Patents Assigned to Labcyte Inc.
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Patent number: 11898993Abstract: A fluid impermeable transducer includes an assembly of a transducer head and a casing, and an actuator disposed in the casing rearward of the back of the transducer head and operable to transmit acoustic energy through the transducer head. The transducer head and casing define a working portion of the transducer that is fluid impermeable.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Labcyte, Inc.Inventors: Babur Hadimioglu, Jay Daulton, Richard N. Ellson
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Patent number: 11890870Abstract: Methods of ejecting droplets containing a non-Newtonian fluid by an acoustic droplet ejector can include applying a tone burst of focused acoustic energy to a fluid reservoir containing a non-Newtonian fluid at sufficient amplitude to effect droplet ejection according to a tone burst pattern. The tone burst pattern may include three discrete tone burst segments, the first tone burst segment having greater duration than the second and third segments, and third segment having greater duration than the second segment. The exact durations and amplitudes of the tone burst segments can be tuned to influence the ejection properties.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2019Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Labcyte, Inc.Inventors: Sammy S. Datwani, Carson Riche, Marsha N. Blauwkamp, Justin Blonigan
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Publication number: 20230290627Abstract: A system and method are provided for loading a sample into an analytical instrument using acoustic droplet ejection (“ADE”) in combination with a continuous flow sampling probe. An acoustic droplet ejector is used to eject small droplets of a fluid sample containing an analyte into the sampling tip of a continuous flow sampling probe, where the acoustically ejected droplet combines with a continuous, circulating flow stream of solvent within the flow probe. Fluid circulation within the probe transports the sample through a sample transport capillary to an outlet that directs the analyte away from the probe to an analytical instrument, e.g., a device that detects the presence, concentration quantity, and/or identity of the analyte. When the analytical instrument is a mass spectrometer or other type of device requiring the analyte to be in ionized form, the exiting droplets pass through an ionization region, e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Applicants: Labcyte, Inc., DH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Sammy Datwani, Don W. Arnold, Lucien P. Ghislain, Chang Liu, Thomas Covey
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Patent number: 11731133Abstract: Provided herein is generally tubular container, preferably including a plurality of reservoirs defined therein. The container can be adapted for acoustic ejection of a fluid disposed within at least one of the reservoirs of the plurality of reservoirs. Alternatively, the container can be adapted for extraction of a fluid disposed within at least one of the reservoirs of the plurality of reservoirs using a non-acoustic liquid handling method.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: LABCYTE INC.Inventor: Richard N. Ellson
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Publication number: 20230249191Abstract: Systems and methods for processing samples in a multi-well reaction vessel can include inserting a multi-well reaction vessel into a heating chamber of a thermal cycler, enclosing the multi-well reaction vessel in the heating chamber, and compressing a bottom surface of the multi-well reaction vessel into a compliant thermally conductive insert to increase a thermal contact area between the bottom surface and the compliant thermally conductive insert. The compliant thermally conductive insert can be placed between the multi-well reaction vessel and a heating element of the thermal cycler, where heat flux from the heating element passes through the compliant thermally conductive insert to the reaction vessel. The compliant thermally conductive insert can include an elastically deformable creped graphite sheet that can reversibly deform according to different compression profiles depending on the topography or flexure of the reaction vessel and/or heating element.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2021Publication date: August 10, 2023Applicant: Labcyte Inc.Inventor: Richard N. Ellson
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Patent number: 11717818Abstract: Focused acoustic radiation, referred to as tonebursts, are applied to a volume of liquid to generate a set of droplets. The droplets generated are substantially smaller in scale than the focal spot size of the acoustic beam (e.g., the frequency at which the acoustic transducer operates). Further, the droplets have trajectories that are substantially in the direction of the acoustic beam propagation direction. In one embodiment, a first toneburst is applied to temporarily raise a protuberance on a free surface of the fluid. After the protuberance has reached a certain state, a second toneburst is applied to the protuberance to break it into very small droplets. In one embodiment, the state of the protuberance at which the second toneburst is supplied is the time period shortly after the protuberance reaches its maximum height but before the protuberance recedes back into the volume of fluid.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Labcyte Inc.Inventor: Richard G. Stearns
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Patent number: 11691151Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for tagging and acoustically characterizing containers.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Labcyte Inc.Inventors: Eric Sackmann, Sammy Datwani, Stephen Hinkson
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Patent number: 11688597Abstract: Focused acoustic radiation, referred to as tonebursts, are applied to a volume of liquid to generate a set of droplets. In one embodiment, a first toneburst is applied to temporarily raise a mound or protuberance on a free surface of the fluid. After the mound has reached a certain state, at least two additional toneburst can be applied to the protuberance to sequentially eject multiple bursts of multiple droplets. In one embodiment, the state of the mound can be maintained by a sustained acoustic signal, during which time multiple additional tonebursts can be applied to sequentially eject multiple bursts of multiple droplets from the mound.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Labcyte Inc.Inventor: Richard G. Stearns
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Patent number: 11637006Abstract: A system and method are provided for loading a sample into an analytical instrument using acoustic droplet ejection (“ADE”) in combination with a continuous flow sampling probe. An acoustic droplet ejector is used to eject small droplets of a fluid sample containing an analyte into the sampling tip of a continuous flow sampling probe, where the acoustically ejected droplet combines with a continuous, circulating flow stream of solvent within the flow probe. Fluid circulation within the probe transports the sample through a sample transport capillary to an outlet that directs the analyte away from the probe to an analytical instrument, e.g., a device that detects the presence, concentration quantity, and/or identity of the analyte. When the analytical instrument is a mass spectrometer or other type of device requiring the analyte to be in ionized form, the exiting droplets pass through an ionization region, e.g.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Labcyte, Inc.Inventors: Sammy Datwani, Don W. Arnold, Lucien P. Ghislain, Chang Liu, Thomas Covey
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Patent number: 11396019Abstract: Provided herein is generally tubular container, preferably including a plurality of reservoirs defined therein. The container can be adapted for acoustic ejection of a fluid disposed within at least one of the reservoirs of the plurality of reservoirs. Alternatively, the container can be adapted for extraction of a fluid disposed within at least one of the reservoirs of the plurality of reservoirs using a non-acoustic liquid handling method.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2021Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: LABCYTE INC.Inventor: Richard N. Ellson
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Publication number: 20220088617Abstract: Systems and methods described herein employ focused acoustic energy applied to a reservoir containing a fluid to eject a fluid sample from the fluid sample reservoir, e.g. to an inlet of an analytical device. In many embodiments, the ejected fluid sample traverses an air gap separating the inlet of the analytical device from an upper surface of the fluid in the fluid sample reservoir. In many embodiments, the ejected fluid sample comprises one or more droplets ejected from the fluid sample reservoir, which can contain particles suspended in the fluid sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2020Publication date: March 24, 2022Applicant: Labcyte Inc.Inventors: Richard N. Ellson, Richard G. Stearns, Babur Hadimioglu
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Patent number: 11237086Abstract: A method and system are provided for extracting a target analyte from a sample using acoustic ejection technology. The method involves applying focused acoustic energy to a fluid reservoir housing a fluid composition that contains a target analyte and comprises an upper region and a lower region, where the concentration of the target analyte in the upper region differs from that in the lower region. The focused acoustic energy is applied in a manner that is effective to result in the ejection of a fluid droplet from the fluid composition into a droplet receiver, wherein the concentration of the analyte in the droplet corresponds to either the concentration of the analyte in the upper region or the concentration of the analyte in the lower region, and wherein the concentration of the analyte is substantially uniform throughout the droplet. The fluid composition may comprise an ionic liquid, used in the extraction of ionic target analytes. Related methods and an acoustic extraction system are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: LABCYTE, INC.Inventors: Joseph D. Olechno, Richard N. Ellson
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Publication number: 20220025382Abstract: A method is provided for achieving transfection of host cells using sonoporation. An acoustic radiation generator is positioned in acoustic coupling relationship with respect to a reservoir containing host cells to be transfected, exogenous material to be incorporated into the host cells, and a cell-compatible fluid medium. The acoustic radiation generator is activated to generate acoustic radiation and direct the acoustic radiation into the reservoir in a manner effective to enable transfection of the host cells with the exogenous material.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Applicant: Labcyte Inc.Inventors: Jennifer M. Hardee, Richard N. Ellson, Richard G. Stearns, Babur Hadimioglu, Joseph D. Olechno, Marsha N. Blauwkamp
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Publication number: 20210394171Abstract: Methods of ejecting droplets containing a non-Newtonian fluid by an acoustic droplet ejector can include applying a tone burst of focused acoustic energy to a fluid reservoir containing a non-Newtonian fluid at sufficient amplitude to effect droplet ejection according to a tone burst pattern. The tone burst pattern may include three discrete tone burst segments, the first tone burst segment having greater duration than the second and third segments, and third segment having greater duration than the second segment. The exact durations and amplitudes of the tone burst segments can be tuned to influence the ejection properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2019Publication date: December 23, 2021Applicant: Labcyte Inc.Inventors: Sammy S. Datwani, Carson Riche, Marsha N. Blauwkamp, Justin Blonigan
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Patent number: 11198878Abstract: A method is provided for achieving transfection of host cells using sonoporation. An acoustic radiation generator is positioned in acoustic coupling relationship with respect to a reservoir containing host cells to be transfected, exogenous material to be incorporated into the host cells, and a cell-compatible fluid medium. The acoustic radiation generator is activated to generate acoustic radiation and direct the acoustic radiation into the reservoir in a manner effective to enable transfection of the host cells with the exogenous material.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: LABCYTE INC.Inventors: Jennifer M. Hardee, Richard N. Ellson, Richard G. Stearns, Babur Hadimioglu, Joseph D. Olechno, Marsha N. Blauwkamp
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Publication number: 20210384023Abstract: A system and method are provided for loading a sample into an analytical instrument using acoustic droplet ejection (“ADE”) in combination with a continuous flow sampling probe. An acoustic droplet ejector is used to eject small droplets of a fluid sample containing an analyte into the sampling tip of a continuous flow sampling probe, where the acoustically ejected droplet combines with a continuous, circulating flow stream of solvent within the flow probe. Fluid circulation within the probe transports the sample through a sample transport capillary to an outlet that directs the analyte away from the probe to an analytical instrument, e.g., a device that detects the presence, concentration quantity, and/or identity of the analyte. When the analytical instrument is a mass spectrometer or other type of device requiring the analyte to be in ionized form, the exiting droplets pass through an ionization region, e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicants: Labcyte, Inc., DH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Sammy Datwani, Don W. Arnold, Lucien P. Ghislain, Chang Liu, Thomas Covey
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Patent number: 11192114Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for tagging and acoustically characterizing containers.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2019Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: LABCYTE INC.Inventors: Eric Sackmann, Sammy Datwani, Stephen Hinkson
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Patent number: 11133163Abstract: A system and method are provided for loading a sample into an analytical instrument using acoustic droplet ejection (“ADE”) in combination with a continuous flow sampling probe. An acoustic droplet ejector is used to eject small droplets of a fluid sample containing an analyte into the sampling tip of a continuous flow sampling probe, where the acoustically ejected droplet combines with a continuous, circulating flow stream of solvent within the flow probe. Fluid circulation within the probe transports the sample through a sample transport capillary to an outlet that directs the analyte away from the probe to an analytical instrument, e.g., a device that detects the presence, concentration quantity, and/or identity of the analyte. When the analytical instrument is a mass spectrometer or other type of device requiring the analyte to be in ionized form, the exiting droplets pass through an ionization region, e.g.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2020Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignees: LABCYTE, INC., DH TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPMENT PTE. LTDInventors: Sammy Datwani, Don W. Arnold, Lucien P. Ghislain, Chang Liu, Thomas Covey
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Patent number: 11040341Abstract: A method that allows a user to dispense a desired volume of solution from an acoustic dispensing apparatus by allowing the user to select the drop volume to be dispensed. A typical drop volume is in the range of one to twenty-five nanoliters. The method comprises the steps of creating two or more burst curves that give the relationship between liquid level and burst value, using data from the burst curves to create two or more calibration functions, and using data from the calibration functions to create a dispensing data set that is used to set the burst parameter required to dispense the selected drop volume.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2018Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: Labcyte Inc.Inventor: Michael James Forbush
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Patent number: 11033895Abstract: Focused acoustic radiation, referred to as tonebursts, are applied to a volume of liquid to generate a set of droplets. The droplets generated are substantially smaller in scale than the focal spot size of the acoustic beam (e.g., the frequency at which the acoustic transducer operates). Further, the droplets have trajectories that are substantially in the direction of the acoustic beam propagation direction. In one embodiment, a first toneburst is applied to temporarily raise a protuberance on a free surface of the fluid. After the protuberance has reached a certain state, a second toneburst is applied to the protuberance to break it into very small droplets. In one embodiment, the state of the protuberance at which the second toneburst is supplied is the time period shortly after the protuberance reaches its maximum height but before the protuberance recedes back into the volume of fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Labcyte Inc.Inventor: Richard G. Stearns