Microfluidic pumps are provided that use electrowetting to manipulate the location of one or more droplets of a working fluid (e.g., water) in order to pump tears, blood, laboratory samples, carrier fluid, or some other payload fluid. The working fluid is separated from the payload fluid by one or more droplets of an isolating fluid that is immiscible with the working fluid. The working fluid is manipulated via electrowetting, by applying voltages to two or more electrodes, to repeatedly move back and forth. Forces, pressures, and/or fluid flows exerted by the working fluid are coupled to the payload fluid via the droplet(s) of isolation fluid and reed valves, diffuser nozzles, or other varieties of valve can act as flow-rectifying elements to convert the coupled forces into a net flow of the payload fluid through the pump.

A peristaltic dosing device for providing dosages of a fluid at a volume of less than one milliliter comprises: a flexible tube, a counter pressure element, a plurality of actors and a drive. The flexible tube is essentially straightly arranged along the counter pressure element thereby forming a longitudinal axis. The actors arranged parallel to each other along the longitudinal axis. They are moveable by the drive in relation to the flexible tube. The flexible tube is compressible between the actors and the counter pressure element by moving the actors. Each of the actors is independently and linearly moveable by the drive along an actuation axis essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube from a home position in which the flexible tube is least compressed to an end position in which the flexible tube is compressed and sealed between the respective actor and the counter pressure element. The peristaltic dosing device according to the invention allows for exactly and repeatably providing dosages at comparably small volumes in a sterile environment.

A fluidic device is disclosed, comprising an enclosed passage that is adapted to convey a circulating fluid. The enclosed passage comprises a flow unit having a first electrode and a second electrode offset from the first electrode in a downstream direction of a flow of the circulating fluid. The first electrode is formed as a grid structure and arranged to allow the circulating fluid to flow through the first electrode. The fluidic device may be used for controlling or regulating the flow of the fluid circulating in the enclosed passage, and thereby act as a valve opening, reducing or even closing the passage.

In a linear displacement pump, liquid is discharged by driving a piston along at least part of a stroke length. While discharging the liquid, a linear position of the piston is sensed at a plurality of positions along the stroke length, and a plurality of output signals is produced. Based on one or more of the output signals, an operational state of the pump is determined.

An array of flow units for controlling a flow of a fluid is disclosed. The flow units are arranged to have a lateral extension in a common lateral plane. A downstream side of a first flow unit is in fluid communication with an upstream side of a second flow unit to allow a flow of fluid to pass through the flow units. The flow units comprise first and second electrodes which are connectable to a voltage source. At least a portion of the first electrode has a maximum height in a direction parallel to the direction of the flow and a maximum gauge in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the flow, wherein the maximum height is larger than the maximum gauge to improve the pumping efficiency of the device. A method for controlling a fluid flow using the array is also disclosed.

Provided herein are passive microfluidic pumps. The pumps can comprise a fluid inlet, an absorbent region, a resistive region fluidly connecting the fluid inlet and the absorbent region, and an evaporation barrier enclosing the resistive region, the absorbent region, or a combination thereof. The resistive region can comprise a first porous medium, and a fluidly non-conducting boundary defining a path for fluid flow through the first porous medium from the fluid inlet to the absorbent region. The absorbent region can comprise a fluidly non-conducting boundary defining a volume of a second porous medium sized to absorb a predetermined volume of fluid imbibed from the resistive region. The resistive region and the absorbent region can be configured to establish a capillary-driven fluid front advancing from the fluid inlet through the resistive region to the absorbent region when the fluid inlet is contacted with fluid.

Solar thermal devices are formed from a block of wood, where the natural cell lumens of the wood form an interconnected network that transports fluid or material therein. The block of wood can be modified to increase absorption of solar radiation. Combining the solar absorption effects with the natural transport network can be used for various applications. In some embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to evaporate a fluid, for example, evaporating water for extraction, distillation, or desalination. In other embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to change transport properties of a material to allow it to be transported in the interconnected network, for example, heating crude oil to adsorb the oil within the block of wood.

An electroosmotic pump includes: a first carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn tube: a second CNT yarn tube; and a median tube. The first CNT yarn tube is fastened to one end of the median tube in a first connection portion. The second CNT yarn tube is fastened to another end of the median tube in a second connection portion. The first and second connection portions are sealed such that, a fluid cannot leak out through the first and second connection portions. Further, at least a portion of the inner surface of the median tube has a surface charge.

A pump including: a stator (4), a rotor (6) slidably and rotatably mounted at least partially in the stator, the rotor comprising a first axial extension (24) having a first diameter (D1) and a second axial extension (26) having a second diameter (D2) greater than the first diameter, a first valve (V1) formed by a first valve seal (18) mounted on the stator around the first axial extension, in conjunction with a first channel (42) in the rotor that is configured to allow liquid communication across the first valve seal when the first valve is in an open position, a second valve (V2) formed by a second valve seal (20) mounted on the stator around the second axial extension, in conjunction with a second channel (44) in the rotor that is configured to allow liquid communication across the second valve seal when the second valve is in an open position, and a pump chamber (8) formed between the rotor and stator and between the first valve seal and second valve seal. The pump further comprises a priming actuator (30) mounted on a housing of the stator and movable from a locked operating position to a priming position, the priming actuator (30) configured to engage and axially displace the rotor from an operating position in which at least one of the first and second valves is closed, to a priming position in which both first and second valves are open.

A hydrodynamic barrier device including: a plurality of outlets disposed on a surface; a plurality of inlets dispersed among the plurality of outlets and disposed on the surface; and at least one pump in fluid communication with the plurality of outlets and the plurality of inlets, the at least one pump configured to simultaneously pump an operating fluid out of the plurality of outlets and pull the operating fluid back through the plurality of inlets to create a hydrodynamic barrier on the surface.