PDMS micro check valve with 3D valve disk for reducing fluid resistance

Check valves are essential components in various biomedical, chemical, medical diagnostic, and process applications, as they allow fluid flow in the forward direction while blocking the reverse flow. This paper presents a method to enhance the performance of unibody micro check valves composed of polydimethylsiloxane using 3D design and printing technologies. Passive micro check valves, which are known for their structural simplicity, miniaturization, and light weight, have shown improved performance with the application of 3D valve disks formed via 3D printing technology. The performance of various valve disk designs was evaluated using simulations and experiments, which revealed that cone-shaped 3D valve disks offer a 58.33% improvement in blocking pressure performance compared to traditional two-dimensional designs. This underscores the potential for efficient fluid control in micro check valves using 3D structures while highlighting the importance of 3D printing technology in the design and manufacturing processes of microfluidic devices.