Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 5, 2026
10:22
High Speed Droplet-based Delivery System for Passive Pumping in Microfluidic Devices
Published on: September 2, 2009
14.1K
Paper-based passive pumps to generate controllable whole blood flow through microfluidic devices
Mohamad S Sotoudegan1, Omar Mohd2, Frances S Ligler1
1Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
Lab on a Chip
|October 16, 2019
Summary
Low-cost, power-free paper pumps with grooves passively drive viscous fluids using capillary action. These portable pumps successfully transported whole blood, showing potential for point-of-care diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Microfluidics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Conventional microfluidic fluid control relies on bulky, power-dependent pumps.
- Limited portability and power requirements hinder microfluidic applications in resource-limited settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop portable, low-cost, power-free paper pumps for passive fluid manipulation in microfluidics.
- To demonstrate the capability of these pumps in driving viscous biofluids, specifically whole blood.
Main Methods:
- Engineered capillary tubes (grooves) within porous paper to create passive pumps.
- Tested pump performance using undiluted, unseparated whole blood samples.
- Analyzed flow rate based on the number of grooves and pump saturation.
Main Results:
- Grooved paper pumps successfully transported ~150 μL of whole blood in 5-50 minutes.
- The number of grooves dictates the flow rate profile.
- Increased grooves lead to a constant flow rate until pump saturation.
Conclusions:
- Grooved paper pumps offer a viable alternative to active pumps for microfluidic applications.
- Their power-free and portable nature makes them suitable for point-of-care diagnostics.
- Demonstrated successful whole blood transport highlights potential in critical, time-sensitive medical settings.
