Red blood cells subjected to standing waves collect at the pressure nodes during their flow motion. Blood is a non-newtonian fluid whose density and other properties are defined by its flow velocity. Their drift motion is governed by the radiation force together with hydrodynamic conditions. This work presents a study of the blood cell enrichment performed in a rectangular capillar at f=1MHz as a function of their flow motion. The cells collect along the central axis of the capillary in very few seconds, with a clearance in other lateral areas. Optimal flow rates below 100uL/min were found in the experiments.
This work has been done within the framework of the National Research Project BIO2011-30535-C04 (2012- 2014) “Development of a High-throughput ultrasonic technology for the isolation of tumor cells in Peripherals blood samples” and has been made in collaboration with MECWINS S.L.
