System for cleansing organisms from water

• US 9,944,541 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2014
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Marka, Szabolcs, Bartos, Imre, Marka, Zsuzsanna
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Walter D
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, CAMERON J
• Application Number:
  US14/222,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20140202961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/36 ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation

Abstract

Techniques for depleting target organisms in water include a waterproof transducer configured for ensonifying a container of water with low intensity sound at one or more ultrasound frequencies for a duration sufficient to prevent maturation of at least 90% of the target organism. In some cases the target organism is mosquito larvae. For example, a portable system for depleting target organisms in water includes a control system and a plurality of waterproof transducers. The system is configured for ensonifying a surface layer of water in an acoustic frequency range from about 40 kilohertz to about 100 kilohertz and in a power concentration range from about 35 milliwatts per milliliter to 100 milliwatts per milliliter for a duration in a range from about 1 to about 100 seconds.

Claims

1. A system for depleting insect larvae in a container of water comprising a non-waterproof control system electrically connected to a waterproof transducer configured for placement into a container of water without placement of the control system into the container, wherein the control system is configured to automatically operate the waterproof transducer for ensonifying the container of water with low intensity sound in a power concentration range from about 35 milliwatts per milliliter to 100 milliwatts per milliliter at one or more ultrasound frequencies in an acoustic frequency range from about 40 kilohertz to about 100 kilohertz for a duration in a range from 1 to 100 seconds.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the insect larvae are mosquito larvae.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the duration is about 20 seconds over a time interval from about 20 seconds to about 30 seconds.

13. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the control system further comprises a power source that comprises a solar cell.

4. A portable system for depleting target organisms in water comprising a support structure comprising a handle and a plate, a non-waterproof control system, and a plurality of waterproof transducers configured for ensonifying water in an acoustic frequency range from about 40 kilohertz to about 100 kilohertz for a duration in a range from about 1 to about 100 seconds, wherein the handle is disposed at a proximal portion of the support structure, the plate is disposed at a distal end of the support structure, the plurality of waterproof transducers are disposed on a proximal side of the plate and are electrically connected to the control system, and the support structure with waterproof transducers is handheld.

5. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the waterproof transducers are configured for ensonifying the water at a first acoustic frequency of the acoustic frequency range and a different second acoustic frequency of the acoustic frequency range.

6. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the first acoustic frequency is about 40 kilohertz and the second acoustic frequency is about 68 kilohertz.

7. A system as recited in claim 4, the system further comprising an alternating current power source and a direct charge power source.

8. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein each waterproof transducer comprises a bellowed metal container.

9. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the duration is about 20 seconds over a time interval from about 20 seconds to about 30 seconds.

10. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the control system causes the waterproof transducers to ensonify the water during a plurality of ten second pulses.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the plurality of ten second pulses are separated by intervals of about ten seconds without ensonification.

12. A system as recited in claim 4, further comprising a power source that comprises a solar cell.