IPMC-assisted miniature disposable infusion pumps with embedded computer control

For military applications, the availability of safe, disposable, and robust infusion pumps for intravenous fluid and drug delivery would provide a significant improvement in combat healthcare. To meet these needs, we have developed a miniature infusion prototype pump for safe and accurate fluid and drug delivery that is programmable, lightweight, and disposable. In this paper we present techniques regarding inter-digitated IPMCs and a scaleable IPMC that exhibits significantly improved force performance over the conventional IPMCs. The results of this project will be a low cost accurate infusion device that can be scaled from a disposable small volume liquid drug delivery patch to disposable large volume fluid resuscitation infusion pumps for trauma victims in both the government and private sectors of the health industry.