Patent ID: 8273253

Claim:
An apparatus for separating a solid fraction from a fluid sample, the apparatus comprising a filtration unit, the filtration unit comprising; i. an acoustic wave generating element; ii. at least one filter which divides the unit into a pre-filtration chamber for receiving the fluid sample and a post-filtration chamber for receiving a fluid capable of transmitting acoustic waves; and iii. a substrate configured to be associated with the post-filtration chamber, the substrate being capable of resonation upon application of an acoustic wave thereto; iv. wherein the acoustic wave generating element is configured to be associated with the substrate such that the acoustic wave generating element causes resonation of the substrate which in turn transmits an acoustic standing wave having a frequency in the range of between about 300 Hz and about 700 Hz through both the fluid within the post-filtration chamber and the fluid sample within the pre-filtration chamber.