Peristaltic pump with low flow rates

A peristaltic movement is a mechanism of fluid movement by contraction and expansion in the walls of a pipe. Peristaltic pumps use this mechanism for fluid transport. This class of pumps is closer to the positive displacement pumps. These pumps were widely used in medical applications, including the blood dialysis system, due to the non-direct contact of the fluid with the pump’s components. It's used at the microfluidic Lab and could be used for subcutaneous drug infusion on the micro-scale.

Figure. Peristaltic motion in an elastic tube

The ideal flow rate of the peristaltic pump is based on the πcr² which r is the internal radius of the silicon tube, and c is the linear velocity of rollers. By increasing the contraction of the silicone tube by the rollers, the actual discharge of the pump is closer to the idea of the flow rate. According to the formula, the flow rate of the peristaltic pump has a linear relationship with motor speed.

Several examples of peristaltic metal and polymer pumps have been designed and manufactured by our team for applications of microfluidic devices and drug injection. The flow rate of the manufactured pumps is in the order of microliters per minute. To reach the pump design algorithm, numerical, analytical, and experimental studies were carried out.