Patents by Inventor Emma Jayne Walton

Emma Jayne Walton 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: 11779928
    Abstract: A method of operating an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device performs electrowetting operations on fluids dispensed into the EWOD device, which provides enhanced operation for using multiple non-polar filler fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Emma Jayne Walton
  • Patent number: 11577244
    Abstract: A microfluidic device comprises upper and lower spaced apart substrates defining a fluid chamber therebetween; an aperture for introducing fluid into the fluid chamber; and a fluid input structure disposed over the upper substrate and having a fluid well for receiving fluid from a fluid applicator inserted into the fluid well. The fluid well communicates with a fluid exit provided in a base of the fluid input structure, the fluid exit being adjacent the aperture. The fluid well comprises first, second and third portions, with the first portion of the well forming a reservoir for a filler fluid; and the second portion of the well being configured to sealingly engage against an outer surface of a fluid applicator inserted into the fluid well. The third portion of the well communicates with the fluid exit and has a diameter at the interface between the third portion and the second portion that is greater than the diameter of the second portion at the interface between the third portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Emma Jayne Walton
  • Patent number: 11517902
    Abstract: A microfluidic device comprises upper and lower spaced apart substrates defining a fluid chamber therebetween; an aperture for introducing fluid into the fluid chamber; a plurality of independently addressable array elements, each array element defining a respective region of the fluid chamber; and control means for addressing the array elements. The control means are configured to: determine that a working fluid has been introduced into a first region of the fluid chamber; and provide an output to a user to indicate that the working fluid is present in the first region. Once the working fluid is in the first region, the fluid applicator used to dispense the fluid can be removed without any risk of accidentally withdrawing dispensed working fluid from the microfluidic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Emma Jayne Walton, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones
  • Publication number: 20220355299
    Abstract: A microfluidic device comprises a first substrate and a second substrate, a gasket spacing the first substrate from the second substrate to define a fluid chamber between the first substrate and the second substrate, and at least one port for introducing a fluid sample into the fluid chamber. An inner edge face of the gasket defines a lateral boundary of the fluid chamber. A plurality of independently addressable array elements are provided on a surface of the first substrate facing the fluid chamber, and at least one circuit element is disposed on a surface of the second substrate facing the fluid chamber. The gasket is configured to provide a conductive path between a circuit element disposed on a surface of the second substrate facing the fluid chamber and an associated terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Lesley Anne PARRY-JONES, Emma Jayne WALTON, Christopher James BROWN
  • Publication number: 20220323961
    Abstract: A method of operating an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device performs electrowetting operations on fluids dispensed into the EWOD device, which provides enhanced operation for using multiple non-polar filler fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Emma Jayne Walton
  • Patent number: 11376597
    Abstract: A method of operating an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device performs electrowetting operations on fluids dispensed into the EWOD device, which provides enhanced operation for using multiple non-polar filler fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Emma Jayne Walton
  • Publication number: 20210178396
    Abstract: A microfluidic AM-EWOD device and a method of filling such a device are provided. The device comprises a chamber having one or more inlet ports. The device is configured, when the chamber contains a metered volume of a filler fluid that partially fills the chamber, preferentially maintain the metered volume of the filler fluid in a part of the chamber. The device is configured to allow displacement of some of the filler fluid from the part of the chamber when a volume of an assay fluid introduced into one of the one or more inlet ports enters the part of the chamber, thereby causing a volume of a venting fluid to vent from the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Emma Jayne Walton, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Julie Karen Deacon
  • Publication number: 20210138469
    Abstract: A microfluidic AM-EWOD device and a method of filling such a device are provided. The device comprises a chamber having one or more inlet ports. The device is configured, when the chamber contains a metered volume of a filler fluid that partially fills the chamber, preferentially maintain the metered volume of the filler fluid in a part of the chamber. The device is configured to allow displacement of some of the filler fluid from the part of the chamber when a volume of an assay fluid introduced into one of the one or more inlet ports enters the part of the chamber, thereby causing a volume of a venting fluid to vent from the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Emma Jayne Walton, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Julie Karen Deacon
  • Patent number: 10994274
    Abstract: An EWOD device includes a first substrate assembly and a second substrate assembly; wherein one of said substrate assemblies includes electrowetting electrodes, and the first substrate assembly and the second substrate assembly are spaced apart to define a channel between the substrate assemblies; and a housing for receiving the first substrate assembly and the second substrate assembly, the housing comprising an alignment feature for locating at least one of the first and second substrate assemblies within the housing. The device further includes a fixing feature for fixing the first and second substrate assemblies within the housing. The second substrate assembly is located within the housing such that the second substrate assembly is an outer component of the EWOD device. The device further may include a spacer that spaces apart the first substrate assembly from the second substrate assembly to define the channel between the first and second substrate assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Emma Jayne Walton
  • Patent number: 10926256
    Abstract: An EWOD device includes a first substrate assembly and a second substrate assembly; wherein one of said substrate assemblies includes electrowetting electrodes, and the first substrate assembly and the second substrate assembly are spaced apart to define a channel between the substrate assemblies; and a housing for receiving the first substrate assembly and the second substrate assembly, the housing comprising an alignment feature for locating at least one of the first and second substrate assemblies within the housing. The device further includes a fixing feature for fixing the first and second substrate assemblies within the housing. The second substrate assembly is located within the housing such that the second substrate assembly is an outer component of the EWOD device. The device further may include a spacer that spaces apart the first substrate assembly from the second substrate assembly to define the channel between the first and second substrate assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Emma Jayne Walton
  • Patent number: 10926260
    Abstract: A microfluidic AM-EWOD device and a method of filling such a device are provided. The device comprises a chamber having one or more inlet ports. The device is configured, when the chamber contains a metered volume of a filler fluid that partially fills the chamber, preferentially maintain the metered volume of the filler fluid in a part of the chamber. The device is configured to allow displacement of some of the filler fluid from the part of the chamber when a volume of an assay fluid introduced into one of the one or more inlet ports enters the part of the chamber, thereby causing a volume of a venting fluid to vent from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Emma Jayne Walton, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Julie Karen Deacon
  • Publication number: 20210008556
    Abstract: A method of operating an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device performs electrowetting operations on fluids dispensed into the EWOD device, which provides enhanced operation for using multiple non-polar filler fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Emma Jayne Walton
  • Publication number: 20200269249
    Abstract: A microfluidic device comprises upper and lower spaced apart substrates defining a fluid chamber therebetween; an aperture for introducing fluid into the fluid chamber; a plurality of independently addressable array elements, each array element defining a respective region of the fluid chamber; and control means for addressing the array elements. The control means are configured to: determine that a working fluid has been introduced into a first region of the fluid chamber; and provide an output to a user to indicate that the working fluid is present in the first region. Once the working fluid is in the first region, the fluid applicator used to dispense the fluid can be removed without any risk of accidentally withdrawing dispensed working fluid from the microfluidic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Emma Jayne Walton, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones
  • Patent number: 10730048
    Abstract: An electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device includes a first substrate assembly and a second substrate assembly spaced apart to define a channel between them; an input port in fluid communication with the channel, the input port defining an input well for receiving a fluid for inputting into the channel; and a control port in fluid communication with the channel, the control port defining a control well for receiving a fluid and having a seal that seals the control port in a sealed state in which fluid is restricted from entering the control well from the channel. When the seal is pierced, the control port is placed in an unsealed state permitting fluid to enter the control well from the channel. The electrowetting force may be manipulated to remove the dispensed droplets via an exit port. Multiple cycles of fluid input/droplet manipulation/fluid extraction may be repeated to perform complex reaction protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Emma Jayne Walton, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones
  • Patent number: 10695763
    Abstract: A method of extracting assay fluid from an EWOD device, the EWOD device comprising two opposing substrates defining a fluid space there between and an aperture for extraction of fluid from the fluid space. The method comprises providing, in the fluid space of the EWOD device, a droplet of assay fluid adjacent to the aperture such that the droplet blocks extraction, via the aperture, of filler fluid contained in the fluid space of the EWOD device, and extracting, via the aperture, at least some of the assay fluid of the droplet from the fluid space. The method comprises, during the extracting, controlling the assay fluid droplet by electrowetting to maintain the blocking of extraction of filler fluid. By controlling the position of the unextracted portion of the assay fluid droplet relative to the aperture during the extraction process, the unextracted portion of the assay fluid droplet continues to block extraction of filler fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Emma Jayne Walton, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Christopher James Brown
  • Patent number: 10663776
    Abstract: A display component controls a viewing angle in a display system that achieves a strong private mode and enhanced brightness in the private and public modes as compared to conventional configurations. A display system that is operable in the private mode and the public mode includes the display component in combination with an image panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hywel Hopkin, Nathan James Smith, Andrew Acreman, Emma Jayne Walton
  • Publication number: 20200108396
    Abstract: A microfluidic device comprises upper and lower spaced apart substrates defining a fluid chamber therebetween; an aperture for introducing fluid into the fluid chamber; and a fluid input structure disposed over the upper substrate and having a fluid well for receiving fluid from a fluid applicator inserted into the fluid well. The fluid well communicates with a fluid exit provided in a base of the fluid input structure, the fluid exit being adjacent the aperture. The fluid well comprises first, second and third portions, with the first portion of the well forming a reservoir for a filler fluid; and the second portion of the well being configured to sealingly engage against an outer surface of a fluid applicator inserted into the fluid well. The third portion of the well communicates with the fluid exit and has a diameter at the interface between the third portion and the second portion that is greater than the diameter of the second portion at the interface between the third portion and the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Emma Jayne Walton
  • Patent number: 10596568
    Abstract: A fluid loader is provided for loading fluid into a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device having upper and lower spaced apart substrates defining a fluid chamber therebetween and an aperture for receiving fluid into the fluid chamber. The fluid loader includes a fluid well communicating with a fluid exit provided in a base of the fluid loader. The base of the fluid loader is shaped, in use, to locate the fluid loader relative to the aperture, and to direct fluid leaving the fluid loader via the fluid exit preferentially in a first direction in the fluid chamber of the microfluidic device. In one embodiment the base of the fluid loader includes a protruding portion having at least first and second legs, the first leg being shorter than the second leg. In use, the fluid loader is positioned such that the first leg of the fluid loader is between a fluid loading area associated with the aperture and an operating area of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Emma Jayne Walton, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones
  • Patent number: 10408788
    Abstract: An EWOD device includes a first and second substrate assemblies, and a spacer that spaces apart the first substrate assembly from the second substrate assembly to define a channel between them. The spacer defines fluid input ports that are in fluid communication with the channel, and the spacer is configured for directing fluid from the fluid input ports into the channel. The spacer has a combed spacer configuration to define the fluid input ports, including alternating teeth that extend into the channel from a base region, and the teeth isolate adjacent fluid input ports from each other. The spacer may contact only a portion of the first and second substrate assemblies to form a spacerless region within the EWOD device, and the spacer includes regions that are in contact with both the first and second substrate assemblies and extend into the channel to define a cell-gap of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Emma Jayne Walton
  • Patent number: 10315911
    Abstract: An EWOD device includes a first and second substrate assemblies, and a spacer that spaces apart the first substrate assembly from the second substrate assembly to define a channel between them. The spacer defines fluid input ports that are in fluid communication with the channel, and the spacer is configured for directing fluid from the fluid input ports into the channel. The spacer has a combed spacer configuration to define the fluid input ports, including alternating teeth that extend into the channel from a base region, and the teeth isolate adjacent fluid input ports from each other. The spacer may contact only a portion of the first and second substrate assemblies to form a spacerless region within the EWOD device, and the spacer includes regions that are in contact with both the first and second substrate assemblies and extend into the channel to define a cell-gap of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Emma Jayne Walton