Ultrasonic analyte concentration and application in flow cytometry
AssigneeTriad National Security, LLC
InventorsGregory Kaduchak, Greg Goddard, Gary Salzman, Dipen Sinha, John C Martin, Christopher Kwiatkowski, Steven Graves
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Abstract
The present invention includes an apparatus and corresponding method for concentrating analytes within a fluid flowing through a tube using acoustic radiation pressure. The apparatus includes a function generator that outputs a radio frequency electrical signal to a transducer that transforms the radio frequency electric signal to an acoustic signal and couples the acoustic signal to the tube. The acoustic signal is converted within the tube to acoustic pressure that concentrates the analytes within the fluid.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- introducing a fluid comprising a plurality of particles into a tube that is comprised in a system,
- the tube having a central axis and the system having a natural resonance frequency when the fluid is contained within the tube;
- applying, with a transducer, an acoustic signal to the tube so as to effect vibration of the tube and give rise to an acoustic radiation pressure within the tube;
- adjusting a frequency of the acoustic signal to the natural resonance frequency of the system such that the acoustic signal radially concentrates at least some of the particles toward the central axis of the tube;
- and
- optically interrogating at least some of the concentrated particles.
A system, the system comprising:
- a tube having a central axis and a length, the system having a natural resonance frequency when a fluid is flowing within the tube,
- an acoustic signal transducer coupled to the tube,
- the transducer being configured to applying an acoustic signal of a frequency to the tube, during operation, such that the length of the tube is vibrated at the natural resonance frequency of the system to give rise to an acoustic radiation pressure within the tube that radially concentrates at least some of a population of particles disposed within the tube toward the central axis of the tube;
- and
- a function generator coupled to the acoustic signal producing transducer, the function generator outputting an electrical signal related to the acoustic signal producing transducer to drive the acoustic signal producing transducer and maintain the vibration of the tube at the natural resonance frequency of the system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.