Patent ID: 8353682

Claim:
A microfluidic device comprising: at least one transport channel; at least one working chamber, wherein the at least one transport channel and the at least one working chamber are separated from each other by a deformable wall, wherein the at least one working chamber comprises a flexible wall different from the deformable wall, and wherein the at least one transport channel comprises a transport fluid and the at least one working chamber comprises a working fluid; and at least one pair of electrodes, wherein the at least one pair of electrodes are located against sidewalls of the at least one working chamber and away from the at least one transport channel, wherein at least one electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes is provided on the flexible wall, and wherein the at least one pair of electrodes is operable to change pressure on the working fluid such that when the pressure on the working fluid is changed, the deformable wall deforms, resulting in a change of a cross-section of the at least one transport channel, and wherein there is no direct contact between the working fluid and the transport fluid, wherein the at least one working chamber contains a working liquid.