Experimental fluid dynamics characterization of a novel micropump-mixer

F Akbaridoust; C M de Silva; C Szydzik; A Mitchell; I Marusic; W S Nesbitt

doi:10.1063/5.0012240

Experimental fluid dynamics characterization of a novel micropump-mixer

Biomicrofluidics. 2020 Aug 20;14(4):044116. doi: 10.1063/5.0012240. eCollection 2020 Jul.

Authors

F Akbaridoust, C M de Silva¹, C Szydzik², A Mitchell³, I Marusic⁴, W S Nesbitt²

Affiliations

¹ School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
² The Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
³ School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.
⁴ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.

Abstract

The application of lab-on-a-chip systems to biomedical engineering and medical biology is rapidly growing. Reciprocating micropumps show significant promise as automated bio-fluid handling systems and as active reagent-to-sample mixers. Here, we describe a thorough fluid dynamic analysis of an active micro-pump-mixer designed for applications of preclinical blood analysis and clinical diagnostics in hematology. Using high-speed flow visualization and micro-particle image velocimetry measurements, a parametric study is performed to investigate the fluid dynamics of six discrete modes of micropump operation. With this approach, we identify an actuation regime that results in optimal sample flow rates while concomitantly maximizing reagent-to-sample mixing.