US 12,220,701 B2
Microfluidic valves
Pavel Kornilovich, Corvallis, OR (US); Daniel C. Curthoys, Corvallis, OR (US); and Alexander N. Govyadinov, Corvallis, OR (US)
Assigned to Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Spring, TX (US)
Appl. No. 17/047,930
Filed by HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P., Spring, TX (US)
PCT Filed Jun. 11, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/036977
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 15, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/240764, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0170408 A1, Jun. 10, 2021
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); F16K 99/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502738 (2013.01) [F16K 99/0017 (2013.01); F16K 99/0036 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0442 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0688 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A microfluidic valve comprising:
a first portion of a liquid conduit to contain a fluid;
a second portion of the liquid conduit to contain a liquid;
a constriction between the first portion and the second portion and across which a capillary meniscus is to form between the fluid and liquid, wherein the constriction includes an interface where the liquid conduit changes from a larger flow passage to a smaller flow passage, the constriction comprising an edge along a ceiling of the microfluidic valve;
additional constrictions comprising narrowing regions arranged in series within the second portion, the additional constrictions extending inward from an interior wall of the second portion; and
sensors located between the additional constrictions and flush with the interior wall of the second portion.