Embodiments disclose an apparatus and methods for biological sample processing enabling isolation and enrichment of microbial or pathogenic constituents from the sample. A vessel for sample containment and extraction is further disclosed for engagement with a transducer capable of efficient sample disruption and lysis. Together these components provide a convenient and inexpensive solution for rapid sample preparation compatible with downstream analysis techniques.

A microfluidic device for sorting biological objects includes a microfluidic chip including a planar substrate having first and second planar surfaces, the planar substrate including first and second networks of channels recessed respectively from the first and second planar surfaces and fluidically connected by way of at least a through-hole in the planar substrate; a first lid attached to the first planar surface of the planar substrate and substantially covering the first network of channels; and a second lid attached to the second planar surface of the planar substrate and substantially covering the second network of channels; and one or more piezoelectric transducers attached to the first lid and/or the second lid and configured to generate first and second acoustic standing waves in a first linear channel of the first network of channels and a second linear channel of the second network of channels, respectively.

A sonic reactor for transferring kinetic energy to a process fluid medium has a resonant element horizontally oriented and mounted to the two resonance units using two or more nodal support rings located at the nodal positions of the resonant element. The nodal support rings are adjustable in position relative to the resonant element and the resonance units to permit positioning of the rings directly at the nodal positions during operation. The sonic reactor has a grinding or mixing chamber mounted at one or both of the free ends of the resonant element. The sonic reactor is used for applications that include fly ash beneficiation, pulverization and dispersion; fine ore grinding; preparing ready mix cement formulations; oil sands cuttings for oil recovery; spilled oil, water and oily water storage treatment; organic and inorganic industrial wastewater treatment; environmental remediation of contaminated soils; sodium dispersion and destruction of PCBs; biosludge conditioning; cellulosic biofuels processing; lignin processing; dispersion and deagglomeration of pigments; and dye destruction.

This chemical analysis device is provided with: a plurality of ultrasonic elements; a waveform generator which generates an ultrasonic waveform; a determiner which determines the positions and the number of ultrasonic elements to be driven from among the plurality of ultrasonic elements; a variable matching circuit which, on the basis of the determination result, matches impedance between the waveform generator and each of the ultrasonic elements to be driven; and a switch which selects the ultrasonic elements to be driven from among the plurality of the ultrasonic elements.

The present invention relates to a pickering emulsion composition using polyimide particles and a method for preparing the same. The pickering emulsion stabilized by the polyimide particles according to the present invention has a very stable dispersed phase and does not cause flocculation, creaming, coalescence and phase separation even after a long time, and has an advantage of being capable of forming both an oil-in-water type emulsion and a water-in-oil type emulsion. Further, the polyimide particles used in the present invention can be synthesized in a simple manner and have partial wettability without the surface treatment and pH control so that they can be easily used for the emulsion stabilization.

External sonication, which is a technique by which ultrasonic energy is applied externally to a cartridge containing the sample, is contemplated herein. External sonication can be performed by a sonicator external to a sample contained within a cartridge. The cartridge can include sonication particles to enhance sonication or cavitation within the sample. A sonication algorithm can also be used to increase sonication efficiency.

Devices, systems and methods including a sonicator for sample preparation are provided. A sonicator may be used to mix, resuspend, aerosolize, disperse, disintegrate, or de-gas a solution. A sonicator may be used to disrupt a cell, such as a pathogen cell in a sample. Sample preparation may include exposing pathogen-identifying material by sonication to detect, identify, or measure pathogens. A sonicator may transfer ultrasonic energy to the sample solution by contacting its tip to an exterior wall of a vessel containing the sample. Multipurpose devices including a sonicator also include further components for additional actions and assays. Devices, and systems comprising such devices, may communicate with a laboratory or other devices in a system for sample assay and analysis. Methods utilizing such devices and systems are provided. The improved sample preparation devices, systems and methods are useful for analyzing samples, e.g. for diagnosing patients suffering from infection by pathogens.

An apparatus designed for the mixing of powders or fluids with the least amount of effort and energy. The mixing is accomplished by using an assembly that is similar in design to an audio speaker which is connected to a container which holds the items to be mixed. The apparatus is charged with an electrical source which causes it to agitate. The agitation of the apparatus will cause an attached container to agitate and thus provide a means to mix the contents in the container, without the need for stirring. Through a variety of different methods, the apparatus is caused to go into mechanical resonance thereby maximizing its agitation and thus its mixing efforts. An internal computer is used to monitor, maintain, and help place the apparatus in mechanical resonance while it is mixing the desired items. There is an option to add a cover to the apparatus which acts as both a sound reduction mechanism and a safety mechanism ensuring that anything that might become loose from the container will not come in contact with the operator.

A cost-effective, single use bag or container is provided for storing biological substances that incorporates on its inner wall an electronic device that is configured to measure physiological and/or physical parameters of the enclosed biological substances, such as source history, identification, demographics, time stamping, temperature, pH, conductivity, glucose, O.sub.2, CO.sub.2 levels etc. The electronic device of the disclosed bag comprises a sensor configured to measure physiological and/or physical parameters of the biological substances enclosed within the bag, and a radio-frequency (RF) device communicably coupled to the sensor and configured to: (a) acquire from the sensor data associated with the measured parameters, (b) store the acquired sensor data in nonvolatile memory, and (c) communicate the stored data wirelessly to a RF reader.

A beverage nucleation device includes a housing, a beverage receiving area defined by the housing for receiving a beverage container containing a supercooled beverage, and a support configured to support the beverage container in an upright orientation in the beverage container receiving area. The beverage nucleation device may further include an applicator configured to contact a sidewall of the beverage container on the support, wherein the applicator includes an elastomeric material. An ultrasonic transducer of the beverage nucleation device is configured to generate and apply ultrasonic energy to the beverage container via the applicator so as to cause nucleation of the supercooled beverage.