Patents by Inventor Daniel Hoffmeyer
Daniel Hoffmeyer 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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Publication number: 20240118239Abstract: A cartridge for use in an electrowetting sample processing system, the cartridge having one or more inlet ports for introducing an input liquid into an internal gap of the cartridge, which has at least one hydrophobic surface for enabling an electrowetting induced movement of multiple microfluidic droplets separated from the input liquid. The cartridge further has at least one outlet port that is operably connected to the inlet port for providing a liquid flow through the cartridge, if a liquid driving force, in particular an electrowetting force or a pressure force, is applied to at least a part of the input liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Patrick Kinney, Sujata Iyer, Daniel Hoffmeyer, Manjeet Dhindsa, Tin Ngo, Tiffany Ding (Lay), Torleif Ove Björnson
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Patent number: 11933760Abstract: A cartridge for use in an electrowetting sample processing system, the cartridge having at least one inlet port for introducing an input liquid in an internal gap of the cartridge, wherein the gap has at least one hydrophobic surface and is configured to provide an electrowetting induced movement of a microfluidic droplet of input liquid, wherein the input liquid has a carrier liquid and a processing liquid and the gap has a capture zone that is configured to capture at least a part of the processing liquid as a microfluidic droplet by use of electrowetting force and the gap further has a transfer zone that is configured to provide a passage for the carrier liquid next to the microfluidic droplet, while processing liquid is captured in the capture zone.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Patrick Kinney, Tin Ngo, Sujata Iyer, Daniel Hoffmeyer, Manjeet Dhindsa, Tiffany Ding (Lay)
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Patent number: 11819845Abstract: A digital microfluidics system with electrodes attached to a substrate and covered by a hydrophobic surface and a control unit for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting, providing in close proximity to electrodes a magnetic conduit for directing a magnetic field of a backing magnet to the first hydrophobic surface, providing on the hydrophobic surface a liquid droplet that has magnetically responsive beads moving by electrowetting the liquid droplet with the magnetically responsive beads until a part of which is placed atop of the magnetic conduit, actuating the backing magnet of the magnetic conduit and attracting/concentrating magnetically responsive beads while actuating the backing magnet, moving by electrowetting the liquid droplet with decreased number of magnetically responsive beads away from the specific magnetic conduit.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Thomas Perroud, Dan Tran, Daniel Hoffmeyer, Tiffany Lay, Manjeet Dhindsa
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Patent number: 11774327Abstract: A sampling needle is provided for piercing a septum of a vial containing a sample and aspirating the sample from the vial. The needle may include: a tubular core having a lumen extending therethrough and a piercing end, wherein the tubular core is formed of a bioinert material; a hollow support encircling the tubular core with the piercing end extending outwardly from the support, wherein the support is formed of a rigid material; and a bioinert coating covering a portion of the support adjacent the piercing end, wherein the tubular core and the covering isolates the support from the sample.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Dionex CorporationInventors: Daniel Hoffmeyer, Licheng Tseng
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Publication number: 20230204611Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for the identification of sample cells in a sample tray that is placed in a chromatography autosampler. A cell gripper and labels are also provided to facilitate such identification.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2022Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Daniel Hoffmeyer, Husam Al-Esawi, Tobias Metz, Til Richardsen, Christoph Hollnagel
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Publication number: 20230204610Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for the identification of sample cells in a sample tray that is placed in a chromatography autosampler. A cell gripper and labels are also provided to facilitate such identification.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2021Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Daniel Hoffmeyer, Husam Al-Esawi, Tobias Metz, Til Richardsen, Christoph Hollnagel
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Publication number: 20230003685Abstract: A cartridge for use in an electrowetting sample processing system, the cartridge having at least one inlet port for introducing an input liquid in an internal gap of the cartridge, wherein the gap has at least one hydrophobic surface and is configured to provide an electrowetting induced movement of a microfluidic droplet of input liquid, wherein the input liquid has a carrier liquid and a processing liquid and the gap has a capture zone that is configured to capture at least a part of the processing liquid as a microfluidic droplet by use of electrowetting force and the gap further has a transfer zone that is configured to provide a passage for the carrier liquid next to the microfluidic droplet, while processing liquid is captured in the capture zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Applicant: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Patrick KINNEY, Tin Ngo, Sujata Iyer, Daniel Hoffmeyer, Manjeet Dhindsa, Tiffany Ding (Lay)
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Publication number: 20220205876Abstract: A sampling needle is provided for piercing a septum of a vial containing a sample and aspirating the sample from the vial. The needle may include: a tubular core having a lumen extending therethrough and a piercing end, wherein the tubular core is formed of a bioinert material; a hollow support encircling the tubular core with the piercing end extending outwardly from the support, wherein the support is formed of a rigid material; and a bioinert coating covering a portion of the support adjacent the piercing end, wherein the tubular core and the covering isolates the support from the sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2020Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Daniel Hoffmeyer, Licheng Tseng
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Publication number: 20210402401Abstract: A digital microfluidics system with electrodes attached to a substrate and covered by a hydrophobic surface and a control unit for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting, providing in close proximity to electrodes a magnetic conduit for directing a magnetic field of a backing magnet to the first hydrophobic surface, providing on the hydrophobic surface a liquid droplet that has magnetically responsive beads moving by electrowetting the liquid droplet with the magnetically responsive beads until a part of which is placed atop of the magnetic conduit, actuating the backing magnet of the magnetic conduit and attracting/concentrating magnetically responsive beads while actuating the backing magnet, moving by electrowetting the liquid droplet with decreased number of magnetically responsive beads away from the specific magnetic conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Thomas PERROUD, Dan TRAN, Daniel HOFFMEYER, Tiffany LAY, Manjeet DHINDSA
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Patent number: 11148138Abstract: A digital microfluidics system with electrodes attached to a substrate and covered by a hydrophobic surface, and a control unit for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting; providing in close proximity to electrodes a magnetic conduit for directing a magnetic field of a backing magnet to the first hydrophobic surface; providing on the hydrophobic surface a liquid droplet that has magnetically responsive beads; moving by electrowetting the liquid droplet with the magnetically responsive beads until a part of which is placed atop of the magnetic conduit; actuating the backing magnet of the magnetic conduit and attracting/concentrating magnetically responsive beads; and while actuating the backing magnet, moving by electrowetting the liquid droplet with decreased number of magnetically responsive beads away from the specific magnetic conduit.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2015Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Thomas Perroud, Dan Tran, Daniel Hoffmeyer, Tiffany Lay, Manjeet Dhindsa
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Patent number: 10913062Abstract: Digital microfluidics system with electrodes attached to a PCB has control unit for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting, cartridge accommodation site for taking up a disposable cartridge having a working gap in-between two hydrophobic surfaces, and magnetic conduit/backing combination. A barrier element on an individual electrode of the PCB for narrowing the working gap. A disposable cartridge is positioned at the cartridge accommodation site, its flexible working film touching there and of the barrier element an uppermost surface. In the working gap and above a path of selected electrodes a liquid portion or liquid droplet with magnetically responsive beads moves by electrowetting on the electrode path until a magnetic field of the magnetic conduit is reached. The backing magnet is activated before and during the moving to thereby attract and remove magnetically responsive beads therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Thomas Perroud, Daniel Tran, Daniel Hoffmeyer, Tiffany Lay, Manjeet Dhindsa
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Publication number: 20190331639Abstract: A cartridge for use in an electrowetting sample processing system, the cartridge having at least one inlet port for introducing an input liquid in an internal gap of the cartridge, wherein the gap has at least one hydrophobic surface and is configured to provide an electrowetting induced movement of a microfluidic droplet of input liquid, wherein the input liquid has a carrier liquid and a processing liquid and the gap has a capture zone that is configured to capture at least a part of the processing liquid as a microfluidic droplet by use of electrowetting force and the gap further has a transfer zone that is configured to provide a passage for the carrier liquid next to the microfluidic droplet, while processing liquid is captured in the capture zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2018Publication date: October 31, 2019Applicant: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: PATRICK KINNEY, Tin Ngo, Sujata Iyer, Daniel Hoffmeyer, Manjeet Dhindsa, Tiffany Ding (Lay)
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Publication number: 20190331638Abstract: A cartridge for use in an electrowetting sample processing system, the cartridge having one or more inlet ports for introducing an input liquid into an internal gap of the cartridge, which has at least one hydrophobic surface for enabling an electrowetting induced movement of multiple microfluidic droplets separated from the input liquid. The cartridge further has at least one outlet port that is operably connected to the inlet port for providing a liquid flow through the cartridge, if a liquid driving force, in particular an electrowetting force or a pressure force, is applied to at least a part of the input liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2018Publication date: October 31, 2019Applicant: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Patrick Kinney, Sujata Iyer, Daniel Hoffmeyer, Manjeet Dhindsa, Tin Ngo, Tiffany Ding (Lay), Torleif Ove Bjornson
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Publication number: 20180339923Abstract: Digital microfluidics system with electrodes attached to a PCB has control unit for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting, cartridge accommodation site for taking up a disposable cartridge having a working gap in-between two hydrophobic surfaces, and magnetic conduit/backing combination. A barrier element on an individual electrode of the PCB for narrowing the working gap. A disposable cartridge is positioned at the cartridge accommodation site, its flexible working film touching there and of the barrier element an uppermost surface. In the working gap and above a path of selected electrodes a liquid portion or liquid droplet with magnetically responsive beads moves by electrowetting on the electrode path until a magnetic field of the magnetic conduit is reached. The backing magnet is activated before and during the moving to thereby attract and remove magnetically responsive beads therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2016Publication date: November 29, 2018Applicant: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Thomas PERROUD, Dan TRAN, Daniel HOFFMEYER, Tiffany LAY, Manjeet DHINDSA
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Patent number: 10137450Abstract: A disposable cartridge configured as a digital microfluidics system for manipulating samples in liquid portions having a cartridge accommodation site and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes of an electrode array located at the site and for providing plural electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid portions by electrowetting. The cartridge has a hydrophobic working surface and a rigid cover with a second hydrophobic surface, the hydrophobic surfaces facing each other and being separated in parallel planes by a gap. The cartridge has plural pipetting guides for safe entering/withdrawing liquids into/from the gap with a pipette tip. At least one of the pipetting guides provides an abutting surface sealingly admittable by a counter surface of a pipette tip, located at a pipetting orifice that reaches through the rigid cover, and configured to prevent a pipette tip from touching the hydrophobic working surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2014Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Tiffany Lay, Daniel Hoffmeyer, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
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Publication number: 20180243743Abstract: A digital microfluidics system with electrodes attached to a substrate and covered by a hydrophobic surface, and a control unit for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting; providing in close proximity to electrodes a magnetic conduit for directing a magnetic field of a backing magnet to the first hydrophobic surface; providing on the hydrophobic surface a liquid droplet that has magnetically responsive beads; moving by electrowetting the liquid droplet with the magnetically responsive beads until a part of which is placed atop of the magnetic conduit; actuating the backing magnet of the magnetic conduit and attracting/concentrating magnetically responsive beads; and while actuating the backing magnet, moving by electrowetting the liquid droplet with decreased number of magnetically responsive beads away from the specific magnetic conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2015Publication date: August 30, 2018Applicant: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: THOMAS PERROUD, Dan TRAN, Daniel HOFFMEYER, Tiffany LAY, Manjeet DHINDSA
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Patent number: 9915631Abstract: A digital microfluidics system for manipulating samples in liquid droplets within a gap between a first hydrophobic surface of a bottom layer and a second hydrophobic surface of at least one disposable cartridge. Disposable cartridges comprise a body and/or a rigid cover plate. The bottom layer of each disposable cartridge is a flexible film that is sealingly attached to the body or plate. The cartridge has no spacer between the first and second hydrophobic surfaces. When using these cartridges, the bottom layers configured as a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets thereon, is placed on an electrode array of a digital microfluidics system. The array has individual electrodes. The digital microfluidics system also comprises a central control unit for controlling the selection of the individual electrodes of the electrode array and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2014Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Tecan Trading AGInventors: Daniel Hoffmeyer, Tiffany Lay, Travis Lee
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Patent number: 9784711Abstract: A disposable cartridge used in a digital microfluidics system has a bottom layer with first hydrophobic surface, a rigid cover plate with second hydrophobic surface, and a gap there-between. The bottom layer is a flexible film on an uppermost surface of a cartridge accommodation site of a system, attracted to and spread over the uppermost surface by an underpressure. A lower surface of the plate and the flexible bottom layer are sealed to each other. The assembled cartridge is removed from the cartridge accommodation site in one piece and potentially includes samples and processing fluids. The system has a base unit and a cartridge accommodation site with an electrode array of individual electrodes and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the gap by electrowetting.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Daniel Hoffmeyer, Tiffany Lay, Travis Lee, Marc N. Feiglin, Werner Halg, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
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Publication number: 20160082437Abstract: A cover (10) for use in a digital microfluidics system (16) for manipulating samples in liquid portions or droplets. The digital microfluidics system (16) includes a first substrate (18) with an array of electrodes (24) and a central control unit (20) for controlling the selection and for providing a number of the electrodes with voltage for manipulating liquid portions or droplets by electrowetting. A working gap (30) with a gap height is located parallel to the array of electrodes (24) and in-between first and second hydrophobic surfaces (26,28) that face each other at least during operation of the digital microfluidics system (16).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Applicant: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Thomas PERROUD, Daniel HOFFMEYER, Adrian SAGER, Anne KOPF-SILL
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Publication number: 20160016170Abstract: A disposable cartridge configured as a digital microfluidics system for manipulating samples in liquid portions having a cartridge accommodation site and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes of an electrode array located at the site and for providing plural electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid portions by electrowetting. The cartridge has a hydrophobic working surface and a rigid cover with a second hydrophobic surface, the hydrophobic surfaces facing each other and being separated in parallel planes by a gap. The cartridge has plural pipetting guides for safe entering/withdrawing liquids into/from the gap with a pipette tip. At least one of the pipetting guides provides an abutting surface sealingly admittable by a counter surface of a pipette tip, located at a pipetting orifice that reaches through the rigid cover, and configured to prevent a pipette tip from touching the hydrophobic working surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2014Publication date: January 21, 2016Applicant: Tecan Trading AGInventors: Tiffany LAY, Daniel HOFFMEYER, Anne R. KOPF-SILL