Active control of microbubbles stream in multi-bifurcated flow by using 2D phased array ultrasound transducer

Area of Science:

• Acoustic manipulation
• Biomedical engineering
• Fluid dynamics

Background:

• Previous attempts to propel microbubbles using the primary Bjerknes force faced challenges in controlling bubbles against flow.
• Single-element transducers are limited in creating multiple focal points, making precise bubble control impractical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for active control of microbubbles against flow using multiple acoustic focal points.
• To investigate microbubble manipulation in a complex artificial blood vessel and viscous fluids.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 2D array transducer to generate multiple acoustic focal points.
• Introduced a complex artificial blood vessel mimicking capillary models.
• Investigated microbubble behavior in both water and viscous fluid environments.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated active control of microbubbles against flow using the 2D array transducer.
• Achieved clear path selection of microbubbles within the artificial blood vessel.
• Confirmed effective microbubble control in viscous fluids, comparable to water.

Conclusions:

• The 2D array transducer and artificial blood vessel system enable precise, multi-point acoustic control of microbubbles.
• This technique offers a practical solution for manipulating microbubbles against flow, with potential applications in viscous biological fluids.