CN214514646U - Microfluidic device - Google Patents

Abstract

The microfluidic device of the present application includes a plurality of microfluidic cells, at least one of which includes a substrate, a fluid receiving chamber formed in the substrate, an input channel and an output channel formed in the substrate, and an inlet and an outlet formed on the substrate. The input channel is communicated between the inlet and the fluid containing cavity. The output channel is communicated between the fluid containing cavity and the outlet. The base plate can be plastically deformed under the action of external force, so that the first inner wall of the input channel is abutted against the second inner wall to close or block the input channel, and the first inner wall of the output channel is abutted against the second inner wall to close or block the output channel, thereby closing the fluid containing cavity.

Description

Microfluidic device

Technical Field

The present application relates to microfluidic devices, and more particularly to microfluidic devices that can be used in polymerase chain reactions.

Background

Microfluidic devices are used in microfluidic experiments, sample detection in the biological or medical field, for example as containment devices for liquid samples for performing polymerase chain reactions. With the development of detection technology, the demand for performing microfluidic detection is increasing, and the application of microfluidic devices in microfluidic experiments is becoming more and more extensive.

The present pcr uses microfluidic devices including various microfluidic valves, such as a pinch valve for closing a microfluidic channel by a stopper, e.g., a thimble, a valve device for controlling the microfluidic channel by controlling the opening and closing of a membrane in the microfluidic channel, and the like. Known microfluidic devices for biological and medical sample detection are complex in structure, have low reliability of valve closure, and are relatively costly.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a microfluidic device with convenient operation, high reliability and low cost, so as to improve the detection efficiency of biological and medical samples.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

According to one aspect, the present application provides a microfluidic device for receiving and carrying a liquid biological or medical sample for performing an assay operation, such as a polymerase chain reaction assay. According to one embodiment, a microfluidic device of the present application includes a plurality of microfluidic cells, at least one microfluidic cell including a substrate, a fluid receiving cavity formed in the substrate, an input channel and an output channel formed in the substrate, and an inlet and an outlet formed on the substrate. The two sides of the input channel are respectively provided with a first inner wall and a second inner wall which are arranged at intervals. The two sides of the output channel are respectively provided with a first inner wall and a second inner wall which are arranged at intervals. An input passage communicates between the inlet and the fluid containing chamber. An output passage communicates between the fluid receiving chamber and the outlet. A section of the base plate at the input channel is plastically deformable under external pressure such that a first inner wall of the input channel at the section abuts a second inner wall of the input channel at the section to close the input channel. One section of the base plate located on the output channel can be plastically deformed under the action of external pressure, so that a first inner wall of the output channel located on the section abuts against a second inner wall of the output channel located on the section to close the output channel, thereby closing the fluid containing cavity.

Plastic deformation of the first inner wall of the input channel at the segment in the direction of the second inner wall within the input channel may form an input end blocking body within the input channel. The input end blocking body is located against the input channel at the second inner wall of the segment to close the input channel. Plastic deformation of the first inner wall of the output channel at the segment in the direction of the second inner wall within the output channel may form an output end blocking body within the output channel. The outlet blocking body is located against the outlet channel on the second inner wall of the segment, thereby closing the outlet channel.

The input end blocking body cuts the input channel into a first input section and a second input section and blocks liquid circulation between the first input section and the second input section. The first input section is in communication with the inlet and the second input section is in communication with the fluid containing chamber. The output end blocking body cuts the output channel into a first output section and a second output section and blocks liquid circulation between the first output section and the second output section. The first output section is in communication with the fluid containing cavity and the second input section is in communication with the outlet.

According to another embodiment, the input end blocking body comprises a first blocking body and a second blocking body which are arranged at intervals. The first blocking body and the second blocking body block the input channel into a first input section, a second input section and a third input section. The first input section is in communication with the inlet. The second input section is enclosed between the first occluding body and the second occluding body. The third input section is in communication with the fluid containing cavity. The output end blocking body comprises a first blocking body and a second blocking body which are arranged at intervals. The first blocking body and the second blocking body block the output channel into a first output section, a second output section and a third output section. The first output section is in communication with the fluid containing cavity and the second output section is enclosed between the first occluding body and the second occluding body. The third output section is in communication with the outlet.

Drawings

In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements or method steps. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments and together with the detailed description, serve to explain aspects, features, implementations and advantages of the embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a microfluidic device according to one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged perspective view of an exemplary microfluidic cell of the microfluidic device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along A-A and B-B of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the microfluidic cell shown in FIG. 2A in a state before local plastic deformation;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the microfluidic cell of FIG. 3A in a state before it has been subjected to a localized plastic deformation process, showing the ram and anvil used in the plastic deformation process;

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the microfluidic cell of FIG. 3A after being subjected to a localized plastic deformation process, showing the ram and anvil used in the plastic deformation process;

FIG. 3D is a perspective view of the microfluidic cell shown in FIG. 3A after being subjected to a localized plastic deformation process;

FIG. 3E is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. 3D;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged partial perspective view of portions 4A and 4B of FIG. 3C;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the indenter of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of portion 5 of FIG. 3E;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of portion 5 of FIG. 3E, showing the ram and anvil used in the plastic deformation process;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view of portion 7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial perspective view of portion 8 of FIG. 3E;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial perspective view of portion 8 of FIG. 3E, showing the ram and anvil used in the plastic deformation process;

FIG. 10A is an enlarged partial perspective view of portion 10A of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10B is a further or alternative schematic illustration of the example shown in FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10C is a perspective view of the microfluidic device of FIG. 1 held in a monolithic anvil;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a microfluidic device according to another embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 12A is an enlarged perspective view of an exemplary microfluidic cell of the microfluidic device shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along lines C-C and D-D of FIG. 12A;

fig. 13A is a perspective view of the microfluidic cell shown in fig. 12A in a state before local plastic deformation;

FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the microfluidic cell of FIG. 13A in a state before it has been subjected to a localized plastic deformation process, showing the ram and anvil used in the plastic deformation process;

FIG. 13C is a perspective view of the microfluidic cell of FIG. 13A after being subjected to a localized plastic deformation process, showing the ram and anvil used in the plastic deformation process;

FIG. 13D is the microfluidic cell shown in FIG. 13A; a state perspective view after being subjected to local plastic deformation treatment;

FIG. 13E is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. 13D;

FIG. 14A is an enlarged partial perspective view of portions 14A and 14B of FIG. 13C;

FIG. 14B is a perspective view of the ram of FIG. 14A;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged partial perspective view of portion 15 of FIG. 3E;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged partial perspective view of portion 15 of FIG. 3E, showing the ram and anvil used in the plastic deformation process;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged partial perspective view of portion 17 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged partial perspective view of portion 18 of FIG. 13E;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged partial perspective view of portion 18 of FIG. 13E showing the ram and anvil used in the plastic deformation process;

FIG. 20A is an enlarged partial perspective view of portion 20A of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20B is a further or alternative schematic illustration of the example shown in FIG. 20A;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a kit according to one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged perspective view of an exemplary reagent holding and carrying unit of the reagent cartridge of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23A is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along E-E of FIG. 22;

FIG. 23B is a schematic diagram of a further or alternative embodiment of the example shown in FIG. 23A;

fig. 24 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of fig. 22 taken along F-F.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a microfluidic device according to one embodiment of the present application. Fig. 2A is an enlarged perspective view of an exemplary microfluidic cell in the microfluidic device shown in fig. 1, and fig. 2B is an enlarged perspective view of a cross-section of fig. 2A along a-a. As shown in fig. 1, 2A and 2B, the microfluidic device 100 includes a plurality of microfluidic cells 102 having the same structure. Each microfluidic cell 102 includes a substrate 110, a fluid receiving cavity 150 formed in the substrate 110, an input channel 130 and an output channel 170 formed in the substrate 150, and a fluid inlet 120 and a fluid outlet 180 formed on the substrate 110. The input channel 130 has a first inner wall 113a and a second inner wall 113b spaced apart from each other. The output channel 170 has a first inner wall 117a and a second inner wall 117b spaced apart from each other. The input channel 130 communicates between the inlet 120 and the fluid receiving chamber 150. The outlet passage 170 communicates between the fluid receiving chamber 150 and the outlet 180.

The substrate 110 may be made of a solid light transmissive or opaque material such as transparent plastic, plexiglass, or the like. The fluid receiving chamber 150, the input channel 130 and the output channel 170 are holes formed inside the substrate 110 by injection molding, die pressing or other processing. The fluid receiving chamber 150, the input channel 130 and the output channel 170 may receive a liquid, such as a biological sample or a medical sample for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a reagent, and the like. After being filled with a liquid biological sample or medical sample, reagent, the microfluidic device 100 is used to carry the sample, reagent to detect the sample under certain reaction conditions.

The substrate 110 is made of a material having a property of being plastically deformed under a certain external pressure and/or temperature. For example, a section 135 of the base plate 110 located in the input channel 130 may be plastically deformed when being pressed by an external pressure, such that the inner wall of the input channel 130 located in the section 135 is deformed and moved in a direction toward the inside of the input channel 130, resulting in a cross-sectional reduction of the input channel 130 until the cross-sectional reduction is zero, thereby closing the cross-sectional area of the input channel 130. Similarly, a segment 175 of the base plate 110 located in the output channel 170 may be plastically deformed when pressed by an external pressure, resulting in a cross-sectional reduction of the output channel 170 until the cross-sectional reduction is zero, closing the cross-sectional area of the input channel 170.

As shown in fig. 3A-3E, 4A, and 4B, according to one example, external pressure 50F is applied by ram 50 to a segment 135 of one input channel 130 of microfluidic device 100 placed on anvil 60. The ram 50 has a nose 52 at its forward end. The ram 50 presses the upper surface 111 of the substrate 110 under the supporting action of the anvil 60. When the external pressure 50F reaches the plastic deformation threshold of the substrate 110, as shown in fig. 2A, 2B, 5, 6 and 7, the ram 50 causes a local plastic deformation of the substrate 110, pressing out the depression 112 corresponding to the shape of the protrusion 52 of the ram 50 on the upper surface 111 of the substrate 110, and simultaneously pressing the substrate material below the depression 112 towards the inside of the input channel 130, so that the first inner wall 113a of the input channel 130 at the segment 135 abuts against the second inner wall 113B of the input channel 130 at the segment 135 and forms the input end blocking body 132 in the input channel 130. The input end blocking body 132 occupies the cross section of the input channel 130, thereby blocking and closing the input channel 130.

Similarly, as shown in fig. 2A, 2B, 8, 9, and 10A, external pressure 50F is applied by ram 50 to a segment 175 of an output channel 170 of microfluidic device 100 placed on anvil 60. The ram 50 presses the upper surface 111 of the substrate 110 under the supporting action of the anvil 60. When the external pressure 50F reaches the plastic deformation threshold of the substrate 110, the ram 50 causes a local plastic deformation of the substrate 110, pressing the depression 162 out of the upper surface 111 of the substrate 110, and simultaneously pressing the substrate material below the depression 162 in the direction of the interior of the output channel 170, so that the first interior wall 117a of the output channel 170 at the segment 175 abuts the second interior wall 117b of the input channel 170 at the segment 175 and forms the output-end blocking body 172 in the output channel 170. The output end blocking body 172 occupies the cross section of the output passage 170, thereby blocking and closing the output passage 170.

After the input channel 130 and the output channel 170 are closed in the above manner, the fluid containing cavity 150 communicated between the input channel 130 and the output channel 170 is respectively sealed by the input end blocking body 132 and the output end blocking body 172, so that the reagent and the gas possibly filled in the fluid containing cavity 150 are sealed in the fluid containing cavity 150 without leakage.

The pressure of the ram 50 may be set accordingly in accordance with the plastic deformation characteristics of the substrate material. If desired, or depending on the plastic deformation characteristics of the substrate material, the ram may also apply pressure to the substrate 110 in a heated state to more effectively effect localized plastic deformation of the substrate such that the input and output channels are closed by their respective opposing inner sidewalls abutting one another, thereby sealing the fluid-containing chamber 150.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 6 and 9, the input end blocking body 132 divides the input channel 130 into a first input section 131 and a second input section 133. The first input section 131 is in communication with the inlet 120 and the second input section 133 is in communication with the fluid containing chamber 150. The inlet blocking body 132 forms a flow barrier between the first inlet section 131 and the second inlet section 133. Similarly, the output end blocking body 172 divides the output passage 170 into a first output section 171 and a second output section 173, the first output section 171 communicating with the fluid receiving chamber 150, and the second input section 173 communicating with the outlet 180. The outlet blocking body 172 forms a flow barrier between the first outlet section 171 and the second outlet section 173.

According to the plastic deformation and phase transition temperature characteristics of the substrate material, the temperature of the ram may be set to cause the local melting of the contact portion of the substrate and the ram, so that the ram partially melts the input end blocking body 132 and the output end blocking body 172 formed by the deformation of the first inner walls 113a and 117a of the segments 135 and 175, respectively, and partially melts the contact portions 113d and 117d of the second inner walls 113b and 117b at the corresponding positions of the input end blocking body 132 and the output end blocking body 172, in the process of applying pressure to the substrate 110 to press the input channel 130 and the output channel 170. The partially melted input-side blocking body 132 and the output-side blocking body 172 are fused with the partially melted contact portions 113d and 117d, respectively, by the pressure of the ram. After the indenter is removed from the substrate 110 and the temperature of the substrate 110 is returned to the normal temperature, for example, to the room temperature state, the partially melted input-end blocking body 132 and the output-end blocking body 172 are fused and fixed integrally with the contact portions 113d and 117d, respectively, and are solidified, and the integrated closed ends 132a and 172a are formed at the portions of the input channel 130 and the output channel 170, respectively, which are pressed by the indenter, thereby respectively blocking the input channel 130 and the output channel 170, as shown in fig. 10B.

In the using process, for example, in the testing operation process of using the microfluidic device 100 for the pcr, after the sample, the reagent and the reagent are filled in the fluid accommodating chamber, the input channel 130 and the output channel 170 are locally deformed under the compression of the pressure head with the preset temperature and pressure, the formed input end blocking body 132, the output end blocking body 172 and the contact portions 113d and 117d are then melted by heating at the preset temperature, and are fused together under the compression of the pressure head, so that the integrated closed ends 132a and 172a are formed at the positions of the input channel 130 and the output channel 170 compressed by the pressure head, and the sample, the reagent and the reagent are sealed in the fluid accommodating chamber. Since all of the integrated closed ends 132a and 172a are made of the same material, i.e., the material of the substrate 110, the integrated closed ends 132a and 172a formed after being melted by heat and deformed by pressure have the same structural strength as the other portions of the substrate 110 constituting the input passage 130, the fluid receiving chamber, and the output passage 170. The closed ends 132a, 172a of the microfluidic device 100 of the present embodiment, which are deformed under pressure and melted by heat, are integrated to provide the same sealing effect for the liquid filled in the fluid-containing chamber 150, such as the sample, the reagent and the reagent used in the pcr, as the other parts of the input channel 130, the fluid-containing chamber and the output channel 170.

The anvil may be a bar anvil 60 as shown in fig. 6 and 9, slightly wider than segment 135/175, positioned to receive the ram 50/70 to cooperate with the ram 50/70 to perform the pressing operation on the input channel 130 and the output channel 170. The anvil may also be a plate-like anvil 62, as shown in fig. 10C, that is larger in size than the monolithic microfluidic device 100 to hold the monolithic microfluidic device 100 and cooperate with the ram 50/70 to perform the pressing operation on the input channel 130 and the output channel 170.

In accordance with another embodiment, the present application provides a microfluidic device. As shown in fig. 11, 12A and 12B, the microfluidic device 200 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of microfluidic units 202 having the same structure. Each microfluidic cell 202 includes a substrate 210, a fluid receiving chamber 250 formed in the substrate, an input channel 230 and an output channel 270 formed in the substrate 210, and an inlet 220 and an outlet 280 formed on the substrate 210. The input channel 230 has a first inner wall 213a and a second inner wall 213b spaced apart from each other. The output channel 270 has a first inner wall 217a and a second inner wall 217b spaced apart from each other. The input passage 230 communicates between the inlet 220 and the fluid receiving chamber 250. The outlet passage 270 communicates between the fluid receiving chamber 250 and the outlet 280.

The substrate 210 may be made of a solid light transmissive or opaque material such as transparent plastic, plexiglass, or the like. The fluid receiving chamber 250, the input channel 230, and the output channel 270 are holes formed inside the substrate 210 by injection molding, die pressing, or other processing. The fluid receiving chamber 250, the input channel 230, and the output channel 270 may receive a liquid, such as a biological or medical sample for a polymerase chain reaction, a reagent, and the like. After being filled with liquid biological or medical samples and reagents, the microfluidic device 200 is used to carry the samples and reagents for detection.

The substrate 210 is made of a material having a property of being plastically deformed under a certain external pressure and/or temperature. For example, a section 235 of the base plate 210 located in the input channel 230 may be plastically deformed when being pressed by an external pressure, such that an inner wall of the input channel 230 located in the section 235 is deformed and moved in a direction toward the inside of the input channel 230, thereby causing the cross-section of the input channel 230 to decrease until the cross-section decreases to zero, closing the cross-section of the input channel 230. Similarly, a segment 275 of the base plate 210 located in the output channel 270 may be plastically deformed by the external pressure, resulting in a cross-sectional reduction of the output channel 270 until the cross-sectional reduction is zero, closing the cross-sectional area of the input channel 270.

As shown in fig. 13A-13E, 14 and 14B, according to one example, external pressure 70F is applied by ram 70 to a segment 235 of one input channel 230 of the microfluidic device 200 placed on anvil 60. The ram 70 has two spaced projections 74, 76 at the forward end thereof. The ram 70 presses the upper surface 211 of the substrate 210 under the support of the anvil 60. When the external pressure 70F reaches the threshold value of plastic deformation of the base plate 210, as shown in fig. 12A, 12B, 15, 16 and 17, the ram 70 causes a local plastic deformation of the base plate 210, pressing out spaced-apart recesses 212, 218 in the shape corresponding to the protrusions 74, 76 of the ram 70 on the upper surface 211 of the base plate 210, and simultaneously pressing the base plate material below the recesses 212, 218 in the direction of the interior of the inlet channel 230, so that the first inner wall 213a of the inlet channel 230 at the segment 235 abuts the second inner wall 213B of the inlet channel 230 at the segment 235 and forms an inlet first occlusion 232 and an inlet second occlusion 238 in the inlet channel 230. The input end first occluding body 232 and the input end second occluding body 238 occupy the cross section of the input channel 230, thereby occluding and closing the input channel 230.

Similarly, as shown in fig. 12A, 12B, 18, 19 and 20A, external pressure 70F is applied by ram 70 to a segment 275 of an output channel 270 of microfluidic device 200 placed on anvil 60. The ram 70 presses the upper surface 211 of the substrate 210 under the support of the anvil 60. When the external pressure 70F reaches the plastic deformation threshold of the substrate 210, the ram 70 causes a local plastic deformation of the substrate 210, pressing the depressions 262, 268 out of the upper surface 211 of the substrate 210, simultaneously pressing the substrate material below the depressions 262, 268 in the direction of the interior of the output channel 270, so that the first inner wall 217a of the output channel 270 at the segment 275 abuts the second inner wall 217b of the input channel 270 at the segment 275 and forms output- side blocking bodies 272, 278 in the output channel 170. The output end occluding bodies 272, 278 occupy the cross section of the output channel 270, thereby occluding and closing the output channel 270.

After the input channel 230 and the output channel 270 are closed in the above manner, the fluid containing chamber 250 communicating between the input channel 230 and the output channel 270 is sealed by the input- end blocking bodies 212 and 218 and the output- end blocking bodies 272 and 278, respectively, so that the reagent and the sample filled in the fluid containing chamber 150 and the gas that may exist are sealed in the fluid containing chamber 150 without leakage.

The pressure of the ram 70 may be set accordingly in accordance with the plastic deformation characteristics of the substrate material. If desired, or depending on the plastic deformation characteristics of the substrate material, the ram may also apply pressure to the substrate 210 in a heated state to more effectively effect localized plastic deformation of the substrate such that the input and output channels are closed by their respective opposing inner sidewalls abutting one another, thereby sealing the fluid containing chamber 250.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 17 and fig. 20A, the input end blocking bodies 232 and 238 divide the input channel 230 into a first input section 231, a second input section 233 and a third input section 234. The first input section 231 communicates with the inlet 220. The second input section 233 is enclosed between input end occluding bodies 232 and 238. The third input section 234 communicates with the fluid containing chamber 250. The inlet-side shut-off bodies 232, 238 form a double flow barrier between the first inlet section 231 and the third inlet section 234. Similarly, output end blocking bodies 272, 278 segment output channel 270 into a first output section 271, a second output section 273, and a third output section 274. First output section 271 communicates with fluid containing chamber 250. The second output section 273 is enclosed between the input end occluding bodies 232 and 238. The third output section 274 communicates with the outlet 280. The outlet- side blocking bodies 272, 278 form a double flow barrier between the first and third outlet sections 271, 274.

According to the plastic deformation and phase transition temperature characteristics of the substrate material, the temperature of the indenter may be set to cause the local melting of the contact portion of the substrate and the indenter, so that the indenter partially melts the input- end blocking bodies 232 and 238 and the output- end blocking bodies 272 and 278 in the process of applying pressure to the substrate 210 to press the input channel 230 and the output channel 270, and at the same time, partially melts the contact portions 213d, 213e, 217d, and 217e of the second inner walls 213b and 217b at the corresponding positions of the input- end blocking bodies 232 and 238 and the output- end blocking bodies 272 and 278. The partially melted input- side blocking bodies 232, 238 and output- side blocking bodies 272, 278 are fused with the partially melted contact portions 213d, 213e and 217d, 217e, respectively, under the pressure of the ram. After the indenter is removed from the substrate 210 and the temperature of the substrate 210 is returned to the normal temperature, for example, to the room temperature state, the partially melted input- side blocking bodies 232 and 238 and the output- side blocking bodies 272 and 278 are fused and fixed integrally with the contact portions 213d and 213e and 217d and 217e, respectively, and are solidified, and the integrated closed ends 232a, 238a, 272a and 278a are formed at the portions of the input channel 230 and the output channel 270 pressed by the indenter, respectively, as shown in fig. 20B.

In use, for example, in the testing operation of the microfluidic device 200 for the pcr, after the sample and the reagent are filled in the fluid containing chamber, the input channel 230 and the output channel 270 are locally deformed under the pressure of the pressure head with a predetermined temperature and pressure, and the formed input end blocking bodies 232 and 238 and the output end blocking bodies 272 and 278 and the contact portions 213d, 213e, 217d and 217e are melted by heat at the predetermined temperature and are fused together under the pressure of the pressure head, so that the integrated closed ends 232a, 238a, 272a and 278a are formed at the positions of the input channel 230 and the output channel 270 pressed by the pressure head, and the sample and the reagent are sealed in the fluid containing chamber. Since all of the integrated closed ends 232a, 238a, 272a, 278a formed by melting and deforming under pressure are made of the same material, i.e., the material of the substrate 210, have the same structural strength as the other portions of the substrate 210 that form the input channel 230, the fluid-receiving chamber, and the output channel 270. The closed ends 232a, 238a, 272a, 278a of the microfluidic device 200 of the present embodiment, which are integrated after being deformed by pressure and melted by heat, provide the same sealing effect for the liquid filled in the fluid-containing chambers, such as the sample and the reagent used in the pcr, as the other parts of the input channel 230, the fluid-containing chambers, and the output channel 270.

According to yet another embodiment, the present application provides a kit for biological or medical sample detection, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction. As shown in fig. 21, 22, 23A, 23B and 24, the reagent cartridge 300 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of reagent and sample accommodating and carrying units 302 having the same structure. Each reagent and sample receiving and carrying unit 302 includes a substrate 310, a fluid receiving chamber 350 formed in the substrate 310, an input channel 330 and an output channel 370 formed in the substrate, and a reagent and sample 360 filled through the input channel 330 and received in the fluid receiving chamber 350 in preparation for performing a polymerase chain reaction. The reagents and samples (360) may include liquids such as samples, reagents, and solvents for polymerase chain reaction.

The input and output channels 330 and 370 are respectively in communication with the fluid receiving chamber 350. The first inner wall 330a of the input channel 330 at one input section 335 abuts the second inner wall 330b of the input channel 330 at the input closure section 335 such that the input channel 330 is closed. A first inner wall 370a at one output section 375 abuts a second inner wall 370b of that output section 375 such that the output channel 370 is closed. The closed input channel 330 and the closed output channel 370 seal the reagent 360 in the fluid containing chamber 350.

The input channel 330 is positioned at the first inner wall 330a of one input segment 335 by applying an external pressure to the upper surface 311 of the base plate 310 corresponding to that segment 335. The external pressure presses against the upper surface 311 causing the substrate 310 to plastically deform and form one or more depressions in the upper surface 311, such as the two spaced apart depressions 312, 316 shown in fig. 15. In the input channel 330 at the corresponding positions of the recesses 312, 316, a first inner wall 330a of the input channel 330, following the deformation of the base plate 310 and the formation of the recesses 312, 316, moves towards an opposite second inner wall 330b to form input end blocking bodies 332, 338 and finally abuts against the second inner wall 330b, thereby closing the cross section of the input channel 330 at the input section 335.

Similarly, the location of the output channel 370 at the first inner wall 370a of one input segment 375 may be achieved by applying external pressure to the upper surface 311 of the base plate 310 corresponding to that segment 375. The external pressure presses against the upper surface 311 causing the substrate 310 to plastically deform and form one or more depressions in the upper surface 311, such as the two spaced apart depressions 362,366 shown in fig. 16. In the output channel 370 at the position corresponding to the recesses 362, 366, a first inner wall 370a of the output channel 370 forms output- end blocking bodies 372, 378 as the base plate 310 is deformed and the recesses 362, 366 are formed to move toward an opposite second inner wall 370b, and finally abuts against the second inner wall 370b, thereby closing the cross section of the output channel 370 at the output segment 375. The closure of the input channel 330 and the output channel 370 seals the reagent and the sample 360 from the fluid containing chamber 350. The sample and reagent sealed in the fluid containing chamber 350 react under certain conditions, such as polymerase chain reaction under typical temperature cycling conditions of 65 ℃ to 95 ℃. The sample sealed in the fluid containing chamber 350 can be tested during the reaction and after the reaction is completed. In the detection process and after the detection is finished, the sample is always in a safe sealing state, so that the detection operation is safe and convenient. After the detection is finished, the kit can be destroyed when the sample is always in a safe and sealed state, so that the possible pollution of the sample to the surrounding environment is effectively prevented.

Further or alternatively, as shown in fig. 23B, the input end blocking bodies 332, 338 and the second inner wall 313B of the input channel 330 may merge into one body, for example, by local melting, plastic deformation of the substrate 310 under the action of appropriate external pressure and temperature, and block the input channel 330. Similarly, the output- end blocking bodies 372, 378 may merge with the second inner wall 370b of the output channel 370, for example, by localized melting, plastic deformation of the substrate 310 under appropriate external pressure and temperature, and block the output channel 370.

It should be appreciated that the embodiments provided herein in connection with the appended drawings are only exemplary of the present application and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, operation, or configuration of the application in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the application, it being understood that various modifications, changes and/or substitutions may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment and method of operation. For example, the substrate material described herein may be formed from two different plastics to form the fluid-containing chamber, the input channel, and the output channel. Such modifications, variations and/or substitutions are to be understood as falling within the scope of the present application as defined by the claims set forth below.

Claims (9)

1. A microfluidic device comprising a plurality of microfluidic cells, wherein at least one microfluidic cell comprises:

a substrate;

a fluid receiving chamber formed in the substrate;

the input channel and the output channel are formed in the substrate, two sides of the input channel are respectively provided with a first inner wall and a second inner wall which are arranged at intervals, and two sides of the output channel are respectively provided with a first inner wall and a second inner wall which are arranged at intervals;

an inlet and an outlet formed on the substrate;

the input channel is communicated between the inlet and the fluid containing cavity, and the output channel is communicated between the fluid containing cavity and the outlet;

wherein a section of the base plate at the input channel is plastically deformable under external pressure such that a first inner wall of the input channel at the section abuts a second inner wall of the input channel at the section to close the input channel; one section of the base plate located in the output channel can be plastically deformed under the action of external pressure, so that a first inner wall of the output channel located in the section abuts against a second inner wall of the output channel located in the section to close the output channel.

2. The microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein plastic deformation of the first inner wall of the input channel at the segment in the direction of the second inner wall in the input channel forms an input end blocking body which abuts against the second inner wall of the input channel at the segment so as to close the input channel; plastic deformation of the first inner wall of the outlet channel in the direction of the second inner wall of the outlet channel in the outlet channel can form an outlet blocking body which abuts against the second inner wall of the outlet channel in the section so as to close the outlet channel.

3. The microfluidic device according to claim 2, wherein the input end blocking body, the second inner wall of the input channel and the output end blocking body, the second inner wall of the output channel are meltable in a heated state and are respectively meltable together after being plastically deformed by the external pressure, thereby respectively blocking the input channel and the output channel.

4. The microfluidic device according to claim 2, wherein the input end blocking body divides the input channel into a first input section and a second input section, the first input section being in communication with the inlet and the second input section being in communication with the fluid containing chamber.

5. The microfluidic device according to claim 2, wherein the output-side blocking body divides the output channel into a first output section and a second output section, the first output section being in communication with the fluid-containing chamber, the second output section being in communication with the outlet.

6. The microfluidic device according to claim 2, wherein the input end blocking body comprises a first blocking body and a second blocking body arranged at a distance, the first blocking body and the second blocking body block the input channel into a first input section, a second input section and a third input section, the first input section is communicated with the inlet, the second input section is closed between the first blocking body and the second blocking body, and the third input section is communicated with the fluid containing cavity.

7. The microfluidic device according to claim 6, wherein the first blocking body, the second blocking body and the second inner wall of the input channel are meltable in a heated state and are respectively meltable together after being plastically deformed by the external pressure, thereby blocking the input channel.

8. The microfluidic device according to claim 2, wherein the output end blocking body comprises a first blocking body and a second blocking body arranged at intervals, the first blocking body and the second blocking body block the output channel into a first output section, a second output section and a third output section, the first output section is communicated with the fluid containing cavity, the second output section is closed between the first blocking body and the second blocking body, and the third output section is communicated with the outlet.

9. The microfluidic device according to claim 8, wherein the first blocking body, the second blocking body and the second inner wall of the output channel of the output end are meltable in a heated state and are respectively meltable together after being plastically deformed by the external pressure, thereby blocking the output channel.

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