Back to results
US 2026/0266397 A1Published application
High pressure microfluidic valve
AssigneeLabSmith, Inc.
InventorsKirsten Pace, Eric Cummings, Gary Garza
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Microfluidic valves that may be used for high pressure applications.
Claims14
A microfluidic valve comprising:
- an axis;
- a tapered rotor having a taper along the axis and a valve body having a substantially complementary rotor cavity wherein the rotor resides;
- a container for the valve body that substantially surrounds the valve body on all sides except the side opposite of the rotor cavity;
- a removable plate that backs the valve body;
- a stem substantially aligned with the axis that applies a preload force along the axis to the proximal surface of the rotor and transfers torques around the axis from an actuator;
- at least one port in the valve body that is aligned with a port in the container;
- and
- at least one opening in the rotor such that in at least one angular position of the rotor and valve body, the opening substantially aligns with the port.
5 more elements
A microfluidic rotary valve comprising:
- a ratcheting positioner comprising a shaft that rotates around an axis;
- a crossbar attached normal to the shaft;
- a spring;
- a stationary structure;
- and
- a ratchet ring centered on the axis having a plurality of radially disposed ramping ridges that are terminated by a step, the ramps disposed to engage periodically with the crossbar when the shaft rotates, the stationary structure blocking rotation of the ratchet about the axis, the spring disposed between the stationary structure and ratchet ring such that rotation of the cross bar presses the ratchet ring against the spring as the crossbar traverses a ridge and releases the ring after passing the ridge in one rotational direction and the ridge step blocks backward rotation.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.