Valveless liquid microswitch

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Fluid pressure – Flow-responsive type

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Details

137261, 137262, 137391, 204299R, 435 72, 422 50, G05D 701, B01D 1508, G01N 33543, G01N 33558

Patent

active

057264040

ABSTRACT:
This invention provides a valveless method and apparatus for high speed switching of liquid flow between intersecting microchannels. Liquid flow is controlled by manipulating external driving pressures. The switch comprises three intersecting microchannels, each having a liquid reservoir at its nonintersecting end for liquid inlet and outlet. It further includes applying a driving pressure to each reservoir switching the driving pressures. The microswitch of this invention operates to establish a liquid flow from a first channel to a second channel by applying a pressure differential between the first and second reservoirs, while simultaneously preventing flow into the third channel by applying a pressure to the third reservoir which equals the pressure at the junction of the three channels. By switching one or more driving pressures, the flow to the second channel can be stopped and the liquid flow redirected to the third channel. This invention further includes switches wherein more than three channels are included in the flow network, either intersecting in a single junction or in multiple junctions.

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