Controlling acoustic streaming in an ultrasonic heptagonal tweezers with application to cell manipulation

Acoustic radiation force has been demonstrated as a method for manipulating micron-scale particles, but is frequently affected by unwanted streaming. In this paper the streaming in a multi-transducer quasi-standing wave acoustic particle manipulation device is assessed, and found to be dominated by a form of Eckart streaming. The experimentally observed streaming takes the form of two main vortices that have their highest velocity in the region where the standing wave is established. A finite element model is developed that agrees well with experimental results, and shows that the Reynolds stresses that give rise to the fluid motion are strongest in the high velocity region. A technical solution to reduce the streaming is explored that entails the introduction of a biocompatible agar gel layer at the bottom of the chamber so as to reduce the fluid depth and volume. By this means, we reduce the region of fluid that experiences the Reynolds stresses; the viscous drag per unit volume of fluid is also increased. Particle Image Velocimetry data is used to observe the streaming as a function of agar-modified cavity depth. It was found that, in an optimised structure, Eckart streaming could be reduced to negligible levels so that we could make a sonotweezers device with a large working area of up to 13 mm × 13 mm.     

Copper electroplating of PCB interconnects using megasonic acoustic streaming

In this research experimental and simulated analysis investigates the influence of megasonic (MS; 1 ± 0.05 MHz) acoustic-assisted electroplating techniques, with respect to the fabrication of through-hole via (THV) and blind-via (BV) interconnects for the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) industry. MS plating of copper down THV and BV interconnects was shown to produce measurable benefits such as increased connectivity throughout a PCB and cost savings. More specifically, a 700% increase of copper plating rate was demonstrated for THVs of 175 µm diameter and depth-to-width aspect ratio (ar) of 5.7:1, compared with electrodeposition under no-agitation conditions. For BVs, a 60% average increase in copper thickness deposition in 150 µm and 200 µm, ar 1:1, was demonstrated against plating under standard manufacturing conditions including bubble agitation and panel movement. Finite element modelling simulations of acoustic scattering revealed 1st harmonic influence for plating rate enhancement.     

声波作用下球形颗粒外声流分布的数值模拟

综合考虑声学边界层内的热损失和黏性损失,建立处于平面驻波声压波节位置二维球形颗粒外声流计算模型,利用分离时间尺度的数值方法对颗粒外声流流场特征进行模拟。将模拟结果与相应的解析解和实验结果对比,验证了数值模拟的可靠性。在此基础上,研究了雷诺数Re和斯特劳哈尔数Sr对球形颗粒声学边界层内二阶声流流场结构、涡流强度及范围的影响规律。结果表明,随Sr和Re增大,声学边界层内的涡流结构尺度呈指数形式减小,其涡流尺度与颗粒直径D和激励频率f成反比,与流体介质运动黏度v成正比;且满足低Sr和高Re的声振系统可形成范围较大、更强烈的声流运动。该数值方法可用于对任意物理模型外声流特性的评估。     

Suspension culture in a T-flask with acoustic flow induced by ultrasonic irradiation

Suspension culture is an essential large-scale cell culture technique for biopharmaceutical development and regenerative medicine. To transition from monolayer culture on the culture surface of a flask to suspension culture in a bioreactor, a pre-specified cell number must first be reached. During this period of preparation for suspension culture, static suspension culture in a flask is generally performed because the medium volume is not large enough to use a paddle to circulate the medium. However, drawbacks to this static method include cell sedimentation, leading to high cell density near the bottom and resulting in oxygen and nutrient deficiencies. Here, we propose a suspension culture method with acoustic streaming induced by ultrasonic waves in a T-flask to create a more homogeneous distribution of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products during the preparation period preceding large-scale suspension culture in a bioreactor. To demonstrate the performance of the ultrasonic method, Chinese hamster ovary cells were cultured for 72 h. Results showed that, on average, the cell proliferation was improved by 40% compared with the static method. Thus, the culture time required to achieve a 1000-fold increase could be reduced by 32 h (a 14% reduction) compared with the static method. Furthermore, the ultrasonic irradiation did not compromise the metabolic activity of the cells cultured using the ultrasonic method. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the ultrasonic method for accelerating the transition to large-scale suspension culture.     

Defect detection and location in switch rails by acoustic emission and Lamb wave analysis: A feasibility study

An acoustic emission (AE) based approach is proposed in this study to identify and locate newly initiated defects or the propagation of existing defects in railroad switch rails. Defect-induced AE signals are identified through frequency analysis, as frequencies of these signals are much higher than those induced by structural vibration. Continuous wavelet transform (CWT) is employed to analyze the Lamb wave dispersion of the detected signal, so that two characteristic points can be selected on the CWT contour map to locate the defect. Using this approach, defects in a damaged switch rail can be located using a single sensor.