Patents by Inventor Min-Feng Yu
Min-Feng Yu 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: 8785177Abstract: Methods for creating a transient nanoscale opening in a cell membrane and methods for transporting a desired species through the nanoscale opening are provided. A nano-sized needle-like tip can be used to mechanically slice the cell membrane to create a transient, localized nanoscale slit. The nanoscale slit may be used for transferring exogenous molecules into a living cell.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2012Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, a body Corporate and Politic of the State of IllinoisInventors: Min-Feng Yu, Kyungsuk Yum, Ning Wang
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Patent number: 8479309Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for high resolution imaging of a material immersed in liquid by scanning probe microscopy. The methods further relate to imaging a material submersed in liquid by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM), wherein the AFM has a microfabricated AFM probe comprising a nanoneedle probe connected to a cantilever beam. The nanoneedle probe is immersed in the liquid, and the rest of the AFM probe, including the cantilever beam to which the nanoneedle probe is attached, remains outside the liquid. The cantilever is oscillated and the nanoneedle probe tip taps the material to image the material immersed in liquid. In an aspect, the material is supported on a shaped substrate to provide a spatially-varying immersion depth with specially defined regions for imaging by any of the methods and systems of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2011Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisInventors: Min-Feng Yu, Majid Minary-Jolandan
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Publication number: 20130143319Abstract: The invention provides methods of controlled release of an agent into an intracellular environment of a biological cell using a needle nanoelectrode. The agent may be attached to an outer surface of the needle nanoelectrode through a linking molecule, wherein the attachment comprises an electroactive chemical bond. After penetrating a cellular membrane with the needle nanoelectrode to position at least a portion of the nanoelectrode in the intracellular environment, an electric potential may be applied to the needle nanoelectrode to break the electroactive chemical bond, thereby releasing the agent to the intracellular environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2011Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois et alInventors: Min-Feng Yu, Kyungsuk Yum
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Publication number: 20130142566Abstract: Probe-based methods are provided for wire bonding and joining of structures. The wire bonds are formed via a meniscus-confined electrodeposition technique. The electrodeposition technique of the invention can also be used for fabricating one or more nano-sized or micro-sized elongated structures. The structures extend at least partially upwards from the surface of a substrate, and may extend fully upward from the substrate surface. Apparatus suitable for use with the electrodeposition technique are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2011Publication date: June 6, 2013Inventor: Min-Feng Yu
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Publication number: 20130137129Abstract: Methods for creating a transient nanoscale opening in a cell membrane and methods for transporting a desired species through the nanoscale opening are provided. A nano-sized needle-like tip can be used to mechanically slice the cell membrane to create a transient, localized nanoscale slit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2012Publication date: May 30, 2013Inventors: Min-Feng YU, Kyungsuk Yum, Ning Wang
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Publication number: 20120279306Abstract: In an embodiment, provided are nanoresonators, nanoresonator components and related methods using the nanoresonators to measure parameters of interest. In an aspect, provided is a nanoresonator component comprising an elongated nanostructure having a central portion, a first end, and a second end and an electrode having a protrusion ending in a tip that is positioned adjacent to the elongated nanostructure. The electrode is used to impart a highly-localized driving force in a perpendicular direction to the nanostructure to induce geometric non-linear deformation, thereby generating non-linear resonance having a broadband resonance range that spans a frequency range of at least one times the elongated nanostructure natural resonance frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2010Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisInventors: Min-Feng Yu, Han Na Cho, D. Michael McFarland, Lawrence A. Bergman, Alexander Vakakis
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Publication number: 20120278958Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for high resolution imaging of a material immersed in liquid by scanning probe microscopy. The methods further relate to imaging a material submersed in liquid by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM), wherein the AFM has a microfabricated AFM probe comprising a nanoneedle probe connected to a cantilever beam. The nanoneedle probe is immersed in the liquid, and the rest of the AFM probe, including the cantilever beam to which the nanoneedle probe is attached, remains outside the liquid. The cantilever is oscillated and the nanoneedle probe tip taps the material to image the material immersed in liquid. In an aspect, the material is supported on a shaped substrate to provide a spatially-varying immersion depth with specially defined regions for imaging by any of the methods and systems of the present invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2011Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventors: Min-Feng YU, Majid MINARY-JOLANDAN
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Publication number: 20120000770Abstract: Probe-based methods are provided for formation of one or more nano-sized or micro-sized elongated structures such as wires or tubes. The structures extend at least partially upwards from the surface of a substrate, and may extend fully upward from the substrate surface. The structures are formed via a localized electrodeposition technique. The electrodeposition technique of the invention can also be used to make modified scanning probe microscopy probes having an elongated nanostructure at the tip or conductive nanoprobes. Apparatus suitable for use with the electrodeposition technique are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2011Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisInventors: Min-Feng Yu, Abhijit P. Suryavanshi
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Patent number: 7955486Abstract: Probe-based methods are provided for formation of one or more nano-sized or micro-sized elongated structures such as wires or tubes. The structures extend at least partially upwards from the surface of a substrate, and may extend fully upward from the substrate surface. The structures are formed via a localized electrodeposition technique. The electrodeposition technique of the invention can also be used to make modified scanning probe microscopy probes having an elongated nanostructure at the tip or conductive nanoprobes. Apparatus suitable for use with the electrodeposition technique are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2008Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisInventors: Min-Feng Yu, Abhijit P. Suryavanshi
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Publication number: 20110073243Abstract: Direct-write techniques are provided for the high speed (up to millimeter per second) and continuous fabrication of elongated nanostructures such as nanofibers. The nanofibers may be of an ionic solid, a hydrated salt, a molecular solid, or aggregated colloidal particles such as semiconductor particles. The nanofibers may also be converted to other forms.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2008Publication date: March 31, 2011Inventors: Min-Feng Yu, Abhijit P. Suryavanshi, Kyungsuk Yum
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Publication number: 20090000364Abstract: Probe-based methods are provided for formation of one or more nano-sized or micro-sized elongated structures such as wires or tubes. The structures extend at least partially upwards from the surface of a substrate, and may extend fully upward from the substrate surface. The structures are formed via a localized electrodeposition technique. The electrodeposition technique of the invention can also be used to make modified scanning probe microscopy probes having an elongated nanostructure at the tip or conductive nanoprobes. Apparatus suitable for use with the electrodeposition technique are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Inventor: Min-Feng Yu
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Patent number: 7220973Abstract: A modular manipulation system and method for using such modular manipulation system for manipulating a sample under study with a microscope are provided. According to at least one embodiment, a platform is provided that comprises an interface to a microscope, a sample stage, and a plurality of interfaces for receiving manipulator modules for manipulating a sample arranged on the sample stage. Preferably, the plurality of interfaces for receiving manipulator modules are each capable of detachably coupling a manipulator module to the platform. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, a user may selectively couple one or more desired manipulator modules to the platform to enable a desired type of manipulation to be performed on a sample under study. Accordingly, a preferred embodiment enables great flexibility in configuring a manipulation system in a desired manner.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2004Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Assignee: Zyvex CorporationInventors: Min Feng Yu, Mark J. Dyer, Ken Bray
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Patent number: 6967335Abstract: A system and method are disclosed which enable manipulation of a sample under study with a microscope. In one embodiment, a manipulation system is adaptable for interfacing with any of a plurality of different types of microscopes, such as a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and further comprises at least one manipulation mechanism operable to manipulate a sample. In another embodiment, a manipulation system is capable of being detachably coupled to a microscope, such as a TEM, and comprises a plurality of manipulator mechanisms for manipulating a sample. In a preferred embodiment, the manipulation system comprises both an adjustable interface such that it is capable of selectively coupling with any of a plurality of different microscope interfaces and a plurality of manipulator mechanisms integrated therein that are controllably operable for manipulating a sample.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2002Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Zyvex CorporationInventors: Mark J. Dyer, Min-Feng Yu, Ken Bray
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Patent number: 6891170Abstract: A modular manipulation system and method for using such modular manipulation system for manipulating a sample under study with a microscope are provided. According to at least one embodiment, a platform is provided that comprises an interface to a microscope, a sample stage, and a plurality of interfaces for receiving manipulator modules for manipulating a sample arranged on the sample stage. Preferably, the plurality of interfaces for receiving manipulator modules are each capable of detachably coupling a manipulator module to the platform. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, a user may selectively couple one or more desired manipulator modules to the platform to enable a desired type of manipulation to be performed on a sample under study. Accordingly, a preferred embodiment enables great flexibility in configuring a manipulation system in a desired manner.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2002Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: Zyvex CorporationInventors: Min-Feng Yu, Mark J. Dyer, Ken Bray
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Publication number: 20050029467Abstract: A modular manipulation system and method for using such modular manipulation system for manipulating a sample under study with a microscope are provided. According to at least one embodiment, a platform is provided that comprises an interface to a microscope, a sample stage, and a plurality of interfaces for receiving manipulator modules for manipulating a sample arranged on the sample stage. Preferably, the plurality of interfaces for receiving manipulator modules are each capable of detachably coupling a manipulator module to the platform. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, a user may selectively couple one or more desired manipulator modules to the platform to enable a desired type of manipulation to be performed on a sample under study. Accordingly, a preferred embodiment enables great flexibility in configuring a manipulation system in a desired manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2004Publication date: February 10, 2005Applicant: Zyvex CorporationInventors: Min-Feng Yu, Mark Dyer, Ken Bray