WO2021164021A1 - Structure microfluidique, système microfluidique, procédé microfluidique et procédé de fabrication de structure microfluidique - Google Patents

Structure microfluidique, système microfluidique, procédé microfluidique et procédé de fabrication de structure microfluidique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2021164021A1
WO2021164021A1 PCT/CN2020/076260 CN2020076260W WO2021164021A1 WO 2021164021 A1 WO2021164021 A1 WO 2021164021A1 CN 2020076260 W CN2020076260 W CN 2020076260W WO 2021164021 A1 WO2021164021 A1 WO 2021164021A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
degrees
trunk
fluid passage
passage direction
microchambers
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CN2020/076260
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English (en)
Inventor
Lijiao HU
Yufan ZHANG
Chungen YUAN
Haochen CUI
Original Assignee
Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd.
Beijing Boe Health Technology Co., Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Application filed by Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd., Beijing Boe Health Technology Co., Ltd. filed Critical Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd.
Priority to CN202080000166.7A priority Critical patent/CN113544515A/zh
Priority to PCT/CN2020/076260 priority patent/WO2021164021A1/fr
Publication of WO2021164021A1 publication Critical patent/WO2021164021A1/fr

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
    • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
    • B01L3/502707—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
    • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
    • B01L3/502723—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by venting arrangements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/06—Fluid handling related problems
    • B01L2200/0684—Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
    • B01L2300/0861—Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
    • B01L2300/0864—Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to microfluidic technology, more particularly, to a microfluidic structure, a microfluidic system, a microfluidic method, and a method of fabricating a microfluidic structure.
  • a microfluidics chip is a microchip on which different processes including a biological analysis, a chemical analysis, and a medical analysis are performed.
  • the biological analysis on a microfluidics chip includes sample preparation, dilution, reaction, separation, and detection with respect to a substance.
  • a process of detecting a substance can be automatically done in the microfluidic chip.
  • microfluidic-chip technology has many advantages including high analytical accuracy, fast analysis speed, lightness, thinness, low reagent consumption, high integration, high automation, and reusability, the microfluidic-chip technology has a great potential market in the fields of biology, chemistry, medicine, etc.
  • optical detection is the widest used and most effective technology.
  • Methods used in the optical detection include fluorescence detection, detection using ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, chemiluminescence detection, bioluminescence detection, and Raman scattering detection.
  • the detection using ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy not only can detect a substance, but also can perform other analyses of the substance, including quantitative analysis, structural analysis, and functional group identification, etc.
  • the present invention provides a microfluidic structure, comprising an inlet; a plurality of microcham. bers; and a microchannel connected to the inlet and connected to the plurality of microchambers; wherein the microchannel comprises a trunk, and a plurality of branches respectively connecting the plurality of microchambers with the trunk; the plurality of branches are sequentially arranged in series along a length of the trunk, and are connected to the trunk respectively at a plurality of branch points sequentially arranged in series along the length of the trunk; and two adjacent microchambers of the plurality of microchambers are spaced apart from each other by at least two adjacent branch points of the plurality of branch points.
  • At arespective one of the plurality of branch points, a portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points, a portion of a respective one of the plurality of branches immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points, and a portion of the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points divide the microfluidic structure into three non-overlapping regions comprising a first region between the portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points and the portion of the respective one of the plurality of branches immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points, a second region between the portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points and the portion of the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points, and a third region between the portion of the respective one of the plurality of branches immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points and the portion of the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points; a first side of the first region along
  • the microfluidic structure further comprises a plurality of outlets respectively connected to the plurality of microchambers.
  • the microfluidic structure further comprises an air-permeable and liquid-impermeable film covering the plurality of outlets, allowing air to be released from the plurality of microchambers while retaining a liquid inside the plurality of microchambers.
  • the microfluidic structure further comprises a waste outlet for releasing a liquid in the trunk; and a waste microchamber connecting the waste outlet and the microchannel.
  • the microfluidic structure further comprises a waste branch connecting the waste microchamber to the trunk; wherein the waste branch and an immediately adjacent branch of the plurality of branches connect tothe trunk at an immediately adjacent branch point of the plurality of branch points; wherein, at the immediately adjacent branch point, a portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point, a portion of the immediately adjacent branch, and a portion of the waste branch divide the microfluidic structure into three non-overlapping regions comprising a fourth region between the portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point and the portion of the immediately adjacent branch, a fifth region between the portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point and the portion of the waste branch, and a sixth region between the portion of the immediately adjacent branch and the portion of the waste branch; a fifth side of the fourth region along a fourth fluid passage direction of, and abutting, the portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point and a sixth side of the fourth region along a fifth fluid passage direction of, and abutting, the waste branch
  • the immediately adjacent branch is a last branch of the plurality of branches sequentially arranged in series;
  • the immediately adjacent branch point is a last branch point of the plurality of branch points sequentially arranged in series; and the waste branch and the waste microchamber are spaced apart from the inlet by the trunk connecting to the plurality of branches.
  • the plurality of microchambers are a plurality of detection chambers, a respective one of which is optically coupled with a detector.
  • the present invention provides a microfluidic system, comprising the microfluidic structure described herein or fabricated by a method described herein, and one or more sensing circuits.
  • the present invention provides a microfluidic method, comprising receiving a fluid from an inlet of a microfluidic structure; and time-sequentially transporting distinct portions of the fluid respectively to a plurality of microchambers through a microchannel connected to the inlet and connected to the plurality of microchambers; wherein the microchannel comprises a trunk, and a plurality of branches respectively connecting the plurality of microchambers with the trunk; the plurality of branches are sequentially arranged in series along a length of the trunk, and are connected to the trunk respectively at a plurality of branch points sequentially arranged in series along the length of the trunk; and two adjacent microchambers of the plurality of microchambers are spaced apart from each other by at least two adjacent branch points of the plurality of branch points; time-sequentially transporting the distinct portions of the fluid respectively to the plurality of microchambers through the microchannel comprises causing movement of the fluid from the inlet to the trunk; and time-sequentially transporting the
  • a portion of the fluid when a portion of the fluid is first moved to a respective one of the plurality of branch points, a larger fraction of the portion of the fluid is partitioned into a respective one of the plurality of branches, and a smaller fraction of the portion of the fluid is partitioned into a portion of the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points; and when the respective one of the plurality of branches is filled with the fluid, the fluid is directed to the portion of the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points.
  • the method further comprises controlling fluid passage directions of the fluid at a respective one of the plurality of branch points such that the fluid in a portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points has a first fluid passage direction, the fluid in a portion of a respective one of the plurality of branches immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points has a second fluid passage direction, and the fluid in a portion of the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points has a third fluid passage direction; wherein the first fluid passage direction, the second fluid passage direction, and the third fluid passage direction divide the microfluidic structure into three non-overlapping regions at the respective one of the plurality of branch points, including a first region between the first fluid passage direction and the second fluid passage direction, a second region between the first fluid passage direction and the third fluid passage direction, and a third region between the second fluid passage direction and the third fluid passage direction; a first side of the first region along the first fluid passage direction and a second side of the first region along the second fluid passage direction;
  • the method further comprises releasing air from the plurality of microchambers through a plurality of outlets respectively connected to the plurality of microchambers while retaining a liquid inside the plurality of microchambers.
  • the method further comprises releasing a liquid from the trunk to a waste outlet through a waste branch; wherein the waste branch and an immediately adjacent branch of the plurality of branches connect tothe trunk at an innediately adjacent branch point of the plurality of branch points.
  • the method further comprises controlling fluid passage directions of the fluid at the immediately adjacent branch point such that the fluid in a portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point has a fourth fluid passage direction, the fluid in a portion of the immediately adjacent branch has a fifth fluid passage direction, and the fluid in a portion of the waste branch has a sixth fluid passage direction; wherein the fourth fluid passage direction, the fifth fluid passage direction, and the sixth fluid passage direction divide the microfluidic structure into three non-overlapping regions at the immediately adjacent branch point, including a fourth region between the fourth fluid passage direction and the fifth fluid passage direction, a fifth region between the fourth fluid passage direction and the sixth fluid passage direction, and a sixth region between the fifth fluid passage direction and the sixth fluid passage direction; a fifth side of the fourth region along the fourth fluid passage direction and a sixth side of the fourth region along the fifth fluid passage direction form a third included angle ⁇ in the fourth region; a seventh side of the fifth region along the turth fluid passage direction and an eighth side of the fifth region along the sixth fluid passage direction form a fourth
  • the method further comprises detecting a target substance at a respective one of the plurality of microchambers.
  • the present invention provides a method of fabricating a nficrofluidic structure, comprising forming an inlet; forming a plurality of microchambers; and forming a microchannel connected to the inlet and connected to the plurality of microchambers; wherein forming the microchannel comprises forming a trunk, and forming a plurality of branches respectively connecting the plurality of microchambers with the trunk; the plurality of branches are sequentially arranged in series along a length of the trunk, and are connected to the trunk respectively at a plurality of branch points sequentially arranged in series along the length of the trunk; and two adjacent microchambers of the plurality of microchambers are spaced apart from each other by at least two adjacent branch points of the plurality of branch points.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a microfluidic structure in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a structure of a microfluidic structure in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a structure of a microfluidic structure in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a microchannel in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a microchannel in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a partial structure of a microfluidic structure in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a microchannel in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a microchannel in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a microchannel in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a microfluidic structure in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a move speed of a liquid in a microfluidic structure in a plan view in some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating move a speed of a liquid in a microfluidic structure in a perspective view in some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a move speed of a liquid in a microfluidic structure in a plan view in some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a move speed of a liquid in a microfluidic structure in a perspective view in some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a microfluidic method in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating a method of fabricating a microfluidic structure in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • a detecting signal used to detect one microchamber may become a noise in a process of detecting another microchamber using a different detecting signal.
  • the present disclosure provides, inter alia, a microfluidic structure, a microfluidic system, a microfluidic method, and a method of fabricating a microfluidic structure that substantially obviate oneor more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
  • the present disclosure provides a microfluidic structure.
  • the microfluidic structure includes an inlet; a plurality of microchambers; and a microchannel connected to the inlet and connected to the plurality of microchambers.
  • the microchannel includes a trunk, and a plurality of branches respectively connecting the plurality of microchambers with the trunk.
  • the plurality of branches are sequentially arranged in series along a length of the trunk, and are connected to the trunk respectively at a plurality of branch points sequentially arranged in series along the length of the trunk.
  • two adjacent microchambers of the plurality of microchambers are spaced apart from each other by at least two adjacent branch points of the plurality of branch points.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a microfluidic structure in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • the microfluidic structure includes an inlet 10.
  • a liquid is input into the microfluidic structure through the inlet 10.
  • the microfluidic structure further includes a plurality of microchambers 20.
  • a liquid in a respective one of the plurality of microchambers 20 is detected by a detector.
  • reagents are disposed in the plurality of microchambers 20 to respectively have reactions with distinct portions of the liquid respectively transmitted to the plurality of microchambers 20.
  • the microfluidic structure includes a microchannel 30 connected to the inlet 10 and connected to the plurality of microchambers 20, e.g., the microchannel 30 connecting the inlet 10 to each of the plurality of microchambers 20.
  • FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a structure of a microfluidic structure in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • the microchannel 30 includes a trunk 31, and a plurality of branches 32 respectively connecting the plurality of microchambers 20 with the trunk 31.
  • the trunk 31 has a curved shape.
  • the trunk 31 has a wave shape.
  • the trunk 31 has a zig-zag shape as shown in FIG. 2A.
  • FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a structure of a microfluidic structure in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • the plurality of nicrochambers 20 includes a first microchamber 201, a second microchamber 202, and a third microchamber 203.
  • the first microchamber 201, the second microchamber 202, and the third microchamber 203 are sequentially arranged in series along a length of the trunk 31.
  • the plurality of branch points BP includes a first branch point BP 1, a second branch point BP2, anda third branch point BP3.
  • the first branch point BP 1 corresponds to the first microchamber 201
  • the second branch point BP2 corresponds to the second microchamber 202
  • the third branch point BP3 corresponds to the third microchamber 203.
  • the plurality of branches 32 are sequentially arranged in series along a length of the trunk 31, the plurality of branches 32 are connected to the trunk 31 respectively at the plurality of branch points BP sequentially arranged in series along the length of the trunk 31.
  • the trunk 31 having a curved shape are curved at the plurality of branch points BP.
  • the trunk 31 has a zig-zag shape, and each of the plurality of branch points BP corresponds to a turning point in the zig-zag shape.
  • two adjacent microchambers of the plurality of microchambers 20 are spaced apart from each other by at least two adjacent branch points of the plurality of branch points BP.
  • two adjacent microchambers of the plurality of microchambers 20 are on two opposite sides of the trunk 31.
  • the first microchamber 201 and the second microchamber 202 are microchambers immediately adjacent to each other, and the first branch point BP 1 and the second branch point BP2 are branch points immediately adjacent to each other.
  • the first microchamber 201 and the second microchamber 202 are spaced apart from each other by the first branch point BP1 and the second branch point BP2.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a microchannel in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a microchannel in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • a first portion P1 of the trunk 31 immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP, a second portion P2 of a respective one of the plurality of branches 32 immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP, and a third portion P3 of the trunk 31 immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP divide the microfluidic structure into three non-overlapping regions.
  • the three non-overlapping regions includes a first region R1, a second region R2, and a third region R3.
  • the first region R1 is between the first portion P1 of the trunk 31 immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP and the second portion P2 of the respective one of the plurality of branches 32 immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP.
  • the second region R2 is between the first portion P 1 of the trunk 31 immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP and the third portion P3 of the trunk 31 immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP.
  • the third region R3 is between the second portion P2 of the respective one of the plurality of branches 32 immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP and the third portion P3 of the trunk 31 immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP.
  • a first side S 1 of the first region R1 along a first fluid passage direction D1 of, and abutting, the first portion Pi of the trunk 31 immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP and a second side S2 of the first region R1 along a second fluid passage direction D2 of, and abutting, the second portion P2 of the respective one of the plurality of branches 32 immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP form a first included angle ⁇ in the first region R1, 90 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 270 degrees, e.g., 90 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 140 degrees, 140 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 190 degrees, 190 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 240 degrees, and 240 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 270 degrees.
  • the first included angle ⁇ is in a range of 110 degrees to 130 degrees, for example, the first included angle ⁇ is 120 degrees.
  • the first included angle ⁇ is in a range of 140 degrees to 160 degrees, for example, the first included angle ⁇ is 150 degrees.
  • the first included angle ⁇ is in a range of 170 degrees to 190 degrees, for example, the first included angle ⁇ is 180 degrees.
  • first fluid passage direction D1 and the second fluid passage direction D2 are the same.
  • first fluid passage direction D 1 and the second fluid passage direction D2 are different.
  • athird side S3 of the second region R2 along the first fluid passage direction D1 of, and abutting, the first portion P1 of the trunk 31 immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP and a fourth side S4 of the second region R2 along a third fluid passage direction D3 of, and abutting, the third portion P3 of the trunk 31 immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP form a second included angle ⁇ in the second region R2, 0 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 120 degrees, e.g., 0 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 20 degrees, 20 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 40 degrees, 40 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 60 degrees, 60 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 80 degrees, 80 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 100 degrees, 100 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 120 degrees.
  • the second included angle ⁇ is in a range of 20 degrees to 40 degrees, for example, the second included angle ⁇ is 30 degrees.
  • the second included angle ⁇ is in a range of 50 degrees to 70 degrees, for example, the second included angle ⁇ is 60 degrees.
  • the second included angle ⁇ is in a range of 80 degrees to 100 degrees, for example, the second included angle ⁇ is 90 degrees.
  • ⁇ is greater than ⁇ .
  • 165 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 195 degrees e.g., 165 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 175 degrees, 175 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 185 degrees, and 185 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 195 degrees.
  • 75 degrees ⁇ ⁇ 105 degrees e.g., 75 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 85 degrees, 85 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 95 degrees, and 95 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 105 degrees.
  • the first included angle ⁇ and the second included angle ⁇ can be adjusted to control the moving speed of the liquid entering the plurality of the microchambers 20.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a partial structure of a microfluidic structure in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • the microfluidic structure further includes a plurality of outlet 40 respectively connected to the plurality of microchambers 20.
  • the microfluidic structure further includes an air-permeable and liquid-impermeable film 50 covering the plurality of outlets 40, allowing air to be released from the plurality of microchambers 20 while retaining a liquid inside the plurality of microchambers 20.
  • the air-permeable and liquid-impermeable film 50 is configured to have a microporous structure allowing air to transmit there-through, but prevent liquid from transmitting there-through.
  • the microfluidic structure further includes a sealing film 60 on a side of the microchannel 30 away from the plurality of outlets 40 (e.g., on a bottom side of the microfluidic structure for sealing the bottom side of the microfluidic structure) .
  • a connecting point between the respective one of the plurality of outlets 40 and the respective one of the plurality of microchambers 20 is closer to a top side of the respective one of the plurality of microchambers 20 (e.g., a side of the respective one of the plurality of microchambers 20 away from the sealing ilhn 60) .
  • the sealing film 60 is a composite film.
  • the microfluidic structure further includes a waste outlet 41 for releasing a liquid in the trunk 31; and optionally a waste mi crochamber 21 connecting the waste outlet 41 and the micro channel 30.
  • the microfluidic structure further includes a waste branch 33 connecting the waste microchamber 21 to the trunk 31.
  • a liquid moves sequentially from the trunk 31 to the waste branch 33, to the waste microchamber 21, and to the waste outlet 41, so that air, reaction waste, and excess reactants in the trunk 31 may exit the microfluidic structure, e.g., being pushed from the waste microchamber 21 out of the waste outlet 41.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a microchannel in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • the plurality of branches 32 further includes an immediately adjacent branch 321
  • the plurality of branch points BP further includes an immediately adjacent branch point BP0.
  • the waste branch 33 and the immediately adjacent branch 321 of the plurality of branches 32 connect to the trunk 31 at the immediately adjacent branch point BP0 of the plurality of branch points BP.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a microchannel in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a microchannel in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • a portion P4 of the trunk 31 immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point BP0, a portion P5 of the immediately adjacent branch 321, and a portion P6 of the waste branch 33 divide the microfluidic structure into three non-overlapping regions.
  • the three non-overlapping regions include a fourth region R4 between the portion P4 of the trunk 31 immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point BP0 and the portion P5 of the immediately adjacent branch 321, a fifth region R5 between the portion P4 of the trunk 31 immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point BP0 and the portion P6 of the waste branch 33, and a sixth region R6 between the portion P5 of the immediately adjacent branch 321 and the portion P6 of the waste branch 33.
  • a fifth side S5 of the fourth region R4 along a fourth fluid passage direction D4 of, and abutting, the portion P4 of the trunk 31 immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point BP0 and a sixth side S6 of the fourth region R4 along a fifth fluid passage direction D5 of, and abutting, the portion P5 of the immediately adjacent branch 321 form a third included angle ⁇ in the fourth region R4, 90 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 270 degrees, e.g., 90 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 140 degrees, 140 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 190 degrees, 190 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 240 degrees, and 240 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 270 degrees.
  • the third included angle ⁇ is in a range of 110 degrees to 130 degrees, for example, the third included angle ⁇ is 120 degrees.
  • the third included angle ⁇ is ina range of 140 degrees to 160 degrees, for example, the third included angle ⁇ is 150 degrees.
  • the third included angle ⁇ is in a range of 170 degrees to 190 degrees, for example, the third included angle ⁇ is 180 degrees.
  • the fourth fluid passage direction D4 and the fifth fluid passage direction D5 are the same. Referring to FIG. 8, the fourth fluid passage direction D4 and the fifth fluid passage direction D5 are different.
  • a seventh side S7 of the fifth region R5 along the fourth fluid passage direction D4 of, and abutting, the portion P4 of the trunk 31 immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point BP0 and an eighth side S8 of the fifth region R5 along a sixth fluid passage direction D6 of, and abutting, the portion P6 of the waste branch 33 form a fourth included angle ⁇ in the fifth region, 0 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 120 degrees, e.g., 0 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 20 degrees, 20 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 40 degrees, 40 degree ⁇ ⁇ 60 degrees, 60 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 80 degrees, 80 degree ⁇ g ⁇ 100 degrees, 100 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 120 degrees.
  • the fourth included angle g is in a range of 20 degrees to 40 degrees, for example, the fourth included angle ⁇ is 30 degrees.
  • the fourth included angle ⁇ is in a range of 50 degrees to 70 degrees, for example, the fourth included angle ⁇ is 60 degrees.
  • the fourth included angle ⁇ is in a range of 80 degrees to 100 degrees, for example, the fourth included angle ⁇ is g0 degrees.
  • ⁇ is greater than ⁇ .
  • 165 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 195 degrees e.g., 165 degrees ⁇ ⁇ 175 degrees, 175 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 185 degrees, and 185 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 195 degrees.
  • 75 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 105 degrees e.g., 75 degrees ⁇ ⁇ 85 degrees, 85 degrees ⁇ g ⁇ 95 degrees, and 95 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 105 degrees.
  • the third included angle ⁇ and the fourth included angle ⁇ can be adjusted to control the moving speed of a portion of the liquid to the respective of the plurality of microchambers and the waste microchamber.
  • the immediately adjacent branch 321 is a last branch of the plurality of branches 32 sequentially arranged in series.
  • the immediately adjacent branch point BP0 is a last branch point of the plurality of branch points BP sequentially arranged in series.
  • the waste branch 33 and the waste microchamber 21 are spaced apart from the inlet 10 by the trunk 31 connecting to the plurality of branches 32.
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a nficrofluidic structure in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • the plurality of microchambers 20 are a plurality of detection chambers.
  • a respective one of the plurality of detection chambers is optically coupled with a detector 70.
  • a region corresponding to the waste microchamber 21 is absent of any detector 70.
  • the microfluidic structure is a structure in a detection chip.
  • the plurality of microchambers 20 in the detection chip are pre-provided with different reagents for detecting different substances or different characteristics of a sample.
  • the plurality of microchambers 20 may be utilized for performing various functions.
  • the plurality of microchambers 20 may include analysis chambers, reaction chambers, and sequencing chambers.
  • the plurality of detection chambers may be used to perform enzymatic analysis (e.g., glucose and lactate assays) , DNA analysis (e.g., DNA sequencing, polymerase chain reaction PCR, self-sustained sequence replication 3SR) , protein analysis, and chemical synthesis analysis.
  • the microfluidic structure includes a plurality of detecting signal providers configured to provide a plurality of detecting signals respectively to a plurality of micro chambers.
  • the plurality of detecting signal providers are a plurality of light sources emitting light having different wavelength range.
  • the plurality of detecting signals respectively transmit through the plurality of mi crochambers and respectively reach the plurality of detectors, and a respective one of the plurality of detectors is controlled to perform a detecting process to detect a change of a respective one of the plurality detecting signals.
  • the plurality of microchambers are sequentially filled with liquid in series along the length of the trunk, so, a respective one of the plurality of detectors can work in a specific time period, which will not fully overlap with another time period in which another detector works, to detect the change of the respective one of the plurality of detecting signals.
  • the liquid entering the inlet may sequentially fill the plurality of microchambers respectively connected to the plurality of branches. Because the plurality of microchambers are sequentially filled in series along the length of the trunk, different microchambers are filled, time-sequentially, within different time periods (e.g., the different time periods are at least not fully overlapping) . Accordingly, detectors optically coupled respectively to different microchambers can respectively detect reaction products formed as a result of different portions of the liquid respectively filled in the different microchambers in different, e.g., time-sequential and optionally non-overlapping, time periods and in different positions corresponding to the different microchambers. As a result, the detect window time used by the detectors may be reduced, and the workload required for processing the amount of data collected from a detection process may be reduced. The demand for the computation resources required for processing the amount of data collected from the detecting process may be lowered.
  • a detecting signal is applied to a respective one of the plurality of microchambers, and a respective one of the plurality of detectors corresponding to the respective one of the plurality of microchambers detects a change of the detecting signal.
  • different detecting signals may be applied to different microchambers respectively. When different detecting signals are applied at the same time, crosstalk between different detecting signals may have adverse effect on results of detecting processes.
  • microfluidic structure described herein allow the different microchambers to be filled in different time periods, so that different detectors can detect different microfluidic microchambers in different time periods, which may prevent crosstalk between different detecting signals used in different detecting processes.
  • different detecting signals include different lights having different wavelength ranges.
  • detectors can be accurately control to perform the detecting processes in different time periods and with respect to different position corresponding to different microchambers.
  • different detectors are disposed corresponding to different microchambers.
  • a detector is configured to move to different positions to detect different microchambers in different time periods.
  • the plurality of microchambers are pre-provided with different reactants, and a sample is provided in a fluid form flowing through the microchannel. Different portions of the fluid are respectively delivered to the plurality of microchambers, respectively.
  • the microfluidic structure described herein fills portions of the sample into the plurality of microchambers in time-sequential fashion in different (e.g., non-overlapping) time periods, thus minimizes cross-contamination among the different reactants in the plurality of microchambers.
  • the liquid flows into the microchamber and mixes with reagent disposed in the microchamber to form a mixed liquid.
  • a portion of the mixed liquid may flow out of the microchamber into a next microchamber due to turbulence in the microchamber, which may lead to inter-microchamber contamination.
  • a liquid pressure at the respective one of the plurality of microchambers is greater than a liquid pressure at the portion of trunk immediate downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points, the liquid will continue to flow along the trunk to the next microchamber, interaction between a portion of liquid (e.g., mixed liquid) in the respective one of the plurality of microchambers and a portion of liquid in the trunk is much reduced, which prevent the mixed liquid from flowing out of the respective one of the plurality of microchambers.
  • a portion of liquid e.g., mixed liquid
  • the relatively fast filling process effectively prevents the inter-microchamber contamination.
  • the mixing process in the respective one of the plurality of microchambers between the liquid and the reagent occurs within the 1 to 1.2 seconds, during which a detector can perform the detecting process. This enables the detector to detect the reaction between the liquid (e.g., a biological sample) and the reagent ina timely fashion, e.g., at the peak of the reaction.
  • the moving speed of the liquid can be controlled by adjusting an acute angle between the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points and the trunk innnediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points.
  • the moving speed of the liquid can be controlled by adjusting an included angle between the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points and the respective one of the plurality of branches immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points.
  • the included angle between the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points and the respective one of the plurality of branches immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points does not cover a region having the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a move speed of a liquid in a microfluidic structure in a plan view in some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating move a speed of a liquid in a microfluidic structure in a perspective view in some embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the darker the color is, the slower the liquid moves.
  • the plurality of microchambers are a plurality of pressure releasing ends. Referring to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3, FIG. 10, and FIG.
  • first microchamber 201 is fully filled prior to the second microchamber 202 is fully filled, the fully filled first microchamber 201 and the fully filled second microchamber 202 can be detected in different time periods (optionally, non-overlapping time periods) , eliminating or significantly reducing the crosstalk between different signals detected in the first microchamber 201 and the second microchamber 202, respectively.
  • the cross-contamination between first microchamber 201 and the second microchamber 202 can be eliminated or significantly reduced.
  • FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a move speed of a liquid in a microfluidic structure in a plan view in some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a move speed ora liquid in a microfluidic structure in a perspective view in some embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13, the speed of the portion of liquid flowing from the inlet 10 to the first microchamber 201 is much greater than the speed of the portion of liquid flowing from the first branch point BP1 to the second microchamber 202.
  • the first microchamber 201 is fully filled prior to the second microchamber 202 is fully filled, the fully filled first microchamber 201 and the fully filled second microchamber 202 can be detected in different time periods (optionally, non-overlapping time periods) , eliminating or significantly reducing the crosstalk between different signals respectively detected in the first microchamber 201 and the second microchamber 202.
  • the cross-contamination between first microchamber 201 and the second microchamber 202 can be eliminated or significantly reduced.
  • the second included angle ⁇ is reduced to increase the resistance for the liquid flowing towards the downstream microchamber, for example, the second included angle ⁇ is 60 degrees, 45 degrees, or 30 degrees; optionally, the first included angle ⁇ is increased to reduce a resistance for the liquid flowing towards the upstream microchamber, for example, the first included angle ⁇ is 120 degrees, 150 degrees, or 180 degrees.
  • the present disclosure also provides a microfluidic system.
  • the microfluidic system includes the microfluidic structure described herein, and one or more sensing circuits.
  • FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a microfluidic method in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • the microfluidic method includes receiving a fluid from an inlet of a microfluidic structure; and time-sequentially transporting distinct portions of the fluid respectively to a plurality of microchambers through a microchannel connected to the inlet and connected to the plurality of microchambers.
  • the microchannel includes a trunk, and a plurality of branches respectively connecting the plurality of microchambers with the trunk.
  • the plurality of branches are sequentially arranged in series along a length of the trunk, and are connected to the trunk respectively at a plurality of branch points sequentially arranged in series along the length of the trunk.
  • two adjacent microchambers of the plurality of microchambers are spaced apart from each other by at least two adjacent branch points of the plurality of branch points.
  • time-sequentially transporting the distinct portions of the fluid respectively to the plurality of microchambers through the microchannel includes causing movement of the fluid from the inlet to the trunk; and time-sequentially transporting the distinct portions of the fluid respectively into the plurality of branches.
  • a portion of the fluid When a portion of the fluid is first moved toa respective one of the plurality of branch points, a larger fraction of the portion of the fluid is partitioned into a respective one of the plurality of branches, and a smaller fraction of the portion of the fluid is partitioned into a portion of the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points; and when the respective one of the plurality of branches is filled with the fluid, the fluid is directed to the portion of the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points.
  • the microfluidic method further includes controlling fluid passage directions of the fluid at a respective one of the plurality of branch points BP such that the fluid in a first portion P1 of the trunk 31 immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP has a first fluid passage direction D1, the fluid in a second portion P2 of a respective one of the plurality of branches 32 immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP has a second fluid passage direction D2, and the fluid in a third portion P3 of the trunk 31 immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP has a third fluid passage direction D3.
  • the first fluid passage direction D1, the second fluid passage direction D2, and the third fluid passage direction D3 divide the microfluidic structure into three non-overlapping regions at the respective one of the plurality of branch points BP, including a first region R1 between the first fluid passage direction D1 and the second fluid passage direction D2, a second region R2 between the first fluid passage direction D 1 and the third fluid passage direction D3, and a third region R3 between the second fluid passage direction D2 and the third fluid passage direction D3.
  • a first side S 1 of the first region R1 alongthe first fluid passage direction D1 and a second side S2 of the first region Ri along the second fluid passage direction D2 form a first included angle ⁇ in the first region R1.
  • a third side S3 of the second region R2 along the first fluid passage direction D1 and a fourth side S4 of the second region R2 along the third fluid passage direction D3 form a second included angle ⁇ in the second region R2.
  • the fluid passage directions of the fluid at the respective one of the plurality of branch points are controlled such that ⁇ is greater than ⁇ .
  • 90 degrees ⁇ ⁇ 270 degrees e.g., 90 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 140 degrees, 140 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 190 degrees, 190 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 240 degrees, and 240 degrees ⁇ ⁇ 270 degrees.
  • the first included angle ⁇ is in a range of 110 degrees to 130 degrees, for example, the first included angle ⁇ is 120 degrees.
  • the first included angle ⁇ is in a range of 140 degrees to 160 degrees, for example, the first included angle ⁇ is 150 degrees.
  • the first included angle ⁇ is in a range of 170 degrees to 190 degrees, for example, the first included angle ⁇ is 180 degrees.
  • 0 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 120 degrees e.g., 0 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 20 degrees, 20 degree ⁇ ⁇ 40 degrees, 40 degree ⁇ ⁇ 60 degrees, 60 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 80 degrees, 80 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 100 degrees, 100 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 120 degrees.
  • the second included angle ⁇ is in a range of 20 degrees to 40 degrees, for example, the second included angle ⁇ is 30 degrees.
  • the second included angle ⁇ is in a range of 50 degrees to 70 degrees, for example, the second included angle ⁇ is 60 degrees.
  • the second included angle ⁇ is in a range of 80 degrees to 100 degrees, for example, the second included angle ⁇ is 90 degrees.
  • 165 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 195 degrees e.g., 165 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 175 degrees, 175 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 185 degrees, and 185 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 195 degrees
  • 75 degrees ⁇ ⁇ 105 degrees e.g., 75 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 85 degrees, 85 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 95 degrees, and 95 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 105 degrees.
  • the microfluidic method further includes releasing air from the plurality of microchambers 20 through a plurality of outlets 40 respectively connected to the plurality of microchambers 20 while retaining a liquid inside the plurality of microchambers 20. Because air in the respective one of the plurality of microchambers 20 is pushed out of the respective one of the plurality of nicrochambers 20 through a respective one of the plurality of outlets 40by a portion of liquid, the respective one of the plurality of microchambers 20 is filled with the portion of liquid.
  • the microfluidic method further includes releasing a liquid from the trunk 31 to a waste outlet 41 through a waste branch 33.
  • the waste branch 33 and an immediately adjacent branch of the plurality of branches 32 connect to the trunk 31 at an immediately adjacent branch point BP0 of the plurality of branch points BP.
  • the microfluidic method further includes controlling fluid passage directions of the fluid at the immediately adjacent branch point BP0 such that the fluid in a portion P4 of the trunk 31 immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point BP0 has a fourth fluid passage direction D4, the fluid in a portion P5 of the immediately adjacent branch 321 has a fifth fluid passage direction D5, and the fluid in a portion P6 of the waste branch 33 has a sixth fluid passage direction D6.
  • the fourth fluid passage direction D4, the fifth fluid passage direction D5, and the sixth fluid passage direction D6 divide the microfluidic structure into three non-overlapping regions at the immediately adjacent branch point BP0, including a fourth region R4 between the fourth fluid passage direction D4 and the fifth fluid passage direction D5, a fifth region R5 between the fourth fluid passage direction D4 and the sixth fluid passage direction D6, and a sixth region R6 between the fifth fluid passage direction D5 and the sixth fluid passage direction D6.
  • a fifth side S5 of the fourth region R4 along the fourth fluid passage direction D4 and a sixth side S6 of the fourth region R4 along the fifth fluid passage direction D5 form a third included angle ⁇ in the fourth region R4.
  • a seventh side 87 of the fifth region R5 along the fourth fluid passage direction D4 and an eighth side S8 of the fifth region R5 along the sixth fluid passage direction D6 form a fourth included angle ⁇ in the fifth region R5.
  • the fluid passage directions of the fluid at the immediately adjacent branch point are controlled such that ⁇ is greater than ⁇ .
  • 90 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 270 degrees e.g., 90 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 140 degrees, 140 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 190 degrees, 190 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 240 degrees, and 240 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 270 degrees.
  • the third included angle ⁇ is in a range of 110 degrees to 130 degrees, for example, the third included angle ⁇ is 120 degrees.
  • the third included angle ⁇ is in a range of 140 degrees to 160 degrees, for example, the third included angle ⁇ is 150 degrees.
  • the third included angle ⁇ is in a range of 170 degrees to 190 degrees, for example, the third included angle ⁇ is 180 degrees.
  • 0 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 120 degrees e.g., 0 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 20 degrees, 20 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 40 degrees, 40 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 60 degrees, 60 degree ⁇ ⁇ 80 degrees, 80 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 100 degrees, 100 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 120 degrees.
  • the fourth included angle ⁇ is in a range of 20 degrees to 40 degrees, for example, the fourth included angle s is 30 degrees.
  • the fourth included angle s is in a range of 50 degrees to 70 degrees, for example, the fourth included angle ⁇ is 60 degrees.
  • the fourth included angle s is in a range of 80 degrees to 100 degrees, for example, the fourth included angle ⁇ is 90 degrees.
  • 165 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 195 degrees e.g., 165 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 175 degrees, 175 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 185 degrees, and 185 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 195 degrees
  • 75 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 105 degrees e.g., 75 degrees ⁇ s ⁇ 85 degrees, 85 degrees ⁇ s ⁇ 95 degrees, and 95 degrees ⁇ s ⁇ 105 degrees.
  • the microfluidic method further includes detecting a target substance at a respective one of the plurality of microchambers.
  • microfluidic methods further include, but are not limited to, sequencing of a substance (e.g., sequencing a DNA molecule) , detecting a reaction between the target substance and a reagent, analyzing the target substance.
  • the plurality of microchambers may be used to perform enzymatic analysis (e.g., glucose and lactate assays) , DNA analysis (e.g., DNA sequencing, polymerase chain reaction PCR, self-sustained sequence replication 3SR) , protein analysis, and chemical synthesis analysis.
  • the liquid entering the inlet may sequentially fill the plurality of microchambers respectively connected to the plurality of branches. Because the plurality of microchambers are sequentially filled in series along the length of the trunk, different microchambers are filled, time-sequentially, within different time periods (e.g., the different time periods are at least not fully overlapping) . Accordingly, detectors optically coupled respectively to different microchambers can respectively detect reaction products formed as a result of different portions of the liquid respectively filled in the different microchambers in different, e.g., time-sequential and optionally non-overlapping, time periods and in different positions corresponding to the different microchambers. As a result, the detect window time used by the detectors may be reduced, and the workload required for processing the amount of data collected from a detection process may be reduced. The demand for the computation resources required for processing the amount of data collected from the detecting process may be lowered.
  • a detecting signal is applied to a respective one of the plurality of microchambers, and a respective one of the plurality of detectors corresponding to the respective one of the plurality of microchambers detects a change of the detecting signal.
  • different detecting signals may be applied to different microchambers respectively. When different detecting signals are applied at the same time, crosstalk between different detecting signals may have adverse effects on results of the detecting processes.
  • microfluidic method described herein allow the different microchambers to be filled in different time periods, so that different detectors can detect different microfluidic microchambers in different time periods, which may prevent crosstalk between different detecting signals used in different detecting processes.
  • different detecting signals include different lights having different wavelength ranges.
  • detectors can be accurately control to perform the detecting processes in different time periods and with respect to different position corresponding to different microchambers.
  • different detectors are disposed corresponding to different microchambers.
  • a detector is configured to move to different positions to detect different microchambers in different time periods.
  • the plurality of microchambers are pre-provided with different reactants, and a sample is provided in a fluid form flowing through the microchannel. Different portions of the fluid are respectively delivered to the plurality of microchambers, respectively.
  • the microfluidic structure described herein fills portions of the sample into the plurality of microchambers in time-sequential fashion in different (e.g., non-overlapping) time periods, thus minimizes cross-contamination among the different reactants in the plurality of microchambers.
  • the liquid flows into the microchamber and mixes with reagent disposed in the microchamber to formed a mixed liquid.
  • a portion of the mixed liquid may flow out of the microchamber into a next microchamber due to turbulence in the microchamber, which may lead to inter-microchamber contamination.
  • a liquid pressure at the respective one of the plurality of microchambers is greater than a liquid pressure at the portion of trunk immediate downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points, the liquid will continue to flow along the trunk to tile next microchamber, interaction between a portion of liquid (e.g., mixed liquid) in the respective one of the plurality of microchambers and a portion of liquid in the trunk is much reduced, which prevent the mixed liquid from flowing out of the respective one of the plurality of microchambers.
  • a portion of liquid e.g., mixed liquid
  • the relatively fast filling process effectively prevents the inter-microchamber contamination.
  • the mixing process in the respective one of the plurality of microchambers between the liquid and the reagent occurs within the 1 to 1.2 seconds, during which a detector can perform the detecting process. This enables the detector to detect the reaction between the liquid (e.g., a biological sample) and the reagent in a timely fashion, e.g., at the peak of the reaction.
  • the moving speed of the liquid can be controlled by adjusting an acute angle between the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points and the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points.
  • the moving speed of the liquid can be controlled by adjusting an included angle between the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points and the respective one of the plurality of branches immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points.
  • the included angle between the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points and the respective one of the plurality of branches immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points does not cover a region having the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points.
  • FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating a method of fabricating a microfluidic structure in some embodiments according to the present disclosure.
  • the method of fabricating a microfluidic structure includes forming an inlet; forming a plurality of microchambers; and forming a microchannel connected to the inlet and connected to the plurality of microchambers.
  • forming the microchannel includes forming a trunk, and forming a plurality of branches respectively connecting the plurality of microchambers with the trunk.
  • the plurality of branches are sequentially arranged in series along a length of the trunk, and are connected to the trunk respectively at a plurality of branch points sequentially arranged in series along the length of the trunk.
  • two adjacent microchambers of the plurality of microchambers are spaced apart from each other by at least two adjacent branch points of the plurality of branch points.
  • a portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points, a portion of a respective one of the plurality of branches immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points, and a portion of the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points are formed to divide the microfluidic structure into three non-overlapping regions including a first region between the portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points and the portion of the respective one of the plurality of branches immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points, a second region between the portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points and the portion of the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points, and a third region between the portion of the respective one of the plurality of branches immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points and the portion of the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points.
  • a first side of the first region along a first fluid passage direction of, and abutting, the portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points and a second side of the first region along a second fluid passage direction of, and abutting, the portion of the respective one of the plurality of branches immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points form a first included angle ⁇ in the first region, 90 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 270 degrees.
  • a third side of the second region along the first fluid passage direction of, and abutting, the portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points and a fourth side of the second region along a third fluid passage direction of, and abutting, the portion of the trunk immediately downstream of the respective one of the plurality of branch points form a second included angle ⁇ in the second region, 0 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 120 degrees.
  • a is greater than ⁇ .
  • the method of fabricatingthe microfluidic structure includes forming a plurality of outlets respectively connected to the plurality of microchambers.
  • the method of fabricatingthe microfluidic structure includes disposing an air-permeable and liquid-impermeable film to cover the plurality of outlets, allowing air to be released from the plurality of microchambers while retaining a liquid inside the plurality of microchambers.
  • the method of fabricatingthe nicrofluidic structure includes forming a waste outlet for releasing a liquid in the trunk; and forming a waste microchamber connecting the waste outlet and the microchannel.
  • the method of fabricating the microfluidic structure includes forming a waste branch connecting the waste microchamber to the trunk.
  • the waste branch and an immediately adjacent branch of the plurality of branches are formed to connect to the trunk at an immediately adjacent branch point of the plurality of branch points.
  • a portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point, a portion of the immediately adjacent branch, and a portion of the waste branch are formed to divide the microfluidic structure into three non-overlapping regions including a fourth region between the portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point and the portion of the immediately adjacent branch, a fifth region between the portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point and the portion of the waste branch, and a sixth region between the portion of the immediately adjacent branch and the portion of the waste branch.
  • a fifth side of the fourth region along a fourth fluid passage direction of, and abutting, the portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point and a sixth side of the fourth region along a fifth fluid passage direction of, and abutting, the portion of the immediately adjacent branch form a third included angle ⁇ in the fourth region, 90 degrees ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 270 degrees.
  • a seventh side of the fifth region along the fourth fluid passage direction of, and abutting, the portion of the trunk immediately upstream of the immediately adjacent branch point and an eighth side of the fifth region along a sixth fluid passage direction of, and abutting, the portion of the waste branch form a fourth included angle ⁇ in the fifth region, 0 degree ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 120 degrees.
  • ⁇ is greater than ⁇ .
  • the immediately adjacent branch is formed to be a last branch of the plurality of branches sequentially arranged in series.
  • the immediately adjacent branch point is formed to be a last branch point of the plurality of branch points sequentially arranged in series.
  • the waste branch and the waste microchamber are formed to be spaced apart from the inlet by the trunk connecting to the plurality of branches.
  • the plurality of microchambers are formed to be a plurality of detection chambers.
  • a respective one of the plurality of microchambers is optically coupled with a detector.
  • the term “the invention” , “the present invention” or the like does not necessarily limit the claim scope to a specific embodiment, and the reference to exemplary embodiments of the invention does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred.
  • the invention is limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
  • these claims may refer to use “first” , “second” , etc. following with noun or element.
  • Such terms should be understood as a nomenclature and should not be construed as giving the limitation on the number of the elements modified by such nomenclature unless specific number has been given. Any advantages and benefits described may not apply to all embodiments of the invention.

Abstract

L'invention concerne une structure microfluidique. La structure microfluidique comprend une entrée ; une pluralité de microchambres ; et un microcanal relié à l'entrée et à la pluralité de microchambres. Le microcanal comprend un tronc et une pluralité de ramifications reliant respectivement la pluralité de microchambres au tronc. La pluralité de ramifications sont agencées de manière séquentielle en série sur la longueur du tronc, et sont reliées au tronc respectivement au niveau d'une pluralité de points de ramification agencés séquentiellement en série sur la longueur du tronc. Deux microchambres adjacentes de la pluralité de microchambres sont espacées l'une de l'autre par au moins deux points de ramification adjacents de la pluralité de points de ramification.
PCT/CN2020/076260 2020-02-21 2020-02-21 Structure microfluidique, système microfluidique, procédé microfluidique et procédé de fabrication de structure microfluidique WO2021164021A1 (fr)

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CN101382538A (zh) * 2007-09-04 2009-03-11 财团法人工业技术研究院 自动分流的微流体装置

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