Diaphragm check valves and methods of manufacture thereof
AssigneeMiniPumps, LLC
InventorsYu-Chong Tai, Po-Ying Li, Fukang Jiang, Changlin Pang, Natasha Yvette Bouey, Man Ting Chou, Atoosa Lotfi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Microscale valves for use in, e.g., micropump devices, may be formed of a slitted diaphragm bonded to the interior of a valve tube. A bump in the diaphragm and/or a backward-leakage stopper may increase the breakdown pressure of the valve. A push-rod may be used to pre-load the valve membrane to thereby increase the cracking pressure.
Claims30
An in-line check valve comprising:
- a tube defining a lumen for flow of fluid therethrough;
- and
- affixed to an interior surface of the tube and spanning a cross-section thereof, an elastic diaphragm comprising a slit or opening therethrough,
- wherein the valve is configured (i) to open upon application of at least a cracking pressure on a first side of the diaphragm so as to permit fluid to pass through the slit or opening from the first side to a second side of the diaphragm, and (ii) to prevent backflow of fluid from the second side to the first side until at least a breakdown pressure is reached on the second side.
A method for fabricating an inline valve structure using a stack mold fixture comprising (i) at least one pin having a first tier with a first diameter and a second tier with a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, and (ii) at least one spacer extending in height beyond the pin, the method comprising:
- placing a valve tube having an inner diameter matching the first diameter over the at least one pin, and filling liquid elastomer precursor into an interior space of the valve tube;
- forcing liquid elastomer precursor from the interior space of the valve tube, thereby forcing a surface of the liquid elastomer to a height of the at least one spacer;
- curing the elastomer precursor, thereby creating in the valve tube a diaphragm having a thickness equal to the distance by which the at least one spacer extends in height beyond the pin;
- and,
- following curing, removing the valve tube and diaphragm from the stack mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.