Grease the gears for a steady microfluidic flow

TL;DR

Proper lubrication of syringe pump guide rods significantly improves flow rate stability, reduces wear, and enhances the reliability of microfluidic applications, especially in lab-on-a-chip workflows.

Contribution

This study demonstrates the critical impact of guide rod lubrication on syringe pump flow stability, highlighting an often overlooked maintenance aspect for microfluidic systems.

Findings

Lubricated guide rods reduce flow rate fluctuations by five times.

Flow rate CV drops from 0.34 to below 0.07 with lubrication.

Lubrication enhances pump reliability and flow consistency.

Abstract

Pumps are indispensable for analytical applications and ensure controlled fluid movement. Syringe pumps are among today_s most prevalent liquid delivery systems, especially for high-pressure, stable, low-flow-rate microfluidic applications. Due to moving mechanical parts of the assembly, regular maintenance is essential to ensure reliable operation and flow rates. However, lubrication of the mechanics is easily overlooked because the research focuses on novel analytical applications rather than on the maintenance of pumps. Here, we investigate the lubrication of the syringe pump guide rods with its effect on the flow rate stability after regular pump cleaning from contaminations. The guide rods of syringe pumps were thoroughly cleaned from any lubricant, and the flow rate for specified flowrates between 5 and 30 uL/min was measured, revealing tremendous flow rate fluctuations with a coefficient of variation (CV) value up to 0.34. In contrast, flow rate measurements of syringe pumps with lubricated guide rods show a five-fold smoother flow rate fluctuation depending on the specified flow rate with CV values below 0.07. In summary, we emphasize the awareness of lubricating moving parts of syringe pumps to achieve constant flow rates, minimize wear, and ensure the reliable operation of, for instance, accurate lab-on-a-chip workflows.