A miniaturized peristaltic membrane pump has been designed, fabricated, and tested. Sequentially bulging three membranes into a flow channel is used to provide peristaltic pumping action. The deflection response of various membrane materials to applied pressure was measured to provide specifications for the flow channel which was designed and fabricated to closely match the shape of the bulging membranes. The pump has been designed to be driven with thermopneumatic actuators. An external pneumatic system is used to actuate the membranes to allow measurement and control of the actuation pressures required to demonstrate pumping action.
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