A microfabricated valve with no moving parts. In one embodiment, the valve includes a reservoir of a liquid that is in fluid communication with an outlet channel having a throat that is less than 100 microns wide. Preferably, the channel is an elongated slit. The configuration of channel is adapted and configured such that surface tension of the liquid prevents flow out of the channel. A heater increases the temperature of the meniscus of the fluid, until a portion of the fluid is ejected from the channel. The ejection of the fluid creates both a thrusting effect and a cooling effect.

This patent application describes an integrated apparatus for processing polynucleotide-containing samples, and for providing a diagnostic result thereon. The apparatus is configured to receive a microfluidic cartridge that contains reagents and a network for processing a sample. Also described are methods of using the apparatus.

A valve for use in connection with microfluidic devices includes a safety feature such that flow is controlled even in the case of a loss of power, thus having applications in critical applications such as the precise delivery of drugs overtime. The valve may be used in connection with multiple tubes delivering drugs, and may be used with a pump, such as an electrochemical pump, to provide the force to move the fluids containing drugs for delivery. In certain applications, more than one medicine may be delivered and metered independently using a single pump with multiple reservoirs and valves.

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.

A method for the fail-safe termination of in vivo drug delivery from an implantable drug delivery system, the method comprising: providing an implantable drug delivery system comprising: a housing having a reservoir for containing a drug, and a port for dispensing the drug to a patient; and an emergency deactivation unit disposed between the reservoir and the port, the emergency deactivation unit comprising a composite structure comprising a biocompatible ferromagnetic mesh open to fluid flow and a hydrophobic meltable material, the hydrophobic meltable material comprising at least one hole therein for enabling a fluid to pass through the hydrophobic meltable material; implanting the implantable drug delivery system within a patient; enabling the drug to flow from the reservoir, through the at least one hole in the hydrophobic meltable material and out the port; and when drug flow is to be terminated, applying a magnetic field to the composite structure, such that a current is induced in the ferromagnetic mesh which heats the ferromagnetic mesh and melts the hydrophobic meltable material, thereby closing the at least one hole in the hydrophobic meltable material and blocking drug delivery to the patient.

A microvalve includes a first plate having a surface defining an actuator cavity. A second plate has a surface that abuts the surface of the first plate and includes a displaceable member that is disposed within the actuator cavity for movement between a closed position, wherein the displaceable member prevents fluid communication through the microvalve, and an opened position, wherein the displaceable member does not prevent fluid communication through the microvalve. An actuator is connected to the displaceable member. The displaceable member includes a sealing portion having a plurality of elongated control arms extending inwardly from one end thereof, wherein the control arms are configured as a valve closing members for each of a plurality of fluid flow openings in the first plate.

An evaporator assembly for an aerosol generating device is described. The evaporator assembly comprises a first body having a first plurality of through-channels, a second body having a second plurality of through-channels, wherein the first body and the second body are arranged such that the first and second plurality of through-channels overlap to allow the passage of a liquid from an inlet end to an outlet end of the evaporator assembly through the through-channels; and a heater arranged to heat the liquid as it passes through the through-channels, wherein the second body is moveable with respect to the first body such that the area of overlap is adjustable.

The present technology provides for an apparatus for detecting polynucleotides in samples, particularly from biological samples. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides. The apparatus includes a microfluidic cartridge that is configured to accept a plurality of samples, and which can carry out PCR on each sample individually, or a group of, or all of the plurality of samples simultaneously.

The technology described herein generally relates to systems for extracting polynucleotides from multiple samples, particularly from biological samples, and additionally to systems that subsequently amplify and detect the extracted polynucleotides. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on multiple samples of nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device and a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device. In various implementations, the cartridge may comprise a housing defining a liquid reservoir, an atomizer configured to produce an aerosol, the atomizer comprising a first liquid transport element, a second liquid transport element, and a microvalve located between the liquid reservoir and the second liquid transport element. The microvalve may comprise a base member including at least one channel, and an actuating member at least a portion of which comprises a shape-memory material, and which is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the actuating member substantially blocks fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel, and in the second position, the actuating member allows fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel and to the second liquid transport element.