JP2006116524A - Microchip connector and microchip assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a microchip connector structure which has a good fluid sealing property even at a large fluid pressure, can be replaced and reused, and has a simple one-touch operability.
SOLUTION: A hollow portion 111 into which a fluid circulation tube 14 is inserted is provided, and a microchip fixed body 11 fixed to the microchip, and a hollow portion of the microchip fixed body 11 disposed on the outer periphery of the tube 14. The ferrule body 12 is inserted into 111 and the front end thereof is pressure-bonded to the inner wall of the hollow portion 111 of the microchip fixed body, and the fluid circulation tube 14 has the insertion hole 13 at the top, and the ferrule body 12 rear end 122 A microchip connector for supplying or discharging a fluid to or from a microchip microchannel, which has a cap body 13 that is locked to the microchip fixed body in a state where is pressed.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The invention of this application relates to a microchip connector for supplying fluid to a microchip microchannel and discharging fluid from the microchannel and a microchip structure using the microchip connector.

  For example, a fine channel having a width of 500 μm or less and a depth of 300 μm or less is formed on a substrate such as glass, and operations such as ultra-trace analysis, biochemical analysis, chemical synthesis reaction, extraction, and separation are performed in the fine channel. The microchip that has been made possible is drawing attention.

  In such a microchip, in practical use, a fluid such as a solution or a dispersion liquid is supplied to the fine channel, such as a gas, a gas-liquid, a mixture, or a fine channel. It has become a very important issue to configure a connector for discharging so that the sealing performance without leakage of fluid is good and the mounting operation of the connector for supplying and discharging fluid is simple.

  For example, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 9, as a typical example, a microchannel formed on a microchip substrate (1): a cover plate corresponding to the start or end of a microchannel (2) ( 3) at the position of the opening (31), the opening tip of the fluid circulation tube (4) is arranged and fixed to the holder (5) via the resin shield (6), As shown, a connector structure is known in which a guide member (7) is fixed to a holder (5), and a tube (4) for fluid circulation is fixed to the guide member (7) with an adhesive (8). (For example, see Non-Patent Document 1-2).

  In any of these structures, by fixing the tube (4) with the resin shield (6) or the adhesive (8), the sealing property to prevent fluid leakage is secured, and the fine flow path (2) and the tube (4) allows fluid to flow.

  Further, in the conventional connector structure as described above, the fluid circulation tube (4) is fixed to the holder (5) only by the resin shield (6) or the adhesive (8), so that the connector is not used at a large fluid pressure. Since the structure is damaged and it is difficult to ensure the sealing performance, it is difficult to increase the fluid pressure, and the holder (5) and the guide member (7) are difficult to reuse. The inventors of this application have developed a connector structure in which the fluid circulation tube (4) is detachable by screw connection to the holder (5). However, even in this structure, since the fluid circulation tube (4) is required to be fixed to the screw coupling member with an adhesive, the fluid circulation tube (4) fixed by the adhesive is Similar to the conventional structure, there is a problem that it is difficult to exchange and reuse the structure.

And in the conventional connector structure as described above, in any case, the use of a resin shield or an adhesive is indispensable, and there are not only problems in terms of replacement and reuse of members for the connector structure, There is a problem that the one-touch operability is lacking in the formation of the connector structure.
Proc IEEE 13th Annu Int Workshop, Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS'00), January 23-27, pp.624-627 J. Anal. Chem (2001) 371: 270-275

  The invention of this application eliminates the conventional problems from the background as described above, and does not require the use of a resin shield or an adhesive, and has good fluid sealing performance even in the case of a larger fluid pressure. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new microchip connector structure means that can ensure the above-mentioned characteristics, can be easily exchanged and reused, and allows simple one-touch operability in its configuration.

This application provides the following invention to solve the above-mentioned problems.
[1] (A) a microchip fixing body having a hollow portion through which a fluid circulation tube is inserted and having a tip portion fixed to the microchip;
(B) a ferrule body that is disposed on the outer periphery of a tube for fluid circulation, is inserted into a hollow portion of the microchip fixed body, and a tip portion thereof is pressure-bonded to the inner wall of the hollow portion of the microchip fixed body;
(C) A microchip fine having an insertion hole of a tube for fluid circulation at the top and a microchip fixed body or a cap body that is locked to a holder of the microchip while pressing the rear end of the ferrule body A microchip connector for supplying fluid to a flow path or discharging fluid from a fine flow path, wherein the engagement fixing body (A) has an open end portion of a fluid circulation tube at a distal end portion thereof. A microchip connector comprising a double flange structure part interposed with an O-ring that abuts against the microchip in the periphery.

  [2] The microchip connector as described above, wherein the microchip fixed body (A) has an inner diameter of the hollow portion that gradually decreases toward the tip.

  [3] A pin or protrusion is disposed on the outer periphery of the microchip fixed body (A), and the cap body (C) has a groove portion to be engaged with the pin or protrusion. The microchip connector according to any one of the above, wherein the cap body (C) can be engaged and fixed to A).

  [4] The microchip fixing body (A) has an outer cylinder portion fixed to the microchip holder by screw connection on the outer periphery thereof, and an inner cylinder portion fitted and inserted inside the outer cylinder portion, The microchip connector according to any one of the above, wherein the inner diameter of the hollow portion is gradually reduced toward the surface.

  [5] The inner cylindrical portion of the microchip fixed body (A) has an outer first inner cylindrical portion and an inner second inner cylindrical portion, and is engaged by a flange portion disposed at each end thereof. The microchip connector according to the above [4], wherein the double flange structure portion of the fixed body (A) is configured.

[6] The microchip connector according to [5], wherein the first inner cylinder portion is made of metal and the second inner cylinder portion is made of resin.
[7] The cap body (C) has pins or protrusions on the outer periphery, and the cap body (C) can be locked and fixed to the holder of the microchip by the pins or protrusions. connector.
[8] The microchip fixed body (A) has an outer first tube portion and an inner second tube portion, and is wired so as to cover the flange portion at the tip of the inner second tube portion and the O-ring. The microchip connector according to the above [7], wherein a double flange structure portion is constituted by the flanged material.
[9] The microchip connector according to [8], wherein the first tube portion is made of metal and the second tube portion is made of resin.

  [10] The ferrule body (B) has an inclined surface portion whose outer diameter is gradually reduced toward the tip portion, or the outer diameter is gradually reduced toward the rear end portion together with the inclined surface portion. The microchip connector according to any one of the above, wherein the microchip connector also has an inclined surface portion.

  [11] One of the above microchip connectors is fixed to the microchip, and the fluid is supplied to the fine flow path through the fluid flow tube inserted in the hollow portion of the microchip fixed body (A), or from the fine flow path. A microchip structure characterized in that it can be discharged.

  [12] The microchip holder is provided with a positioning insertion pin, and the microchip is provided with a hole into which the insertion pin is inserted. By inserting the insertion pin into the hole, the microchip holder is inserted into the microchip fixed body. The microchip structure according to [11], wherein the opening tip of the fluid circulation tube and the fluid supply port or fluid discharge port of the microchip microchannel are positioned to face each other.

  [13] The fluid supply or discharge opening of the cover plate disposed in the upper part of the fine flow path is provided with an inclined surface with which the opening tip of the fluid circulation tube abuts. The microchip structure according to [11] or [12].

  [14] The fluid circulation tube has a lateral hole opening facing the fine flow path at the tip thereof, and the tip top of the fluid flow tube is inserted into the start end or the end of the fine flow path. The opening for supplying or discharging the fluid of the cover plate disposed in the upper part of the fine flow path is provided with a recess and is a resin sealing portion around the distal end of the fluid circulation tube. Any one of the above microchip constituents.

  According to the connector of the invention of this application as described above and the structure using the same, it is not necessary to use a resin shield or an adhesive, and even if the fluid pressure is higher than that of the conventional structure, it is good. The fluid tightness can be ensured, the members can be easily replaced and reused, and simple one-touch operability is realized.

  The invention of this application has the features as described above, and an embodiment thereof will be described below.

  1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrate a microchip fixing body (11) constituting one embodiment of the microchip connector of the invention of this application. FIG. 1 is an exploded cross-sectional view illustrating a microchip fixing body (11), a ferrule body (12), and a cap body (13) as components of the microchip connector (10), and an engagement fixing body (11). It is sectional drawing which illustrated the expanded front-end | tip part. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the microchip connector (10) is attached to the microchip during fluid flow.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the microchip connector (10) ferrule body (12) of the invention of this application has a hollow portion (111) through which a fluid circulation tube (14) is inserted. It is mechanically fixed to the microchip holder (15) by screw connection or the like.

The ferrule body (12) is disposed on the outer periphery of the fluid circulation tube (14), inserted into the hollow portion (111) of the microchip fixing body (11), and the tip portion (121) thereof is illustrated in FIG. So as to be crimped to the inner wall of the hollow part (111) of the microchip fixing body (11),
The cap body (13) has an insertion hole (131) of the tube (14) for fluid circulation at the top, and presses the rear end (122) of the ferrule body (12) as illustrated in FIG. To be locked to the microchip fixed body (11).

Then, the microchip fixed body (11) has an O-ring that contacts the microchip around the opening front end portion (141) of the fluid circulation tube (14), as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. (16) An interposing double flange structure (112) is provided.

In the microchip connector of the invention of this application, as described above, the microchip fixing body (11) is mechanically engaged with the holder (15), and the tip of the ferrule body (12) as illustrated in FIG. The part (121) is pressure-bonded to the inner wall of the hollow part (111) of the microchip fixed body (11), and the fluid distribution tube (14) is attached by the pressure bonding. And the double flange structure part (112) of the front-end | tip part of a microchip fixing body (11) is closely_contact | adhered to the cover-plate opening part position of a microchip through an O-ring (16). Such a structure realizes a connector structure that ensures fluid tightness even at a higher fluid pressure without using a conventional resin shield or adhesive. As illustrated in the exploded cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, each component member, and further, the fluid circulation tube can be easily disassembled, so that it can be replaced and reused together with the holder (15). The engagement of the holder (15) of the microchip fixed body (11) is realized, for example, simply and with a high coupling strength by screw coupling with the holder (15) on the outer peripheral surface thereof.

  Further, since the cap body (13) can be mechanically locked to the microchip fixing body (11) from the disassembled state of FIG. 1 to the assembled and mounted state of FIG. Assembling and mounting are extremely simple, and one-touch operability is realized. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the one-touch operability is achieved by inserting a pin (113) or a protrusion provided on the outer periphery of the microchip fixed body (11) into the groove (132) of the cap body (13). It is simply realized by the structure to be locked.

  In more detail, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. In this example, the microchip fixing body (11) is fixed to the holder (15) on the outer periphery thereof by screw connection. And an inner cylinder part (11B) fitted inside thereof, and the inner cylinder part (11B) has a structure in which the inner diameter of the hollow part (111) gradually decreases toward the tip part. Further, the inner cylinder portion (11B) has an outer first inner cylinder portion (11B1) and an inner second inner cylinder portion (11B2), and a microchip is formed by a flange portion disposed at the tip of each. The double flange structure part (112) of the fixed body (11) is configured.

  In this case, for example, the first inner cylinder part (11B1) is made of metal, the second inner cylinder part (11B2) is made of resin such as fluorine resin, and the ferrule body (12) is also made of resin, as described above. This effect becomes even more remarkable.

  The fluid circulation tube (14) may be made of various materials such as resin and quartz, and the opening tip (141) may have a cut in the length direction. . This incision is effective in absorbing a dimensional error at the tip of the engagement fixing body (11).

  Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ferrule body (12) has an inclined surface portion whose outer diameter is gradually reduced toward the tip portion (121). It is in close contact with the resin surface of the second inner cylindrical portion (11B2), and the sealing performance of the connector of the invention of this application is further significantly improved. The ferrule body (12) not only has an inclined surface portion whose outer diameter is gradually reduced toward the front end portion (121), but also has a rear end portion (122) as illustrated in FIG. It is also effective to have an inclined surface portion whose outer diameter is gradually reduced toward. By the presence of the inclined surface portion of the rear end portion (122), the downward pressing force by the cap body (13) having the inclined inner surface is increased as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, and the pressure resistance performance of the connector is further improved. Will do. In addition, the use of a plurality of members as described above facilitates the production of the connector constituent members.

  Regarding the double flange structure portion (112) configured in the engagement fixing body (11) as in the above example, as another invention of this application, as illustrated in FIG. 4, an O-ring (16) It is also effective to adopt a double flange structure using a flange material (18) disposed so as to cover the flange, for example, a flange material made of PEEK material. Since the hard flange material (18) covers the O-ring (16), it is possible to improve the heat resistance and pressure resistance, and the looseness of the O-ring (16) and the resin flange (19 ) Can be reduced.

  For example, in the case of FIGS. 1 and 2, the first inner cylinder portion (11B1) is made of stainless steel, and the second inner cylinder portion (11B2) is made of fluorine resin: Teflon (registered trademark). When compared with the case where the flange material (18) made of PEEK material is used, the leak pressure value (MPa) is 1.3 times (21.0 MPa) and the number of times of desorption is 60 times for the PEEK material flange when the number of times of desorption is 20. It is improved 1.8 times (26.6 MPa) at 2.7 and 2.7 times (24.7 MPa) at 90 times of desorption.

  Moreover, in the cap body (13) of the example of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, this can be detachably attached to the holder (15), so that the outer cylinder portion (11A) and the holder (15) in the engagement fixing body (11). ) Can be imparted with one-touch detachability without adopting engagement by screw connection or the like. For example, detachment by a one-touch rotating structure similar to BNC connection.

  FIG. 5 shows such an example. The cap body (13) is provided with a protrusion (133), and the cap body (13) is provided with a holder (15) provided with a notch insertion portion (151) by its rotation. To be mounted on. As a result, the microchip connector is attached to the holder (15) with one touch.

  In the structure of locking and fixing the cap body (13) to the holder (15) according to FIG. 5, the holder (15) at the outer cylinder portion (11A) in the microchip fixing body (11) as shown in FIGS. ) Is not required to be fixed by screw connection. For this reason, even in the double flange structure using the flange material (18) as shown in FIG. 4, the first cylinder part (11C1) and the second cylinder part (11C2) that do not have the outer cylinder part (11A) are microscopic. The chip fixing body (11) is configured, and for example, the first tube portion (11C1) is made of metal such as stainless steel, and the second tube portion (11C2) is made of resin such as Teflon (registered trademark). it can.

  The microchip connector (10) according to the invention of the present application as described above is used for fluid circulation, which is engaged and fixed to the microchip in the microchip fixed body (11) and inserted into the microchip fixed body hollow portion (112). Through the tube (14), the fluid can be supplied to or discharged from the fine channel. In addition, the opening between the introduction port portion such as the start end in the microchannel (2) provided in the microchip and the opening tip portion (141) of the fluid circulation tube (14) inserted through the microchip fixing body (11). Positioning may not always be easy. Therefore, in order to facilitate this, a positioning method and a structure therefor are provided by providing two positioning holes on the microchip and inserting pins provided in the holder (15) into the holes. Adopting is also effective.

  By inserting the pin of the holder (15) into the positioning hole on the microchip, the opening can be positioned very easily. Of course, the above-mentioned pin may be a protrusion, or a plurality of grooves instead of two holes.

  The microchip holder (15) may function as a mounting frame body of the microchip (20) as illustrated in FIG. 6, for example. It is also considered that the holder (15) as the frame body is flush with the microchip (20). As shown in FIG. 5, the holder (15) can be placed on the substrate (1) with a single touch by the rotating bar (21).

  In the microchip structure to which the microchip connector is mounted, for example, as illustrated in the cross-sectional view of the main part in FIG. 7, the supply of fluid from the cover plate (3) disposed on the upper part of the microchannel (2) or The discharge opening (31) is provided with an inclined surface (32) against which the opening tip (141) of the fluid circulation tube (14) comes into contact, thereby further improving the fluid sealing performance. improves. Such an inclined surface (32) may be provided not in the cover plate (3) but in the case where an over plate, a holder plate or the like is provided in the upper portion thereof.

  Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the fluid circulation tube (14) has a lateral hole opening (142) facing the fine flow path (2) at the tip thereof and the fine flow path (2 ) Is provided with a concave portion (21) into which the top end portion (143) of the fluid circulation tube is inserted, and a cover plate (2) disposed above the fine flow path (2). The fluid supply or discharge opening (31) of 3) is a resin sealing portion (17) made of a chemical resistant resin around the tip of the fluid circulation tube (14), so that the fluid sealability is improved. In addition, the dead volume of the fluid can be greatly reduced. In the example of FIG. 5, the fluid circulation tube (14) is made of stainless steel or the like, and an elastic body such as resin or rubber is inserted into the recess (21), and the fluid circulation tube (14 It is also considered that the top apex (143) of the) pushes in the elastic body so that the matching between the lateral hole opening (142) and the fine channel (2) is good. Further, an elastic body may be disposed also at the tip top (143) in this case.

  Alternatively, the resin sealing portion (17) does not have the opening portion (31), but is filled with the resin sealing portion (17). You may make it pierce and insert. In this case, it is preferably considered to insert an elastic body in the recess (21).

  In the case of FIG. 7 and any of the above-described development examples, when an overplate or the like is placed on the upper portion of the cover plate (3), the above-described functions and functions are realized by these. You may be made to do.

  Of course, the invention of this application is not limited to the above explanation. It goes without saying that various forms are possible in the details.

FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view and a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a connector as one embodiment of the invention of this application. It is the fragmentary sectional view which illustrated the connector of an assembly apparatus state. It is sectional drawing which illustrated another embodiment of the ferrule body. It is the fragmentary sectional view which illustrated another flange part structure. It is principal part sectional drawing and the top view which showed another example of the one-touch rotation structure. It is a principal part perspective view illustrated about the microchip holder. It is the fragmentary sectional view which showed an example of the insertion structure to a microchip. It is the fragmentary sectional view which showed an example of another mounting structure. It is the fragmentary sectional view which showed another conventional connector structure. It is the fragmentary sectional view which showed another conventional connector structure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Board | substrate 2 Fine flow path 3 Cover plate 31 Opening part 32 Inclined surface 4 Fluid distribution tube 5 Holder 6 Resin shield 7 Guide member 8 Adhesive 10 Microchip connector 11 Microchip fixed body 111 Hollow part 112 Double flange structure part 113 Pin 11A Outer cylinder part 11B Inner cylinder part 11B1 First inner cylinder part 11B2 Second inner cylinder part 11C1 First cylinder part 11C2 Second cylinder part 12 Ferrule body 121 Front end part 122 Rear end part 13 Cap body 131 Insertion hole 132 Groove part 133 Protrusion 14 Fluid flow tube 141 Opening tip 142 Opening hole 143 Tip top 15 Holder 151 Notch insertion 16 O-ring 17 Resin sealing part 18 Flange material 19 Resin flange 20 Microchip 21 Rotating bar body

Claims (14)

(A) a microchip fixed body having a hollow portion through which a tube for fluid circulation is inserted and having a tip portion fixed to the microchip;
(B) a ferrule body that is disposed on the outer periphery of a tube for fluid circulation, is inserted into a hollow portion of the microchip fixed body, and a tip portion thereof is pressure-bonded to the inner wall of the hollow portion of the microchip fixed body;
(C) A microchip having an insertion hole for a fluid circulation tube at the top, and a microchip fixed body or a cap body that is locked to a holder of the microchip in a state where the rear end of the ferrule body is pressed A microchip connector for supplying fluid to or discharging fluid from a microchannel, wherein the engagement fixing body (A) has an open end of a fluid circulation tube at its tip A microchip connector comprising an O-ring interposed double flange structure portion that contacts the microchip around the portion.   2. The microchip connector according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the hollow part of the microchip fixed body (A) is gradually reduced toward the tip.   A pin or protrusion is disposed on the outer periphery of the microchip fixed body (A), and the cap (C) body has a groove portion that is locked to the pin or protrusion, and the microchip fixed body (A) The microchip connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cap body (C) is engageable and fixable.   The microchip fixing body (A) has an outer cylinder portion fixed to the microchip holder by screw coupling on the outer periphery thereof, and an inner cylinder portion fitted inside thereof, and the inner cylinder portion faces the front end portion. 4. The microchip connector according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the hollow portion is gradually reduced.   The inner cylindrical portion of the microchip fixing body (A) has an outer first inner cylindrical portion and an inner second inner cylindrical portion, and an engagement fixing body ( 5. The microchip connector according to claim 4, wherein the double flange structure part of A) is formed.   6. The microchip connector according to claim 5, wherein the first inner cylinder part is made of metal and the second inner cylinder part is made of resin.   The cap body (C) has a pin or a projection on the outer periphery, and the cap body (C) can be locked and fixed to the holder of the microchip by the pin or the projection. Microchip connector.   The microchip fixed body (A) has an outer first tube portion and an inner second tube portion, and is disposed so as to cover the flange portion at the tip of the inner second tube portion and the O-ring. 8. The microchip connector according to claim 7, wherein a double flange structure portion is constituted by the material.   9. The microchip connector according to claim 8, wherein the first cylinder part is made of metal and the second cylinder part is made of resin.   The ferrule body (B) has an inclined surface portion whose outer diameter is gradually reduced toward the tip portion, or an inclined surface portion whose outer diameter is gradually reduced toward the rear end portion together with the inclined surface portion. The microchip connector according to claim 1, further comprising:   The microchip connector according to any one of claims 1 to 10 is fixed to the microchip, and the fluid is supplied to the fine flow path through the fluid flow tube inserted into the hollow portion of the microchip fixed body (A). A microchip structure characterized in that it can be discharged from a road.   The microchip holder is provided with a positioning insertion pin, and the microchip is provided with a hole into which the insertion pin is inserted, and the fluid flowing through the microchip fixed body by inserting the insertion pin into the hole. 12. The microchip structure according to claim 11, wherein the opening tip portion of the tube for use and the fluid supply port portion or fluid discharge port portion of the microchip microchannel are positioned to face each other.   12. An opening for supplying or discharging a fluid of a cover plate disposed in the upper part of the fine channel is provided with an inclined surface with which an opening tip of the fluid circulation tube abuts. Or 12 microchip constructs.   The fluid circulation tube has a lateral hole opening facing the fine flow path at the tip thereof, and a recess into which the top of the fluid flow tube is inserted is provided at the beginning or end of the fine flow path. In addition, the opening for supplying or discharging the fluid of the cover plate disposed in the upper part of the fine channel is a resin sealing portion around the tip of the fluid circulation tube. Item 14. The microchip structure according to any one of Items 11 to 13.

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