A dual latching microvalve is capable of a metastable state, wherein a one or more complete flow paths are open, before switching to another state that allows only an inlet or outlet valve to be open at any time on any fluid path. One valve mechanism uses a cam to alternately open and close two valves, with an external force applying pressure to move one valve arm onto a resting position on the cam, thereby opening the closed valve and provided an uninterrupted flow path through the dual latching microvalve. The metastable state provides, for example, a means to prime the pump before operation, such as pumping of insulin into a patient. When released from the metastable state, the dual latching microvalve operates in a fashion whereby opening of both valves simultaneously is prevented, thereby protecting the patient from injury.

A low-voltage microfluidic valve device and system for regulating the flow of fluid. One low-voltage microfluidic valve device for regulating the low of fluid includes a nano-textured dendritic metallic filament configured to grow and retract in response to a voltage. The low-voltage microfluidic valve device also includes a microfluidic channel configured to allow fluid flow, wherein the fluid flow is selectively interrupted by the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament. The low-voltage microfluidic valve device also includes a membrane positioned proximate to the fluid and configured to alter shape in response to the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament.

One aspect of this invention relates to a vertical-via rotary valve including a valve body having a housing; one or more fluidic channels, each fluidic channel having a vertical channel portion defined in the valve body and being adjacent to the housing, wherein a fluid flow through the vertical channel portion is controllable by deforming a sidewall of the vertical channel portion; and an actuator received in the housing and rotatably engaged with the one or more fluidic channels to operably control the fluid flow through the vertical channel portion of each fluid channel.

Provided is a centrifugal separation container for separating a material from tissue and body fluids by using a centrifugal force, including: a first container; a second container; a first piston positioned in the inside of the first container and configured to be movable up and down in the inside of the first container; an elastic body positioned below the first piston in the inside of the first container and configured to elastically bias the first piston upward; a first connecting duct having one end connected to the first container and the other end connected to the second container; and a first control valve operating by a centrifugal force and configured to open and close the first connecting duct.

In one aspect of the invention, the fluidic device includes a fluidic chip includes 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.

The present disclosure relates to an actuator, an actuator assembly, a method of operating an actuator, a computer program and a system. In one aspect, an actuator may comprise a plurality of independently operable actuation elements and an operator having an operator surface. Each actuation element may have an actuation surface. The operator may be driveable to move the operator surface along a path to selectively engage with the respective actuation surface of each actuation element to actuate the actuation element.

The invention generally provides a sieve valve including: a substrate defining a channel; a flexible membrane adapted and configured for deployment at an intersection with the channel; and one or more protrusions extending into the channel from the substrate or the flexible membrane. The one or more protrusions define a plurality of recesses extending beyond the intersection between the channel and the flexible membrane; A microfluidic circuit including one or more sieve valves. In particular embodiments, the circuit comprises one or more input/output valves. The one or one or more input/output valves can include one or more input valves and one or more output valves. The microfluidic circuit can further include a mixing circuit. At least one of the sieve valves can be positioned between the one or more input/output valves and the mixing circuit. The invention further provides methods of using the device for the analysis of samples comprising cells.

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.