AMF - Microfluidic Valves - Distribution, Switch or On/Off
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Microfluidic Valves – Distribution, Switch or On/Off

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AMF’s unique valve geometry has been designed to achieve ultra-low internal volume and no dead volume in its microfluidic valves. Microfluidic valves, also called microvalves, are basic components used in microfluidic devices to handle liquids through different valve ports:

  • Distribution, Switch and On/Off valves
  • From 2 to 24 ports
  • Ultra low internal volumes, down to 0,6 µL
  • No dead volumes
  • Plug and play
  • Optimized materials for a wide range of applications

More details

Explore Our Precision-Engineered Microfluidic Valves: Distribution, Switch or On/Off Valves

Discover our state-of-the-art microfluidic valves with unique precision and accuracy. Our valves are meticulously designed to optimize your experiments and deliver exceptional results:

  • Minimized Reagent Consumption and Cost Reduction: Our valves feature a unique geometry that minimizes reagent consumption, leading to significant cost savings for your experiments.
  • High Cleanability and Reduced Contamination Risks: Say goodbye to cross-contamination risks and biofilm formation. Our valves are designed for high cleanability, ensuring your experiments remain uncontaminated and reliable.
  • Standard Microfluidic Connections for Easy Integration: Integrating our valves into your setup is a breeze. They are compatible with standard fluidic connections, making them a seamless addition to your custom microfluidic experiment.
  • High Chemical Compatibility and Mechanical Stability: Our microvalves are built to last. They are available in materials such as PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) and UHMW-PE (Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene), both known for their broad chemical compatibility and mechanical robustness.

Explore Our Valve Types

  • Distribution valves

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Distribution valves facilitate sequential flow distribution and redirection and enable precise regulation of fluidic pathways.

These valves serve as gatekeepers for various channels. They can be adjusted to divert or halt the flow of liquids, ensuring optimal distribution to different destinations. This functionality is crucial in applications ranging from chemical analysis and medical diagnostics to industrial processes.

  • Switch valves

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Switch valves serve as dynamic control units that determine the direction of fluid flow, enabling you to manipulate fluids with precision and versatility.

Functioning as traffic regulators for microfluidic channels, switch valves allow fluidic pathways to be opened, closed, or changed, facilitating the controlled movement of liquids. This capability is essential for applications spanning from medical diagnostics and chemical analysis to biotechnology and pharmaceutical research.

A custom switch microfluidic valves design could be required for experiment protocols such as liquid recirculation. For example, using a 2-position 6-port switch valve (VS1-6), it is possible to create a system that recirculates the liquid between two vials, all the while maintaining the flow direction in your flow cell.

  • On/Off

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On/Off valves serve as gatekeepers that control the flow of fluids within intricate systems. These valves are designed to either allow fluid passage or block it entirely.

Operating on a binary principle, On/Off valves function as switches that can be activated to either open or close the fluidic pathway. This control is essential for a wide range of applications, including sample loading, reagent mixing, and flow interruption.

Critical Advantages of Our Microfluidic Valves

  • Ultra low carryover volume and low internal volumes

We provide channels diameters as low as 0.25 mm, decreasing the total volume in the system to save reagent consumption.

Our unique microvalve design can include several port stages, significantly decreasing the internal volume (total volume in the system) and allowing fast liquid switching thanks to its ultra-low carryover volume of 1.5 µl (volume of liquid that will be mixed with the next liquid) compared to other microfluidic valves on the market.

  • No dead volumes

Our manufacturing process is performed in-house in our facility located on the EPFL campus in Lausanne, Switzerland. At AMF, we are committed to high-quality standards, and a highly precise degree of material machining, and as a result our microvalves exhibit no dead volume (the small amount of liquid left out of the flow path and stuck in the system). The zero dead volume feature allows less contamination between liquids and can be suitable for demanding protocols especially in biological applications showcasing high levels of sensitivity.

In addition to this ultra-precise manufacturing process, all Advanced Microfluidics microvalves undergo a manual final inspection to ensure the consistently high quality of our products.

  • Plug and play

Our microvalves on the RVM Electric Rotary Valve, and the SPM OEM Microdispenser can be easily mounted or exchanged. There are only two screws to dismantle on the motor system. This particularly easy changeover procedure facilitates on-site service as well as preventive maintenance.

Our microfluidic valve ports are designed for high compatibility with standard fluidic connections, allowing them to be easily integrated into your protocol and your custom microfluidic experiment.

  • Optimized materials

Our microfluidic valves plugs (or valve rotor) are available in different materials:

  • PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene, also known as Teflon®). This material is chemically inert and therefore highly compatible with most used solvents, with excellent stress resistance.
  • UHMW-PE (Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene). This material has a strong resistance to mechanical movements, and is very tough, with the highest impact strength of any thermoplastic presently made.

Our microfluidic valves seats (or valve stator) are available in different materials:

  • PCTFE (Polychlorotrifluoroethylene). This material provides excellent chemical resistance and durability, making it ideal for specific applications.
  • PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone). This material offers exceptional mechanical and thermal properties, making it suitable for demanding microfluidic environments.

Valve specifications
DISTRIBUTION SERIES

Ref. Configuration Wetted materials Internal volume Carryover volume Fluid path diameter Max. pressure
V–D–1–6–050–C–P 6 ports low carryover volume PCTFE, PTFE 2.5 μL 1.5 μL 0.5 mm 7 bars
V–D–1–8–050–C–P 8 ports low carryover volume PCTFE, PTFE 2.5 μL 1.5 μL 0.5 mm 7 bars
V–D–1–8–100–C–P or U 8 ports low carryover volume PCTFE, PTFE or UHMW–PE 13.8 μL 6.7 μL 1 mm 7 bars
V–D–1–10–050–C–P or U 10 ports low carryover volume PCTFE, PTFE or UHMW–PE 3.5 μL 1.7 μL 0.5 mm 7 bars
V–D–1–10–100–C–P or U 10 ports low carryover volume PCTFE, PTFE or UHMW–PE 13.8 μL 6.7 μL 1 mm 7 bars
V–D–1–12–050–C–P or U 12 ports low carryover volume PCTFE, PTFE or UHMW–PE 3.5 μL 1.7 μL 0.5 mm 7 bars
V–D–1–24–050–K–P 24 ports low carryover volume PEEK, PTFE 3.6 μL 2.2 μL 0.5 mm 7 bars

ON/OFF SERIES

Ref. Configuration Wetted materials Internal volume Carryover volume Fluid path diameter Max. pressure
V–O–1–2–050–C–P 2 ports PCTFE, PTFE 3.0 μL - 0.5 mm 7 bars

SWITCH SERIES

Ref. Configuration Wetted materials Internal volume Carryover volume Fluid path diameter Max. pressure
V–S–1–4–050–C–P 4 ports ultra-low carryover volume PCTFE, PTFE 2.8 μL 0.8 μL 0.5 mm 7 bars
V–S–1–6–050–C–P 6 ports ultra-low carryover volume PCTFE, PTFE 2.5 μL 0.6 μL 0.5 mm 7 bars

Valve heads are interchangeable. Other models available upon request.

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FAQ: Understanding Microfluidic Valves

Dive into our detailed FAQ section to explore the functionalities and applications of our Microfluidic Valves – Distribution, Switch or On/Off. Designed for precision and versatility, these valves are essential in controlling and manipulating fluids in microfluidic systems. This section addresses common inquiries about their design, operation, and integration, providing insights into how they can optimize your microfluidic experiments. Whether for academic research or industrial applications, our FAQs are tailored to help you understand the significance of these valves in advancing the field of microfluidics.

AMF’s microfluidic valves offer three functions: distribution, switching, and on/off control. Distribution valves manage sequential manipulation of different fluids, switch valves alternate between two fluid paths, and on/off valves act as simple flow interrupters. This versatility allows for complex fluid handling in microfluidic devices​​.

The unique design of AMF’s microfluidic valves achieves ultra-low internal volumes, down to 0.6 µL. This feature is crucial in minimizing reagent consumption and operational costs, particularly in applications where sample volume is limited and precision is paramount​​.

AMF’s microfluidic valves are designed with no dead volume, ensuring that no liquid is left out of the flow path. This zero dead volume feature reduces contamination between liquids and is especially beneficial in sensitive biological applications​​.

The valves feature an ultra-low carryover volume of 1.5 µL, allowing for fast liquid switching with minimal mixing of successive fluids. This low carryover volume is essential for applications requiring high purity and precision in fluid handling​​.

The valves are constructed with materials like PTFE, UHMW-PE, PCTFE, and PEEK, known for their chemical compatibility and mechanical robustness. This ensures the valves’ suitability for a broad range of applications, from chemical analysis to biological research​​.

The valves are designed for easy maintenance, with a simple changeover procedure that involves only two screws on the motor system. This facilitates on-site service and preventive maintenance, enhancing the valves’ operational longevity​​.

The valve ports are highly compatible with standard fluidic connections, allowing for easy integration into various microfluidic setups. This ensures seamless integration with existing systems and reduces setup time​​.

The unique geometry of AMF’s valves minimizes reagent consumption, leading to significant cost savings in experiments. This is especially beneficial in large-scale or long-duration experiments where material usage can be a critical factor​​.

The valves are designed for high cleanability, reducing the risks of cross-contamination and biofilm formation. This feature is vital for maintaining the integrity of experiments and ensuring reliable results​​.

The valves’ materials, including PTFE and UHMW-PE, provide high chemical compatibility and mechanical stability, making them suitable for demanding microfluidic environments. This durability is crucial for long-term use in various scientific and industrial applications​​.

AMF’s microfluidic valves offer a range of port options, from 2 to 12 ports. This variability allows for intricate fluid manipulations and flexibility in designing microfluidic systems tailored to specific experimental requirements​​.

The valves can handle pressures up to 7 bars, allowing them to operate efficiently under various conditions. This high-pressure capability is essential for applications requiring robust fluid control under dynamic conditions​​.

The valves are designed to operate within a standard temperature range, making them suitable for a wide array of laboratory and industrial environments. This temperature flexibility ensures consistent performance across different applications​​.

The precision and accuracy of AMF’s valves optimize experiments by ensuring exact fluid handling. This leads to improved experimental results and efficiency, particularly in complex microfluidic setups​​.

The average lead time for these microfluidic valves is around 4 weeks, although this may vary depending on specific configurations and requirements. This efficient lead time aligns with the needs of fast-paced research and industrial applications, ensuring timely integration into microfluidic systems​​.

They trust us

From top-tier academic institutions to pioneering biotech companies, Advanced Microfluidics is the preferred partner for innovative microfluidic solutions. Our track record of excellence and precision has earned us the trust of industry leaders, driving us to push boundaries and redefine possibilities together.

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