Dual latching microvalves
AssigneeSFC Fluidics, Inc.
InventorsForrest W. Payne, Greg Lamps, Champak Das, Sai Kumar, Ashley Shemain
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve for use in connection with microfluidic devices includes a safety feature such that flow is controlled even in the case of a loss of power, thus having applications in critical applications such as the precise delivery of drugs overtime. The valve may be used in connection with multiple tubes delivering drugs, and may be used with a pump, such as an electrochemical pump, to provide the force to move the fluids containing drugs for delivery. In certain applications, more than one medicine may be delivered and metered independently using a single pump with multiple reservoirs and valves.
Claims11
A dual latching microvalve, comprising:
- a. a first valve arm comprising a first valve arm end, and further comprising a first valve arm receiving area adapted to receive a compressible first tube;
- b. a first valve seat positioned within the first valve arm receiving area of the first valve arm and adjacent to the first tube to form a first valve;
- c. a second valve arm comprising a second valve arm end, and further comprising a second valve arm receiving area adapted to receive a compressible second tube, and wherein the second valve arm is positioned relative to the first valve arm such that the second valve arm end engages the first valve arm end;
- d. a second valve seat positioned within the second valve arm receiving area and adjacent to the second tube to form a second valve;
- e. a first actuation mechanism attached to the first valve arm;
- f. a second actuation mechanism attached to the second valve arm;
- and
- g. at least one electrical power source electrically connected in a circuit with one or more of the first actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism,
- wherein the second actuation mechanism is configured to receive a current from the at least one electrical power source that causes the second valve arm to move and allow the first valve arm end to move against the second valve arm end thereby compressing the second tube against the second valve seat within the second valve arm receiving area and holding the second tube in a compressed state and thus closing the second valve, while allowing the first tube to remain in an uncompressed state and thus allowing the first valve to remain open without the addition of further electrical power from the at least one electrical power source, and wherein the first actuation mechanism is configured to receive a current from the at least one electrical power source that causes the first valve arm to move and allow the second valve arm end to slide against the first valve arm end thereby allowing the second tube to remain uncompressed within the second valve arm receiving area and thus allow the second valve to remain open, while compressing the first tube against the first valve seat within the first valve arm receiving area and holding the first tube in a compressed state thereby closing the first valve without the addition of further electrical power from the at least one electrical power source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.