Patent ID: 6874999

Claim:
A microfluidic pumping system, comprising: a plurality of ceramic substrate layers comprised of green sheets formed of a ceramic material dispersed in an organic binder; a pumping cavity, a fluid inlet channel, a fluid outlet channel, and at least one of a pump actuator and a piezoelectric actuator formed in the plurality of ceramic substrate layers; and a passive check valve placed in fluidic communication with the fluid inlet channel and the fluid outlet channel, the passive check valve comprising a valve housing, including an inlet opening and an outlet opening, said inlet opening suitably adapted to receive inlet fluid for transport through said valve housing, said valve housing effectively confining transport of inlet fluid from said inlet opening to said outlet opening where outlet fluid is purged, said outlet opening comprising passive means for substantially restricting backflow of purged outlet fluid back into the valve housing and a means for retaining the passive check valve within the plurality of ceramic substrate layers.