Patents by Inventor Stephen Quake
Stephen Quake 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: 20070248971Abstract: The invention provides a microfluidic device having a plurality of chambers each containing separately deposited reagents. The invention also provides an efficient PCR-based method for producing a linear expression template. The invention also provides methods for analyzing interactions between molecules, involving flow-deposition of expression templates on the substrate of chambers in a microfluidic device, and expressing proteins from the templates.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2007Publication date: October 25, 2007Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Sebastian Maerkl, Stephen Quake
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Publication number: 20070224617Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for surface patterning the substrate of a microfluidic device, and for detection and analysis of interactions between molecules by mechanically trapping a molecular complex while substantially expelling solvent and unbound solute molecules. Examples of molecular complexes include protein-protein complexes and protein-nucleic acid complexes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2007Publication date: September 27, 2007Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Stephen Quake, Sebastian Maerkl
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Publication number: 20070209574Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and methods facilitating the growth and analysis of crystallized materials such as proteins. In accordance with one embodiment, a crystal growth architecture is separated by a permeable membrane from an adjacent well having a much larger volume. The well may be configured to contain a fluid having an identity and concentration similar to the solvent and crystallizing agent employed in crystal growth, with diffusion across the membrane stabilizing that process. Alternatively, the well may be configured to contain a fluid having an identity calculated to affect the crystallization process. In accordance with the still other embodiment, the well may be configured to contain a material such as a cryo-protectant, which is useful in protecting the crystalline material once formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2007Publication date: September 13, 2007Applicants: California Institute of Technology, The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Carl Hansen, Stephen Quake, James Berger
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Publication number: 20070209572Abstract: High throughput screening of crystallization of a target material is accomplished by simultaneously introducing a solution of the target material into a plurality of chambers of a microfabricated fluidic device. The microfabricated fluidic device is then manipulated to vary the solution condition in the chambers, thereby simultaneously providing a large number of crystallization environments. Control over changed solution conditions may result from a variety of techniques, including but not limited to metering volumes of crystallizing agent into the chamber by volume exclusion, by entrapment of volumes of crystallizing agent determined by the dimensions of the microfabricated structure, or by cross-channel injection of sample and crystallizing agent into an array of junctions defined by intersecting orthogonal flow channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2007Publication date: September 13, 2007Applicants: California Institute of Technology, The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Carl Hansen, Stephen Quake, James Berger
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Publication number: 20070202525Abstract: The present methods are exemplified by a process in which maternal blood containing fetal DNA is diluted to a nominal value of approximately 0.5 genome equivalent of DNA per reaction sample. Digital PCR is then be used to detect aneuploidy, such as the trisomy that causes Down Syndrome. Since aneuploidies do not present a mutational change in sequence, and are merely a change in the number of chromosomes, it has not been possible to detect them in a fetus without resorting to invasive techniques such as amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling. Digital amplification allows the detection of aneuploidy using massively parallel amplification and detection methods, examining, e.g., 10,000 genome equivalents.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2007Publication date: August 30, 2007Inventors: Stephen Quake, Hei-Mun Fan
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Publication number: 20070169686Abstract: High throughput screening of crystallization of a target material is accomplished by simultaneously introducing a solution of the target material into a plurality of chambers of a microfabricated fluidic device. The microfabricated fluidic device is then manipulated to vary the solution condition in the chambers, thereby simultaneously providing a large number of crystallization environments. Control over changed solution conditions may result from a variety of techniques, including but not limited to metering volumes of crystallizing agent into the chamber by volume exclusion, by entrapment of volumes of crystallizing agent determined by the dimensions of the microfabricated structure, or by cross-channel injection of sample and crystallizing agent into an array of junctions defined by intersecting orthogonal flow channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2007Publication date: July 26, 2007Applicants: California Institute of Technology, The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Stephen Quake, Carl Hansen, James Berger
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Publication number: 20070152144Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an apertureless microscope for observing one or more features to a molecular sensitivity on objects are described. More particularly, the method includes moving a tip of a probe coupled to a cantilever in a vicinity of a feature of a sample, which emits one or more photons at a detected rate relative to a background rate of the sample based upon the presence of the tip of the probe in the vicinity of the feature. The method modifies the detected rate of the feature of the sample, whereupon the modifying of the detected rate causes the feature of the sample to enhance relative to background rate of the feature.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2005Publication date: July 5, 2007Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Stephen Quake, Guillaume Lessard, Lawrence Wade, Jordan Gerton
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Publication number: 20070141599Abstract: This invention relates in general to a method for molecular fingerprinting. The method can be used for forensic identification (e.g. DNA fingerprinting, especially by VNTR), bacterial typing, and human/animal pathogen diagnosis. More particularly, molecules such as polynucleotides (e.g. DNA) can be assessed or sorted by size in a microfabricated device that analyzes the polynucleotides according to restriction fragment length polymorphism. In a microfabricated device according to the invention, DNA fragments or other molecules can be rapidly and accurately typed using relatively small samples, by measuring for example the signal of an optically-detectable (e.g., fluorescent) reporter associated with the polynucleotide fragments.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2006Publication date: June 21, 2007Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Stephen Quake, Hou-Pu Chou
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Publication number: 20070134807Abstract: A method and a microfluidic device are provided to regulate fluid flow by equalization of channel pressures. The fluid flow is regulated by way of valve-actuated channel pressures.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2006Publication date: June 14, 2007Inventors: Xiaoyan Bao, Stephen Quake, Melvin Simon
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Patent number: 7216671Abstract: A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2005Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Marc Unger, Hou-Pu Chou, Todd Thorsen, Axel Scherer, Stephen Quake, Markus Enzelberger, Mark Adams, Carl Hansen
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Publication number: 20070059494Abstract: A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2006Publication date: March 15, 2007Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Marc Unger, Hou-Pu Chou, Todd Thorsen, Axel Scherer, Stephen Quake
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Publication number: 20070054293Abstract: Microfluidic nucleic acid hybridization systems are described that include a first reaction chamber to hold an analyte solution comprising nucleic acids, and a first mixing channel in fluid communication with the chamber. The mixing channel includes a textured surface to mix the analyte solution. The systems may also include pump coupled to the mixing channel to circulate the analyte solution through the reaction chamber and the mixing channel, and an input port in fluid communication with the mixing channel and the reaction chamber to supply the analyte solution to the microfluidic system. The input port can be closed to create a closed circulation path for the analyte solution through the reaction chamber and the mixing channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2006Publication date: March 8, 2007Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Jian Liu, Brian Williams, Barbara Wold, Stephen Quake
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Publication number: 20060196409Abstract: High throughput screening of crystallization of a target material is accomplished by simultaneously introducing a solution of the target material into a plurality of chambers of a microfabricated fluidic device. The microfabricated fluidic device is then manipulated to vary the solution condition in the chambers, thereby simultaneously providing a large number of crystallization environments. Control over changed solution conditions may result from a variety of techniques, including but not limited to metering volumes of crystallizing agent into the chamber by volume exclusion, by entrapment of volumes of crystallizing agent determined by the dimensions of the microfabricated structure, or by cross-channel injection of sample and crystallizing agent into an array of junctions defined by intersecting orthogonal flow channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2006Publication date: September 7, 2006Applicants: California Institute of Technology, The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Stephen Quake, Carl Hansen, James Berger
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Publication number: 20060171025Abstract: Microfabricated lenses, e.g., solid immersion lens (SIL) structures, are provided along with techniques for constructing these lens structures, as well as selected applications of such lens structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2006Publication date: August 3, 2006Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Stephen Quake, Yann Gambin
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Publication number: 20060054228Abstract: A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2005Publication date: March 16, 2006Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Marc Unger, Hou-Pu Chou, Todd Thorsen, Axel Scherer, Stephen Quake, Jian Liu, Mark Adams, Carl Hansen
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Publication number: 20060046258Abstract: The invention provides methods for determining the presence of a disease by comparing a sequence from a single target molecule with a predetermined sequence that is associated with a specific disease.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2005Publication date: March 2, 2006Inventors: Stanley Lapidus, Stephen Quake
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Publication number: 20060035273Abstract: The invention relates to a microfabricated device and methods of using the device for analyzing and sorting polynucleotide molecules by size.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2005Publication date: February 16, 2006Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Stephen Quake, Wayne Volksmuth
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Publication number: 20060019267Abstract: The present invention features methods for analyzing a sequence of a target polynucleotide by detecting incorporation of a nucleotide into its complementary strand, where the polynucleotides may be bound at high density and at single molecule resolution. The invention also features labeling moieties and blocking moieties, which facilitate chain termination or choking. Certain aspects provide for temporal detection of the incorporations; some allow for asynchronous analysis of a plurality of target polynucleotides and the use of short sequencing cycles. Surface chemistry aspects of the sequencing methods are also provided. The method may also be used in kits, said kits designed to carry out and facilitate the methods provided herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2005Publication date: January 26, 2006Inventor: Stephen Quake
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Publication number: 20060019263Abstract: Methods for high speed, high throughput analysis of polynucleotide sequences, and apparatuses with which to carry out the methods are provided in the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2004Publication date: January 26, 2006Inventors: Stephen Quake, Emil Kartalov
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Publication number: 20050269509Abstract: A method for fabricating assembled structures. The method includes providing a tip structure, which has a first end, a second end, and a length defined between the first end and the second end. The second end is a free end. The method includes attaching a nano-sized structure along a portion of the length of the tip structure to extend a total length of the tip structure to include the length of the tip structure and a first length associated with the nano-sized structure. The method includes shortening the nano-sized structure from the first length to a second length. The method also includes pushing the nano-sized structure in a direction parallel to the second length to reduce the second length to a third length of the nano-sized structure along the direction parallel to the second length to cause the nano-sized structure to move along a portion of the length of the tip structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2005Publication date: December 8, 2005Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Charles Collier, Ma Ziyang, Stephen Quake, Ian Shapiro, Lawrence Wade