Microfluidic peristaltic pump, method and pumping system

Abstract

A microfluidic peristaltic pump has an inflow channel, a first pumping chamber, which is operatively connected to the inflow channel by a first channel, and a first membrane. The pump also has a second pumping chamber, which is operatively connected to the inflow channel by a second channel, and a second membrane. A fluidic resistance of the first channel is different from a fluidic resistance of the second channel, and each channel is configured to realize a throttling function, such that the first and second membranes are deflected in a time sequence when a pressure is applied in the inflow channel, to realize a pumping function.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A microfluidic peristaltic pump, comprising:
 an inflow channel;   a first pumping chamber operatively connected to the inflow channel by a first channel;   a first membrane;   a second pumping chamber operatively connected to the inflow channel by a second channel; and   a second membrane,   wherein a fluidic resistance of the first channel is different from a fluidic resistance of the second channel and each channel is configured to produce a throttling function such that the first and second membranes are deflected in a time sequence when a pressure is applied in the inflow channel, to produce a pumping function.   
     
     
         2 . The microfluidic peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second channels is configured with a constant cross section such that the fluidic resistance of the at least one of the first and second channels is determined substantially by its length. 
     
     
         3 . The microfluidic peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the first membrane and the second membrane are formed by a polymer membrane. 
     
     
         4 . The microfluidic peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the first membrane and the second membrane are configured to be deflected into a flow channel formed in a first polymer substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The microfluidic peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pumping chambers are formed as expansions. 
     
     
         6 . The microfluidic peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a cross section of the first pumping chamber is substantially the same as a cross section of an inflow connected to the first pumping chamber, and   a cross section of the second pumping chamber is substantially the same as a cross section of an outflow connected to the second pumping chamber.   
     
     
         7 . The microfluidic peristaltic pump according to  claim 3 , wherein the first channel and the second channel are formed in the polymer membrane. 
     
     
         8 . The microfluidic peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the first channel and the second channel are formed in a second polymer membrane. 
     
     
         9 . The microfluidic peristaltic pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the first channel, the second channel, and a third channel are operatively connected to the first pumping chamber, the second pumping chamber, and a third pumping chamber by through-holes. 
     
     
         10 . The microfluidic peristaltic pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the inflow channel is formed in a third polymer substrate arranged above the second polymer membrane. 
     
     
         11 . A pumping system, comprising:
 an inflow channel;   a first microfluidic peristaltic pump, including: a first pumping chamber operatively connected to the inflow channel by a first channel, a first membrane, a second pumping chamber operatively connected to the inflow channel by a second channel, and a second membrane, wherein a fluidic resistance of the first channel is different from a fluidic resistance of the second channel and each channel is configured to produce a throttling function such that the first and second membranes are deflected in a time sequence when a pressure is applied in the inflow channel, to produce a pumping function; and   a second microfluidic pump, including: a third pumping chamber operatively connected to the inflow channel by a third channel, a third membrane, a fourth pumping chamber operatively connected to the inflow channel by a fourth channel, and a fourth membrane, wherein a fluidic resistance of the third channel is different from a fluidic resistance of the fourth channel and each channel is configured to produce a throttling function such that the third and fourth membranes are deflected in a time sequence when a pressure is applied in the inflow channel, to produce a pumping function,   wherein the first pump and the second pump are connected to the inflow channel,   wherein products of the fluidic resistances of the first and second channels and fluidic capacities of the respective first and second pumping chambers differ from products of the fluidic resistances of the third and fourth channels and fluidic capacities of the respective third and fourth pumping chambers, and   wherein one of the first and second pumps has a low-pass characteristic and the other of the first and second pumps has a high-pass characteristic.   
     
     
         12 . A method for operating a microfluidic peristaltic pump having an inflow channel, a first pumping chamber operatively connected to the inflow channel by a first channel, and a second pumping chamber operatively connected to the inflow channel by a second channel, the method comprising:
 producing a throttling function of the first channel and the second channel, a fluidic resistance of the first channel being different from a fluidic resistance of the second channel; and   deflecting a first membrane and a second membrane, respectively, in a time sequence when a pressure is applied in the inflow channel to produce a pumping function.