Exploration of micro-miniature venturi pump for continuous glucose monitoring through interstitial fluid (ISF) extraction

Abstract

Interstitial Fluid (ISF) is a naturally occurring body fluid that surrounds cells and tissues and contains certain markers useful for continuously monitoring glucose levels in the blood without constantly extracting it. Miniaturizing can reduce its cost and timescale. In this study, for continuous glucose monitoring the numerical analysis of a Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) based Micro-miniature venturi pump was carried out to extract Interstitial Fluid (ISF). The numerical study was carried out using COMSOL Multiphysics software by employing the k-ε turbulence model to obtain output as a vacuum at the throat of the pump. The micro-miniature venturi pump was numerically analyzed for several key parameters, including the dimensions of the throat, the convergent angle, and the divergent angle. This study obtained a minimum pressure of 49.41 kPa numerically and 70 kPa experimentally when an input pressure of 252 kPa of compressed air was given to the system. Further influence of turbulence kinetic energy and turbulence dissipation rate on throat pressure output have been notified. Notably, the pressure output reaches its minimum value of 49.41 kPa when the turbulent kinetic energy and the turbulent dissipation rate reach maximum values of 5.0 × 10⁹ m²/s³ and 7000 m²/s² respectively. As per the previous research findings, for continuous glucose monitoring through ISF extraction, a pressure level of 95 kPa is deemed adequate hence the designed micro-miniature venturi pump is suitable for this application.