Pump Devices, Methods, and Systems

Abstract

A membrane-based electroosmotic pump, having catalyst regions on electrodes, can pump a fluid without applying an external voltage. Chemical reactions of fluid components on the catalyst regions on the electrodes can induce an electric field that generates an electroosmotic flow through channels of the membrane. In one embodiment, a pump comprising platinum and gold electrodes can generate the flow of the fluid containing hydrogen peroxide through channels of the membrane. In another embodiment, a pump comprising gold electrodes, on which glucose oxidase and laccase are deposited, can generate the flow of the fluid containing glucose.

1 . A method of pumping a fluid, comprising:
 providing a membrane body having a first side and a second side;   providing channels passing through the membrane body from the first side to the second side;   providing a first electrode attached on the first side and a second electrode attached on the second side;   providing an electrical connection between the electrodes;   providing a fluid medium, the fluid medium having a fluid component that provides chemical reactions, the chemical reactions being catalyzed by the electrodes;   exposing the membrane to the fluid medium, so that the electrodes are exposed to the fluid medium,   wherein the chemical reactions on the electrodes induce a flow of the fluid medium through the channels of the membrane.   
     
     
         2 . The method of the  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is selected from the group consisting of polymers including polycarbonate and metal oxides including aluminum oxide. 
     
     
         3 . The method of the  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are metals generating a potential difference between the electrodes by being exposed to the fluid component. 
     
     
         4 . The method of the  claim 3 , wherein the metals are selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, and copper, nickel and other transition metals. 
     
     
         5 . The method of the  claim 1 , wherein the electrical connection between the electrodes contains an external switch, so that the flow of the fluid medium through the channels of the membrane can be controlled. 
     
     
         6 . The method of the  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are internally connected, so that the autonomous flow of the fluid medium through the channels of the membrane is possible. 
     
     
         7 . The method of the  claim 1 , wherein the fluid medium is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide and hydrazine. 
     
     
         8 . A method of pumping a fluid, comprising:
 providing a membrane body having a first side and a second side;   providing channels passing through the membrane body from the first side to the second side;   providing a first electrode attached on the first side and a second electrode attached on the second side;   providing an electrical connection between the electrodes;   providing catalyst regions on the electrodes;   providing a fluid medium, the fluid medium having a fluid component that provides chemical reactions, the chemical reactions being catalyzed by the catalyst regions on the electrodes;   exposing the membrane to the fluid medium, so that the catalyst regions are exposed to the fluid medium,   wherein the chemical reactions induce a flow of the fluid medium through the channels of the membrane.   
     
     
         9 . The method of the  claim 8 , wherein the membrane body is selected from the group consisting of polymers including polycarbonate and metal oxides including aluminum oxide. 
     
     
         10 . The method of the  claim 8 , wherein the catalyst regions contain enzymes for oxidation and reduction of the fluid medium. 
     
     
         11 . The method of the  claim 10 , wherein the enzymes are selected from the group consisting of glucose oxidase, glucose dehydrogenases, alcohol dehydrogenases, laccase, bilirubin oxidase, and ascorbate oxidase. 
     
     
         12 . The method of the  claim 10 , wherein an electron transferer is used to help an electron flow between the enzymes and the electrodes. 
     
     
         13 . The method of the  claim 12 , wherein the electron transferer is carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of the  claim 13 , wherein chemicals to create a physically stable bridge between enzymes and carbon nanotubes are used. 
     
     
         15 . The method of the  claim 14 , wherein the bridge chemicals is 1-pyrenebutanoic acid, succinimidyl ester (PBSE). 
     
     
         16 . The method of the  claim 8 , wherein the electrical connection between the electrodes contains an external switch, so that the flow of the fluid medium through the channels of the membrane can be controlled. 
     
     
         17 . The method of the  claim 8 , wherein the electrodes are internally connected, so that the autonomous flow of the fluid medium through the channels of the membrane is possible. 
     
     
         18 . The method of the  claim 8 , wherein the fluid component is selected from the group consisting glucose, oxygen, ATP, GTP, methanol, and ethanol. 
     
     
         19 . The method of the  claim 8 , wherein a mediator is added to the fluid medium to enhance the electron transfer from the enzymes to the electrodes. 
     
     
         20 . The method of the  claim 19 , wherein the mediator is benzoquinone.