An assessment of the suitability of a Liebau pump in biomedical applications

Abstract

Impedance pumping and asymmetric pumping are the main mechanisms of the Liebau effect, a type of valveless pumping. The primary objective of this study is to enhance the current understanding of the mechanics and functionality of a Liebau pump. To achieve this, a prototype pump is constructed, incorporating several novel features: a pinch frequency control system to optimize pump performance, a planar actuator developed using soft robotic technology, and a compliant chamber designed to mitigate flow fluctuations and prevent reverse flow, a common feature of this pumping method. Experimental tests conducted with this prototype demonstrate that the Liebau pump holds potential as a viable technology for fluid pumping in biomedical applications, especially when pulsatile flow is essential or when hemolysis needs to be minimized.