Patents by Inventor Frederick Balagadde

Frederick Balagadde 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: 9340765
    Abstract: A method to suppress biofilm formation in a growth chamber of a chemostat is described. The method includes the steps of adding a lysis agent to an isolated portion of the growth chamber, and reuniting the isolated portion with the rest of the growth chamber. The microfluidic chemostat includes a growth chamber having a plurality of compartments. Each of the compartments may be fluidly isolated from the rest of the growth chamber by one or more actuatable valves. The chemostat also included a nutrient supply-line to supply growth medium to the growth chamber, and an output port to remove fluids from the growth chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Frederick Balagadde, Carl L. Hansen, Emil Kartalov, Stephen R. Quake
  • Publication number: 20140141497
    Abstract: A chemostat is described that includes a growth chamber having a plurality of compartments. Each of the compartments may be fluidly isolated from the rest of the growth chamber by one or more actuatable valves. The chemostat may also include a nutrient supply-line to supply growth medium to the growth chamber, and an output port to remove fluids from the growth chamber. Also, a method of preventing biofilm formation in a growth chamber of a chemostat is described. The method may include the steps of adding a lysis agent to a isolated portion of the growth chamber, and reuniting the isolated portion with the rest of the growth chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Frederick Balagadde, Carl L. Hansen, Emil Kartalov, Stephen R. Quake
  • Patent number: 8426159
    Abstract: A chemostat is described that includes a growth chamber having a plurality of compartments. Each of the compartments may be fluidly isolated from the rest of the growth chamber by one or more actuatable valves. The chemostat may also include a nutrient supply-line to supply growth medium to the growth chamber, and an output port to remove fluids from the growth chamber. Also, a method of preventing biofilm formation in a growth chamber of a chemostat is described. The method may include the steps of adding a lysis agent to a isolated portion of the growth chamber, and reuniting the isolated portion with the rest of the growth chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Frederick Balagadde, Carl L. Hansen, Emil Kartalov, Stephen R. Quake
  • Publication number: 20120065277
    Abstract: A chemostat is described that includes a growth chamber having a plurality of compartments. Each of the compartments may be fluidly isolated from the rest of the growth chamber by one or more actuatable valves. The chemostat may also include a nutrient supply-line to supply growth medium to the growth chamber, and an output port to remove fluids from the growth chamber. Also, a method of preventing biofilm formation in a growth chamber of a chemostat is described. The method may include the steps of adding a lysis agent to a isolated portion of the growth chamber, and reuniting the isolated portion with the rest of the growth chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Frederick Balagadde, Carl L. Hansen, Emil Kartalov, Stephen R. Quake
  • Patent number: 8017353
    Abstract: A chemostat is described that includes a growth chamber having a plurality of compartments. Each of the compartments may be fluidly isolated from the rest of the growth chamber by one or more actuatable valves. The chemostat may also include a nutrient supply-line to supply growth medium to the growth chamber, and an output port to remove fluids from the growth chamber. Also, a method of preventing biofilm formation in a growth chamber of a chemostat is described. The method may include the steps of adding a lysis agent to a isolated portion of the growth chamber, and reuniting the isolated portion with the rest of the growth chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Frederick Balagadde, Carl L. Hansen, Emil Kartalov, Stephen R. Quake
  • Publication number: 20090018195
    Abstract: A chemostat is described that includes a growth chamber having a plurality of compartments. Each of the compartments may be fluidly isolated from the rest of the growth chamber by one or more actuatable valves. The chemostat may also include a nutrient supply-line to supply growth medium to the growth chamber, and an output port to remove fluids from the growth chamber. Also, a method of preventing biofilm formation in a growth chamber of a chemostat is described. The method may include the steps of adding a lysis agent to a isolated portion of the growth chamber, and reuniting the isolated portion with the rest of the growth chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Frederick Balagadde, Carl L. Hansen, Emil Kartalov, Stephen R. Quake
  • Patent number: 7407799
    Abstract: A chemostat is described that includes a growth chamber having a plurality of compartments. Each of the compartments may be fluidly isolated from the rest of the growth chamber by one or more actuatable valves. The chemostat may also include a nutrient supply-line to supply growth medium to the growth chamber, and an output port to remove fluids from the growth chamber. Also, a method of preventing biofilm formation in a growth chamber of a chemostat is described. The method may include the steps of adding a lysis agent to a isolated portion of the growth chamber, and reuniting the isolated portion with the rest of the growth chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Frederick Balagadde, Carl L. Hansen, Emil Kartalov, Stephen R. Quake
  • Publication number: 20050164376
    Abstract: A chemostat that includes a growth chamber having a plurality of compartments, where each of the compartments may be fluidly isolated from the rest of the growth chamber by one or more actuatable valves. The chemostat may also include a nutrient supply-line to supply growth medium to the growth chamber, and an output port to remove fluids from the growth chamber. Also, a method of preventing biofilm formation in a growth chamber of a chemostat. The method may include the steps of adding a lysis agent to a isolated portion of the growth chamber, and reuniting the isolated portion with the rest of the growth chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Frederick Balagadde, Carl Hansen, Emil Kartalov, Stephen Quake