# Propulsion and Mixing Generated by the Digitized Gait of Caenorhabditis elegans

## TL;DR

This study demonstrates that a bio-inspired reciprocating blade mimicking C. elegans can effectively pump and mix viscous fluids, offering potential applications in microfluidic device cooling and fluid manipulation.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a novel bio-inspired blade mechanism that replicates nematode locomotion to induce flow and mixing in viscous fluids, with experimental validation.

## Key findings

- Blade motion induces flow similar to C. elegans.
- Efficient fluid mixing and pumping demonstrated.
- Potential applications in microfluidic systems.

## Abstract

Nematodes have evolved to swim in highly viscous environments. Artificial mechanisms that mimic the locomotory functions of nematodes can be efficient viscous pumps. We experimentally simulate the motion of the head segment of Caenorhabditis elegans by introducing a reciprocating and rocking blade. We show that the bio-inspired blade's motion not only induces a flow structure similar to that of the worm, but also mixes the surrounding fluid by generating a circulatory flow. When confined between two parallel walls, the blade causes a steady Poiseuille flow through closed circuits. The pumping efficiency is comparable with the swimming efficiency of the worm. If implanted in a sealed chamber and actuated remotely, the blade can provide pumping and mixing functions for microprocessors cooled by polymeric flows and microfluidic devices.