Patents by Inventor Herbert H. Hooper
Herbert H. Hooper 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: 20030224436Abstract: Integrated microfluidic devices comprising at least an enrichment channel (10) and a main electrophoretic flowpath (12) are provided. In the subject integrated devices, the enrichment channel and the main electrophoretic flowpath are positioned so that waste fluid flows away from said main electrophoretic flowpath through a discharge outlet (6). The subject devices find use in a variety of electrophoretic applications, including clinical assays, high throughput screening for genomics and pharmaceutical applications, point-or-care in vitro diagnostics, molecular genetic analysis and nucleic acid diagnostics, cell separations, and bioresearch generally.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2003Publication date: December 4, 2003Inventors: Robert J. Nelson, Herbert H. Hooper, Alan K. Hauser, Sharat Singh, Stephen J. Williams, Alexander P. Sassi
-
Patent number: 6627406Abstract: Devices and methods are provided using microfluidic devices for manipulating small volumes and determining a variety of chemical and physical events. The devices rely upon an opening to the atmosphere of a small volume in a zone, where a sample is placed in the zone where evaporation can occur. The zone is maintained in contact with a liquid medium that serves to replenish the liquid in the zone and maintain the composition of the mixture in the zone substantially constant. The diffusion of components in the zone is restricted during the course of the determination by the liquid flux into the zone.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2000Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Aclara BioSciences, Inc.Inventors: Sharat Singh, Vivian Xiao, Ian Gibbons, Travis Boone, Torleif Ove Bjornson, Herbert H. Hooper, Edwin F. Ullman
-
Patent number: 6613525Abstract: Integrated microfluidic devices comprising at least an enrichment channel (10) and a main electrophoretic flowpath (12) are provided. In the subject integrated devices, the enrichment channel and the main electrophoretic flowpath are positioned so that waste fluid flows away from said main electrophoretic flowpath through a discharge outlet (6). The subject devices find use in a variety of electrophoretic applications, including clinical assays, high throughput screening for genomics and pharmaceutical applications, point-or-care in vitro diagnostics, molecular genetic analysis and nucleic acid diagnostics, cell separations, and bioresearch generally.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2002Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: ACLARA Biosciences, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Nelson, Herbert H. Hooper, Alan K. Hauser, Sharat Singh, Stephen J. Williams, Alexander P. Sassi
-
Publication number: 20030068646Abstract: Devices and methods are provided using microfluidic devices for manipulating small volumes and determining a variety of chemical and physical events. The devices rely upon an opening to the atmosphere of a small volume in a zone, where a sample is placed in the zone where evaporation can occur. The zone is maintained in contact with a liquid medium that serves to replenish the liquid in the zone and maintain the composition of the mixture in the zone substantially constant. The diffusion of components in the zone is restricted during the course of the determination by the liquid flux into the zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2001Publication date: April 10, 2003Inventors: Sharat Singh, Vivian Xiao, Ian Gibbons, Travis Boone, Torleif Ove Bjornson, Herbert H. Hooper, Edwin F. Ullman
-
Publication number: 20030027352Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a plurality of small-volume reactions simultaneously with components in a bulk-phase medium are disclosed. The apparatus includes a device having an elongate or planar channel providing a plurality of discrete small-volume reaction regions within the channel, each communicating with supply and hold reservoirs from which material can be introduced into the regions, and to which material can be transferred from the reaction regions. A reaction-specific reagent is carried on a wall portion of each reaction region, or in a reservoir associated with a reaction region, for reacting in solution with one or more components in the bulk-phase medium, to effect a selected solution-phase reaction in each region or in a region-specific reservoir associated therewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2001Publication date: February 6, 2003Applicant: Aclara BioSciences, Inc.Inventors: Herbert H. Hooper, Sharat Singh, Travis D. Boone, Rolfe Anderson, David Albagli, Antonio J. Ricco
-
Publication number: 20030017467Abstract: A microchannel apparatus and method for processing a sample are disclosed. The apparatus include a multisite reaction channel, one or more sample-preparation stations upstream of the reaction channel, for carrying out one or more selected sample-preparation steps effective to convert a sample to the bulk-phase medium, and one or more product-processing stations downstream of the reaction channel, for processing products generated in one or more of the reaction regions. Also included is structure for transferring solvent or solvent components between one of the sample-preparation stations and one or more selected reaction regions in the reaction channel, and between one or more selected reaction regions in the reaction channel and one of said product-processing stations, under the control of a control unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2001Publication date: January 23, 2003Applicant: Aclara BioSciences, Inc.Inventors: Herbert H. Hooper, Sharat Singh, Travis D. Boone, Rolfe Anderson, David Albagli, Antonio J. Ricco
-
Publication number: 20020182749Abstract: Devices and methods are provided using microfluidic devices for manipulating small volumes and determining a variety of chemical and physical events. The devices rely upon an opening to the atmosphere of a small volume in a zone, where a sample is placed in the zone where evaporation can occur. The zone is maintained in contact with a liquid medium that serves to replenish the liquid in the zone and maintain the composition of the mixture in the zone substantially constant. The diffusion of components in the zone is restricted during the course of the determination by the liquid flux into the zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2001Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: ACLARA BioSciences, Inc.Inventors: Sharat Singh, Vivian Xiao, Ian Gibbons, Travis Boone, Torleif Ove Bjornson, Herbert H. Hooper, Edwin F. Ullman
-
Publication number: 20020119482Abstract: Integrated microfluidic devices comprising at least an enrichment channel (10) and a main electrophoretic flowpath (12) are provided. In the subject integrated devices, the enrichment channel and the main electrophoretic flowpath are positioned so that waste fluid flows away from said main electrophoretic flowpath through a discharge outlet (6). The subject devices find use in a variety of electrophoretic applications, including clinical assays, high throughput screening for genomics and pharmaceutical applications, point-or-care in vitro diagnostics, molecular genetic analysis and nucleic acid diagnostics, cell separations, and bioresearch generally.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2002Publication date: August 29, 2002Applicant: ACLARA BioSciences, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Nelson, Herbert H. Hooper, Alan K. Hauser, Sharat Singh, Stephen J. Williams, Alexander P. Sassi
-
Publication number: 20020058329Abstract: A method and device for performing a plurality of small-volume reactions simultaneously are disclosed. The device includes an elongate or planar channel and a port for introducing such bulk-phase medium into the channel, a plurality of discrete small-volume reaction regions within the channel, and a reaction-specific reagent releasably carried on a wall portion of each reaction region. In carrying out the method of the invention, a bulk phase medium containing common reactants is added to the channel. Upon release of reaction-specific reagent from the wall portions of the reaction regions, a reagent-specific reaction can occur simultaneously in each region. The channel is dimensioned to substantially prevent convective fluid flow among the reaction regions during such reactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2001Publication date: May 16, 2002Inventors: Sharat Singh, Liching Cao, Herbert H. Hooper, David Albagli, Rolfe Anderson, Shulin Zeng
-
Publication number: 20020053399Abstract: Methods are provided for the fabrication of polymeric microchannel structures having enclosed microchannels of capillary dimension. The microchannel structures are constructed of a base plate and a cover, sealed together. Microchannel structures having walls of a plastic material are formed in a generally planar surface of at least the base plate. The cover has at least one generally planar surface, and the microchannel structures are enclosed by bonding the planar surfaces of the cover and the base plate together. In some embodiments the surfaces of the cover and base plate are both of plastic material, and are directly thermally bonded. In some embodiments a bonding material is applied to one of the surface prior to bringing the surfaces together. Suitable bonding materials are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2001Publication date: May 9, 2002Applicant: Aclara Biosciences, IncInventors: David S. Soane, Herbert H. Hooper, M. Goretty Alonso-Amigo
-
Patent number: 6344326Abstract: Integrated microfluidic devices comprising at least an enrichment channel (10) and a main electrophoretic flowpath (12) are provided. In the subject integrated devices, the enrichment channel and the main electrophoretic flowpath are positioned so that waste fluid flows away from said main electrophoretic flowpath through a discharge outlet (6). The subject devices find use in a variety of electrophoretic applications, including clinical assays, high throughput screening for genomics and pharmaceutical applications, point-or-care in vitro diagnostics, molecular genetic analysis and nucleic acid diagnostics, cell separations, and bioresearch generally.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2000Date of Patent: February 5, 2002Assignee: Aclara Bio Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Nelson, Herbert H. Hooper, Alan K. Hauser, Sharat Singh, Stephen J. Williams, Alexander P. Sassi
-
Patent number: 6176962Abstract: Methods are provided for the fabrication of polymeric microchannel structures having enclosed microchannels of capillary dimension. The microchannel structures are constructed of a base plate and a cover, sealed together. Microchannel structures having walls of a plastic material are formed in a generally planar surface of at least the base plate. The cover has at least one generally planar surface, and the microchannel structures are enclosed by bonding the planar surfaces of the cover and the base plate together. In some embodiments the surfaces of the cover and base plate are both of plastic material, and are directly thermally bonded. In some embodiments a bonding material is applied to one of the surface prior to bringing the surfaces together. Suitable bonding materials are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1997Date of Patent: January 23, 2001Assignee: Aclara Biosciences, Inc.Inventors: David S. Soane, Zoya M. Soane, Herbert H. Hooper, M. Goretty Alonso Amigo
-
Patent number: 6074827Abstract: Integrated microfluidic devices comprising at least an enrichment channel and a main electrophoretic flowpath are provided. In the subject integrated devices, the enrichment channel and the main electrophoretic flowpath are positioned so that waste fluid flows away from said main electrophoretic flowpath through a discharge outlet. The subject devices find use in a variety of electrophoretic applications, including clinical assays, high throughput screening for genomics and pharmaceutical applications, point-or-care in vitro diagnostics, molecular genetic analysis and nucleic acid diagnostics, cell separations, and bioresearch generally.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1998Date of Patent: June 13, 2000Assignee: ACLARA Biosciences, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Nelson, Herbert H. Hooper, Alan K. Hauser, Sharat Singh, Stephen J. Williams, Alexander P. Sassi
-
Patent number: 6054034Abstract: Microchannels having at least an acrylic inner surface and methods of their use in electrophoretic applications are provided. The subject microchannels may be in the form of a variety of configurations suitable for holding an electrophoretic medium. The subject microchannels give rise to substantially reduced EOF and/or adsorption as compared to fused silica under conditions of electrophoresis and find use in a variety of electrophoretic applications in which charged entities are moved through a medium under the influence of the an applied electric field.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1997Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: ACLARA Biosciences, Inc.Inventors: David S. Soane, Zoya M. Soane, Herbert H. Hooper, M. Goretty Alonso Amigo
-
Patent number: 6007690Abstract: Integrated microfluidic devices comprising at least an enrichment channel and a main electrophoretic flowpath are provided. In the subject integrated devices, the enrichment channel and the main electrophoretic flowpath are positioned so that waste fluid flows away from said main electrophoretic flowpath through a discharge outlet. The subject devices find use in a variety of electrophoretic applications, including clinical assays, high throughput screening for genomics and pharmaceutical applications, point-or-care in vitro diagnostics, molecular genetic analysis and nucleic acid diagnostics, cell separations, and bioresearch generally.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1997Date of Patent: December 28, 1999Assignee: Aclara Biosciences, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Nelson, Herbert H. Hooper, Alan K. Hauser, Alexander P. Sassi
-
Patent number: 5885432Abstract: Electrophoretic media are provided comprising at least un-crosslinked polymers which have a temperature reversible transition from low viscosity to high viscosity, so as to be pourable at one temperature, while providing sieving properties at another temperature. Optionally included with the un-crosslinked polymers having a reversible temperature responsive viscosity change are gelling agents and polymers which do not have the reversible temperature responsive viscosity change. The subject compositions have excellent clarity, provide excellent separation and resolution, handling properties, and mechanical strength. The compositions are compatible with transfer of separated components from the gel to an accepting membrane.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1996Date of Patent: March 23, 1999Assignee: Soane BioSciencesInventors: Herbert H. Hooper, Alexander P. Sassi, David S. Soane, Young Bae
-
Patent number: 5883211Abstract: Thermoreversible hydrogels comprising non-ionic, uncrosslinked copolymers, and methods of their use in electrophoresis, are provided. The subject copolymers comprise polyacrylamide backbones, where a portion of the acrylamide monomeric units comprise hydrogen bonding groups as N-substituents. Combination of the subject copolymers with an aqueous phase provides thermoreversible hydrogels which find use as separation media in electrophoretic applications.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1996Date of Patent: March 16, 1999Assignee: ACLARA BioSciences, Inc.Inventors: Alexander P. Sassi, Shi Lin, M. Goretty Alonso-Amigo, Herbert H. Hooper
-
Patent number: 5770029Abstract: Integrated electrophoretic microdevices comprising at least an enrichment channel and a main electrophoretic flowpath are provided. In the subject integrated devices, the enrichment channel and the main electrophoretic flowpath are positioned so that waste fluid flows away from said main electrophoretic flowpath through a discharge outlet. The subject devices find use in a variety of electrophoretic applications, including clinical assays.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1996Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignee: Soane BiosciencesInventors: Robert J. Nelson, Herbert H. Hooper, James Landers
-
Patent number: 5631337Abstract: Thermoreversible hydrogels comprsing non-ionic, linear copolymers, and methods of their use in electrophoresis, are provided. The subject copolymers comprise polyacrylamide backbones, where a portion of the acrylamide monomeric units compose hydrogen bonding groups as N-substituents. Combination of the subject copolymers with an aqueous phase provides thermoreversible hydrodgels which find use as separation media in electrophoretic applications.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1996Date of Patent: May 20, 1997Assignee: Soane BioScienceInventors: Alexander P. Sassi, Shi Lin, M. Goretty Alonso-Amigo, Herbert H. Hooper
-
Patent number: 5569364Abstract: Separation media for electrophoresis, and methods of filling and flushing of electrophoretic devices such as capillaries are described. By preparing submicron to above-micron sized cross-linked gel particles and using gel swelling equilibrium concepts, such devices can be easily filled and flushed. Gel particles can be prepared by inverse suspension, precipitation and suspension polymerization. These particles can be swollen and collapsed by small changes in temperature, pH, and ionic strength of solvent. Other approaches involve the formation of reversible cross-links by use of polyelectrolyte complexes, chelating agents or copolymers of hydrophobic and hydrophilic repeat units. Finally, reversibly solubilized systems may be used to change the viscosity of the media.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1994Date of Patent: October 29, 1996Assignee: Soane Biosciences, Inc.Inventors: Herbert H. Hooper, Stephen Pacetti, David S. Soane, Young C. Bae