ePump®

Features

  • Potential for precisely controlled microfluidic flow rates and delivery volumes
  • Multifunction operation: flow or dispense modes
  • No moving parts
  • Ultra-precise, truly pulse-free flow in the nL/min to mL/min flow range
  • Compatible with wide range of solvents, buffers, reagents
  • Custom designed in virtually any shape or size, perfect for OEM applications
  • Small size makes it ideal for use in handheld or benchtop devices
  • Field deployable applications are possible due to low power requirement and totally silent operation

SFC Fluidics'® ePump® technology can be used to deliver truly pulse-free, microfluidic flow to your application. The schematic diagram of ePump operation illustrates the non-mechanical nature of the micropumping technology, which can be made in virtually any shape including those shown above.

Principle of ePump Technology:

SFC's ePump technology utilizes a unique, non-mechanical means for precisely moving very small amounts of fluid.

This patent-pending technology works by applying a low electrical voltage or current which drives a pumping fluid across a selective membrane. This, in turn, causes an impermeable expansion diaphragm to expand and deliver a controlled amount of fluid to a microfluidic application. Since the expansion membrane is impermeable, the possibility of cross contamination of fluids is eliminated. The result is very precise and pulse-free flow using a pump that is compatible with a wide range of biological and chemical reagents and solvents!

Our easy-to-use Controller allows the user to set the flow rate and specify the dispensing volume. The non-mechanical nature of the ePump also allows for designs in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, making it very attractive for OEM applications. Contact Us to discuss your application and how you can use the ePump technology to optimize your design.

Products Currently Under Development

Dual-chamber ePump

This pump allows continuous delivery of solvent with no need to refill. As one chamber is delivering solvent, the other chamber is refilling, resulting in continuous delivery of solvent, buffer, or reagent to your application.

High stroke volume ePump

Similar to syringe pumps, the single-chamber ePump refills after the maximum stroke volume has been delivered. The current min-ePump™ Model 160 has a maximum stroke volume of 60 µL and can deliver ≤60 µL continuously to your application before refilling. This volume is more that enough for most microfluidic and lab-on-chip applications. Other applications, like those involving extended cell counting, might require a higher maximum stroke volume. An ePump with a stroke volume of 1 mL is currently under development.

Animal dosing ePump

Studies with animals are an integral part of experimental biology and the development/testing of medicines. Many of these experimental biological and behavioral studies require the dosing of mice/rats with a pump that injects pharmaceuticals, neurological compounds, or toxins. Most pumps that are presently used in animal dosing applications require that the animal be connected to the pump through a tether/swivel system. This approach gives good control and dosing options but creates difficulties by hindering movement and can lead to abnormal responses or severely restrict studies requiring freedom of movement. A miniature ePump is currently under development for untethered animal dosing applications. In initial designs, this pump will be designed to ride directly on a mouse or rat and dosing will be operated remotely in a fully untethered configuration.