KR100442681B1 - Channel unit and apparatus for mixing fluids using the unit - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a channel unit which can obtain two or more materials at once at various mixing ratios using a fine mixing channel, and a mixing channel apparatus using the channel unit. The channel unit has a plurality of inlet channels, a cross chamber to which the inlet channels are connected, a fine mixing channel connected to the cross chamber and at least one outlet channel, wherein the mixed channel device comprises a plurality of inlet reservoirs, at least one outlet reservoir and channel It has a channel circuit comprising a unit. The present invention provides a device that simplifies complex operations in a series of toxicological tests, biochemical experiments, medical experiments, and other tasks requiring precise mixing ratios, and which can control conditions continuously.

Description

CHANNEL UNIT AND APPARATUS FOR MIXING FLUIDS USING THE UNIT}

The present invention relates to a channel unit for mixing a liquid using a fine mixing channel, a mixing method using the unit, a mixing channel device including the unit, and a manufacturing method of the device. More specifically, to simplify and simplify the complex tasks in chemical or biological analysis, synthesis, and device configuration, and to provide a method and method for making the device capable of measuring, mixing, diluting or condensing large quantities of materials more precisely and conveniently. It is about.

Biochip is a biological micro-organism that can analyze gene expression patterns, gene defects, short distribution, and reaction patterns by combining biomolecules such as DNA and proteins on small substrates made of glass, silicon, nylon, etc. Biological Microchip. These biochips are attracting attention for revolutionary changes in science and technology research, new drug development processes, and clinical diagnosis, and are rapidly spreading. In particular, in the field of clinical diagnosis, biochips have been developed to detect and diagnose genetic mutations related to cancer and AIDS. On the other hand, the application of biochips has been made in agriculture, food, industry, and environmental monitoring.

Biochips are divided into Microarray and Microfluidics.

(Microfluidics) can be divided into chips. A microarray is a biochip that can attach thousands or tens of thousands or more of DNA or proteins at regular intervals, treat pumice targets, and analyze their binding patterns, and microfluidics chips are Lab-on-a-chip ( Also called LOC), it refers to a biochip that can analyze the reaction with various biomolecules or sensors that are collected on the chip while flowing a small amount of analyte. Recently, the microfluidics chip is expanding its field of separation, synthesis and quantitative analysis of analytes.

Microfluidics chip, or Lab-on-a-chip (LOC), is a condensation of two or more processes in a lab on a tiny chip, and the analysis of micromachining and microfluidics Say the equipment. It means to build a lab on a small chip like a semiconductor chip.

Conventionally, when using a cell culture plate (Cell Culture Plate) in the course of the experiment, it was common to fill the quantitation by hand to each well in the cell culture plate using a micro pipette. This method was a simple repetitive task and was not efficient in time or in manpower. Moreover, when the reagents to be administered at various concentrations need to be prepared for a specific purpose of experiments, since the error of the result is large due to the low skill of the experimenter, there has been a problem in the manufacture of experiments and reagents related to chemistry or biology.

In order to overcome this problem, there is a need for a device in which reagents necessary to be mixed at an appropriate concentration and automatically supplied to cells to be cultured in only the required amount are highlighted.

Indeed, microfluidics chips are used in areas related to toxicology assessments for drug development, medical and biochemical experiments, which include MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) technology, Micro Fluidics and plastics. As a fusion of the Soft-Lithography technology, it has been mentioned as a base technology of Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device along with DNA chip and protein chip.

Microchip technology not only flows within microchips, but also in applications where the results can vary significantly due to differences in micro-quantities, such as mixing of mixed cultures, toxicity tests according to the mixing ratio of poisons, biochemical experiments, and drug efficacy experiments. There are many improvements in the circuit design of chips and the development of devices using microchips.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for accurately mixing two or more fluids through a microchannel at a predetermined mixing ratio. By using the microchannels to mix the fluids to mix the liquid flowing in the microchannels at the correct mixing ratio, to provide a device for providing a mixture of various concentrations at a time through a continuous process.

Another object of the present invention is to adjust the concentration of the mixture by adjusting the cross-sectional area, length, viscosity of the liquid flowing through the channel and the channel without applying a separate voltage to smoothly flow the fluid in the fine channel To provide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure in which a plurality of curved portions are formed in the fine channels so that the plurality of fluids are homogeneously mixed in the fine channels so that the fluids are efficiently mixed even in a small area.

It is another object of the present invention to obtain a sample having a mixed liquid having various mixing ratios by introducing a plurality of fluids, and to provide a device having a structure capable of performing accurate mixing ratios and rapid operations of these multiple samples. Simultaneous preparation of mixed liquids having various mixing ratios is a very useful technique for investigating the differences in reactions of various mixing ratios for a reagent.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure in which a desired result can be obtained while minimizing the size of a device in manufacturing a mixed channel device.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a channel unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram for comparing the flow of the fluid with the change in the width and length of the channel.

3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mixed channel device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mixed channel device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mixed channel device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mixed channel device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: channel unit 108: fine mixing channel

300: mixed channel device 312,314,316: inflow reservoir

322,324,326,328: outflow reservoir 330: channel circuit

400: mixed channel device 430: channel circuit

440 450: Channel unit group 500: Mixed channel device

512: first inflow reservoir 514: second inflow reservoir

521,522,523,524,525,526: Spill Reservoir

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in order to achieve the above object of the present invention, the channel unit is connected to a plurality of inlet channels, cross chambers to which the inlet channels are connected, micromix channels connected to the cross chambers, and micromix channels. A mixed channel apparatus having at least one outlet channel, wherein the mixed channel device using the channel unit has a channel circuit comprising a plurality of inlet reservoirs, at least one outlet reservoir and at least one channel unit.

The channel unit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of inflow channels, a cross chamber to which inflow channels are connected, at least one micromix channel connected to the cross chamber, and at least one outlet channel connected to the micromix channel. .

Two or more fluids are introduced from the inlet channel and partially mixed in the crossover chamber. Some mixed fluids are mixed homogeneously while passing through the fine mixing channel. In order to homogeneously mix the fluid passing through the fine mixing channel, it is preferable to form a curved portion in the fine mixing channel, and the present invention forms the fine mixing channel in a zigzag shape so that the fluid passing therethrough is homogeneously mixed.

When the shape of the fine mixing channel is straight, the mixed fluid is not easily homogeneous, and even if the fine mixing channel is sufficiently long so that the fluid is homogeneously mixed, the area of the channel unit becomes excessively large. Therefore, it is preferable to make the shape of the fine mixing channel into a shape having a zigzag or other many curved portions and a dense structure.

In addition, by adjusting the cross-sectional area or length of the inlet channel, the fine mixing channel and the outlet channel, the amount of fluid passing through the channel, the degree of homogeneity and the time of passage can be adjusted. Longer lengths result in a more homogeneous mixing of the fluid, but longer lengths increase the resistance between the channel and the fluid, reducing the amount of fluid passing through and increasing the time passed.

Fluid passing through the outlet channel is stored in the reservoir or flows through the inlet channel of another channel unit to form various concentrations.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of mixing a fluid using a channel unit is as follows.

The flow of fluid in at least two inlet channels, the flow of incoming fluid mixed in the cross chamber, the fluid from the cross chamber being homogeneously mixed as it passes through the fine mixing channel, and the fluid passing through the fine mixing channel as the outflow channel Outflowing.

Fluid to be mixed may enter the channel unit in two or more inlet channels, and mixed fluid may also exit through one or more outlet channels.

By varying the cross-sectional area and length of the inlet channel, the fine mixing channel and the outlet channel formed in the channel unit, it is possible to adjust the amount of fluid passing through, the degree of homogeneity and the time of passage. In particular, when the shape of the fine mixing channel is formed in a zigzag shape, it is preferable to lengthen the length of the fine mixing channel and minimize the area occupied by the channel so that the shape of the channel is zigzag.

The mixed channel apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of inlet reservoirs, at least one outlet reservoir, and a channel circuit connecting the inlet reservoir and the outlet reservoir.

The channel circuit comprises at least one channel unit, the channel unit comprising a plurality of inlet channels, cross chambers to which inlet channels are connected, at least one micromix channel connected to the cross chambers and at least one outlet connected to the micromix channel. With channels.

When the channel circuit has a plurality of the channel units, the inflow channel of the one channel unit is connected to the outflow channel of the inflow reservoir or the other channel unit to form a channel circuit.

By adjusting the cross-sectional area or length of the inlet channel, the fine mixing channel, and the outlet channel, the amount of fluid passing through the channel, the degree of homogeneity, and the time of passage can be controlled. The fine mixing channel is zigzag to control the mixing and amount of fluid.The inlet and outlet channels are also zigzag like the fine mixing channel to equalize the overall resistance of the mixed fluid, and the time to pass is constant. It can be done.

In the case of the present invention, two or more fluids can be continuously mixed without using a separate device, and various structures having a desired mixing ratio can be simultaneously produced by adjusting the structure of the microchannel.

In particular, when one wants to know the reaction according to various concentrations for one substance, it can be obtained simultaneously using the present invention. Wells can be formed in the outflow reservoir to directly conduct experiments such as cell culture and cell toxicity testing.

Tasks requiring two or more manual operations can be easily and accurately performed using the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited or restricted by the embodiments.

Example 1

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a channel unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the channel unit 100 includes two inlet channels 102 and 104, a cross chamber 106 to which inlet channels 102 and 104 are connected, a fine mixing channel 108 and an outlet connected to the cross chamber 106. Channel 110.

Two fluids are introduced from inlet channels 102 and 104 and partially mixed in cross chamber 106. Some mixed fluid is mixed homogeneously while passing through the fine mixing channel 108. In order to homogeneously mix the fluid passing through the fine mixing channel 108, the fine mixing channel 108 is formed in a zigzag shape.

The shape of the fine mixing channel 108 is not limited to a zigzag shape, and may be formed in a shape in which fluids are easily mixed by changing a direction of a curved portion or a flow path.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram for comparing the flow of the fluid with the change in the width and length of the channel.

Referring to FIG. 2, three channel units A, B, and C are connected in parallel, and material flows in from the inflow channels 202, 204, 206, and 208 to the outflow channels 252, 254, and 256. The channel units A, B and C are each equipped with two inflow channels, cross chambers, fine mixing channels and one outflow channel.

In order for the same fluid to flow out of the outflow channel as a whole, the inflow channels 204 and 206 supplying material to the two channel units generally form twice the cross-sectional area than the other inflow channels 202 and 208.

Based on the cross-sectional area and length of the fine mixing channel 242 of the channel unit A, the cross-sectional area of the fine mixing channel 244 of the channel unit B has a value larger than the cross-sectional area of the fine mixing channel 242 of the channel unit A and the channel The length of the fine mixing channel 246 of the unit C is longer than the length of the fine mixing channel 242 of the channel unit A.

Thus, the amount of fluid passing through the outflow channel 254 of channel unit B has a value greater than the amount of outflow passing through the outflow channel 252 of channel unit A, and the passage of fluid through the outflow channel 256 of channel unit C The time will have a value greater than the passage time of the outflow through the outflow channel 252 of channel unit A.

In addition, as shown in Figure 1, by adjusting the cross-sectional area or length of the inlet channel (102, 104), fine mixing channel 108 and the outlet channel 110, it is possible to adjust the amount, homogeneity and time of passage of the fluid through the channel. have. Longer lengths result in a more homogeneous mixing of the fluid, but longer lengths increase the resistance between the channel and the fluid, reducing the amount of fluid passing through and increasing the time passed.

Fluid passing through the outlet channel 110 is stored in the reservoir or flows through the inlet channel of another channel unit to form various concentrations.

Example 2

3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mixed channel device 300 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the mixed channel apparatus 300 includes three inlet reservoirs 312, 314, 316, four outlet reservoirs 322, 324, 326, 328, and a channel circuit 330 that connects the inlet reservoirs 312, 314, 316 and the outlet reservoirs 322, 324, 326, 328. do. The channel circuit 330 includes four channel units E, F, G, and H, each having two inflow channels, cross chambers, fine mixing channels and outlet channels.

Since there are four channel units, a connection relationship between each channel unit E, F, G, H is formed. Typically the inlet channel of one channel unit is connected to the outlet channel of the inlet reservoir or the other channel unit.

For example, the inflow channels 340a and 340b of the channel unit G are connected to the inflow reservoir 312 and the outflow channel of the channel unit E, respectively.

Some of the fine channels 332 and 344 of the channels formed in a zigzag shape may be formed to keep the resistance of the entire channel circuit 330 and the velocity of the fluid all constant, and the fine channels 338 connected to the inflow reservoir 316 may be formed. The amount of fluid flowing out of the outlet reservoir 328 and the speed of the fluid are controlled. Fine channel 328 preferably has a length twice that of other fine mixing channels or fine channels 332, 334, 336, 340, 342, and 344.

Example 3

4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mixed channel device 400 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the mixed channel arrangement 400 includes two inlet reservoirs 412, 414, four outlet reservoirs 422, 424, 426, 428 and a channel circuit 430 connecting the inlet reservoirs 412, 414 and the outlet reservoirs 422, 424, 426, 428. do. The channel circuit 430 includes a first channel unit group 440 and a second channel unit group 450 sequentially connected, and the first channel unit group 440 includes the fine channels 442 and 446 and the channel unit A. Are arranged in parallel, and the second channel unit group 450 arranges the fine channels 452 and 458 and the channel units B and C in parallel.

The fine channels 442, 446, 452 and 458 and the channel units A, B and C of both channel unit groups 440 and 450 are connected to other adjacent fine channels 442, 446, 452 and 458 or the channel units A, B and C, and the outlet reservoirs 422, 424, 426 and 428. The fine channels 452 and 458 and the channel units B and C of the channel unit group 450 are connected to the outlet reservoirs 422, 424, 426 and 428, respectively.

The fine mixing channel 444 of the channel unit A has a cross-sectional area that is twice as large as that of the fine channels 442 and 446 located at both ends of the first channel unit group 440. The fine mixing channels 454 and 456 have a cross-sectional area that is twice as large as that of the fine channels 452 and 458 located at both ends of the second channel unit group 450. In addition, the cross-sectional area of the microchannels 452 and 458 of the second channel unit group 450 has an area corresponding to 2/3 of the cross-sectional area of the microchannels 442 and 446 of the first channel unit group 440. Assuming that the flow path of the introduced fluid has the same length to the outlet reservoirs 422, 424, 426, 428, the resistance and the passage time of the channel circuit 430 can be kept the same by adjusting the cross-sectional area.

Thus, the two fluids that have passed through the mixing channel device 400 shown in FIG. 4 arrive at the same time in the outlet reservoirs 422, 424, 426, 428.

In addition, if a reagent such as a toxic substance is introduced into one inlet reservoir 412 and a diluent is introduced into the other inlet reservoir 414, the mixing ratio of the mixed fluid passing through the microchannels and the micromixing channels 452, 454, 456, and 458 under the same conditions. Becomes 3: 2: 1: 0

The mixing channel apparatus of three or more stages may be configured by a method similar to the mixing channel apparatus 400 illustrated in FIG. 4. Although proportional mixing ratio can be obtained as in the above embodiment, various mixing ratios can be obtained by adjusting the width, depth, or length of the channel.

The present invention also has the effect that it is possible to obtain a mixed fluid of various mixing ratios at once, but there is also an effect that a precise result can be obtained in one operation through the present invention the work made through two or more manual operations.

Example 4

5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mixed channel device 500 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the mixed channel apparatus 500 includes a first inflow reservoir 512, a second inflow reservoir 514, six channel units A, B, C, D, E, and F, and respective channels. Outlet reservoirs 521, 522, 523, 524, 525 and 526 connected to units A, B, C, D, E and F.

The channel unit A includes the first inlet channel A-1, the second inlet channel A-2, the cross chamber A-3, the fine mixing channel A-4, and the first outlet channel A-. 5) and the second outflow channel A-6, and other channel units B, C, D, E, and F also follow this configuration.

The second inflow channel A-2 of the channel unit A is connected to the second inflow reservoir 514, and the first inflow channel A-1 is connected to the first inflow reservoir 512. The second outlet channel A-6 is connected to the first inlet channel B-1 of the next channel unit B.

In addition, the second inflow channel B-2 of the channel unit B is connected to the second inflow reservoir 514 and the first inflow channel B-1 is the second outflow of the previous channel unit A. It is connected to channel A-6. The other channel units C, D, E, and F are also connected similarly to the channel unit B.

In each channel unit (A, B, C, D, E, F), elements except for the first outlet channel (A-5, B-5, C-5, D-5, E-5, F-5) Under the same conditions. However, the first outlet channels A-5, B-5, C-5, D-5, E-5, and F-5 form a zigzag that forms a curved portion, and the length of the first outlet channels 512 is 512. The shorter the distance from). This is to match the resistance of the path through which the fluid flows from the first inlet reservoir 512 to the six outlet reservoirs 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, and 526 and the timing of reaching the outlet reservoirs 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526.

Adjusting the resistance and the timing of arrival of the path is made possible by adjusting the cross-sectional area or length of the first inlet channel, the second inlet channel and the fine mixing channel of the channel unit. In addition to the fine mixing channel, the shape of the channel may be zigzag to obtain the maximum channel length in a narrow region.

The mixed fluid flowing out of the channel unit F through the second outlet channel F-6 is stored in the waste 527.

In the case of the mixing channel apparatus 500 of the present invention, a substance to be inspected is mainly introduced into the first inflow reservoir 512 and a diluent material is introduced into the second inflow reservoir 514. Unlike the mixed channel apparatus 400 illustrated in FIG. 4, the mixed channel apparatus 500 does not form the channel unit groups 440 and 450 having steps.

Therefore, in the present mixed channel apparatus 500, the number of channel units for achieving the same result is significantly smaller than the number of fine channels and channel units of the other mixed channel apparatus 400. For example, according to the same method as the mixing channel apparatus 400 shown in FIG. 4, although eight fine channels and ten channel units are required to obtain a mixed material having six mixing ratios, the present mixing channel apparatus According to 500, six channel units are sufficient.

Therefore, when the present mixed channel apparatus 500 is followed, it can be manufactured by low manufacturing cost and simple manufacturing procedure due to the simple structure. However, the length, width and depth of the channel must be precisely designed so that the mixture reaches the same in each outlet reservoir, and it is difficult to obtain satisfactory experimental conditions.

6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mixed channel device 600 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. More fluid is introduced into the second inlet reservoir as compared to the mixing channel arrangement 500 shown in FIG. 5. Thus, a thinner mixed material can be obtained.

According to the present invention, the channel units composed of fine channels may be interconnected to simultaneously provide mixed materials having various mixing ratios through a series of processes. The use of microchannels also revolutionizes the reliability and convenience of experiments and other tasks that can be a problem due to errors that can occur during manual operation.

In addition, unlike the method of moving the fluid by applying a high voltage in the microchannel, the cross-sectional area and length of the microchannel can be adjusted to control the amount of fluid passing, the degree of homogeneity, and the time of passage, including a mixed channel device. The design of the microchip can be facilitated.

In addition, since the accuracy of the mixing ratio of the mixing channel device and the working speed of the experiment depend on the design of the channel circuit, various designs are performed according to the required conditions.

In addition, low-cost mass production can be easily implemented using plastic material, which can be used for various types of lab-on-a-chip.

As described above, although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will be variously modified and modified within the scope of the present invention without departing from the killing and scope of the present invention described in the claims below. It will be appreciated that it can be changed.

Claims (17)

delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete An apparatus for mixing fluids at a static concentration using a fine mixing channel, A plurality of inlet reservoirs; One or more outlet reservoirs; And A channel circuit connecting the inlet reservoir and the outlet reservoir, the channel circuit having one or more channel unit groups sequentially connected, the channel unit group paralleling one or more channel units between both microchannels and the microchannels Arranged with Mixing channel apparatus comprising a. The method of claim 9, Channel units of the one channel unit group are connected to adjacent fine channels or channel units of the other channel unit group, And a channel unit of the channel unit group connected to the outlet reservoir, respectively, connected to the outlet reservoir. The method of claim 9, Wherein said channel unit comprises a plurality of inlet channels, a cross chamber to which said inlet channels are connected, a micro mix channel connected to said cross chamber, and at least one outlet channel connected to said micro mix channel. The method of claim 11, The amount or homogeneity of the fluid passing through is controlled by a change in the cross-sectional area or length of the inlet channel and the fine mixing channel, And the fine mixing channel is zigzag. The method of claim 11, Mixing channel apparatus, characterized in that the amount of fluid passing or the time of passage is controlled by the cross-sectional area or length of the outlet channel. An apparatus for mixing fluids at a static concentration using a fine mixing channel, A first inlet reservoir; A second inlet reservoir; At least one channel unit, the channel unit comprising a first inlet channel, a second inlet channel, a cross chamber to which the inlet channel is connected, a fine mixing channel connected to the cross chamber, a first outlet channel connected to the fine mixing channel, and the Having a second outlet channel connected to the fine mixing channel; And An outlet reservoir connected to the first outlet channel; Wherein said second inlet channel is connected to said second inlet reservoir, and said first inlet channel is connected to a second outlet channel of said first inlet reservoir or another channel unit. The method of claim 14, The amount or homogeneity of the fluid passing through the first inlet channel, the second inlet channel and the fine mixing channel is changed by changing the cross-sectional area or length, And the fine mixing channel is zigzag. The method of claim 14, Mixing channel device, characterized in that the amount of fluid passing or the time of passage is controlled by the cross-sectional area or length of the first outlet channel. The method of claim 16, Mixing channel apparatus, characterized in that the amount of fluid arriving at the reservoir and the time of arrival are equalized by adjusting the cross-sectional area or length of the first outlet channel.