Patents by Inventor Anne Y. Fu
Anne Y. Fu 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).
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Patent number: 8992858Abstract: A microfluidic device comprises pumps, valves, and fluid oscillation dampers. In a device employed for sorting, an entity is flowed by the pump along a flow channel through a detection region to a junction. Based upon an identity of the entity determined in the detection region, a waste or collection valve located on opposite branches of the flow channel at the junction are actuated, thereby routing the entity to either a waste pool or a collection pool. A damper structure may be located between the pump and the junction. The damper reduces the amplitude of oscillation pressure in the flow channel due to operation of the pump, thereby lessening oscillation in velocity of the entity during sorting process. The microfluidic device may be formed in a block of elastomer material, with thin membranes of the elastomer material deflectable into the flow channel to provide pump or valve functionality.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2007Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: The United States of America National Institute of Health (NIH), U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS)Inventors: Hou-Pu Chou, Anne Y. Fu, Stephen R. Quake
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Publication number: 20110229872Abstract: The invention provides a microfabricated device for sorting cells based on a desired characteristic, for example, reporter-labeled cells can be sorted by the presence or level of reporter on the cells. The device includes a chip having a substrate into which is microfabricated at least one analysis unit. Each analysis unit includes a main channel, having a sample inlet channel, typically at one end, and a detection region along a portion of its length. Adjacent and downstream from the detection region, the main channel has a discrimination region or branch point leading to at least two branch channels. The analysis unit may further include additional inlet channels, detection points, branch points, and branch channels as desired. A stream containing cells is passed through the detection region, such that on average one cell occupies the detection region at a given time.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2010Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: CHARLES F. SPENCE, ANNE Y. FU, STEPHEN R. QUAKE, FRANCES H. ARNOLD
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Publication number: 20080176211Abstract: The invention provides a microfabricated device for sorting cells based on a desired characteristic, for example, reporter-labeled cells can be sorted by the presence or level of reporter on the cells. The device includes a chip having a substrate into which is microfabricated at least one analysis unit. Each analysis unit includes a main channel, having a sample inlet channel, typically at one end, and a detection region along a portion of its length. Adjacent and downstream from the detection region, the main channel has a discrimination region or branch point leading to at least two branch channels. The analysis unit may further include additional inlet channels, detection points, branch points, and branch channels as desired. A stream containing cells is passed through the detection region, such that on average one cell occupies the detection region at a given time.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Charles F. Spence, Anne Y. Fu, Stephen R. Quake, Frances H. Arnold
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Patent number: 7258774Abstract: A microfluidic device comprises pumps, valves, and fluid oscillation dampers. In a device employed for sorting, an entity is flowed by the pump along a flow channel through a detection region to a junction. Based upon an identity of the entity determined in the detection region, a waste or collection valve located on opposite branches of the flow channel at the junction are actuated, thereby routing the entity to either a waste pool or a collection pool. A damper structure may be located between the pump and the junction. The damper reduces the amplitude of oscillation pressure in the flow channel due to operation of the pump, thereby lessening oscillation in velocity of the entity during sorting process. The microfluidic device may be formed in a block of elastomer material, with thin membranes of the elastomer material deflectable into the flow channel to provide pump or valve functionality.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2001Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Hou-Pu Chou, Anne Y. Fu, Stephen R. Quake
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Patent number: 7214298Abstract: The invention provides a microfabricated device for sorting cells based on a desired characteristic, for example, reporter-labeled cells can be sorted by the presence or level of reporter on the cells. The device includes a chip having a substrate into which is microfabricated at least one analysis unit. Each analysis unit includes a main channel, having a sample inlet channel, typically at one end, and a detection region along a portion of its length. Adjacent and downstream from the detection region, the main channel has a discrimination region or branch point leading to at least two branch channels. The analysis unit may further include additional inlet channels, detection points, branch points, and branch channels as desired. A stream containing cells is passed through the detection region, such that on average one cell occupies the detection region at a given time.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2001Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Charles F. Spence, Anne Y. Fu, Stephen R. Quake, Frances H. Arnold
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Patent number: 6540895Abstract: The invention provides a microfabricated device for sorting cells based on a desired characteristic, for example, reporter-labeled cells can be sorted by the presence or level of reporter on the cells. The device includes a chip having a substrate into which is microfabricated at least one analysis unit. Each analysis unit includes a main channel, having a sample inlet channel, typically at one end, and a detection region along a portion of its length. Adjacent and downstream from the detection region, the main channel has a discrimination region or branch point leading to at least two branch channels. The analysis unit may further include additional inlet channels, detection points, branch points, and branch channels as desired. A stream containing cells is passed through the detection region, such that on average one cell occupies the detection region at a given time.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1999Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Charles F. Spence, Anne Y. Fu, Stephen R. Quake, Frances H. Arnold
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Publication number: 20020127736Abstract: A microfluidic device comprises pumps, valves, and fluid oscillation dampers. In a device employed for sorting, an entity is flowed by the pump along a flow channel through a detection region to a junction. Based upon an identity of the entity determined in the detection region, a waste or collection valve located on opposite branches of the flow channel at the junction are actuated, thereby routing the entity to either a waste pool or a collection pool. A damper structure may be located between the pump and the junction. The damper reduces the amplitude of oscillation pressure in the flow channel due to operation of the pump, thereby lessening oscillation in velocity of the entity during sorting process. The microfluidic device may be formed in a block of elastomer material, with thin membranes of the elastomer material deflectable into the flow channel to provide pump or valve functionality.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2001Publication date: September 12, 2002Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Hou-Pu Chou, Anne Y. Fu, Stephen R. Quake
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Publication number: 20020005354Abstract: The invention provides a microfabricated device for sorting cells based on a desired characteristic, for example, reporter-labeled cells can be sorted by the presence or level of reporter on the cells. The device includes a chip having a substrate into which is microfabricated at least one analysis unit. Each analysis unit includes a main channel, having a sample inlet channel, typically at one end, and a detection region along a portion of its length. Adjacent and downstream from the detection region, the main channel has a discrimination region or branch point leading to at least two branch channels. The analysis unit may further include additional inlet channels, detection points, branch points, and branch channels as desired. A stream containing cells is passed through the detection region, such that on average one cell occupies the detection region at a given time.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2001Publication date: January 17, 2002Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Charles F. Spence, Anne Y. Fu, Stephen R. Quake, Frances H. Arnold