Simulation and fabrication of a magnetic actuator for pumping fluids in microchannels

Microfluidic devices depend on the miniaturization of some components such as sensors, actuators and reactors to enable its applications and expand the possibilities. In this context, we fabricated an actuator capable of pumping fluids through microchannels and ensure the portability of the microfluidic device. The actuator uses the magnetic field generated by a coil to move a neodymium magnet over a PDMS diaphragm. Thus, the pressure variation within the microchannel and its geometry “nozzle-diffuser” causes the fluid to move preferentially in one direction. Finally, the influence of the diaphragm geometry and the electromagnetic force were analyzed to improve the efficiency of the actuator.