Apparatus and methods for medical applications of laser-driven microfuild pumps

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a cylinder by a microfluidic stream includes a microtube, a first laser-driven photoacoustic microfluid pump (LDMP), and a fiber optic element. The microtube includes a fluid and a cylinder. The fiber optic element includes a first end and a second end. The first end is disposed on the first LDMP and the second end is disposed in a first end portion of the microtube. The first LDMP is configured to generate a directional fluidic jet from the fluid and to push the cylinder in a direction away from the second end of the fiber optic element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for controlling a cylinder by a microfluidic stream, the apparatus including:
 a microtube including a fluid and a cylinder;   a first laser-driven photoacoustic microfluid pump (LDMP); and   a fiber optic element including a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be disposed on the first LDMP, and the second end configured to be disposed in a first end portion of the microtube,   wherein the first LDMP is configured to generate a directional fluidic jet from the fluid and to push the cylinder in a first direction away from the second end of the fiber optic element.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first LDMP includes:
 a substrate having a first side and a second side; and   a layer of photoacoustic material disposed on the first side of the substrate, the layer of photoacoustic material including nanoparticles and configured to generate a directional ultrasound wave in response to a laser beam impinging on the layer.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second LDMP; and   a second fiber optic element including a first end and a second end, the first end disposed on the second LDMP, and the second end configured to be disposed in a second end portion of the microtube,   wherein the second LDMP is configured to generate a directional fluidic jet from the fluid, and to push the cylinder in a second direction different than the first direction.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second end of the fiber optic element includes a surface implanted with metal. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a first end of the second fiber optic element includes a surface implanted with metal. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder includes a first end including a surface implanted with metal. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder includes a second end that includes a surface implanted with metal. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid includes at least one of water, blood, plasma, or body fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the microtube is disposed on a microfluidic chip. 
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling a cylinder by microfluidic streaming, the method including:
 generating a directional ultrasound wave, in a microtube, based on directing a laser beam at a first laser-driven photoacoustic microfluid pump (LDMP), wherein the microtube includes a fluid and a cylinder;   thermally expanding and contracting a photoacoustic layer implanted on an end portion of the cylinder in response to the laser beam striking the photoacoustic layer; and   moving the cylinder in a direction away from the first LDMP based on the thermal expansion and contraction.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 generating a second directional ultrasound wave, in the microtube, based on directing a second laser beam at a second laser-driven photoacoustic microfluid pump (LDMP);   thermally expanding and contracting a second photoacoustic layer implanted on a second end portion of the cylinder, in response to the second laser beam striking the second photoacoustic layer; and   moving the cylinder in a direction away from the second LDMP based on the thermal expansion and contraction.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for generating vortex in a microfluidic chip, the apparatus including:
 a laser-driven photoacoustic microfluid pump (LDMP) configured to generate a vortex;   a transparent substrate;   a fiber optic element including a first end and a second end, the first end disposed on the LDMP, and the second end configured to be disposed in a first surface of the substrate; and   microchannels including a fluid.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the transparent substrate includes an area implanted with metal. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the second end of the fiber optic element includes a surface implanted with metal. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid includes at least one of water, blood, plasma, or body fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second LDMP configured to generate a vortex; and   a second fiber optic element including a first end and a second end, the first end disposed on a second LDMP, and the second end configured to be disposed in a first surface of the substrate.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first fiber optic element is inserted into the microfluidic chip at a first angle relative to a first surface of the microfluidic chip. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the second fiber optic element is inserted into the microfluidic chip at a second angle relative to a first surface of the microfluidic chip, wherein the second angle is different than the first angle. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the microfluidic chip is configured for microfluidic mixing of a sample with the fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the microfluidic chip is configured for at least one of microfluidic surgery or cleaning an artery.