Concentration of blood components by acoustic radiation force

Abstract

We have recently reported on macro-scale separation of lipids from red blood cells (J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 133(5, Pt. 2), 3279). In this system, the acoustic radiation force is used to trap red blood cells and lipid particles in a standing wave. Subsequent clumping of red blood cells results in gravitational settling of the red blood cells. Similarly, coalescing of lipids results in rising of the lipids out of solution. We now report on more detailed measurements of the concentration and separation of various blood components, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Porcine blood was used in the experiments and diluted by a factor of ten in phosphate buffered saline. A VetScan HM5 hematology analyzer was used to do the blood count. Inlet flow rate through the device was 16 ml/min, the concentrate flow rate of the blood components was typically about 1 ml/min. The transducer was a 2 MHz PZT-8 operating at 10 W. No lysing was observed in any of the experiments. Results indicate successful capture of red blood cells and white blood cells with separation efficiencies in excess of 90% in a single pass. [Work supported by NSF PFI:BIC 1237723.]