HIFU induced cavitation with reduced power threshold

• US 8,986,612 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2014
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biocartis NV (Biocartis Group NV)
• Original Assignee: Biocartis NV (Biocartis Group NV)
• Inventors: Van Doorn, Arie R., De Jong, Michiel
• Primary Examiner(s): Sines, Brian J
• Application Number:
  US14/153,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20140127082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 422/50, 422/68.1, 422/554, 422/561, 422/562, 436/43, 436/63, 436/174, 436/180
• US Class Current: 422/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/87 transmitting the vibratory energy by means of a fluid, e.g. by means of air shock waves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/008 Processes for carrying out reactions under cavitation conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/28 Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Qmounting specimens on microscopic slides G02B21/34; means for supporting the objects or the materials to be analysed in electron microscopes H01J37/20 ; laboratory gas handling apparatus B01L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2866 Grinding or homogeneising
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00554 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

An apparatus for irradiating a liquid sample with acoustic energy to generate cavitation in the liquid sample. The apparatus includes a source for emitting high intensity ultrasound waves and is adapted to receive a cartridge having a chamber containing the liquid sample, wherein the high intensity ultrasound waves are focused on a focus position at or near a nucleation element extending at least partially into the chamber.

Claims

1. A system for irradiating a liquid sample with acoustic energy to generate cavitation in the liquid sample, the system comprising:

a cartridge having a chamber for containing the liquid sample;

a nucleation element extending at least partially into the chamber of the cartridge, said nucleation element having a rough surface to generate a source of air bubbles that act as nucleation sites within the liquid sample contained in the chamber;

an apparatus including;

a receiving section for receiving the cartridge;

a source for emitting high intensity ultrasound waves into the cartridge; and

a control unit for causing the high intensity ultrasound waves to be focused on a focus position within the liquid sample in the chamber, said focus position at or near the nucleation element extending at least partially into the chamber of the cartridge; and

a focusing element to focus the high intensity ultrasound waves at said focus position within the liquid sample.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprises a protrusion element for locating at least a portion of the nucleation element at or near said focus position within the liquid sample.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said protrusion element is located within the chamber of said cartridge.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said protrusion element is a clamp for holding the nucleation element.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein said system further comprises a lid to cover at least a portion of an opening to the chamber of said cartridge.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said lid forms a portion of the cartridge.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein said protrusion element is attached to the lid.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said protrusion element is a clamp.

9. The system according to claim 5, wherein said lid includes a side wall, said protrusion element extending from the side wall.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said nucleation element extends horizontally from the side wall.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said nucleation element is comprised of a ceramic element.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said nucleation element is comprised of aluminum.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said nucleation element is aligned with a vertical axis of said focus position within the liquid sample.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said nucleation element is attached to said cartridge.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a completely dry coupler for transferring the high intensity ultrasound waves into the cartridge when the cartridge is received in the receiving section.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a fully solid coupler for at least partially transferring the high intensity ultrasound waves from the source to the cartridge.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the focusing element includes a lens.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a three-dimensional positioning system controlled by said control unit, wherein the three-dimensional positioning system positions the cartridge relative to the source.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit adjusts at least one of the following parameters:

power level of the source, the focus position, and shape of a focal spot associated with the focus position.