Patent ID: 11898993
Assignee: LABCYTE INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  B  H | IPC B  G  H

Claim 57:
58. A method of ejecting droplets from a reservoir of fluid, the method comprising:
with a fluid impermeable transducer comprising:
a casing;
a fluid impermeable transducer head comprising a metal focusing lens, wherein the fluid impermeable transducer head and the casing comprise titanium, the fluid impermeable transducer head having a back surface and a front surface, the metal focusing lens being disposed on the front surface and configured to focus ultrasound towards a focal point; and
an actuator bonded to the back surface of the fluid impermeable transducer head and operable to generate oscillatory mechanical vibration of the metal focusing lens so that ultrasound is emitted from the metal focusing lens towards the focal point, wherein the casing and fluid impermeable transducer head are connected in a fluid impermeable manner to prevent ingress of liquid into the casing, wherein the front surface of the fluid impermeable transducer head comprises:
a peripheral portion surrounding the metal focusing lens; and
an attenuation layer interfaced with the peripheral portion and configured to absorb ultrasonic energy emitted through the peripheral portion from the actuator;

immersing the metal focusing lens in an acoustic medium positioned to couple acoustic energy from the fluid impermeable transducer to the reservoir;
generating an acoustic pulse by the actuator at a frequency configured to cause droplet ejection from a fluid surface of the reservoir; and
passing the acoustic pulse from the actuator to the reservoir via the metal focusing lens.