Non-mechanical continuous flow micropumps for biomedical applications

本研究将集中于研究非机械微泵送方法，用于制造用于生物医疗设备中泵送流体的小型设备。流体将通过小的微针用电泵送。所选择的研究领域专门针对通过消除对皮下注射器的需求并提供自动给药方法的途径来改善患者护理。具体而言，交流电动技术将被调查用于通过定制的硅微针阵列泵送流体。双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建小，低功耗，可靠的设备。最初将使用制造器件的传统方法，例如光刻，再加上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。为了实现这些目标，将进行一系列的实验测试，模拟和设计优化的交流电动微泵。将实验数据与仿真数据进行比较，并相应地修改仿真模型，从而迭代地产生新的微型泵设计。研究方法将涉及调查几个电动微泵送因素，如施加的电压和电流;温度问题，如对流体溶液的损害，微流体通道内的流体特性以及电极阵列和微流体通道本身的几何形状。这些设备将成为医疗保健生物医学工程解决方案的一个组成部分。

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. To achieve these goals, a series of experimental testing, simulation and design optimization of AC electrokinetic micropumps will be conducted. The experimental data will be compared with simulation data and the simulation models modified accordingly, iteratively leading to new designs of micropumps. The research methodology will involve investigating several electrokinetic micropumping factors, such as voltages and currents applied; temperature issues such as damage to the fluid solution, fluid properties within microfluidic channels and also the geometry of the electrode arrays and the microfludics channels themselves. These devices will form an integral part of a biomedical engineering solution for healthcare.