Development of an insertion-type peristalsis pump

Pumps capable of transporting high-viscosity fluids and solid-liquid mixtures are essential for emergency situations. Today, those pumps that can transport high-viscosity fluids and solid-liquid mixtures centralize pressure at one point and convey a fluid, the size of those pumps also becomes large to put high pressure, and the point that we can set is limited. We have previously developed a peristaltic pump based on the bowel mechanism by using an artificial rubber muscle that can transport fluids such as sludge without centralizing pressure. Unfortunately, it is difficult to attach the pump to various structures or manipulate the geometry for easy access. Herein, we focus on earthworm peristalsis as a model mechanism that can induce peristaltic activity in the pipe and transport fluids containing little water. We have developed a flexible device which can transport high-viscosity fluids and solid-liquid mixtures by applying the peristalsis mechanism of earthworms. In this study we investigate water transport using this insertion-type peristalsis pump in both straight and bent device orientations.