Abstract:
A method for simultaneously merging suspended particles and/or cells in a plurality of discrete microwells, each of said microwells having at least a bottom wall and lateral walls, wherein a multifrequency or broadband acoustic wave including at least two different frequencies is applied to an inner volume of each of said microwells, the frequencies of said acoustic wave being selected to generate a standing and/or stationary wave in said volume; a device for simultaneously merging suspended particles and/or cells in a plurality of discrete microwells, including: a substrate with a plurality of discrete microwells, each of said microwells having at least a bottom wall and lateral walls; and one or more acoustic transducer(s), configured for applying a multifrequency or broadband acoustic wave, including at least two different frequencies, to an inner volume of each of said microwells.
Abstract:
A method of mixing (10), including: providing a fluid (10) in a well (6) so as to establish an acoustic field gradient; and applying an acoustic signal to cause mixing within a fluid (3).
Abstract:
This invention relates to systems and methods for applying acoustic energy to a sample. According to one aspect of the invention, a system comprises a housing, a chamber for receiving the sample, an acoustic energy source for providing a focused acoustic field to the sample according to a treatment protocol, a processor for determining the treatment protocol, a sensor for detecting information about the sample, and a user interface for communicating with a user.
Abstract:
In a combinatorial method of making and testing an array of nanoparticle formulations comprising the steps of making multi-compositional formulations; improving the dispersion quality of these formulations by high speed parallel homogenizing; rapid serial, semi-parallel or parallel characterising said formulations, said step of high speed parallel homogenizing proceeds by providing energy to said dispersion via an array of tips, wherein said energy is ultrasonic energy or high shear mixing energy.
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.
Abstract:
A method of using a reaction plenum in the presence or absence of paramagnetic beads to perform chemical syntheses resulting in separation and recovery of a final desired reaction product is provided. The reaction plenum comprises a reaction plate, a reaction vessel for mounting in the reaction plate, a reaction plate holder, a screw-like rod, a mounting block attached to the reaction plate holder for operably receiving the screw-like rod, a motor, a sonication region in a temperature controllable water bath and a magnetic separation region in the water bath. Paramagnetic beads having reaction sites are introduced into the reaction vessels along with the appropriate solvent and one or more reactants. The contents of the reaction vessel are sonicated, then moved to the magnetic separation region where the paramagnetic beads are tightly held against the reaction vessel while the solvent is aspirated off. Once the desired reaction product is attained, the reaction product is cleaved off the paramagnetic bead. In an alternative embodiment, chemical synthesis is performed in a similar manner in the absence of the paramagnetic beads.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for controlling acoustic treatment of a sample including a liquid. A processing volume in which the sample is acoustically treated may be controlled, e.g., by positioning a suitable element so as to reduce and/or eliminate a headspace size at a sample/gas interface. An interaction between the acoustic energy and the sample may be controlled, e.g., by using a headspace control element positioned at least partially in the sample that helps to reduce splashing or other sample ejection that would otherwise occur.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for controlling acoustic treatment of a sample including a liquid. A processing volume in which the sample is acoustically treated may be controlled, e.g., by positioning a suitable element so as to reduce and/or eliminate a headspace size at a sample/gas interface. An interaction between the acoustic energy and the sample may be controlled, e.g., by using a headspace control element positioned at least partially in the sample that helps to reduce splashing or other sample ejection that would otherwise occur.