Pumping system in the lab-on-a-chip field

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and an implementation method for pumping a fluid, the system comprising: a pump comprising a flexible membrane which has two opposing surfaces, the membrane comprising a spatially rotating permanent magnetization structure, a rigid support means to which at least a portion of the lower surface of the membrane is attached, a source of a magnetic field which is capable of generating a magnetic drive field at the location of the membrane, the magnetic drive field having a substantially homogeneous orientation.

Claims

1. System for pumping a fluid, said system comprising: a pump comprising: an inlet (E) and an outlet (S) for respectively introducing and extracting said fluid capable of being pumped, a flexible membrane having two opposite surfaces, said membrane comprising a spatially rotating permanent magnet structure, a rigid support means on which is fixed at least part of one of said surfaces of said membrane, a source of a magnetic field capable of generating a driving magnetic field at the place where said membrane is located, said driving magnetic field having a substantially homogeneous orientation, said membrane being capable to deform, under the effect of said driving magnetic field, according to an ripple having alternately one or more concave parts and one or more convex parts, the ripple being able to move under the effect of said driving magnetic field, said fluid capable of being pumped between said inlet (E) and said outlet (S) being located at least between one of said surfaces of said membrane and said support means.

2. System according to claim 1, according to which a projection of said driving magnetic field on a plane of magnetic rotation (PP) of the membrane (40) is capable of being temporally rotating.

3. System according to claim 2, according to which the said driving magnetic field is entirely comprised in the said plane of magnetic rotation (PP) of the said membrane.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one or more of the convex portions are contactable with said support means and at least one or more of the concave portions are likely not to be in contact with said support means.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said temporally rotating driving magnetic field further exhibits a minimum gradient of 1 T/m and a substantially spatially homogeneous gradient orientation.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temporally rotating driving magnetic field further exhibits a minimum gradient of 1 T/m and a time constant gradient orientation.

7. System according to claim 5, according to which the said membrane is positioned so that the said gradient is oriented from a weak surface towards a strong surface, given that: when the spatially rotating permanent magnet structure of the membrane rotates counterclockwise from left to right, the strong surface designates the upward exposed surface and the weak surface designates the downward exposed surface, and when the spatially rotating permanent magnet structure of the membrane rotates, from left to right, in the anti-trigonometric direction, the strong surface designates the downward exposed surface and the weak surface designates the upward exposed surface.

8. System according to claim 1, wherein said membrane has a thickness of between 5 pm and 1 cm.

9. System according to claim 1, wherein said magnetization structure is defined by a spatial rotation period (T) comprised between 20 m and 2 cm.

10. System according to claim 1, further comprising a rigid wall attached to at least a portion of said perimeter of the other of said surfaces of said membrane and spaced from said membrane by a distance d sufficient to allow said ripple and to allow contact between said concave portions and said wall.

11. System according to claim 1, further comprising a rigid wall attached to at least part of said perimeter of the other of said surfaces of said membrane and spaced from said membrane by a distance d sufficient to allow said corrugation and to avoid contact between said concave portions and said wall.

12. System according to claim 10, wherein said wall includes an orifice through which a controlled pressure is applied between said wall and said membrane.

13. System according to claim 10, wherein said membrane has two through orifices, each located at its ends so that said pumpable fluid is also between the other of said surfaces of said membrane and said wall.

14. System according to claim 10, wherein said wall further comprises a second inlet and a second outlet for respectively introducing and extracting a pumpable fluid is also between the other of said surfaces of said membrane and said wall.

15. A method of operating a system according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: a) interaction between said driving magnetic field from said source and said permanent magnet structure of said membrane so as to create stresses in said membrane causing static deformation of said membrane following a ripple presenting alternately one or more concave parts and one or more convex parts, b) rotation of said driving magnetic field so as to displace said stresses in said membrane to move said ripple in an orientation defined according to the direction of rotation of said driving magnetic field, c) displacement of said fluid between said inlet (E) and said outlet (S), said fluid being comprised at least in one of said concave portions delimited by said membrane and said support means.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said rotating step b) is performed by rotating a permanent magnet.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein when said temporally rotating driving magnetic field has a substantially spatially homogeneous and constant gradient orientation, said gradient is directed from the weak surface to the strong surface of said membrane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0079] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0080] FIG. 1 represents a system according to an embodiment according to the invention,

[0081] FIG. 2A represents a membrane comprising a spatially rotating permanent magnetization structure according to an embodiment according to the invention, [FIG. 2B] represents a membrane comprising a spatially rotating permanent magnetization structure according to an embodiment according to the invention, [FIG. 3A] represents the reaction of the membrane according to an embodiment according to the invention to the driving magnetic field;

[0082] FIG. 3B represents the reaction of the membrane according to an embodiment according to the invention to the driving magnetic field;

[0083] FIG. 3C represents the reaction of the membrane according to an embodiment according to the invention to the driving magnetic field;

[0084] FIG. 4A shows a top view of a system (hereinafter referred to as the first system) according to a first embodiment according to the invention;

[0085] FIG. 4B shows a sectional view of the system according to the first embodiment according to the invention when the latter is activated;

[0086] FIG. 4C shows a sectional view of the system according to the first embodiment according to the invention when the latter is activated;

[0087] FIG. 4D shows a sectional view of the system according to the first embodiment according to the invention when the latter is activated;

[0088] FIG. 4E shows a sectional view of the system according to the first embodiment according to the invention when the latter is activated;

[0089] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a system (hereinafter referred to as the second system) according to a second embodiment according to the invention;

[0090] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a system (hereinafter referred to as the third system) according to a third embodiment according to the invention;

[0091] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of a system (hereinafter referred to as the fourth system) according to a fourth embodiment according to the invention;

[0092] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of a system (hereinafter referred to as the fifth system) according to a fifth embodiment according to the invention;

[0093] FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of a system (hereinafter referred to as the sixth system) according to a sixth embodiment according to the invention; and [FIG. 10] shows a sectional view of a system (hereinafter referred to as the eighth system) according to an eighth embodiment according to the invention.

EMBODIMENTS

[0094] FIG. 1 shows a system according to an embodiment according to the invention. This system includes: [0095] a pump 1 through which at least one fluid can circulate between an inlet E and an outlet S, and
a source 2 of a magnetic field capable of generating in a membrane 100 a temporally rotating magnetic drive field 2A, having a minimum gradient of 1 T/m and an orientation of the gradient that is substantially spatially homogeneous in the membrane 100 and whose orientation of the gradient is constant over time, this source 2 being for example a permanent magnet set in rotation but can also be any sources known to those skilled in the art.

[0096] In FIG. 1, the lines of the magnetic drive field 2A resulting from the source 2 can be seen. The driving magnetic field is generated by a local source located close to the pump 1, in particular its membrane 100, a situation quite advantageous due to its simplicity of implementation. Indeed, typically, this source 2 of a driving magnetic field can, for example, be a set of electromagnets or a permanent magnet set in rotation on itself.

[0097] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate at least in part a spatially rotating permanent magnetization structure of the membrane 100. In these figures, there is a repetition of a magnetic pattern, having a spatial rotation period T, in the membrane 100 so that the membrane 100 can ripple under the effect of the magnetic field. It should be noted that this pattern is only given as an indication and the spatial rotation period T can vary according to the desired applications so as to have ripples of greater or lesser periods.

[0098] In particular, and by way of example, to define the spatially rotating permanent magnetization structure of FIG. 2 which presents an example of a magnetic pattern of the membrane 100: [0099] a. the term elementary zone is defined as being a volume portion of the membrane 100, [0100] b. the membrane 100 is partitioned into elementary zones Z.sub.n, in the example in FIG. 2A, there are 15 elementary zones numbered consecutively one after the other in the increasing direction of their scrolling from the left to the right for an observer looking at the membrane 100 (Z.sub.0<Z.sub.n<Z.sub.15), the plane PP being the plane perpendicular to the membrane 100 and containing an axis connecting the inlet E and the outlet S of the pump 1 which corresponds to a desired ripple movement axis, [0101] c. we note A.sub.n the average magnetization of a particular elementary zone Z.sub.n projected on the plane PP, [0102] d. we note O.sub.n the oriented angle belonging to [, ] representative of the angle between A.sub.n and A.sub.n+1, [0103] e. the permanent magnetization structure is spatially rotating because for all n (0<n<15), O.sub.n is positive, the surface exposed to the top of the membrane 100 is the strong surface 10011 and the surface exposed to the bottom of the membrane 100 is the weak surface 10012, and for all n, the absolute value of O.sub.n+O.sub.n+1 is approximately equal to tt/4, and the magnetization makes at least one turn, that is to say that the sum over all the n, of a period of spatial rotation T, the O.sub.n makes at least 2*.

[0104] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate the reaction of the membrane 100 of the pump 1 in FIG. 1 to the driving magnetic field 2A which is applied to it so that a fluid chamber F circulates through the pump 1 between input E and output S. In this configuration, if the driving magnetic field rotates in the anti-trigonometric direction, the strong surface 10011 of the membrane 100 being located upwards, then the displacement of the ripple takes place towards the left.

[0105] The driving magnetic field 2A at the level of the membrane 100 typically has an orientation of its gradient 2B that is substantially homogeneous and constant over time, this gradient 2B being generally oriented towards the source 2. It should be noted that the gradient 2B generates a resulting magnetic force 100B linked to the gradient 2B in the membrane 100 which is equal to F.sub.m=grad(MB). If the gradient 2B of the driving magnetic field 2A is high, this magnetic force 100B must be taken into account in the deformation of the membrane 100. It is then no longer possible to take into account only the magnetic torque (C.sub.m=MB) 100A resulting in the membrane 100 generated in the membrane 100 to explain the deformation of the latter, as in the case of FIG. 3A, it is also necessary to take into account the magnetic force 100B F.sub.m. (see FIGS. 3B and 3C).

[0106] However, the effect of this magnetic force 100B resulting from the gradient 2B can accentuate or disadvantage the deformation of the membrane 100 caused by the torque 100A C.sub.m, depending on whether the gradient 2B is oriented in the direction [weak surface 10012]=>[strong surface 10011](FIG. 3B) or in the direction [strong surface 10011]=>[weak surface 10012] (FIG. 3C).

[0107] In the first case, i.e. in the direction [weak surface 10012]=>[strong surface 10011], the magnetic force 100B promotes the deformation of the torque 100A, as can be seen in the example shown in FIG. 3B (membrane 100+gradient 2B), where the magnetic force 100B F.sub.m has been indicated by arrows superimposed on the deformation of torque 100A in FIG. 3A, F.sub.m both to cause the maximum altitude points of the membrane 100 towards the strong surface 10011 (or upwards), and the minimum altitude points towards the weak surface 10012 (or downwards).

[0108] In the second case, that is to say in the direction [strong surface 10011]=>[weak surface 10012], the magnetic force 100B disadvantages the deformation of the torque 100A, as can be seen in the example shown in FIG. 3C (membrane 100+gradient 2B, where the magnetic force 100B F.sub.m has been indicated by arrows superimposed on the torque deformation 100A in FIG. 3A: F.sub.m both to cause the points of maximum altitude of the membrane 100 towards the weak surface 10012 (or downwards), and the points of minimum altitude towards the strong surface 10011 (or upwards).

[0109] Thus, even in the case where the temporally rotating driving magnetic field 2A also has a strong substantially homogeneous gradient 2B and whose orientation is constant, it is possible to maintain adequate deformation of the membrane 100 by orienting the latter so as to that it exposes its strong surface 10011 to the zones of strong magnetic driving field 2A, that is to say on the side of the source 2.

[0110] FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E show a pump according to a first system according to a first embodiment according to the invention, the pump comprising: [0111] an inlet E and an outlet S for respectively introducing and extracting the fluid from the pump, [0112] a flexible membrane 100 having an upper surface 102 and a lower surface 104, the membrane 100 comprising a spatially rotating permanent magnet structure, and [0113] a rigid support means 200 to which is fixed at least part of the perimeter of the lower surface 104 of the membrane 100.

[0114] The source of the magnetic field then generates the driving magnetic field at the place where the membrane 100 is located. The projection of the driving magnetic field onto a magnetic rotation plane PP of the membrane 100, having a substantially homogeneous orientation and having temporally rotating components in the magnetic rotation plane PP, is likely to be temporally rotating. It should be noted that the driving magnetic field can also be entirely included in the magnetic rotation plane PP of the membrane 100.

[0115] Thus, the driving magnetic field and the permanent magnetization structure interact so as to create stresses in the membrane 100 to generate a static deformation of the membrane 100 following an ripple presenting alternately one or more concave parts and one or more convex parts. In this way, the rotation of the driving magnetic field applied to the membrane 100 allows the displacement of the stresses in the membrane 100 to move the ripple in an orientation defined by the driving magnetic field rotation direction.

[0116] The inputs and outputs of this first embodiment of the system according to the invention are made by creating holes made in the support means 200, by infiltration through the support means 200, or even by introducing channels arranged between the membrane 100 and the support means 200. The same is true for the other embodiments of the system according to the invention.

[0117] The support means 200 makes it possible to enhance the ripple movement of the membrane 100 to transport the fluid.

[0118] The pump and the source of the magnetic field are not in contact in this embodiment. Thus, no material connection is necessary between the membrane 100 and the source of a magnetic field, which makes it possible to be able to activate the pump remotely.

[0119] For example, the support means 200 can comprise glass, silicon, PDMS, PMMA, COP, polycarbonate, polyimide, PVC or even PE.

[0120] It should be noted that the source of a magnetic field then allows the creation of the ripple of each of the membranes 100 represented in the figures.

[0121] This magnetic field source can, for example, be a rotating cylindrical magnet or comprise electric coils placed close to the pump, but without contact or connection with it. The source can also comprise an electromagnet, a non-cylindrical magnet or Halbach cylinder, a cylindrical magnet or one not associated with a DC motor or with one or more electric coils.

[0122] It should be noted that part of the convex parts, therefore parts of the lower surface 104 of the membrane 100, are in contact with the support means 200 so that one or more of the concave parts contain a volume of fluid, or chamber of fluid, the volume of fluid being able to move on the support means 200 between the inlet E and the outlet S during the movement of the ripple.

[0123] The membrane 100 comprises a mixture comprising a polymer and a magnetic material. For example, the mixture is a homogeneous mixture of a flexible polymer, such as PDMS, latex, or even silicone, with powder of a hard magnetic material having, for example, a particle size of 30 m, such as an NdFeB powder or else such as a ferrite powder. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain a biocompatible membrane composed of biomaterials.

[0124] For example, this membrane 100 can be manufactured as indicated below. Once the mixture has been spread and polymerized then cut according to the shape of the support means 200 on which it will be placed for example, the membrane obtained is magnetized so as to have a spatially rotating permanent magnetization capable of causing the ripple in the membrane 100 by the action of the temporally rotating driving magnetic field on the magnetization of the membrane 100. The membrane 100 then has sufficient flexibility to allow the creation of the ripple.

[0125] For example, the membrane 100 manufactured as indicated above can have a magnetization structure defined by a spatial rotation period T approximately equal to 1.10.sup.3 m, having a Young's modulus E approximately equal to 1.Math.10.sup.5 Pa and a thickness h approximately equal to 1.Math.10.sup.4 m.

[0126] For example, the average of the intensity of the magnetization m in the membrane can be approximately equal to 1.Math.10.sup.5 A/m, the intensity of the magnetic field B generated by the source of the magnetic field in the membrane 100 can be approximately equal to 1.Math.10.sup.2 T.

[0127] In this configuration, the quantity mBT.sup.2/(Eh.sup.2) is then equal to 1.

[0128] Thus, the heart of the pump rests in particular on a flexible membrane 100 with spatially rotating permanent magnetization. It should be noted that the displacement of the ripple allows the peristaltic drive of the fluid through the pump. The membrane 100, which is low cost, can therefore, in the field of labs-on-a-chip, easily be placed in a chip directly during manufacture and therefore operate in a device isolated from the power source of the pump. The pump can then be activated through rigid elements simply by positioning it near the source of the magnetic field. Also, the pump can be implanted in a body or a biological medium while the source of the magnetic field can itself be located outside.

[0129] FIG. 4A shows a top view of the pump included in the system according to the first embodiment. The fixing means 502 used to fix the perimeter of the lower surface 104 of the membrane 100 to the rigid support means 200 can be any of those known to those skilled in the art and allowing the pump to be sealed.

[0130] FIG. 4B illustrates the state of the pump when no magnetic field is applied to it.

[0131] FIG. 4C illustrates the state of the pump when the magnetic field is applied to it. It can be noted that in FIGS. 4C, 4D and 4E is connected to the inlet E a volume of fluid that one wishes to transmit to the outlet S. For example, the pressure applied to the inlet E of the pump can be approximately 1,013 hPa, that at the outlet S approximately 1,063 hPa, and that on the outer side of the membrane 100 (in contact with the upper surface 102) of 1,013 hPa.

[0132] This transmission is achieved through the formation of the ripple and its movement from the input E to the output S. Thus, the volume of fluid is introduced into the pump through the inlet E and is transmitted into the concave part connected to the inlet E, this concave part forming a pocket delimited by the membrane 100 which has the ripple and the support means 200 (FIG. 4C). Then, under the action of the rotation of the magnetic field, the ripple moves from the entrance E towards the outlet S to also displace the volume of fluid contained in the pocket (FIG. 4D). As soon as a second concave part is connected to the inlet E, another volume of fluid is introduced into it so that several volumes of fluid move simultaneously between the support means 200 and the membrane 100 (FIG. 4E). It should be noted that each of these concave parts, or pocket or chamber, can contain a predefined volume of fluid comprised between 10 nL and 1 mL, for example 1 L, which is in particular a function of the geometric characteristics of the pump 1.

[0133] The flow rate of fluid circulating in the pump according to the first embodiment varies according to the application of the magnetic field, and in particular the speed of rotation of the magnetic field. Each time the magnetic field completes a full rotation, the ripple moves by the spatial rotation period of the magnetic pattern.

[0134] Referring to FIG. 5, a second system according to a second embodiment according to the invention is shown.

[0135] The pump of this second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that it further comprises a rigid wall 300 fixed on at least part of the perimeter of the upper surface 102 of the membrane 100 and spaced from the membrane 100 by a distance d sufficient to allow the ripple and to allow contact between the concave parts and the wall 300. This distance d can be between 10 pm and 1 cm. The rigid wall 300 is fixed on the perimeter of the upper surface 102 of the membrane 100 using fixing means 504 known to those skilled in the art similar to those used for fixing the perimeter of the membrane 100 to the support means 200.

[0136] Furthermore, the rigid wall 300 includes an orifice 302, but could include several (not shown in the figures), through which a controlled pressure is applied between the wall 300 and the membrane 100. This pressure is brought for example by the entry through the orifice 302 of a gas or a fluid.

[0137] Referring to FIG. 6, a third system according to a third embodiment according to the invention is shown.

[0138] According to the third embodiment, the pump comprises a rigid wall 300 fixed on at least part of the perimeter of the upper surface 102 of the membrane 100 and spaced from the membrane 100 by a distance d sufficient to, unlike the pump of the second mode, allow ripple and to avoid contact between the concave parts and the wall 300. The rigid wall 300 is fixed on the perimeter of the upper surface 102 of the membrane 100 using fixing means 504 known to those skilled in the art similar to those used for fixing the perimeter of the membrane 100 to the support means 200. The distance d is at least equal to the thickness of the membrane 100. In this embodiment, the membrane 100 does not rest on the wall 300, as in the second embodiment, but on a fluid or gas introduced between the membrane 100 and the wall 300 via the orifice 302 which applies a pressure on the membrane 100 and of which it is possible to modulate the pressure.

[0139] Referring to FIG. 7, a fourth system according to a fourth embodiment according to the invention is shown.

[0140] In this fourth mode, the pump is similar to that of the second mode but comprises a membrane 100 having two through orifices 106 and 108, each being located at its ends, as well as the wall 300 without an orifice. Thus, it is possible to have a higher and more constant flow of fluid in the pump than when there is no presence of these two orifices 106 and 108 insofar as the fluid then circulates both in the concave parts but also in the convex parts. Indeed, the pump is then arranged so that the fluid circulates both between the membrane 100 and the support means 200 and between the membrane 100 and the wall 300 to double the circulation rate of the fluid in the pump. Thus, rather than having at the outlet S an interspersed flow of fluid, here since the volumes of fluid are contained both in the concave and convex parts, the flow at the outlet S is more constant. Furthermore, this fourth embodiment makes it possible to overcome the influence of the pressure outside the pump: only the inlet pressure Po and the outlet pressure P.sub.s are to be considered. Moreover, the pressure obtained in a chamber is obtained by the pressure of the preceding chamber to which is added the addition of pressure generated by the part of the membrane between the two chambers. Thus, it is possible to increase the possible pressure difference between the inlet of the pump and the outlet of the pump during its manufacture by increasing the number of ripples in the pump (and therefore of magnetic patterns in the membrane 100).

[0141] Furthermore, for this embodiment, but also for the others, the rigid support means 200 can comprise a channel with rounded side edges (not shown in the figures) connecting the inlet E to the outlet S to guide the fluid circulating in the pump between inlet E and outlet S. In this way, sealing is ensured. Furthermore, the channel may have a thickness of 350 m.

[0142] Referring to FIG. 8, a fifth system according to a fifth embodiment according to the invention is shown.

[0143] This fifth system comprises a pump having several inlets E1, E2 and E3 and a single outlet S1. The pump then consists of a single membrane having several parts, three in this case: a first part 1001 connecting the inlet E1 to a point B, a second part 1002 connecting the input E2 to a point A, a third part 1003 connecting the input E3 to the point A, a fourth part 1004 connecting the point A to the point B and a fifth part 1005 connecting the point B at the output S1. The magnetic patterns of each of these parts are in phase at the points A and B so that there is indeed the creation of a single chamber at the intersection points A and B. Furthermore, are associated with each of these parts 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005 of the channels to guide the fluids flowing in each of these parts. The single membrane made up of these different parts forms a monobloc.

[0144] Using this fifth system, it is possible to introduce different fluids into each of the inlets E1, E2 and E3, to mix them at points A and B, and to recover the mixture at the outlet S1.

[0145] In this fifth system, the fluid introduced into each of the inlets E1, E2 and E3 is constantly stored in a chamber respectively of the first part 1001, second part 1002 and third part 1003, without leaks in the other chambers which follow or precede. Thus, two chambers from two different parts, for example a chamber from the second part 1002 and another chamber from the third part 1003, can merge together into a larger chamber at point A, and this larger chamber can merge with another chamber from the first part 1001 at point B.

[0146] It should be noted that by changing the circulation direction of the pumped fluid, the inputs E1, E2 and E3 can become outputs and the output S1 can be an input. Thus, rather than bringing different introduced fluids into contact, it is possible to divide an introduced fluid by dividing the chamber in which it is located.

[0147] Referring to FIG. 9, a sixth system according to a sixth embodiment according to the invention is shown.

[0148] The sixth system is similar to the second embodiment, but further comprises, in the support means 200, several actuators or sensors 410 arranged so as to be in direct contact with the pumped fluid, and a measuring device 420.

[0149] For example, the actuator 410 can include electrodes to create an electrochemical reaction, a heat or ultrasound generator, a light source, a sensor. For example, the measuring devices can make it possible to measure parameters in the chambers.

[0150] In this way, it is possible to activate or analyze a single volume of fluid desired and included in a particular chamber.

[0151] Referring to FIG. 10, an eighth system according to an eighth embodiment according to the invention is shown.

[0152] The eighth embodiment is similar to the fourth embodiment. Here, the membrane 100 does not include through holes. The pump of this eighth mode further comprises the rigid wall 300 fixed on at least one part of the perimeter of the upper surface 102 of the membrane 100 and spaced from the membrane 100 by a distance sufficient to allow the ripple, the ripple involving or avoiding contact between the concave parts and the wall 300 provided that the fluid or fluids circulate through the pump. The support means 200 comprises an inlet E and an outlet S and the rigid wall 300 also comprises an inlet E and an outlet S. In this way, a fluid can circulate between the membrane 100 and the support means 200 and another fluid can circulate between the membrane 100 and the wall 300. Thus, two distinct fluids can be pumped with the same pump and the same flow rate.

[0153] Furthermore, it should be noted that with this embodiment, it is also possible for the fluid circulating between the inlet E and the outlet S to be the same as that circulating between TE and the outlet S. In this configuration, the two inlets E and E can be interconnected by a channel, for example so as to introduce the same fluid on either side of the membrane 100, and the two outlets S and S by another channel so as to extract the same fluid circulating on either side of the membrane 100. Thus, the circulation rate of the fluid in the pump is then doubled.

[0154] It should be noted that in each of the embodiments presented above, the rigid support means 200 can be transparent so as to be able to observe the different chambers formed by the ripple. Furthermore, the wall 300 and/or the support means 200 can be transparent so as to allow only the desired and predefined radiation to pass.

[0155] It should be noted that throughout this application, when referring to indications in bold type, F.sub.m, C.sub.m, M, B, A.sub.n, reference is made to vectors.

[0156] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description. This must be considered as illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this description alone. Many variant embodiments are possible.

[0157] In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements and the indefinite article a/an does not exclude a plurality.