Abstract:
A humidifier (1301) includes a water supply (1320) and a nebulizer bank (1310) having a plurality of ultrasonic nebulizers (1312), where each of the plurality of ultrasonic nebulizers is in fluid communication with the water supply and is structurally configured for breaking up water in liquid form into aerosol droplets for humidifying a volume. The humidifier further includes a controller (1330) in communication with each of the plurality of ultrasonic nebulizers to selectively activate each of the plurality of ultrasonic nebulizers independently from one another, where the controller is configured to stage activation of one or more of the plurality of nebulizers while accounting for at least one of: (i) a time from startup to a production of an aerosol droplet for each ultrasonic nebulizer; (ii) a threshold power consumption for the humidifier; (iii) a temperature of a component of the humidifier; and (iv) a predetermined humidity of the volume.
Abstract:
An electronic drive system for a droplet spay generation device of the type having a droplet generator including a perforate membrane driven by a piezoelectric transducer, the electronic drive system comprising: a programmable micro-controller providing a power supply for converting, in use, a battery supply voltage to power the device; a power amplifier connected to receive electric power from the power supply and supply a drive signal to the piezoelectric generator in use; and wherein the micro-controller is also arranged: to control the operation of the power amplifier, including the drive signal operating frequency at substantially its resonant frequency; to measure the current provided to the power amplifier by the power supply at a plurality of different frequencies; to determine, as the resonant frequency of the droplet generator, the frequency at which the maximum power is consumed by the amplifier, and to set the drive signal operating frequency at the resonant frequency.
Abstract:
A nozzle plate (201) for use in a liquid droplet production apparatus and such apparatus, the nozzle plate comprising a flexible substrate having a linear array of nozzles that extend through said plate, said nozzles being arranged in at least one line, forming thereby a nozzle- bearing region, wherein the substrate is curved so as to impart an increased longitudinal stiffness to it. The apparatus comprises a piezo actuator (202, 203), which may have sllots (211) separating fingers acting on the nozzle plate (201). The nozzle plate may be seaprable form the actuator.
Abstract:
A compact apparatus for atomisation of fluid samples comprises a sonotrode (11), placed so that an ultrasonic wave emitted by the sonotrode is directed through a channel (25) in a separate channel device (21) and reflected by from the interface (26) in a high-low impedance transition zone (Tz), so that a standing wave is formed within the channel. A positive air flow through the channel, driven by a pressure differential at each end of the channel, interacts with the working fluid or slurry being delivered by a fluid delivery device (30) to atomise it. The speed of the air flow and the dispersal, homogeneity, and size of particles in the slurry sample can be controlled by varying the shape of the channel outlet.
Abstract:
Coating materials such as MALDI matrix solutions are aerosolized and are used to coat analyte particles in an acoustic coater. Methods and devices for coating analyte particles in real time are disclosed. The coating improves the detection and quantification of the analyte particles using analytical instruments such as an aerosol time of flight mass spectrometer.
Abstract:
L'invention a pour objet un procédé de détection d'une insuffisance de liquide dans un dispositif (1) d'atomisation par ultrasons, le dispositif (1) comprenant au moins un élément piézoélectrique (8) apte à atomiser un liquide, le procédé étant caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend : - une étape de mise sous tension temporaire de l'élément piézoélectrique (8), de manière à provoquer une déformation de l'élément piézoélectrique (8), - une étape de mesure de l'intensité du courant électrique produit par l'élément piézoélectrique (8) sous l'action de sa déformation, et - une étape de comparaison de ladite intensité avec une valeur seuil prédéterminée, une insuffisance de liquide dans le dispositif d'atomisation (1) étant détectée si ladite intensité est inférieure à ladite valeur seuil.
Abstract:
There is provided a power supply indication circuit which may be adapted for use with a switched mode power supply or other constant voltage power supply. The circuit comprises a component for generating a signal indicating the power drawn from the power supply, a feedback portion for receiving the signal indicating the power drawn from the power supply, the feedback portion includes a signal generation component for generating a feedback signal, the feedback signal being used to adjust the power and current supplied to a component such as a high frequency agitation source drawing current from the power supply. The drive circuit is particularly suitable for use with a high frequency agitation source such as piezoelectric crystals.
Abstract:
A digital processor of a nebulizer controller controls and monitors drive current (I) applied to an aperture plate. The drive current is detected as a series of discrete values at each of multiple measuring points, each having a particular drive frequency The processor in real time calculates a slope or rate of change of drive current with frequency and additionally determines a minimum value for drive current leading up to the peak value. The processor uses both the value of the minimum drive current during the scan and also the maximum slope value to achieve reliable prediction of end of dose, when the aperture plate becomes dry.
Abstract:
In various arrangements, a nebulizer element of a nebulizer may be energized with a drive signal. A phase offset of the drive signal may be measured. A phase delta may be determined. The phase delta may indicate a difference between a target phase offset and the measured phase offset. The target phase offset may indicate a non-zero target phase difference between the voltage of the drive signal and the current of the drive signal. A frequency of the drive signal may be changed to decrease the phase delta.
Abstract:
Various arrangements for determining an atomization element of a nebulizer is dry are presented. The vibratable element of the nebulizer may be energized with an electrical signal that sweeps from a first frequency to a second frequency. While energizing the vibratable element of the nebulizer with the electrical signal that sweeps from the first frequency to the second frequency, a sequence of impedance values of the vibratable element of the nebulizer may be measured. The sequence of impedance values of the vibratable element of the nebulizer may be analyzed to determine if the atomization element of the nebulizer is wet or dry.