Method and apparatus for acoustically controlling liquid solutions in microfluidic devices
US7981368B2 · kind B2 · utility
9Cited by
84References
22Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 25, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jul 19, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 25, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC40B60/14
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Acoustic energy is used to control motion in a fluid. According to one embodiment, the invention directs acoustic energy at selected naturally occurring nucleation features to control motion in the fluid. In another embodiment, the invention provides focussed or unfocussed acoustic energy to selectively placed nucleation features to control fluid motion. According to one embodiment, the invention includes an acoustic source, a controller for controlling operation of the acoustic source, and one or more nucleation features located proximate to or in the fluid to be controlled.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.