Patents by Inventor Gareth PODD
Gareth PODD 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: 11904319Abstract: A device for manipulating microdroplets using optically-mediated electrowetting comprising: a first composite wall comprising: a first transparent substrate; a first transparent conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; a photoactive layer activated by electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range 400-1000 nm on the conductor layer having a thickness of 300-1000 nm; and a first dielectric layer on the conductor layer having a thickness of 120-160 nm; a second composite wall comprised of: a second substrate; a second conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; and an A/C source to provide a voltage across the first and second composite walls connecting the first and second conductor layers; at least one source of electromagnetic radiation having an energy higher than the bandgap of the photoexcitable layer; and means for manipulating the points of impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the photoactive layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: LIGHTCAST DISCOVERY LTDInventors: Thomas Henry Isaac, Pedro Cunha, Eoin Sheridan, David Love, Rebecca Palmer, Douglas J. Kelly, Gareth Podd
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Publication number: 20230042115Abstract: A method of manipulating microdroplets having an average volume in the range 0.5 femtolitres to 10 nanolitres comprised of at least one biological component and a first aqueous medium having a water activity of aw1 of less than 1 is provided. It is characterised by the step of maintaining the microdroplets in a water-immiscible carrier fluid which further includes secondary droplets having an average volume less than 25% of the average volume of the microdroplets up to and including a maximum of 4 femtolitres and wherein the volume ratio of carrier fluid to total volume of microdroplets per unit volume of the total is greater than 2:1. The method may be employed for example with microdroplets containing biological cells or with microdroplets containing single nucleoside phosphate such as are prepared in a droplet-based nucleic acid sequencer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Applicant: Lightcast Discovery LtdInventors: Tom ISAAC, Barnaby BALMFORTH, Jasmin CONTERIO, Kerr Francis JOHNSON, Maciej SOSNA, Richard INGHAM, Gareth PODD
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Publication number: 20230042172Abstract: A device for manipulating microdroplets using optically-mediated electrowetting comprising: a first composite wall comprising: a first transparent substrate; a first transparent conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; a photoactive layer activated by electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range 400-1000 nm on the conductor layer having a thickness of 300-1000 nm; and a first dielectric layer on the conductor layer having a thickness of 120-160 nm; a second composite wall comprised of: a second substrate; a second conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; and an A/C source to provide a voltage across the first and second composite walls connecting the first and second conductor layers; at least one source of electromagnetic radiation having an energy higher than the bandgap of the photoexcitable layer; and means for manipulating the points of impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the photoactive layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Applicant: LIGHTCAST DISCOVERY LTDInventors: Thomas Henry ISAAC, Pedro CUNHA, Eoin SHERIDAN, David LOVE, Rebecca PALMER, Douglas J. KELLY, Gareth PODD
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Patent number: 11504715Abstract: A method of manipulating microdroplets having an average volume in the range 0.5 femtolitres to 10 nanolitres comprised of at least one biological component and a first aqueous medium having a water activity of aw1 of less than 1 is provided. It is characterised by the step of maintaining the microdroplets in a water-immiscible carrier fluid which further includes secondary droplets having an average volume less than 25% of the average volume of the microdroplets up to and including a maximum of 4 femtolitres and wherein the volume ratio of carrier fluid to total volume of microdroplets per unit volume of the total is greater than 2:1. The method may be employed for example with microdroplets containing biological cells or with microdroplets containing single nucleoside phosphate such as are prepared in a droplet-based nucleic acid sequencer.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: LIGHTCAST DISCOVERY LTDInventors: Tom Isaac, Barnaby Balmforth, Jasmin Conterio, Kerr Francis Johnson, Maciej Sosna, Richard Ingham, Gareth Podd
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Publication number: 20220219173Abstract: A device comprising: a first zone comprising an attachment site; a first pathway; a second pathway and a means for creating a second medium comprised of aqueous microdroplets in a carrier; a microdroplet manipulation zone comprising: a first composite wall comprised of a first transparent substrate; a first transparent conductor layer on the substrate; a photoactive layer activated by electromagnetic radiation; and a first dielectric layer on the conductor layer; a second composite wall comprised of a second substrate; a second conductor layer on the substrate; and optionally a second dielectric layer on the conductor layer; an A/C source; a source of first electromagnetic radiation; means for manipulating the points of impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the photoactive layer; an detection zone disposed downstream of the microdroplet manipulation zone or integral therewith; and a fluorescence or Raman-scattering detection system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2022Publication date: July 14, 2022Applicant: LIGHTCAST DISCOVERY LTDInventors: Thomas Henry ISAAC, Pedro CUNHA, Eoin SHERIDAN, David LOVE, Rebecca PALMER, Douglas J KELLY, Gareth PODD
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Patent number: 11318472Abstract: A device comprising: a first zone comprising an attachment site; a first pathway; a second pathway and a means for creating a second medium comprised of aqueous microdroplets in a carrier; a microdroplet manipulation zone comprising: a first composite wall comprised of a first transparent substrate; a first transparent conductor layer on the substrate; a photoactive layer activated by electromagnetic radiation; and a first dielectric layer on the conductor layer; a second composite wall comprised of a second substrate; a second conductor layer on the substrate; and optionally a second dielectric layer on the conductor layer; an A/C source; a source of first electromagnetic radiation; means for manipulating the points of impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the photoactive layer; an detection zone disposed downstream of the microdroplet manipulation zone or integral therewith; and a fluorescence or Raman-scattering detection system.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2018Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: LIGHTCAST DISCOVERY LTDInventors: Thomas Henry Isaac, Pedro Cunha, Eoin Sheridan, David Love, Rebecca Palmer, Douglas J. Kelly, Gareth Podd
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Publication number: 20220088606Abstract: A method of manipulating microdroplets having an average volume in the range 0.5 femtolitres to 10 nanolitres comprised of at least one biological component and a first aqueous medium having a water activity of aw1 of less than 1 is provided. It is characterised by the step of maintaining the microdroplets in a water-immiscible carrier fluid which further includes secondary droplets having an average volume less than 25% of the average volume of the microdroplets up to and including a maximum of 4 femtolitres and wherein the volume ratio of carrier fluid to total volume of microdroplets per unit volume of the total is greater than 2:1. The method may be employed for example with microdroplets containing biological cells or with microdroplets containing single nucleoside phosphate such as are prepared in a droplet-based nucleic acid sequencer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2020Publication date: March 24, 2022Applicant: Lightcast Discovery LtdInventors: Tom ISAAC, Barnaby BALMFORTH, Jasmin CONTERIO, Kerr Francis JOHNSON, Maciej SOSNA, Richard INGHAM, Gareth PODD
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Publication number: 20220016631Abstract: A device for manipulating microdroplets using optically-mediated electrowetting comprising: a first composite wall comprising: a first transparent substrate; a first transparent conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; a photoactive layer activated by electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range 400-1000 nm on the conductor layer having a thickness of 300-1000 nm; and a first dielectric layer on the conductor layer having a thickness of 120-160 nm; a second composite wall comprised of: a second substrate; a second conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; and an A/C source to provide a voltage across the first and second composite walls connecting the first and second conductor layers; at least one source of electromagnetic radiation having an energy higher than the bandgap of the photoexcitable layer; and means for manipulating the points of impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the photoactive layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Applicant: LIGHTCAST DISCOVERY LTDInventors: Thomas Henry ISAAC, Pedro CUNHA, Eoin SHERIDAN, David LOVE, Rebecca PALMER, Douglas J. KELLY, Gareth PODD
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Patent number: 11135588Abstract: A device for manipulating microdroplets using optically-mediated electrowetting comprising: a first composite wall comprising: a first transparent substrate; a first transparent conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; a photoactive layer activated by electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range 400-1000 nm on the conductor layer having a thickness of 300-1000 nm; and a first dielectric layer on the conductor layer having a thickness of 120-160 nm; a second composite wall comprised of: a second substrate; a second conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; and an A/C source to provide a voltage across the first and second composite walls connecting the first and second conductor layers; at least one source of electromagnetic radiation having an energy higher than the bandgap of the photoexcitable layer; and means for manipulating the points of impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the photoactive layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: LIGHTCAST DISCOVERY LTDInventors: Thomas Henry Isaac, Pedro Cunha, Eoin Sheridan, David Love, Rebecca Palmer, Douglas J. Kelly, Gareth Podd
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Publication number: 20200197941Abstract: A device comprising: a first zone comprising an attachment site; a first pathway; a second pathway and a means for creating a second medium comprised of aqueous microdroplets in a carrier; a microdroplet manipulation zone comprising: a first composite wall comprised of a first transparent substrate; a first transparent conductor layer on the substrate; a photoactive layer activated by electromagnetic radiation; and a first dielectric layer on the conductor layer; a second composite wall comprised of a second substrate; a second conductor layer on the substrate; and optionally a second dielectric layer on the conductor layer; an A/C source; a source of first electromagnetic radiation; means for manipulating the points of impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the photoactive layer; an detection zone disposed downstream of the microdroplet manipulation zone or integral therewith; and a fluorescence or Raman-scattering detection system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2018Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: BASE4 INNOVATION LTDInventors: Thomas Henry ISAAC, Pedro CUNHA, Eoin SHERIDAN, David LOVE, Rebecca PALMER, Douglas J. KELLY, Gareth PODD
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Publication number: 20200147613Abstract: A device for manipulating microdroplets using optically-mediated electrowetting comprising: a first composite wall comprising: a first transparent substrate; a first transparent conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; a photoactive layer activated by electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range 400-1000 nm on the conductor layer having a thickness of 300-1000 nm; and a first dielectric layer on the conductor layer having a thickness of 120-160 nm; a second composite wall comprised of: a second substrate; a second conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; and an A/C source to provide a voltage across the first and second composite walls connecting the first and second conductor layers; at least one source of electromagnetic radiation having an energy higher than the bandgap of the photoexcitable layer; and means for manipulating the points of impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the photoactive layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2018Publication date: May 14, 2020Applicant: BASE4 INNOVATION LTDInventors: Thomas Henry ISAAC, Pedro CUNHA, Eoin SHERIDAN, David LOVE, Rebecca PALMER, Douglas J. KELLY, Gareth PODD
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Publication number: 20160348163Abstract: An apparatus for analysing a molecule comprising:•a substrate;•at least one nanopore provided in the substrate;•first and second reservoirs separated by the substrate for respectively providing and receiving the molecule;•a controller to induce the molecule to move by from the first reservoir to the second reservoir via the nanopore;•at least one nanostructure arranged in the nanopore and/or around the nanopore on one side of the substrate for producing a localised electromagnetic field by plasmon resonance;•at least one coating provided in the substrate and/or on one side of the substrate for cooling the substrate and/or reflecting electromagnetic radiation incident thereon;;•a source of electromagnetic radiation arranged on the side of the substrate bearing the nanostructure(s) to induce plasmon resonance in each nanostructure and•a detector to detect signals produced by interaction of the electromagnetic field with the molecule as it passes through the nanopore.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2015Publication date: December 1, 2016Applicant: BASE4 INNOVATION LTDInventors: Gareth PODD, Jekaterina KULESHOVA, Bruno Flavio Nogueira de Sousa SOARES