Patents by Inventor Darren Link
Darren Link 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: 20120309002Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods for sample multiplexing. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention obtaining a plurality of different reactant molecules, attaching a unique identifier to the reactant molecules, and forming a droplet including the reactant molecules.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: Raindance Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Darren Link
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Publication number: 20120244043Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic devices that include a reliable seal between a substrate of the device and a fluid transport mechanism. The devices of the invention include at least one internal channel, and at least one port in fluid communication with the channel. A seal is associated with the port and is configured to receive a fluid transport mechanism. The seal is formed from an elastomeric material that is compatible for use with fluorinated oil and resists flaking and degradation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2012Publication date: September 27, 2012Inventors: Sean Leblanc, Akim F. Lennhoff, Bruce Neumann, Ali Aslam, Darren Link, Alfred Paris, Gottfried Reiter, Dario Borovic, Christian Poeschl
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Publication number: 20110000560Abstract: The invention provides methods for assessing one or more predetermined characteristics or properties of a microfluidic droplet within a microfluidic channel, and regulating one or more fluid flow rates within that channel to selectively alter the predetermined microdroplet characteristic or property using a feedback control.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2010Publication date: January 6, 2011Applicant: Raindance Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Miller, Brian Hutchison, Andrew Wilson, Jonathan Larson, Qun Zhong, Yevgeny Yurkovetsky, Darren Link, Mark Weary
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Publication number: 20100022414Abstract: The present invention generally relates to droplet libraries and to systems and methods for the formation of libraries of droplets. The present invention also relates to methods utilizing these droplet libraries in various biological, chemical, or diagnostic assays.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2009Publication date: January 28, 2010Applicant: Raindance Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Darren Link, Brian Hutchison, Michael Samuels, Michael Weiner
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Publication number: 20090197248Abstract: The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2005Publication date: August 6, 2009Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: Andrew David Griffiths, David Weitz, Darren Link, Keunho Ahn, Jerome Bibette
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Publication number: 20090197772Abstract: The invention describes a method for the synthesis of compounds comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising two or more sets of primary compounds into microcapsules; such that a proportion of the microcapsules contains two or more compounds; and (b) forming secondary compounds in the microcapsules by chemical reactions between primary compounds from different sets; wherein one or both of steps (a) and (b) is performed under microfluidic control; preferably electronic microfluidic control The invention further allows for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, and which is co-compartmentalised into the microcapsules.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2005Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventors: Andrew Griffiths, David Weitz, Darren Link, Keunho Ahn, Jerome Bibette
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Publication number: 20090005254Abstract: The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a bio-chemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into micro-capsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2005Publication date: January 1, 2009Inventors: Andrew Griffiths, David Weitz, Darren Link, Keunho Ahn, Jerome Bibette
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Publication number: 20080014589Abstract: The present invention provides novel microfluidic substrates and methods that are useful for performing biological, chemical and diagnostic assays. The substrates can include a plurality of electrically addressable, channel bearing fluidic modules integrally arranged such that a continuous channel is provided for flow of immiscible fluids.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2007Publication date: January 17, 2008Inventors: Darren Link, Michael Weiner, David Marran, Jonathan Rothberg
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Publication number: 20080003142Abstract: The present invention provides novel microfluidic substrates and methods that are useful for performing biological, chemical and diagnostic assays. The substrates can include a plurality of electrically addressable, channel bearing fluidic modules integrally arranged such that a continuous channel is provided for flow of immiscible fluids.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2007Publication date: January 3, 2008Inventors: Darren Link, Michael Weiner, David Marran, Jonathan Rothberg
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Publication number: 20070195127Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for the control of fluidic species and, in particular, to the coalescence of fluidic droplets. In certain instances, the systems and methods are microfluidic. In one aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for causing two or more fluidic droplets within a channel to coalescence. The fluidic droplets may be of unequal size in certain cases. In some embodiments, a first fluidic droplet may be caused to move at a first velocity, and a second fluidic droplet may be caused to move at a second velocity different from the first velocity, for instance, substantially greater than the first velocity. The droplets may then coalesce, for example, upon application of an electric field. In the absence of an electric field, in some cases, the droplets may be unable to coalesce. In some cases, two series of fluidic droplets may coalesce, one or both series being substantially uniform.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2007Publication date: August 23, 2007Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: Keunho Ahn, Henry Chong, Jeremy Agresti, David Weitz, Darren Link
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Publication number: 20070184489Abstract: The invention describes a method for the synthesis of compounds comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising two or more sets of primary compounds into microcapsules; such that a proportion of the microcapsules contains two or more compounds; and (b) forming secondary compounds in the microcapsules by chemical reactions between primary compounds from different sets; wherein one or both of steps (a) and (b) is performed under microfluidic control; preferably electronic microfluidic control The invention further allows for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, and which is co-compartmentalised into the microcapsules.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2006Publication date: August 9, 2007Inventors: Andrew Griffiths, David Weitz, Darren Link, Keunho Ahn, Jerome Bibette
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Publication number: 20070092914Abstract: The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2006Publication date: April 26, 2007Inventors: Andrew Griffiths, David Weitz, Darren Link, Keunho Ahn, Jerome Bibette
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Publication number: 20070052781Abstract: The present invention relates generally to microfluidic structures, and more specifically, to microfluidic structures and methods including microreactors for manipulating fluids and reactions. In some embodiments, structures and methods for manipulating many (e.g., 1000) fluid samples, i.e., in the form of droplets, are described. Processes such as diffusion, evaporation, dilution, and precipitation can be controlled in each fluid sample. These methods also enable conditions within the fluid samples (e.g., concentration) to be controlled. Manipulation of fluid samples can be useful for a variety of applications, including testing for reaction conditions, e.g., in crystallization, chemical, and biological assays.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2005Publication date: March 8, 2007Applicants: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Brandeis UniversityInventors: Seth Fraden, Darren Link, Galder Cristobal-Azkarate, Jung Shim, David Weitz
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Publication number: 20070003442Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for making droplets of fluid surrounded by a liquid, using, for example, electric fields, mechanical alterations, the addition of an intervening fluid, etc. In some cases, the droplets may each have a substantially uniform number of entities therein. For example, 95% or more of the droplets may each contain the same number of entities of a particular species. In another aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for dividing a fluidic droplet into two droplets, for example, through charge and/or dipole interactions with an electric field. The invention also relates to systems and methods for fusing droplets according to another aspect of the invention, for example, through charge and/or dipole interactions. In some cases, the fusion of the droplets may initiate or determine a reaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: Darren Link, David Weitz, Galder Cristobal-Azkarate, Zhengdong Cheng, Keunho Ahn
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Publication number: 20060163385Abstract: This invention generally relates to systems and methods for the formation and/or control of fluidic species, and articles produced by such systems and methods. In some cases, the invention involves unique fluid channels, systems, controls, and/or restrictions, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention allows fluidic streams (which can be continuous or discontinuous, i.e., droplets) to be formed and/or combined, at a variety of scales, including microfluidic scales. In one set of embodiments, a fluidic stream may be produced from a channel, where a cross-sectional dimension of the fluidic stream is smaller than that of the channel, for example, through the use of structural elements, other fluids, and/or applied external fields, etc. In some cases, a Taylor cone may be produced.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2005Publication date: July 27, 2006Inventors: Darren Link, David Weitz, Manuel Marquez-Sanchez, Zhengdong Cheng
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Publication number: 20060078888Abstract: The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2004Publication date: April 13, 2006Inventors: Andrew Griffiths, David Weitz, Darren Link, Keunho Ahn, Jerome Bibette
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Publication number: 20060078893Abstract: The invention describes a method for the synthesis of compounds comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising two or more sets of primary compounds into microcapsules; such that a proportion of the microcapsules contains two or more compounds; and (b) forming secondary compounds in the microcapsules by chemical reactions between primary compounds from different sets; wherein one or both of steps (a) and (b) is performed under microfluidic control; preferably electronic microfluidic control The invention further allows for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, and which is co-compartmentalised into the microcapsules.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2004Publication date: April 13, 2006Inventors: Andrew Griffiths, David Weitz, Darren Link, Keunho Ahn, Jerome Bibette
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Publication number: 20050221339Abstract: The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2004Publication date: October 6, 2005Inventors: Andrew Griffiths, David Weitz, Darren Link, Keunho Ahn, Jerome Bibette
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Publication number: 20050172476Abstract: A microfluidic method and device for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid is provided. The device can be fabricated simply from readily-available, inexpensive material using simple techniques.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2004Publication date: August 11, 2005Applicants: President and Fellows of Havard College, The Governing Council of the University of TorontoInventors: Howard Stone, Shelley Anna, Nathalie Bontoux, Darren Link, David Weitz, Irina Gitlin, Eugenia Kumacheva, Piotr Garstecki, Willow Diluzio, George Whitesides