METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PARTICLE AGGREGATION USING ACOUSTIC STANDING WAVES

摘要

Devices for separating materials from a host fluid are disclosed. The devices include an acoustic chamber, the figure indicates the view perpendicular to an ultrasonic transducer (130), having an inlet at the bottom and an outlet at the top. The ultrasonic transducer (130) and reflector create a multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the acoustic chamber that traps the materials and permits a continuous separation of the materials from the host fluid (vertical flow direction 120). The materials and the host fluid can thus be separately collected. Multiple sets of trapping lines (132) are generated by the acoustic standing wave, and the transducer (130) is oriented or has a shape to minimize cross-sectional area for straight vertical channels between the trapping lines.