Patents by Inventor Graeme Whyte
Graeme Whyte 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: 10247655Abstract: A method of label-free cell or particle sorting in a microfluidic device includes providing a stream of aqueous droplets in oil in a channel of the microfluidic device, wherein at least some of the droplets include cells or particles and illuminating the stream from a first direction. Then, one detects scattered light from cells or particles within said aqueous droplets in a second direction. Next, one determines a number of the cells or particles in each droplet from the scattered light and sorts the aqueous droplets into differentiated streams. Notably, the refractive index of said oil is modified to closely match a refractive index of the aqueous droplets to reduce light scattered from boundaries of the droplets. A volume of the droplets can also controlled.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2014Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: SPHERE FLUIDICS LIMITEDInventors: Clive A. Smith, Xin Li, Karine Enesa, Xin Liu, Frank F. Craig, Graeme Whyte
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Patent number: 9513207Abstract: The present invention provides an emulsion for sorting droplets in a microfluidic device, the emulsion comprising: a discontinuous aqueous phase; and a continuous oil phase; wherein said aqueous phase comprises at least one analyte, said oil phase comprises a fluorous oil and a refractive index modifying compound comprising at least one aromatic ring, and the refractive index of said aqueous phase and the refractive index of said oil phase are substantially matched.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Sphere Fluidics LimitedInventors: Clive A. Smith, Xin Li, Karine Enesa, Xin Liu, Frank F. Craig, Graeme Whyte
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Publication number: 20160252446Abstract: We describe a method of label-free cell and/or particle sorting in a microfluidic device, the method comprising; providing a stream of aqueous droplets in oil in a channel of said microfluidic device, wherein at least some of said droplets include cells and/or particles illuminating said stream from a first direction; detecting, for example, scattered light from cells and/or particles within said aqueous droplets in a second direction; determining, for example, a number of said cells and/or particles in each droplet from the scattered light; and sorting said aqueous droplets into one of a plurality of differentiated streams responsive to said determined number. The method further comprises modifying a refractive index of said oil to more closely match a refractive index of said aqueous droplets to reduce light scattered from boundaries of said droplets. Optionally a volume of the droplets is also controlled. In embodiments the oil is fluorous oil.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2014Publication date: September 1, 2016Inventors: Clive A. SMITH, Xin LI, Karine Enesa, Xin LIU, Frank F. CRAIG, Graeme WHYTE
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Publication number: 20160169788Abstract: The present invention provides an emulsion for sorting droplets in a microfluidic device, the emulsion comprising: a discontinuous aqueous phase; and a continuous oil phase; wherein said aqueous phase comprises at least one analyte, said oil phase comprises a fluorous oil and a refractive index modifying compound comprising at least one aromatic ring, and the refractive index of said aqueous phase and the refractive index of said oil phase are substantially matched.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2014Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Clive A. SMITH, Xin Li, Karing ENESA, Xin LIU, Frank F. CRAIG, Graeme WHYTE
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Patent number: 9267918Abstract: A flow cell for a microfluidic device can include a chamber, first microfluidic entry and exit channels, second microfluidic entry and exit channels, a first electrode, and a second electrode. A microfluidic device can include a microfluidic channel, a laser to excite fluorescent material, and a detector to detect fluorescence emission. Methods of merging a droplet from an emulsion in to a second stream of fluid and of detecting a content of a droplet in a stream are further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignees: Cambridge Enterprise Limited, Sphere Fluidics Limited, SDIX, LLCInventors: Tony R. Joaquim, Lewis Joe Stafford, Ross Stewart Chambers, Xin Liu, Clive Adrian Smith, Xin Li, Graeme Whyte
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Patent number: 9151685Abstract: A method for monitoring torque in a gear train includes coincidently determining angles of rotation of first and second rotationally coupled members of the gear train. Each of the members employs a respective rotational position sensor. Each of said angles of rotation are determined based upon times corresponding to a last signal pulse, a next-to-last signal pulse, and a total quantity of signal pulses generated by the respective rotational position sensor during a current sampling interval. A twist angle corresponding to a difference between the angles of rotation of the first and second rotationally coupled members of the gear train is determined, and torque corresponding to the twist angle is calculated.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2012Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Dongxu Li, Graeme Whyte, Robert J. Horner, Jerry Paul Sagady, Amin Abboud
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Patent number: 8828210Abstract: This invention relates to microfluidic systems and more particularly to methods and apparatus for accessing the contents of micro droplets (114) in an emulsion stream. A method of accessing the contents of a droplet (114) of an emulsion in a microfluidic system, the method comprising: flowing the emulsion alongside a continuous, non-emulsive stream of second fluid (118) to provide an interface (120) between said emulsion and said stream of second fluid (118); and in embodiments applying one or both of an electric (112a, 112b) and magnetic field across said interface (120) to alter a trajectory of a said droplet (114) of said emulsion to cause said droplet to coalesce with said stream of second fluid (118); and accessing said contents of said droplet (114) in said second stream (118).Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2008Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Cambridge Enterprise LimitedInventors: Chris Abell, Wilhelm T. S. Huck, Daniel Bratton, Graeme Whyte, Luis M. Fidalgo
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Publication number: 20140021049Abstract: A flow cell for a microfluidic device can include a chamber, first microfluidic entry and exit channels, second microfluidic entry and exit channels, a first electrode, and a second electrode. A microfluidic device can include a microfluidic channel, a laser to excite fluorescent material, and a detector to detect fluorescence emission. Methods of merging a droplet from an emulsion in to a second stream of fluid and of detecting a content of a droplet in a stream are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: January 23, 2014Inventors: Tony R. JOAQUIM, Lewis Joe Stafford, Ross Stewart Chambers, Xin Liu, Clive Adrian Smith, Xin Li, Graeme Whyte
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Publication number: 20130218426Abstract: A method for monitoring torque in a gear train includes coincidentally determining angles of rotation of first and second rotationally coupled members of the gear train. Each of the members employs a respective rotational position sensor. Each of said angles of rotation are determined based upon times corresponding to a last signal pulse, a next-to-last signal pulse, and a total quantity of signal pulses generated by the respective rotational position sensor during a current sampling interval. A twist angle corresponding to a difference between the angles of rotation of the first and second rotationally coupled members of the gear train is determined, and torque corresponding to the twist angle is calculated.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2012Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicants: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC., GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Dongxu LI, Graeme Whyte, Robert J. Horner, Jerry Paul Sagady, Amin Abboud
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Publication number: 20120091004Abstract: This invention relates to microfluidic systems and more particularly to methods and apparatus for accessing the contents of micro droplets (114) in an emulsion stream. A method of accessing the contents of a droplet (114) of an emulsion in a microfluidic system, the method comprising: flowing the emulsion alongside a continuous, non-emulsive stream of second fluid (118) to provide an interface (120) between said emulsion and said stream of second fluid (118); and in embodiments applying one or both of an electric (112a, 112b) and magnetic field across said interface (120) to alter a trajectory of a said droplet (114) of said emulsion to cause said droplet to coalesce with said stream of second fluid (118); and accessing said contents of said droplet (114) in said second stream (118).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2008Publication date: April 19, 2012Inventors: Chris Abell, Wilhelm T.S. Huck, Daniel Bratton, Graeme Whyte, Luis M. Fidalgo