Patent ID: 6055859
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: B01J,G10K

Abstract:
A method of non-contact micromanipulation using ultrasound, comprising:disposing in a liquid medium in which micro particles are distributed, an ultrasound transducer comprising a transducer plate, a surface electrode wholly covering a first principal surface of the transducer plate and a reverse surface electrode on a second principal surface of the transducer plate comprising a plurality of short electrode strips arranged in parallel, and a reflector set in parallel opposition to the first principal surface of the transducer plate from which the reflector is spaced apart by a prescribed distance,applying a voltage to at least one electrode strip selected from the plurality of electrode strips to radiate ultrasound to form a standing wave field between the ultrasound transducer and the reflector to trap micro particles,electrically switching the voltage being applied to the selected electrode strip to an adjacent electrode strip to move the standing wave field by moving a position of ultrasound radiated by the ultrasound transducer to thereby move the trapped micro particles in a direction in which the electrode strips are arrayed, wherein the selected electrode strip comprises two adjacent electrode strips to each of which a different voltage is applied.