Patents by Inventor Vamsee K. Pamula
Vamsee K. Pamula 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: 20180161769Abstract: In one embodiment, a multiplex fluid processing cartridge includes a sample well, a deformable fluid chamber, a mixing well with a mixer disposed therein, a lysis chamber including a lysis mixer, an electrowetting grid for microdroplet manipulation, and electrosensor arrays configured to detect analytes of interest. An instrument for processing the cartridge is configured to receive the cartridge and to selectively apply thermal energy, magnetic force, and electrical connections to one or more discrete locations on the cartridge and is further configured to compress the deformable chamber(s) in a specified sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2018Publication date: June 14, 2018Applicant: GENMARK DIAGNOSTICS, INC.Inventors: Jon Faiz KAYYEM, SEAN FORD, VAMSEE K. PAMULA, VIJAY SRINIVASAN, SCOTT COREY, BRIAN MURPHY, DAVID WALTER WRIGHT, DOMINIC AIELLO
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Patent number: 9861986Abstract: The invention provides droplet actuators and droplet actuator cassettes including reagent storage capabilities, as well as methods of making and using the droplet actuators and cassettes. The invention also provides continuous flow channel elements and techniques for using electrodes to manipulate droplets in flowing streams. The invention also discloses methods of separating compounds on a droplet actuator. Various other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2014Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Prasanna Thwar, Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Allen E. Eckhardt, Alexander Shenderov, Dwayne J. Allen
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Publication number: 20170266653Abstract: Methods of concentrating beads in a droplet and/or loading beads on a fluidic device are provided, including among other things, a method of concentrating beads in a droplet, the method comprising: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) an interior droplet operations volume; and (ii) a reservoir exterior to the interior volume; (iii) a droplet established in a liquid path extending from the reservoir into the interior volume; (b) providing magnetically responsive beads in the portion of the droplet which is in the reservoir; (c) magnetically attracting the magnetically responsive beads through the liquid path into the portion of the droplet which is in the interior volume; and (d) forming a droplet comprising one or more of the magnetically responsive beads in the interior volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Michael G. POLLACK, Ramakrishna SISTA, Zhishan HUA, Vamsee K. PAMULA, Arjun SUDARSAN, Vijay SRINIVASAN, Prasanna THWAR, Alexander SHENDEROV, Dwayne ALLEN
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Patent number: 9675972Abstract: Methods of concentrating beads in a droplet and/or loading beads on a fluidic device are provided, including among other things, a method of concentrating beads in a droplet, the method comprising: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) an interior droplet operations volume; and (ii) a reservoir exterior to the interior volume; (iii) a droplet established in a liquid path extending from the reservoir into the interior volume; (b) providing magnetically responsive beads in the portion of the droplet which is in the reservoir; (c) magnetically attracting the magnetically responsive beads through the liquid path into the portion of the droplet which is in the interior volume; and (d) forming a droplet comprising one or more of the magnetically responsive beads in the interior volume.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2009Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Ramakrishna Sista, Zhishan Hua, Vamsee K. Pamula, Arjun Sudarsan, Vijay Srinivasan, Prasanna Thwar, Alexander Shenderov, Dwayne Allen
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Publication number: 20170159105Abstract: The invention is directed to droplet actuator devices and assay methods. The invention includes assay methods of conducting an assay comprising combining a sample with an umbelliferyl derivative, wherein the sample potentially comprises an enzyme capable of cleaving the umbelliferyl derivative and where the umbelliferyl derivative comprises an umbelliferyl core modified with one or more modifying moieties.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Allen E. Eckhardt, Carrie Graham, Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Theodore Winger, Tong Wang, Yalin Xiong, Ning Wu, Sanjay Saha, Gajendrasinh Raolji, Raveendra Dayam
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Patent number: 9638662Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 4, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair
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Patent number: 9631244Abstract: A method of providing a droplet comprising one or more reagents, the method comprising, depositing a first aqueous droplet comprising the one or more reagents on a surface; drying the droplet to yield a dried composition on the surface comprising the one or more reagents; covering the dried composition with oil; and causing a second aqueous droplet in the oil to contact the dried composition and thereby resuspend one or more reagents.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2012Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Jennifer Foley, Stefan Burde, Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack
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Patent number: 9630180Abstract: A droplet actuator with a droplet formation electrode configuration associated with a droplet operations surface, wherein the electrode configuration may include one or more electrodes configured to control volume of a droplet during formation of a sub-droplet on the droplet operations surface. Methods of making and using the droplet actuator are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Zhishan Hua, Arjun Sudarsan, Philip Y. Paik
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Patent number: 9574220Abstract: The invention is directed to droplet actuator devices and assay methods. The invention includes assay methods of conducting an assay comprising combining a sample with an umbelliferyl derivative, wherein the sample potentially comprises an enzyme capable of cleaving the umbelliferyl derivative and where the umbelliferyl derivative comprises an umbelliferyl core modified with one or more modifying moieties.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Allen E Eckhardt, Carrie Graham, Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Theodore Winger, Tong Wang, Yalin Xiong, Ning Wu, Sanjay Saha, Gajendrasinh Raolji, Raveendra Dayam
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Publication number: 20170003282Abstract: 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: September 15, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20160370317Abstract: The invention provides droplet actuators with droplet operations surfaces for manipulating droplets, e.g., by conducting droplet operations. The droplet operations surfaces are typically exposed to a droplet operations gap. One or more regions of a droplet operation surface may include patterned topographic features. The invention also provides a droplet actuator in which one or both gap-facing droplet operations surfaces is formed using a removable film. The removable film may, in various embodiments, also include other components ordinarily associated with the droplet actuator substrate, such as the dielectric layer and the electrodes. Further, the invention provides droplet actuator devices and methods for coupling and/or sealing substrates of a droplet actuator, such as techniques for self-aligning assembly of droplet actuator substrates.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2014Publication date: December 22, 2016Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Arjun Sudarsan, Vijay Srinivasan, Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Ramakrishna Sista
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Patent number: 9494498Abstract: 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: December 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20160320378Abstract: 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: July 14, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Ramakrishna Sista, Arjun Sudarsan
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Publication number: 20160318021Abstract: A method of manipulating a droplet comprising providing a substrate comprising a surface; an elongated transport electrode disposed on the substrate surface, the elongated transport electrode having a first and a second end and configured to impart a gradient force to the droplet; and one or more wires for providing power to the transport electrode; and providing power to the one or more wires to effect the gradient force and thereby transport the droplet along the length of the elongated transport electrode from the first end to the second end.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Philip Paik
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Patent number: 9476856Abstract: A method of detecting a target analyte in a sample, including executing electrowetting-mediated droplet operations and thereby: combining one or more immunoassay reagent droplets comprising magnetically-responsive beads having affinity for the target analyte with one or more sample droplets potentially comprising the target analyte to yield a first combined droplet; beginning with the combined droplet, effecting a droplet-based washing protocol to wash the magnetically-responsive beads to yield a first washed droplet comprising the washed magnetically responsive beads; and combining the droplet comprising the washed magnetically responsive beads with a droplet comprising a reporter molecule having affinity for target analyte captured on the magnetically-responsive beads to yield a second combined droplet; beginning with the second combined droplet, effecting a droplet-based washing protocol to wash the magnetically-responsive beads to yield a second washed droplet comprising the washed magnetically responsiveType: GrantFiled: May 9, 2013Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignees: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC., DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Richard B. Fair
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Publication number: 20160271623Abstract: The invention provides a method of redistributing magnetically responsive beads in a droplet. The method may include conducting on a droplet operations surface one or more droplet operations using the droplet without removing the magnetically responsive beads from the region of the magnetic field. The droplet operations may in some cases be electrode-mediated. The droplet operations may redistribute and/or circulate the magnetically responsive beads within the droplet. In some cases, the droplet may include a sample droplet may include a target analyte. The redistributing of the magnetically responsive beads may cause target analyte to bind to the magnetically responsive beads. In some cases, the droplet may include unbound substances in a wash buffer. The redistributing of the magnetically responsive beads causes unbound substances to be freed from interstices of an aggregated set or subset of the magnetically responsive beads.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Prasanna Thwar, Arjun Sudarsan, Ramakrishna Sista
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Publication number: 20160216231Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based particle sorting. According to one embodiment, a droplet microactuator is provided and includes: (a) a suspension of particles; and (b) electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations using droplets comprising particles. A method of transporting a particle is also provided, wherein the method includes providing a droplet comprising the particle and transporting the droplet on a droplet microactuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan
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Patent number: 9395329Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 22, 2015Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan
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Patent number: 9395361Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignees: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC., DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Richard B. Fair
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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