Capillary Microchannel Valve for Compact Liquid Medicament Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for administering liquid medicine are limited by the size of traditional mechanical inlet and outlet valves, which cannot be significantly miniaturized, posing a challenge in reducing device size for medical applications.
Innovation Solution
A valve utilizing the capillary effect with a valve body containing microchannels between the liquid inlet and outlet, where the microchannels are formed by a grid of rod-shaped boundary elements, allowing for compact design and production, and optionally featuring hydrophilic and hydrophobic coatings to enhance liquid adhesion and movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional mechanical inlet and outlet valves are used, then reliable liquid flow control is achieved, but device size cannot be significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical valves with a passive capillary-based valve system. The microchannels utilize capillary forces generated by surface tension and wetting properties to control liquid flow direction, eliminating the need for mechanical moving parts and significantly reducing device size while maintaining flow control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating parameters of the valve system by using capillary pressure instead of mechanical actuation. By controlling the wettability of channel surfaces and the geometry of microchannels, the system achieves valve functionality through physical-chemical parameter changes rather than mechanical dimension changes
2Volume of moving object
If microchannels are used to reduce valve size, then device compactness is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous or structured materials with controlled pore sizes and surface properties to create the microchannel network. This approach allows for size reduction while using established porous material fabrication techniques rather than requiring ultra-precise microfabrication of individual channels
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system is segmented into multiple microchannels with different wettability characteristics arranged in parallel or series configurations. This segmentation allows each channel to be simpler to manufacture while collectively achieving the complex flow control function of a traditional valve
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables a compact and efficient valve design that minimizes device size while maintaining effective liquid flow control, suitable for use in medical devices, by leveraging capillary forces and microchannel geometry to manage liquid flow without the need for large mechanical valves.
Implementation Method 1
The valve according to the invention makes use of the capillary effect. It is known that, because of capillary forces, liquids wet surfaces and can move through complex structures.
Implementation Method 2
To increase the adhesion between the boundary elements and a liquid, it is provided in one embodiment of the invention that the surface of the boundary elements has a functional coating, for example a hydrophilic coating.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a valve, in particular for a device for administering a liquid medicament, with a valve body (1) which has an interior (2) for receiving a liquid (20), wherein the valve body (1) has a liquid inlet (3) and an opposite liquid outlet (4) which both open into the interior (2), wherein the interior (2) accommodates a large number of micro channels (5) which extend in connection direction (x) between the liquid inlet (3) and the liquid outlet (4). A corresponding device for administering a liquid medicament is also described.