Flow stabilized chip, droplet generating system and droplet preparing method

A flow stabilized chip includes a chip mainbody, a buffering chamber and two fluid delivery ports. The chip mainbody has a pipe-connection surface. The buffering chamber is disposed in the chip mainbody. The two fluid delivery ports are disposed on the pipe connection surface and connected to the buffering chamber. The chip mainbody includes, in order from the pipe-connection surface to a bottom of the chip mainbody, a first base plate, a first elastic membrane, a second base plate, a second elastic membrane and a third base plate. The first base plate includes a first opening. The second base plate includes a second opening. The third base plate includes a third opening. The first elastic membrane, the second base plate and the second elastic membrane are stacked in sequence to form the buffering chamber.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 110116071, filed May 4, 2021, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic chip and a microfluidic system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a flow stabilized chip, a droplet generating system and a droplet preparing method that can effectively stabilize turbulent flows.

Description of Related Art

Along with the development of chemical materials technology, stable fluid supply systems are widely used in the fields of electronic packaging, energy materials, biomedicine, etc. Furthermore, by a method that a fluid is supplied as stable and continuous droplets, it is favorable for conducting the preparation of chemical materials, two-phase extraction of liquids, or cell culture, and has application potentials in related markets.

The conventional manufacturing method of the droplets relies on the syringe pump to drive the fluid so as to continuously prepare droplets with stable size and uniform phase. In the manufacturing process of the aforementioned droplets, the liquid of the syringe pump needs to be constantly replenished. However, the output of the liquid is often interrupted temporarily during the liquid replenishment process, resulting in that the stability of the produced droplets will be affected, and the quality of the produced materials thereof or the success rate of related tests may be less than expected.

Therefore, how to develop a droplet generating system that can effectively reduce the disturbance of the fluid from an external environment and then prepare droplets with stable size and uniform phase stably has become the major aim in the related field of academia and industry.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a flow stabilized chip includes a chip mainbody, a buffering chamber and two fluid delivery ports. The chip mainbody has a pipe-connection surface. The buffering chamber is disposed in the chip mainbody. The two fluid delivery ports are disposed on the pipe connection surface and connected to the buffering chamber. The chip mainbody includes, in order from the pipe-connection surface to a bottom of the chip mainbody, a first base plate, a first elastic membrane, a second base plate, a second elastic membrane and a third base plate. The first base plate includes a first opening. The second base plate includes a second opening. The third base plate includes a third opening. The first elastic membrane, the second base plate and the second elastic membrane are stacked in sequence to form the buffering chamber.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a droplet generating system includes a fluid storing device, the flow stabilized chip according to the aforementioned aspect, a droplet generating chip and a fluid driving member. The fluid storing device is for storing a solution, wherein the solution is an aqueous phase solution or an oil phase solution. The droplet generating chip is pipe-connected to the flow stabilized chip and includes a mainbody, at least one fluid inlet, a fluid mixing chamber and a droplet outlet, wherein the at least one fluid inlet and the droplet outlet are disposed on the mainbody, the fluid mixing chamber is connected to the at least one fluid inlet and the droplet outlet, and the at least one fluid inlet is connected to one of the fluid delivery ports of the flow stabilized chip. The fluid driving member is pipe-connected to the fluid storing device and the flow stabilized chip, wherein the fluid driving member is for transporting the solution from the fluid storing device to the droplet generating chip through the flow stabilized chip.

According to further another aspect of the present disclosure, a droplet preparing method includes following steps. The droplet generating system according to the aforementioned aspect is provided. A fluid buffering step is performed, wherein the fluid driving member is turned on so as to transport the solution to the buffering chamber of the flow stabilized chip, and then the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane of the flow stabilized chip expand and recover interactively along with an operation of the fluid driving member so as to change a volume of the buffering chamber, wherein a flow rate of the solution transported into the flow stabilized chip is 5 μL/min to 5 mL/min. A droplet generating step is performed, wherein the solution is transported to the fluid mixing chamber of the droplet generating chip through the fluid inlet, and then the solution is further transported to a target droplet storing unit through the droplet outlet so as to obtain a plurality of target droplets. A flow rate of the solution in the droplet generating chip is 5 μL/min to 80 μL/min, and an average diameter of the target droplets ranges from 300 μm to 500 μm.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, a droplet preparing method includes following steps. The droplet generating system according to the aforementioned aspect is provided. A fluid buffering step is performed, wherein the two fluid driving members are turned on so as to respectively transport the aqueous phase solution and the oil phase solution to the two buffering chambers of the two flow stabilized chips, and then the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane of each of the flow stabilized chips expand and recover interactively along with an operation of each of the fluid driving members so as to change a volume of each of the buffering chambers, wherein a flow rate of the aqueous phase solution transported into one of the flow stabilized chips is 5 μL/min to 5 mL/min, and a flow rate of the oil phase solution transported into the other of the flow stabilized chips is 5 μL/min to 5 mL/min. A droplet generating step is performed, wherein the aqueous phase solution and the oil phase solution are respectively transported to the slow-flowing chamber and the fluid mixing chamber of the droplet generating chip through the two fluid inlets, and then the aqueous phase solution and the oil phase solution are mixed in the fluid mixing chamber so as to obtain a plurality of target droplets. The target droplets are oil-in-water droplets or water-in-oil droplets, a flow rate of at least one of the aqueous phase solution and the oil phase solution in the droplet generating chip is 5 μL/min to 80 μL/min, and an average diameter of the target droplets ranges from 300 μm to 500 μm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will be further exemplified by the following specific embodiments. However, the readers should understand that the present disclosure should not be limited to these practical details thereof, that is, in some embodiments, these practical details are used to describe how to implement the materials and methods of the present disclosure and are not necessary.

[Flow Stabilized Chip of the Present Disclosure]

Please refer toFIG.1,FIG.2andFIG.3, whereinFIG.1is a schematic view of a flow stabilized chip100according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG.2is a cross-sectional view of the flow stabilized chip100ofFIG.1along Line2-2, andFIG.3is an exploded view of a chip mainbody110of the flow stabilized chip100ofFIG.1. The flow stabilized chip100includes the chip mainbody110, a buffering chamber120and two fluid delivery ports130.

The chip mainbody110has a pipe-connection surface1101, the buffering chamber120is disposed in the chip mainbody110, the two fluid delivery ports130are disposed on the pipe-connection surface1101, and the two fluid delivery ports130are respectively connected to the buffering chamber120. As shown inFIG.3, the chip mainbody110includes, in order from the pipe-connection surface1101to a bottom of the chip mainbody110, a first base plate111, a first elastic membrane112, a second base plate113, a second elastic membrane114and a third base plate115. The first base plate111includes a first opening1111, the second base plate113includes a second opening1131, and the third base plate115includes a third opening1151. The first elastic membrane112, the second base plate113and the second elastic membrane114are stacked in sequence to form the buffering chamber120.

In detail, when the liquid with a fluctuating flow rate is transported to the buffering chamber120of the chip mainbody110, because the buffering chamber120is formed by stacking the first elastic membrane112, the second base plate113and the second elastic membrane114in sequence, the first elastic membrane112and the second elastic membrane114will expand and recover interactively along with a change of flow rate of the liquid at this time. Accordingly, the squeezing pressure caused by the turbulent flow to the buffering chamber120will be offset by the reversible deformation of the first elastic membrane112and the second elastic membrane114, so that the fluctuation of the flow rate can be reduced and a liquid with a stable flow rate can be output. Furthermore, when the flow rate of the liquid transported to the buffering chamber120suddenly increases, both the first elastic membrane112and the second elastic membrane114will expand due to the pressure supplied by the liquid so as to store the liquid with an amount more than average thereof. Further, when the flow rate of the liquid transported to the buffering chamber120suddenly reduces, the expanding deformation of the first elastic membrane112and the second elastic membrane114due to the pressure will recover again, so that the liquid stored in the buffering chamber120will be discharged through one of the fluid delivery ports130so as to keep the balance of the pressure and the flow rate. Moreover, the first elastic membrane112and the second elastic membrane114can be made of latex or nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), a minimum diameter of the buffering chamber120can range from 1 mm to 300 mm, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Furthermore, in the embodiment ofFIG.3, the chip mainbody110can further include four plastic sheets116, and the four plastic sheets116are respectively disposed between the first base plate111and the first elastic membrane112, between the first elastic membrane112and the second base plate113, between the second base plate113and the second elastic membrane114, and between the second elastic membrane114and the third base plate115. Therefore, it is not only favorable for effectively increasing the assembling allowance of the first base plate111, the first elastic membrane112, the second base plate113, the second elastic membrane114and the third base plate115of the chip mainbody110, but also the structure of the chip mainbody110can be more stable. Thus, the effectivity for stabilizing the flow rate of the liquid can be enhanced. Furthermore, the first base plate111, the second base plate113and the third base plate115can be made by a laser cutting method so as to make quickly and accurately. Further, the first base plate111, the second base plate113, the third base plate115and the four plastic sheets116can be made of different resin polymer materials according to actual needs. Thus, it is favorable for enhancing the manufacturing efficiency and facilitating mass production.

Therefore, by the arrangement that the first elastic membrane112, the second base plate113and the second elastic membrane114are stacked in sequence to form the buffering chamber120, the flow stabilized chip100of the present disclosure can buffer the liquid automatically when the liquid is transported to the buffering chamber120so as to achieve a high stabilized efficiency to the flow rate of the turbulent flows. Thus, the stability of the flows output by the flow stabilized chip100of the present disclosure can be enhanced significantly and has application potentials in related markets.

[Droplet Generating System of the Present Disclosure]

Please refer toFIG.4, which is a schematic view of a droplet generating system200according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The droplet generating system200includes a fluid storing device210, the flow stabilized chip100, a droplet generating chip300and a fluid driving member220.

The fluid storing device210is for storing a solution2101. In detail, the solution2101is an initial solution of the droplets in the following formation process and can be an aqueous phase solution or an oil phase solution. Further, the structural details of the flow stabilized chip100have been illustrated in the aforementioned description and will not be described again herein.

Please refer toFIG.4,FIG.5andFIG.6simultaneously, whereinFIG.5is a schematic view of a droplet generating chip300of the droplet generating system200ofFIG.4, andFIG.6is a cross-sectional view of the droplet generating chip300ofFIG.5along Line6-6. As shown inFIG.4,FIG.5andFIG.6, the droplet generating chip300is pipe-connected to the flow stabilized chip100, wherein the droplet generating chip300includes a mainbody310, at least one fluid inlet320, a fluid mixing chamber340and a droplet outlet330. The at least one fluid inlet320and the droplet outlet330are disposed on the mainbody310, the fluid mixing chamber340is connected to the at least one fluid inlet320and a droplet outlet330, and the at least one fluid inlet320is connected to one of the fluid delivery ports130of the flow stabilized chip100. Furthermore, as shown inFIG.4, the droplet generating system200can further include a target droplet storing unit230. The target droplet storing unit230is for storing target droplets400so as to supply the needs of the following experiments. Accordingly, the use of the droplet generating system200of the present disclosure is more convenient.

Please refer toFIG.5,FIG.6andFIG.7simultaneously, whereinFIG.7is an exploded view of the droplet generating chip300ofFIG.5. As shown inFIG.7, the mainbody310of the droplet generating chip300has a chip surface3101, and the mainbody310includes, in order from the chip surface3101to a bottom of the mainbody310, a first channel substrate311, a first plastic plate312, a second plastic plate313, a third plastic plate314and a second channel substrate315, wherein the second plastic plate313, the third plastic plate314and the second channel substrate315are stacked in sequence to form the fluid mixing chamber340. Therefore, the assembling allowance of the droplet generating chip300can be effectively increased, and the overall structure thereof can be more stable. Furthermore, the first channel substrate311, the first plastic plate312, the second plastic plate313, the third plastic plate314and the second channel substrate315can be made by a laser cutting method so as to make quickly and accurately. Further, the first channel substrate311, the first plastic plate312, the second plastic plate313, the third plastic plate314and the second channel substrate315can be made of different resin polymer materials according to actual needs. Thus, it is favorable for enhancing the manufacturing efficiency and facilitating mass production.

The fluid driving member220is pipe-connected to the fluid storing device210and the flow stabilized chip100, and the fluid driving member220is for transporting the solution2101from the fluid storing device210to the droplet generating chip300through the flow stabilized chip100. Furthermore, the fluid driving member220can be a peristaltic pump. The peristaltic pump can transport the liquid by pressing and releasing the peristaltic tubes (not shown) thereof by turns, so that the liquid therein can be isolated within the peristaltic tubes without contact with other elements of the peristaltic pump. Therefore, due to the peristaltic pump has the advantage of a low contaminate rate and can be used to transport the liquid continuously, the droplet generating system200of the present disclosure can be used to prepare the droplets under the premise that the flow path is without the blocking by air bubbles. Moreover, by the arrangement that the peristaltic pump is used as the fluid driving member220of the droplet generating system200of the present disclosure instead of the syringe pump which is applied in the conventional preparing method of the droplets, it is favorable for establishing the circulation channel of the fluid according to actual needs, and the aqueous phase solution or the oil phase solution continuously flowed in the droplet generating system200can be reused so as to reduce waste and cost less.

Please refer toFIG.6,FIG.7andFIG.8simultaneously, whereinFIG.8is a schematic view of a droplet generating system200aaccording to further another embodiment of the present disclosure. The droplet generating system200aand the droplet generating system200ofFIG.4are similar with each other in the arrangement of elements and the structures thereof, so that the details of the same element are not described herein.

As shown inFIG.6,FIG.7andFIG.8, the droplet generating system200aofFIG.8includes two fluid storing devices210, two flow stabilized chips100, one droplet generating chip300, two fluid driving members220and one target droplet storing unit230, wherein the droplet generating chip300includes two fluid inlets320. Each of the fluid driving members220is pipe-connected to one of the fluid storing devices210and one of the flow stabilized chips100, and the two fluid storing devices210respectively store a first solution2102and a second solution2103. The first solution2102can be the aqueous phase solution or the oil phase solution according to actual needs, and the second solution2103also can be the aqueous phase solution or the oil phase solution according to actual needs.

The two flow stabilized chips100are respectively pipe-connected to the two fluid inlets320of the droplet generating chip300. The first channel substrate311, the first plastic plate312and the second plastic plate313are stacked in sequence to form a slow-flowing chamber350(marked inFIG.6), the second plastic plate313includes a nanohole3131, and the slow-flowing chamber350and the fluid mixing chamber340are connected to each other through the nanohole3131.

The target droplet storing unit230is pipe-connected to the droplet outlet330and is for storing target droplets400a, and the target droplet storing unit230can be pipe-connected to one of the fluid storing devices210according to actual needs. The target droplet storing unit230can include a buffer solution (reference number is omitted), and the buffer solution can include the first solution2102or the second solution2103. In detail, when the target droplet storing unit230is pipe-connected to one of the fluid storing devices210, the first solution2102or the second solution2103of the buffer solution can be transported to the fluid storing device210which is pipe-connected to the target droplet storing unit230due to the driving of the fluid driving member220. Accordingly, not only a continuously-flow fluid system can be formed, but also the first solution2102or the second solution2103can be recycled and reused again. Thus, the costs and the waste of consumables can be reduced, and an aim of continuous production of target droplets400afor more than 24 hours can be achieved.

In particular, in the embodiment ofFIG.8, the droplet generating system200ais for preparing oil-in-water droplets or water-in-oil droplets. For example, when the first solution2102is an aqueous phase solution and the second solution2103is an oil phase solution, the first solution2102can be transported to the fluid mixing chamber340through one of the flow stabilized chips100, and the second solution2103can be transported to the slow-flowing chamber350through the other of the flow stabilized chips100. At this time, because the slow-flowing chamber350and the fluid mixing chamber340are connected to each other through the nanohole3131, the second solution2103stored in the slow-flowing chamber350which is disposed above the fluid mixing chamber340will be stably dripped into the first solution2102through the nanohole3131due to the driving of the fluid driving member220and the action of gravity so as to prepare target droplets400ain an oil-in-water pattern with stable size and uniform phase. Further, the target droplets400awill be transported into the target droplet storing unit230through the droplet outlet330of the droplet generating chip300so as to provide the needs of the following applications.

Furthermore, although it is not shown in the drawings, in the droplet generating system200aof the present disclosure, the two flow stabilized chips100can be respectively connected to the droplet generating chip300of by two communicating tubes (reference numbers are omitted), wherein each of the communicating tubes can include a compressed tubule (not shown), and a diameter of each of the compressed tubules can range from 0.25 mm to 1.00 mm. In detail, by the arrangement that the compressed tubule is disposed between the flow stabilized chip100and the droplet generating chip300, an extra pressure can be applied to the fluid output from the fluid delivery port130of the flow stabilized chip100, so that the fluctuation of the flow rate can be further reduced. Furthermore, each of the compressed tubules can be made of poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Therefore, by the connection of the flow stabilized chip100, the droplet generating chip300and the fluid driving member220of the droplet generating system200and the droplet generating system200aof the present disclosure, the fluctuation of the flow rate of the fluid will be stabilized first while passing through the flow stabilized chip100, and the droplets with stable size can be prepared continuously by the droplet generating chip300. Thus, it has application potentials in related markets. Furthermore, the droplet generating system200and the droplet generating system200aof the present disclosure not only can be used to continuously and stably prepare water-phase droplets and oil-phase droplets with stable size for a long time, but also can be further used to prepare oil-in-water droplets or water-in-oil droplets. Thus, it is favorable for conducting the preparation of chemical materials, two-phase extraction of liquids, or cell culture, and has application potentials in related markets.

[Droplet Preparing Method of the Present Disclosure]

Please refer toFIG.9, which is a flow chart of a droplet preparing method S100according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. In detail, the droplet preparing method S100is used to prepare water-phase droplets or oil-phase droplets with stable size, and the droplet preparing method S100includes Step S110, Step S120and Step S130.

In Step S110, a droplet generating system is provided. In detail, the aforementioned droplet generating system can be the droplet generating system200ofFIG.4, so that the arrangement of the elements of the droplet generating system200and the details thereof are not described herein. The operating details of the droplet preparing method S100of the present disclosure will be illustrated by the assistance of the droplet generating system200.

In Step S120, a fluid buffering step is performed, wherein the fluid driving member220is turned on so as to transport the solution2101of the fluid storing device210to the buffering chamber120of the flow stabilized chip100. The solution2101can be selected as the aqueous phase solution or the oil phase solution according to actual needs. In the same time, the first elastic membrane112and the second elastic membrane114of the flow stabilized chip100will expand and recover interactively along with an operation of the fluid driving member220so as to change a volume of the buffering chamber120, and a flow rate of the solution2101transported into the flow stabilized chip100is 5 μL/min to 5 mL/min.

In Step S130, a droplet generating step is performed, wherein the solution2101is transported to the fluid mixing chamber340of the droplet generating chip300through the fluid inlet320, and then the solution2101is further transported to the target droplet storing unit230through the droplet outlet330so as to obtain a plurality of target droplets400. Wherein, the target droplets400are water-phase droplets or oil-phase droplets with stable sizes, an average diameter of the target droplets400ranges from 300 μm to 500 μm, and a flow rate of the solution2101in the droplet generating chip300ranges from 5 μL/min to 80 μL/min.

Please refer toFIG.10, which is a flow chart of a droplet preparing method S200according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. In detail, the droplet preparing method S200is used to prepare oil-in-water droplets or water-in-oil droplets with stable size and uniform phase, and the droplet preparing method S200includes Step S210, Step S220and Step S230.

In Step S210, a droplet generating system is provided. In detail, the aforementioned droplet generating system can be the droplet generating system200aofFIG.8, so that the arrangement of the elements of the droplet generating system200aand the details thereof are not described herein. The operating details of the droplet preparing method S200of the present disclosure will be illustrated by the assistance of the droplet generating system200a. The two fluid storing devices210of the droplet generating system200arespectively store the first solution2102and the second solution2103. In the embodiment ofFIG.10, the first solution2102is the oil phase solution and the second solution2103is the aqueous phase solution so as to illustrate the preparing method of the target droplets400ain a water-in-oil pattern. However, the solution types of the first solution2102and the second solution2103can be adjusted according to actual needs, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In Step S220, a fluid buffering step is performed, wherein the two fluid driving members220are turned on so as to respectively transport the first solution2102and the second solution2103of the two fluid storing devices210to the two buffering chambers120of the two flow stabilized chips. At this time, the first elastic membrane112and the second elastic membrane114of each of the flow stabilized chips100will expand and recover interactively along with an operation of each of the fluid driving members220so as to change a volume of each of the buffering chamber120, wherein a flow rate of the first solution2102transported into one of the flow stabilized chips100is 5 μL/min to 5 mL/min, and a flow rate of the second solution2103transported into the other of the flow stabilized chips100is 5 μL/min to 5 mL/min.

In Step S230, a droplet generating step is performed, wherein the first solution2102and the second solution2103are respectively transported to the fluid mixing chamber340and the slow-flowing chamber350of the droplet generating chip300through the two fluid inlet320, and then the first solution2102and the second solution2103are mixed in the fluid mixing chamber340so as to obtain a plurality of target droplets400a. A flow rate of the second solution2103, that is, the major material of the target droplets400ain the droplet preparing method S200, in the droplet generating chip300is 5 μL/min to 80 μL/min.

In detail, because the slow-flowing chamber350and the fluid mixing chamber340are connected to each other through the nanohole3131and the slow-flowing chamber350is disposed above the fluid mixing chamber340, the second solution2103being the aqueous phase solution will be stably dripped into the first solution2102being the oil phase solution through the nanohole3131due to the driving of the fluid driving members220and the action of gravity so as to prepare droplets400ain the water-in-oil pattern with stable size and uniform phase. Further, an average diameter of the target droplets400aranges from 300 μm to 500 μm.

Therefore, by the arrangements of the flow stabilized chip100, the droplet generating chip300and the fluid driving member220of the droplet generating system200or the droplet generating system200a, the fluctuation of the flow rate of the fluid can be stabilized in the fluid buffering step, and then the liquid will be transported through the fluid mixing chamber340or the slow-flowing chamber350in the droplet generating step so as to continuously prepare droplets with stable size and uniform phase. Thus, the droplet preparing method S100and the droplet preparing method S200of the present disclosure have application potentials in related markets.

EXAMPLES AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE

The droplet preparing method of the present disclosure will be applied to prepare the target droplets along with the droplet generating system so as to further illustrate the characteristics of the target droplets prepared under different settings of parameters of the droplet generating system and the droplet preparing method of the present disclosure. However, the readers should understand that the present disclosure should not be limited to these practical details thereof, that is, in some embodiments, these practical details are used to describe how to implement the materials and methods of the present disclosure and are not necessary.

In the following examples, the aqueous phase solution is pure water, and the oil phase solution of the present disclosure is prepared by adding soybean oil with a mass concentration being 5% w/v into polyglyceryl-10 polyricinoleate (PGPR) for the following experiments. Furthermore, in the following examples, a thickness of the first elastic membrane is the same as a thickness of the second elastic membrane in the flow stabilized chip, and the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane are made of the same material so as to facilitate following analysis.

I. Effects of the Minimum Diameter of the Buffering Chambers to the Fluctuation of the Flow Rate of the Fluid

In the present experiment, the reduction of the fluctuation of the flow rate of the fluid driven by the peristaltic pump is analyzed under the conditions that the flow stabilized chip of the droplet generating system of the present disclosure includes buffering chambers with different minimum diameters. In the test, the pure water with a flow rate being 5 μL/min to 5 mL/min is served as the aqueous phase solution, and the buffering chamber is formed by the stacked arrangement of the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane made of latex and the second base plate. Furthermore, in the present experiment, it is also compared with the fluctuation of the flow rate of the pure water driven by a peristaltic pump alone, and the fluctuation reduced rate (FR) of the fluid which is processed after by the droplet generating system of the present disclosure will be further calculated based on the fluctuation reduced rate formula (I). The fluctuation reduced rate formula (I) is shown as follows.

Fluctuation⁢reduced⁢rate⁢(%)=(1-i0)×100⁢%.Formula⁢(I)
Wherein, lirepresents the maximum flow rate amplitude of the fluid processed after by the droplet generating system of the present disclosure, and lorepresents the maximum flow rate amplitude of the fluid without the process by the droplet generating system of the present disclosure.

Please refer toFIG.11, which shows analyzing results of the fluctuation reduced rate of the flow stabilized chip which includes the buffering chamber with different minimum diameters of the droplet generating system of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.11, when the minimum diameter of the buffering chamber is 10 mm, the fluctuation reduced rate thereof can reach 92.73%, and when the minimum diameters of the buffering chamber are 15 mm and 20 mm, the fluctuation reduced rate thereof can reach 98.37% and 99.06%. According to the above, the fluctuation of the fluid rate of the fluid can be effectively reduced when the minimum diameter of the buffering chamber of the flow stabilized chip in the droplet generating system of the present disclosure ranges from 1 mm to 300 mm. Thus, the flow stabilized chip and the droplet generating system of the present disclosure have excellent turbulence stability and have application potentials in related markets.

II. Effects of the Materials of the First Elastic Membrane and the Second Elastic Membrane to the Volume Flow Rate of the Fluid

In the present experiment, the effects to the volume flow rate of the fluid driven by the peristaltic pump are analyzed under the conditions that the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane of the buffering chamber of the flow stabilized chip in the droplet generating system of the present disclosure are made of different materials. The pure water with a flow rate being 5 μL/min to 5 mL/min is served as the aqueous phase solution, and the droplet generating systems of Example 1 and Example 2 are used in the test. In Example 1, the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane are made of latex, and in Example 2, the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane are made of nitrile butadiene rubber. Further, the minimum diameter the buffering chamber in both Example 1 and Example 2 is 1 mm for the following analysis.

Please refer toFIG.12and Table 1.FIG.12shows a changing chart of volume flow rate of the flow stabilized chip in the droplet generating system of the present disclosure, wherein the flow stabilized chip includes the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane made of different materials. Table 1 shows the values of Young's modulus of the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane of Example 1 and Example 2, thicknesses thereof, and the fluctuation reduced rates of Example 1 and Example 2. The fluctuation reduced rates of Example 1 and Example 2 are calculated based on the aforementioned fluctuation reduced rate formula (I), so that the details thereof are shown in the foregoing description and not described again. Furthermore, in the present experiment, Comparative example 1 is included. In Comparative example 1, the pure water is driven by a peristaltic pump alone, and the fluctuation of the flow rate thereof is measured so as to further illustrate the reducing effectivity of the fluctuation of the flow of the droplet generating system of the present disclosure.

As shown in Table 1, under the premise that the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane of the flow stabilized chip are made of latex, the fluctuation reduced rate of Example 1 can reach 92.73%, and under the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane of the flow stabilized chip are made of nitrile butadiene rubber, the fluctuation reduced rate of Example 2 also can reach 75.67%. Furthermore, as shown inFIG.12, the changes of volume flow rate of both Example 1 and Example 2 are significantly smaller than that of Comparative example 1. According to the above, the fluctuation of the fluid rate of the fluid with a flow rate being 5 μL/min to 5 mL/min can be effectively reduced when the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane of the flow stabilized chip are made of latex or nitrile butadiene rubber. Thus, the droplet generating system of the present disclosure has application potentials in related markets.

III. Effects of the Shapes of the Buffering Chamber of the Flow Stabilized Chip as Well as the Materials of the First Elastic Membrane and the Second Elastic Membrane to the Fluctuation of the Flow Rate of the Fluid

In the present experiment, the effects to the fluctuation of the flow rate of the fluid driven by the peristaltic pump are analyzed under the conditions that the buffering chamber of the flow stabilized chip has different shapes, and the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane are made of different materials in the droplet generating system of the present disclosure. The pure water with a flow rate being 5 μL/min to 5 mL/min is served as the aqueous phase solution, and the droplet generating systems of Example 3 to Example 6 are used in the test. The shapes and the minimum diameters of the buffering chambers of Example 3 to Example 6 and the materials of first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane thereof are shown in Table 2. Furthermore, the fluctuation reduced rates of Example 3 to Example 6 are calculated based on the aforementioned fluctuation reduced rate formula (I), so that the details thereof are shown in the foregoing description and not described again.

Please refer toFIG.13, which shows analyzing results of the fluctuation reduced rate of the droplet generating system of the present disclosure, wherein the buffering chamber thereof has different shapes and includes the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane made of different materials. As shown inFIG.13, when the pump speed of the peristaltic pump is larger than 10 rpm, the fluctuation reduced rates of all Example 3 to Example 6 can reach 80%, and when the pump speed of the peristaltic pump is 15 rpm, the fluctuation reduced rates of all Example 3 to Example 6 are larger than 90%. According to the above, the fluctuation of the fluid rate of the fluid can be effectively reduced when the shape of the buffering chamber of the flow stabilized chip is a circle or an ellipse as well as the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane thereof are made of latex or nitrile butadiene rubber. Thus, the droplet generating system of the present disclosure has application potentials in related markets.

IV. Effects of the Arrangement of Compressed Tubule to the Fluctuation of the Flow Rate of the Fluid

The present experiment is performed to analyze whether the fluctuation of the flow rate of the fluid driven by the peristaltic pump can be further reduced or not when the compressed tubule is disposed between the flow stabilized chip and the droplet generating chip of the droplet generating system of the present disclosure. The pure water with a flow rate being 5 μL/min to 5 mL/min is served as the aqueous phase solution, and the droplet generating systems of the aforementioned Example 3 to Example 6 are used in the test. In each of Example 3 to Example 6, the communicating tube disposed between the flow stabilized chip and the droplet generating chip includes a compressed tubule made of poly-ether-ether-ketone, and the compressed tubule is with a diameter ranges from 0.25 mm to 0.75 mm so as to observe the reduction of the fluctuation of the flow rate. Furthermore, the fluctuation reduced rates in the present experiment are calculated based on the aforementioned fluctuation reduced rate formula (I), so that the details thereof are shown in the foregoing description and not described again.

Please refer toFIG.14AandFIG.14B, whereinFIG.14Ashows analyzing results of the fluctuation reduced rate of the droplet generating system of the present disclosure which includes a compressed tubule with a diameter being 0.75 mm, andFIG.14Bshows analyzing results of the fluctuation reduced rate of the droplet generating system of the present disclosure which includes a compressed tubule with a diameter being 0.25 mm. As shown inFIG.14AandFIG.14B, when the diameter of the compressed tubule made of poly-ether-ether-ketone ranges from 0.75 mm to 0.25 mm, the fluctuation reduced rates of all the droplet generating systems of Example 3 to Example 6 are larger than 80%, and when the diameter of the compressed tubule made of poly-ether-ether-ketone is 0.25, the fluctuation reduced rates thereof are larger than 95% regardless the pump speed of the peristaltic pump. According to the above, the fluctuation of the fluid rate of the fluid can be effectively reduced when the compressed tubule is disposed between the flow stabilized chip and the droplet generating chip. Thus, the droplet generating system of the present disclosure has application potentials in related markets.

V. Stability Efficiency of the Fluctuation of the Fluid Rate of the Fluid with Different Flow Rates of the Droplet Generating System of the Present Disclosure

In the present experiment, the stability efficiency of the fluctuation rate of the fluid of the fluid with different flow rates of the droplet generating system of the present disclosure is analyzed. The soybean oil with a mass concentration being 5% w/v is served as the oil phase solution, and the droplet generating systems of Example 7 to Example 12 are used in the test. The droplet generating system of Example 7 is driven by the peristaltic pump with a pump speed being 3 rpm, the droplet generating system of Example 8 is driven by the peristaltic pump with a pump speed being 5 rpm, the droplet generating system of Example 9 is driven by the peristaltic pump with a pump speed being 8 rpm, the droplet generating system of Example 10 is driven by the peristaltic pump with a pump speed being 10 rpm, the droplet generating system of Example 11 is driven by the peristaltic pump with a pump speed being 20 rpm, and the droplet generating system of Example 12 is driven by the peristaltic pump with a pump speed being 30 rpm. Furthermore, in the flow stabilized chips of Example 7 to Example 12, the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane are made of nitrile butadiene rubber, and the shape of the buffering chamber is an ellipse and the buffering chamber has a minimum diameter being 1 mm×2 mm (minor axis and major axis). Moreover, in the present experiment, Comparative example 2 to Comparative example 7 without flow-stable processing are included, wherein the pump speeds of peristaltic pumps of Comparative example 2 to Comparative example 7 are respectively the same as that of Example 7 to Example 12 so as to observe the stability efficiency of the fluctuation of the fluid in the droplet generating system of the present disclosure.

Please refer toFIGS.15A to15F, whereinFIG.15Ashows analyzing results of the fluctuation reduced rate of the droplet generating system of Example 7 and the Comparative example 2,FIG.15Bshows analyzing results of the fluctuation reduced rate of the droplet generating system of Example 8 and the Comparative example 3,FIG.15Cshows analyzing results of the fluctuation reduced rate of the droplet generating system of Example 9 and the Comparative example 4,FIG.15Dshows analyzing results of the fluctuation reduced rate of the droplet generating system of Example 10 and the Comparative example 5,FIG.15Eshows analyzing results of the fluctuation reduced rate of the droplet generating system of Example 11 and the Comparative example 6 andFIG.15Fshows analyzing results of the fluctuation reduced rate of the droplet generating system of Example 12 and the Comparative example 7. As shown inFIGS.15A to15F, when the pump speed of the peristaltic pump is larger, the amplitudes of the fluctuation of the fluid of Comparative example 2 to Comparative example 7 increase correspondingly.

However, after the flow-stable process performed by the droplet generating system of the present disclosure, the fluctuation of the flow rates of the oil phase solutions of Example 7 to Example 12 can be effectively stabilized. According to the above, the fluids with different fluctuations of the flow rate can be effectively stabilized, so that the droplet generating system of the present disclosure has application potentials in related markets.

VI. Stability Efficiency of the Fluctuation of the Fluid Driven by Different Pump Speeds of the Droplet Generating System of the Present Disclosure

In the present experiment, the effects to the fluctuation of the flow rate of the fluid driven by the peristaltic pump with different pump speeds are analyzed under the condition that the buffering chamber of the flow stabilized chip of the droplet generating system of the present disclosure is with different minimum diameters. The droplet generating system of Example 13 is used to test the reduction of fluctuation of the fluid rates of the fluid of the pure water and the 5% w/v soybean oil, wherein both the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane of the flow stabilized chip of Example 13 are made of nitrile butadiene rubber, and the shape of the buffering chamber is an ellipse and the buffering chamber has a minimum diameter being 1 mm×2 mm (minor axis and major axis).

Please refer toFIG.16AandFIG.16B, whereinFIG.16Ashows analyzing results of the fluctuation reduced rate of the droplet generating system of the present disclosure under different pump speeds of the aqueous phase solution, andFIG.16Bshows analyzing results of the fluctuation reduced rate of the droplet generating system of the present disclosure under different pump speeds of the oil phase solution. As shown inFIG.16A, when the pump speed of the peristaltic pump increases, the stability efficiency of the fluctuation of the flow rate to the aqueous phase solution of the droplet generating system of Example 13 is better, and as shown inFIG.16B, the stability efficiency of the fluctuation of the flow rate to the oil phase solution of the droplet generating system of Example 13 is larger than 99% when the peristaltic pump has different pump speeds. According to the above, the fluids with different phases and fluctuation of the flow rates can be stabilized effectively by the droplet generating system of the present disclosure, so that it has application potentials in related markets.

VII. Assessing the Characteristics of Target Droplets Prepared by the Droplet Generating System of the Present Disclosure

1. Using the Droplet Generating System of the Present Disclosure and the Conventional Syringe Pump to Prepare the Target Droplets

The analysis of the characteristics of target droplets prepared by the droplet generating system of the present disclosure are performed by analyzing the target droplets prepared by the droplet generating system of Example 14. In the droplet generating system of Example 14, the oil phase solution is provided after the fluctuation of the fluid rate caused by the fluid driving member is stabilized by the flow stabilized chip of the present disclosure, and the aqueous phase solution is driven by the conventional syringe pump so as to prepare the target droplets in a water-in-oil pattern. Furthermore, in the droplet generating system of Example 14, the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane of the flow stabilized chip are made of nitrile butadiene rubber, and the shape of the buffering chamber is an ellipse and the buffering chamber has a minimum diameter being 1 mm×2 mm (minor axis and major axis). Moreover, the droplet generating system of Example 14 is used to prepare the target droplets according to the droplet preparing method of the present disclosure, wherein a flow rate of the oil phase solution in the droplet generating chip is 320 μL/min, and a flow rate of the aqueous phase solution driven by the syringe pump is 5 μL/min to 80 μL/min. Further, other details of the droplet preparing method of the present disclosure are shown in the foregoing description and are not described herein.

Please refer toFIG.17and Table 3.FIG.17shows analyzing results of the average diameter of the target droplets of the present disclosure, wherein Mark (A) to Mark (E) ofFIG.17respectively represent the average diameters and the images of target droplets corresponding to the aqueous phase solution with different flow rates. Table 3 shows the average diameters, the values of flow coefficient (CV) and the droplet generation frequency of the aqueous phase solution with different flow rates of Example 14.

As shown inFIG.17and Table 3, the target droplets of the present disclosure are droplets with stable size and uniform phase presented in appearance, and the average diameter of the target droplets ranges from 300 μm to 500 μm. According to the above, the droplet generating system and the droplet preparing method of the present disclosure can be applied in different fields according to actual needs so as to continuously and stably prepare water-phase droplets and oil-phase droplets with stable size for a long time, so that it has application potentials in related markets.

2. Using the Droplet Generating System of the Present Disclosure to Prepare the Target Droplets

The analysis of the characteristics of target droplets prepared by the droplet generating system of the present disclosure are performed by analyzing the target droplets prepared by the droplet generating system of Example 15. In the droplet generating system of Example 15, a number of the fluid storing device is two, a number of the flow stabilized chip is two, a number of the fluid driving member is two, and the droplet generating chip includes two fluid inlets so as to prepare the target droplets in a water-in-oil pattern. Furthermore, in the droplet generating system of Example 15, the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane of each of the flow stabilized chips are made of nitrile butadiene rubber, and the shape of the buffering chamber of each of the flow stabilized chip is an ellipse and the buffering chamber has a minimum diameter being 1 mm×2 mm (minor axis and major axis). Moreover, the droplet generating system of Example 15 is used to prepare the target droplets according to the droplet preparing method of the present disclosure, wherein the a flow rate of the oil phase solution in the droplet generating chip is 320 μL/min, and a flow rate of the aqueous phase solution in the droplet generating chip is 60 μL/min. Further, other details of the droplet preparing method of the present disclosure are shown in the foregoing description and are not described herein.

Please refer toFIG.18, which shows an image of the target droplets of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.18, the target droplets of the present disclosure are droplets with stable size and uniform phase presented in appearance, wherein the average diameter of the target droplets is 443 μm, the flow coefficient is 1.98%, the droplet generation frequency is 15.00 Hz, and the target droplets can be continuously prepared for more than 24 hours. According to the above, the droplet generating system and the droplet preparing method of the present disclosure can be applied in different fields according to actual needs so as to continuously and stably prepare water-phase droplets and oil-phase droplets, and oil-in-water droplets or water-in-oil droplets with stable size and uniform phase can be prepared. Thus, it is favorable for conducting the preparation of chemical materials, two-phase extraction of liquids, or cell culture, and has application potentials in related markets.

To sum up, by the arrangement that the first elastic membrane, the second base plate and the second elastic membrane are stacked in sequence to form the buffering chamber, the flow stabilized chip of the present disclosure can buffer the liquid automatically when the liquid is transported to the buffering chamber120, so that the stability of the flows output by the flow stabilized chip of the present disclosure can be enhanced significantly. Furthermore, by the connection of the flow stabilized chip, the droplet generating chip and the fluid driving member of the droplet generating system and the droplet preparing method of the present disclosure, the fluctuation of the flow rate of the fluid will be stabilized first while passing through the flow stabilized chip, and the droplets with stable size can be prepared continuously by the droplet generating chip. Thus, it has application potentials in related markets.