System for generating high concentration factors for low cell density suspensions

A method for obtaining concentrated target cells, comprising:

• receiving an original feed volume of a mixture of a host fluid and the target cells in an acoustophoretic device, the acoustophoretic device comprising:
• an acoustic chamber with an inlet;
• at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to the acoustic chamber, the at least one ultrasonic transducer configured to launch an acoustic wave in the acoustic chamber;
• and
• a collector with at least one angled wall that tapers downwards in a cross-sectional area located between the inlet and the at least one ultrasonic transducer;
• exciting the at least one ultrasonic transducer to launch the acoustic wave in the acoustic chamber;
• and
• recovering at least 40% of the concentrated target cells in the original feed volume in a final concentrated volume via the acoustic wave, wherein the final concentrated volume is at least an order of magnitude smaller than the original feed volume.

A method for obtaining concentrated target cells, comprising:

• receiving an original feed volume of a mixture of a host fluid and the target cells in an acoustophoretic device, the acoustophoretic device comprising:
• an acoustic chamber with an inlet;
• at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to the acoustic chamber, the at least one ultrasonic transducer configured to launch an acoustic wave in the acoustic chamber;
• and
• a collector with at least one angled wall that taper downwards in a cross-sectional area located between the inlet and the at least one ultrasonic transducer;
• exciting the at least one ultrasonic transducer to generate the acoustic wave in the acoustic chamber;
• concentrating the target cells via the acoustic standing wave;
• and
• retaining at least 80% of the target cells from the original feed volume in a final concentrated volume.