초록 ▼

A microfluidic delivery system (20) and microfluidic system (100) control flows of a liquid or a gas through elongated capillaries (62, 126) that are enclosed along at least one surface by a layer (42, 114) of a malleable material. An electrically-powered actuator included in the systems (20, 100) e

A microfluidic delivery system (20) and microfluidic system (100) control flows of a liquid or a gas through elongated capillaries (62, 126) that are enclosed along at least one surface by a layer (42, 114) of a malleable material. An electrically-powered actuator included in the systems (20, 100) extends toward or retracts a blade from the layer (42, 114) of a malleable material to either occlude or open capillaries. Reservoirs (46, 124) included in a pouch (22, 108) together with the capillaries (62, 126) supply fluids whose flow is controlled by movement of the blades. The microfluidic system (100) permits dispensing at will, under microprocessor control at predetermined flow rates, liquids, samples, chemicals, reagents and body fluids, and mixing them together and/or reacting for diagnostic medical or analytical tests, DNA sequencing etc. The microfluidic delivery system (20) and microfluidic system (100) may be used for clinical testing, environmental or forensic testing, analytical chemistry, fine chemistry, biological sciences, combinatorial synthesis, etc.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A first microfluidic valve for controlling a flow of a fluid through an elongated capillary that is enclosed along at least one surface by a layer of a malleable material, the capillary having an inlet port and an outlet port, the microfluidic valve comprising:a valve hou

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A first microfluidic valve for controlling a flow of a fluid through an elongated capillary that is enclosed along at least one surface by a layer of a malleable material, the capillary having an inlet port and an outlet port, the microfluidic valve comprising:a valve housing adapted to be pressed firmly against the layer of malleable material;an actuator secured within said valve housing for producing movement toward or away from the layer of malleable material upon application of a control signal to the actuator; anda blade coupled to the actuator and shaped so that movement produced by the actuator toward the layer of malleable material presses the blade against the layer of malleable material thereby occluding the capillary and barring fluid from flowing from the inlet port to the outlet port, and whereby, upon retracting the blade away from the layer of malleable material, fluid introduced into the inlet port of the capillary may flow through the capillary to exit the capillary through the outlet port.