JP2010185558A - Joint component - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a joint component having a simple configuration, having a necessary strength, preventing delay of sending fluid or the like, and easily fitted and released. <P>SOLUTION: The joint component is used for interconnecting the flow passages of a micro-pump 10 and a microchip 30 and has an approximately cylindrical shape. In the joint component, an inner cylindrical portion 2 brought into contact with fluid is constituted of a member with strength such as PEEK resin, and an outer cylindrical portion 5 is constituted of an elastic member such as silicone rubber. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a joint component, and more particularly to a joint component for connecting the respective flow paths of two microfluidic devices having a fine flow path for sending a small amount of liquid.

  In recent years, in fields such as biotesting, chemical analysis, and drug discovery, microfluidic systems have attracted attention because they can perform testing using a small amount of reagents and specimens. In the microfluidic system, a fine flow path is formed in a material such as silicon or glass, the mold is formed by electroforming, and the microchip (inspection chip) 30 shown in FIG. 9 is formed by a molding machine. Samples and reagents are inserted in the recesses 31 and 32 of the microchip 30 in advance, and the driving liquid is taken into the microchip 30 by the micropump 10 at a very small amount of 700 nanoliters per second. This is a system that mixes and reacts in the flow path 33 of the chip 30 and measures with a sensor. Conventionally, a reaction test that has been performed in a large space laboratory can be performed on a microchip 30 of about 50 × 70 mm.

  Conventionally, to connect the micropump 10 and the microchip 30, as shown in FIG. 10, a joint component 40 made of an elastic material is used so as to be easily attached to each discharge port 13 and the inflow port 34. In the microchip 30, the ratio at which the specimen and the reagent are mixed plays an important role in the reaction. This mixing ratio is determined by the timing at which the liquid is fed from the micropump 10. However, if the joint part 40 is made of an elastic material, the joint part 40 swells due to pressure at the beginning of the liquid feeding timing, thereby causing a problem that the liquid feeding is delayed. The problem of not occurring or inadequate occurred.

  On the other hand, conventionally, joint parts made of a material having high strength have been fixed to the discharge port of the micropump or the inlet of the microchip with an adhesive. However, when an adhesive is used, there are problems in maintaining adhesive strength over a long period of time and reliability for repeated use. Further, the adhesive may be dissolved in the fluid flowing through the joint component.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 describes a joint structure excellent in high corrosion resistance, a manufacturing method thereof, and a microfluidic device using the joint structure. This joint structure connects the opening of the microfluidic device and the external tube, and the inner cylinder portion through which the fluid flows is made of an elastic body, and the strength material disposed around it is a screw mechanism. Secured to the microfluidic device. When fixed in this manner, the elastic body in the inner cylinder portion is in a state of being compressed. However, since this joint structure uses a screw mechanism, it takes time to mount and release.

JP 2007-162839 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a joint component that has a simple structure, has a required strength, does not cause a delay in liquid feeding, and is easy to mount and release.

In order to achieve the above object, a joint component according to one aspect of the present invention is:
In a joint part having a substantially cylindrical shape for connecting the respective flow paths of the first and second microfluidic devices,
The inner cylinder part in contact with the fluid is composed of a member having strength, and the outer cylinder part and at least the part connected to the flow path is composed of an elastic member;
It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, the inner cylinder part and the outer cylinder part have a simple configuration, and the inner cylinder part that is in contact with the fluid is composed of a strength member, so that expansion and contraction are not caused by the pulsation of the fluid, Accurate liquid feeding becomes possible. Moreover, since the outer cylinder part is comprised with the elastic member, it can be easily engage | inserted in the flow path of a microfluidic device, and attachment and cancellation | release are easy.

It is sectional drawing which shows the joint components which are 1st Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the connection state of the micro pump using the joint component which is 1st Example, and a microchip. It is sectional drawing which shows the joint components which are 2nd Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the connection state of the micropump using the joint components which are 2nd Example, and a microchip. It is sectional drawing which shows the joint component which is 3rd Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the connection state of the micropump using the joint components which are 3rd Example, and a microchip. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation | movement principle of the forward direction liquid feeding in a micropump. It is explanatory drawing which shows the principle of operation | movement of the reverse direction liquid feeding in a micropump. It is a perspective view which shows the connection state of the micropump using the conventional joint components, and a microchip. It is sectional drawing which shows the connection state of the micropump using the conventional joint components, and a microchip.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the joint component according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same member and part, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

(Refer to the first embodiment, FIGS. 1 and 2)
FIG. 1 shows a joint component 1A according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a microfluidic device (micro pump 10 and microchip 30) connected using the joint component 1A. The micropump 10 and the microchip 30 have the same configuration as the conventional one shown in FIGS.

  If the configuration of the microchip 30 is slightly supplemented, a fine flow path 33 including a recess 32 and the like is formed on one surface of the silicon substrate 35, and the flow path 33 is covered with a glass substrate 36. The micropump 10 drives the driving liquid introduced from the introduction unit 12 by the piezoelectric element 29 and discharges about 700 nanoliters per second from the discharge port 13 at a constant cycle. The operation principle of the micropump 10 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  The joint component 1A connects between the discharge port 13 of the micropump 10 and the inflow port 34 of the microchip 30, and the inner cylinder portion 2 that contacts the driving fluid has a strength (for example, Young's modulus 3900 MPa). The outer cylinder portion 5 is made of an elastic member (for example, silicon rubber having a Young's modulus of 4 MPa). Upper and lower portions of the inner cylinder portion 2 are exposed from the outer cylinder portion 5 and have flange portions 3 a and 3 b having the same diameter as the outer cylinder portion 5. The outer cylinder portion 5 has two flange portions 6a and 6b projecting outward at the upper and lower portions.

  The joint component 1 </ b> A having the above configuration is mounted by press-fitting the lower part into the discharge port 13 of the micropump 10 and press-fitting the upper part into the inlet 34 of the microchip 30. The driving liquid fed from the micropump 10 flows from the discharge port 13 through the inner cylinder portion 2 of the joint component 1A and is supplied from the inlet 34 of the microchip 30 to the flow path 33.

  In such a joint component 1A, since the inner cylinder portion 2 that contacts the driving liquid is formed of a strength member, the pumping liquid does not cause expansion or contraction due to the pulsation of the driving liquid, so that accurate liquid feeding can be performed. It becomes possible. Moreover, since the outer cylinder part 5 is comprised with the elastic member, it can be easily fitted in the discharge outlet 13 and the inflow port 34, and attachment and cancellation | release are easy. Furthermore, since the outer cylinder part 5 comprised with the elastic member closely_contact | adheres to the discharge outlet 13 or the inflow port 34, a liquid leak can be prevented.

  Moreover, the flange parts 6a and 6b formed in the outer cylinder part 5 have the positioning function at the time of mounting | wearing. Furthermore, since the inner cylinder part 2 has a longer dimension than the outer cylinder part 5, the rigidity can be maintained over the entire length of the flow path in contact with the driving liquid.

  In addition, the Young's modulus of the outer cylinder part 5 is preferably 0.6 to 4 MPa, and the Young's modulus of the inner cylinder part 2 is preferably 30 MPa or more.

(Refer to the second embodiment, FIGS. 3 and 4)
FIG. 3 shows a joint component 1B according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows a microfluidic device (micro pump 10 and microchip 30) connected using the joint component 1B. In this joint component 1B, the inner cylinder part 2 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and the outer cylinder part 5 is formed with a large-diameter bulge portion 7.

  The method of using the joint part 1B is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the function and effect thereof are the same as those of the first embodiment. Positioning at the time of mounting is performed by a bulging portion 7 formed in the outer cylinder portion 5.

(Refer to the third embodiment, FIGS. 5 and 6)
FIG. 5 shows a joint component 1C according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows a microfluidic device (micro pump 10 and microchip 30) connected using the joint component 1C. In this joint part 1C, the inner cylinder portion 2 has a simple cylindrical shape, and the outer cylinder portion 5 is formed with tapered portions 8a and 8b at the upper and lower portions.

  The joint component 1C is mounted by press-fitting the tapered portions 8a and 8b formed in the outer cylinder portion 5 into the discharge port 13 of the micropump 10 and the inflow port 34 of the microchip 30. Therefore, the discharge port 13 and the inflow port 34 are formed with tapered portions corresponding to the tapered portions 8a and 8b. The operational effects of the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment. In particular, in the third embodiment, if the outer cylinder part 5 and the inner cylinder part 2 are not bonded, even if one of them is corroded or damaged, the new outer cylinder part 5 or the inner cylinder part 2 Can be exchanged.

(Refer to Fig.7 and Fig.8)
Here, the basic configuration of the micropump 10 and its operating principle will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The micropump 10 is configured by bonding a substrate 11 made of glass or the like and a substrate 20 made of silicon or the like. A chamber 21 and throttle channels 22 and 23 are formed on the substrate 20 by etching. The throttle channel 22 has a shorter channel length than the throttle channel 23. A piezoelectric element 29 as an actuator is attached to the back surface of the chamber 21, and a thin film portion constituting the chamber 21 functions as a diaphragm.

  As an example of specific dimensions, the thickness of the substrate 20 is 200 μm, the thickness of the thin film diaphragm constituting the chamber 21 is 30 μm, and the gap between the throttle channels 22 and 23 is 25 μm.

  Conceptually, the micropump 10 has throttle channels 22 and 23 whose channel resistances change in accordance with the differential pressure at both ends of the chamber 21, respectively. The ratio is larger than the ratio of the change in the channel resistance of the throttle channel 23 and repeatedly pressurizes and depressurizes in a first pattern that is shorter than the time during which the piezoelectric element 29 pressurizes the liquid in the chamber 21 is depressurized. As a result, the liquid is fed from the throttle channel 22 toward the throttle channel 23 (forward feeding, see FIG. 7). Further, by repeatedly pressurizing and depressurizing the liquid in the chamber 21 by the piezoelectric element 29 in a second pattern longer than the time for depressurizing, the liquid is directed from the throttle channel 23 toward the throttle channel 22. Liquid feeding (reverse liquid feeding, see FIG. 8).

  Specifically, FIG. 7 shows a forward liquid supply state (first pattern), and the liquid in the chamber 21 is quickly pressurized by applying a voltage having a waveform shown in (A) to the piezoelectric element 29. Then, a turbulent flow is generated in the throttle channel 22 to increase the channel resistance, and the liquid is discharged from the chamber 21 through the throttle channel 23. Then, the liquid in the chamber 21 is slowly decompressed, whereby the liquid is introduced into the chamber 21 through the throttle channel 22 having a small channel resistance.

  FIG. 8 shows the liquid feeding state in the reverse direction (second pattern). When the voltage in the waveform shown in FIG. 8A is applied to the piezoelectric element 29 to pressurize the liquid in the chamber 21 later, the channel resistance The liquid is discharged from the chamber 21 through the narrowed flow path 22. Then, by rapidly depressurizing the liquid in the chamber 21, a turbulent flow is generated in the throttle channel 22 and the channel resistance is increased, and the liquid is introduced into the chamber 21 through the throttle channel 23.

(Other examples)
It should be noted that the joint component according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified within the scope of the gist thereof.

  In particular, the microfluidic device connected by the joint component is not limited to the micropump and the microchip, and for example, the microfluidic device may connect the microchips. In addition, the micropump does not necessarily have to be driven by a piezoelectric element, and the detailed structure and shape are arbitrary.

  As described above, the present invention is useful for joint parts of two microfluidic devices. In particular, the present invention has a necessary strength, does not cause a delay in liquid feeding, and is easy to mount and release. Is excellent.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A, 1B, 1C ... Joint part 2 ... Inner cylinder part 5 ... Outer cylinder part 10 ... Micropump 13 ... Discharge port 30 ... Microchip 34 ... Inflow port

Claims (4)

In a joint part having a substantially cylindrical shape for connecting the respective flow paths of the first and second microfluidic devices,
The inner cylinder part in contact with the fluid is composed of a member having strength, and the outer cylinder part and at least the part connected to the flow path is composed of an elastic member;
Joint parts characterized by   The joint component according to claim 1, wherein the first microfluidic device is a micropump and the second microfluidic device is a microchip.   The joint part according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner cylinder part is longer than the outer cylinder part.   4. The joint component according to claim 1, wherein the Young's modulus of the outer cylinder portion is 0.6 to 4 MPa, and the Young's modulus of the inner cylinder portion is 30 MPa or more.

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