Design and Implementation of Biohybrid Diaphragm Pump to Be Driven by Cardio Myocytes

Abstract

In this report we introduce the design and prototype implementation of a bio hybrid pump driven by cardiac muscle tissue to supply other biological actuators in a larger bio hybrid robotic system sufficiently with nutrition media. Recently introduced bio hybrid pumps are analyzed and compared. On this basis a diaphragm pump design is chosen as physical principal and a functional prototype is designed. The derived requirements regarding the flowrates and long-term stability are verified with mechanical tests of the implemented prototype. The pump itself will consist of a body, an actuating membrane (to carry future muscle cells), a cylindrical spacer block, a returning diaphragm and the retaining ring. During operation the flow direction is implemented by two check valves. Our mechanical verification results show a flowrate of 14.2 ml/min with an activation frequency of 1 Hz. For the displacement of the returning diaphragm a required force of 0.58 N is determined. This is well within the capabilities of cardio myocytes which are in the range of 2 to 5 nN/μm2 and therefore could generate 0.63 to 1.57 N given the area of the 40 mm diameter membrane.