Peristaltic micropump and related systems and methods

Abstract

A peristaltic micropump comprising one or more conduits configured to transfer one or more pumped fluids, wherein each conduit comprises: an inlet ( 106 ), an outlet ( 107 ), a central portion ( 102 ) between the inlet and the outlet, and an actuator ( 103, 105 ) configured to engage the central portions of the one or more conduits.

1 .- 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . A peristaltic micropump comprising:
 a conduit configured to transfer a pumped fluid; and   an actuator configured to rotate about a central axis, wherein:
 the actuator comprises a rolling element and a driving element; 
 the rolling element is disposed between the conduit and the driving element; and 
 the driving element and the conduit have a coefficient of friction that is substantially similar. 
   
     
     
         62 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 61  wherein the driving element and the conduit have coefficients of both elasticity and friction that are substantially similar. 
     
     
         63 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 61  wherein the driving element and the conduit are comprised of a flexible polymeric compound. 
     
     
         64 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 61  wherein the driving element and the conduit are comprised of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). 
     
     
         65 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 61  wherein the actuator comprises a rolling element without an axle. 
     
     
         66 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 61  wherein the rolling element is configured to rotate about an axle. 
     
     
         67 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 61  wherein the actuator comprises one or more ball bearings. 
     
     
         68 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 61  wherein the actuator comprises one or more cylindrical rollers. 
     
     
         69 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 61  wherein the actuator comprises one or more conical rollers. 
     
     
         70 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 61  wherein the actuator comprises a plurality of rolling elements. 
     
     
         71 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 70  wherein the driving element comprises a cage configured to capture the plurality of rolling elements. 
     
     
         72 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 70  wherein the plurality of rolling elements are located at substantially the same radius from the center of the cage. 
     
     
         73 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 70  wherein the plurality of rolling elements are located at different radii from the center of the cage. 
     
     
         74 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 70  wherein the actuator comprises a rotating drive mechanism and a centering component configured to center the cage with respect to the rotating drive mechanism. 
     
     
         75 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 61  further comprising:
 one or more conduits configured to transfer one or more pumped fluids, wherein each conduit comprises:
 an inlet; 
 an outlet; and 
 a central portion between the inlet and the outlet; 
 
 wherein the actuator is configured to engage the central portions of the one or more conduits. 
 
     
     
         76 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 61  further comprising one or more valves configured to control flow of one or more pumped fluids in the one or more conduits. 
     
     
         77 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 76  wherein a first conduit of the one or more conduits comprises a bypass line configured to allow fluid to flow from the outlet of the first conduit to the inlet of the first conduit. 
     
     
         78 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 76  wherein:
 the one or more conduits contains at least a first fluid and a second fluid; 
 the one or more valves can be opened and closed to control a flow rate of the first and second fluids during operation of the peristaltic micropump; and 
 the outlets of the one or more conduits are in fluid communication such that the first and second fluids can be mixed in varying proportions. 
 
     
     
         79 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 76  wherein the one or more conduits are configured to provide sinusoidal or other output concentration waveforms. 
     
     
         80 . The peristaltic micropump of  claim 61  wherein the conduit comprises an expanded area configured to reduce pulsatility.