Patents by Inventor Aaron Ohta

Aaron Ohta has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10105712
    Abstract: An optical pattern-driven light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP) apparatus and separation methods are described which provide for the manipulation of particles or cells and selection based on traits correlated with the DEP response. Embodiments of the apparatus use DEP electric field patterns in combination with microfluidic laminar flows to measure response, separate, segregate and extract particles from heterogeneous mixtures according to the relative response of the particles to one or more DEP fields without damaging living cells. The preferred OET-DEP devices generally comprise a planar liquid-filled structure having one or more portions which are photoconductive to convert incoming light to a localized virtual electrode with a DEP electric field gradient of selected intensity along with input and a plurality of output fluidic channels. The light patterns are dynamically generated to provide a number of manipulation structures that can manipulate single particles and cells or groups of particles/cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Maurice M. Garcia, Aaron Ohta, Ming Wu, Tom F. Lue, Justin Valley
  • Publication number: 20150360236
    Abstract: An optical pattern-driven light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP) apparatus and separation methods are described which provide for the manipulation of particles or cells and selection based on traits correlated with the DEP response. Embodiments of the apparatus use DEP electric field patterns in combination with microfluidic laminar flows to measure response, separate, segregate and extract particles from heterogeneous mixtures according to the relative response of the particles to one or more DEP fields without damaging living cells. The preferred OET-DEP devices generally comprise a planar liquid-filled structure having one or more portions which are photoconductive to convert incoming light to a localized virtual electrode with a DEP electric field gradient of selected intensity along with input and a plurality of output fluidic channels. The light patterns are dynamically generated to provide a number of manipulation structures that can manipulate single particles and cells or groups of particles/cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Maurice M. Garcia, Aaron Ohta, Ming Wu, Tom F. Lue, Justin Valley
  • Patent number: 9079189
    Abstract: An optical pattern-driven light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP) apparatus and separation methods are described which provide for the manipulation of particles or cells and selection based on traits correlated with the DEP response. Embodiments of the apparatus use DEP electric field patterns in combination with microfluidic laminar flows to measure response, separate, segregate and extract particles from heterogeneous mixtures according to the relative response of the particles to one or more DEP fields without damaging living cells. The methods are particularly suited for selecting and extracting the best sperm and embryo candidates based on fitness for use with existing artificial reproduction procedures and excluding defective or non-viable gametes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Maurice M. Garcia, Aaron Ohta, Ming Wu, Tom F. Lue, Justin Valley
  • Publication number: 20120118740
    Abstract: An optical pattern-driven light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP) apparatus and separation methods are described which provide for the manipulation of particles or cells and selection based on traits correlated with the DEP response. Embodiments of the apparatus use DEP electric field patterns in combination with microfluidic laminar flows to measure response, separate, segregate and extract particles from heterogeneous mixtures according to the relative response of the particles to one or more DEP fields without damaging living cells. The methods are particularly suited for selecting and extracting the best sperm and embryo candidates based on fitness for use with existing artificial reproduction procedures and excluding defective or non-viable gametes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Maurice M. Garcia, Aaron Ohta, Ming Wu, Tom F. Lue, Justin Valley
  • Publication number: 20110223314
    Abstract: A device and method for generating microcapsules employs an inertial-focusing channel for introducing particles dispersed in a prepolymer suspension fluid, a droplet-generating junction for introducing oil evenly onto the flow of particles to create separated droplets of prepolymer suspension fluid encapsulating respective particles in a streamline flow, and a polymerization section for exposing the droplets to UV light or heat to cause polymerization of a polymer coating on separate microcapsules each containing a respective particle. Preferred suspension fluids may be aqueous solution of poly(ethylene-glycol)-diacrylate (PEGDA), or poly(N-isopropyl-acryalmide) (PNIPAAM). The preferred device may employ a curved or linear inertial-focusing microchannel. Functional tags and/or handles may be added to the microcapsules allowing easy detection, measurement and handling of the microcapsules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Xiaoxiao ZHANG, David Garmire, Aaron Ohta
  • Patent number: 7956339
    Abstract: Described herein are single-sided lateral-field optoelectronic tweezers (LOET) devices which use photosensitive electrode arrays to create optically-induced dielectrophoretic forces in an electric field that is parallel to the plane of the device. In addition, phototransistor-based optoelectronic tweezers (PhOET) devices are described that allow for optoelectronic tweezers (OET) operation in high-conductivity physiological buffer and cell culture media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Aaron Ohta, Pei-Yu Chiou, Hsan-Yin Hsu, Arash Jamshidi, Ming-Chiang Wu, Steven L. Neale
  • Publication number: 20100101960
    Abstract: Described herein are single-sided lateral-field optoelectronic tweezers (LOET) devices which use photosensitive electrode arrays to create optically-induced dielectrophoretic forces in an electric field that is parallel to the plane of the device. In addition, phototransistor-based optoelectronic tweezers (PhOET) devices are described that allow for optoelectronic tweezers (OET) operation in high-conductivity physiological buffer and cell culture media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Aaron Ohta, Pei-Yu Chiou, Hsan-Yin Hsu, Arash Jamshidi, Ming-Chiang Wu, Steven L. Neale
  • Patent number: 7304607
    Abstract: A high-directivity transponder system uses a dual system of a retrodirective array transmitting a data signal peak toward an interrogator source, and a self-null-steering array transmitting a null toward the interrogator source and a jamming signal elsewhere, resulting in high S/N reception at the interrogator source and avoidance of interception. Integrating modulators would allow each array to transmit different data while the spectra of the transmitted signals are identical, thus disabling interception. The system enables secure point-to-point communications and can be used for short-distance wireless data transmission systems such as wireless LAN and RFID servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: University of Hawai'i
    Inventors: Ryan Y. Miyamoto, Wayne A. Shiroma, Grant S. Shiroma, Blaine T. Murakami, Aaron Ohta, Michael Tamamoto
  • Publication number: 20060238414
    Abstract: A high-directivity transponder system uses a dual system of a retrodirective array transmitting a data signal peak toward an interrogator source, and a self-null-steering array transmitting a null toward the interrogator source and a jamming signal elsewhere, resulting in high S/N reception at the interrogator source and avoidance of interception. Integrating modulators would allow each array to transmit different data while the spectra of the transmitted signals are identical, thus disabling interception. The system enables secure point-to-point communications and can be used for short-distance wireless data transmission systems such as wireless LAN and RFID servers. As another aspect, self-steering signal transmission is employed for randomly oriented satellites using circularly polarized, two-dimensional retrodirective arrays. Quadruple subharmonic mixing is used as an effective means of achieving phase conjugation when a high-frequency LO is not feasible or inapplicable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Ryan Miyamoto, Wayne Shiroma, Grant Shiroma, Blaine Murakami, Aaron Ohta, Michael Tamamoto
  • Patent number: 7006039
    Abstract: A high-directivity transponder system uses a dual system of a retrodirective array transmitting a data signal peak toward an interrogator source, and a self-null-steering array transmitting a null toward the interrogator source and a jamming signal elsewhere, resulting in high S/N reception at the interrogator source and avoidance of interception. Integrating modulators would allow each array to transmit different data while the spectra of the transmitted signals are identical, thus disabling interception. The system enables secure point-to-point communications and can be used for short-distance wireless data transmission systems such as wireless LAN and RFID servers. As another aspect, self-steering signal transmission is employed for randomly oriented satellites using circularly polarized, two-dimensional retrodirective arrays. Quadruple subharmonic mixing is used as an effective means of achieving phase conjugation when a high-frequency LO is not feasible or inapplicable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: University of Hawaii
    Inventors: Ryan Y. Miyamoto, Wayne A. Shiroma, Grant S. Shiroma, Blaine T. Murakami, Aaron Ohta, Michael Tamamoto
  • Publication number: 20050030226
    Abstract: A high-directivity transponder system uses a dual system of a retrodirective array transmitting a data signal peak toward an interrogator source, and a self-null-steering array transmitting a null toward the interrogator source and a jamming signal elsewhere, resulting in high S/N reception at the interrogator source and avoidance of interception. Integrating modulators would allow each array to transmit different data while the spectra of the transmitted signals are identical, thus disabling interception. The system enables secure point-to-point communications and can be used for short-distance wireless data transmission systems such as wireless LAN and RFID servers. As another aspect, self-steering signal transmission is employed for randomly oriented satellites using circularly polarized, two-dimensional retrodirective arrays. Quadruple subharmonic mixing is used as an effective means of achieving phase conjugation when a high-frequency LO is not feasible or inapplicable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Ryan Miyamoto, Wayne Shiroma, Grant Shiroma, Blaine Murakami, Aaron Ohta, Michael Tamamoto