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Publication Number
US-10710012-B2
Publication Date
2020-07-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed is a device, suitable for use as an acoustic resonator, including a base adapted to be coupled to at least one acoustic wave generator, a spacer including an aperture and a reflector, wherein the base includes a protruding part having a thickness t; the aperture of the spacer is complementary to the protruding part of the base; the device further includes a housing having an aperture complementary to the protruding part of the base and wherein the inner edge of the aperture has the same thickness t than the protruding part; and the housing is positioned between the spacer and the reflector, such that the thickness of the inner edge of the spacer defined the thickness of a cavity between the protruding part and the reflector. Also disclosed is a method of trapping particles in a fluid.
Core Innovation
A device suitable for use as an acoustic resonator includes a base adapted to be coupled to at least one acoustic wave generator, a spacer comprising an aperture and a reflector, and a housing having an aperture. The base comprises a protruding part having a thickness t, the aperture of the spacer is complementary to the protruding part, and the housing aperture is complementary to the protruding part as well.
The housing is positioned between the spacer and the reflector so that the thickness of the inner edge defines the thickness of a cavity between the protruding part and the reflector. The described acoustic resonator/levitation trap uses an acoustic cavity defined by matching thickness t and complementary apertures, and is described as enabling glue-free assembly, easy spacer replacement, and reduced fluid leakage.
A method is described for trapping particles in a fluid using the acoustic resonator. The method includes introducing a fluid comprising particles into the cavity and selecting the frequency f so that the path length of the standing wave in the cavity is a multiple of one-half of the wavelength of the sound wave therein, and then trapping the particles.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are present: one directed to a device suitable for use as an acoustic resonator, and one directed to a method of trapping particles in a fluid using that resonator. The inventive features focus on a thickness-matched cavity defined by complementary apertures in the base, spacer, and housing, and on frequency selection based on a standing-wave path-length condition to trap particles.
Thickness-matched complementary apertures defining a cavity for an acoustic resonator
A device suitable for use as an acoustic resonator comprising a base adapted to be coupled to at least one acoustic wave generator, a spacer comprising an aperture and a reflector, wherein the base comprises a protruding part having a thickness t, the aperture of the spacer is complementary to the protruding part, the device further comprises a housing having an aperture complementary to the protruding part and wherein the inner edge of the aperture of the housing has the same thickness t as the protruding part, and wherein the housing is positioned between the spacer and the reflector such that the thickness of the inner edge of the spacer defines the thickness of a cavity between the protruding part and the reflector.
Frequency selection with a standing-wave path-length multiple for trapping particles
A method of trapping particles in a fluid comprising providing an acoustic resonator comprising at least one acoustic wave generator for generating a sound wave of frequency f, a base adapted to be coupled to the at least one acoustic wave generator, a spacer comprising an aperture, a housing comprising an aperture, and a reflector, wherein the base comprises a protruding part having a thickness t, the aperture of the spacer is complementary to the protruding part, the aperture of the housing is complementary to the protruding part, the inner edge of the aperture of the housing has the same thickness t as the protruding part, and wherein the housing is positioned between the spacer and the reflector such that the thickness of the spacer defines the thickness of a cavity between the protruding part and the reflector; introducing a fluid comprising particles into the cavity; selecting the frequency f such that the path length of the standing wave in the cavity is a multiple of one-half of the wavelength of the sound wave therein; and trapping the particles.
Claim coverage is centered on an acoustic resonator device whose cavity thickness is defined by matched thickness t using complementary apertures in the base, spacer, and housing positioned between the spacer and reflector, and on a particle-trapping method that introduces a particle-containing fluid into that cavity and selects the sound-wave frequency so the standing-wave path length is a multiple of one-half wavelength, resulting in trapping.
Stated Advantages
Glue-free assembly.
Easy spacer replacement.
Reduced fluid leakage.
Documented Applications
Manipulating bacteria using the acoustic levitation trap by frequency selection and observing density profile behavior over time.
Separation of polystyrene particle species using frequency selection and associated transport/differential elution behavior, with reference to a density profile over time.
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