Patent ID: 7422191

Claim:
A bistable minivalve comprising: a conduit for carrying a fluid; a movable component having an open state allowing fluid flow through the conduit and a closed state blocking fluid flow through the conduit; an actuator coupled to the movable component for controllably switching the movable component between the open state and the closed state; and a casing providing structural support for the conduit, the movable component, and the actuator; wherein the movable component comprises: an actuation surface movably positioned in the conduit; and a bistable element attached to the actuation surface providing mechanical stability to the open and closed states of the movable component; wherein the bistable element comprises elastic buckling beams attached to opposite sides of the actuation surface; wherein the movable component comprises elastic support beams attached at their endpoints to the actuation surface and attached at their midpoints to the elastic buckling beams.