Patents by Inventor Kieran Curran
Kieran Curran 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: 9777269Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for handling sample liquids, encapsulating liquids and magnetic particles are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: GenCell Biosystems Ltd.Inventors: Kieran Curran, David McGuire
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Publication number: 20170120250Abstract: Complete nucleic acid library preparation devices are provided. Aspects of the devices include: a thermal chip module comprising multiple CLC reaction wells; one or more plate locations; a robotically controlled liquid handler configured to transfer liquid between the one or more plate locations and the thermal chip module; and a bulk reagent dispenser configured to access each CLC reaction well of the thermal chip module.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2015Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventors: Brian Barrett, Noel Sirr, Brian Chawke, Kieran Curran, John Daly
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Publication number: 20170022541Abstract: A sample handling method may include drawing an encapsulating liquid from an encapsulating-liquid input; discharging the drawn encapsulating liquid (a) onto a free surface of a carrier liquid in a carrier-liquid conduit comprising a stabilisation feature and (b) proximate to the stabilisation feature, the encapsulating liquid being immiscible with the carrier liquid, so that the discharged encapsulating liquid does not mix with the carrier liquid, floats on top of the carrier liquid, and is immobilised by the stabilisation feature; drawing a sample liquid from a sample-liquid input; and discharging the drawn sample liquid, the sample liquid being immiscible with the encapsulating liquid and with the carrier liquid, so that the sample liquid does not mix with the encapsulating liquid or with the carrier liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: Kieran Curran, Paul Fleming, Seamus Gilhooley, Micheál Keane, Inga Rosca, Patrick Tuohy
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Publication number: 20160339435Abstract: A bridge (30) comprises a first inlet port (31) at the end of a capillary, a narrower second inlet port (32) which is an end of a capillary, an outlet port (33) which is an end of a capillary, and a chamber (34) for silicone oil. The oil is density-matched with the reactor droplets such that a neutrally buoyant environment is created within the chamber (34). The oil within the chamber is continuously replenished by the oil separating the reactor droplets. This causes the droplets to assume a stable capillary-suspended spherical form upon entering the chamber (34). The spherical shape grows until large enough to span the gap between the ports, forming an axisymmetric liquid bridge. The introduction of a second droplet from the second inlet port (32) causes the formation of an unstable funicular bridge that quickly ruptures from the, finer, second inlet port (32), and the droplets combine at the liquid bridge (30).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Inventors: Mark Davies, Tara Dalton, Kieran Curran
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Patent number: 9493816Abstract: A sample handling method may include drawing an encapsulating liquid from an encapsulating-liquid input; discharging the drawn encapsulating liquid (a) onto a free surface of a carrier liquid in a carrier-liquid conduit having a stabilization feature and (b) proximate to the stabilization feature, the encapsulating liquid being immiscible with the carrier liquid, so that the discharged encapsulating liquid does not mix with the carrier liquid, floats on top of the carrier liquid, and is immobilized by the stabilization feature; drawing a sample liquid from a sample-liquid input; and discharging the drawn sample liquid, the sample liquid being immiscible with the encapsulating liquid and with the carrier liquid, so that the sample liquid does not mix with the encapsulating liquid or with the carrier liquid.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: GenCell Biosytems Ltd.Inventors: Kieran Curran, Paul Fleming, Seamus Gilhooley, Micheál Keane, Inga Rosca, Patrick Tuohy
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Publication number: 20160281135Abstract: Provided herein is a biological detection system and method of use wherein the biological detection system comprises at least one mixer or liquid bridge for combining at least two liquid droplets and an error correction system for detecting whether or not proper mixing or combining of the two component droplets have occurred.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2016Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventors: Mauro Aguanno, Brian T. Chawke, Kieran Curran, Tara Dalton, Mark Davies, Xiaona Hou, David Kinahan, Mark Korenke, David McGuire, Michael Sayers, Noel Sirr, Ryan J. Talbot, Brian Barrett, Damian Curtin, Damien King, Conor McCarthy
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Publication number: 20160271606Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for charging fluids are disclosed. The charging of fluids improves the mixing of fluids in microfluidic systems. The charging is performed by producing an ion field between an ionizing electrode and an opposed ground electrode. A fluid-containing vessel is positioned between the opposed electrodes and the ion field charges the fluid in the vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Brian Chawke, Kieran Curran, David McGuire, Michael Sayers, Noel Sirr
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Patent number: 9322511Abstract: A bridge comprises a first inlet port, a second inlet port, an outlet port, and a chamber for silicone oil. The oil is density-matched with the reactor droplets such that a neutrally buoyant environment is created within the chamber. The oil within the chamber is continuously replenished by the oil separating the reactor droplets. This causes the droplets to assume a stable capillary-suspended spherical form upon entering the chamber. The spherical shape grows until large enough to span the gap between the ports, forming an axisymmetric liquid bridge. The introduction of a second droplet from the second inlet port causes the formation of an unstable funicular bridge that quickly ruptures from the, finer, second inlet port, and the droplets combine at the liquid bridge. In another embodiment, a droplet segments into smaller droplets which bridge the gap between the inlet and outlet ports.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2012Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Stokes Bio LimitedInventors: Mark Davies, Tara Dalton, Kieran Curran
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Publication number: 20160102341Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for hand-tag sample liquids, encapsulating liquids and magnetic particles are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2014Publication date: April 14, 2016Inventors: Kieran Curran, Robert Roeven
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Publication number: 20150352513Abstract: A multi-port liquid bridge (1) adds aqueous phase droplets (10) in an enveloping oil phase carrier liquid (11) to a draft channel (4, 6). A chamber (3) links four ports, and it is permanently full of oil (11) when in use. Oil phase is fed in a draft flow from an inlet port (4) and exits through a draft exit port (6) and a compensating flow port (7). The oil carrier and the sample droplets (3) (“aqueous phase”) flow through the inlet port (5) with an equivalent fluid flow subtracted through the compensating port (7). The ports of the bridge (1) are formed by the ends of capillaries help in position in plastics housings. The phases are density matched to create an environment where gravitational forces are negligible. This results in droplets (10) adopting spherical forms when suspended from capillary tube tips. Furthermore, the equality of mass flow is equal to the equality of volume flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2015Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Mark Davies, Tara Dalton, Julie Garvey, Kieran Curran, Damian Curtin
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Publication number: 20150283541Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for making and handling liquid samples are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2013Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: GenCell Boisystems ltd.Inventors: Kieran Curran, David McGuire, Brian Chawke, Paul Fleming, Brian Barrett, Noel Sirr
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Publication number: 20150238920Abstract: Complete nucleic acid library preparation devices are provided. Aspects of the devices include: a thermal chip module comprising multiple nodes; one or more plate locations; a robotically controlled liquid handler configured to transfer liquid between the one or more plate locations and the thermal chip module; and a bulk reagent dispenser configured to access each node of the thermal chip module.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2015Publication date: August 27, 2015Inventors: Kieran Curran, Brian Chawke, Noel Sirr
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Patent number: 9108177Abstract: A multi-port liquid bridge (1) adds aqueous phase droplets (10) in an enveloping oil phase carrier liquid (11) to a draft channel (4, 6). A chamber (3) links four ports, and it is permanently full of oil (11) when in use. Oil phase is fed in a draft flow from an inlet port (4) and exits through a draft exit port (6) and a compensating flow port (7). The oil carrier and the sample droplets (3) (“aqueous phase”) flow through the inlet port (5) with an equivalent fluid flow subtracted through the compensating port (7). The ports of the bridge (1) are formed by the ends of capillaries held in position in plastics housings. The phases are density matched to create an environment where gravitational forces are negligible. This results in droplets (10) adopting spherical forms when suspended from capillary tube tips. Furthermore, the equality of mass flow is equal to the equality of volume flow.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2013Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: Stokes Bio LimitedInventors: Mark Davies, Tara Dalton, Julie Garvey, Kieran Curran, Damian Curtin
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Publication number: 20150211052Abstract: A sample handling method may include drawing an encapsulating liquid from an encapsulating-liquid input; discharging the drawn encapsulating liquid (a) onto a free surface of a carrier liquid in a carrier-liquid conduit comprising a stabilisation feature and (b) proximate to the stabilisation feature, the encapsulating liquid being immiscible with the carrier liquid, so that the discharged encapsulating liquid does not mix with the carrier liquid, floats on top of the carrier liquid, and is immobilised by the stabilisation feature; drawing a sample liquid from a sample-liquid input; and discharging the drawn sample liquid, the sample liquid being immiscible with the encapsulating liquid and with the carrier liquid, so that the sample liquid does not mix with the encapsulating liquid or with the carrier liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: Kieran Curran, Paul Fleming, Seamus Gilhooley, Micheál Keane, Inga Rosca, Patrick Tuohy
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Patent number: 9080208Abstract: A sample handling method may include drawing an encapsulating liquid from an encapsulating-liquid input; discharging the drawn encapsulating liquid (a) onto a free surface of a carrier liquid in a carrier-liquid conduit comprising a stabilization feature and (b) proximate to the stabilization feature, the encapsulating liquid being immiscible with the carrier liquid, so that the discharged encapsulating liquid does not mix with the carrier liquid, floats on top of the carrier liquid, and is immobilized by the stabilization feature; drawing a sample liquid from a sample-liquid input; and discharging the drawn sample liquid, the sample liquid being immiscible with the encapsulating liquid and with the carrier liquid, so that the sample liquid does not mix with the encapsulating liquid or with the carrier liquid.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: GenCell Biosystems Ltd.Inventors: Kieran Curran, Paul Fleming, Séamus Gillhooley, Micheál Keane, Inga Rosca, Patrick Tuohy
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Publication number: 20140371107Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for handling sample liquids, encapsulating liquids and magnetic particles are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2013Publication date: December 18, 2014Applicant: GENCELL BIOSYSTEMS LTD.Inventors: Kieran Curran, David McGuire
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Publication number: 20140308671Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for acquiring and/or dispensing a sample without introducing a gas into a microfluidic system, such as a liquid bridge system. An exemplary embodiment provides a sampling device including: a sampling member for acquiring or dispensing a sample; and a supply of a fluid that is immiscible with the sample; in which the device is configured to provide a continuous flow of immiscible fluid enveloping the sampling member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2014Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: STOKES BIO LIMITEDInventors: David McGuire, Kieran Curran, Julie Garvey, Damian Curtin
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Publication number: 20140120604Abstract: Provided herein is a biological detection system and method of use wherein the biological detection system comprises at least one mixer or liquid bridge for combining at least two liquid droplets and an error correction system for detecting whether or not proper mixing or combining of the two component droplets have occurred.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2012Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: STOKES BIO LIMITEDInventors: Mauro Aguanno, Brian Barrett, Brian Chawke, Kieran Curran, Damian Curtin, Tara Dalton, Mark Davies, Xiaona Hou, David Kinahan, Damien King, Mark Korenke, Conor McCarthy, David McGuire, Michael Sayers, Noel Sirr, Ryan J. Talbot
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Publication number: 20140111901Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for charging fluids are disclosed. The charging of fluids improves the mixing of fluids in microfluidic systems. The charging is performed by producing an ion field (50) between an ionizing electrode (20) and an opposed ground electrode (30). A fluid-containing vessel (40) is positioned between the opposed electrodes and the ion field charges the fluid (41) in the vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2012Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: STOKES BIO LIMITEDInventors: Brian Chawke, Kieran Curran, David McGuire, Michael Sayers, Noel Sirr
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Patent number: 8697011Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for acquiring and/or dispensing a sample without introducing a gas into a microfluidic system, such as a liquid bridge system. An exemplary embodiment provides a sampling device including: a sampling member for acquiring or dispensing a sample; and a supply of a fluid that is immiscible with the sample; in which the device is configured to provide a continuous flow of immiscible fluid enveloping the sampling member.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2009Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Stokes Bio LimitedInventors: David McGuire, Kieran Curran, Julie Garvey, Damian Curtain