Acoustic concentration, transfer and analysis of samples containing particles
AssigneeLabcyte Inc.
InventorsRichard N. Ellson, Richard G. Stearns, Babur Hadimioglu
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Abstract
Systems and methods described herein employ focused acoustic energy applied to a reservoir containing a fluid to eject a fluid sample from the fluid sample reservoir, e.g. to an inlet of an analytical device. In many embodiments, the ejected fluid sample traverses an air gap separating the inlet of the analytical device from an upper surface of the fluid in the fluid sample reservoir. In many embodiments, the ejected fluid sample comprises one or more droplets ejected from the fluid sample reservoir, which can contain particles suspended in the fluid sample.
Claims13
A method for acoustic transfer of particle-containing fluid droplets, the method comprising:
- positioning a fluid sample reservoir containing a fluid sample having suspended cells or particles that is acoustically coupled with an acoustic radiation generator in alignment with an inlet of an analytical device;
- applying an ejection tone burst of focused acoustic radiation by the acoustic radiation generator to the fluid sample within the fluid sample reservoir to eject a droplet from the fluid sample reservoir such that the droplet contacts the inlet of the analytical device, the droplet containing at least one cell or particle;
- and
- concentrating the suspended cells or particles at a target location within the fluid sample prior to applying the ejection tone burst by applying a concentrating tone burst of focused acoustic radiation by the acoustic radiation generator to the fluid sample, the concentrating tone burst configured to move the suspended cells or particles toward the target location within the fluid sample without causing droplet ejection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.