Patents by Inventor Allen E. Eckhardt

Allen E. Eckhardt 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: 11789015
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of splitting droplets containing magnetically responsive beads in a droplet actuator. A droplet actuator having a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet, and a magnetic field present at the droplet operations electrodes, is provided. The magnetically responsive beads in the droplet are immobilized using the magnetic field and the plurality of droplet operations electrodes are used to split the droplet into first and second droplets while the magnetically responsive beads remain substantially immobilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen E. Eckhardt
  • Publication number: 20230194540
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring hemoglobin, G6PD activity, and or bilirubin activity in a sample, including measuring the absorbance of a sample, removing background interfering signals, and quantifying the relevant analyte. Systems and methods for reconstituting a reagent in a droplet actuator. Systems and methods for separating plasma from a whole blood sample on a droplet actuator, including combining a sample droplet with an agglutination reagent droplet and using a novel combination of droplet operations to split the sample into a plasma and an agglutinated red blood cell fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Baebies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Basmajian, Rainer Ng, Miriam H. Nuffer, Jennifer Elderbroom, Michael Boso, Christopher Roberts, Ramakrishna Sista, Vijay Srinivasan, Allen E. Eckhardt, Vamsee K. Pamula
  • Publication number: 20200393452
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of splitting droplets containing magnetically responsive beads in a droplet actuator. A droplet actuator having a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet, and a magnetic field present at the droplet operations electrodes, is provided. The magnetically responsive beads in the droplet are immobilized using the magnetic field and the plurality of droplet operations electrodes are used to split the droplet into first and second droplets while the magnetically responsive beads remain substantially immobilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen E. Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 10809254
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of splitting droplets containing magnetically responsive beads in a droplet actuator. A droplet actuator having a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet, and a magnetic field present at the droplet operations electrodes, is provided. The magnetically responsive beads in the droplet are immobilized using the magnetic field and the plurality of droplet operations electrodes are used to split the droplet into first and second droplets while the magnetically responsive beads remain substantially immobilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen E. Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 10731199
    Abstract: Aspects of embodiments may include methods for automated enzymatic detection of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity. Aspects of embodiments may include methods for enzymatic detection of G6PD activity in droplets in oil. Aspects of embodiments may include a system including a droplet actuator. Aspects of embodiments may include a treatment method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Carrie A. Graham, Allen E. Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 10589273
    Abstract: Embodiments of present application are directed to microfluidic devices and particularly digital micro-plastic fluidic devices that are specifically designed to prevent sample contamination during sample processing, methods of manufacturing the same, and methods to improve sample analysis process by preventing sample contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.
    Inventors: Allen E Eckhardt, Rigo Pantoja, Sean M Ramirez, Petr Capek, Edwin Li
  • Publication number: 20190324026
    Abstract: A method comprising effecting a change in a shape of a droplet, wherein the droplet is disposed over a substrate in sensing proximity to a sensor and the droplet has a starting surface area exposed to the sensor; and producing an expanded surface area of the droplet in the sensing proximity exposed to the sensor, wherein the expanded surface area exposed to the sensor is greater than the starting surface area exposed to the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicants: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Allen E. Eckhardt, Richard B. Fair
  • Patent number: 10378010
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to nucleic acid amplification systems and methods suitable for construction of nucleic acid samples, including construction of normalized nucleic acid libraries. In some embodiments, the method includes providing one or more input nucleic acid samples, contacting each of the input nucleic acid samples (e.g., input library) with a reaction mixture including first amplification or normalization primers and second amplification or normalization primers, wherein the first amplification or normalization primers are immobilized on a solid support and the second amplification or normalization primers are in solution phase, and amplifying the input nucleic acid samples under conditions such that substantially all of the first amplification or normalization primers are incorporated into amplification products. Further provided are systems and droplet actuator devices that are configured to carry out the methods disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhihong Zhang, Yangbin Gao, Allen E. Eckhardt, Petr Capek
  • Patent number: 10379112
    Abstract: A method of providing a droplet in contact with a magnetically responsive bead and having a reduced quantity of a substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignees: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Allen E. Eckhardt, Richard B. Fair
  • Patent number: 10309927
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein provide methods of reducing reactive molecular species in a reaction carried out in a digital fluidics device having one or more electrodes by using a reaction mixture comprising an electron acceptor additive. In some embodiments, the presence of the electron acceptor additive reduces the presence of reactive molecular species in the reaction mixture. In some embodiments, the presence of the electron acceptor additive reduces the formation of gas bubbles in the digital fluidic device. Therefore, in preferred embodiments, the electron acceptor additive does not form a gas when reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.
    Inventors: Rigo Pantoja, Rachel M. Schowalter, Jimmy Perrott, Cyril Delattre, Allen E. Eckhardt
  • Publication number: 20190151850
    Abstract: Embodiments of present application are directed to microfluidic devices and particularly digital micro-plastic fluidic devices that are specifically designed to prevent sample contamination during sample processing, methods of manufacturing the same, and methods to improve sample analysis process by preventing sample contamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Allen E Eckhardt, Rijo Pantoja, Sean M Ramirez, Petr Capek, Edwin Li
  • Publication number: 20190086399
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of splitting droplets containing magnetically responsive beads in a droplet actuator. A droplet actuator having a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet, and a magnetic field present at the droplet operations electrodes, is provided. The magnetically responsive beads in the droplet are immobilized using the magnetic field and the plurality of droplet operations electrodes are used to split the droplet into first and second droplets while the magnetically responsive beads remain substantially immobilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen E. Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 9944924
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of molecular biology and more specifically to methods for capturing and amplifying target polynucleotides on a solid surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignees: ILLUMINA, INC., ILLUMINA CAMBRIDGE LIMITED
    Inventors: Roberto Rigatti, Niall Anthony Gormley, Allen E. Eckhardt, Jonathan Mark Boutell
  • Patent number: 9861986
    Abstract: The invention provides droplet actuators and droplet actuator cassettes including reagent storage capabilities, as well as methods of making and using the droplet actuators and cassettes. The invention also provides continuous flow channel elements and techniques for using electrodes to manipulate droplets in flowing streams. The invention also discloses methods of separating compounds on a droplet actuator. Various other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Prasanna Thwar, Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Allen E. Eckhardt, Alexander Shenderov, Dwayne J. Allen
  • Publication number: 20170292124
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to nucleic acid amplification systems and methods suitable for construction of nucleic acid samples, including construction of normalized nucleic acid libraries. In some embodiments, the method includes providing one or more input nucleic acid samples, contacting each of the input nucleic acid samples (e.g., input library) with a reaction mixture including first amplification or normalization primers and second amplification or normalization primers, wherein the first amplification or normalization primers are immobilized on a solid support and the second amplification or normalization primers are in solution phase, and amplifying the input nucleic acid samples under conditions such that substantially all of the first amplification or normalization primers are incorporated into amplification products. Further provided are systems and droplet actuator devices that are configured to carry out the methods disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Zhihong Zhang, Yangbin Gao, Allen E. Eckhardt, Petr Capek
  • Patent number: 9677132
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of molecular biology and more specifically to methods for capturing and amplifying target polynucleotides on a solid surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Rigatti, Niall Anthony Gormley, Allen E. Eckhardt, Jonathan Mark Boutell
  • Publication number: 20170159105
    Abstract: The invention is directed to droplet actuator devices and assay methods. The invention includes assay methods of conducting an assay comprising combining a sample with an umbelliferyl derivative, wherein the sample potentially comprises an enzyme capable of cleaving the umbelliferyl derivative and where the umbelliferyl derivative comprises an umbelliferyl core modified with one or more modifying moieties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen E. Eckhardt, Carrie Graham, Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Theodore Winger, Tong Wang, Yalin Xiong, Ning Wu, Sanjay Saha, Gajendrasinh Raolji, Raveendra Dayam
  • Patent number: 9574220
    Abstract: The invention is directed to droplet actuator devices and assay methods. The invention includes assay methods of conducting an assay comprising combining a sample with an umbelliferyl derivative, wherein the sample potentially comprises an enzyme capable of cleaving the umbelliferyl derivative and where the umbelliferyl derivative comprises an umbelliferyl core modified with one or more modifying moieties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen E Eckhardt, Carrie Graham, Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Theodore Winger, Tong Wang, Yalin Xiong, Ning Wu, Sanjay Saha, Gajendrasinh Raolji, Raveendra Dayam
  • Publication number: 20160299101
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein provide methods of reducing reactive molecular species in a reaction carried out in a digital fluidics device having one or more electrodes by using a reaction mixture comprising an electron acceptor additive. In some embodiments, the presence of the electron acceptor additive reduces the presence of reactive molecular species in the reaction mixture. In some embodiments, the presence of the electron acceptor additive reduces the formation of gas bubbles in the digital fluidic device. Therefore, in preferred embodiments, the electron acceptor additive does not form a gas when reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Rigo Pantoja, Rachel M. Schowalter, Jimmy Perrott, Cyril Delattre, Allen E. Eckhardt
  • Publication number: 20160108432
    Abstract: The invention provides a droplet actuator designed for performing electroporation on cells in droplets. The invention also provides method and systems for performing electroporation on cells in droplets on a droplet actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Srikoundinya Punnamaraju, Melissa A. Sandahl, John J. Harrington, Allen E. Eckhardt, Zhishan Hua, Michael G. Pollack