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US 11,130,129 B2Granted
Check valves for microfluidic systems and methods thereof
AssigneeNational Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
InventorsCameron Scott Ball, Ronald F. Renzi, Robert Meagher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to microfluidic check valves, as well as fluidic cartridges including such check valves. In particular examples, the check valve includes a pre-stressed spring formed from a planar substrate. Various characteristics of the valves, such as size, profile, opening pressure, etc., can be tuned to provide desired performance when employed within a fluidic cartridge.
Claims20
A fluidic cartridge comprising:
- a first fluidic check valve comprising:
- a base comprising an inlet;
- an elastomeric pad comprising a first surface and a second surface that opposes the first surface, wherein the first surface is configured to releasably contact the inlet;
- a pre-stressed spring comprising a plurality of extended beams defined within a planar substrate and connected to a central support, wherein a surface portion of the substrate is configured to contact a surface portion of the base, and wherein the central support is defined within the substrate and configured to align with the second surface of the elastomeric pad, thereby providing a pressurized seal between the inlet of the base, the elastomeric pad, and the central support of the pre-stressed spring;
- and
- a lid comprising a cavity, wherein the cavity is configured to encompass the pre-stressed spring and the elastomeric pad;
- a first valve seat configured to accommodate the first check valve;
- and
- a main microchannel in fluidic communication with the first valve seat.
6 more elements
A fluidic cartridge comprising:
- an input channel configured to deliver a sample;
- a pumping chamber in fluidic communication with an on-chip diaphragm pump;
- a first fluidic check valve comprising:
- a first base comprising an inlet;
- a first elastomeric pad comprising a first surface and a second surface that opposes the first surface, wherein the first surface is configured to releasably contact the inlet;
- a first pre-stressed spring comprising a plurality of extended beams defined within a planar substrate and connected to a central support, wherein a surface portion of the substrate is configured to contact a surface portion of the first base, and wherein the central support is defined within the substrate and configured to align with the second surface of the first elastomeric pad, thereby providing a pressurized seal between the inlet of the first base, the first elastomeric pad, and the central support of the first pre-stressed spring;
- and
- a first lid comprising a cavity, wherein the cavity is configured to encompass the first pre-stressed spring and the first elastomeric pad, wherein opening of the first check valve provides fluidic communication from the input channel to the pumping chamber;
- a reaction channel;
- a second fluidic check valve comprising:
- a second base comprising an inlet;
- a second elastomeric pad comprising a first surface and a second surface that opposes the first surface, wherein the first surface is configured to releasably contact the inlet;
- a second pre-stressed spring comprising a plurality of extended beams defined within a planar substrate and connected to a central support, wherein a surface portion of the substrate is configured to contact a surface portion of the second base, and wherein the central support is defined within the substrate and configured to align with the second surface of the second elastomeric pad, thereby providing a pressurized seal between the inlet of the second base, the second elastomeric pad, and the central support of the second pre-stressed spring;
- and
- a second lid comprising a cavity, wherein the cavity is configured to encompass the second pre-stressed spring and the second elastomeric pad, wherein opening of the second check valve provides fluidic communication from the pumping chamber to the reaction channel.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.