Patents by Inventor Govind Kaigala
Govind Kaigala 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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Publication number: 20200129978Abstract: Disclosed a system comprised of at least one microfluidic chamber configured to contain a liquid containing an electrolyte; a first driving electrode and a second driving electrode arranged at the ends of the chamber and configured to generate a voltage across a fluid volume in the chamber; and a plurality of surface charges, located on a surface layer disposed within or adjacent to the liquid volume. Further disclosed are methods for using the system, e.g., for biological sample analysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventors: Moran BERCOVICI, Federico PARATORE, Shimon RUBIN, Govind KAIGALA, Vesna BACHEVA
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Publication number: 20200114351Abstract: A microfluidic probe includes a probe head with a processing surface that includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The probe further includes a liquid injection channel, which leads to the first aperture, and a liquid aspiration channel, which extends from the second aperture. The probe also includes a bypass channel, arranged so as to fluidly connect the liquid injection channel to the liquid aspiration channel, as well as a control channel. The latter fluidly connects to the bypass channel, hence forming a junction therewith, so as to define two portions of the bypass channel. These portions includes: a first portion that extends from the junction to the liquid injection channel; and a second portion that extends from that same junction to the liquid aspiration channel. The invention is further directed to methods of operation of a probe as described above, to process a surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Dean Lovchik, David Taylor
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Publication number: 20200061616Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of separating and encapsulating an analyte on a microfluidic device in order to extract the analyte. A microfluidic device is provided having a main microchannel and a set of one or more auxiliary microchannels, each branching to the main microchannel at respective junctions therewith. A mixture is introduced as a single phase in the main microchannel in order to electrokinetically separate an analyte from the introduced mixture, and in order to confine the separated analyte in a microchannel portion of the main microchannel. The microchannel portion adjoins one of the junctions. One or more encapsulating volumes of an encapsulating phase are injected in the main microchannel via one or more of the auxiliary microchannels. The encapsulating phase is immiscible with said single phase. The encapsulated analyte is extracted from the main microchannel via one or more of the auxiliary microchannels.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2018Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Federico Paratore, Onur Gökçe, Moran Bercovici, Xander Van Kooten
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Patent number: 10549276Abstract: A microfluidic probe head for providing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers, the separate liquid volumes including a respective target substance associated with a respective target area, the microfluidic probe head including an inlet and an outlet; a first fluid channel fluidly connected to the inlet, the first fluid channel configured for delivering an injection liquid from the inlet to a respective target area; a second fluid channel fluidly connected to the outlet, the second fluid channel configured for delivering liquid volumes from the respective target area to the outlet; and a spacer insertion unit fluidly connected to the second fluid channel, the spacer insertion unit configured for inserting spacers into the second fluid channel between the liquid volumes to provide the sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2019Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Julien Autebert, Emmanuel Delamarche, Govind Kaigala, Aditya Kashyap, Xander Frank Van Kooten
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Patent number: 10507465Abstract: A microfluidic probe includes a probe head with a processing surface that includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The probe further includes a liquid injection channel, which leads to the first aperture, and a liquid aspiration channel, which extends from the second aperture. The probe also includes a bypass channel, arranged so as to fluidly connect the liquid injection channel to the liquid aspiration channel, as well as a control channel. The latter fluidly connects to the bypass channel, hence forming a junction therewith, so as to define two portions of the bypass channel. These portions includes: a first portion that extends from the junction to the liquid injection channel; and a second portion that extends from that same junction to the liquid aspiration channel. The invention is further directed to methods of operation of a probe as described above, to process a surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2017Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Dean Lovchik, David Taylor
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Publication number: 20190344268Abstract: A microfluidic probe head for providing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers, the separate liquid volumes including a respective target substance associated with a respective target area, the microfluidic probe head including an inlet and an outlet; a first fluid channel fluidly connected to the inlet, the first fluid channel configured for delivering an injection liquid from the inlet to a respective target area; a second fluid channel fluidly connected to the outlet, the second fluid channel configured for delivering liquid volumes from the respective target area to the outlet; and a spacer insertion unit fluidly connected to the second fluid channel, the spacer insertion unit configured for inserting spacers into the second fluid channel between the liquid volumes to provide the sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: Julien Autebert, Emmanuel Delamarche, Govind Kaigala, Aditya Kashyap, Xander Frank Van Kooten
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Publication number: 20190310227Abstract: The present invention provides, in some embodiments, an isotachophoresis (ITP) apparatus, a kit comprising same and method of use thereof for the focusing analytes of interest from large sample volumes.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2017Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Moran BERCOVICI, Govind KAIGALA, Xander Frank VAN KOOTEN, Nadya OSTROMOHOV, Federico PARATORE
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Patent number: 10434510Abstract: A microfluidic probe includes a probe head with a processing surface that includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The probe further includes a liquid injection channel, which leads to the first aperture, and a liquid aspiration channel, which extends from the second aperture. The probe also includes a bypass channel, arranged so as to fluidly connect the liquid injection channel to the liquid aspiration channel, as well as a control channel. The latter fluidly connects to the bypass channel, hence forming a junction therewith, so as to define two portions of the bypass channel. These portions includes: a first portion that extends from the junction to the liquid injection channel; and a second portion that extends from that same junction to the liquid aspiration channel. The invention is further directed to methods of operation of a probe as described above, to process a surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Dean Lovchik, David Taylor
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Publication number: 20190286790Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a computer-implemented method for quantifying a biomarker in a tissue sample of an organism. An image analysis system receives images of a stained tissue sample. Each received digital image depicts the tissue sample region at the end of an exposure interval. The system analyzes the intensity values and exposure intervals of the received digital images for determining the time when the intensity values corresponding to the plurality of exposure intervals ordered according to ascending exposure interval lengths reach a plateau (saturation residence time—SRT). The system determines the amount of a biomarker in the tissue sample and/or predicts a tumor stage and/or a treatment recommendation as a function of the SRT.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2018Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Anna Fomitcheva Khartchenko, Aditya Kashyap, Maria Gabrani, Pushpak Pati
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Patent number: 10391488Abstract: A microfluidic probe head for providing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers, the separate liquid volumes including a respective target substance associated with a respective target area, the microfluidic probe head including an inlet and an outlet; a first fluid channel fluidly connected to the inlet, the first fluid channel configured for delivering an injection liquid from the inlet to a respective target area; a second fluid channel fluidly connected to the outlet, the second fluid channel configured for delivering liquid volumes from the respective target area to the outlet; and a spacer insertion unit fluidly connected to the second fluid channel, the spacer insertion unit configured for inserting spacers into the second fluid channel between the liquid volumes to provide the sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Julien Autebert, Emmanuel Delamarche, Govind Kaigala, Aditya Kashyap, Xander Frank Van Kooten
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Patent number: 10357770Abstract: A microfluidic probe is disclosed. The microfluidic probe includes a probe head, a liquid spacer supply and a spacer modulation unit. The probe head may include a processing liquid channel in fluid communication with a processing liquid aperture provided on a face of the probe head. The probe head is configured to transport, circulate, recirculate, or move some processing liquid in (or via) the processing liquid channel toward and/or from the processing liquid aperture. The spacer supply is fluidly connected, via a spacer insertion junction, to the processing liquid channel. The spacer supply is configured for inserting liquid spacers into the processing liquid channel, via the spacer insertion junction. Liquid volumes can be obtained, which are separated by inserted liquid spacers. The spacer modulation unit is configured to control the spacer supply, to modulate the insertion of spacers via the spacer supply. Related devices and methods of operation are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Julien Autebert, Julien Cors, Emmanuel Delamarche, Govind Kaigala, Xander Frank Van Kooten
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Publication number: 20190080450Abstract: The invention relates to the automated determination of the staining quality of an IHC stained biological sample. A plurality of features is extracted from a digital IHC stained tissue image. The features are input into a first classifier configured to identify the extended tissue type of the depicted tissue as a function of the extracted features. An extended tissue type is a tissue type with a defined expression level of the tumor marker. In addition, the extracted features are input into a second classifier configured to identify a contrast level of the depicted tissue as a function of at least some second ones of the extracted features. The contrast level indicates the intensity contrast of pixels of the stained tissue. Then, a staining quality score of the image is computed as a function of the identified extended tissue type and the identified contrast level.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2017Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Nuri Murat Arar, Maria Gabrani, Govind Kaigala, Aditya Kashyap, Anna Fomitcheva Khartchenko, Pushpak Pati
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Publication number: 20190022640Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for processing a surface with a vertical microfluidic probe head. The method includes positioning the microfluidic probe head so as for the edge surface to face a surface to be processed. Next, the method dispenses processing liquid via each orifice of the first one of the sets of n orifices, so as for the dispensed processing liquid to process the surface; and aspirates liquid via each orifice of the second one of the sets of n orifices.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Lovchik, David P. Taylor, Ismael Zeaf
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Publication number: 20190018034Abstract: An apparatus for a vacuum-driven microfluidic probe includes a body with an apex and a processing surface, at an end of the body. The apparatus also includes a partially open cavity formed as a recess on the processing surface and a set of apertures in the cavity, where the set of apertures include a sample outlet aperture intersected by a vertical axis of the cavity. The apparatus also includes aspiration apertures radially distributed around said vertical axis, wherein the apex is further configured to generate a pressure in the cavity upon aspirating an external liquid through the aspiration apertures that causes to aspirate a liquid sample from the sample outlet aperture, so as to eject the aspirated liquid sample from the probe.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2017Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Seyed Ali Kazemi Oskooei
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Publication number: 20190001334Abstract: A scanning micro-fluid device for an exchange of species with a surface and with an intermediate immersion liquid is disclosed. The device comprises a first and a second micro-channel comprising a fluid. The first micro-channel comprises a first aperture and the second micro-channel comprises a second aperture. They have a distance to each other in an apex area in proximity of the surface of a substrate. The surface, the apex area is immersed with the intermediate immersion liquid. The device also comprises a first electrode reaching into the fluid on the first micro-channel and a second electrode reaching into the fluid on the second micro-channel, and an apex electrode. Different voltage levels are applicable to the first, the second and the apex electrode such that species are interacting at surface of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Nadya Ostromohov, Moran Bercovici
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Patent number: 10144008Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present invention are directed to a vertical microfluidic probe head, which comprises a middle layer of material and two outer layers. The middle layer comprises two opposite, main surfaces, which are, each, grooved up to a same edge surface that adjoins each of the main surfaces, so as to form two sets of n microchannel cavities, n?1, on each of the opposite main surfaces. The middle layer is furthermore arranged between the two outer layers, which (at least partly) close the microchannel cavities grooved on the two main surfaces. This way, two sets of n microchannels are formed, which are, each, open on the edge surface, such that two opposite sets of n orifices are formed on the edge surface. Thus, the length of the apertures is not limited by the thickness of the middle layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2016Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Lovchik, David P. Taylor, Ismael Zeaf
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Publication number: 20180318832Abstract: A microfluidic probe includes a probe head with a processing surface that includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The probe further includes a liquid injection channel, which leads to the first aperture, and a liquid aspiration channel, which extends from the second aperture. The probe also includes a bypass channel, arranged so as to fluidly connect the liquid injection channel to the liquid aspiration channel, as well as a control channel. The latter fluidly connects to the bypass channel, hence forming a junction therewith, so as to define two portions of the bypass channel. These portions includes: a first portion that extends from the junction to the liquid injection channel; and a second portion that extends from that same junction to the liquid aspiration channel. The invention is further directed to methods of operation of a probe as described above, to process a surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2017Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Dean Lovchik, David Taylor
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Publication number: 20180318831Abstract: A microfluidic probe includes a probe head with a processing surface that includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The probe further includes a liquid injection channel, which leads to the first aperture, and a liquid aspiration channel, which extends from the second aperture. The probe also includes a bypass channel, arranged so as to fluidly connect the liquid injection channel to the liquid aspiration channel, as well as a control channel. The latter fluidly connects to the bypass channel, hence forming a junction therewith, so as to define two portions of the bypass channel. These portions includes: a first portion that extends from the junction to the liquid injection channel; and a second portion that extends from that same junction to the liquid aspiration channel. The invention is further directed to methods of operation of a probe as described above, to process a surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2017Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Dean Lovchik, David Taylor
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Patent number: 9901926Abstract: The present invention is notably directed to a microfluidic chip (1, 1a) comprising: a flow path (22) defined by a hydrophilic surface; a liquid input (24, 24a, 24b) on one side of the flow path; at least one electrical circuit (62), hereafter DEP circuit, comprising at least one pair of dielectrophoretic electrodes (E21, E22), hereafter DEP electrodes, wherein: each of the DEP electrodes extends transverse to the flow path; and the DEP circuit is configured to generate a dielectrophoretic force, hereafter DEP force, at the level of the DEP electrodes. The chip may further include one or more electroosmotic circuits. The present invention is further directed to methods of operation of such a microfluidic chip.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2014Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jaione Tirapu Azpiroz, Emmanuel Delamarche, Tobias Guenzler, Govind Kaigala, Yuksel Temiz, Tino Treiber
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Publication number: 20170304821Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present invention are directed to a vertical microfluidic probe head, which comprises a middle layer of material and two outer layers. The middle layer comprises two opposite, main surfaces, which are, each, grooved up to a same edge surface that adjoins each of the main surfaces, so as to form two sets of n microchannel cavities, n?1, on each of the opposite main surfaces. The middle layer is furthermore arranged between the two outer layers, which (at least partly) close the microchannel cavities grooved on the two main surfaces. This way, two sets of n microchannels are formed, which are, each, open on the edge surface, such that two opposite sets of n orifices are formed on the edge surface. Thus, the length of the apertures is not limited by the thickness of the middle layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2016Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Lovchik, David P. Taylor, Ismael Zeaf