# US 11,305,225 B2 · Apparatus for collecting particles within a fluid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,225 B2 - Document ID: US11305225B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/225,226 - Filed: 2018-12-19 - Published: 2019-06-20 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-20 - Assignees: Nokia Technologies Oy - Applicants: Nokia Technologies Oy - Inventors: Ian Davis; Kevin Nolan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305225B2 ## CPC - B01D 49/006: {by sonic or ultrasonic techniques} - A61M 11/001: {Particle size control} - A61M 15/0003: {with means for dispensing more than one drug} - A61M 15/001: {using ultrasonic means} - B01D 21/283: {Settling tanks provided with vibrators} - B01J 19/10: employing sonic or ultrasonic vibrations - B06B 1/06: operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction (piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices per se H10N30/00) - G01N 1/4077: {by other techniques involving separation of suspended solids} - G01N 21/1717: {with a modulation of one or more physical properties of the sample during the optical investigation, e.g. electro-reflectance} - G01N 21/35: using infrared light (G01N21/39 takes precedence) - G01N 21/84: Systems specially adapted for particular applications - H04R 17/10: Resonant transducers, i.e. adapted to produce maximum output at a predetermined frequency - A61M 11/005: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)} - A61M 15/0085: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)} - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - A61M 2205/3313: used specific wavelengths - G01N 2001/4094: {using ultrasound} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract An apparatus includes a chamber and an intake device configured to control a flow of fluid into the chamber. The fluid comprises particles; a resonance device is configured to resonate the chamber to provide an acoustic standing wave within the chambers. The frequency of the standing wave is selected to cause particles above a specific size to collect at a node of the standing wave. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a chamber; an intake device configured to control a flow of fluid into the chamber, wherein the fluid comprises particles; and a first resonance device located at an end of the chamber and configured to resonate the chamber to provide an acoustic standing wave within the chamber, wherein a frequency of the standing wave is selected to cause particles above a specific size to collect at a node of the standing wave, wherein the intake device comprises a conduit and a second resonance device located at an open end of the conduit, wherein the conduit extends perpendicularly from a side of the chamber and is in direct fluid connection with the chamber at the side of the chamber, and wherein the conduit comprises an absorptive material disposed between the second resonance device and the chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the particles are suspended within the fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a gas. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intake device further comprises at least one of a fan, a heating element, an aerosolizer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first resonance device and the second resonance device each comprise one or more piezoelectric transducers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a detection device configured to detect the particles collected at the node of the standing wave. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the detection device comprises one or more light sources and one or more photodetectors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the one or more light sources are arranged to provide light of a plurality of different wavelengths and the one or more photodetectors are arranged to enable the response of the particles to the different wavelengths of light to be detected. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the detection device comprises an imaging device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises a sealing device configured to seal the chamber, wherein the sealing device is configured to be removed to enable the fluid and particles to be removed from the chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the particles above a specific size have a diameter above a specific length and/or a mass above a specific mass. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the particles comprise one or more droplets. ### Claim 13 A method, comprising: controlling a flow of fluid from a conduit into a chamber, wherein the fluid comprises particles; and resonating the chamber with a first resonance device located at an end of the chamber to provide an acoustic standing wave within the chamber, wherein a frequency of the standing wave is selected to cause particles above a specific size to collect at a node of the standing wave, wherein the controlling of the flow of fluid from the conduit into the chamber comprises controlling the flow with an intake device comprising a second resonance device, wherein the controlling of the flow of fluid from the conduit into the chamber comprises controlling the fluid to flow perpendicularly in the conduit from the flow of fluid in the chamber, and through a side opening of the chamber, and wherein the controlling of the flow of fluid from the conduit into the chamber comprises controlling the fluid to flow around an absorptive material disposed between the second resonance device and the chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the particles are suspended within the fluid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the fluid comprises a gas. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the intake device further comprises at least one of a fan, a heating element, and an aerosolizer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the first resonance device and the second resonance device each comprise one or more piezoelectric transducers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising detecting the particles collected at the node of the standing wave.