G01N 29/14 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic wavesVisualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object using acoustic emission techniques
C02F 1/20 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by degassing, i.e. liberation of dissolved gases
G01H 17/00 - Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves, not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
2.
GAS BUBBLE REDUCTION ON SURFACES AND IN BULK FLUIDS USING ULTRASOUND
A non-invasive apparatus and method for detaching and removing gas bubbles from surfaces, such as electrodes, and from bulk liquids using acoustic radiation force, are described. The application of acoustic waves to bubble removal from electrolyzers and gas-liquid separator vessels enhances hydrogen production efficiency. Hydrogen bubbles are smaller in size and will be more responsive to higher frequencies, whereas oxygen bubbles are relatively larger in size and will be more responsive to a relatively lower frequency. For each of the electrodes, the bubble diameters also change along the height of the electrolyzer cell; therefore, a range of frequencies is advantageous. To produce multiple frequencies in the fluid mixture, the same transducer was simultaneously excited at two distinct frequencies, f1 and f2 simultaneously, leveraging the highly non-linear characteristics of bubbly fluids to facilitate frequency mixing, resulting in the emergence of frequencies such as mf1±nf2 within the fluid medium (m and n are integer numbers).
This disclosure teaches a system and method for monitoring an extracorporeal blood circuit of a patient and identifying a needle dislodgement. The method includes identifying a potential needle dislodgement event based on changes in pressure of the extracorporeal blood circuit, searching for a heart rate of a patient by analyzing an optical backscatter signal from an optical sensor attached to the extracorporeal blood circuit or by analyzing a pressure signal representative of the pressure in the extracorporeal blood circuit, and verifying the potential needle dislodgement event is a needle dislodgement based on the absence of the heart rate.
In one aspect, a method and system for detecting a change in fluid dynamics of a fluid flowing through an extra-corporeal circuit is disclosed, which includes establishing an acoustic wave resonance across a transverse dimension of at least a portion of a line associated with the extra-corporeal circuit through which the fluid flows, monitoring a phase signal of the resonant acoustic wave, and identifying occurrence of a change in fluid dynamics of the flowing fluid when the observed phase signal of the resonant acoustic wave indicates a deviation from the expected fluid flow signature. The change in fluid dynamics can be used to indicate a venous needle dislodgement event.
This disclosure teaches a system and method for monitoring an extracorporeal blood circuit of a patient and identifying a needle dislodgement. The method includes identifying a potential needle dislodgement event based on changes in pressure of the extracorporeal blood circuit, searching for a heart rate of a patient by analyzing an optical backscatter signal from an optical sensor attached to the extracorporeal blood circuit or by analyzing a pressure signal representative of the pressure in the extracorporeal blood circuit, and verifying the potential needle dislodgement event is a needle dislodgement based on the absence of the heart rate.
This disclosure teaches a system and method for monitoring an extracorporeal blood circuit of a patient and identifying a needle dislodgement. The method includes identifying a potential needle dislodgement event based on changes in pressure of the extracorporeal blood circuit, searching for a heart rate of a patient by analyzing an optical backscatter signal from an optical sensor attached to the extracorporeal blood circuit or by analyzing a pressure signal representative of the pressure in the extracorporeal blood circuit, and verifying the potential needle dislodgement event is a needle dislodgement based on the absence of the heart rate.
An acoustic apparatus and method for using a combination of low-frequency and high-frequency vibration of dried food, grain being an example, such that there are a large number of collisions among the individual grain particles for destroying microorganisms that reside on the surface or just below the surface of the grain, are described. Embodiments of the invention permit bulk and continuous processing of the food. It is expected that such collisions do not produce any chemical changes in the food, nor should it have any adverse effects on the taste thereof. Embodiments of the apparatus are applicable to destruction of airborne microorganisms.
A23B 9/00 - Preservation of edible seeds, e.g. cereals
A23B 9/06 - Preserving by irradiation or electric treatment without heating effect
A23L 3/00 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
A23L 3/015 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by treatment with pressure variation, shock, acceleration or shear stress
A23L 3/32 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by treatment with electric currents without heating effect
A61L 9/16 - Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using physical phenomena
B65G 15/32 - Belts or like endless load-carriers made of rubber or plastics
Apparatus and method for separating oil from water in produced oil without requiring large separation tanks in which the fluid is heated, using a simple, energy efficient separation process, are described. Centrifugal forces, by themselves, are not effective for completely separating a two-component fluid, especially when the densities of the fluids are similar, such as for heavy oil. By combining both primary and secondary acoustic forces, and taking advantage of centrifugal forces from fluid flow, such that acoustic radiation forces initiate the process of droplet accumulation, and contribute to droplet coalescence, centrifugal separation is enhanced.
B01D 45/12 - Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces by centrifugal forces
B04B 1/18 - Centrifuges with rotary bowls provided with solid jackets for separating predominantly liquid mixtures with or without solid particles with discharging outlets in the plane of the maximum diameter of the bowl with periodical discharge with discharging outlets controlled by the rotational speed of the bowl controlled by the centrifugal force of an auxiliary liquid
B04B 11/02 - Continuous feeding or dischargingControl arrangements therefor
C02F 1/28 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by sorption
Apparatus and method for separating oil from water in produced oil without requiring large separation tanks in which the fluid is heated, using a simple, energy efficient separation process, are described. Centrifugal forces, by themselves, are not effective for completely separating a two-component fluid, especially when the densities of the fluids are similar, such as for heavy oil. By combining both primary and secondary acoustic forces, and taking advantage of centrifugal forces from fluid flow, such that acoustic radiation forces initiate the process of droplet accumulation, and contribute to droplet coalescence, centrifugal separation is enhanced.
B01D 3/30 - Fractionating columns with movable parts or in which centrifugal movement is caused
B04B 1/18 - Centrifuges with rotary bowls provided with solid jackets for separating predominantly liquid mixtures with or without solid particles with discharging outlets in the plane of the maximum diameter of the bowl with periodical discharge with discharging outlets controlled by the rotational speed of the bowl controlled by the centrifugal force of an auxiliary liquid
B04B 11/02 - Continuous feeding or dischargingControl arrangements therefor
Apparatus and method for separating oil from water in produced oil without requiring large separation tanks in which the fluid is heated, using a simple, energy efficient separation process, are described. Centrifugal forces, by themselves, are not effective for completely separating a two-component fluid, especially when the densities of the fluids are similar, such as for heavy oil. By combining both primary and secondary acoustic forces, and taking advantage of centrifugal forces from fluid flow, such that acoustic radiation forces initiate the process of droplet accumulation, and contribute to droplet coalescence, centrifugal separation is enhanced.
In one aspect, a method and system for detecting a change in fluid dynamics of a fluid flowing through an extra-corporeal circuit is disclosed, which includes establishing an acoustic wave resonance across a transverse dimension of at least a portion of a line associated with the extra-corporeal circuit through which the fluid flows, monitoring a phase signal of the resonant acoustic wave, and identifying occurrence of a change in fluid dynamics of the flowing fluid when the observed phase signal of the resonant acoustic wave indicates a deviation from the expected fluid flow signature. The change in fluid dynamics can be used to indicate a venous needle dislodgement event.
G01S 5/18 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinationsPosition-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
12.
System and method for detecting venous needle dislodgement
In one aspect, a method and system for detecting a change in fluid dynamics of a fluid flowing through an extra-corporeal circuit is disclosed, which includes establishing an acoustic wave resonance across a transverse dimension of at least a portion of a line associated with the extra-corporeal circuit through which the fluid flows, monitoring a phase signal of the resonant acoustic wave, and identifying occurrence of a change in fluid dynamics of the flowing fluid when the observed phase signal of the resonant acoustic wave indicates a deviation from the expected fluid flow signature. The change in fluid dynamics can be used to indicate a venous needle dislodgement event.
In one aspect, a method and system for detecting a change in fluid dynamics of a fluid flowing through an extra-corporeal circuit is disclosed, which includes establishing an acoustic wave resonance across a transverse dimension of at least a portion of a line associated with the extra-corporeal circuit through which the fluid flows, monitoring a phase signal of the resonant acoustic wave, and identifying occurrence of a change in fluid dynamics of the flowing fluid when the observed phase signal of the resonant acoustic wave indicates a deviation from the expected fluid flow signature. The change in fluid dynamics can be used to indicate a venous needle dislodgement event.
G01S 5/18 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinationsPosition-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
14.
DESTRUCTION OF AIRBORNE PATHOGENS, AND MICROORGANISMS ON GRAINS AND DRIED FOOD USING ULTRASOUND
An acoustic apparatus and method for using a combination of low-frequency and high-frequency vibration of dried food, grain being an example, such that there are a large number of collisions among the individual grain particles for destroying microorganisms that reside on the surface or just below the surface of the grain, are described. Embodiments of the invention permit bulk and continuous processing of the food. It is expected that such collisions do not produce any chemical changes in the food, nor should it have any adverse effects on the taste thereof. Embodiments of the apparatus are applicable to destruction of airborne microorganisms.
An acoustic apparatus and method for using a combination of low-frequency and high-frequency vibration of dried food, grain being an example, such that there are a large number of collisions among the individual grain particles for destroying microorganisms that reside on the surface or just below the surface of the grain, are described. Embodiments of the invention permit bulk and continuous processing of the food. It is expected that such collisions do not produce any chemical changes in the food, nor should it have any adverse effects on the taste thereof. Embodiments of the apparatus are applicable to destruction of airborne microorganisms.
An acoustic apparatus and method for using a combination of low-frequency and high-frequency vibration of dried food, grain being an example, such that there are a large number of collisions among the individual grain particles for destroying microorganisms that reside on the surface or just below the surface of the grain, are described. Embodiments of the invention permit bulk and continuous processing of the food. It is expected that such collisions do not produce any chemical changes in the food, nor should it have any adverse effects on the taste thereof. Embodiments of the apparatus are applicable to destruction of airborne microorganisms.
A61L 2/00 - Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lensesAccessories therefor
A23B 9/00 - Preservation of edible seeds, e.g. cereals
A23B 9/06 - Preserving by irradiation or electric treatment without heating effect
A23L 3/00 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
A23L 3/015 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by treatment with pressure variation, shock, acceleration or shear stress
A23L 3/32 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by treatment with electric currents without heating effect
A61L 9/16 - Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using physical phenomena
B06B 1/00 - Processes or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency
B65G 15/32 - Belts or like endless load-carriers made of rubber or plastics
17.
DETECTION OF STRUCTURAL VARIATIONS IN ARTICLES USING ACOUSTIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY
An apparatus and method utilizing acoustic resonance spectroscopy applicable to any mechanical device or structure having internal or external components that need to be positioned away from a set point and then returned to the original position, such as a valve which is opened to pass fluids and subsequently dosed, for noninvasiveiy providing a measure of the deviation from the original position, and for classifying or grouping together objects that appear to be identical from the outside, but which may have slight external or internal differences, such as sealed containers filled with different fluids or materials, are described.
G01M 3/24 - Investigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
G01N 29/036 - Analysing fluids by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves
G01N 29/14 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic wavesVisualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object using acoustic emission techniques
18.
Detection of structural variations in articles using acoustic resonance spectroscopy
An apparatus and method utilizing acoustic resonance spectroscopy applicable to any mechanical device or structure having internal or external components that need to be positioned away from a set point and then returned to the original position, such as a valve which is opened to pass fluids and subsequently closed, for noninvasively providing a measure of the deviation from the original position, and for classifying or grouping together objects that appear to be identical from the outside, but which may have slight external or internal differences, such as sealed containers filled with different fluids or materials, are described.
An apparatus and method utilizing acoustic resonance spectroscopy applicable to any mechanical device or structure having internal or external components that need to be positioned away from a set point and then returned to the original position, such as a valve which is opened to pass fluids and subsequently dosed, for noninvasiveiy providing a measure of the deviation from the original position, and for classifying or grouping together objects that appear to be identical from the outside, but which may have slight external or internal differences, such as sealed containers filled with different fluids or materials, are described.
G01M 3/24 - Investigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
G01N 29/14 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic wavesVisualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object using acoustic emission techniques
G01N 29/036 - Analysing fluids by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves
20.
MULTIMODAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A FLUID USING A SINGLE DROPLET
Apparatus for performing multiple different measurements on a small specimen sample, enabling testing and diagnoses in real time at the point of care are described. The core of the apparatus includes an ultrasonic resonator cavity where acoustic resonances are used to determine the speed of sound and sound attenuation in a single droplet. Acoustic measurements are made in the reflection mode using electrical impedance of a small piezoelectric crystal transducer that operates in the thickness longitudinal mode. Combination of this technology with electromagnetic, electrical, and magnetic fields permits multiple types of measurements to be made using the same resonator cavity.
Apparatus for performing multiple different measurements on a small specimen sample, enabling testing and diagnoses in real time at the point of care are described. The core of the apparatus includes an ultrasonic resonator cavity where acoustic resonances are used to determine the speed of sound and sound attenuation in a single droplet. Acoustic measurements are made in the reflection mode using electrical impedance of a small piezoelectric crystal transducer that operates in the thickness longitudinal mode. Combination of this technology with electromagnetic, electrical, and magnetic fields permits multiple types of measurements to be made using the same resonator cavity.
Apparatus for performing multiple different measurements on a small specimen sample, enabling testing and diagnoses in real time at the point of care are described. The core of the apparatus includes an ultrasonic resonator cavity where acoustic resonances are used to determine the speed of sound and sound attenuation in a single droplet. Acoustic measurements are made in the reflection mode using electrical impedance of a small piezoelectric crystal transducer that operates in the thickness longitudinal mode. Combination of this technology with electromagnetic, electrical, and magnetic fields permits multiple types of measurements to be made using the same resonator cavity.
G01N 29/036 - Analysing fluids by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves
G01N 33/52 - Use of compounds or compositions for colorimetric, spectrophotometric or fluorometric investigation, e.g. use of reagent paper
G01N 29/22 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic wavesVisualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object Details
patents
