Patents by Inventor Robert Dean Lovchik
Robert Dean Lovchik 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: 20230372926Abstract: A method comprises providing a microfluidic device including a reservoir; an injection nozzle at the bottom of the reservoir, the injection nozzle being wider at its top than at its bottom; an injection channel below the injection nozzle; and a microfluidic channel below the injection channel. The method further comprises placing fluid in the reservoir, and allowing the fluid to passively flow through the injection nozzle and the injection channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventors: Lorenzo Franco Teodoro Petrini, Iago Pereiro Pereiro, Robert Dean Lovchik, Anna Fomitcheva Khartchenko, Anel Zulji, Govind Kaigala, Cristina Boero, Olivier Michel Christian Noël, Christophe Guex, Stéphane Guillod, Aurélie Bolon
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Publication number: 20230364614Abstract: In one implementation, a microfluidic probe has a non-planar processing surface and an inlet aperture. The shape of the surface may be selected to produce a specific velocity gradient profile across a surface onto which fluid is deposited using the microfluidic probe, for example a constant velocity gradient or a velocity gradient that decreases linearly with distance from the inlet aperture. The microfluidic probe may define and overflow notch in a perimeter edge of the processing surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Iago Pereiro Pereiro, Anna Fomitcheva Khartchenko, Robert Dean Lovchik, Govind Kaigala, Lorenzo Franco Teodoro Petrini, Anel Zulji, Frédéric M. Buffière, Johann Guégan, Eliane Rivalin, Sylvie Villard-Saussine
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Patent number: 11781954Abstract: According to a first aspect, the present invention is embodied as a method of processing a filtered liquid with a microfluidic device. The method includes positioning a porous filtering medium with respect to the microfluidic device, so as to allow a flow path between the filtering medium and a channel of the microfluidic device. The method further includes introducing a liquid in the porous filtering medium for the liquid to advance along the filtering medium and be filtered by the medium. The method further includes applying compression to the filtering medium to extract a given volume of the filtered liquid from the filtering medium, where the extracted liquid volume reaches said channel via the flow path. The method further includes processing the extracted volume with the microfluidic device.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert Dean Lovchik, Marie Salva, Yuksel Temiz, Emmanuel Delamarche
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Patent number: 11458467Abstract: A microfluidic probe head is provided. The microfluidic probe head comprises a processing surface. The processing surface has a first and second aperture and a fluid injection channel, which leads to the first aperture. The microfluidic probe head comprises also a first fluid aspiration channel which leads to the second aperture. Thereby, the second aperture forms a slot in the processing surface. Furthermore, a microfluidic probe may be provided comprising the microfluidic probe head.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2019Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc.Inventors: Robert Dean Lovchik, Anna Fomitcheva Khartchenko, Govind Kaigala, Iago Pereiro Pereiro
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Publication number: 20220168730Abstract: A microtiter plate comprising a first array of M×N wells and a microfluidic probe insert is provided. The microfluidic probe insert includes a second array of M×N microfluidic probe conduits, forming N columns of M conduits. The M conduits include respective orifices in a bounding plane and extend, each, perpendicularly to the bounding plane on one side. The microfluidic probe insert also includes N vacuum circuits, each comprising at least one vacuum port and M openings in the bounding plane, where 2?M, 2?N. The microfluidic probe insert is positioned on the microtiter plate and the microfluidic probe conduits are inserted in respective wells. A processing liquid is ejected from M conduits via the M orifices of the M conduits by applying a negative pressure to a corresponding set of N vacuum circuits via the respective one or more vacuum ports.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2020Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventors: Robert Dean Lovchik, Anna Fomitcheva Khartchenko, Iago Pereiro Pereiro, Lorenzo Franco Teodoro Petrini, Govind Kaigala
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Publication number: 20220018744Abstract: According to a first aspect, the present invention is embodied as a method of processing a filtered liquid with a microfluidic device. The method includes positioning a porous filtering medium with respect to the microfluidic device, so as to allow a flow path between the filtering medium and a channel of the microfluidic device. The method further includes introducing a liquid in the porous filtering medium for the liquid to advance along the filtering medium and be filtered by the medium. The method further includes applying compression to the filtering medium to extract a given volume of the filtered liquid from the filtering medium, where the extracted liquid volume reaches said channel via the flow path. The method further includes processing the extracted volume with the microfluidic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2020Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Robert Dean Lovchik, Marie Salva, Yuksel Temiz, Emmanuel Delamarche
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Patent number: 11198124Abstract: A microfluidic probe includes a probe head with a processing surface that includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The probe further includes a liquid injection channel, which leads to the first aperture, and a liquid aspiration channel, which extends from the second aperture. The probe also includes a bypass channel, arranged so as to fluidly connect the liquid injection channel to the liquid aspiration channel, as well as a control channel. The latter fluidly connects to the bypass channel, hence forming a junction therewith, so as to define two portions of the bypass channel. These portions includes: a first portion that extends from the junction to the liquid injection channel; and a second portion that extends from that same junction to the liquid aspiration channel. The invention is further directed to methods of operation of a probe as described above, to process a surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2019Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Dean Lovchik, David Taylor
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Patent number: 11188722Abstract: Technology for managing objects. A method is applied to a set of objects, for example, in view of commissioning such objects. The method includes patterning a surface of each object of a set of objects to be managed. The patterning is accomplished by using hard particles to make indentations in a surface of each object of the set of object, with the pattern formed on each object being a unique physical fingerprint that can be used to identify the object when performing various manage method(s) on the objects.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2020Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert Dean Lovchik, Jonas Weiss, Yuksel Temiz, Emmanuel Delamarche
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Patent number: 11130125Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fluidic device is provided. The method comprises providing a capillary, providing a structure having a fluidic channel and an opening, reducing an outer diameter of a portion of the capillary to be smaller than the opening of the structure. Furthermore, the method comprises inserting, at least partly, the portion of the capillary through the opening of the structure into the fluidic channel and applying heat to the structure to expand the inserted portion of the capillary to fit the capillary to the structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Dean Lovchik, Anna Fomitcheva Khartchenko, Iago Pereiro Pereiro, Lorenzo Franco Teodoro Petrini
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Publication number: 20210294989Abstract: Technology for managing objects. A method is applied to a set of objects, for example, in view of commissioning such objects. The method includes patterning a surface of each object of a set of objects to be managed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2020Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Robert Dean Lovchik, Jonas Weiss, Yuksel Temiz, Emmanuel Delamarche
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Publication number: 20210220825Abstract: Patterning a substrate can be provided. A substrate is covered by an immersion liquid and a microfluidic probe head is positioned in proximity with the surface of the substrate, so as to immerse a processing surface of the probe head in the immersion liquid. Liquid flows are generated between the processing surface of the probe head and the surface of the substrate, via the probe head. The liquid flows generated include an etching flow of an etching liquid (e.g., an acid or solvent) and a processing flow of a processing liquid (e.g., a solution or suspension).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Federico Paratore, Moran Bercovici, Daniel Widerker, Robert Dean Lovchik
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Publication number: 20210039092Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fluidic device is provided. The method comprises providing a capillary, providing a structure having a fluidic channel and an opening, reducing an outer diameter of a portion of the capillary to be smaller than the opening of the structure. Furthermore, the method comprises inserting, at least partly, the portion of the capillary through the opening of the structure into the fluidic channel and applying heat to the structure to expand the inserted portion of the capillary to fit the capillary to the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2019Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Dean Lovchik, Anna Fomitcheva Khartchenko, Iago Pereiro Pereiro, Lorenzo Franco Teodoro Petrini
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Publication number: 20210039100Abstract: A microfluidic device may be provided. The microfluidic device comprises a processing surface having an aperture. The microfluidic device comprises a liquid ejection channel. The liquid ejection channel guides to the aperture. The microfluidic device comprises a first liquid injection channel guiding to the liquid ejection channel. The first liquid injection channel has a first end and a second end and is arranged to provide a fluid flow from the first end to the second end. At least a portion of the first liquid injection channel is closer to the processing surface than (both) the first and second ends to sediment particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2019Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Robert Dean Lovchik, Iago Pereiro Pereiro, Govind Kaigala, Anna Fomitcheva Khartchenko
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Publication number: 20210039083Abstract: A microfluidic probe head is provided. The microfluidic probe head comprises a processing surface. The processing surface has a first and second aperture and a fluid injection channel, which leads to the first aperture. The microfluidic probe head comprises also a first fluid aspiration channel which leads to the second aperture. Thereby, the second aperture forms a slot in the processing surface. Furthermore, a microfluidic probe may be provided comprising the microfluidic probe head.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2019Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Robert Dean Lovchik, Anna Fomitcheva Khartchenko, Govind Kaigala, Iago Pereiro Pereiro
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Publication number: 20200114351Abstract: A microfluidic probe includes a probe head with a processing surface that includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The probe further includes a liquid injection channel, which leads to the first aperture, and a liquid aspiration channel, which extends from the second aperture. The probe also includes a bypass channel, arranged so as to fluidly connect the liquid injection channel to the liquid aspiration channel, as well as a control channel. The latter fluidly connects to the bypass channel, hence forming a junction therewith, so as to define two portions of the bypass channel. These portions includes: a first portion that extends from the junction to the liquid injection channel; and a second portion that extends from that same junction to the liquid aspiration channel. The invention is further directed to methods of operation of a probe as described above, to process a surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Dean Lovchik, David Taylor
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Patent number: 10507465Abstract: A microfluidic probe includes a probe head with a processing surface that includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The probe further includes a liquid injection channel, which leads to the first aperture, and a liquid aspiration channel, which extends from the second aperture. The probe also includes a bypass channel, arranged so as to fluidly connect the liquid injection channel to the liquid aspiration channel, as well as a control channel. The latter fluidly connects to the bypass channel, hence forming a junction therewith, so as to define two portions of the bypass channel. These portions includes: a first portion that extends from the junction to the liquid injection channel; and a second portion that extends from that same junction to the liquid aspiration channel. The invention is further directed to methods of operation of a probe as described above, to process a surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2017Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Dean Lovchik, David Taylor
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Patent number: 10434510Abstract: A microfluidic probe includes a probe head with a processing surface that includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The probe further includes a liquid injection channel, which leads to the first aperture, and a liquid aspiration channel, which extends from the second aperture. The probe also includes a bypass channel, arranged so as to fluidly connect the liquid injection channel to the liquid aspiration channel, as well as a control channel. The latter fluidly connects to the bypass channel, hence forming a junction therewith, so as to define two portions of the bypass channel. These portions includes: a first portion that extends from the junction to the liquid injection channel; and a second portion that extends from that same junction to the liquid aspiration channel. The invention is further directed to methods of operation of a probe as described above, to process a surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Dean Lovchik, David Taylor
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Publication number: 20180318831Abstract: A microfluidic probe includes a probe head with a processing surface that includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The probe further includes a liquid injection channel, which leads to the first aperture, and a liquid aspiration channel, which extends from the second aperture. The probe also includes a bypass channel, arranged so as to fluidly connect the liquid injection channel to the liquid aspiration channel, as well as a control channel. The latter fluidly connects to the bypass channel, hence forming a junction therewith, so as to define two portions of the bypass channel. These portions includes: a first portion that extends from the junction to the liquid injection channel; and a second portion that extends from that same junction to the liquid aspiration channel. The invention is further directed to methods of operation of a probe as described above, to process a surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2017Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Dean Lovchik, David Taylor
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Publication number: 20180318832Abstract: A microfluidic probe includes a probe head with a processing surface that includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The probe further includes a liquid injection channel, which leads to the first aperture, and a liquid aspiration channel, which extends from the second aperture. The probe also includes a bypass channel, arranged so as to fluidly connect the liquid injection channel to the liquid aspiration channel, as well as a control channel. The latter fluidly connects to the bypass channel, hence forming a junction therewith, so as to define two portions of the bypass channel. These portions includes: a first portion that extends from the junction to the liquid injection channel; and a second portion that extends from that same junction to the liquid aspiration channel. The invention is further directed to methods of operation of a probe as described above, to process a surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2017Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Govind Kaigala, Robert Dean Lovchik, David Taylor