# US 10,766,027 B2 · Systems and methods for tagging and acoustically characterizing containers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,027 B2 - Document ID: US10766027B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/289,692 - Filed: 2016-10-10 - Published: 2017-04-13 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-12 - Assignees: Labcyte Inc. - Applicants: Labcyte, Inc. - Inventors: Eric Sackmann; Sammy Datwani; Stephen Hinkson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766027B2 ## CPC - B01L 3/545: {for laboratory containers} - B01L 3/0268: {using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries} - B01L 3/56: {Labware specially adapted for transferring fluids} - G01N 29/028: by measuring mechanical or acoustic impedance - G01N 29/043: {in the interior, e.g. by shear waves} - G01N 29/07: by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves - G01N 29/09: by measuring mechanical or acoustic impedance - G01N 29/4409: {by comparison} - B01J 2219/00378: Piezoelectric or ink jet dispensers - B01L 2300/021: Identification, e.g. bar codes - B01L 2300/0829: Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates - B01L 2300/0851: Bottom walls - B01L 2400/0439: ultrasonic vibrations, vibrating piezo elements - G01N 2291/011: Velocity or travel time - G01N 2291/018: Impedance - G01N 2291/0235: Plastics; polymers; soft materials, e.g. rubber - G01N 2291/101: one transducer - G01N 2291/2695: Bottles, containers - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS ## Abstract Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for tagging and acoustically characterizing containers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A container configured to hold a fluid, the container comprising: at least one vertical sidewall; and a bottom coupled to the at least one vertical sidewall, the bottom including a plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions thereon or therein so as to provide a plurality of times of flight of an acoustic signal through the bottom; wherein the plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions include a hydrophobic region configured so as to increase or decrease an amplitude of a reflection of the acoustic signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions include a hydrophobic micropillar array. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions are configured so as to be located outside of an acoustic path between the fluid and an acoustic transducer generating the acoustic signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions are configured so as to be located along and within an acoustic path between the fluid and an acoustic transducer generating the acoustic signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein the container includes a multiwell plate, a vertical sidewall of the at least one vertical sidewall and the bottom corresponding to a well of the multiwell plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein the sidewall and the bottom include a plastic. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The container of claim 6, wherein the plastic is selected from a group consisting of cyclic olefin polymer, cyclic olefin copolymer, polypropylene, and polystyrene. ### Claim 8 A method of characterizing a container configured to hold a fluid, the method comprising: providing the container, the container comprising: at least one vertical sidewall; and a bottom coupled to the at least one vertical sidewall, the bottom including a plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions thereon or therein; transmitting an acoustic signal through the bottom, the plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions providing a plurality of times of flight of the acoustic signal through the bottom; receiving a reflection of the transmitted acoustic signal; and characterizing an acoustic impedance of the container based on the reflection; wherein the plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions include a hydrophobic region configured so as to increase the reflection of the transmitted acoustic signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions include a hydrophobic micropillar array. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions are located outside of an acoustic path between the fluid and an acoustic transducer generating the acoustic signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions are located along and within an acoustic path between the fluid and an acoustic transducer generating the acoustic signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the container includes a multiwell plate, and a vertical sidewall of the at least one vertical sidewall and the bottom correspond to a well of the multiwell plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the sidewall and the bottom include a plastic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the plastic is selected from a group consisting, of cyclic olefin polymer, cyclic olefin copolymer, polypropylene, and polystyrene. ### Claim 15 A system for characterizing a container configured to hold a fluid, the system comprising: the container, the container comprising: at least one vertical sidewall; and a bottom coupled to the at least one vertical sidewall, the bottom including a plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions thereon or therein; an acoustic transducer configured so as to transmit an acoustic signal through the bottom, the plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions providing a plurality of times of flight of the acoustic signal through the bottom, the acoustic transducer being further configured so as to receive a reflection of the transmitted acoustic signal; and a controller configured so as to characterize an acoustic impedance of the container based on the reflection; wherein the plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions include a hydrophobic region configured so as to increase the reflection of the transmitted acoustic signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions include a hydrophobic micropillar array. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions are located outside of an acoustic path between the fluid and an acoustic transducer generating the acoustic signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of recesses, grooves, or protrusions are located along and within an acoustic path between the fluid and an acoustic transducer generating the acoustic signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the container includes a multiwell plate, a vertical sidewall of the at least one vertical sidewall and the bottom corresponding to a well of the multiwell plate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the sidewall and the bottom include a plastic. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the plastic is selected from a group consisting of cyclic olefin polymer, cyclic olefin copolymer, polypropylene, and polystyrene.