阅读说明：本技术 流体处理装置 (Fluid treatment device ) 是由 砂永伸也 于 2019-02-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明的目的在于提供能够容易地分离收集液滴的流体处理装置。上述目的是利用如下流体处理装置实现的,该流体处理装置具有：第一流路,在输送包含液滴的流体时,所述液滴能够在所述第一流路的内部移动；第一腔室,捕捉在所述第一流路中移动的所述液滴；第二腔室,所述第一腔室捕捉到的所述液滴能够移动至该第二腔室；以及第二流路,该第二流路使所述第一腔室与所述第二腔室连通,在所述第二流路中,能够选择性地执行所述液滴的通过和所述液滴的通过的限制。(The invention aims to provide a fluid processing device capable of easily separating and collecting liquid drops. The above object is achieved by a fluid treatment apparatus having: a first flow path in which droplets are movable when a fluid containing the droplets is transported; a first chamber that captures the liquid droplets moving in the first flow path; a second chamber to which the droplet captured by the first chamber can move; and a second flow path that communicates the first chamber with the second chamber, in which passage of the liquid droplet and restriction of passage of the liquid droplet can be selectively performed.)

1. A fluid treatment device, comprising:

a first flow path in which droplets are movable when a fluid containing the droplets is caused to flow;

a first chamber which is formed by widening the first channel and captures the liquid droplets moving in the first channel in a state of being arranged so as to widen vertically upward from the first channel;

a second chamber to which the droplet captured by the first chamber can move; and

a second flow path that communicates the first chamber with the second chamber,

in the second flow path, the passage of the droplets and the restriction of the passage of the droplets can be selectively performed.

2. The fluid treatment device of claim 1,

a cross-sectional area of a cross-section of the second flow path perpendicular to a flow direction of the fluid is smaller than a cross-sectional area of a cross-section of the first flow path perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid,

the first chamber captures the droplet moving in the first flow path when the fluid containing the droplet is caused to flow in the first flow path at a first flow rate,

the second flow path moves the droplet captured in the first chamber toward the second chamber when the fluid not containing the droplet is caused to flow in the first flow path at a second flow rate faster than the first flow rate.

3. The fluid treatment device of claim 1 or 2,

the first flow path has a first valve provided downstream of a position where the first flow path is connected to the first chamber,

the first valve is switchable between an open state in which fluid flows from the upstream side to the downstream side of the first flow path and a closed state in which fluid is blocked from flowing from the upstream side to the downstream side of the first flow path,

the first chamber captures the droplet moving in the first flow path while opening the first valve and flowing the fluid containing the droplet in the first flow path,

the second flow path moves the droplet captured in the first chamber to the second chamber when the first valve is closed and the fluid not containing the droplet flows to the first flow path in the same direction as the fluid flow direction of the first flow path when the droplet is captured by the first chamber.

4. The fluid treatment device of claim 1 or 2,

the first flow path has a second valve provided upstream of a position where the first flow path is connected to the first chamber,

the second valve is switchable between an open state in which the fluid flows from the upstream side to the downstream side of the first flow path and a closed state in which the fluid is blocked from flowing from the upstream side to the downstream side of the first flow path,

the first chamber captures the droplet moving in the first flow path while opening the second valve and flowing the fluid containing the droplet in the first flow path,

the second flow path moves the droplet captured in the first chamber to the second chamber when the second valve is closed and fluid not containing the droplet flows in the first flow path in a direction opposite to a fluid flow direction of the first flow path when the droplet is captured by the first chamber.

5. The fluid treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the second flow path has a third valve that is switchable between an open state in which fluid flows from the first chamber side to the second chamber side and a closed state in which fluid is blocked from flowing from the first chamber side to the second chamber side.

6. The fluid treatment device of claim 1,

the second flow path has a third valve that is switchable between an open state in which fluid flows from the first chamber side to the second chamber side and a closed state in which fluid is blocked from flowing from the first chamber side to the second chamber side,

the first chamber captures the droplets moving in the first flow path while closing the third valve and flowing the fluid containing the droplets in the first flow path,

the second flow path moves the droplets captured in the first chamber toward the second chamber when the third valve is opened and the fluid not containing the droplets flows in the first flow path.

7. The fluid treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

the first chamber is a space of a size to capture one of the droplets.

8. The fluid treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

the second chamber communicates with an opening portion that opens to the outside, and the opening portion is covered with a perforable covering portion.

9. The fluid treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

the storage chamber is provided upstream of a position where the first flow path and the first chamber are connected, and is formed by widening the first flow path in a direction different from that of the first chamber.

10. A fluid treatment system is provided with:

a fluid treatment installation according to any one of claims 1 to 9; and

and a holding mechanism capable of holding the fluid processing apparatus so that the first chamber widens vertically upward from the first flow path.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fluid processing apparatus.

Background

Fluid processing apparatuses for analyzing minute amounts of analytes such as cells, proteins, and nucleic acids with high accuracy are known in clinical examinations, food examinations, and environmental examinations. For example, a fluid processing apparatus is known which processes fine droplets (hereinafter, also referred to as "droplets") having a diameter of 0.1 to 1000 μm generated from a fluid containing the analyte (see, for example, non-patent document 1). In the fluid processing apparatus, droplets containing a predetermined analyte (hereinafter, also referred to as "objects to be sorted") are sorted from all the generated droplets.

There is a need for: droplets processed by a fluid processing apparatus as described in non-patent document 1 are separated and collected, and analytes contained in the respective droplets are individually analyzed.

As a method of separating a substance in a collection fluid, for example, patent document 1 describes that a particulate substance is floated on a portion serving as a node of a standing wave generated from a plurality of transducers, and the movement and the stop of the particulate substance can be controlled by the movement and the fixation of the node. According to patent document 1, when the movement of the granular substance is controlled in this way, the method can be applied to separation and collection of cells by Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS).

Further, patent document 2 describes that by providing depressions on a surface disposed so as to face in the direction of fluid flow, particulate matter in the fluid can be temporarily and stably held in the depressions, and the held particulate matter can be released after processing or observation.

Patent document 3 describes that a fluid block formed to be deformable in accordance with the width of a flow path and capable of blocking the flow path can be captured in an enlarged portion of the flow path formed in a spherical shape or the like.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, the methods described in patent documents 1 to 3 have some problems in that it is difficult to distribute the respective substances to individual wells, and some methods require a large-scale apparatus for distribution.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a fluid processing apparatus capable of easily separating and collecting droplets.

Means for solving the problems

The fluid treatment device of the present invention comprises: a first flow path in which droplets are movable when a fluid containing the droplets is caused to flow; a first chamber which is formed by widening the first channel and captures the liquid droplets moving in the first channel in a state of being arranged so as to widen vertically upward from the first channel; a second chamber to which the droplet captured by the first chamber can move; and a second flow path that communicates the first chamber with the second chamber. In the second flow path, the passage of the droplets and the restriction of the passage of the droplets can be selectively performed.

Further, a fluid treatment system according to the present invention includes: the fluid treatment device; and a holding mechanism capable of holding the fluid processing apparatus so that the first chamber widens vertically upward from the first flow path.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, a fluid processing apparatus capable of easily separating and collecting droplets can be provided.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a schematic plan view showing a configuration of a fluid treatment apparatus according to a first embodiment, fig. 1B is a sectional view of the fluid treatment apparatus taken along line 1B-1B shown in fig. 1A, and fig. 1C is a sectional view of the fluid treatment apparatus taken along line 1C-1C shown in fig. 1A.

Fig. 2A is a schematic plan view showing a configuration of a main body section included in the fluid treatment device, fig. 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a YZ plane of a region 2B indicated by a circle in fig. 2A, and fig. 2C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an XZ plane of the region 2B indicated by a circle in fig. 2A.

Fig. 3A and 3B are schematic cross-sectional views showing a state in which a droplet moves in a main flow path when the fluid processing device of the first embodiment is operated, fig. 3C and 3D are schematic cross-sectional views showing a state in which the droplet is captured by a first chamber, and fig. 3E and 3F are schematic cross-sectional views showing a state in which the droplet is introduced into a second flow path.

Fig. 4A is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a fluid treatment apparatus according to a second embodiment, and fig. 4B is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a main body section included in the fluid treatment apparatus. Fig. 4C is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4C-4C at area C of fig. 4A.

Fig. 5A is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a fluid treatment apparatus according to a modification of the second embodiment, and fig. 5B is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a main body section included in the fluid treatment apparatus.

Fig. 6A is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a fluid treatment apparatus according to a third embodiment, and fig. 6B is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a main body section included in the fluid treatment apparatus.

Fig. 7A is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a main body section included in a fluid treatment apparatus according to a fourth embodiment, fig. 7B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a YZ plane of a region 7B indicated by a circle in fig. 7A, and fig. 7C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an XZ plane of the region 7B indicated by a circle in fig. 7A.

Fig. 8A is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a fluid treatment apparatus according to the fifth embodiment, and fig. 8B is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a main body section included in the fluid treatment apparatus.

Detailed Description

[ first embodiment ]

(construction of fluid treatment apparatus)

Fig. 1A is a schematic plan view showing the structure of a fluid treatment apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, fig. 1B is a sectional view of the fluid treatment apparatus 100 taken along line 1B-1B shown in fig. 1A, and fig. 1C is a sectional view of the fluid treatment apparatus 100 taken along line 1C-1C shown in fig. 1A. The fluid treatment device 100 has a thin plate-shaped main body portion (substrate) 110, and a first cover portion 182 and a second cover portion 184 that are joined to a pair of surfaces 112 and 114 of the main body portion 110, respectively. Hatching is omitted in fig. 1B and 1C.

Fig. 2A is a schematic plan view showing the structure of the body 110, fig. 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a YZ plane in the vicinity of the surface 112 of the region 2B indicated by a circle in fig. 2A, and fig. 2C is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an XZ plane of the region 2B indicated by a circle in fig. 2A. For convenience of explanation, fig. 2B shows a state in which the surface 112 of the main body 110 is covered with the first covering portion 182 to form a flow path. The same applies to fig. 3A to 3F described later.

The fluid processing device 100 includes a first channel 120 formed by covering a recess provided on the surface 112 of the main body 110 with a first covering portion 182 and communicating the inlet 122 and the outlet 124, a plurality of first chambers 130 as spaces in which the first channel 120 is widened, a plurality of second chambers 140 arranged in pairs with each of the plurality of first chambers 130, and a second channel 150 communicating the first chambers 130 with the second chambers 140. The fluid treatment apparatus 100 further includes a recovery unit 160, and the recovery unit 160 is a space formed between the second chamber 140 formed by covering the recess provided in the surface 112 of the main body 110 with the first cover 182 and the opening 165 opened in the surface 112 of the main body 110.

The fluid processing device 100 can cause a dispersion of droplets (droplets) generated from a fluid containing a substance to be sorted (for example, cells, DNA, and a protein such as an enzyme) to flow through the first channel 120 by an external force such as a pump. The dispersion is obtained by dispersing droplets, which are droplets containing a sorted material in a solvent such as water, in a mother phase fluid such as oil having a low solubility in the droplets. The droplets may be substantially spherical droplets having a diameter of, for example, 0.1 to 1000 μm, preferably 5 to 200 μm. The droplets may be generated by known methods. The droplet may be a droplet not containing the object to be sorted.

The droplets are formed from a solvent having a lower specific gravity than the parent phase fluid. Therefore, when the fluid processing apparatus 100 is disposed such that the first chamber 130 is widened vertically upward from the first channel 120 (so as to be widened in a direction opposite to the direction of gravity with respect to the position of connection with the first channel), and the fluid including the liquid droplets is caused to flow through the first channel 120 at the first flow rate, the liquid droplets move from the first channel 120 to the first chamber 130 and are captured by the first chamber 130. The size of the first chamber 130 is a size that can capture only 1 or a small number of droplets, and thus the droplets are captured dispersedly in the plurality of first chambers 130. Thereafter, when the fluid containing no droplets is caused to flow through the first flow path 120 at a second flow rate higher than the first flow rate, the droplets captured in a dispersed manner move from the first chamber 130 to the second flow path 150, move from the second flow path 150 to the second chamber 140, and further move to the recovery unit 160. Thereafter, the first covering part 182 or the second covering part 184 is pierced to collect the droplets from the respective collecting parts 160. In this way, the fluid processing device 100 can easily separate and collect droplets.

The body 110 has a recess on the surface 112, and when the first cover 182 is joined to the surface 112, the recess serves as the first flow path 120, the first chamber 130, the second chamber 140, and the second flow path 150. The recess portion to be the first channel 120 is a groove-shaped recess portion having a certain depth, a part of the region at both end portions is formed to be wide, and the remaining region is formed to be narrow. The concave portion serving as the first chamber 130 is formed by branching in the same direction from the region formed as the narrow width of the concave portion serving as the first flow path 120, and has a plurality of small sections having a depth (depth in the direction from the surface 112 to the surface 114) deeper than the concave portion serving as the first flow path 120. The recess serving as the second chamber 140 is a plurality of small sections having the same depth as the recess serving as the first flow channel 120, which are arranged at a predetermined distance in the same direction as the recess serving as the first chamber 130 with respect to the recess serving as the first flow channel 120. The concave portion serving as the second flow path 150 is a linear groove-shaped concave portion that is shallower than the concave portion serving as the first flow path 120 and communicates the concave portion serving as the first chamber 130 and the concave portion serving as the second chamber 140.

The body 110 has a plurality of substantially semi-cylindrical spaces formed by penetrating the body 110 from a part of a region, which is a recessed portion of each second chamber 140 and is farthest from the recessed portion of the second flow path 150, to the surface 114. The plurality of substantially semi-cylindrical spaces serve as the collecting unit 160 for collecting the droplets from the second chamber 140 when the first cover 182 and the second cover 184 are joined to the body 110.

The body portion 110 is formed of a resin material such as polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate, acrylic resin such as polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate, polyolefin such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene or cycloolefin resin, polyether, polystyrene, silicone resin, or various elastomers.

The first cover 182 is joined to the surface 112 of the main body 110 to cover the groove-like recessed portion and the plurality of substantially semi-cylindrical spaces formed in the main body 110, thereby forming the first flow path 120, the first chamber 130, the second chamber 140, and the second flow path 150, and forming one surface of the recovery portion 160.

The second cover 184 is joined to the surface 114 of the body 110 to cover the plurality of substantially semi-cylindrical spaces formed in the body 110, thereby forming the other surface of the recovery unit 160.

The first cover 182 and the second cover 184 are formed of a material that can be easily punctured by a pipette, for example, an acrylic resin, a cyclic olefin homopolymer resin (COP), a cyclic olefin copolymer resin (COC), an olefin elastomer such as an acryl elastomer, polyethylene, silicone rubber, or the like.

The first cover 182 and the second cover 184 can be welded to the surface 112 and the surface 114 of the main body 110, respectively, but from the viewpoint of suppressing deformation of the main body 110, the first cover 182, and the second cover 184 caused by heat at the time of welding, it is preferable to use an adhesive such as an epoxy adhesive to adhere the cover to the surface 112 and the surface 114 of the main body 110.

The first channel 120 is a channel through which a fluid containing droplets flows. An inlet 122 and an outlet 124 that are respectively communicated with the outside of the body are provided at both ends of the first channel 120, and a fluid containing droplets, a fluid for separating and collecting droplets, and the like can be made to flow from the inlet 122 to the outlet 124. The first flow path 120 includes: a main channel 126 having a plurality of first chambers 130, an introduction channel 127 communicating the main channel 126 with the inlet 122, and a discharge channel 128 communicating the main channel 126 with the outlet 124 are formed.

The sizes of the main channel 126, the introduction channel 127, and the discharge channel 128 are not particularly limited as long as the size of the droplets is not damaged. For example, the cross-sectional area of the main channel 126 in a cross-section perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the droplet. In this case, the droplets are pressed and deformed by the side surfaces constituting the main channel 126 and the first coating portion 182. In addition, if the cross-sectional area of a cross-section perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid in the main flow path 126, which is a cross-section of the first chamber 130 described later, is larger than the cross-sectional area of a cross-section perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid in the main flow path 126, which is a cross-section of the main flow path 126, the deformed liquid droplets are easily captured by the first chamber 130, which is a space wider than the main flow path 126. In the present specification, the term "cross-sectional area of the droplet" means a cross-sectional area converted into a cross-section corresponding to a section of the ball passing through the center of the droplet in a state where the droplet is not deformed by an external force.

For example, the cross-sectional area of the main flow path 126 perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid may be set to a ratio of 16.5% or more and 100% or less with respect to the cross-sectional area of the droplet to be separated and collected. For example, when the cross-sectional area of the droplet is 7850 μm2 (the particle diameter of the droplet is 100 μm), the cross-sectional area of the main channel 126 is 1300 μm2 or more and 7850 μm2 or less. From the viewpoint of preventing the droplet from being damaged, when the particle diameter of the droplet is 100 μm, the minimum value of the width and the depth of the main channel 126 in the cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid is preferably 13 μm or more, more preferably 20 μm or more, and particularly preferably 70 μm or more. That is, the minimum value of the width and the depth of the main channel 126 in a cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid with respect to the particle diameter of the droplet is preferably 13/100 or more, more preferably 1/5 or more, and particularly preferably 7/10 or more.

The introduction channel 127 and the discharge channel 128 are channels having channel diameters sufficiently larger than the diameters of droplets to be separated and collected, for example, and allowing the droplets to move freely. The diameter and length of the main channel 126 are not particularly limited. For example, in the case where the diameter of the droplet to be separated and collected is 100 μm, the main flow path 126 may be set as follows: a depth from the surface 112 to the surface 114 is 10 μm or more and 200 μm or less, a width parallel to a flow direction of a fluid in a second channel 150 (a width in a Z-axis direction in fig. 2C) is 30 μm or more and 200 μm or less, and a length (a length in an X-axis direction in fig. 2A) is 1cm or more and 20cm or less. Preferably, the depth from the surface 112 and the width in the direction parallel to the surface 112 of the introduction channel 127 and the discharge channel 128 are substantially the same as the channel diameter of the main channel.

The cross-sectional shapes of the main flow path 126, the introduction flow path 127, and the discharge flow path 128 may be substantially rectangular or substantially semicircular.

In the present embodiment, the flow direction of the first flow path 120 is changed in the direction at right angles in the boundary region between the main flow path 126 and the introduction flow path 127 and in the boundary region between the main flow path 126 and the discharge flow path 128. In the region where the direction of the flow is changed, it is preferable to continuously and gently change the direction of the flow path from the viewpoint of preventing the droplet deformed by pressurization from being damaged.

The first chamber 130 is a space formed by widening the main flow path 126 of the first flow path 120. The first chamber 130 communicates with the second flow path 150 at a position facing the connection portion with the first flow path 120 with the space therebetween. The cross-sectional area of the cross-section perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid in the second channel 150 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the droplet. Therefore, in a state where the fluid processing apparatus 100 is disposed such that the first chamber 130 is widened vertically upward from the first channel 120, the first chamber 130 moves the liquid droplets flowing through the first channel 120 by buoyancy and captures the liquid droplets in the space. The first chamber 130 has a size capable of receiving (capturing) a small number of droplets of 1 or 2 or more and 5 or less. From the viewpoint of making separation and collection of droplets easier, it is preferable that the first chamber 130 has a size capable of accommodating (capturing) only 1 droplet. When the first chamber 130 has a size capable of accommodating only 1 droplet, for example, the ratio of the maximum value of the cross-sectional area of the first chamber 130 to the cross-sectional area of the droplet is preferably 100% or more and less than 160%, and more preferably 100% or more and 150% or less. The cross-sectional area of the first chamber 130 is a cross-sectional area of a cross section of the first chamber perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid in the main channel 126. For example, the first chamber 130 may have a depth of 30 μm or more and 500 μm or less in a direction from the surface 112 to the surface 114, a diameter of an opening to the main channel 126 (width in the X-axis direction in fig. 2C) of 100 μm or more and 160 μm or less, and a length (distance between an opening surface to the first channel 120 and an opening surface to the second channel 150, that is, a length in the Z-axis direction in fig. 2C) of 100 μm or more and 140 μm or less.

The first chamber 130 may be a space having any shape such as a semi-cylindrical shape, a spherical cap, a rectangular parallelepiped, or a cube. From the viewpoint of preventing damage to the pressurized and deformed droplets, etc., it is preferable that the edge of the opening of the first chamber 130 facing the first flow channel 120 (main flow channel 126) be chamfered. In the present specification, the term "chamfer" includes both an R chamfer (the surface after chamfering is a curved surface) and a C chamfer (the surface after chamfering is a flat surface).

The second chamber 140 is a substantially semi-cylindrical space having a larger diameter than the first flow path 120 and the first chamber 130, and is disposed in a pair with each of the first chambers 130. For example, the second chamber 140 may be a space in which the depth from the surface 112 toward the surface 114 is 30 μm or more and 500 μm or less, the width in the direction parallel to the flow direction of the main channel 126 (the width in the X-axis direction in fig. 2A) is 300 μm or more and 5mm or less, and the length in the direction parallel to the widening direction of the first chamber 130 with respect to the main channel 126 (the length in the Z-axis direction in fig. 2A) is 500 μm or more and 5mm or less.

The second chamber 140 extends (widens) at an angle different from the flow direction of the fluid in the main channel 126 of the first channel 120 from the junction with the second channel 150 to the junction with the recovery portion 160. From the viewpoint of facilitating the operation of the fluid treatment apparatus 100 and the movement of the liquid droplets, the second chamber 140 preferably extends in a direction in which the angle with respect to the flow direction of the fluid in the main channel 126 is 45 ° or more and 135 ° or less, and more preferably in a direction in which the angle is 90 °. In addition, from the viewpoint of facilitating the operation of the fluid treatment apparatus 100, the second chamber 140 preferably extends in the same direction as the flow direction of the fluid introduced into the flow path 127.

The second chamber 140 may be a space having any shape, such as a semi-cylindrical shape, a rectangular prism, or a polygonal prism. From the viewpoint of facilitating the movement of the droplets to the recovery portion 160, the cross-sectional shape of the second chamber 140 from the connection region with the second flow path 150 to the recovery portion 160 is preferably constant or gradually widened. In addition, from the viewpoint of preventing damage and the like of the pressurized and deformed liquid droplets, it is preferable that an edge portion of the opening portion of the second chamber 140 facing the second flow path 150 is chamfered.

The recovery portion 160 is a substantially cylindrical space formed from the edge portion of the second chamber 140 to the surface 114. Preferably, the recovery unit 160 has a size that allows the droplets moving into the recovery unit 160 to be recovered by a pipette or the like after piercing the first cover 182 or the second cover 184 and opening the same to the outside. For example, the recovery part 160 may be a space having a diameter of 500 μm or more and 35mm or less in the Z direction in the drawing.

The collection unit 160 is a semi-cylindrical shape in the present embodiment, but may be a space having any shape such as a rectangular prism or a polygonal prism. From the viewpoint of facilitating the collection of droplets, it is preferable that the cross-sectional shape of the collection unit 160 from the surface 114 to the surface 112 is not changed or gradually becomes wider when a pipette is inserted from the surface 112 side to collect droplets. Alternatively, it is preferable that the cross-sectional shape of the recovery part 160 from the surface 112 to the surface 114 is not changed or gradually widened when the pipette is inserted from the surface 114 side to recover the droplet. In addition, from the viewpoint of preventing damage and the like of the pressurized and deformed liquid droplets, it is preferable that an edge portion of the recovery portion 160 facing the opening portion of the second chamber 140 is chamfered.

The second flow path 150 is a flow path that communicates the pair of the first chamber 130 and the second chamber 140, and is a flow path for moving the liquid droplets from the first chamber 130 to the second chamber 140 without passing through the first flow path 120. The cross-sectional area of the second flow path 150 in a cross-section perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the main flow path 126 in a cross-section perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid. In addition, it is preferable that the cross-sectional area of the cross-section perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid of the second channel 150 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the droplet, so that the free movement of the droplet is restricted. However, the second flow channel 150 has a cross-sectional area of a cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid, which enables the slightly deformed droplets to flow by increasing the flow velocity of the fluid flowing through the first flow channel 120. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the cross-section perpendicular to the fluid flow direction of the second flow channel 150 to the cross-sectional area of the cross-section perpendicular to the fluid flow direction of the main flow channel 126 may be 30% or more and 95% or less. For example, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the second flow path 150 to the cross-sectional area of the droplet to be separated and collected may be set to 17% or more and 95% or less. Specifically, the second channel 150 may be a channel having a minimum value (length or width) of channel diameter of 17 μm or more and 95 μm or less.

(first operation method of fluid processing apparatus)

The fluid treatment apparatus 100 is used in a state where the first cover portion 182 is joined to the surface 112 of the body portion 110 and the second cover portion 184 is joined to the surface 114.

First, the fluid processing apparatus 100 is set at an angle such that the first chamber 130, the second chamber 140, and the second channel 150 are positioned above the first channel 120 in the vertical direction, and the fluid including a plurality of droplets is introduced from the inlet 122 to the first channel 120 at a first flow rate. The introduced fluid component flows through the first channel 120 in the order of the introduction channel 127, the main channel 126, and the discharge channel 128, and is discharged from the discharge port 124. At this time, the droplet D1 (see fig. 3A and 3B) moving through the main channel 126 moves toward the first chamber 130 by its buoyancy when it reaches the portion where the first chamber 130 is formed. Although the second flow path 150 opens in the first chamber 130, the second flow path 150 is formed to be narrow, and therefore, the movement of the droplet D1 from the first chamber 130 to the second flow path 150 is restricted, and the droplet D1 stays in the first chamber 130. Thus, the droplet D1 is captured by the first chamber 130 (see fig. 3C and 3D). However, since each first chamber 130 can store (capture) only 1 or a small number of droplets, the subsequent droplet D2 moves in the main flow path 126 in the direction of the discharge flow path 128 in sequence, and is captured by the next first chamber 130 in which the droplet is not captured. In this way, the plurality of droplets are sequentially captured by the first chamber 130 from the first chamber 130 on the introduction flow path 127 side to the first chamber 130 on the discharge flow path 128 side.

The flow velocity of the fluid to be introduced when the fluid including the droplets is introduced into the first channel 120 may be a flow velocity in a range in which the movement of the droplets from the first chamber 130 to the second channel 150 due to the deformation of the droplets is not easily generated. For example, the flow velocity of the fluid introduced at this time may be set to 20 μm/s or more and 500 μm/s or less.

Next, the fluid containing no droplets is introduced from the inflow port 122 into the first channel 120 at a second flow velocity higher than the first flow velocity. The introduced fluid component pressurizes the liquid droplets trapped in the first chamber 130, slightly deforms the liquid droplets, introduces the liquid droplets into the second flow path 150 (see fig. 3E and 3F), and moves the liquid droplets toward the second chamber 140 in the second flow path 150. In this way, the droplet is moved to the second chamber 140. At this time, the second chambers 140 are arranged in pairs with respect to each of the first chambers 130 via the second flow path 150, and the droplet captured in one of the first chambers 130 moves only to the corresponding second chamber 140. Therefore, droplets captured individually in the first chamber 130 can move individually to the second chamber 140 without re-mixing.

In this case, the fluid not containing the droplets may be introduced from the discharge port 124 into the first channel 120. In this case, similarly, the introduced fluid introduces a fluid including a plurality of droplets from the inlet 122 into the first channel 120, pressurizes and slightly deforms the droplets trapped in the first chamber 130, introduces the droplets into the second channel 150, and moves the droplets in the second channel 150 to the second chamber 140. The fluid not containing droplets introduced from the discharge port 124 may be a fluid (mother phase fluid) discharged from the discharge port 124 when the fluid containing a plurality of droplets is introduced from the inlet 122 into the first channel 120 and the droplets are captured in the first chamber 130. By reusing the mother phase fluid in this manner, the amount of fluid used can be reduced, and the droplets can be collected individually at a lower cost. When the fluid discharged from the discharge port 124 contains droplets that are not captured in the first chamber 130, the discharged fluid is stored in a container having a predetermined depth, so that the droplets floating by buoyancy can be separated from the mother phase fluid.

The flow velocity of the fluid introduced when the droplet is moved from the first chamber 130 to the second chamber 140 may be a flow velocity within a range in which the droplet can be slightly deformed and moved from the first chamber 130 to the second chamber 140 via the second channel 150. For example, the flow velocity of the fluid introduced at this time may be set to 60 μm/s or more and 2000 μm/s or less.

Finally, the fluid treatment apparatus 100 is set so that the second coating portion 184 is the upper surface, and the droplets moved to the respective collection portions 160 are taken out by a pipette or the like by puncturing the second coating portion 184. Alternatively, the fluid treatment apparatus 100 may be provided such that the first coating portion 182 is the upper surface, and the droplets moved to the respective collection portions 160 may be taken out by a pipette or the like by puncturing the first coating portion 182. Since each collection unit 160 contains only 1 droplet or a small amount of droplets, it is possible to easily collect droplets individually.

(second operation method of fluid processing apparatus)

In the first operation method described above, when the liquid droplets are moved from the first chamber 130 to the second chamber 140, the first cover 182 or the second cover 184 may be pierced in the 1 or more recovery units 160, and the fluid not containing the liquid droplets may be introduced from the inlet 122 to the first channel 120 while the pressurization in the direction toward the first chamber 130 and the main channel 126 is generated in the second chamber 140 and the second channel 150 corresponding to the pierced recovery unit 160. By piercing the first cover 182 or the second cover 184, the fluid is pressurized in the direction of the first chamber 130 and the main channel 126 by gravity in the second chamber 140 and the second channel 150 corresponding to the recovery unit 160 in which the first cover 182 or the second cover 184 has been pierced. Further, the fluid introduced from the inlet 122 into the first flow path 120 (main flow path 126) is restricted from moving toward the outlet 124 due to the above-described pressurization, and the movement of the fluid toward the second flow path 150 and the second chamber 140 is promoted. In this way, in the 1 or a plurality of recovery units 160, the first cover portion 182 or the second cover portion 184 is punctured, whereby the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the second flow path 150 corresponding to the recovery unit 160 that is not punctured can be increased during the period when the above-described pressurization is generated.

Therefore, according to the present operation method, even if the flow velocity of the fluid introduced into the first channel 120 (main channel 126) is set to be lower than that in the first operation method in the same range of 60 μm/s to 2000 μm/s as the first operation method, the liquid droplets trapped in the first chamber 130 can be introduced into the second channel 150 and moved to the second chamber 140.

Finally, the fluid treatment apparatus 100 is set at an angle such that the opening 165 of the recovery unit 160 is positioned above the second chamber 140 in the vertical direction, and the second coating unit 184 is punctured to take out the liquid droplets moved to the recovery units 160 with a pipette or the like. Alternatively, the fluid treatment apparatus 100 is set at an angle such that the opening 165 of the recovery unit 160 is positioned below the second chamber 140 in the vertical direction, and the first cover 182 is punctured to take out the liquid droplets moved to the recovery units 160 with a pipette or the like. Since each collection unit 160 contains only 1 droplet or a small amount of droplets, it is possible to easily collect droplets individually.

As described above, according to the present operation method, even if the flow velocity of the fluid introduced into the first flow path 120 is made lower, the droplet can be moved to the second chamber 140. Therefore, when the droplets captured in the first chamber 130 are introduced into the second flow path 150, the release of the captured droplets from the first chamber 130, which is caused by introducing a fluid at a high flow rate into the first flow path 120, can be suppressed, and the droplet collection efficiency can be further improved.

In this case, the number of the recovery units 160 into which the first covering unit 182 or the second covering unit 184 is pierced may be 1 or more, and may be appropriately determined according to the flow rate required for moving the droplet to the second chamber 140. The recovery unit 160 punctured by the first covering part 182 or the second covering part 184 may be disposed at any position, but is preferably the recovery unit 160 formed in the second chamber 140 closest to the discharge port 124.

(Effect)

According to the fluid processing device 100 of the present embodiment, the collected droplets can be easily separated.

[ second embodiment ]

(construction of fluid treatment apparatus)

Fig. 4A is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a fluid treatment apparatus according to a second embodiment, and fig. 4B is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a main body section included in the fluid treatment apparatus. Fig. 4C is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4C-4C in area C of fig. 4A.

The fluid treatment apparatus 200 includes a main body 210, and a first cover part 282 and a second cover part (not shown) that are joined to a pair of surfaces of the main body 210.

The fluid processing apparatus 200 includes a first flow path 220 formed by covering a recess provided on the surface 212 of the main body 210 with the first covering portion 282 and communicating the inlet 222 with the outlet 224, a plurality of first chambers 230 as spaces in which the first flow path 220 is widened, a plurality of second chambers 240 arranged in pairs with each of the plurality of first chambers 230, and a second flow path 250 communicating the first chambers 230 with the second chambers 240. The fluid treatment apparatus 200 further includes a recovery unit 260, and the recovery unit 260 is formed by covering both sides of the through-hole provided in the body unit 210 with the first cover part 282 and the second cover part.

The fluid treatment apparatus 200 of the present embodiment differs from the fluid treatment apparatus 100 of the first embodiment only in the configuration of the first flow path 220. Therefore, description of common constituent elements is omitted.

In the present embodiment, the first flow path 220 is a flow path through which the fluid including the liquid droplets flows, and both ends thereof are provided with an inlet port 222 and an outlet port 224 which are both communicated to the outside of the main body, so that the fluid or the like used for separating and collecting the fluid including the liquid droplets and the liquid droplets can be circulated from the inlet port 222 to the outlet port 224. However, in the present embodiment, the first flow path 220 includes the first valve 229, and the first valve 229 can be switched between an open state in which the fluid flows from the upstream side to the downstream side of the first flow path and a closed state in which the fluid is blocked from flowing from the upstream side to the downstream side of the first flow path, and the flow rate of the fluid between the first chamber 230 and the discharge port 224 is controlled by switching between the open state and the closed state.

In the present embodiment, the first valve 229 is a thin film valve formed of a part of the first cover portion 282 joined to the surface 212 of the body portion 210. As shown in fig. 4C, the first valve 229, which is a thin film valve, includes a diaphragm 229a and a partition wall 229 b. In the valve open state, a gap for allowing the fluid to move from the upstream side to the downstream side (from the inlet 222 side to the outlet 224 side) of the first flow passage 220 (main flow passage 226) is formed between the diaphragm 229a and the partition wall 229 b. On the other hand, in the valve-closed state, the diaphragm 229a is pressed by a pusher or the like to be in contact with the partition wall 229 b. Therefore, no gap is formed between the diaphragm 229a and the partition wall 229b, and the flow of the fluid from the upstream side to the downstream side (from the inlet 222 side to the outlet 224 side) of the first flow path 220 (main flow path 226) is blocked.

As in a modification example described later, in the present embodiment, the fluid may flow in both directions in the first flow path 220 from the inlet 222 side to the outlet 224 side or from the outlet 224 side to the inlet 222 side. In this case as well, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" in the present specification mean the inlet 222 side of the first channel 220 and the outlet 224 side of the first channel 220, respectively.

The first valve 229 is disposed downstream of the connection point between the first flow path 220 and the first chamber 230. Specifically, the first valve 229 is disposed between the first chamber 230, which is disposed closest to the discharge port 224, and the discharge port 224 among the plurality of first chambers 230. When the first valve 229 is closed, the movement of the fluid in the direction from the first chamber 230 to the discharge port 224 is restricted, and the movement of the fluid in the directions from the first chamber 230 to the second channel 250 and the second chamber 240 is promoted. In this way, the first valve 229 increases the flow rate (flow pressure) of the fluid flowing through the second flow path 250.

(method of operating fluid treatment apparatus)

The fluid treatment device 200 is used in a state where the first cover part 282 and the second cover part are bonded to a pair of surfaces of the main body part 210.

First, the fluid treatment apparatus 200 is installed at an angle such that the second channel 250 and the second chamber 240 are positioned above the first channel 220 in the vertical direction, and the fluid including a plurality of droplets is introduced from the inlet 222 into the first channel 220. Further, at this time, the first valve 229 is opened in advance. Thus, as in the first embodiment, the liquid droplets move in the main channel 226 of the first channel 220 in the direction of the discharge channel 228, and are sequentially captured by the first chamber 230 from the first chamber 230 on the introduction channel 227 side to the first chamber 230 on the discharge channel 228 side.

Next, the fluid containing no droplets is introduced from the inflow port 222 into the first flow path 220. The introduced fluid composition pressurizes the droplets captured in the first chamber 230 to pass through the second flow path 250 and move toward the second chamber 240. In this way, the liquid droplets captured in each of the first chambers 230 move to the corresponding second chamber 240. Therefore, the droplets captured individually in the first chamber 230 can move individually to the second chamber 240 without being recombined. In this case, the fluid treatment apparatus may be rotated or may not be rotated.

At this time, by closing the first valve 229 to restrict the movement of the fluid from the first chamber 230 to the discharge port 224, the movement of the introduced fluid not containing droplets from the first channel 220 in the direction from the first chamber 230, the second channel 250, and the second chamber 240 is promoted. Therefore, the release of the droplets from the first chamber 230 to the first channel 220 (main channel 226) due to the flow of the fluid from the second channel 250 to the first chamber 230 can be suppressed, and the droplet collection efficiency can be further improved.

Finally, the fluid treatment apparatus 200 is disposed at an angle such that either one of the first cover part 282 and the second cover part is positioned above the recovery part 260 in the vertical direction, and the recovery part 260 punctures the cover part that is above the vertical direction, and takes out the droplets that have moved to the recovery parts 260 by a pipette or the like. Since each collection unit 260 contains only 1 droplet or a small amount of droplets, it is possible to easily collect droplets individually.

(Effect)

According to the fluid processing device 200 of the present embodiment, the collected droplets can be easily separated.

In addition, according to the fluid treatment apparatus 200 of the present embodiment, the recovery efficiency of the droplets can be further improved.

(modification of the second embodiment)

Fig. 5A is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a fluid treatment apparatus 200 according to a modification of the present embodiment, and fig. 5B is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a main body portion 210 included in the fluid treatment apparatus 200. As shown in fig. 5A and 5B, in the second embodiment, instead of disposing the first valve between the first chamber 230 disposed closest to the discharge port 224 and the discharge port 224 among the plurality of first chambers 230, the second valve 229c may be disposed between the first chamber 230 disposed closest to the inflow port 222 and the inflow port 222 among the plurality of first chambers 230. The second valve 229c is disposed upstream of the connection position between the first flow path 220 and the first chamber 230. Specifically, the second valve 229c is disposed between the first chamber 230 disposed at the position closest to the inlet port 222 among the plurality of first chambers 230 and the inlet port 222.

At this time, in the operation of the fluid processing apparatus 200, after the droplets are captured in the first chamber 230, the fluid not including the droplets is introduced from the discharge port 224 into the first flow path 220. When the fluid not containing the liquid droplets is introduced into the first flow path 220 from the discharge port 224, when the second valve 229c is closed, the movement of the fluid in the direction from the first chamber 230 to the inflow port 222 is restricted, and the movement of the fluid in the directions from the first chamber 230 to the second flow path 250 and the second chamber 240 is promoted. In this way, the second valve 229c increases the flow rate (flow pressure) of the fluid flowing through the second flow path 250. The fluid not containing droplets introduced from the discharge port 224 may be a fluid (mother phase fluid) that is introduced from the inflow port 222 into the first channel 220 and discharged from the discharge port 224 when the droplets are captured in the first chamber 230. By reusing the mother phase fluid in this manner, the amount of fluid used can be reduced, and the droplets can be collected individually at a lower cost. When droplets not captured in the first chamber 230 are included in the fluid discharged from the discharge port 224, the discharged fluid is stored in a container having a predetermined depth, so that the droplets floating by buoyancy can be separated from the mother phase fluid.

[ third embodiment ]

(construction of fluid treatment apparatus)

Fig. 6A is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of the fluid treatment apparatus 300 according to the present embodiment, and fig. 6B is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of the main body 310 included in the fluid treatment apparatus 300.

The fluid treatment device 300 includes a main body 310, and a first cover 382 and a second cover (not shown) that are joined to a pair of surfaces of the main body 310.

The fluid processing apparatus 300 includes a first channel 320 formed by covering the recess provided on the surface 312 of the main body 310 with the first cover 382, the first channel being a space in which the inlet 322 and the outlet 324 communicate with each other, a plurality of first chambers 330 which are spaces in which the first channel 320 is widened, a plurality of second chambers 340 arranged in pairs with each of the plurality of first chambers 330, and a second channel 350 which communicates the first chambers 330 with the second chambers 340. The fluid treatment apparatus 300 further includes a recovery unit 360, and the recovery unit 360 is formed by covering both sides of the through hole provided in the main body 310 with the first cover 382 and the second cover.

The fluid treatment apparatus 300 of the present embodiment differs from the fluid treatment apparatus 100 of the first embodiment only in the structure of the second flow channel 350. Therefore, description of common constituent elements is omitted.

In the present embodiment as well, the second flow path 350 is a flow path that communicates the pair of the first chamber 330 and the second chamber 340. However, in the present embodiment, each of the second flow paths 350 includes a third valve 362, and the third valve 362 is switchable between an open state in which the fluid flows from the upstream side to the downstream side of the second flow path 350 and a closed state in which the fluid is blocked from flowing from the upstream side to the downstream side of the second flow path 350, and the flow rate of the fluid between the first chamber 330 and the second chamber 340 is controlled by the switching between the open state and the closed state. In the present embodiment, the third valve 362 is a thin film valve formed of a part of the first coating portion 382 joined to the surface 312 of the body portion 310. The third valve 362 has the same structure as the first valve 229 in the second embodiment, and forms a gap for moving the fluid from the upstream side to the downstream side of the second flow path 350 (from the first chamber 330 side to the second chamber 340 side) in the valve open state, and blocks the flow of the fluid from the upstream side to the downstream side of the second flow path 350 (from the first chamber 330 side to the second chamber 340 side) in the valve closed state.

The third valve 362 is disposed between the first chamber 330 and the second chamber 340 in a direction parallel to the flow direction of the first flow channel 320 when the fluid treatment apparatus 300 (the main body 310) is viewed in plan. When the third valve 362 is closed, the movement of the fluid and the droplets through the second flow path 350 from the first chamber 330 to the second chamber 340 is restricted, but when the third valve 362 is opened, the movement of the fluid and the droplets through the second flow path 350 from the first chamber 330 to the second chamber 340 is facilitated. In the present embodiment, since the third valves 362 are arranged in parallel, it is possible to easily operate the plurality of third valves 362 simultaneously or to operate the plurality of third valves 362 continuously.

(method of operating fluid treatment apparatus)

The fluid treatment device 300 is used in a state where the first cover 382 and the second cover are bonded to a pair of surfaces of the main body 310.

First, the fluid treatment apparatus 300 is installed at an angle such that the second channel 350 and the second chamber 340 are positioned above the first channel 320 in the vertical direction, and the fluid including a plurality of droplets is introduced from the inlet 322 into the first channel 320. Further, at this time, the third valve 362 is closed in advance. Thus, as in the first embodiment, the liquid droplets move in the main flow path 326 of the first flow path 320 in the direction of the discharge flow path 328, and are sequentially captured by the first chamber 330 from the first chamber 330 on the side of the introduction flow path 327 to the first chamber 330 on the side of the discharge flow path 328.

Next, the fluid processing device 300 is rotated to set the fluid processing device 300 at an angle such that the first flow path 320, the first chamber 330, and the second flow path 350 are located on the same horizontal plane. In this state, the third valve 362 is opened while the fluid containing no droplets is introduced from the inlet 322 into the first flow path 320. The introduced fluid composition pressurizes the droplets captured in the first chamber 330 to pass through the second flow path 350 and move toward the second chamber 340. In this way, the droplets captured in each first chamber 330 move to the corresponding second chamber 340. Therefore, droplets captured individually in the first chamber 330 can move individually to the second chamber 340 without being recombined.

In this case, the fluid not containing the droplets may be introduced from the discharge port 324 into the first flow path 320. At this time, similarly, the introduced fluid pressurizes the droplet captured in the first chamber 330, slightly deforms the droplet, introduces the droplet into the second channel 350, and moves the droplet in the second channel 350 to the second chamber 340. The fluid not containing droplets introduced from the discharge port 324 may be a fluid (mother phase fluid) that is introduced from the inflow port 322 into the first channel 320 and discharged from the discharge port 324 when the droplets are captured in the first chamber 330. By reusing the mother phase fluid in this manner, the amount of fluid used can be reduced, and the droplets can be collected individually at a lower cost. When droplets not captured in the first chamber 330 are included in the fluid discharged from the discharge port 324, the discharged fluid is stored in a container having a predetermined depth, so that the droplets floating by buoyancy can be separated from the mother phase fluid.

At this time, by providing the fluid treatment apparatus 300 at an angle such that the first flow channel 320, the first chamber 330, and the second flow channel 350 are positioned on the same horizontal plane, it is possible to suppress the release of droplets from the first chamber 330 to the first flow channel 320 (main flow channel 326) due to the flow of the fluid from the second flow channel 350 to the first chamber 330, which is generated when the third valve 362 is opened.

Finally, the fluid treatment apparatus 300 is disposed at an angle such that either one of the first cover 382 and the second cover is positioned further upward in the vertical direction with respect to the recovery unit 360, and the cover that is upward in the vertical direction is punctured in the recovery unit 360, and the droplets that have moved to the recovery units 360 are taken out by a pipette or the like. Since each collection unit 360 contains only 1 droplet or a small number of droplets, it is possible to easily collect droplets individually.

(Effect)

According to the fluid processing device 300 of the present embodiment, the collected droplets can be easily separated.

[ fourth embodiment ]

(construction of fluid treatment apparatus)

Fig. 7A is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a main body 410 included in a fluid treatment apparatus 400 according to the present embodiment, fig. 7B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a YZ plane showing the vicinity of a surface 412 of a region 7B indicated by a circle in fig. 7A, and fig. 7C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an XZ plane of a region 7B indicated by a circle in fig. 7A. For convenience of explanation, fig. 7B and 7C show a state in which the surface 412 of the body portion 410 is covered with the first cover portion 482 to form a flow path. The configuration of the fluid treatment apparatus 400 in a plan view is substantially the same as the fluid treatment apparatus 300 (see fig. 6A) according to the third embodiment except for the position of the valve, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

The fluid treatment apparatus 400 includes a main body 410, and a first cover 482 and a second cover (not shown) that are joined to a pair of surfaces of the main body 410.

The fluid processing device 400 includes a first channel 420 formed by covering a recess provided in the surface 412 of the main body 410 with a first covering portion 482, the first channel communicating the inlet 422 with the outlet 424, a plurality of first chambers 430 which are spaces formed by widening the first channel 420, a plurality of second chambers 440 arranged in pairs with each of the plurality of first chambers 430, and a second channel 450 communicating the first chambers 430 with the second chambers 440. The fluid treatment apparatus 400 further includes a recovery unit 460 formed by covering both sides of the through-hole provided in the body portion 410 with the first cover 482 and the second cover 460.

The fluid treatment apparatus 400 of the present embodiment differs from the fluid treatment apparatus 100 of the first embodiment only in the structure of the second channel 450. Therefore, description of common constituent elements is omitted.

In the present embodiment as well, the second channel 450 is a channel that connects the pair of the first chamber 430 and the second chamber 440.

However, in the present embodiment, the second channel 450 is a channel having a channel diameter sufficiently larger than the diameter of the droplet to be separated and collected, and capable of freely moving the droplet. The flow path diameter and depth of the second flow path 450 in the present embodiment are not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of making the step between the first chamber 430 and the second chamber 440 disappear and facilitating the movement of the liquid droplets, the widths of the first chamber 430 and the second flow path 450 in the flow direction of the main flow path 426 of the first flow path 420 are preferably the same, and the depths are preferably the same.

In the present embodiment, the second flow path 450 includes the third valve 462, and the third valve 462 is switchable between an open state in which the fluid flows from the upstream side to the downstream side of the second flow path 450 and a closed state in which the fluid is blocked from flowing from the upstream side to the downstream side of the second flow path 450, and controls the flow rate of the fluid between the first chamber 430 and the second chamber 440. In the present embodiment, the third valve 462 is a thin film valve formed of a portion of the first coating portion 482 joined to the surface 412 of the body portion 410. The third valve 462 has the same configuration as the first valve 229 in the second embodiment, and forms a gap for moving the fluid from the upstream side to the downstream side of the second flow path 450 (from the first chamber 430 side to the second chamber 440 side) in the valve open state, and blocks the flow of the fluid from the upstream side to the downstream side of the second flow path 450 (from the first chamber 430 side to the second chamber 440 side) in the valve closed state.

The third valve 462 is disposed at a connection portion with the first chamber 430 in the second flow path 450 so as to be aligned in a direction parallel to the flow direction of the first flow path 420. When the third valve 462 is closed, the movement of the fluid and the droplets through the second flow path 450 from the first chamber 430 to the second chamber 440 is restricted, but when the third valve 462 is opened, the movement of the fluid and the droplets through the second flow path 450 from the first chamber 430 to the second chamber 440 is facilitated. In the present embodiment, since the third valves 462 are arranged in a row, it is easy to operate the plurality of third valves 462 simultaneously or to operate the plurality of third valves 462 continuously.

(method of operating fluid treatment apparatus)

The fluid treatment device 400 is used in a state where the first cover 482 and the second cover are bonded to a pair of surfaces of the body portion 410.

First, the fluid treatment apparatus 400 is installed at an angle such that the second channel 450 and the second chamber 440 are positioned above the first channel 420 in the vertical direction, and the fluid including a plurality of droplets is introduced from the inlet 422 into the first channel 420. Further, the third valve 462 is closed in advance at this time. Thus, as in the first embodiment, the liquid droplets move in the main channel 426 of the first channel 420 in the direction of the discharge channel 428, and are sequentially captured by the first chamber 430 from the first chamber 430 on the introduction channel 427 side to the first chamber 430 on the discharge channel 428 side.

Next, the fluid processing apparatus 400 is rotated such that the first channel 420, the first chamber 430, and the second channel 450 are positioned on the same horizontal plane, thereby disposing the fluid processing apparatus 400. In this state, the third valve 462 is opened while the fluid containing no droplets is introduced from the inflow port 422 into the first flow path 420. The introduced fluid component pressurizes the droplet captured in the first chamber 430 to pass through the second flow path 450 and move toward the second chamber 440. In this way, the droplets captured in each first chamber 430 move to the corresponding second chamber 440. Therefore, droplets captured individually in the first chamber 430 can move individually to the second chamber 440 without being recombined.

In this case, the fluid not containing the droplets may be introduced from the discharge port 424 into the first channel 420. At this time, similarly, the introduced fluid pressurizes the droplet captured in the first chamber 430, slightly deforms the droplet, introduces the droplet into the second channel 450, and moves the droplet in the second channel 450 to the second chamber 440. The fluid not containing droplets introduced from the discharge port 424 may be a fluid (mother phase fluid) that is introduced from the inflow port 422 into the first channel 420 and discharged from the discharge port 424 when the droplets are captured in the first chamber 430. By reusing the mother phase fluid in this manner, the amount of fluid used can be reduced, and the droplets can be collected individually at a lower cost. When droplets not captured in the first chamber 430 are included in the fluid discharged from the discharge port 424, the discharged fluid is stored in a container having a predetermined depth, and thereby the droplets floating by buoyancy can be separated from the mother phase fluid.

At this time, by providing the fluid treatment apparatus 400 at an angle such that the first flow channel 420, the first chamber 430, and the second flow channel 450 are positioned on the same horizontal plane, it is possible to suppress the release of droplets from the first chamber 430 to the first flow channel 420 (main flow channel 426) due to the flow of the fluid from the second flow channel 450 to the first chamber 430, which is generated when the third valve 462 is opened.

Finally, the fluid processing device 400 is disposed at an angle such that either one of the first cover 482 and the second cover is positioned above the recovery unit 460 in the vertical direction, and the recovery unit 460 punctures the cover above in the vertical direction and takes out the droplets moved to the recovery units 460 by a pipette or the like. Since each recovery unit 460 contains only 1 droplet or a small amount of droplets, it is possible to easily recover the droplets individually.

(Effect)

According to the fluid processing device 400 of the present embodiment, the collected droplets can be easily separated.

[ fifth embodiment ]

(construction of fluid treatment apparatus)

Fig. 8A is a schematic plan view showing the structure of a fluid treatment apparatus 500 according to the present embodiment, and fig. 8B is a schematic plan view showing the structure of a main body portion 510 included in the fluid treatment apparatus 500.

The fluid treatment apparatus 500 includes a body portion 510, and a first cover portion 582 and a second cover portion (not shown) that are joined to a pair of surfaces of the body portion 510.

The fluid treatment apparatus 500 includes a first channel 520 formed by covering a recess provided on the surface 512 of the main body 510 with a first cover 582 and communicating the inlet 522 with the outlet 524, a storage chamber 570 and a plurality of first chambers 530 which are spaces formed by widening the first channel 520, a plurality of second chambers 540 arranged in pairs with each of the plurality of first chambers 530, and a second channel 550 communicating the first chambers 530 with the second chambers 540. The fluid treatment apparatus 500 further includes a collection unit 560, and the collection unit 560 is formed by covering both sides of the through-hole provided in the main body portion 510 with the first cover portion 582 and the second cover portion.

The fluid treatment apparatus 500 of the present embodiment differs from the fluid treatment apparatus 100 of the first embodiment only in that the storage chamber 570 is provided, and the storage chamber 570 is a space formed by covering a concave portion provided on the surface 512 of the main body portion 510 with the first cover portion 582 and widening the first flow path 520 in a direction different from that of the first chamber 530. Therefore, description of common constituent elements is omitted.

The storage chamber 570 is a space having a size capable of storing the number of droplets to be separated and collected, the first flow path 520 (main flow path 526) being widened in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first chamber 530 is widened with the main flow path 526 interposed therebetween. For example, the storage chamber 570 may be provided as a space: a rectangular parallelepiped space having a depth from the surface 512 of 30 μm to 500 μm, which is the same as that of the main channel 526, a width in a direction parallel to the flow direction of the main channel 526 (a width in the X-axis direction in fig. 8B) of 1mm to 5mm, a length in a direction opposite to the widening direction of the main channel 526 of the first chamber 530 (a length in the Z-axis direction in fig. 8B) of 200 μm to 1mm, and a depth from the surface 512 toward the surface on which the second coating portion is disposed (a length in the Y-axis direction in fig. 8B) of 30 μm to 500 μm.

The storage chamber 570 is rectangular parallelepiped in the present embodiment, but may be a space having any shape such as a spherical cap or a polygonal prism.

The storage chamber 570 is disposed between the first chamber 530 disposed at a position closest to the inflow port 522 among the plurality of first chambers 530 and the inflow port 522. Thereby, the storage chamber 570 introduces the droplets introduced from the inlet 522, and temporarily stores the droplets before being captured by the first chamber 530. Thus, the accumulating chamber 570 can temporarily accumulate the droplets in the amount to be separately collected by the first chamber 530 and the second chamber 540, and thereafter, the accumulated droplets are introduced into the main flow path 526 to be separately collected by the first chamber 530 and the second chamber 540.

If the amount of droplets introduced into the main channel 526 exceeds the amount that can be captured by the first chamber 530, droplets that are not captured by the first chamber 530 may remain in the main channel 526. Therefore, in order to discharge the remaining droplets, it is necessary to circulate the fluid not containing the droplets through the main channel 526 before introducing the droplets into the second channel 550. However, if the flow velocity (flow pressure) of the fluid not containing droplets is large, droplets to be discharged may be mixed into the first chamber 530 in which the droplets are already captured, and a separation/collection failure may easily occur. In contrast, even if it takes a long time to discharge the above-described remaining droplets in order to reduce the flow rate (flow pressure) of the above-described fluid containing no droplets, there is a possibility that the droplets that have been captured in the first chamber 530 are detached from the first chamber 530 and discharged at the same time.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, the accumulation chamber 570 temporarily accumulates the number of droplets to be separated and collected, and then introduces the number of droplets to be separated and collected into the main channel 526 to cause the first chamber 530 to trap them. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce a fluid containing no droplet for discharging the remaining droplets. This makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of the above-described separation and collection failure and to separate and collect droplets in a shorter time.

(method of operating fluid treatment apparatus)

The fluid treatment apparatus 500 is used in a state where the first cover 582 and the second cover are bonded to a pair of surfaces of the main body portion 510.

First, the fluid treatment apparatus 500 is installed at an angle such that the storage chamber 570 is positioned above the first channel 520 in the vertical direction, and the fluid including a plurality of droplets is introduced from the inlet 522 into the first channel 520. The introduced fluid component flows through the first channel 520 in the order of the introduction channel 527, the main channel 526, and the discharge channel 528, and is discharged from the discharge port 524. At this time, when the liquid droplets moving through the main channel 526 reach a portion where the accumulation chamber 570 is formed, the liquid droplets move toward the accumulation chamber 570 by the buoyancy thereof.

The flow velocity of the fluid to be introduced when the fluid including the liquid droplets is introduced into the first flow channel 520 may be a flow velocity within a range in which the liquid droplets can be sufficiently pressurized and moved downward in the vertical direction in the introduction flow channel 527. For example, the flow velocity of the fluid introduced at this time may be set to 60 μm/s or more and 2000 μm/s or less.

When a sufficient amount of droplets move to the accumulation chamber 570, the fluid processing device 500 is set at an angle such that the first chamber 530, the second chamber 540, and the second channel 550 are positioned above the first channel 520 in the vertical direction, and the fluid processing device 500 is rotated. In this state, the fluid containing no droplet is introduced from the inlet 522 into the first channel 520. The introduced fluid component pressurizes the droplets that have moved from the storage chamber 570 to the main channel 526 by the buoyancy thereof due to the rotation of the fluid processing apparatus 500, and sequentially moves in the main channel 526 in the direction in which the first chamber 530 is provided. When the liquid droplets moving through the main flow path 526 reach the portion where the first chamber 530 is formed, the liquid droplets move toward the first chamber 530 by the buoyancy thereof, and are sequentially captured by the first chamber 530 from the first chamber 530 on the introduction flow path 327 side to the first chamber 530 on the discharge flow path 528 side.

Next, the fluid containing no droplet is introduced from the inlet 522 into the first channel 520. The introduced fluid composition pressurizes the droplets captured in the first chamber 530 to pass through the second flow path 550 and move toward the second chamber 540. In this way, the droplets captured in each first chamber 530 move to the corresponding second chamber 540. Therefore, droplets captured individually in the first chamber 530 can move individually to the second chamber 540 without being recombined. In this case, the fluid treatment apparatus may be rotated or may not be rotated.

Finally, the fluid treatment apparatus 500 is disposed at an angle such that either one of the first cover 582 and the second cover is positioned above the recovery unit 560 in the vertical direction, and the cover above the recovery unit 560 in the vertical direction is punctured to take out the droplet moved to each recovery unit 560 by a pipette or the like. Since each collection unit 560 contains only 1 droplet or a small number of droplets, it is possible to easily collect droplets individually.

(Effect)

According to the fluid processing device 500 of the present embodiment, the collected droplets can be easily separated.

In addition, according to the fluid processing apparatus 500 of the present embodiment, since droplets of an amount that should be separated and collected can be introduced into the main channel 526 and captured by the first chamber 530, it is not necessary to discharge droplets that remain in the main channel 526 without being captured by the first chamber 530. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a separation/collection failure caused by introducing the fluid not containing the droplet into the main channel 526 in order to discharge the remaining droplet. Further, since the step of discharging the remaining droplets is not required, the droplets can be separated and collected in a shorter time.

(modification of the fifth embodiment)

In the above description, the fluid processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment has been described as having the storage chamber 570. However, the fluid processing apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment in which the first valve 229 is disposed downstream of the position at which the first flow path 220 and the first chamber 230 are connected, the fluid processing apparatus 200 according to the modification of the second embodiment in which the second valve 229c is disposed upstream of the position at which the first flow path 220 and the first chamber 230 are connected, the fluid processing apparatus 300 according to the third embodiment in which the third valve 362 is disposed in the second flow path 350, and the fluid processing apparatus 400 according to the fourth embodiment in which the third valve 462 is disposed in the second flow path 450 may similarly have a storage chamber. Further, when the fluid processing apparatus includes the second valve disposed upstream of the position of connection between the first channel and the first chamber as in the modification of the second embodiment, the storage chamber is preferably disposed upstream of the second valve.

In the fluid processing apparatus, similarly, the fluid processing apparatus may be provided at an angle such that the accumulation chamber is positioned above the first channel in the vertical direction, the fluid including a plurality of droplets may be introduced from the inlet to the first channel, and after a sufficient amount of droplets have moved to the accumulation chamber, the fluid processing apparatus may be rotated at an angle such that the first chamber is positioned above the first channel in the vertical direction, the fluid including no droplets may be introduced from the inlet to the first channel, and the droplets moved from the accumulation chamber to the main channel by buoyancy thereof may be moved to sequentially capture the droplets. Thereafter, the droplet captured in the first chamber can be moved to the second chamber and separately collected by the same operation as that of the fluid processing apparatus according to each embodiment.

In the present embodiment and the modifications, the end of the accumulation chamber on the inlet side in contact with the first flow path may be chamfered. Thus, the liquid droplets introduced into the first flow path are less likely to be caught at the end of the first flow path in contact with the accumulating chamber, and the liquid droplets are more likely to move from the first flow path to the accumulating chamber. Similarly, the end of the storage chamber on the outlet side in contact with the first flow path may be chamfered. Thus, the liquid droplet moved from the accumulation chamber to the first channel is less likely to be caught at the end of the accumulation chamber in contact with the first channel, and the liquid droplet is more likely to move from the accumulation chamber to the first channel (main channel). When it is desired to suppress the unintended movement of the accumulated liquid droplets to the first channel (main channel), it is not necessary to chamfer the end portion on the discharge port side in contact with the first channel.

In the above description, the storage chamber is formed by widening the main flow path in the first flow path. However, the accumulation chamber may be formed by widening the introduction flow path, or may be formed by widening both the introduction flow path and the first flow path.

In the above description, the storage chamber is formed by covering the recess provided on the surface of the main body with the first covering portion. However, the storage chamber may be formed by a space for storing the liquid droplets by bending a first covering portion that covers the first flow path between the first chamber disposed at a position closest to the inlet port and the inlet port among the plurality of first chambers in a direction away from the main body portion.

[ use ]

The fluid processing devices 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 can be used as micro flow path devices.

[ fluid treatment System ]

The fluid treatment apparatus according to each of the above embodiments may be used in combination with a holding mechanism for holding the fluid treatment apparatus. That is, the fluid treatment system includes: a fluid handling device; and a holding mechanism capable of holding the fluid processing apparatus so that the first chamber widens vertically upward from the first flow path. The fluid treatment system may further include a rotation mechanism for rotating the fluid treatment device. The rotation mechanism may be switched between a state in which the fluid treatment device is disposed at an angle such that the first chamber is positioned above the first channel in the vertical direction and a state in which the fluid treatment device is disposed at an angle such that the punctured first cover portion or the punctured second cover portion faces vertically upward. The rotation mechanism may be configured to switch between a state in which the fluid treatment device is disposed at an angle such that the storage chamber is positioned above the first flow path in the vertical direction and a state in which the fluid treatment device is disposed at an angle such that the first chamber is positioned above the first flow path in the vertical direction.

The fluid treatment apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the inner surface of the first channel or the second channel may be subjected to hydrophilization treatment as needed.

The fluid processing apparatus may be configured to collect the droplets from the second chamber without a collection unit.

In addition, the above embodiments may be combined as necessary. For example, in the second embodiment, a third valve may be disposed in the second flow path, and in the fourth embodiment, a first valve may be disposed in the first flow path.

The claims of the present application are based on the priority rights of japanese patent application No. 2018-029005, filed on 21/2/2018, and japanese patent application No. 2018-106752, filed on 4/6/2018, the contents of which are described in the specification, claims and drawings are incorporated into the present application.

Industrial applicability

The fluid treatment apparatus of the present invention is useful as a fluid treatment apparatus used in, for example, the medical field.

Description of the reference numerals

100. 200, 300, 400, 500 fluid treatment device

110. 210, 310, 410, 510 body portion

112. 212, 312, 412, 512 surfaces

114 surface of

120. 220, 320, 420, 520 first flow path

122. 222, 322, 422, 522 flow inlet

124. 224, 324, 424, 524 exhaust port

126. 226, 326, 426, 526 main flow path

127. 227, 327, 427, 527 lead-in flow path

128. 228, 328, 428, 528 discharge flow path

130. 230, 330, 430, 530 first chamber

140. 240, 340, 440, 540 second chamber

150. 250, 350, 450, 550 second flow path

160. 260, 360, 460, 560 recovery part

165 opening part

182. 282, 382, 482, 582 first coating part

184 second coating part

229 first valve

229a diaphragm

229b partition wall

229c second valve

362. 462 third valve

570 accumulating chamber