Patents by Inventor Michael G. Pollack
Michael G. Pollack 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: 12181467Abstract: A method comprising effecting a change in a shape of a droplet, wherein the droplet is disposed over a substrate in sensing proximity to a sensor and the droplet has a starting surface area exposed to the sensor; and producing an expanded surface area of the droplet in the sensing proximity exposed to the sensor, wherein the expanded surface area exposed to the sensor is greater than the starting surface area exposed to the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2019Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignees: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC., DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Allen E. Eckhardt, Richard B. Fair
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Patent number: 11789015Abstract: Provided herein are methods of splitting droplets containing magnetically responsive beads in a droplet actuator. A droplet actuator having a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet, and a magnetic field present at the droplet operations electrodes, is provided. The magnetically responsive beads in the droplet are immobilized using the magnetic field and the plurality of droplet operations electrodes are used to split the droplet into first and second droplets while the magnetically responsive beads remain substantially immobilized.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen E. Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20230128722Abstract: Methods are provided for separating magnetically responsive beads from a droplet in a droplet actuator. Droplet operations electrodes and a magnet are arranged in a droplet actuator to manipulate a bead-containing droplet and position it relative to a magnetic field region that attracts the magnetically responsive beads. The droplet operations electrodes are operated to control the droplet shape and transport it away from the magnetic field region to form a concentration of beads in the droplet. The continued transport of the droplet away from the magnetic field causes the concentration of beads to break away from the droplet to yield a small, concentrated bead-containing droplet immobilized by the magnet.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Ramakrishna Sista, Arjun Sudarsan
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Patent number: 11525827Abstract: Methods are provided for separating magnetically responsive beads from a droplet in a droplet actuator. Droplet operations electrodes and a magnet are arranged in a droplet actuator to manipulate a bead-containing droplet and position it relative to a magnetic field region that attracts the magnetically responsive beads. The droplet operations electrodes are operated to control the droplet shape and transport it away from the magnetic field region to form a concentration of beads in the droplet. The continued transport of the droplet away from the magnetic field causes the concentration of beads to break away from the droplet to yield a small, concentrated bead-containing droplet immobilized by the magnet.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Ramakrishna Sista, Arjun Sudarsan
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Publication number: 20220155251Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based surface modification and washing. According to one embodiment, a method of splitting a droplet is provided, the method including providing a droplet microactuator including a droplet including one or more beads and immobilizing at least one of the one or more beads. The method further includes conducting one or more droplet operations to divide the droplet to yield a set of droplets including a droplet including the one or more immobilized beads and a droplet substantially lacking the one or more immobilized beads.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2022Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Richard B. Fair
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Patent number: 11255809Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based surface modification and washing. According to one embodiment, a method of splitting a droplet is provided, the method including providing a droplet microactuator including a droplet including one or more beads and immobilizing at least one of the one or more beads. The method further includes conducting one or more droplet operations to divide the droplet to yield a set of droplets including a droplet including the one or more immobilized beads and a droplet substantially lacking the one or more immobilized beads.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignees: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke UniversityInventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Richard B. Fair
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Publication number: 20200393452Abstract: Provided herein are methods of splitting droplets containing magnetically responsive beads in a droplet actuator. A droplet actuator having a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet, and a magnetic field present at the droplet operations electrodes, is provided. The magnetically responsive beads in the droplet are immobilized using the magnetic field and the plurality of droplet operations electrodes are used to split the droplet into first and second droplets while the magnetically responsive beads remain substantially immobilized.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2020Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen E. Eckhardt
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Patent number: 10809254Abstract: Provided herein are methods of splitting droplets containing magnetically responsive beads in a droplet actuator. A droplet actuator having a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet, and a magnetic field present at the droplet operations electrodes, is provided. The magnetically responsive beads in the droplet are immobilized using the magnetic field and the plurality of droplet operations electrodes are used to split the droplet into first and second droplets while the magnetically responsive beads remain substantially immobilized.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen E. Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20200209231Abstract: Methods are provided for separating magnetically responsive beads from a droplet in a droplet actuator. Droplet operations electrodes and a magnet are arranged in a droplet actuator to manipulate a bead-containing droplet and position it relative to a magnetic field region that attracts the magnetically responsive beads. The droplet operations electrodes are operated to control the droplet shape and transport it away from the magnetic field region to form a concentration of beads in the droplet. The continued transport of the droplet away from the magnetic field causes the concentration of beads to break away from the droplet to yield a small, concentrated bead-containing droplet immobilized by the magnet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Ramakrishna Sista, Arjun Sudarsan
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Publication number: 20200191739Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based surface modification and washing. According to one embodiment, a method of splitting a droplet is provided, the method including providing a droplet microactuator including a droplet including one or more beads and immobilizing at least one of the one or more beads. The method further includes conducting one or more droplet operations to divide the droplet to yield a set of droplets including a droplet including the one or more immobilized beads and a droplet substantially lacking the one or more immobilized beads.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2020Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Richard B. Fair
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Patent number: 10585090Abstract: Methods are provided for separating magnetically responsive beads from a droplet in a droplet actuator. Droplet operations electrodes and a magnet are arranged in a droplet actuator to manipulate a bead-containing droplet and position it relative to a magnetic field region that attracts the magnetically responsive beads. The droplet operations electrodes are operated to control the droplet shape and transport it away from the magnetic field region to form a concentration of beads in the droplet. The continued transport of the droplet away from the magnetic field causes the concentration of beads to break away from the droplet to yield a small, concentrated bead-containing droplet immobilized by the magnet.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2018Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Ramakrishna Sista, Arjun Sudarsan
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Publication number: 20190324026Abstract: A method comprising effecting a change in a shape of a droplet, wherein the droplet is disposed over a substrate in sensing proximity to a sensor and the droplet has a starting surface area exposed to the sensor; and producing an expanded surface area of the droplet in the sensing proximity exposed to the sensor, wherein the expanded surface area exposed to the sensor is greater than the starting surface area exposed to the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Applicants: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke UniversityInventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Allen E. Eckhardt, Richard B. Fair
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Patent number: 10379112Abstract: A method of providing a droplet in contact with a magnetically responsive bead and having a reduced quantity of a substance.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2015Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignees: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke UniversityInventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Allen E. Eckhardt, Richard B. Fair
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Publication number: 20190086399Abstract: Provided herein are methods of splitting droplets containing magnetically responsive beads in a droplet actuator. A droplet actuator having a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet, and a magnetic field present at the droplet operations electrodes, is provided. The magnetically responsive beads in the droplet are immobilized using the magnetic field and the plurality of droplet operations electrodes are used to split the droplet into first and second droplets while the magnetically responsive beads remain substantially immobilized.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen E. Eckhardt
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Patent number: 10183292Abstract: A method, circuit and apparatus for detecting capacitance on a droplet actuator, inter alia, for determining the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at an electrode on a droplet actuator by: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) a substrate comprising electrodes arranged on the substrate for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; (ii) a capacitance detection circuit for detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; (b) detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; and (c) determining from the capacitance the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at the droplet operations surface at the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Ryan A. Sturmer, Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Philip Y. Paik
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Publication number: 20190011443Abstract: Methods are provided for separating magnetically responsive beads from a droplet in a droplet actuator. Droplet operations electrodes and a magnet are arranged in a droplet actuator to manipulate a bead-containing droplet and position it relative to a magnetic field region that attracts the magnetically responsive beads. The droplet operations electrodes are operated to control the droplet shape and transport it away from the magnetic field region to form a concentration of beads in the droplet. The continued transport of the droplet away from the magnetic field causes the concentration of beads to break away from the droplet to yield a small, concentrated bead-containing droplet immobilized by the magnet.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2018Publication date: January 10, 2019Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Ramakrishna Sista, Arjun Sudarsan
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Patent number: 10139403Abstract: The invention provides a method of circulating magnetically responsive beads within a droplet in a droplet actuator. The invention also provides methods for splitting droplets. The invention, in one embodiment, makes use of a droplet actuator with top and bottom substrates, a plurality of magnetic fields respectively present proximate the top and bottom substrates, wherein at least one of the magnet fields is selectively alterable, and a plurality of droplet operations electrodes positioned along at least one of the top and bottom surfaces. A droplet is positioned between the top and bottom surfaces and at least one of the magnetic fields is selectively altered.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Allen Eckhardt
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Patent number: 10078078Abstract: The invention relates to bead incubating and washing on a droplet actuator. Methods for incubating magnetically responsive beads that are labeled with primary antibody, a sample (i.e., analyte), and secondary reporter antibodies on a magnet, on and off a magnet, and completely off a magnet are provided. Also provided are methods for washing magnetically responsive beads using shape-assisted merging of droplets. Also provided are methods for shape-mediated splitting, transporting, and dispensing of a sample droplet that contains magnetically responsive beads. The apparatuses and methods of the invention provide for rapid time to result and optimum detection of an analyte in an immunoassay.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2016Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Ramakrishna Sista, Arjun Sudarsan
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Patent number: 10022719Abstract: Methods are provided for manipulating droplets. The methods include providing the droplet on a surface comprising an array of electrodes and a substantially co-planer array of reference elements, wherein the droplet is disposed on a first one of the electrodes, and the droplet at least partially overlaps a second one of the electrodes and an intervening one of the reference elements disposed between the first and second electrodes. The methods further include activating the first and second electrodes to spread at least a portion of the droplet across the second electrode and deactivating the first electrode to move the droplet from the first electrode to the second electrode.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair
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Patent number: 9952177Abstract: The invention is directed to a droplet actuator device and methods for integrating gel electrophoresis analysis with pre or post-analytical sample handling as well as other molecular analysis processes. Using digital microfluidics technology, the droplet actuator device and methods of the invention provide the ability to perform gel electrophoresis and liquid handling operations on a single integrated device. The integrated liquid handling operations may be used to prepare and deliver samples to the electrophoresis gel, capture and subsequently process products of the electrophoresis gel or perform additional assays on the same sample materials which are analyzed by gel electrophoresis. In one embodiment, one or more molecular assays, such as nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) quantification by real-time PCR, and one or more sample processing operations such as sample dilution is performed on a droplet actuator integrated with an electrophoresis gel.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2015Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignees: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC., DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Zhishan Hua, Hon Lung Chu, Michael Hauser, Allen Eckhardt