Abstract
Various microfluidic architectures designed for in vivo and point-of-care diagnostic applications require larger channels, autonomous actuation, and portability. In this paper, we present a normally closed microvalve design capable of fully autonomous actuation for wide diameter microchannels (tens to hundreds of µm). We fabricated the multilayer plunger-membrane valve architecture using the silicone elastomer, poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and optimized it to reduce the force required to open the valve. A 50-µm Nitinol (NiTi) shape memory alloy wire is incorporated into the device and can operate the valve when actuated with 100-mA current delivered from a 3-V supply. We characterized the valve for its actuation kinetics using an electrochemical assay and tested its reliability at 1.5-s cycle duration for 1 million cycles during which we observed no operational degradation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 29 |
Journal | Microfluidics and Nanofluidics |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 2018 |
Keywords
- Nitinol
- PDMS
- Point-of-care
- Self-actuated
- Valve
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Chemistry