Patents by Inventor Achim Wixforth

Achim Wixforth 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).

  • Publication number: 20220212194
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated front the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets arc sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicants: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität Augsburg
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
  • Patent number: 11229911
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität Augsburg
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
  • Patent number: 10570361
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität Augsburg
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
  • Publication number: 20190211293
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicants: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität Augsburg
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
  • Publication number: 20170321177
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
  • Patent number: 9695390
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität Augsburg
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
  • Publication number: 20130213488
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
  • Patent number: 8323985
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing method for mixing at least one small quantity of liquid, in which a quantity of liquid is applied in a reaction region and at least one surface sound wave is reacted with the quantity of liquid. The invention relates further to a mixing device for mixing at least one quantity of liquid for performing the method of the present invention, a use of the device, and a method of analysis for bond strengths on surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Achim Wixforth, Christoph Gauer
  • Publication number: 20120028293
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing method for mixing at least one small quantity of liquid, in which a quantity of liquid is applied, in a reaction region and at least one surface sound wave is reacted with the quantity of liquid. The invention relates further to a mixing device for mixing at least one quantity of liquid for performing the method of the present invention, a use of the device, and a method of analysis for bond strengths on surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Achim Wixforth, Christoph Gauer
  • Patent number: 7198813
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for manipulation of small amounts of liquid on surfaces, preferably on chip surfaces. According to the present invention, a quantity of liquid held together by its surface tension is applied on an area of a surface with at least one intermediate region, which borders at least in one lateral direction on a guide strip. According to the present invention, the guide strips have different surface characteristics relative to the intermediate region, such that they are more strongly wetted by a liquid, or the intermediate region is raised relative to the guide strips, whereby the height of the step is small relative to the height of the quantity of liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Advalytix AG
    Inventor: Achim Wixforth
  • Publication number: 20040180130
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for manipulation of small amounts of liquid on surfaces, preferably on chip surfaces. According to the present invention, a quantity of liquid held together by its surface tension is applied on an area of a surface with at least one intermediate region, which borders at least in one lateral direction on a guide strip. According to the present invention, the guide strips have different surface characteristics relative to the intermediate region, such that they are more strongly wetted by a liquid, or the intermediate region is raised relative to the guide strips, whereby the height of the step is small relative to the height of the quantity of liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventor: Achim Wixforth
  • Patent number: 6777245
    Abstract: A process for specific and direct manipulation of small quantities of matter on solid-body surfaces, in which surface waves are generated with at least one surface-wave generator and the impulse of one or more surface waves is made to interact with at least one quantity of matter, in order to cause a movement in a desired direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Advalytix AG
    Inventor: Achim Wixforth
  • Publication number: 20040115097
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing method for mixing at least one small quantity of liquid, in which a quantity of liquid is applied in a reaction region and at least one surface sound wave is reacted with the quantity of liquid. The invention relates further to a mixing device for mixing at least one quantity of liquid for performing the method of the present invention, a use of the device, and a method of analysis for bond strengths on surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Achim Wixforth, Christoph Gauer
  • Publication number: 20040072366
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for manipulating small quantities of liquid on a solid body surface with at least one defined holding area with wetting properties other than the surroundings, whose material is such that the liquid to be manipulated preferably stays in the holding area, whereby the holding area has at least one constriction zone which cannot be overcome by the liquid due to its surface tension in the normal state, and whereby at least one device for generating an external force is provided substantially in the direction of the at least one constriction zone. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for manipulating small quantities of liquid on solid body surfaces and a method for generating a defined quantity of liquid using the method according to the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Achim Wixforth, Christoph Gauer, Jurgen Scriba
  • Publication number: 20010055529
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for specific and direct manipulation of small quantities of matter on solid-body surfaces, in which surface waves are generated with at least one surface-wave generator and the impulse of one or more surface waves is made to interact with at least one quantity of matter, in order to cause a movement in a desired direction. The invention also concerns a device for implementing the process according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventor: Achim Wixforth
  • Patent number: 6029324
    Abstract: An acoustical-electronic component operating with acoustical surface waves, includes a piezoelectric substrate in which an acoustical surface wave is guided and enters into interaction with an electron system disposed on the substrate in the travel path of the acoustical surface wave. The electron system is constructed as an electron channel that is tunable in its electrical conductivity by field effect. A tunable delay line, a resonator and a semiconductor sensor use the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Achim Wixforth