A fluid system includes a fluid actuating region, a fluid channel, a convergence chamber, a sensor and a plurality of valves. The fluid actuating region includes one or a plurality of fluid-guiding units. Each of the fluid-guiding units includes an inlet plate, a substrate, a resonance plate, an actuating plate, a piezoelectric member and an outlet plate, which are stacked sequentially. When the piezoelectric member drives the actuating plate to undergo a bending vibration in resonance, the fluid is transported into the fluid-guiding units and is pressurized to be discharged out. The fluid channel has a plurality of branch channels for splitting the fluid transported in the fluid actuating region. The convergence chamber is in communication with the fluid channel. The sensor is disposed in the fluid channel for measuring the fluid within the fluid channel.

A device 1 for generating a controlled ionic flow I is described. The device 1 is portable and comprises an ionization chamber 6, at least one inlet member 2 and at least one ion outlet member 3. The ionization chamber 6 is suitable to be kept at a vacuum pressure, and configured to ionize gaseous particles contained therein. The at least one inlet member 2 is configured to inhibit or allow and/or adjust an inlet in the ionization chamber of a gaseous flow Fi of said gaseous particles. In addition, the at least one inlet member 2 comprises a gaseous flow adjusting interface 22, having a plurality of nano-holes 20, of sub-micrometric dimensions, suitable to be opened or closed, in a controlled manner, to inhibit or allow a respective plurality of gas micro-flows through the at least one inlet member 2.

A fluid flow control device includes a resilient substrate translatable between a first flattened position and a second extended position, and an actuator attached to the resilient substrate. The actuator is configured for translating the resilient substrate from the first flattened position to the second extended position. The actuator is formed from a shape memory alloy transitionable between a first state and a second state in response to a change in temperature of the shape memory alloy. A fluid flow control system includes a rotor shield and the fluid flow control device attached to the rotor shield.

A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem including an actuation substrate, and a set of pins interacting with the actuation substrate, and a spring plate configured to bias at least one pin in a configurations, the valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; and a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols.

A resistively heated shape memory polymer device is operated using resistive heating to heat the shape memory polymer device. The resistively heated shape memory polymer device is made by providing a wire that includes a resistive medium. The wire is coated with a first shape memory polymer. The wire is exposed and electrical leads are attached to the wire. In one embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a clot destruction device. In another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a microvalve. In another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a micropump. In yet another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a thermostat or relay switch.

A fluid-control device comprises a stack of wafers in which flow components are provided as micro-electro-mechanical systemsMEMS. The flow components are selected from fluid-control components and/or fluid-monitor components. The fluid-control device has a first flow component that is encircled, in a main plane of the stack of wafers, by a second flow component.

A resistively heated shape memory polymer device is operated using resistive heating to heat the shape memory polymer device. The resistively heated shape memory polymer device is made by providing a wire that includes a resistive medium. The wire is coated with a first shape memory polymer. The wire is exposed and electrical leads are attached to the wire. In one embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a clot destruction device. In another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a microvalve. In another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a micropump. In yet another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a thermostat or relay switch.

A microvalve includes a first plate having a surface, a recessed area provided within the surface, a fluid port provided within the recessed area, and a sealing structure extending about the fluid port, the sealing structure having at least one divot formed therein. A second plate has a surface adjacent the surface of the first plate and including a displaceable member that is movable between a closed position, wherein the displaceable member cooperates with the sealing structure to prevent fluid communication through the fluid port, and an open position, wherein the displaceable member does not cooperate with at least a portion of the sealing structure to prevent fluid communication through the fluid port.

A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem including an actuation substrate, and a set of pins interacting with the actuation substrate, and a spring plate configured to bias at least one pin in a configurations, the valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; and a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols.

The present disclosure discloses a micro-flow valve control mechanism, which comprises an electromagnetic coil, a base, a ring seat, a moving plate and an elastic plate; wherein the elastic plate is positioned above the base, the ring seat and the moving plate are positioned between the base and the clastic plate, the moving plate is positioned at the inner side of the ring seat. In this scheme, the structure of valve air intake control is optimized, and the ring seat plays the guiding role in the lifting of the moving plate to a certain extent, which ensures that the moving plate will not deflect in the air intake process, so that the outer ring at the lower side of the moving plate can allow air to enter uniformly, thus ensuring the working stability of the electromagnetic valve.