F16K2099/0094

MINIATURE FLUID CONTROL DEVICE

A miniature fluid control device includes a piezoelectric actuator and a housing. The piezoelectric actuator comprises a suspension plate, an outer frame, at least one bracket and a piezoelectric ceramic plate. The piezoelectric ceramic plate is attached on a first surface of the suspension plate and has a length not larger than that of the suspension plate. The housing includes a gas collecting plate and a base. The gas collecting plate is a frame body with a sidewall and comprises a plurality of perforations. The base seals a bottom of the piezoelectric actuator and has a central aperture corresponding to the middle portion of the suspension plate. When the voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator, the suspension plate is permitted to undergo the curvy vibration, the fluid is transferred from the central aperture of the base to the gas-collecting chamber, and exited from the perforations.

PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR

A piezoelectric actuator includes a suspension plate, a piezoelectric ceramic plate, an outer frame and a bracket. The suspension plate is permitted to undergo a curvy vibration from a middle portion to a periphery portion. The piezoelectric ceramic plate is attached on the suspension plate. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric ceramic plate, the suspension plate is driven to undergo the curvy vibration. The outer frame is arranged around the suspension plate. The bracket is connected between the suspension plate and the outer frame for elastically supporting the suspension plate, and includes an intermediate part formed in a vacant space between the suspension plate and the outer frame and in parallel with the outer frame and the suspension plate, a first connecting part arranged between the intermediate part and the suspension plate, and a second connecting part arranged between the intermediate part and the outer frame.

MINIATURE PNEUMATIC DEVICE

A miniature pneumatic device includes a miniature fluid control device and a miniature valve device. The miniature fluid control device includes a gas inlet plate, a resonance plate, a piezoelectric actuator and a gas collecting plate. A first chamber is formed between the resonance plate and the piezoelectric actuator. After a gas is fed into the gas inlet plate, the gas is transferred to the first chamber through the resonance plate and then transferred downwardly. Consequently, a pressure gradient is generated to continuously push the gas. The miniature valve device includes a valve plate and a gas outlet plate. After the gas is transferred from the miniature fluid control device to the miniature valve device, the valve opening of the valve plate is correspondingly opened or closed and the gas is transferred in one direction. Consequently, a pressure-collecting operation or a pressure-releasing operation is selectively performed.

PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR

A piezoelectric actuator includes a suspension plate, an outer frame, at least one bracket and a piezoelectric ceramic plate. The suspension plate is a square structure. The length of the suspension plate is in a range between 4 mm and 8 mm, and the suspension plate is permitted to undergo a curvy vibration from a middle portion to a periphery portion. The outer frame is arranged around the suspension plate. The at least one bracket is connected between the suspension plate and the outer frame for elastically supporting the suspension plate. The piezoelectric ceramic plate is a square structure and has a length not larger than a length of the suspension plate. The piezoelectric ceramic plate is attached on a first surface of the suspension plate. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric ceramic plate, the suspension plate is driven to undergo the curvy vibration.

MINIATURE PNEUMATIC DEVICE

A miniature pneumatic device includes a miniature fluid control device and a miniature valve device. The miniature fluid control device includes a gas inlet plate, a resonance plate, a piezoelectric actuator and a gas collecting plate. A first chamber is formed between the resonance plate and the piezoelectric actuator. After a gas is fed into the gas inlet plate, the gas is transferred to the first chamber through the resonance plate and then transferred downwardly. Consequently, a pressure gradient is generated to continuously push the gas. The miniature valve device includes a valve plate and a gas outlet plate. After the gas is transferred from the miniature fluid control device to the miniature valve device, the valve opening of the valve plate is correspondingly opened or closed and the gas is transferred in one direction. Consequently, a pressure-collecting operation or a pressure-releasing operation is selectively performed.

MINIATURE FLUID CONTROL DEVICE

A miniature fluid control device includes a gas inlet plate, a resonance plate and a piezoelectric actuator. The gas inlet plate includes at least one inlet, at least one convergence channel and a central cavity. A convergence chamber is defined by the central cavity. The resonance plate has a central aperture. The piezoelectric actuator includes a suspension plate, an outer frame and a piezoelectric ceramic plate. A gap is formed between the resonance plate and the piezoelectric actuator to define a first chamber. When the piezoelectric actuator is driven and after the gas is fed into the miniature fluid control device through the inlet of the gas inlet plate, the gas is sequentially converged to the central cavity through the convergence channel, transferred through the central aperture of the resonance plate, introduced into the first chamber, transferred downwardly through the piezoelectric actuator, and exited from the miniature fluid control device.

ELASTOMERIC FOCUSING VALVES
20170321821 · 2017-11-09 ·

A fluid valve is provided that includes a first planar substrate having a smooth surface or a surface with features, an elastomer disposed on the first substrate, a second planar substrate disposed on another side of the elastomer, where the second substrate has a smooth surface or features, where the first and second substrate are more rigid than the elastomer, where the first substrate, the second substrate or the elastomer has a fluid channel, where the channel is open when the first or second substrate are in a first thermal state or a first compression state, where the channel is closed or partially closed when the first or second substrate are in a second thermal state or a second compression state, where the second thermal state is a different temperature than the first thermal state, where the second compression state is a different pressure than the first compression state.

Fluid system

A fluid system includes a fluid active region, a fluid channel, a convergence chamber and plural valves. The fluid active region includes at least one fluid-guiding unit. The fluid-guiding unit is enabled under control to transport fluid to be discharged out through the outlet aperture. The fluid channel is in communication with the outlet aperture of the fluid active region, and has plural branch channels to split the fluid discharged from the fluid active region. The convergence chamber is in communication with the fluid channel. The valves each of which is disposed in the corresponding branch channel, wherein the fluid is discharged out through the branch channels according to opened/closed states of the valves under control. The fluid system of the present disclosure is capable of acquiring required flow rate, pressure and amount of the fluid to be transported.

MULTIWELL PLATE WITH INTEGRATED STIRRING MECHANISM

This invention describes a design for a multiwell plate that contains integrated pumps that are used to stir each well of the plate. The device employs microfluidic logic technology to drive each peristaltic pump. This enables the plates to run autonomously, requiring only a static vacuum supply for power. The devices are entirely constructed out of low-cost polymers, with no electronics, and yet contains simple digital logic circuits to control the pumps. A stack of these plates may be run continuously in a standard cell culture incubator, allowing high-throughput culture of organoids.

Fluid system

A fluid system includes a fluid active region, a fluid channel, a convergence chamber, a sensor and plural valves. The fluid active region includes at least one fluid-guiding unit. The fluid-guiding unit is enabled under control to transport fluid to be discharged out through an outlet aperture. The fluid channel is in communication with the outlet aperture of the fluid active region, and has plural branch channels for splitting the fluid discharged from the fluid active region. The convergence chamber is in communication with the fluid channel. The sensor is disposed in the fluid channel for measuring fluid. The valves each of which is disposed in the corresponding branch channel, wherein the fluid is discharged out through the branch channels according to opened/closed states of the valves under control. The fluid system is capable of acquiring required flow rate, pressure and amount of the fluid to be transported.