Patents by Inventor Gunnar Ekstrand

Gunnar Ekstrand 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: 8372357
    Abstract: A rotatable microfluidic device that comprises a hydrophilic microchannel structure in which there is a) an upstream microcavity I with a liquid outlet I, b) a microconduit I connected to liquid outlet I, and c) a capillary valve I associated with microconduit I. The inlet end of the microconduit is closer to the spin axis than the outlet end of the microconduit. The difference in radial distance between the inlet end and the outlet end of microconduit I is typically ?5%, such as ?10% or ?100% or ?500%, of the difference in radial distance between the uppermost part of the upstream microcavity and liquid outlet I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Gyros Patent AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand, Gérald Jesson
  • Patent number: 7947235
    Abstract: A microfluidic device (1) comprising a hydrophilic microchannel structure (2) in which there is a functional unit that comprises a microconduit I (17) in which there is an inlet end (16), an outlet end (18), and a capillary stop function I (24) in the form of a local non-wettable surface area (44). The capillary stop function (24) defines a segment of microconduit I (17). Microconduit I (17) is within at least a part of this segment (46) divided into two or more microchannels (42). A part of the non-wettable surface area (44a,b) is associated with an inner wall of each of the microchannels (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Gyros AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand, Gerald Jesson
  • Patent number: 7935319
    Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising a hydrophilic microchannel structure in which there is a functional unit that comprises a microconduit which a) is intended for the transportation of liquid aliquots, and b) has an inlet end and an outlet end between which there is a capillary valve I, which preferably is based on the presence of a local non-wettable surface area. Microconduit I further comprises one or more additional capillary valves, typically one. At least one of the additional valves is upstream of capillary valve I, such as at the inlet end of the microconduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Gyros AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand, Gérald Jesson
  • Patent number: 7833478
    Abstract: A centrifugal-based microfluidic device (1) that comprises a hydrophilic microchannel structure (2) in which there is a A) a separation microcavity I (4) that comprises i) a liquid inlet I (5), and ii) a liquid outlet I (6) that is at a level below the level of liquid inlet I (5) and above the level of the bottom (8) of the microcavity (4) thereby defining a lower part (4b) and an upper part (4a) of the microcavity (4), and B) a microconduit I (17) that has an inlet end I (16) directly connected to liquid outlet I (6), and an outlet end I (18) that is at a lower level than inlet end I (6). A capillary valve I (24) is associated with microconduit I (17). The flow direction through liquid outlet I (6) is directed upwards and/or liquid outlet I (6) is placed in a downwardly turned part of an inner wall of the separation microcavity (4), and/or the part of microconduit I (17) next to liquid outlet I (6) is directed upwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Gyros AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand, Gerald Jesson
  • Patent number: 7776272
    Abstract: A liquid router that comprises an inlet microconduit that branches into two exit microconduits (microconduit I and II) and is present in a microchannel structure of a microfluidic device which is using centrifugal force created by spinning the device about a spin axis for transporting liquid. The router is characterized in comprising a microcavity in which there are: a lower part comprising two exit openings (exits I and II), and an upper part comprising an inlet opening to which the inlet microconduit (3) is connected, and microconduits I and II which are connected to exits I and II, respectively, and stretch from a shorter radial position to a larger radial position relative to the spin axis. Microconduit II has a reduced hydrophilicity (=reduced apparent wettability) compared to microconduit I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Gyros Patent AB
    Inventors: Gunnar Ekstrand, Gunnar Thorsen
  • Publication number: 20090120504
    Abstract: A rotatable microfluidic device that comprises a hydrophilic microchannel structure in which there is a) an upstream microcavity I with a liquid outlet I, b) a microconduit I connected to liquid outlet I, and c) a capillary valve I associated with microconduit I. The inlet end of the microconduit is closer to the spin axis than the outlet end of the microconduit. The difference in radial distance between the inlet end and the outlet end of microconduit I is typically ?5%, such as ?10% or ?100% or ?500%, of the difference in radial distance between the uppermost part of the upstream microcavity and liquid outlet I.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: GYROS Patent AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand, Gerald Jesson
  • Publication number: 20090111190
    Abstract: A centrifugal based microfluidic device that comprises a microchannel structure in which there is a detection microcavity which in the upstream direction is attached to an inlet microconduit for transport of liquid (transport microconduit) to the detection microcavity and which is used for detecting the result of a reaction taking place in the detection microcavity or in a reaction microcavity positioned upstream of the detection microcavity. The detection microcavity comprises a detection microconduit having an inlet part and an outlet part and therebetween an upward or a downward meander.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: GYROS Patent AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand, Gerald Jesson
  • Patent number: 7459129
    Abstract: A microfluidic device that comprises several microchannel structures in which there are an inlet port, an outlet port and there between a structural unit comprising a fluidic function. The structural unit can be selected amongst units enabling a) retaining of nl-aliquots comprising constituents which has been defined by mixing of aliquots within the microfluidic device (unit A), b) mixing of aliquots of liquids (unit B), c) partition of larger aliquots of liquids into smaller aliquots of liquids and distributing the latter individually and in parallel to different microchannel structure of the same microfluidic device (unit C), d) quick penetration into a microchannel structure of an aliquot of a liquid dispensed to an inlet port of a microchannel structure (unit D), and e) volume definition integrated within a microchannel structure (unit E).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: GYROS Patent AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand, Derand Helene
  • Publication number: 20080286156
    Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising a hydrophilic microchannel structure in which there is a functional unit that comprises a microconduit which a) is intended for the transportation of liquid aliquots, and b) has an inlet end and an outlet end between which there is a capillary valve I. Microconduit I comprises an upwardly directed section that extends over a part of or over the full length of microconduit I. Capillary valve I is preferably placed in this section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: GYROS Patent AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand, Gerald Jesson
  • Patent number: 7429354
    Abstract: A microfluidic device that comprises several microchannel structures in which there are an inlet port, an outlet port and therebetween a substructure comprising a fluidic function. The device has an axis of symmetry around which the microchannel structures are arranged as two or more concentric annular zones. for an inlet port and an outlet port of the same microchannel structure the inlet port is typically closer to the axis of symmetry than the outlet port. Each microchannel structure comprises a substructure that can retain liquid while the disc is spun around the axis and/or the inlet ports are positioned separate from the paths waste liquid leaving open waste outlet ports will follow across the surface of the disc when it is spun. For the microchannel structures of an annular zones the corresponding substructures are at essentially at the same radial distance while corresponding substructures in microchannel structures of different annular zones are at different radial distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Gyros Patent AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand, Ulrike Selditz, Sussanne Wallenborg, Helene Derand, Gunnar Thorsen, Ebru Togan-Tekin
  • Publication number: 20080226501
    Abstract: A microfluidic device (1) comprising a hydrophilic microchannel structure (2) in which there is a functional unit that comprises a microconduit I (17) in which there is an inlet end (16), an outlet end (18), and a capillary stop function I (24) in the form of a local non-wettable surface area (44). The capillary stop function (24) defines a segment of microconduit I (17). Microconduit I (17) is within at least a part of this segment (46) divided into two or more microchannels (42). A part of the non-wettable surface area (44a,b) is associated with an inner wall of each of the microchannels (42).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: GYROS Patent AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand, Gerald Jesson
  • Publication number: 20080206110
    Abstract: A centrifugal-based microfluidic device (1) that comprises a hydrophilic microchannel structure (2) in which there is a A) a separation microcavity I (4) that comprises i) a liquid inlet I (5), and ii) a liquid outlet I (6) that is at a level below the level of liquid inlet I (5) and above the level of the bottom (8) of the microcavity (4) thereby defining a lower part (4b) and an upper part (4a) of the microcavity (4), and B) a microconduit I (17) that has an inlet end I (16) directly connected to liquid outlet I (6), and an outlet end I (18) that is at a lower level than inlet end I (6). A capillary valve I (24) is associated with microconduit I (17). The flow direction through liquid outlet I (6) is directed upwards and/or liquid outlet I (6) is placed in a downwardly turned part of an inner wall of the separation microcavity (4), and/or the part of microconduit I (17) next to liquid outlet I (6) is directed upwards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: GYROS Patent AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand, Gerald Jesson
  • Publication number: 20080101993
    Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising a hydrophilic microchannel structure in which there is a functional unit that comprises a microconduit which a) is intended for the transportation of liquid aliquots, and b) has an inlet end and an outlet end between which there is a capillary valve I, which preferably is based on the presence of a local non-wettable surface area. Microconduit I further comprises one or more additional capillary valves, typically one. At least one of the additional valves is upstream of capillary valve I, such as at the inlet end of the microconduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: GYROS Patent AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand, Gerald Jesson
  • Patent number: 7300199
    Abstract: A microfluidic device that comprises several microchannel structures in which there are an inlet port, an outlet port and there between a structural unit comprising a fluidic function. The structural unit can be selected amongst units enabling a) retaining of nl-aliquots comprising constituents which has been defined by mixing of aliquots within the microfluidic device (unit A), b) mixing of aliquots of liquids (unit B), c) partition of larger aliquots of liquids into smaller aliquots of liquids and distributing the latter individually and in parallel to different microchannel structure of the same microfluidic device (unit C), d) quick penetration into a microchannel structure of an aliquot of a liquid dispensed to an inlet port of a microchannel structure (unit D), and e) volume definition integrated within a microchannel structure (unit E).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Gyros AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand
  • Patent number: 7261859
    Abstract: Microstructure for fluids provided in a rotatable disc (D) having a U-shaped volume-defining structure (7) connected at its base to an inlet arm of a U-shaped chamber (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Gyros AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Arvi Aksberg, Gunnar Ekstrand, Björn Berg
  • Publication number: 20050277195
    Abstract: A method for characterizing n components An of n catalytic systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: Gyros AB
    Inventors: Mats Holmquist, Johan Engstrom, Anders Palm, Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand
  • Patent number: 6919058
    Abstract: A microfluidic device that comprises several microchannel structures in which there are an inlet port, an outlet port and there between a structural unit comprising a fluidic function. The structural unit can be selected amongst units enabling a) retaining of nl-aliquots comprising constituents which has been defined by mixing of aliquots within the microfluidic device (unit A), b) mixing of aliquots of liquids (unit B), c) partition of larger aliquots of liquids into smaller aliquots of liquids and distributing the latter individually and in parallel to different microchannel structure of the same microfluidic device (unit C), d) quick penetration into a microchannel structure of an aliquot of a liquid dispensed to an inlet port of a microchannel structure (unit D), and e) volume definition integrated within a microchannel structure (unit E).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Gyros AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand
  • Publication number: 20050153431
    Abstract: A microfluidic device that comprises several microchannel structures in which there are an inlet port, an outlet port and there between a structural unit comprising a fluidic function. The structural unit can be selected amongst units enabling a) retaining of nl-aliquots comprising constituents which has been defined by mixing of aliquots within the microfluidic device (unit A), b) mixing of aliquots of liquids (unit B), c) partition of larger aliquots of liquids into smaller aliquots of liquids and distributing the latter individually and in parallel to different microchannel structure of the same microfluidic device (unit C), d) quick penetration into a microchannel structure of an aliquot of a liquid dispensed to an inlet port of a microchannel structure (unit D), and e) volume definition integrated within a microchannel structure (unit E).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand, Helene Derand
  • Publication number: 20050153434
    Abstract: A microfluidic device that comprises several microchannel structures in which there are an inlet port, an outlet port and there between a structural unit comprising a fluidic function. The structural unit can be selected amongst units enabling a) retaining of nl-aliquots comprising constituents which has been defined by mixing of aliquots within the microfluidic device (unit A), b) mixing of aliquots of liquids (unit B), c) partition of larger aliquots of liquids into smaller aliquots of liquids and distributing the latter individually and in parallel to different microchannel structure of the same microfluidic device (unit C), d) quick penetration into a microchannel structure of an aliquot of a liquid dispensed to an inlet port of a microchannel structure (unit D), and e) volume definition integrated within a microchannel structure (unit E).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Ekstrand
  • Publication number: 20050141344
    Abstract: A liquid router that comprises an inlet microconduit that branches into two exit microconduits (microconduit I and II) and is present in a microchannel structure of a microfluidic device which is using centrifugal force created by spinning the device about a spin axis for transporting liquid. The router is characterized in comprising a microcavity in which there are: a lower part comprising two exit openings (exits I and II), and an upper part comprising an inlet opening to which the inlet microconduit (3) is connected, and microconduits I and II which are connected to exits I and II, respectively, and stretch from a shorter radial position to a larger radial position relative to the spin axis. Microconduit II has a reduced hydrophilicity (=reduced apparent wettability) compared to microconduit I.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Gunnar Ekstrand, Gunnar Thorsen