CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0150725, filed on Nov. 29, 2018 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosure relates to a modular microfluidic system.

2. Description of the Related Art

A microfluidic system has been widely applied to not only a micro total analysis system (mTAS), a lab-on-a-chip, a microchemical reactor, biological analysis, cellomics, drug delivery, tissue engineering and the like biochemistry fields as well as physics, chemistry, engineering and biotechnology of studying and controlling fluids inside a micrometer scale channel, but has also been recently used to achieve a microstructure in a material field, such as a colloid assembly, colloid photonic crystal, thin-film transistor manufacture, etc.

In such example, the microfluidic system needs to be designed to serve its purpose so that the desired function can be performed appropriately. However, redesign for this system may sometimes be required during optimization or every time when a used fluid or the like condition is changed. If the whole system is remanufactured whenever there is a need for changing the design, it is very inefficient in terms of cost and time. Besides, it is very complicated to apply an electrode based on the existing soft lithography and the like additional functions to the microfluidic system.

Adhesion-based connection not only makes it difficult to assemble and disassemble the modules but is also likely to cause leakage.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one general aspect, a modular microfluidic system includes a first microfluidic module and a second microfluidic module. The first microfluidic module has a first module body including a microfluidic channel and a first connector extending outward from the module body. The first connector is provided with a protrusion. The second microfluidic module has a second module body including a microfluidic channel, a second connector including a guider configured to guide the protrusion upon insertion of the first connector into the second module body, and a locker configured to fix the protrusion. Upon fluidly coupling the first microfluidic module and the second microfluidic module, an O-ring is disposed between the first connector and the second connector.

The O-ring may seal fluid flowing through the first microfluidic module and the second microfluidic module from leaking.

Upon engaging the first microfluidic module and the second microfluidic module, the protrusion guided along the guider may be rotatable at a predetermined angle and lockable to the locker.

The second connector may further include an accommodating portion configured to accommodate a portion of the first connector corresponding to an upper end of the protrusion and the O-ring.

The O-ring may be compressable to have a width of about 70% of a depth of the O-ring when the first microfluidic module and the second microfluidic module are coupled. The the depth of the O-ring may be a diameter of the O-ring.

Each of the first and the second microfluidic modules may be manufacturable by a 3D printer, and transparent films may be attached to upper and lower ends of the first and the second microfluidic modules.

In another general aspect, a modular microfluidic system includes a first microfluidic module, a second microfluidic module, and a resilient member. The first microfluidic module includes a microfluidic channel and a first connector extending outward from the first microfluidic module. A side surface of the first connector includes a protrusion. The second microfluidic module includes a microfluidic channel, a second connector comprising a guider configured to guide the protrusion upon insertion of the first connector into the second microfluidic module, and a locker configured to fix the protrusion. The resilient member has a through hole. The resilient member is disposed between the first microfluidic module and the second microfluidic module to fluidly communicate the first microfluidic module with the second microfluidic module.

Upon engaging the first microfluidic module and the second microfluidic module, the protrusion guided along the guider may be rotatable at a predetermined angle and lockable to the locker.

The second connector may further include an accommodating portion configured to accommodate a portion of the first connector corresponding to an upper end of the protrusion and the resilient member.

The resilient member may be compressable to have a width of about 70% of a diameter of the resilient member when the first microfluidic module and the second microfluidic module are fluidly coupled.

Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims.

