Patents by Inventor Geoffrey Richards

Geoffrey Richards 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).

  • Publication number: 20110312835
    Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, the LOC device having probes with a nucleic acid sequence complementary to the target nucleic acid sequence for forming probe-target hybrids, and an electrochemiluminescent (ECL) luminophore, electrodes for generating an excited state in the ECL luminophore in which the ECL luminophore emits photons of light, and, a photosensor for sensing the photons emitted from the ECL luminophore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Geoffrey Richard Facer, Alireza Moini, Kia Silverbrook, Mehdi Azimi
  • Publication number: 20110312702
    Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for genetic analysis of a biological sample, the LOC device having an inlet for receiving the sample, a supporting substrate, a dialysis section for separating cells larger than a predetermined threshold in the sample from smaller constituents, whereby the cells larger than a predetermined threshold include target cells containing genetic material for analysis, a plurality of reagent reservoirs, a lysis section downstream of the dialysis section for lysing the target cells to release the genetic material therein, the lysis section being in fluid communication with one of the reagent reservoirs containing a lysis reagent for lysing the target cells in the lysis section, and, a nucleic acid amplification section downstream of the lysis section for amplifying nucleic acid sequences from the genetic material, wherein, the dialysis section, the lysis section and the nucleic acid amplification section are all supported on the supporting substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Mehdi Azimi, Geoffrey Richard Facer, Alireza Moini
  • Publication number: 20110312764
    Abstract: A microfluidic device having a supporting substrate, an inlet for receiving a fluid, a microsystems technology (MST) layer for processing the fluid, the MST layer incorporating an incubation section, the incubation section having at least one heater for maintaining the fluid at a predetermined incubation temperature, and, CMOS circuitry between the MST layer and the supporting substrate, the CMOS circuitry being connected to the at least one heater for operative control of the at least one heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Mehdi Azimi, Geoffrey Richard Facer
  • Publication number: 20110312668
    Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for removing cell debris from a biological sample containing target nucleic acid sequences, the LOC device having an amplification section for amplifying the nucleic acid sequences, a dialysis section with a large constituent channel, a small constituent channel and a plurality of apertures for fluid communication between the large constituent channel and the small constituent channel, the large constituent channel configured to receive the biological sample after nucleic acid amplification in the amplification section, the biological sample being a liquid mixture of the cell debris and the target nucleic acid sequences and the apertures are sized to allow the target nucleic acid sequences to flow into the small constituent channel while the cell debris larger than a threshold size is retained in the large constituent channel, and, an array of probes in fluid communication with the small constituent channel for hybridization with the target nucleic acid sequences to form probe-tar
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Geoffrey Richard Facer, Mehdi Azimi, Kia Silverbrook, Alireza Moini
  • Publication number: 20110312573
    Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for pathogen detection and genetic analysis of a biological sample, the LOC device having an inlet for receiving the sample, a supporting substrate, a plurality of reagent reservoirs, a lysis section for lysing pathogens and leukocytes in the sample to release the genetic material therein, the lysis section being in fluid communication with one of the reagent reservoirs containing a lysis reagent for lysing the pathogens and leukocytes in the lysis section, an incubation section downstream of the lysis section, the incubation section being in fluid communication with one of the reagent reservoirs containing enzymes for enzymatic reaction with the genetic material, a first nucleic acid amplification section downstream of the incubation section for amplifying nucleic acid sequences in the genetic material in a first portion of the sample flow from the incubation section, and, a second nucleic acid amplification section downstream of the incubation section for amplifying nucleic acid
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Mehdi Azimi, Geoffrey Richard Facer, Alireza Moini
  • Publication number: 20110312839
    Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, the LOC device having probes with a nucleic acid sequence complementary to the target nucleic acid sequence for forming probe-target hybrids, and an electrochemiluminescent (ECL) luminophore, electrodes for generating an excited state in the ECL luminophore in which the ECL luminophore emits photons of light, and, a photosensor for sensing the photons emitted from the ECL luminophore, wherein, the electrodes have at least one working electrode which causes oxidation or reduction of the luminophore to generate an excited species that emits the photons, the working electrode being positioned immediately adjacent the photosensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Mehdi Azimi, Geoffrey Richard Facer, Alireza Moini
  • Publication number: 20110312078
    Abstract: A microfluidic device for detecting mitochondrial DNA in a sample, the microfluidic device having an inlet for receiving a sample of biological material having cells with mitochondria containing mitochondrial DNA, a lysis section for lysing the mitochondria to release the mitochondrial DNA, probes for hybridization with target nucleic acid sequences in the mitochondrial DNA to form probe-target hybrids, and, a photosensor for detecting the probe-target hybrids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Mehdi Azimi, Geoffrey Richard Facer, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110312733
    Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for amplifying nucleic acid sequences, the LOC device having an inlet for receiving a sample containing genetic material, a supporting substrate, a plurality of reagent reservoirs, and, a nucleic acid amplification section for amplifying nucleic acid sequences in the genetic material, wherein, the nucleic acid amplification section is supported on the supporting substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Mehdi Azimi, Geoffrey Richard Facer, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110312578
    Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for genetic analysis of a sample containing target nucleic acid sequences, the LOC device having a sample inlet for receiving the sample, a plurality of reagent reservoirs containing dNTP's, primers, polymerase and buffer solution for addition to the sample, and, a nucleic acid amplification section for thermal control of the sample to perform a first stage amplification of the target nucleic acid sequences and subsequent thermal control of amplicon from the first stage amplification, to perform a second stage amplification for further amplifying the target nucleic acid sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Mehdi Azimi, Geoffrey Richard Facer
  • Publication number: 20110312616
    Abstract: A test module for amplifying DNA and RNA, the test module having an outer casing with receptacle for receiving a sample containing genetic material including DNA and RNA, a plurality of reagent reservoirs containing reagents for addition to the sample, a first nucleic acid amplification section for amplifying at least some of the genetic material, and, a second nucleic acid amplification section for amplifying at least some of the genetic material in parallel with the first nucleic acid amplification section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Mehdi Azimi, Geoffrey Richard Facer, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110312658
    Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for concentrating nucleated cells in a biological sample, the LOC device having an inlet for receiving a sample of biological material including nucleated cells and other constituents, the nucleated cells all being larger than a predetermined threshold, a dialysis section for concentrating the nucleated cells into a portion of the sample such that the remainder of the sample contains the other constituents smaller than the predetermined threshold, and, a microsystems technology (MST) layer for processing the nucleated cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Mehdi Azimi, Geoffrey Richard Facer, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110312632
    Abstract: A microfluidic device having a sample inlet for receiving a sample of biological material having nucleic acid sequences, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) section for amplifying the nucleic acid sequences, a reagent reservoir containing a reagent, and, a diffusion mixing section for mixing the nucleic acid sequences with the reagent, the diffusion mixing section having a microchannel defining a tortuous flow-path having a length sufficient for diffusive mixing of the reagent and the sample, wherein during use, the sample flows from the sample inlet to the PCR section via the diffusion mixing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Geoffrey Richard Facer, Kia Silverbrook, Mehdi Azimi
  • Publication number: 20110312588
    Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device having a supporting substrate, a sample inlet for receiving a fluid sample, an incubation section in fluid communication with the sample inlet, the incubation section having at least one heater, and, CMOS circuitry between the supporting substrate and the incubation section, wherein, the CMOS circuitry is connected to the at least one heater for maintaining the fluid sample at an incubation temperature for an incubation period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Mehdi Azimi, Geoffrey Richard Facer
  • Publication number: 20110312572
    Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for pathogen detection and genetic analysis of a biological sample, the LOC device having an inlet for receiving the sample, a supporting substrate, a plurality of reagent reservoirs, a lysis section for lysing pathogens and leukocytes in the sample to release the genetic material therein, the lysis section being in fluid communication with one of the reagent reservoirs containing a lysis reagent for lysing the pathogens and leukocytes in the lysis section, an incubation section downstream of the lysis section, the incubation section being in fluid communication with one of the reagent reservoirs containing enzymes for enzymatic reaction with the genetic material, and, a nucleic acid amplification section downstream of the incubation section for amplifying nucleic acid sequences from the genetic material, wherein, the lysis section, the incubation section and the nucleic acid amplification section are all supported on the supporting substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Alireza Moini, Kia Silverbrook, Mehdi Azimi, Geoffrey Richard Facer
  • Publication number: 20110312724
    Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for pathogen detection and genetic analysis of a biological sample, the LOC device having an inlet for receiving the sample containing genetic material, a supporting substrate, a plurality of reagent reservoirs, an incubation section downstream of the inlet, the incubation section being in fluid communication with one of the reagent reservoirs containing enzymes for enzymatic reaction with the genetic material, and, a nucleic acid amplification section downstream of the incubation section for amplifying nucleic acid sequences in the genetic material, and, a dialysis section downstream of the nucleic acid amplification section for prehybridization filtration of amplicon produced by the nucleic acid amplification section, the dialysis section being configured to remove cell debris from the amplicon, wherein, the incubation section, the nucleic acid amplification section and the dialysis section are all supported on the supporting substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Geoffrey Richard Facer, Kia Silverbrook, Mehdi Azimi
  • Publication number: 20110312739
    Abstract: A test module for amplifying and detecting target nucleic acid sequences in a fluid, the test module having an outer casing with a receptacle for receiving a fluid containing the target nucleic acid sequences, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) section for amplifying the target nucleic acid sequences, an array of electrochemiluminescent (ECL) probes for hybridization with the target nucleic acid sequences to form probe-target hybrids, and, electrodes positioned for receiving an electrical pulse, the probe-target hybrids being configured to emit a photon of light when excited by current between the electrodes, and, a photosensor for detecting the light emitted by the probes, wherein during use, addition of the fluid to the probes prevents subsequent addition of other fluid to the probes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Mehdi Azimi, Geoffrey Richard Facer, Alireza Moini, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110312720
    Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for genetic analysis of a biological sample, the LOC device having an inlet for receiving the sample, a supporting substrate, a dialysis section for separating smaller constituents from larger constituents, the smaller constituents being smaller than a predetermined size threshold, and the larger constituents being larger than the predetermined size threshold, and, a nucleic acid amplification section for amplifying nucleic acid sequences in the genetic material, wherein, the dialysis section and the nucleic acid amplification section are both supported on the supporting substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Geoffrey Richard Facer, Kia Silverbrook, Mehdi Azimi
  • Publication number: 20110312696
    Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for detecting pathogens in a biological sample, the LOC device having an inlet for receiving the sample, a supporting substrate, a dialysis section for separating pathogens from larger constituents in the sample, a plurality of reagent reservoirs, a lysis section downstream of the dialysis section for lysing the pathogens to release genetic material therein, the lysis section being in fluid communication with one of the reagent reservoirs containing a lysis reagent for lysing the cells in the lysis section, and, a nucleic acid amplification section downstream of the lysis section for amplifying nucleic acid sequences in the genetic material, wherein, the dialysis section, the lysis section and the nucleic acid amplification section are all supported on the supporting substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Geoffrey Richard Facer, Alireza Moini, Kia Silverbrook, Mehdi Azimi
  • Publication number: 20110312761
    Abstract: A test module for lysing cells in a fluid, the test module having an outer casing with receptacle for receiving a fluid containing cells, a lysis reagent reservoir containing a lysis reagent and having a valve, and, a lysis section in fluid communication with the receptacle for holding the fluid during lysis of the cells, the lysis section having a lysis heater for heating the fluid in the lysis section, wherein, the valve is upstream of the lysis section and configured to open as the fluid flows into the lysis section thereby adding the lysis reagent to the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Geoffrey Richard Facer, Kia Silverbrook, Mehdi Azimi
  • Publication number: 20110312829
    Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, the LOC device having probes with a nucleic acid sequence complementary to the target nucleic acid sequence for forming probe-target hybrids, and an electrochemiluminescent (ECL) luminophore, and, electrodes for generating an excited state in the ECL luminophore in which the ECL luminophore emits photons of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: GEOFFREY RICHARD FACER, ALIREZA MOINI, KIA SILVERBROOK, MEHDI AZIMI