Patent ID: 6914364

Claim:
A system for delivering broadband ultrasound to liquid, comprising: first and second ultrasonic transducers, each including two or more compressed ceramic elements, the first ultrasonic transducer characterized by a first fundamental frequency, at least one harmonic frequency of the first fundamental frequency, and a first ultrasound bandwidth extending about the at least one harmonic frequency of the first fundamental frequency, the second ultrasonic transducer characterized by a second fundamental frequency, at least one harmonic frequency of the second fundamental frequency, and a second ultrasound bandwidth extending about the at least one harmonic frequency of the second fundamental frequency, the first and second bandwidths being overlapping with each other, the first fundamental frequency being different from the second fundamental frequency, wherein said harmonic frequencies are other than integer multiples of said fundamental frequencies; and ultrasonic generator means for driving the ultrasonic transducers at frequencies within the bandwidths, the first and second ultrasonic transducers and the ultrasonic generator means being constructed and arranged so as to produce ultrasound within the liquid and with a combined bandwidth that is greater than either of the first or second bandwidths.