The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 13, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 14, 2002
Steven T. Cho, Castroville, CA (US);
Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL (US);
Abstract
A valve ( ) controls fluid flow in a microfluidic system ( ). The valve ( ) has an input port adapted to receive fluid exerting a predetermined level of pressure on the valve ( ) and an output port. The valve ( ) has a variable sized aperture disposed perpendicular to the flow of the fluid ( ). The aperture varies in size between a relatively small aperture ( ) and a relatively large aperture ( ). The small aperture ( ) prevents the flow of the fluid ( ) through the valve ( ) responsive to a relatively high level of capillary forces between the fluid ( ) and the valve ( ) in the small aperture ( ). The large aperture ( ) permits the flow of the fluid ( ) through the valve ( ) responsive to a relatively low level of capillary forces between the fluid ( ) and the valve ( ) in the large aperture ( ).