Patents by Inventor Chengxun Liu
Chengxun Liu 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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Publication number: 20190346358Abstract: An active sieve device for the isolation and characterization of bio-analytes is provided, comprising a substrate for supporting the bio-analytes. The substrate comprises a plurality of interconnections and a plurality of regions, each region comprising a hole and at least one electrode embedded in or located on the substrate and electrically associated with the hole. Each region further comprises at least one transistor integrated in the substrate and operably connected to the at least one electrode and to at least one of the plurality of interconnections.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: Tim Stakenborg, Chengxun Liu, Liesbet Lagae, Ronald Kox
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Publication number: 20190336974Abstract: Disclosed herein are microfluidic actuators for selecting objects in a fluid stream comprising a plurality of objects. In some embodiments, the actuator comprises an object detection means adapted for, upon arrival of an object, identifying whether an object is an object of interest. It further comprises a heater adapted for generating a jet flow for deflecting an object of interest from the fluid stream and a controller for activating the heater as function of the detection of an object of interest using a nucleation signal. The controller is adapted for obtaining temperature information of the heater and for adjusting a nucleation signal for the heater taking into account the obtained temperature information. Also disclosed are microfluidic systems and diagnostic devices comprising the microfluidic actuators of the disclosure, as well as methods of use thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2017Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Koen Johannes Hubertus Gerardus de Wijs, Chengxun Liu
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Publication number: 20190201901Abstract: At least one embodiment relates to a focusing arrangement for focusing particles or cells in a flow. The arrangement includes at least one channel for guiding the flow. The channel includes (i) at least one particle confinement structure having particle flow boundaries and (ii) at least one acoustic confinement structure having acoustic field boundaries adapted for confining acoustic fields. The acoustic field boundaries may be different from the particle flow boundaries, and the at least one acoustic confinement structure may be arranged with regard to the channel to at least partially confine acoustic fields in the channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2017Publication date: July 4, 2019Inventors: Shengping Mao, Erik Sohn, Xavier Rottenberg, Chengxun Liu
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Patent number: 10330580Abstract: A microfluidic magnetic selector comprises a microfluidic channel comprising at least one bifurcation, forming a selection portion of the selector and splitting the microfluidic channel into a main channel and at least one selection channel; at least one magnetic flux concentrator for concentrating a magnetic flux at the level of the bifurcation, and means for generating a magnetic field within the magnetic flux concentrator, and a controller for controlling magnetic pulses through the magnetic flux concentrator.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Richard Min, Liesbet Lagae, Chengxun Liu, Chengjun Huang
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Patent number: 10124338Abstract: The present disclosure relates to microbubble generator devices for deflecting objects in a liquid, systems for sorting objects that utilize such devices, and methods for fabricating such devices. At least one embodiment relates to a micro-fluidic device for deflecting objects in a liquid. The device includes a substrate for providing an object-containing liquid thereon. The device also includes a microbubble generator that includes at least one microbubble generating element. The microbubble generator is located on a surface of the substrate and in direct contact with the object-containing liquid when the object-containing liquid is provided on the substrate. The at least one microbubble generating element is configured to deflect a single object in the object-containing liquid through generation of a plurality of microbubbles.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Chengxun Liu, Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Bivragh Majeed
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Patent number: 9833781Abstract: An example micro-fluidic device includes a micro-fluidic channel having an inner surface and a plurality of pillars positioned along the inner surface. The device further includes a plurality of power supplies connected to the pillars. Another example micro-fluidic device includes a micro-fluidic channel having an inner surface and a plurality of pillars positioned along the inner surface. The device further includes a power supply. The pillars are grouped into at least two groups of pillars, each group of pillars including at least two pillars, and all pillars of at least one group of pillars are connected to the power supply. In another example, a sensing system for detecting bioparticles includes a micro-fluidic device, wherein a surface of each pillar comprises functionalized plasmonic nanoparticles or functionalized SERS nanoparticles, a radiation source for radiating the micro-fluidic device, and a detector for detecting SERS signals or surface plasmon resonance.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2014Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: IMECInventors: Chengjun Huang, Chengxun Liu, Liesbet Lagae, Paolo Fiorini, Benjamin Jones
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Publication number: 20170341078Abstract: The present disclosure relates to microbubble generator devices for deflecting objects in a liquid, systems for sorting objects that utilize such devices, and methods for fabricating such devices. At least one embodiment relates to a micro-fluidic device for deflecting objects in a liquid. The device includes a substrate for providing an object-containing liquid thereon. The device also includes a microbubble generator that includes at least one microbubble generating element. The microbubble generator is located on a surface of the substrate and in direct contact with the object-containing liquid when the object-containing liquid is provided on the substrate. The at least one microbubble generating element is configured to deflect a single object in the object-containing liquid through generation of a plurality of microbubbles.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2015Publication date: November 30, 2017Applicant: IMEC VZWInventors: Chengxun Liu, Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Bivragh Majeed
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Patent number: 9734577Abstract: A device and method for sorting objects immersed in a flowing medium are disclosed. An example device comprises a holographic imaging unit comprising one or more holographic imaging elements, a fluid handling unit comprising one or more microfluidic channels configured to conduct flowing medium along a corresponding holographic imaging element and at least one microfluidic switch arranged downstream of an imaging region in the microfluidic channel configured to direct objects in the flowing medium into a one of a plurality of outlets. The example device also comprises a processor configured to determine real-time characterizations of holographic diffraction images obtained for the moving objects. The processing unit is further configured to control the at least one microfluidic switch in response to the real-time characterizations.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignees: IMEC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KU Leuven R&DInventors: Liesbet Lagae, Peter Peumans, Kris Verstreken, Dries Vercruysse, Chengxun Liu
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Patent number: 9683253Abstract: The present invention provides a method to analyze or identify a cell. The method comprises: providing a cell, stimulating the cell with a stimulant thereby modifying a cell membrane impedance of the cell, monitoring the cell membrane impedance of the cell and identifying the cell based on the monitored cell membrane impedance. A corresponding device is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: IMECInventors: Chengxun Liu, Willem Van Roy, Liesbet Lagae, Chengjun Huang
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Patent number: 9597692Abstract: A method and device for the sorting and focusing of suspended particles is disclosed. The device has a micro-fluidic channel, at least one inlet and a number of outlets for providing, sorting and receiving particles. A patterned array of grooves is present inside the micro-fluidic channel. The inlets and outlets are connected to the micro-fluidic channel. The particles are sorted by the array of grooves. The method consists of providing particles in a flow-focused manner to one end of the micro-fluidic channel using at least one inlet. The particles are sorted by the array of grooves present in the micro-fluidic channel. Particles are collected by a number of outlets which are connected to the other end of the micro-fluidic channel.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2012Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignees: IMEC, Johns Hopkins UniversityInventors: Jorge A. Bernate, Chengxun Liu, Liesbet Lagae, German Drazer
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Publication number: 20170061619Abstract: A device and method for sorting objects immersed in a flowing medium are disclosed. An example device comprises a holographic imaging unit comprising one or more holographic imaging elements, a fluid handling unit comprising one or more microfluidic channels configured to conduct flowing medium along a corresponding holographic imaging element and at least one microfluidic switch arranged downstream of an imaging region in the microfluidic channel configured to direct objects in the flowing medium into a one of a plurality of outlets. The example device also comprises a processor configured to determine real-time characterizations of holographic diffraction images obtained for the moving objects. The processing unit is further configured to control the at least one microfluidic switch in response to the real-time characterizations.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicants: IMEC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KU LEUVEN R&DInventors: Liesbet Lagae, Peter Peumans, Kris Verstreken, Dries Vercruysse, Chengxun Liu
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Publication number: 20160370279Abstract: A microfluidic magnetic selector comprises a microfluidic channel comprising at least one bifurcation, forming a selection portion of the selector and splitting the microfluidic channel into a main channel and at least one selection channel; at least one magnetic flux concentrator for concentrating a magnetic flux at the level of the bifurcation, and means for generating a magnetic field within the magnetic flux concentrator, and a controller for controlling magnetic pulses through the magnetic flux concentrator.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2016Publication date: December 22, 2016Inventors: Richard Min, Liesbet Lagae, Chengxun Liu, Chengjun Huang
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Patent number: 9495742Abstract: A device and method for sorting objects immersed in a flowing medium are described. An example device comprises a holographic imaging unit comprising a plurality of holographic imaging elements, a fluid handling unit comprising a plurality of microfluidic channels for conducting flowing medium along a corresponding holographic imaging element and a microfluidic switch arranged downstream of an imaging region in the microfluidic channel for directing each object in the flowing medium into a one of a plurality of outlets. The example device also comprises a processing unit configured to determine real-time characterizations of holographic diffraction images obtained for each of the moving objects, with each real-time characterization accounting for at least one predetermined object-type signature. The processing unit is further adapted for controlling the microfluidic switches in response to the real-time characterizations.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignees: IMEC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KU LEUVEN R&DInventors: Liesbet Lagae, Peter Peumans, Kris Verstreken, Dries Vercruysse, Chengxun Liu
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Publication number: 20150355070Abstract: An active sieve device for the isolation and characterization of bio-analytes is provided, comprising a substrate for supporting the bio-analytes. The substrate comprises a plurality of interconnections and a plurality of regions, each region comprising a hole and at least one electrode embedded in or located on the substrate and electrically associated with the hole. Each region further comprises at least one transistor integrated in the substrate and operably connected to the at least one electrode and to at least one of the plurality of interconnections.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2015Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Tim Stakenborg, Chengxun Liu, Liesbet Lagae, Ronald Kox
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Publication number: 20140376816Abstract: A device (1) for sorting objects immersed in a flowing medium is described. The device comprises a holographic imaging unit comprising a plurality of holographic imaging elements (2), a fluid handling unit comprising a plurality of microfluidic channels (3) for conducting flowing medium along a corresponding holographic imaging element (2) and comprising a microfluidic switch (5) arranged downstream of an imaging region in the microfluidic channel for controllably directing each object in the flowing medium into a selected one of a plurality of outlets (6). The device also comprises a processing unit (7) adapted for real-time characterization of the holographic diffraction image obtained for each of the objects thereby taking into account at least one predetermined object type signature. The processing unit (7) furthermore is adapted for controlling the microfluidic switch (5) in response to the characterization.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2012Publication date: December 25, 2014Applicants: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KU LEUVEN R&D, IMECInventors: Liesbet Lagae, Peter Peumans, Kris Verstreken, Dries Vercruysse, Chengxun Liu
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Publication number: 20140339090Abstract: An example micro-fluidic device includes a micro-fluidic channel having an inner surface and a plurality of pillars positioned along the inner surface. The device further includes a plurality of power supplies connected to the pillars. Another example micro-fluidic device includes a micro-fluidic channel having an inner surface and a plurality of pillars positioned along the inner surface. The device further includes a power supply. The pillars are grouped into at least two groups of pillars, each group of pillars including at least two pillars, and all pillars of at least one group of pillars are connected to the power supply. In another example, a sensing system for detecting bioparticles includes a micro-fluidic device, wherein a surface of each pillar comprises functionalized plasmonic nanoparticles or functionalized SERS nanoparticles, a radiation source for radiating the micro-fluidic device, and a detector for detecting SERS signals or surface plasmon resonance.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: IMECInventors: Chengjun Huang, Chengxun Liu, Liesbet Lagae, Paolo Fiorini, Benjamin Jones
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Publication number: 20140284221Abstract: The present invention provides a method to analyze or identify a cell. The method comprises: providing a cell, stimulating the cell with a stimulant thereby modifying a cell membrane impedance of the cell, monitoring the cell membrane impedance of the cell and identifying the cell based on the monitored cell membrane impedance. A corresponding device is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2014Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: IMECInventors: Chengxun Liu, Willem Van Roy, Liesbet Lagae
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Publication number: 20140174994Abstract: A method and device for the sorting and focusing of suspended particles is disclosed. The device has a micro-fluidic channel, at least one inlet and a number of outlets for providing, sorting and receiving particles. A patterned array of grooves is present inside the micro-fluidic channel. The inlets and outlets are connected to the micro-fluidic channel. The particles are sorted by the array of grooves. The method consists of providing particles in a flow-focused manner to one end of the micro-fluidic channel using at least one inlet. The particles are sorted by the array of grooves present in the micro-fluidic channel. Particles are collected by a number of outlets which are connected to the other end of the micro-fluidic channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicants: JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, IMECInventors: Jorge A. Bemate, Chengxun Liu, Liesbet Lagae, German Drazer
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Patent number: 8409415Abstract: A device for manipulating magnetic or magnetizable objects in a medium is provided. The device has a surface lying in a plane and comprises a set of at least two conductors electrically isolated from each other, wherein the at least two conductors are adapted for both generating a magnetophoresis force for moving the magnetic or magnetizable objects over the surface of the device in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the surface, and generating a dielectrophoresis force for moving the magnetic or magnetizable objects in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the surface. Also provided is a method for manipulating magnetic or magnetizable objects in a medium. The method uses a combined magnetophoresis and dielectrophoresis actuation principle for controlling in-plane as well as out-of-plane movement of the magnetic or magnetizable objects.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2007Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: IMECInventors: Chengxun Liu, Liesbet Lagae
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Publication number: 20130043132Abstract: A device for manipulating magnetic or magnetizable objects in a medium is provided. The device has a surface lying in a plane and comprises a set of at least two conductors electrically isolated from each other, wherein the at least two conductors are adapted for both generating a magnetophoresis force for moving the magnetic or magnetizable objects over the surface of the device in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the surface, and generating a dielectrophoresis force for moving the magnetic or magnetizable objects in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the surface. Also provided is a method for manipulating magnetic or magnetizable objects in a medium. The method uses a combined magnetophoresis and dielectrophoresis actuation principle for controlling in-plane as well as out-of-plane movement of the magnetic or magnetizable objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2007Publication date: February 21, 2013Applicants: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC)Inventors: Chengxun Liu, Liesbet Lagae