HIFU induced cavitation with reduced power threshold

• US 9,097,626 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2015
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• 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:
  US14/614,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20150153256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 180 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: 1/1
• 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 cartridge for an apparatus for irradiating a liquid sample with acoustic energy to generate cavitation in the liquid sample, the cartridge comprising:

a chamber for containing the liquid sample; and

a nucleation element located entirely within the chamber, 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.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the nucleation element is located at or near a focal zone of high intensity ultrasound waves within the liquid sample.

3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge further comprises a protrusion element engageable with the nucleation element.

4. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge further comprises a lid for covering at least a portion of an opening to the chamber of said cartridge.

5. The cartridge according to claim 4, wherein said nucleation element is attached to the lid.

6. The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein said protrusion element includes a clamp for holding the nucleation element.

7. The cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said cartridge further comprising a lid, said clamp attached to the lid.

8. The cartridge according to claim 4, wherein said lid includes a side wall, said nucleation element extending from the side wall.

9. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said nucleation element extends horizontally within said chamber.

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

11. The cartridge according to claim 10, wherein said nucleation element is comprised of a ceramic rod.

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

13. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said nucleation element is in line with a vertical axis of a focal zone of high intensity ultrasound waves.

14. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said nucleation element is located off-center from a vertical axis of a focal zone of high intensity ultrasound waves.

15. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said nucleation element is fixed vertically within said chamber.

16. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said chamber is defined by one or more walls.

17. The cartridge according to claim 16, wherein one of said one or more walls is a lid for enclosing said chamber.