Inventors:
David Soong-Hua Lee - Mountain View CA
Assignee:
Picoliter Inc. - Sunnyvale CA
International Classification:
B29B 900
US Classification:
264 9, 264 5, 264 7, 425 6, 425 10
Abstract:
A method and device for generating solid particles using focused acoustic energy are provided. A solution of a compound of interest is provided in a solvent, which may be an aqueous fluid, a nonaqueous fluid, or a supercritical fluid. Focused acoustic energy is used to eject a droplet of the solution, which is then directed into or through an antisolvent that upon admixture with the solution droplet causes the compound in the droplet to precipitate. In a preferred embodiment, the solvent is an aqueous or organic liquid, and the antisolvent is a supercritical fluid.