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US 7,687,026 B2Granted
Apparatus and methods for controlling sonic treatment
AssigneeCovaris, Inc.
InventorsJames A. Laugharn, Jr., Brevard S. Garrison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for treating a sample by selectively controlling sonic energy and/or selectively controlling the location of the sample relative to the sonic energy.
Claims46
A method for using acoustic energy, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating an acoustic energy wavetrain directed toward at least one sample held within a vessel, the acoustic energy wavetrain originating from an acoustic energy source spaced from and exterior to the vessel, wherein the acoustic energy wavetrain has a frequency of between about 100 kilohertz and about 100 megahertz and converges in a focal zone having a width of less than about 2 centimeters;
- and
- transmitting the acoustic energy wavetrain through a first medium and a second medium toward the vessel such that a portion of the at least one sample in the vessel is exposed to acoustic energy at the focal zone, and wherein the first medium is different from the second medium and sensing at least one condition to which the at least one sample is subjected during exposure to the acoustic energy and altering at least one of the acoustic energy or a location of the at least one sample in response to the at least one condition.
A method of processing at least one sample, comprising:
- providing focused acoustic energy to the at least one sample held within a vessel, the focused acoustic energy having a frequency of between about 100 kilohertz and about 100 megahertz and a focal zone having a width of less than about 2 centimeters and the focused acoustic energy originating from an acoustic source exterior to the vessel, the focused acoustic energy being sufficient to induce mixing of liquid in the at least one sample in the vessel;
- sensing a physical parameter of the at least one sample in the vessel;
- and
- modifying the focused acoustic energy provided to the at least one sample based on the sensed physical parameter of the at least one sample, the focused acoustic energy being modified to include a frequency of between about 100 kilohertz and about 100 megahertz and a focal zone having a width of less than about 2 centimeters.
1 more element
A method for achieving a desired physical state of at least one sample with a constituent comprising:
- providing focused acoustic energy to the at least one sample held within a vessel, the focused acoustic energy having a frequency of between about 100 kilohertz and about 100 megahertz and a focal zone having a width of less than about 2 centimeters and the focused acoustic energy originating from an acoustic source exterior to the vessel, the focused acoustic energy being sufficient to induce mixing of liquid in the at least one sample in the vessel;
- monitoring acoustic energy around the at least one sample in the vessel;
- modifying the focused acoustic energy provided to the at least one sample based on the monitored acoustic energy around the sample, the focused acoustic energy being modified to include a frequency of between about 100 kilohertz and about 100 megahertz and a focal zone having a width of less than about 2 centimeters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.