Peristalsis is widely seen in nature, as this pumping action is important in digestive systems for conveying sustenance to every corner of the body. In this paper, we propose a muscle-powered tubular micro pump that p...Peristalsis is widely seen in nature, as this pumping action is important in digestive systems for conveying sustenance to every corner of the body. In this paper, we propose a muscle-powered tubular micro pump that provides peristaltic transport. We utilized Drosophila melanogaster larvae that express channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) on the cell membrane of skeletal muscles to obtain light-responsive muscle tissues. The larvae were forced to contract with blue light stimulation. While changing the speed of the propagating light stimulation, we observed displacement on the surface of the contractile muscle tissues. We obtained peristaltic pumps from the larvae by dissecting them into tubular structures. The average inner diameter of the tubular structures was about 400 lm and the average outer diameter was about 750 lm. Contractions of this tubular structure could be controlled with the same blue light stimulation. To make the inner flow visible, we placed microbeads into the peristaltic pump, and thus determined that the pump could transport microbeads at a speed of 120 lm-s1.展开更多
Soft robotic systems leverage their inherent flexibility and environmental adaptability,demonstrating significant potential across diverse fields.Fluid‐driven actuation has emerged as a mainstream approach because of...Soft robotic systems leverage their inherent flexibility and environmental adaptability,demonstrating significant potential across diverse fields.Fluid‐driven actuation has emerged as a mainstream approach because of its capacity to enable large deformations and high output forces.However,the reliance on conventional rigid pumping components limits application scopes.Soft electrohydrodynamic(EHD)pumps,including soft fiber pumps(SFPs),address these challenges by offering intelligent controllability,silent operation,and a compact structure.This study tackles critical limitations of existing SFPs,such as electrode‐channel detachment,complex fabrication processes,insufficient theoretical frameworks,and dependence on external power sources.Inspired by the multi‐stage drainage structure of biological lymphatic systems,we propose a novel spatially parallel electrode fiber pump configuration,enhancing stability during dynamic deformations.To simplify manufacturing,we develop a low‐cost 3D‐printed lost‐wax strategy,streamlining the fabrication of soft fiber pumps.We propose the concept of customizable profiled fiber pumps,which are well‐suited for 3D‐printed lost‐wax manufacturing methods and broaden the application scope of fiber pumps.By integrating fluid dynamics and electric field coupling analysis,we establish a two‐dimensional simplified model for wire‐electrode‐based pumping mechanisms,experimentally validating its rationality.Furthermore,we integrate a triboelectric nanogenerator(TENG)system to achieve TENG‐powered operation of the fiber pump.Verification in scenarios such as microfluidics,artificial muscles,and wearable temperature‐controlled gloves demonstrates the significant potential of the proposed fiber pump in constructing a new generation of pump sources for fluid‐driven soft robotic applications.展开更多
The increasing demand for adaptable,lightweight,and efficient pump systems in engineering and medical fields highlights the limitations of traditional rigid pumps,which are bulky,noisy,and inflexible.Despite advanceme...The increasing demand for adaptable,lightweight,and efficient pump systems in engineering and medical fields highlights the limitations of traditional rigid pumps,which are bulky,noisy,and inflexible.Despite advancements in smart materials and electro-hydrodynamics(EHD),flexible pumps face challenges from structural rigidity and performance constraints.Here,we develop a customizable soft fiber pump(CSFP)that utilizes wound printed flexible electrodes alongside thermoplastic tubes.This innovative approach enables variable electrode configurations,tunable internal diameters,and modifiable cross-sectional geometries,significantly enhancing the pump’s performance and adaptability.The fabrication method yields a compact structure with intergrated electrodes,reconfigurable cross-sections,and flow orientation control.With these features,the CSFP achieves a pressure gradient of 1.39 kPa/cm and a specific flowrate of 160 mL/min/g.These capabilities support its use in soft actuation,conformal thermal management,and redirected flow for impurity separation,demonstrating potential for integration into a broad range of technological and industrial applications.展开更多
基金supported by Grant-in-Aid for Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(JSPS)Fellow(17J01742)JSPS,MEXT KAKENHI(21676002,23111705,26249027,and 17H01254)the Industrial Technology Research Grant Program from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization(NEDO)of Japan
文摘Peristalsis is widely seen in nature, as this pumping action is important in digestive systems for conveying sustenance to every corner of the body. In this paper, we propose a muscle-powered tubular micro pump that provides peristaltic transport. We utilized Drosophila melanogaster larvae that express channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) on the cell membrane of skeletal muscles to obtain light-responsive muscle tissues. The larvae were forced to contract with blue light stimulation. While changing the speed of the propagating light stimulation, we observed displacement on the surface of the contractile muscle tissues. We obtained peristaltic pumps from the larvae by dissecting them into tubular structures. The average inner diameter of the tubular structures was about 400 lm and the average outer diameter was about 750 lm. Contractions of this tubular structure could be controlled with the same blue light stimulation. To make the inner flow visible, we placed microbeads into the peristaltic pump, and thus determined that the pump could transport microbeads at a speed of 120 lm-s1.
基金funded by the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(LZYQ25E050001,W.T.)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52305074,W.T.)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(524B2051,X.G.)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52205073,Z.J.)International Cooperation Program of the Natural Science Foundation of China(52261135542,J.Z.).
文摘Soft robotic systems leverage their inherent flexibility and environmental adaptability,demonstrating significant potential across diverse fields.Fluid‐driven actuation has emerged as a mainstream approach because of its capacity to enable large deformations and high output forces.However,the reliance on conventional rigid pumping components limits application scopes.Soft electrohydrodynamic(EHD)pumps,including soft fiber pumps(SFPs),address these challenges by offering intelligent controllability,silent operation,and a compact structure.This study tackles critical limitations of existing SFPs,such as electrode‐channel detachment,complex fabrication processes,insufficient theoretical frameworks,and dependence on external power sources.Inspired by the multi‐stage drainage structure of biological lymphatic systems,we propose a novel spatially parallel electrode fiber pump configuration,enhancing stability during dynamic deformations.To simplify manufacturing,we develop a low‐cost 3D‐printed lost‐wax strategy,streamlining the fabrication of soft fiber pumps.We propose the concept of customizable profiled fiber pumps,which are well‐suited for 3D‐printed lost‐wax manufacturing methods and broaden the application scope of fiber pumps.By integrating fluid dynamics and electric field coupling analysis,we establish a two‐dimensional simplified model for wire‐electrode‐based pumping mechanisms,experimentally validating its rationality.Furthermore,we integrate a triboelectric nanogenerator(TENG)system to achieve TENG‐powered operation of the fiber pump.Verification in scenarios such as microfluidics,artificial muscles,and wearable temperature‐controlled gloves demonstrates the significant potential of the proposed fiber pump in constructing a new generation of pump sources for fluid‐driven soft robotic applications.
基金support by the Shanghai Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.25ZR1402155)the National NaturalScience Foundation of China(Grant No.52105073,62303291,12202256 and 62273222)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2023YFB4705200).
文摘The increasing demand for adaptable,lightweight,and efficient pump systems in engineering and medical fields highlights the limitations of traditional rigid pumps,which are bulky,noisy,and inflexible.Despite advancements in smart materials and electro-hydrodynamics(EHD),flexible pumps face challenges from structural rigidity and performance constraints.Here,we develop a customizable soft fiber pump(CSFP)that utilizes wound printed flexible electrodes alongside thermoplastic tubes.This innovative approach enables variable electrode configurations,tunable internal diameters,and modifiable cross-sectional geometries,significantly enhancing the pump’s performance and adaptability.The fabrication method yields a compact structure with intergrated electrodes,reconfigurable cross-sections,and flow orientation control.With these features,the CSFP achieves a pressure gradient of 1.39 kPa/cm and a specific flowrate of 160 mL/min/g.These capabilities support its use in soft actuation,conformal thermal management,and redirected flow for impurity separation,demonstrating potential for integration into a broad range of technological and industrial applications.
