Holographic acoustic tweezers: future applications in medicine and acoustophoretic displays

Holographic Acoustic Tweezers can trap and manipulate multiple particles individually using acoustic radiation forces. This technology is similar to the well-established Holographic Optical Tweezers but presents some notable differences. For instance, acoustic tweezers can operate on particles ranging from the micrometre to the centimetre scales. The particles can be made of a wide range of materials such as gases, liquids, metals, plastics or even living things. The propagation media can be air, water and does not need to be optically transparent, therefore manipulations inside the human body from the exterior are a possibility. These unique features enable multiple applications such as acoustophoretic displays in which several particles or one fast-moving particle form objects in mid-air. On the other hand, tiny quirurgic instruments that are inserted in the body could be controlled not only in position but also in orientation due to the multiple trapping point capabilities.