US 6,981,687 B2
Bubble-actuated valve with latching
Leslie Ann Field, Portola Valley, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Cordis Corporation, Miami Lakes, Fla. (US)
Filed on Jan. 22, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/763,144.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/441965, filed on Jan. 23, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2004/0149943 A1, Aug. 05, 2004
Int. Cl. F16K 31/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 251—11 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bubble-actuated valve comprising:
a substrate layer;
a cap layer;
at least one inlet formed in at least one of the substrate layer and the cap layer;
at least one outlet formed in at least one of the substrate layer and the cap layer;
at least one flow channel, formed in at least one of the substrate layer and the cap layer, connecting the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet;
at least one device for forming a bubble; and
a moveable solid object, the moveable solid object being moveable between a first position, wherein fluid flows from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, and a second position, wherein fluid flow from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet is blocked, the moveable solid object being moved by at least one of the bubble and the force generated by the formation of the bubble, the moveable solid object comprises a spherical element.