Uniformly Pressing Micro-Valve System for Controlling Path of Fluids in Miniaturized Capillary Connections and Methods of Fabrication

Abstract

Micro-valve system includes two or more superimposed tubes and a pressing device for fluid control in miniaturized capillary connections. The micro-valve system and method of fabrication can be tailored to the requirements of a wide range of applications; composition, sturdiness and thickness of plastic tubes; and capable of been adapted to the resilient of mechanical pressure and the passing and transport of fluid types.

Claims

1. A micro-valve system comprising: a first capillary and a second capillary symmetrically positioned in between a first and second support towers and having a space between a first end of the first capillary and a first end of the second capillary; the first end of the first capillary being connected to a first end of a sleeve connector; the first end of the second capillary connected to a second end of the sleeve connector; the second end of the first capillary being supported by the first support tower; and a compressing system positioned adjacent the sleeve connector, the compressing system configured to compress the sleeve connector to block fluid flow between the first capillary and the second capillary, wherein the sleeve connector is formed of a flexible material.

2. The micro-valve system of claim 1, wherein the first capillary and the second capillary are made of glass fused-silica, plastic, or a polymeric material.

3. The micro-valve system of claim 1 wherein the sleeve connector is made of a flexible plastic or polymer.

4. The micro-valve system of claim 1 wherein the sleeve connector is made of polyethylene, flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or urethane.

5. The micro-valve system of claim 1 wherein the first end of the first capillary is hermetically sealed to the first end of the sleeve connector and the first end of the second capillary is hermetically sealed to the second end of the sleeve connector.

6. The micro-valve system of claim 5 further comprising a resin added at a junction area of the first end of the first capillary and the first end of the sleeve connector and the first end of the second capillary and the second end of the sleeve connector

7. The micro-valve system of claim 1 further comprising a casing surrounding said sleeve connector, said casing comprising one or more layers, wherein said casing sustains pressure applied by said compressing system and protects said sleeve connector.

8. The micro-valve system of claim 7 wherein the layers of said casing comprises a plurality of superimposed plastic tubes being concentrically positioned.

9. The micro-valve system of claim 8 wherein the plastic tubes are formed of hard plastic or flexible plastic.

10. The micro-valve system of claim 7 wherein a material of said casing is harder than a material of said sleeve connector.

11. The micro-valve system of claim 1 further comprising a first guiding tube positioned on an internal side of the first support tower and a second guiding tube positioned on an internal side of the second support tower, the first guiding tube aligning with the first capillary and the second guiding tube aligning with the second capillary, the first and second guiding tubes providing support respectively for the first capillary and the second capillary.

12. The micro-valve system of claim 11 further comprising a casing surrounding said sleeve connector, said first guiding tube and said second guiding tube, said casing comprising one or more layers, wherein said casing sustains pressure applied by said compressing system and protects said sleeve connector.

13. The micro-valve system of claim 1 further comprising a platform having a first support pillar and a second support pillar, said first support tower is anchored to said first support pillar and said second support tower is anchored to said second support pillar.

14. The micro-valve system of claim 13 in which said first support pillar and said second support pillar include a threaded tunnel therein, the threaded tunnel of said first support pillar and said second support pillar being configured for receiving positioning screws to couple said first support pillar and said second support pillar to said platform.

15. The micro-valve system of claim 13 wherein the platform is portable and the first support pill and the second support pillar are easy to assemble to the platform.

16. The micro-valve system of claim 15 wherein said platform includes one or more threaded tunnels, the one or more threaded tunnels of said platform being configured for receiving positioning a screw or fastener to couple said platform to a surface.

17. The micro-valve system of claim 1 wherein the compressing system comprises a manual clamping system comprising a pressing force terminal area and a locking device.

18. The micro-valve system of claim 17 wherein the manual clamping system comprises tube occluding forceps to clamp the sleeve connector to block fluid flow between the first capillary and the second capillary.

19. The micro-valve system of claim 1 wherein the compressing system comprises pair of poles, the poles being positioned on either side of the connector sleeve, a motorized system moves the poles toward and away from the connector sleeve, a computer controlling the movement of the poles, the poles contacting the connector sleeve to provide a compressing force to block fluid flow between the first capillary and the second capillary.

20. The micro-valve system of claim 19 wherein the poles are made of hard plastic, non-metal polymeric material, or a metal.

21. The micro-valve system of claim 1 comprising a coupling system at an outlet end of each of the first and second capillaries, the coupling system configured to connect hermetically to other buffer introduction capillaries used for sample and buffer introduction and for separation of analytes, wherein the coupling system allows the micro-valve system to be easily interchangeable.

22. The micro-valve system of claim 1 wherein the micro-valve system is used for capillary electrophoresis applications, gas chromatography applications, or liquid chromatography applications.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a micro-valve system in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, elevated view showing a connecting area in the micro-valve system where two capillaries are joined by a sleeve connector making the connection tight and hermetically sealed, yet leaving a sufficient length of the sleeve connector where compression can occur for blocking the passage of fluid and for allowing the passage of fluid after releasing the compression for allowing a smooth path of fluid to return.

[0032] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, elevated view showing a casing comprising a plurality tubes superimposed one on another to protect the sleeve connector from deterioration and damage during compression and decompression when using external uniformly pressing force.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective end cross-sectional view of the casing comprising a plurality of superimposed plastic tubes being concentrically positioned.

[0034] FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the micro-valve system of the present invention. It shows capillaries symmetrically positioned within the sleeve connector and aligned horizontally with respect to support towers and a micro-valve system platform.

[0035] FIG. 6 illustrates a left side view of the micro-valve system of the present invention shown in FIG. 1.

[0036] FIG. 7 illustrates a right side view of the micro-valve system of the present invention shown in FIG. 1.

[0037] FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of the micro-valve system of the present invention shown in FIG. 1.

[0038] FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic diagram showing the blockage of the fluid path between the capillaries.

[0039] FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic diagram showing a side view of FIG. 9 of the blockage of the fluid path between the capillaries;

[0040] FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic diagram showing a top and angular view of FIG. 9 of the blockage of the fluid path between the capillaries;

[0041] FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative embodiment for the blockage of the fluid path of the micro-valve system of the present invention as depicted in FIG. 1. The blockage of the fluid path is made by a compressing system comprised of poles;

[0042] FIG. 13 illustrates a top view of the embodiment for the blockage of the fluid path of the micro-valve system of the present invention as depicted in FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates micro-valve system 10 of the present invention. Micro-valve system 10 is a miniaturized valving device comprising capillaries 12 and 14 symmetrically positioned in between support towers 32 and 34 and connected at one end by sleeve connector 16 leaving a space 18 between capillaries 12 and 14. Capillaries 12 and 14 can be formed of fused-silica glass or a polymer. Sleeve connector 16 can be formed of flexible plastic or a polymer. For example, sleeve connector 16 can be formed of flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or urethane. In one embodiment, space 18 has a length in the range of about 1 to about 5 mm. Sleeve connector 16 fits very tightly between end terminal 13 of capillary 12 and end terminal 15 of capillary 14 to secure a tight and hermetically sealed connection. Additionally, resin 20 can be added to completely seal-off the connection. Couplers 11 and 17 make the entire micro-valve system 10 independent from other capillaries needed for sample and buffer's introduction into the transport capillaries or separation capillaries as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,969,299 and 10,408,789, hereby incorporated by reference into this application. Micro-valve system 10 becomes a replaceable and cost-effective unit easy to be changed by another micro-valve system in a couple of minutes.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, micro-valve system 10 includes platform 36 having support pillar structures 38 and 40 which anchor to support towers 32 and 34. Spaces 42 and 44 are used as threaded tunnels for positioning screws to securely hold support pillar structures 38 and 40.

[0046] Support towers 32 and 34 comprises guiding tubes 24 and 26. Support towers 32 and 34 comprise guiding tubes 28 and 30 for providing a guided narrow channel to symmetrically align and provide support for capillaries 12 and 14. The platform and support towers are preferentially made of hard plastic or non-metal materials.

[0047] Platform 36 can be mounted and secured to a support structure using threaded tunnels 46, 48, 50, and 52. Threaded tunnels 46, 48, 50, and 52 or spaces allow the positioning of screws for fixing platform 36 to a support structure (not shown). Casing 22 encases capillaries 12 and 14, sleeve connector 16, and guiding tubes 24 and 26.

[0048] FIG. 2 illustrates capillaries 12 and 14 symmetrically positioned within sleeve connector 16. In between terminal end 13 of capillary 12 and terminal end 15 of capillary 14 is space 18 to facilitate the compression and decompression function of sleeve connector 16 to block or allow the flow of liquid between capillaries 12 and 14. To secure a complete tight and hermetic environment free of any leakage, resin 20 can be added to junction area 19 of sleeve connector 16 and terminal end 13 of capillary 12 and junction area 21 of sleeve connector 16 and terminal end 15 of capillary 14 to completely seal-off the connection of sleeve connector 16 with capillary 12 and capillary 14. Resin 20 can be a sticky and hardening resin. A suitable material for resin 20 is an epoxy. Alternative, suitable materials for resin 20 include a natural or synthetic polyvinyl-acetate, acrylic-based resin and hybrid cementing materials to provide an improved adhesive quality for the purpose of the present invention. Alternative, suitable materials for resin 20 include adhesive films or materials described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,049,433, 5,625,005, 6,42,298, 6,670,417, 8,101,276 and Patent Application No. 2005/0142357, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application. Sleeve connector 16 can be formed of a flexible plastic or polymer material. Suitable materials for sleeve connector 16 possess a good degree of mechanical strength and resistance to abrasion.

[0049] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of casing 22 comprising a plurality of superimposed layers 23. Layers 23 can be formed of flexible hard or soft plastic. In one embodiment, layers 23 comprise a plurality of concentric polymeric tubes. Casing 22 provides protection to the sleeve connector 16 during the compression and decompression process allowing to control the passage of fluid between capillaries 12 and 14 by blocking and reversing the passage of fluid.

[0050] FIG. 4 illustrates an end cross-sectional view of a capillary 14 surrounded by superimposed layers of the connector tube 16 and layers 23 of casing 22.

[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of micro-valve system 10 of the present invention. Capillaries 12 and 14 are symmetrically positioned within sleeve connector 16 and aligned horizontally with respect to support towers 32 and 34 and platform 36.

[0052] Support towers 32 and 34 comprise guiding tubes 28 and 30 positioned in an external side 33 of support towers 32 and 34 and guiding tubes 24 and 26 positioned in internal side 35 of support towers 32 and 34, that serve the purpose of providing a guided narrow channel to symmetrically align and provide an optimal support for capillaries 12 and 14. Guiding tubes 24 and 26 also provide strong support to superimposed layers 23 of casing 22 to tolerate compression generated under external pressure. Support towers 32 and 34 and support pillar structures 38 and 40 can be disconnected from platform 36 by removing screws (not shown) localized in tunnels 42 and 44. After support towers 32 and 34 and the corresponding assembled components to the tower are removed from platform 36, casing 22 can also be detached from guiding tubes 24 and 26 to easily disassemble and assemble micro-valve system 10 to change capillaries 12 and 14 if necessary.

[0053] FIG. 6 illustrates a left side view of micro-valve system 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. Platform 36 and support tower 32 with support pillar structure 38 and threaded tunnel 42, having a location to introduce a screw, provide support to the entire micro-valve system 10.

[0054] FIG. 7 illustrates a right side view of micro-valve system 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. Platform 36 and support tower 34 with support pillar structure 40 and tunnel threaded 44, having a location to introduce a screw, provide support to the entire micro-valve system 10.

[0055] FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of micro-valve system 10 of the present invention. Support towers 32 and 34 and guiding tubes 24, 26, 28 and 30, support and horizontally align capillaries 12 and 14. Terminal end 13 of capillary 12 and terminal end 15 of capillary 14 are connected by sleeve connector 16 and secured by resin 20 to form a complete tight and hermetic environment free of any leakage. In between terminal ends 13 and 15 of respective capillaries 12 and 14 is space 18 made to facilitate the compression and decompression function of sleeve connector 16 to block or allow the flow of liquid between the capillaries 12 and 14.

[0056] FIG. 9 illustrates a diagram showing an embodiment for blockage of the fluid path between capillaries 12 and 14. The blockage is made by compressing system 54 comprising a pressing force terminal area 56 and a locking device 58 for keeping the compressing force for as long as it is needed. Compressing system 54 is manually operated. Support towers 32 and 34 and guiding tubes 24, 26, 28 and 30, as well as other supporting structures permit the compression and decompression function without deteriorating the protecting flexible plastic system or breaking the capillaries.

[0057] FIG. 10 illustrates a diagram showing a side view of FIG. 9 of the blockage of the fluid path between capillaries 12 and 14.

[0058] FIG. 11 illustrates a diagram showing a top and angular view of FIG. 9 of the blockage of the fluid path between capillaries 12 and 14.

[0059] FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative embodiment for the blockage of the fluid path of micro-valve system 10 of the present invention as depicted in FIG. 1. The blockage of the fluid path is made by compressing system 61. Compressing system 61 can be comprised of poles 60 and 62. Poles 60 and 62 can be formed of plastic or metal. Poles 60 and 62 can be placed in motion by a motorized system operated by computer controlled compressing system 64 that keep the compressing force for as long as it is needed.

[0060] FIG. 13 illustrates a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 12 for the blockage of the fluid path of micro-valve system 10 of the present invention as depicted in FIG. 1.

[0061] It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments, which can represent applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.