An AC magnetohydrodynamic micropump

A microfluidic pump is presented using an AC magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) propulsion system in which the Lorentz force is used to propel an electrolytic solution along a microchannel etched in silicon. This micropump has no moving parts, produces a continuous (not pulsatile) flow and is compatible with solutions containing biological specimens. Theory, fabrication method and experimental results are described. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.