Low-Pressure Microfluidic Valve With Pressure-Driven Disk Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluidic systems operating at low pressures, such as those below 1 pascal, face challenges in using conventional valves as the low pressure is insufficient to move internal plugs or disks, requiring manual control rather than automatic operation.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a body with an inner bore, a seat, and a disk that moves between the seat and restrainers, allowing fluid communication to be controlled by pressures as low as 0.05 pascals, enabling automatic operation at low pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional valves are used in low pressure fluidic systems, then the valve structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the low pressure is insufficient to cause movement of the internal plug or disk that controls flow
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into distinct functional components: a body with inner bore, a seat with opening, a movable disk, and restrainers. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity for manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The disk is designed to be movable between a first position (blocking flow) and a second position (permitting flow) in response to pressure differential. This dynamic behavior enables automatic operation at low pressures without complex actuation mechanisms
2Ease of operation
If manual control is used for valves in low pressure systems, then automatic operation is not required, but the system requires external control input and cannot operate autonomously
Solution Approach 1:
The valve operates autonomously by utilizing the pressure differential across its ports to automatically move the disk between open and closed positions. The restrainers provide self-limiting mechanical stops that define the valve's operational range without requiring external control systems
3Extent of automation
If the disk is designed to move with very low pressure, then automatic operation at low pressures is enabled, but the disk and restrainers require precise positioning to control fluid communication
Solution Approach 1:
The restrainers are positioned at specific locations within the inner bore to provide localized mechanical constraints on the disk. This localized positioning creates well-defined open and closed states with clear fluid communication pathways, reducing the need for high overall manufacturing precision
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
Enables automatic control of fluid flow at low pressures, allowing for precise fluid communication and inhibition between ports, improving the functionality of fluidic systems at sub-millimeter scales.
Implementation Method 1
a first pressure that is less than 1 pascal and applied in a first direction causes the disk to move from a first position towards a second position to permit fluid communication between the first port and the second port and (ii) a second pressure that is less than 1 pascal and applied in a second opposing direction causes the disk to move from the second position towards the first position to inhibit fluid communication
Data Source
AI summary
A valve includes a body including an inner bore extending between a first port and a second port, a seat, and one or more restrainers and a disk that is moveable between the seat and the one or more restrainers such that a first pressure that is less than 1 pascal and applied in a first direction causes the disk to move from a first position towards a second position to permit fluid communication between the first port and the second port. A metamaterial scaffold including a structure defining a lumen, at least a portion of an outer or non-lumen surface of the structure is coated with a plurality of biological cells, and wherein the structure is composed of a metamaterial.