Microfluidic thermal bend actuated pressure pulse valve
AssigneeGeneasys Pty Ltd
InventorsMehdi Azimi, Matthew Taylor Worsman, Kia Silverbrook
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microfluidic thermal bend actuated pressure pulse valve having an inlet for receiving a flow of liquid, an outlet for outputting the flow of liquid, a meniscus anchor between the inlet and the outlet such that the flow from the inlet towards the outlet stops at the meniscus anchor where the liquid forms a meniscus, a movable member for contacting the liquid, and, a thermal expansion actuator for displacing the movable member to generate a pulse in the liquid to dislodge the meniscus such that the liquid flow towards the outlet resumes.
Claims15
A microfluidic thermal bend actuated pressure pulse valve comprising:
- an inlet for receiving a flow of liquid;
- an outlet for outputting the flow of liquid, the outlet being in fluid communication with the inlet;
- a meniscus anchor between the inlet and the outlet such that the flow from the inlet towards the outlet stops at the meniscus anchor where the liquid forms a meniscus;
- a movable member for contacting the liquid;
- and,
- a thermal expansion actuator for displacing the movable member to generate a pulse in the liquid to dislodge the meniscus such that the liquid flow towards the outlet resumes;
- wherein during use,
- the liquid flow from the inlet to the meniscus anchor is via capillary action and the liquid flow immediately downstream of the meniscus anchor to the outlet is via capillary action.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.