A droplet collection device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of liquid drop collection and storage devices, including bottle, for collecting and storing liquid;First cover, located in one end of bottle;Second cover, located in the other end of bottle;Continuous phase conduit, pass through first cover and extend into bottle, and the end opening of continuous phase conduit in bottle is towards the direction of first cover;Liquid drop conduit, pass through first cover and extend into bottle. Can be used as liquid drop collection and storage device, reduce the loss of liquid drop in the process of collection, without again changing bottle when carrying out liquid drop printing, reduce the loss of liquid drop and avoid the pollution of liquid drop, by the opening of continuous phase conduit is set to upward, can avoid liquid drop in the process of upward floating into continuous phase conduit, cause the waste of liquid drop, while bottle end adopts cover plugging, the environment in bottle is isolated from external environment, avoid the pollutant in environment into bottle, also avoid liquid volatilization.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of sample detection, and in particular to a droplet collection device. Background Technology

[0002] Droplet microfluidics is a novel technique for manipulating tiny volumes of liquid. Droplet microfluidic systems use two immiscible liquids to form droplets within tiny channels, typically ranging in volume from nanoliters to picoliters (10⁻⁶). -9 ~10 -12 (L). Compared to traditional continuous flow phases, the droplets are smaller, have lower diffusivity, eliminate cross-contamination, and can be used for subsequent high-throughput analysis. However, due to their small size, traditional collection containers result in significant droplet waste due to adsorption or system residue within the container. Related techniques require the use of a continuous phase to push the droplets out after collection, causing them to float upwards along the conical conduit when pushed into the conical space. During droplet removal, regardless of whether gas or continuous phase is injected, not all droplets can be retrieved, leading to substantial waste and the potential for air bubbles to accumulate within the droplets. Utility Model Content

[0003] The problem to be solved by this utility model embodiment is to provide a droplet collection device that avoids the problem of liquid entering the continuous phase conduit and low airtightness, thereby avoiding liquid entering the continuous phase conduit and improving airtightness.

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, a droplet collection device is provided, the droplet collection device comprising:

[0005] A bottle body for collecting and storing liquids;

[0006] A first cap, located at one end of the bottle body;

[0007] A second cap, located at the other end of the bottle;

[0008] A continuous phase conduit extends through the first cap and into the bottle body, with the end of the continuous phase conduit inside the bottle body opening towards the first cap;

[0009] A droplet conduit extends through the first cap and into the bottle body.

[0010] Optionally, the droplet conduit is connected to a guide portion for guiding the liquid and gas inside the bottle.

[0011] Furthermore, the guide portion is configured as a cone, the cone facing the direction of the second cover, and the droplet conduit is connected to the top of the cone.

[0012] Furthermore, the continuous phase conduit is configured as a U-shape, with the end of the U-shape close to and below the bottom of the cone.

[0013] Furthermore, the bottle body and the guide portion are integrally formed.

[0014] Optionally, the droplet conduit is connected to a microfluidic chip.

[0015] Optionally, the first cover is sealed to the continuous phase conduit and the droplet conduit.

[0016] Furthermore, the first cover is provided with a first sealing groove, and the continuous phase conduit, the droplet conduit and the first cover are sealed with glue through the first sealing groove.

[0017] Optionally, the second cap is sealed to the bottle body.

[0018] Furthermore, the second cap is provided with a second sealing groove, and the second cap is sealed with the bottle body by adhesive injection through the second sealing groove.

[0019] The technical solution provided by this utility model brings at least the following beneficial effects:

[0020] In this invention, the droplet collection device includes: a bottle body for collecting and storing liquid; a first cap located at one end of the bottle body; a second cap located at the other end of the bottle body; a continuous phase conduit extending into the bottle body through the first cap, with the end of the continuous phase conduit inside the bottle body facing the first cap; and a droplet conduit extending into the bottle body through the first cap. This device can serve as a droplet collection and storage device, reducing droplet loss during collection. It eliminates the need to change bottles during droplet printing, minimizing droplet loss and preventing contamination. By setting the opening of the continuous phase conduit to face upwards, droplets are prevented from entering the continuous phase conduit during upward floating, thus avoiding waste. Simultaneously, the caps at both ends of the bottle body isolate the internal environment from the external environment, preventing contaminants from entering the bottle and also preventing liquid evaporation. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a droplet collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2This is an isometric view of a droplet collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1-Bottle body; 11-Guide section; 2-First cap; 21-First sealing groove; 3-Second cap; 31-Second sealing groove; 4-Continuous phase conduit; 5-Droplet conduit. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0025] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that these descriptions are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive understanding of the embodiments of the present invention for ease of explanation. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Furthermore, descriptions of well-known structures and techniques are omitted in the following description to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the concept of the present invention.

[0026] It should be noted that the directional terms mentioned in the embodiments, such as "up," "down," "front," "back," "left," and "right," are only for reference to the directions in the accompanying drawings. When the orientation of an element / component changes, "up" in the corresponding structure may change to "down." Therefore, the above description is for the purpose of clearly describing relative positions and should not be construed as absolute. The above description is also not intended to limit the scope of protection of this utility model. Throughout the accompanying drawings, the same elements are represented by the same or similar reference numerals. Conventional structures or constructions will be omitted where they may cause confusion in understanding this utility model. The shapes and dimensions of the components in the drawings do not reflect actual size and proportion, but are only schematic representations of embodiments of this utility model. Furthermore, in the claims, any reference symbols placed between parentheses should not be construed as limiting the claims.

[0027] This utility model provides a droplet collection device comprising: a bottle body for collecting and storing liquid; a first cap located at one end of the bottle body; a second cap located at the other end of the bottle body; a continuous phase conduit extending into the bottle body through the first cap, with the end of the continuous phase conduit inside the bottle body opening towards the first cap; and a droplet conduit extending into the bottle body through the first cap. This device can serve as a droplet collection and storage device, reducing droplet loss during collection. It eliminates the need to change bottles during droplet printing, minimizing droplet loss and preventing contamination. By setting the opening of the continuous phase conduit to face upwards, droplets are prevented from entering the continuous phase conduit during upward floating, thus avoiding waste. Simultaneously, the caps at both ends of the bottle body isolate the internal environment from the external environment, preventing contaminants from entering the bottle and also preventing liquid evaporation.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a droplet collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is an isometric view of a droplet collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] In the embodiments of this utility model, reference is made to Figures 1-2 1-Bottle body; 11-Guide section; 2-First cap; 21-First sealing groove; 3-Second cap; 31-Second sealing groove; 4-Continuous phase conduit; 5-Droplet conduit.

[0031] It should be noted that, since the liquids used in the experiment are very precious, waste and contamination should be avoided as much as possible. However, the relevant techniques have problems such as droplets overflowing with the continuous phase conduit, droplets remaining in the bottle when they are taken out, and air bubbles during the sampling process.

[0032] Therefore, in an embodiment of this utility model, a droplet collection device is provided, comprising: a bottle body 1 for collecting and storing liquid; a first cap 2 located at one end of the bottle body 1; a second cap 3 located at the other end of the bottle body 1; a continuous phase conduit 4 extending into the bottle body 1 through the first cap 2, with the end of the continuous phase conduit 4 inside the bottle body 1 having an opening facing the first cap 2; and a droplet conduit 5 extending into the bottle body 1 through the first cap 2.

[0033] Specifically, the droplet collection device may include a bottle body 1, a first cap 2, a second cap 3, a continuous phase conduit 4, and a droplet conduit 5. The first cap 2 and the second cap 3 are located at opposite ends of the bottle body 1, sealing it and creating a relatively enclosed space inside. This prevents droplet contamination and also prevents aerosol or volatile matter from the droplets from polluting the laboratory environment. The first cap 2 can be located at the top of the bottle body 1, and the second cap 3 can be located at the bottom. The continuous phase conduit 4 and the droplet conduit 5 can extend into the bottle body 1 from the first cap 2. The first cap 2 serves as the mounting base for the conduits, through which both the droplet conduit 5 and the continuous phase conduit 4 pass, ensuring the stability of the conduit positions and the system's airtightness.

[0034] After the continuous phase conduit 4 is inserted into the bottle, the opening can face upwards, and the droplets in the bottle float above the continuous phase. If the opening of the continuous phase conduit 4 faces downwards, the droplets will enter the continuous phase conduit 4 as they float upwards. However, in this embodiment of the invention, the opening of the continuous phase conduit 4 faces upwards, so the droplets will not enter the continuous phase conduit 4 as they move upwards, thus avoiding waste of liquid.

[0035] The droplet conduit 5 is the inlet channel for droplets and continuous phase to enter the collecting device. Its end can extend into the bottle 1 to a certain depth so that the droplets can be released to a suitable area, reducing disturbance to the settled droplets. The diameter and length of the droplet conduit 5 can be set according to the size of the droplets and the flow rate, and are not limited here.

[0036] The droplet collection device can combine droplet collection and sample introduction functions. The sorted target droplets can be directly collected in the collection device, reducing droplet loss during the collection process. It can also be used as a droplet sample introduction device, eliminating the need to change bottles when printing droplets, reducing droplet loss and avoiding droplet contamination.

[0037] It should be noted that, in this embodiment of the invention, the droplet collection device can be used to collect droplets and can also be used as a sample inlet to remove the droplets stored in the inlet. When collecting droplets, the droplets and the continuous phase enter the inlet together from the droplet conduit 5, with the droplets floating above the continuous phase. During droplet printing, the droplet collection device can be used as a droplet injection device, injecting the continuous phase into the inlet from the continuous phase conduit 4, causing the droplets to rise into the droplet conduit 5 and exit from it.

[0038] It should be noted that in this invention, the droplets can be generated by a microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip allows two immiscible fluids (usually a continuous phase and a dispersed phase) to interact within a specific geometric structure in the chip's microchannels. It utilizes interfacial instabilities (mainly shear force and interfacial tension) to cause the dispersed phase fluid to "break" and form discrete droplets. The surface of the droplets is wrapped by the continuous phase. The droplets can be the solution to be collected, and the continuous phase can be oil.

[0039] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1 The droplet conduit 5 is connected to a guide part 11, which is used to guide the liquid and gas in the bottle.

[0040] Specifically, during droplet collection, the inflow of liquid displaces the gas inside the bottle. If the gas cannot be discharged smoothly, it will cause the gas pressure inside the bottle to rise, generating back pressure. This unstable back pressure will be transmitted back to the upstream microfluidic chip, interfering with the stable generation of droplets within the chip, causing uneven droplet size or even interruption of generation. Therefore, in this embodiment, the droplet conduit 5 can be connected to the guide section 11. The guide section 11 can be a plate-shaped or cover-shaped structure with a certain curvature and area, fixedly connected to the outlet end of the droplet conduit 5. The guide section 11 is located inside the bottle and can guide the gas or liquid inside the bottle. When it is necessary to discharge droplets or gas from the bottle, the guide section 11 can better guide the flow of liquid or gas, allowing the liquid inside the bottle to be discharged faster and more concentratedly. By optimizing the airflow path, the guide section 11 ensures that the gas inside the bottle can be discharged continuously and smoothly, eliminating back pressure fluctuations caused by gas stagnation, making the droplet generation process of the upstream microfluidic chip more stable and reliable.

[0041] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1 The guide part 11 is set in a cone shape, with the cone facing the direction of the second cover 3, and the droplet conduit 5 is connected to the top of the cone.

[0042] Specifically, the guide portion 11 can be configured as a cone shape with the cone opening facing downwards. The top of the cone is connected to the droplet conduit 5, allowing the gas inside the bottle to concentrate in the cone-shaped guide portion 11 and be discharged through the droplet conduit 5 connected to the cone-shaped guide portion 11. The cone-shaped opening of the guide portion 11 can fit tightly against the bottle body 1, with no gaps between the guide portion 11 and the bottle body 1, thus preventing droplets from remaining at the connection between the cone-shaped opening of the guide portion 1 and the bottle body 1.

[0043] It should be noted that the height of the tapered guide 11 can be set according to actual needs; for example, it can be selected as 6mm.

[0044] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1 The continuous phase conduit 4 is configured as a U-shape, with the end of the U-shape close to and lower than the bottom of the cone.

[0045] Specifically, after the continuous phase conduit 4 extends into the bottle from the first cap 2, it first bends downward to form a U-shaped bend, and then the open end is set upward. The open end of the U-shaped conduit is close to the bottom of the conical guide 11, that is, it is lower than the bottom of the conical guide 11 in the horizontal position, and in the vertical height, the conduit opening is located below the plane where the maximum diameter of the conical structure is located, which can be close to the edge of the cone.

[0046] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1 The bottle body 1 and the guide part 11 are integrally molded structures.

[0047] Specifically, the bottle body 1 and the internal guide part 11 are not connected together through subsequent assembly, bonding or welding processes. Instead, they are formed directly from a raw material blank as an inseparable whole during the production process through the same or a series of continuous manufacturing processes. This can be achieved through mature manufacturing processes such as injection molding. The mold design will directly include the complex shape of the inner cavity of the bottle body 1 and the guide part 11.

[0048] The one-piece molding eliminates assembly errors caused by the split structure, ensuring that the guide part 11 of each product has the same exact spatial position and orientation. Moreover, there are no gaps or interfaces at the connection between the guide part 11 and the bottle body 1, achieving a seamless connection and reducing the risk of liquid leakage residue, bacterial growth, or cross-contamination of samples. The one-piece molding structure has higher overall mechanical strength and stability, is more resistant to physical and chemical impacts, has a longer service life, and at the same time reduces the number of parts, simplifies the production process, and is conducive to large-scale, low-cost manufacturing.

[0049] Furthermore, referring to Figures 1-2 The droplet conduit 5 is connected to the microfluidic chip.

[0050] Specifically, one end of the droplet conduit 5, located outside the bottle 1, can be connected to the outlet port of an external microfluidic chip via a suitable interface. After connection to the microfluidic chip, a complete workflow from droplet generation to collection and storage is established. The sealed and reliable connection ensures that the sample is not exposed to the external environment throughout the entire process from droplet generation to entry into the bottle 1, avoiding evaporation, contamination, or loss, thus guaranteeing the accuracy of the analytical results. The entire system is integrated into an automated platform, achieving high-throughput droplet generation and collection. A rapid, sealed connection is achieved through a fluid connector, allowing the bottle 1 to directly receive droplets and the continuous phase from the chip and introduce them into the bottle 1 for separation and collection.

[0051] It should be noted that the connection between the droplet conduit 5 and the microfluidic chip can be a detachable, sealed connection. For example, it can be achieved in various ways, such as Luer connectors, compression sleeves, embedded sealing rings, etc.

[0052] Furthermore, referring to Figures 1-2 The first cover 2 is sealed and connected to the continuous phase conduit 4 and the droplet conduit 5.

[0053] Specifically, at the interface between the first cover 2 and the continuous phase conduit 4 and droplet conduit 5 passing through it, an effective sealing method can be used to prevent gas and liquid from leaking inward or outward through the interface gap.

[0054] Furthermore, referring to Figures 1-2 The first cover 2 is provided with a first sealing groove 21, and the continuous phase conduit 4 and the droplet conduit 5 are sealed with glue through the first sealing groove 21.

[0055] Specifically, the first cover 2 may have pre-drilled holes for inserting the continuous phase conduit 4 and the droplet conduit 5. The first cover 2 may also have a first sealing groove 21 for accommodating sealant. The first sealing groove 21 can be a recess, positioned around the pre-drilled holes for the continuous phase conduit 4 and the droplet conduit 5. The cross-sectional shape of the first sealing groove 21 can be rectangular, trapezoidal, etc., without limitation. The first sealing groove 21 increases the adhesion area of ​​the adhesive and prevents overflow. Sealing can be achieved through injection sealing, where liquid or paste-like sealant (such as silicone, epoxy resin, etc.) is injected or filled into the first sealing groove 21 and the gap between the conduit and the pre-drilled holes using injection equipment or manually. After the sealant cures, a permanent, elastic sealing layer is formed.

[0056] The continuous phase conduit 4 and the droplet conduit 5 are inserted into the reserved holes of the first cover 2. By injecting adhesive into the first sealing groove 21, the adhesive fills the gap and cures, thereby firmly bonding the conduit and the cover together, improving the stability of the continuous phase conduit 4 and the droplet conduit 5, and improving the sealing of the bottle 1.

[0057] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1 The second cap 3 is sealed to the bottle body 1.

[0058] Specifically, at the interface of the second cap 3 and the bottle 1, effective sealing measures can be adopted to prevent gas and liquid from leaking inward or outward through the interface gaps.

[0059] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1 The second cap 3 is provided with a first sealing groove 31, and the second cap 3 is sealed with the bottle body 1 by the first sealing groove 31.

[0060] Specifically, at the junction of the second cap 3 and the bottle 1, an annular groove for accommodating sealant can be pre-set. When the second cap 3 and the bottle 1 are joined, the first sealing groove 31 faces the side wall of the bottle 1. The sealing method can be a glue injection sealing method, in which liquid or paste sealant (such as silicone, epoxy resin, etc.) can be injected or filled into the first sealing groove 31 through glue injection equipment or manual means. When the second cap 3 and the bottle 1 are assembled and tightened, the glue is squeezed and filled into all the micro-unevennesses of the contact surface, and after curing, it forms an elastic sealing ring.

[0061] The droplet collection device provided by this utility model includes: a bottle body 1 for collecting and storing droplets; a first cap 2 located at one end of the bottle body 1; a second cap 3 located at the other end of the bottle body 1; a continuous phase conduit 4 extending into the bottle body 1 through the first cap 2, with the end of the continuous phase conduit 4 inside the bottle body 1 facing the first cap 2; and a droplet conduit 5 extending into the bottle body 1 through the first cap 2. It can be used as a droplet collection and storage device to reduce droplet loss during collection. When printing droplets, there is no need to change the bottle again, which reduces droplet loss and avoids droplet contamination. By setting the opening of the continuous phase conduit 4 to face upward, droplets can be prevented from entering the continuous phase conduit 4 during upward floating, thus avoiding droplet waste. At the same time, the bottom of the bottle body 1 is sealed with a second cap 3. In order to improve the sealing performance and reduce production costs, the first cap 2 at the top can be integrally molded with the bottle body 1. By setting the first cap 2 and the second cap 3, the internal environment of the bottle body 1 can be isolated from the external environment, preventing pollutants in the environment from entering the bottle body 1, and also preventing liquid evaporation.

[0062] In this embodiment of the invention, during droplet collection, the droplets and the continuous phase enter the bottle together through the droplet conduit 5. The droplets float above the continuous phase. Since the opening of the continuous phase conduit is upward, it prevents the droplets from entering the continuous phase conduit during their ascent. During droplet printing (droplets being removed from the bottle), the continuous phase can be injected into the bottle through the continuous phase conduit 4. As more droplets are removed, more and more continuous phase will be added, and the droplets will concentrate in the guide section 11. When the continuous phase is injected further, the droplets will flow out from the droplet conduit 5 and enter the chip, allowing for further testing. The liquid is discharged after concentrating in the guide section 11, preventing droplets from adhering to the upper part of the bottle 1 and being unable to be completely removed, thus avoiding waste. During droplet removal, due to the injection of the continuous phase, the air bubbles in the bottle are compressed into a conical space and discharged from the droplet conduit 5, achieving the effect of venting the gas in the bottle. Droplets can be collected directly in the device, reducing droplet loss during collection. The droplet collection device can be used as a droplet injection device, eliminating the need to change bottles during droplet printing, thus reducing droplet loss and avoiding droplet contamination.

[0063] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0064] It should be noted that when a component is described as "fixed to" another component, it can be directly on the other component or may have a component in between. When a component is considered "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or may have a component in between. When a component is considered "set on" another component, it can be directly set on the other component or may have a component in between. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this document are for illustrative purposes only.

[0065] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all modifications and variations falling within the scope of the present invention.

[0066] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, if these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this utility model and their equivalents, this utility model also intends to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A droplet collecting device, characterized in that, The droplet collection device includes: A bottle body for collecting and storing liquids; A first cap, located at one end of the bottle body; A second cap, located at the other end of the bottle; A continuous phase conduit extends through the first cap and into the bottle body, with the end of the continuous phase conduit inside the bottle body opening towards the first cap; A droplet conduit extends through the first cap and into the bottle body.

2. The droplet collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The droplet conduit is connected to a guide section, which is used to guide the liquid and gas inside the bottle.

3. The droplet collection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The guide portion is configured as a cone, the cone facing the second cover, and the droplet conduit is connected to the top of the cone.

4. The droplet collection device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The continuous phase conduit is configured in a U-shape, with the end of the U-shape close to and below the bottom of the cone.

5. The droplet collection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The bottle body and the guide part are integrally formed.

6. The droplet collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The droplet conduit is connected to the microfluidic chip.

7. The droplet collecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first cover is sealed to the continuous phase conduit and the droplet conduit.

8. The droplet collecting device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first cover is provided with a first sealing groove, and the continuous phase conduit and the droplet conduit are sealed with the first cover by injecting glue into the first sealing groove.

9. The droplet collecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second cap is sealed to the bottle body.

10. The droplet collection device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The second cap is provided with a second sealing groove, and the second cap is sealed with the bottle body by the second sealing groove through the glue injection.

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