CN210474030U - Large-scale micro-droplet arrangement device - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides a device of arranging is dripped to extensive trace can be at the trace liquid droplet of arranging of experimental sample surface specific position high accuracy. The device includes: a sample with a special hydrophilic/superhydrophobic array structure, a liquid supply system, a motion control system, and a machine vision system. The device utilizes dropping liquid gravity and sample surface hydrophilic/super hydrophobic array structure dual function, accomplishes the accurate of trace liquid drop and arranges. The droplet volume is determined by the shape and size of the individual hydrophilic regions of the sample surface and a plurality of different liquids can be arranged simultaneously. The liquid drop arrangement device is simple in structure, high in arrangement efficiency, free of the need of accurate positioning of the injection needle to the arrangement position, and capable of achieving large-scale arrangement of micro liquid drops.

Description

Large-scale micro-droplet arrangement device

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a trace liquid drop field of arranging, concretely relates to extensive trace liquid drop device of arranging.

Background

The precise micro-droplet arrangement is urgently needed in multiple fields of biomedicine, chemistry, microfluidics, material science and the like, and particularly has important application value in the fields of cell culture, biological micro-operation, chemical reaction, material synthesis and the like. However, the existing droplet arrangement method cannot meet the requirements of high precision and high efficiency at the same time, and a method for realizing large-scale micro-droplet arrangement is urgently needed.

Disclosure of Invention

The utility model discloses to the present micro-droplet arrange in the defect such as the inefficiency of arranging, positioning accuracy is poor, the liquid singleness of arranging, provide a device and method of arranging of extensive micro-droplet for the micro-droplet is arranged at hydrophilic/super hydrophobic array structure surface that has the wettability difference.

The utility model provides a device of arranging is dripped to extensive trace. The device includes: a sample with a special hydrophilic/superhydrophobic array structure, a droplet injection system, a motion control system, and a machine vision system. A drop injection system comprising: an injection needle (1) which is connected with the liquid outlet conduit (3) through a needle adapter (2). The other end of the liquid outlet conduit (3) is connected with the left end interface of the three-way switching valve (4). The right end interface of the three-way switching valve (4) is connected with the liquid inlet conduit (5), and the lower end interface is connected with the plunger pump (6). The end of the liquid inlet conduit (5) is connected with a liquid impurity filter (7) for filtering impurities in the liquid storage bottle (8). The liquid inlet conduit (5) is fixed through a conduit hole on the liquid storage bottle cap. Meanwhile, the liquid storage bottle cap is also provided with an air filtering hole, and an air filtering plug (9) is arranged in the hole.

The motion control system comprises two parts, namely a needle positioning system and a sample tilting system. The needle positioning system uses three electric translation stages (10, 11, 12) of an X-axis electric translation stage (10), a Y-axis electric translation stage (11) and a Z-axis electric translation stage (12) to realize the accurate positioning of the needle. Wherein the injection needle (1) is connected with the needle adaptor (2). The needle head adapter (2) is fixed on the needle head fixing piece (14) through a hand screw (13). The needle fixing piece (14) is connected to the Z-axis electric translation table (12) through a right-angle connecting piece (15). The two motorized translation stages of the YZ axis are connected using a right angle connection (16). The two motorized translation stages of the XY axis are connected using a connection plate (17). Three motorized translation stages (10, 11, 12) in XYZ axes are used to control the three-dimensional movement of the needle, so that the needle (1) is precisely moved to a preset position on the sample.

The sample tilting system uses a motorized rotating stage (18) to control the tilting of the sample (19) by a specific angle. Wherein the sample (19) is placed on a sample stage (20). The sample table (20) is connected with an electric rotating table (18), and the electric rotating table (18) is fixed on a damping table (22) through a rotating table fixing piece (21). The electric rotating platform (18) is used for inclining the sample (19), and liquid drops to be distributed are contained on the sample (19). And the precise arrangement of the micro-droplets is realized by utilizing the dual functions of the gravity action of the droplets and the special hydrophilic/super-hydrophobic array structure of the sample. The sample (19) remains horizontally disposed during the initial stage.

The machine vision system observes the droplets arranged on the sample (19) through a color CCD camera (23) and a macro zoom lens (24). The color CCD camera (23) is fixed on the camera bracket (26) through a camera connecting plate (25). The camera bracket (26) is fixed on the damping table (22) through a right-angle connecting piece (27).

Furthermore, the sample of the device is rectangular, and a hydrophilic area is etched on the super-hydrophobic substrate with high precision through an ultraviolet lithography technology, so that the sample with a hydrophilic/super-hydrophobic array structure is obtained.

Further, the apparatus includes a waste liquid collecting box (28) disposed on the vibration-damping table (22) for collecting excess liquid.

Furthermore, the X-axis electric translation table (10) and the rotating table fixing piece (20) of the device are fixed on a damping table (22) through socket head cap screws.

Further, the droplet annotation needle (1) has an inner diameter of 100 microns for injecting a quantitative volume of droplets on the sample.

Furthermore, the liquid to be distributed can be selected from various different liquids, and various different liquids can be distributed simultaneously.

Specifically, a large-scale micro-droplet arranging apparatus includes: the liquid drop injection system comprises an injection needle (1), a needle head adapter (2), a liquid outlet conduit (3), a three-way switching valve (4), a liquid inlet conduit (5), a plunger pump (6), a liquid impurity filter (7), a liquid storage bottle (8) and an air filter plug (9). The injection needle (1), the needle adapter (2), the liquid outlet conduit (3), the three-way switching valve (4), the liquid inlet conduit (5) and the liquid storage bottle (8) are communicated in sequence to form a liquid passage. The three-way switching valve (4) is also connected with the plunger pump (6) and is used for controlling the liquid flow through the three-way switching valve (4) and the plunger pump (6). The liquid inlet guide pipe (5) is inserted below the liquid level of the liquid in the liquid storage bottle (8), and a liquid impurity filter (7) is arranged at the liquid inlet of the liquid inlet guide pipe (5). An air filtering plug (9) is arranged on the liquid storage bottle (8).

The motion control system is equipped with expansion end and stiff end, the stiff end be used for with shock attenuation platform (22) fixed connection, expansion end installation syringe needle mounting (14), the expansion end is connected through the movable subassembly with the stiff end. The movable assembly comprises an X-axis electric translation table (10), a Y-axis electric translation table (11) and a Z-axis electric translation table (12). The X-axis electric translation table (10), the Y-axis electric translation table (11) and the Z-axis electric translation table (12) are connected in pairs, so that the fixed end of the movable end can move along the X, Y, Z axis. The needle head adapter (2) is fixedly arranged on the needle head fixing piece (14).

The sample table component comprises a sample table (20) and an electric rotating table (18). The sample stage (20) is used for mounting a sample (19). The electric rotating platform (18) is fixedly connected with the damping platform (22). The electric rotating platform (18) is connected with the sample platform (20) to form a rotating pair for enabling the sample platform (20) to rotate.

Further, the sample (19) is provided with a liquid carrying part for carrying liquid droplets, and the liquid carrying part is provided with a hydrophilic area and a super-hydrophobic area. The hydrophilic regions are arranged in a matrix structure.

Furthermore, a waste liquid collecting box (28) is arranged below the sample table (20) and is used for recovering liquid.

Further, the machine vision system includes: a color CCD camera (23) for establishing a visual connection with the sample (19). And the macro zoom lens (24) is arranged on the color CCD camera (23) and is used for adjusting the focal length. And the camera bracket (26) is fixedly arranged on the damping table (22). And the camera connecting plate (25) is respectively and fixedly connected with the camera bracket (26) and the color CCD camera (23) and is used for fixing the color CCD camera (23) on the camera bracket (26). The color CCD camera (23) is electrically connected with the input end of the computer and is used for displaying the shot image signals on the computer.

The utility model simultaneously provides a method of arranging of large-scale trace liquid drop, the liquid drop method of arranging as follows:

1) installing each component of the device and connecting the guide pipe.

2) And moving the injection needle (1) to an initial default position of liquid drop arrangement by a three-dimensional electric translation stage.

3) A sample (19) is fixed on a sample stage (20).

4) The three-way switching valve (4) is switched to a state that the plunger pump (6) is communicated with the liquid inlet guide pipe (5), and the plunger pump works to suck experimental liquid from the liquid storage bottle (8) to the inside of the pump body of the plunger pump.

5) The three-way switching valve (4) is switched to a state that the plunger pump (6) is communicated with the liquid outlet conduit (3), and the plunger pump works to convey liquid in the pump body of the plunger pump to the injection needle (1).

6) The two steps of operations are repeated, and air in the liquid inlet conduit (5), the three-way switching valve (4), the plunger pump (6), the liquid outlet conduit (3), the needle head adapter (2) and the injection needle head (1) is discharged. The liquid discharged from the injection needle (1) drops into a waste liquid collecting box (28).

7) The three-dimensional electric translation platform controls the injection needle (1) to accurately move to a working position, the plunger pump (6) works, and a group of dropping liquid (29) with the size of 0.15ml is injected at a preset position on the surface of the sample (19).

8) The electric rotary table (18) moves to incline the sample (19) to a specific direction. When the tilt angle is greater than the critical value at which the sample (19) holds the droplet, the droplet slides down rapidly due to gravity. Meanwhile, the sample (19) utilizes the structure of a hydrophilic/super-hydrophobic array of the sample, a trace amount of liquid drops (31) are kept in a hydrophilic area (30) where the liquid drops pass, and the liquid drops are not kept in a super-hydrophobic area (32). Therefore, the hydrophilic area on the sample (19) can be automatically arranged with a micro-drop with a specific volume with high precision, and the volume size of the micro-drop is determined by the shape and the size of the hydrophilic array structure.

The utility model has the advantages that:

the utility model discloses to the present micro-droplet defect such as the inefficiency of arranging, positioning accuracy is poor, the liquid singleness of arranging that exists in the device of arranging, provide a device and method of arranging of extensive micro-droplet for the micro-droplet is arranged at the hydrophilic position on hydrophilic/super-hydrophobic array structure surface that has the wettability difference. The arrangement device has the advantages of simple structure, accurate volume of arranged liquid drops, high arrangement efficiency and no need of accurately positioning the injection needles to the arrangement positions. Meanwhile, the expandability is strong, the large-scale micro-droplet arrangement can be realized, and the method has important application values in the aspects of biomedicine, chemistry, microfluid and the like.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a large scale micro droplet placement apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a hydrophilic/superhydrophobic array structure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of micro droplets.

In the figure: 1-injection needle; 2-a needle head adapter; 3-a liquid outlet conduit; 4-three-way switching valve; 5-a liquid inlet conduit; 6-plunger pump; 7-liquid impurity filter; 8-liquid storage bottle; 9-air filter plugs; 10-X axis motorized translation stage; 11-Y axis motorized translation stage; a 12-Z axis motorized translation stage; 13-hand screw; 14-a needle mount; 15-right angle connectors; 16-right angle connectors; 17-a connecting plate; 18-electric rotating table; 19-sample; 20-a sample stage; 21-rotating table fixing part; 22-a damping table; 23-color CCD camera; 24-macro zoom lens; 25-a camera connection board; 26-a camera mount; 27-right angle connectors; 28-a waste liquid collection box; 29-droplets to be arranged; 30-a hydrophilic region; 31-micro droplets; 32-super hydrophobic region.

Detailed Description

The technical solution of the device of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the device of the present invention.

First embodiment

The utility model discloses based on a special hydrophilic/super hydrophobic array structure and propose. The structure realizes micro-droplet arrangement by utilizing the wettability difference of the droplet to the hydrophilic/super-hydrophobic area on the surface of the sample.

Referring to fig. 2, fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a hydrophilic/superhydrophobic array according to the present invention. The array structure provided by the utility model comprises a hydrophilic area (30) and a super-hydrophobic area (32). Wherein the hydrophilic area (30) is used for dispensing the liquid to be dispensed. When the liquid to be arranged passes through the array structure, droplets of a specific size are retained in the hydrophilic region, no droplets remain in the superhydrophobic region, and the amount of droplets retained by the hydrophilic region is determined by the size and shape of the hydrophilic region (30). Therefore, in the first embodiment, the novel special hydrophilic/superhydrophobic array structure, which is the sample (19) of the present invention, is first described. The utility model aims to solve current liquid sampling device inefficiency, positioning accuracy is poor, need utilize the syringe needle to distribute the assigned position with the liquid drop one by one, and then provided this kind of special hydrophilic/super hydrophobic array structure.

Referring to fig. 3, the micro-droplet arrangement method of the present invention is based on gravity driving. In the initial state, as shown in fig. 3 (a), a larger volume of the droplet to be arranged is injected into a hydrophilic region on the leftmost side of the sample (19). And then, the sample (19) is inclined at a constant speed by using the electric rotating platform (18), a certain angle is formed between the sample (19) and the horizontal plane, and each row of hydrophilic areas (30) in the array is in the same vertical row. The drop to be dispensed tends to slide downwards under the force of gravity on a plane parallel to the inclination. When the component force of the gravity on the liquid drop to be distributed on the plane parallel to the inclined plane is larger than the adhesive force of the hydrophilic area on the liquid drop to be distributed, the liquid drop to be distributed rolls towards the inclined direction quickly. Each hydrophilic area (30) passing through the column will retain a certain amount of liquid, thereby achieving the purpose of micro-droplet arrangement in the hydrophilic area (30).

Further, in order to realize large-scale arrangement and improve the arrangement efficiency, the surface area of the sample can be enlarged, the space between hydrophilic regions can be reduced, and the arrangement can be realized by adopting side-by-side needles and side-by-side samples.

Second embodiment

Based on the concept of the first embodiment, the present invention provides a large-scale micro-droplet arranging apparatus, as shown in fig. 1. The device consists of a sample with a special hydrophilic/super-hydrophobic array structure, a liquid drop injection system, a motion control system and a machine vision system.

The sample (19) is arranged on a sample table (20), and the sample table (20) is connected with a damping table (22) to form a rotating pair which is realized by an electric rotating table (18) in the figure. The dropping liquid injection system comprises an injection needle (1), a needle adapter (2), a liquid outlet conduit (3), a three-way switching valve (4), a liquid inlet conduit (5), a plunger pump (6), a liquid impurity filter (7), a liquid storage bottle (8) and an air filtering plug (9), and is used for injecting liquid drops to be distributed with a certain volume on a sample (20). Wherein the injection needle (1), the needle adapter (2), the liquid outlet conduit (3), the three-way switching valve (4), the liquid inlet conduit (5) and the liquid storage bottle (8) are connected in sequence; the plunger pump (6) is used for injecting liquid drops with set volume; the inlet of the liquid inlet conduit (5) is inserted below the liquid level of the liquid storage bottle (8), and a liquid impurity filter (7) is arranged at the inlet; an air filtering plug (9) is arranged on the liquid storage bottle (8).

In addition, a waste liquid collecting box (28) is arranged below the sample table (20) for facilitating waste liquid recovery. In order to realize the position control of the dropping device, the injection needle (1) is arranged on a motion control system. In order to improve the control precision, a machine vision system can be additionally arranged to establish the visual connection between the injection needle head (1) and the color CCD camera (23), so that the position of the needle head (1) can be directly observed through a visual computer screen. Meanwhile, the color CCD camera (23) can be used for observing the condition of the arranged liquid drops on the sample (19).

The following is a further detailed description of the various components:

the injection needle (1) is used for injecting the solution to be distributed at a specific position of a sample (19) and is connected with the liquid outlet conduit (3) through the needle adapter (2). The needle head adapter (2) is fixed on the Z-axis electric translation table (12) through a needle head fixing piece (14). The needle head adapter (2) is fixed on the needle head fixing piece (14) through a hand screw (13). The precise position control of the injection needle (1) is realized by controlling the needle adapter (2) through the three-dimensional translation stage. The inner diameter of the injection needle (1) is 100 microns. One end of the liquid outlet conduit (3) is connected with the needle head adapter (2), and the other end is connected with the left end interface of the three-way switching valve (4). The right end interface of the three-way switching valve (4) is connected with a liquid inlet conduit (5), and the lower end interface is connected with a plunger pump (6). The end of the liquid inlet conduit (5) is connected with a liquid impurity filter (7) which is arranged below the liquid level of the liquid storage bottle (8). The liquid inlet guide pipe (5) is fixed through a guide pipe hole on the liquid storage bottle cap, and meanwhile, an air filtering hole is formed in the upper portion of the liquid storage bottle cap, and an air filtering plug (9) is arranged in the hole.

The needle positioning control system consists of a set of three-dimensional electric translation stages, and comprises an electric translation stage (10) in the X-axis direction, an electric translation stage (11) in the Y-axis direction and an electric displacement stage (12) in the Z-axis direction. Wherein the X-axis electric displacement platform (11) is arranged on a damping platform (22). X, Y the two electric translation stages are connected by a connecting plate (17); y, Z the two electric translation stages are connected by a right-angle connector (16); the Z-axis electric translation stage (12) is connected with the needle fixing piece (14) by a right-angle connecting piece (15). The needle mount (14) secures the needle adapter (2) by means of a manual screw (13). The lower end of the needle head adapter (2) is provided with an injection needle head (1). X, Y, Z three electric translation stages (10) (11) (12) in the axial direction control the accurate movement of the injection needle (1) to the preset position on the sample (19) by controlling the needle adaptor (2).

The sample (19) is placed on a sample stage (20) and fixed using a double-sided adhesive tape. The sample stage (20) is connected with an electric rotating stage (18). The electric rotating table (18) is connected with the damping table (22) through a rotating table fixing piece (21). The electric rotating platform (18) is used for inclining the sample (19), and liquid drops to be distributed are contained on the sample (19). In the initial state, the sample (19) is kept horizontally by the electric rotary table (18). An electric rotary table (18) is used to tilt the sample (19) at high speed. When a liquid drop to be arranged is arranged on the sample (19), the liquid drop to be arranged moves towards the inclined direction under the action of the component force of the gravity on the plane parallel to the inclined plane. When the liquid drops pass through the special hydrophilic/super-hydrophobic array structure of the sample (19), no liquid drops are left in the super-hydrophobic area, and the liquid drops with specific sizes are kept in the hydrophilic area. And the precise arrangement of the micro-droplets is realized by utilizing the dual functions of the gravity action of the droplets and the special hydrophilic/super-hydrophobic array structure of the sample. The alignment process is completed and the remaining droplets are rolled down into a waste collection box (28).

The apparatus also includes a simple machine vision system. Which observes the droplets arranged on the sample (19) by means of a color CCD camera (23). The color CCD camera (23) is provided with a macro zoom lens (24). The color CCD camera (23) is fixed on the camera bracket (26) through a camera connecting plate (25). The camera bracket (26) is fixed on the damping table (22) through a right-angle connecting piece (27).

The machine vision system includes: a color CCD camera (23) for establishing a visual connection with the sample (19); a macro zoom lens (24) mounted on the color CCD camera (23) for adjusting a focal length; the camera bracket (26) is fixedly arranged on the damping table (22); the camera connecting plate (25) is respectively and fixedly connected with the camera bracket (26) and the color CCD camera (23) and is used for fixing the color CCD camera (23) on the camera bracket (26); the color CCD camera (23) is electrically connected with the input end of the computer and is used for displaying the shot image signals on the computer. The computer can be various computers with display equipment in the market.

The utility model discloses liquid drop arrangement method is as follows:

1) and installing each component of the liquid drop arrangement device, and connecting the guide pipe and the needle head.

2) Using an XYZ three-dimensional motorized displacement platform, the injection needle (1) is moved to an initial default position.

3) The sample (19) is placed on the surface of the sample stage (20) and fixed by a double-sided adhesive tape.

4) Switching the three-way switching valve (4) to: the plunger pump (6) is communicated with the liquid inlet conduit (5). The plunger pump (6) starts to work, and experimental liquid is sucked from the liquid storage bottle (8) to the interior of the pump body of the plunger pump.

5) Switching the three-way switching valve (4) to: the plunger pump (6) is communicated with the liquid outlet conduit (3). The plunger pump (6) works to convey the liquid in the pump body of the plunger pump to the injection needle (1).

6) The two steps of operations are repeated, and air in the liquid inlet conduit (5), the three-way switching valve (4), the plunger pump (6), the liquid outlet conduit (3), the needle head adapter (2) and the injection needle head (1) is discharged. The liquid discharged from the injection needle (1) drops into a waste liquid collecting box (28).

7) The sample (19) is held in a horizontal state by a sample stage (20). The electric translation table controls the injection needle (1) to accurately move to a working position. The plunger pump (6) works to inject a group of droplets (29) to be distributed with the size of 0.15ml at a preset position on the sample (19) in sequence.

8) The electric rotary table (18) moves to incline the sample (19) to a specific direction. When the angle of inclination is greater than the critical value for the drop held by the sample (19), the drop slides rapidly in the direction of inclination due to the force component of gravity acting parallel to the inclined section. When the liquid drop passes through the special hydrophilic/super-hydrophobic array structure of the sample, the super-hydrophobic area (32) does not hold the liquid drop, and a trace liquid drop (31) with certain volume size is held in the hydrophilic area (30), and the volume size of the trace liquid drop is determined by the shape and the size of the hydrophilic array structure on the surface of the sample. The high-precision automatic micro-droplet arrangement in the hydrophilic area on the surface of the sample (19) is realized by utilizing the dual functions of the gravity action of the droplets and the special hydrophilic/super-hydrophobic array structure of the sample (19).

Claims (4)

1. A large scale micro droplet placement apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a liquid drop injection system, a motion control system, a machine vision system, a sample stage component and a sample with a special hydrophilic/super-hydrophobic array structure, wherein the liquid drop injection system and the motion control system are arranged on a shock absorption stage (22),

the liquid drop injection system comprises an injection needle (1), a needle adapter (2), a liquid outlet conduit (3), a three-way switching valve (4), a liquid inlet conduit (5), a plunger pump (6), a liquid impurity filter (7), a liquid storage bottle (8) and an air filtering plug (9); the injection needle (1), the needle adapter (2), the liquid outlet conduit (3), the three-way switching valve (4), the liquid inlet conduit (5) and the liquid storage bottle (8) are communicated in sequence to form a liquid passage; the three-way switching valve (4) is also connected with the plunger pump (6) and is used for controlling the liquid flow through the three-way switching valve (4) and the plunger pump (6); the liquid inlet guide pipe (5) is inserted below the liquid level of the liquid in the liquid storage bottle (8), and a liquid impurity filter (7) is arranged at the liquid inlet of the liquid inlet guide pipe (5); an air filter plug (9) is arranged on the liquid storage bottle (8);

the motion control system is provided with a movable end and a fixed end, the fixed end is used for being fixedly connected with the damping table (22), the movable end is provided with a needle head fixing piece (14), and the movable end is connected with the fixed end through a movable assembly; the movable assembly comprises an X-axis electric translation table (10), a Y-axis electric translation table (11) and a Z-axis electric translation table (12); the X-axis electric translation table (10), the Y-axis electric translation table (11) and the Z-axis electric translation table (12) are connected in pairs, so that the movable end can move X, Y, Z axes compared with the fixed end; the needle head fixing piece (14) is fixedly provided with a needle head adapter (2);

the sample table component comprises a sample table (20) and an electric rotating table (18); the sample table (20) is used for mounting a sample (19); the electric rotating table (18) is fixedly connected with the damping table (22); the electric rotating platform (18) is connected with the sample platform (20) to form a rotating pair for enabling the sample platform (20) to rotate.

2. A large scale micro droplet deposition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample (19) is provided with a liquid carrying portion for carrying droplets, the liquid carrying portion being provided with a hydrophilic region and a superhydrophobic region; the hydrophilic regions are arranged in a matrix structure.

3. The large scale micro droplet arranging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a waste liquid collecting box (28) is provided under the sample stage (20) for recovering the liquid.

4. The macro scale micro droplet routing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the machine vision system comprises: a color CCD camera (23) for establishing a visual connection with the sample (19); a macro zoom lens (24) mounted on the color CCD camera (23) for adjusting a focal length; the camera bracket (26) is fixedly arranged on the damping table (22); the camera connecting plate (25) is respectively and fixedly connected with the camera bracket (26) and the color CCD camera (23) and is used for fixing the color CCD camera (23) on the camera bracket (26); the color CCD camera (23) is electrically connected with the input end of the computer and is used for displaying the shot image signals on the computer.

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