TWI486205B - Micro-mixer and micro-fluid chip - Google Patents

Description

Micro hybrid components and microfluidic wafers

This invention relates to a mixing element, and more particularly to a micro-hybrid element and a microfluidic wafer to which it is applied.

The concept of the micro total analysis system proposed in the past, hopes to apply the processing technology of MEMS, let the fluid perform various procedures of biochemical laboratory operation in the micro-pipe, and integrate it on a single wafer to make it more traditional than the laboratory test procedure. It has the advantages of fast response, high sensitivity, high reproducibility, low pollution, low cost and reduced error in operation. Since the mixing and reaction of the fluid occur almost simultaneously, the mixing of the fluid significantly affects the degree of completion of the reaction.

However, the flow after miniaturization of the flow path tends to laminar flow. In this case, the mixing of the fluid mainly relies on the slow diffusion between the molecules to achieve fluid mixing, resulting in inefficient fluid mixing and severely affecting subsequent detection results. To increase the fluid mixing efficiency, it is necessary to extend the length of the microchannel, but this will greatly increase the size of the micro-mixing element and the mixing time required for the fluid will also increase.

Therefore, how to provide a micro-mixing component, which can improve the mixing efficiency of microfluids, thereby improving the quality and accuracy of detection, has become one of the important topics.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a micro-hybrid element and a microfluidic wafer capable of improving the mixing efficiency of a microfluid, thereby improving the quality and accuracy of detection.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a micro-mixing element comprising a plurality of inlet channels, a mixing channel and at least one barrier. The plurality of fluids enter the mixing channel for mixing via the inlet channels, and the mixing channel includes at least one clockwise turn and at least one counterclockwise turn. The barrier system is located in the mixing channel.

In view of the above, the present invention utilizes continuous turning in different directions, continuously strengthens the centrifugal force to generate radial flow and separate eddy current, increases the contact area between different fluids, and further promotes the mixing efficiency of different fluids. In addition, the present invention also provides an obstacle body in the mixed flow channel, and can also increase the contact area between different fluids, further promoting the mixing efficiency of different fluids.

In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, the mixing flow path includes at least an upper side, a lower side, a left side, and a right side, and one end of the obstacle body is connected to one of the upper side, the lower side, the left side, and the right side, and the obstacle The other end of the body is suspended.

In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, one end of the obstacle is connected to one of the upper side, the lower side, the left side, and the right side, and the other end of the obstacle body is connected to the upper side, the lower side, the left side, and the right side. One side.

Moreover, in one embodiment of the invention, the mixing flow path includes three clockwise turns and three counterclockwise turns. Alternatively, the mixing channel includes five clockwise turns and five counterclockwise turns. The mixing efficiency of the microfluids can be greatly improved by turning in a plurality of different directions.

Moreover, in one embodiment of the invention, a portion of the mixing channel comprises a plurality of split flow channels. The mixing efficiency can also be improved by the steps of mixing, splitting and remixing.

In addition, the present invention further provides a microfluidic wafer comprising the micro-hybrid element described above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a micro-hybrid element and a microfluidic wafer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same elements will be described with the same reference numerals.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a micro-mixing component 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the micro-mixing element 1 includes a plurality of inlet passages 11, 12, a mixing flow passage 13, and at least one obstacle body 14. The micro-hybrid element 1 of the present embodiment can be fabricated, for example, by a semiconductor process or a microelectromechanical process.

In this embodiment, the two inlet passages 11 and 12 are taken as an example. Of course, the number of the inlet passages may be two or more, which is not limited herein. Different microfluids enter the mixing channel 13 via the inlet channels for mixing.

The mixing channel 13 includes at least one clockwise turn A and at least one counterclockwise turn B. In the present embodiment, the mixing channel 13 is a clockwise turn A and a counterclockwise direction. Turn B is connected continuously, and another turn in the clockwise direction A is connected to a turn in the counterclockwise direction as an example. The mixing flow path 13 may be connected to the turning B in the counterclockwise direction by the turning A in the clockwise direction, or may be the turning A in the clockwise direction by the turning B in the counterclockwise direction, which is not limited thereto, and the present invention is clockwise. The turn of the direction A is connected to the turn B of the counterclockwise direction as an example. The number of turn A in the clockwise direction and the turn B in the counterclockwise direction can be added or deleted depending on the actual situation, and is merely an example and not a limitation.

At least one obstacle body 14 is disposed in the mixing flow path 13. Here, the obstacle body 14 is formed by partially recessing one of the side walls of one of the mixing flow paths 13.

2 and FIG. 3, wherein FIG. 2 is a schematic view of another micro-mixing element 2 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic view of still another micro-mixing element 3 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the mixing flow path 23 is exemplified by a three-clockwise turn A and three counterclockwise turns B, and can be repeated in this order. As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the mixing flow path 33 is exemplified by a five-clockwise turning A and five counterclockwise turning B successive connections, and can be repeated in this order.

Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of still another micro-mixing component 4 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a part of the mixing flow path 43 may further include a plurality of branch flow paths. The number and location of the plurality of split runners are not limited. In this embodiment, three split runners 431, 432, and 433 are taken as an example. The plurality of runners are divided into three runners 431, 432, and 433 after the second clockwise turn, and pass through two clockwise turns A to merge into a first pass before the fifth clockwise turn A. Of course, the above description is by way of example only and not limitation. The multiple runners can be split after other clockwise turns A or counterclockwise turns B, or they can be merged into other first-clockwise turns or counterclockwise turns B, and are not limited to Several turns in a clockwise direction A or a counterclockwise turn B merge.

5A to 5F are cross-sectional views showing a portion of a micro-hybrid element having an obstacle body according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which illustrates a possible embodiment of the obstacle body of the present invention. In this embodiment, the mixing channel 53 further includes at least an upper side S1, a lower side S2, a left side S3, and a right side S4, and one end of the obstacle body 54 can be connected to the upper side S1 of the mixed flow channel (FIG. 5A), or One of the lower side S2 (Fig. 5B), or the left side S3 (Fig. 5C), or the right side S4 (Fig. 5D), and the other end of the obstacle body 54 is suspended. In addition, the obstacle body 54 may be connected to one of the upper side, or the lower side, or the left side or the right side at one end, and the other end of the obstacle body 14 is connected to the upper side, the lower side, or the left side of the mixing flow path 1, Or the other side of the right side, for example, FIG. 5E shows that both ends of the obstacle body 54 are connected to the upper side S1 and the lower side S2, respectively, and FIG. 5F shows that both ends of the obstacle body 54 are connected to the left side S3 and the right side S4, respectively. The obstacle body 14 can form a fluid to be mixed up and down, or split left and right to achieve better fluid mixing efficiency. It should be noted that the above-described obstacles may be applied to the micro-mixing elements 1 to 4 individually or in combination.

The present invention further encompasses a microfluidic wafer comprising any of the micro-hybrid elements described above and which can be used, for example, in the field of biological detection.

In the process, the micro-mixing component of the present invention can be planar, and the master mold can be formed by one exposure of the photolithography process, and then the micro-mixing component can be fabricated by flipping the mold. The process is simple and can be repeated, which reduces costs.

In summary, the present invention utilizes continuous turning in different directions, continuously strengthens the centrifugal force to generate radial flow and separate eddy current, increases the contact area between different fluids, and further promotes the mixing efficiency of different fluids. In addition, the present invention also provides an obstacle body in the mixed flow channel, and can also increase the contact area between different fluids, further promoting the mixing efficiency of different fluids.

The above is intended to be illustrative only and not limiting. Any equivalent modifications or alterations to the spirit and scope of the invention are intended to be included in the scope of the appended claims.

1, 2, 3, 4. . . Micro mixing element

11, 12, 21, 22, 31, 32, 41, 42. . . Inflow channel

13, 23, 33, 43, 53. . . Mixed flow channel

14, 24, 34, 44, 54. . . Obstacle

431, 432, 433. . . Split runner

S1. . . Upper side

S2. . . Lower side

S3. . . Left side

S4. . . Right

A. . . Clockwise turn

B. . . Turn counterclockwise

1 to 4 are different schematic views of a micro mixing element according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

5A to 5F are schematic cross-sectional views showing a micro-mixing element in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1. . . Micro mixing element

11,12. . . Inflow channel

13. . . Mixed flow channel

14. . . Obstacle

A. . . Clockwise turn

B. . . Turn counterclockwise

Claims (6)

A micro-mixing element comprising: a plurality of inlet channels; a mixing channel through which the plurality of fluids enter the mixing channel for mixing, the mixing channel comprising at least three consecutive clockwise turns and At least three consecutive counterclockwise turns are continuously connected, and the turns are substantially right angles; and at least one obstacle is located in the mixed flow path. The micro-mixing element according to claim 1, wherein the mixing channel comprises at least an upper side, a lower side, a left side and a right side, and one end of the obstacle body is connected to the upper side, the lower side, the left side, and One of the right sides, the other end of the obstacle is suspended. The micro-hybrid element according to claim 2, wherein one end of the obstacle body is connected to one of the upper side, the lower side, the left side, and the right side, and the other end of the obstacle body is connected to the upper side. The lower side, the left side, and the other side of the right side. The micro-hybrid element of claim 1, wherein the mixing channel comprises five clockwise turns and five counterclockwise turns. The micro-hybrid element of claim 1, wherein a portion of the mixing channel comprises a plurality of split flow channels. A microfluidic wafer comprising the micro-hybrid element of any one of claims 1 to 5.