JP4673213B2 - Micro valve unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a microvalve unit that opens and closes a fine flow path (micro flow path), and more specifically, by controlling opening and closing of a plurality of valves at the same time, liquid feeding control of fluid flowing in the micro flow path is performed. It relates to the microvalve unit to be performed.

  In recent years, development of small analysis systems called Lab-on-a-Chips, microreactor chips, and the like has been actively conducted. This is a configuration in which element structures such as flow paths, reaction vessels, valves, sensors, and the like are integrated on a small substrate (chip), and an analysis process is performed on a gas or liquid sample flowing in the inside. An example of such a small analysis system is a biochip that conducts a clinical test by flowing blood through a fine flow path provided in a resin chip (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). When such a small analysis system is used, the analysis can be performed at a high speed with a small amount of sample, so that the burden on the side providing the sample can be reduced. For this reason, application to a living body is attracting attention.

  As one of the components of this small analysis system, a small valve (microvalve) built in the chip has been proposed. For example, the elastic thin film is deformed by the electrostatic force between the electrodes to open and close the flow path (see Patent Document 1), and a part of the flow path is crushed by an actuator installed outside the chip. A technique for opening and closing (see Patent Document 2) and the like are known. When such a microvalve is used, the flow of the sample can be controlled in the chip, so that the sample can be guided to the sensor at an intended timing.

  However, in the field of small analysis systems, in recent years, not only simple opening / closing control as described above but also more advanced fluid control is required. For example, it is required to supply various samples to one system, send the samples to the sensor in an arbitrary order, and perform analysis. To achieve this, a switching control process that sends only a specific sample to the sensor from a variety of samples, a control process that sends a specific sample to the sensor without mixing the samples, etc. are required. It is said.

In order to realize such advanced fluid control, a plurality of flow paths and a large number of microvalves for controlling the movement of the flow paths are required. Therefore, it was necessary to control a large number of microvalves arranged with high density individually and accurately while maintaining a small configuration.
JP 2004-291187 A JP 2002-228033 A J. et al. Aug et al. , Sensors and Actuators B, 26-27 (1995) 181-186.

  However, if the above-described microvalves are arranged at high density, the former microvalves cannot perform intended operations because adjacent electrodes interfere with each other. In the latter case, one actuator for driving the valve is required for one microvalve. Since the size of the actuator and the generated force are almost proportional to each other, it is difficult to downsize multiple actuators while maintaining the generated force, making it difficult to place them at high density, and in turn, to place microvalves at high density. was there.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a microvalve unit that is small and can individually control a plurality of microvalves arranged at high density.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a microvalve unit for controlling the flow of fluid in a flow path, wherein the flow path is formed by combining a plurality of branch flow paths, and the branch flow path A flow path chip comprising a valve that opens and closes the branch flow path by an external pressing force, and has an end surface that is formed in a convex shape or a concave shape, and the end surface is connected to the valve. There is provided a microvalve unit characterized by comprising a pressurizing section for applying a pressing force and a driving means for opening and closing a desired valve by moving the end face (first configuration).

  In the first configuration, the valve is arranged in an arc shape, and the pressurizing portion also has the end surface formed in an arc shape so as to correspond to the arrangement of the valve, and is driven by the driving means. A microvalve unit is provided in which the end face of the pressure part rotates in the valve arrangement direction to open and close the valve (second configuration).

  In the first configuration, the valve is arranged in a straight line, and the pressurizing portion also has the plate-like end face formed in a straight line so as to correspond to the arrangement of the valve, and the driving of the driving means Thus, the microvalve unit is provided in which the end face of the pressurizing portion moves in the valve arrangement direction to open and close the valve (third configuration).

In the second or third configuration, the valve includes a valve chamber provided in the branch flow path and an elastic deformation film constituting a side wall of the valve chamber, and the elastic deformation film is provided in the pressurizing portion. The branch flow path is blocked by receiving the pressing force by the end face and deforming from the initial state, and when the pressing force is eliminated, the elastic deformation film returns to the initial state to thereby branch the branching. Provided is a microvalve unit characterized by opening a flow path (fourth configuration).
In the fourth configuration, the branch flow path includes a plurality of short flow paths, the first short flow path and one surface of the valve chamber perpendicular to the elastic deformation film are connected, and the second short flow Provided is a microvalve unit characterized in that the branch channel and the valve are connected by connecting a path and one surface of the valve chamber facing the elastic deformation membrane (fifth configuration) .

  According to the microvalve unit of the present invention, since a plurality of microvalves arranged at high density can be individually controlled by a single actuator, it is complicated for various types of samples flowing in a channel chip provided with microvalves. At the same time as fluid control can be performed, it is possible to maintain a small configuration of the flow path chip.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by the following embodiment.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a microvalve unit 100 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a structure of a flow path chip 1 that is a component of the microvalve unit 100.

  The microvalve unit 100 of the present invention is composed of a channel chip 1 and driving means 6.

  First, the flow path chip 1 will be described. The channel chip 1 is constituted by a casing member made of a composite material in which, for example, glass and silicone resin (polydimethylsiloxane, hereinafter referred to as PDMS) are laminated, and various constituent elements are included in the casing member. Is formed. In addition, it is desirable that the surface of the flow path chip 1 facing the driving means 6 is made of an elastic material such as silicone resin. The outer dimensions of the channel chip 1 are about 20 to 100 [mm] in length (FIG. 1, horizontal direction), about 10 to 20 [mm] in width, and about several [mm] in thickness.

  Three branch flow paths 10a, 10b, and 10c are provided inside the flow path chip 1, and these end portions are connected at one place to form one flow path. The branch flow paths 10a, 10b, and 10c include the short flow paths 11a, 11b, and 11c, the valve chambers 14a, 14b, and 14c provided at the ends of the short flow paths 11a, 11b, and 11c, and the valve chambers 14a, 14b, Short flow paths 12a, 12b, 12c, short flow paths 12a, 12b connected to the side surfaces of the elastic membranes 15a, 15b, 15c provided on one surface of the valve chamber 14 and the valve chamber 14 facing the elastic films 15a, 15b, 15c. , 12c and short channels 13a, 13b, 13c connected vertically. The three branch flow paths 10a, 10b, and 10c having such a configuration are connected to one end of the short flow paths 13a, 13b, and 13c at one place, and the other end of the short flow paths 11a, 11b, and 11c are The holes 31a, 31b, and 31c are connected respectively. The holes 31a and 31b lead the solutions from the outside of the channel chip 1 to the respective short channels 11a and 11b, and the holes 31c discharge these solutions to the outside of the channel chip 1. In the present embodiment, the solution is supplied from the hole 31a or the hole 31b by sucking the solution from the hole 31c side. It is also possible to supply a solution to the channel chip 1 by installing a pump on the side of the holes 31a and 31b.

The driving means 6 includes a pressure unit 61, a stepping motor 62 connected to the pressure unit 61, a guide 63 and a spring 64 fixed to the stepping motor 62.
The pressurizing unit 61 has a substantially cylindrical shape with one end closed, and the other end has a concavo-convex structure along the circumferential direction. The end portion having the concavo-convex structure is installed so as to be in contact with the flow path chip 1. The pressure unit 61 and the stepping motor 62 connected thereto are regulated to move only in the thickness direction of the flow channel chip 1 by the guide 63, and further, the pressure unit 61 is connected to the flow channel chip 1 by the spring 64. It is being fixed so that it may press-contact with.

  Next, a structure for opening and closing the flow path will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, one of the three branch channels described in FIG. 2 is described as an example, but the other branch channels have the same configuration. The elastic film 15a provided in the branch flow path 10a has a flat shape as shown in FIG. 3A if no external force is applied. Therefore, the short flow path 11a and the short flow path 12a are connected (open state). Here, when the pressurizing unit 61 pressurizes the elastic film 15a, the elastic film 15a is deformed as shown in FIG. For this reason, the short channel 11a and the short channel 12a are blocked (closed state).

  Here, the pressure unit 61 is disposed on the three elastic films 15a, 15b, and 15c. Note that the circumference of the end portion of the pressurizing unit 61 substantially coincides with the circumference of one circle derived from the arrangement of the elastic films 15a, 15b, and 15c. The stepping motor 62 rotates the pressure unit 61 and positions the uneven structure provided in the pressure unit 61 with respect to the flow path chip 1. A convex portion (shown in FIG. 4A) of the pressurizing unit 61 pressurizes the elastic film 15 a with a spring 64. Only the pressurized elastic membrane 15a is deformed, and only the branch channel 10a is closed. For this reason, in the flow path chip 1, the branch flow paths 10b and 10c are opened, and the sample can flow from the hole 31b to the hole 31c. Further, when the pressurizing unit 62 is rotated and the elastic film 15b is pressurized with the convex portion (see FIG. 4B), only the branch flow path 10b is closed, and the sample flows from the hole 31a to the hole 31c. Is possible. The positioning operation can be performed only by the drive signal of the stepping motor 62, but if a rotary encoder is added to the pressurizing unit 61, higher-level positioning can be performed.

  Therefore, the branch channel can be opened and closed only by rotational positioning of the pressurizing unit 61, and the flow of the sample can be controlled with respect to any two branch channels. In addition, since a plurality of branch channels can be opened and closed with a single drive means, the valves can be arranged at high density, and the channel chip can be miniaturized.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 shows the microvalve unit 200 of the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows the structure of the flow path chip 2 that is a component of the microvalve unit 200.

  In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which has the same function as Embodiment 1 mentioned above, and the description is omitted.

The microvalve unit 200 of the present invention is composed of the flow path chip 2 and the driving means 26.
First, the flow path chip 2 will be described. Inside the channel chip 2, three branch channels 10a, 10b, 10c and a short channel 16 are provided. The branch flow paths 10a, 10b, and 10c include the short flow paths 11a, 11b, and 11c, the valve chambers 14a, 14b, and 14c provided at the ends of the short flow paths 11a, 11b, and 11c, and the valve chambers 14a, 14b, 14c, elastic membranes 15a, 15b, 15c provided on one surface, short flow paths 12a, 12b, 12c connected to the side surfaces of the valve chambers 14a, 14b, 14c facing the elastic membranes 15a, 15b, 15c, short flow It consists of short channels 13a, 13b, 13c connected perpendicularly to the channels 12a, 12b, 12c. The three branch flow paths 10 a, 10 b, and 10 c having such a configuration are connected to the short flow path 16 by connecting the ends of the short flow paths 13 a, 13 b, and 13 c at one place.
The other ends of the short flow paths 11a, 11b, and 11c are connected to the holes 31a, 31b, and 31c, respectively. The other end of the short channel 16 is also connected to the hole 31d. The holes 31a, 31b, and 31c lead the solutions from the outside of the flow channel chip 2 to the short flow channels 11a, 11b, and 11c, respectively, and the holes 31d discharge these solutions to the outside of the flow channel chip 2. is there.

  The driving unit 26 includes a pressure unit 261, a linear motion actuator 262 connected to the pressure unit 261, and a guide 263 fixed to the linear motion actuator 262, and an end portion of the pressure unit 261 flows. It is installed so as to be in pressure contact with the road chip 2. The pressurizing part 261 has a plate shape, and has a structure with a chip at the end part in contact with the flow path chip 2. The linear actuator 262 and the pressurizing unit 261 regulate the movement in one direction with respect to the flow path chip 2 in the horizontal direction (X direction in FIG. 5) by the fixed guide 263. The linear actuator 262 moves the pressurizing unit 261, and can position the chip provided at the end of the pressurizing unit 261 with respect to the flow channel chip 2. The positioning operation can be performed only with the drive signal of the linear actuator 262. However, if an encoder is added to the pressurizing unit 261, higher-level positioning is possible.

  Here, the pressurizing unit 261 is disposed on the three elastic films 15a, 15b, and 15c arranged on a straight line. A convex portion (shown in FIG. 7A) of the pressurizing unit 261 pressurizes the elastic films 15a and 15b. The pressurized elastic membranes 15a and 15b are deformed, and the branch channels 10a and 10b are closed. For this reason, in the flow channel chip 2, the branch flow channel 10c is opened, and the sample can flow from the hole 31c to the hole 31d. Further, when the pressurizing unit 262 is moved and the elastic films 15b and 15c are pressurized at the convex portions (see FIG. 7B), only the branch flow path 10a is opened, and the sample flows from the hole 31a to the hole 31d. It becomes possible.

  Therefore, the branch channel can be opened and closed only by positioning the pressurizing unit 261, and the flow of the sample can be switched and controlled with respect to an arbitrary branch channel. In addition, since a plurality of branch channels can be opened and closed with a single drive means, the valves can be arranged at high density, and the channel chip can be miniaturized.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the microvalve unit 200 ′ can be constituted by a flow path chip 2 ′, a driving means 26, and a pressing unit 27. The flow path chip 2 ′ opens and closes the short flow path 16 by providing an elastic film 15 d and a valve chamber on the short flow path 16 and pressurizing and deforming the elastic film 15 d. For this reason, the flow from the branch flow paths 10a, 10b, 10c to the short flow path 16 can be collectively controlled. The structure of the pressing unit 27 that pressurizes and deforms the elastic film 15d will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the pressing unit 27 is fixed to the housing 272 on which the stepping motor 271 is mounted, the washer 273 connected to the rotating shaft of the stepping motor 271 formed with a screw groove, and the washer 273 with screws. It consists of a movable part 274. A shaft 275 is fixed to the movable portion 274, and a pressing portion 277 is supported via a spring 276. The pressing unit 27 converts the rotation of the rotating shaft of the stepping motor 271 into the vertical movement of the movable portion 274 by the washer 273 and the shaft 275. When the movable portion 274 is lowered, the pressing portion 277 is pushed up by the elastic film 15d, and the spring 276 is compressed. At this time, the repulsive force of the spring 276 becomes a force that pressurizes the elastic film 15d, and the short flow path 16 can be closed (see FIG. 11A). When the movable portion 274 is raised, the pressing portion 277 and the elastic film 15d are not in contact with each other, and the short flow path 16 is opened (see FIG. 11B). As described above, the short flow path 16 can be opened and closed only by the rotation control of the stepping motor 271. If a circuit for observing electrical continuity is provided between the D surface of the pressing portion 277 and the movable portion 274, the short flow path 16 is opened in the electrical continuity state, and the short flow path 16 in the short circuit state. Can be detected as closed, and the opening and closing of the flow path can be detected. By setting it as such a structure, it becomes possible to make it a liquid feeding stop state collectively only by operation | movement of a press unit at the time of an emergency stop, for example.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a microvalve unit can be constituted by the flow path chip 2 ''. The channel chip 2 ″ has a configuration in which a hard resin guide plate 3 is provided on the upper surface of the channel chip 2 described above. The guide plate 3 is composed of two bodies, and is installed except for a linear region including the elastic films 15a, 15b, and 15c. The pressurizing unit 261 of the driving unit 26 moves linearly along a region where the guide plate 3 of the flow path chip 2 ″ is not provided, and pressurizes each elastic film 15 a, 15 b, 15 c. For this reason, since the movement of the pressurizing unit 261 is regulated by the side surface of the guide plate 3, an accurate operation can be performed. At the same time, since the upper surface of the flow channel chip 2 ″ is hardened by the guide plate 3, a large fixing force can be set, and the flow channel chip 2 ″ can be reliably fixed. The configuration using the guide plate 3 can be the same as that of the flow path chip 1 described in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a microvalve unit according to the first embodiment. It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure of a flow-path chip | tip. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the opening / closing operation | movement of a branch flow path. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the opening / closing operation | movement of a branch flow path. It is a model diagram which shows the structure of the micro valve unit concerning this Embodiment 2. FIG. It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure of a flow-path chip | tip. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the opening / closing operation | movement of a branch flow path. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the microvalve unit concerning this Embodiment 2. FIG. It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure of a press unit. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a flow-path chip | tip. It is the schematic for demonstrating operation | movement of a press unit.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Channel chip 3 Guide plate 6, 26 Drive means 10 Branch channel 11, 12, 13, 16 Short channel 14 Valve chamber 15 Elastic film 27 Press unit 31 Hole 61, 261, 277 Pressurization part 62 Stepping motor 63, 263 Guide 64 Spring 100, 200 Micro valve unit 262 Linear actuator

Claims (5)

A micro valve unit for controlling the flow of fluid in a flow path,
The flow path formed by combining a plurality of branch flow paths;
A flow path chip that is provided in the branch flow path and includes a valve that opens and closes the branch flow path by an external pressing force;
An end face formed in a convex shape or a concave shape;
A pressurizing part in which the end face applies a pressing force to the valve;
And a driving means for opening and closing the desired the valve by moving the end face,
A microvalve unit comprising: a guide portion that is in contact with the end face side and is formed so as to guide the pressurizing portion along the arrangement of the valve.   The valve is arranged in an arc shape, and the pressurizing portion also has the end surface formed in an arc shape so as to correspond to the arrangement of the valve, and the end surface of the pressurizing portion is driven by the driving means. 2. The micro valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the valve is opened and closed by rotating in a valve arrangement direction.   The valve is arranged in a straight line, and the pressurizing part also has the plate-like end surface formed in a straight line so as to correspond to the arrangement of the valve, and is driven by the driving means. The micro valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the end face moves in the valve arrangement direction to open and close the valve.   The valve includes a valve chamber provided in the branch flow path and an elastic deformation film constituting a side wall of the valve chamber, and the elastic deformation film receives the pressing force by the end surface of the pressurizing unit. The branch channel is blocked by being deformed from an initial state, and when the pressing force is eliminated, the branch channel is opened by returning the elastic deformation film to the initial state. The microvalve unit according to claim 2 or 3.   The branch flow path is composed of a plurality of short flow paths, the first short flow path and one surface of the valve chamber perpendicular to the elastic deformation film are connected, the second short flow path and the elastic deformation film The micro valve unit according to claim 4, wherein one surface of the valve chamber facing to the other is connected.

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