Back to results
US 11,459,540 B2Granted
Expanded bed affinity selection
AssigneeFloDesign Sonics, Inc.
InventorsRui Tostoes, Bart Lipkens, Kedar Chitale, Benjamin Ross-Johnsrud, Walter M. Presz, Jr., Jack Saloio
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Separation of materials is achieved using affinity binding and acoustophoretic techniques. A column provided with a fluid mixture of materials for separation and support structures may be used with acoustic waves to block flow of the support structures. The support structures can have an affinity for one or more materials in the fluid mixture. By blocking flow of the support structures, materials bound or adhered to the support structure are also blocked.
Claims20
A separation system, comprising:
- a vertically oriented column oriented column that includes an upper end and a lower end with an opening on each of the upper end and the lower end, each opening being operable as an inlet or an outlet and configured to permit a fluid flow through the column, the column including an acoustic section being defined by an ensonified volume on one of the upper end or the lower end and a fluidized bed section that is separate from the acoustic section, the fluidized bed section including support structures dispersed in a fluid forming a fluidized bed in the fluidized bed section;
- an acoustic transducer at the acoustic section of the column and that generates an acoustic wave in the column in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the column to form the ensonified volume;
- and
- the acoustic transducer being excited to generate the acoustic wave to form an edge effect across the column to block the support structures from passing through the acoustic wave and retain the support structures in the fluidized bed section of the column against fluid flow.
1 more element
A method for separating materials, comprising:
- providing support structures in a vertically oriented column for binding with a first material, wherein the column comprises:
- an upper end and a lower end with an opening on each of the upper end and the lower end, each opening being operable as an inlet or an outlet and configured to permit a fluid flow through the column;
- an acoustic section being defined by an ensonified volume on one of the upper end or the lower end and a fluidized bed section that is separate from the acoustic section, the fluidized bed section including support structures dispersed in a fluid forming a fluidized bed in the fluidized bed section;
- and
- an acoustic transducer at the acoustic section of the column and arranged to generate an acoustic wave in the column in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the column to form the ensonified volume;
- and
- flowing a fluid mixture that includes the first material into the column;
- and
- generating an acoustic wave with the acoustic transducer in the acoustic section of the column to block the support structures from leaving the fluidized bed section of the column with the fluid flow.
6 more elements
An acoustic affinity separation method, comprising:
- providing affinity beads in a fluidized bed section of a vertically oriented column, wherein the column comprises:
- an upper end and a lower end with an opening on each of the upper end and the lower end, each opening being operable as an inlet or an outlet and configured to permit a fluid flow through the column;
- an acoustic section being defined by an ensonified volume on one of the upper end or the lower end and a fluidized bed section that is separate from the acoustic section, the fluidized bed section including support structures dispersed in a fluid forming a fluidized bed in the fluidized bed section;
- and
- an acoustic transducer at the acoustic section of the column and arranged to generate an coustic wave in the column in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the column to form the ensonified volume;
- generating an acoustic wave with the acoustic transducer in the acoustic section of the column;
- flowing a cellular material fluid mixture in the column and through the acoustic wave;
- configuring the acoustic wave to maintain the affinity beads in the fluidized bed section of the column and from passing through the acoustic wave.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.