Patent ID: 8002235

Claim:
A microfluidic valve for controlling a flow of a fluid, comprising a substrate having at least two tie down points; adjacent said substrate, a microfluidic valve body constructed from an elastomeric material, said valve body having a flow channel configured to have therein a valve seat and a valve piston, said valve seat and said valve piston having a first relative position wherein said flow channel is in a first state and a second relative position wherein said flow channel is in a second state different from said first state; an actuator constructed from a shape memory alloy material, said actuator being attached at two of said at least two tie down points, said actuator configured to move said valve piston relative to said valve seat in response to an actuation signal so as to change the state of said flow channel from one of said first and second states to the other of said first and second states; a power supply configured to actuate said microfluidic valve; a supply of fluid configured to provide a flow though said microfluidic valve when at least partially open, and configured to provide a pressure at said microfluidic valve when closed; a control module configured to apply control signals to said power supply, and configured to supply control signals to said supply of fluid by way of a control channel; and a pneumatic valve responsive to a condition of said control channel, said pneumatic valve configured to control a state of said flow channel, wherein said actuator of said microfluidic valve for controlling said flow of said fluid is situated at a distance from said flow channel, said distance calculated to limit a change in temperature of said actuator from affecting a thermal condition in said flow channel; wherein said microfluidic valve provides fluidic logic signals as output in response to control signals applied by said control module.