Expanded bed affinity selection
AssigneeFloDesign Sonics, Inc.
InventorsBart Lipkens, Rui Tostoes, Kedar C. 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 a containment region that includes support structures dispersed in a fluid forming a fluidized bed;
- an acoustic transducer on one of the upper end or the lower end of the column for generating an acoustic wave in the column;
- and
- the acoustic transducer being configured to generate the acoustic wave to form an edge effect that generates a pressure rise across the column on an upstream side of the acoustic wave to block the support structures from passing through the acoustic wave and retain the support structures in the column against fluid flow.
A method for separating materials, comprising:
- providing support structures for binding with a first material in a vertically oriented column, comprising:
- 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 a containment region that includes support structures dispersed in a fluid forming a fluidized bed;
- and
- an acoustic transducer on one of the upper end or the lower end of the column for generating an acoustic wave in the column;
- flowing a fluid mixture that includes the first material into the column;
- and
- generating an acoustic wave by vibrating the acoustic transducer to form an edge effect that generates a pressure rise across the column on an upstream side of the acoustic wave to block the support structures from passing through the acoustic wave and from leaving the column against the fluid flow.
An acoustic affinity separation method, comprising:
- providing affinity beads in a fluid to a vertically oriented column that 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, the column including a containment region that includes support structures dispersed in a fluid forming a fluidized bed;
- and
- an acoustic transducer on one of the upper end or the lower end of the column for generating an acoustic wave in the column;
- generating an acoustic wave across the column with the acoustic transducer;
- flowing a cellular material fluid mixture in the column and through the acoustic standing wave;
- configuring the acoustic standing wave to form an edge effect that generates a pressure rise across the column on an upstream side of the acoustic wave to prevent the affinity beads from passing through the acoustic wave.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.