Method and apparatus for acoustically controlling liquid solutions in microfluidic devices
AssigneeCovaris, Inc.
InventorsJames A. Laugharn, Jr., Brevard S. Garrison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
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.
Claims21
A method of imparting motion to a fluid to impart motion to a biological sample located in the fluid, said method comprising,
- providing an acoustic source for generating a focused acoustic field, wherein said acoustic source generates a wavetrain substantially converging in a focal zone having a diameter less than or equal to 2 cm, and directing said focused acoustic field to at least one nucleation feature located proximate to the sample located in the fluid to impart motion to the fluid and to the sample located in the fluid proximate to said nucleation feature.
An apparatus for imparting motion to a fluid to impart motion to a biological sample located in the fluid, said apparatus comprising,
- an acoustic source for generating a focused acoustic field, wherein said acoustic source generates a wavertrain substantially converging in a focal zone having a diameter less than or equal to 2 cm, and
- a controller adapted to control operation of said focused acoustic source, wherein said apparatus directs said acoustic field and focuses said field to at least one nucleation feature located proximate to the sample located in the fluid to impart motion to the fluid and to the sample located in the fluid proximate to said nucleation feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.