Microfluidic chip, box device, microfluidic device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a microfluidic chip, a box device adapted to the microfluidic chip, and a microfluidic device including the microfluidic chip and the box device. The microfluidic chip includes a first container for accommodating a first fluid, a second container for accommodating a second fluid, a delivery channel, a sorting channel and a collector. The delivery channel is shaped such that the first fluid and the second fluid merge at a confluence. The sorting channel includes a first sorting channel and a second sorting channel. The collector includes a first collector and a second collector.

1 . A microfluidic chip comprising:
 a first container configured to accommodate a first fluid;   a second container configured to accommodate a second fluid comprising a cell suspension;   a delivery channel comprising a first delivery channel and a second delivery channel, the first delivery channel communicating with the first container and the second delivery channel communicating with the second container, the first delivery channel intersecting and communicating with the second delivery channel at a confluence, a shape of the delivery channel being designed so that the first fluid and the second fluid merge at the confluence;   a sorting channel downstream of the delivery channel and comprising a first sorting channel and a second sorting channel; and   a collector downstream of the sorting channel and comprising a first collector and a second collector, the first collector communicating with the first sorting channel, and the second collector communicating with the second sorting channel.   
     
     
         2 . The microfluidic chip according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a portion of the first delivery channel is divided by the confluence into a first section and a second section, in each section of the first section and the second section, an area of a first cross-section of the section gradually increases along a first direction away from the confluence, the first cross-section is perpendicular to the first direction, and   wherein the second delivery channel is divided by the confluence into a third section and a fourth section, in each section of the third section and the fourth section, an area of a second cross-section of the section gradually increases along a second direction away from the confluence, and the second cross-section is perpendicular to the second direction.   
     
     
         3 . The microfluidic chip according to  claim 1 , wherein both a beginning of the first sorting channel and a beginning of the second sorting channel communicate with an end of the delivery channel, an end of the first sorting channel communicates with the first collector and an end of the second sorting channel communicates with the second collector, the first sorting channel and the second sorting channel bend from the end of the delivery channel toward the confluence, and the first collector and the second collector are between the confluence and the end of the delivery channel. 
     
     
         4 . The microfluidic chip according to  claim 1 , wherein the sorting channel further comprises at least two connecting channels,
 wherein the second sorting channel comprises at least two branches which are cascaded, a connecting channel is provided between any two adjacent branches of the at least two branches which are cascaded, and the any two adjacent branches communicate via the connecting channel,   wherein a beginning of the first sorting channel communicates with an end of the delivery channel, an end of the first sorting channel communicates with the first collector, the first sorting channel is adjacent to a first branch of the at least two branches which are cascaded, a connecting channel is provided between the first sorting channel and the first branch, and the first sorting channel communicates with the first branch via the connecting channel, and   wherein the second collector comprises at least two sub-collectors, the branches which are cascaded correspond to the sub-collectors one by one, and one of the branches which are cascaded communicates with a corresponding one of the sub-collectors.   
     
     
         5 . The microfluidic chip according to  claim 4 , wherein the second sorting channel comprises a first branch, a second branch and a third branch which are cascaded, the at least two connecting channels comprises a first connecting channel, a second connecting channel, and a third connecting channel, and the second collector comprises a first sub-collector, a second sub-collector, and a third sub-collector,
 wherein the first sorting channel communicates with the first branch via the first connecting channel, the first branch communicates with the second branch via the second connecting channel, and the second branch communicates with the third branch via the third connecting channel,   wherein an end of the first branch communicates with the first sub-collector, an end of the second branch communicates with the second sub-collector, and an end of the third branch communicates with the third sub-collector,   wherein the second connecting channel is closer to the collector in a second direction than the first connecting channel, and the third connecting channel is closer to the collector in the second direction than the second connecting channel, and   wherein the microfluidic chip further comprises two third containers, each of a beginning of the first branch and a beginning of the second branch communicates with a corresponding one of the two third containers, and the third container is configured to accommodate the first fluid.   
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The microfluidic chip according to  claim 1 , wherein the sorting channel further comprises at least two connecting channels,
 wherein the first sorting channel comprises at least two branches which are cascaded, a connecting channel is provided between any two adjacent branches of the at least two branches which are cascaded, and the any two adjacent branches communicate via the connecting channel, ends of the at least two branches which are cascaded communicate with the first collector, and   wherein a beginning of the second sorting channel communicates with a last branch of the first sorting channel via a connecting channel, and an end of the second sorting channel communicates with the second collector.   
     
     
         9 . The microfluidic chip according to  claim 1 , wherein the sorting channel further comprises a main channel, the main channel is spiral in a plane where the microfluidic chip is located, an end of the main channel communicates with the first sorting channel and the second sorting channel, the first sorting channel is configured to sort first droplets, the second sorting channel is configured to sort second droplets, and the first droplets sorted by the first sorting channel and the second droplets sorted by the second sorting channel have different particle sizes. 
     
     
         10 . The microfluidic chip according to  claim 2 , wherein the portion of the first delivery channel comprises a first sub-portion, a second sub-portion comprising the confluence, and a third sub-portion, the first sub-portion belongs to the first section, the third sub-portion belongs to the second section, the second sub-portion spans the first section and the second section and is between the first sub-portion and the third sub-portion, areas of the first cross-section of the first sub-portion and the third sub-portion are larger than an area of the first cross-section of the second sub-portion, and
 wherein a size of the first cross-section of the second sub-portion of the first delivery channel at the confluence is configured to allow the first fluid having a specific particle size to flow therein, the specific particle size of the first fluid is larger than a particle size of a single cell in the cell suspension.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The microfluidic chip according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the second delivery channel comprises a first sub-channel, a second sub-channel and a third sub-channel, the first sub-channel and the second sub-channel belong to the third section, and the third sub-channel belongs to the fourth section,   wherein a first end of the first sub-channel communicates with the second container, a second end of the first sub-channel communicates with a first end of the second sub-channel, a second end of the second sub-channel communicates with a first end of the third sub-channel, and both the second end of the second sub-channel and the first end of the third sub-channel are at the confluence,   wherein areas of the second cross-section of the first sub-channel and the third sub-channel are larger than an area of the second cross-section of the second sub-channel,   wherein a size of the second cross-section of the second sub-channel is configured to allow the second fluid having a specific particle size to flow therein, the specific particle size of the second fluid is larger than 1 time of a particle size of a single cell in the cell suspension and smaller than 2 times of the particle size of the single cell,   wherein the area of the second cross-section of the third sub-channel gradually increases along a direction from the first end to a second end of the third sub-channel, and   wherein an area of the first cross-section of the second sub-portion of the first delivery channel at the confluence is greater than or equal to an area of the second cross-section of each of the second sub-channel and the third sub-channel of the second delivery channel at the confluence.   
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The microfluidic chip according to  claim 1 , wherein both the first container and the second container are provided with a filter structure, the filter structure comprises a plurality of microstructures, a gap between adjacent two of the plurality of microstructures is larger than 1 time of a particle size of a single cell in the cell suspension and smaller than 2 times of the particle size of the single cell. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A box device configured to be used with the microfluidic chip according to  claim 1 , the microfluidic chip comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the box device comprises:
 an accommodating cavity configured to accommodate the microfluidic chip;   an inlet unit communicated with the inlet of the microfluidic chip, the inlet unit being configured to store a first reagent and release the first reagent to the inlet of the microfluidic chip; and   an outlet unit communicated with the outlet of the microfluidic chip, the outlet unit being configured to receive and store a second reagent processed by the microfluidic chip and flowing into the outlet unit from the outlet of the microfluidic chip,   wherein the inlet unit comprises an inlet hole and a first storage cavity, the inlet hole is a through hole and communicates with the first storage cavity, the inlet hole is recessed from a surface of the box device to an inside of the box device, and the first storage cavity is on a side of the inlet hole away from the surface of the box device, and   wherein the first storage cavity is inside the box device, and an orthographic projection of the inlet hole on the box device falls within an orthographic projection of the first storage cavity on the box device.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The box device according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the inlet unit further comprises a second storage cavity, the second storage cavity is on a side of the first storage cavity away from the inlet hole and communicates with the first storage cavity, the second storage cavity comprises a first opening communicating with the first storage cavity and a second opening facing to the first opening, an orthographic projection of the second opening on the box device falls within an orthographic projection of the first opening on the box device, and   wherein the orthographic projection of the second opening of the second storage cavity on the box device falls within an orthographic projection of the inlet hole on the box device.   
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The box device according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the outlet unit comprises an outlet hole and a third storage cavity, the outlet hole is a through hole and communicates with the third storage cavity, the outlet hole is recessed from the surface of the box device to the inside of the box device, and the third storage cavity is on a side of the outlet hole away from the surface of the box device, and   wherein the third storage cavity is inside the box device, and an orthographic projection of the outlet hole on the box device falls within an orthographic projection of the third storage cavity on the box device.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The box device according to  claim 24 ,
 wherein the outlet unit further comprises a fourth storage cavity, and the fourth storage cavity is on a side of the third storage cavity away from the outlet hole and communicates with the third storage cavity,   wherein an orthographic projection of the fourth storage cavity on the box device overlaps at most a portion of an orthographic projection of the outlet hole on the box device, and   wherein an orthographic projection of the fourth storage cavity on the box device falls within an orthographic projection of the outlet hole on the box device.   
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The box device according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the inlet unit comprises a first inlet unit, a second inlet unit, and a third inlet unit, the inlet of the microfluidic chip comprises a first inlet, a second inlet, and a third inlet, and the first reagent comprises the first fluid, the cell suspension, and a biochemical reagent,   wherein the first inlet unit communicates with the first inlet of the microfluidic chip, the first inlet unit is configured to store the first fluid and release the first fluid to the first inlet of the microfluidic chip,   wherein the second inlet unit communicates with the second inlet of the microfluidic chip, the second inlet unit is configured to store the cell suspension and release the cell suspension to the second inlet of the microfluidic chip, and   wherein the third inlet unit communicates with the third inlet of the microfluidic chip, and the third inlet unit is configured to store the biochemical reagent and release the biochemical reagent to the third inlet of the microfluidic chip.   
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The box device according to  claim 20 , wherein the inlet unit comprises a first inlet unit and a second inlet unit, the inlet of the microfluidic chip comprises a first inlet and a second inlet, the first reagent comprises the first fluid and a droplet comprising a single cell,
 wherein the first inlet unit communicates with the first inlet of the microfluidic chip, the first inlet unit is configured to store the first fluid and release the first fluid to the first inlet of the microfluidic chip; the second inlet unit communicates with the second inlet of the microfluidic chip, and the second inlet unit is configured to store the droplet comprising the single cell and release the droplet comprising the single cell to the second inlet of the microfluidic chip, and   wherein the outlet unit comprises a first outlet unit, a second outlet unit, and a third outlet unit between the first outlet unit and the second outlet unit, the second reagent comprises a first droplet and a second droplet, the third outlet unit is configured to receive and store the first droplet, the first outlet unit and the second outlet unit are configured to receive and store the second droplet.   
     
     
         32 . The box device according to  claim 20 , wherein the inlet unit comprises a first inlet unit, a second inlet unit, and a third inlet unit, the inlet of the microfluidic chip comprises a first inlet, a second inlet, and a third inlet, the first reagent comprises the first fluid, the cell suspension, and a biochemical reagent.
 wherein the first inlet unit communicates with the first inlet of the microfluidic chip, the first inlet unit is configured to store the first fluid and release the first fluid to the first inlet of the microfluidic chip,   wherein the second inlet unit communicates with the second inlet of the microfluidic chip, the second inlet unit is configured to store the cell suspension and release the cell suspension to the second inlet of the microfluidic chip; the third inlet unit communicates with the third inlet of the microfluidic chip, and the third inlet unit is configured to store the biochemical reagent and release the biochemical reagent to the third inlet of the microfluidic chip,   wherein the outlet unit comprises a first outlet unit and a second outlet unit, the second reagent comprises a first droplet and a second droplet, the first outlet unit is configured to receive and store the first droplet, and the second outlet unit is configured to receive and store the second droplet, and   wherein the box device further comprises a first installation region and a second installation region, the first installation region is configured to install an optical identification device, and the second installation region is configured to install a driving electrode device, the first outlet unit and the second outlet unit are between the inlet unit and the first installation region and the second installation region.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The box device according to  claim 30 ,
 wherein the box device further comprises a first installation region and a second installation region, the first installation region is configured to install an optical identification device, and the second installation region is configured to install a driving electrode device, the first installation region and the second installation region are between the inlet unit and the outlet unit, the first installation region comprises a first sub-installation unit, a second sub-installation unit, and a third sub-installation unit, the second installation region comprises a fourth sub-installation unit, a fifth sub-installation unit, and a sixth sub-installation unit, the first sub-installation unit is associated with the fourth sub-installation unit, the second sub-installation unit is associated with the fifth sub-installation unit, and the third sub-installation unit is associated with the sixth sub-installation unit,   wherein the inlet unit comprises a first inlet unit, a second inlet unit, and a third inlet unit, the inlet of the microfluidic chip comprises a first inlet, a second inlet, and a third inlet, the first reagent comprises the first fluid and a droplet comprising a single cell,   wherein the first inlet unit communicates with the first inlet of the microfluidic chip, the first inlet unit is configured to store the first fluid and release the first fluid to the first inlet of the microfluidic chip; the second inlet unit communicates with the second inlet of the microfluidic chip, the second inlet unit is configured to store the first fluid and release the first fluid to the second inlet of the microfluidic chip; the third inlet unit communicates with the third inlet of the microfluidic chip, and the third inlet unit is configured to store the droplet comprising the single cell and release the droplet comprising the single cell to the third inlet of the microfluidic chip, and   wherein the outlet unit comprises a first outlet unit and a second outlet unit, the second reagent comprises a first droplet and a second droplet, the first outlet unit is configured to receive and store the first droplet, and the second outlet unit is configured to receive and store the second droplet.   
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The box device according to  claim 20 , wherein the box device comprises one inlet unit and two outlet units, the second reagent comprises a first droplet and a second droplet, the first droplet and the second droplet have different particle sizes, one of the two outlet units is configured to receive and store the first droplet, and the other of the two outlet units is configured to receive and store the second droplet. 
     
     
         39 . A microfluidic device comprising a microfluidic chip and a box device, wherein the microfluidic chip being assembled with the box device,
 wherein the microfluidic chip comprises;   a first container configured to accommodate a first fluid;   a second container configured to accommodate a second fluid comprising a cell suspension;   a delivery channel comprising a first delivery channel and a second delivery channel, the first delivery channel communicating with the first container and the second delivery channel communicating with the second container, the first delivery channel intersecting and communicating with the second delivery channel at a confluence, a shape of the delivery channel being designed so that the first fluid and the second fluid merge at the confluence;   a sorting channel downstream of the delivery channel and comprising a first sorting channel and a second sorting channel; and   a collector downstream of the sorting channel and comprising a first collector and a second collector, the first collector communicating with the first sorting channel, and the second collector communicating with the second sorting channel,   wherein the box device is configured to be used with the microfluidic chip, the microfluidic chip further comprises an inlet and an outlet, the box device comprises:   an accommodating cavity configured to accommodate the microfluidic chip;   an inlet unit communicated with the inlet of the microfluidic chip, the inlet unit being configured to store a first reagent and release the first reagent to the inlet of the microfluidic chip; and   an outlet unit communicated with the outlet of the microfluidic chip, the outlet unit being configured to receive and store a second reagent processed by the microfluidic chip and flowing into the outlet unit from the outlet of the microfluidic chip,   wherein the inlet unit comprises an inlet hole and a first storage cavity, the inlet hole is a through hole and communicates with the first storage cavity, the inlet hole is recessed from a surface of the box device to an inside of the box device, and the first storage cavity is on a side of the inlet hole away from the surface of the box device.