Microfluidic valve and method for controlling the flow of a liquid

摘要

A microfluidic valve for controlling the flow of a material through a microfluidic channel comprising: a) a microfluidic channel (20) comprising a passageway, b) a heater (35) in contact with at least a portion of the microfluidic channel (20), c) a carrier fluid comprising the material and an amount of thermally-responsive material so that the carrier fluid can be thickened by heat from the heater (35) to cause a reduction in flow of the carrier fluid through the microfluidic channel (20). A method for controlling the flow of a material through a microfluidic channel (20) comprising heating a carrier fluid in a microfluidic channel (20), the carrier fluid comprising the material and an amount of thermally-responsive material, the heating causing the carrier fluid to be thickened by heat to cause a reduction in flow of the carrier fluid through the microfluidic channel (20).