SBIR Phase I: Electronically Actuated Low Power Microfluidic Pump

该小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段研究项目将开发一种低成本、低功率、一次性微流控电解液压泵(EHPS)。许多新兴的诊断和临床应用，如临床点聚合酶链式反应(PCR)病原体分析和门诊药物输注，都要求电池供电的液体泵系统重量轻、功耗低、精度极高。不幸的是，目前的注射器和滚柱泵对于许多便携式应用来说过于笨重和耗电。这项研究将开发火柴盒大小的EHPS，其泵量范围从0.1毫升到5毫升。此外，还将开发一种集成超声波传播时间流量测量系统的可编程控制系统。这一组合将产生一种原型，可以以每分钟3微升的速度提供高达5毫升的容量，精度为0.1微升/分钟。这项技术还将使高精度“香烟包”大小的可穿戴药物输注系统的开发成为可能。新兴的医疗保健系统通过在微流控芯片上进行的PCR反应来分析可疑病原体。该系统中的DNA提纯和PCR反应需要精确的液体输送，以确保可靠和可重复的病原体分析。EHP泵系统将允许设计包含泵、预先测量的试剂和连接器的一次性墨盒。拟议中的泵送技术的另一个潜在市场将是新兴的“芯片上的动物”细胞培养系统和药物毒理学研究。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I research project will develop a low-cost, low-power, and disposable microfluidic Electrolytic Hydraulic Pumps (EHPs). Many emerging diagnostic and clinical applications, such as point-of-care Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) pathogen analysis and ambulatory drug infusion, require battery-powered fluid pumping systems that are lightweight, low power, and extremely accurate. Unfortunately, current syringe and roller pumps are too heavy and power-hungry for many portable applications. This research will develop matchbox-sized EHPs that can pump volumes ranging from 0.1 ml to 5 ml. In addition, a programmable control system that integrates an ultrasonic transit-time flow measurement system will be developed. This combination will produce a prototype that can deliver up to 5ml volumes at 3microL/minute with a 0.1microL/minute accuracy.This technology would also permit development of high-accuracy "cigarette-pack"-sized wearable drug infusion systems. Emerging point-of-care systems analyze suspected pathogens via a PCR reaction carried out on a microfluidic chip. DNA purification and PCR reactions in the system require precise fluid delivery to ensure a reliable and repeatable pathogen analysis. The EHP Pumping system would permit design of disposable cartridges containing the pump, pre-measured reagents, and connectors. Another potential market for the proposed pumping technology would be for emerging "animal-on-a-chip" cell culturing systems and drug toxicology studies.