Patents by Inventor Stacey M. Gifford
Stacey M. Gifford 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: 11872560Abstract: Microfluid chips that comprise one or more microscale and/or mesoscale condenser arrays, which can facilitate particle purification and/or fractionation, are described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus can comprise a layer of a microfluidic chip. The layer can comprise an inlet that can receive fluid, an outlet that can output a purified version of the fluid, and a condenser array coupled between and in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The condenser array can comprise a plurality of pillars arranged in a plurality of columns. Also, a pillar gap sized to facilitate a throughput rate of the fluid of greater than or equal to about 1.0 nanoliter per hour can be located between a first pillar of the plurality of pillars in a first column of the plurality of columns and a second pillar of the plurality of pillars in the first column.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Joshua T. Smith, Stacey M. Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim, Benjamin H. Wunsch
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Patent number: 11754476Abstract: Microscale and/or mesoscale condenser arrays that can facilitate microfluidic separation and/or purification of mesoscale and/or nanoscale particles and methods of operation are described herein. An apparatus comprises a condenser array comprising pillars arranged in a plurality of columns, wherein a pillar gap greater than or equal to about 0.5 micrometers is located between a first pillar of the pillars in a first column of the columns and a second pillar of the plurality of pillars in the first column, and wherein the first pillar is adjacent to the second pillar. The first ratio can be characterized by Dx/Dy is less than or equal to a first defined value, wherein Dx represents a first distance across the lattice in a first direction, wherein Dy represents a second distance across the lattice in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Benjamin H. Wunsch, Joshua T. Smith, Sung-Cheol Kim, Stacey M. Gifford
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Publication number: 20230097357Abstract: Microscale and/or mesoscale condenser arrays that can facilitate microfluidic separation and/or purification of mesoscale and/or nanoscale particles and methods of operation are described herein. An apparatus comprises a condenser array comprising pillars arranged in a plurality of columns, wherein a pillar gap greater than or equal to about 0.5 micrometers is located between a first pillar of the pillars in a first column of the columns and a second pillar of the plurality of pillars in the first column, and wherein the first pillar is adjacent to the second pillar. The first ratio can be characterized by Dx/Dy is less than or equal to a first defined value, wherein Dx represents a first distance across the lattice in a first direction, wherein Dy represents a second distance across the lattice in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Benjamin H. Wunsch, Joshua T. Smith, Sung-Cheol Kim, Stacey M. Gifford
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Patent number: 11566982Abstract: Microscale and/or mesoscale condenser arrays that can facilitate microfluidic separation and/or purification of mesoscale and/or nanoscale particles and methods of operation are described herein. An apparatus comprises a condenser array comprising pillars arranged in a plurality of columns, wherein a pillar gap greater than or equal to about 0.5 micrometers is located between a first pillar of the pillars in a first column of the columns and a second pillar of the plurality of pillars in the first column, and wherein the first pillar is adjacent to the second pillar. The first ratio can be characterized by Dx/Dy is less than or equal to a first defined value, wherein Dx represents a first distance across the lattice in a first direction, wherein Dy represents a second distance across the lattice in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Benjamin H. Wunsch, Joshua T. Smith, Sung-Cheol Kim, Stacey M. Gifford
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Patent number: 11517873Abstract: Methods of liquid-phase synthesis of polymers using polymer substrates and systems for facilitating such methods allow gating of a synthetic reaction into a binary (reacted or unreacted) readout. Polymer substrates are used as carriers for molecular reagents and act as separation tags that allow them to be purified using nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement. Two polymer substrates are linked together by a bond-forming reaction to form a longer polymer that includes a synthetic product. The synthetic product can be purified away from unreacted polymers/reagents using strand-length dependent lateral displacement.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Benjamin H. Wunsch, Stacey M. Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim, Joshua T. Smith
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Patent number: 11172680Abstract: The method comprises contacting a silicon substrate with a silver salt and an acid for a time effective to produce spikes having a first end disposed on the silicon substrate and a second end extending away from the silicon substrate. The spikes have a second end diameter of about 10 nm to about 200 nm, a height of about 100 nm to 10 micrometers, and a density of about 10 to 100 per square microns. The nanostructures provide antimicrobial properties and can be transferred to the surface of various materials such as polymers.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Stacey M. Gifford, Huan Hu, Pablo M. Rojas, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky
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Patent number: 11162948Abstract: Techniques for detection of virus-antibody nanocomplexes using a chip-based pillar array are provided. In one aspect, a method for virus detection is provided. The method includes the steps of: collecting a fluid sample from a virus-bearing source; contacting the fluid sample with an antibody that binds to viruses to form a sample-antibody mixture, wherein the antibody is labeled with a fluorescent tag; separating particles including any antibody-virus complexes, if present, from the sample-antibody mixture using an assay nanopillar array; and detecting the antibody-virus complexes, if present, in the particles from the separating step using fluorescence. A virus detection chip device and a chip-based immunoassay method are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Yann Astier, Stacey M. Gifford, Benjamin H. Wunsch
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Patent number: 11161112Abstract: Techniques for phosphoprotein detection, quantification, and purification using a chip-based pillar array are provided. In one aspect, a method for purifying a protein sample includes: introducing a mixture including the protein sample and an antibody to a nanoDLD array having a plurality of pillars separated by a gap g, wherein the antibody and proteins in the protein sample form antibody-protein complexes having a size that is greater than a size threshold of the nanoDLD array created by the gap g which permits size-based separation of the antibody-protein complexes as the mixture flows through the nanoDLD array; and collecting a purified protein sample containing the antibody-protein complexes from the nanoDLD array. A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device including the nanoDLD array is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Stacey M. Gifford, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Benjamin H. Wunsch
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Patent number: 11116877Abstract: Aspects include methods of fabricating antibacterial surfaces for medical implant devices including patterning a photoresist layer on a silicon substrate and etching the silicon to generate a plurality of nanopillars. Aspects also include removing the photoresist layer from the structure and coating the plurality of nanopillars with a biocompatible film. Aspects also include a system for preventing bacterial infection associated with medical implants including a thin silicon film including a plurality of nanopillars.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2018Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Stacey M. Gifford, Huan Hu, Emily R. Kinser, Roy R. Yu, Sufi Zafar
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Publication number: 20210231543Abstract: Microscale and/or mesoscale condenser arrays that can facilitate microfluidic separation and/or purification of mesoscale and/or nanoscale particles and methods of operation are described herein. An apparatus comprises a condenser array comprising pillars arranged in a plurality of columns, wherein a pillar gap greater than or equal to about 0.5 micrometers is located between a first pillar of the pillars in a first column of the columns and a second pillar of the plurality of pillars in the first column, and wherein the first pillar is adjacent to the second pillar. The first ratio can be characterized by Dx/Dy is less than or equal to a first defined value, wherein Dx represents a first distance across the lattice in a first direction, wherein Dy represents a second distance across the lattice in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2021Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Benjamin H. Wunsch, Joshua T. Smith, Sung-Cheol Kim, Stacey M. Gifford
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Publication number: 20210121844Abstract: Methods of liquid-phase synthesis of polymers using polymer substrates and systems for facilitating such methods allow gating of a synthetic reaction into a binary (reacted or unreacted) readout. Polymer substrates are used as carriers for molecular reagents and act as separation tags that allow them to be purified using nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement. Two polymer substrates are linked together by a bond-forming reaction to form a longer polymer that includes a synthetic product. The synthetic product can be purified away from unreacted polymers/reagents using strand-length dependent lateral displacement.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2019Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventors: Benjamin H. Wunsch, Stacey M. Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim, Joshua T. Smith
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Publication number: 20210114028Abstract: Microfluid chips that comprise one or more microscale and/or mesoscale condenser arrays, which can facilitate particle purification and/or fractionation, are described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus can comprise a layer of a microfluidic chip. The layer can comprise an inlet that can receive fluid, an outlet that can output a purified version of the fluid, and a condenser array coupled between and in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The condenser array can comprise a plurality of pillars arranged in a plurality of columns. Also, a pillar gap sized to facilitate a throughput rate of the fluid of greater than or equal to about 1.0 nanoliter per hour can be located between a first pillar of the plurality of pillars in a first column of the plurality of columns and a second pillar of the plurality of pillars in the first column.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Joshua T. Smith, Stacey M. Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim, Benjamin H. Wunsch
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Patent number: 10946380Abstract: Microfluid chips that comprise one or more microscale and/or mesoscale condenser arrays, which can facilitate particle purification and/or fractionation, are described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus can comprise a layer of a microfluidic chip. The layer can comprise an inlet that can receive fluid, an outlet that can output a purified version of the fluid, and a condenser array coupled between and in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The condenser array can comprise a plurality of pillars arranged in a plurality of columns. Also, a pillar gap sized to facilitate a throughput rate of the fluid of greater than or equal to about 1.0 nanoliter per hour can be located between a first pillar of the plurality of pillars in a first column of the plurality of columns and a second pillar of the plurality of pillars in the first column.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Joshua T. Smith, Stacey M. Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim, Benjamin H. Wunsch
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Patent number: 10814046Abstract: Aspects include methods of fabricating antibacterial surfaces for medical implant devices including patterning a photoresist layer on a silicon substrate and etching the silicon to generate a plurality of nanopillars. Aspects also include removing the photoresist layer from the structure and coating the plurality of nanopillars with a biocompatible film. Aspects also include a system for preventing bacterial infection associated with medical implants including a thin silicon film including a plurality of nanopillars.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Stacey M. Gifford, Huan Hu, Emily R. Kinser, Roy R. Yu, Sufi Zafar
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Patent number: 10781475Abstract: A technique relates to separation of a mixture. A nano-deterministic lateral displacement (nanoDLD) array is configured to separate the mixture in a fluid. A feedback system is configured to control a velocity of the fluid through the nanoDLD array. The feedback system is configured to control the velocity of the fluid to separate one or more entities in the mixture.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2019Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Stacey M. Gifford, Joshua T. Smith, Benjamin H. Wunsch
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Patent number: 10736997Abstract: Aspects include methods of fabricating antibacterial surfaces for medical implant devices including patterning a photoresist layer on a silicon substrate and etching the silicon to generate a plurality of nanopillars. Aspects also include removing the photoresist layer from the structure and coating the plurality of nanopillars with a biocompatible film. Aspects also include a system for preventing bacterial infection associated with medical implants including a thin silicon film including a plurality of nanopillars.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Stacey M. Gifford, Huan Hu, Emily R. Kinser, Roy R. Yu, Sufi Zafar
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Patent number: 10610621Abstract: Aspects include methods of fabricating antibacterial surfaces for medical implant devices including patterning a photoresist layer on a silicon substrate and etching the silicon to generate a plurality of nanopillars. Aspects also include removing the photoresist layer from the structure and coating the plurality of nanopillars with a biocompatible film. Aspects also include a system for preventing bacterial infection associated with medical implants including a thin silicon film including a plurality of nanopillars.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Stacey M. Gifford, Huan Hu, Emily R. Kinser, Roy R. Yu, Sufi Zafar
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Publication number: 20190331561Abstract: Techniques for phosphoprotein detection, quantification, and purification using a chip-based pillar array are provided. In one aspect, a method for purifying a protein sample includes: introducing a mixture including the protein sample and an antibody to a nanoDLD array having a plurality of pillars separated by a gap g, wherein the antibody and proteins in the protein sample form antibody-protein complexes having a size that is greater than a size threshold of the nanoDLD array created by the gap g which permits size-based separation of the antibody-protein complexes as the mixture flows through the nanoDLD array; and collecting a purified protein sample containing the antibody-protein complexes from the nanoDLD array. A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device including the nanoDLD array is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventors: Stacey M. Gifford, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Benjamin H. Wunsch
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Patent number: 10386276Abstract: Techniques for phosphoprotein detection, quantification, and purification using a chip-based pillar array are provided. In one aspect, a method for purifying a protein sample includes: introducing a mixture including the protein sample and an antibody to a nanoDLD array having a plurality of pillars separated by a gap g, wherein the antibody and proteins in the protein sample form antibody-protein complexes having a size that is greater than a size threshold of the nanoDLD array created by the gap g which permits size-based separation of the antibody-protein complexes as the mixture flows through the nanoDLD array; and collecting a purified protein sample containing the antibody-protein complexes from the nanoDLD array. A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device including the nanoDLD array is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2016Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Stacey M. Gifford, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Benjamin H. Wunsch
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Publication number: 20190226953Abstract: Microscale and/or mesoscale condenser arrays that can facilitate microfluidic separation and/or purification of mesoscale and/or nanoscale particles and methods of operation are described herein. An apparatus comprises a condenser array comprising pillars arranged in a plurality of columns, wherein a pillar gap greater than or equal to about 0.5 micrometers is located between a first pillar of the pillars in a first column of the columns and a second pillar of the plurality of pillars in the first column, and wherein the first pillar is adjacent to the second pillar. The first ratio can be characterized by Dx/Dy is less than or equal to a first defined value, wherein Dx represents a first distance across the lattice in a first direction, wherein Dy represents a second distance across the lattice in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2018Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: Benjamin H. Wunsch, Joshua T. Smith, Sung-Cheol Kim, Stacey M. Gifford