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US 9,512,395 B2Granted
Acoustophoresis device with modular components
AssigneeFloDesign Sonics, Inc.
InventorsBart Lipkens, Jason Barnes, Dane Mealey, Walter M. Presz, Jr., Stanley Kowalski, III, Louis Masi, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Brian McCarthy, Ben Ross-Johnsrud
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An acoustophoresis device made up of modular components is disclosed. Several modules are disclosed herein, including ultrasonic transducer modules, input/output modules, collection well modules, and various connector modules. These permit different systems to be constructed that have appropriate fluid dynamics for separation of particles, such as biological cells, from a fluid.
Claims21
A modular acoustophoresis device comprising:
- (A) An ultrasonic transducer module comprising:
- (i) a housing defining a primary flow channel between a first end and a second end of the housing;
- (ii) at least one ultrasonic transducer located on a side of the housing;
- (iii) at least one reflector located on the side of the housing opposite the at least one ultrasonic transducer;
- (iv) an first attachment member at the first end of the housing;
- and
- (v) a second attachment member at the second end of the housing;
- and
- (B) a collection well module comprising:
- (i) a housing having a well that tapers downwards in cross-sectional area from a single inlet to a vertex, and a drain line connecting the vertex to a port on a side of the housing;
- and
- (ii) an attachment member at the inlet, the attachment member adapted to connect the collection well module to the ultrasonic transducer module.
9 more elements
A modular acoustophoresis device comprising:
- (A) An ultrasonic transducer module comprising:
- (i) a housing defining a primary flow channel between a first end and a second end of the housing;
- (ii) at least one ultrasonic transducer located on a side of the housing;
- (iii) at least one reflector located on the side of the housing opposite the at least one ultrasonic transducer;
- (iv) an first attachment member at the first end of the housing;
- and
- (v) a second attachment member at the second end of the housing;
- and
- (C) an angled collection well module comprising:
- (i) a housing having a first opening and a second opening that lead into a common well that taper downwards in cross-sectional area to a vertex, and a drain line connecting the vertex to a port on a side of the housing;
- (ii) a first attachment member at the first opening adapted to connect the collection well module to the ultrasonic transducer module;
- and
- (iii) a second attachment member at the second opening adapted to connect the collection well module to the ultrasonic transducer module;
- (iv) wherein the first opening is located at an acute angle relative to a base of the housing.
11 more elements
A modular acoustophoresis device comprising:
- (A) An ultrasonic transducer module comprising:
- (i) a housing defining a primary flow channel between a first end and a second end of the housing;
- (ii) at least one ultrasonic transducer located on a side of the housing;
- (iii) at least one reflector located on the side of the housing opposite the at least one ultrasonic transducer;
- (iv) an first attachment member at the first end of the housing;
- and
- (v) a second attachment member at the second end of the housing;
- and
- (D) a U-turn inlet/outlet module comprising:
- (i) a housing having an upper end and a lower end;
- (ii) a flow channel having a first end and a second end;
- (iii) an inlet port and an outlet port at the first end of the flow channel;
- (iv) an opening defining the second end of the flow channel and located at the lower end of the housing;
- and
- (v) an attachment member at the lower end of the housing, the attachment member adapted to connect the inlet/outlet module to the ultrasonic transducer module;
- (vi) wherein the flow channel is shaped such that fluid flows from the inlet port through the opening and then to the outlet port;
- and
- (vii) a wall located in the flow channel between the inlet port and the outlet port.
15 more elements
A modular acoustophoresis device comprising:
- (A) An ultrasonic transducer module comprising:
- (i) a housing defining a primary flow channel between a first end and a second end of the housing;
- (ii) at least one ultrasonic transducer located on a side of the housing;
- (iii) at least one reflector located on the side of the housing opposite the at least one ultrasonic transducer;
- (iv) an first attachment member at the first end of the housing;
- and
- (v) a second attachment member at the second end of the housing;
- and
- (D) a U-turn inlet/outlet module comprising:
- (i) a housing having an upper end and a lower end;
- (ii) a flow channel having a first end and a second end;
- (iii) an inlet port and an outlet port at the first end of the flow channel;
- (iv) an opening defining the second end of the flow channel and located at the lower end of the housing;
- and
- (v) an attachment member at the lower end of the housing, the attachment member adapted to connect the inlet/outlet module to the ultrasonic transducer module;
- wherein the flow channel is shaped such that fluid flows from the inlet port through the opening and then to the outlet port;
- and
- wherein either (a) the inlet port and the outlet port are spaced apart from the upper end of the housing such that fluid must flow from the inlet port towards the upper end over a primary retainer wall before exiting through the opening at the lower end of the housing;
- or (b) the inlet port and the second port are located at the upper end of the housing, and the flow channel is in the shape of two tubes, one tube leading to the inlet port and the other tube leading to the outlet port.
16 more elements
A modular acoustophoresis device comprising:
- (A) An ultrasonic transducer module comprising:
- (i) a housing defining a primary flow channel between a first end and a second end of the housing;
- (ii) at least one ultrasonic transducer located on a side of the housing;
- (iii) at least one reflector located on the side of the housing opposite the at least one ultrasonic transducer;
- (iv) an first attachment member at the first end of the housing;
- and
- (v) a second attachment member at the second end of the housing;
- and
- (H) a variable-volume collection well module comprising:
- (i) a housing having a well with a constant cross-section, an inlet at an upper end, and a bottom end;
- and
- (ii) a plunger that provides a floor to the well, the plunger adapted to move through the well from the bottom end towards the upper end.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.