Patent ID: 7059339

Claim:
A microvalve for enabling or preventing communication of ends of microchannels of a microfluidic component under a control of a charge of pyrotechnic material, said micro-valve comprising: a mini-piston moving due to a thrust of gases given off by firing a pyrotechnic charge and comprising an aperture designed to achieve said communication, wherein the microfluidic component microchannels are made in a planar substrate comprising a transverse slot arranged between the ends between which communication is to be established, said mini-piston comprising a rod designed to slide within said slot, the aperture being formed by a transverse orifice formed in the rod of the mini-piston and the rod of the mini-piston is formed by machining a stack of flat layers, the transverse orifice of the rod of the mini-piston being formed by an orifice passing through one of the layers and having a width greater than or equal to a width of the rod.