Heat Sealing Flow Control in Multi-Flux Microfluidic Nucleic Acid Detection Chips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microfluidic chips are limited in their ability to simultaneously detect multiple pathogens due to complex structures and high resource consumption, requiring continuous mechanical force to maintain sealed conditions, which complicates large-scale assembly and use.
Innovation Solution
A multi-flux microfluidic chip with a chip body featuring a sample loading chamber, reaction chambers, and microfluidic channels that allow for active flow path control through heat sealing, enabling rapid temperature changes and equal reagent distribution among reaction chambers, reducing the number of components and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical valves are used to control fluid flow and maintain sealed conditions, then flow path control is achieved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical valves with a heat sealing system that uses thermal energy to seal and unseal flow paths. The heat sealing system includes a heating element that activates adhesive material to seal channels, eliminating the need for mechanical moving parts while achieving the same flow control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the adhesive material through temperature variation. By controlling the temperature parameter, the adhesive transitions between sealed and unsealed states, enabling dynamic flow path control without mechanical complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple valves are used to maintain sealed conditions throughout a reaction, then sealing is achieved, but device complexity and instrument requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sealing functions into a single heat sealing system. Instead of using multiple separate valves to maintain sealing throughout the reaction, one heat sealing system performs all sealing operations by controlling the adhesive material's state through temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sealing system serves multiple functions: it seals flow paths, maintains reaction chamber integrity, and enables controlled access to reagents. This universal sealing mechanism replaces multiple specialized valves with a single multi-functional system.
3Ease of operation
If pressure or mechanical force is continuously applied to maintain flow path occlusion, then flow control is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic heating cycles to control the adhesive material. The heating element is activated only when sealing or unsealing is needed, rather than continuously applying force. This periodic action significantly reduces energy consumption compared to continuous mechanical force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive material acts as a consumable sealing element that is activated temporarily through heating. After serving its sealing function, it can be deactivated and reused, replacing expensive continuous mechanical force with a low-energy thermal activation process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances detection efficiency, simplifies the microfluidic chip structure, reduces resource consumption, and facilitates assembly and operation by using heat sealing to control fluid flow, achieving closed reaction chambers without mechanical valves, thus preventing aerosol pollution.
Implementation Method 1
the heat sealing system is used to seal and unseal the microfluidic channels
Implementation Method 2
enabling rapid temperature changes
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a multi-flux microfluidic chip for nucleic acid detection and capable of actively controlling a flow path, and a use method thereof. The detection chip includes a chip body, and the chip body is provided with a sample loading chamber, a reaction chamber, and a microfluidic channel, where there is a plurality of reaction chambers, and the microfluidic channel includes a sample output main channel and several sample distribution channels. The sample distribution channels are separately disposed, and include sample distribution chamber sample output channels and reaction chamber sample input channels, where the sample distribution chamber sample output channels and the reaction chamber sample input channels can be communicated through sample distribution connection channels formed through heat sealing processing for a thin film on the chip body, and a thin film part of the sample distribution connection channel can form a sample distribution occlusion portion after undergoing heat sealing processing, to intercept the flow in the sample distribution channels. Therefore, the present invention uses heat sealing technology to replace a micro valve to control opening/closing of a channel, so as to decrease the number of parts mounted on the microfluidic chip, and reduce the continuous work of an instrument and energy consumption thereof. Moreover, the present invention achieves a multi-flux detection effect.