# US 8,464,760 B2 · Valve unit, reaction apparatus with the same, and method of forming valve in channel

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- Number: US 8,464,760 B2
- Document ID: US8464760B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/770,762
- Filed: 2007-06-29
- Published: 2008-02-21
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2006-08-16
- Assignees: Samsung Electronic Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Jong-myeon Park; Jeong-gun Lee
- Inventors: Jong-myeon Park; Jeong-gun Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464760B2

## CPC

- F16K 99/0032: {using phase transition or influencing viscosity}
- B01L 3/502738: {characterised by integrated valves (throttle valves in microfluidic sample containers B01L3/502746)}
- F16K 99/0001: {Microvalves (microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006)}
- F16K 99/004: {using radiation}
- B01L 2300/0806: Standardised forms, e.g. compact disc [CD] format
- B01L 2300/087: Multiple sequential chambers
- B01L 2300/0887: Laminated structure
- B01L 2300/1861: using radiation
- B01L 2400/0677: phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
- F16K 2099/0084: {Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology}
- Y10T 29/49405: Valve or choke making
- Y10T 137/2196: Acoustical or thermal energy
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A valve unit, a reaction apparatus with the same, and a method of forming a valve by injecting a valve material into a channel are provided. The valve unit comprises a fluid channel constituting a flow path of a fluid and having a portion containing a first area of a first dimension (“D1”) and a second area of a second dimension (“D2”), wherein D1<D2, the second area is located on one side of the first area, and the first area has a distance of G in the direction of the fluid channel; and a valve formed in the first area of the fluid channel by filling the first area and made of a phase changeable valve material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A valve unit comprising:
a fluid channel constituting a flow path of a fluid and having a portion including a first area of a first depth and a second area of a second depth which is greater than the first depth, wherein the second area is located on one side of the first area, and the first area has a width in a direction of the fluid channel; and
a valve material formed only in the first area of the fluid channel by filling the first area and comprising a phase changeable valve material,
wherein a direction of the first and second depths is substantially parallel to a direction of irradiation of an external energy used for heating the phase changeable material, and
wherein the portion of the fluid channel further contains a third area of a third depth which is greater than the first depth, and the third area is located on the other side of the first area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The valve unit of claim 1, wherein the phase changeable valve material comprises a phase change material and a plurality of minute heating particles.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The valve unit of claim 2, wherein the minute heating particles are dispersed in a hydrophobic carrier oil.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The valve unit of claim 2, wherein the minute heating particles are in the form of at least one of a polymer particle, a quantum dot, and a magnetic bead.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The valve unit of claim 4, wherein the magnetic bead includes at least one selected from Fe, Ni, Cr, and an oxide thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The valve unit of claim 2, wherein the phase change material is at least one selected from wax, gel, and a thermoplastic resin.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The valve unit of claim 6, wherein the wax is at least one selected from paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, synthetic wax, and natural wax.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The valve unit of claim 6, wherein the gel is at least one selected from polyacrylamide, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, and polyvinylamides.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The valve unit of claim 6, wherein the thermoplastic resin is at least one selected from cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), polymethylmethacrylate (acrylic) (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), polyacetal engineering polymers (POM), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyamide (PA), polysulfone (PSU), polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The valve unit of claim 1, which further comprises the external energy source which irradiates electromagnetic waves to the valve material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The valve unit of claim 10, wherein the external energy source comprises a laser light source irradiating a laser beam.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The valve unit of claim 11, wherein the laser light source includes a laser diode.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The valve unit of claim 11, wherein the laser beam irradiated from the laser light source is a pulse electromagnetic wave having an energy of at least a 1 mJ/pulse.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The valve unit of claim 11, wherein the laser beam irradiated from the laser light source is a continuous wave electromagnetic wave having an output of at least 10 mW.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The valve unit of claim 11, wherein the laser beam irradiated from the laser light source has a wavelength of 750 to 1300 nm.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The valve unit of claim 1, wherein the width is smaller than the first depth and the second depth.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The valve unit of claim 1, wherein the first area has the width in the range of 200 to 500 μm.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The valve unit of claim 1, wherein the fluid channel is formed in a substrate, the substrate being formed of a first layer and a second layer, which are bonded together to form the substrate, wherein the first, second and third areas of the fluid channel are configured by a first hole in the first layer and a pair of second holes in the second layer, in which at least one of the second holes is spaced from the first hole by the width to form the first area.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The valve unit of claim 18, wherein the second holes in the second layer form the fluid channel.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The valve unit of claim 1, wherein the first area is recessed from a bottom of the fluid channel by the first depth.

### Claim 21

A reaction apparatus comprising:
a substrate formed of a first layer and a second layer, the first and the second layers being bonded together to form the substrate;
a fluid channel formed in the substrate and constituting a flow path of a fluid;
a fluid chamber formed in the channel to receive the fluid; and
a valve unit closing and opening the channel,
wherein the valve unit includes:
a portion of the fluid channel which includes a first area of a first depth and a second area of a second depth which is greater than the first depth, wherein the second area is located on one side of the first area, and the first area has a width in a direction of the fluid channel; and
a valve material formed only in the first area of the fluid channel by filling the first area and comprising a phase changeable valve material,
wherein a direction of the first and second depths is substantially parallel to a direction of irradiation of an external energy used for heating the phase changeable material, and
wherein the portion of the fluid channel further contains a third area of a third depth which is greater than the first depth, and the third area is located on the other side of the first area.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The reaction apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first, second and third areas are configured by a first hole in the first layer and a pair of second holes in the second layer, in which at least one of the second holes is spaced from the first hole by the width to form the first area.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The reaction apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second holes in the second layer form the fluid channel.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The reaction apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first hole in the first layer is used to introduce the valve material into the valve unit.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The reaction apparatus of claim 21, wherein the phase changeable valve material comprises a phase change material and a plurality of minute heating particles.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The reaction apparatus of claim 25, wherein the minute heating particles are dispersed in a hydrophobic carrier oil.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The reaction apparatus of claim 25, wherein the minute heating particles are in the form of at least one of a polymer particle, a quantum dot, and a magnetic bead.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The reaction apparatus of claim 27, wherein the magnetic bead includes at least one selected from Fe, Ni, Cr, and an oxide thereof.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The reaction apparatus of claim 25, wherein the phase change material is at least one selected from wax, gel, and a thermoplastic resin.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The reaction apparatus of claim 29, wherein the wax is at least one selected from paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, synthetic wax, and natural wax.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The reaction apparatus of claim 29, wherein the gel is at least one selected from polyacrylamide, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, and polyvinylamides.

### Claim 32 (depends on 29)

The reaction apparatus of claim 29, wherein the thermoplastic resin is at least one selected from cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), polymethylmethacrylate (acrylic) (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), polyacetal engineering polymers (POM), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyamide (PA), polysulfone (PSU), polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF).

### Claim 33 (depends on 21)

The reaction apparatus of claim 21, which further comprises an external energy source which irradiates electromagnetic waves to the valve.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The reaction apparatus of claim 33, wherein the external energy source comprises a laser light source irradiating a laser beam.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The reaction apparatus of claim 34, wherein the laser light source includes a laser diode.

### Claim 36 (depends on 34)

The reaction apparatus of claim 34, wherein the laser beam irradiated from the laser light source is a pulse electromagnetic wave having an energy of at least a 1 mJ/pulse.

### Claim 37 (depends on 34)

The reaction apparatus of claim 34, wherein the laser beam irradiated from the laser light source is a continuous wave electromagnetic wave having an output of at least 10 mW.

### Claim 38 (depends on 34)

The reaction apparatus of claim 34, wherein the laser beam irradiated from the laser light source has a wavelength of 750 to 1300 nm.

### Claim 39 (depends on 21)

The reaction apparatus of claim 21, wherein the width is smaller than the first depth and the second depth.

### Claim 40 (depends on 21)

The reaction apparatus of claim 21, wherein the length of the first area is in the range of 200 to 500 μm.

### Claim 41 (depends on 21)

The reaction apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a revolving member rotating the substrate, wherein the fluid is pumped by a centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the substrate.