Apparatus and methods for controlling sonic treatment

1. An apparatus for processing at least one sample, comprising:

(a) vessel for holding the at least one sample and including at least one inlet for flowing the at least one sample in a liquid medium into the vessel and at least one outlet for flowing the at least one sample in the liquid medium out of the vessel; and

(b) an acoustic energy source spaced from and exterior to the vessel for providing at least one focused acoustic field having a frequency of between about 100 kilohertz and about 100 megahertz and having a focal zone having a width of less than about 2 centimeters to the at least one sample while the at least one sample is in the vessel, wherein at least a portion of acoustic energy from the acoustic energy source propagates exterior to the vessel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one focused acoustic field has a focal zone smaller than the vessel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one focused acoustic field has a focal zone larger than the vessel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one focused acoustic field includes a plurality of focused acoustic fields and the acoustic energy source includes a plurality of acoustic transducers for providing the plurality of the focused acoustic fields to the at least one sample.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , including a positioning system for positioning the at least one sample and the at least one focused acoustic field relative to each other.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , including a processor for controlling a positioning system to stop sample movement relative to the acoustic energy source to facilitate treating of the at least one sample.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , including a processor for controlling a positioning system to dither a relative position of the at least one sample and the focal zone.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sample includes at least one of a mineral or a biological material.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sample is suspended in the liquid medium.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the liquid medium includes a solvent.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sample includes a first molecule and a second molecule, and the second molecule is different from the first molecule.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one sample includes a first nucleic acid molecule and the second molecule includes a second nucleic acid molecule.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first nucleic acid molecule is a primer and the second nucleic acid molecule is a substrate molecule.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sample includes an antibody and a molecule to which the antibody binds.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sample includes a substrate and a ligand.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sample includes at least one of an antibody and a receptor and further comprising a support surface for immobilizing the at least one of the antibody and the receptor.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sample is heated in response to the at least one focused acoustic field.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the at least one sample is disrupted in response to the at least one focused acoustic field.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein permeability of the at least one sample is increased in response to the at least one focused acoustic field.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a reaction within the at least one sample is enhanced in response to the at least one focused acoustic field.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein extra-cellular membranes of the at least one sample are disrupted in response to the at least one focused acoustic field.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a barrier function of a structure in the at least one sample is lessened in response to the at least one focused acoustic field.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 , including a processor for controlling the acoustic energy source to be on during a treat interval and off during a dead interval.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the processor controls a frequency of operation of the acoustic energy source.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the processor controls a duty cycle of operation of the acoustic energy source.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a system for transferring the vessel into or out of a treatment apparatus.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 , including a processor for controlling flow of the liquid medium into and out of the vessel to control exposure of the at least one sample to the at least one focused acoustic field.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 , including a processor for controlling the acoustic energy source to control exposure of the at least one sample to the at least one focused acoustic field.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 , including a processor for varying a frequency of the acoustic energy source to control exposure of the at least one sample to the at least one focused acoustic field.

30. The apparatus of claim 1 , including a feedback system having a sensor for providing feedback information relevant to the at least one sample.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 , including a processor for determining a state of treatment of the at least one sample based, at least in part, on the feedback information.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the processor controls flow of the at least one sample and the liquid medium based, at least in part, on determination of the state of treatment.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the processor controls a transducer based, at least in part, on determination of the state of treatment.

34. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the sensor includes an acoustic transducer for detecting acoustic emissions from the liquid medium.

35. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the sensor includes an acoustic transducer for detecting acoustic reflections from the at least one sample.

36. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the sensor includes a temperature sensor and the feedback information includes temperature information.

37. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the sensor includes optical detection and the feedback information includes spectral information.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the spectral information includes at least one of spectral excitation, absorption, fluorescence, and emission of the at least one sample.

39. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a coupling medium for coupling the focused acoustic field to the at least one sample, wherein said coupling medium does not contact the at least one sample.

40. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vessel is a conduit.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the at least one sample is held within a separate container included within the conduit.

42. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a plurality of containers each capable of holding at least one sample.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 , wherein the vessel comprises at least one of a microtiter plate, a blister pack, and an array of polymeric bubbles.

44. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the focused acoustic field has a focal zone with a width of less than about 1 cm.

45. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the focused acoustic field has a focal zone with a width of less than about 1 mm.

46. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the width corresponds to a diameter of the focal zone.

47. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic energy source for providing the at least one focused acoustic field is modulated to produce multiple foci.

48. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic energy source for providing the at least one focused acoustic field generates a cigar-shaped focal zone.

49. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic energy source for providing the at least one focused acoustic field generates an ellipsoidal shaped focal zone.

50. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sample is a fluid.

51. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sample and the liquid medium are substantially similar.

52. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one focused acoustic field sterilizes the at least one sample.

53. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one focused acoustic field aids the at least one sample to flow toward the at least one outlet.

54. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vessel has a width of at least about 10 mm.

55. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber having substantially vertical walls.

56. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber having a portion that is substantially conical in shape.

57. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber having a portion that is substantially hemispherical in shape.

58. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein flow of the at least one sample in a liquid medium comprises laminar flow.

59. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein flow of the at least one sample in a liquid medium comprises turbulent flow.

60. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one acoustic field propagates with sufficient energy to induce cavitation in the liquid medium.

61. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a container for holding a liquid coupling medium through which acoustic energy from the acoustic energy source travels to the vessel and the at least one sample, the liquid coupling medium contacting the vessel but not contacting the at least one sample.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the acoustic energy source is located in the container so as to be in contact with the liquid coupling medium when the liquid coupling medium is held by the container.