Capsule, in-line magnetic valve system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11035498-B2
Application number	US-201715829565-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2017
Priority date	Dec 1, 2016
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

A capsule is disclosed which includes a flexible outer shell capable of transforming into an asymmetric shape; an internal medium encapsulated by the outer shell, the medium including a plurality of magnetic particles, wherein the magnetic particles can move in response to an applied magnetic field. A valve system includes an in-line valve sized to fit within a flow channel including a capsule having a flexible outer shell containing an internal medium encapsulated by the outer shell, the medium including a plurality of magnetic particles; and a magnetic field source disposed about the exterior wall of the channel.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A capsule comprising:
a flexible outer shell comprising an inlet side and an outlet side capable of transforming into an asymmetric shape where the asymmetry is from the inlet side to the outlet side, wherein the flexible outer shell inlet side is free to move in response to a fluid flow; and
an internal medium encapsulated by the outer shell, the medium comprising a plurality of magnetic particles, wherein the plurality of magnetic particles are capable of moving in an applied external magnetic field to transform the outer shell.

2. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the medium can transition between a solid phase and a liquid phase in which the magnetic particles can migrate.

3. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the medium is liquid and the magnetic particles can be immobilized or set free to migrate.

4. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the outer shell is water-impermeable.

5. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the medium is contained in the outer shell by polymer synthesis over the medium.

6. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the medium is contained in the outer shell by polymer deposition over the medium.

7. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the medium is contained in the outer shell by encapsulating a phase-change material molded in solid phase, wherein medium is capable of transition to liquid phase.

8. The capsule of claim 7 , wherein the phase-change material is thermally degraded to permanently lower its melting point below an operating temperature of the valve.

9. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic particles comprise ferromagnetic or superparamagnetic particles.

10. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises polyethylene-glycol.

11. A valve system comprising:
an in-line valve, sized to fit within a flow channel, and comprising a flexible capsule comprising an inlet side which is free to move in response to a fluid flow through the fluid channel and capable of transforming into an asymmetric shape having a flexible outer shell containing an internal medium encapsulated by the outer shell, the medium comprising a plurality of magnetic particles; and
a magnetic field source disposed about an exterior wall of the flow channel.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic field source is positioned at an outlet end of the capsule.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic field source provides a magnetic field gradient which attracts the magnetic particles.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the magnetic particle attraction to the magnetic field source pushes the capsule outer shell against an interior wall of the flow channel providing a sealing force.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the sealing force is adjusted based on the magnetic particles concentration, external magnetic field strength, and the flexibility of the capsule shell.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic field source is passive.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic field source is active.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic particles are free to migrate within the capsule medium, and are concentrated at the outlet end of the valve.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the capsule expands during a liquid phase to enhance sealing of the valve to the interior channel walls.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the flow channel is a tube.

21. The system of claim 11 , wherein the flow channel is a microchannel.

22. The system of claim 11 , wherein the valve comprises a flow rectifier.

23. The system of claim 11 , wherein the valve is a non-flow rectifier valve.

24. The system of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic field source is positioned in the middle of the capsule.

25. A valve system comprising:
an in-line valve, sized to fit within a flow channel, and comprising a flexible capsule capable of transforming into an asymmetric shape having a flexible outer shell containing an internal medium encapsulated by the outer shell, the medium comprising a plurality of magnetic particles, wherein the magnetic particles are free to migrate within the capsule medium, and are concentrated at the outlet end of the valve; and a magnetic field source disposed about an exterior wall of the flow channel.

Assignees

• Alfadhel Ahmed
• Hsu Meng Chun
• Borkholder David A
• Rochester Institute Tech

Inventors

• Alfadhel Ahmed
• Hsu Meng-Chun
• Borkholder David A

Classifications

• B01L3/5027

  by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip · CPC title

• B01L2400/0672

  Swellable plugs · CPC title

• B01L2400/0677

  phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers · CPC title

• F16K99/0021

  No-moving-parts valves · CPC title

• B01L3/5023

  with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis · CPC title