Patents by Inventor Stacey Gifford

Stacey Gifford 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).

  • Patent number: 11911762
    Abstract: Techniques regarding integrated purification-detection devices for detecting one or more biomarkers are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein are directed to an apparatus, comprising a housing and a microfluidic chip contained within the housing. The microfluidic chip comprises a separation unit that separates, using one or more nano deterministic lateral displacement (nanoDLD) arrays, target biological entities having a defined size range from other biological entities included in a biological fluid sample. The microfluidic chip further comprises a detection unit that facilitates detecting presence of one or more biomarkers associated with the target biological entities using one or more detection molecules or macromolecules that chemically reacts with the one or more biomarkers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua T. Smith, Benjamin Wunsch, Stacey Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim
  • Publication number: 20240042437
    Abstract: Techniques regarding nanofluidic chips with a plurality of inlets and/or outlets in fluid communication with one or more nanoDLD arrays are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array between and in fluid communication with a global inlet and a global outlet. The nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array can further be between and in fluid communication with a local inlet and a local outlet. Also, the nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array can laterally displace a particle comprised within a sample fluid supplied from the global inlet to a collection region that directs the particle to the local outlet. An advantage of such an apparatus can be the expanded versatility of the nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array for sample preparation applications involving nanoparticles not accessible to other higher throughput microscale microfluidic technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Joshua T. Smith, Benjamin Wunsch, Stacey Gifford
  • Patent number: 11833511
    Abstract: Techniques regarding nanofluidic chips with a plurality of inlets and/or outlets in fluid communication with one or more nanoDLD arrays are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array between and in fluid communication with a global inlet and a global outlet. The nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array can further be between and in fluid communication with a local inlet and a local outlet. Also, the nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array can laterally displace a particle comprised within a sample fluid supplied from the global inlet to a collection region that directs the particle to the local outlet. An advantage of such an apparatus can be the expanded versatility of the nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array for sample preparation applications involving nanoparticles not accessible to other higher throughput microscale microfluidic technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua T. Smith, Benjamin Wunsch, Stacey Gifford
  • Publication number: 20230107476
    Abstract: Techniques regarding one or more structures that can facilitate automated, multi-stage processing of one or more nanofluidic chips are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a system, which can comprise a roller positioned adjacent to a microfluidic card comprising a plurality of fluid reservoirs in fluid communication with a plurality of nanofluidic chips. An arrangement of the plurality of nanofluidic chips on the microfluidic card can defines a processing sequence driven by a translocation of the roller across the microfluidic card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Benjamin Wunsch, Joshua T. Smith, Stacey Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim
  • Patent number: 11565262
    Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising a channel within a substrate and a condenser or a hydrodynamic focusing chamber along the channel, configured to focus a fluid containing particles of a plurality of sizes. A negative angle deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) array is configured to receive the focused fluid and separate the particles in the focused fluid into three sizes ranges. The negative angle DLD array comprises a plurality of rows of pillars, wherein the rows of pillars are positioned to repeat a pattern every N rows with a shift of M columns, N and M are relatively coprime, and N is greater than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung-Cheol Kim, Stacey Gifford, Benjamin Hardy Wunsch, Joshua T. Smith
  • Patent number: 11548000
    Abstract: Techniques regarding one or more structures that can facilitate automated, multi-stage processing of one or more nanofluidic chips are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a system, which can comprise a roller positioned adjacent to a microfluidic card comprising a plurality of fluid reservoirs in fluid communication with a plurality of nanofluidic chips. An arrangement of the plurality of nanofluidic chips on the microfluidic card can defines a processing sequence driven by a translocation of the roller across the microfluidic card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin Wunsch, Joshua T. Smith, Stacey Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim
  • Publication number: 20220351056
    Abstract: A computer implemented method generating query results is provided. The method includes generating by a computer processor, a training model through artificial intelligence. The training model may be based on annotated data. A knowledge base for a subject matter may be generated based on the training model. The knowledge base may be based on content from document sources related to the subject matter. A natural language query input from a user may be received. An intent and requirements for satisfying the intent may be inferred by the computer processor. The knowledge base may be referenced to extract information related to the intent and requirements, from documents in the knowledge base. Relationships between the extracted information and the requirements may be correlated from the documents in the knowledge base. In addition, query results may be displayed to the user. The query results are based on the correlated relationships.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Maira G. de Bayser, Geeth Ranmal de Mel, Mathias B. Steiner, Mohab Elkaref, Ronaldo Giro, Bruce Gordon Elmegreen, Christopher R. Gibson, David Boaz, David S. Braines, Dean Clarke, Dmitry Zubarev, Flaviu Cipcigan, Kristin Schmidt, Lori French, Stacey Gifford
  • Patent number: 11320387
    Abstract: Techniques regarding one or more structures for checking the via formation are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise an apparatus, which can comprise a microfluidic channel positioned on a silicon substrate. The apparatus can also comprise a pattern of material comprised within the microfluidic channel and positioned on a surface of the silicon substrate. Further, the pattern of material can define a future location of a through-silicon via. An advantage of such an apparatus can be that the pattern of material can facilitate checking whether the through-silicon via is fully or partially formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin Wunsch, Sung-Cheol Kim, Stacey Gifford, Joshua T. Smith
  • Patent number: 11266989
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus may comprise a layer of a microfluidic chip. The layer may comprise a nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement (nanoDLD) array. The nanoDLD array may comprise a plurality of pillars arranged in a plurality of columns. Further, the nanoDLD array may separate particles from a purified fluidic sample associated with a bodily materials of an organism. A method for purifying at least one target particle from a sample by utilizing a sized-based separation is provided. The method may include detecting the at least one target particle associated with the sample, by utilizing at least one detector molecule in a nanoDLD array. The method may then include separating the detected at least one target particle and the at least one detector molecule from a bump fraction in the sample based on a size of the detected at least one target particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stacey Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim, Joshua T. Smith, Benjamin Hardy Wunsch
  • Publication number: 20220055893
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes forming a sacrificial layer along sidewalls of an array of trenches that are indented into a substrate, depositing a fill layer over the sacrificial layer, and then creating an array of gaps between the fill layer and the substrate by removing the sacrificial layer along the sidewalls of the trenches, while maintaining a structural connection between the substrate and the fill layer at the floors of the trenches. The method further includes covering the substrate, the fill layer, and the gaps with a cap layer that seal fluid-tight against the substrate and the fill layer. The method further includes indenting a first reservoir and a second reservoir through the cap layer, and into the substrate and the fill layer, across the lengths of the array of gaps, so that the array of gaps connects the first reservoir in fluid communication with the second reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Joshua T. Smith, Stacey Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim, Benjamin Wunsch
  • Publication number: 20220033878
    Abstract: Techniques regarding screening for mutations using nanoscale deterministic arrays are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a method, which can comprise cleaving a deoxyribonucleic acid segment hybridized with a molecular probe to form a sample fluid. The cleaving can occur at a first end and a second end of the molecular probe. Also, the cleaving can comprise a cleaving agent that targets base pair mismatches. The method can also comprise supplying the sample fluid to a nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array to screen for a single nucleotide polymorphism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Stacey Gifford, Benjamin Wunsch, Joshua T. Smith, Sung-Cheol Kim
  • Patent number: 11186480
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes forming a sacrificial layer along sidewalls of an array of trenches that are indented into a substrate, depositing a fill layer over the sacrificial layer, and then creating an array of gaps between the fill layer and the substrate by removing the sacrificial layer along the sidewalls of the trenches, while maintaining a structural connection between the substrate and the fill layer at the floors of the trenches. The method further includes covering the substrate, the fill layer, and the gaps with a cap layer that seal fluid-tight against the substrate and the fill layer. The method further includes indenting a first reservoir and a second reservoir through the cap layer, and into the substrate and the fill layer, across the lengths of the array of gaps, so that the array of gaps connects the first reservoir in fluid communication with the second reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua T. Smith, Stacey Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim, Benjamin Wunsch
  • Patent number: 11185861
    Abstract: Multistage deterministic lateral displacement devices, methods of forming the devices, and methods of separating a fluid mixture including particles having three or more particle sizes generally include a first module and at least one additional module. Each module includes a condenser portion and a separate portion. The condenser portion is generally configured to focus a streamline of all particles to a center of a channel whereas the separator separates the streamline of all particles into two different streamlines. One of the streamlines focuses the largest particles in the fluid mixture along a sidewall of the channel and the other streamline of smaller particles is between opposing sidewalls that define the channel. Each additional module can be used to further separate the largest particles remaining in the fluid mixture from the smaller particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung-Cheol Kim, Stacey Gifford, Joshua T. Smith, Benjamin Wunsch
  • Patent number: 11180796
    Abstract: Techniques regarding screening for mutations using nanoscale deterministic arrays are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a method, which can comprise cleaving a deoxyribonucleic acid segment hybridized with a molecular probe to form a sample fluid. The cleaving can occur at a first end and a second end of the molecular probe. Also, the cleaving can comprise a cleaving agent that targets base pair mismatches. The method can also comprise supplying the sample fluid to a nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array to screen for a single nucleotide polymorphism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stacey Gifford, Benjamin Wunsch, Joshua T. Smith, Sung-Cheol Kim
  • Patent number: 11149298
    Abstract: Techniques regarding detecting one or more defined nucleic acid sequences are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a method, which can comprise adding a molecular probe to a sample fluid comprising a first deoxyribonucleic acid segment and a second deoxyribonucleic acid segment. The molecular probe can have an affinity to bond to a defined nucleic acid sequence. The method can also comprise separating, via a nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array, the first deoxyribonucleic acid segment from the second deoxyribonucleic acid segment based on a size of the first deoxyribonucleic acid segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stacey Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim, Joshua T. Smith, Benjamin Wunsch
  • Publication number: 20210283611
    Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising a channel within a substrate and a condenser or a hydrodynamic focusing chamber along the channel, configured to focus a fluid containing particles of a plurality of sizes. A negative angle deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) array is configured to receive the focused fluid and separate the particles in the focused fluid into three sizes ranges. The negative angle DLD array comprises a plurality of rows of pillars, wherein the rows of pillars are positioned to repeat a pattern every N rows with a shift of M columns, N and M are relatively coprime, and N is greater than 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Sung-Cheol Kim, Stacey Gifford, Benjamin Hardy Wunsch, Joshua T. Smith
  • Publication number: 20210260586
    Abstract: Techniques regarding integrated purification-detection devices for detecting one or more biomarkers are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein are directed to an apparatus, comprising a housing and a microfluidic chip contained within the housing. The microfluidic chip comprises a separation unit that separates, using one or more nano deterministic lateral displacement (nanoDLD) arrays, target biological entities having a defined size range from other biological entities included in a biological fluid sample. The microfluidic chip further comprises a detection unit that facilitates detecting presence of one or more biomarkers associated with the target biological entities using one or more detection molecules or macromolecules that chemically reacts with the one or more biomarkers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Joshua T. Smith, Benjamin Wunsch, Stacey Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim
  • Patent number: 11094683
    Abstract: A method of producing a bonded chip stack is described. A first nanofluidic device chip having a first through-wafer via is formed. A second nanofluidic device chip having a second through-wafer via is formed. The first nanofluidic device chip and the second nanofluidic device chip are washed with a detergent solution. A first surface of the first nanofluidic device chip and a second surface of the second nanofluidic device chip are activated by treating the first surface and the second surface with an activation solution. The first nanofluidic device chip and the second nanofluidic device chip are arranged in a stack. The first through-wafer via is aligned with the second through-wafer via in a substantially straight line. The stack of first and second nanofluidic device chips is subjected to annealing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin Wunsch, Joshua T. Smith, Stacey Gifford, Michael Albert Pereira
  • Patent number: 11033901
    Abstract: Techniques regarding integrated purification-detection devices for detecting one or more biomarkers are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein are directed to an apparatus, comprising a housing and a microfluidic chip contained within the housing. The microfluidic chip comprises a separation unit that separates, using one or more nano deterministic lateral displacement (nanoDLD) arrays, target biological entities having a defined size range from other biological entities included in a biological fluid sample. The microfluidic chip further comprises a detection unit that facilitates detecting presence of one or more biomarkers associated with the target biological entities using one or more detection molecules or macromolecules that chemically reacts with the one or more biomarkers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua T. Smith, Benjamin Wunsch, Stacey Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim
  • Publication number: 20210114027
    Abstract: Techniques regarding nanofluidic chips with a plurality of inlets and/or outlets in fluid communication with one or more nanoDLD arrays are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array between and in fluid communication with a global inlet and a global outlet. The nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array can further be between and in fluid communication with a local inlet and a local outlet. Also, the nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array can laterally displace a particle comprised within a sample fluid supplied from the global inlet to a collection region that directs the particle to the local outlet. An advantage of such an apparatus can be the expanded versatility of the nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement array for sample preparation applications involving nanoparticles not accessible to other higher throughput microscale microfluidic technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Joshua T. Smith, Benjamin Wunsch, Stacey Gifford