An apparatus and associated method, for controlling signal passage, includes a first passageway for a first fluid, a second passageway for a second fluid, and an interposed chamber. A first, movable diaphragm at a first chamber junction and a second, movable diaphragm at a second chamber junction, with a third fluid bound there between and interposed between the first and second passageways. A device varies a volume of the third fluid bound between the diaphragms and thus moves the diaphragms. A movable member and a reservoir of the device are configured such that the movable member is sufficiently movable to increase the volume of the reservoir to remove a sufficient portion of the third fluid bound between the first and second diaphragms from the chamber to cause the first and second diaphragms to be pressed against the first and second walls, respectively.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of magnetically controlled valve and pump systems that can be used to control and facilitate fluid flow in fluidic devices. Various types of magnetically controlled valves and pumps are described as well as methods of magnetically-controlling such valves and pumps.

A device for use with soft robotic devices comprises soft fluidic actuators, a microfluidic/minifluidic valves and channels module, a fluidic module, sensors, and a control module. The actuators are operable to apply predetermined effects to surfaces and/or objects. The microfluidic/minifluidic valves and channels module has micro/mini fluidic channels and on-chip fluidic pressure-controlled pinch valves forming a fluidic network. Each pinch valve has a valve pinch chamber, a membrane layer, and a valve control pressure chamber. The control module receives signals from the sensors and controls the fluidic module to control the pinch valves to induce flow of fluid under pressure to the actuators. An active compression apparel may include the device, and may have a skin contact backing layer and a strain-limiting backing layer sandwiching the actuators which are operable to provide compression to the skin and/or limb of a user through the at least one backing layer.

A device for use with soft robotic devices comprises soft fluidic actuators, a microfluidic/minifluidic valves and channels module, a fluidic module, sensors, and a control module. The actuators are operable to apply predetermined effects to surfaces and/or objects. The microfluidic/minifluidic valves and channels module has micro/mini fluidic channels and on-chip fluidic pressure-controlled pinch valves forming a fluidic network. Each pinch valve has a valve pinch chamber, a membrane layer, and a valve control pressure chamber. The control module receives signals from the sensors and controls the fluidic module to control the pinch valves to induce flow of fluid under pressure to the actuators. An active compression apparel may include the device, and may have a skin contact backing layer and a strain-limiting backing layer sandwiching the actuators which are operable to provide compression to the skin and/or limb of a user through the at least one backing layer.

An apparatus and associated method, for controlling signal passage, includes a first passageway for a first fluid, a second passageway for a second fluid, and an interposed chamber. A first, movable diaphragm at a first chamber junction and a second, movable diaphragm at a second chamber junction, with a third fluid bound there between and interposed between the first and second passageways. A device varies a volume of the third fluid bound between the diaphragms and thus moves the diaphragms. A movable member and a reservoir of the device are configured such that the movable member is sufficiently movable to increase the volume of the reservoir to remove a sufficient portion of the third fluid bound between the first and second diaphragms from the chamber to cause the first and second diaphragms to be pressed against the first and second walls, respectively.

An apparatus and associated method, for controlling signal passage, includes a first passageway for a first fluid, a second passageway for a second fluid, and an interposed chamber. A first, movable diaphragm at a first chamber junction and a second, movable diaphragm at a second chamber junction, with a third fluid bound there between and interposed between the first and second passageways. A device varies a volume of the third fluid bound between the diaphragms and thus moves the diaphragms. A movable member and a reservoir of the device are configured such that the movable member is sufficiently movable to increase the volume of the reservoir to remove a sufficient portion of the third fluid bound between the first and second diaphragms from the chamber to cause the first and second diaphragms to be pressed against the first and second walls, respectively.

A fluidic device controls fluid flow in a channel conduit from a fluid entrance to a fluid exit. In some embodiments, the fluidic device comprises the channel conduit, a flexible element, a cross member, and a gate. The channel conduit is bounded by an inner surface that includes a protrusion. The flexible element is coupled to the inner surface of the channel conduit on a different side of the inner surface as the protrusion. The cross member has a first end that is coupled to a deformable surface that is part of the inner surface of the channel conduit and a second end that is coupled to the flexible element. The gate is configured to deform the deformable surface in accordance with a fluid pressure at the gate. An amount of deformation imparted by the gate controls a position of the flexible element via the cross member.

A fluidic device controls fluid flow in a channel conduit from a fluid entrance to a fluid exit. In some embodiments, the fluidic device comprises the channel conduit, a flexible element, a cross member, and a gate. The channel conduit is bounded by an inner surface that includes a protrusion. The flexible element is coupled to the inner surface of the channel conduit on a different side of the inner surface as the protrusion. The cross member has a first end that is coupled to a deformable surface that is part of the inner surface of the channel conduit and a second end that is coupled to the flexible element. The gate is configured to deform the deformable surface in accordance with a fluid pressure at the gate. An amount of deformation imparted by the gate controls a position of the flexible element via the cross member.

Plastic microfluidic structures having a substantially rigid diaphragm that actuates between a relaxed state wherein the diaphragm sits against the surface of a substrate and an actuated state wherein the diaphragm is moved away from the substrate. As will be seen from the following description, the microfluidic structures formed with this diaphragm provide easy to manufacture and robust systems, as well readily made components such as valves and pumps.

A fluidic, device controls fluid flow in channel from a source to a drain. In some embodiments, the fluidic device comprises a channel and a gate. The channel is configured to transport a fluid from the source to the drain. The gate controls a rate of fluid flow in the channel in accordance with the fluid pressure within the gate. Specifically, the gate is configured to induce a first flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with a low pressure state of the gate, and a second flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with a high pressure state of the gate. In certain embodiments, the first flow rate is greater than the second flow rate. In alternative embodiments, the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate.