Alternative One-Time-Opening Miniature Isolation Valve

The figure depicts a proposed miniature, electrically actuated, one-time-opening isolation valve that would be made mostly of silicon, by use of micromachining techniques. Isolation valves are needed in systems in which fluids must be stored for long times until use, with no leakage or contamination prior to release. Miniature isolation valves like this one could serve to control the release of propellant liquids or gases in microspacecraft, or of stored chemical reagents in portable in situ chemical-analysis apparatuses. Eventually, such apparatuses may include one-time-use biochemical-analysis chips.