Small blood viscosity measurement kit having simple assembly structure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a small blood viscosity measurement kit having a simple assembly structure and, more specifically, to a small blood viscosity measurement kit further developed and improved upon the structure of a conventional small blood viscosity measurement kit to simplify the manufacturing process, reduce assembly defects, enhance the assembly stability, and reduce the manufacturing costs.

Description

A compact blood viscosity measurement kit with an easy-to-assemble structure

[0001] The present invention relates to a small blood viscosity measurement kit having a structure that is easy to assemble, and more specifically, to a small blood viscosity measurement kit that can simplify the manufacturing process, improve assembly defects, enhance assembly stability, and reduce manufacturing costs by further improving and developing the structure of an existing small blood viscosity measurement kit.

[0002] Blood viscosity is a physical property that represents the resistance to blood flow within blood vessels. Specifically, it can be divided into whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity. Abnormal increases in blood viscosity lead to increased shear stress and flow resistance on the vascular wall, significantly increasing the risk of acute cardiovascular and microvascular diseases. Furthermore, plasma viscosity is not only used to diagnose inflammatory conditions within the body, but is also a major factor in increasing whole blood viscosity.

[0003] Whole blood viscosity exhibits flow characteristics in which the viscosity continuously changes during the systole and diastole of the heart. This is because the viscosity decreases when the blood flows at a high speed (when the shear rate is high) due to the complex interaction of red blood cells and plasma proteins in the whole blood, and conversely, the viscosity increases when the blood flows at a low speed (when the shear rate is low). A fluid that exhibits these flow characteristics is called a non-Newtonian fluid, and in order to properly understand the non-Newtonian flow characteristics of blood, it is necessary to accurately measure the whole blood viscosity for the entire shear rate (e.g., 1 to 1,000 s^-1).

[0004] A representative blood viscosity measurement method that is currently commercialized and widely used in clinical practice is the U-shaped double vertical tube / single capillary viscosity measurement technology.

[0005] To briefly summarize the technology, it is a method of measuring blood viscosity by filling two vertical tubes on the left and right with blood at different heights and measuring in real time the speed at which the height of the blood naturally adjusts due to gravity.

[0006] The technology is being used by introducing an automated measurement method, and the test is being performed using a small blood viscosity kit with a structure suitable for automated testing.

[0007] Miniaturized blood viscosity measurement kits are being developed with miniaturized and integrated structures.

[0008] As a prior art, Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0010234 (published on January 27, 2021) discloses a 'small blood viscosity measurement kit and cartridge thereof.'

[0009] The above-described conventional technology has a structure in which microchannels are formed on the bottom surface of the kit body, and the open lower side is sealed by a cover having the same microchannel structure.

[0010] However, the structure of the above conventional technology has a disadvantage in that it is difficult to manufacture because micro-channels whose joint structures are aligned with each other on the bottom surface of the kit body and the cover must be formed precisely.

[0011] The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a small blood viscosity measurement kit having a structure in which the bottom surface of the kit body is configured with a flat structure and microchannels are engraved only on the lower cover, thereby making assembly and sealing very convenient without the need for matching the joint structure.

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a small blood viscosity measurement kit having a structure that is easy to assemble, which can measure the viscosity of blood, comprising: a kit body having a predetermined width and height and a flat bottom; a bottom cover that is assembled to a lower end of the kit body and, when assembled, has an upper surface that is in close contact with the bottom surface of the kit body; a pair of blood tubes that are formed vertically penetrating along the height direction on each of the left and right sides of the kit body, and into which blood to be subjected to viscosity measurement is injected into the upper end of one of the blood tubes; and a microchannel formed to a predetermined depth along the left and right direction in the upper surface of the bottom cover so that, when the kit body and the bottom cover are mutually assembled, the lower ends of the pair of blood tubes are mutually communicated with each other, and blood injected into one of the blood tubes can flow into the other blood tube.

[0013] Here, the microchannel is characterized in that the cross-section is formed in any one of a square, trapezoidal, semicircular, U-shaped, and V-shaped shape.

[0014] Here, the microchannel is characterized in that it is formed to have a resistance pattern so that flow resistance can be formed in blood flowing along the euro.

[0015] Here, the resistance pattern is characterized by being any one of a waveform resistance pattern in which the flow path is bent in a wave shape; a zigzag resistance pattern in which the flow path is bent in opposite directions at both ends and overlapped by reciprocating left and right; and a multi-flow path resistance pattern in which the flow path is formed in multiple numbers.

[0016] In addition, the small blood viscosity measurement kit having a structure that is easy to assemble according to the present invention is characterized in that it further includes a bonding addition formed protrudingly on the contact surface of the kit body or the lower cover so that the kit body and the lower cover can be mutually assembled by ultrasonic or bonding.

[0017] Here, the bonding addition is characterized in that it is formed along the shape of the microchannel or along the outer edge of the contact surface.

[0018] In addition, the small blood viscosity measurement kit having an easy-to-assemble structure according to the present invention is characterized by further including a contamination prevention groove formed by digging a certain depth into the contact surface along the inner and outer edges of the bonding pad.

[0019] In addition, the small blood viscosity measurement kit having a structure that is easy to assemble according to the present invention is characterized in that it further includes a guide pin and a pin insertion groove formed to correspond to each other on the contact surfaces of the kit body and the lower cover to guide the assembly position when the kit body and the lower cover are mutually assembled.

[0020] In addition, the small blood viscosity measurement kit having an easy-to-assemble structure according to the present invention is manufactured by an injection molding method using a synthetic resin material, and is characterized in that it further includes a multi-purpose groove formed by digging a certain depth in the left and right directions on the upper surface of the kit body and the bottom surface of the lower cover, respectively.

[0021] The small blood viscosity measurement kit having a structure that is easy to assemble according to the present invention, as described above, has a flat bottom surface of the kit body and forms micro-channels engraved only on the lower cover, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process, improving assembly defects, enhancing assembly stability, and reducing manufacturing costs. In addition, the simplified structure makes bonding or ultrasonic bonding work very easy.

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a small blood viscosity measurement kit having an easy-to-assemble structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figures 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views of a small blood viscosity measurement kit having an easy-to-assemble structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a small blood viscosity measurement kit having an easy-to-assemble structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the shape of a microchannel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 is a plan view showing an example of a resistance pattern of a microchannel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view along line AA of Figure 6 (a).

[0028] Figure 8 is an exemplary cross-sectional view of a bonding reinforcement according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 9 is an exemplary cross-sectional view of a contamination prevention groove according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] A small blood viscosity measurement kit having a structure that is easy to assemble according to the present invention is a small blood viscosity measurement kit capable of measuring the viscosity of blood, characterized in that it comprises: a kit body formed with a predetermined width and height and having a flat bottom; a bottom cover assembled to a lower end of the kit body, and having an upper surface that is in close contact with the bottom surface of the kit body when assembled; a pair of blood tubes formed vertically penetrating along the height direction on each of the left and right sides of the kit body, into which blood to be subjected to viscosity measurement is injected; and a microchannel formed to a predetermined depth along the left and right direction in an upper surface of the bottom cover so that when the kit body and the bottom cover are mutually assembled, the lower ends of the pair of blood tubes are mutually communicated with each other, and blood injected into one of the blood tubes can flow into the other blood tube.

[0031] Hereinafter, a compact blood viscosity measurement kit having an easy-to-assemble structure according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a small blood viscosity measurement kit having a structure that is easy to assemble according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views of a small blood viscosity measurement kit having a structure that is easy to assemble according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a small blood viscosity measurement kit having a structure that is easy to assemble according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a shape of a microchannel according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a resistance pattern of a microchannel according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 6 (a), FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a bonding addition according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a contamination prevention groove according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Referring to the drawings, a small blood viscosity measurement kit (1) having an easy-to-assemble structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is a kit capable of measuring the viscosity of blood, and includes a kit body (10), a lower cover (20), a pair of blood tubes (30), a microchannel (40), a joining pad (50), a contamination prevention groove (60), a guide pin and guide groove (70), and a multipurpose groove (80).

[0034] More specifically, a small blood viscosity measurement kit (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention is largely composed of a kit body (10) and a lower cover (20) that can be assembled together, and a pair of blood tubes (30) are formed in the kit body (10), and a microchannel (40) is formed in the lower cover (20).

[0035] In addition, the above-mentioned bonding joint (50) and contamination prevention groove (60) are formed on the contact surface of either the kit body (10) or the lower cover (20), and the above-mentioned guide pin and guide groove (70) and multi-purpose groove (80) are formed on both the kit body (10) and the lower cover (20).

[0036] The above kit body (10) has a configuration having a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape with a certain width and height, and is characterized in that it has a flat bottom surface in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] The above kit body (10) is preferably formed to be small in size, with a width of approximately 60 mm X height of approximately 70 mm. This can reduce the amount of blood required for blood viscosity measurement, and in order to create an environment similar to the human body when injecting blood, it is necessary to preheat the kit to 36.5°C, and this preheating is performed quickly.

[0038] A pair of blood tubes (30) are formed on both left and right sides of the above kit body (10).

[0039] It is preferable that the above kit body (10) be formed of a transparent material so that the blood flow through the pair of blood tubes (30) formed on the left and right sides can be visually checked in real time.

[0040] The above lower cover (20) is assembled to the lower part of the kit body (10), and when assembled, the upper surface is configured to be in close contact with the bottom surface of the kit body (10).

[0041] A microchannel (40) is formed on the upper surface of the lower cover (20).

[0042] It is preferable that the above lower cover (20) be formed of a transparent material, the same as the kit body (10), so that the blood flowing through the microchannel (40) formed on the upper surface can be visually confirmed in real time, while also being configured so that it can be observed more easily through an image sensor (not shown), etc.

[0043] Meanwhile, the assembly of the kit body (10) and the lower cover (20) is performed by means of a jointing splice (50), and a detailed description thereof will be provided later.

[0044] The above pair of blood tubes (30) are formed vertically and horizontally along the height direction on both the left and right sides of the kit body (10), and blood to be measured for viscosity is injected into the upper end of one of the blood tubes (31).

[0045] As shown in Fig. 4, the pair of blood tubes (30) are preferably formed with a wider diameter at the upper end so that blood can be easily injected using a pipette (not shown) or the like, and the tip of the pipette (not shown) can be inserted inside.

[0046] The above microchannel (40) is formed by being dug to a certain depth along the left-right direction on the upper surface of the lower cover (20) so that when the kit body (10) and the lower cover (20) are mutually assembled, the lower ends of the pair of blood tubes (30) are mutually connected and blood injected into one blood tube (31) can flow to the other blood tube (32).

[0047] In the present invention, since the microchannel (40) is formed only on the upper surface of the lower cover (20), processing of the microchannel (40) becomes easy.

[0048] The above microchannel (40) can be formed into various cross-section shapes to optimize the flow characteristics of blood. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, it can be formed into (a) a square, (b) a trapezoid, (c) a semicircle, (d) a U-shape, and (e) a V-shape.

[0049] In addition, the microchannel (40) is formed to have a resistance pattern (41, 42, 43) so that flow resistance can be formed in blood flowing along the euro.

[0050] That is, when the amount of blood to be measured for viscosity is small, the flow resistance is lowered to increase the flow rate, and conversely, when the amount of blood is large, the flow resistance is increased to decrease the flow rate so as to maintain a constant flow rate at all times, so that constant blood viscosity measurement is possible. Therefore, it can be said that the control of the flow resistance of the microchannel (40) is very important.

[0051] The resistance pattern of the above microchannel (40) can be formed in various patterns, and as an example, as shown in FIG. 6, (a) a waveform resistance pattern (41) in which the flow path is bent in a wave shape, (b) a zigzag resistance pattern (42) in which the flow path is bent in opposite directions at both ends and overlaps by reciprocating left and right, and (c) a multi-flow path pattern (43) in which the flow path is formed in multiple numbers.

[0052] To explain the principle of blood viscosity measurement using the small blood viscosity measurement kit (1) according to the present invention, when the kit body (10) and the lower cover (20) are mutually assembled, the pair of blood tubes (30) are mutually communicated via the microchannel (40), and a U-shaped flow path is formed overall.

[0053] At this time, when blood is injected into one of the blood tubes (31), the blood flow rate is controlled as it passes through the microchannel (40), and it flows into the other blood tube (32) until it reaches the same height.

[0054] When the viscosity of blood is high, the flow speed decreases, and when the viscosity of blood is low, the flow speed increases. By measuring the flow speed of blood flowing into the other blood tube (32) using an image sensor (not shown), etc., the viscosity of the blood can be calculated.

[0055] The present invention has a structure in which the bottom surface of the kit body (10) is formed flat, and microchannels (40) are formed engraved only on the upper surface of the lower cover (20) that is coupled to the kit body (10), thereby making assembly and sealing very convenient without the need to match the coupling structure.

[0056] The above-mentioned bonding addition (50) is configured to be protruded on the contact surface of the kit body (10) or the lower cover (20) so that the kit body (10) and the lower cover (20) can be mutually assembled by ultrasonic or bonding.

[0057] As an example, the above bonding addition (50) may be formed along the shape of (a) a micro-channel (40) on the contact surface of the lower cover (20), as shown in FIG. 8, or (b) along the outer edge of the contact surface, or may be formed along the shape of (c) a micro-channel (40) on the contact surface of the kit body (10), or (d) along the outer edge of the contact surface.

[0058] The above contamination prevention groove (60) is formed by being dug to a certain depth into the contact surface along the inner and outer edges of the above bonding reinforcement (50).

[0059] The above contamination prevention groove (60) may be formed, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, by being dug into the contact surface along the inner and outer edges of the bonding reinforcement (50) when the bonding reinforcement is formed along the outer edge of the contact surface (a) in the shape of a micro-channel (40) on the contact surface of the lower cover (20), or (b) in the case where the bonding reinforcement is formed along the outer edge of the contact surface, and may be formed by being dug into the contact surface along the inner and outer edges of the bonding reinforcement (50) when the bonding reinforcement is formed along the outer edge of the contact surface of the kit body (10) in the shape of a micro-channel (40) on the contact surface of the kit body (10), or (e) in the case where the bonding reinforcement is formed along the outer edge of the contact surface, and may be formed by being dug into the contact surface along the inner and outer edges of the bonding reinforcement (50) to a certain depth.

[0060] By configuring the above contamination prevention groove (60), foreign substances can be prevented from spreading into the microchannel (40) during ultrasonic bonding of the above bonding splice (50), and the bond can be prevented from overflowing into the microchannel (40) during bonding of the above bonding splice (50).

[0061] The above guide pin and pin insertion groove (70) are configured to correspond to each other on the contact surfaces of the kit body (10) and the lower cover (20) so as to guide the assembly position when the kit body (10) and the lower cover (20) are mutually assembled.

[0062] In one embodiment of the present invention, the guide pin (71) is formed in the lower cover (20), and the pin insertion groove (72) is formed in the kit body (10) at a position corresponding to the guide pin (71).

[0063] The number of the above guide pins and pin insertion grooves (70) is shown as two in the drawing according to one embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto and may be composed of one or multiple ones as needed.

[0064] By configuring the above guide pin and pin insertion groove (70), it is possible to prevent the joint structure of the kit body (10) and the lower cover (20) from misaligning with each other when assembling them.

[0065] The above multi-purpose groove (80) is formed by digging a certain depth in the left and right directions on the upper surface of the kit body (10) and the bottom surface of the lower cover (20), respectively, and is composed of a body multi-purpose groove (81) and a cover multi-purpose groove (82).

[0066] Meanwhile, a small blood viscosity measurement kit (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention is manufactured using a synthetic resin material by an injection molding method, and the multipurpose groove (80) serves to minimize deformation during injection molding.

[0067] In particular, in the case of the above-mentioned cover multi-purpose home (82), the thickness of the lower cover (20) can be formed thinly near the microchannel (40), thereby improving the measurement sensitivity or recognition sensitivity of an image sensor (not shown) mounted on the lower part of the lower cover (20) to measure the flow of blood in the microchannel (40).

[0068] The compact blood viscosity measurement kit having an easy-to-assemble structure described above and illustrated in the drawings is merely one embodiment for practicing the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the technical idea of ​​the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention is determined solely by the matters described in the following claims, and embodiments improved and modified without departing from the gist of the present invention shall be deemed to fall within the protection scope of the present invention, provided that such modifications would be obvious to a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

[0069]

[0070] [Symbols in the drawing]

[0071] 1 small blood viscosity measurement kit

[0072] 10 Kit Body

[0073] 20 Bottom Cover

[0074] 30 pairs of blood tubes

[0075] 40 microchannels

[0076] 50 joint reinforcement

[0077] 60 Pollution Prevention Home

[0078] 70 Guide pins and pin insertion grooves

[0079] 80 Multipurpose Home

Claims

1. In a small blood viscosity measuring kit capable of measuring the viscosity of blood, A kit body formed with a certain width and height, but having a flat bottom surface; A lower cover that is assembled to the lower part of the above kit body and, when assembled, has its upper surface in close contact with the bottom surface of the above kit body; A pair of blood tubes formed vertically and horizontally along the height direction on each of the left and right sides of the above kit body, and into which blood to be measured for viscosity is injected into the upper end of one of them; and A small blood viscosity measurement kit having a structure that is easy to assemble, characterized in that when the kit body and the lower cover are mutually assembled, the lower ends of the pair of blood tubes are mutually connected, and a microchannel is formed by digging a certain depth in the left-right direction on the upper surface of the lower cover so that blood injected into one blood tube can flow to the other blood tube.

2. In paragraph 1, The above microchannel is, A compact blood viscosity measurement kit having an easy-to-assemble structure characterized by a cross-section formed in any one of a square, trapezoidal, semicircular, U-shaped, and V-shaped shape.

3. In paragraph 1, The above microchannel is, A compact blood viscosity measurement kit having an easy-to-assemble structure characterized by having a resistance pattern formed so that flow resistance can be formed in blood flowing along a euro.

4. In paragraph 3, The above resistance pattern is, The above euro is a waveform resistance pattern that is curved into a waveform; The above euro is bent in opposite directions at both ends and overlaps in a zigzag resistance pattern that goes back and forth left and right; and A small blood viscosity measurement kit having an easy-to-assemble structure characterized by having one of the multi-channel resistance patterns in which the above-mentioned channels are formed in multiple numbers.

5. In paragraph 1, The above small blood viscosity measurement kit is, A small blood viscosity measurement kit having a structure that is easy to assemble, characterized in that it further includes a bonding addition formed protrudingly on a contact surface of the kit body or the lower cover so that the kit body and the lower cover can be mutually assembled by ultrasonic or bonding.

6. In paragraph 5, The above bonding addition is, A small blood viscosity measurement kit having an easy-to-assemble structure characterized by being formed along the shape of the microchannel or along the outer edge of the contact surface.

7. In paragraph 6, The above small blood viscosity measurement kit is, A small blood viscosity measurement kit having an easy-to-assemble structure, characterized in that it further includes a contamination prevention groove formed by digging a certain depth into the contact surface along the inner and outer edges of the above-mentioned bonding reinforcement.

8. In paragraph 1, The above small blood viscosity measurement kit is, A small blood viscosity measurement kit having a structure that is easy to assemble, characterized in that it further includes guide pins and pin insertion grooves formed to correspond to each other on the contact surfaces of the kit body and the lower cover to guide the assembly position when the kit body and the lower cover are mutually assembled.

9. In paragraph 1, The above small blood viscosity measurement kit is, It is manufactured using injection molding method using synthetic resin material, A small blood viscosity measurement kit having an easy-to-assemble structure, characterized by further including a multi-purpose groove formed by digging a certain depth in the left and right directions on the upper surface of the kit body and the bottom surface of the lower cover, respectively.

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