A mold for making a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow
control system for use with a
micropump is disclosed. The mold has a female body portion, a male body portion and a body support member. The female body portion has a cylindrical elongate lower portion extending along an axis and having a
diameter D, and a centered, concave upper face having substantially the same
diameter D and having a
radius of curvature R. The upper face is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the elongate lower portion and extends therefrom. The male body portion has a cylindrical elongate upper portion having a lower terminus and extending along an axis. The upper portion thereof has a
diameter substantially equal to D. The male body portion further has a central cylindrical portion having a height H and extending from the lower terminus along the axis of the upper portion. The central portion has a diameter of D-G, wherein G is the annular thickness of a spacing gap extending radially outward from the central portion. The male body portion further has a centered, convex
lower face having a diameter substantially equal to D-G, a
radius of curvature substantially equal to R and being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the elongate upper portion. The body portion support member has a generally elongated, tubular configuration and further has an inner diameter just slightly greater than D. The body portion support member is thereby configured to receive at least a portion of the female body portion and at least a portion of the male body portion, so that the female and male body portions can be maintained along the same axis. In this fashion, the convex face and concave face are positioned cooperatively to effect manufacture of the membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow
control system for use with a
micropump.