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Title: Mobile monolithic polymer elements for flow control in microfluidic devices

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1174999

A cast-in-place and lithographically shaped mobile, monolithic polymer element for fluid flow control in microfluidic devices and method of manufacture. Microfluid flow control devices, or microvalves that provide for control of fluid or ionic current flow can be made incorporating a cast-in-place, mobile monolithic polymer element, disposed within a microchannel, and driven by either fluid or gas pressure against a retaining or sealing surface. The polymer elements are made by the application of lithographic methods to monomer mixtures formulated in such a way that the polymer will not bond to microchannel walls. The polymer elements can seal against pressures greater than 5000 psi, and have a response time on the order of milliseconds. By the use of energetic radiation it is possible to depolymerize selected regions of the polymer element to form shapes that cannot be produced by conventional lithographic patterning and would be impossible to machine.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
Assignee:
Sandia National Laboratories
Patent Number(s):
6,782,746
Application Number:
09/695,816
OSTI ID:
1174999
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (3)

Monolithic Microfabricated Valves and Pumps by Multilayer Soft Lithography journal April 2000
Microflow devices and systems journal December 1994
Functional hydrogel structures for autonomous flow control inside microfluidic channels journal April 2000