Valvotuille

Valvotuille is a term used in microfluidics to describe a tile-shaped valve module that integrates fluid routing channels and a valve element into a single tile. The concept envisions a grid of such tiles forming a programmable, modular network for controlling liquid flow. The name blends valve with tuile, the French word for tile.

Design and operation: A valvotuille consists of a rigid tile substrate (ceramic or polymer) with microchannels etched on its underside and a flexible elastomeric membrane forming a seal against the channel. An actuator (pneumatic, electrostatic, or thermal) deforms the membrane to open or close the channel, enabling discrete, addressable flow control. Tiles are designed to mate with neighboring tiles through edge features, allowing scalable arrays with simple assembly.

Fabrication and materials: Typical materials include PDMS or elastomeric membranes on ceramic or polymer tiles, produced by soft lithography or laser micromachining. Achieving tight seals requires surface treatment and careful control of channel dimensions and membrane thickness. Temperature and solvent compatibility are design considerations due to the membrane material.

Applications and status: The valvotuille concept appears in speculative and early-prototype discussions of tiled microfluidics, where rapid prototyping and modular routing are advantageous for teaching, demonstration, or compact lab-on-a-chip systems. It remains experimental and is not widely commercialized.

See also: microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip, valve array, tiled microfluidics.