Revolutionary micropump: E-PunCh for precise liquid dosing!

Revolutionary micropump: E-PunCh for precise liquid dosing!

The E-PunCh pump, an innovative micropump, has the potential to fundamentally change the way fluids are handled in medical technology and other industries. Developed by Sebastian Bohm as part of his dissertation at the TU Ilmenau, this micropump is an example of the combination of science and practical use. It is made on a silicon wafer and is only about half a millimeter high. A notable feature of this pump is that it works without moving parts and moves liquids precisely using electrical voltage.

The E-PunCh micropump revolutionizes fluid pumping by leaving the pumping work to the fluid itself. This is where the EWOD effect (Electrowetting On Dielectrics) comes into play, which makes it possible to dose the smallest amounts of liquid with high precision. This makes the micropump particularly suitable for applications such as automatic drop dispensers, insulin pumps, pipetting robots, as well as in the food industry and cell cultivation.

Technical details and manufacturing

The development of the E-PunCh pump was carried out in close collaboration with 5microns, a company that specializes in customer-specific microsystems. Production takes place in the ultra-modern clean rooms of the Center for Micro- and Nanotechnologies at the TU Ilmenau, which is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. This not only ensures precise manufacturing conditions, but also high quality standards.

The pump is also characterized by low manufacturing costs and high energy efficiency. It enables volume flows of less than 0.5 µl/s at differential pressures below 50 kPa. These properties open up new possibilities in lab-on-chip technology, where E-PunCh can easily be combined with integrated sensors.

Scientific background and future perspectives

In his dissertation, Sebastian Bohm also developed numerical methods to describe the behavior of liquids in microfluidic systems under electric fields. This will help further explore the applications of the technology. His supervisor, Professor Erich Runge, emphasizes the high scientific level of Bohm's work and compares his abilities with top international achievements.

The diverse applications of the E-PunCh pump, from medical technology to the food industry to cell cultivation and sampling, indicate that it will play a significant role in the development of new microfluidic solutions. 5microns strives to offer tailor-made solutions and comprehensively support customers with specific use cases.