Waveform sensing and regulating fluid flow valve
AssigneesChildren's Medical Center Corporation, New Jersey Institute of Technology
InventorsJoseph R. Madsen, Dentcho Ivanov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Microfluidic shunt valves are disclosed having a deflectable element capable of being held in a closed position to occlude the passage of fluid between an inlet and outlet and, when not held in the closed position, the deflectable element is adapted to oscillate in response to fluid pressure pulses and thereby facilitate fluid passage through the valve. Controls for activating the deflectable element to permit fluid passage are also included.
Claims33
A microfluidic shunt valve for controlling the flow of pulsed fluid comprising
- a chip having at least one inlet and at least one outlet for fluid passage therebetween;
- an oscillating valve element having a deflectable element capable of being held in a closed position to occlude the passage of fluid between the inlet and outlet and, when not held in a closed position, further configured to oscillate in response to fluid pressure pulses and thereby facilitate fluid passage through the valve;
- and
- controls for activating the oscillating valve element to permit fluid passage.
A microfluidic valve assembly for controlling the flow of pulsed fluid with a plurality of valves, each valve comprising
- a channel to guide flow of a fluid;
- and
- an deflectable valve element disposed and configured to oscillate within the channel, and capable, when activated by a controller, of oscillating in response to fluid pulses to permit fluid passage, and
- the assembly further comprising electrical controls for activating a subset of the plurality of valves.
A microfluidic shunt valve for controlling the flow of pulsed fluid comprising
- a micro-machined structure defining a channel to guide flow of a fluid therethrough in a primary direction;
- an deflectable valve element disposed within the channel, and configured to oscillate in an open position in response to fluid pulses to permit fluid passage, and
- a sensor for measuring impedance of an oscillatory frequency of the deflectable valve element.
A shunt valve for controlling the flow of pulsed fluid comprising:
- a valve body with a distal end and a proximal end;
- a valve assembly disposed upon a semiconductor chip and having a plurality of oscillating valve elements, wherein each valve element is configured to oscillate in an open position and permit fluid flow when oscillating in response to fluid pulses, wherein each valve element is electrically isolated from at least a portion of the chip to permit impedance measurements of an oscillatory frequency of the valve element.
A microfluidic shunt valve for controlling the flow of pulsed fluid comprising
- a valve body having at least one inlet and at least one outlet and defining a passageway for a pulsed fluid therebetween;
- an oscillating valve element configured to oscillate in an open position in response to fluid pressure pulses and thereby permit fluid passage through the valve;
- and
- a controller for selectively applying a bias voltage to the oscillating valve element in a closed position to prevent fluid passage.
A microfluidic valve assembly for controlling the flow of pulsed fluid, the assembly comprising
- a plurality of channels to guide flow of a pulsed fluid;
- and
- a first deflectable valve element disposed within a first channel and configured to oscillate at a first resonant oscillatory frequency and permit fluid flow when oscillating in the first channel,
- at least one other deflectable valve element disposed within a second channel and configured to oscillate at a second resonant oscillatory frequency and permit fluid flow when oscillating in the second channel, and
- electrical controls for activating at least a subset of the plurality of valves.
A microfluidic shunt valve for controlling the flow of pulsed fluid comprising
- a valve body having at least one inlet and at least one outlet and defining a passageway for a pulsed fluid therebetween;
- and
- an oscillating valve element configured to oscillate in an open position within the passageway and permit fluid flow when oscillating in response to fluid pressure pulses and having a deflectable element with a resonant frequency that permits fluid passage through the valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.