The present invention relates to hydrogels and polymers suitable as building blocks for hydrogels as well as advantageous methods for encapsulating cells and/or particles. Also provided are kits and methods for producing the hydrogels.

The invention relates to a microfabricated valve (10), comprising a first channel (11), a second channel (12) and a connection channel (13). The connection channel (13) connects the first channel (11) and the second channel (12). The microfabricated valve further comprises a valve portion (14) arranged within the connection channel (13), wherein the valve portion (14) is adapted to selectively open and close the connection channel (13). Moreover the invention relates to a method comprising the steps: inserting the first channel (11) into the first layer (21), inserting the second channel (12) into the third layer (23), inserting the connection channel (13) with the valve portion (14) into the second layer (22), and then arranging the second layer (22) between the first layer (21) and the third layer (23). The invention relates furthermore to a test device, in particular for a biological application and in particular a method for performing a biological test cycle.

Microvalve assemblies are disclosed that in some examples include a body including first and second ports and a body plate. The microvalve assemblies further include an actuator assembly including one or more exterior plates coupled to a stack. One of the one or more exterior plates contacts the body plate to form a seat and thereby restrict fluid flow from the first port to the second port, when the stack is not energized. Additionally, the actuator assembly is configured to, when the stack is energized, periodically generate a gap between the one of the one or more exterior plates and the body plate via near-field-acoustic-levitation (NFAL) to allow fluid flow through the first and second ports. Advantageously, the microvalves of this technology are relatively small and consume minimal power, thereby overcoming size and power limitations of existing valves, including pneumatic valve technologies.

Systems and methods for fabricating 3D soft microstructures. The system comprises injecting a pressurized, curable liquid into certain structural layers induces folding and allows the 2D structures to reconfigure into a 3D form In addition to the injection of a curable liquid that permanently reconfigures the structure of the system, in an embodiment this method also allows for the injection of other liquids into certain actuator layers that enable motion in certain portions of the system Furthermore, the system allows for handling of colored fluids that are passed to visualization layers. The method of creating such a system depends on taking advantage of laser machining of the individual layers to influence the behavior of how different portions bend and move.

Microfluidic circuit elements, such as a microvalve, micropump or microvent, formed of a microcavity divided by a diaphragm web into a first subcavity bounded by a first internal wall and a second subcavity bounded by a second internal wall, where the diaphragm web is characterized as a thin film having a first state contacting the first internal wall and a second state contacting the second internal wall and exhibiting essentially no elasticity in moving between the first state and the second state, the thin film web having been stretched beyond its yield point before or during use are provided. The disclosed elements enable faster and more efficient cycling of the diaphragm in the microcavity and increases the diaphragm surface area. In a preferred embodiment, the microfluidic circuit element is pneumatically driven and controls the motion of fluids in a microassay device.

Provided is a cooling device including a valve structure including a temperature-responsive material that changes in volume in response to changes in temperature, a supporting structure, which is joined to the valve structure and supports the valve structure, and a solvent which contacts the valve structure, wherein a portion of the solvent contacts the valve structure and another portion of the solvent is externally exposed, the valve structure changes in volume in response to changes in temperature and thereby regulating the externally exposed surface area of the solvent.

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.

Described herein is a system for on-demand synthesis/analysis of compounds and/or diagnostic applications. In general, any application that requires a low-cost binary switch valve array for fast (<100 ms) switching of gases or liquids, in a spatially compact format, is compatible with the system described herein.

Microfluidic circuit elements, such as a microvalve, micropump or microvent, formed of a microcavity divided by a diaphragm web into a first subcavity bounded by a first internal wall and a second subcavity bounded by a second internal wall, where the diaphragm web is characterized as a thin film having a first state contacting the first internal wall and a second state contacting the second internal wall and exhibiting essentially no elasticity in moving between the first state and the second state, the thin film web having been stretched beyond its yield point before or during use are provided. The disclosed elements enable faster and more efficient cycling of the diaphragm in the microcavity and increases the diaphragm surface area. In a preferred embodiment, the microfluidic circuit element is pneumatically driven and controls the motion of fluids in a microassay device.

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.