System for manipulating drops and bubbles using acoustic radiation pressure
First Claim
1. A method for manipulating a drop of a first fluid at the discharge end of a conduit comprising:
- a) positioning the drop of the first fluid at the discharge end, in the presence of a second fluidb) focusing a source of acoustical radiation pressure on the drop, andc) causing the acoustical radiation pressure to change the relationship between the drop and the discharge end of the conduit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The manipulation and control of drops of liquid and gas bubbles is achieved using high intensity acoustics in the form of and/or acoustic radiation pressure and acoustic streaming, generated by a controlled wave emission from a transducer. Acoustic radiation pressure is used to deploy or dispense drops into a liquid or a gas or bubbles into a liquid at zero or near zero velocity from the discharge end of a needle such as a syringe needle. Acoustic streaming is useful in manipulating the drop or bubble during or after deployment. Deployment and discharge is achieved by focusing the acoustic radiation pressure on the discharge end of the needle, and passing the acoustic waves through the fluid in the needle, through the needle wall itself, or coaxially through the fluid medium surrounding the needle. Alternatively, the acoustic waves can be counter-deployed by focusing on the discharge end of the needle from a transducer axially aligned with the needle, but at a position opposite the needle, to prevent premature deployment of the drop or bubble. The acoustic radiation pressure can also be used for detecting the presence or absence of a drop or a bubble at the tip of a needle or for sensing various physical characteristics of the drop or bubble such as size or density.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for manipulating a drop of a first fluid at the discharge end of a conduit comprising:
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a) positioning the drop of the first fluid at the discharge end, in the presence of a second fluid b) focusing a source of acoustical radiation pressure on the drop, and c) causing the acoustical radiation pressure to change the relationship between the drop and the discharge end of the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for deploying drops of first fluid into a second fluid, the apparatus comprising a tubular needle to conduct the first fluid, said needle comprising a fluid dispensing end and a fluid coupling end;
- an acoustic transducer;
an acoustic housing to support the transducer and to provide containment for the first fluid, the housing in fluid communication with the coupling end of the needle;
electrical connection between the acoustic transducer and an electrical signal, means to transmit acoustic energy from the transducer to the dispensing end of the needle, and means to generate the electrical signal to cause the focused acoustical energy to deploy the drops. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- an acoustic transducer;
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28. A method for manipulating a drop of a first fluid at the discharge end of a conduit comprising:
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a) positioning said drop of first fluid at the discharge end in the presence of a second fluid; b) generating acoustic radiation pressure in a transducer positioned at a location remote from the conduit and in axial alignment therewith; c) focusing a source of acoustical radiation pressure on the drop; and d) passing the acoustic radiation pressure through the second fluid to prevent premature dispensing of the drop.
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29. A process for using acoustic radiation pressure for sensing, the process comprising:
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a) focusing an acoustic radiation transducer on the discharge end of a needle containing a first fluid, said discharge end surrounded by a second fluid; b) emitting a burst of acoustic radiation of finite duration from the transducer; c) gathering reflected acoustic waves from the target; and d) analyzing the reflected acoustic waves to determine the presence or absence of a drop of the first fluid at the discharge end of the needle.
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30. An apparatus for manipulating drops of a first fluid in the presence of a second fluid, the apparatus comprising a tubular needle to conduct the first fluid, said needle comprising a fluid coupling end and a fluid dispensing end;
- an acoustic transducer positioned at a location remote from the needle and focused at the dispensing end thereof, an acoustic housing to support the transducer;
electrical connection between the acoustic transducer and an electrical signal, and means to transmit acoustic energy from the transducer through the second fluid to the fluid dispensing end of the needle. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
- an acoustic transducer positioned at a location remote from the needle and focused at the dispensing end thereof, an acoustic housing to support the transducer;
Specification