METHOD AND APPARATUS OF ULTRASONIC NONCONTACT MICRO-MANIPULATION

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide ultrasonic noncontact micro-manipulation technology capable of capturing and moving micro substances in a micro flow path without bringing an ultrasonic vibrator into direct contact with a liquid medium, and controlling a direction of the flow of the micro substances in the liquid medium in which the micro substances disperse with a simple structure.

SOLUTION: The micro flow path composed of at least a pair of a wall and a bottom is formed. The ultrasonic vibrator is attached parallel to the linear flow path, on one of side faces of a solid cell where the micro flow path comprises a linear flow path and a branched flow path branched into two branches in the midway. The liquid medium in which the micro substances disperse is made to flow in the micro flow path. Ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic vibrator are transmitted as propagating waves from a solid cell section on the ultrasonic vibrator side from the flow path into the micro flow path. The ultrasonic waves are reflected on the wall facing the side wall of the ultrasonic vibrator of the micro flow path to make them into reflected waves. The propagating waves and the reflected waves are interfered to generate a sound field of standing waves. The micro substances are captured at a node of sound pressure, thereby controlling the direction of the flow of the medium.

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