US Patent 7632482 - Nanopumping using a nanotube

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7632482.html

This patent is based on research supported by the US Dept. of Energy and teaches providing a nanotube of a particular length range to optimize pumping of fluid through the nanotube stimulated at a particular frequency. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for nano-pumping, comprising the following steps:

providing one or more media;

providing one or more carbon nanotubes, the one or more nanotubes having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of the one or more nanotubes is in contact with the one or more media; and

creating surface waves on the carbon nanotubes, wherein at least a portion of the media is pumped through the nanotube, wherein the one or more nanotubes have a defined length L, the surface wave has a defined frequency λ and wherein the ratio between L/λ is between about 2 and 32.