Patents by Inventor Michael Van Dam

Michael Van Dam 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: 8480053
    Abstract: Mechanical actuation of valves in flexible fluidic structures allows for the regulation of fluid flow. In accordance with the disclosure herein, a fluidic structure is provided wherein mechanical actuation is conferred using a pin to actuate a flexible layer to occlude fluid flow in a fluid channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: James R. Heath, Michael Van Dam, Arkadij Elizarov
  • Publication number: 20130011618
    Abstract: A functionalized photocurable perfluoropolyether is used as a material for fabricating a solvent-resistant microfluidic device. Such solvent-resistant microfluidic devices can be used to control the flow of small amounts of a fluid, such as an organic solvent, and to perform microscale chemical reactions that are not amenable to other polymer-based microfluidic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicants: California Institute of Technology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Jason P. Rolland, Stephen R. Quake, Derek A. Schorzman, Jason Yarbrough, Michael Van Dam
  • Patent number: 8268446
    Abstract: The use of a photocurable perfluoropolyether (PFPE) material for fabricating a solvent-resistant PFPE-based microfluidic device, methods of flowing a material and performing a chemical reaction in a solvent-resistant PFPE-based microfluidic device, and the solvent-resistant PFPE-based microfluidic devices themselves are described. In an embodiment, a method is described for preparing a patterned layer of a photocured perfluoropolyether, the method comprising: (a) providing a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a patterned surface; (b) contacting a perfluoropolvether precursor with the patterned surface of the substrate; and (c) photocuring the perfluoropolyether precursor to form a patterned layer of a photocured perfluoropolyether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Jason P. Rolland, Stephen R. Quake, Derek A. Schorzman, Jason Yarbrough, Michael Van Dam
  • Patent number: 7862000
    Abstract: A microfluidic structure and method, where the structure comprises a featureless gasket layer allowing for efficient and reproducible structure production and assembly. Layering methods allow for the use of a variety of device materials and easy assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, Siemens Medical Solutions
    Inventors: Arkadij Elizarov, James R. Heath, Hartmuth Kolb, Michael van Dam
  • Publication number: 20100291584
    Abstract: A microfluidic system has a pipette system comprising a plurality of pipettes, a microfluidic chip arranged proximate the pipette system, an imaging optical detection system arranged proximate the microfluidic chip, and an image processing system in communication with the imaging optical detection system. The microfluidic chip has a plurality of cell culture chambers defined by a body of the microfluidic chip, each cell culture chamber being in fluid connection with an input channel and an output channel defined by the microfluidic chip. The pipette system is constructed and arranged to at least one of inject fluid through the plurality of pipettes into the plurality of input channels or extract fluid through the plurality of pipettes from the plurality of output channels while the microfluidic system is in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Hsian-Rong Tseng, Kenichiro Kamei, Jing Sun, Paul S. Mischel, Michael D. Masterman-Smith, David A. Nathanson, Tiffany Huang, Michael Van Dam, Christian Behrenbruch, Shawn M. Sarkaria
  • Publication number: 20090165320
    Abstract: A functionalized photocurable perfluoropolyether is used as a material for fabricating a solvent-resistant microfluidic device. Such solvent-resistant microfluidic devices can be used to control the flow of small amounts of a fluid, such as an organic solvent, and to perform microscale chemical reactions that are not amenable to other polymer-based microfluidic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Jason P. Rolland, Stephen R. Quake, Derek A. Schorzman, Jason Yarbrough, Michael Van Dam
  • Publication number: 20070254278
    Abstract: A functionalized photocurable perfluoropolyether is used as a material for fabricating a solvent-resistant microfluidic device. Such solvent resistant microfluidic devices can be used to control the flow of small amounts of a fluid, such as an organic solvent, and to perform microscale chemical reactions that are not amenable to other polymer-based microfluidic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Joseph DeSimone, Jason Rolland, Stephen Quake, Derek Schorzman, Jason Yarbrough, Michael Van Dam
  • Publication number: 20070051412
    Abstract: Mechanical actuation of valves in flexible fluidic structures allows for the regulation of fluid flow. In accordance with the disclosure herein, a fluidic structure is provided wherein mechanical actuation is conferred using a pin to actuate a flexible layer to occlude fluid flow in a fluid channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: James Heath, Michael Van Dam, Arkadij Elizarov
  • Patent number: 7097809
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microfluidic device for synthesizing an array of compounds and methods for using the same. In particular, the microfluidic device of the present invention comprises a solid support base, an elastomeric layer attached to the solid support, and a plurality of flow channels located within the interface between the solid support and the elastomeric layer. In addition, the solid support comprises a functional group for forming a bond with a reactive reagent. In some embodiments, the microfluidic device further comprises a second plurality of flow channels that intersect the first plurality of flow channels. A plurality of control channels are also present in the microfluidic devices of the present invention. The control channels can be actuated to regulate flow of fluids within the flow channel(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael Van Dam, Marc A. Unger, Stephen R. Quake
  • Publication number: 20030008411
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microfluidic device for synthesizing an array of compounds and methods for using the same. In particular, the microfluidic device of the present invention comprises a solid support base, an elastomeric layer attached to the solid support, and a plurality of flow channels located within the interface between the solid support and the elastomeric layer. In addition, the solid support comprises a functional group for forming a bond with a reactive reagent. In some embodiments, the microfluidic device further comprises a second plurality of flow channels that intersect the first plurality of flow channels. A plurality of control channels are also present in the microfluidic devices of the present invention. The control channels can be actuated to regulate flow of fluids within the flow channel(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael Van Dam, Marc A. Unger, Stephen R. Quake