tube body allows the fluid from the liquid inlet end to the sorting outlet to form a secondary flow perpendicular to the axis of the tube body; and regulating valves disposed on the tube body, the regulating valves being able to adjust the flow area at the location of the tube body. Multiple regulating valves are disposed along the extension direction of the tube body. This utility model allows multiple regulating valves to be adjusted synergistically according to the sorting needs of different particles, thereby realizing the sorting of single or multiple different particles, with stronger overall versatility, and simple structure and convenient operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the biomedical field and discloses a multi-level particle sorting chip and sorting device. Background Technology

[0002] When studying and analyzing substances such as cells and droplets, particle sorting is necessary to identify the particulate matter and perform selective analysis on specific particles. Currently, particle sorting in liquids typically involves passing a mixed sample through a pipe. Initially, the particles in the mixed sample are randomly distributed across the pipe's cross-section. Sorting is achieved by passing the mixed sample through multiple pipes with different flow cross-sections. However, when different types of particles need to be sorted, the entire system must be reconfigured or replaced, resulting in low versatility and cumbersome operation. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a device that can be conveniently applied to sorting different types of particles. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a multi-level particle sorting chip and sorting device to solve one or more technical problems existing in the prior art, and at least provide a beneficial option or create conditions.

[0004] A multi-stage particle sorting chip according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a tube body, one end of which is a liquid inlet, the liquid inlet being provided with a sheath flow inlet and a sample inlet, and a sorting outlet being provided on the outer side of the tube body, the tube body enabling the fluid from the liquid inlet to the sorting outlet to form a secondary flow perpendicular to the axis of the tube body; and regulating valves disposed on the tube body, the regulating valves being able to adjust the flow area at the location of the tube body, and multiple regulating valves being disposed along the extension direction of the tube body.

[0005] This technical solution has at least the following beneficial effects: the sheath flow inlet is connected to an external sheath fluid supply device, and the sample inlet is connected to an external sample supply device. When sample liquid needs to be sorted, the sample supply device inputs sample liquid into the tube through the sample inlet. A mixed sample containing particles of different sizes is injected into the inlet of the tube. At the same time, sheath fluid is supplied through the sheath flow inlet, and a side flow is added from one side of the tube to help the particles stay to the side. Initially, the particles are randomly distributed on the cross-section of the tube. When the sample enters the curved part of the tube, the strong centrifugal force will induce a secondary flow, and the particles will be subjected to inertial lift and secondary flow drag force. This generates a secondary flow that deviates from the pipe axis. The position of particles of different sizes on the pipe interface is determined by the balance between the inertial lift and the drag force of the secondary flow. At this time, by adjusting the flow area of ​​multiple regulating valves, different particles can be gradually sorted in one channel, and finally the target particles are discharged from the sorting outlet. Since the regulating valves can arbitrarily adjust the flow area of ​​the pipe position according to the needs of use, multiple regulating valves can be adjusted in coordination according to the sorting needs of different particles, so as to achieve the sorting of one or more different particles. The overall versatility is stronger, and the structure is simple and easy to operate.

[0006] According to some embodiments of the present invention, one side of the tube body is a deformable surface, the deformable surface is made of an elastic material, and the regulating valve can drive the deformable surface to elastically deform towards the other side of the tube body, or drive the deformable surface to elastically recover towards the other side of the tube body.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the regulating valve is located outside the pipe body, and the regulating valve has an adjustable surface that can expand or contract, the adjustable surface abutting against the deformable surface.

[0008] According to some embodiments of this utility model, the shape of the adjustment surface along the cross-section of the tube is arc-shaped, semi-circular, or rectangular.

[0009] According to some embodiments of this utility model, the adjustment surface is a thin film.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of sorting outlets are provided on the outer side of the pipe along the length of the pipe, and a plurality of regulating valves are provided between two adjacent sorting outlets.

[0011] According to some embodiments of this utility model, the tube body is spiral or wavy in shape.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the tube body includes at least two sorting sections connected in sequence, each sorting section having a sorting outlet at one end away from the liquid inlet, each sorting section having multiple regulating valves, and each sorting section having a spiral or wave-shaped shape.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a connector head is provided at the position of the sorting outlet of the pipe body.

[0014] The sorting device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the multi-stage particle sorting chip described above.

[0015] This technical solution has at least the following beneficial effects: In this sorting device, the sorting outlet can be connected to different target devices through pipelines, and different particles can be sorted and transferred in one channel. In practical applications, multiple regulating valves can be adjusted in coordination according to the sorting needs of different particles, so that the sorting device can sort one or more different particles, improving the versatility of the sorting device. It is also simple in structure and easy to operate. The sorting device is not only suitable for applications such as circulating tumor cell separation, blood cell sorting, exosome enrichment and microbial detection, but also for microplastic separation in environmental monitoring and particle purity analysis in industrial fields.

[0016] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly explained below. Obviously, the described drawings are only a part of the embodiments of this utility model, and not all of them. Those skilled in the art can obtain other design schemes and drawings based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the multi-stage particle sorting chip structure of this utility model. At this time, the tube body is in the form of a waveform.

[0019] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the AA cross-sectional structure.

[0020] In the attached diagram: 100 - pipe body, 110 - deformable surface, 120 - sorting outlet, 200 - regulating valve, 210 - regulating surface. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0022] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the directional descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., indicate the directional or positional relationship based on the directional or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0023] In the description of this utility model, "several" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. If "first" or "second" is used in the description, it is only for the purpose of distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0024] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "setting," "installation," and "connection" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0025] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set up," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0026] In the description of this application, the use of terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "an example," "some instances," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," and "some examples" indicates that the specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0027] Reference Figure 1 According to a first aspect embodiment of the present invention, a multi-stage particle sorting chip includes a tube 100 and a regulating valve 200. One end of the tube 100 is a liquid inlet, which is provided with a sheath flow inlet and a sample inlet. A sorting outlet 120 is provided on the outside of the tube 100. The tube 100 allows the fluid from the liquid inlet to the sorting outlet 120 to form a secondary flow perpendicular to the axis of the tube 100. The regulating valve 200 is disposed on the tube 100 and can adjust the flow area at the location of the tube 100. Multiple regulating valves 200 are provided along the extension direction of the tube 100.

[0028] As described above, the sheath flow inlet is connected to an external sheath fluid supply device, and the sample inlet is connected to an external sample supply device. When sample liquid needs to be sorted, the sample supply device inputs sample liquid into the tube 100 through the sample inlet. A mixed sample containing particles of different sizes is injected into the inlet of the tube 100. At the same time, sheath fluid is supplied through the sheath flow inlet, and a side flow is added from one side of the tube 100 to help the particles stay to the side. Initially, the particles are randomly distributed on the cross-section of the tube 100. When the sample enters the curved part of the tube 100, the strong centrifugal force will induce a secondary flow. The particles will be subjected to inertial lift and secondary flow drag, causing them to deviate from the tube 100. The position of particles of different sizes on the interface of the tube 100 in the secondary flow moving along the 00 axis is determined by the balance between the inertial lift and the drag force of the secondary flow. At this time, by adjusting the flow area of ​​multiple regulating valves 200, the gradual sorting of different particles in one channel can be achieved, and the target particles are finally discharged from the sorting outlet 120. Since the regulating valves 200 can arbitrarily adjust the flow area of ​​the tube 100 as needed, multiple regulating valves 200 can be adjusted in coordination according to the sorting needs of different particles, thereby achieving the sorting of single or multiple different particles. The overall versatility is stronger, and the structure is simple and easy to operate.

[0029] like Figure 2As shown, in a specific embodiment of the regulating valve 200, one side of the tube body 100 is a deformable surface 110, which is made of an elastic material. The regulating valve 200 can cause the deformable surface 110 to elastically deform towards the other side of the tube body 100, or cause the deformable surface 110 to elastically recover towards the other side of the tube body 100. When manufacturing the tube body 100, the tube body 100 is divided into an upper part and a lower part and then bonded together. The upper part or the lower part of the tube body 100 is elastic, and the elastic part forms the deformable surface 110. In use, when the regulating valve 200 moves the deformable surface 110 closer to the other side of the pipe body 100, the flow area inside the pipe body 100 gradually decreases. Conversely, when the regulating valve 200 moves the deformable surface 110 away from the other side of the pipe body 100, the flow area inside the pipe body 100 gradually increases. In this way, by elastically deforming the deformable surface 110 on one side of the pipe body 100, the flow area inside the pipe body 100 is changed.

[0030] There are several ways in which the regulating valve 200 can cause the deformable surface 110 to elastically deform. For example, the regulating valve 200 can be attached to the outside of the pipe body 100, forming a closed cavity with the deformable surface 110. The regulating valve 200 can introduce gas or liquid into this cavity, thereby causing the deformable surface 110 to elastically deform. Alternatively, the regulating valve 200 itself has a movable and deformable structure, directly causing the deformable surface 110 to elastically deform. Specifically, the regulating valve 200 is located on the outside of the pipe body 100, and the regulating valve 200 has an expanding or contracting regulating surface 210, which abuts against the deformable surface 110. The regulating valve 200 adjusts the internal pressure by means of pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, thereby causing the regulating surface 210 to expand or contract. When the regulating surface 210 expands, it can cause the deformable surface 110 to elastically deform towards the other side of the pipe body 100; when the regulating surface 210 contracts, it can cause the deformable surface 110 to elastically return to its original position away from the other side of the pipe body 100.

[0031] Furthermore, the shape of the adjustment surface 210 along the cross-section of the tube 100 is arc-shaped, semi-circular, or rectangular. Different shapes of adjustment surfaces 210 and tube 100 can form different shapes of spaces for particles to pass through. In this way, more accurate particle sorting can be achieved by using adjustment surfaces 210 of different shapes. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the inner wall of the tube 100 can also be circular, semi-circular, or rectangular, etc. The adjustment surface 210 of corresponding shape can be set according to the needs of particle sorting, which can further improve the overall versatility and flexibility of use.

[0032] In practical applications, the tube body 100 can be prepared using methods such as hot pressing and PDMS molding.

[0033] The adjustment surface 210 is primarily a flexible structure capable of elastic deformation. In this embodiment, the adjustment surface 210 is a thin film, which can be made of materials such as PDMS, PMMA, COC, and COP. When the thin film undergoes elastic deformation, it can better conform to the tube body 100, thereby more accurately adjusting the flow area and achieving adjustment of the cross-section of the tube body 100 from zero to hundreds of micrometers.

[0034] In the above embodiment, the tube body 100 may only have one sorting outlet 120, in which case only one type of particle is sorted. However, to improve the overall flexibility of use, in this embodiment, multiple sorting outlets 120 are provided along the length of the tube body 100 on its outer side, and multiple regulating valves 200 are provided between two adjacent sorting outlets 120. At this time, the portion of the tube body 100 through which the sample liquid enters from the inlet to the next sorting outlet 120 forms a sorting area for specific particles. Within this sorting area, by adjusting the multiple regulating valves 200 at their respective positions, the desired specific particles can be sorted out, and then the sample enters the next sorting area. In this way, different sorting outlets 120 can sort particles of different shapes, achieving multi-stage continuous sorting in the same channel.

[0035] The tube 100 needs to form a secondary flow of the liquid passing through it. In this embodiment, the shape of the tube 100 is spiral or wavy, and the wavy shape can be a regular wave or a square wave, etc. In use, depending on the needs of particle sorting, the tube 100 can be set to different shapes to form a secondary flow that better sorts particles. Then, by coordinating multiple regulating valves 200 to continuously change the flow area, the required particles can be quickly sorted.

[0036] The tube body 100 can be of a single shape, but in this embodiment, it can also be provided with multiple sections of different shapes to form different secondary flows. Specifically, the tube body 100 includes at least two sorting sections connected in sequence. Each sorting section has a sorting outlet 120 at its end away from the liquid inlet. Each sorting section is provided with multiple regulating valves 200. The shape of each sorting section is spiral or wavy. According to the sorting requirements of different particles, different parts of the tube body 100 can be set with different shapes, so that different secondary flows can be formed in one channel. By coordinating multiple regulating valves 200 to continuously change the flow area, the required particles can be sorted quickly and specifically, improving overall flexibility.

[0037] In some embodiments, a connector is provided on the pipe body 100 at the sorting outlet 120. The connector allows the pipe body 100 to be quickly connected to the external pipes, improving the convenience of overall assembly and use.

[0038] The sorting device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the multi-stage particle sorting chip described above.

[0039] In this sorting device, the sorting outlet 120 can be connected to different target devices through pipelines, enabling the sorting and transfer of different particles in one channel. In practical applications, multiple regulating valves 200 can be adjusted in coordination according to the sorting needs of different particles, thereby enabling the sorting device to sort single or multiple different particles, improving the versatility of the sorting device. It is also simple in structure and easy to operate. The sorting device is not only suitable for applications such as circulating tumor cell separation, blood cell sorting, exosome enrichment and microbial detection, but also for microplastic separation in environmental monitoring and particle purity analysis in industrial fields.

[0040] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described. Those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such equivalent modifications or substitutions are included within the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A multi-stage particle sorting chip, characterized in that: include: The tube body (100) has a liquid inlet at one end, which is provided with a sheath flow inlet and a sample inlet. The tube body (100) has a sorting outlet (120) on the outside. The tube body (100) allows the fluid from the liquid inlet to the sorting outlet (120) to form a secondary flow that moves perpendicular to the axis of the tube body (100). A regulating valve (200) is provided on the pipe body (100). The regulating valve (200) can adjust the flow area at the location of the pipe body (100). Multiple regulating valves (200) are provided along the extension direction of the pipe body (100).

2. The multi-stage particle sorting chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: One side of the tube body (100) is a deformable surface (110), which is made of elastic material. The regulating valve (200) can cause the deformable surface (110) to elastically deform towards the other side of the tube body (100), or cause the deformable surface (110) to elastically recover towards the other side of the tube body (100).

3. The multi-stage particle sorting chip according to claim 2, characterized in that: The regulating valve (200) is located outside the pipe body (100), and the regulating valve (200) has an adjustable surface (210) that can expand or contract, and the adjustable surface (210) abuts against the deformable surface (110).

4. The multi-stage particle sorting chip according to claim 3, characterized in that: The shape of the adjustment surface (210) along the cross section of the tube body (100) is arc-shaped, semi-circular, or rectangular.

5. The multi-stage particle sorting chip according to claim 3, characterized in that: The adjustment surface (210) is a thin film.

6. The multi-stage particle sorting chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: Multiple sorting outlets (120) are provided on the outside of the tube body (100) along the length direction of the tube body (100), and multiple regulating valves (200) are provided between two adjacent sorting outlets (120).

7. The multi-stage particle sorting chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tube (100) is spiral or wavy in shape.

8. The multi-stage particle sorting chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tube body (100) includes at least two sorting sections connected in sequence. Each sorting section has a sorting outlet (120) at one end away from the liquid inlet. Each sorting section is provided with multiple regulating valves (200). Each sorting section is spiral or wave-shaped.

9. The multi-stage particle sorting chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pipe body (100) is provided with a connector at the location of the sorting outlet (120).

10. A sorting device, characterized in that: Including the multi-stage particle sorting chip as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images