Patents by Inventor Helena C. Zec

Helena C. Zec 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).

  • Impedance based feedback control of microfluidic valves
    Patent number: 11059043
    Abstract: A microfluidic system includes a microfluidic chip including a channel layer and a fluid control layer operatively connected to the channel layer, the channel layer having one or more fluid channels. The one or more channels are configured to contain a plurality of droplets. A valve control system is provided to control flow of fluid through the one or more fluid channels in the channel layer. The microfluidic system also includes a droplet impedance detection and feedback control system operatively connected to the valve control system. The droplet impedance detection and feedback control system is configured to detect at least a position of at least one droplet in a fluid channel and to send a signal to the valve control system to operate a particular valve at a particular time based on the detected position of the at least one droplet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignees: The Johns Hopkins University, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Tza-Huei Wang, Brant Axt, Yi-Fan Hsieh, Helena C. Zec, Aniruddha Kaushik, Kuangwen Hsieh, Yue Yun
  • IMPEDANCE BASED FEEDBACK CONTROL OF MICROFLUIDIC VALVES
    Publication number: 20180304267
    Abstract: A microfluidic system includes a microfluidic chip including a channel layer and a fluid control layer operatively connected to the channel layer, the channel layer having one or more fluid channels. The one or more channels are configured to contain a plurality of droplets. A valve control system is provided to control flow of fluid through the one or more fluid channels in the channel layer. The microfluidic system also includes a droplet impedance detection and feedback control system operatively connected to the valve control system. The droplet impedance detection and feedback control system is configured to detect at least a position of at least one droplet in a fluid channel and to send a signal to the valve control system to operate a particular valve at a particular time based on the detected position of the at least one droplet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicants: The Johns Hopkins University, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Tza-Huei Wang, Brant Axt, Yi-Fan Hsieh, Helena C. Zec, Aniruddha Kaushik, Kuangwen Hsieh, Yue Yun
  • Multiplexed, continuous-flow, droplet-based platform for high-throughput genetic detection
    Patent number: 10041112
    Abstract: The present application relates to a continuous droplet flow microfluidic system, including a microfluidic chip including an optical detection section; a stage assembly including a microfluidic chip holder configured to receive the microfluidic chip and a plurality of heating elements arranged to heat a plurality of separate sections of the microfluidic chip to a corresponding plurality of different temperatures; and an optical detection system arranged to detect fluorescent light emitted from said optical detection section of the microfluidic chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignees: The Johns Hopkins University, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Tza-Huei J. Wang, Kuangwen Hsieh, Helena C. Zec, Lingshu Liu, Aniruddha M. Kaushik, Yue Yun