Patents by Inventor Paul M. Lebel

Paul M. Lebel 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: 11802264
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are described for the use of optically driven bubble, convective and displacing fluidic flow to provide motive force in microfluidic devices. Alternative motive modalities are useful to selectively dislodge and displace micro-objects, including biological cells, from a variety of locations within the enclosure of a microfluidic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: PHENOMEX INC.
    Inventors: Volker L. S. Kurz, Troy A. Lionberger, Eric K. Sackmann, Kai W. Szeto, Paul M. Lebel, Brandon R. Bruhn, Keith J. Breinlinger, Eric D. Hobbs, Andrew W. McFarland, J. Tanner Nevill, Xiaohua Wang
  • Patent number: 11789016
    Abstract: Methods, systems and kits are described herein for detecting the results of an assay. In particular, the methods, systems and devices of the present disclosure rely on a difference between the diffusion rates of a reporter molecule and an analyte of interest in order to quantify an amount of analyte in a microfluidic device. The analyte may be a secreted product of a biological micro-object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: PHENOMEX INC.
    Inventors: Troy A. Lionberger, Phillip J. M. Elms, Anupam Singhal, Randall D. Lowe, Jr., Volker L. S. Kurz, Paul M. Lebel
  • Patent number: 11731129
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical apparatus for imaging and/or manipulating micro-objects in a microfluidic device, such as a light-actuated microfluidic (LAMF) device, and related systems and methods. The optical apparatus can comprise a structured light modulator, a first and a second tube lens, an objective lens, a dichroic beam splitter, and an image sensor. The structured light modulator can be configured to receive unstructured light beams and transmit structured light beams for illuminating micro-objects located within an enclosure of the microfluidic device and/or selectively activating one or more of a plurality of dielectrophoresis (DEP) electrodes of the microfluidic device. The image light beams received by the image sensor can be used to form an image of at least a portion of the microfluidic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Berkeley Lights, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Lundquist, Paul M. Lebel, Phillip Ronald Thomas Jess
  • Publication number: 20210316306
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical apparatus for imaging and/or manipulating micro-objects in a microfluidic device, such as a light-actuated microfluidic (LAMF) device, and related systems and methods. The optical apparatus can comprise a structured light modulator, a first and a second tube lens, an objective lens, a dichroic beam splitter, and an image sensor. The structured light modulator can be configured to receive unstructured light beams and transmit structured light beams for illuminating micro-objects located within an enclosure of the microfluidic device and/or selectively activating one or more of a plurality of dielectrophoresis (DEP) electrodes of the microfluidic device. The image light beams received by the image sensor can be used to form an image of at least a portion of the microfluidic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Paul M. LUNDQUIST, Paul M. LEBEL, Phillip Ronald Thomas JESS
  • Publication number: 20210270817
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for assaying binding affinity between a first molecule and a second molecule in a micro-fluidic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Berkeley Lights, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Lebel, Troy A. Lionberger, Kevin T. Chapman
  • Patent number: 11077438
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical apparatus for imaging and/or manipulating micro-objects in a microfluidic device, such as a light-actuated microfluidic (LAMF) device, and related systems and methods. The optical apparatus can comprise a structured light modulator, a first and a second tube lens, an objective lens, a dichroic beam splitter, and an image sensor. The structured light modulator can be configured to receive unstructured light beams and transmit structured light beams for illuminating micro-objects located within an enclosure of the microfluidic device and/or selectively activating one or more of a plurality of dielectrophoresis (DEP) electrodes of the microfluidic device. The first tube lens can be configured to capture the structured light beams transmitted by the structured light modulator. The second tube lens can be configured to transmit image light beams from the dichroic beam splitter to the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: BERKELEY LIGHTS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul M. Lundquist, Paul M. Lebel, Phillip Ronald Thomas Jess
  • Publication number: 20210102150
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are described for the use of optically driven bubble, convective and displacing fluidic flow to provide motive force in microfluidic devices. Alternative motive modalities are useful to selectively dislodge and displace micro-objects, including biological cells, from a variety of locations within the enclosure of a microfluidic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Volker L.S. Kurz, Troy A. Lionberger, Eric K. Sackmann, Kai W. Szeto, Paul M. Lebel, Brandon R. Bruhn, Keith J. Breinlinger, Eric D. Hobbs, Andrew W. McFarland, J. Tanner Nevill, Xiaohua Wang
  • Publication number: 20200408751
    Abstract: Methods, systems and kits are described herein for detecting the results of an assay. In particular, the methods, systems and devices of the present disclosure rely on a difference between the diffusion rates of a reporter molecule and an analyte of interest in order to quantify an amount of analyte in a microfluidic device. The analyte may be a secreted product of a biological micro-object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Troy A. Lionberger, Phillip J. M. Elms, Anupam Singhal, Randall D. Lowe, Jr., Volker L. S. Kurz, Paul M. Lebel
  • Patent number: 10829728
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are described for the use of optically driven bubble, convective and displacing fluidic flow to provide motive force in microfluidic devices. Alternative motive modalities are useful to selectively dislodge and displace micro-objects, including biological cells, from a variety of locations within the enclosure of a microfluidic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Berkeley Lights, Inc.
    Inventors: Volker L. S. Kurz, Troy A. Lionberger, Eric K. Sackmann, Kai W. Szeto, Paul M. Lebel, Brandon R. Bruhn, Keith J. Breinlinger, Eric D. Hobbs, Andrew W. McFarland, J. Tanner Nevill, Xiaohua Wang
  • Publication number: 20190374944
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical apparatus for imaging and/or manipulating micro-objects in a microfluidic device, such as a light-actuated microfluidic (LAMF) device, and related systems and methods. The optical apparatus can comprise a structured light modulator, a first and a second tube lens, an objective lens, a dichroic beam splitter, and an image sensor. The structured light modulator can be configured to receive unstructured light beams and transmit structured light beams for illuminating micro-objects located within an enclosure of the microfluidic device and/or selectively activating one or more of a plurality of dielectrophoresis (DEP) electrodes of the microfluidic device. The first tube lens can be configured to capture the structured light beams transmitted by the structured light modulator. The second tube lens can be configured to transmit image light beams from the dichroic beam splitter to the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Paul M. LUNDQUIST, Paul M. Lebel, Phillip Ronald Thomas Jess
  • Publication number: 20180298318
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are described for the use of optically driven bubble, convective and displacing fluidic flow to provide motive force in microfluidic devices. Alternative motive modalities are useful to selectively dislodge and displace micro-objects, including biological cells, from a variety of locations within the enclosure of a microfluidic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Volker L.S. Kurz, Troy A. Lionberger, Erik K. Sackmann, Kai W. Szeto, Paul M. Lebel, Brandon R. Bruhn, Keith J. Breinlinger, Eric D. Hobbs, Andrew W. McFarland, J. Tanner Nevill, Xiaohua Wang