Patents Assigned to Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11255809
    Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based surface modification and washing. According to one embodiment, a method of splitting a droplet is provided, the method including providing a droplet microactuator including a droplet including one or more beads and immobilizing at least one of the one or more beads. The method further includes conducting one or more droplet operations to divide the droplet to yield a set of droplets including a droplet including the one or more immobilized beads and a droplet substantially lacking the one or more immobilized beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Richard B. Fair
  • Publication number: 20190324026
    Abstract: A method comprising effecting a change in a shape of a droplet, wherein the droplet is disposed over a substrate in sensing proximity to a sensor and the droplet has a starting surface area exposed to the sensor; and producing an expanded surface area of the droplet in the sensing proximity exposed to the sensor, wherein the expanded surface area exposed to the sensor is greater than the starting surface area exposed to the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicants: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Allen E. Eckhardt, Richard B. Fair
  • Patent number: 10379112
    Abstract: A method of providing a droplet in contact with a magnetically responsive bead and having a reduced quantity of a substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignees: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Allen E. Eckhardt, Richard B. Fair
  • Patent number: 9863913
    Abstract: A liquid handling system for supplying liquids to a flow cell (FC). The system may include a droplet actuator cartridge, wherein the droplet actuator and a flow cell are fluidly coupled to, or situated within, a droplet operations gap of the droplet actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Pollack
  • Patent number: 9861986
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Prasanna Thwar, Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Allen E. Eckhardt, Alexander Shenderov, Dwayne J. Allen
  • Patent number: 9815061
    Abstract: During droplet operations in a droplet actuator, bubbles often form in the filler fluid in the droplet operations gap and interrupt droplet operations. The present invention provides methods and systems for performing droplet operations on a droplet in a droplet actuator comprising maintaining substantially consistent contact between the droplet and an electrical ground while conducting multiple droplet operations on the droplet in the droplet operations gap and/or reducing the accumulation of electrical charges in the droplet operations gap during multiple droplet operations. The methods and systems reduce or eliminate bubble formation in the filler fluid of the droplet operations gap, thereby permitting completion of multiple droplet operations without interruption by bubble formation in the filler fluid in the droplet operations gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignees: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Illumina France SARL
    Inventors: Cyril Delattre, Arnaud Rival, Vijay Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 9707579
    Abstract: A microfluidic device having a substrate with an electrically conductive element made using a conductive ink layer underlying a hydrophobic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore Winger
  • Publication number: 20170159105
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: 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
  • Patent number: 9574220
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 9545641
    Abstract: A microfluidic device having a substrate with an electrically conductive element made using a conductive ink layer underlying a hydrophobic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore Winger
  • Patent number: 9545640
    Abstract: A microfluidic device having a substrate with an electrically conductive element made using a conductive ink layer underlying a hydrophobic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore Winger
  • Publication number: 20170003282
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 9517469
    Abstract: Methods and devices for conducting chemical or biochemical reactions that require multiple reaction temperatures are described. The methods involve moving one or more reaction droplets or reaction volumes through various reaction zones having different temperatures on a microfluidics apparatus. The devices comprise a microfluidics apparatus comprising appropriate actuators capable of moving reaction droplets or reaction volumes through the various reaction zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignees: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Alexander D. Shenderov, Michael G. Pollack
  • Patent number: 9511369
    Abstract: The invention provides a droplet actuator. The droplet actuator may include a base substrate and a top substrate separated to form a gap. The base substrate may include electrodes configured for conducting droplet operations in the gap; and the top substrate may include a glass substrate portion coupled to a non-glass portion, where the non-glass portion may include one or more openings establishing a fluid path extending from an exterior of the droplet actuator and into the gap. The invention also provides related methods of manufacturing the droplet actuator, methods of using the droplet actuator, and methods of loading the droplet actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Alexander Shenderov, Zhishan Hua, Arjun Sudarsan
  • Patent number: 9513253
    Abstract: Droplet actuators and techniques for droplet-based assays are provided. A method of conducting an assay comprises: incubating a droplet in oil, the droplet comprising an umbelliferone substrate, a sample potentially comprising an enzyme which cleaves the umbelliferone substrate, and a zwitterionic surfactant; and detecting a signal emitted from the droplet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore Winger
  • Patent number: 9492822
    Abstract: Methods comprising measuring the impedance of the electrode produced by the excitation signal, wherein the impedance indicates presence of liquid at the electrode are disclosed. Computer readable mediums storing processor executable instructions for performing the method, and systems are also disclosed. The systems comprise a processor, memory and code stored in the memory that when executed cause the processor at least to: receive an output voltage signal, superimpose an excitation signal onto the output voltage signal to produce a superimposed signal, connect the superimposed signal to an electrode in a droplet actuator, suppress the output voltage signal, when detecting an impedance of the electrode, and measure the impedance of the electrode produced by the excitation signal, wherein the impedance indicates presence of liquid at the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan A. Sturmer, Vijay Srinivasan, Arjun Sudarsan
  • Patent number: 9494498
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen Eckhardt
  • Publication number: 20160318021
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Philip Paik
  • Publication number: 20160320378
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Ramakrishna Sista, Arjun Sudarsan
  • Patent number: 9452433
    Abstract: Methods and devices for conducting chemical or biochemical reactions that require multiple reaction temperatures are described. The methods involve moving one or more reaction droplets or reaction volumes through various reaction zones having different temperatures on a microfluidics apparatus. The devices comprise a microfluidics apparatus comprising appropriate actuators capable of moving reaction droplets or reaction volumes through the various reaction zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Alexander Shenderov, Michael G. Pollack