Macro-fluidic and micro-fluidic systems and methods using magnetoactive soft materials

Abstract

A linear peristaltic pump can include a first electromagnet operable to pump a fluid through a first cavity of a flexible conduit by repeatedly compressing the first cavity in a first sequence, a second electromagnet operable to pump the fluid through a second cavity of the flexible conduit by repeatedly compressing the second cavity in a second sequence, and a third electromagnet operable to pump the fluid through a third cavity of the flexible conduit by repeatedly compressing the third cavity in a third sequence. The electromagnets may compress the cavities by applying magnetic fields to a magnetoactive elastomer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a first electromagnet operable to pump a fluid through a first cavity of a flexible conduit by repeatedly compressing the first cavity in a first sequence;   a second electromagnet operable to pump the fluid through a second cavity of the flexible conduit by repeatedly compressing the second cavity in a second sequence; and   a third electromagnet operable to pump the fluid through a third cavity of the flexible conduit by repeatedly compressing the third cavity in a third sequence,   wherein:
 the first electromagnet compresses the first cavity by applying a first magnetic field to a magnetoactive elastomer; 
 the second electromagnet compresses the second cavity by applying a second magnetic field to the magnetoactive elastomer; and 
 the third electromagnet compresses the third cavity by applying a third magnetic field to the magnetoactive elastomer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetoactive elastomer includes superparamagnetic nanoparticles embedded in a polymer matrix. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further including:
 an anvil,   wherein the first electromagnet compresses the first cavity by compressing the magnetoactive elastomer against the anvil.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further including:
 a magnetoactive anvil that is formed from the magnetoactive elastomer and is operable to compress the flexible conduit against the anvil.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further including:
 the flexible conduit,   wherein the flexible conduit is a magnetoactive flexible conduit formed from the magnetoactive elastomer, is operable to constrict in response to a magnetic field, and is operable to compress against the anvil in response to the magnetic field.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the flexible conduit is formed from the magnetoactive elastomer and is operable to constrict in response to a magnetic field.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the flexible conduit includes a first magnetoactive section and a second magnetoactive section that are formed from the magnetoactive elastomer;   the flexible conduit includes an inactive section between the first magnetoactive section and the second magnetoactive section; and   the first magnetoactive section and the second magnetoactive section are operable to constrict in response to a magnetic field.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first sequence is a two-phase sequence that includes a first cavity filling phase and a first cavity emptying phase;   the second sequence includes a second cavity filling phase and a second cavity emptying phase that pushes the fluid into the first cavity; and   the second cavity emptying phase coincides at least in part with the first cavity filling phase.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the second sequence further includes a second cavity full phase, a second cavity empty phase that prevents the fluid from flowing into the second cavity; and   the second cavity full phase and the second cavity emptying phase coincide with the first cavity filling phase.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further including:
 a pump controller operatively coupled to the first electromagnet, the second electromagnet, and the third electromagnet,   wherein the pump controller is operable to control the first magnetic field, the second magnetic field, and the third magnetic field.   
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a magnetoactive flexible conduit that includes a magnetoactive elastomer,   wherein the magnetoactive flexible conduit is operable to constrict in response to a magnetic field.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the magnetoactive elastomer includes superparamagnetic nanoparticles embedded in a polymer matrix. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first electromagnet operable to pump a fluid through a first cavity of the magnetoactive flexible conduit by applying a first magnetic field to the first cavity in a first sequence; and   a second electromagnet operable to pump the fluid through a second cavity of the magnetoactive flexible conduit by applying a second magnetic field to the second cavity in a second sequence.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further including:
 an anvil; and   a magnetoactive anvil that includes additional magnetoactive elastomer and is operable to compress the magnetoactive flexible conduit against the anvil in response to a magnetic field,   wherein the first cavity is compressed at least in part by the magnetoactive anvil and the first magnetic field.   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 pumping a fluid through a first cavity of a flexible conduit by repeatedly applying a first magnetic field to a magnetoactive elastomer in a first sequence;   pumping the fluid through a second cavity of the flexible conduit by repeatedly applying a second magnetic field to the magnetoactive elastomer in a second sequence; and   pumping the fluid through a third cavity of the flexible conduit by repeatedly applying a third magnetic field to the magnetoactive elastomer in a third sequence,   wherein the magnetoactive elastomer is operable to compress the flexible conduit in response to a magnetic field.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the magnetoactive elastomer includes superparamagnetic nanoparticles embedded in a polymer matrix. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first magnetic field compresses the first cavity by compressing the magnetoactive elastomer against an anvil. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a magnetoactive anvil that is formed from the magnetoactive elastomer compresses the flexible conduit against the anvil. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible conduit includes the magnetoactive elastomer and is operable to constrict in response to a magnetic field. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible conduit includes a first section that is formed from the magnetoactive elastomer and is operable to constrict in response to the first magnetic field.