Swiss researchers have developed the world’s first pump in the form of a fibre-tubing that generates its own pressure and flow rate.
- The fibre pumps can be sewn directly into textiles and clothing, leaving conventional pumps behind. These fibre pumps can be used in new and exciting wearable technologies.
- For example, they can circulate hot and cold fluid through garments for those working in extreme temperature environments or in a therapeutic setting to help manage inflammation; and even for those looking to optimise athletic performance.
The Research: The breakthrough has been achieved by scientists at the Soft Transducers Laboratory (LMTS) in the School of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).
- The research has been published in the journal Science.
The Problem: Many fluid-based wearable assistive technologies today require a large and noisy pump that is impractical – if not impossible – to integrate into clothing.
- This leads to a contradiction: wearable devices are routinely tethered to unwearable pumps.
- It is this problem that has been resolved by the LMTS scientists.
Lightweight, powerful…and washable: The LMTS fibre pumps use a principle called charge injection electrohydrodynamics (EHD) to generate a fluid flow without any moving parts.
- Two helical electrodes embedded in the pump wall ionise and accelerate molecules of a special non-conductive liquid.
- The ion movement and electrode shape generate a net forward fluid flow, resulting in silent, vibration-free operation, and requiring just a palm-sized power supply and battery.
- To achieve the pump’s unique structure, the researchers developed a novel fabrication technique that involves twisting copper wires and polyurethane threads together around a steel rod, and then fusing them with heat.
- After the rod is removed, the 2mm fibres can be integrated into textiles using standard weaving and sewing techniques.
- The pump’s simple design has a number of advantages. The materials required are cheap and readily available, and the manufacturing process can be easily scaled up.
- Because the amount of pressure generated by the pump is directly linked to its length, the tubes can be cut to match the application, optimising performance while minimising weight.
- The robust design can also be washed with conventional detergents.
What They Said:
This work builds on our previous generation of soft pump. The fibre format allows us to make lighter, more powerful pumps that are inherently more compatible with wearable technology.
— Michael Smith (lead author)
Post-doctoral researcher
LMTS, EPFL
