Patents Examined by Timothy G Kingan
  • Patent number: 8999265
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments concern a microfluidic device comprising a bonding agent and two or more components. In particular disclosed embodiments, the microfluidic device is made out of the disclosed bonding agent. Also disclosed are embodiments of a method for making a microfluidic device, wherein the method includes using the disclosed bonding agent to couple two or more components together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: State of Oregon acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Oregon State University
    Inventors: Myra T. Koesdjojo, Vincent T. Remcho, Jintana Nammoonnoy
  • Patent number: 8986630
    Abstract: Provided is a gas-generating material which can generate a gas in a large amount per unit time and has high storage stability. The gas-generating material 11a according to the present invention comprises a gas-generating agent that is an azo compound or an azide compound, a tertiary amine, a photosensitizing agent and a binder resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Akagi, Shigeru Nomura
  • Patent number: 8986628
    Abstract: A microfluidic method and device for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid is provided. The device can be fabricated simply from readily-available, inexpensive material using simple techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, The Governing Council of the Univ. of Toronto
    Inventors: Howard A. Stone, Shelley L. Anna, Nathalie Bontoux, Darren Roy Link, David A. Weitz, Irina Gitlin, Eugenia Kumacheva, Piotr Garstecki, Willow R. Diluzio, George M. Whitesides
  • Patent number: 8968682
    Abstract: A well plate includes a including a top portion, a bottom portion and a membrane disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion. The top portion defines a sample well in fluid communication with an opening defined by the membrane and in fluid communication with a reservoir defined by the bottom portion. The well plate is configured to be used in a centrifugation process of a test sample including a sample material and a wash liquid. The test sample configured to be received within the sample well and the reservoir. The membrane configured to filter the wash liquid from the test sample during the centrifugation process such that the wash liquid can pass from the reservoir, through the membrane and can be captured within a collection chamber while the sample material remains within the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cytosaver LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Hale
  • Patent number: 8961904
    Abstract: A microfluidic chip orients and isolates components in a sample fluid mixture by two-step focusing, where sheath fluids compress the sample fluid mixture in a sample input channel in one direction, such that the sample fluid mixture becomes a narrower stream bounded by the sheath fluids, and by having the sheath fluids compress the sample fluid mixture in a second direction further downstream, such that the components are compressed and oriented in a selected direction to pass through an interrogation chamber in single file formation for identification and separation by various methods. The isolation mechanism utilizes external, stacked piezoelectric actuator assemblies disposed on a microfluidic chip holder, or piezoelectric actuator assemblies on-chip, so that the actuator assemblies are triggered by an electronic signal to actuate jet chambers on either side of the sample input channel, to jet selected components in the sample input channel into one of the output channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Premium Genetics (UK) Ltd.
    Inventors: Zheng Xia, Yu Zhou, John Larsen, Guocheng Shao, Shane Peterson, Marjorie Faust
  • Patent number: 8956580
    Abstract: An analysis cartridge comprising a cartridge body, a first cover, a liquid storage box and a sealing film is disclosed. The cartridge body has an accommodation portion and a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The first cover covers the first side or the second side of the cartridge body and has a first through hole. The liquid storage box is disposed in the accommodation portion and has a liquid through hole. The sealing film seals the liquid through hole of the said liquid storage box and passes through the first through hole of the first cover, wherein the liquid through hole is exposed by removing the sealing film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Chang Lai, Fu-Chun Huang, Yuh-Jiuan Lin
  • Patent number: 8951484
    Abstract: Candidate cells, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), present with blood are captured using a multiple stage device, having successive stages configured to deviate candidate cells out of the blood while slowing down the flow rates of the deviated resultant for easier capture of CTCs through progressive stages. The devices can include separation channel and deviation channels formed of micro-post patterns dimensioned to deviate different desired candidate cells for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of Michigan
    Inventors: Tommaso F. Bersano-Begey, Daniel F. Hayes
  • Patent number: 8945481
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide microfludic devices and methods for their use. The microfluidic device can include an array of M×N reaction sites formed by intersecting a first and second plurality of fluid channels of a flow layer. The flow layer can have a matrix design and/or a blind channel design to analyze a large number of samples under a limited number of conditions. The microfluidic device can also include a control layer including a valve system for regulating solution flow through fluid channels. In addition, by aligning the control layer with the fluid channels, the detection of the microfluidic devices, e.g., optical signal collection, can be improved by piping lights to/from the reaction sites. In an exemplary embodiment, guard channels can be included in the microfluidic device for thermal cycling and/or reducing evaporation from the reaction sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, LLC
    Inventors: Mark F. Oldham, Kenneth J. Livak, Jason E. Babcoke, H. Pin Kao, Stephen J. Gunstream, Kevin S. Bodner, Douglas P. Greiner, Nigel P. Beard, Dar Bahatt
  • Patent number: 8945485
    Abstract: A microfluidic valve system is disclosed that includes a matrix, a hydrophilic acceptor region a hydrophilic transfer region, and a hydrophobic gap between the acceptor region and the transfer region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Board of Governors for Higher Education, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
    Inventors: Hong Chen, Constantine Anagnostopoulos, Mohammed Faghri, Jeremy Cogswell
  • Patent number: 8945479
    Abstract: Disclosed is a microchannel chip having an opening on the side of a plate with a lowered production cost. In the microchannel chip, a first plate (11), to which a third concavity (17) opening at one side surface (13) and a joining surface (14) is formed on the joining surface (14), is joined to a second plate (21), to which a sixth concavity (26) opening at one side surface (23) is formed on the joining surface and a groove (27?) interconnecting with the sixth concavity (26) is formed. The third concavity (17) and the sixth concavity (26) are aligned facing each other, and by the third concavity (17) and the sixth concavity (26), a glass tube introducing opening (33) is formed having a wider width than that of a duct (27). An adhesive agent is injected into the glass tube introducing opening (33) and a glass tube is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Ono
  • Patent number: 8936764
    Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices and methods using the same in various types of thermal cycling reactions. Certain devices include a rotary microfluidic channel and a plurality of temperature regions at different locations along the rotary microfluidic channel at which temperature is regulated. Solution can be repeatedly passed through the temperature regions such that the solution is exposed to different temperatures. Other microfluidic devices include an array of reaction chambers formed by intersecting vertical and horizontal flow channels, with the ability to regulate temperature at the reaction chambers. The microfluidic devices can be used to conduct a number of different analyzes, including various primer extension reactions and nucleic acid amplification reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Markus M. Enzelberger, Carl L. Hansen, Jian Liu, Stephen R. Quake, Chiem Ma
  • Patent number: 8932544
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a device for feeding and/or discharging fluids in microreactor arrays through one or several fluid ducts that extend into each individual microreactor and can be individually controlled and regulated, in order to control, regulate, influence, and/or verify processes. The fed or discharged amounts of fluid are introduced into or discharged from the volume of the reaction liquid during a continuous shaking process and are evenly mixed as a result of the shaking process. The continuous shaking process causes sufficient mass transfer and thorough mixing of the reaction partners or fluids while the reaction is not limited or restricted by the mass transfer conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: m2p-labs GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Mueller, Ingo Klammer, Frank Kensy, Jochen Buechs, Mirko Hofmann, Andreas Buchenauer, Uwe Schnakenberg, Wilfried Mokwa
  • Patent number: 8916112
    Abstract: Devices for handling liquid, for example microfluidic devices, are described, which are rotatable about an axis of rotation to drive liquid flow within the device. The 5 devices provide one or more of an aliquoting structure (6) having a plurality of daisy chained aliquoting chambers (100, 200, 300) for providing a plurality of aliquots, arrangements for sequencing the dispensing of the aliquots by controlling the rotation of the device and arrangements for ensuring that a fault condition can be detected when insufficient liquid is present in the device to fill 10 all aliquots. Further disclosed are arrangements for ensuring a detection chamber (12) of the device remains filled with liquid, arrangements for reducing the risk of air ingress to the detection chamber (12) on repeated emptying and filling of a supply structure (10) and arrangements for reducing the risk of bubble formation when filling the detection chamber (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Biosurfit, S.A.
    Inventors: Jo{hacek over (a)}o Garcia Da Fonseca, Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis
  • Patent number: 8911688
    Abstract: A microvalve for controlling fluid flows, and a sealing device for sealing cavities in a microfluidic system, particularly in a lab-on-a-chip system, and a method for the production thereof. A sealing surface of a valve body, or a sealing element, respectively, rests on a sealing surface of a substrate and is pressed against the sealing surface of the substrate in a fluid-tight manner by means of a clamping element. The clamping element and/or the valve body, or the sealing element, respectively, are at least partially elastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Rainer Gransee, Eva Schaeffer, Klaus-Stefan Drese, Silvio Kraus, Tobias Baier, Felix Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8883095
    Abstract: An analysis cartridge and an analysis system thereof are disclosed. The analysis cartridge comprises a cartridge body, a liquid storage box and a sealing film. The cartridge body has an accommodation portion. The liquid storage box is disposed within the accommodation portion and has a liquid storage tank and a pillar receiving hole. The sealing film covers the pillar receiving hole and seals an opening of the liquid storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Chang Lai, Fu-Chun Huang, Yuh-Jiuan Lin, Timothy Z. Liu
  • Patent number: 8865077
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an object capable of emitting light. The apparatus comprises a light source and a waveguide. The waveguide comprises a core layer and a first cladding layer. At least one nanowell is formed in at least the first cladding layer. The apparatus further comprises a light detector. The light detector can detect a light emitted from a single molecule object contained in the at least one nanowell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chung-Fan Chiou, Rung-Ywan Tsai, Yu-Tang Li, Chih-Tsung Shih, Ming-Chia Li, Chang-Sheng Chu, Shuang-Chao Chung, Jung-Po Chen, Ying-Chih Pu
  • Patent number: 8865078
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an object capable of emitting light. The apparatus includes a light source and a waveguide. The waveguide includes a core layer and a first cladding layer. At least one nanowell is formed in at least the first cladding layer. The apparatus further includes a light detector. The light detector can detect a light emitted from a single molecule object contained in the at least one nanowell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chung-Fan Chiou, Rung-Ywan Tsai, Yu-Tang Li, Chih-Tsung Shih, Ming-Chia Li, Chang-Sheng Chu, Shuang-Chao Chung, Jung-Po Chen, Ying-Chih Pu
  • Patent number: 8852529
    Abstract: A particle processing device includes a substrate and at least one fluidic path. The substrate is rotatable with respect to the middle region thereof. The fluidic path is provided in the substrate to extend from the middle region to a peripheral region. The fluidic path transfers a fluid having a particle from an input portion to an output portion of the fluidic pather by using a centrifugal force of the rotation of the substrate. A capturing region is formed between the input portion and the output portion of the fluidic path to have a changeable sectional shape for capturing the particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Nexvivo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-Ho Cho
  • Patent number: 8845980
    Abstract: Provided is a sample packing device for packing a sample with respect to a microchip for performing reaction of a micro component contained in the sample, the microchip at least including: a sample reservoir; a reaction reservoir; and a channel connected between the sample reservoir and the reaction reservoir, in which a package including a sample chamber packed in advance with the sample is mounted on the microchip so as to pack the sample in the sample chamber into the sample reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Asogawa, Hisashi Hagiwara, Tohru Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 8840850
    Abstract: A flow channel structure includes a substrate having a flow channel formed therein, and plural fibrous bristles extending from the inner wall of the flow channel. The flow channel is configured to allow a solution to flow through the flow channel. The inner wall of the flow channel is made of silicon. The flow channel is configured to allow a solution to flow through the flow channel. This flow channel structure can homogenize the solution inside the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Nakatani, Makoto Takahashi, Hiroshi Ushio, Takeki Yamamoto