Microfluidic systems and related methods

Abstract

The disclosed microfluidic valves may include a valve body having at least one cavity therein, a gate transmission element separating the cavity into an input gate terminal and an output gate terminal, a gate port configured to convey drive fluid into the input gate terminal, and a fluid channel. The gate transmission element may include a flexible membrane and a plunger coupled to the flexible membrane. The gate transmission element may be configured to move within the cavity to inhibit a subject fluid flow from an inlet port to an outlet port of the fluid channel upon pressurization of the input gate terminal, and to allow subject fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port upon depressurization of the input gate terminal. Various other related systems and methods are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A microfluidic system, comprising:
 a microfluidic valve, comprising:
 a valve body having at least one cavity therein; 
 a gate transmission element disposed within the cavity and separating the cavity into an input gate terminal and an output gate terminal; 
 a gate port configured to convey drive fluid into the input gate terminal to pressurize the input gate terminal; 
 an inlet port configured to convey a subject fluid into a restricting region of a fluid channel; 
 an outlet port configured to convey the subject fluid out of the restricting region of the fluid channel; and 
 a flexible bubble positioned within fluid channel between the inlet port and the outlet port, wherein the flexible bubble defines the restricting region in the fluid channel that is configured to be deformed to block the fluid channel between the inlet port and the outlet port to inhibit subject fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port upon pressurization of the input gate terminal, and to allow subject fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port upon depressurization of the input gate terminal; 
   a drive fluid source configured to convey the drive fluid into or out of the input gate terminal through the gate port;   a subject fluid source configured to convey the subject fluid to the inlet port; and   a fluid-driven mechanism configured to receive the subject fluid from the outlet port.   
     
     
         2 . The microfluidic system of  claim 1 , wherein the gate transmission element comprises a flexible membrane and a plunger disposed within the cavity and coupled to the flexible membrane, wherein the plunger is configured to press against the flexible bubble upon pressurization of the input gate terminal to block the restricting region between the inlet port and the outlet port. 
     
     
         3 . The microfluidic system of  claim 2 , wherein a surface area of the flexible membrane within the cavity is larger than a surface area of the flexible bubble. 
     
     
         4 . The microfluidic system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-driven mechanism comprises at least one of:
 a microelectromechanical device;   an expansible cavity;   a piston system; or   a haptic feedback device.   
     
     
         5 . A method of controlling flow of a subject fluid in a microfluidic system, the method comprising:
 conveying a subject fluid through a restricting region of a fluid channel from an inlet port to an outlet port;   flowing a drive fluid from a gate port into an input gate terminal within a cavity in a microfluidic valve body, the input gate terminal being separated from an output gate terminal by a gate transmission element comprising a flexible membrane and a plunger coupled to the flexible membrane;   responsive to the drive fluid flowing into the input gate terminal, moving the gate transmission element to press against and deform a flexible bubble positioned within the output gate terminal, the flexible bubble separating the output gate terminal from the restricting region; and   inhibiting flow of the subject fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port by blocking the restricting region with the deformed flexible bubble.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising flowing the subject fluid from the outlet port into a fluid-driven mechanism to activate the fluid-driven mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein activating the fluid-driven mechanism comprises activating a haptic feedback device of an artificial reality system.