Patents by Inventor Andrea W. Chow
Andrea W. Chow has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11235333Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise microfluidic devices, instrumentation interfacing with those devices, processes for fabricating that device, and methods of employing that device to perform PCR amplification. Embodiments of the invention are also compatible with quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (“qPCR”) processes. Microfluidic devices in accordance with the invention may contain a plurality of parallel processing channels. Fully independent reactions can take place in each of the plurality of parallel processing channels. The availability of independent processing channels allows a microfluidic device in accordance with the invention to be used in a number of ways. For example, separate samples could be processed in each of the independent processing channels. Alternatively, different loci on a single sample could be processed in multiple processing channels.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2018Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Morten J. Jensen, Andrea W. Chow, Colin B. Kennedy, Stephane Mouradian
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Publication number: 20210299667Abstract: A photonic thermocycling device is configured to thermocycle a biological sample. The thermocycling device comprises a light source configured to emit an illumination beam, a reaction block holding a reaction chamber, and a light-absorbing film is coupled to the reaction block and configured to absorb and convert the illumination beam into thermal energy to heat the reaction chamber. A controller generates instructions for operation of the thermocycling device. The thermocycling device may further comprise a temperature sensor to measure the temperature of the reaction chamber for calibration of the instructions. A convection cooling element may also be implemented to provide rapid cooling of the reaction chamber. A lens assembly may be implemented for directing and conditioning light generated by the light source towards the light-absorbing film. A second partial light-absorbing film may be included and coupled on an opposite side of the first light-absorbing film, to improve heating uniformity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Weidong Cao, Trevor Sierra Foss, Brandy Michelle Baird, Jeffrey William Reed, Mark Frederick Senko, Andrea W. Chow
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Patent number: 10428377Abstract: Methods are provided for detecting low copy nucleic acids of interest in a sample. In one method, a sample comprising a nucleic acid of interest is aliquotted into a plurality of reaction mixtures, at least two of which are single-copy reaction mixtures. The reaction mixtures are subjected to one or more amplification reactions while flowing through a channel of a microfluidic device. At least one of the reaction mixtures is formulated in an aqueous phase of an emulsion comprising aqueous droplets suspended in an immiscible liquid. The nucleic acid of interest is present as a single copy in at least one aqueous droplet of the aqueous phase prior to performing the amplification reaction(s). Amplification is performed on the reaction mixture when it is formulated in the emulsion. The nucleic acid is continuously flowed during a plurality of steps of the method.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: CALIPER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.Inventors: Michael R. Knapp, Jill M. Baker, Andrea W. Chow, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, Michael Spaid
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Patent number: 10138517Abstract: An array of transportable particle sets is used in a microfluidic device for performing chemical reactions in the microfluidic device. The microfluidic device comprises a main channel and intersecting side channels, the main channel and side channels forming a plurality of intersections. The array of particle sets is disposed in the main channel, and the side channels are coupled to reagents. As the particle sets are transported through the intersections of the main channel and the side channels, reagents are flowed through the side channels into contact with each array member (or selected array members), thereby providing a plurality of chemical reactions in the microfluidic system.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2017Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: CALIPER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.Inventors: Tammy Burd Mehta, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, J. Wallace Parce, Andrea W. Chow, Luc J. Bousse, Michael R. Knapp, Theo T. Nikiforov, Steve Gallagher
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Publication number: 20180272354Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise microfluidic devices, instrumentation interfacing with those devices, processes for fabricating that device, and methods of employing that device to perform PCR amplification. Embodiments of the invention are also compatible with quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (“qPCR”) processes. Microfluidic devices in accordance with the invention may contain a plurality of parallel processing channels. Fully independent reactions can take place in each of the plurality of parallel processing channels. The availability of independent processing channels allows a microfluidic device in accordance with the invention to be used in a number of ways. For example, separate samples could be processed in each of the independent processing channels. Alternatively, different loci on a single sample could be processed in multiple processing channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: Morten J. Jensen, Andrea W. Chow, Colin B. Kennedy, Stephane Mouradian
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Patent number: 9987636Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise microfluidic devices, instrumentation interfacing with those devices, processes for fabricating that device, and methods of employing that device to perform PCR amplification. Embodiments of the invention are also compatible with quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (“qPCR”) processes. Microfluidic devices in accordance with the invention may contain a plurality of parallel processing channels. Fully independent reactions can take place in each of the plurality of parallel processing channels. The availability of independent processing channels allows a microfluidic device in accordance with the invention to be used in a number of ways. For example, separate samples could be processed in each of the independent processing channels. Alternatively, different loci on a single sample could be processed in multiple processing channels.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: CALIPER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.Inventors: Morten J Jensen, Andrea W Chow, Colin B. Kennedy, Stephane Mouradian
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Publication number: 20170356040Abstract: An array of transportable particle sets is used in a microfluidic device for performing chemical reactions in the microfluidic device. The microfluidic device comprises a main channel and intersecting side channels, the main channel and side channels forming a plurality of intersections. The array of particle sets is disposed in the main channel, and the side channels are coupled to reagents. As the particle sets are transported through the intersections of the main channel and the side channels, reagents are flowed through the side channels into contact with each array member (or selected array members), thereby providing a plurality of chemical reactions in the microfluidic system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventors: Tammy Burd Mehta, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, J. Wallace Parce, Andrea W. Chow, Luc J. Bousse, Michael R. Knapp, Theo T. Nikiforov, Steve Gallagher
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Patent number: 9683994Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods for performing pulsed field mobility shift assays in microfluidic devices. In particular, the methods of the invention utilize differences between electrophoretic mobilities (e.g., as between reactants and products, especially in non-fluorogenic reactions) in order to separate the species and thus analyze the reaction.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2012Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Andrea W. Chow, John C. Owicki, J. Wallace Parce
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Patent number: 9670541Abstract: An array of transportable particle sets is used in a microfluidic device for performing chemical reactions in the microfluidic device. The microfluidic device comprises a main channel and intersecting side channels, the main channel and side channels forming a plurality of intersections. The array of particle sets is disposed in the main channel, and the side channels are coupled to reagents. As the particle sets are transported through the intersections of the main channel and the side channels, reagents are flowed through the side channels into contact with each array member (or selected array members), thereby providing a plurality of chemical reactions in the microfluidic system.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2015Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: CALIPER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.Inventors: Tammy Burd Mehta, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, J. Wallace Parce, Andrea W. Chow, Luc J. Bousse, Michael R. Knapp, Theo T. Nikiforov, Steve Gallagher
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Publication number: 20160040226Abstract: An array of transportable particle sets is used in a microfluidic device for performing chemical reactions in the microfluidic device. The microfluidic device comprises a main channel and intersecting side channels, the main channel and side channels forming a plurality of intersections. The array of particle sets is disposed in the main channel, and the side channels are coupled to reagents. As the particle sets are transported through the intersections of the main channel and the side channels, reagents are flowed through the side channels into contact with each array member (or selected array members), thereby providing a plurality of chemical reactions in the microfluidic system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2015Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Tammy Burd Mehta, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, J. Wallace Parce, Andrea W. Chow, Luc J. Bousse, Michael R. Knapp, Theo T. Nikiforov, Steve Gallagher
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Publication number: 20150224505Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise microfluidic devices, instrumentation interfacing with those devices, processes for fabricating that device, and methods of employing that device to perform PCR amplification. Embodiments of the invention are also compatible with quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (“qPCR”) processes. Microfluidic devices in accordance with the invention may contain a plurality of parallel processing channels. Fully independent reactions can take place in each of the plurality of parallel processing channels. The availability of independent processing channels allows a microfluidic device in accordance with the invention to be used in a number of ways. For example, separate samples could be processed in each of the independent processing channels. Alternatively, different loci on a single sample could be processed in multiple processing channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Inventors: Morten J. Jensen, Andrea W. Chow, Colin B. Kennedy, Stephane Mouradian
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Patent number: 9101928Abstract: An array of transportable particle sets is used in a microfluidic device for performing chemical reactions in the microfluidic device. The microfluidic device comprises a main channel and intersecting side channels, the main channel and side channels forming a plurality of intersections. The array of particle sets is disposed in the main channel, and the side channels are coupled to reagents. As the particle sets are transported through the intersections of the main channel and the side channels, reagents are flowed through the side channels into contact with each array member (or selected array members), thereby providing a plurality of chemical reactions in the microfluidic system.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2011Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Tammy Burd Mehta, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, J. Wallace Parce, Andrea W. Chow, Luc J. Bousse, Michael R. Knapp, Theo T. Nikiforov, Steve Gallagher
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Patent number: 9097723Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatuses that allow a protein sample to undergo reduction, alkylation, and digestion in a continuous flow process carried out within a microfluidic device. Methods and apparatuses in accordance with the invention can be employed as part of an automated proteomics analysis carried out in an integrated proteomics system.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2006Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Bahram Fathollahi, Javier A. Farinas, Andrea W. Chow, Stephane Mouradian
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Publication number: 20140227709Abstract: Methods are provided for detecting low copy nucleic acids of interest in a sample. In one method, a sample comprising a nucleic acid of interest is aliquotted into a plurality of reaction mixtures, at least two of which are single-copy reaction mixtures. The reaction mixtures are subjected to one or more amplification reactions while flowing through a channel of a microfluidic device. At least one of the reaction mixtures is formulated in an aqueous phase of an emulsion comprising aqueous droplets suspended in an immiscible liquid. The nucleic acid of interest is present as a single copy in at least one aqueous droplet of the aqueous phase prior to performing the amplification reaction(s). Amplification is performed on the reaction mixture when it is formulated in the emulsion. The nucleic acid is continuously flowed during a plurality of steps of the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: CALIPER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.Inventors: Michael R. Knapp, Jill M. Baker, Andrea W. Chow, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, Michael Spaid
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Patent number: 8697362Abstract: Methods are provided for detecting low copy nucleic acids of interest in a sample. In one method, a sample comprising a nucleic acid of interest is aliquotted into a plurality of reaction mixtures, at least two of which are single-copy reaction mixtures. The reaction mixtures are subjected to one or more amplification reactions while flowing through a channel of a microfluidic device. At least one of the reaction mixtures is formulated in an aqueous phase of an emulsion comprising aqueous droplets suspended in an immiscible liquid. The nucleic acid of interest is present as a single copy in at least one aqueous droplet of the aqueous phase prior to performing the amplification reaction(s). Amplification is performed on the reaction mixture when it is formulated in the emulsion. The nucleic acid is continuously flowed during a plurality of steps of the method.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2007Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Knapp, Jill M. Baker, Andrea W. Chow, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, Michael A. Spaid
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Publication number: 20120273353Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods for performing pulsed field mobility shift assays in microfluidic devices. In particular, the methods of the invention utilize differences between electrophoretic mobilities (e.g., as between reactants and products, especially in non-fluorogenic reactions) in order to separate the species and thus analyze the reaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Andrea W. Chow, John C. Owicki, J. Wallace Parce
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Patent number: 8275554Abstract: Systems for differentiating the lengths of nucleic acids of interest in a sample are provided. The system includes a microfluidic device, a detector, and a software system. The microfluidic device includes an amplification microchannel or microchamber containing a reaction mixture under conditions that provide one or more amplicons of the nucleic acid of interest. The detector is integral with or proximal to the microfluidic device and is configured to detect the amplicons as one or more signals from a homogenous mixture. The software system interprets one or more coincidentally detected signals to indicate lengths of one or more individual nucleic acid molecules of interest, thereby differentiating the lengths of the nucleic acids of interest.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2010Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Knapp, Jill M. Baker, Andrea W. Chow, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, Michael A. Spaid
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Patent number: 8241883Abstract: The present invention provides novel microfluidic devices and methods for performing pulsed field mobility shift assays in microfluidic devices. In particular the devices and methods of the invention utilize differences between electrophoretic mobilities (e.g., as between reactants and products, especially in non-fluorogenic reactions) in order to separate the species and thus analyze the reaction.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2006Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Andrea W. Chow, John C. Owicki, J. Wallace Parce
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Patent number: 8216852Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods for controlling/manipulating materials flowing in a fluidic device. In particular, the methods of the invention create and utilize differences between dispersion rates and/or average velocity of materials in order to manipulate the materials.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Andrea W. Chow, H. Garrett Wada
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Publication number: 20110118139Abstract: An array of transportable particle sets is used in a microfluidic device for performing chemical reactions in the microfluidic device. The microfluidic device comprises a main channel and intersecting side channels, the main channel and side channels forming a plurality of intersections. The array of particle sets is disposed in the main channel, and the side channels are coupled to reagents. As the particle sets are transported through the intersections of the main channel and the side channels, reagents are flowed through the side channels into contact with each array member (or selected array members), thereby providing a plurality of chemical reactions in the microfluidic system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2011Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: CALIPER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.Inventors: Tammy Burd Mehta, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, J. Wallace Parce, Andrea W. Chow, Luc J. Bousse, Michael R. Knapp, Theo T. Nikiforov, Steve Gallagher