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US 6,644,944 B2Granted
Uni-directional flow microfluidic components
AssigneeNanostream, Inc.
InventorChristoph D. Karp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Microfluidic fluid control devices are provided. One microfluidic fluid control device can be used as a uni-directional valve within a microfluidic system. The invention also provides a microfluidic pump mechanism having two unidirectional valves separated by an expandable reservoir. Such devices may be formed in multiple layers and utilize flexible membranes.
Claims21
A microfluidic fluid control device comprising:
- a plurality of device layer including a first stencil layer, a second stencil layer, and a flexible membrane layer disposed between the first stencil layer and the second stencil layer;
- a first channel having a first valve seat disposed therein, the first channel being defined through the entire thickness of the first stencil layer;
- and
- a second channel being defined through the entire thickness of the second stencil layer;
- wherein the flexible membrane layer defines an aperture aligned with the first valve seat.
2 more elements
A microfluidic device comprising:
- a first stencil layer;
- a second stencil layer;
- a flexible membrane disposed between the first stencil layer and the second stencil layer, the flexible membrane defining an aperture;
- a first channel defined through the entire thickness of the first stencil layer;
- a second channel define through the second stencil layer;
- and
- a valve seat disposed within the first channel, the valve seat having a seating surface;
- wherein the aperture is aligned with the valve seat and permits selective fluid communication between the first channel and the second channel.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.