Patent ID: 8043073

Claim:
An apparatus with channel-like structures for transporting and or storing a liquid medium, comprising: a first substrate layer ( 1 ); and a second substrate layer ( 2 ); and a functional element ( 3 ) which is arranged in sandwich fashion between the first substrate layer ( 1 ) and the second substrate layer ( 2 ), wherein the channel-like structures are formed in the first substrate layer ( 1 ) and the second substrate layer ( 2 ); the first substrate layer ( 1 ) and second substrate layer ( 2 ) are fixedly and permanently joined to one another, and the functional element ( 3 ) is clamped between the first substrate layer ( 1 ) and second substrate layer ( 2 ); the functional element ( 3 ) is elastic in form; the first layer ( 1 ) and second layer ( 2 ) are rigid in form; the channel-like structures in the first substrate layer ( 1 ) and second substrate layer ( 2 ) are at least partially closed off in a fluid-tight manner by means of the functional element ( 3 ); the functional element ( 3 ) is formed to be very much thinner than the first layer ( 1 ) and second layer ( 2 ); the functional element ( 3 ) is formed as at least one functional movable element, in such a manner that the channel-like structures ( 10 , 20 ) are opened or closed by means of the functional element ( 3 ); the functional element ( 3 ) comprises at least one valve flap ( 31 ′, 31 ″); the apparatus further comprises a dynamic drive element ( 4 ) for altering the volume of a cavity ( 410 ) formed in the apparatus; a first channel ( 10 ) is formed in the first layer ( 1 ); a second channel ( 20 ) is formed in the second layer ( 2 ), so that a connection is formed between the first channel ( 10 ) and the second channel ( 20 ); the at least one valve flap ( 31 ′, 31 ″) of the functional element ( 3 ) is arranged in such a manner that the connection between the first channel ( 10 ) and the second channel ( 20 ) is opened or closed; the first channel ( 10 ) and second channel ( 20 ) are arranged parallel to each other; and the connection between the first channel ( 10 ) and the second channel ( 20 ) forms an angle (α) between 15° and 50°, whereby a tangential transition which is formed to be continuous without any steps, sharp edges or corners between the first channel ( 10 ) and second channel ( 20 ) is provided by means of the connection between the first channel ( 10 ) and second channel ( 20 ).