KR101635459B1

KR101635459B1 - Programmable Micropump

Info

Publication number: KR101635459B1
Application number: KR1020140092449A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 심준섭; 임성빈; 김상찬
Original assignee: 광운대학교 산학협력단
Priority date: 2014-07-22
Filing date: 2014-07-22
Publication date: 2016-07-11
Also published as: KR20160011735A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a controllable micropump. More particularly, the present invention relates to a micropump for injecting and moving a fluid, comprising: a microchannel portion including a fluid injection port for injecting a fluid and a transfer passage for injected fluid; There is provided a controllable micropump comprising a pumping section having a pumping space and moving pressure means for controlling the movement of fluid in the microchannel section by varying the volume of the pumping space.

Description

Programmable Micropump < RTI ID = 0.0 >

The present invention relates to a programmable micropump, and more particularly, to a micropump that enables control of an incoming fluid.

In recent years, micro-scale micro structures required for sensing or actuating are fabricated by using semiconductor manufacturing process technology, and signal processing circuits are integrated with the micro structure, and a high performance multi-functional micro electro mechanical system Mechanical system, hereinafter referred to as " MEMS ").

The lab-on-a-chip, which integrates biochips, medical and microfluidic analytical devices on a chip with a size of several square centimeters using this MEMS technology, is used in the fields of biology, chemistry, Many studies are underway to utilize the system for diagnosis and drug injection system.

The practical study of ultra-miniaturized sensors and actuators in this way is largely driven by the emergence of MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology.

Recently, with the launch of various commercial products made with this technology and rapid expansion of the market, it is recognized as a key technology that can lead to new industries. Especially, it has enabled the emergence of so-called integrated micro system (iMEMS: integrated MEMS), in which sensors or actuators are simultaneously produced with integrated circuits (ICs) by using micro-system system technology based on silicon.

A micro pump has a function of allowing a small amount of fluid to flow in a desired direction and is mainly used for a bio-fluidic system including a micro total analysis system (μ-TAS), a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) Micro-Electro Mechanical System (MEMS), which is used in the field of micro-fluid transport and control.

Up to now, in the macro region, a method of transferring a fluid by forming a pressure gradient using the rotational force of a motor has been widely used. However, in a micro-sized LOC (Lab-On-a-Chip) system, it is difficult to use an actuator such as a motor having a relatively large volume. In order to overcome this problem, there has been a need to design a micropump having a simple shape and easy to manufacture with a microsize.

The micropump is divided into an active method that requires a power supply and a passive method that does not require a power supply. The active method allows control of precise flow rate through control of the power supply and requires high reliability and quick response like an insulin injector. Is used as a light emitting element.

Such a pump is manufactured using silicon as a main material, and high manufacturing cost is pointed out as a disadvantage.

The passive method is a method that enables fluid transfer using a natural phenomenon such as capillary force, and is suitable for low-cost or disposable devices. However, a passive pump using a capillary force is a material which constitutes a microfluidic channel It must be hydrophilic and is typically used when transporting fluids into a microfluidic channel with a SiO ₂ layer on the surface.

In addition, existing micropumps exist in various ways such as Piezo electric, Thermo pneumatic, Bimetallic, Bubble type, etc. However, these micropumps have some limitations. First, the pumping speed of the micropump is slow. If the flow rate of the micropump sucks is low, it is a problem because the desired reaction does not occur rapidly on the Lap on a chip. Secondly, despite the low efficiency of existing micropumps, the internal structure was very complicated. Point of Care (hereafter referred to as POC), a system of on-site health checkups, is attracting attention as a means of health screening. These lap on a chips use disposable products for hygienic reasons. However, conventional micropumps are disadvantageous to mass production due to complicated manufacturing method and operation principle, and are difficult to use by non-experts. There was not enough technology to move to the location.

Accordingly, it is required to develop a micro pump capable of moving to a correct position in a fluid channel when using a micro pump.

Korean Patent No. 10-0860075, Korean Patent No. 10-0931897

It is an object of the present invention to provide a micropump which can be used in a one-time Lap-on-a-chip and is inexpensive and simple to process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a micropump that can be controlled to move to a desired position of a microchannel when used as a lap-on-a-chip.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a micropump which can perform immunoassay easily.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a micropump for injecting and moving a fluid, comprising: a microchannel portion including a fluid injection port for injecting fluid and a flow passage for injected fluid; And moving pressure means for varying the volume of the pumping space to control the movement of the fluid in the microchannel portion.

Further, the pumping section of the present invention is characterized in that the pumping space communicating with the moving path has a hole formed outwardly in a space other than the pumping space, the volume of which is varied by the movement of the moving and pressing means. to provide.

Further, the moving pressurizing means of the present invention rotates with the pressure on the pumping portion to adjust the volume of the pumping space.

The present invention also provides a controllable micropump, characterized in that the moving pressurizing means comprises a roller.

In addition, the present invention provides a controllable micropump, wherein the moving passage further includes a receiving space for holding the fluid and holding the fluid for a predetermined time.

The present invention also provides a controllable micropump, wherein the microchannel portion and the lower portion of the pumping portion are made of an unmodified material, and the upper portion of the pumping portion is made of an elastic material having an elastic component.

The microchannel portion and the pumping portion of the present invention are made of the same material, and the microchannel portion and the pumping portion of the present invention are made of an elastic material having an elastic component.

Examples of the elastic material of the present invention include isoprene rubber, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, butyl rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber, , A polysulfide rubber, a fluorine rubber, and an epichlorohydrin rubber.

Further, the pump of the present invention is a controllable micropump characterized in that a plurality of microchannel portions and pumping portions are arranged in parallel and a plurality of pumping portions are variable in volume by one moving pressurizing means.

Further, the pump of the present invention is arranged so that the microchannel part and the pumping part are stacked in a plurality, and the plurality of pumping parts are variable in volume by one moving pressurizing part.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a micropump for injecting and moving a fluid, comprising: a microchannel having a fluid inlet for injecting fluid and a flow passage for injected fluid, There is provided a controllable micropump comprising a pumping section having a pumping space communicating with a moving passage and moving pressure means for varying the volume of the pumping space to control the movement of fluid in the microchannel section.

Further, the branch passage of the present invention has a valve function in which the internal passage is opened and closed by the movement pressing means.

Further, the branch passage of the present invention provides a controllable micropump having a valve function by which a part thereof is refracted and the bending portion is opened and closed by the movement pressing means.

Further, the moving pressurizing means of the present invention is made of a roller, and the size of the pumping space is regulated by the rotation with the pressure on the pumping portion.

In addition, the present invention provides a micropump for driving a microfluid, wherein the fluid injection port has an open top.

The micropump according to the present invention is driven by human power, and has an effect of having higher efficiency than a conventional micropump using a physicochemical method.

The micropump according to the present invention is a lap-on-a-chip, and is controllable in use, so that the micropump can be moved to a desired position of the passage of the microchannel.

The micropump according to the present invention has the effect of controlling the movement more precisely by programming the movement of the moving pressurizing means.

The controllable micropump of the present invention has the effect of facilitating immunoassay in one step.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a controllable micropump according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of moving a fluid using a controllable micropump according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.
3 is a top view of a controllable micropump according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a controllable micropump according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a plan view of a controllable micropump according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 shows a schematic view of an immunoassay process.
7 shows an immunoassay process through a controllable micropump according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, it should be noted that, in the drawings, the same components or parts have the same reference numerals as much as possible. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted so as to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention.

The terms " about ", " substantially ", etc. used to the extent that they are used herein are intended to be taken to mean an approximation of, or approximation to, the numerical values of manufacturing and material tolerances inherent in the meanings mentioned, Accurate or absolute numbers are used to help prevent unauthorized exploitation by unauthorized intruders of the referenced disclosure.

The present invention relates to a micro-pump for injecting and moving a fluid, comprising: a micro-channel part composed of a fluid injection port for injecting a fluid and a flow passage for injected fluid; a pumping part having a pumping space communicating with the movement path; And moving pressurizing means for controlling the movement of the fluid in the fine channel portion by varying the volume.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a controllable micropump according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view of moving a fluid using a controllable micropump according to an embodiment of the present invention will be.

3 is a top view of a controllable micropump according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the micropump of the present invention includes a microchannel 110, a pumping unit 120, and a moving pressurizing unit 130. The micro channel part 110 includes a fluid injection port 111 and a moving path 112. The pumping part 120 includes a pumping space 121.

The microchannel 110 has a fluid passage 112 for injecting the fluid and the fluid passage 112 is connected to a fluid inlet 111 through which the fluid flows.

The fluid injection port 111 serves as an injection port for injecting a fluid from the outside and the fluid injected into the fluid injection port 111 is transferred to the pumping part 120 through the transfer passage 112. That is, when negative pressure is generated through the pumping part 120, the fluid in the vicinity of the fluid injection port 111 moves to the moving path 112.

The fluid injection port 111 is preferably oriented upward so as to more easily inject fluid.

The movement passage 112 of the micro channel part 110 takes the form of a fine passage and may have a straight or curved shape. The micro channel part 110 may include a passage 112 for moving the fluid injected into the fluid injection port 111 to a place where the pumping part 120 is located.

The micro channel part 110 of the present invention can be connected so that the fluid injection port 111 and the moving path 112 are integrally connected to each other instead of the moving path 112 being separately connected. The fluid that is moved to the pumping portion 120 can be moved in a more hermetic state without externally affecting it.

Also, it is preferable that an end of the fluid injection port 111 is formed upward. Since the fluid injection port 111 is formed to face upward, it is easier to inject the fluid.

The pumping part 120 according to the present invention is directly connected to the moving path 112, and the fluid is moved by the positive pressure or the negative pressure of the pumping part 120. That is, a pumping space 121 is formed by pressing a specific part of the pumping part 120 with the moving and pressing means 130, and the volume of the pumping space 121 can be varied. The volume is varied. The inflow fluid is caused to move due to the variation of the volume.

The pumping part 120 is formed to have a larger space than the moving path 112 and a pumping space 121 communicating with the moving path 112 is formed. By the movement of the moving pressing part 130, A space other than the pumping space in which the opening is changed is formed with a hole which is opened to the outside. Accordingly, the volume of the pumping space 121 can be freely changed by the pressurization of the moving and pressing means 130.

The moving pressurizing unit 130 serves to vary the volume of the pumping space 121 by pressing and moving on the pumping unit 120.

Referring to FIG. 2, the moving pressurizing unit 130 may optionally be rotated on the pumping unit 120 together with the pressure to rotate, so that the volume of the pumping space 121 can be adjusted. The volume of the pumping space 121 can be regulated by the rolling of the pumping part 120 together with the pressure of the pumping part 120 by means of the roller. Accordingly, the fluid introduced through the fluid injection port 111 can rotate the rollers to move the fluid to a desired position.

On the other hand, it is possible to more precisely control the movement of the moving pressurizing means. Instead of moving the moving pressurizing means to a human hand or the like, it is possible to precisely move the moving pressurizing means after programming by using a medium such as a computer.

In the present invention, the moving passage 112 may further include a receiving space 113 for receiving and holding the fluid for a predetermined period of time.

3, a receiving space 113 is additionally formed in the moving passage 112 to allow the fluid to stay in various immunoassays. In the immunoassay, Can be performed.

Meanwhile, the micro channel part 110 and the pumping part 120 may be made of the same material.

The micro channel part 110 and the pumping part 120 preferably include an elastic material having an elastic component. The elastic material may be natural or synthetic rubber. The natural rubber is isoprene rubber. Examples of the synthetic rubber include silicone rubber, urethane rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber , Ethylene propylene rubber, butyl rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber, acrylic rubber, polysulfide rubber, fluorine rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, and the like. An example of the silicone rubber is PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane).

The lower part of the micro channel part 110 and the pumping part 120 may be made of a non-deformable material, and the upper part of the pumping part may include an elastic material having an elastic component.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a controllable micropump according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

4A, the lower portion of the microchannel 110 and the pumping portion 120 may be made of an unmodified material, and the upper portion 122 of the pumping portion may be made of an elastic material having an elastic component . This can be formed by coupling the upper portion 122 of the pumping portion made of elastic material to the lower portion of the pumping portion of the unmodified material. Since the micro channel part 110 is made of a non-deformable material, volume change is not caused even if an external force such as pushing is applied from the outside. It is possible to move the micro channel unit 110 to the correct position when the micro channel unit 110 is moved due to no volume change in the micro channel unit 110 and the like.

4 (b) and FIG. 4 (c), when the upper portion 122 of the pumping portion 122 is compressed by the moving and pressing means 130, the shape of the other portion is not changed, only the upper portion 122 of the pumping portion is changed Lt; / RTI > When the moving and pressing means 130 is moved in the direction of the right arrow, the pumping space 120 is provided with the pumping space 121, so that the introduced fluid moves.

In the controllable micropump of the present invention, a plurality of pumps in which the microchannel part 110 and the pumping part 120 exist independently are arranged in parallel, and a plurality of pumping parts 120 may be formed to be variable in volume. That is, a plurality of pumps having the fluid injection port 111 and the moving path 112 of the microchannel portion 120 and the pumping portion 120 may be arranged in parallel so that the pumping portions 120 may be arranged side by side And one pushing means 130 is placed on the plurality of pumping portions 120 to be pressed. By doing so, there is an advantage in that a plurality of fluids can be moved at a time due to a single operation of the moving and pressing means 130.

In more detail, a plurality of microchannel parts 110 and pumping parts 120 including fluid injection ports 111, which are independently present, are arranged in parallel. The plurality of pumping portions 121 are arranged in parallel so that the pumping space 121 of the plurality of pumping portions 120 can be varied by one moving pressurizing means 130. Thereby, it is possible to simultaneously perform a plurality of operations by one movement by one moving pressurizing means 130 after injecting different fluids into the plurality of micro pumps.

Also, the pump may be formed by stacking a plurality of microchannel parts 110 and pumping parts 120, and the plurality of pumping parts 120 may be variable in volume by one moving pressurizing device 130 . In the same manner, a plurality of pumping units 120 are superimposed, so that it is possible to perform a plurality of operations simultaneously by one moving pressurizing unit 130.

5 is a plan view of a controllable micropump according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The micropump of the present invention comprises a fluid injection port 111 for injecting a fluid and a moving passage 112 of the injected fluid, the moving passage 112 having a branch channel 114 branched into one or more channels, (120) having a pumping space (121) communicating with the moving passage (112) and a pumping space (121) communicating with the moving passage (112) And pressurizing means (130) for pressurizing the pressurized fluid.

The fine channel unit 110, the pumping unit 120, and the moving pressurizing unit 130 are the same as those described above, and thus will not be described.

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that it includes a branch passage 114 which is branched into one or more than one in the movement passage 112. The branch passage 114 is further provided with another fluid, Movement can be made.

An accommodation space 113 can be formed in the movement passage 112. An immune system can be grasped through immune analysis by immobilizing an antibody or the like in the accommodation space 113 and then performing blood movement and amplification reaction It can be used as an instrument.

Figure 6 shows a schematic view of an immunoassay process.

Immunoassay can be performed by firstly immobilizing the immobilized antibody (in the present invention, the antibody can be immobilized by providing the receiving space 113), then capturing the disease marker, Analysis can be conducted. In this case, since the general immunoassay is a multi-step process, the operation is complicated and it is not smooth.

By using the micropump of the present invention, the immunoassay step in FIG. 6 can be carried out by a single process step.

7 shows an immunoassay process through a controllable micropump according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The fluid channel 111 of the microchannel 110, the movement passage 112, the accommodation space 113, the branch passage 114, and the branch passage 114 can be easily performed through the micropump of the present invention. The pumping section 120, and the moving and pressing means 130, as shown in FIG. Blood is introduced into the fluid injection port 111 of the fine channel section 110 and water, liquidized Au nanomaterial, water, and liquidized Ag nanomaterial are sequentially introduced into the branch passage 114. (Fig. 7 (a)).

The blood contained in the fluid injection port 111 is moved to the right by pushing the moving and pressing means 130 so that the pumping space 121 of the pumping unit 120 becomes larger.

At this time, the branch passage 114 may have a valve function by which the internal passage is opened and closed by the movement urging means 130. In this case, the branch passage 114 may partially refract and allow the movement pressing unit 130 to press the refraction site. As the movement pressing unit 130 moves, the refraction site is not pressed or pressed . 7 (a) and 7 (b), the blood in the fluid injection port 111 first passes through the accommodation space 113, but flows into the branch passage 114 The liquid in the branch passage 114 does not move because the refracting portion is pressed by the movement urging means 130. [ This can serve as a valve for preventing the liquid in the branch passage 114 from moving by pressing the branch passage 114.

7 (c), when there is no portion for pressing the branch passage 114 due to the movement of the movement urging means 130, the branch passage 114 is opened as the valve is opened, The fluid in the branch passage 114 is moved. In this case, the fluid injection port 111 is clogged by platelets of blood and the pumping space 121 is variable, so that the pressure regulation can be controlled by the movement of the liquid in the branch passage 114.

When the moving and pressurizing means 130 continues to move to the right, the water, the liquid Au nanomaterial, the water, and the liquid Ag nanomaterial in the branch passage 114 are sequentially passed through the accommodation space 113. That is, the disease marker is captured in the antibody attached to the accommodation space 113 while plasma passes through the accommodation space 113, and the washing process is performed by water as shown in FIG. 7 (c) A secondary antibody reaction with Au nanomaterials occurs as shown in (d) of FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 7 (e), the washing process is again performed with water. As shown in FIG. 7 (f), the disease can be confirmed through the signal amplification reaction with the Ag nanomaterial.

In other words, the plasma in the blood can be passed through the receiving space 113, and immunoassay can be performed in a single process through the passage of various substances.

As described above, the controllable micropump of the present invention has the effect of facilitating immunoassay in one step.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. It will be clear to those who have knowledge of.

110: fine channel portion 111: fluid inlet
112: transfer passage 113: accommodation space
114: branch passage 120:
121: Pumping space 122: Pumping section
130: Moving pressurizing means

Claims

delete

A micro pump for injecting and moving a fluid,
A fluid injection port for injecting the fluid and a transfer passage for the injected fluid,
Wherein the moving passage has a branch passage branched into one or more,
Characterized in that the branch passage has a valve function that allows the internal passage to be opened and closed by the movement pressing means, but has a valve function in which the branching passage is refracted and the bending portion is opened and closed by the movement pressing means,
A pumping portion having a pumping space communicating with the moving passage, and
And moving pressure means for varying the volume of the pumping space to control the movement of the fluid in the microchannel portion.

delete

12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the pumping portion is formed with a hole which is opened to the outside in a space other than the pumping space in which the volume of the pumping space is variable by the movement of the movement urging means in the pumping space communicating with the moving path.

12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the moving pressurizing means is rotated on the pumping portion together with the pressure to regulate the volume of the pumping space.

16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the moving pressurizing means comprises a roller and the size of the pumping space is regulated due to rotation together with the pressure on the pumping portion.

12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the fluid injection port is open at an upper portion thereof.

12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the moving passage further includes a receiving space for receiving a fluid and holding the fluid for a predetermined period of time.

12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the pump is formed so that a plurality of microchannel portions and pumping portions are arranged in parallel and that a plurality of pumping portions are variable in volume by one moving pressurizing means.

12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the pump is formed by stacking a plurality of microchannel portions and pumping portions so that a plurality of pumping portions are variable in volume by one moving pressurizing means.