US 12,017,210 B2
Contactless, damage-free, high-precision cell extraction and transfer through acoustic droplet ejection
Eun Sok Kim, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US); Yongkui Tang, Pasadena, CA (US); Xuelian Chen, Alhambra, CA (US); and Jiang F. Zhong, Temple City, CA (US)
Assigned to University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed by UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed on May 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/327,431.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/028,755, filed on May 22, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0362145 A1, Nov. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 33/68 (2006.01); A01N 1/02 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01L 3/02 (2006.01); B06B 1/06 (2006.01); C07C 309/65 (2006.01); C07C 309/73 (2006.01); F04B 43/12 (2006.01); G01N 1/40 (2006.01); G01N 21/33 (2006.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01); G01N 33/52 (2006.01); G01N 35/10 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/0268 (2013.01) [B06B 1/0696 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0436 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0439 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for contactless, damage-free, high-precision cell and/or particle extraction and transfer through acoustic droplet ejection, the device comprising:
a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the substrate having cells or particles inside the substrate or on top of the substrate; and
a focused ultrasonic transducer positioned to focus an acoustic wave onto the substrate such that a droplet that includes at least one cell or particle is ejected from a bulk of the substrate or from the first surface per each actuation of the focused ultrasonic transducer through droplet ejection, the focused ultrasonic transducer including:
a piezoelectric substrate having a top face and a bottom face;
a Fresnel acoustic lens including a plurality of annular rings of air cavities disposed on the top face; and
a first patterned circular electrode disposed over the top face and a second patterned circular electrode disposed over the bottom face, the first patterned circular electrode overlapping the second patterned circular electrode, wherein a layer of liquid is disposed over the first surface to form an air interface through which the droplet is ejected.