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:
Jun. 29, 2010
Filed:
Mar. 10, 2004
Shuichi Takayama, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Xiaoyue Zhu, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Wei Gu, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Gary Daniel Smith, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Yunseok Heo, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Brenda S. Cho, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Nobuyuki Futai, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Shuichi Takayama, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Xiaoyue Zhu, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Wei Gu, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Gary Daniel Smith, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Yunseok Heo, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Brenda S. Cho, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Nobuyuki Futai, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
Microfluidic devices having active features such as valves, peristaltic pumps, and mixing portions are fabricated to have a thin elastomeric membrane over the active features. The active features are activated by a tactile actuator external to the membrane, for example, a commercial Braille display. The display may be computer controlled, for example by simple text editor software, to activate individual Braille protrusions or a plurality of protrusions to actuate the active portions of the microfluidic device. Integral devices can incorporate the tactile actuators in a single device, but still external to the membrane.