Patents by Inventor Mark R. Holl
Mark R. Holl 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: 20120231533Abstract: A chamber device for analyzing living cell(s). The chamber device includes a base and a lid that when reversibly pressed closed create a chamber. The base is configured with an optically transparent well to contain at least one cell. The lid has a breadth greater than the base and is configured to contain at least one sensor. The lid is further configured with a lip that when pressed between the lid and the base creates an impermeable seal. The base and the lid are configured so that, when closed and in use, the sensor remains spatially apart from the at least one cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2009Publication date: September 13, 2012Inventors: Mark R. Holl, Deirdre R. Meldrum, A. Cody Youngbull, Haixin Zhu, Jeff Houkal, Yanqing Tian, Shashanka Ashili, Laimonas Kelbauskas, Roger Johnson, Shih-hui Chao, Peter Wiktor, Alex Jen, Lloyd Burgess, Sarah McQuaid, Ai Brunner, Peter Kahn
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Patent number: 7226562Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for storing a particle-containing liquid. The storage apparatus comprises a microfluidic convoluted flow channel having a plurality of particle capture regions. The storage channel is preferably an isotropic spatially periodic channel. Sedimented particles can be resuspended following storage. This invention further provides a microfluidic analysis cartridge having a convoluted storage channel therein. The sample analysis can use optical, electrical, pressure sensitive, or flow sensitive detection. A plurality of analysis channels can be included in a single cartridge. The analysis channels can be joined to reagent inlets for diluents, indicators or lysing agents. A mixing channel can be positioned between the reagent inlet and the analysis region to allow mixing and reaction of the reagent. The cartridge can include additional valves and pumps for flow management.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2005Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Mark R Holl, Floyd Edwards, Robert J Morff, Gerald L Klein
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Patent number: 6852284Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for storing a particle-containing liquid. The storage apparatus comprises a microfluidic convoluted flow channel having a plurality of article capture regions. The storage channel is preferably an isotropic spatially periodic channel. Sedimented particles can be resuspended following storage. This invention further provides a microfluidic analysis cartridge having a convoluted storage channel therein. The sample analysis can use optical, electrical, pressure sensitive, or flow sensitive detection. A plurality of analysis channels can be included in a single cartridge. The analysis channels can be joined to reagent inlets for diluents, indicators or lysing agents. A mixing channel can be positioned between the reagent inlet and the analysis region to allow mixing and reaction of the reagent. The cartridge can include additional valves and pumps for flow management.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2000Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Mark R. Holl, Floyd Edwards, Robert J. Morff, Gerald L. Klein
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Patent number: 6830729Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for storing a particle-containing liquid. The storage apparatus comprises a microfluidic convoluted flow channel having a plurality of particle capture regions. The storage channel is preferably an isotropic spatially periodic channel. Sedimented particles can be resuspended following storage. This invention further provides a microfluidic analysis cartridge having a convoluted storage channel therein. The sample analysis can use optical, electrical, pressure sensitive, or flow sensitive detection. A plurality of analysis channels can be included in a single cartridge. The analysis channels can be joined to reagent inlets for diluents, indicators or lysing agents. A mixing channel can be positioned between the reagent inlet and the analysis region to allow mixing and reaction of the reagent. The cartridge can include additional valves and pumps for flow management.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2000Date of Patent: December 14, 2004Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Mark R. Holl, Floyd Edwards, Robert Morff, Gerald L. Klein
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Patent number: 6712925Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for storing a particle-containing liquid. The storage apparatus comprises a microfluidic convoluted flow channel having a plurality of particle capture regions. The storage channel is preferably an isotropic spatially periodic channel. Sedimented particles can be resuspended following storage. This invention further provides a microfluidic analysis cartridge having a convoluted storage channel therein. The sample analysis can use optical, electrical, pressure sensitive, or flow sensitive detection. A plurality of analysis channels can be included in a single cartridge. The analysis channels can be joined to reagent inlets for diluents, indicators or lysing agents. A mixing channel can be positioned between the reagent inlet and the analysis region to allow mixing and reaction of the reagent. The cartridge can include additional valves and pumps for flow management.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1999Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Mark R. Holl, Floyd Edwards, Robert Morff, Gerald L. Klein
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Patent number: 6656431Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for storing a particle-containing liquid. The storage apparatus comprises a microfluidic convoluted flow channel having a plurality of particle capture regions. The storage channel is preferably an isotropic spatially periodic channel. Sedimented particles can be resuspended following storage. This invention further provides a microfluidic analysis cartridge having a convoluted storage channel therein. The sample analysis can use optical, electrical, pressure sensitive, or flow sensitive detection. A plurality of analysis channels can be included in a single cartridge. The analysis channels can be joined to reagent inlets for diluents, indicators or lysing agents. A mixing channel can be positioned between the reagent inlet and the analysis region to allow mixing and reaction of the reagent. The cartridge can include additional valves and pumps for flow management.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1999Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Mark R. Holl, Floyd Edwards, Robert Morff, Gerald L. Klein
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Publication number: 20030152487Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for storing a particle-containing liquid. The storage apparatus comprises a microfluidic convoluted flow channel having a plurality of particle capture regions. The storage channel is preferably an isotropic spatially periodic channel. Sedimented particles can be resuspended following storage. This invention further provides a microfluidic analysis cartridge having a convoluted storage channel therein. The sample analysis can use optical, electrical, pressure sensitive, or flow sensitive detection. A plurality of analysis channels can be included in a single cartridge. The analysis channels can be joined to reagent inlets for diluents, indicators or lysing agents. A mixing channel can be positioned between the reagent inlet and the analysis region to allow mixing and reaction of the reagent. The cartridge can include additional valves and pumps for flow management.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 1999Publication date: August 14, 2003Inventors: MARK R. HOLL, FLOYD EDWARDS, ROBERT J. MORFF, GERALD L. KLEIN
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Patent number: 6582963Abstract: A reference T-sensor system is provided for detecting the presence and/or measuring the concentration of analyte particles in a sample stream. The system includes: a) a laminar flow channel; b) three or more inlets in fluid connection with the laminar flow channel for respectively conducting into the laminar flow channel (1) an indicator stream which may include an indicator substance which indicates the presence of analyte particles by a detectable change in property when contacted with the analyte particles, (2) the sample stream, and (3) a reference stream, which can be a control stream and/or an internal standard stream; c) wherein the laminar flow channel has a depth and/or width sufficiently small to allow laminar flow of the streams and a length sufficient to allow particles of the analyte to diffuse into the indicator stream to form a detection area; and (d) an outlet for conducting the streams out of the laminar flow channel preferably to form a single mixed stream.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2000Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Bernhard H. Weigl, Mark R. Holl, Diane Zebert, Margaret Kenny, Caicai Wu
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Patent number: 6576194Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for storing a particle-containing liquid. The storage apparatus comprises a microfluidic convoluted flow channel having a plurality of particle capture regions. The storage channel is preferably an isotropic spatially periodic channel. Sedimented particles can be resuspended following storage. This invention further provides a microfluidic analysis cartridge having a convoluted storage channel therein. The sample analysis can use optical, electrical, pressure sensitive, or flow sensitive detection. A plurality of analysis channels can be included in a single cartridge. The analysis channels can be joined to reagent inlets for diluents, indicators or lysing agents. A mixing channel can be positioned between the reagent inlet and the analysis region to allow mixing and reaction of the reagent. The cartridge can include additional valves and pumps for flow management.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1999Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Mark R. Holl, Floyd Edwards, Robert J. Morff, Gerald L. Klein
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Publication number: 20030096430Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for storing a particle-containing liquid. The storage apparatus comprises a microfluidic convoluted flow channel having a plurality of particle capture regions. The storage channel is preferably an isotropic spatially periodic channel. Sedimented particles can be resuspended following storage. This invention further provides a microfluidic analysis cartridge having a convoluted storage channel therein. The sample analysis can use optical, electrical, pressure sensitive, or flow sensitive detection. A plurality of analysis channels can be included in a single cartridge. The analysis channels can be joined to reagent inlets for diluents, indicators or lysing agents. A mixing channel can be positioned between the reagent inlet and the analysis region to allow mixing and reaction of the reagent. The cartridge can include additional valves and pumps for flow management.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 1999Publication date: May 22, 2003Inventors: MARK R. HOLL, FLOYD EDWARDS, ROBERT J. MORFF, GERALD L. KLEIN
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Patent number: 6537501Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for storing a particle-containing liquid. The storage apparatus comprises a microfluidic convoluted flow channel having a plurality of particle capture regions. The storage channel is preferably an isotropic spatially periodic channel. Sedimented particles can be resuspended following storage. This invention further provides a microfluidic analysis cartridge having a convoluted storage channel therein. The sample analysis can use optical, electrical, pressure sensitive, or flow sensitive detection. A plurality of analysis channels can be included in a single cartridge. The analysis channels can be joined to reagent inlets for diluents, indicators or lysing agents. A mixing channel can be positioned between the reagent inlet and the analysis region to allow mixing and reaction of the reagent. The cartridge can include additional valves and pumps for flow management.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1999Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Mark R. Holl, Floyd Edwards, Robert J. Morff, Gerald L. Klein
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Patent number: 6482306Abstract: An electroösmotic mixing device and a method for mixing one or more fluids for use in meso- or microfluidic device applications. The mixing device provides batch or continuous mixing of one or more fluids in meso- or microfluidic channels. An electric field is generated in the channel in substantial contact with chargeable surfaces therein. No alterations of the geometry of existing flow paths need be made, and the degree of mixing in the device can be controlled by the length of the electrodes, the flow rate past the electrodes, and the voltage applied to those electrodes. The degree of mixing is affected by choice of materials for the chargeable surface (in some cases by the selection of materials or coatings for channel walls) and the ionic strength of the fluids and the type and concentration of ions in the fluids. The ionic strength of fluids to be mixed is sufficiently low to allow electroosmotic flow.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1999Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Paul Yager, Mark R. Holl, Andrew Kamholz, Catherine Cabrera, Katerina Macounova
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Patent number: 6454945Abstract: This invention provides microfabricated systems for extraction of desired particles from a sample stream containing desired and undesired particles. The sample stream is placed in laminar flow contact with an extraction stream under conditions in which inertial effects are negligible. The contact between the two streams is maintained for a sufficient period of time to allow differential transport of the desired particles from the sample stream into the extraction stream. In a preferred embodiment the differential transport mechanism is diffusion. The extraction system of this invention coupled to a microfabricated diffusion-based mixing device and/or sensing means allows picoliter quantities of fluid to be processed or analyzed on devices no larger than silicon wafers. Such diffusion-based mixing or sensing devices are preferably channel cell systems for detecting the presence and/or measuring the quantity of analyte particles in a sample stream.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2000Date of Patent: September 24, 2002Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Bernhard H. Weigl, Paul Yager, James P. Brody, Mark R. Holl, Fred K. Forster, Eric Altendorf, Paul C. Galambos, Margaret Kenny, David Schutte, Gregory Hixson, Diane Zebert, Andrew Kamholz, Caicai Wu
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Patent number: 6171865Abstract: A reference sensor system is provided for detecting the presence and/or measuring the concentration of analyte particles in a sample stream. The system includes: a) a laminar flow channel; b) three or more inlet means in fluid connection with the laminar flow channel for respectively conducting into the laminar flow channel (1) an indicator stream which may include an indicator substance which indicates the presence of the analyte particles, (2) the sample stream, and (3) a reference stream, which can be a control stream and/or internal standard stream; and, c) wherein the laminar flow channel has a depth and/or width sufficiently small to allow laminar flow of said streams and a length sufficient to allow particles of the analyte to diffuse into the indicator stream to form a detection area. Branching channels may be provided as outlet means for conducting the streams out of the laminar flow channel.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Bernhard H. Weigl, Mark R. Holl, Diane Zebert, Margaret Kenny, Caicai Wu
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Patent number: 6134950Abstract: A method and apparatus including programmed computers are provided for determining the viscosity of a first stream in a laminar flow and a second stream in a laminar flow, the flow rates, the centerline of the flow channel, and the position of the interface between the streams with respect to the centerline, and for calculating viscosity ratio of the first stream to the second.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1999Date of Patent: October 24, 2000Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Fred K. Forster, Paul C. Galambos, Bernhard H. Weigl, Mark R. Holl
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Patent number: 5974867Abstract: Methods and apparatuses including programmed computers are provided for determining the initial concentration of diffusible particles in a sample stream introduced into a system wherein the sample stream which contains the diffusible particles flows in adjacent laminar flow with an indicator stream containing an indicator substance capable of exhibiting an observable change at a known concentration of the diffusible particles.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1997Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Fred K. Forster, Paul C. Galambos, Bernhard H. Weigl, Mark R. Holl
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Patent number: 5972710Abstract: A channel-cell system is provided for detecting the presence and/or measuring the presence of analyte particles in a sample stream comprising: a) a laminar flow channel; b) two inlets in fluid connection with the laminar flow channel for respectively conducting into the laminar flow channel (1) an indicator stream which may comprise an indicator substance which indicates the presence of the analyte particles by a detectable change in property when contacted with the analyte particles, and (2) the sample stream; c) wherein the laminar flow channel has a depth sufficiently small to allow laminar flow of the streams and a length sufficient to allow particles of the analyte to diffuse into the indicator stream to the substantial exclusion of the larger particles in the sample stream to form a detection area; and d) an outlet for conducting the streams out of the laminar flow channel to form a single mixed stream.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1997Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Bernhard H. Weigl, Paul Yager, James P. Brody, Mark R. Holl, Margaret Kenny, David Schutte, Gregory Hixson, M. Diane Zebert, Andrew Kamholz, Caicai Wu, Eric Altendorf
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Patent number: 5948684Abstract: A reference T-sensor system is provided for detecting the presence and/or measuring the concentration of analyte particles in a sample stream. The system includes: a) a laminar flow channel; b) three or more inlet means in fluid connection with the laminar flow channel for respectively conducting into the laminar flow channel (1) an indicator stream which may include an indicator substance which indicates the presence of the analyte particles, (2) the sample stream, and (3) a reference stream, which can be a control stream and/or internal standard stream; c) wherein the laminar flow channel has a depth and/or width sufficiently small to allow laminar flow of the streams and a length sufficient to allow particles of the analyte to diffuse into the indicator stream to form a detection area; and d) outlet means for conducting the streams out of the laminar flow channel preferably to form a single mixed stream.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 1997Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Bernhard H. Weigl, Mark R. Holl, Diane Zebert, Margaret Kenny, Caicai Wu
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Patent number: 5932100Abstract: This invention provides a microfabricated extraction system and methods for extracting desired particles from a sample stream containing desired and undesired particles. The sample stream is placed in laminar flow contact with an extraction stream under conditions in which inertial effects are negligible. The contact between the two streams is maintained for a sufficient period of time to allow differential transport of the desired particles from the sample stream into the extraction stream. In a preferred embodiment the differential transport mechanism is diffusion. The extraction system of this invention coupled to a microfabricated diffusion-based mixing device and/or sensing device allows picoliter quantities of fluid to be processed or analyzed on devices no larger than silicon wafers.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1996Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Paul Yager, James P. Brody, Mark R. Holl, Fred K. Forster, Paul C. Galambos
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Patent number: 5748827Abstract: This invention provides rapid, accurate and repeatable alignment of components in three spatial coordinate directions to within about .+-.10 .mu.m. It comprises a two-stage kinematic mount and a corresponding two-stage mountable module, each having a macrostage for initial alignment and a microstage for further, high accuracy alignment. The microstage of the mount preferably has either three alignment pins or three constraints and the microstage of the mountable module likewise preferably has either three pins or three constraints, so that the constraints of one component receive the pins of the other. A compliant layer is positioned between the microstage and macrostage of the mountable module. This invention further includes two-stage mount and mountable modules incorporating optical, electrical, mechanical or fluidic elements. In a preferred embodiment, the microstage module has a V-groove fluid flow channel suitable for use in optical flow cytometry.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1996Date of Patent: May 5, 1998Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Mark R. Holl, Roya R. Sabeti