Multi-position microfluidic valve system with detachable encoder assembly, microfluidic valve actuator assembly and encoder assembly

摘要

A multi-position micro-fluidic valve system (20) operably mounted to a drive motor (21) is described. The valve system comprises a housing (27) having an exterior wall and an interior wall defining an interior through-chamber (28). A drive assembly (24) is rotatably positioned within said chamber and has a drive axis of rotation co-axial with a chamber axis and is rotatably coupled to said drive motor. A removable, stand alone, self contained encoder assembly (36) includes a support structure (37), an encoder shaft (38) rotatably mounted to said support structure for rotation about an encoder shaft axis, and an encoder device (40) configured to determine the rotational position of the encoder shaft about the encoder shaft axis. Said support structure is positioned within said housing at a mounting position, enabling rotational coupling of the encoder shaft to the drive assembly. A multi-position micro-fluidic valve device (22) has a valve shaft (25) rotating about a valve axis between a plurality of discrete fluid distribution positions and is mounted to the housing to enable rotational coupling of the valve shaft to the encoder shaft. The support structure (37) is free of rigid coupling directly to said actuator housing (27).