Patents by Inventor Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis
Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis 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: 11964274Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow in the device. The device includes an upstream chamber having an outlet, a downstream chamber including a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion and including a first port disposed in the distal portion and a first conduit which connects the outlet of the upstream chamber to the first port of the downstream chamber. The first conduit extends radially inwards to a crest and radially outwards from the crest to the first port of the downstream chamber. A distance between the axis of rotation and the crest is greater than or equal to a distance between the axis of rotation and the outlet of the upstream chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2020Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: BIOSURFIT, SAInventors: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis, Tania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Miguel Joao Marques Barreiros
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Patent number: 11458472Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow. The device includes a vented upstream chamber having an outlet port and an unvented chamber including an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the upstream chamber and an outlet port radially outward the inlet port. The device further includes a vented downstream chamber having an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the unvented chamber. A downstream conduit connects the outlet port of the unvented chamber to the inlet port of the downstream chamber and includes a bend radially inward of the outlet port of the unvented chamber. An upstream conduit connects the outlet port of the upstream chamber to the inlet port of the unvented chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2019Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Biosurfit, SAInventors: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis, Tania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Miguel Joao Marques Barreiros
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Patent number: 11285479Abstract: Devices and methods for handling liquids are provided. The devices and methods make use of specifically controlled centrifugal forces to drive liquid flow between two cavities connected by a conduit such that as liquid flows into the second cavity, a gas volume is trapped in the second cavity and a pressure of the gas increases, allowing for pneumatic control of liquid flow. The devices and methods facilitate one or more of the mixing, metering and sequencing of liquids, for example on a microfluidic device.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2019Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Biosurfit S.A.Inventors: Tania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Luis Miguel Dias Martins, Fábio Miguel Rolo Pereira, Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis
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Publication number: 20210229086Abstract: A device for collecting and transferring liquid samples having a detachable sample collecting portion includes an elongated body with a liquid collecting portion disposed at one end and a handling portion disposed at the other end separated by a frangible portion. The sample collecting portion includes an inner surface configured to be wetted by the sample. After collection, the sample is transferred into a separate housing by inserting the sample collecting portion filled with sample into a confining cavity and subsequently breaking the sample transfer device along the frangible portion. The liquid sample is extracted from the collecting portion using known means to drive and control flow in fluidic devices including rotation, capillary pressure or pneumatics. The separate housing may be part of a device capable to process the liquid sample to provide for a system for handling liquid samples.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2019Publication date: July 29, 2021Applicant: BIOSURFIT, S.A.Inventors: Nuno Alexandre ESTEVES REIS, Tania MOURA PIRES DE ANDRADE TENREIRO
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Publication number: 20200269235Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow in the device. The device includes an upstream chamber having an outlet, a downstream chamber including a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion and including a first port disposed in the distal portion and a first conduit which connects the outlet of the upstream chamber to the first port of the downstream chamber. The first conduit extends radially inwards to a crest and radially outwards from the crest to the first port of the downstream chamber. A distance between the axis of rotation and the crest is greater than or equal to a distance between the axis of rotation and the outlet of the upstream chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis, Tania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Miguel Joao Marques Barreiros
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Patent number: 10661276Abstract: Devices and methods for handling liquids are provided. The devices and methods make use of centrifugal forces to drive liquid flow and facilitate one or more of the mixing, metering and sequencing of liquids, for example on a microfluidic device.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Biosurfit, S.A.Inventors: Tania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Luis Miguel Dias Martins, Fábio Miguel Rolo Pereira, Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis
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Publication number: 20200156061Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow. The device includes a vented upstream chamber having an outlet port and an unvented chamber including an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the upstream chamber and an outlet port radially outward the inlet port. The device further includes a vented downstream chamber having an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the unvented chamber. A downstream conduit connects the outlet port of the unvented chamber to the inlet port of the downstream chamber and includes a bend radially inward of the outlet port of the unvented chamber. An upstream conduit connects the outlet port of the upstream chamber to the inlet port of the unvented chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2019Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis, Tania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Miguel Joao Marques Barreiros
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Patent number: 10639635Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow in the device. The device includes an upstream chamber comprising an outlet, a downstream chamber including a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion and including a first port disposed in the distal portion and a first conduit which connects the outlet of the upstream chamber to the first port of the downstream chamber. The first conduit extends radially inwards to a crest and radially outwards from the crest to the first port of the downstream chamber. A distance between the axis of rotation and the crest is greater than or equal to a distance between the axis of rotation and the outlet of the upstream chamber.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Biosurfit, SAInventors: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis, Tania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Miguel Joao Marques Barreiros
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Patent number: 10525470Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow. The device includes a vented upstream chamber having an outlet port and an unvented chamber including an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the upstream chamber and an outlet port radially outward the inlet port. The device further includes a vented downstream chamber having an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the unvented chamber. A downstream conduit connects the outlet port of the unvented chamber to the inlet port of the downstream chamber and includes a bend radially inward of the outlet port of the unvented chamber. An upstream conduit connects the outlet port of the upstream chamber to the inlet port of the unvented chamber.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Biosurfit, S.A.Inventors: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis, Tania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Miguel Joao Marques Barreiros
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Patent number: 10300487Abstract: A holder for a pipette having a bulb is disclosed. In use, the bulb of the pipette is inserted into the holder and the user can hold the holder rather than the bulb to use the pipette. In this way, the holder enables the pipette to be held without any application of force from the user directly on the bulb. This enables the user to accurately draw a desired amount of liquid into the pipette. The holder comprises an aperture through which the bulb is accessible. The user can dispense liquid from the pipette by actuating the bulb through the aperture.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2017Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Biosurfit, S.A.Inventors: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis, Miguel João Marques Barreiros, Tania Moura Pires de Andrade Tenreiro
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Publication number: 20190015836Abstract: A holder for a pipette having a bulb is disclosed. In use, the bulb of the pipette is inserted into the holder and the user can hold the holder rather than the bulb to use the pipette. In this way, the holder enables the pipette to be held without any application of force from the user directly on the bulb. This enables the user to accurately draw a desired amount of liquid into the pipette. The holder comprises an aperture through which the bulb is accessible. The user can dispense liquid from the pipette by actuating the bulb through the aperture.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2017Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis, Miguel João Marques Barreiros, Tania Moura Pires de Andrade Tenreiro
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Patent number: 10161854Abstract: A device configured for rotation about an axis of rotation to drive liquid flow within the device. The device includes a detection chamber having opposed first second ends and two optical features defining an optical path through the detection chamber, between the first and second ends. The detection chamber includes a first liquid inlet disposed at the first end on a first side of the optical path, a first liquid outlet disposed at the second end of the detection chamber on the first side of the optical path and a second liquid outlet disposed at the second end of the detection chamber on a second side of the optical path. The first side of the optical path is radially outwards of the second side of the optical path.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2018Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Biosurfit, SAInventors: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis, Tania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Miguel Joao Marques Barreiros
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Publication number: 20180280969Abstract: Devices and methods for handling liquids are provided. The devices and methods make use of centrifugal forces to drive liquid flow and facilitate one or more of the mixing, metering and sequencing of liquids, for example on a microfluidic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2016Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicant: BIOSURFIT, S.A.Inventors: Tania MOURA PIRES DE ANDRADE TENREIRO, Luis Miguel DIAS MARTINS, Fábio Miguel ROLO PEREIRA, Nuno Alexandre ESTEVES REIS
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Publication number: 20180164206Abstract: A device configured for rotation about an axis of rotation to drive liquid flow within the device. The device includes a detection chamber having opposed first second ends and two optical features defining an optical path through the detection chamber, between the first and second ends. The detection chamber includes a first liquid inlet disposed at the first end on a first side of the optical path, a first liquid outlet disposed at the second end of the detection chamber on the first side of the optical path and a second liquid outlet disposed at the second end of the detection chamber on a second side of the optical path. The first side of the optical path is radially outwards of the second side of the optical path.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2018Publication date: June 14, 2018Inventors: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis, Tania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Miguel Joao Marques Barreiros
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Publication number: 20180099274Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow in the device. The device includes an upstream chamber comprising an outlet, a downstream chamber including a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion and including a first port disposed in the distal portion and a first conduit which connects the outlet of the upstream chamber to the first port of the downstream chamber. The first conduit extends radially inwards to a crest and radially outwards from the crest to the first port of the downstream chamber. A distance between the axis of rotation and the crest is greater than or equal to a distance between the axis of rotation and the outlet of the upstream chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2017Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis, Tania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Miguel Joao Marques Barreiros
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Patent number: 9933348Abstract: A device is disclosed for centrifugally driving liquid flow to sequentially dispense aliquots from a reservoir while the device rotates. Also disclosed is a method and system for analyzing a liquid to derive an indicator of sedimentation rate of the liquid using sequential aliquoting, using the disclosed device in some embodiments. A particular application is the analysis of blood samples, including sedimentation rate and hematocrit.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Biosurfit, S.A.Inventors: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis, Joao Manuel De Oliveira Garcia Da Fonseca
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Patent number: 9909975Abstract: A device configured for rotation about an axis of rotation to drive liquid flow within the device. The device includes a detection chamber having opposed first second ends and two optical features defining an optical path through the detection chamber, between the first and second ends. The detection chamber includes a first liquid inlet disposed at the first end on a first side of the optical path, a first liquid outlet disposed at the second end of the detection chamber on the first side of the optical path and a second liquid outlet disposed at the second end of the detection chamber on a second side of the optical path. The first side of the optical path is radially outwards of the second side of the optical path.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2017Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Biosurfit, S.A.Inventors: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis, Tania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Miguel Joao Marques Barreiros
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Publication number: 20170354970Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow. The device includes a vented upstream chamber having an outlet port and an unvented chamber including an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the upstream chamber and an outlet port radially outward the inlet port. The device further includes a vented downstream chamber having an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the unvented chamber. A downstream conduit connects the outlet port of the unvented chamber to the inlet port of the downstream chamber and includes a bend radially inward of the outlet port of the unvented chamber. An upstream conduit connects the outlet port of the upstream chamber to the inlet port of the unvented chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventors: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis, Tania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Miguel Joao Marques Barreiros
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Publication number: 20150239634Abstract: Apparatus and related methods directed to packaging support structures having a material with first and second outer layers spaced apart from each other by a spacer layer defining a plurality of voids between the first and second outer layer. The material can include a plurality of through-slots extending through the material and along a first direction. The material can be foldable in the region of the slots to produce a central fold along a second direction, substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The packaging support structure can accommodate a plurality of respective products in the slots such that the products and slots cooperatively provide a stiff resultant structure that is resistant to compression forces along the second direction with the central fold enabling the material between the slots to extend into a space created between the products providing resistance to compression forces over a significant portion of the product area.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2014Publication date: August 27, 2015Inventor: Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis
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Patent number: 8916112Abstract: Devices for handling liquid, for example microfluidic devices, are described, which are rotatable about an axis of rotation to drive liquid flow within the device. The 5 devices provide one or more of an aliquoting structure (6) having a plurality of daisy chained aliquoting chambers (100, 200, 300) for providing a plurality of aliquots, arrangements for sequencing the dispensing of the aliquots by controlling the rotation of the device and arrangements for ensuring that a fault condition can be detected when insufficient liquid is present in the device to fill 10 all aliquots. Further disclosed are arrangements for ensuring a detection chamber (12) of the device remains filled with liquid, arrangements for reducing the risk of air ingress to the detection chamber (12) on repeated emptying and filling of a supply structure (10) and arrangements for reducing the risk of bubble formation when filling the detection chamber (12).Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2011Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Biosurfit, S.A.Inventors: Jo{hacek over (a)}o Garcia Da Fonseca, Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis