Enplas’s RMVP controls more than 20 fluids without cross contamination and handles multiple fluids with a stable flow rate, even down to
nL/min.
Rotary Membrane Valve & Pump for Microfluidic Devices
Control More Fluids with Fewer Valves and Pumps
The Enplas-designed Rotary Membrane Valve & Pump (RMVP) simplifies microfluidic applications while enabling accurate and efficient control of more than 20 fluids.
How the RMVP Works
Components
Enplas’s Rotary Membrane Valve & Pump (RMVP) is a compact, high-performance microfluidic system with three main parts:
On the Plastic Chip:
- A plastic microfluidic channel plate
- A thermally-bonded plastic film membrane containing miniscule domes that open and close as valves and a cylindrical arc that functions as a peristaltic pump. The 3D structures on this film acts as passages that engage the channels on the plastic plate base.
On the Instrument:
- Two rotary pusher pins, one for the valve and the other for the pump, each controlled by a single motor. The valve pin presses individual domes on the film membrane to open and close the target valves. The pump pin squeezes the film membrane, pulling or pushing fluids to and from the valve.
The Valve
The rotary membrane valve is a simple microfluidic device composed of 1) a specially designed film with small domes (valves) laminated over a microfluidic chip and 2) a bidirectional, single-axis rotational value pin to control the opening and closing of the valves.
Features:
- Single-axis control
- Manage 20+ fluids with a simple system
- Robust and high-sealing (up to 10 psi) with less than 1ppm leakage—no contamination and less dead volume
- Durable for over 2,000 cycles of open/close motion
The Pump
The rotary membrane pump pushes and pulls liquids, acting as a peristaltic pump—although one that is more compact than a conventional pump.
Features:
- Single-axis control
- Precise metering
- Stable flow rate
- Designed to your required flow rate
- Transfer 100nL to 10mL of fluids
- Ultra-slow (nL/min) delivery possible
RMVP Applications
Enplas’s Rotary Membrane Valve & Pump (RMVP) system can be used in many microfluidic applications to improve liquid handling and simplify instrumentation. Below are just a few examples that can benefit from the RMVP.
DNA/RNA Extraction
Combining the RMVP with micro-channels will minimize dead volumes and allow precise control of liquid volumes less than a μL, which enables higher efficiency in extracting DNA/RNA from the smallest sample volumes.
Sample Prep for NGS
Similar to DNA/RNA extraction, the RMVP can help increase the efficiency of library prep with the use of small sample volumes.
Immunoassay
To analyze allergies, large automated dispensing instruments are usually required to repeatedly deliver serums, washing fluids, and antibodies to antigens. With the RMVP, the entire process can be done with a single microfluidic device, minimizing the size of the instrument.
Cell Assay
During cell assay processes, multiple pipetting is required to transfer reagents or medias to different vessels. This is susceptible to environmental effects and human error, and requires more tools such as dispensers and a clean bench. By using an RMVP-embedded microfluidic device, errors can be minimized and tools can be reduced. Within a semi-closed environment, the RMVP can precisely feed and extract media from one vessel to another without the need for human interaction or multiple tools.
RMVP Customization
Enplas’s versatile Rotary Membrane Valve & Pump (RMVP) system can be customized specifically for your microfluidic device and its applications.
Whether it’s the whole RMVP system or just a single component, the RMVP is a flexible solution for meeting your personal microfluidic goals.
(Note: The chips shown in the drawings below are examples only. Enplas RMVP customers can integrate the RMVP system into their own microfluidic devices.)
Flexible Customization
Design the RMVP to enhance your microfluidic device: intricate channel dimensions and various reservoir shapes can be implemented in the RMVP according to your needs.
Videos: See the RMVP in Action
Accuracy: Transferring Less Than 10μL of Fluids
Note
In the above video, the pump is filled with colored fluid specifically for visualization purposes. In practice, we do not recommend this, as it may cause cross-contamination.
Efficiency: Tight Sealing and Washing
Request a Demo
Interested in trying the Rotary Membrane Valve & Pump (RMVP) system with your actual sample handling process? Enplas offers RMVP demo kits for rental.
Learn more about Enplas’s microfluidic manufacturing capabilities and solutions.