In an example implementation, a method of controlling a microfluidic valve includes activating a first inertial pump at a first frequency, and a second inertial pump at a second frequency to create a first fluid flow pattern within a microfluidic valve. The method also includes adjusting at least one of the first frequency and the second frequency to change the first fluid flow pattern to a second fluid flow pattern.

Provided is a micro-valve having a laminate structure capable of improving sealing performance when a foreign substance is mixed. The micro-valve 10 has a laminate structure and includes a base layer 20 and a diaphragm layer 30. The base layer is formed with an inlet port 23 for introducing a gas into the micro-valve and an outlet port for allowing the gas to flow outside. The diaphragm layer is arranged to face the base layer. The diaphragm layer switches the flowing and blocking of the gas from the inlet port to the outlet port by elastic deformation thereof. The diaphragm layer has a configuration in which a plurality of deformation regions 33 and a plurality of rigid body regions 34 are alternately formed, the deformation region being elastically deformable in accordance with an inflow of a pneumatic fluid into the micro-valve. The diaphragm layer closes at least one of the inlet port and the outlet port by elastic deformation of at least a part of the plurality of deformation regions.

An apparatus for controlling flow of ER fluid. The apparatus has a first channel 10 for conveying carrier fluid 1 of a first dielectric constant and droplets 2 of a second dielectric constant in the carrier fluid. The apparatus further comprises a second channel 20 conveying the ER fluid and a first conductor 100 for conveying an electrical potential from the second channel to the first channel. A circuit 61 is provided for applying potential difference between the first and second channels. When a droplet is present in the first channel, the ER fluid is solidified in the second channel; when no droplet is present, the ER fluid flows as liquid in the second channel. Therefore the apparatus acts as an IF gate. Arrangements for other types of fluidic logic gate are also disclosed.

There is provided a microparticle sorting method including a procedure of collecting a microparticle in a fluid that flows through a main channel in a branch channel that is in communication with the main channel by generating a negative pressure in the branch channel. In the procedure, a flow of a fluid is formed that flows toward a side of the main channel from a side of the branch channel at a communication opening between the main channel and the branch channel.

Various embodiments of the teachings relate to a system or method for sample preparation or analysis in biochemical or molecular biology procedures. The sample preparation can involve small volume processed in discrete portions or segments or slugs, herein referred to as discrete volumes. A molecular biology procedure can be nucleic acid analysis. Nucleic acid analysis can be an integrated DNA amplification/DNA sequencing procedure.

A micro check valve includes a substrate body having a top side and an underside, at least the top side having a sealing bar between a first trough and a second trough. The substrate body also has a passage which leads from the underside of the substrate body to the top side of the substrate body and ends on the top side of the substrate body in the first trough. In addition arranged on the top side of the substrate body is a diaphragm which is mounted flexibly at least in the region of the sealing bar and the first and second troughs. The diaphragm also has at least one through opening arranged above the second trough.

The present invention relates to a low-cost, thermally reversible valve for paper-fluidic diagnostic devices. In particular, this invention demonstrates a tunable valve mechanism fabricated by wax-ink printing and localized heating via thin-film resistors to sequentially release liquids through a cellulose or nitrocellulose membrane. The wax-ink valve can obstruct fluid flow for a sustained time and are thermally actuated to release a controlled amount of liquid past the valve. This integrated paper-fluidic diagnostic assay device requires minimal user involvement, can be easily manufactured and tuned to meet various fluid delivery timing and incubation needs.

A microchannel heat exchanger is configured for use as an evaporator in a fluid cooling system and includes an inlet header, an outlet header, and a plurality of microchannel tubes extending between and in fluid communication with the inlet header and the outlet header. A microvalve actuated hybrid spool valve is attached to and in fluid communication with the inlet header.

Disclosed is a bi-directional exhalation valve useful for many applications such as in CPAP devices. The exhalation valve includes a valve body having a center chamber, side chambers, and bidirectional ports coupled to the center chamber via passages and a mechanism that provides fluid ingress into the bi-directional valve in a first mode of operation or fluid egress from the bi-directional valve in a second mode of operation. Unidirectional ports are coupled to the plurality of bidirectional ports to provide providing fluid egress from the valve in the second mode of operation, and a unidirectional port provides fluid ingress into the bi-directional valve in the first mode of operation. A mechanism including a center paddle, side paddles, and a shaft are arranged in an elongated compartment of the valve body, such that the shaft is pivots and the central and side paddles open and close corresponding ones of the input and output ports.

The invention provides methods for assessing one or more predetermined characteristics or properties of a microfluidic droplet within a microfluidic channel, and regulating one or more fluid flow rates within that channel to selectively alter the predetermined microdroplet characteristic or property using a feedback control.