US 12,128,397 B2
Focused acoustic radiation for the ejection of subwavelength droplets
Richard G. Stearns, Soquel, CA (US)
Assigned to Labcyte Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Labcyte Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/335,764.
Application 18/335,764 is a continuation of application No. 17/321,201, filed on May 14, 2021, granted, now 11,717,818.
Application 17/321,201 is a continuation of application No. 16/222,737, filed on Dec. 17, 2018, granted, now 11,033,895, issued on Jun. 15, 2021.
Application 16/222,737 is a continuation of application No. 14/041,156, filed on Sep. 30, 2013, granted, now 10,156,499, issued on Dec. 18, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/708,576, filed on Oct. 1, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2023/0338942 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. H01J 49/04 (2006.01); B01L 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/0268 (2013.01) [H01J 49/0454 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0642 (2013.01); B01L 2200/141 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0436 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of creating a subwavelength droplet, the method comprising:
applying a first toneburst of focused acoustic radiation to a fluid sample sufficient to raise a mound on a free surface of the fluid sample,
applying a second toneburst of focused acoustic radiation to the fluid sample sufficient to eject a first subwavelength droplet from the mound, wherein the second toneburst is applied at a time interval after the first toneburst is applied, the time interval based on a size of the mound such that the second toneburst is applied before the mound has collapsed; and
introducing the first subwavelength droplet into an inlet associated with an analytical device.