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Completed TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 3)
This project works toward the development of a precision reduced dead-volume valve that combines gas or liquid channeling with a sub-millimeter inner-diameter tubing.
Sample analyzing systems operate by transferring microliter-sized quantities of samples and carriers through sub-millimeter tubing and precisely dispensing them for microfluidic processing and analysis. Reagent fluid and gaseous chasers are metered through capillary tubing using on-off valves. Sample analyzing missions can require tens of individual on-off microvalves for a single instrument system, controlling a vast array of intersections, inlets, and outlets of complex capillary tubing structures. The current state-of-the-art on-off Mindrum-manufactured microvalve is the only available option for these instruments and has been used on many flight missions.
However, this microvalve is not designed for liquid applications, and has a relatively significant amount of dead volume, approximately 34 uL. This trapped volume causes contamination between samples and decreases metering precision, ultimately reducing resolution. While the current microvalve has been successful in many previous missions, upcoming scientific work in the search for habitable worlds with cutting-edge sample-analyzing instrumentation will require a minimal dead-volume valve compatible with gas or liquid contents.
The development of a precision reduced dead-volume valve with liquid and sub-millimeter inner-diameter tubing compatibility will reduce contamination between samples caused by trapped volume, increase metering precision, and ultimately improve sample analysis resolution.
This project will include conducting thorough trade study and completing several rounds of design iteration to produce a plan for the proposed valve.
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