Patents by Inventor Christopher K. Fuller

Christopher K. Fuller 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: 6846639
    Abstract: The use of impedance measurements to detect the presence of pathogens attached to antibody-coated beads. In a fluidic device antibodies are immobilized on a surface of a patterned interdigitated electrode. Pathogens in a sample fluid streaming past the electrode attach to the immobilized antibodies, which produces a change in impedance between two adjacent electrodes, which impedance change is measured and used to detect the presence of a pathogen. To amplify the signal, beads coated with antibodies are introduced and the beads would stick to the pathogen causing a greater change in impedance between the two adjacent electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robin R. Miles, Kodumudi S. Venkateswaran, Christopher K. Fuller
  • Patent number: 6835552
    Abstract: The use of impedance measurements to detect the presence of pathogens attached to antibody-coated beads. In a fluidic device antibodies are immobilized on a surface of a patterned interdigitated electrode. Pathogens in a sample fluid streaming past the electrode attach to the immobilized antibodies, which produces a change in impedance between two adjacent electrodes, which impedance change is measured and used to detect the presence of a pathogen. To amplify the signal, beads coated with antibodies are introduced and the beads would stick to the pathogen causing a greater change in impedance between the two adjacent electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robin R. Miles, Kodumudi S. Venkateswaran, Christopher K. Fuller
  • Patent number: 6787018
    Abstract: The use of dielectrophoresis to collect particles under the conditions of electrokinetically-driven flow. Dielectrophortic concentration of particles under electrokinetic flow is accomplished by interdigitated electrodes patterned on an inner surface of a microfluid channel, a DC voltage is applied across the ends to the channel, and an AC voltage is applied across the electrodes, and particles swept down the channel electrokinetically are trapped within the field established by the electrodes. The particles can be released when the voltage to the electrodes is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robin R. Miles, Kerry A. Bettencourt, Christopher K. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20040163955
    Abstract: The use of dielectrophoresis to collect particles under the conditions of electrokinetically-driven flow. Dielectrophortic concentration of particles under electrokinetic flow is accomplished by interdigitated electrodes patterned on an inner surface of a microfluid channel, a DC voltage is applied across the ends to the channel, and an AC voltage is applied across the electrodes, and particles swept down the channel electrokinetically are trapped within the field established by the electrodes. The particles can be released when the voltage to the electrodes is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robin R. Miles, Kerry A. Bettencourt, Christopher K. Fuller
  • Patent number: 6576459
    Abstract: A sample preparation and analysis device which incorporates both immunoassays and PCR assays in one compact, field-portable microchip. The device provides new capabilities in fluid and particle control which allows the building of a fluidic chip with no moving parts, thus decreasing fabrication cost and increasing the robustness of the device. The device can operate in a true continuous (not batch) mode. The device incorporates magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) pumps to move the fluid through the system, acoustic mixing and fractionation, dielectropheretic (DEP) sample concentration and purification, and on-chip optical detection capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robin R. Miles, Amy W. Wang, Christopher K. Fuller, Asuncion V. Lemoff, Kerry A. Bettencourt, June Yu
  • Publication number: 20020150886
    Abstract: The use of impedance measurements to detect the presence of pathogens attached to antibody-coated beads. In a fluidic device antibodies are immobilized on a surface of a patterned interdigitated electrode. Pathogens in a sample fluid streaming past the electrode attach to the immobilized antibodies, which produces a change in impedance between two adjacent electrodes, which impedance change is measured and used to detect the presence of a pathogen. To amplify the signal, beads coated with antibodies are introduced and the beads would stick to the pathogen causing a greater change in impedance between the two adjacent electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robin R. Miles, Kodumudi S. Venkateswaran, Christopher K. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20020137196
    Abstract: A sample preparation and analysis device which incorporates both immunoassays and PCR assays in one compact, field-portable microchip. The device provides new capabilities in fluid and particle control which allows the building of a fluidic chip with no moving parts, thus decreasing fabrication cost and increasing the robustness of the device. The device can operate in a true continuous (not batch) mode. The device incorporates magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) pumps to move the fluid through the system, acoustic mixing and fractionation, dielectropheretic (DEP) sample concentration and purification, and on-chip optical detection capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robin R. Miles, Amy W. Wang, Christopher K. Fuller, Asuncion V. Lemoff, Kerry A. Bettencourt, June Yu
  • Patent number: 6437551
    Abstract: A microfabricated instrument for detecting and identifying cells and other particles based on alternating current (AC) impedance measurements. The microfabricated AC impedance sensor includes two critical elements: 1) a microfluidic chip, preferably of glass substrates, having at least one microchannel therein and with electrodes patterned on both substrates, and 2) electrical circuits that connect to the electrodes on the microfluidic chip and detect signals associated with particles traveling down the microchannels. These circuits enable multiple AC impedance measurements of individual particles at high throughput rates with sufficient resolution to identify different particle and cell types as appropriate for environmental detection and clinical diagnostic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Peter Krulevitch, Harold D. Ackler, Frederick Becker, Bernhard E. Boser, Adam B. Eldredge, Christopher K. Fuller, Peter R. C. Gascoyne, Julie K. Hamilton, Stefan P. Swierkowski, Xiao-Bo Wang
  • Publication number: 20020076690
    Abstract: The use of impedance measurements to detect the presence of pathogens attached to antibody-coated beads. In a fluidic device antibodies are immobilized on a surface of a patterned interdigitated electrode. Pathogens in a sample fluid streaming past the electrode attach to the immobilized antibodies, which produces a change in impedance between two adjacent electrodes, which impedance change is measured and used to detect the presence of a pathogen. To amplify the signal, beads coated with antibodies are introduced and the beads would stick to the pathogen causing a greater change in impedance between the two adjacent electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robin R. Miles, Kodumudi S. Venkateswaran, Christopher K. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20020072054
    Abstract: Impedance measurements are used to detect the end-point for PCR DNA amplification. A pair of spaced electrodes are located on a surface of a microfluidic channel and an AC or DC voltage is applied across the electrodes to produce an electric field. An ionically labeled probe will attach to a complementary DNA segment, and a polymerase enzyme will release the ionic label. This causes the conductivity of the solution in the area of the electrode to change. This change in conductivity is measured as a change in the impedance been the two electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robin R. Miles, Phillip Belgrader, Christopher K. Fuller