System and method for changing a concentration of particles in a fluid

A system for changing a concentration of at least one given group of particles comprised in a fluid, the system comprising:

• a first container and a second container;
• a first transfer device and a second transfer device, wherein the first container is fluidly connected to an inlet of the first transfer device and the second container is fluidly connected to an inlet of the second transfer device, each of the first and second transfer devices comprising:
• a chamber configured to be associated with at least one acoustic wave generator for generating acoustic waves within the chamber;
• at least two outlets comprising a first outlet for fluid enriched with said given group of particles and a second outlet for fluid depleted of said given group of particles;
• the first outlet being fluidly connected to the first container and the second outlet being fluidly connected to the second container;
• and
• means for keeping the volume of fluid in each of the first and second containers constant.

A method for changing a concentration of at least one given group of particles comprised in a fluid, by means of a system comprising:

• a first container and a second container;
• a first transfer device and a second transfer device each comprising:
• a chamber configured to be associated with at least one acoustic wave generator for generating acoustic waves within the chamber;
• an inlet and at least two outlets comprising a first outlet for fluid enriched with said given group of particles and a second outlet for fluid depleted of said given group of particles;
• the method comprising preliminary steps of:
• (a) introducing a volume of fluid in the first container and a volume of fluid in the second container;
• (b) applying an acoustic field by generating acoustic waves inside the chamber of each of the first and second transfer devices;
• followed by steps of:
• (c) simultaneously transferring fluid contained in the first container into the chamber of the first transfer device, and transferring fluid contained in the second container into the chamber of the second transfer device;
• (d) simultaneously transferring fluid enriched with said given group of particles, collected from the first outlet of the first and second transfer devices, into the first container, and transferring fluid depleted of said given group of particles, collected from the second outlet of the first and second transfer devices, into the second container;
• wherein the respective volumes of fluid in the first and second containers are kept constant during steps (c) and (d).