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Micropumps are devices that can control and manipulate small fluid volumes. Although any kind of small pump is often referred to as a micropump, a more accurate definition restricts this term to pumps with functional dimensions in the micrometer range. Such pumps are of special interest in microfluidic research, and have become available for industrial product integration in recent years. Their miniaturized overall size, potential cost and improved dosing accuracy compared to existing miniature pumps fuel the growing interest for this innovative kind of pump.
Note that the below text is very incomplete in terms of providing a good overview of the different micropump types and applications, and therefore please refer to good review articles on the topic.
Micropumps can be grouped into mechanical and non-mechanical devices. Mechanical systems contain moving parts, which are usually actuation and microvalve membranes or flaps. The driving force can be generated by utilizing piezoelectric, electrostatic, thermo-pneumatic, pneumatic or magnetic effects. Non-mechanical pumps function with electro-hydrodynamic, electro-osmotic, electrochemical or Ultrasound flow generation, just to name a few of the actuation mechanisms that are currently studied.
The smallest piezoelectric micropump with dimensions of 3.5x3.5x0.6 mm3 was developed by Fraunhofer EMFT the world-renowned research organization with focus on MEMS and Microsystem technologies. The micropump consists of three silicon layers, one of which as a pump diaphragm confines the pump chamber from above, while two others represent middle valve chip and bottom valve chip. Openings of the passive flap valves at the inlet and outlet are oriented according to the flow direction. The pump diaphragm expands with application of a negative voltage to the piezo thus creating negative pressure to suck the fluid into the pump chamber. While positive voltage vice versa drives the diaphragm down, which results in overpressure opening outlet valve and forcing the fluid out of the chamber.
Currently mechanical micropump technology extensively uses Silicon and Glass based Micromachinery processes for fabrication. Among the common microfabrication processes, the following techniques can be named: photolithography, anisotropic etching, surface micromachining and bulk micromachining of silicon. Silicon micromachining has numerous advantages that facilitate the technology widespread in high performance applications as, for example, in drug delivery. Thus, silicon micromachining allows high geometric precision and long-term stability, since mechanically moving parts, e.g. valve flaps, do not exhibit wear and fatigue. As an alternative to silicon polymer-based materials like PDMS, PMMA, PLLA, etc. can be used due to the superior strength, enhanced structural properties, stability and inexpensiveness. Silicon micropumps at Fraunhofer EMFT are manufactured by silicon micromachining technology. Three monocrystalline silicon wafers (100 oriented) are structured by doublesided lithography and etched by silicon wet etching (using potassium hydroxide solution KOH). The connection between the structured wafer layers is realized by silicon fusion bond. This bonding technology needs very smooth surfaces (roughness lower than 0.3 nm) and very high temperatures (up to 1100 °C) to perform a direct silicon–silicon bond between the wafer layers. Absence of the bonding layer allows definition of the vertical pump design parameters. Additionally, the bonding layer might be affected by the pumped medium.
The compression ratio of the micropump as one of the critical performance indicator is defined as the ratio between the stroke volume, i.e. fluid volume displaced by the pump membrane over the course of the pump cycle, and the dead volume, i.e. the minimum fluid volume remaining in the pump chamber in pumping mode.
The compression ratio defines the bubble tolerance and the counter pressure capability of the micropumps. Gas bubbles within chamber hinder micropump operation as due to the damping properties of the gas bubbles the pressure peaks (∆P) in the pump chamber decreases, while due to the surface properties the critical pressure (∆Pcrit) that opens passive valves increases. The compression ratio of Fraunhofer EMFT micropumps reaches the value of 1, which implies self-priming capability and bubble tolerance even at challenging outlet pressure conditions. Large compression ratio is achieved thanks to special patented technique of piezo mounting, when electrical voltage is applied on the electrodes on the top and bottom of the piezoelectric ceramic during the curing process of the adhesive used for the piezo mounting. Considerable reduction of the dead volume resulted from predeflected actuators along with shallow fabricated pump chamber heights increases the compression ratio.
Considering contemporary state of air pollution one of the most promising applications for micropump lies in enhancement of gas and particulate matter sensors for monitoring personal air quality. Thanks to MEMS fabrication technology, gas sensors based on MOSFET, NDIR, electrochemical principles could be miniaturized to fit portable devices as well as smartphones and wearables. Application of the Fraunhofer EMFT piezoelectric micropump reduces reaction time of the sensor up to 2 seconds through fast sampling of the ambient air. This is explained by the fast convection that takes place when micropump drives the air towards the sensor, while in absence of the micropump due to slow diffusion sensor response is delayed for several minutes. The current alternative to the micropump – the fan – has numerous drawbacks. Unable to achieve substantial negative pressure fan cannot overcome pressure drop at the filter diaphragm. Further, the gas molecules and particles can easily re-adhere to the sensor surface and its housing, which in time results in sensor drift.
Additionally inbuilt micropump facilitates sensor regeneration and thus resolves saturation issues by expelling gas molecules out of the sensor surface. Breath analysis is related field of use for the gas sensor that is empowered by micropump. Micropump can advance remote diagnostic and monitoring of gastrointestinal tract and pulmonary diseases, diabetes, cancer etc. by means of portable devices within Telehealth programs.
The promising application for MEMS micropumps lies in drug delivery systems for diabetes-, tumor-, hormone-, pain and ocular therapy in forms of ultra-thin patches, targeted delivery within implantable systems or Digital pill. Piezoelectric MEMS micropumps can replace traditional peristaltic or syringe pumps for intravenous, subcutaneous, arterial, ocular drug injection. Drug delivery application does not require high flow rates, however, the micropumps are supposed to be precise in delivering small doses and demonstrate back pressure independent flow. Due to biocompatibility and miniature size, silicon piezoelectric micropump can be implanted on the eyeball to treat glaucoma or Phthisis bulbi. Since under these conditions the eye loses its ability to ensure outflow or production of aqueous humour, the implanted micropump developed by Fraunhofer EMFT with the flow rate of 30 μL/s facilitates proper flow of the fluid without restricting or creating any inconvenience to the patient. Another health issue to be solved by micropump is bladder incontinence. Artificial sphincter technology based on the titanium micropump ensures continence by automatically adjusting the pressure during laughter or coughing. The urethra is opened and closed by means of a fluid-filled sleeve that is regulated by the micropump.
Micropump can facilitate scent scenario for consumer, medical, defense, first responder applications etc. to enhance the effect of with ubiquitous picture scenarios (movies) and sound scenarios (music). Microdosing device with several scent reservoirs that are mounted near the nose can release 15 different scent impressions in 1 min. Advantage of the micropump lies in the possibility to smell sequence of scents without different odors being mixed. The system ensures an appropriate dose of the scent to be detected by the user only as soon as scent molecules are delivered. Numerous applications are possible with micropump for scent-dosing: tasters training (wine, food), learning programs, psychotherapy, anosmia treatment, first responder training etc. to facilitate full immersion in the desired environment.
Within analytical systems, the micropump can be for lab-on-chip applications, HPLC and Gas Chromatography systems etc. For the latter micropumps are required to ensure accurate delivery and flow of gases. Since the compressibility of the gases is challenging, the micropump must possess high compression ratio.
Among other applications, the following fields can be named: dosage systems for small quantity of lubricants, fuel dosing systems, micro pneumatics, micro hydraulic systems and dosage systems in production processes, liquid handling (cushion pipettes, microliter plates).
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