KR102758657B1 - Fluid analyser - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fluid analyzer, and more specifically, to a fluid measuring device using a fluid analysis kit that is provided with a fluid analysis biochip having microchannels formed regularly to move a sample fluid for sample fluid analysis and that can be easily replaced after use.
The fluid analyzer of the present invention has microchannels formed regularly on a biochip for fluid analysis, through which cells of a sample fluid move one by one, and can be easily replaced without washing after use, thereby improving the efficiency of fluid analysis.
In addition, the fluid analyzer of the present invention has an advantage in that the kit tray, on which the fluid analysis kit including the biochip for fluid analysis and the syringe for sample fluid injection are placed, can be slidably moved so that it is stored within the case or withdrawn outside the case so as to be positioned between the laser irradiation unit and the photographing unit, thereby making the fluid analysis kit replacement efficiency easier.

Description

Fluid analyzer

The present invention relates to a fluid analyzer, and more specifically, to a fluid analyzer using a fluid analysis kit that is provided with a fluid analysis biochip having microchannels formed regularly to move a sample fluid for sample fluid analysis and that can be easily replaced after use.

CBC (Complete Blood Cell Count) test is widely used as one of the methods of examining blood. In other words, CBC test is one of the most basic blood tests with various clinical indications ranging from diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up observation of diseases. Through this test, information on the three types of cells (blood cells) present in blood, namely red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, can be obtained using various parameters.

To obtain numerical information on blood cells, an automatic hematology analyzer is widely used, which automatically measures the number of each blood cell in a certain volume after appropriately diluting the blood.

Early blood cell analyzers were structured to measure blood by inserting an EDTA tube containing the blood to be measured into a measuring inlet, drawing blood, and then measuring it. Most of them used electrical resistance measurement to roughly estimate the number of blood cells. As a result, it was difficult to accurately determine the number of blood cells, and since a washing process for the suction and measuring tubes was essential, the measuring device had a complex structure with a washing solution provided inside and outside.

Among the recently developed blood cell analyzers, a method has been developed in which blood is put into a diagnostic kit, the diagnostic kit is inserted into the measuring device, the blood is digitally imaged using a multi-channel microscope built into the device, and the measured image is scanned to determine the type, size, and shape of the blood cells. However, since blood cells temporarily stick to each other when stationary due to viscosity, it is difficult to determine the exact number, type, size, and shape of the blood cells from the measured image.

Meanwhile, a blood cell analysis device disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1628578 comprises an analysis tank including a sample passage section through which a sample passes, and a rapid flow forming section for forming a rapid flow so that cells are optically analyzed one by one so that the sample is positioned in the center of a surrounding sheath fluid, and a laser and an optical analyzer are spaced apart from each other so as to face each other with the analysis tank as the center.

The above blood cell analysis device has the advantage of being able to accurately determine the number, type, size, etc. of cells in the sample because the cells are arranged in a row and moved.

However, the above blood cell analysis device has the disadvantages of excessive use of sheath fluid and sample for controlling the width of the sample movement path, difficulty in controlling the width of the sample movement path by controlling the movement speed of the sheath fluid, and inconvenience in that a correction operation is required for controlling the movement path of the sample after cleaning the analysis tank.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1628578: Blood cell analysis device

The present invention is intended to improve the above problems, and provides a fluid analyzer in which a plurality of fluid analysis kits are provided, each of which has a plurality of fluid analysis biochips having a uniformly formed microchannel through which a sample fluid moves, but each of the microchannels has a different size and can be easily replaced after use, so that a fluid analysis kit can be selected according to the size of the cell to be analyzed and a sample fluid can be analyzed.

In order to solve the above problems, the fluid analyzer of the present invention comprises a case having a storage port formed on the front side communicating with an internal space, a syringe for injecting sample fluid which is inserted into the case through the storage port and into which sample fluid can be supplied and discharged through a tip portion, a biochip for fluid analysis having microchannels formed in which cells of the sample fluid supplied from the tip portion can be arranged in a single row and moved, and a support case in which the syringe for injecting sample fluid and the biochip for fluid analysis are detachably coupled, each of which comprises a plurality of fluid analysis kits having different sizes of microchannels; a laser irradiation unit which irradiates a laser to the fluid analysis kit in the internal space; a photographing unit which obtains an image of the sample fluid irradiated with a laser by facing the laser irradiation unit with the fluid analysis kit interposed therebetween in the internal space; In the case, the syringe drive unit is characterized by having a piston part that can move back and forth within the cylinder part so that the sample fluid supplied to the pressurized space of the cylinder part of the sample fluid injection syringe, which is connected to the tip part and supported on the support case, moves into the fluid analysis biochip through the tip part, thereby pressurizing the piston part toward the fluid analysis biochip.

The fluid analyzer of the present invention further comprises a tray rail portion which is fixed at a position between the laser irradiation portion and the photographing portion and has a storage space formed therein, the storage space having one end communicating with the storage port and the other end facing the syringe drive unit and extending in the advance/retreat direction of the piston portion, and a kit tray which has a settling space which is open upward for inserting the fluid analysis kit and is stored into the tray rail portion through the storage port, and it is preferable that both sides of the tray rail portion facing the laser irradiation portion and the photographing portion and both sides in the width direction of the kit tray inserted into the tray rail portion are formed so that a portion is penetrated or open so that both sides of the biochip facing the laser irradiation portion and the photographing portion are exposed to the internal space of the case.

The biochip for fluid analysis preferably comprises: a syringe insertion hole formed at the upper side thereof into which a portion of the tip portion is inserted or penetrated; a fluid inlet space which is connected to the upper side of the syringe insertion hole and extends downwards more than the syringe insertion hole so that a sample fluid supplied from the tip portion falls downwards; a microchannel which extends from the lower side of one side of the fluid inlet space in a direction away from the fluid inlet space but so that cells of the sample fluid can be arranged in a single row and moved; and a fluid movement induction space which has a larger volume than the fluid inlet space and has an end of the microchannel which is further away from the fluid inlet space connected to the lower side of one side so that internal air is discharged when the sample fluid is introduced so that the sample fluid of the fluid inlet space is induced to flow into the microchannel, and which is partially open at the upper side thereof so that the air inside is discharged.

The biochip for fluid analysis comprises an upper body having a fluid inlet groove that is open downward and communicates with the syringe insertion hole, a fluid movement induction groove that is spaced apart from the fluid inlet groove and has a larger volume than the fluid inlet groove, and an air exhaust hole that penetrates the fluid movement induction groove from the top; The upper body is provided with a lower surface that covers the lower surface of the upper body so that the fluid inflow groove and the fluid movement guide groove are closed, thereby forming the fluid inflow space and the fluid movement guide space together with the upper body, and a center guide groove that is introduced downward with a smaller area than the fluid inflow groove on the upper surface center side facing the fluid inflow groove and guides the sample fluid that falls from the tip portion downward toward the center side of the fluid inflow groove, and a lower body in which the microchannel is formed in the direction of the fluid movement guide groove from the center guide groove; and the microchannel is an inflow guide groove that is introduced in a direction away from the upper body while communicating with one side of the center guide groove and has a width that narrows as it moves away from the center guide groove, and one side is communicated with an end of the inflow guide groove and extends in the direction of the fluid movement guide groove with a width that allows cells to be arranged in a row and pass through, but is longer than the distance between the fluid inflow groove and the fluid movement guide groove, and the other side is upward. It is preferable to have a linear movement guide part facing the fluid movement induction home located above.

The above cylinder portion is formed in a tubular shape having the pressurized space open on both sides in the longitudinal direction, and has an inlet formed on one side for injecting a sample fluid, and the tip portion, which is formed with a narrow diameter and has an interior that is perforated to communicate with the pressurized space, is combined or formed integrally with the tip portion on one side in the longitudinal direction so as to be in communication with the pressurized space, and it is preferable that the syringe for injecting the sample fluid further includes a microfilter formed with a plurality of micropores having a diameter corresponding to the width of the microchannel of the fluid analysis biochip and mounted between the tip portion and the cylinder portion or within the tip portion.

The fluid analyzer of the present invention has microchannels formed regularly on a biochip for fluid analysis, through which cells of a sample fluid move one by one, and can be easily replaced without washing after use, thereby improving the efficiency of fluid analysis.

In addition, the fluid analyzer of the present invention has an advantage in that the kit tray, on which the fluid analysis kit including the biochip for fluid analysis and the syringe for sample fluid injection are placed, can be slidably moved so that it is stored within the case or withdrawn outside the case so as to be positioned between the laser irradiation unit and the photographing unit, thereby making the fluid analysis kit replacement efficiency easier.

In addition, the fluid analyzer of the present invention has a tip portion of a syringe for injecting sample fluid protrudedly inserted into the fluid inlet space of a biochip for fluid analysis, so that sample fluid introduced into the fluid inlet space is induced to fall directly toward the inlet side of the microchannel, making it easy to inject into the microchannel, and sample fluid can be continuously supplied to the microchannel, so that the fluid analysis efficiency can be improved.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fluid analysis device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the fluid analyzer of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the kit tray and fluid analysis kit of the fluid analyzer of Figure 1.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid analyzer of Fig. 1.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid analyzer of Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the fluid analysis kit of Figure 3.
Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the fluid analysis kit of Figure 3.
Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a biochip for fluid analysis of the fluid analysis kit of Figure 3.
Figure 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of a biochip according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, a fluid analysis kit according to the present invention and a fluid analysis measuring device using the same will be described in detail.

Figures 1 to 8 illustrate a fluid analyzer (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

A fluid analyzer (1) according to the present embodiment comprises a case (2) having a storage port (4) formed on the lower front side that is connected to an internal space, a plurality of fluid analysis kits (100) each having microchannels (118) of different widths through which sample fluids move, a kit tray (10) that allows detachably coupled fluid analysis kits (100) to be introduced into the case (2) through the storage port (4), a laser irradiation unit (25) that irradiates a laser toward the microchannel (118) of the fluid analysis kit (100) inserted in the case, a photographing unit (30) that acquires an image of the sample fluid to which the laser has been irradiated, and a syringe drive unit (50) for introducing and moving the sample fluid toward the microchannel.

The case (2) comprises a plate-shaped base portion (9), a front cover portion (3) that is vertically mounted to the front end of the base portion (9) and has a storage opening (4) formed at the bottom, a rear cover portion (8) that is vertically mounted to the rear end of the base portion (9), and a banding body portion (5) that has its center positioned above the base portion (9) and both sides bent downward parallel to the center to connect to the base portion (9), but has openings (6) formed at both sides that are open to the rear.

The front cover part (3) is formed by bending the upper part so that it is perpendicular to the base part (9) and inclined relative to the lower part, and a laser irradiation part (25), a photographing part (30), and a number of operation buttons for operating the syringe drive unit (50) and a power button are provided on the upper part.

In addition, the fluid analyzer (1) according to the present embodiment further comprises a square tube-shaped tray rail (70) that is mounted on the front cover (3) so that one side protrudes from the periphery of the storage compartment (4) and extends from the laser irradiation section (25) and the photographing section (30).

The tray rail section (70) is extended in the direction of advancement/retraction of the pressure bar (61) of the syringe drive unit (50) described later, and a storage space (71) is formed that is connected to the storage port (4) on one side and is open so that the other side can face the pressure bar (61).

In addition, the tray rail section (70) is formed with a laser penetration hole (72) that is connected to a storage space (71) on one side in the width direction and faces the laser irradiation section (25), and an imaging hole (73) that is connected to a storage space (71) on the other side in the width direction and faces the photographing section (30).

The kit tray (10) is provided with a plate-shaped storage compartment cover (11) formed to cover the storage compartment (4), a tray body (12) formed with a mounting space (16) that protrudes from one surface of the storage compartment cover (11) and is inserted into a tray rail section (70) and is open upward so that a fluid analysis kit (100) can be inserted from above to below, and a joining projection (17) that protrudes from one surface of the storage compartment cover (11) and is positioned lower than the tray body (12) so that the storage compartment cover (11) and the tray body (12) can be fixedly stored in the case (2).

The tray body (12) has a first pressure bar penetration groove (13) that is open upward and communicates with the mounting space (16) through which the other side of the syringe (130) for injecting the sample fluid of the fluid analysis kit (100) enters from above and downward and penetrates in the longitudinal direction at the other end in the direction facing away from the storage cover (11), a chip opening groove (14) that is open upward and communicates with the mounting space (16) at both sides in the width direction, and a catch hole (15) that is open upward and communicates with the mounting space (16) at both sides in the width direction between the first pressure bar penetration groove (13) and the first chip opening groove (14).

Meanwhile, the front cover part (3) is provided with a fastening member (18) that fastens or releases a fastening projection (17) on the lower side of the periphery of the storage compartment (4).

The fastener (18) may be provided with a jaw housing (19) having a spring receiving groove (not shown) open toward the engaging projection (17), a jaw (20) whose longitudinal sides rotate adjacently when the center side is received in the jaw housing (19) and whose longitudinal sides expand when protruding from the jaw housing (20), and a spring (not shown) that is received in the spring receiving groove (not shown) and elastically supports the jaw (20) toward the engaging projection (17).

And, on one side of the inner surface of the jaw housing (19), a restraining means may be provided so that when the jaw (20) is pressed once against the engaging projection (17) by the first external force applied to the storage cover (11) and inserted into the jaw housing while holding the engaging projection (17), withdrawal is restricted, and when pressed again by the second external force applied to the storage cover (11), the withdrawal restriction is released and the jaw (20) can be expanded by the spring. The restraining means is not limited.

Meanwhile, a plurality of fluid analysis kits (100) each include a syringe (130) for injecting sample fluid into which sample fluid is supplied and discharged through a tip portion (134), a fluid analysis biochip (110) having a microchannel (118) formed in which cells (S) of the sample fluid (L) supplied from the tip portion (134) can be arranged in a row and moved, and a support case (150) in which the syringe (130) for injecting sample fluid and the fluid analysis biochip (110) are detachably connected and accommodated in a mounting space (16) of a kit tray (10).

The support case (150) is opened upward, and a space is formed by a partition wall (155) into a chip mounting groove (151) in which a biochip (100) for fluid analysis is mounted, and a syringe mounting groove (153) in which a cylinder part (131) of a syringe (130) for sample fluid injection combined with a tip part (134) is mounted.

The compartment wall (155) is formed with a tip penetration groove (156) that is inserted toward the bottom surface of the tray body (12) at the center of the width so that the chip mounting groove (151) and the syringe mounting groove (153) are connected to each other, and the tip portion (134) of the syringe (130) for sample fluid injection passes through it.

In addition, the support case (150) is formed with a second pressure bar penetration groove (157) through which the piston part (136) of the syringe (130) for injection of sample fluid, described later, and the pressure bar (61) of the syringe drive unit (50) described later can move forward and backward at the other end in the direction of the syringe drive unit (50).

In addition, the support case (150) is provided with a plurality of phage ribs (158) that protrude upwardly from the bottom surface of the syringe mounting groove (153) in the width direction of the support case (150) and are formed so that the distance between them becomes narrower as they go upward. The plurality of phage ribs (158) have elasticity that allows their upper parts to temporarily move apart from each other when the cylinder part (131) of the sample fluid injection syringe (130) enters the spaced apart space between them.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, both sides of the support case (150) facing the photographing section (30) and the laser irradiation section (25) respectively and forming the chip mounting groove (151) are formed so that the laser is irradiated to the fluid analysis biochip (100), and the upper part of the chip mounting groove (151) is open in the direction of the photographing section (30) and the laser irradiation section (25) so that the microchannel (118) side can be photographed when the fluid analysis biochip (100) is irradiated with the laser, and an opening groove (159) that is concavely recessed downward is formed at the upper end of the side corresponding to the microchannel (118).

The support case (150) is processed by lancing on both sides in the width direction forming the syringe mounting groove (153), and elastic joint pieces (160) that can be bent to be inserted into or protruded from the syringe mounting groove (153) are formed respectively.

In addition, on one surface facing the outside of the elastic joint (160), a bonding projection (161) that can enter the catch hole (15) of the tray body (12) is formed protruding.

A syringe (130) for injecting a sample fluid is formed in a tubular shape with a pressurized space (133) open on both sides in the longitudinal direction, and has an inlet (132) formed on one side for injecting a sample fluid, and a cylinder part (131) formed with a narrow diameter on one side in the longitudinal direction, a tip part (134) connected to one side of the cylinder part (131) and inserted into one side of a biochip (100) for fluid analysis and having an interior that is perforated to communicate with the pressurized space, a microfilter (138) mounted between the tip part (134) and the cylinder part (131) or within the tip part (134) to filter out foreign substances having a larger area than cells in the sample fluid (L), and a piston part (136) that can move back and forth into the cylinder part (131) so that the sample fluid supplied to the pressurized space of the cylinder part (131) is moved into the biochip (100) for fluid analysis through the tip part (134). Equipped with.

The microfilter (138) is formed with a number of micropores (not shown) having a diameter corresponding to the microchannel (118), so that only cells to be analyzed smaller than the micropores pass through, or cells to be analyzed temporarily attached to each other are separated and passed through one by one.

The piston part (136) may partially protrude relative to the kit tray (10) by penetrating through the second pressure bar penetration groove (157) of the support case (150) and the first pressure bar penetration groove (13) of the tray body (12).

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, a biochip (110) for fluid analysis includes a syringe insertion hole (112) formed at one upper side in the longitudinal direction so that a tip portion (134) of a syringe (130) for injection of sample fluid can be partially inserted or penetrated, a fluid inlet space (122) that is connected to the upper side of the syringe insertion hole (112) and extends downward from the syringe insertion hole so that the sample fluid supplied from the tip portion (134) falls downward, a microchannel (118) that extends from the lower side of one side of the fluid inlet space (122) away from the fluid inlet space (122) so that cells of the sample fluid can be arranged in a row and moved, and an end of the microchannel (118) that has a larger volume than the fluid inlet space (122) and is connected to the lower side of one side so that the end of the microchannel (118) away from the fluid inlet space (122) is connected to the lower side of the fluid inlet space (122). A fluid movement induction space (125) is formed with one upper side partially open to the outside so that internal air is discharged when the sample fluid is introduced so that the sample fluid is introduced into the microchannel (118).

A biochip (110) for fluid analysis comprises an upper body (111) having a syringe insertion hole (112) that penetrates laterally from one end in the longitudinal direction, a fluid inlet groove (113) that is open downward and communicates with the syringe insertion hole (112), a fluid movement guide groove (114) that is spaced away from the syringe insertion hole (112) with respect to the fluid inlet groove (113) and has a larger volume than the fluid inlet groove (113), and an air exhaust hole (115) that penetrates the fluid movement guide groove (114) from the top. The upper body (111) is provided with a lower surface that covers the upper body (111) so that the fluid inlet groove (113) and the fluid movement induction groove (114) are closed, thereby forming a fluid inlet space (122) and a fluid movement induction space (125) together with the upper body (111), a center-guiding groove (117) that is introduced downward with a smaller area than the fluid inlet groove (113) on the upper surface center side facing the fluid inlet groove (113) and guides the sample fluid that falls from the tip part (134) downward toward the center side of the fluid inlet groove (113), and a lower body (116) in which a microchannel (118) is formed in the center-guiding groove (117) toward the fluid movement induction groove (114).

The upper body (111) and the lower body (116) are formed of transparent silicone material, and their contacting surfaces can be bonded or fitted together.

The syringe insertion hole (112) has an inner diameter that decreases as it approaches the fluid inlet space (122), but the end of the tip portion (134) has a diameter larger than that of the end of the tip portion (134) that is connected to the fluid inlet space (122) so that the end of the tip portion (134) can protrude into the fluid inlet space (122).

And, the microchannel (118) is provided with an inflow guide groove (119) that is introduced in a direction away from the upper body (111) located upwardly and communicates with one side of the center guide groove (117), but whose width becomes narrower as it gets farther away from the center guide groove (117), and a line movement guide part (120) that is extended in the direction of the fluid movement guide groove (114) with a width that allows cells to be arranged in a line and pass through, but is longer than the distance between the fluid inflow groove (113) and the fluid movement guide groove (114), and whose other side faces the fluid movement guide groove (114) located upward. The line movement guide part (120) may be formed so that the depth of introduction becomes deeper as it goes toward the other side.

The width of the linear movement guide part (120) of the microchannel (118) is formed to correspond to a number of micropores (not shown) formed in the microfilter, thereby inducing a number of cells to move in a linear arrangement.

A plurality of fluid analysis kits (100) having a structure as described above may include, for example, a fluid analysis kit in which the width of the linear movement guide part (120) and the diameter of the plurality of micropores are 20 ㎛, a fluid analysis kit in which the width of the linear movement guide part (120) and the diameter of the plurality of micropores are 50 ㎛, and a fluid analysis kit in which the width of the linear movement guide part (120) and the diameter of the plurality of micropores are 100 ㎛.

Among a plurality of fluid analysis kits (100), one fluid analysis kit (100) including a sample fluid injection syringe (130) having a plurality of micropores through which cells to be analyzed can pass one by one according to the size of the cells to be analyzed, and a fluid analysis biochip (110) having microchannels (118) through which cells to be analyzed can be arranged in a row is selected and placed on a kit tray (6) to analyze the sample fluid.

Meanwhile, the laser unit (25) irradiates the laser toward the microchannel (118) of the biochip for fluid analysis through the laser through-hole (72) formed on one side of the tray rail unit (70) described later.

The photographing unit (30) obtains an image of a sample fluid irradiated with a laser through an imaging hole (73) of a tray rail unit (70), and the obtained image may include a speckle pattern irregularly generated by interference that occurs when the laser is reflected or passes through the sample fluid. The photographing unit (30) may include at least one of a lens, an aperture, a polarizing plate, and a camera through which the laser irradiated on the sample fluid is projected.

The syringe drive unit (50) pressurizes the piston part (136) toward the fluid analysis biochip (100) so that the sample fluid supplied to the pressurized space (132) of the cylinder part (131) moves into the fluid analysis biochip (110) through the tip part (134).

The syringe drive unit (50) comprises a drive support frame (62) mounted on the inner space of the case (2), a plurality of rails (51) extending in a parallel direction of extension of the kit tray (10) on the upper side of the drive support frame (62) located below the kit tray (10) accommodated in the inner space of the case (2), a ball screw (55) extending in a parallel direction with the rails (51) between the rails (51), a slider (53) supported on both sides so as to be able to slide on the plurality of rails (51) and through which the ball screw (55) passes so as to move away from or close to the kit tray (10) depending on the rotational direction of the ball screw (55), a screw drive motor (58) whose drive shaft (not shown) is connected to the end of the ball screw (55) and rotates the ball screw (55), a stick holder (59) fixedly mounted on the upper side of the slider (53) and facing the piston part (136), A syringe pressurizing bar (61) is fixedly mounted on one side of a stick holder (59) facing the piston section (136) and extended toward the piston section (136).

Meanwhile, a fluid analysis measuring device (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a pair of vertical extension parts (76) whose lower parts are respectively fixed to the front end of a plurality of rails (51) or a drive support frame (62) and extend in parallel to the upper end of the tray rail part (70), and a rail support part (75) that connects the upper ends of the vertical extension parts (76) and whose central side is bolt-connected to the upper surface of the tray rail part (70). The rail support part (75) is a shape in which a plate having a width in the longitudinal direction of the tray rail part (70) is bent in a longitudinal direction downwardly and in parallel on both sides.

And, the fluid analysis measuring device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a control unit (21) that controls the operation of the syringe drive unit (50), the laser irradiation unit (25), and the photographing unit (30) according to the operation of a number of operation buttons and a power button provided on the upper part of the front cover of the case (2).

The control unit (18) can control the rotational direction and rotational speed of the drive shaft of the screw drive motor (58) according to the operator's operation of multiple operation buttons and power buttons, thereby controlling the movement speed and direction of the syringe pressurizing bar (61).

Alternatively, the control unit (25) can be applied to automatically control the driving of the syringe drive unit (50), the laser irradiation unit (25), and the photographing unit (30).

Specifically, a fluid analyzer (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a load cell (not shown) and a photometer (not shown) mounted on a kit tray (10).

The load cell detects the load detected when the fluid analysis kit (100) is mounted on the kit tray (10) or the fluid analysis kit (100) is fixed to the kit tray (6) and the biochip (110) for fluid analysis and the syringe (130) for sample fluid injection are mounted, and transmits a detection signal to the control unit. In addition, the photometer transmits a change in brightness to the control unit when the kit tray (10) is inserted into the tray rail section (70).

The control unit may be applied to drive the screw drive motor (58) when a detection signal is transmitted through the load cell and the photometer to move the sample fluid supplied to the pressurized space through the tip portion (134) to the fluid inlet space (122) and move the piston portion (136) toward the tip portion (134), and drive the laser irradiation portion (25) and the photographing portion (30) so that an image of the sample fluid passing through the microchannel can be automatically acquired.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a fluid analyzer (1) has microchannels (118) formed regularly in a fluid analysis biochip (110) through which cells of a sample fluid move one by one, and can be easily replaced without washing after use, thereby improving the efficiency of fluid analysis.

In addition, the fluid analyzer (1) of the present invention has an advantage in that the kit tray (10) on which the fluid analysis kit (100) including the fluid analysis biochip (110) and the sample fluid injection syringe (130) is placed can be slidably moved so that it is accommodated within the case (2) or withdrawn outside the case (2) so as to be positioned between the laser irradiation unit (25) and the photographing unit (30), thereby making it easier to replace the fluid analysis kit (100).

In addition, the fluid analyzer (1) of the present invention has a tip (134) of a syringe (130) for injecting sample fluid protrudedly inserted into the fluid inlet space (122) of the biochip for fluid analysis, so that the sample fluid introduced into the fluid inlet space (122) is induced to fall directly toward the inlet side of the microchannel (118), making it easy to inject into the microchannel (118), and the sample fluid can be continuously supplied to the microchannel, so that the fluid analysis efficiency can be improved.

In addition, the fluid analyzer (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention has a fluid analysis kit (100) in which a fluid movement induction space (125) has a larger volume than a fluid inflow space (122) and an air discharge hole (115) is formed on one side, so that when a sample fluid is introduced and the pressure in the fluid inflow space (122) increases, the sample fluid can be continuously moved through the microchannel, thereby improving the sample fluid movement efficiency.

Meanwhile, FIG. 9 illustrates a fluid analysis kit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment of the fluid analysis kit of the present invention, in the structure of one embodiment of the present invention, a fluid inlet groove (213) is formed so that the sample fluid is not delayed in the fluid inlet groove (213) but immediately flows into the microchannel (118), and a surface in communication with a syringe insertion hole (112) is formed to form the fluid inlet groove (213) together with the surface, and the lower portions of the other surface facing the surface may be formed to be inclined so as to approach the fluid movement induction groove (114) as they go downward.

Meanwhile, although not shown, a fluid analysis kit according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include an elastic spring (not shown) in which a chip mounting groove (151) of a support case is extended longer than a fluid analysis biochip (110), and the fluid analysis biochip (110) is supported so as to be slidably moved within the chip mounting groove (151) so that one end thereof contacts or is spaced apart from a partition wall (155), and which is positioned between the longitudinal end of the fluid analysis biochip (110) and an end of the support case to elastically support the fluid analysis biochip (100) in the direction of the partition wall (155).

The biochip for fluid analysis is movable within the chip mounting groove (151), so that the tip (134) of the syringe (130) for sample fluid injection, which is fixed to the support rib (158) of the support case, can be easily mounted so that it protrudes into the fluid inlet groove (113).

The present invention described above has been described with reference to an example illustrated in the drawings, but this is merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the true scope of technical protection of the present invention should be determined by the technical idea of the appended patent claims.

1: Fluid analyzer 2: Case
4 : Storage compartment 10 : Kit tray
11: Storage compartment cover 12: Tray body
25: Laser irradiation section 30: Photography section
50: Syringe drive unit 70: Tray rail part
100: Fluid analysis kit 110: Biochip for fluid analysis
130: Syringe for sample fluid injection 150: Support case

Claims (5)

A case with a storage space formed on the front side that is connected to the internal space,
A syringe for injecting sample fluid, which is inserted into the case through the storage port and capable of supplying sample fluid therein and discharging it through the tip portion, a biochip for fluid analysis having microchannels formed therein in which cells of the sample fluid supplied from the tip portion can be arranged in a row and moved, and a support case in which the syringe for injecting sample fluid and the biochip for fluid analysis are detachably coupled, each of which comprises a plurality of fluid analysis kits having different sizes of the microchannels;
A laser irradiation unit for irradiating a laser onto the fluid analysis kit in the internal space;
A photographing unit that obtains an image of a sample fluid irradiated with a laser by facing the laser irradiation unit with the fluid analysis kit interposed therebetween in the internal space;
In the case, a syringe drive unit is provided that pressurizes a piston part that can move back and forth within the cylinder part toward the fluid analysis biochip so that the sample fluid supplied to the pressurized space of the cylinder part of the sample fluid injection syringe that is connected to the tip part and supported on the support case moves into the fluid analysis biochip through the tip part.
The above cylinder part
It is formed in a tubular shape with the pressurized space open on both sides in the longitudinal direction, and has an inlet formed on one side for injecting a sample fluid, and the tip part, which is formed with a narrow diameter and has an interior that is perforated to communicate with the pressurized space, is combined or formed integrally with one side in the longitudinal direction.
The above syringe for sample fluid injection is
A fluid analyzer characterized by further comprising a microfilter formed between the tip portion and the cylinder portion or within the tip portion and having a plurality of micropores having a diameter corresponding to the width of the microchannel of the fluid analysis biochip. In paragraph 1,
A tray rail section fixed at a position between the laser irradiation section and the photographing section and having a storage space formed inside that extends in the advance/retreat direction of the piston section, with one side communicating with the storage port and the other side facing the syringe drive unit open;
A mounting space open upwardly for inserting the fluid analysis kit is formed, and a kit tray is further provided that is stored into the tray rail section through the storage port.
A fluid analyzer characterized in that both sides of the biochip facing the laser irradiation unit and the photographing unit are exposed to the internal space of the case, and both sides of the tray rail unit facing the laser irradiation unit and the photographing unit and both sides of the width direction of the kit tray inserted into the tray rail unit are formed to be partially penetrated or open. delete A case with a storage space formed on the front side that is connected to the internal space,
A syringe for injecting sample fluid, which is inserted into the case through the storage port and capable of supplying sample fluid therein and discharging it through the tip portion, a biochip for fluid analysis having microchannels formed therein in which cells of the sample fluid supplied from the tip portion can be arranged in a row and moved, and a support case in which the syringe for injecting sample fluid and the biochip for fluid analysis are detachably coupled, each of which comprises a plurality of fluid analysis kits having different sizes of the microchannels;
A laser irradiation unit for irradiating a laser onto the fluid analysis kit in the internal space;
A photographing unit that obtains an image of a sample fluid irradiated with a laser by facing the laser irradiation unit with the fluid analysis kit interposed therebetween in the internal space;
In the case, a syringe drive unit is provided that pressurizes a piston part that can move back and forth within the cylinder part so that the sample fluid supplied to the pressurized space of the cylinder part of the sample fluid injection syringe, which is connected to the tip part and supported on the support case, moves into the fluid analysis biochip through the tip part, toward the fluid analysis biochip;
The above biochip for fluid analysis
A syringe insertion hole formed on one upper side into which the tip portion is partially inserted or penetrable, a fluid inlet space that is connected to the upper side of the syringe insertion hole and extends downward from the syringe insertion hole so that the sample fluid supplied from the tip portion falls downward, a microchannel that extends from the lower side of one side of the fluid inlet space in a direction away from the fluid inlet space so that the cells of the sample fluid can be arranged in a single row and moved, and a fluid movement induction space that has a volume larger than the fluid inlet space and has an end of the microchannel that is connected to the lower side of one side so that the sample fluid of the fluid inlet space is induced to flow into the microchannel so that internal air is discharged when the sample fluid is introduced, and an upper side is partially open to communicate with the outside.
The above biochip for fluid analysis
An upper body having a fluid inlet groove that is open downward and communicates with the syringe insertion hole, a fluid movement induction groove that is spaced apart from the fluid inlet groove and has a larger volume than the fluid inlet groove, and an air exhaust hole that penetrates the fluid movement induction groove from the top;
The upper body is provided with a lower surface that covers the upper body so that the fluid inlet groove and the fluid movement induction groove are closed, thereby forming the fluid inlet space and the fluid movement induction space together with the upper body, and a center guide groove that guides the sample fluid falling from the tip portion downward with a smaller area than the fluid inlet groove at the center side of the upper surface facing the fluid inlet groove and guides it downward toward the center side of the fluid inlet groove, and a lower body in which the microchannel is formed in the direction of the fluid movement induction groove from the center guide groove;
The above microchannels
A fluid analyzer characterized by having an inlet guide groove that is introduced in a direction away from the upper body so as to be communicated with one side of the center guide groove, but whose width becomes narrower as it gets farther away from the center guide groove, and a line movement guide portion that is communicated with one side of an end of the inlet guide groove and extends in the direction of the fluid movement guide groove with a width that allows cells to pass while being arranged in a line, but is extended longer than the distance separated by the fluid inlet groove and the fluid movement guide groove, and whose other side faces the fluid movement guide groove located upward.

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