A miniature valve actuator is a small-sized device designed to open, close, or finely regulate the flow through small valves, particularly in space-restricted systems. It had applications in microfluidics and biomedical engineering, where piezoelectric or solenoid-based action ensures fast reaction times with low power consumption. Such actuators are principally needed for precision tasks in lab-on-chip actuators requiring reliable fluid control. Their small size, low energy consumption, and precision enable them to be integrated into portable automated systems for use in diagnostic analysis and point-of-care testing devices.
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A miniature valve actuator precisely opens, closes, or throttles micro-valves to steer very small liquid or gas volumes. By delivering repeatable flow rates and timing with minimal heat or vibration, it enables reliable mixing, dosing, and routing in lab-on-chip and other microfluidic systems.
Several advanced technologies are used to actuate miniature valve actuators, depending on the precision, size, and power requirements of the application. These actuation technologies enable stable fluid or gas flow control in small systems such as lab-on-chip devices. The following are the most common technologies:
Nanometre deformation under voltage → µs-level response, nW–mW power.
Electromagnetic plunger → robust, low-cost on/off switching (5–24 V).
Resistive heating expansion → simple electronics, ideal for disposable chips.
Charged micro-plates → ultra-small footprint, µW power, no coils or magnets.
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Miniature valve actuators are used primarily in highly specialized platforms where compactness, precision control, and reliability are essential. These include:
Actuators regulate the flow of fluids through tiny channels for operations like mixing, separation, and chemical reactions in a controlled microscale environment.
Incorporated into miniature diagnostic systems to perform fluid handling operations like sample delivery, reagent mixing, and waste removal—essential in medical diagnosis and point-of-care testing.
Employed in field-useable instruments for environmental monitoring, food safety testing, and biochemical analysis where accurate fluid control is required in limited space.
Enable automated dosing, drug delivery, or cellular manipulation in research equipment and therapeutic devices.
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