Microfluidic Valve Technology
Microfluidic valves help analytical and medical design engineers control the flow of small volumes of liquid and gas.
Microfluidic valves help analytical and medical design engineers control the flow of small volumes of liquid and gas.
Microfluidic valves help control the flow of small volumes of fluid. This control enables microfluidic devices to become more complex and more automated depending on the need of the application. In medical and diagnostic settings, for example, these valves control the flow of neutral and aggressive fluids, such as blood or chemicals. Emerson’s line of ASCO microfluidic valves are highly specific to the individual application and manufactured in state-of-the-art cleanrooms. ASCO valves are valued by medical device OEMs for their precision and reliability.
Pinch valves are designed for use with highly aggressive or high purity liquids where there must be hermetic separation between the media being controlled and the valve mechanism. The valve operates by constricting the tube containing the media to allow or prevent flow. This means there can be no particulate contamination caused by the friction of moving parts. ASCO pinch valves are available in a range of body sizes and are seen in application such as hemodialysis, bio instrumentation and surgical fluid management.
Isolation valves are designed for use with aggressive or challenging fluids. The internal solenoid components are isolated from the media, creating a valve that is virtually impervious to any adverse effects the media may have. The valves have a self-draining capability and an easy-to-flush internal cavity with a compact architecture, making them ideal for analytical bench-top instrumentation. Applications include solvent selection/diversion, sample preparation, and DNA sequencing.
General service, non-isolation valves are used with inert or non-aggressive fluids. They are available with multiple mounting configurations and sizes in order to control the fluids used in applications such as non-invasive blood monitoring, oxygen concentrators, dental equipment, and air monitoring instruments.
Proportional valves control variable amounts of fluid depending on the electrical input signal to the coil. They can be used for applications such as gas chromatography, mass flow controllers and blood pressure monitoring. These valves are appropriate when the application may require different ranges of pressure or flow sensors, depending on the needed control range. Proportional valves are sometimes customized for medical devices requiring portability and reduced power consumption.
