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Finger-Actuated Micropump of Constant Flow Rate without Backflow
NurFarrahain Nadia Ahmad1,2, Nik Nazri Nik Ghazali1, Ahmad Taufiq Abdul Rani3
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Federal Territory, Malaysia.
Micromachines
|July 8, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a finger-actuated micropump for consistent interstitial fluid (ISF) extraction. The novel design ensures a stable flow rate of 2.2 μL/min without backflow, enhancing microfluidic device performance.
Area of Science:
- Microfluidics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Microfluidic devices require precise fluid control for applications like interstitial fluid (ISF) extraction.
- Existing micropumps often face challenges with consistent flow rates and backflow, limiting their utility.
- Optimizing microfluidic performance necessitates understanding fluid dynamics, including head losses and pressure drops.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a finger-actuated micropump for reliable ISF extraction.
- To investigate the fluid dynamics governing the micropump's operation, focusing on flow consistency and backflow prevention.
- To evaluate the impact of microchannel design and reservoir integration on micropump performance metrics like diodicity.
Main Methods:
- Analytical modeling and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were employed.
- Experimental methods were used to validate simulation results and measure key performance parameters.
- Characterization included analysis of head losses, pressure drop, hydrogel swelling, and flow rate consistency.
Main Results:
- The finger-actuated micropump achieved a consistent flow rate of approximately 2.2 μL/min after 20 seconds of operation.
- Flow rate discrepancy between experimental and predicted values was found to be around 22%.
- Integration of serpentine microchannels and hydrogel reservoirs significantly increased diodicity (Di = 1.48 and 1.96, respectively) compared to Tesla structures (Di = 1.45), with no observed backflow.
Conclusions:
- The developed finger-actuated micropump demonstrates consistent flow and effective backflow prevention.
- The study highlights the importance of microchannel design and reservoir integration in enhancing microfluidic performance.
- The micropump's characteristics show promise for low-cost, portable microfluidic applications.
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