Particle analysis in an acoustic cytometer

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus for acoustically manipulating one or more particles.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus that acoustically orients a particle in a flow stream comprising:
 a capillary configured for flowing a fluid containing the particle therein;   an acoustic signal producing transducer configured to acoustically orient the particle; and   a particle analyzer.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus comprises a flow cytometer. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a particle sorter. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said sorter separates the particle based on size prior to analysis. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said acoustic signal producing transducer aligns the particle in a polar direction about a flow axis. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said acoustic signal producing transducer aligns the particle in a direction of flow. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a particle fractionator. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus that separates particles by size comprising:
 a capillary configured for flowing a fluid containing the particles therein; and   a radial acoustic signal producing transducer configured to acoustically separate the particles in said capillary by size by applying radial acoustic pressure to the particles.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising an imager. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein acoustically separating the particles in said capillary comprises transporting larger particles to a substantially central axis of the capillary. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a flow cytometer, wherein the flow cytometer comprises an inlet centered about the substantially central axis of the capillary. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a particle sorter associated with the flow cytometer. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a particle analyzer associated with the flow cytometer. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein acoustically separating the particles in said capillary by size is performed without gravity based separation. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the larger particles comprise lymphocytes. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus that separates particles by size comprising:
 a capillary configured for flowing a fluid containing the particles therein, the particles comprising larger particles and smaller particles; and   an acoustic signal producing transducer configured to acoustically separate the particles in said capillary by size by applying acoustic pressure to the particles.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising an imager. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein acoustically separating the particles in said capillary comprises transporting the larger particles to a substantially central axis of the capillary. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a flow cytometer, wherein the flow cytometer comprises an inlet centered about the substantially central axis of the capillary. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a particle sorter associated with the flow cytometer. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a particle analyzer associated with the flow cytometer. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein acoustically separating the particles in said capillary by size is performed without gravity based separation. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the larger particles comprise lymphocytes.