A micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) exhaust valve-based impact attenuating fluid filled cell for use in cushioning impact and decelerating of a wearer's body portion (e.g. head, shoulder, torso, etc.) after an impact. In combination with the use of accelerometers, pressure sensors, location and other electronics supply signals to a microcontroller, the controlled opening/closing of said exhaust valve (resulting in the expelling of said fluids with an optional combination with cell refill means) when certain parameters exceed a threshold. Individuals who engage in activities that carry a risk of injury to the head from impact in the normal course of the activity could, in combination with regular exams, benefit from a system that produces and updates a kinematic 3D model of the individual's head, including brain matter, cerebrospinal fluid paths, arterial and venous blood flow pathways, as well as the skull, supporting connective tissues and other biological structures in the head suitable for interaction with exogenous stimuli prepared from hypothetical or actual recorded impact events.

A strained bilayer film with reinforcing members is used to open and close gas flow outlets in a microvalve array. The bottom layer of the bilayer film is compressive and the top layer is tensile. Reinforcing members are made from compressive material that accomplishes the dual objectives of reducing potential defects at the interface between the anchor region and the free region of the actuator, and controlling the stresses along the edges of the strained bilayer to avoid curling as the actuator unrolls from its normal coiled configuration in response to an applied voltage. Because of the configuration, the strained bilayer film occupies a minimal amount of space compared to other systems when the valve is opened, and it permits a higher density of microvalves to be utilized. Optional supports are provided over gas flow channel openings to increase the area over which the voltage is applied, increasing electrostatic stability of the actuators in maintaining their unrolled state for a variety of uses. Such uses include, but are not limited to, pneumatic manifolds or other practical uses that involve transmission of air or fluids, including for lab-on-a-chip applications, as well as for providing air flow channels for a configurable tactile tablet to provide the visually impaired with a tactile representation of shapes and designs, to name some examples.

A gas transportation device includes an inlet plate, a substrate, a resonance plate, an actuating plate, a piezoelectric component and an outlet plate stacked sequentially. The gas transportation device includes a valve disposed within at least one of the inlet of the inlet plate and the outlet of the outlet plate. A first chamber is formed between the resonance plate and the actuating plate, and a second chamber is formed between the actuating plate and the outlet plate. When the piezoelectric component drives the actuating plate, a pressure gradient is formed between the first and second chambers and the valve is opened. Accordingly, gas is inhaled into the convergence chamber via the inlet, transported into the first chamber through a central aperture of the resonance plate, transported into the second chamber through a vacant space of the actuating plate, and then discharged out from the outlet, so as to transport the gas.

Disclosed is a minifluidic device including a matrix, an elongated guiding duct embedded at least in part in the matrix, with at least one port to the outside of the matrix, a movable fiber at least partly contained in the guiding duct, and able to undergo within the guiding duct, and at least along some part of the fiber, at least one action selected among a sliding, or a deformation, or a rotation and at least one of the movable fiber or the guiding duct is elastic or is non linear along at least part of its length, or at least part of the matrix is elastic.

A method for large scale integration of haptic devices is described. The method comprises forming a first elastomer layer of a large scale integration (LSI) device on a substrate according to a specified manufacturing process, the first elastomer layer having a plurality of fluid based circuits, the first elastomer layer adhering to a plurality of formation specifications. The method further comprises curing the first elastomer layer. Additionally, one or more additional elastomer layers of the LSI device are formed with the first elastomer layer according to the specified manufacturing process, the one or more additional elastomer layers having a plurality of fluid based circuits, the one or more additional elastomer layers adhering to the plurality of formation specifications.

A method for large scale integration of haptic devices is described. The method comprises forming a first elastomer layer of a large scale integration (LSI) device on a substrate according to a specified manufacturing process, the first elastomer layer having a plurality of fluid based circuits, the first elastomer layer adhering to a plurality of formation specifications. The method further comprises curing the first elastomer layer. Additionally, one or more additional elastomer layers of the LSI device are formed with the first elastomer layer according to the specified manufacturing process, the one or more additional elastomer layers having a plurality of fluid based circuits, the one or more additional elastomer layers adhering to the plurality of formation specifications.

A pneumatic system for a medical fluid machine operating a medical fluid cassette, the pneumatic system including an interface for supplying positive pneumatic pressure and negative pneumatic pressure to the medical fluid cassette; a source of positive pneumatic pressure; a source of negative pneumatic pressure; and a pneumatic pump including a first head and a second head, wherein the first head is dedicated to supplying positive pneumatic pressure to the positive pneumatic pressure source and the second head is dedicated to supplying negative pneumatic pressure to the negative pneumatic pressure source.

A three-way (3-way) Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-based micro-valve device and method of fabrication for the implementation of a three-way MEMS-based micro-valve are disclosed. The micro-valve device has a wide range of applications, including medical, industrial control, aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics and products, as well as any application(s) requiring the use of three-way micro-valves for the control of fluids. The discloses three-way micro-valve device and method of fabrication that can be tailored to the requirements of a wide range of applications and fluid types, and can also use a number of different actuation methods, including actuation methods that have very small actuation pressures and energy densities even at higher fluidic pressures. This is enabled by a novel pressure-balancing scheme, wherein the fluid pressure balances the actuator mechanism so that only a small amount of actuation pressure (or force) is needed to switch the state of the actuator and device from open to closed, or closed to open.

A medical fluid pneumatic manifold system includes a first plate including a plurality of apertures, a second plate attached to the first plate so as to form a plurality of pneumatic flowpaths sealed between the first plate and the second plate, a plurality of tubing connections and a plurality of pneumatic tubes connected to the plurality of tubing connections, the plurality of tubing connections placing the plurality of pneumatic tubes in pneumatic communication with the plurality of pneumatic flowpaths via the plurality of apertures of the first plate, and a pneumatic reservoir in pneumatic communication with the plurality of pneumatic flowpaths, the pneumatic reservoir configured to provide pneumatic pressure to the plurality of pneumatic tubes.

A system, method, and apparatus for the fermentation of a beverage by use of continuous flow is provided. The fermented beverage can be any of a wine, beer, mead, ale, soda, cider, or other. The invention provides for small-scale fermentation that can be done in a much shorter time than previous batch fermentations. The small-scale and shortened time allows for variables to be introduced and tested to produce new varieties, flavors, qualities, and other combinations that are inputs of the fermented beverage.