Patents Assigned to Advanced Liquid Logic
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Publication number: 20150268235Abstract: 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: June 5, 2015Publication date: September 24, 2015Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Arjun Sudarsan
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Patent number: 9140635Abstract: Methods of conducting an assay for measuring enzymatic modification of a substrate by a glycoprotein having enzymatic activity are provided. The methods include concentrating the glycoprotein having enzymatic activity by capturing the glycoproteins from the input sample on a solid support, washing the glycoproteins captured on a solid support to remove unbound portions of the input sample, adding an enzyme substrate to the output sample comprising glycoproteins having enzymatic activity, and measuring enzymatic modification of the substrate. In some examples, the capturing of the glycoprotein and subsequent washing steps are performed in one or more droplets in oil.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2012Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Carrie Graham, Allen Eckhardt, Lisa Perkins
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Patent number: 9139865Abstract: Aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a simulator including a visual display capable of outputting to a user a display one or more effects of a command series selected and a system including a droplet microactuator electronically coupled to and controlled by a processor capable of executing instructions, the droplet microactuator including a substrate comprising electrodes for conducting droplet operations. Further aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a droplet operations troubleshooting apparatus. Other aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a computer implemented method of displaying simulated microactuator droplets.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2012Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignees: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC., DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Michael G. Pollack, Philip Paik, Vamsee K. Pamula
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Publication number: 20150253284Abstract: The invention is directed to certain droplet actuated molecular techniques. In one embodiment, the invention provides droplet actuator methods for detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a DNA sequence using digital microfluidics, including droplet actuator-based sample preparation and SNP analysis. In another embodiment, the invention provides droplet actuator devices and methods for providing integrated sample preparation and multiplexed detection of an infectious agent, such as HIV. In yet another embodiment, the invention provides droplet actuator devices and techniques for PCR amplification and detection of specific nucleic acid sequences using digital microfluidics, including droplet actuator-based sample preparation and target nucleic acid analysis. In yet another embodiment the invention provides methods for performing hot-start PCR on a droplet actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2014Publication date: September 10, 2015Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Arjun Sudarsan, Zhishan Hua
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Publication number: 20150238975Abstract: 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: April 27, 2015Publication date: August 27, 2015Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: VAMSEE K. PAMULA, ARJUN SUDARSAN, RAMAKRISHNA SISTA
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Patent number: 9097662Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 29, 2014Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan
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Publication number: 20150212043Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2013Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventor: Michael G. Pollack
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Patent number: 9091649Abstract: The invention is directed to a droplet actuator device and methods for integrating gel electrophoresis analysis with pre or post-analytical sample handling as well as other molecular analysis processes. Using digital microfluidics technology, the droplet actuator device and methods of the invention provide the ability to perform gel electrophoresis and liquid handling operations on a single integrated device. The integrated liquid handling operations may be used to prepare and deliver samples to the electrophoresis gel, capture and subsequently process products of the electrophoresis gel or perform additional assays on the same sample materials which are analyzed by gel electrophoresis. In one embodiment, one or more molecular assays, such as nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) quantification by real-time PCR, and one or more sample processing operations such as sample dilution is performed on a droplet actuator integrated with an electrophoresis gel.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2010Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignees: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC., DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Zhishan Hua, Hon Lung Chu, Michael Hauser, Allen Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20150205272Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for transporting a droplet along a droplet operations gap of a droplet actuator into contact with absorbent material to dispose of the droplet from the gap or from a region of the gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2012Publication date: July 23, 2015Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Uichong Brandon Yi, David Cohen, Donovan E. Bort, Andrew White
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Patent number: 9086345Abstract: The invention provides a method of dispersing or circulating magnetically responsive beads within a droplet in a droplet actuator. The invention, in one embodiment, makes use of a droplet actuator with a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet, and a magnetic field present at a portion of the plurality of droplet operations electrodes. A bead-containing droplet is provided on the droplet actuator in the presence of the uniform magnetic field. Beads are circulated in the droplet during incubation by conducting droplet operations on the droplet within a uniform region of the magnate field. Other embodiments are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2014Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen Eckhardt
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Patent number: 9081007Abstract: The present 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: August 22, 2014Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Arjun Sudarsan
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Publication number: 20150184219Abstract: 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: March 11, 2015Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: 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: 20150174578Abstract: A droplet actuator with a droplet formation electrode configuration associated with a droplet operations surface, wherein the electrode configuration comprises 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: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2015Publication date: June 25, 2015Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Zishan Hua, Arjun Sudarsan, Philip Y. Paik
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Publication number: 20150174577Abstract: The present invention relates to filler fluids for droplet operations. According to one embodiment of this aspect, a droplet microactuator is provided and includes: (a) a first substrate comprising electrodes configured for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; (b) a second substrate spaced from the surface of the substrate by a distance sufficient to define an interior volume between the first substrate and second substrate, wherein the distance is sufficient to contain a droplet disposed in the space on the first substrate; and (c) a droplet arranged in the interior volume and arranged with respect to the electrodes in a manner which permits droplet operations to be effected on the droplet using the electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2015Publication date: June 25, 2015Applicants: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke UniversityInventors: Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Philip Y. Paik, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair
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Publication number: 20150165763Abstract: A microfluidic device having a substrate with an electrically conductive element made using a conductive ink layer underlying a hydrophobic layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2014Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventor: Theodore Winger
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Patent number: 9050606Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Arjun Sudarsan, Ramakrishna Sista
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Patent number: 9046514Abstract: A method of providing a droplet in contact with a magnetically responsive bead and having a reduced quantity of a substance.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2008Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignees: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC., DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Allen E. Eckhardt, Richard B. Fair
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Publication number: 20150148238Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2015Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicants: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC., Duke UniversityInventors: Vamsee Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Richard B. Fair
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Publication number: 20150107995Abstract: The invention provides droplet actuators and droplet actuator techniques. Among other things, the droplet actuators and methods are useful for manipulating beads on a droplet actuator, such as conducting droplet operations using bead-containing droplets on a droplet actuator. For example, beads may be manipulated on a droplet actuator in the context of executing a sample preparation protocol and/or an assay protocol. An output of the methods of the invention may be beads prepared for execution of an assay protocol. Another output of the methods of the invention may be results of an assay protocol executed using beads.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2015Publication date: April 23, 2015Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee Pamula, Arjun Sudarsan, Vijay Srinivasan, Prasanna Thwar
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Publication number: 20150111237Abstract: The invention relates to methods for enzymatic detection of biotinidase activity. In certain aspects, the invention provides methods for bench-based enzymatic detection of biotinidase activity. In other aspects, the invention provides methods for bench-based enzymatic detection in droplets in oil. The droplet-based methods may be performed in an automated manner using digital microfluidics technology on a droplet actuator device. The enzymatic assays for biotinidase activity may be used for newborn testing for biotinidase deficiency, and may be combined with other droplet-based enzymatic assays in a panel of tests for newborn testing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2013Publication date: April 23, 2015Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Carrie A. Graham, Allen E. Eckhardt