Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090317884 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT ENHANCEMENT IN ACOUSTIC PROCESSING OF SAMPLES - Method and apparatus for controlling acoustic treatment of a sample including a liquid. A processing volume in which the sample is acoustically treated may be controlled, e.g., by positioning a suitable element so as to reduce and/or eliminate a headspace at a sample/gas interface. An interaction between the acoustic energy and the sample may be controlled, e.g., by using an energy director positioned at least partially in the sample that helps to reduce splashing or other sample ejection that would otherwise occur. | 12-24-2009 |
20100011845 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MODULATING ACOUSTIC ENERGY DELIVERY - The present invention provides systems, methods, and devices for using acoustic energy. In some embodiments, a fluid bath may be provided in the system where the fluid bath quality may be monitored using acoustic energy. An assessment of fluid bath quality can be determined through a comparison that is made of an initial power signal of the acoustic energy with a reflected power signal of the acoustic energy. | 01-21-2010 |
20100124142 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACOUSTICALLY CONTROLLING LIQUID SOLUTIONS IN MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES - Acoustic energy is used to control motion in a fluid. According to one embodiment, the invention directs acoustic energy at selected naturally occurring nucleation features to control motion in the fluid. In another embodiment, the invention provides focussed or unfocussed acoustic energy to selectively placed nucleation features to control fluid motion. According to one embodiment, the invention includes an acoustic source, a controller for controlling operation of the acoustic source, and one or more nucleation features located proximate to or in the fluid to be controlled. | 05-20-2010 |
20100197894 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MATERIAL SEPARATION USING ACOUSTIC ENERGY - A method and apparatus for exposing a sample, including a liquid and another material, to sonic energy to produce a desired result such as, suspending a material support in the liquid. The material support may be a bead or other particle with at least one surface feature to which the material may bind. Material in the liquid may attach to the material support, such as by specific or non-specific binding, entrapment or other, so as to facilitate separation of the material from the liquid. Separation of the material supports from the liquid and other unbound material may be done by allowing the material supports to settle out, e.g., under the force of gravity and/or as assisted by centrifugation, by applying a magnetic field in case the supports or material bound to the supports are movable by way of a magnetic field, or other techniques. | 08-05-2010 |
20120015419 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEADSPACE CONTROL IN ACOUSTIC PROCESSING OF SAMPLES - Method and apparatus for controlling acoustic treatment of a sample including a liquid. A processing volume in which the sample is acoustically treated may be controlled, e.g., by positioning a suitable element so as to reduce and/or eliminate a headspace size at a sample/gas interface. An interaction between the acoustic energy and the sample may be controlled, e.g., by using a headspace control element positioned at least partially in the sample that helps to reduce splashing or other sample ejection that would otherwise occur. | 01-19-2012 |
20120024867 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ACOUSTIC TREATMENT OF SAMPLES FOR HEATING AND COOLING - Methods and systems relate to enhancing heat transfer between a vessel wall and a sample or coupling medium during focused acoustic processing. The vessel containing the sample may include a heat exchanger on an inner surface and/or an outer surface of the vessel that can have any suitable shape or dimension that increases the surface area of the vessel wall. In some embodiments, heat exchanger features may disrupt a boundary layer of a liquid sample at the vessel wall during focused acoustic processing. Accordingly, the temperature of the liquid sample can be appropriately controlled. In some cases, heating and/or cooling of the liquid sample may be performed efficiently. In an embodiment, a liquid sample may be heated at a rate of at least about 25 degrees C. per ml per minute. | 02-02-2012 |
20120077283 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FRAGMENTING NUCLEIC ACIDS - Systems and methods include processing devices used to fragment nucleic acids to average nucleic acid sizes ranging from between about 5 kbp and about 20 kbp. A processing device may include an inlet portion and a channel upstream from a shearing region arranged so that a relatively constant pressure is established and maintained (e.g., a pressure that changes by less than about 40%) at an entrance of the shearing region during a majority of sample flow through the shearing region. In some embodiments, after forcing the sample through the shearing region once, the processing device may be taken out of the centrifuge, inverted and placed back into the centrifuge so that the sample is forced through the shearing region again. | 03-29-2012 |
20120103098 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ACOUSTICALLY TREATING MATERIAL - Methods and systems for acoustically treating material using a continuous process in which material may be caused to flow in a continuous or intermittent fashion into/out of an acoustic treatment chamber where the material is exposed to focused acoustic energy. The methods and systems may be arranged to permit continuous processing for extended periods while an acoustic energy source operates at a relatively high power output. Treatment chambers may include features such as an acoustic window, a heat exchanger, inlet/outlet flow arrangements, an inspection window, insert elements that define a treatment volume size or shape, etc. Treatment system configurations relating to arrangements of a treatment chamber relative to an acoustic source and coupling medium, material flow paths, and others are provided. | 05-03-2012 |
20120144905 | Methods and apparatus for treating samples with acoustic energy to form particles and particulates - The invention relates to a method of forming solid particles from a sample, which includes the step of exposing the sample to a focused acoustic field having an acoustic wave variable, until the solid particles achieve a desired state of particularization. The acoustic wave variable may be selected based, at least in part, on the desired state of particularization. The sample may be exposed to the focused acoustic field through a medium. | 06-14-2012 |
20120167786 | SAMPLE HOLDER AND METHOD FOR TREATING SAMPLE MATERIAL - Method and apparatus for holding and/or treating a sample material. A sample material may be positioned in a vessel between top and bottom flexible films where the flexible films are connected together by a substantially rigid support structure that surrounds the sample material. A crushing force may be applied to the sample material via the top and bottom flexible films, e.g., to pulverize the sample at cryogenic temperatures. A sample holder may have two vessels, one arranged for applying a crushing force to a first sample and another for holding a sample for other processing, such as a histology analysis. | 07-05-2012 |
20120234625 | ACOUSTIC TREATMENT VESSEL AND METHOD FOR ACOUSTIC TREATMENT - Methods and systems for acoustically treating material using a continuous process in which material may be caused to flow in a continuous or intermittent fashion into/out of an acoustic treatment chamber where the material is exposed to focused acoustic energy. The methods and systems may be arranged to permit continuous processing for extended periods while an acoustic energy source operates at a relatively high power output. Treatment chambers may include features such as an acoustic window and/or a chamber wall which may comprise an acoustically reflective material or a gas/wall interface that serves to reflect acoustic energy to form one or more secondary focal zones. Treatment system configurations relating to arrangements of a treatment chamber relative to an acoustic source and coupling medium, material flow paths, and others are provided. | 09-20-2012 |
20130026669 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREPARING NANOCRYSTALLINE COMPOSITIONS USING FOCUSED ACOUSTICS - Methods and systems for preparing nanocrystalline compositions using focused acoustic processing to cause and/or enhance crystal growth. A flow through system may be employed to expose sample material having a volume of greater or less than 30 mL to focused acoustic energy while flowing through a process chamber at a rate of at least 0.1 mL/min. Sample material may be processed by a suitable focused acoustic field in a cyclic fashion and/or with adjustment of processing parameters based on monitored characteristics of the sample, such as level of crystallinity. Nanocrystalline particles within the sample may have a tight particle size distribution with an average particle size between 10 nm and 1 micron. Stable nanocrystalline compositions may be reproducibly prepared using focused acoustics to have controllable morphologies and dimensions. | 01-31-2013 |
20130152710 | SAMPLE HOLDER WITH PLUNGER AND METHOD FOR EXPELLING SAMPLE - Method and apparatus for holding and/or transferring a sample material into a second holder. The sample holder may comprise a shoulder arranged on the outer surface to engage a second holder and to position a top opening of the sample holder for communication with the second holder. A sample may be expelled from a sample holder using a piston that moves from a lower portion to an upper portion of the sample holder. | 06-20-2013 |
20130155802 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR PREPARING NANOFORMULATIONS AND SYSTEMS FOR NANO-DELIVERY USING FOCUSED ACOUSTICS - Focused ultrasonic acoustic processing is used to prepare formulations particles ranging between approximately 10 nm and approximately 50 microns (e.g., between 1 micron and 20 microns), or between approximately 10 nm approximately 400 nm (e.g., between 10 nm and 100 nm). Formulations (e.g., nanoformulations) may include a suspension (e.g., nanosuspension), an emulsion (e.g., nanoemulsion) or another small particle system. Formulations may be used as delivery systems for therapeutic agents, e.g., a formulation may include a bioactive agent and a carrier compound such as a surfactant that encapsulates the bioactive agent. | 06-20-2013 |
20130160576 | SAMPLE HOLDER AND METHOD FOR FRAGMENTING SAMPLE MATERIAL - Method and apparatus for holding and/or treating a sample material. A sample may be positioned in a vessel and a crushing force may be applied to the sample material while in the vessel, e.g., by a plunger that is part of a cap to pulverize the sample at cryogenic temperatures. The sample holder may include an acoustic window arranged to admit acoustic energy into the vessel for acoustic treatment of the sample. A flexible film may be used at a portion of the vessel, e.g., at the acoustic window, to cooperate with a plunger for crushing a sample. | 06-27-2013 |
20130177922 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SAMPLES WITH ACOUSTIC ENERGY - This invention relates to systems and methods for applying acoustic energy to a sample. According to one aspect of the invention, a system comprises a housing, a chamber for receiving the sample, an acoustic energy source for providing a focused acoustic field to the sample according to a treatment protocol, a processor for determining the treatment protocol, a sensor for detecting information about the sample, and a user interface for communicating with a user. | 07-11-2013 |
20130244242 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ACOUSTICALLY TREATING MATERIAL - Methods and systems for acoustically treating material using a continuous process in which material may be caused to flow in a continuous or intermittent fashion into/out of an acoustic treatment chamber where the material is exposed to focused acoustic energy. The methods and systems may be arranged to permit continuous processing for extended periods while an acoustic energy source operates at a relatively high power output. Treatment chambers may include features such as an acoustic window, a heat exchanger, inlet/outlet flow arrangements, an inspection window, insert elements that define a treatment volume size or shape, etc. Treatment system configurations relating to arrangements of a treatment chamber relative to an acoustic source and coupling medium, material flow paths, and others are provided. | 09-19-2013 |
20130244285 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ACOUSTICALLY TREATING MATERIAL - Methods and systems for acoustically treating material using a continuous process in which material may be caused to flow in a continuous or intermittent fashion into/out of an acoustic treatment chamber where the material is exposed to focused acoustic energy. The methods and systems may be arranged to permit continuous processing for extended periods while an acoustic energy source operates at a relatively high power output. Treatment chambers may include features such as an acoustic window, a heat exchanger, inlet/outlet flow arrangements, an inspection window, insert elements that define a treatment volume size or shape, etc. Treatment system configurations relating to arrangements of a treatment chamber relative to an acoustic source and coupling medium, material flow paths, and others are provided. | 09-19-2013 |
20140363843 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACOUSTICALLY PROCESSING TISSUE SAMPLES - Systems and methods for processing tissue samples using acoustic energy. The tissue sample may be collected and placed on a substrate (e.g., microscope slide), or other sample holder. A transfer substrate may be positioned on the other side of the sample opposite the substrate. A microscope incorporated with the acoustic treatment system may be used to view, identify and select a portion of the sample to be transferred from the initial substrate to the transfer substrate. The selected portion of the sample is exposed to focused acoustic energy while disposed between the two substrates. The focused acoustic energy has characteristics (e.g., high frequency, small focal zone) that may be effective to transfer the selected portion of the sample from the initial substrate to the transfer substrate. Such transfer may occur with little to no damage to the sample, for example, at low temperature isothermal conditions and/or little to no cavitation of or around the sample. | 12-11-2014 |
20150056715 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ACOUSTICALLY TREATING MATERIAL - Methods and systems for acoustically treating material using an acoustic energy system having a movable outer surface that contacts a sample holder. The outer surface may be cylindrical and rotate about a central axis, e.g., so that a sample holder may be driven to move by the outer surface. Acoustic energy may be emitted from within the outer surface to a treatment area outside of, and near, the outer surface. Thus, a sample holder in contact with the outer surface may have a sample exposed to acoustic energy while rotation of the outer surface may move the sample holder relative to treatment area. One or more additional rollers or other components may bias the sample holder into contact with the outer surface, to e.g., so the sample holder is squeezed between the outer surface and a roller or other biasing component. | 02-26-2015 |
20150079655 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SAMPLE MATERIAL - Methods and systems for treating material with focused acoustic energy and/or ultraviolet radiation are described. Sample material may be provided to a single batch vessel or may flow in a continuous or intermittent fashion into/out of a processing chamber within which the material is exposed to focused acoustic energy and/or ultraviolet radiation. Exposure to focused acoustics in a flow through environment may enhance the effects of the radiation on the sample material. Further, in flow-through or single batch arrangements, sample material may be retained exterior to or within a processing chamber by one or more retaining members (e.g., filter, valve, etc.) until a characteristic of the sample material reaches one or more particular criteria (e.g., physical, chemical, biological). Once the criteria of the sample material is attained (e.g., via further treatment), the material is then permitted to flow past the retaining member(s) and through the inlet or outlet of the chamber. Further, focused acoustic processing may be used to treat articles, such as the retaining member(s), rather than only sample material located within an internal processing volume of the chamber. | 03-19-2015 |