APPARATUS FOR USING BUBBLE AS VIRTUAL VALVE IN MICROINJECTOR TO INJECT LIQUID

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate satellite droplets in a liquid injector. SOLUTION: There is provided an apparatus for forming within a microchannel of a microinjector 12 a bubble 30 to function as a valve mechanism between a chamber 14 and a manifold 16. The valve mechanism provides a high resistance to discharge a liquid from the chamber through the manifold while a fluid is being discharged through an orifice 18, and also provides a low resistance to refill the liquid into the chamber after the liquid is discharged and a bubble bursts. This effectively minimizes crosstalk between adjacent chambers, and increases an injection frequency of the microinjector. A formation of a second bubble 32 within the chamber 14 coalesces with a first formed bubble 30 formed between the chamber 14 and the manifold 16 and abruptly terminates the discharge of the fluid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI