Method for producing high dielectric strength microvalves

Patent · Tue Apr 04 00:00:00 EDT 2006

OSTI ID:908534

Kirby, Brian J ^[1]; Reichmuth, David S ^[2]; Shepodd, Timothy J ^[3]

---

1. San Francisco, CA
2. Oakland, CA
3. Livermore, CA

A microvalve having a cast-in-place and lithographically shaped mobile, polymer monolith for fluid flow control in microfluidic devices and method of manufacture. The microvalve contains a porous fluorinated polymer monolithic element whose pores are filled with an electrically insulating, high dielectric strength fluid, typically a perfluorinated liquid. This combination provides a microvalve that combines high dielectric strength with extremely low electrical conductivity. These microvalves have been shown to have resistivities of at least 100 G.OMEGA. and are compatible with solvents such as water at a pH between 2.7 and 9.0, 1-1 propanol, acetonitrile, and acetone.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA
• Sponsoring Organization: United States Department of Energy
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• Assignee: Sandia National Laboratories (Livermore, CA)
• Patent Number(s): 7,022,381
• Application Number: 10/610,093
• OSTI ID: 908534
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING