CN217459426U - Gene sequencer and automatic leveling device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model discloses a gene sequencer and automatic leveling device thereof, automatic leveling device include leveling component, at least one leveling unit, detecting element and the control unit, at least one the leveling unit in the different positions of leveling component below support the leveling component, the leveling unit can move, detecting element with the control unit links to each other and is used for detecting the distance information of the relative image acquisition mechanism of leveling component, the control unit connects the leveling unit, the control unit basis detecting element's testing result control the leveling unit adjustment the leveling component makes two at least position points on the micro-fluidic chip unanimously with the relative distance of image acquisition mechanism or at predetermineeing the within range. The automatic leveling device realizes leveling of the leveling element carrying the microfluidic chip in an automatic mode, reduces manual operation and improves working efficiency.

Description

Gene sequencer and automatic leveling device thereof

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a medical equipment technical field, in particular to automatic leveling device. Also relates to a gene sequencer.

Background

A gene sequencer is an instrument in the biochemical and medical fields and is used for sequencing DNA.

During sequencing, the image acquisition device acquires images of the microfluidic chip, and the positions of the microfluidic chip and the image acquisition device need to be ensured to be accurate. The relative position precision requirement of the microfluidic chip and the image acquisition device in the vertical direction is very high and reaches the micron level; at the moment, the acquisition regions need to be in the same horizontal plane, namely, the distance information of the microfluidic chip relative to the image acquisition mechanism is ensured, so that the definition of the acquired image is ensured. Most of the existing leveling modes are manual leveling, and the problems of complex process, time and labor waste and low working efficiency caused by multiple times of debugging are solved.

Therefore, how to provide an automatic leveling device that solves the above technical problems is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently by those skilled in the art.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The utility model aims at providing an automatic levelling device for gene sequencer, utilize automatic mode to realize carrying on the leveling of micro-fluidic chip's leveling component, reduce manual operation, improved work efficiency. Another object of the present invention is to provide a gene sequencer, which employs the above automatic leveling device.

In order to achieve the above object, the utility model provides an automatic leveling device, including leveling component, at least one leveling unit, detecting element and the control unit, at least one the leveling unit in different positions of leveling component below support the leveling component, the leveling unit is actionable, the detecting unit with the control unit links to each other and is used for detecting the distance information of the relative image acquisition mechanism of leveling component, the control unit connects the leveling unit, the control unit basis detecting element's testing result control the leveling unit adjustment the leveling component makes two at least position points on the micro-fluidic chip unanimously with the relative distance of image acquisition mechanism or at predetermineeing the within range.

Preferably, a supporting block is arranged at a position where the lower side of the leveling element is contacted with the leveling unit, and the end part of the leveling unit is contacted with the supporting block in a supporting way.

Preferably, the leveling unit comprises a driving part and a plug connected with and driven by the driving part, and the outer end of the plug is in supporting contact with the inner surface of the supporting block.

Preferably, the surface of the plug is an arc surface with a radian; the supporting block comprises a first supporting block and a second supporting block, wherein the first supporting block is provided with a conical hole with a downward opening, and the second supporting block is provided with a V-shaped groove.

Preferably, the leveling unit comprises a first leveling unit and a second leveling unit, the first leveling unit is adjusted in action, and the second leveling unit is fixed.

Preferably, the leveling units comprise a first leveling unit, a second leveling unit and a third leveling unit with non-collinear ends; the top of first leveling unit stretches into the bell mouth, the second leveling unit the top stretches into V type groove, first leveling unit with the tip line of second leveling unit with the length direction contained angle in V type groove is nonparallel, has certain contained angle.

Preferably, including the induction element, the induction element is used for the induction detection leveling unit's action degree, the induction element is connected the control unit, the control unit is used for controlling leveling unit is in the induction range action of induction element.

Preferably, the leveling element and the leveling unit are provided with hooks, the hooks are provided with elastic elements, and the elastic elements provide pre-tightening force for tensioning the leveling element and the leveling unit.

Preferably, the driving part comprises a driving element and a transmission element connected with an output shaft of the driving element, and the transmission element is connected with the plug.

Preferably, an output shaft of the driving element is connected with a nut, the nut is sleeved with a screw rod, and the screw rod is connected with the transmission element; the transmission element comprises a guide sleeve and a guide rod sleeved on the guide sleeve, one end of the guide rod is contacted with the screw rod, and the other end of the guide rod is connected with the ejector.

The utility model also provides a gene sequencer, including image acquisition mechanism and above-mentioned automatic levelling device.

Compared with the prior art, the utility model provides an automatic leveling device includes the leveling component, at least one leveling unit, detecting element and the control unit, at least one leveling unit supports the leveling component in the different positions of leveling component below, the leveling unit can move, detecting element links to each other and detects the distance information of the relative image acquisition mechanism of leveling component with the control unit, the control unit connects the leveling unit, the control unit makes two at least position points on the micro-fluidic chip unanimous with the relative distance of image acquisition mechanism or at predetermineeing the within range according to detecting element's detection result control leveling unit adjustment leveling component.

In the working process of the automatic leveling device, at least one leveling unit supports the leveling elements at different positions below the leveling elements, wherein the first leveling unit provides a supporting function, and the second leveling unit realizes the leveling function through the detection unit and the control unit; in the leveling process, the detection unit detects the distance information of the leveling element relative to the image acquisition mechanism, the detection unit transmits the detection information to the control unit, and the control unit processes and judges the detection information and then controls the leveling unit, so that at least 2 positions of the internal flow channel or the surface of the microfluidic chip are consistent with the relative distance of the image acquisition mechanism or in a preset range. The automatic leveling device realizes leveling of the leveling element carrying the microfluidic chip in an automatic mode, reduces manual operation and improves working efficiency.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments or the prior art descriptions will be briefly described below, it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only embodiments of the present invention, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained according to the provided drawings without creative efforts.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an automatic leveling device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional structural view of a leveling unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of FIG. 1;

fig. 5 is a top view of fig. 3.

Wherein:

the method comprises the following steps of 1-an image acquisition mechanism, 2-a microfluidic chip, 3-a leveling element, 4-a hook, 5-an elastic element, 6-a fixed seat, 7-a driving element, 8-a supporting block, 9-a top, 10-a guide sleeve, 11-a guide rod, 12-a screw rod, 13-a nut, 14-a sensor sensing element and 15-a sensor element.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by a person skilled in the art without creative work belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

In order to make the technical field of the present invention better understand, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description.

Referring to fig. 1 to 5, wherein fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an automatic leveling device according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 2 is a schematic sectional structural diagram of a leveling unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 3 is a back view of fig. 1, fig. 4 is a right side view of fig. 1, and fig. 5 is a top view of fig. 3.

In a first specific embodiment, the present invention provides an automatic leveling device, which comprises a leveling element 3, a leveling unit, a detection unit and a control unit. Wherein, at least one leveling unit is positioned below the leveling element 3 and supports the leveling element 3 at different positions; the leveling unit has the characteristic of being movable and is connected with and controlled by the control unit; the detection unit is connected with the control unit, detects the distance information of the leveling element 3 relative to the image acquisition mechanism 1 and transmits the detection information to the control unit; the control unit has the functions of processing analysis, logic judgment and control execution, is connected with the detection unit and all the leveling units, and controls the leveling units according to the detection result obtained by the detection information.

In this embodiment, the leveling element 3 is a leveling plate, and the control unit adjusts the leveling element 3 by controlling a suitable leveling unit according to the detection result of the detection unit, so that at least 2 positions of the internal flow channel (or surface) of the microfluidic chip placed on the leveling element 3 are consistent with the relative distance from the image acquisition mechanism 1 or within a preset range.

Specifically, during the operation of the automatic leveling device, at least one leveling unit supports the leveling element 3 at different positions below the leveling element 3, one of which provides a supporting function, and the other of which achieves the leveling function through the detection unit and the control unit; in the leveling process, the detection unit detects the distance information of the leveling element 3 relative to the image acquisition mechanism 1, at least 2 distance information between the internal flow channel or the surface of the microfluidic chip of the leveling element 3 and the image acquisition mechanism 1 can be obtained, the detection unit transmits the detection information to the control unit, the control unit controls the leveling unit after processing and judging the detection information, adjusts the microfluidic chip placed on the leveling element 3, and drives the microfluidic chip to rise or fall through the leveling element 3.

The automatic leveling device realizes leveling of the leveling element 3 carrying the microfluidic chip in an automatic mode, reduces manual operation and improves working efficiency.

It should be noted that the number of the leveling units is at least one, and the number of the leveling units is not limited; the number of the leveling units and the number of the positions of the leveling elements 3 contacting and supporting can be equal or unequal, the number of the leveling units is not more than the number of the positions of the supporting, for example, one leveling unit has a plurality of supporting points.

The driving manner of the control unit is various, including but not limited to electric, hydraulic, etc., and shall fall within the scope of the present embodiment.

Furthermore, a supporting block 8 is arranged at the position of the lower side of the leveling element 3, which is contacted with the leveling unit, and the end part of the leveling unit is in supporting contact with the supporting block 8.

For example, the number of leveling units is the same as the number of supporting blocks 8, and in this case, how many leveling units and supporting blocks 8 mean how many supporting points the automatic leveling device has for the leveling element 3.

Illustratively, the leveling unit includes a driving portion and a head 9 connected to and driven by the driving portion, and an outer end of the head 9 is in supporting contact with an inner surface of the supporting block 8.

In this embodiment, the driving portion, that is, the component for providing the moving power to the plug 9, may be a motor, an air cylinder, or a driving component of other principles, and shall also belong to the description scope of this embodiment; the inner end, namely the lower end, of the top head 9 is connected with the driving part, and the outer end, namely the upper end, of the top head 9 is a part contacted with the supporting block 8; in the embodiment where one leveling unit corresponds to one driving part and one head 9, the number of heads 9 corresponds to the number of support blocks 8, and how many heads 9 and support blocks 8 mean how many support points the self-leveling device has for the leveling member 3.

It should be emphasized again that the present embodiment is only described by way of example that the number of leveling units is the same as the number of supporting blocks 8, and the leveling units are not limited to only one embodiment; the embodiment in which the leveling unit has a plurality of supporting points, i.e., a plurality of jacks 9, should also fall within the scope of the description of the present embodiment.

Further, the surface of the plug 9 is a cambered surface with a radian; the supporting block 8 comprises a first supporting block provided with a conical hole with a downward opening and a second supporting block provided with a V-shaped groove.

In this embodiment, the plug 9 may be a sphere including a cambered surface, or may be in other shapes, and shall fall within the scope of the description of this embodiment; the contact between the plug 9 and the supporting block 8 may be point contact, line contact or surface contact, and shall fall within the scope of the present embodiment; one type of supporting block 8, namely the first supporting block, is provided with a tapered hole with a downward opening, and the other type of supporting block, namely the second supporting block, is provided with a V-shaped groove, so that different supporting effects are provided in supporting contact with the ejector 9.

Specifically, taking the number of the leveling units as three for example, the leveling device includes a first leveling unit, a second leveling unit and a third leveling unit, where the ends of the first leveling unit, the second leveling unit and the third leveling unit are not collinear, that is, the three support positions of the leveling element 3 are not collinear, and the three support positions are connected to form a triangle, so as to provide stable support for the leveling element 3.

It should be noted that the number of the leveling units is not limited, and other number of embodiments should also belong to the description range of the present embodiment; for example, if the leveling unit has a first leveling unit and a second leveling unit, and the other leveling unit is fixed, automatic leveling can also be realized.

Besides, other numbers and the polygons enclosed by the plurality of supporting positions should also fall within the scope of the present embodiment.

In the mode of the taper hole, the taper hole is equivalently arranged at one contact point of the leveling element 3, the top head 9 of the first leveling unit extends into the taper hole, the top head 9 is not separated from the taper hole under the action of external force and gravity of the leveling element 3, and the end part of the first leveling unit is equivalently hinged with the leveling element 3 to play a role in avoiding the leveling element 3 from translating.

In addition, in the V-groove mode, the plug 9 of the second leveling unit extends into the V-groove, which is equivalent to that a V-groove is arranged at another contact point of the leveling element 3, the end part of the second leveling unit is arranged in the V-groove, and the V-groove prevents the leveling element 3 from rotating around the hinge point in the horizontal plane on the basis that the hinge point prevents the leveling element 3 from translating randomly.

It should be noted that the included angle between the connecting line of the end parts of the first leveling unit and the second leveling unit and the length direction of the V-shaped groove is not parallel, and has a certain included angle which is larger than 0 degree; preferably, an included angle between a connecting line of the end parts of the first leveling unit and the second leveling unit and the length direction of the V-shaped groove is 30 degrees.

Furthermore, the leveling element 3 and the leveling unit are both provided with hooks 4, the hooks 4 are provided with elastic elements 5, and the elastic elements 5 provide pre-tightening force for tensioning the leveling element 3 and the leveling unit.

In this embodiment, the elastic element 5 may be a spring, under the action of the hook 4, two ends of the spring are respectively connected with the leveling element 3 and the leveling unit, the spring is in a stretched state, and under the action of a pre-tightening force, the leveling element 3 is always kept in contact with the leveling unit, that is, the supporting block 8 is pressed against the plug 9, so as to provide an external force acting on the tapered hole and the plug 9.

It should be noted that the plug 9 in this embodiment may be directly driven by the driving member, or may be driven by the transmission member after being converted, reversed, decelerated, and the like.

In particular, the drive section comprises a drive element 7 and a transmission element connected to an output shaft of the drive element 7, the transmission element being connected to the plug 9.

In this embodiment the drive element 7 may be a linear stepper motor providing the transmission element connection and driving the plug 9.

Furthermore, the transmission element comprises a guide sleeve 10 and a guide rod 11 sleeved on the guide sleeve 10, the guide sleeve 10 is fixed in the fixed seat 6 of the driving element 7, and the guide sleeve 10 limits the guide rod 11 to move up and down only.

It should be noted that the guide mechanism formed by the guide sleeve 10 and the guide rod 11 may or may not have an anti-rotation function; in the anti-rotation arrangement, the guide sleeve 10 and the guide rod 11 can be provided with matched splines, and the guide sleeve 10 restricts the guide rod 11 to only act but not rotate.

Besides, the driving part can be provided with a screw rod 12 and a nut 13 sleeved with the screw rod 12, and the driving element 7 and the plug 9 can be arranged in various ways through the screw rod 12 and the nut 13; the screw 12 is a macro screw.

In the first setting mode, one end of the guide rod 11 contacts the screw rod 12, the other end of the guide rod 11 is connected with the top 9, the nut 13 is connected with the driving element 7 and driven by the driving element 7, the screw rod 12 moves up and down when the nut 13 rotates, and the screw rod 12 drives the transmission element, namely the guide rod 11, to move up and down, so that the movement of the top 9 is realized.

In a second arrangement, the nut 13 is arranged outside the driving element 7, the nut 13 is connected with the transmission element, the screw rod 12 is connected with the driving element 7 and driven by the driving element 7, the nut 13 moves up and down when the screw rod 12 rotates, and the nut 13 drives the transmission element, namely the guide rod 11, to move up and down, so that the movement of the plug 9 is realized.

It should be noted that in the first arrangement, the screw 12 also has a rotary motion when moving up and down, and the screw 12 is not rigidly connected to the guide rod 11, so that the screw 12 can jack up the guide rod 11 when moving up, but the guide rod 11 does not have to be rotated.

Furthermore, the automatic leveling device further comprises a sensing unit, the sensing unit is used for sensing and detecting the action degree of the leveling unit, the sensing unit is connected with the control unit, and the control unit is used for controlling the leveling unit to act within the sensing range of the sensing unit.

In this embodiment, the sensing unit plays a role in limiting, and is used for limiting the action stroke of the leveling unit, so as to prevent the floating range of the leveling element 3 from exceeding the sensing range, and prevent the leveling element 3 and the carried microfluidic chip 2 from colliding with the image acquisition mechanism 1, or from acquiring an unclear image too far from the image acquisition mechanism 1, thereby affecting the sequencing function.

The induction unit comprises a sensor induction element 14 and a sensor element 15, the sensor element 15 is connected with the control unit, the sensor element 15 is a travel switch, the sensor induction element 14 is an induction sheet, the sensor induction element 14 is connected with the screw rod 12 and moves up and down along with the movement of the screw rod 12, and when the sensor induction element reaches two ends of the induction stroke of the sensor element 15, the control unit controls the leveling unit to return to the induction stroke, so that collision damage after exceeding is avoided.

Besides, the sensing unit may also adopt other arrangement manners, which should also belong to the description scope of the present embodiment.

For example, the drive unit itself may perform fine adjustment and guidance, and the position information may be recognized by a sensor or an encoder.

In addition, the detection unit needs to detect the azimuth information of the leveling element 3, can adopt the mode of image processing, set up above the loading area on the leveling element 3, the built-in distance measuring module, gather at least 3 points not in the collinear (3 points not in a straight line can confirm a level) on the microfluidic chip 2, gather the distance information of every point and image acquisition mechanism 1 of the microfluidic chip 2; the control unit is in communication connection with the image acquisition mechanism 1 and the leveling units, and controls at least one leveling unit to act according to the acquired distance information, so that at least 3 points of the microfluidic chip 2, which are not on the same straight line, are consistent in distance with the image acquisition mechanism 1 or the distance difference value is within a set range.

Specifically, when the leveling element 3 is loaded with the microfluidic chip 2, three identification points are arranged on the microfluidic chip 2, the three identification points are connected to form a triangle, the height information of the identification points is measured, and the microfluidic chip 2 needs to be leveled by judging whether the height information of the three identification points is the same, taking the image acquisition mechanism 1 as an example of being vertical, so that whether the installation of the microfluidic chip 2 reaches a preset level state is known.

Wherein the detection unit can move in a plane parallel to the horizontal plane, and when measuring the height information of the three identification points, the detection unit reaches the identification points by moving mutually with the leveling element 3 in the horizontal direction.

It should be noted that the control unit may be an external control module, and the corresponding leveling unit is controlled by the detection information of the detection unit; the leveling device can also be a control module located inside each leveling unit, and whether the leveling device acts itself is controlled through the detection information of the detection unit, which also belongs to the description scope of the embodiment.

The utility model also provides a gene sequencer, including image acquisition mechanism 1 and above-mentioned automatic levelling device, still include other structures that gene sequencer should have in addition, no longer give unnecessary details here.

In this embodiment, the leveling element 3 and the microfluidic chip 2 thereof are leveled by the automatic leveling device, and then the positions of the microfluidic chip 2 and the image acquisition mechanism 1 in the vertical direction are adjusted, so that the microfluidic chip 2 is vertically arranged relative to the image acquisition mechanism 1, and the distances between the two parts are equal; the control unit is an upper computer module, and is matched with the upper computer module to realize high-efficiency automatic leveling without manual operation, high efficiency and compact structure

It is noted that, in this specification, relational terms such as first and second, and the like are used solely to distinguish one entity from another entity without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities.

The gene sequencer and the automatic leveling device thereof provided by the utility model are introduced in detail above. The principles and embodiments of the present invention have been explained herein using specific examples, and the above descriptions of the embodiments are only used to help understand the method and its core ideas of the present invention. It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, without departing from the principle of the present invention, the present invention can be further modified and modified, and such modifications and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims (11)

1. The utility model provides an automatic leveling device, its characterized in that, includes leveling component (3), at least one leveling unit, detecting element and the control unit, at least one leveling unit in different positions of leveling component (3) below support leveling component (3), leveling unit can move, detecting element with the control unit links to each other and is used for detecting leveling component (3) is relative image acquisition mechanism's (1) distance information, the control unit is connected leveling unit, the control unit basis detecting element's test result control leveling unit adjustment leveling component (3) make two at least position points on the micro-fluidic chip and the relative distance of image acquisition mechanism (1) unanimous or in predetermineeing the within range.

2. The automatic leveling device according to claim 1, wherein a support block (8) is provided at a position where the lower side of the leveling member (3) contacts the leveling unit, and an end of the leveling unit is in supporting contact with the support block (8).

3. The automatic leveling device according to claim 2, wherein the leveling unit comprises a driving portion and a head (9) connected to and driven by the driving portion, an outer end of the head (9) being in supporting contact with an inner surface of the support block (8).

4. The automatic leveling device according to claim 3, wherein the surface of the plug (9) is a curved surface having a curvature; the supporting block (8) comprises a first supporting block and a second supporting block, wherein the first supporting block is provided with a conical hole with a downward opening, and the second supporting block is provided with a V-shaped groove.

5. The automatic leveling device according to claim 4, wherein the leveling unit comprises a first leveling unit and a second leveling unit, the first leveling unit is adjustable and the second leveling unit is fixed.

6. The automatic leveling device according to claim 4, wherein the leveling unit comprises a first leveling unit, a second leveling unit, and a third leveling unit whose ends are not collinear; the plug (9) of first leveling unit stretches into the bell mouth, the second leveling unit the plug (9) stretches into V type groove, first leveling unit with the tip line of second leveling unit with the length direction nonparallel in V type groove has certain contained angle.

7. The automatic leveling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a sensing unit, wherein the sensing unit is used for sensing and detecting the action degree of the leveling unit, the sensing unit is connected with the control unit, and the control unit is used for controlling the leveling unit to act within the sensing range of the sensing unit.

8. Automatic levelling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the levelling element (3) and the levelling unit are provided with hooks (4), the hooks (4) being provided with elastic elements (5), the elastic elements (5) providing a pretensioning force for tensioning the levelling element (3) and the levelling unit.

9. Automatic levelling device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the drive comprises a drive element (7) and a transmission element connected to the output shaft of the drive element (7), which transmission element is connected to the plug (9).

10. The automatic leveling device according to claim 9, wherein an output shaft of the driving element (7) is connected with a nut (13), the nut (13) is sleeved with a screw rod (12), and the screw rod (12) is connected with the transmission element; the transmission element comprises a guide sleeve (10) and a guide rod (11) sleeved on the guide sleeve (10), one end of the guide rod (11) is in contact with the screw rod (12), and the other end of the guide rod (11) is connected with the ejector head (9).

11. A gene sequencer comprising an image acquisition mechanism (1) and an auto-leveling device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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