Electronic Sonotweezers: Particle Manipulation with Ultrasonic Arrays
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
We have carefully planned this research programme to pioneer a wholly new capability in ultrasonic particle manipulation to allow electronic sonotweezers to take their place alongside optical tweezers, dielectrophoresis and other techniques in the present and future particle manipulation toolkit.Following end-user demand, particle manipulation is a rapidly growing field, notably applied to the life sciences, with emerging applications in analysis and sorting, measurement of cell forces and tissue engineering. Existing devices have valuable capabilities but also limits in terms of forces that can be produced and measured, particle sizes that can be handled, their range of compatible buffer characteristics and sensitivity to heating, and suitability for integration with sensors in low cost devices. Key to our programme is the concept of dynamic potential energy landscapes and the established ability of ultrasound to create such landscapes, potentially to generate forces under electronic / computer control. Our principal technical aim is to exploit this in integrated sonotweezers to apply and measure larger forces over longer length scales, extend micromanipulation to larger particles, and demonstrate this in pathfinder applications in life sciences.To achieve our aims, we have already carried out successful feasibility studies and brought together an outstanding multidisciplinary team of investigators including internationally established members, some of the UK's most exciting young scientists and engineers, and appropriate overseas collaborators. Such a team is a prerequisite for what we recognise as a challenging, highly complex, densely interlinked programme. Over its four years, with strong management and built-in research flexibility, we will explore key areas of science, technology and applications to create and demonstrate electronic sonotweezers. Throughout the work, there will be parallel activity in understanding of physical principles, modelling and design, state-of-the-art fabrication, sensor integration, and applications testing.
Organisations
- University of Bristol (Lead Research Organisation)
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Project Partner)
- Loadpoint (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Piezo Composite Transducers (PCT) Ltd (Project Partner)
- Weidlinger Associates (United States) (Project Partner)
- Danaher (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications
Grinenko A
(2012)
Acoustic radiation force analysis using finite difference time domain method.
in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Caleap M
(2014)
Acoustically trapped colloidal crystals that are reconfigurable in real time.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Courtney C
(2013)
Dexterous manipulation of microparticles using Bessel-function acoustic pressure fields
in Applied Physics Letters
Drinkwater BW
(2016)
Dynamic-field devices for the ultrasonic manipulation of microparticles.
in Lab on a chip
Grinenko A
(2012)
Efficient counter-propagating wave acoustic micro-particle manipulation
in Applied Physics Letters
Courtney C
(2014)
Independent trapping and manipulation of microparticles using dexterous acoustic tweezers
in Applied Physics Letters
Bernassau A
(2013)
Interactive manipulation of microparticles in an octagonal sonotweezer
in Applied Physics Letters
Eccleston C
(2017)
Interventions for the reduction of prescribed opioid use in chronic non-cancer pain.
in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
Courtney C
(2011)
Manipulation of particles in two dimensions using phase controllable ultrasonic standing waves
in Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Bassindale P
(2014)
Measurements of the force fields within an acoustic standing wave using holographic optical tweezers
in Applied Physics Letters
Description | We have developed a wide range of ultrasonic particle manipulation technologies (also known as acoustic tweezers). We have developed a deep understanding of these devices and so can follow their behaviour both in terms of the forces on individual particles and how the devices operate on an ensemble of particles. Applications in tissue engineering and materials processing have been explored and encouraging results obtained. A variety of other applications will be explored in the future. |
Exploitation Route | The biomedical section could use our findings to develop improved diagnostics or assemble cells into tissue. The materials science community could use our findings to build better materials. The techniques we developed are scalable hence facilitate the construction in hierarchical materials. |
Sectors | Electronics Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | This project resulted in a wide variety of outreach activities in which we engaged with the general public. The work has also lead to direct industry funding from a number of industrial companies, including Dyson, Honda and De Beers. |
First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Security and Diplomacy,Transport |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | Exploration of Ultrasound based haptic interaction on a multi-touch surface |
Amount | £335,832 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/J004448/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2012 |
End | 01/2015 |
Title | Work covered in Nature Methods Technology Feature |
Description | Work covered in Nature Methods Technology Feature |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Work covered in Nature Methods Technology Feature |
URL | http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/v12/n1/full/nmeth.3218.html |
Title | Apparatus and method for the manipulation of objects using ultrasound |
Description | Paten to cover the design of array-based dexterous microparticle manipulation devices |
IP Reference | US20130047728 |
Protection | Patent granted |
Year Protection Granted | 2013 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | The technique is no being used by a number of researchers in the fields of biology and medicine |
Description | Research covered by Radio 4 Inside Science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Research covered by Radio 4's Inside Science |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04wwn6q |
Description | Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://sse.royalsociety.org/2014/ultrasonic-waves/ |