A Miniaturized Archimedean Screw Pump for High-Viscosity Fluid Pumping in Microfluidics.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Microfluidics
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Microfluidic devices enable precise fluid handling for lab-on-a-chip applications.
• Existing microfluidic pumps often fail with high-viscosity fluids, restricting their use in bioanalysis and sample processing.
• There is a need for microfluidic pumps capable of manipulating viscous liquids.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate a miniaturized Archimedean screw pump for high-viscosity fluids.
• To demonstrate the pump's capability for continuous, directional fluid pumping in microfluidic channels.
• To assess the pump's performance with viscous solutions and its suitability for point-of-care applications.

Main Methods:

• A miniaturized Archimedean screw pump was designed and fabricated using 3D printing technology.
• The pump was operated vertically with a mini-DC motor to drive fluid flow.
• Polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions of varying viscosities, exceeding water's viscosity by over 100 times, were used for testing.
• Flow rates were characterized for water, and the impact of screw pitch on flow rate was investigated.

Main Results:

• The 3D-printed Archimedean screw pump successfully pumped high-viscosity polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions.
• Continuous and directional fluid pumping was achieved in microfluidic channels.
• Efficient fluid manipulation was demonstrated at low voltages, indicating suitability for portable applications.
• The effect of screw pitch on flow rate was analyzed, providing design insights.

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic pump effectively handles high-viscosity fluids, addressing a key limitation in current lab-on-a-chip systems.
• Simple fabrication and operation make this pump a promising solution for microfluidic applications involving viscous liquids.
• The pump's design is suitable for point-of-care diagnostics and field-based bioanalysis requiring precise fluid control.