Valve unit, microfluidic device with the valve unit, and microfluidic substrate

摘要

Provided are a valve unit and a microfluidic device including the valve unit. The valve unit includes: a valve substance container containing a valve substance, the valve substance including a phase change material that is solid at ambient temperature and melts by absorbing energy; a valve connection path connecting the valve substance container to a channel forming a fluid passage; and a pair of drain chambers formed along the channel at both sides of the valve connection path.

主权项

1. A valve unit comprising:
a channel which forms a fluid passage; a first and a second drain chambers formed along the channel, the drain chambers being spaced from each other; a valve substance including a phase change material that is non-fluidic at ambient temperature and fluidic when energy is applied thereto; a valve substance container which contains the valve substance; and a valve connection path which connects the valve substance container to the channel, in which a connection point of the channel where the valve connection path meets the channel is located between the first drain chamber and the second drain chamber, wherein when energy is applied to the valve substance contained in the valve substance container, the valve substance becomes fluidic and at least portion of the valve substance flows to the channel through the valve connection path, and the portion of the valve substance flowed in the channel becomes non-fluidic and blocks the channel in both an area between the first drain chamber and the connection point and an area between the second drain chamber and the connection point; and when energy is applied to the portion of the valve substance blocking the channel, the portion of the valve substance becomes fluidic and the channel is adapted to discharge the fluidic portion of the valve substance to at least one of the drain chambers to open the channel, wherein the valve substance container is connected to a plurality of separate channels each through a respective valve connection path, each of the plurality of separate channels forming a fluid passage and provided with drain chambers on both sides of the respective valve connection path; and wherein said separate channels extend opposite from each other and run parallel each other.