Abstract:
Acoustic perfusion devices for separating biological cells from other material in a fluid mixture are disclosed. The devices include an inlet port, an outlet port, and a collection port that are connected to an acoustic chamber. An ultrasonic transducer creates an acoustic standing wave in the acoustic chamber that permits a continuous flow of fluid to be recovered through the collection port while keeping the biological cells within the acoustic chamber to be returned to the bioreactor from which the fluid mixture is being drawn.
Abstract:
An acoustophoretic device is disclosed. The acoustophoretic device includes an acoustic chamber, an ultrasonic transducer, and a reflector. The ultrasonic transducer includes a piezoelectric material driven by a voltage signal to create a multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the acoustic chamber emanating from a non-planar face of the piezoelectric material. A method for separating a second fluid or a particulate from a host fluid is also disclosed. The method includes flowing the mixture through an acoustophoretic device. A voltage signal is sent to drive the ultrasonic transducer to create the multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the acoustic chamber such that the second fluid or particulate is continuously trapped in the standing wave, and then agglomerates, aggregates, clumps, or coalesces together, and subsequently rises or settles out of the host fluid due to buoyancy or gravity forces, and exits the acoustic chamber.
Abstract:
Devices and methods for pre-conditioning and/or post-conditioning a host fluid containing a second fluid or particulate are disclosed. The devices include a flow chamber having first opening and a particulate outlet. The devices can also include side openings and alignment, fluid, and particulate screens. An ultrasonic transducer can be driven to create an acoustic standing wave in the flow chamber, or alternatively be driven to excite the wall of the flow chamber in which it is located. This creates a uniformly stratified flow within the flow chamber, with the second fluid or particulate being aligned in planes in the fluid mixture. This permits the host fluid to be separated therefrom using the fluid screen and the particulate screen.
Abstract:
An apparatus for separating particles from a fluid stream includes a flow chamber that has at least one inlet and at least one outlet. At least one ultrasonic transducer is located on a wall of the flow chamber. The transducer includes a piezoelectric array with at least two piezoelectric elements. The piezoelectric array includes a piezoelectric material to create a multi-dimensional standing wave in the flow chamber. A reflector is located on the wall on the opposite side of the flow chamber from the at least one ultrasonic transducer.
Abstract:
A series of multi-dimensional acoustic standing waves is set up inside a growth volume of a bioreactor. The acoustic standing waves are used to hold a cell culture in place as a nutrient fluid stream flows through the cell culture. Biomolecules produced by the cell culture are collected by the nutrient fluid stream and separated downstream of the cell culture.
Abstract:
A perfusion bioreactor includes at least one ultrasonic transducer that can acoustically generate a multi-dimensional standing wave. The standing wave can be used to retain cells in the bioreactor, and can also be utilized to dewater or further harvest product from the waste materials produced in a bioreactor. The bioreactor includes a reaction vessel, an agitator, a feed inlet, and an outlet. A filtering device is included that has an inlet, a flow chamber and a sleeve surrounding the flow chamber, where the sleeve includes the ultrasonic transducer.
Abstract:
Acoustic forces in an acoustic field can be increased via introduction of "seeding particles" with higher or similar contrast factor and/or size relative to the particles targeted for retention in the acoustic field. This feature may be implemented in an acoustic concentration device or an acoustic separation device. Increases in acoustic forces lead to better particle retention and can permit increased flow rates through an acoustic particle processing device.
Abstract:
Separation of materials is achieved using affinity binding and acoustophoretic techniques. A column provided with a fluid mixture of materials for separation and support structures may be used with acoustic waves to block flow of the support structures. The support structures can have an affinity for one or more materials in the fluid mixture. By blocking flow of the support structures, materials bound or adhered to the support structure are also blocked.
Abstract:
Multi-stage acoustophoretic devices for continuously separating a second fluid or a particulate from a host fluid are disclosed. Methods of operating the multi-stage acoustophoretic devices are also disclosed. The systems may include multiple acoustophoretic devices fluidly connected to one another in series, each acoustophoretic device comprising a flow chamber, an ultrasonic transducer capable of creating a multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave, and a reflector. The systems can further include pumps and flowmeters.
Abstract:
Microparticles and nanoparticles made of various materials that are used in various configurations are disclosed. Such particles can also contain various types of materials as payloads to be used in the separation, segregation, differentiation, modification or filtration of a system or a host anatomy. The microparticles and nanoparticles are utilized in conjunction with an acoustic standing wave or an acoustic traveling wave in various processes.