Low-voltage microfluidic valve device and system for regulating the flow of fluid
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
InventorsMichael N. Kozicki, Junseok Chae
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A low-voltage microfluidic valve device and system for regulating the flow of fluid. One low-voltage microfluidic valve device for regulating the low of fluid includes a nano-textured dendritic metallic filament configured to grow and retract in response to a voltage. The low-voltage microfluidic valve device also includes a microfluidic channel configured to allow fluid flow, wherein the fluid flow is selectively interrupted by the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament. The low-voltage microfluidic valve device also includes a membrane positioned proximate to the fluid and configured to alter shape in response to the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament.
Claims18
A low-voltage microfluidic valve device for regulating the flow of a fluid, the device comprising:
- a nano-textured dendritic metallic filament configured to grow and retract in response to a voltage;
- a membrane positioned proximate to the fluid and configured to alter shape in response to the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament;
- and
- a microfluidic channel configured to allow fluid flow, wherein the fluid flow is selectively interrupted by the membrane when the shape is altered by the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament.
A system of regulating a flow of a fluid, the system comprising:
- a low-voltage microfluidic valve device, the low-voltage microfluidic valve device including
- a first electrode and a second electrode opposite the first electrode,
- a nano-textured dendritic metallic filament configured to grow and retract,
- a membrane positioned proximate to the fluid and configured to alter shape in response to the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament, and
- a microfluidic channel configured to allow fluid flow, wherein the fluid flow is selectively interrupted by the membrane when the shape is altered by the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament;
- and
- a power supply, wherein the power supply is configured to provide the voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode of the low-voltage microfluidic valve device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.