Non-mechanical continuous flow micropumps for biomedical applications

本研究将重点研究非机械微泵方法，以制造小型装置来泵送生物医疗设备中的流体。这种液体将通过微小的微针用电输送。所选择的研究领域是专门针对通过消除对皮下注射器的需要和提供自动化给药方法的途径来改善患者护理。具体来说，交流电动技术将被研究用于通过定制的硅微针阵列泵送流体。微针阵列穿透皮肤的上部，避开神经，允许几乎无痛的皮肤穿透。调查将集中在需要创造小，低功耗，可靠的设备。最初将使用传统的制造方法，如光刻，结合计算机模拟来设计最佳器件。在研究的后期阶段，制造将过渡到替代技术，如商业硅芯片制造工艺和激光微加工。

This research will focus on investigating non-mechanical micropumping methods for making small devices to pump fluid in bio-medical devices. The fluid will be pumped using electricity through small microneedles. The chosen area of research is specifically aimed at improving patient care by removing the need for hypodermic syringes and providing the path into automated drug delivery methods. Specifically, AC electrokinetic techniques will be investigated for pumping fluids through custom made silicon microneedle arrays. Microneedle arrays penetrate the upper part of skin, avoiding the nerves, allowing for practically painless skin penetration. The investigation will focus on the need to create small, low power, reliable devices. Traditional methods of fabricating the devices will be used initially, such as photolithography, coupled with computer simulations to design optimal devices. During the later stages of the research, fabrication will transition to alternate technologies, such as commercial silicon chip manufacturing processes and laser micromachining.