The disclosed microfluidic valves may include a valve body having at least one cavity therein, a gate transmission element separating the cavity into an input gate terminal and an output gate terminal, a gate port configured to convey drive fluid into the input gate terminal, and a fluid channel. The gate transmission element may include a flexible membrane and a plunger coupled to the flexible membrane. The gate transmission element may be configured to move within the cavity to inhibit a subject fluid flow from an inlet port to an outlet port of the fluid channel upon pressurization of the input gate terminal, and to allow subject fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port upon depressurization of the input gate terminal. Various other related systems and methods are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a cartridge of a fluidic device. The fluidic device includes a fluidic chip, a body having a first surface and an opposite, second surface, one or more channels formed in the body in fluidic communications with input ports and output ports for transferring one or more fluids between the input ports and the output ports, and a fluidic chip registration means formed on the first surface for aligning the fluidic chip with a support structure; and an actuator configured to engage with the one or more channels at the second surface of the body for selectively and individually transferring the one or more fluids through the one or more channels from at least one of the input ports to at least one of the output ports at desired flowrates.

An electrically passive device and method for in-situ acoustic emission, and/or releasing, sampling and/or measuring of a fluid or various material(s) is provided. The device may provide a robust timing mechanism to release, sample and/or perform measurements on a predefined schedule, and, in various embodiments, emits an acoustic signal sequence(s) that may be used for triangulation of the device position within, for example, a hydrocarbon reservoir or a living body.

A first flow path is connected to an inlet for introducing gas into a microvalve. A second flow path is connected to an outlet for allowing gas to flow out of the microvalve. A third flow path is for introducing a pneumatic fluid into the microvalve. A negative pressure generation mechanism (a pump) is for generating a negative pressure on the second flow path to suck gas from the first flow path forward the second flow path via the microvalve. A pressure adjustment mechanism (a connection flow path and a valve) is for reducing a pressure difference between the second flow path and the third flow path to prevent the inlet and the outlet from being blocked by a diaphragm layer in response to the negative pressure generated on the second flow path side.

Provided is a micro-valve having a laminate structure capable of improving sealing performance when a foreign substance is mixed. The micro-valve 10 has a laminate structure and includes a base layer 20 and a diaphragm layer 30. The base layer is formed with an inlet port 23 for introducing a gas into the micro-valve and an outlet port for allowing the gas to flow outside. The diaphragm layer is arranged to face the base layer. The diaphragm layer switches the flowing and blocking of the gas from the inlet port to the outlet port by elastic deformation thereof. The diaphragm layer has a configuration in which a plurality of deformation regions 33 and a plurality of rigid body regions 34 are alternately formed, the deformation region being elastically deformable in accordance with an inflow of a pneumatic fluid into the micro-valve. The diaphragm layer closes at least one of the inlet port and the outlet port by elastic deformation of at least a part of the plurality of deformation regions.

A fluidic valve may include an inlet, a control port, an additional control port, an outlet, a fluid channel configured to convey fluid from the inlet to the outlet, and a piston that includes (1) a restricting gate transmission element configured to block, when the piston is in a first position, the fluid channel and unblock, when the piston is in a second position, the fluid channel, (2) a controlling gate transmission element configured to interface with a control pressure from the control port that forces the piston towards the first position when applied to the controlling gate transmission element, and (3) an additional controlling gate transmission element configured to interface with an additional control pressure from the additional control port that forces the piston towards the second position when applied to the additional controlling gate transmission element. Various other related devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

A microfluidic device has a first substrate, a resilient diaphragm, an actuator, and a second substrate. The first substrate has an opening extending therethrough. The resilient diaphragm is secured to a second side and surrounds the opening. The actuator is secured to a first side and surrounds the opening. The first substrate, the resilient diaphragm, and the actuator cooperate to form a gas-tight chamber. The second substrate has a channel formed therein having a first end and a second end. The second substrate is secured to the first substrate. A volume of gas disposed in the gas-tight chamber pressurizes the gas-tight chamber and expands the resilient diaphragm such that the resilient diaphragm is disposed in the channel between the first end and the second end. The resilient diaphragm retracts from the channel to open the channel from the first end and the second when the gas-tight chamber is depressurized.

In a polymeric microfluidic valve, an adhesion control surface with discrete micro- or nano-scale structured surfaces are separated by fluid filled voids at an interface between an elastomeric membrane seals against a substrate layer. The structured surfaces reduce adhesion between the membrane layer and the substrate layer and prevent permanent bonding, while at the same time providing a good balance of adhesion at the valve seat to provide a sealing engagement. Microstructured adhesion control surfaces on and around valve bodies permit opening the valve, by reducing contact surface area.

An optical waveguide comprises multiple layers of solid-state material disposed on a substrate. One of the layers is a lifting-gate valve made of a high refractive index material. The device provides for better optical confinement in microfluidic channels, and has the capability to integrate both optical signals and fluid sample processing. The optical paths on the chip are reconfigurable because of the use of a movable microvalve that guides light in one of its positions.

In a polymeric microfluidic valve, an adhesion control surface with discrete micro- or nano-scale structured surfaces are separated by fluid filled voids at an interface between an elastomeric membrane seals against a substrate layer. The structured surfaces reduce adhesion between the membrane layer and the substrate layer and prevent permanent bonding, while at the same time providing a good balance of adhesion at the valve seat to provide a sealing engagement. Microstructured adhesion control surfaces on and around valve bodies permit opening the valve, by reducing contact surface area.