Patents by Inventor Sinéad Matthews

Sinéad Matthews 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).

  • Microfluidic device with droplet pre-charge on input
    Patent number: 10369570
    Abstract: An EWOD device includes opposing substrates defining a gap and each including an insulating surface facing the gap. Array elements include electrode elements to which actuation voltages are applied. A pre-charging structure defines a channel in fluid communication with the gap wherein the channel receives an input of a fluid reservoir for generation of the liquid droplet, and the pre-charging structure includes an electrical element electrically exposed to the channel. The electrical element pre-charges the fluid reservoir within the channel, and a portion of the gap containing the liquid droplet spaced apart from the channel is electrically isolated from the electrical element such that the liquid droplet is at a floating electrical potential when located within said portion of the gap. The electrical element may be an electrode portion that is exposed to the channel, or an externally connected pre-charging element inserted into the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited, Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Sinéad Matthews, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Adam Robinson, Tomohiro Kosaka, Takeshi Hara, Tomoko Teranishi
  • MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE WITH DROPLET PRE-CHARGE ON INPUT
    Publication number: 20190030537
    Abstract: An EWOD device includes opposing substrates defining a gap and each including an insulating surface facing the gap. Array elements include electrode elements to which actuation voltages are applied. A pre-charging structure defines a channel in fluid communication with the gap wherein the channel receives an input of a fluid reservoir for generation of the liquid droplet, and the pre-charging structure includes an electrical element electrically exposed to the channel. The electrical element pre-charges the fluid reservoir within the channel, and a portion of the gap containing the liquid droplet spaced apart from the channel is electrically isolated from the electrical element such that the liquid droplet is at a floating electrical potential when located within said portion of the gap. The electrical element may be an electrode portion that is exposed to the channel, or an externally connected pre-charging element inserted into the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Sinéad Matthews, Lesley Ann PARRY-JONES, Adam Robinson, Tomohiro KOSAKA, Takeshi HARA, Tomoko TERANISHI