The application of lab-on-a-chip systems to biomedical engineering and medical biology is rapidly growing. Reciprocating micropumps show significant promise as automated bio-fluid handling systems and as active reagent-to-sample mixers. Here, we describe a thorough fluid dynamic analysis of an active micro-pump-mixer designed for applications of preclinical blood analysis and clinical diagnostics in hematology. Using high-speed flow visualization and micro-particle image velocimetry measurements, a parametric study is performed to investigate the fluid dynamics of six discrete modes of micropump operation. With this approach, we identify an actuation regime that results in optimal sample flow rates while concomitantly maximizing reagent-to-sample mixing.

中文翻译：

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新型微型泵混合器的实验流体动力学表征。

芯片实验室系统在生物医学工程和医学生物学中的应用正在迅速增长。往复式微型泵作为自动生物流体处理系统和活性试剂-样品混合器显示出巨大的前景。在这里，我们描述了针对临床前血液分析和血液学临床诊断应用而设计的主动微型泵混合器的彻底流体动力学分析。使用高速流动可视化和微粒图像测速测量，进行参数研究以研究微泵运行的六种离散模式的流体动力学。通过这种方法，我们确定了一种驱动机制，该机制可实现最佳样品流速，同时最大限度地提高试剂与样品的混合。