Microfluidic Chip With Retainer For Valve Closing Body
AssigneeNational Research Council of Canada
InventorsPun Pang SHIU, Kith Morton, Teodor Veres
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microfluidic valve comprises: a substrate relief-patterned at top and bottom surfaces; to define an annular valve seat and a surface for holding an elastomeric membrane inside a generally cylindrical protuberance in the top surface so that the membrane covers the cylindrical inner wall. The relief patterning also provides a through bore defining one valved microfluidic channel and an annular trough around the annular valve seat to which at least one other valved microfluidic channel extends. When the cap is pushed into the recess, it reversibly presses the membrane against the valve seat to form a seal that prevents fluid flow in the channel.
Claims17
A substrate of a microfluidic chip, the substrate relief patterned on two opposite sides thereof to define:
- a generally cylindrical sidewall protruding from a top surface of the substrate, defining a recess extending from a floor defined by the top surface, and a rim;
- a first region of the cylindrical sidewall adapted for receiving a resilient deformable elastomeric membrane, which divides the recess into rim-proximal and floor-proximal parts;
- at least one valve seat rising from the floor within the floor-proximal part;
- a first end of a first microfluidic channel passing through, and terminating at, the valve seat, with the valve seat completely surrounding the termination;
- a second end of a second microfluidic channel passing through the floor in the recess, at a position separated from the valve seat;
- and
- a second region of the sidewall within the rim-proximal part adapted to receive a guide feature of a closing body, and to retain the closing body in a configuration that permits a mandrel of the closing body to press a seal into contact with the valve seat,
- where the first and second microfluidic channels:
- are relief patterned on a bottom surface of the substrate, which is opposite the top surface;
- and have hydraulic diameters of 50-200 µm to allow flow with minor capillary effects.
A kit comprising, the substrate according to claim , and a closing body having a guide feature, a mandrel and a top pressing surface, the dimensions of the guide
feature cooperating with those of the sidewall whereby the closing body is adapted for insertion of the mandrel into the recess end to permit force communicated from the pressing surface to urge the mandrel toward the valve seat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.