PMDS microfluidic components and methods of operation of the same
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsEmil Kartalov, Axel Scherer, W. French Anderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Component microfluidic devices which are integrated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic chips, include designs for an electrical and optical pressure gauge, valve, electrostatic and magnetic pumps, alternating or mixing pumps, a solenoid, a magnetometer, a magnetically actuated reversible filter and valve, and a hydrolysis valve. These devices enhance and miniaturize microfluidic control, thereby expanding the available capabilities and allowing complete system miniaturization for handheld diagnostic apparatuses.
Claims5
A microfluidic apparatus for measuring pressure comprising:
- a plurality of fluidic microvalves;
- a control channel for admitting a pressure to be measured communicated to the plurality of fluidic microvalves;
- a plurality of flow channels corresponding to the plurality of fluidic microvalves, where each of the plurality of fluidic microvalves is characterized by a different closing/opening pressure;
- and
- a plurality of transducers corresponding to the plurality of flow channels to measure a parameter of the corresponding flow channel indicative of valve closure status from which the pressure can be determined within a magnitude interval.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.