Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Three-dimensional Printing of Thermoplastic Materials to Create Automated Syringe Pumps with Feedback Control for Microfluidic Applications
Published on: August 30, 2018
3D-printed syringe holder with synchronized push-pull action
Daniel P G Nilsson1, Magnus Andersson1,2
1Department of Physics, Umeå University, Umeå, 901 87, Sweden.
None:
Controlled liquid exchange is a fundamental requirement for numerous biological and chemical experimental protocols. However, achieving constant-volume exchange often requires electronic syringe pumps that are cost-prohibitive and time-consuming to set up in a push-pull configuration. To address these limitations, we developed the Push2Pull syringe holder, a simple 3D-printed device that mechanically synchronizes two syringes to simultaneously add and extract equal fluid volumes. This device is compatible with standard disposable syringes from 1 to 60 mL in size and operates without electricity or additional hardware, making it ideal for both laboratory and field settings. Validation experiments demonstrate an exchange accuracy within across the whole travel range, while fluid exchange efficiency was calculated for various use cases using CFD simulations. The Push2Pull syringe holder offers an accessible, open-source solution for precise fluid handling, for a material cost of less than $10.

