Microvalve using surface tension, microfluidic chip comprising same, and method for manufacturing same
AssigneeKorea University Research and Business Foundation
InventorsSang Hoon Lee, Edward Kang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a microvalve using surface tension, a microfluidic chip including same and a method for manufacturing same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a microvalve using surface tension, a microfluidic chip including same and a method for manufacturing same, wherein the microvalve can be manufactured through a simple process and the microvalve and a coaxial sample channel are not separated, and thus the microvalve may be easily installed not only in an existing quadrangular channel but also in the coaxial channel so as to control the flow and amount of a microfluid (sample).
Claims17
A microvalve comprising a thin membrane made of a polymer below a hole 1.5-4 mm in diameter which perforates a microfluidic chip.
A method for manufacturing a microvalve, comprising:
- (a) making a hole perforating a microfluidic chip;
- (b) placing the chip on a film;
- (c) forming a thin membrane by injecting a liquid polymer into the hole;
- (d) curing the thin membrane;
- and
- (e) removing the film.
A microfluidic chip comprising (1) a first layer comprising an air channel, (2) a second layer comprising a microvalve and (3) a third layer comprising a coaxial sample channel,
- wherein one end of the air channel serves as an air inlet and the other end is connected to an upper end of the microvalve such that air pressure can be applied from the air channel to the microvalve, the upper end of microvalve is connected to the air channel and a lower end is blocked by a polymer thin membrane, the polymer thin membrane is positioned on the coaxial sample channel and the sample amount is controlled by the pressure applied to the microvalve as the polymer thin membrane swells downward and presses the coaxial sample channel.
A method for manufacturing a microfluidic chip, comprising:
- positioning a third layer comprising a coaxial sample channel below a second layer comprising a microvalve and bonding them using oxygen plasma;
- and positioning a first layer on the second layer and bonding them using oxygen plasma, wherein the second layer is prepared by (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.