Peristaltic piezoelectric micropump system for biomedical applications

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Microfluidics
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Diabetes management requires precise insulin delivery.
• Existing micropump technologies face challenges with biocompatibility and portability.
• Developing advanced microfluidic devices is crucial for personalized medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a portable peristaltic piezoelectric micropump system.
• To assess the system's capability for transporting deionized water, whole blood, and delivering phosphate-buffered saline (PBS).
• To investigate the hemocompatibility of the micropump for blood applications.

Main Methods:

• A peristaltic piezoelectric micropump system was designed, incorporating a microprocessor, DC-to-DC converter, and control circuitry.
• A PEOU (N-(triethosilylpropyl)-O-polyethylene oxide urethane) coating was applied to enhance hemocompatibility.
• Circuit testing and fluid pumping experiments were conducted with deionized water and whole blood.
• In vivo studies were performed on rats to simulate insulin injections and monitor physiological responses.

Main Results:

• The micropump system achieved flow rates of 16.6-121.6 microl/min for DI water and 8.6-50.2 microl/min for whole blood.
• Maximum backpressures of 3.2 kPa (DI water) and 1.8 kPa (whole blood) were recorded.
• The PEOU coating ensured smooth blood flow without blockage.
• In vivo tests showed insignificant changes in rat physiological parameters (MAP, heart rate) during PBS delivery.

Conclusions:

• The developed peristaltic piezoelectric micropump is portable, programmable, and suitable for precise fluid delivery.
• The PEOU coating significantly improves the hemocompatibility of the micropump.
• The system demonstrates potential for applications in diabetes management and other biomedical fluid delivery scenarios.