Low-voltage microfluidic valve device and system for regulating the flow of fluid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019291107-A1
Application number	US-201615774440-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 22, 2016
Priority date	Nov 24, 2015
Publication date	Sep 26, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A low-voltage microfluidic valve device and system for regulating the flow of fluid. One low-voltage microfluidic valve device for regulating the low of fluid includes a nano-textured dendritic metallic filament configured to grow and retract in response to a voltage. The low-voltage microfluidic valve device also includes a microfluidic channel configured to allow fluid flow, wherein the fluid flow is selectively interrupted by the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament. The low-voltage microfluidic valve device also includes a membrane positioned proximate to the fluid and configured to alter shape in response to the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A low-voltage microfluidic valve device for regulating the flow of a fluid, the device comprising:
a nano-textured dendritic metallic filament configured to grow and retract in response to a voltage; a membrane positioned proximate to the fluid and configured to alter shape in response to the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament; and a microfluidic channel configured to allow fluid flow, wherein the fluid flow is selectively interrupted by the membrane when the shape is altered by the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament.

2 . The low-voltage microfluidic valve device of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is configured to isolate the fluid from an underlying metal and solid electrolyte.

3 . The low-voltage microfluidic valve device of claim 2 , wherein the underlying metal and solid electrolyte is constructed of chalcogenide.

4 . The low-voltage microfluidic valve device of claim 1 , further comprising a power supply for providing the voltage to the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament.

5 . The low-voltage microfluidic valve device of claim 4 , wherein the power supply is a direct current power supply.

6 . The low-voltage microfluidic valve device of claim 1 , wherein the growth and retraction of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament is based on a reversible petal effect that controls the fluid flow.

7 . The low-voltage microfluidic valve device of claim 1 , wherein the nano-textured dentritic metallic filament is configured to grow in response to a positive direct current voltage and wherein the nano-textured dentritic metallic filament is configured to retract in response to a negative direct current voltage.

8 . The low-voltage microfluidic valve device of claim 1 , further comprising a first electrode and a second electrode opposite the first electrode, and wherein the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament is configured to grow and retract in response to a voltage applied across the first electrode and the second electrode.

9 . The low-voltage microfluidic valve device of claim 8 , wherein the first electrode is constructed of silver and the second electrode is constructed of nickel, and wherein the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament is configured to grow and retract from the second electrode in response to a voltage applied across the first electrode and the second electrode.

10 . The low-voltage microfluidic valve device of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic channel is enclosed by the membrane and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane and wherein the microfluidic channel is 25 μm in depth.

11 . A system of regulating a flow of a fluid, the system comprising:
a low-voltage microfluidic valve device, the low-voltage microfluidic valve device including
a first electrode and a second electrode opposite the first electrode,
a nano-textured dendritic metallic filament configured to grow and retract,
a membrane positioned proximate to the fluid and configured to alter shape in response to the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament, and
a microfluidic channel configured to allow fluid flow, wherein the fluid flow is selectively interrupted by the membrane when the shape is altered by the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament; and
a power supply, wherein the power supply is configured to provide the voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode of the low-voltage microfluidic valve device.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the low-voltage microfluidic valve device further includes an underlying metal and solid electrolyte.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the membrane is configured to isolate the fluid from the underlying metal and solid electrolyte.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the underlying metal and solid electrolyte is constructed of silver-doped chalcogenide.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament is configured to grow and retract in response to the voltage applied across the first electrode and the second electrode.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the growth and retraction of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament is based on a reversible petal effect that controls the fluid flow through the microfluidic channel.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the nano-textured dentritic metallic filament is configured to grow in response to a positive voltage and wherein the nano-textured dentritic metallic filament is configured to retract in response to a negative voltage.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first electrode is constructed of silver and the second electrode is constructed of nickel, and wherein the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament is configured to grow and retract from the second electrode in response to a voltage applied across the first electrode and the second electrode.

Assignees

• Univ Arizona State

Inventors

• Kozicki Michael N
• Chae Junseok

Classifications

• F16K99/0026

  Valves using channel deformation · CPC title

• F16K2099/0084

  Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology · CPC title

• F16K99/0042

  Electric operating means therefor · CPC title

• F16K2099/0074

  using photolithography, e.g. etching · CPC title

• B01L2300/12

  Specific details about materials · CPC title