Ultrasound system solves the “unsticking problem” in biomedical research
“Surround sound for biological cells,” is how Luke Cox describes the ultrasound technology that Impulsonics has developed to solve the “unsticking problem” in biomedical science. Cox is co-founder and chief executive of UK-based Impulsonics, which spun out of the University of Bristol in 2023.
He is also my guest in this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast. He explains why living cells grown in a petri dish tend to stick together, and why this can be a barrier to scientific research and the development of new medical treatments.
The system uses an array of ultrasound transducers to focus sound so that it frees up and manipulates cells without altering their biological properties. This is unlike chemical unsticking processes, which can change cells and impact research results.
We also chat about Cox’s career arc from PhD student to chief executive and explore opportunities for physicists in the biomedical industry.
The following articles are mentioned in the podcast: “Materials probed by ultrasound…” podcast with Bruce Drinkwater
“Portable imaging system targets eye diseases…” podcast with Siloton
“Holographic acoustic tweezers could be used to create 3D displays,” according to research done in Bruce Drinkwater’s lab

Hamish Johnston is an online editor of Physics World
FROM PHYSICSWORLD.COM 7/3/2026
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