Actuation method and apparatus, micropump, and PCR enhancement method

摘要

An actuation apparatus includes at least one magnetic shape memory (MSM) element containing a material configured to expand and/or contract in response to exposure to a magnetic field. Among other things, the MSM element may be configured to pump fluid through a micropump by expanding and/or contracting in response to the magnetic field. The magnetic field may rotate about an axis of rotation and exhibit a distribution having a component substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Further, the magnetic field distribution may include at least two components substantially orthogonal to one another lying in one or more planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The at least one MSM element may contain nickel, manganese, and gallium. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may be enhanced by contacting a PCR reagent and DNA material with the MSM element.

主权项

1. An actuation method comprising:
rotating a magnetic field about an axis of rotation; exposing magnetic shape memory (MSM) material comprised by at least one MSM element to different portions of the magnetic field as a result of rotating the magnetic field, the MSM material having a dimension; and contracting the MSM material locally across the dimension in a first part of the MSM material in response to local exposure to a first component of the magnetic field substantially parallel to the dimension while simultaneously not contracting the MSM material locally in a second part exposed to a second component of the magnetic field not substantially parallel to the dimension, the contracted first part of the MSM material being located at a position within the magnetic field of sufficient flux density to produce the local contraction and the not-contracted second part of the MSM material also being located at such a position, but not contracting due to the not substantially parallel direction of the second component.