Flow-switching microdevice

A microdevice for controlling fluid flow, comprising a substrate and a cover plate each having a substantially planar contact surface and each contact surface having a fluid-transporting feature associated therewith, wherein

• the substrate contact surface is positioned in slidable and fluid-tight contact with the cover plate contact surface to allow for controllable alignment between the fluid-transporting features resulting in fluid communication therebetween, and further wherein the cover plate fluid-transporting feature comprises a conduit having a substantially constant cross-sectional area.

A microdevice for controlling fluid flow, comprising:

• a substrate having at least two substantially planar contact surfaces and a conduit extending therethrough to provide fluid communication between the contact surfaces;
• a first and a second cover plate, each cover plate having a substantially planar contact surface positioned in substantially fluid-tight contact with a substrate contact surface,
• wherein the first cover plate contact surface has a fluid-transporting feature associated therewith and at least one of the first or the second cover plate contact surfaces is positioned in slidable contact with a substrate contact surface to allow for controllable flow path formation involving the fluid-transporting feature and the substrate conduit.