Design and Fabrication of Self-Perpetuating Micropump

Abstract

This research work focuses on the development of high-performance capillary pumps for low-cost point-of-care diagnostic devices using printed circuit board (PCB) technology. The study explores the design and fabrication of capillary pumps using PCBs and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to create microfluidic devices. Two different designs of PCBbased micropumps with hexagonal-shaped micropillars are proposed, offering different vertical distances between rows to achieve varying flow rates and fluid volumes. The fabrication process involves designing the PCB microchannel, cutting the PCB fiber sheet, creating silicon molds, pouring and curing PDMS, bonding the PDMS replicas to a substrate, and testing the micropump's performance. Experimental setups are established to measure the flow rate and pressure drop of different glycerin ratios in the microfluidic system. The results indicate that as the glycerin content increases, the flow rate decreases due to increased fluid viscosity. Design 1 consistently exhibits higher flow rates than Design 2 due to the smaller gap distance between micropillars. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of PCB-based capillary pumps in controlling fluid flow and offer valuable insights for the development of low-cost point-of-care diagnostic devices. The design of micropumps for studying blood flow at low flow rates offers significant advantages in investigating blood-related conditions. The precise control overflow rates, realistic simulations, integration with microfluidic systems, drug delivery studies, and reduced sample requirements all contribute to a deeper understanding of blood disorders and the development of personalized treatment approaches