Asymmetric pumping can be achieved by periodically compressing a flexible tube in its plane of symmetry using an actuator, as long as the rigid pipes connected to its ends are asymmetric. This mechanism, together with impedance pumping, composes the Liebau effect. While there have been numerous studies on impedance pumping, there is a lack of available research on asymmetric pumping. The aim of this study is to examine the influence of key parameters on the performance of this type of pump. In addition, this study implements an actuator based on soft robotics technology in asymmetric valveless pumping for the first time. The pump developed in this study can be applied in different areas involving the pumping of special fluids, including biomedical applications.
Asymmetric pumping is a sub-category of valveless pumping in which a flexible tube is rhythmically compressed in the transverse symmetry plane. Due to the resulting asymmetry between the suction and discharge pipes, a net pumping head is achieved. Asymmetric pumping is regarded as one of the main mechanisms responsible for the Liebau effect in addition to impedance pumping. However, there remains a paucity of research surrounding the governing parameters of asymmetric pumping. Here, we conducted an experimental study of the performance of an asymmetric pump, with an aim to assess its potential for extravascular flow augmentation. A custom flexible latex tube and experimental platform were developed for this purpose. We tested various tube thicknesses and pinching frequencies. Our results demonstrate that the performance is within the range of physiological requirements for pediatric circulatory devices (~ 1 L/min and < 30 mmHg). We conclude that due to the absence of reverse flow and its mechanical simplicity, pure asymmetric pumping is promising for selected cardiovascular applications with less complexity than other valveless techniques.
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