Patents by Inventor Tim Stakenborg
Tim Stakenborg 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: 20240165622Abstract: A method for monitoring a monitor material of a process, such as a manufacturing process, comprises: detecting a suspicious particle in a sample of the monitor material using an imaging system configured to image the sample using illumination light from a light source and to detect an interference pattern based on object light having interacted with the sample and reference light of the illumination light; selectively diverting the suspicious particle rom a flow of the sample to an analysis flow; activating a nucleic acid test (NAT) device, wherein said activating is triggered based on detecting of the suspicious particle in the sample; receiving by the NAT device the analysis flow comprising the suspicious particle; and subjecting the suspicious particle to a NAT analysis. Also, an apparatus for monitoring a monitor material is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2023Publication date: May 23, 2024Inventors: Olivier HENRY, Tim STAKENBORG, Willem VAN ROY, Peter PEUMANS
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Patent number: 11752498Abstract: A fluidic device (100) is described for locally coating an inner surface of a fluidic channel. The fluidic device (100) comprises a first (101), a second (102) and a third (103) fluidic channel intersecting at a common junction (105). The first fluidic channel is connectable to a coating fluid reservoir and the third fluidic channel is connectable to a sample fluid reservoir. The fluidic device (100) further comprises a fluid control means (111) configured for creating a fluidic flow path for a coating fluid at the common junction (105) such that, when coating, a coating fluid propagates from the first (101) to the second (102) fluidic channel via the common junction (105) without propagating into the third (103) fluidic channel. A corresponding method for coating and for sensing also has been disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Benjamin Jones, Tim Stakenborg, Paolo Fiorini
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Publication number: 20230137689Abstract: The present inventive concept relates to a method for measuring analyte concentration in a sample fluid, comprising: receiving dilution fluid or sample fluid comprising analyte in a microfluidic channel, wherein the dilution fluid or sample fluid further comprises a molecule which is different from the analyte; performing a first affinity-based assay in a first detection zone of the microfluidic channel to measure a signal indicative of the concentration of the molecule in the dilution fluid or sample fluid; mixing the dilution fluid or sample fluid in the microfluidic channel with another of the dilution fluid or sample fluid to obtain a diluted sample fluid; performing a second affinity-based assay in a second detection zone of the microfluidic channel to measure a signal indicative of the concentration of the molecule in the diluted sample fluid; performing a third assay in the second detection zone to measure a signal indicative of the concentration of the analyte in the diluted sample fluid; determiningType: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2020Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Kris COVENS, Willem VAN ROY, Tim STAKENBORG, Cindy LIU, Jennifer SATTERWHITE WARDEN
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Patent number: 11313489Abstract: Example embodiments relate to microfluidic devices for controlling pneumatic microvalves. One embodiment includes a microfluidic device for independently controlling a plurality of pneumatic microvalves. The microfluidic device is couplable to a pressure source. The microfluidic device includes a first substrate. The microfluidic device also includes a flexible membrane covering the first substrate. Additionally, the microfluidic device includes a second substrate covering the flexible membrane. Further, the microfluidic device includes one or more fluidic channels at least partially defined in the first substrate. In addition, the microfluidic device includes a pressure couplable to the pressure source and branching into a plurality of pressure channels. Still further, the microfluidic device includes at least one pressure control switch per pressure channel.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Lei Zhang, Tim Stakenborg, Chengxun Liu, David Cheyns
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Publication number: 20220091117Abstract: A device (1) for sensing an analyte, the device (1) comprises at least a sample inlet (10) for receiving a sample, affinity probes (111) selected to have a preferential binding to the analyte, a transducer (11) sensitive to a characteristic of the analyte and/or a label attached to the analyte, the transducer not being a FET transducer, and a desalting unit (13) for desalting the received sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Kris Covens
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Patent number: 11276481Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for writing data comprising a sequence of bits, the data being written in a form of nucleic acid, by in-vitro enzymatically producing memory nucleic acid from a strand of memory writing substrate nucleic acid, wherein the strand of memory writing substrate nucleic acid comprises a plurality of spacer sections and memory writing sections sandwiched between the spacer sections. Each of the spacer sections comprises one or more nucleobases, and each of the memory writing sections comprises a nucleobase other than the nucleobases of an adjacent spacer section upstream of the memory writing section in a travel direction of an enzyme along the strand of memory writing substrate nucleic acid.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2019Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Tim Stakenborg, Chang Chen, Kris Covens, Qing Cai, Maarten Fauvart
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Patent number: 11276003Abstract: A method for writing data including a sequence of bits, the data being written in a form of DNA, by in-vitro enzymatically producing memory DNA from a strand of memory writing substrate DNA is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes repeating of: receiving a sub-sequence of the sequence of bits, the sub-sequence including at least one bit; selecting memory nucleotides based on the sub-sequence; contacting, in liquid medium including the strand of memory writing substrate DNA contacted with an enzyme, the selected memory nucleotides and the enzyme; and synthesizing a portion of the memory DNA from a portion of the strand of memory writing substrate DNA by the enzyme and at least one of the memory nucleotides of the solution, thereby producing memory DNA including memory nucleotides corresponding to bits of the sequence of bits. The disclosed technology further relates to a micro-fluidic system including a microfluidic chip and a controller.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2018Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: IMEC vzwInventors: Tim Stakenborg, Chang Chen, Kris Covens, Qing Cai, Maarten Fauvart
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Patent number: 11266990Abstract: A micro-fluidic device 100 for performing digital PCR is presented. The device comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a first micro-fluidic channel 104, comprising an inlet 102 and an outlet 103, embedded in the semiconductor substrate; a heating element 101 thermally coupled to the first micro-fluidic channel 104; a droplet generator 107 connected to the inlet 102 of the first micro-fluidic channel 104 for generating droplets and pumping generated droplets at a flow rate into the first micro-fluidic channel 104; characterized in that: the heating element 101 is a single heating element connected to a temperature control unit 111 configured to cycle the temperature of the complete first micro-fluidic channel 104 through at least two temperature values; and wherein the flow rate of the droplet generator 107 is adaptable. Further, a method to perform digital PCR is presented using the micro-fluidic device 100.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2018Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Paolo Fiorini, Tim Stakenborg, Frederik Colle
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Patent number: 11260361Abstract: A device for synthesis of macromolecules is disclosed. In one aspect, the device comprises an ion-releaser having a synthesis surface comprising an array of synthesis locations arranged for synthesis of the macromolecules. The ion-releaser also includes an ion-source electrode, which is arranged to contain releasable ions and is arranged to be in contact with each of the synthesis locations of the synthesis surface, thereby release ions to the synthesis locations. The ion-releaser further comprises activating electrodes, which are arranged to be in contact with the ion-source electrode, wherein each one of the activating electrodes is arranged in association with one of the synthesis locations via the ion-source electrode. The ion-releaser is arranged to release at least a portion of the releasable ions from the ion-source electrode to one of the synthesis locations, by activation of the activating electrode associated with the synthesis location.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Philippe Vereecken, Brecht Put, Tim Stakenborg, Arnaud Furnemont, Luca Di Piazza
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Publication number: 20220008917Abstract: A fluidic device (100) is described for locally coating an inner surface of a fluidic channel. The fluidic device (100) comprises a first (101), a second (102) and a third (103) fluidic channel intersecting at a common junction (105). The first fluidic channel is connectable to a coating fluid reservoir and the third fluidic channel is connectable to a sample fluid reservoir. The fluidic device (100) further comprises a fluid control means (111) configured for creating a fluidic flow path for a coating fluid at the common junction (105) such that, when coating, a coating fluid propagates from the first (101) to the second (102) fluidic channel via the common junction (105) without propagating into the third (103) fluidic channel. A corresponding method for coating and for sensing also has been disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Benjamin Jones, Tim Stakenborg, Paolo Fiorini
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Patent number: 11220706Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and systems for analyzing fluid samples comprising obtaining fluid samples in at least one cavity of a substrate and introducing also buffers and/or reagents in the cavity, performing nucleic acid extraction and/or purification in the cavity, and performing nucleic acid amplification in the same cavity.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2019Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: IMEC vzwInventors: Tim Stakenborg, Paolo Fiorini
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Patent number: 11130124Abstract: A fluidic device is described for locally coating an inner surface of a fluidic channel. The fluidic device comprises a first, a second and a third fluidic channel intersecting at a common junction. The first fluidic channel is connectable to a coating fluid reservoir and the third fluidic channel is connectable to a sample fluid reservoir. The fluidic device further comprises a fluid control means configured for creating a fluidic flow path for a coating fluid at the common junction such that, when coating, a coating fluid propagates from the first to the second fluidic channel via the common junction without propagating into the third fluidic channel. A corresponding method for coating and for sensing also has been disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2016Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Benjamin Jones, Tim Stakenborg, Paolo Fiorini
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Publication number: 20210199211Abstract: Example embodiments relate to microfluidic devices for controlling pneumatic microvalves. One embodiment includes a microfluidic device for independently controlling a plurality of pneumatic microvalves. The microfluidic device is couplable to a pressure source. The microfluidic device includes a first substrate. The microfluidic device also includes a flexible membrane covering the first substrate. Additionally, the microfluidic device includes a second substrate covering the flexible membrane. Further, the microfluidic device includes one or more fluidic channels at least partially defined in the first substrate. In addition, the microfluidic device includes a pressure couplable to the pressure source and branching into a plurality of pressure channels. Still further, the microfluidic device includes at least one pressure control switch per pressure channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2020Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Lei Zhang, Tim Stakenborg, Chengxun Liu, David Cheyns
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Patent number: 10928305Abstract: A sensor device for quantifying luminescent targets comprises a light source, a detector, a modulator, and a processor. The light source is adapted for exciting the luminescent target. The detector is adapted for detecting the luminescence of the luminescent target resulting in a measured signal which comprises a desired signal originating from the luminescent target and a background signal. The modulator is adapted for modulating a physical parameter resulting in a modulation of the desired signal which is different from the modulation of the background signal. The processor is configured to correlate the modulation of the physical parameter with the modulation of the desired signal and/or the modulation of the background signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2016Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Pol Van Dorpe
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Publication number: 20210017595Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for writing data comprising a sequence of bits, the data being written in a form of nucleic acid, by in-vitro enzymatically producing memory nucleic acid from a strand of memory writing substrate nucleic acid, wherein the strand of memory writing substrate nucleic acid comprises a plurality of spacer sections and memory writing sections sandwiched between the spacer sections. Each of the spacer sections comprises one or more nucleobases, and each of the memory writing sections comprises a nucleobase other than the nucleobases of an adjacent spacer section upstream of the memory writing section in a travel direction of an enzyme along the strand of memory writing substrate nucleic acid.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2019Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Tim STAKENBORG, Chang CHEN, Kris COVENS, Qing CAI, Maarten FAUVART
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Patent number: 10875016Abstract: A micro analysis chip comprises an inlet and a fluid flow path communicating thereto. The fluid flow path comprises a first flow path, a second flow path, and a third flow path arranged continuously along a longitudinal direction of the fluid flow path. An antibody is bound on at least one peripheral surface selected from the group consisting of peripheral surfaces of the second and third flow paths. A cross-sectional area of the third flow path is constant or increased monotonically along a direction X from the second flow path toward the third flow path. A cross-sectional area of the second flow path is increased monotonically along the direction X from the one end to the other end of the second flow path. A cross-sectional area of the first flow path is larger than a cross-sectional area at the one end of the second flow path.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignees: PANASONIC CORPORATION, IMEC VZWInventors: Shuji Sato, Yasuaki Okumura, Yukari Nishiyama, Tatsurou Kawamura, Ben Jones, Liesbet Lagae, Tim Stakenborg
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Patent number: 10871447Abstract: Sensor devices for quantifying luminescent targets are described herein. An example device comprises a light source for exciting the targets, thus generating luminescence signals and a detector for detecting these signals, resulting in a detected signal which comprises a desired signal originating from the targets and a background signal. It moreover comprises a bleaching device for bleaching of at least part of the sources generating the background signal and a processor configured to trigger the bleaching device to start bleaching, and to trigger the light source for exciting the remaining luminescent targets which are not bleached, and to trigger the detector for detecting the luminescence signal of the remaining luminescent targets, so as to generate a measurement signal representative for the quantification of the luminescent targets.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2016Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Imec VZWInventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Pol Van Dorpe
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Patent number: 10845310Abstract: A sensor device for quantifying luminescent targets configured in an at least one dimensional pattern. The sensor device comprises a detector for obtaining an at least one dimensional pattern of measured signals, wherein the detector is adapted for detecting the luminescence of the luminescent targets, resulting in a measured pattern. The sensor device moreover comprises a processor configured to correlate the measured pattern with at least one reference pattern, so as to generate a measurement signal representative for the quantification of luminescent targets. The at least one reference pattern is a recorded pattern or an expected pattern. A recorded pattern is a pattern which is obtained by the detector before the measured pattern is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2016Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Pol Van Dorpe
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Patent number: 10746731Abstract: A method for immobilizing an analyte-recognizing molecule (1) on a surface (2?) functionalized with chemical groups Y1 suitable for reacting with a chemical group X2 of a coupling molecule (7) to form a reaction product comprising a chemical group Y2 suitable for reacting with the analyte-recognizing molecule (1), the method comprising the steps of: a) Providing the functionalized surface (2?), b) Contacting the functionalized surface (2?) with a solution (6) comprising simultaneously: i) The coupling molecule (7), and ii) The analyte-recognizing molecule (1).Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2016Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Rita Vos, Karolien Jans, Tim Stakenborg
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Publication number: 20190355964Abstract: A device for synthesis of macromolecules is disclosed. In one aspect, the device comprises an ion-releaser having a synthesis surface comprising an array of synthesis locations arranged for synthesis of the macromolecules. The ion-releaser also includes an ion-source electrode, which is arranged to contain releasable ions and is arranged to be in contact with each of the synthesis locations of the synthesis surface, thereby release ions to the synthesis locations. The ion-releaser further comprises activating electrodes, which are arranged to be in contact with the ion-source electrode, wherein each one of the activating electrodes is arranged in association with one of the synthesis locations via the ion-source electrode. The ion-releaser is arranged to release at least a portion of the releasable ions from the ion-source electrode to one of the synthesis locations, by activation of the activating electrode associated with the synthesis location.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2019Publication date: November 21, 2019Inventors: Philippe Vereecken, Brecht Put, Tim Stakenborg, Arnaud Furnemont, Luca Di Plazza