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Fluid control structures in microfluidic devices

  • US 9,644,623 B2
  • Filed: 05/18/2010
  • Issued: 05/09/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling fluid flow on a microfluidic device, the method comprising:

  • providing a microfluidic device comprising one or more elastomer membranes sandwiched between a pneumatic layer and a fluidic layer, wherein the fluidic layer comprises a plurality of fluidic channels, each of which comprises of a discontinuity, and a plurality of via holes at the discontinuity, wherein the pneumatic layer comprises a first surface including at least one pneumatic channel facing an elastomer membrane and valve areas aligned with said discontinuities, the fluidic layer comprising a second surface including the plurality of via holes facing the one or elastomer membranes;

    controlling fluidic flow across a fluidic channel by varying pneumatic pressure in a pneumatic channel thereby causing an elastomer membrane to deflect at a discontinuity of the fluidic channel to modulate a flow of a fluid volume from one side of the discontinuity, through the plurality of via holes, to the other side of the discontinuity; and

    varying pneumatic pressure in one pneumatic channel to thereby cause one or more elastomer membranes to deflect at discontinuities of a plurality of fluidic channels to modulate flow of a plurality of fluid volumes in the plurality of fluidic channels.

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