METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SAMPLE MATERIAL

摘要

Methods and systems for treating material with focused acoustic energy and/or ultraviolet radiation are described. Sample material may be provided to a single batch vessel or may flow in a continuous or intermittent fashion into/out of a processing chamber within which the material is exposed to focused acoustic energy and/or ultraviolet radiation. Exposure to focused acoustics in a flow through environment may enhance the effects of the radiation on the sample material. Further, in flow-through or single batch arrangements, sample material may be retained exterior to or within a processing chamber by one or more retaining members (e.g., filter, valve, etc.) until a characteristic of the sample material reaches one or more particular criteria (e.g., physical, chemical, biological). Once the criteria of the sample material is attained (e.g., via further treatment), the material is then permitted to flow past the retaining member(s) and through the inlet or outlet of the chamber. Further, focused acoustic processing may be used to treat articles, such as the retaining member(s), rather than only sample material located within an internal processing volume of the chamber.

主权项

1. A method of sample treatment, comprising:
exposing material located within an internal volume of a chamber to focused acoustic energy having a frequency of about 100 kHz to 100 MHz and a focal zone of acoustic energy in the internal volume; retaining a portion of the material at a region of the chamber based on whether the portion of the material has a characteristic that meets a criterion; and permitting flow of the portion of the material toward or away from the internal volume of the chamber based on whether the characteristic of the portion of the material meets the criterion.