peristalttisetinspired

Peristalttisetinspired is a coinage used to describe systems and devices that imitate the traveling-wave, sequential contraction pattern of natural peristalsis to move materials through a tubular channel. The term combines peristalsis with "inspired" to signal a bio-inspired engineering approach. While not a standard term across all disciplines, it appears in literature discussing soft robotics, microfluidics, and medical devices that rely on peristaltic-like actuation for transport.

Typical implementations arrange a series of actuators along the length of a flexible tube or channel. When activated in a timed sequence, these segments compress successive regions of the tube, creating a moving compression wave that pushes fluid or soft solids forward. Realizations include pneumatic or hydraulic networks, tendon-driven sleeves, shape memory polymers, and elastomeric pumps. The essential feature is the propagation of a contact front that interacts with the contained material rather than relying on a single pump at a fixed location.

Applications range from soft robotic handles for delicate manipulation of soft tissues or pharmaceuticals to microfluidic pumps that require gentle, contamination-free transport. Peristalttisetinspired mechanisms can be used for controlled dosing, lab-on-a-chip flow control, and assistive devices that require tubing-based transport without sharp edges or high shear.

Advantages include gentle material handling, reduced shear stress, compatibility with flexible tubes, and potential for integration into compact, self-contained systems. Challenges involve precise timing control, coordination of many actuators, energy efficiency, wear of flexible components, and scaling to different speeds and volumes. Ongoing research explores optimized actuation sequences, feedback control, and materials that withstand long-term cycling.

See also peristalsis, peristaltic pump, bio-inspired design.