Hydrogel microvalve device modeling and simulation

Abstract

The modeling and simulation of fabricated 3D hybrid hydrogel microvalve using a commercial FE package is presented in this paper. A PDMS diaphragm is deflected to 197.5 /spl mu/m. A stimulated hydrogel volume swelled to 465% of its original volume. Results of the finite element analysis are reported and a comparison to the fabricated model results is made.