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:
Jan. 17, 2017
Filed:
Aug. 08, 2014
Northeastern University, Boston, MA (US);
Carol Livermore-Clifford, Framingham, MA (US);
Chenye Yang, Malden, MA (US);
Northeastern University, Boston, MA (US);
Abstract
A substantially leak-free, sealable microvalve that can be repeatedly opened and sealed is presented. The resealable microvalve includes a block with a through via and a sealing plate. The gap between the block and the sealing plate is sealed by a sealing material. The sealing material can be melted when heat is applied and can be solidified when heat is absent. To close the resealable microvalve, heat is applied by flowing a current through a resistive heater and an actuator brings the block and the sealing plate into a contacting position. By removing the heat, the sealing material is solidified and creates a sealed state. To open the resealable microvalve, heat is applied to the sealing material. When the sealing material melts, the actuator moves the block and the sealing plate into a spaced apart position.