# US 2014/0154795 A1 · Bioreactor using acoustic standing waves > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154795 A1 - Document ID: US20140154795A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/175,766 - Filed: 2014-02-07 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-15 - Assignees: FloDesign Sonics, Inc. - Applicants: FloDesign Sonics, Inc. - Inventors: Bart Lipkens; Louis Masi; Stanley Kowalski, III; Walter M. Presz, JR.; Jason Dionne; Brian Dutra; Ari Mercado; Thomas J. Kennedy, III; Arthur Martin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154795A1 ## CPC - C12M 25/00: {Means for supporting, enclosing or fixing the microorganisms, e.g. immunocoatings} - B01D 17/04: Breaking emulsions - B01D 17/06: Separation of liquids from each other by electricity - B01D 21/283: {Settling tanks provided with vibrators} - B06B 1/0644: {using a single piezoelectric element (B06B1/0688 takes precedence)} - C12M 29/10: {Perfusion} - C12M 33/08: {by vibration} - C12M 35/04: {Mechanical means, e.g. sonic waves, stretching forces, pressure or shear stimuli} - C12M 47/02: {Separating microorganisms from the culture medium; Concentration of biomass (separating microorganisms from their culture media C12N1/02)} - H10N 30/2047: {Membrane type} - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} - 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) - 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) - H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A perfusion bioreactor includes at least one ultrasonic transducer that can acoustically generate a multi-dimensional standing wave. The standing wave can be used to retain cells in the bioreactor, and can also be utilized to dewater or further harvest product from the waste materials produced in a bioreactor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a bioreactor including a reaction vessel, an agitator, a feed inlet, and an outlet; and a filtering device, comprising: an inlet fluidly connected to the bioreactor outlet for receiving fluid from the bioreactor; a flow chamber through which the fluid can flow; and a sleeve surrounding the flow chamber, the sleeve including at least one ultrasonic transducer and a reflector located opposite the at least one ultrasonic transducer, the at least one ultrasonic transducer being driven to produce a multi-dimensional standing wave in the flow chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the filtering device further comprises a product outlet through which desired product is recovered. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the filtering device further comprises a recycle outlet for sending fluid back to the bioreactor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-dimensional standing wave has an axial force component and a lateral force component which are of the same order of magnitude. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the bioreactor is a perfusion bioreactor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is separable from the flow chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the filtering device further comprises a jacket located between the sleeve and the flow chamber, the jacket being used to regulate the temperature of the fluid in the flow chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the jacket, the sleeve, and the flow chamber are separable from each other and are disposable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer comprises a piezoelectric material that can vibrate in a higher order mode shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the piezoelectric material has a rectangular shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer comprises: a housing having a top end, a bottom end, and an interior volume; and a crystal at the bottom end of the housing having an exposed exterior surface and an interior surface, the crystal being able to vibrate when driven by a voltage signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein a backing layer contacts the interior surface of the crystal, the backing layer being made of a substantially acoustically transparent material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the substantially acoustically transparent material is balsa wood, cork, or foam. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the substantially acoustically transparent material has a thickness of up to 1 inch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the substantially acoustically transparent material is in the form of a lattice. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein an exterior surface of the crystal is covered by a wear surface material with a thickness of a half wavelength or less, the wear surface material being a urethane, epoxy, or silicone coating. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the crystal has no backing layer or wear layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-dimensional standing wave is a three-dimensional standing wave. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the reflector has a non-planar surface.