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Microvalves

Part of Hardware

Control flow inside your device.

Introduction

Microvalves can be built directly into your device to automatically start and stop flow. The MV-1 is designed for applications that need low dead-volume and fast switching speeds. The MV-2 is best for point-of-care and portable applications.

Safe Area

The MV-1 must have a square safe area with a side length of 6.00 mm. The safe area of any two pieces of hardware must never overlap.

Top view of the MV-1 microvalve with a square safe area with side lengths of 6.00 mm highlighted in orange. 6.00 mm 6.00 mm
Top view

Bar scale showing 3 mm as 16.667% of the figure's width.

The MV-2 must have a rectangular safe area with a width of 4.50 mm and a height of 9.00 mm. The safe area of any two pieces of hardware must never overlap.

Top view of the MV-2 microvalve with a rectangular safe area with a width of 4.50 mm and a height of 9.00 mm highlighted in orange.
Top view

Bar scale showing 3 mm as 16.667% of the figure's width.

Vias

Vias connect the microvalve’s liquid inlet, liquid outlet, and air inlet to the molded microfeatures in your fluidic layer. The diameter (D) of the vias’ machined portion must be 400 μm.

Isometric view of the MV-1 microvalve on a microfluidic device. The 3 vias underneath the M V-1 are highlighted.
Isometric view

Bar scale showing 3 mm as 19.566% of the figure's width.

Side cross-section of the MV-1 microvalve on a microfluidic device. The 3 vias underneath the MV-1 are highlighted.
Side cross-section

Bar scale showing 3 mm as 19.566% of the figure's width.

Close-up of the vias below the MV-1 microvalve. The diameter of the narrower top portion of the vias are labeled as 400 μm.

Bar scale showing 1 mm as 20.455% of the figure's width.

MV-1 Vias

Vias connecting to the MV-1 must match the liquid inlet (IN), liquid outlet (OUT), and air inlet (AIR) spacing specified below:

Top view of the MV-1 microvalve with all three ports highlighted. The liquid inlet is 2.20 mm left of the right edge of the MV-1 and 1.70 mm below the top edge of the MV-1. The liquid outlet is 1.75 mm below the liquid inlet and vertically aligned. The air inlet is 0.25 mm above the liquid outlet and 1.00 mm to its left.
Top view

Bar scale showing 2 mm as 16.667% of the figure's width.

MV-2 Vias

Vias connecting to the MV-2 must match the liquid inlet (IN), air inlet (AIR), and liquid outlet (OUT) spacing specified below:

Top view of the MV-2 microvalve with all three ports highlighted. The liquid inlet is 2.20 mm right of the left edge of the MV-2 and 3.05 mm below the top edge of the MV-2. The liquid outlet is 1.75 mm below the liquid inlet and vertically aligned. The air inlet is 2.20 mm below the liquid inlet and 1.75 mm to its left.
Top view

Bar scale showing 2 mm as 16.667% of the figure's width.

Valve to feature distance

The distance between the top surface of molded microfeatures and the base of a microvalve must be at least 1.00 mm.

Side cross-section of the MV-1 microvalve on a microfluidic device. The molded microfeatures, excluding the via, are highlighted.
Side cross-section

Bar scale showing 3 mm as 19.566% of the figure's width.

Close-up of the molded microfeatures below the MV-1 microvalve. The vertical distance between the top surface of the tallest molded microfeature and the base of the MV-1 is labeled as greater than or equal to 1.00 mm.

Bar scale showing 2 mm as 20.455% of the figure's width.

Design questions? Talk to an engineer.