a method and apparatus for exposing a sample , including a liquid and another material , to sonic energy to produce a desired result such as , suspending a material support in the liquid . the material support may be a bead or other particle with at least one surface feature to which the material may bind . material in the liquid may attach to the material support , such as by specific or non - specific binding , entrapment or other , so as to facilitate separation of the material from the liquid . separation of the material supports from the liquid and other unbound material may be done by allowing the material supports to settle out , e . g ., under the force of gravity and / or as assisted by centrifugation , by applying a magnetic field in case the supports or material bound to the supports are movable by way of a magnetic field , or other techniques .