Microfluidic synthesis apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus which produces a synthetic sample by uniformly mixing different samples by using a microfluidic synthetic chip. Provided is a microfluidic synthesis apparatus which comprises: a cabinet; a synthetic chip cartridge mounting unit which is provided in a predetermined portion of the cabinet; a synthetic chip cartridge which is seated on the synthetic chip cartridge mounting unit and has a fluid synthetic chip mounted thereon; a supply unit which is installed inside the cabinet to supply a sample to the synthetic chip cartridge; a collection unit which is installed inside the cabinet to collect and discharge a synthetic sample synthesized and manufactured by the synthetic chip cartridge; and a connection unit which is installed in the cabinet to transmit and receive data to and from a control terminal provided to control the supply unit and the collection unit, and is provided to be connected to an external power source, and thus the microfluidic synthesis apparatus is capable of greatly increasing the amount of fluid processed per unit time and precisely synchronizing fluid flow between individual chips, while having a simple structure to enable low-cost manufacturing, and is adjustable to precisely synchronize flow between sample synthesis chips, and controls the discharge of a synthesized sample by checking the sample supply rate in real time, thereby ensuring accurate supply of raw material samples and enabling the production of synthesized samples of uniform quality.

Description

Microfluidic synthesis device

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing a synthetic sample by uniformly mixing different samples using a micro-synthesizing chip.

[0002] Microfluidics is a technology that precisely manipulates fluids through minute fluid channels and is utilized in various fields, including life sciences, drug development, chemical synthesis, and diagnostic technology. In particular, microfluidic synthesis technology requires high precision and reproducibility in processes such as mixing different fluids within micro-channels or inducing specific reactions.

[0003] Traditionally, single-channel structures have been common in microfluidic-based synthesis technologies. That is, a method was used in which only a single microfluidic channel was placed within a chip to perform a specific reaction; while this approach has the advantage of being suitable for precisely manipulating small amounts of samples, it has the limitation of restricting the amount of fluid that can be processed per unit time. Therefore, to increase experimental efficiency or process large volumes of samples simultaneously, methods of operating multiple chips in parallel were studied; however, this presented a problem in that it is difficult to precisely synchronize the fluid flow between individual chips.

[0004] Furthermore, existing technologies have developed automated nanoparticle manufacturing devices utilizing microfluidic systems, primarily employing methods that produce uniform nanoparticles by controlling minute fluid flows. Generally, these devices follow a method of precisely controlling fluid flow through a pneumatic control system, introducing it into a specific microfluidic device to perform mixing and reaction. However, problems such as limitations in throughput, difficulties in maintaining a uniform reaction environment, and increased system complexity have been pointed out in existing automated devices.

[0005] In particular, since most existing microfluidic-based nanoparticle manufacturing devices were designed using a single channel, mass production was difficult, and there was a burden of having to precisely coordinate the flow between individual channels when operating multiple channels simultaneously. Furthermore, existing devices utilized a structure where reactions occurred through a single fluid inlet, which presented a limitation in that it was difficult to synchronize multiple fluids under identical reaction conditions.

[0006] Furthermore, conventionally, in controlling a synthesis device equipped with such a microfluidic synthesis chip, the method involved controlling the output rate by calculating the correlation between the output volume and the pressurization pressure required to extract the raw material sample from the sample tank; consequently, there were limitations in precisely controlling the production rate of the synthesized sample.

[0007] [Prior Art Literature]

[0008] (Patent Literature)

[0009] (Patent Document 1) Published Patent Application No. 10-2005-0107011 (Date of Publication: Nov. 11, 2005)

[0010] Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide a microfluidic synthesis device capable of significantly increasing the amount of fluid that can be processed per unit time, while simultaneously allowing for precise synchronization of fluid flow between individual chips and implementation with a simple structure, thereby enabling production at a low cost, controllability of flow between sample synthesis chips for precise synchronization, and accurate supply of raw materials by checking the sample supply rate in real time to control the discharge amount of the synthesized sample, thereby enabling the production of synthesized samples of uniform quality.

[0011] A microfluidic synthesis device according to the present invention for achieving such an objective comprises: a cabinet having a certain receiving space formed therein; a synthesis chip cartridge mounting part provided in a predetermined part of the cabinet; a synthesis chip cartridge mounted on the synthesis chip cartridge mounting part and having a fluid synthesis chip mounted thereon; a supply part installed inside the cabinet to supply a sample to the synthesis chip cartridge; a collection part installed inside the cabinet to collect and discharge a synthesis sample manufactured by synthesis of the synthesis chip cartridge; and a connection part provided to transmit and receive data to and from a control terminal installed in the cabinet to control the supply part and the collection part, and to connect an external power source.

[0012] Here, the synthetic chip cartridge mounting portion may preferably include a cover that forms part of the cabinet and is openable and closable, a mounting stage having a groove on the bottom formed as a space on the inside of the cover for mounting the synthetic chip cartridge, a first sample adapter through which a first sample, which is the first raw material, is transferred from the supply portion and connected to the upper center of the synthetic chip cartridge, and an exhaust adapter provided at the bottom of the mounting stage and connecting the lower center of the synthetic chip cartridge to the collection portion.

[0013] Additionally, the supply unit is preferably provided separately outside the cabinet and is connected to a precursor tank in which a sample serving as a raw material is stored, and the supply unit includes a supply control unit that extracts the sample serving as a raw material stored in the precursor tank at a constant speed and transfers it to the synthesis chip cartridge, and when the raw material consists of a first sample and a second sample stored separately, the supply control unit may consist of a first sample control unit and a second sample control unit.

[0014] Meanwhile, the synthetic chip cartridge is preferably composed of an upper block, an intermediate block, and a lower block that are joined in sequence, and a first sample supply channel for supplying the first sample among the two fluids supplied to the synthetic chip cartridge, a first sample and a second sample, is formed on the bottom surface of the upper block, and a second sample channel for supplying the second sample and the synthetic chip are formed on the upper surface of the intermediate block, and a plurality of the synthetic chips are arranged in parallel in a radially symmetrical manner on the upper surface of the intermediate block, and the first sample supply channel and the second sample channel are formed radially symmetrically in correspondence with the number and arrangement of the synthetic chips, a gasket is inserted between the upper block and the intermediate block, and a first sample passage hole is formed in the gasket so that the first sample passing through the first sample supply channel is transferred to the first sample channel formed on the upper surface of the intermediate block, and the first sample channel and the second sample channel are connected to flow into the synthetic chip through independent paths, and a synthetic sample outlet, which is a through hole, is formed in the intermediate block so that the synthetic sample synthesized by the synthetic chip can fall downward. At least one synthetic sample concentration groove is formed in the lower block above, so that a synthetic sample falling from the synthetic sample outlet can be collected in the synthetic sample concentration groove.

[0015] At this time, the first sample supply channel and the second sample channel are preferably formed in multiple numbers, and the multiple first sample channels and the second sample channels are all formed radially symmetrically to correspond to the positions of the synthesis chips. The multiple first sample channels receive a first sample from a single supply pipe connected to the upper center of the upper block, and the multiple second sample channels receive a second sample from a single supply pipe connected to the lower center of the intermediate block. A fluid alignment zone, which is a section where the cross-sectional area decreases rapidly, is formed in the first sample channel or the second sample channel. Thus, even if the first or second sample is supplied first to any one of the multiple first or second sample channels, the supply of samples from all remaining first or second sample channels is stopped until the samples reach the fluid alignment zone, allowing the supplied samples to be injected into all of the multiple synthesis chips simultaneously.

[0016] At this time, the fluid alignment zone preferably has a reduced cross-sectional area in such a way that the bottom side of the flow path gradually rises and approaches the top side of the flow path, so that the flow of the supplied sample can be stopped until additional pressure is applied from the supply side.

[0017] And the above collection unit may preferably include a plurality of synthetic sample adapters connected to the lower part of the synthetic chip cartridge so that the synthetic fluid synthesized in the synthetic chip cartridge is transferred to a fluid pack provided outside the cabinet for the final collection and storage of the synthetic fluid, a sample collection tube to which all of the plurality of synthetic sample adapters are connected, a disposal tube sharing a starting point with the sample collection tube, and a collection and disposal control valve installed at the starting point to control the fluid transferred from the synthetic sample adapters to flow into either the sample collection tube or the disposal tube.

[0018] In addition, the cabinet may preferably be provided with an emergency stop unit that momentarily stops the operation of the supply unit.

[0019] The microfluidic synthesis device according to the present invention can significantly increase the amount of fluid that can be processed per unit time and, at the same time, allow for precise synchronization of fluid flow between individual chips. Furthermore, since it can be implemented with a simple structure, it can be manufactured at a low cost, and the flow between sample synthesis chips can be precisely controlled for synchronization. Additionally, by checking the sample supply rate in real time and controlling the discharge amount of the synthesized sample, the supply of raw materials can be accurately ensured, thereby enabling the production of synthesized samples of uniform quality.

[0020] FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a microfluidic synthesis system including the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 1b is a perspective view of a microfluidic synthesis device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIGS. 2a and FIGS. 2b are perspective views showing, in chronological order, the synthetic chip cartridge being mounted with the synthetic chip cartridge mounting portion open in FIG. 1b.

[0023] Figure 3a is a conceptual diagram of a microfluidic synthesis chip mounted on a synthesis chip cartridge in Figure 2a.

[0024] Figure 3b is an exploded view of the microfluidic synthesis chip cartridge of Figure 2a.

[0025] FIG. 3c is a bottom perspective view of the upper block in FIG. 3b.

[0026] FIG. 3d is an upper perspective view of the middle block in FIG. 3b.

[0027] Figure 3e is a conceptual diagram showing the flow paths of two sample solutions supplied to the synthesis chip cartridge of Figure 2a.

[0028] Figure 3f is a cross-sectional view of line AA' in Figure 3e.

[0029] FIG. 4a is an internal perspective view of a microfluidic synthesis device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Fig. 4b is a front view of Fig. 4a.

[0031] Fig. 4c is a bottom perspective view of Fig. 4a.

[0032] FIG. 5a is a perspective view showing an additional embodiment of FIG. 4a.

[0033] Fig. 5b is a plan view of Fig. 5a.

[0034] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0035] A microfluidic synthesis device according to one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2b and FIG. 5a, comprises a cabinet (100) having a certain receiving space formed inside, a synthesis chip cartridge mounting part (300) provided in a predetermined part of the cabinet (100), a synthesis chip cartridge (370) mounted on the synthesis chip cartridge mounting part (300) and having a fluid synthesis chip (733) mounted thereon, a supply part (200) installed inside the cabinet (100) to supply a sample to the synthesis chip cartridge (370), a collection part (400) installed inside the cabinet (100) to collect and discharge a synthesis sample manufactured by synthesizing the synthesis chip cartridge (370), and a connection part (600) provided to transmit and receive data to and from a control terminal (see FIG. 1a) installed in the cabinet (100) to control the supply part (200) and the collection part (400), and to connect an external power source.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the synthetic chip cartridge mounting section (300) may include a cover (310) that forms part of the cabinet (100) and is openable and closable, a mounting stage (320) having a groove on the bottom formed as a space inside the cover (310) into which a synthetic chip cartridge (370) can be mounted, a first sample injection adapter (330) through which a first sample (A), which is the first raw material, is transported from the supply section (200) and connected to the upper center of the synthetic chip cartridge (370), and an exhaust adapter (340) provided at the bottom of the mounting stage (320) and connecting the lower center of the synthetic chip cartridge (370) to the collection section (400).

[0037] As such, the synthetic chip cartridge (370) is configured to be mounted in a top-loading manner from the top, so that the installation and replacement of the synthetic chip cartridge (370) can be done extremely easily, and the cabinet (100) can be formed compactly without the need for a separate internal space to install the synthetic chip cartridge (370), and interference between the path through which the sample supplied to the synthetic chip cartridge (370) is transported and the path through which the synthetic sample (C) synthesized from the synthetic chip cartridge (370) is discharged can be prevented as much as possible.

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 4a to 4c, the supply unit (200) is separately provided outside the cabinet (100) and is connected to a precursor tank (210) in which a sample to be a raw material is stored. The supply unit (200) may include a supply control unit (220) that extracts the sample to be a raw material stored in the precursor tank (210) at a constant speed and transfers it to a synthesis chip cartridge (370).

[0039] At this time, when the raw materials consist of a first sample (A) and a second sample (B) stored separately from each other (see FIG. 3e), the supply control unit (220) may be composed of a first sample control unit (221) and a second sample control unit (222) corresponding to this.

[0040] And, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4a together, a precursor tank (210), which is a container separately provided outside the cabinet (100) to store the first sample (A) and the second sample (B) that are raw materials to be supplied to the synthetic chip cartridge (370), is connected to the supply unit (200).

[0041] In FIG. 1, among the two containers at the top of the precursor tank (210), the container inserted at the front is the first sample tank and the container inserted at the rear is the second sample tank, and the first sample and the second sample are each connected to a sample tube adapter (110) protruding outside the cabinet (100) through the first sample control tube (212) and the second sample control tube (213), respectively, so that the first and second samples (A, B) are connected to the first and second sample control units (221, 222).

[0042] The pressure control tube (211) is connected to a pressure control tube adapter (120) that protrudes outside the cabinet (100). The pressure control tube (211) performs the function of transferring the sample to the supply unit (200) by controlling the internal pressure of two sample containers inserted into the precursor tank (210).

[0043] Additionally, the supply unit (200) is provided with a flow rate measuring sensor (not shown) for measuring the flow rate of the first and second samples (A, B) passing through the first sample control unit (221) and the second sample control unit (222), and the first sample control unit (221) and the second sample control unit (222) can adjust the supply speed of the first and second samples (A, B) in real time according to the measurement value of the flow rate measuring sensor.

[0044] Conventionally, in devices that supply samples by regulating the pressure of a sample tank, the sample supply amount was controlled indirectly through the measurement of the sample tank pressure, which limited the ability to respond immediately in real time when the ratio of input samples was incorrect or when the supply amount exceeded the processing speed.

[0045] In this regard, the present invention has the effect of enabling immediate control of the amount of supplied sample by measuring the flow rate of the supplied sample in real time, rather than controlling the supply amount by measuring the pressure of the raw material tank.

[0046] Meanwhile, the synthetic chip (733) illustrated in FIG. 3b is identical to the synthetic chip (3) exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3a and is a microfluidic chamber formed as a unique flow path so that two or more types of fluids that are difficult to mix with each other, such as a hydrophobic liquid and a hydrophilic liquid, can be mixed highly uniformly. More specifically, the synthetic chip (33) has a width-expanding section and a bottleneck section repeated a certain number of times, and a rectangular prism-shaped obstacle is placed in the width-expanding section to form a vortex in the incoming fluid. The ratio of the width and length of the width-expanding section and the number of bottleneck sections, as well as the size and width of the rectangular prism shape, are all formed in a ratio optimized to obtain the highest synthesis efficiency. However, since the synthetic chip itself is a known technology, further detailed description will be omitted.

[0047] The synthesis chip (733) has the effect of uniformly mixing liquids that are difficult to mix with each other with excellent efficiency, but there is a limit to the output per unit time as it consists of fine channels.

[0048] In this regard, as shown in FIG. 3b and FIG. 3d, in the present invention, two or more composite chips (733) are arranged in parallel on a plate-shaped member, and a sample tube supplied to the composite chips (733) arranged in parallel is provided for each sample, thereby dramatically improving the efficiency of producing composite samples per unit time.

[0049] As illustrated in FIG. 3b, the synthetic chip cartridge (370) may consist of an upper block (710), an intermediate block (730), and a lower block (740) that are joined in sequence.

[0050] At this time, among the two fluids supplied to the synthetic chip (733), namely the first sample (A) and the second sample (B) (see FIG. 3e), the first sample supply channel (7121) is formed on the bottom surface of the upper block as shown in FIG. 3c, and the second sample channel (7333) and the synthetic chip (733) may be formed on the upper surface (731) of the intermediate block as shown in FIG. 3d. However, the form in which the synthetic chip (733) is formed on the upper block (710) rather than the intermediate block (730) is not necessarily excluded in the present invention.

[0051] The sample supply channel formed in the upper block (710) is a first sample supply channel (7121) formed on the bottom surface of the upper block as shown in FIG. 5b. At this time, the first sample supply channel (7121) is connected to a first sample inlet (7331) so that it can be supplied to the synthetic chip (733) shown in FIG. 3b and FIG. 3d through the first sample passage hole (722) of the gasket (720) shown in FIG. 3e. Then, the first sample (A) supplied to the first sample supply channel (7121) is injected into the first sample injection hole (714) formed in the center of the upper block (710), with reference to FIG. 3c and FIG. 3e.

[0052] And, referring to FIG. 3D and FIG. 3E, the first sample (A) transferred to the first sample supply channel (7121) shown in FIG. 3C enters the first sample inlet (7331) formed on the upper surface of the intermediate block through the first sample passage hole (722) formed in the gasket (720), and then moves through the first sample channel (7332) also formed on the upper surface of the intermediate block to be transferred to the synthetic chip (733).

[0053] A second sample channel (7333) for delivering a second sample (B) to a synthetic chip (733) and a second sample channel (7333) for delivering a second sample (B) to the synthetic chip (733) is formed on the upper surface of the intermediate block as shown in FIG. 3d. A second sample injection hole is formed at the center of the intermediate block (730) and at the center of the lower block (740), which will be described later, so that the second sample (B) can be supplied to the second sample channel (7333).

[0054] The second sample channel (7333) can be formed such that two channels are connected to each side of a single synthetic chip (733). That is, two second sample channels (7333) extending from the second sample injection hole (734) are connected to a single synthetic chip (733). This is to ensure that the second sample (B) is uniformly supplied to the starting point of the synthetic chip (733), even though the second sample channel (7333) cannot be connected to the center of the synthetic chip (733) in order to be spaced apart from the first sample channel (7332).

[0055] Additionally, with reference to FIG. 3e, a synthetic sample outlet (735), which is a through hole, is formed in the middle block (730) so that a synthetic sample (C) synthesized with a synthetic chip (733) can fall downward. Correspondingly, with reference to FIG. 3b, a plurality of synthetic sample concentration grooves (743) can be formed on the upper surface of the lower block so that a synthetic sample (C) falling from above can be collected.

[0056] Referring to FIGS. 3b to 3e, it can be seen that the first sample supply channel, i.e., the first sample supply channel (7121), and the second sample supply channel, i.e., the second sample channel (7333), are formed in multiple numbers, and the multiple first sample supply channels (7121) and second sample channels (7333) are all formed radially symmetrically to correspond to the positions of the synthetic chip (733).

[0057] Here, a plurality of first sample supply channels (7121) receive a first sample (A) from a single supply pipe connected to the upper center of the upper block, and a plurality of second sample channels (7333) receive a second sample (B) from a single supply pipe connected to the lower center of the middle block (730).

[0058] At this time, a fluid alignment zone (7334), which is a section where the cross-sectional area decreases rapidly, may be formed in the first sample channel (7332) or the second sample channel (7333) that is connected to the first sample supply channel (7121) and the first sample passage hole (722).

[0059] Although FIG. 3e shows that a fluid alignment zone (7334) is formed in the second sample channel (7333), a fluid alignment zone may also be formed in the first sample channel (7332) depending on the case, that is, depending on the viscosity or supply amount according to the type of the first sample (A) supplied. Hereinafter, the description will be made assuming that a fluid alignment zone (7334) is formed in the second sample channel (7333).

[0060] The second sample channel (7333) is formed such that the large diameter section (73331) and the capillary section (73332) are connected to the fluid alignment zone (7334), so that even if the second sample (B) is supplied first to any one of the multiple second sample channels (7333), the supply of the sample to all remaining second sample channels (7333) is stopped until the second sample (B) supplied to all other second sample channels (7333) reaches the fluid alignment zone (7334).

[0061] This is because, even if the second sample (B) enters one of the second sample channels (7333) first, if the second sample (B) reaches the fluid alignment zone (7334) of one of the second sample channels (7333) first—that is, if the second sample (B) has advanced only to the large diameter section (73331) of one of the second sample channels (7333)—the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path in the fluid alignment zone (7334) decreases rapidly, so the supply pressure of the entire second sample (B) is first used to advance the second sample (B) in another second sample channel (7333) where the second sample (B) has not yet reached the fluid alignment zone (7334). Therefore, the process of the supplied sample entering multiple synthetic chips (733) can be carried out simultaneously in all synthetic chips (733).

[0062] In particular, referring to FIG. 3f, the fluid alignment zone (7334) has a cross-sectional area that decreases as the bottom side of the starting point of the capillary section (73332) gradually rises and approaches the top side of the capillary section (73332), so that the supply sample stops moving until additional pressure is applied from the supply side.

[0063] Even if a fluid alignment zone (7334) is formed and the diameter of the second sample channel (7333) decreases rapidly, if the bottom of the fluid alignment zone (7334) is at the same height as or similar to the bottom of the second sample channel (7333), that is, if the bottom of the capillary section (73332) and the bottom of the large diameter section (73331) are at the same height as or similar to each other, then due to residual pressure, a portion of the second fluid (B) can pass over the fluid alignment zone (334) and enter the capillary section (73332) with only a small amount of force.

[0064] In contrast, as shown in FIG. 10b, if the fluid alignment zone (7334) is reduced in a form where the cross-sectional area decreases in such a way that the ceiling of the cross-section decreases rather than the floor height increases, then the second sample (B) that has reached the fluid alignment zone can remain in a stagnant state in the fluid alignment zone (7334) until all the second samples (B) from all other second sample channels (7333) have reached the fluid alignment zone (7334) and all have to be given a greater pressure to pass through the fluid alignment zone (7334), so that ultimately all the second samples (B) from all capillary sections (73332) can enter the synthesis chip simultaneously.

[0065] Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 4b and 4c, the collection unit (400) may include a plurality of synthetic sample adapters (410) connected to the lower part of the synthetic chip cartridge (370) so that the synthetic fluid (C) synthesized in the synthetic chip cartridge (370) is transferred to a fluid pack (450) (see FIG. 1a) provided outside the cabinet (100) for the final collection and storage of the synthetic fluid (C), a sample collection tube (420) to which all of the plurality of synthetic sample adapters (410) are connected, a disposal tube (430) sharing a starting point with the sample collection tube (420), and a collection disposal control valve (440) installed at the starting point to control the fluid transferred from the synthetic sample adapter (410) to flow into either the sample collection tube (420) or the disposal tube (430).

[0066] At this time, the disposal tube (430) is installed so that when either of the first and second samples (A, B) is supplied first at the beginning of operation of the microfluidic synthesis device according to the present invention and synthesized at an abnormal ratio rather than a predetermined ratio, or when the washing solution, etc. is supplied first, the synthesized sample or washing solution that is not at a normal ratio can be disposed of.

[0067] Here, the collection and disposal control valve (440) initially sends a certain amount to the disposal tube (430), and when the synthetic sample (C) begins to be extracted at a normal rate, it blocks the disposal tube (430) and opens the sample collection tube (420).

[0068] Meanwhile, the cabinet (100) is provided with an emergency stop unit (500) that momentarily stops the operation of the supply unit (200), so that the device can be stopped quickly in the event of a malfunction, thereby minimizing wasted samples.

[0069] The present invention described above is not limited by the aforementioned embodiments and attached drawings, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various substitutions, modifications, and changes are possible within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

[0070] (Explanation of symbols)

[0071] A: Sample 1 B: Sample 2

[0072] C: Synthetic Sample 100: Cabinet

[0073] 110: Sample tube adapter 120: Pressure control tube adapter

[0074] 130 : Device mounting plate 200 : Supply unit

[0075] 210: Precursor tank 211: Pressure control tube

[0076] 212: 1st sample control tube 213: 2nd sample control tube

[0077] 220: Supply control unit 221: First sample control unit

[0078] 222: Second sample control unit 231: First sample inlet tube

[0079] 232: Second sample inlet tube 241: First sample supply tube

[0080] 242: Second sample supply tube 300: Synthesis chip cartridge mounting section

[0081] 310 : Cover 320 : Mounting stage

[0082] 330: First sample injection adapter 340: Discharge adapter

[0083] 350: 1st sample connector 360: 2nd sample adapter

[0084] 370: Synthetic chip cartridge 400: Collector

[0085] 410: Synthetic sample adapter 420: Sample collection tube

[0086] 430: Disposal tube 440: Collection disposal control valve

[0087] 450 : Fluid pack 460 : Collection bracket

[0088] 500 : Emergency stop unit 600 : Connection unit

[0089] 610: Digital connector 620: Power connection unit

[0090] 710 : Upper block 720 : Gasket

[0091] 722: First sample passage hole 730: Intermediate block

[0092] 733: Synthesis chip 735: Synthesis sample outlet

[0093] 740: Lower block 743: Synthetic sample concentration groove

[0094] 7121: 1st sample supply channel 7331: 1st sample inlet

[0095] 7332: 1st sample channel 7333: 2nd sample channel

[0096] 7334: Fluid alignment zone 73331: Large diameter section

[0097] 73332 : Moses section

Claims

1. A cabinet with a fixed storage space formed inside; A synthetic chip cartridge mounting portion provided in a predetermined part of the cabinet; A synthetic chip cartridge that is seated in the above-mentioned synthetic chip cartridge mounting portion and is equipped with a fluid synthetic chip; A supply unit installed inside the cabinet above to supply a sample to a synthetic chip cartridge; A collection unit installed inside the cabinet that collects and discharges a synthetic sample manufactured by synthesizing a synthetic chip cartridge; and, It includes a control terminal installed in the cabinet to control the supply unit and the collection unit, and a connection unit provided to transmit and receive data and to connect an external power source. The above synthetic chip cartridge is composed of an upper block, a middle block, and a lower block that are joined in sequence, and A first sample supply channel, through which the first sample is supplied among the two fluids, a first sample and a second sample, supplied to the synthetic chip cartridge, is formed on the bottom surface of the upper block, and a second sample channel through which the second sample is supplied and the synthetic chip are formed on the top surface of the intermediate block. A plurality of the above-mentioned synthetic chips are arranged in parallel in a radially symmetric manner on the upper surface of the intermediate block, and the first sample supply channel and the second sample channel are formed radially symmetrically in correspondence with the number and arrangement of the synthetic chips. A gasket is inserted between the upper block and the middle block, and a first sample passage hole is formed in the gasket so that a first sample passing through the first sample supply channel is transferred to a first sample channel formed on the upper surface of the middle block. A microfluidic synthesis device in which the first sample channel and the second sample channel are connected to flow into the synthesis chip via independent paths.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above synthetic chip cartridge mounting portion forms part of the cabinet and includes an openable and closable cover, and A mounting stage having a groove on the bottom formed therein for mounting the synthetic chip cartridge, as a space formed on the inner side of the cover, and A first sample adapter, which is the first raw material, is transferred from the above supply unit and is connected to the upper center of the above synthesis chip cartridge, and A microfluidic synthesis device characterized by including an exhaust adapter provided at the lower part of the mounting stage and connecting the lower center of the synthesis chip cartridge to the collection part.

3. In Paragraph 1, The above supply unit is separately provided outside the cabinet and is connected to a precursor tank in which a sample serving as a raw material is stored, and The above supply unit includes a supply control unit that extracts the sample serving as the raw material stored in the precursor tank at a constant speed and transfers it to the synthesis chip cartridge, and A microfluidic synthesis device characterized in that the above supply control unit comprises a first sample control unit and a second sample control unit when the above raw materials consist of a first sample and a second sample stored separately from each other.

4. In Paragraph 3, The above supply unit is provided with a flow rate measuring sensor for measuring the flow rates of the first and second samples passing through the first sample control unit and the second sample control unit. A microfluidic synthesis apparatus characterized in that the first sample control unit and the second sample control unit control the supply speed of the first and second samples according to the measured value of the above flow rate measuring sensor.

5. In Paragraph 1, A microfluidic synthesis device characterized in that the intermediate block has a synthetic sample outlet formed as a through hole through which a synthetic sample synthesized by the synthetic chip can fall downward, and the lower block has at least one synthetic sample concentration groove formed so that the synthetic sample falling from the synthetic sample outlet is collected in the synthetic sample concentration groove.

6. In Paragraph 5, The first sample supply channel and the second sample channel are formed in multiple numbers, and the multiple first sample channels and second sample channels are all formed radially symmetrically to correspond to the positions of the synthesis chip. A plurality of the first sample channels receive a first sample from a single supply pipe connected to the upper center of the upper block, and a plurality of the second sample channels receive a second sample from a single supply pipe connected to the lower center of the intermediate block. In the first sample channel or the second sample channel, a fluid alignment zone is formed, which is a section where the cross-sectional area decreases rapidly, thereby, Even if a first or second sample is first supplied to any one of the plurality of first or second sample channels, the supply of samples is stopped until the samples supplied from all remaining first or second sample channels reach the fluid alignment zone, A microfluidic synthesis device characterized by the fact that the supplied sample is injected simultaneously into multiple synthesis chips.

7. In Paragraph 6, A microfluidic synthesis apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned fluid alignment zone having a reduced cross-sectional area in such a way that the bottom side of the fluid path gradually rises and approaches the top side of the fluid path, thereby allowing the flow of the supplied sample to be stopped until additional pressure is applied from the supply side.

8. In Paragraph 4, The above collection unit comprises a plurality of synthetic sample adapters connected to the lower part of the synthetic chip cartridge so that the synthetic fluid synthesized in the synthetic chip cartridge is transferred to an intravenous fluid pack provided outside the cabinet for the final collection and storage of the synthetic fluid, and A sample collection tube to which all of the above-mentioned multiple synthetic sample adapters are connected, and A disposal tube that shares a starting point with the sample collection tube above, and A microfluidic synthesis apparatus characterized by including a collection-disposal control valve installed at the above-mentioned starting point, which controls the fluid transferred from the above-mentioned synthesis sample adapter to flow into either the above-mentioned sample collection tube or the above-mentioned disposal tube.

9. In Paragraph 4, A microfluidic synthesis device characterized by the cabinet being provided with an emergency stop unit that momentarily stops the operation of the supply unit.

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