Abstract:
A liquid testing system is provided, which includes a distribution module, a testing chip, a driving module and an image analyzing module. The distribution module is for providing a liquid. The testing chip receives the liquid from the distribution module. The driving module is connected to the testing chip and drives the testing chip to rotate, wherein the liquid flowing in the testing chip is actuated by centrifugal force. The image analyzing module produces and analyzes an image of the liquid in the testing chip.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No.100145013, filed on Dec. 7, 2011, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a liquid testing system, and more particularly, the invention relates to a liquid testing system in which liquid is driven by centrifugal force. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In medical procedures, testing of a particular liquid sample is often executed, and test results are used as factors for clinical judgments. Take blood infusion as an example, blood typing must be carried out before blood infusion. The microplate method, one of the available blood typing methods, is generally carried out in a 96-well microtiter plate by manual operation. It is tedious and laborious. Thus, an automatic blood testing system is desired. 
         [0006]    In the past decade, the development of bioMEMS (Biomedical mircoelectro-mechanical system) has evoked strong interest in the fields of medical research, biochemical analysis, and clinical diagnosis, wherein microfluidic devices are primary components of most bioMEMS devices. While testing, reagents and samples can be transported in the microchannels for dilution, particle separation, mixing and incubation. 
         [0007]    In the dissertation “disposable integrated microfluidic biochip for blood typing by plastic microinjection molding” issued by Kim et al., a low cost disposable microfluidic biochip for blood typing is presented. In the dissertation “replication quality of flow-through microfilters in cicorfluidic lab-on-a-chip for blood typing by microinjection molding” issued by Lee et al., a flow-through micofilter in a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip to filter out agglutinated RBCs in blood typing is presented. 
         [0008]    The centrifugal microfluidic platform is another bioMEMS technique which is widely adopted for the development of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) device and ELISA system in recent years. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    To overcome drawbacks in conventional liquid testing processes, one of the objectives of the invention is to provide a liquid testing system with higher testing efficiency. The other objective of the invention is to provide a liquid testing method which facilitates automatic liquid testing processes. 
         [0010]    To achieve the above objectives, the invention provides a liquid testing system, which includes a distribution module, a testing chip, a driving module and an image analyzing module. The distribution module is for providing a liquid. The testing chip receives the liquid from the distribution module. The driving module is connected to the testing chip and drives the testing chip to rotate, wherein the liquid flowing in the testing chip is actuated by centrifugal force. The image analyzing module produces and analyzes an image of the liquid in the testing chip. 
         [0011]    In the above embodiment, the driving module includes a rotation device and a lifting device. The rotation device is connected to the testing chip to drive the testing chip to rotate. The lifting device is connected to the rotation device and provides a force to allow the testing chip to have a displacement in a vertical direction. 
         [0012]    In the above embodiment, the distribution module includes a moving device and a burette disposed on the moving device. When the burette is moved by the moving device to a place corresponding to the testing chip, the liquid is provided from the burette to the testing chip. The image analyzing module includes a capturing device and a determination device, the image of the fluid in the testing chip is produced by the capturing device, and the image is received and analyzed by the processing unit. 
         [0013]    In the above embodiment, the liquid testing system further includes a heating device corresponding to the testing chip, and the heating device is for heating the liquid in the testing chip. 
         [0014]    In the above embodiment, the liquid testing system further includes a mounted platform and a plurality of testing chips. The testing chips are disposed between a substantial center of the mounted platform and a rim of the mounted platform. 
         [0015]    The invention also provides a liquid testing method which includes: injecting liquids into a plurality of sample chambers in a testing chip, and rotating the testing chip at a predetermined rotation speed; determining whether the predetermined rotation speed is greater than a rated rotation speed; opening at least one of the sample chambers to allow the liquids to flow into a reaction chamber; rotating the testing chip at a mixing rotation speed to carry out reaction of different liquids in the reaction chamber; and producing and analyzing an image of the liquids in the reaction chamber, wherein the mixing rotation speed is smaller than the rated rotation speed, and each of the sample chambers includes a liquid different from liquids in the other sample chambers. 
         [0016]    In the above embodiment, the liquid testing method further includes rotating the testing chip at a draining rotation speed to drain off the reacted liquids. 
         [0017]    Through the liquid testing system of the invention, the testing liquid may be injected into the sample chambers according to a predetermined dosage, and the sample chambers are closed or opened by centrifugal force caused by rotation of the testing chip; thus, the probability of human error may be reduced. In addition, the liquid testing time can be remarkably reduced due to an instant judgment by the determination device of the image analyzing module. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The embodiment can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a liquid testing system of a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a top schematic view of a mounted platform of the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional schematic view of a lifting device of the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic view of partial elements of the lifting device of the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic view of the image analyzing system of the preferred embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows a flowchart describing a liquid testing method of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    Please refer to  FIG. 1 , which shows a schematic view of a liquid testing system  100  of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The liquid testing system  100  includes a distribution module  110 , an apparatus  120 , a plurality of testing chips P, an image analyzing module  130  and a heating module  140 . 
         [0026]    In the embodiment, the liquid testing system  100  may be placed on a table T for blood typing. Reagents which are going to have reactions with the blood fluid are disposed in the sample box S on the table T. The distribution module  110  includes a robot arm  111  and a burette  113 . The robot arm  111  includes a three-axis linear sliding rail, and the motion of the burette  113  along the three perpendicular axes is controlled by an axis motion controller. The reagents from the sample box S are attracted into the burette  113  due to a common pump operating principle, and the injection pressure is adjusted by a spring (not shown in the figure) which is disposed in the burette  113 , such that the dosage of the reagents and related medical waste may be decreased. The heating module  140  corresponds to the testing chip P, and the liquid in the testing chip P is heated by the heating module  140 . In one exemplary embodiment, heated air is produced by the heating module  140 , and the testing chip P is heated to 37° C. 
         [0027]    Please refer to  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  FIG. 2  shows a top schematic view of a mounted platform  123  of the preferred embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional schematic view of a lifting device  127 . The apparatus  120  includes a main body  121 , a mounted platform  123 , a rotation device  125 , a lifting device  127  and a plurality of sliding rails  129 . 
         [0028]    The mounted platform  123  is rotatably disposed on the main body  121 . The mounted platform  123  includes a plurality of accommodating spaces  123   a ,  123   b ,  123   c  and  123   d , disposed between a substantial center of the mounted platform  123  and a rim of the mounted platform  123 , wherein the testing chip P is optionally disposed thereon. 
         [0029]    In one exemplary embodiment, blood fluid for blood typing is manually injected into the testing chip P placed on the accommodating space  123   a ; the reagents which are going to have reactions with the blood fluid is injected into the testing chip P placed on the accommodating space  123   b  by the burette  113  ( FIG. 1 ); the reacted liquid in the testing chip P placed on the accommodating space  123   c  is observed by the image analyzing module  130  ( FIG. 1 ) corresponding thereto; used and polluted testing chip P or new testing chip P is unloaded/loaded at the accommodating space  123   d . The mounted platform  123  rotates clockwise after the completion of the above processes, and, again, different processes are performed at respective testing chips P in different accommodating spaces  123   a ,  123   b ,  123   c  and  123   d.    
         [0030]    Please refer to  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIG. 4  shows a schematic view of partial elements of the lifting device  127  of the preferred embodiment of the invention. The rotation device  125  is disposed on the sliding rails  129  and moves upward along the sliding rails  129  when the testing chip P is located upon the rotation device  125 , such that the rotation head  125   a  of the rotation device  125  is connected to the testing chip P to drive the testing chip P to rotate. It is noted that during the rotation of the testing chip P, liquid in the testing chip P is driven by centrifugal force to flow therein. Additionally, each of the testing chips P may further includes a plurality of sample chambers (not shown in figures) disposed therein, and different or the same reagent is added into each of the sample chambers, wherein each of the sample chambers has an obstruction member, such as a capillary valve (not shown in figures), and the obstruction members are closed or opened according to the rotation speed of the testing chip P. 
         [0031]    The lifting device  127  includes a motor  1271 , a sliding base  1272 , a cam  1273  and a shaft  1275 . The rotation device  125  is disposed on the sliding base  1272 , and the sliding base  1272  is connected to the sliding rail  129  disposed in the main body  121 . The shaft  1275  is actuated by the motor  1271  to drive the cam  1273  to rotate. When cam  1273  is rotated about the shaft  1275 , the sliding base  1272  is abutted by the cam  1273 , and the rotation device  125  disposed on the sliding base  1272  and the testing chip P disposed on the rotating device  125  simultaneously move upward in a vertical direction, thereby the rotation head  125   a  of the rotation device  125  is connected to the testing chip P. 
         [0032]    Please refer to  FIG. 5 , which shows a schematic view of the image analyzing system  130  of the preferred embodiment of the invention. The image analyzing system  130  includes a capturing device  131  and a determination device  133 . The capturing device  131  is a CCD camera. After reaction of the blood fluid in the testing chip P is finished, an image of the reacted blood fluid in the fluid path is produced by the capturing device  131 . In the embodiment, the determination device  133  includes a processing unit  135  and a display device  137 , the image produced by the capturing device  131  is received and analyzed by the processing unit  135 , and the analysis results from the processing unit  135  and the image produced by the capturing device  131  are shown at the display device  137 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , a flowchart describing a liquid testing method of the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 6 . The liquid testing method is elaborated below: in the beginning of the liquid testing, the burette  113  is firstly moved to a place corresponding to the testing chip P by the robot arm  111  of the distribution module  110 , and after the burette  113  is moved the burette  113  provides blood fluid or reagents into the testing chip P, and the testing chip P is rotated at a predetermined rotation speed (S 1  and S 2 ). At the same time, the obstruction members of each of the sample chambers on the testing chip P determine whether the predetermined rotation speed is greater than a rated rotation speed (S 3 ). If the predetermined rotation speed is greater than the rated rotation speed, the obstruction members open, and the reagents are swung into a reaction chamber on the testing chip P (S 41  and S 42 ). On the contrary, if the predetermined rotation speed is greater than the rated rotation speed, the obstruction members keep closed (S 51  and S 52 ). After the liquid flows into the reaction chamber on the testing chip P, the testing chip P is rotated by a mixing rotation speed such that the reaction of the liquids is carried out in the reaction chamber (S 6 ). Next, an image of the liquid in the reaction chamber is produced and analyzed by the image analyzing system  130 , and the process of liquid testing is completed (S 7 ). 
         [0034]    If a second reaction is going to be carried out on the reaction chamber of the testing chip P, the testing chip P may be rotated at a draining rotating speed, and the reacted fluid is drained off from the reaction chamber of the testing chip P (S 8 ). Next, another liquid is injected into the testing chip P, and the steps (S 1 -S 7 ) are repeated. 
         [0035]    The liquid testing method may be further understood with a detailed description given below. It is appreciated that the following description is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and those skilled in the art will recognize that the steps and the dosage of reagents can be changed according to demand. 
         [0036]    For ABO blood typing, the testing method is as follows: 2 μL, of 3% red blood cell and 5 μL of antibodies of type A or type B (diluted to 1-512 times) are injected into sample chambers of the testing chip P. The testing chip P is rotated at 1400 rpm for 10 seconds to drive the fluid flowing into the reaction chamber by centrifugal force. Next, the testing chip P is rotated by clockwise-counterclockwise rotation six times and allowed to stand for one minute to observe the image of the coagulation of blood fluid. 
         [0037]    For Rh blood typing, the testing method is as follows: 2 μL of 3% red blood cell, 5 μL of antibodies of type D or type E (diluted to 1-128 times), 5 μL of low ionic strength medium, 2 μL of hexadimethrine bromide solution, and 2 μL of resuspension solution are injected into sample chambers of the testing chip P. In the first step, the testing chip P is rotated at 1400 rpm for 10 seconds to drive the low ionic strength medium, the antibodies and the 3% red blood cell flowing into the reaction chamber by centrifugal force, and the testing chip P is rotated by clockwise-counterclockwise rotation at 350 rpm six times and allowed to stand for one minute. In the second step, the testing chip P is rotated at 1700 rpm for 10 seconds to drive the hexadimethrine bromide solution flowing into the reaction chamber by centrifugal force, and the testing chip P is rotated by clockwise-counterclockwise rotation at 350 rpm six times and allowed to stand for one minute. In the third step, the testing chip P is rotated at 1800 rpm for ten seconds to drain off the reacted ionic liquid. In the fourth step, the testing chip P is rotated at 2150 rpm for ten seconds to drive the resuspension solution flowing into the reaction chamber, and the testing chip P is rotated by clockwise-counterclockwise rotation twenty times to separate the red blood cells which have not been agglutinated. Last, an image of coagulation is observed after the testing chip P stands for one minute. 
         [0038]    Through the liquid testing system and liquid testing method, the processing order and the processing time of each of the steps can be set in advance so as to increase liquid testing efficiency. 
         [0039]    While the embodiment has been described by way of example and in terms of the embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiment is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.