JP2006102650A - Micro-fluid apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a micro-fluid apparatus with easy exchange of a micro-fluid chip with respect to the apparatus having feeding ports for feeding at least two kinds or more of solutions respectively, applied with desired treatment to the feeding solutions in an internal fine flow passage and provided with the micro-fluid chip for delivering the treated solution from a delivery port. <P>SOLUTION: The micro-fluid apparatus 1 having the feeding ports for feeding at least two kinds or more of solutions respectively and applied with the desired treatment to the feeding solutions in the internal fine flow passage is provided with the micro-fluid chip 21 for delivering the treated solution from the delivery port. One of a pair of temperature adjustment units 35, 36 integrated with a heating means and a cooling means is fixed to a base 10 and the other temperature adjustment unit is made movable to the base. A clamp mechanism 20 for clamping and fixing the micro-fluid chip arranged between the both temperature adjustment units such that the feeding port and the delivery port become upper parts is provided on the base. A plurality of tanks 41a, 41b for storing the different kind of solution fed to the micro-fluid chip and tanks 46, 47 for storing the treated solution delivered from the micro-fluid chip are provided on the base. The feeding port and the delivery port of the micro-fluid chip and the respective tanks are connected to pipes 37, and a liquid feeding part 40 comprising a plurality of pumps 43a, 43b for feeding the respective solutions and a sensor for measuring the solution is positioned on the midway of the respective pipes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes a microfluidic chip that has a supply port for supplying at least two types of solutions, performs a desired process on the supply solution in an internal microchannel, and discharges the processed solution from the discharge port. The present invention relates to a microfluidic device.

  Depending on the type of solution supplied to the microchannel, the microfluidic chip is divided into a case where the process performed in the microchannel only involves mixing and a case involving chemical reaction, and the type and ratio of the supplied solution are determined. If so, a desired processed solution (hereinafter abbreviated as a processing solution) can be obtained.

  Examples of such a microfluidic chip include the following Patent Document 1.

JP 2004-61320 A

  The above prior art proposes temperature control of a microfluidic chip suitable for processing performed in a microchannel.

  When mixing and reacting solutions, not only to raise the temperature of the microfluidic chip to reduce the viscosity of the solution, but also to prevent explosion due to chain reaction caused by excessive reaction heat It is also necessary to cool the liquid. However, the above-mentioned prior art merely describes that the microfluidic chip and three heating temperature control stages are brought into close contact with each other, and it is not mentioned that the heating and cooling means are simultaneously provided.

  In addition, if you want to change the solution type or mixing ratio to obtain the next processing solution, you must replace the microfluidic chip every time processing is performed to avoid mixing the remainder of the previous solution. Although it is necessary to always collect and provide the liquid in a new container, the above-described prior art does not mention the liquid feeding to the microfluidic chip or the collection of the processing liquid.

  Therefore, it is desirable to arrange the shape of the device so that the microfluidic chip and various tanks can be easily replaced.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a microfluidic device in which microfluidic chips can be easily replaced.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a microfluidic device in which the microfluidic chip can be easily replaced and the microfluidic chip can be heated and cooled.

  Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a microfluidic device capable of always guiding a desired solution to a microfluidic chip and recovering a desired processing solution from the microfluidic chip.

  In order to achieve the above object, the microfluidic device of the present invention is characterized in that it has supply ports for supplying at least two kinds of solutions, and the supply solutions are subjected to a desired treatment in an internal microchannel, and processed solutions. In a microfluidic device provided with a microfluidic chip for discharging a gas from a discharge port, one of a pair of temperature control units in which heating means and cooling means are integrated is fixed to a frame, and the other temperature control unit is fixed to the frame A clamp mechanism is provided on the gantry to fix the microfluidic chip so that the supply port and the discharge port are located between the temperature control units. Provided with a plurality of tanks for storing different types of solutions supplied to the chip and a tank for storing processed solutions discharged from the microfluidic chip The supply port and the discharge port of the microfluidic chip and the tanks are connected by piping, and a liquid feed comprising a plurality of pumps for supplying the solutions and sensors for measuring the solutions in the middle of the pipings There is a part.

  According to the device of the present invention, the microfluidic chip can be easily detachably sandwiched between a pair of temperature control units by opening and closing the clamp mechanism, and the supply port and the discharge port of the microfluidic chip are Since the microfluidic chip is provided facing upward, the connection with each tank by piping is simple and the microfluidic chip can be easily replaced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments shown in the drawings will be described.

  1 and 2 show a microfluidic device 1 according to the present invention, and are a schematic external front view and an external top view, respectively, with a housing partially removed. Here, a microfluidic device 1 that mixes two types of liquids will be described as an embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  The microfluidic device 1 includes a gantry 10, a clamp mechanism unit 20, a liquid feeding unit 40, a temperature adjustment unit 60, and a control unit 80.

  In the clamp mechanism section 20, the microfluidic chip 21 shown in FIG. 3 can be detachably sandwiched between a pair of temperature control units 35 and 36 described later. The temperature adjustment unit 35 side is the front side of the microfluidic chip 21, and the temperature adjustment unit 36 side is the back side of the microfluidic chip 21. Also, piping and electrical wiring are not shown in order to avoid complication.

Hereinafter, the microfluidic chip 21 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the microfluidic chip 21 includes a microfluidic chip body 22, a lid member 23 that forms a ceiling part of the flow path, and a liquid feeding unit 40 such as a pump and an adapter 24 that connects the microfluidic chip body 22. Is done.

  The microfluidic chip body 22, the lid member 23, and the adapter 24 are made of stainless steel, and the surface where the lid member 23 and the adapter 24 come into contact with the microfluidic chip body 22 is coated with PTFE (fluororesin). .

  The microfluidic chip body 22, the lid member 23, and the adapter 24 are fastened through M3 screws in nine screw holes 25. At this time, the front surface and the back surface of the microfluidic chip body 22 are formed with 200 μm-high convex walls 26 on the front surface side and temperature control channels 27 a and 27 b on the back surface side are PTFE of the lid member 23 and the adapter 24. The flow path is formed by sealing the layer so that the liquid does not leak and leak.

  The microfluidic chip body 22, the lid member 23, and the adapter 24 are fastened using screws, so that it is not necessary to use a technique such as joining for assembly, and the microfluidic chip 21 can be easily manufactured. Moreover, even if the inside of the microchannel is contaminated as a result of mixing the liquid, the microchannel can be easily cleaned because the screw can be loosened and decomposed. In this embodiment, the sealing method as described above is used. However, other methods such as sandwiching a soft seal such as a metal seal or rubber may be used.

  Liquid supply ports 28 a and 28 b and a discharge port 29 are provided on the upper surface of the adapter 24. These liquid supply ports 28a and 28b and the discharge port 29 are M4 threaded and can be easily connected to the piping in the liquid feeding section 40 simply by screwing a joint. Further, when the microfluidic chip 21 is detachably sandwiched (set) between a pair of temperature control units 35 and 36, which will be described later, the coupling is located on the upper surface, so that the microfluidic chip 21 is easy to set without being obstructed. Note that a hole is machined as a temperature sensor attachment port 30 on the upper surface of the microfluidic chip body 22, and a thermocouple is inserted therein to measure the temperature.

  Regarding the liquid state in the microfluidic chip 21, the microfluidic chip body 22 in the microfluidic chip body 22 passes through the openings A and B of the adapter 24 from the first liquid supply port 28 a and the second liquid supply port 28 b provided in the adapter 24. It moves to the temperature control flow paths 27a and 27b on the back surface, respectively. Here, the solution flows in a downward direction in the figure in the form of a thin sheet having a thickness of 200 μm in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the microfluidic chip body 22. The flow of the solution reaching the lower ends of the temperature control flow paths 27a and 27b reaches the front side through the openings C and D penetrating the microfluidic chip body 22, and flows through the micro flow path 26 upward in the figure. In the microchannel 26, the solutions merge to cause a desired mixing or chemical reaction according to the type of the solution to become a processing liquid, and an opening that penetrates the microfluidic chip body 22 at the upper end of the microchannel 26. It reaches the back side through E and reaches the discharge port 29 from the opening F of the adapter 24.

  As a result, the solution is in thermal contact with the temperature control unit 36 on the back surface over a wide area, and is also in thermal contact with the temperature control unit 35 on the front surface, and the temperature rapidly changes because the heat conduction distance is extremely short. As a result, even a highly viscous solution can be heated to lower its viscosity to facilitate liquid feeding and mixing, and in a solution with an exothermic reaction, the temperature of the solution can be lowered during the reaction.

  Next, referring to FIG. 4, the configuration of the clamp mechanism 20 and the situation in which the microfluidic chip 21 is detachably held between the temperature control units 35 and 36 will be described.

  In FIG. 4, 31a and 31b are U-shaped guides of the temperature control units 35 and 36, which are respectively fixed on the gantry 10 (see FIG. 1). The temperature adjustment unit 35 is held by a guide 31a, the temperature adjustment unit 36 is guided by a guide 31b so as to be movable in the left-right direction in the figure, and when the temperature adjustment unit 36 is moved to the right, There is a space between them, and the microfluidic chip 21 can be inserted into this space from above. After the pipes are attached to the solution supply ports 28a and 28b and the treatment liquid discharge port 29, the microfluidic chip 21 is inserted from above with the supply ports 28a and 28b and the discharge port 29 facing upward.

  When the microfluidic chip 21 is inserted from above, the microfluidic chip 21 is provided with a protrusion for preventing the microfluidic chip 21 from falling below the guide 31a so that the microfluidic chip 21 can maintain a desired positional relationship with the temperature control units 35 and 36. It is provided.

  A clamp mechanism 32 includes an L-shaped arm 32a, a fixed shaft 32b of the L-shaped arm 32a, an arc-shaped link 32c, and a pressure rod 32d. Both ends of the link 32c are connected to the L-shaped arm 32a and the pressure rod 32d by a movable shaft.

  The arm 32a to the pressure rod 32d have a pair, and the guide 31b has a through hole through which the pressure rod 32d passes.

  When the arm 32a is closed as shown in FIG. 4A with the fixed shaft 32b as the center, the pressure rod 32d moves to the right, and a space is created between the two temperature control units 35, 36. , 36 can insert the microfluidic chip 21 from above. When the arm 32a is opened with the fixed shaft 32b as the center as shown in FIG. 4B, the pressure rod 32d moves to the left, and the temperature adjusting unit 36 is pushed to the left with the tip of the pressure rod 32d. The microfluidic chip 21 can be sandwiched between the adjustment units 35 and 36. An elastic body is provided at the tip of the pressure rod 32d so that the temperature adjustment unit 36 is not damaged when the temperature adjustment unit 36 is pushed.

  The temperature control units 35 and 36 have a three-layer structure composed of three components on the outside from the microfluidic chip 21 side. The inner layer has a flow path through which a refrigerant passes and a refrigerant pipe 37 is connected to the microfluidic chip 21. The evaporator 35a, 36a cools the central layer, and the central layer generates heat by power supply from the control unit 80 (see FIG. 1) to heat the microfluidic chip 21, and the outer layer cools the evaporator. The heat insulating materials 35c and 36c are provided to increase the temperature adjustment efficiency without transmitting the heat of the rubber heater to the outside.

  When the microfluidic chip 21 is clamped between the temperature control units 35 and 36 by the clamp mechanism, it is covered with the heat retaining cover 39, and the preparation for liquid feeding is completed. The use of the heat insulating cover 39 is to improve the stability of temperature control by shutting off the outside air and the microfluidic chip 21, and other devices such as the solution tanks 41a and 41b are easily arranged on the upper part (upper surface) of the other devices. There is space left to do.

  Since the microfluidic chip 21 and the temperature control units 35 and 36 are simply integrated by crimping with the clamp mechanism, when replacing the microfluidic chip 21, it is only necessary to open the clamp mechanism and remove the pipe from the microfluidic chip 21. The operation of mechanically removing the microfluidic chip 21 from the temperature control units 35 and 36 is not necessary. The operation of the temperature adjustment units 35 and 36 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the processing liquid collected from the microfluidic chip 21 in the two solution tanks 41 a and 41 b storing the liquid (solution) to be processed and the clamp mechanism unit 20 is stored on the gantry 10. The processing liquid tank 46 and the waste liquid tank 47 for storing the waste liquid are stably held by a tank holder 48 having a circular hole in a flat plate. Since each tank is on the gantry 10, the solution tanks 41a and 41b are replenished with the solution, the solution is replaced with the whole tank, the treatment liquid tank is removed and the treatment liquid is sent to a desired operation, or the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank. When disposing of the pipe, it is easy to attach and detach the pipe and replace the tank, and it has excellent operability.

  Two syringe pumps 43a and 43b for feeding the solution are installed under the gantry 10. In this embodiment, the syringe pumps 43a and 43b are used for liquid feeding, but other types of pumps such as a gear pump and a diaphragm pump may be used. Reference numeral 39 denotes a heat insulating cover that covers the clamp mechanism 20.

  Hereinafter, the piping system such as the microfluidic chip 21, the solution tanks 41a and 41b, the syringe pumps 43a and 43b, the processing liquid tank 46, and the waste liquid tank 47 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the solution tanks 41a and 41b are connected to syringe pumps 43a and 43b by piping through three-way valves 42a and 42b, respectively. The solution tanks 41a and 41b are connected to the supply ports 28a and 28b of the microfluidic chip 21 through pipes via three-way valves 42a, 42b, 44a and 44b, respectively. The discharge port 29 of the microfluidic chip 21 is connected to the processing liquid tank 46 and the waste liquid tank 47 through a three-way valve 45 by piping. Each pipe uses a fluororesin tube with excellent chemical resistance.

  The syringe pumps 43a and 43b suck each solution from the solution tanks 41a and 41b via the three-way valves 42a and 42b and the pipes. In this case, when the solution has a high viscosity or the suction speed of the syringe pumps 43a and 43b is too high, it is difficult to accurately suck the solution due to pressure loss.

  Therefore, when the negative pressure sensor 48a, 48b is installed in each pipe connecting the three-way valves 42a, 42b and the syringe pumps 43a, 43b, and the negative pressure accompanying the suction of the syringe pumps 43a, 43b exceeds a certain value, The control unit 80 that has received information from the negative pressure sensors 48a and 48b issues an alarm to stop the pump and slow down the suction speed, thereby avoiding a state where the solution cannot be completely sucked.

  When the suction of the solution into the syringe pumps 43a and 43b is completed, the destination of the next discharge from the syringe pumps 43a and 43b is selected by switching the three-way valves 42a and 42b, the three-way valves 44a and 44b, and the three-way valve 45.

  As a discharge destination, one of a route for sending liquid to the processing liquid tank 46 via the microfluidic chip 21 and a route for sending liquid to the waste liquid tank 47 for discarding unnecessary solutions are selected.

  When the waste liquid tank 47 is selected, the solution discharged from the syringe pumps 43a and 43b moves from the three-way valves 44a and 44b to the tank as it is.

  In the route for sending the liquid to the processing liquid tank 46, positive pressure sensors 49a and 49b and liquid detection sensors 50a to 50c are provided in the pipe.

  The positive pressure sensors 49 a and 49 b measure the pressure generated with the liquid feeding and transmit it to the control unit 80. The control unit 80 records the pressure data and stops the syringe pumps 43a and 43b for safety when the measured pressure exceeds a certain value due to clogging of piping or the like.

  Three liquid detection sensors 50a to 50c attached to two solution supply ports 28a and 28b and one treatment liquid discharge port 29 in the vicinity of the microfluidic chip 21 are optical sensors using optical fibers and have a refractive index. The presence or absence of liquid in the pipe is detected using the difference between the two. In this apparatus, as a preparation for obtaining a processing liquid, it is necessary to perform a cueing process for filling the pipe and the microfluidic chip 21 with the solution. In this cueing process, by looking at the signals of the liquid detection sensors 50a to 50c, It can be known that the liquid has surely and easily reached the inlet (solution supply port) and the outlet (treatment liquid discharge port) of the microfluidic chip 21. Further, even when bubbles are mixed in the liquid feeding or when the liquid runs out, the liquid detection sensors 50a to 50c quickly detect an abnormality and the control unit 80 issues a warning to the operator.

  The processing liquid obtained by the microfluidic chip 21 can be stored in the processing liquid tank 46 by switching the three-way valve 45 or discarded in the waste liquid tank 47.

  Next, temperature adjustment for stably performing the process in the microfluidic chip 21 will be described based on the temperature adjustment unit 60 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, a pipe 37 using a copper thin tube (φ6 mm) is filled with a refrigerant, the refrigerant is compressed by a compressor 61, and heat generated by pressurization is dissipated by a radiator 62 and a radiating fin 63. The temperature is reduced by the expansion valve 64 and sent to the evaporator 35a of the temperature control unit 35. The refrigerant exiting the evaporator 35 a passes through the evaporator 36 a of the temperature adjustment unit 36, reaches the auxiliary heater 65, and returns to the compressor 61.

  First, the movement of the refrigerant will be described. The compressor 61, the radiator 62, and the radiation fin 63 constitute a refrigerator, and the refrigerant liquefied here is decompressed by the expansion valve 64 and sent to the evaporators 35a and 36a. The degree of pressure reduction varies depending on the opening of the expansion valve 64, and the cooling temperature in the evaporators 35a and 36a can be controlled.

  When the refrigerant liquefied in the evaporators 35a and 36a evaporates, the microfluidic chip 21 sandwiched therebetween is cooled to a maximum of −20 ° C. The refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator 36a is heated to about 10 ° C. by the auxiliary heater 65 so as not to damage the compressor 61, returns to the compressor 61 in a completely vaporized state, and one cycle is completed.

  The temperature control of this cycle is performed by three temperature controllers 66-68. First, the temperature controller 66 for the rubber heater receives temperature-related data from the thermocouple embedded in the temperature sensor mounting port 30 of the microfluidic chip body 22 (see FIG. 3) as an input, and outputs it to the rubber heaters 35b and 36b as an output. Control the current (power). The temperature controller 66 is used to raise the temperature of the microfluidic chip 21 higher than the current temperature or to generate a pseudo reaction heat during a chemical reaction described later. The set temperature is 80 ° C. at the maximum. When the current temperature is lower than the set temperature, the rubber heater current is increased, and when it is higher, the rubber heater is stopped.

  Next, the expansion valve temperature controller 67 is used when the microfluidic chip 21 is cooled, receives temperature-related data from the thermocouple as an input, adjusts the opening of the expansion valve 64 as an output, and adjusts the microfluidic chip. The expansion valve 64 is automatically opened and closed so that the temperature of 21 approaches a desired value.

  The auxiliary heater temperature controller 68 receives the suction temperature in the compressor 61 as an input, and controls the supply current (electric power) to the auxiliary heater 65 as an output. The temperature / temperature controller 68 is to keep the compressor suction temperature at a constant value and completely evaporate the refrigerant. The set temperature at this time varies depending on the type of refrigerant used, but is generally 10 to 30 ° C., and the temperature regulator 68 increases the auxiliary heater current when the current temperature is lower than the set temperature, and conversely when it is higher. Stop the heater.

  1 and 2, the control unit 80 includes a main switch 81 for turning on / off the apparatus power supply, a breaker 82 as a protection apparatus for the apparatus power supply, an emergency stop switch 83 for stopping the apparatus in an emergency, and the apparatus. A separate control personal computer 8484 is used.

Hereinafter, a rough flow when the apparatus is used will be described.
The main switch 81 and the breaker 82 are turned on to activate the apparatus. Subsequently, the discharge amount, discharge time, and set temperature of each solution are input from a control personal computer 84 (not shown). The temperature adjustment unit 60 operates, and the temperature adjustment units 35 and 36 in the clamp mechanism unit 20 work to adjust the microfluidic chip 21 so as to be heated and cooled to the set temperature.

  When the temperature adjustment is completed, the solution is sucked from the solution tanks 41a and 41b to which the syringe pumps 43a and 43b are connected, and then the solution is discharged to the microfluidic chip 21. The discharged solution undergoes a desired process such as mixing or reaction in the microfluidic chip 21 and moves to the processing liquid tank 46.

  More specifically, the liquid whose temperature has been adjusted in the temperature control channels 27 a and 27 b on the back surface side of the microfluidic chip 21 moves to the microchannel 26 on the surface of the microfluidic chip 21. In the microchannel 26, the solutions are mixed and reacted with each other. The channel height of the microchannel 26 is also 200 μm, which is the same as that of the temperature control channels 27a and 27b, and the temperature control unit 35 is also provided on the surface side of the microfluidic chip 21, so that the microchannel 26 is also high. It is possible to adjust the temperature of responsive liquid, and it is possible to suppress changes in liquid temperature during liquid feeding, and changes in liquid temperature due to heat generation and heat absorption during reaction. From this, it is possible to reduce the viscosity by heating the high-viscosity liquid to suppress the pressure loss associated with the liquid feeding, or to cool the reaction to improve the yield of the product. The liquid that has been processed is sent from the processing liquid discharge port 29 to the processing liquid tank 46 through the three-way valve 45.

  As described above, the operator can perform the liquid operation only by a simple operation of inputting information to the control personal computer 84 without requiring skill in mixing and reaction.

With reference to FIG. 7, the processing flow of the solution by the control personal computer 84 will be described.
The operator inputs the discharge flow rate and operating time of the two syringe pumps 43a and 43b and the set temperature of the microfluidic chip 21 as initial settings from the control personal computer 84 (step 1).

  When the data input is completed, the current temperature of the microfluidic chip 21 is subsequently acquired and compared with the set temperature (step 2). When the set temperature is higher than the current temperature in the microfluidic chip 21, the mode is shifted to the high temperature mode, and the temperature is adjusted by supplying power to the rubber heaters 35b and 36b via the rubber heater temperature controller 66. When the set temperature is lower than the current temperature, the mode is shifted to the low temperature mode, the compressor 61 is started, the opening degree of the expansion valve 64 is adjusted while balancing with the rubber heaters 35b, 36b and the auxiliary heater 65, and the microfluidic chip 21 is reached. Adjust the temperature.

  When processing a solution with an exothermic reaction separately from these, the expected reaction heat can be input in advance as data. In this case, the rubber heaters 35b and 36b are used as adjusting heaters, and the apparatus generates heat equal to the input expected reaction heat from the rubber heaters 35b and 36b, and controls the expansion valve 64 in that state to control the microchip temperature. Is adjusted to a desired value (cooling is stronger than usual). Then, liquid feeding is started, reaction heat is generated, and power supply to the rubber heaters 35b and 36b is stopped. In this way, the temperature is adjusted with the amount of heat corresponding to the heat of reaction considered to be generated in advance, and the excess heat is removed at the start of the reaction to prevent the temperature from rising due to the heat of reaction. Two liquid reactions can be performed.

  As a result, it is possible to increase the yield of the product during the reaction, to prevent generation of extra by-products, and to prevent an explosion due to a chain reaction at a high temperature.

  When the temperature adjustment is completed, the signals of the liquid detection sensors 50a to 50c are confirmed (step 3). In this case, if all of the liquid detection sensors 50a to 50c installed in the supply ports 28a and 28b and the discharge port 29 of the microfluidic chip 21 are ON (with liquid), the process proceeds to the next step. The process proceeds to the dispensing process (step 4).

  In this cueing process, the two syringe pumps 43a and 43b are operated simultaneously, and the solution feeding to the microfluidic chip 21 is continued until all the liquid detection sensors 50a to 50c are turned on. When all the liquid detection sensors 50a to 50c are turned on, the syringe pumps 43a and 43b are temporarily stopped and the process proceeds to the next step 5. Note that the solution fed by this cueing process does not count as the discharge amount set in step 1.

  In step 5, the syringe pumps 43 a and 43 b are operated under the conditions input in step 1 to manufacture a processing liquid that has been subjected to the required processing by the microfluidic chip 21, and a liquid feeding process for discharging to the processing liquid tank 46 is performed.

  While performing the liquid feeding process, the control unit 80 monitors the emergency stop switch 83 and each sensor in the apparatus, and immediately executes the apparatus stop process when any warning is issued (step 6).

  It is also confirmed in Step 6 that a desired amount of processing liquid has been manufactured. If the manufacturing is completed, the process proceeds to the apparatus stop process (Step 7). In the high temperature mode, the syringe pumps 43a and 43b and the rubber heaters 35b and 36b are transferred. Stop power supply. In the low sound mode, when reaction heat is input in addition to the syringe pumps 43a and 43b and the auxiliary heater 65, power supply to the rubber heaters 35b and 36b is stopped, and the compressor 61 is stopped after a certain time. The reason for stopping the compressor 61 with a time difference is to prevent the suction temperature in the compressor 63 from rising due to the residual heat of the auxiliary heater 65.

  Further, when the amount of the solution input in Step 1 is discharged and the liquid feeding process is normally completed, the apparatus stops the syringe pumps 43a and 43b and the like, and when the apparatus stop process (Step 7) is completed, Step 8 is performed. , The liquid feeding conditions and the measurement results of the sensors are recorded in the control personal computer 84 of the control unit 80, and the entire process is terminated.

1 is a schematic front view of a microfluidic device according to the present invention. It is a schematic external appearance top view of the microfluidic device shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a microfluidic chip used in the microfluidic device shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure explaining the condition which clamps a microfluidic chip with the microfluidic device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the piping system of the solution in the microfluidic device shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the temperature control of the microfluidic chip | tip in the microfluidic device shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the processing flow of the solution performed with the control personal computer of the control part in the microfluidic device shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Microfluidic device
10 ... Liquid feeding part
20 ... Clamp mechanism
21 ... Microfluidic chip
35, 36 ... Temperature control unit
40 ... Liquid feeding part
41a, 41b ... Solution tank
43a, 43b ... Syringe pump
46 ... Processing liquid tank
47 ... Waste liquid tank

Claims (2)

A microfluidic device having a microfluidic chip that has a supply port for supplying at least two kinds of solutions, performs a desired process on the supplied solution in an internal microchannel, and discharges the processed solution from the discharge port In
One of the pair of temperature control units in which the heating means and the cooling means are integrated is fixed with respect to the gantry, and the other temperature control unit is movable with respect to the gantry so that the supply port and the discharge port are provided between the two temperature control units. A clamp mechanism for fixing the microfluidic chip with the outlet at the upper side is fixed to the gantry, and the gantry includes a plurality of tanks for storing different types of solutions supplied to the microfluidic chip and the micro A tank for storing the processed solution discharged from the fluid chip is provided, and the supply port and the discharge port of the microfluidic chip are connected to the respective tanks by pipes. A microfluidic device comprising a liquid feeding unit comprising a plurality of pumps for supplying a solution and a sensor for measuring the solution. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein
The one temperature control unit is fixed on the frame by a guide, and the other temperature control unit is provided by a guide so as to be movable in a direction in which the one temperature control unit exists. Fluid device.

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