Elastomeric Ferrule Valve Assembly for Microfluidic Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complexity of traditional rotary shear valve assemblies, particularly the threaded stator, and inefficient methods for fluidic connections in micro-fluidic chip designs, such as manual bonding and adhesive rings, which are not suitable for large-scale production and often result in leakage or single-use connections.
Innovation Solution
A tubing interface assembly that eliminates the need for threaded features, using a slotted cap and elastomeric ferrule to achieve fluidic continuity without external or internal threads, allowing for compressive sealing between a micro-fluidic disk and a rotor, facilitated by a cup-shaped receiving recess and a compression portion with a crimp portion for secure alignment and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional threaded stators are used to achieve fluidic connections, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the threaded stator component entirely from the valve assembly. Instead of using a complex threaded stator with multiple features (threads, ferrule interfaces, flat surfaces), the invention extracts only the essential function of fluidic connection and sealing, achieving this through a simplified rotor-stator interface where the rotor itself provides the sealing surface against the stator face.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the fluidic connection function from the traditional integrated stator. The fluidic ports and channels are now provided separately through the rotor structure, while the stator provides only the stationary housing and face seal surface. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex threaded features on the stator.
2Manufacturing precision
If expensive machining methods are used to manufacture threaded stators with close tolerances, then manufacturing precision is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the expensive, precision-machined threaded stator with a simpler, more easily manufactured component. The new stator design can be produced through low-cost injection molding or die casting, eliminating the need for expensive secondary operations like polishing and machine lapping that were previously required to achieve close tolerances on threaded features.
3Reliability
If manual bonding techniques are used for fluidic connections in micro-fluidic chips, then sealing reliability is improved, but productivity decreases due to time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual bonding operations with a mechanical compression sealing system. The rotor-stator face seal interface provides a mechanical means of achieving reliable sealing through compression forces, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual bonding processes while maintaining sealing reliability. This mechanical approach is suitable for automated assembly and large-scale production.
4Ease of operation
If adhesive rings are used for fluidic connections, then ease of assembly is improved, but reliability decreases due to poor adhesion and single-use limitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive ring component entirely from the connection system. Instead of relying on adhesive bonding that requires surface treatment and provides poor adhesion to PDMS, the invention extracts the essential sealing function and achieves it through a mechanical compression interface between the rotor and stator faces, which does not require adhesive materials.
5Ease of operation
If needle insertion into PDMS is used for fluidic connections, then ease of assembly is improved, but reliability decreases due to material damage and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated sealing interface structure as an intermediary between the fluidic channels and the external connection. The rotor-stator face seal acts as a mediator that provides a reliable sealing surface, eliminating the need to directly insert needles into the PDMS material which causes damage and leakage.
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
This solution reduces production costs, simplifies fluidic continuity, and enables quick, reusable, and leak-tight connections between macro- and micro-fluidic systems, allowing for efficient fluid delivery and minimizing the risk of leakage.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric ferrule device compressed between a support ring and a micro-fluidic disk to form a fluid-tight seal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A tubing interface (20) having an elongated tube (21), an elastomeric ferrule (24) and a support ring device (30) disposed around the ferrule (24). The ferrule (24) includes a bore (28) which is sized for receipt of the tube (21). The tubing interface (20) further includes a cap member (31) having an exterior surface (32), an opposed interior surface (33), and a tube receiving passage (35) extending therethrough. The receiving passage (35) is formed and dimensioned for axial sliding receipt of the tube member therethrough. The cap member (31) further includes a cup-shaped receiving recess (36) extending proximally from the interior surface (33), and is formed and dimensioned for axial receipt of the proximal end of the ferrule body member (25) and the support ring (30). When the cap member (31) is mounted to a valve apparatus (29), the support ring (30) and the elastomeric ferrule device (24) compressively cooperate with the cup-shaped recess (36) to form a fluid-tight seal between the tube port (22) and a communication port (45) of the valve apparatus (29).