Patent ID: 8651451
Filing Date: 2014-02-18
Classification: F16K

Abstract:
1. A microfluidic device with fluid driving capability, comprising: a shape memory substrate having a shape memory polymer matrix and a plurality of particles embedded in said shape memory polymer matrix, said shape memory polymer matrix being thermally transformable from a temporary shape to an original shape, said particles being made from a magnetically coercive material capable of converting energy of an alternate magnetic field into heat through magnetic hysteresis loss of said particles when the alternate magnetic field is applied to said particles; and a microfluidic chip attached sealingly to said shape memory substrate and defining a microfluidic channel that has an open end, said open end of said microfluidic channel being sealingly covered by said shape memory polymer matrix, said shape memory polymer matrix being indented inwardly to form an indented space in fluid communication with said microfluidic channel through said open end of said microfluidic channel when said shape memory polymer matrix is heated to transform from the temporary shape to the original shape, thereby creating a temporary vacuum within said microfluidic channel.