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:
Mar. 24, 2015
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2006
Douglas B. Weibel, Arlington, MA (US);
Andrew Lee, Somerville, MA (US);
Scott Potenta, Boston, MA (US);
Adam Siegel, Cambridge, MA (US);
Maarten Kruithof, Delft, NL;
George M. Whitesides, Newton, MA (US);
Douglas B. Weibel, Arlington, MA (US);
Andrew Lee, Somerville, MA (US);
Scott Potenta, Boston, MA (US);
Adam Siegel, Cambridge, MA (US);
Maarten Kruithof, Delft, NL;
George M. Whitesides, Newton, MA (US);
President and Fellows of Harvard College, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
A microfluidic valve assembly includes a structure defining a microfluidic fluid path and an actuator that can be moved between different positions controlling flow through the channel. In one embodiment, the actuator can be threaded into at least a portion of the structure, and can be moved rotationally between a first position, causing relatively greater constriction of a microfluidic fluid path, and a second position causing relatively lesser constriction of the fluid path. Actuating the actuator, e.g., by rotation, can deform material between the valve and the fluid path, thereby constricting at least a portion of the underlying fluid path and regulating the flow of a fluid in the fluid path. In another aspect, the invention provides a reservoir into which fluid can be placed and from which fluid can be introduced into a microfluidic system. In one embodiment, the reservoir is expandable and thereby able to store fluid under pressure for delivery to a microfluidic system.