Patent ID: 8353619

Claim:
A system for applying acoustic energy to a sample, comprising a housing; a vessel disposed within the housing for containing the sample; a chamber disposed within the housing for receiving the vessel; an acoustic energy source disposed within the housing, the acoustic energy source providing a focused acoustic field having a frequency of between about 100 kilohertz and about 100 megahertz and a width of less than about 2 cm to the sample contained in the vessel according to a treatment protocol; a processor disposed within the housing and in communication with the acoustic energy source, the processor for controlling the treatment protocol; at least one sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the at least one sensor detects information about at least one of a viscosity of the sample, presence of a solid in the sample, or a volume of the sample; and a user interface for displaying an indication based on the information detected by the at least one sensor of the at least one of the viscosity of the sample, the presence of a solid in the sample, or the volume of the sample, wherein the treatment protocol is adjusted based on a user input provided via the user interface and based at least in part on the at least one of the viscosity of the sample, the presence of a solid in the sample, or the volume of the sample that is detected, and wherein the user interface is configured to present a query that requires user input for adjustment of the treatment protocol in response to a determination that a condition exists in the vessel, the determination being made based on information detected by the at least one sensor, and wherein adjustment of the treatment protocol comprises modification of at least one parameter of treatment provided by the focused acoustic field.