Microfluidic valve mechanism

A valve mechanism comprising:

• a. a rigid body portion including a plurality of microfluidic channels and one or more recessed valve areas configured within a top surface of the rigid body portion and extending an entire length of the rigid body portion, wherein the rigid body portion forms a bottom surface and a side perimeter surface of each recessed valve area such that a remaining side of each recessed valve area is open-sided, further wherein each recessed valve area includes an inlet end of a first channel and an outlet end of a second channel formed within the rigid body portion;
• and
• b. a flexible membrane cover extending over the entire length of the rigid body portion and sealed to the top surface of the rigid body such that each recessed valve area is sealed at the open-side by a portion of the flexible membrane cover, thereby forming a valve membrane for each recessed valve area, wherein each valve membrane is configured to be actuated into at least two positions, a first position such that the valve membrane is extended away from the bottom surface thereby providing a fluidic pathway between the inlet end of the first channel and the outlet end of the second channel, and a second position such that the valve membrane is extended toward the bottom surface thereby blocking the fluidic pathway between the inlet end of the first channel and the outlet end of the second channel.

A valve system comprising:

• a. a fluidic cartridge comprising:
• i. a rigid body structure including a first surface extending an entire length of the rigid body structure and a plurality of recessed valve areas configured within the first surface, wherein the rigid body structure further includes a plurality of fluid channels and each recessed valve area includes an inlet end of a first fluid channel and an outlet end of a second fluid channel;
• and
• ii. a membrane cover extending over the entire length of the rigid body structure and sealed to the first surface of the rigid body structure such that each recessed valve area is sealed at the first surface by a portion of the membrane, thereby forming a valve membrane for each recessed valve area, wherein each valve membrane is configured to be actuated into a first position thereby providing a fluidic pathway between the inlet end of the first fluid channel and the outlet end of the second fluid channel, and a second position such that the valve membrane is extended into the recessed valve area thereby blocking the fluidic pathway between the inlet end of the first fluid channel and the outlet end of the second fluid channel;
• and
• b. a manifold coupled to the fluidic cartridge, wherein the manifold includes a plurality of air passages , at least one air passage is aligned with each recessed valve area, further wherein the manifold is configured to apply air pressure to select ones of the plurality of recessed valve areas thereby actuating the corresponding valve membranes into the second position.