CN213699931U - Device for blocking microfluidic fluid channel through hot pressing - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model discloses a device for blocking a microfluidic fluid channel by hot pressing, which relates to the field of hot pressing equipment and comprises a microfluidic chip and a hot pressing device, wherein the hot pressing device can move relative to the microfluidic chip, the microfluidic chip comprises a first part and a second part, at least one surface of the first part comprises at least one flow groove, the second part is made of a polymer material which can be converted into a glass state by heating, and the second part and the first part can form a flow channel; the hot press apparatus comprises a first assembly and a second assembly, wherein the first assembly comprises a movable module, at least one surface of the second assembly is heatable, and the second assembly is capable of applying pressure to press the material of the second part into a flow channel; and the flow channel of the microfluidic chip is cooled to form a permanently closed flow channel. The utility model discloses the machining precision requirement to the subassembly is not high, and the instrument is simple, can realize the permanent sealing completely of micro-fluidic chip runner.

Description

Device for blocking microfluidic fluid channel through hot pressing

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a hot pressing equipment field especially relates to a device of micro-fluidic fluid channel is blocked in hot pressing.

Background

Microfluidics (microfluidics) is a technology that controls micro-volume fluids to achieve various micro-scale physical, chemical and biological processes. Microfluidics can integrate reactions performed in many laboratories onto microfluidic chips and are therefore referred to as lab-on-a-chip in many scenarios. The volume of fluid processed may also be larger or smaller in some particular cases. Microfluidic chips typically have one or more fluid channels therein. Under the action of different action mechanisms such as external pressure, density, gravity, surface tension, capillary action, mechanical action and the like, fluid can be transmitted in the flow channel of the microfluidic chip.

The micro-fluidic chip can realize biochemical reactions of various different mechanisms and carry out analysis and research on molecules, cells and tissue layers. For example, amplification and detection of a specific nucleic acid sequence can be achieved by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on a microfluidic chip; for another example, specific proteins can be detected on microfluidic chips by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The microfluidic chip may also be used for cell culture to study the response of cells to different biochemical substances. The fluid on the microfluidic chip can be liquid or gas.

The materials and processing methods of the microfluidic chip are various. The materials of the microfluidic chip include, but are not limited to, polymers such as glass, silicon wafer, quartz, metal, paper, plastic, and the like. The processing method also includes but is not limited to etching, machining, injection molding, grinding tool forming, laser engraving, printing, engraving, etc. The microstructures in microfluidic chips that can be achieved with these materials and processing methods are varied, and the specific materials and processing methods selected are generally determined according to the function to be achieved.

One of the key steps usually required in microfluidic chips is how to form individual micro-reaction units, such as microwells, micro-wells, micro-chambers, micro-droplets, etc. The physical, biological and chemical reactions described above can be carried out in these micro-reaction units. One of the important methods for forming the separate micro-reaction unit is to use a fluid channel to transfer a fluid into the micro-reaction unit, and to block the fluid channel by a physical or chemical method, so that the micro-reaction unit becomes a separate reaction chamber. Among them, the typical methods include: 1) slide Chip (Slip Chip) method: through the relative position change of two micro-fluidic chips which are contacted, the corresponding microstructures on the two surfaces are mutually partially overlapped to form a communicated flow channel, or the microstructures are not mutually overlapped through relative sliding, so that the independence of a micro-reaction unit is realized; 2) laser welding (Laser welding) method: the material forming the flow channel is heated by the energy of the laser, so that the flow channel is closed, and the independence of the micro-reaction unit is realized; 3) direct compression (Direct compression) method: the flow channel is collapsed and closed through direct physical extrusion, so that the micro-reaction units are independent; 4) micro-valve (micro-valving) method: the micro-valve structure (such as a pneumatic valve with a multilayer structure) is arranged in the micro-fluidic chip, so that the aim of controlling the opening and closing of the flow channel is fulfilled.

These methods typically require relatively delicate controls or relatively complex components, which are not conducive to widespread use outside of the laboratory in many application scenarios. For example, it is difficult to achieve a complete permanent sealing of the channel by direct pressing, so that the micro-reaction unit is not isolated from the outside, and is easily affected by the outside or the outside. The sliding chip method and the micro valve method have high requirements on the processing precision of the assembly, and instruments required by the laser welding method are complex, so that the method is not beneficial to scenes outside a plurality of laboratories.

Therefore, those skilled in the art have been devoted to develop a hot-pressing apparatus that can achieve complete and permanent sealing of the flow channel of the microfluidic chip.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above-mentioned defects of the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to realize a complete permanent closure of the flow channel of the microfluidic chip using a simple instrument without requiring the assembly to have a very high machining precision.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a device for blocking a microfluidic fluid channel by hot pressing, comprising a microfluidic chip and a hot pressing device, wherein the hot pressing device is configured to be movable with respect to the microfluidic chip, the microfluidic chip comprises a first part and a second part, at least one surface of the first part comprises at least one flow channel, the second part is made of a polymer material that can be transformed into a glass state by heating, and the second part forms a flow channel by adhering to the first part and the flow channel of the first part; said autoclave apparatus comprising a first assembly and a second assembly, wherein said first assembly comprises a movable module and at least one surface of said second assembly is heatable and bonds to at least one surface of said second member; the heatable surface of the second component is configured to heat the material of the second member to a glassy state and to apply pressure to press the material of the second member into the flow channel of the first member; and the flow channel of the microfluidic chip is cooled to form a permanently closed flow channel.

Furthermore, the width of the flow groove of the micro-fluidic chip is 0.001-10mm, and the depth of the flow groove of the micro-fluidic chip is 0.001-10 mm.

Further, the adhesion manner between the first component and the second component is one of adhesive adhesion, ultrasonic bonding, solvent bonding, thermal bonding or chemical reaction bonding.

Further, the first member and the second member are not adhered to each other, and a flow passage is formed by physical pressure sealing.

Furthermore, the moving position of the moving module of the first assembly is moved and controlled in a mode of one or more of manual control, simple mechanical control or electromechanical control.

Further, the heating surface of the hot-pressing device is linear, rectangular, circular or annular.

Further, the mode of the relative position movement between the hot pressing device and the microfluidic chip is one of the following modes: the microfluidic chip is fixed, and the hot-pressing device moves relative to the microfluidic chip; or the heating device is fixed, and the microfluidic chip moves relative to the heating device; or the heating device and the microfluidic chip can be moved and contacted with each other under certain conditions.

Further, after the heating device and the microfluidic chip are contacted with each other, the relative position is kept unchanged, or the heating device and the microfluidic chip are relatively moved in the process of closing the flow channel.

Further, the first part and the second part are adhered to each other, and the surface of the microfluidic chip, which is in contact with the hot-pressing device, is subjected to surface treatment.

Further, an anti-adhesion layer is arranged between the micro-fluidic chip and the hot-pressing device.

The utility model discloses following technological effect has:

1. the control equipment is simple and easy to operate;

2. the device of the utility model can permanently and completely seal the micro-fluidic flow channel;

3. the device of the utility model can be integrated into a small portable device;

4. the device of the utility model can be used for sealing microfluidic channels with different sizes and shapes;

5. the device of the utility model can be manually set into automatic equipment.

The conception, the specific structure and the technical effects of the present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, so as to fully understand the objects, the features and the effects of the present invention.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic overall structure diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2(a) and 2(b) are respectively an exploded top view and a side view of an upper component and a lower component of a microfluidic chip according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3(a) and 3(b) are a top view and a side view of the combination of the upper assembly and the lower assembly of the microfluidic chip according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4(a), 4(b), and 4(c) are a side view, a bottom view, and an overall schematic view of a hot press apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5(a), 5(b), and 5(c) are respectively heating surfaces of a hot press apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which may have different shapes and different numbers;

fig. 6(a) and 6(b) are a side view and a schematic diagram of an assembly for sealing a flow channel of a microfluidic chip according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7(a) and fig. 7(b) are schematic views respectively illustrating the operation of the assembly for closing the flow channel of the microfluidic chip according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the overall assembly of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the overall assembly of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10(a) and 10(b) are independent micro reaction units formed in a microfluidic chip according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The technical contents of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated by referring to the drawings attached to the specification. The present invention may be embodied in many different forms of embodiments, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

In the drawings, structurally identical elements are represented by like reference numerals, and structurally or functionally similar elements are represented by like reference numerals throughout the several views. The size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily illustrated, and the present invention is not limited to the size and thickness of each component. The thickness of the components may be exaggerated where appropriate in the figures to improve clarity.

Example one

The utility model discloses one set of small-size hot press unit realizes the closure to the runner in the micro-fluidic chip. The fluid in the channel, whether gas or liquid, can be blocked by the method of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the small thermocompressor can move relative to the microfluidic chip, and the moving direction can be perpendicular to the surface of the microfluidic chip or not. The surface of the hot pressing device which can be heated is contacted with at least one surface of the flow channel of the microfluidic chip, and the polymer material forming the flow channel is heated to be in a glass state or molten state. The small hot-pressing device applies a pressure to the surface of the microfluidic chip, so that the glassy or molten polymer material is extruded into the flow channel and is completely filled. Subsequently, the small scale hot press device was separated from the microfluidic chip. The glassy or molten polymer cools and solidifies, and the flow channel is permanently completely closed. The method can be used to form closed microfluidic reaction cells and also to change the direction of fluid flow within a microfluidic chip.

The micro-fluidic chip can be fixed, and the small hot-pressing device moves relative to the micro-fluidic chip under the action of external force to complete the operation of channel closure; or the small heating device can be fixed, and the micro-fluidic chip moves relative to the small heating device under the action of external force to complete the operation of sealing the flow channel; or the heating device and the microfluidic chip can move under the action of external force and contact with each other under a certain condition to complete the sealing of the flow channel;

after the small heating device and the microfluidic chip are contacted with each other, the relative position can be kept unchanged, and relative movement can be generated in the process of closing the flow channel;

in particular, this positional movement and control may be achieved by manual control, simple mechanical structures (e.g., springs) or electrical mechanical structures (e.g., motors), or a combination of these.

As shown in fig. 2(a), 2(b) and 3(a), 3(b), the microfluidic chip is composed of at least two parts, wherein at least one surface of the first part comprises at least one flow channel, and wherein the second part is a polymer material (e.g. Thermoplastic Polyurethane) that can be transformed into a glass state by heating. The two parts may be joined by physical or chemical means such that the second part forms the flow channel of the first part into a flow channel. The fluid can flow in the flow channel according to a set rule.

The width of the flow groove or the flow channel of the microfluidic chip can be 10mm to 1 micron, and the depth can be 10mm to 1 micron. The flow groove or the flow passage can be at the same depth or different depths; the flow groove or the flow channel can be the same width or different widths; this flow channel or flow passage may be formed by different geometries.

The two components can be adhered through adhesives such as double-sided adhesive tape, glue and the like; the two components may also be ultrasonically, solvent, or thermally bonded together, or the two components may be chemically bonded together.

The two parts may not be adhered, but are sealed by physical pressure to form a flow passage.

The hot press apparatus shown in fig. 4(a) -4 (c) comprises at least two assemblies, wherein the first assembly comprises a module which can move in a set direction and distance, and the module can be manually controlled and also can be driven by a motor; the second component is bonded to at least one surface of the first component, and at least one surface of the second component is heatable. The hatched portion in the figure is a surface that can be heated. The above components may be moved by manual or automatic control.

As shown in fig. 5(a) -5 (c), the heating surface of the hot-press apparatus can be designed into various shapes such as linear, rectangular, circular, annular, etc. according to specific needs.

Example two

The structure consists of a microfluidic chip, a double-sided adhesive tape, a thermoplastic polyurethane film and a Teflon heat-resistant adhesive tape. The concrete structure from bottom to top is as follows: the adhesive tape comprises a micro-fluidic chip, a double-sided adhesive tape, thermoplastic polyurethane and a Teflon heat-resistant adhesive tape. Wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane can be extruded into the fluid passage after melting for blocking the fluid passage, and the Teflon heat-resistant tape is used for preventing the thermoplastic polyurethane from adhering to the hot-pressing device during the hot-pressing process.

The microfluidic chip with the flow groove is processed by 3D printing heat-resistant resin. Wherein the width of the launder is 1mm, the depth is 1mm, and the length is 20 mm.

The design of the micro-fluidic chip is drawn by Solidworks software, and the micro-fluidic chip can be manufactured by 3D printing or injection molding. The double-sided adhesive tape, the thermoplastic polyurethane film and the Teflon heat-resistant adhesive tape are all processed into specific patterns in a laser cutting mode, and the design is finished by AutoCAD.

Firstly, the micro-fluidic chip and the thermoplastic polyurethane film are cleaned by ethanol to remove oil stains and impurities attached to the surface. And (3) attaching the double-sided adhesive tape with the specific pattern to the surface of the microfluidic chip, flattening, taking down the release paper after ensuring that the double-sided adhesive tape is tightly attached to the microfluidic chip, and attaching the thermoplastic polyurethane film with the specific pattern, wherein the thickness of the film is 0.3-0.5mm, and the thermoplastic polyurethane film is tightly attached to the double-sided adhesive tape. And then, a Teflon heat-resistant adhesive tape with a specific pattern is attached to the upper surface of the thermoplastic polyurethane film, and the Teflon heat-resistant adhesive tape is tightly attached to the thermoplastic polyurethane film. The microfluidic chip is assembled, and can be used for subsequent related experiments.

After the relevant experiment is completed, the fluid channel of the microfluidic chip needs to be blocked, and an independent reaction chamber is constructed. The hot pressing device is heated to 120 ℃, the protruding parts on the hot pressing device are aligned with the fluid channels of the microfluidic chip, the hot pressing device is pressed on the fluid channels needing to be blocked in a handheld mode, and a certain pressure (for example, a pressure of 5-50 newtons) is maintained. And (3) taking down the hot-pressing device after 15 seconds, standing for about 1 minute, and successfully blocking the fluid channel after the thermoplastic polyurethane extruded into the fluid channel is cooled and solidified. In this step, the fluid passage can be blocked by the method regardless of whether the fluid in the passage is a gas or a liquid.

As shown in fig. 6(a) -6 (b), the dotted-line filled portion of the microfluidic chip represents a polymer material that can be converted into a glass state by heating, the polymer material on the upper layer of the microfluidic chip is heated into a glass state or melted by a hot-pressing device, and the glass state or melted material is pressed into the flow channel by applying pressure by the hot-pressing device, so that the flow channel is closed. The dotted filled portion of the microfluidic chip represents a polymer material that can be converted to a glassy state by heating. As shown in fig. 7(a) -7 (b), the flow cell assembly of the microfluidic chip is made of a polymer material (dotted-line filled portion) that can be converted into a glass state by heating. The upper layer has a higher glass transition temperature. The upper layer may be a material that does not readily adhere. The hot-pressing module is contacted with the upper layer and heats the material of the lower layer through the heat conduction of the material of the upper layer. And then the material of the lower layer is deformed under the action of pressure, and a flow channel of the microfluidic chip is closed.

EXAMPLE III

As shown in fig. 2(a) -2 (b), and 3(a) -3 (b), the microfluidic chip having the flow cell is processed by 3D printing of a heat-resistant resin. Wherein the width of the launder is 1mm, the depth is 1mm, and the length is 20 mm.

And cleaning the micro-fluidic chip and the thermoplastic polyurethane film by using ethanol to remove oil stains and impurities attached to the surface. And (3) bonding the polyurethane film with the surface of the chip with the microfluidic flow groove through heat-resistant strong glue.

As shown in fig. 7 and 8, the hot pressing device 4 is fixed on a slide bar stepping motor 1 through a fixing arm 2, and the motor 1 can control the hot pressing device 4 to move up and down through a lifting arm 3, wherein the moving speed is 1mm per second. The assembled microfluidic chip 6 is placed below the heating module, and the fluid channel to be blocked is placed in the vertical direction of the heating surface 5. In the initial state, the heating surface 5 of the thermo-compression device 4 is not in contact with the surface of the microfluidic chip 6. The hot pressing device 4 is heated to 120 ℃, the stepping motor 1 is started to lead the hot pressing device 4 to move towards the microfluidic chip 6, and the contact is continued for 15 seconds. In the process, the polyurethane film is heated to the glass state temperature, and the pressure generated by the stepping motor 1 is extruded into the flow groove, so that the flow passage of the microfluidic chip 6 is closed. The motor 1 then reverses the current to move the thermocompressor 4 away from the surface of the microfluidic chip 6. After the surface is cooled, the flow channel is permanently closed.

Example four

As shown in fig. 10(a) and 10(b), an independent micro-reaction unit can be formed in the microfluidic chip by using the hot-pressing flow channel sealing method of the present invention.

The device of the utility model has the following characteristics:

1. at least one part of the microfluidic chip is made of a material which can be heated into a glass state;

2. the flow channels of the microfluidic chip can be different in width, depth and shape;

3. the number of the microfluidic flow channels blocked by the hot pressing can be one or more;

4. there may be multiple sites on a single channel for hot press blocking.

The foregoing has described in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that numerous modifications and variations could be devised by those skilled in the art in light of the teachings of this invention without undue experimentation. Therefore, the technical solutions that can be obtained by a person skilled in the art through logic analysis, reasoning or limited experiments based on the prior art according to the concepts of the present invention should be within the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims (9)

1. A device for blocking a microfluidic fluid channel by hot pressing, comprising a microfluidic chip and a hot pressing device, wherein the hot pressing device is configured to move relative to the microfluidic chip, the microfluidic chip comprises a first part and a second part, at least one surface of the first part comprises at least one flow cell, the second part is made of a polymer material which can be converted into a glass state by heating, and the second part is adhered to the first part and forms a flow channel with the flow cell of the first part; said autoclave apparatus comprising a first assembly and a second assembly, wherein said first assembly comprises a movable module and at least one surface of said second assembly is heatable and bonds to at least one surface of said second member; the heatable surface of the second component is configured to heat the material of the second member to a glassy state and to apply pressure to press the material of the second member into the flow channel of the first member; and the flow channel of the microfluidic chip is cooled to form a permanently closed flow channel.

2. The apparatus for blocking a microfluidic fluid channel by thermocompression according to claim 1, wherein the width of the flow channel of the microfluidic chip is 0.001-10mm and the depth of the flow channel of the microfluidic chip is 0.001-10 mm.

3. The apparatus for thermocompression blocking a microfluidic fluid channel of claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component are bonded by one of adhesive bonding, ultrasonic bonding, solvent bonding, thermal bonding, or chemical reaction bonding.

4. The apparatus for blocking microfluidic fluid channels by thermocompression according to claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member are not bonded to each other and form a flow path by physical pressure sealing.

5. The device for blocking microfluidic fluid channels by hot pressing according to claim 1, wherein the position movement and control manner of the moving module of the first component is one or more of manual control, simple mechanical control or electromechanical junction control.

6. The device for blocking microfluidic fluid channels by hot pressing according to claim 1, wherein the heating surface of the hot pressing device is linear, rectangular, circular or annular.

7. The device for blocking microfluidic fluid channels by thermal compression of claim 1, wherein the relative position of the thermal compression device and the microfluidic chip is kept unchanged after contacting each other, or the relative movement is generated during the process of closing the flow channel.

8. The device for blocking microfluidic fluid channels by thermocompression according to claim 1, wherein the first part is adhered to the second part, and the surface of the microfluidic chip contacting the thermocompression device is surface treated.

9. The device for blocking a microfluidic fluid channel by hot pressing according to claim 1, wherein an adhesion preventing layer is disposed between the microfluidic chip and the hot pressing device.

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