4. Paper pump powers microfluidic devices for less than a dime
[Image from the researchers]
The inexpensive paper pump – developed by researchers at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – uses capillary actions to power portable microfluidic devices, which control fluids of 1 ml or less volume.
The paper pump can also start and stop the flow of fluids through microfluidic devices, and it allows users to control the flow.
The researchers refer to their pump as a hydraulic battery, even though it uses no electricity. The battery aspect of the device is the power of pumping from the capillary action.
The paper pumps can be 2D by cutting out the paper or 3D when stacking the pumps on top of each other.
