JP2004278785A - Micro fluid control device, pressing mechanism, and flow regulating method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a micro fluid control device and a flow regulating method in which a diaphragm displacement condition can be maintained, a structure can be simplified, and damages in regulating the flow rate can be prevented. <P>SOLUTION: A micro fluid control device body 11 having a capillary flow passage 5 and a diaphragm 7 displaceable with respect to the flow passage 5, and a pressing mechanism 12 to press and displace the diaphragm 7 are provided. The pressing mechanism 12 has a plate-like movable pressing member 14 having a swollen part 16 which is swollen in the direction separating from the device body 11. The movable pressing member 14 can press the diaphragm 7 as it is displaced so that the swollen part 16 is swollen toward the device body 11, and is stopped at the position at which the diaphragm 7 is pressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a microfluidic device capable of opening and closing a flow path through which a fluid flows and adjusting the flow rate of a fluid, a pressing mechanism that is a drive mechanism for flow rate adjustment, and a flow rate adjusting method for the microfluidic device.

The microfluidic device is used as a microchemical device in which a microchannel is formed, connected to a reaction tank, an electrophoresis column, a membrane separation mechanism, and the like.
This microfluidic device has a capillary channel inside, and is used for microreaction devices (microreactors) such as chemistry and biochemistry, integrated DNA analysis devices, microelectrophoresis devices, and microchromatography devices. It can be used as an analytical device, a microdevice for preparing an analytical sample such as mass spectrum or liquid chromatography, a physicochemical processing device such as extraction, membrane separation, and dialysis, and a spotter for microarray production.
Note that the microfluidic device is also called a microfluidic device, a microfluidic device, a microfabricated device, a lab-on-a-chip, or a micro total analytical system (μ-TAS). Means an element on which is formed.

In Patent Documents 1 to 3 filed by the present applicant, a flexible film-shaped member is provided on a member having a groove to form a groove as a capillary channel, and this film-shaped member (diaphragm) is A microfluidic device that can be displaced by being pressed by a diaphragm pressing mechanism such as a weight, a pinch, an actuator, and a screw is disclosed. In these microfluidic devices, the flow rate of the fluid in the flow path can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the film-shaped member (diaphragm).
In the microfluidic device, various actuators such as a spring-type clamp that are not integrated with the microfluidic device and a screw-type compression mechanism that is integrated with the microfluidic device are employed as the diaphragm compression mechanism.
Further, Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose a compression assisting method in which a flexible film-shaped member is provided with a compression assisting member having a convex structure serving as a diaphragm pressing portion, and the compression assisting member is fixed to the microfluidic device main body around the film-shaped member. A mechanism is disclosed. According to this compression mechanism, even when the pressing position is shifted from the position corresponding to the diaphragm, the diaphragm can be pressed with high accuracy.
Patent Document 4 filed by the present applicant discloses a mechanism for displacing a diaphragm with a fluid for adjusting a flow rate.
JP 2001-70784 A WO 02 / 24320A1 pamphlet JP-A-2002-219697 JP-A-2002-239374

However, in the microfluidic device, in order to maintain a state in which the diaphragm is displaced, a mechanism for maintaining the diaphragm in a displaced state is required for the compression mechanism, and there has been a problem that the device configuration is complicated.
In addition, when a screw-type compression mechanism is used, a mechanism for maintaining the diaphragm displacement state is not required.However, when compressing the diaphragm, a force in the screw rotation direction acts on the diaphragm, thereby damaging the diaphragm and the like. In particular, it has been difficult to employ this mechanism in a small microfluidic device.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a microfluidic device and a flow rate adjusting method capable of maintaining a diaphragm displacement state, simplifying the structure, and preventing damage during flow rate adjustment. It is to be.

  The present inventors have proposed that the pressing mechanism includes a plate-shaped movable pressing member having a swelling portion swelling in a direction away from the microfluidic device main body. The above problem can be solved by the microfluidic device which can press the diaphragm by deforming so as to bulge toward the element main body and stop at the position where the diaphragm is pressed. Was found.

  That is, the present invention provides a microfluidic device main body (11) having a capillary channel (5) and a diaphragm (7) displaceable with respect to the channel (5), and presses the diaphragm (7). A pressing mechanism (12) that displaces the microfluidic device body, and the pressing mechanism (12) has a swelling portion (16) that swells in a direction away from the microfluidic device body (11). The movable pressing member (14) presses the diaphragm (7) by deforming the bulging portion (16) so as to bulge toward the microfluidic device body (11). A microfluidic device that is configured to stop at a position where the diaphragm (7) is pressed.

  The present invention provides a microfluidic device body (11) having a capillary channel (5) and a diaphragm (7) displaceable with respect to the channel (5) by pressing the diaphragm (7). A pressing mechanism (62) for displacing, comprising a plate-shaped movable pressing member (64) having a bulging portion (16) bulging away from the microfluidic device main body (11); (64) The bulging portion (16) can press the diaphragm (7) by deforming so as to bulge toward the microfluidic device body (11), and the diaphragm (7) 7) To provide a pressing mechanism configured to stop at a position where the pressing is performed.

  The present invention provides a microfluidic device body (11) having a capillary channel (5) and a diaphragm (7) displaceable with respect to the channel (5), and pressing the diaphragm (7). A plate-like movable pressing member (14) having a pressing mechanism (12) for displacing, the pressing mechanism (12) having a bulging portion (16) bulging away from the microfluidic device body (11); The movable pressing member (14) presses the diaphragm (7) by deforming the bulging portion (16) so as to bulge toward the microfluidic device main body (11). And a method of adjusting a fluid flow rate in a flow path (5) of a microfluidic device configured to stop at a position where the diaphragm (7) is pressed, wherein a bulging portion (16) is formed. The microfluidic device body (11) And away from, it provides a flow control method of the flow rate adjusted by swelling in either direction toward the micro fluidic element body (11).

In the present invention, the swelling portion is configured to be able to press the diaphragm by deforming so as to swell toward the element body, and is configured to stop at the diaphragm pressing position. By the mechanism, the state where the diaphragm is displaced can be maintained.
Since the structure of the pressing mechanism can be simplified, the size and cost of the microfluidic device can be reduced.
In addition, since the diaphragm can be pressed by the deformation of the bulging part, unlike the conventional product using a screw-type compression mechanism, no excessive force is applied to the diaphragm, preventing the diaphragm from being damaged. Can be.
Therefore, the durability of the microfluidic device can be improved.
Also, since the diaphragm can be pressed by pressing the movable pressing member downward with a finger or the like, the flow rate can be controlled with a simpler operation than the conventional product that employs a diaphragm compression mechanism using a weight, pinch, actuator, etc. Adjustment is possible. Therefore, it is advantageous in terms of operability.
In addition, by employing a configuration in which the pressing mechanism is detachable from the microfluidic device main body, the pressing mechanism can be removed from the used microfluidic device and reused. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the microfluidic device can be reduced.

The microfluidic device of the present invention includes a microfluidic device main body (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as an “element main body”) having a capillary flow path and a diaphragm displaceable with respect to the flow path, and the diaphragm. A pressing mechanism for pressing and displacing the pressing mechanism, the pressing mechanism including a plate-shaped movable pressing member having a bulging portion bulging in a direction away from the element main body, wherein the movable pressing member has a bulging portion. It is characterized in that the diaphragm can be pressed by deforming so as to bulge toward the element main body, and the diaphragm is stopped at a position where the diaphragm is pressed.
The movable pressing member may be a plate-like material made of metal such as steel, copper, and aluminum.
The shape of the swelling portion is not particularly limited as long as the swelling portion is deformed so as to swell toward the element main body, so that the diaphragm can be pressed and can be stably stopped at the pressed position.
Specifically, the shape may be a substantially arc-shaped cross section, a substantially elliptical arc cross section, a substantially truncated cone shape, a substantially hemispherical shape, a substantially conical shape, or the like. For example, the shape can be a part of a spherical surface.
The bulging portion can be configured to be displaceable in a direction approaching and separating from the element body.

In the microfluidic device of the present invention, the swelling portion expands toward the element main body from the first stable state (initial state) swelling away from the element main body (pressed state). The diaphragm can be displaced by deforming the diaphragm and pressing the diaphragm, and can be stopped energetically stably at the diaphragm pressing position.
Therefore, the state in which the diaphragm is displaced can be maintained by the pressing mechanism having a simple structure.
Since the structure of the pressing mechanism of the microfluidic device of the present invention can be simplified, the size and cost of the microfluidic device can be reduced.
Also, since the microfluidic device of the present invention can press the diaphragm by deformation of the bulging portion, unlike a conventional product using a screw-type compression mechanism, no excessive force is applied to the diaphragm, and the diaphragm is Damage can be prevented. Therefore, the durability of the microfluidic device can be improved.
Also, since the diaphragm can be pressed by pressing the movable pressing member downward with a finger or the like, the flow rate can be controlled with a simpler operation than the conventional product that employs a diaphragm compression mechanism using a weight, pinch, actuator, etc. Adjustment is possible. Therefore, it is advantageous in terms of operability.
In the present invention, the displacement of the diaphragm refers to the movement of the diaphragm for changing the cross-sectional area of the flow path to change the fluid flow rate in the flow path. Further, it is desirable that the diaphragm can be completely restored to the non-displaced state when the pressing is stopped. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the restoration may be incomplete.
The position where the diaphragm is pressed may be a position where the flow path is completely closed by the diaphragm or a position where the flow path is not closed.

In the present invention, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which an intermediate member is provided between the movable pressing member and the diaphragm, and the movable pressing member can press the diaphragm via the intermediate member.
With this configuration, even when the relative position of the movable pressing member to the diaphragm changes, the position where the diaphragm is pressed is always constant. Therefore, it is possible to precisely adjust the flow rate of the fluid in the flow path.
The intermediary member is preferably a spherical, hemispherical, cylindrical, columnar, truncated cone, or truncated pyramid-shaped convex body. As the material, metal such as steel, glass, synthetic resin and the like can be adopted.
The intermediate member may be configured to be fixed to the diaphragm.
The intermediate member is not limited to the configuration fixed to the diaphragm. For example, the intermediate member may be provided in a guide positioned with respect to the microfluidic device main body without being fixed to the movable pressing member or the diaphragm. Further, it may be configured to be fixed to a film-like member or the like and movable in the direction of displacement of the diaphragm, but immovable in the direction parallel to the diaphragm.

  The movable pressing member can be configured to be able to press the diaphragm via a buffer member that can be deformed by pressing. The buffer member is not particularly limited as long as it has a characteristic of being deformed by pressing. For example, a spring such as a coil spring; an elastic body such as rubber or elastomer; a porous body such as foamed polyethylene or polyurethane; a fiber such as cotton; a combined structure of a slide cam and an elastic body; By using the buffer member, even when an error occurs in the dimension of the pressing mechanism, the flow rate can be adjusted with high accuracy.

In the present invention, a handle portion is formed on the bulging portion, and the handle portion applies a force in a direction (separation direction) away from the microfluidic device body to displace the bulging portion in this direction. A configuration in which the direction displacement means can be connected can be adopted.
According to this configuration, the bulging portion can be forcibly restored to the first stable state (initial state) by applying a force in the separating direction to the handle by the separating direction displacement means.
Therefore, the opening and closing operation of the flow path can be reliably performed, and the flow rate can be adjusted with high accuracy.

In the present invention, the pressing mechanism may be integrated with the microfluidic device main body, or may be configured to be detachable from the microfluidic device main body.
When the pressing mechanism is detachable from the microfluidic device main body, the pressing mechanism is a member independent of the microfluidic device main body, and the microfluidic device is obtained by mounting the pressing mechanism at a predetermined position of the microfluidic device main body. Can be.
The pressing mechanism includes the movable pressing member, and may have any shape as long as the diaphragm can be pressed by the movable pressing member when mounted on a predetermined position of the microfluidic device main body.
It is preferable that the pressing mechanism has a surface that can be in close contact with the surface of the microfluidic device body on which the diaphragm is formed. As the pressing mechanism, for example, a mechanism having a flat contact surface can be given, and it is preferable to have a plate-shaped portion constituting the contact surface.
When the pressing mechanism has a plate-shaped portion, the movable pressing member can press the diaphragm through a defective portion (a hole or a notch) provided in the plate-shaped portion. The material of the plate portion is not particularly limited, but a material having high rigidity is preferable.
In order to mount the pressing mechanism on the microfluidic device main body, for example, the following mechanism can be used. A pressing mechanism is fixed to a lid provided in a device using a microfluidic element, for example, an analyzer or a synthesizer, and when the lid is rotated for opening and closing, the diaphragm is pressed by a movable pressing member. A positioning pin or the like for fixing the microfluidic device main body can be provided at a position.
By making the pressing mechanism detachable from the microfluidic device main body, a relatively expensive pressing mechanism can be removed from a used microfluidic device and reused. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the microfluidic device can be reduced.

  The pressing mechanism of the present invention is a pressing mechanism that presses and displaces the diaphragm of a microfluidic device main body having a capillary channel and a diaphragm that can be displaced with respect to the channel, wherein the microfluidic device is A plate-shaped movable pressing member having a bulging portion bulging in a direction away from the main body, wherein the movable pressing member deforms so that the bulging portion bulges toward the microfluidic device main body. Thus, the diaphragm can be pressed, and the diaphragm is stopped at a position where the diaphragm is pressed.

The flow rate adjusting method of the present invention is a method of adjusting the flow rate of the fluid in the flow path of the microfluidic device, wherein the flow rate is adjusted by adjusting the amount of deformation of the bulging portion. In the present invention, the adjustment of the flow rate also includes making the flow rate zero.
In the present invention, the flow rate can be adjusted by expanding the bulging portion in either a direction away from the microfluidic device main body or a direction toward the microfluidic device main body.
The flow rate when the bulging portion is bulged in each of the above directions can be set according to the mounting position of the movable pressing member, the thickness of the movable pressing member, the amount of deformation of the bulging portion, and the like.
In the present invention, the flow rate can be adjusted by an easy operation.
The swelling portion is capable of pressing the diaphragm by deforming so as to swell toward the element body, and is configured to stably stop at the diaphragm pressing position in terms of energy. The state in which the diaphragm is displaced can be maintained by the pressing mechanism. Since the structure of the pressing mechanism can be simplified as described above, the size and cost of the microfluidic device can be reduced.
In addition, since the diaphragm can be pressed by the deformation of the bulging part, unlike the conventional product using a screw-type compression mechanism, no excessive force is applied to the diaphragm, preventing the diaphragm from being damaged. Can be. Therefore, the durability of the microfluidic device can be improved.
Also, since the diaphragm can be pressed by pressing the movable pressing member downward with a finger or the like, the flow rate can be controlled with a simpler operation than the conventional product that employs a diaphragm compression mechanism using a weight, pinch, actuator, etc. Adjustment is possible. Therefore, it is advantageous in terms of operability.

<Example 1>
FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the microfluidic device of the present invention. FIGS. 1A and 1B show a microfluidic device of Example 1, wherein FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a side view. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the microfluidic device. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views showing a main part of the microfluidic device, wherein FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the diaphragm is not displaced, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the diaphragm is displaced. It is.
The microfluidic device shown here has a microfluidic device main body 11 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “element main body 11”) having a capillary channel 5 and a diaphragm 7 displaceable with respect to the channel 5, and the diaphragm 7. A pressing mechanism 12 for pressing and displacing is provided.

The element body 11 is configured by sequentially laminating a first resin layer 2, a second resin layer 3, and a third resin layer 4 on a base material 1. The resin layers 2, 3, and 4 can be composed of an energy ray-curable composition. For the third resin layer 4, a material that can be elastically deformed by pressing is used.
The flow path 5 is formed in the second resin layer 3. An intermediate portion in the extending direction of the flow path 5 is a wide portion 6 which is widened. The shape of the wide portion 6 can be circular.

The portion of the third resin layer 4 facing the wide portion 6 is a diaphragm 7. The diaphragm 7 is elastically displaced downward by the pressing mechanism 12 so that the opening of the flow path 5 can be adjusted.
An inflow port 8 and an outflow port 9 are formed in the third resin layer 4 at positions corresponding to both ends of the flow path 5, respectively. It can be derived.
Luer fittings 10a and 10b are provided in the third resin layer 4 at positions corresponding to the inlet 8 and the outlet 9, respectively.

The pressing mechanism 12 includes an annular fixing member 13 fixed to the element body 11 and a movable pressing member 14 attached to the fixing member 13.
The movable pressing member 14 is a plate-like material made of metal or the like and having a rectangular shape in plan view, and has a bulging portion 16 bulging upward (in a direction away from the element body 11).
The shape of the bulging portion 16 is a shape (an arc-shaped cross section) that forms a part of a spherical surface.
As shown in FIG. 2, a pressing portion 19 having a substantially arc-shaped cross section is formed substantially at the center of the bulging portion 16 and projects downward (toward the element body 11). The pressing portion 19 is formed at a position where the diaphragm 7 can be pressed (preferably, a position corresponding to the center of the diaphragm 7).
The movable pressing member 14 is attached to the fixing member 13 by a fixing tool 20 inserted into a hole 15 formed near the corner.
The fixing device 20 includes a head portion 20 a located on the movable pressing member 14 and a screw portion 20 b inserted into the hole 15. The screw portion 20 b is fixed to the hole 13 a of the fixing member 13.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the movable pressing member 14 in a state where the bulging portion 16 bulges upward is in a first stable state (initial state) where the energy is stable.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the movable pressing member 14 is configured so as to press the diaphragm 7 by deforming the bulging portion 16 so as to bulge toward the element body 11. I have. Further, the movable pressing member 14 can be stopped at a position where the diaphragm 7 is pressed.
That is, the bulging portion 16 is reversely deformed so as to bulge downward (toward the element body 11), and when the amount of deformation exceeds a predetermined value, the posture is stabilized by its own rigidity in the reversed state, It is designed to stop.
The movable pressing member 14 in a state where the bulging portion 16 bulges downward is in a second stable state (pressed state) in which the energy is stable.
The position where the diaphragm 7 is pressed (diaphragm pressing position) may be a position where the flow path 5 is completely closed by the diaphragm 7 or a position where the flow path 5 is not closed.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the bulging portion 16 that has been deformed downward and is in the inverted state is stably stopped in terms of energy in this state, but a force is applied to the bulging portion 16 and this force is reduced. By properly adjusting the position, direction, strength, and the like, the initial state can be restored.
For example, when an upward tensile force is applied to the bulging portion 16, the bulging portion 16 returns to the initial state.

By appropriately designing the shape and the like of the movable pressing member 14, the energy stability of the bulging portion 16 in the initial state and the pressing state can be made different.
For example, the force required to return from the pressed state to the initial state can be made smaller than the force required to deform from the initial state to the pressed state.
In order to make the stability of the bulging portion 16 different between the initial state and the pressing state, for example, the movable pressing member 14 may be provided with a flat peripheral portion including a corner, What is necessary is just to make into the shape approximated to the shape which has a part.
Further, when the movable pressing member 14 is fixed to the fixing member 13 by using the fixing tool 20, the distance between the head portion 20a of the fixing tool 20 and the fixing member 13 is made as small as possible, so that the movable pressing member 14 in the pressed state is reduced. The deformation of the member 14 can be made slightly incomplete. Thereby, the movable pressing member 14 in the pressed state can be destabilized in terms of energy.
By lowering the energy stability of the bulging portion 16 in the pressed state as compared with the initial state, the operation of restoring the bulging portion 16 to the initial state can be facilitated.

[Production of base material 1, first and second resin layers 2, 3]
Using a bar coater on a substrate 1 made of Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc., having a width of 2.5 cm, a length of 7.5 cm, and a thickness of 3 mm, made of polystyrene "Dick Styrene XC510" (hereinafter referred to as [p1]). The energy ray-curable composition [e1] was applied and irradiated with ultraviolet rays as energy rays for 3 seconds to form a non-flowable and incompletely cured first resin layer 2 (98 μm in thickness).
An energy-ray-curable composition [e1] is further applied on the first resin layer 2 using a bar coater, and ultraviolet rays are irradiated as energy rays to portions other than the portion that becomes the flow path 5 and the wide portion 6 for 3 seconds. Then, the composition in the irradiated portion was made non-flowable and incompletely cured. The uncured energy-ray-curable composition [e1] in the non-irradiated portion is removed by running water to form a second resin layer 3 (98 μm in thickness) having a groove-shaped channel 5 having a substantially rectangular cross section and a wide portion 6. did.
In this manner, a groove-shaped flow path 5 having a width of 150 μm, a depth of 98 μm, and a length of 50 mm is formed in the second resin layer 3, and a cylindrical wide portion 6 having a diameter of 300 μm is provided along the flow path 5. Was formed to produce a member [A1] which was a laminate of the base material 1, the first resin layer 2, and the second resin layer 3.
The flow path 5 and the wide portion 6 were formed so as to have a substantially rectangular shape and a cross section in which the corners were curved in an arc shape.

[Production of Third Resin Layer 4]
An energy ray-curable composition [e2] is applied to a corona-treated surface of a biaxially oriented polypropylene film “FOR” (thickness: 30 μm, not shown) manufactured by Nimura Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. using a bar coater, and energy is applied thereto. Ultraviolet rays were irradiated for 1 second as a line to form a non-flowable and incompletely cured coating film, and this coating film was laminated on the second resin layer 3.
The third resin layer made of a cured product of the energy ray-curable composition [e2] by irradiating the ultraviolet ray from the polypropylene biaxially stretched film side for another 30 seconds to completely cure the coating film in an incompletely cured state. 4 (98 μm in thickness) was formed and simultaneously fixed to the surface of the second resin layer 3. At this time, the first resin layer 2 and the second resin layer 3 were simultaneously cured.
By peeling the biaxially stretched polypropylene film, an element main body 11 in which the portion of the third resin layer 4 facing the wide portion 6 became the diaphragm 7 was produced.

[Production of pressing mechanism]
A movable pressing member having a bulged portion 16 (height: 1 mm) having a circular cross section that bulges upward by pressing a square phosphor bronze plate (length: 10 mm, width: 10 mm, thickness: 0.2 mm). 14 was produced. At this time, a hemispherical pressing portion 19 (radius of about 0.3 mm) projecting downward was formed at the center of the bulging portion 16. A hole 15 was formed near the corner of the movable pressing member 14.
On the other hand, using a polystyrene "Dick Styrene SR-500-1" (high impact polystyrene) (hereinafter referred to as [p2]) manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc., a fixing member 13 (outer diameter 14 mm, inner diameter 12 mm, height 1 mm) ) Was prepared, and a hole 13 a was formed at a position corresponding to the hole 15.
The movable pressing member 14 was attached to the fixed member 13 using four fixing tools 20.
The fixing member 13 was bonded to the surface of the third resin layer 4 with an epoxy adhesive.

[Formation of other structures]
An inlet 8 and an outlet 9 (both having a diameter of 0.5 mm) were formed in the third resin layer 4 at positions corresponding to both ends of the flow path 5 of the element body 11.
Luer fittings 10a and 10b were bonded to the third resin layer 4 at positions corresponding to the inflow port 8 and the outflow port 9, respectively, with an epoxy resin.
A microfluidic device was obtained as described above.

The method for preparing the energy ray-curable composition used in Example 1 is described below.
[Preparation of energy ray-curable composition [e1]]
60 parts of a trifunctional urethane acrylate oligomer “Unidick V4263” (average molecular weight 2000) manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc., 20 parts of 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate “New Frontier HDDA” manufactured by Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd. 20 parts of nonylphenoxy polyethylene glycol (n = 17) acrylate "N-177E" manufactured by Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd., and 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone "IRGACURE 184 manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Inc. as a photopolymerization initiator. 5 parts, and 0.5 part of 2,4-diphenyl-4-methyl-1-pentene manufactured by Kanto Chemical Co., Ltd. as a polymerization retarder were uniformly mixed to prepare an energy ray-curable composition [e1]. did.
Table 1 shows the tensile modulus and elongation at break of the ultraviolet ray cured product of the energy ray-curable composition [e1]. The contact angle with water was 13 degrees. Unless otherwise specified, “parts” means “parts by mass”.

[Preparation of energy ray-curable composition [e2]]
40 parts of the above “Unidick V-4263”, 60 parts of an acrylate mixture “Sartomer C2000” manufactured by Somar Co., which mainly contains ω-tetradecanediol diacrylate and ω-pentadecanediol diacrylate, and “N-177E” 20 parts, 5 parts of the above-mentioned “Irgacure 184” as a photopolymerization initiator, and 0.1 part of the above 2,4-diphenyl-4-methyl-1-pentene as a polymerization retarder were mixed together to form an energy ray-curable composition. Compound [e2] was prepared.

[Energy beam irradiation]
Ultraviolet rays of 50 mW / cm ² (using a Multilight 200 light source unit manufactured by Ushio Inc.) were used as energy rays. Irradiation with energy rays was performed in a nitrogen atmosphere.

[Opening / closing test of flow path]
Water (fluid) colored with methylene blue (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) is supplied to the channel 5 from a micro syringe (not shown) through a soft vinyl chloride tube (not shown) connected to the luer fitting 10a. The mixture was injected, discharged from the outlet 9, and led out of the system through a soft vinyl chloride tube (not shown) connected to the luer fitting 10b.
As shown in FIG. 3A, in an initial state where no downward force is applied to the movable pressing member 14 (diaphragm non-pressing position), the diaphragm 7 is not pressed because the movable pressing member 14 is not deformed. . For this reason, the diaphragm 7 did not displace, and the fluid in the flow path 5 flowed without resistance.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the movable pressing member 14 is pressed by the finger in the direction of the diaphragm 7 (downward in the figure) so that the bulging portion 16 bulges downward (toward the element body 11). Deformed. That is, the bulging portion 16 was turned over to be in a pressed state.
Due to the displacement of the bulging portion 16, the pressing portion 19 presses the diaphragm 7 downward, the diaphragm 7 is displaced to a position where the flow path 5 is completely closed (diaphragm pressing position), and the colored water in the flow path 5 is displaced. Flow was interrupted.
As described above, since the bulging portion 16 can be stably stopped in a state where the diaphragm 7 is pressed, the flow of the colored water is shut off even when the pressing on the movable pressing member 14 is stopped. State was maintained.

The tip surface of a rod (not shown) (diameter: 5 mm) having a double-sided tape attached to the tip surface is brought into contact with the upper surface of the bulging portion 16 and is moved upward, so that the upward pulling force is applied to the bulging portion 16. added.
As shown in FIG. 3A, it was confirmed that the swelling portion 16 was restored to the initial state, the diaphragm 7 was displaced upward, and the colored water again flowed through the flow path 5. .
As described above, in this microfluidic device, the flow rate of the fluid in the flow path 5 can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of deformation of the bulging portion 16.

The microfluidic device of the present embodiment has the following advantages.
(1) Since the bulging portion 16 is deformed so as to bulge toward the element main body 11, the diaphragm 7 can be pressed and stopped at the diaphragm pressing position. By the pressing mechanism 12, the state in which the diaphragm 7 is displaced can be maintained.
Since the structure of the pressing mechanism 12 can be simplified, the size and cost of the microfluidic device can be reduced.
(2) Due to the deformation of the bulging portion 16, the diaphragm 7 can be pressed by the pressing portion 19 displaced downward. For this reason, unlike a conventional product using a screw-type compression mechanism, no excessive force is applied to the diaphragm 7, and the diaphragm 7 can be prevented from being damaged.
Therefore, the durability of the microfluidic device can be improved.
(3) Since the diaphragm 7 can be pressed by pressing the movable pressing member 14 downward with a finger or the like, it is easier than a conventional product employing a diaphragm compression mechanism using a weight, a pinch, an actuator, or the like. The flow rate can be adjusted by operation. Therefore, it is advantageous in terms of operability.

<Example 2>
FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the microfluidic device of the present invention. 4A is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the diaphragm is not displaced, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the diaphragm is displaced. This embodiment is an example of a microfluidic device using an intermediate member.
In the following description, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description may be omitted.
In the microfluidic device of the present embodiment, the pressing mechanism 22 includes the movable pressing member 24 and the fixed member 13.
The movable pressing member 24 includes a plate-shaped pressing member main body 24a made of metal or the like, and a cylindrical pressing portion 23 attached to a lower surface of the pressing member main body 24a.
The pressing member main body 24a has a bulging portion 26 bulging upward (in a direction away from the element main body 11).
The pressing portion 23 is made of polystyrene (p2), has a cylindrical shape (diameter 2 mm, height 2 mm), and is fixed to the lower surface side of the bulging portion 26 with a rubber-based adhesive. The lower surface of the pressing portion 23 is formed flat.
The movable pressing member 24 is attached to the fixing member 13 (outer diameter: 14 mm, inner diameter: 12 mm, height: 3 mm) using the fixing tool 20.
A steel ball 25 (0.5 mm in diameter), which is a convex member, is fixed to the upper surface of the diaphragm 7 (the side opposite to the wide portion 6) as an intermediate member. The steel ball 25 is preferably provided at a position substantially corresponding to the center of the diaphragm 7. The steel ball 25 is fixed to the diaphragm 7 by a cured product of the energy ray-curable composition [e2].

[Opening / closing test of flow path]
Colored water was introduced into the channel 5 in the same manner as in Example 1.
As shown in FIG. 4A, when the bulging portion 26 was not pressed, the diaphragm 7 was not displaced, and the fluid in the flow path 5 flowed without resistance.
As shown in FIG. 4B, when the bulging portion 26 is pressed downward and deformed so as to bulge downward, the pressing portion 23 presses the steel ball 25 downward, and the diaphragm 7 The ball 25 was pressed downward and displaced, the flow path 5 was closed, and the flow of the colored water was cut off.
At this time, it was confirmed that the posture of the bulging portion 26 became stable, and the state in which the flow of the colored water was shut off was maintained even if the pressing on the bulging portion 26 was stopped.
As shown in FIG. 4A, when an upward tensile force is applied to the bulging portion 26 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the bulging portion 26 is restored to the initial state, and the diaphragm 7 is accordingly moved. It displaced upward, and the flow of the colored water in the flow path 5 was restored.

In the microfluidic device of this embodiment, since the steel ball 25 for pressing the diaphragm 7 is provided on the diaphragm 7, even when the relative position of the movable pressing member 24 with respect to the diaphragm 7 changes, the position at which the diaphragm 7 is pressed. Is always constant. Therefore, the flow rate of the fluid in the flow path 5 can be adjusted with high accuracy.
In addition, since the flow rate can be accurately adjusted even when the dimensional accuracy of each member is low, it is easy to manufacture the microfluidic device and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
Further, even when the position of the movable pressing member 24 changes, a force in a direction other than the lower direction (for example, a force in the horizontal direction) is hardly transmitted to the diaphragm 7, so that the diaphragm 7 can be prevented from being damaged.

<Example 3>
FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the microfluidic device of the present invention. In FIG. 5, (a) is a sectional view showing a state where the diaphragm is not displaced, and (b) is a sectional view showing a state where the diaphragm is displaced. This embodiment is an example of a microfluidic device using a buffer member.
In the microfluidic device of this embodiment, a cylindrical buffer member 28 (diameter 3 mm, thickness 1 mm) is provided on the lower surface side of the cylindrical pressing portion 23 (diameter 3 mm, height 1 mm).
The cushioning member 28 is made of polyurethane (polyurethane “Elastollan 564” manufactured by Nippon Elastollan, hereinafter referred to as [p3]) which is a material that can be deformed by pressing, and is bonded to the pressing portion 23 with a rubber-based adhesive. Have been.
The movable pressing member 24 provided with the buffer member 28 is attached to the fixed member 13 (outer diameter: 14 mm, inner diameter: 12 mm, height: 3 mm).

[Opening / closing test of flow path]
Colored water was introduced into the channel 5 in the same manner as in Example 1.
As shown in FIG. 5A, when the bulging portion 26 was not pressed, the diaphragm 7 was not displaced, and the fluid in the flow path 5 flowed without resistance.
As shown in FIG. 5B, when the bulging portion 26 is pressed downward and deformed so as to bulge downward, the cushioning member 28 presses the steel ball 25 downward, and the diaphragm 7 The ball 25 was pressed downward and displaced, the flow path 5 was closed, and the flow of the colored water was cut off.
At this time, it was confirmed that the posture of the bulging portion 26 became stable, and the state in which the flow of the colored water was shut off was maintained even when the pressing on the bulging portion 26 was stopped.
In this state, the buffer member 28 is deformed in a direction in which the portion in contact with the steel ball 25 becomes thinner.
As shown in FIG. 5A, when an upward tensile force is applied to the bulging portion 26 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the bulging portion 26 is restored to the initial state, and the diaphragm 7 is accordingly moved. It displaced upward, and the flow of the colored water in the flow path 5 was restored.

<Example 4>
A microfluidic device was produced in the same manner as in Example 3, except that the height of the fixing member 13 was 2.2 mm.

[Opening / closing test of flow path]
Colored water was introduced into the channel 5 in the same manner as in Example 1.
Similarly to the third embodiment, when the bulging portion 26 is deformed so as to bulge downward, the diaphragm 7 is pressed downward via the pressing portion 23, the buffer member 28, and the steel ball 25, and is displaced. The flow path 5 was blocked, and the flow of the colored water was cut off. At this time, the buffer member 28 was deformed in a direction in which the portion in contact with the steel ball 25 became thinner.
When the bulging portion 26 was restored to the initial state, the flow of the colored water could be restored.

It can be seen from Examples 3 and 4 that the flow path 5 could be opened and closed without any problem even when the height of the fixed member 13 (the height of the movable pressing member 24 with respect to the element body 11) was changed.
From this result, it can be seen that the use of the buffer member 28 that can be deformed by pressing enables the flow rate to be adjusted with high accuracy even when an error occurs in the dimensions of the pressing mechanism 22.

<Example 5>
6 and 7 show a fifth embodiment of the microfluidic device of the present invention.
The pressing mechanism 32 includes a movable pressing member 34 and the fixed member 13.
The movable pressing member 34 includes a pressing member main body 24a having a bulging portion 26, a handle 35 provided on the upper surface side of the pressing member main body 24a, and the pressing portion 23 attached to the lower surface of the pressing member main body 24a. ing.
The handle 35 is formed in an arch shape curved in a substantially arc shape, and both ends are connected to the bulging portion 26. The handle 35 can be formed by forming two cuts substantially parallel to the center of the pressing member main body 24a and deforming a portion between them so as to bulge upward. Other configurations were the same as those of the second embodiment.

The reference numeral 37 in the figure indicates that a tensile force is applied upward (in a direction away from the element body 11) (in a separating direction) to the deformed bulging portion 26 to displace the bulging portion 26 upward and restore the initial state. (Separation means for separating direction).
The tab 37 has a tab body 38 made of polystyrene (p2) and a hook 39 provided at the tip thereof.
The tab body 38 includes a disc-shaped operation portion 38a and an arm portion 38b extending perpendicular to the operation portion 38a. The hook 39 is formed in a plate shape curved in a substantially arc shape, and one end is fixed to a tip end surface of the arm portion 38b.

Colored water was introduced into the channel 5 in the same manner as in Example 1.
Similarly to the second embodiment, when the bulging portion 26 is deformed so as to bulge downward, the diaphragm 7 is pressed downward via the pressing portion 23 and the steel ball 25 to be displaced, and the flow path 5 is displaced. It was blocked and the flow of colored water was cut off.
At this time, it was confirmed that the posture of the bulging portion 26 became stable, and the state in which the flow of the colored water was shut off was maintained even if the pressing on the bulging portion 26 was stopped.

  Next, the hook 37 of the tab 37 was hooked on the handle portion 35 to be connected, and then the tab 37 was moved upward. As a result, an upward tensile force was applied to the bulging portion 26, and the bulging portion 26 was restored to the initial state, and the flow of the colored water could be recovered.

In the microfluidic device of the present embodiment, since the handle portion 35 to which the hook 39 of the tab 37 can be connected is provided on the bulging portion 26, the tab portion 37 applies a pulling force to the handle portion 35 in the separating direction. Thus, the bulging portion 26 can be forcibly restored to the initial state.
Therefore, the opening and closing operation of the flow path 5 can be reliably performed, and the flow rate can be adjusted with high accuracy.

<Example 6>
FIGS. 8 and 9 show a sixth embodiment of the microfluidic device of the present invention. 9A is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the diaphragm is not displaced, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the diaphragm is displaced.
In the present embodiment, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment except that a plate-shaped operation portion 56 protruding laterally from both sides of the pressing member main body 55 is provided. That is, in the present embodiment, the pressing mechanism 52 includes the movable pressing member 54 and the fixed member 13. The movable pressing member 54 has a rectangular plate-like pressing member main body 55 having a bulging portion 16 having an arc-shaped cross section that bulges upward, and a plate-like operation projecting laterally from both sides of the pressing member main body 55. And a part 56.
The operating section 56 is for restoring the movable pressing member 54 from the pressed state to the initial state, and the distal end 56 a of the operating section 56 is located outside the fixed member 13. The operation section 56 can be formed integrally with the pressing member main body 55.

In this embodiment, the operating portion 56 of the movable pressing member 54 can be operated to restore the movable pressing member 54 from the pressed state to the initial state.
As shown by an arrow in FIG. 9B, when the operation unit 56 is pressed downward, an upward force is applied to the pressing member main body 55 with the fixing member 13 as a fulcrum, and the bulging portion 16 is initially moved. The state is restored (FIG. 9A).

[Opening / closing test of flow path]
Colored water was introduced into the channel 5 in the same manner as in Example 1.
As shown in FIG. 9A, the movable pressing member 54 is energy stable when the bulging portion 16 bulges upward (initial state).
As shown in FIG. 9B, when the bulging portion 16 is deformed so as to bulge downward by a finger, the diaphragm 7 is pressed downward by the pressing portion 19 and displaced, and the flow path 5 is closed. The flow of colored water was interrupted (pressed state). At this time, it was confirmed that even if the pressing by the finger was released, the bulging portion (16) stayed in the pressed state, and the interruption of the colored water was maintained.
As shown by the arrow in the figure, when the operation portion 56 was pressed downward, the bulging portion 16 was restored to the initial state, and the flow of the colored water could be restored.

  In the microfluidic device of the present embodiment, since the movable pressing member 54 has the operating portion 56 that protrudes to the side, the swelling portion swells downward by applying a vertical force to the operating portion 56. The operation of restoring 16 to the initial state becomes easy.

<Example 7>
FIG. 10 shows a seventh embodiment of the microfluidic device of the present invention.
The microfluidic device shown here includes a device body 11 and a pressing mechanism 62.
A steel ball 25 (intermediate member) is adhered to the upper surface of the diaphragm 7 of the element body 11.
The pressing mechanism 62 includes a bottom plate 66 (plate-shaped portion), the fixed member 13 provided on the bottom plate 66, and a movable pressing member 64 attached to the fixed member 13.
The movable pressing member 64 includes a pressing member main body 65 having a swelling portion 16 and having a rectangular plate shape in a plan view, an operation portion 56 projecting to both sides thereof, the pressing portion 23 attached to the lower surface of the pressing member main body 65, And a buffer member 28 attached to the lower surface of the pressing portion 23. The movable pressing member 64 can be restored from the pressed state to the initial state by operating the operation unit 56.
The bottom plate portion 66 has a flat plate shape, and has a length and a width substantially equal to those of the element body 11.
A hole 67 (4 mm in diameter) is formed in the bottom plate portion 66 at a position corresponding to the pressing portion 23, and the pressing portion 23 and the buffer member 28 can press the diaphragm 7 through the steel ball 25 through the hole 67. It has become.
A cutout 68 is provided in the bottom plate 66 at a position corresponding to the luer fittings 10a and 10b.
The pressing mechanism 62 can be mounted on the element body 11 by bringing the lower surface of the bottom plate 66 into close contact with the upper surface of the resin layer 4.
The pressing mechanism 62 is detachable from the element body 11.

[Opening / closing test of flow path]
The element body 11 is fixed on a stage (not shown) using a positioning pin (not shown), and the pressing mechanism 62 is superimposed on the element body 11 so that the positions of the hole 67 and the diaphragm 7 coincide. .
A flow channel opening / closing test was performed in the same manner as in Example 6. When the diaphragm 7 was displaced by the pressing mechanism 62, the flow of the colored water was shut off. At this time, it was confirmed that the posture of the bulging portion 16 became stable. When the operation portion 56 was pressed downward, the bulging portion 16 was restored to the initial state, and the flow of the colored water could be restored.

  In this embodiment, since the pressing mechanism 62 is detachable from the element body 11, the pressing mechanism 62, which is a relatively expensive component, can be removed from the used microfluidic element and reused. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the microfluidic device can be reduced.

Example 8
FIGS. 11 and 12 show another example of an element body that can be used for the microfluidic element of the present invention.
The element body 41 shown here is configured by sequentially laminating a first resin layer 42, a second resin layer 43, a third resin layer 44, and a fourth resin layer 45 on the base material 1.
The first resin layer 42 is formed of a cured product of the energy ray-curable composition [e1] having a thickness of 98 μm, and has a linear defect part (width 150 μm) serving as the flow channel 46.
The third resin layer 44 is formed of a cured product of the energy ray-curable composition [e1] having a thickness of 98 μm, and has a linear defect part (width 150 μm) serving as the flow channel 47. A circular wide portion 6 having a diameter of 600 μm is formed at one end of the defective portion.
The second resin layer 43 is formed of a cured product of the energy ray-curable composition [e1] having a thickness of 98 μm, and has a circular shape of 200 μm in diameter serving as a communication channel 48 that connects the channel 46 and the channel 47. It has a through hole.
The fourth resin layer 45 is formed of a cured product of the energy ray-curable composition [e2] having a thickness of 98 μm, and a portion corresponding to the wide portion 6 of the third resin layer 44 becomes the diaphragm 7.
An inlet 8 (0.5 mm in diameter) is formed in the resin layer 43, 44, 45 at a position corresponding to the end of the flow channel 46, and flows into the fourth resin layer 45 at a position corresponding to the end of the flow channel 47. An outlet 9 (diameter 0.5 mm) was formed.

  A microfluidic device was manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 6, except that the element body 41 was used instead of the element body 11.

[Opening / closing test of flow path]
When an open / close test of the flow path 5 was performed in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 6, the bulging portions 16 and 26 were deformed by the pressing mechanisms 12, 22, 32, and 52, and the diaphragm 7 was displaced. The abutment on the peripheral edge of the communication flow path 48 closed the communication flow path 48, thereby interrupting the flow of the colored water.
At this time, it was confirmed that the posture of the bulging portions 16 and 26 became stable, and the state in which the flow of the colored water was shut off was maintained even when the pressing on the bulging portions 16 and 26 was stopped.
Applying a tensile force upward to the bulging portions 16 and 26 and displacing the bulging portions 16 and 26 upward and restoring the initial state, it was confirmed that the flow of the colored water could be restored. Was.

It is a top view (a) and a side view (b) of the microfluidic device of the present invention described in the 1st example. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the microfluidic device of the present invention described in the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a microfluidic device according to the present invention described as a first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the microfluidic device of the present invention described as a second embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the microfluidic device of this invention described as 3rd Example. It is sectional drawing of the microfluidic device of this invention described as 5th Example. FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the microfluidic device of the present invention described as a fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of a microfluidic device according to the present invention described as a sixth embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the microfluidic device of this invention described as 6th Example. FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of a microfluidic device according to the present invention described as a seventh embodiment. FIGS. 4A and 4B show another example of a microfluidic device main body that can be used in the microfluidic device of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a plan view and FIG. FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing the microfluidic device main body shown in FIG. 11.

Explanation of reference numerals

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Base material 2, 42 ... First resin layer 3, 43 ... Second resin layer 4, 44 ... Third resin layer 5, 46, 47, 48 ... Flow path 6. ..Wide portion 7 ... Diaphragm 8 ... Inlet 9 ... Outlet 10a, 10b ... Lure fitting 11,41 ... Microfluidic element body 12, 22, 32, 52, 62 ... · Pressing mechanism 13 ··· Fixed members 14, 24, 34, 54 and 64 ··· Movable pressing member 15 ··· Holes 16 and 26 ··· Swelling parts 19 and 23 ··· Pressing part 20. · Fixing device 20a · · · Head portion 20b · · · Screw portions 24a, 55 and 65 · · · Pressing member main body 25 · · · Steel balls (intermediate member)
28 buffer member 35 handle 37 tab 38 tab body 38a operating section 38b arm 39 hook 45 fourth resin layer 56 ..Operation portion 56a...

Claims (9)

A microfluidic device main body (11) having a capillary channel (5) and a diaphragm (7) displaceable with respect to the channel (5), and a pressing mechanism for pressing and displacing the diaphragm (7) (12)
The pressing mechanism (12) includes a plate-shaped movable pressing member (14) having a bulging portion (16) bulging in a direction away from the microfluidic device main body (11),
The movable pressing member (14) can press the diaphragm (7) by deforming the bulging portion (16) so as to bulge toward the microfluidic device main body (11), And a microfluidic device configured to stop at a position where the diaphragm (7) is pressed. An intermediate member (25) is provided between the movable pressing member (14) and the diaphragm (7), and the movable pressing member (14) connects the diaphragm (7) via the intermediate member (25). The microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be able to be pressed. The microfluidic device according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate member (25) is fixed to the diaphragm (7). 4. The movable pressing member (24) is configured to be able to press the diaphragm (7) via a buffer member (28) that can be deformed by pressing. 5. 3. The microfluidic device according to claim 1. A handle portion (35) is formed in the bulging portion (26),
The handle portion (35) is configured to be connectable to a separation direction displacement means (37) for displacing the bulging portion (26) in this direction by applying a force in a direction away from the microfluidic device body (11). The microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein: The microfluidic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pressing mechanism is detachable from the microfluidic device body. A pressing mechanism for pressing and displacing the diaphragm (7) of the microfluidic device body (11) having a capillary channel (5) and a diaphragm (7) displaceable with respect to the channel (5). (62)
A plate-shaped movable pressing member (64) having a bulging portion (16) bulging in a direction away from the microfluidic device main body (11);
The movable pressing member (64) can press the diaphragm (7) by deforming the bulging portion (16) so as to bulge toward the microfluidic device main body (11), And a pressing mechanism configured to stop at a position where the diaphragm (7) is pressed. A method for adjusting a fluid flow rate in a flow path (5) of a microfluidic device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a bulge (16) is provided in the microfluidic device main body (11). The flow rate adjustment method is characterized in that the flow rate is adjusted by expanding in either a direction away from the microfluidic device body or a direction toward the microfluidic device body (11). A method for adjusting a fluid flow rate in a flow path of a microfluidic device main body using the pressing mechanism according to claim 7, wherein a direction in which a bulging portion moves away from the microfluidic device main body (11) and the microfluidic device are changed. A flow rate adjusting method, wherein the flow rate is adjusted by bulging in any direction toward the element body (11).

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