Patents by Inventor Richard B. Fair
Richard B. Fair 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: 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: 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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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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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: 9638662Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for manipulating droplets are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for manipulating droplets is provided, the apparatus including a substrate, multiple arrays of electrodes disposed on the substrate, wherein corresponding electrodes in each array are connected to a common electrical signal, and a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate first side surface and patterned to cover the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair
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Patent number: 9476856Abstract: A method of detecting a target analyte in a sample, including executing electrowetting-mediated droplet operations and thereby: combining one or more immunoassay reagent droplets comprising magnetically-responsive beads having affinity for the target analyte with one or more sample droplets potentially comprising the target analyte to yield a first combined droplet; beginning with the combined droplet, effecting a droplet-based washing protocol to wash the magnetically-responsive beads to yield a first washed droplet comprising the washed magnetically responsive beads; and combining the droplet comprising the washed magnetically responsive beads with a droplet comprising a reporter molecule having affinity for target analyte captured on the magnetically-responsive beads to yield a second combined droplet; beginning with the second combined droplet, effecting a droplet-based washing protocol to wash the magnetically-responsive beads to yield a second washed droplet comprising the washed magnetically responsiveType: GrantFiled: May 9, 2013Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignees: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC., DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Richard B. Fair
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Publication number: 20160231268Abstract: 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: April 14, 2016Publication date: August 11, 2016Applicants: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC., Duke UniversityInventors: Vamsee Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Richard B. Fair
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Patent number: 9395361Abstract: 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: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignees: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC., DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Richard B. Fair
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Publication number: 20160114320Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2015Publication date: April 28, 2016Applicant: DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair
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Patent number: 9243282Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based pyrosequencing including a method of identifying a base at a target position in a sample nucleic acid. The method includes: (a) providing a droplet microactuator including a first droplet including a sample nucleic acid immobilized on a bead; and (b) on the droplet microactuator: (i) contacting the first droplet with one or more reagent droplets to yield a second droplet, wherein the one or more reagent droplets include reagents for extending a double stranded portion of the sample nucleic acid by incorporating a nucleotide at the target position; (ii) splitting the second droplet to yield a third droplet including the bead and a fourth droplet lacking the bead; and (iii) assaying the third droplet to determine whether the nucleotide was incorporated at the target position.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2012Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignees: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC, DUKE UNIVERSITY, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANDFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITYInventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair, Peter B. Griffin
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Publication number: 20150336098Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for manipulating droplets are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for manipulating droplets is provided, the apparatus including a substrate, multiple arrays of electrodes disposed on the substrate, wherein corresponding electrodes in each array are connected to a common electrical signal, and a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate first side surface and patterned to cover the electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2015Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicant: Duke UniversityInventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair
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Patent number: 9180450Abstract: 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: July 30, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair
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Publication number: 20150314293Abstract: A method of providing a droplet in contact with a magnetically responsive bead and having a reduced quantity of a substance.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicants: DUKE UNIVERSITY, ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Ramakrishna Sista, Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Allen E. Eckhardt, Richard B. Fair
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Patent number: 9110017Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for manipulating droplets are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for manipulating droplets is provided, the apparatus including a substrate, multiple arrays of electrodes disposed on the substrate, wherein corresponding electrodes in each array are connected to a common electrical signal, and a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate first side surface and patterned to cover the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2014Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair
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Publication number: 20150174577Abstract: The present invention relates to filler fluids for droplet operations. According to one embodiment of this aspect, a droplet microactuator is provided and includes: (a) a first substrate comprising electrodes configured for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; (b) a second substrate spaced from the surface of the substrate by a distance sufficient to define an interior volume between the first substrate and second substrate, wherein the distance is sufficient to contain a droplet disposed in the space on the first substrate; and (c) a droplet arranged in the interior volume and arranged with respect to the electrodes in a manner which permits droplet operations to be effected on the droplet using the electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2015Publication date: June 25, 2015Applicants: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke UniversityInventors: Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Philip Y. Paik, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair
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Patent number: 9046514Abstract: A method of providing a droplet in contact with a magnetically responsive bead and having a reduced quantity of a substance.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2008Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignees: 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: 20150148238Abstract: 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: January 30, 2015Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicants: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC., Duke UniversityInventors: Vamsee Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Richard B. Fair
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Patent number: 8980198Abstract: The present invention relates to filler fluids for droplet operations. According to one embodiment of this aspect, a droplet microactuator is provided and includes: (a) a first substrate comprising electrodes configured for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; (b) a second substrate spaced from the surface of the substrate by a distance sufficient to define an interior volume between the first substrate and second substrate, wherein the distance is sufficient to contain a droplet disposed in the space on the first substrate; and (c) a droplet arranged in the interior volume and arranged with respect to the electrodes in a manner which permits droplet operations to be effected on the droplet using the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignees: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke UniversityInventors: Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Philip Y. Paik, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair