Patents Assigned to Labcyte Inc.
  • Patent number: 11898993
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Labcyte, Inc.
    Inventors: Babur Hadimioglu, Jay Daulton, Richard N. Ellson
  • Patent number: 11890870
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Labcyte, Inc.
    Inventors: Sammy S. Datwani, Carson Riche, Marsha N. Blauwkamp, Justin Blonigan
  • Publication number: 20230290627
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicants: Labcyte, Inc., DH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sammy Datwani, Don W. Arnold, Lucien P. Ghislain, Chang Liu, Thomas Covey
  • Patent number: 11731133
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: LABCYTE INC.
    Inventor: Richard N. Ellson
  • Publication number: 20230249191
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Labcyte Inc.
    Inventor: Richard N. Ellson
  • Patent number: 11717818
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Labcyte Inc.
    Inventor: Richard G. Stearns
  • Patent number: 11691151
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for tagging and acoustically characterizing containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Labcyte Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Sackmann, Sammy Datwani, Stephen Hinkson
  • Patent number: 11688597
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Labcyte Inc.
    Inventor: Richard G. Stearns
  • Patent number: 11637006
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Labcyte, Inc.
    Inventors: Sammy Datwani, Don W. Arnold, Lucien P. Ghislain, Chang Liu, Thomas Covey
  • Patent number: 11396019
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: LABCYTE INC.
    Inventor: Richard N. Ellson
  • Publication number: 20220088617
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: Labcyte Inc.
    Inventors: Richard N. Ellson, Richard G. Stearns, Babur Hadimioglu
  • Patent number: 11237086
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: LABCYTE, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Olechno, Richard N. Ellson
  • Publication number: 20220025382
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: Labcyte Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer M. Hardee, Richard N. Ellson, Richard G. Stearns, Babur Hadimioglu, Joseph D. Olechno, Marsha N. Blauwkamp
  • Publication number: 20210394171
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Labcyte Inc.
    Inventors: Sammy S. Datwani, Carson Riche, Marsha N. Blauwkamp, Justin Blonigan
  • Patent number: 11198878
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: LABCYTE INC.
    Inventors: Jennifer M. Hardee, Richard N. Ellson, Richard G. Stearns, Babur Hadimioglu, Joseph D. Olechno, Marsha N. Blauwkamp
  • Publication number: 20210384023
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicants: Labcyte, Inc., DH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sammy Datwani, Don W. Arnold, Lucien P. Ghislain, Chang Liu, Thomas Covey
  • Patent number: 11192114
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for tagging and acoustically characterizing containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: LABCYTE INC.
    Inventors: Eric Sackmann, Sammy Datwani, Stephen Hinkson
  • Patent number: 11133163
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignees: LABCYTE, INC., DH TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPMENT PTE. LTD
    Inventors: Sammy Datwani, Don W. Arnold, Lucien P. Ghislain, Chang Liu, Thomas Covey
  • Patent number: 11040341
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Labcyte Inc.
    Inventor: Michael James Forbush
  • Patent number: 11033895
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Labcyte Inc.
    Inventor: Richard G. Stearns