Patents by Inventor Donald Lad DeVoe
Donald Lad DeVoe 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: 11857967Abstract: In an embodiment, a microfluidic chip includes a capillary is disposed between upper and lower substrates, where the capillary includes a porous monolithic structure disposed within the capillary, and a clamp structure is defined within the channel and engages with the capillary. The clamp structure comprises a thermoplastic material that, when heated to a selected temperature, deforms around the capillary to secure the capillary in alignment with the channel. In another embodiment, a microfluidic chip includes a porous monolithic brick disposed between first and second substrates, where each of the first and second substrates includes a channel extending through the substrate to the brick structure to provide a fluid flow path through the each of the first substrate, the second substrate and the brick structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2017Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARKInventors: Donald Lad DeVoe, Jung Yeon Han
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Publication number: 20230398075Abstract: A first inlet flow can be directed along an axial direction in a hydrocyclonic flow cell. The first inlet flow can include first constituent molecules. At a same time, one or more second inlet flows can be directed along a circumferential direction of the hydrocyclonic flow cell. Each second inlet flow can include a buffer solution. The first inlet flow can be subjected to flow focusing by a surrounding primary vortex formed by the one or more second inlet flows, so as to generate a flow comprising a plurality of nanoparticles at an outlet of the hydrocyclonic flow cell. Each nanoparticle can be formed by a respective plurality of the first constituent molecules.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2023Publication date: December 14, 2023Inventors: Jung Yeon HAN, Donald Lad DEVOE
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Publication number: 20200038869Abstract: In an embodiment, a microfluidic chip includes a capillary is disposed between upper and lower substrates, where the capillary includes a porous monolithic structure disposed within the capillary, and a clamp structure is defined within the channel and engages with the capillary. The clamp structure comprises a thermoplastic material that, when heated to a selected temperature, deforms around the capillary to secure the capillary in alignment with the channel. In another embodiment, a microfluidic chip includes a porous monolithic brick disposed between first and second substrates, where each of the first and second substrates includes a channel extending through the substrate to the brick structure to provide a fluid flow path through the each of the first substrate, the second substrate and the brick structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2017Publication date: February 6, 2020Inventors: Donald Lad DeVoe, Jung Yeon Han
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Patent number: 10434065Abstract: Microfluidic methods and systems are provided for continuous flow synthesis and active loading of liposomes, which include a liposome formation region configured to form a population of liposomes and a microdialysis region downstream from the liposome formation region and configured to form a transmembrane gradient for active drug loading of the liposomes. Microfluidic methods and systems for high throughput production of liposomes are also provided featuring high aspect ratio microchannels.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: University of Maryland, College ParkInventors: Renee Hood, Donald Lad DeVoe
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Publication number: 20170181972Abstract: Microfluidic methods and systems are provided for continuous flow synthesis and active loading of liposomes, which include a liposome formation region configured to form a population of liposomes and a microdialysis region downstream from the liposome formation region and configured to form a transmembrane gradient for active drug loading of the liposomes. Microfluidic methods and systems for high throughput production of liposomes are also provided featuring high aspect ratio microchannels.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2017Publication date: June 29, 2017Applicant: University of Maryland, College ParkInventors: Renee Hood, Donald Lad DeVoe
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Patent number: 9592198Abstract: Microfluidic methods and systems are provided for continuous flow synthesis and active loading of liposomes, which include a liposome formation region configured to form a population of liposomes and a microdialysis region downstream from the liposome formation region and configured to form a transmembrane gradient for active drug loading of the liposomes. Microfluidic methods and systems for high throughput production of liposomes are also provided featuring high aspect ratio microchannels.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2014Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: University of Maryland, College ParkInventors: Renee Hood, Donald Lad DeVoe
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Patent number: 9376311Abstract: A new process enabling rapid and efficient desktop manufacturing of microfluidic devices fabricated from thermoplastic substrates utilizing the selective irreversible swelling of thermoplastic polymer when exposed to suitable solvent makes it possible to produce micro- or nano-fluidic devices with outstanding bonding and collapse free micro- or nano-structures.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2013Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARKInventors: Omid Rahmanian, Chien-Fu Chen, Donald Lad Devoe
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Publication number: 20150368098Abstract: A new process enabling rapid and efficient desktop manufacturing of microfluidic devices fabricated from thermoplastic substrates utilizing the selective irreversible swelling of thermoplastic polymer when exposed to suitable solvent makes it possible to produce micro- or nano-fluidic devices with outstanding bonding and collapse free micro- or nano-structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2013Publication date: December 24, 2015Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARKInventors: Omid Rahmanian, Chien-Fu Chen, Donald Lad Devoe
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Publication number: 20150115488Abstract: Microfluidic methods and systems are provided for continuous flow synthesis and active loading of liposomes, which include a liposome formation region configured to form a population of liposomes and a microdialysis region downstream from the liposome formation region and configured to form a transmembrane gradient for active drug loading of the liposomes. Microfluidic methods and systems for high throughput production of liposomes are also provided featuring high aspect ratio microchannels.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARKInventors: Renee Hood, Donald Lad DeVoe
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Publication number: 20140328898Abstract: A method for transdermal drug delivery provides for the topical administration of liposome encapsulated nanoparticles. The encapsulated nanoparticles define a nearly monodisperse population of liposomes having an average diameter within a selected size range. Liposomal nanoparticle formulations and methods of treatment therewith are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: November 6, 2014Applicants: CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARKInventors: Renee Hood, Eric Kendall, Donald Lad DeVoe, Julia Cole Finkel, Zenaide Quezado, Mariana Mafra Junqueira
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Patent number: 8293061Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for bonding two surfaces to one another. The invention particularly pertains to the use of such method in which one of the surfaces is a polymeric plastic (and more preferably a polymeric thermoplastic (especially poly-(methyl methacrylate) (“PMMA”) or cyclic olefin copolymer (“COC”)). More particularly, the invention relates to treating at least one of the contacting surfaces with UV in the presence of oxygen to thereby generate ozone (O3) and atomic oxygen under conditions of temperature below that of the glass transition temperature of the polymeric plastic. The UV/O3-mediated bonding results in high bond strength and zero-deformation method. This bonding method can be applied to micro/nano-scale polymer devices, and particularly to microfluidic devices, for a low cost, high throughput, high yield advantage.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2009Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: University of Maryland College ParkInventors: Donald Lad DeVoe, Chia-Wen Tsao
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Publication number: 20090227755Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for bonding two surfaces to one another. The invention particularly pertains to the use of such method in which one of the surfaces is a polymeric plastic (and more preferably a polymeric thermoplastic (especially poly-(methyl methacrylate) (“PMMA”) or cyclic olefin copolymer (“COC”)). More particularly, the invention relates to treating at least one of the contacting surfaces with UV in the presence of oxygen to thereby generate ozone (O3) and atomic oxygen under conditions of temperature below that of the glass transition temperature of the polymeric plastic. The UV/O3-mediated bonding results in high bond strength and zero-deformation method. This bonding method can be applied to micro/nano-scale polymer devices, and particularly to microfluidic devices, for a low cost, high throughput, high yield advantage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2009Publication date: September 10, 2009Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARKInventors: Donald Lad DeVoe, Chia-Wen Tsao
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Patent number: 6929730Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a microfluidic apparatus for performing two dimensional biomolecular separations. According to one aspect of the invention, after a first dimension separation in a first microchannel, the sample material is electrokinetically and simultaneously transferred to an array of microchannels in the second dimension (e.g., by changing the electric potentials at the reservoirs connected to the microchannels). Preferably any separation accomplished in the first dimension is completely retained upon transfer to the second dimension. According to another aspect of the invention, the separation in the second dimension is performed using a temperature gradient (e.g., a spatial or temporal temperature gradient). According to one embodiment of the invention, the biomolecular material comprises DNA and the first dimension separation is a sized-based separation and the second dimension separation is a sequence-based separation.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2002Date of Patent: August 16, 2005Inventors: Cheng Sheng Lee, Donald Lad DeVoe
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Patent number: 6664126Abstract: This invention provides a fabrication process for manufacturing of truly 3-dimensional micromechanisms which takes advantages of SOI (silicon-on-insulator) wafers each of which is processed to create a respective structural element of the 3-dimensional micromechanisms by DRIE (deep reactive ion etching) of the wafer and thermal oxidation of the trenches opened during the DRIE etching. The wafers are sequentially bonded into a multistack structure from which the 3-D micromechanism. is released by XeF2 etching. Thermally grown SiO2 is used as structural material for the 3-D micromechanism.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2002Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: University of Maryland, College ParkInventors: Donald Lad Devoe, Lung-Wen Tsai
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Publication number: 20030127329Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a microfluidic apparatus for controlling fluid flow velocity during electroosmotic flow. According to one aspect of the invention, a voltage applied to a gate electrode modulates flow velocity within an associated microchannel, where the gate voltage is separate from any voltage used to induce electroosmotic flow. According to another aspect of the invention, the flow control apparatus combines multiple gate electrodes to control flow in a microfluidic network. According to one embodiment of the invention, the flow control apparatus is fabricated in a planar silicon substrate. According to another embodiment of the invention, the flow control apparatus is fabricated using polymer materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Donald Lad DeVoe, Cheng S. Lee
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Publication number: 20020195342Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a microfluidic apparatus for performing two dimensional biomolecular separations. According to one aspect of the invention, after a first dimension separation in a first microchannel, the sample material is electrokinetically and simultaneously transferred to an array of microchannels in the second dimension (e.g., by changing the electric potentials at the reservoirs connected to the microchannels). Preferably any separation accomplished in the first dimension is completely retained upon transfer to the second dimension. According to another aspect of the invention, the separation in the second dimension is performed using a temperature gradient (e.g., a spatial or temporal temperature gradient). According to one embodiment of the invention, the biomolecular material comprises DNA and the first dimension separation is a sized-based separation and the second dimension separation is a sequence-based separation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2002Publication date: December 26, 2002Inventors: Cheng Sheng Lee, Donald Lad DeVoe