Acoustic Material Separation Using Sonic Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating materials from liquids, such as genetic compounds, often rely on magnetic fields or centrifugation, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, especially for large-scale processing or when dealing with materials that tend to clump or have low density.
Innovation Solution
The use of sonic energy to suspend and separate material supports, such as polymer beads, within a liquid by creating a focal zone of acoustic energy that causes mixing and cavitation, allowing for specific or non-specific binding of materials to the beads, which can then settle out under gravity, facilitating rapid separation without external tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If magnetic fields or centrifugation are used to separate materials from liquids, then separation can be achieved, but the process becomes cumbersome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical separation systems (magnetic fields, centrifugation equipment) with a simple acoustic field generated by a transducer. The acoustic radiation pressure creates acoustic levitation and acoustic streaming that achieves separation without requiring complex mechanical devices, thereby improving productivity while reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary mechanism to transfer energy and momentum to the material-liquid mixture. The acoustic field acts as a mediator that generates acoustic radiation pressure and acoustic streaming, enabling separation through a simpler intermediate process rather than direct mechanical or magnetic intervention
2Loss of time
If material supports are allowed to settle under gravity, then separation is rapid, but material supports may clump together reducing surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic acoustic waves to create oscillating acoustic radiation pressure and continuous acoustic streaming. This periodic action keeps material supports in constant motion during the separation process, preventing them from settling and clumping together, thus maintaining high surface area while achieving rapid separation
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic waves generate mechanical vibrations and acoustic streaming that continuously agitate the material supports during separation. This vibration prevents aggregation and clumping of material supports, maintaining their dispersed state and maximizing surface area availability while enabling rapid gravitational settling
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables rapid and efficient separation of materials from liquids by increasing the surface area of material supports, enhancing binding processes, and accelerating chemical reactions, while allowing for high-throughput processing without the need for magnetic fields or centrifugation, thus improving the speed and efficiency of material isolation.
Implementation Method 1
The sample may be subjected to a focal zone of acoustic energy suitable to cause mixing and/or cavitation in the sample such that the material support is suspended in the liquid
Implementation Method 2
acoustic energy applied to a sample may be suitable to suspend and/or declump material supports in the liquid, e.g., by causing movement of the liquid that causes the material supports to move
Implementation Method 3
under the applied acoustic energy, a controlled active turbulent regime may exist, whereby the collision frequency between binding partners is increased
Implementation Method 4
Separation of the material supports from the liquid and other unbound material may be done by allowing the material supports to settle out, e.g., under the force of gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for exposing a sample, including a liquid and another material, to sonic energy to produce a desired result such as, suspending a material support in the liquid. The material support may be a bead or other particle with at least one surface feature to which the material may bind. Material in the liquid may attach to the material support, such as by specific or non-specific binding, entrapment or other, so as to facilitate separation of the material from the liquid. Separation of the material supports from the liquid and other unbound material may be done by allowing the material supports to settle out, e.g., under the force of gravity and/or as assisted by centrifugation, by applying a magnetic field in case the supports or material bound to the supports are movable by way of a magnetic field, or other techniques.