A high-performance compact electromagnetic actuator for a PMMA ball-valve micropump

Abstract

We present the microfabrication and characterization of a reciprocating-type poly(methylmetacrylate) (PMMA) ball-valve micropump which is actuated with a high-performance and compact electromagnetic circuit of centimeter size. We have improved by finite element calculations the magnetic design of the electromagnet that actuates a NdFeB permanent magnet embedded in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) pumping membrane. Powder blasting technology and conventional micromachining techniques are employed for the microstructuring of PMMA layers. The ball-valve micropump is bubble tolerant and has self-priming capabilities. It has a resonant frequency of around 20 Hz, and it exhibits a backpressure up to 37 kPa; water is pumped at flow rates up to 6.8 mL min −1 for a 2 W electromagnetic actuation power. The actuation frequency dependence of the flow rate can be well described by a fluidic damped oscillator model.

A portable pressure pump for microfluidic lab-on-a-chip systems using a porous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sponge

“…The micropumps exert pressure on the working fluid through moving wall or continuously add energy to the working fluid by means of piezoelectric (Laser & Santiago 2006;Michael et al 1998), electrostatic (Machauf et al 2005, pneumatic (Yang & Liao 2009), and magnetic (Hatch et al 2001;Shen et al 2008) principles. However, previous micropumps should be integrated with external power or energy in operation, such as on-line electrical power or off-line batteries.…”

A microscale pulsatile flow device for dynamic cross-slot rheometry

“…Fig. 10 in [10]. Physical phenomena concerning this damping in these kind of microfluidic devices have been identified.…”

Miniature objective lens with variable focus for confocal endomicroscopy

“…Model of lens focusing dynamics: We also calculated a theoretical 3-dB frequency of the vari-focal objective lens by using a simple RLC model developed by Shen et. al [18]. In this approach, the vari-focal objective lens was modeled as a serial circuit of a resistor (water viscosity), an inductor (water inertia), and a capacitor (PDMS membrane stiffiness).…”