Gravity-Driven Micropump with a Steady Flow Rate

Abstract

This paper describes a MIcrofluidic Qravity pump (MIG-pump). Unlike conventional microscale gravity-driven systems where flow rates change with decrease in fluid volume at the supply reservoir, the MIG-pump can deliver fluid at a steady flow rate over extended periods of time. The flow rate is maintained by the use of horizontally oriented reservoirs, which allow a constant hydraulic pressure to be maintained between the inlet and outlet. The MIG-pump is useful for a variety of applications including multiple laminar flow generation and cell sorting.