  There is an emerging class of microfluidic bioreactors which possess
long-term, closed circuit perfusion under sterile conditions with in vivo-like
flow parameters. Integrated into microfluidics, peristaltic-like pneumatically
actuated displacement micropumps are able to meet these requirements. We
present both a theoretical and experimental characterization of such pumps. In
order to examine volume flow rate, we have developed a mathemati- cal model
describing membrane motion under external pressure. The viscoelasticity of the
membrane and hydrodynamic resistance of the microfluidic channel have been
taken into account. Unlike other models, the developed model includes only the
physical parameters of the pump and allows the estimation of their impact on
the resulting flow. The model has been validated experimentally.
