Thermal microvalves in a fluid flow method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for restricting fluid flow in a channel comprising:
- a) providing a devise comprising;
i) a substrate with one or more channels containing fluid,ii) a meltable material disposed within said substrate, said meltable material associated with a heating element; and
iii) a diaphragm positioned such that, when extended, it touches said meltable material, and at least partially blocking the passage of said fluid in said channel, thereby restricting fluid flow;
b) extending said diaphragm such that it touches said meltable material; and
c) heating said meltable material with said heating element such that said meltable material at least partially liquifies covering gaps between said extended diaphragm and said meltable material, and such that said substrate is not damaged.
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Abstract
The movement and mixing of microdroplets through microchannels is described employing silicon-based microscale devices, including microdroplet transport channels, reaction regions, electrophoresis modules, and radiation detectors. The discrete droplets are differentially heated and propelled through etched channels. Electronic components are fabricated on the same substrate material, allowing sensors and controlling circuitry to be incorporated in the same device.
300 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for restricting fluid flow in a channel comprising:
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a) providing a devise comprising; i) a substrate with one or more channels containing fluid, ii) a meltable material disposed within said substrate, said meltable material associated with a heating element; and iii) a diaphragm positioned such that, when extended, it touches said meltable material, and at least partially blocking the passage of said fluid in said channel, thereby restricting fluid flow; b) extending said diaphragm such that it touches said meltable material; and c) heating said meltable material with said heating element such that said meltable material at least partially liquifies covering gaps between said extended diaphragm and said meltable material, and such that said substrate is not damaged. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for restricting fluid flow in a channel, comprising:
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a) providing; i) a main channel containing fluid, said main channel connected to a side channel and disposed within a substrate, ii) meltable material disposed within said side channel and associated with a heating element, and iii) a movement means connected to said side channel such that application of said movement means induces said meltable material to flow from said side channel into said main channel; b) heating said meltable material such that said meltable material at least partially liquifies; and c) applying said movement means such that said liquified meltable material flows from said side channel into said main channel blocking at least a portion of said main channel thereby restricting fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for restricting fluid flow in a channel comprising:
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a) providing; i) a channel containing fluid disposed within a substrate, ii) meltable material disposed within said substrate, said meltable material associated with a heating element, iii) a valve seat disposed within said substrate, iv) a diaphragm positioned such that, when extended, it pushes against said valve seat to restrict fluid flow in said channel, b) applying an actuating force to said diaphragm such that it is extended, c) heating said meltable material with said heating element such that said meltable material at least partially liquifies covering gaps between said diaphragm and said valve seat, and d) allowing said meltable material to cool such that a seal is formed between said diaphragm and said valve seat which restricts the flow of said fluid in said channel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification