Method and device for ultrasonically manipulating particles within a fluid

A fluid-handling device for ultrasonic manipulation of fluid-borne particles, comprising, in combination:

• a fluid-handling manifold having a fluid inlet port and defining a fluid-handling void comprising at least a first fluid channel;
• and
• an ultrasonic particle manipulator defining an ultrasonic cavity and comprising at least one ultrasonic transducer, the first fluid channel extending from the inlet port to the ultrasonic cavity and the ultrasonic particle manipulator being operative to establish an ultrasonic standing wave field in particle-bearing fluid in the first fluid channel at the ultrasonic cavity,
• wherein the fluid-handling void further comprises a second fluid channel in fluid communication with the first fluid channel at an intersection within the ultrasonic cavity;
• the ultrasonic particle manipulator is operative to establish an ultrasonic standing wave field having an axial direction of standing wave propagation substantially perpendicular to the direction of fluid communication through the intersection;
• the cross-sectional configuration of the ultrasonic cavity is non-uniform in the direction of fluid communication through the intersection;
• and
• the ultrasonic particle manipulator is operative to collect fluid-borne particles from fluid in the first fluid channel and move collected fluid-borne particles through the intersection to the second fluid channel by varying the actuation frequency of the ultrasonic transducer.

A fluid-handling device for ultrasonic manipulation of fluid-borne particles, comprising, in combination:

• a fluid-handling manifold having a fluid inlet port;
• a first fluid channel in fluid communication with the fluid inlet port;
• an ultrasonic particle manipulator comprising at least one ultrasonic transducer and an acoustic reflector positioned opposite the ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer and the acoustic reflector cooperatively defining between them an ultrasonic cavity and operative to separate fluid-borne particles from fluid flowed through the ultrasonic cavity by establishing an ultrasonic standing wave field in a portion of the first fluid channel extending through the ultrasonic cavity;
• and
• a second fluid channel in fluid communication with the first fluid channel at an intersection within the ultrasonic cavity,
• wherein the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel extend substantially parallel each other on opposite sides of a dividing wall between them, and
• wherein the intersection comprises a passageway through the dividing wall.

A fluid-handling device for ultrasonic manipulation of fluid-borne particles, comprising:

• an ultrasonic particle manipulator defining an ultrasonic cavity and comprising at least one ultrasonic transducer and an acoustic reflector;
• a first fluid channel extending into the ultrasonic cavity;
• and
• a second fluid channel in fluid communication with the first fluid channel at an intersection within the ultrasonic cavity,
• wherein the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel extend substantially parallel each other on opposite sides of a dividing wall between them, and the intersection comprises a passageway through the dividing wall,
• wherein the ultrasonic particle manipulator is operative to establish an ultrasonic standing wave field in fluid in the ultrasonic cavity, and
• wherein the spacing between the ultrasonic transducer and the acoustic reflector is not more than 300 microns.