Patents by Inventor Michael G. Pollack
Michael G. Pollack 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: 9377455Abstract: The invention provides a method of circulating magnetically responsive beads within a droplet in a droplet actuator. The invention also provides methods for splitting droplets. The invention, in one embodiment, makes use of a droplet actuator with top and bottom substrates, a plurality of magnetic fields respectively present proximate the top and bottom substrates, wherein at least one of the magnet fields is selectively alterable, and a plurality of droplet operations electrodes positioned along at least one of the top and bottom surfaces. A droplet is positioned between the top and bottom surfaces and at least one of the magnetic fields is selectively altered.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INCInventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20160114320Abstract: Methods are provided for manipulating droplets. The methods include providing the droplet on a surface comprising an array of electrodes and a substantially co-planer array of reference elements, wherein the droplet is disposed on a first one of the electrodes, and the droplet at least partially overlaps a second one of the electrodes and an intervening one of the reference elements disposed between the first and second electrodes. The methods further include activating the first and second electrodes to spread at least a portion of the droplet across the second electrode and deactivating the first electrode to move the droplet from the first electrode to the second electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2015Publication date: April 28, 2016Applicant: DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair
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Patent number: 9321049Abstract: A method, circuit and apparatus for detecting capacitance on a droplet actuator, inter alia, for determining the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at an electrode on a droplet actuator by: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) a substrate comprising electrodes arranged on the substrate for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; (ii) a capacitance detection circuit for detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; (b) detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; and (c) determining from the capacitance the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at the droplet operations surface at the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2014Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Ryan A. Sturmer, Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Philip Y. Paik
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Publication number: 20160109338Abstract: The invention provides a method of circulating magnetically responsive beads within a droplet in a droplet actuator. The invention also provides methods for splitting droplets. The invention, in one embodiment, makes use of a droplet actuator with top and bottom substrates, a plurality of magnetic fields respectively present proximate the top and bottom substrates, wherein at least one of the magnet fields is selectively alterable, and a plurality of droplet operations electrodes positioned along at least one of the top and bottom surfaces. A droplet is positioned between the top and bottom surfaces and at least one of the magnetic fields is selectively altered.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20160108432Abstract: The invention provides a droplet actuator designed for performing electroporation on cells in droplets. The invention also provides method and systems for performing electroporation on cells in droplets on a droplet actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2014Publication date: April 21, 2016Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Srikoundinya Punnamaraju, Melissa A. Sandahl, John J. Harrington, Allen E. Eckhardt, Zhishan Hua, Michael G. Pollack
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Publication number: 20160097047Abstract: A method of growing cells on a droplet actuator is provided. The method may include providing a droplet actuator including a cell culture droplet including a cell culture medium and one or more cells; and maintaining the droplet at a temperature suitable for causing the cells to grow in the cell culture medium on the droplet actuator. Related methods, droplet actuators, and systems are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Allen E. Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20160096174Abstract: A method, circuit and apparatus for detecting capacitance on a droplet actuator, inter alia, for determining the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at an electrode on a droplet actuator by: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) a substrate comprising electrodes arranged on the substrate for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; (ii) a capacitance detection circuit for detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; (b) detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; and (c) determining from the capacitance the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at the droplet operations surface at the electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Ryan A. Sturmer, Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Philip Y. Paik
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Publication number: 20160068901Abstract: The invention provides pyrosequencing-based methods of analyzing and synthesizing DNA, including methods of DNA error correction, determining DNA size distribution, screening for nucleotide repeat disorders such as fragile X syndrome, determining size distribution and bias in a DNA library, and determining pyrosequencing read length. The methods include on-bench protocols as well as droplet-based protocols that may be conducted on a droplet actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2014Publication date: March 10, 2016Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Allen E. Eckhardt, Michael G. Pollack, David S. Cohen
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Patent number: 9267131Abstract: A method of growing cells on a droplet actuator is provided. The method may include providing a droplet actuator including a cell culture droplet including a cell culture medium and one or more cells; and maintaining the droplet at a temperature suitable for causing the cells to grow in the cell culture medium on the droplet actuator. Related methods, droplet actuators, and systems are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Allen E. Eckhardt
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Patent number: 9243282Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based pyrosequencing including a method of identifying a base at a target position in a sample nucleic acid. The method includes: (a) providing a droplet microactuator including a first droplet including a sample nucleic acid immobilized on a bead; and (b) on the droplet microactuator: (i) contacting the first droplet with one or more reagent droplets to yield a second droplet, wherein the one or more reagent droplets include reagents for extending a double stranded portion of the sample nucleic acid by incorporating a nucleotide at the target position; (ii) splitting the second droplet to yield a third droplet including the bead and a fourth droplet lacking the bead; and (iii) assaying the third droplet to determine whether the nucleotide was incorporated at the target position.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2012Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignees: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC, DUKE UNIVERSITY, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANDFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITYInventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair, Peter B. Griffin
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Publication number: 20160016172Abstract: Aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a simulator including a visual display capable of outputting to a user a display one or more effects of a command series selected and a system including a droplet microactuator electronically coupled to and controlled by a processor capable of executing instructions, the droplet microactuator including a substrate comprising electrodes for conducting droplet operations. Further aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a droplet operations troubleshooting apparatus. Other aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a computer implemented method of displaying simulated microactuator droplets.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2015Publication date: January 21, 2016Applicants: DUKE UNIVERSITY, ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Philip Paik, Vamsee K. Pamula
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Patent number: 9216415Abstract: The invention provides a method for dispensing liquid, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a droplet to be dispensed in a gap of an electrowetting device using an electrowetting array; and (b) dispensing the droplet through a hole in a housing or substrate of the electrowetting device. The invention further provides a method for withdrawing liquid comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a droplet to be withdrawn from a gap of an electrowetting device using an electrowetting array; and (b) withdrawing the droplet through a hole in a housing or substrate of the electrowetting device.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignees: Advanced Liquid Logic, Duke UniversityInventors: Alexander D. Shenderov, Michael G. Pollack
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Publication number: 20150336098Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for manipulating droplets are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for manipulating droplets is provided, the apparatus including a substrate, multiple arrays of electrodes disposed on the substrate, wherein corresponding electrodes in each array are connected to a common electrical signal, and a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate first side surface and patterned to cover the electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2015Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicant: Duke UniversityInventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair
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Publication number: 20150330943Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based particle sorting. According to one embodiment, a method of providing a droplet comprising a single cell is provided, wherein the method includes providing a droplet comprising a suspension of cells on an electrowetting droplet actuator surrounded by an oil medium, dispensing from the droplet to provide a dispensed droplet, determining whether the dispensed droplet on the electrowetting droplet actuator comprises a single cell, and sorting the dispensed droplet on the electrowetting droplet actuator based on the results of the determining step using electrowetting-mediated droplet operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2015Publication date: November 19, 2015Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan
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Publication number: 20150323496Abstract: The invention is directed to a droplet actuator device and methods for integrating gel electrophoresis analysis with pre or post-analytical sample handling as well as other molecular analysis processes. Using digital microfluidics technology, the droplet actuator device and methods of the invention provide the ability to perform gel electrophoresis and liquid handling operations on a single integrated device. The integrated liquid handling operations may be used to prepare and deliver samples to the electrophoresis gel, capture and subsequently process products of the electrophoresis gel or perform additional assays on the same sample materials which are analyzed by gel electrophoresis. In one embodiment, one or more molecular assays, such as nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) quantification by real-time PCR, and one or more sample processing operations such as sample dilution is performed on a droplet actuator integrated with an electrophoresis gel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2015Publication date: November 12, 2015Applicants: DUKE UNIVERSITY, ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Zhishan Hua, Hon Lung Chu, Michael Hauser, Allen Eckhardt
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Patent number: 9180450Abstract: Methods are provided for manipulating droplets. The methods include providing the droplet on a surface comprising an array of electrodes and a substantially co-planer array of reference elements, wherein the droplet is disposed on a first one of the electrodes, and the droplet at least partially overlaps a second one of the electrodes and an intervening one of the reference elements disposed between the first and second electrodes. The methods further include activating the first and second electrodes to spread at least a portion of the droplet across the second electrode and deactivating the first electrode to move the droplet from the first electrode to the second electrode.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair
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Publication number: 20150314293Abstract: A method of providing a droplet in contact with a magnetically responsive bead and having a reduced quantity of a substance.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicants: DUKE UNIVERSITY, ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Allen E. Eckhardt, Richard B. Fair
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Publication number: 20150285792Abstract: The invention provides a method of circulating magnetically responsive beads within a droplet in a droplet actuator. The invention also provides methods for splitting droplets. The invention, in one embodiment, makes use of a droplet actuator with top and bottom substrates, a plurality of magnetic fields respectively present proximate the top and bottom substrates, wherein at least one of the magnet fields is selectively alterable, and a plurality of droplet operations electrodes positioned along at least one of the top and bottom surfaces. A droplet is positioned between the top and bottom surfaces and at least one of the magnetic fields is selectively altered.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2015Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20150268235Abstract: The invention relates to bead incubating and washing on a droplet actuator. Methods for incubating magnetically responsive beads that are labeled with primary antibody, a sample (i.e., analyte), and secondary reporter antibodies on a magnet, on and off a magnet, and completely off a magnet are provided. Also provided are methods for washing magnetically responsive beads using shape-assisted merging of droplets. Also provided are methods for shape-mediated splitting, transporting, and dispensing of a sample droplet that contains magnetically responsive beads. The apparatuses and methods of the invention provide for rapid time to result and optimum detection of an analyte in an immunoassay.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2015Publication date: September 24, 2015Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Arjun Sudarsan
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Patent number: 9139865Abstract: Aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a simulator including a visual display capable of outputting to a user a display one or more effects of a command series selected and a system including a droplet microactuator electronically coupled to and controlled by a processor capable of executing instructions, the droplet microactuator including a substrate comprising electrodes for conducting droplet operations. Further aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a droplet operations troubleshooting apparatus. Other aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a computer implemented method of displaying simulated microactuator droplets.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2012Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignees: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC., DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Michael G. Pollack, Philip Paik, Vamsee K. Pamula