# US 11,897,263 B2 · Subwavelength resonator for acoustophoretic printing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,263 B2 - Document ID: US11897263B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/442,979 - Filed: 2020-03-23 - Published: 2022-06-09 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-29 - Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College - Applicants: President and Fellows of Harvard College - Inventors: Daniele Foresti; Aleksandra Markovic; Jennifer A. Lewis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897263B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/14008: {Structure of acoustic ink jet print heads} - B29C 64/112: using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - B22F 2999/00: Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy - Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A subwavelength resonator for acoustophoretic printing comprises a hollow resonator body for local enhancement of an acoustic field integrated with a nozzle body for delivery of an ink into the acoustic field. The nozzle body has a first end outside the hollow resonator body and a second end inside the hollow resonator body, and includes a fluid channel extending between a fluid inlet at the first end and a fluid outlet at the second end. The fluid channel passes through a side wall of the hollow resonator body and includes at least one bend. During acoustophoretic printing, an ink delivered through the fluid channel of the nozzle body and out of the fluid outlet is exposed to a high-intensity acoustic field. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A subwavelength resonator for acoustophoretic printing, the resonator comprising: a hollow resonator body for local enhancement of an acoustic field; and a nozzle body integrated with the hollow resonator body for delivery of an ink into the acoustic field, the nozzle body having a first end outside the hollow resonator body and a second end inside the hollow resonator body, the nozzle body comprising a fluid channel extending between a fluid inlet at the first end and a fluid outlet at the second end, the fluid channel passing through a side wall of the hollow resonator body and including at least one bend. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The subwavelength resonator of claim 1, wherein the nozzle body and the hollow resonator body are assembled together. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The subwavelength resonator of claim 1, wherein the nozzle body and the hollow resonator body are integrally formed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The subwavelength resonator of claim 1, wherein the at least one bend in the fluid channel includes a first bend disposed in the hollow resonator body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The subwavelength resonator of claim 4, wherein the first bend comprises a 90° angle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The subwavelength resonator of claim 4, wherein the at least one bend in the fluid channel includes a second bend disposed outside the hollow resonator body, the second bend being closer to the fluid inlet than the first bend. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The subwavelength resonator of claim 1, wherein the nozzle body comprises two microfabricated halves. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The subwavelength resonator of claim 7, wherein the hollow resonator body and the nozzle body comprise the two microfabricated halves. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The subwavelength resonator of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter or width of the second end of the nozzle body decreases in a direction of the fluid outlet, the second end of the nozzle body thereby comprising a tapered shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The subwavelength resonator of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter or width of the second end of the nozzle body decreases along a longitudinal axis of the nozzle body in a direction away from the fluid inlet, the second end of the nozzle body thereby comprising a tapered shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The subwavelength resonator of claim 1, wherein a diameter or width of the fluid channel decreases in a direction of the fluid outlet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The subwavelength resonator of claim 1, wherein the fluid outlet at the second end of the nozzle body is positioned at a predetermined height within the hollow resonator body to optimize acoustic forces. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The subwavelength resonator of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the nozzle bodies, each of the nozzle bodies having a first end outside the hollow resonator body and a second end inside the hollow resonator body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An apparatus for acoustophoretic printing comprising: an emitter for generating the acoustic field, the emitter facing an inlet end of the subwavelength resonator of claim 1; and a substrate for deposition of an ink, the substrate facing an outlet end of the subwavelength resonator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising one or more sound reflecting walls for transmission of the acoustic field between the emitter and the subwavelength resonator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of the subwavelength resonators, the subwavelength resonators having a 1D or 2D arrangement relative to the substrate. ### Claim 17 A method of acoustophoretic printing, the method comprising: providing an apparatus including an acoustic emitter and a subwavelength resonator for enhancing an acoustic field, the subwavelength resonator comprising: a hollow resonator body; and a nozzle body integrated with the hollow resonator body, the nozzle body having a first end outside the hollow resonator body and a second end inside the hollow resonator body, the nozzle body comprising a fluid channel extending between a fluid inlet at the first end and a fluid outlet at the second end, the fluid channel passing through a side wall of the hollow resonator body and including at least one bend; activating the acoustic emitter to generate an acoustic field, the acoustic field being transmitted to the subwavelength resonator and being enhanced in the hollow resonator body, thereby forming a high intensity acoustic field at the fluid outlet; and delivering an ink through the fluid channel to the fluid outlet, a predetermined volume of the ink being detached from the nozzle body in the high intensity acoustic field. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising a substrate facing the fluid outlet for deposition of the ink. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one bend in the fluid channel includes a first bend disposed in the hollow resonator body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one bend in the fluid channel includes a second bend disposed outside the hollow resonator body, the second bend being closer to the fluid inlet than the first bend.