Patents Assigned to Fluidigm Corporation
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Patent number: 7749737Abstract: An M times.N matrix microfluidic device for performing a matrix of reactions, the device having a plurality of reaction cells in communication with one of either a sample inlet or a reagent inlet through a via formed within an elastomeric block of the device. Methods provided include a method for forming vias in parallel in an elastomeric layer of an elastomeric block of a microfluidic device, the method comprising using patterned photoresist masks and etching reagents to etch away regions or portions of an elastomeric layer of the elastomeric block.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Lincoln McBride, Geoffrey Facer, Marc Unger, Michael Lucero, Hany Ramez Nassef
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Publication number: 20100166608Abstract: A biological substrate, e.g., microfluidic chip. The substrate includes a rigid substrate material, which has a surface region capable of acting as a handle substrate. The substrate also has a deformable fluid layer coupled to the surface region. One or more well regions are formed in a first portion of the deformable fluid layer and are capable of holding a fluid therein. The one or more channel regions are formed in a second portion of the deformable fluid layer and are coupled to one or more of the well regions. An active region is formed in the deformable fluid layer. At least three fiducial markings are formed within the non-active region and disposed in a spatial manner associated with at least one of the well regions. A control layer is coupled to the fluid layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Emerson Chueng Quan, Colin Jon Taylor, Michael Lee, Christopher G. Ceasar, Greg Harris, Gang Sun
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Publication number: 20100120077Abstract: The invention provides systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for the microfluidic manipulation and/or detection of particles, such as cells and/or beads. The invention provides systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for the microfluidic manipulation and/or analysis of particles, such as cells, viruses, organelles, beads, and/or vesicles. The invention also provides microfluidic mechanisms for carrying out these manipulations and analyses. These mechanisms may enable controlled input, movement/positioning, retention/localization, treatment, measurement, release, and/or output of particles. Furthermore, these mechanisms may be combined in any suitable order and/or employed for any suitable number of times within a system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2009Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: Fluidigm CorporationInventor: Antoine Daridon
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Publication number: 20100119154Abstract: A method for processing an image of a microfluidic device. The method includes receiving a first image of a microfluidic device. The first image corresponds to a first state. Additionally, the method includes receiving a second image of the microfluidic device. The second image corresponds to a second state. Moreover, the method includes transforming the first image and the second image into a third coordinate space. Also, the method includes obtaining a third image based on at least information associated with the transformed first image and the transformed second image, and processing the third image to obtain information associated with the first state and the second state.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2009Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Colin Jon Taylor, Gang Sun, Simant Dube
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Patent number: 7704735Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting a reaction at a selected temperature or range of temperatures over time. An array device is provided. The array device contains separate reaction chambers and is formed as an elastomeric block from multiple layers. At least one layer has at least one recess that recess has at least one deflectable membrane integral to the layer with the recess. The array device has a thermal transfer device proximal to at least one of the reaction chambers. The thermal transfer device is formed to contact a thermal control source. Reagents for carrying out a desired reaction are introduced into the array device. The array device is contacted with a thermal control device such that the thermal control device is in thermal communication with the thermal control source so that a temperature of the reaction in at least one of the reaction chamber is changed as a result of a change in temperature of the thermal control source.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2007Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Geoffrey Facer, Robert Grossman, Marc Unger, Philip Lam, Hou-Pu Chou, Jake Kimball, Martin Pieprzyk, Antoine Daridon
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Patent number: 7695683Abstract: A biological substrate, e.g., microfluidic chip. The substrate includes a rigid substrate material, which has a surface region capable of acting as a handle substrate. The substrate also has a deformable fluid layer coupled to the surface region. One or more well regions are formed in a first portion of the deformable fluid layer and are capable of holding a fluid therein. The one or more channel regions are formed in a second portion of the deformable fluid layer and are coupled to one or more of the well regions. An active region is formed in the deformable fluid layer. At least three fiducial markings are formed within the non-active region and disposed in a spatial manner associated with at least one of the well regions. A control layer is coupled to the fluid layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2004Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Emerson Chueng Quan, Colin Jon Taylor, Michael Lee, Christopher G. Cesar, Greg Harris, Gang Sun
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Patent number: 7691333Abstract: A variety of elastomeric-based microfluidic devices and methods for using and manufacturing such devices are provided. Certain of the devices have arrays of reaction sites to facilitate high throughput analyses. Some devices also include reaction sites located at the end of blind channels at which reagents have been previously deposited during manufacture. The reagents become suspended once sample is introduced into the reaction site. The devices can be utilized with a variety of heating devices and thus can be used in a variety of analyses requiring temperature control, including thermocycling applications such as nucleic acid amplification reactions, genotyping and gene expression analyses.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2004Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Lincoln McBride, Michael Lucero, Marc Unger, Hany Ramez Nassef, Geoffrey Facer, Yong Yi
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Patent number: 7666361Abstract: A variety of elastomeric-based microfluidic devices and methods for using and manufacturing such devices are provided. Certain of the devices have arrays of reaction sites to facilitate high throughput analyses. Some devices also include reaction sites located at the end of blind channels at which reagents have been previously deposited during manufacture. The reagents become suspended once sample is introduced into the reaction site. The devices can be utilized with a variety of heating devices and thus can be used in a variety of analyses requiring temperature control, including thermocycling applications such as nucleic acid amplification reactions, genotyping and gene expression analyses.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2004Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Lincoln McBride, Marc Unger, Michael Lucero, Hany Ramez Nassef, Geoff Facer, Yong Yi
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Patent number: 7640947Abstract: Microfabricated fluidic devices of the present invention include switches that can be opened and closed to allow or block the flow of fluid through a channel in response to the pressure level in a gate of the switch. The microfabricated fluidic switches may be coupled together to perform logic functions and Boolean algebra, such as inverters, AND gates, NAND, gates, NOR gates, and OR gates. The logic gates may be coupled together to form flip-flops that latch signals. The present invention also includes microfabricated fluidic pressure multipliers that increase the pressure in a second chamber relative to a first chamber. Microfabricated fluidic devices of the present invention also include high or low pressure sources. A pressure source of the present includes a pump coupled to a reservoir through unidirectional valves. Microfabricated fluidic devices of the present invention may also include devices that perform analog functions such as switching regulator.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2008Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: David Fernandes, Hou-Pu Chou, Marc A. Unger
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Publication number: 20090294703Abstract: An apparatus for imaging one or more selected fluorescence indications from a microfluidic device. The apparatus includes an imaging path coupled to least one chamber in at least one microfluidic device. The imaging path provides for transmission of one or more fluorescent emission signals derived from one or more samples in the at least one chamber of the at least one microfluidic device. The chamber has a chamber size, the chamber size being characterized by an actual spatial dimension normal to the imaging path. The apparatus also includes an optical lens system coupled to the imaging path. The optical lens system is adapted to transmit the one or more fluorescent signals associated with the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Marc A. Unger, Geoffrey Richard Facer, Barry Clerkson, Christopher G. Cesar, Neil Switz
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Publication number: 20090299545Abstract: A biological substrate, e.g., microfluidic chip. The substrate includes a rigid substrate material, which has a surface region capable of acting as a handle substrate. The substrate also has a deformable fluid layer coupled to the surface region. One or more well regions are formed in a first portion of the deformable fluid layer and are capable of holding a fluid therein. The one or more channel regions are formed in a second portion of the deformable fluid layer and are coupled to one or more of the well regions. An active region is formed in the deformable fluid layer. At least three fiducial markings are formed within the non-active region and disposed in a spatial manner associated with at least one of the well regions. A control layer is coupled to the fluid layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2004Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Emerson Chueng Quan, Colin Jon Taylor, Michael Lee, Christopher G. Cesar, Greg Harris, Gang Sun
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Patent number: 7604965Abstract: An M×N matrix microfluidic device for performing a matrix of reactions, the device having a plurality of reaction cells in communication with one of either a sample inlet or a reagent inlet through a via formed within an elastomeric block of the device. Methods provided include a method for forming vias in parallel in an elastomeric layer of an elastomeric block of a microfluidic device, the method comprising using patterned photoresist masks and etching reagents to etch away regions or portions of an elastomeric layer of the elastomeric block.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Lincoln McBride, Geoffrey Facer, Marc Unger, Michael Lucero, Hany Ramez Nassef
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Publication number: 20090257920Abstract: Multilevel microfluidic devices include a control line that can simultaneously actuate valves for both sample and reagent lines. Microfluidic devices are configured to contain a first reagent in a first chamber and a second reagent in a second chamber, where either or both of the first and second reagents are contained at a desired or selected pressure. Operation of a microfluidic device includes transmitting second reagent from the second chamber to the first chamber, for mixing or contact with the first reagent. Microfluidic device features such as channels, valves, chambers, can be at least partially contained, embedded, or formed by or within one or more layers or levels of an elastomeric block.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2009Publication date: October 15, 2009Applicant: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Geoffrey Facer, Brian Fowler, Emerson Cheung Quan, Marc Unger
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Publication number: 20090239308Abstract: A method of estimating a concentration of DNA molecules in a biological sample includes storing a number of a plurality of reaction sites in a memory and distributing the biological sample among the plurality of reaction sites. The method also includes determining a number of the plurality of reaction sites characterized by a presence of one or more of the DNA molecules and computing a portion of the plurality of reaction sites characterized by the presence of the one or more of the DNA molecules. The method further includes estimating the concentration of the DNA molecules as a function of the portion of the plurality of reaction sites and computing a confidence interval for the estimated concentration of DNA molecules.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2008Publication date: September 24, 2009Applicant: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Simant Dube, Jian Qin, Ramesh Ramakrishnan
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Patent number: 7588672Abstract: An apparatus for imaging one or more selected fluorescence indications from a microfluidic device. The apparatus includes an imaging path coupled to least one chamber in at least one microfluidic device. The imaging path provides for transmission of one or more fluorescent emission signals derived from one or more samples in the at least one chamber of the at least one microfluidic device. The chamber has a chamber size, the chamber size being characterized by an actual spatial dimension normal to the imaging path. The apparatus also includes an optical lens system coupled to the imaging path. The optical lens system is adapted to transmit the one or more fluorescent signals associated with the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2007Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Marc A. Unger, Geoffrey Richard Facer, Barry Clerkson, Christopher G. Cesar, Neil Switz
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Patent number: 7583853Abstract: A method for processing an image of a microfluidic device. The method includes receiving a first image of a microfluidic device. The first image corresponds to a first state. Additionally, the method includes receiving a second image of the microfluidic device. The second image corresponds to a second state. Moreover, the method includes transforming the first image and the second image into a third coordinate space. Also, the method includes obtaining a third image based on at least information associated with the transformed first image and the transformed second image, and processing the third image to obtain information associated with the first state and the second state.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2004Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Colin Jon Taylor, Gang Sun, Simant Dube
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Publication number: 20090187009Abstract: The present invention provides methods of and systems for translating conditions from a small-volume experiment to a larger-volume experiment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2008Publication date: July 23, 2009Applicant: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Andrew May, Hany Ramez Nassef
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Publication number: 20090176230Abstract: A variety of elastomeric-based microfluidic devices and methods for using and manufacturing such devices are provided. Certain of the devices have arrays of reaction sites to facilitate high throughput analyses. Some devices also include reaction sites located at the end of blind channels at which reagents have been previously deposited during manufacture. The reagents become suspended once sample is introduced into the reaction site. The devices can be utilized with a variety of heating devices and thus can be used in a variety of analyses requiring temperature control, including thermocycling applications such as nucleic acid amplification reactions, genotyping and gene expression analyses.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2008Publication date: July 9, 2009Applicant: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Lincoln McBride, Michael Lucero, Marc Unger, Hany Ramez Nassef, Geoffrey Facer
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Publication number: 20090147918Abstract: An integrated fluidic circuit includes a substrate layer and a first structure coupled to the substrate layer and including a plurality of channels. The first structure is configured to provide for flow of one or more materials through the plurality of channels. The integrated fluidic circuit also includes a second structure coupled to the substrate layer. The second structure includes a plurality of control channels configured to receive an actuation pressure. The integrated fluidic circuit is characterized by a thickness of less than 1.5 mm.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2008Publication date: June 11, 2009Applicant: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Brian Fowler, Andrew May
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Publication number: 20090142236Abstract: An M.times.N matrix microfluidic device for performing a matrix of reactions, the device having a plurality of reaction cells in communication with one of either a sample inlet or a reagent inlet through a via formed within an elastomeric block of the device. Methods provided include a method for forming vias in parallel in an elastomeric layer of an elastomeric block of a microfluidic device, the method comprising using patterned photoresist masks and etching reagents to etch away regions or portions of an elastomeric layer of the elastomeric block.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2007Publication date: June 4, 2009Applicant: Fluidigm CorporationInventors: Marc Unger, Jiang Huang, Emerson Quan