Method and apparatus for forming droplets and microcapsules

A method for forming microcapsules of a fluid medium containing living culture material by the atomization of the medium and the treatment of atomized droplets thereof with a treatment fluid, such method comprising the steps of:

• flowing the medium through an inlet port into a flow chamber having a flow cap and a wall member having first and second opposing sides, said wall member being attached to the cap such that the cap and said first side define said chamber, said wall also having a plurality of orifices formed therethrough;
• providing pressure in said chamber to drive the medium through the orifices,
• vibrating the chamber to atomize the medium driven through the orifices, and
• receiving said atomized flow in a vessel of the treatment fluid on the second side of the wall.

Apparatus for the production of sub-millimeter droplets from a fluid medium containing living culture material, such apparatus comprising:

• a shallow cap having a roof portion,
• a vibrator affixed to the cap,
• an orifice member affixed to the cap opposite the roof portion so as to define, together with the cap, a closed chamber, said orifice member including one or more orifices therethrough of a diameter functionally related to a desired droplet diameter,
• spacing means for providing a free-fall space below said orifice member, and
• pressure means for pressurizing the chamber so as to drive the medium therein as a fluid stream through the orifices whereby the droplets are produced by vibration of the fluid stream in the free fall space.