California Institute of Technology

B Scott Driggs

Stephen R Quake

Markus M Enzelberger

Valve structures formed in elastomer material are electrostatically actuated by applying voltage to a flexible, electrically conductive wire pattern. An actuation force generated between the patterned wire structure and an electrode result in closure of a flow channel formed in elastomer material underlying the wire. In one embodiment of a valve structure in accordance with the present invention, the wire structure is patterned by lithography and etching of a copper/polyimide laminate, with an underlying gold plate positioned on the opposite side of the flow channel serving as an electrode. In an alternative embodiment, a first wire structure is patterned by physically cutting out a first pattern of strips from an Aluminum/Mylar(&#xae;) laminate sheet. A second patterned wire structure serving as the electrode is formed by the same method, and positioned on the opposite side of a control channel. Application of an actuation force between the first and second patterned strips closes the control channel and an associated flow channel underlying the control channel.

Growing community of inventors

Bossier City, LA, United States of America

B Scott Driggs