US 12,480,532 B2
Inertial pumps
Erik D. Torniainen, Corvallis, OR (US); Alexander Govyadinov, Corvallis, OR (US); Pavel Kornilovich, Corvallis, OR (US); and David P. Markel, Corvallis, OR (US)
Assigned to Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Spring, TX (US)
Filed by Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Spring, TX (US)
Filed on May 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/196,928.
Application 18/196,928 is a continuation of application No. 16/493,344, granted, now 11,686,327, previously published as PCT/US2017/026562, filed on Apr. 7, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0279876 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G04F 7/00 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B81B 1/00 (2006.01); F04B 53/10 (2006.01); F04F 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC F04F 7/00 (2013.01) [B01L 3/50273 (2013.01); B01L 3/502738 (2013.01); B81B 1/006 (2013.01); F04B 53/10 (2013.01); B01L 2200/141 (2013.01); B01L 2200/16 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0605 (2013.01); B81B 2201/051 (2013.01); B81B 2203/0338 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A microfluidic device comprising:
a microfluidic channel;
a fluid actuator configured to move fluid through the microfluidic channel; and
a check valve located in the microfluidic channel, the check valve comprising:
a moveable valve element,
a narrowed channel segment located in the microfluidic channel upstream of the moveable valve element, the narrowed channel segment having dimensions such that the moveable valve element blocks fluid flow through the check valve when the moveable valve element is positioned against the narrowed channel segment, and
a blocking element located in the microfluidic channel downstream of the moveable valve element and configured such that the blocking element constrains the moveable valve element within the check valve while also allowing fluid flow when the moveable valve element is positioned against the blocking element.