Issue 1, 2021

New flow control systems in capillarics: off valves

Abstract

Capillary systems are a promising technology for point-of-care microfluidics, since they are pre-programmable and self-powered. This work introduces “off valves” as a key building block for capillaric circuits, providing easy-to-use, multi-purpose valving functionality and autonomous flow control. To this end we present a set of switching valve designs that use trigger channels and liquid input alone to close or open connections between channels in a highly controllable fashion. The key element of all these valve designs is a new off trigger valve, which is characterised in detail here and holds the potential for transistor-like switching and resistance tuning. As an example for the potential applications of switching valves, we demonstrate how they can be used for flow resistance control in a complex microfluidic circuit and for sequential chemical loading into a reaction chamber. Use of the switching valves for the latter in particular allowed for the tuning of incubation times and volumetric measurement, thus confirming applicability of the valves for automated and self-powered immunoassays in point-of-care environments.

Graphical abstract: New flow control systems in capillarics: off valves

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Aug 2020
Accepted
20 Nov 2020
First published
26 Nov 2020

Lab Chip, 2021,21, 205-214

New flow control systems in capillarics: off valves

J. Menges, C. Meffan, F. Dolamore, C. Fee, R. Dobson and V. Nock, Lab Chip, 2021, 21, 205 DOI: 10.1039/D0LC00811G

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