Patents by Inventor Steven W. Short

Steven W. Short 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).

  • Patent number: 11998914
    Abstract: Biological activity in holding pens in a micro-fluidic device can be assayed by placing in the holding pens capture objects that bind a particular material of interest produced by the biological activity. The biological material of interest that binds to each capture object can then be assessed, either in the micro-fluidic device or after exporting the capture object from the micro-fluidic device. The assessment can be utilized to characterize the biological activity in each holding pen. The biological activity can be production of the biological material of interest. Thus, the biological activity can correspond to or arise from one or more biological cells. Biological cells within a holding pen can be clonal cell colonies. The biological activity of each clonal cell colony can be assayed while maintaining the clonal status of each colony.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: BRUKER CELLULAR ANALYSIS, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin T. Chapman, Daniele Malleo, J. Tanner Nevill, Steven W. Short, Mark P. White, M. Jimena Loureiro
  • Publication number: 20230347347
    Abstract: A microfluidic device can comprise at least one swept region that is fluidically connected to unswept regions. The fluidic connections between the swept region and the unswept regions can enable diffusion but substantially no flow of media between the swept region and the unswept regions. The capability of biological micro-objects to produce an analyte of interest can be assayed in such a microfluidic device. Biological micro-objects in sample material loaded into a microfluidic device can be selected for particular characteristics and disposed into unswept regions. The sample material can then be flowed out of the swept region and an assay material flowed into the swept region. Flows of medium in the swept region do not substantially affect the biological micro-objects in the unswept regions, but any analyte of interest produced by a biological micro-object can diffuse from an unswept region into the swept region, where the analyte can react with the assay material to produce a localized detectable reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Mark P. White, Eric D. Hobbs, J. Tanner Nevill, Daniele Malleo, Steven W. Short
  • Patent number: 11565259
    Abstract: A microfluidic device can comprise at least one swept region that is fluidically connected to unswept regions. The fluidic connections between the swept region and the unswept regions can enable diffusion but substantially no flow of media between the swept region and the unswept regions. The capability of biological micro-objects to produce an analyte of interest can be assayed in such a microfluidic device. Biological micro-objects in sample material loaded into a microfluidic device can be selected for particular characteristics and disposed into unswept regions. The sample material can then be flowed out of the swept region and an assay material flowed into the swept region. Flows of medium in the swept region do not substantially affect the biological micro-objects in the unswept regions, but any analyte of interest produced by a biological micro-object can diffuse from an unswept region into the swept region, where the analyte can react with the assay material to produce a localized detectable reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Berkeley Lights, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark P. White, Eric D. Hobbs, J. Tanner Nevill, Daniele Malleo, Steven W. Short
  • Publication number: 20220388003
    Abstract: Biological activity in holding pens in a micro-fluidic device can be assayed by placing in the holding pens capture objects that bind a particular material of interest produced by the biological activity. The biological material of interest that binds to each capture object can then be assessed, either in the micro-fluidic device or after exporting the capture object from the micro-fluidic device. The assessment can be utilized to characterize the biological activity in each holding pen. The biological activity can be production of the biological material of interest. Thus, the biological activity can correspond to or arise from one or more biological cells. Biological cells within a holding pen can be clonal cell colonies. The biological activity of each clonal cell colony can be assayed while maintaining the clonal status of each colony.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin T. Chapman, Daniele Malleo, J. Tanner Nevill, Steven W. Short, Mark P. White, M. Jimena Loureiro
  • Publication number: 20220379320
    Abstract: Individual biological cells can be selected in a micro-fluidic device and moved into isolation pens in the device. The cells can then be lysed in the pens, releasing nucleic acid material, which can be captured by one or more capture objects in the pens. The capture objects with the captured nucleic acid material can then be removed from the pens. The capture objects can include unique identifiers, allowing each capture object to be correlated to the individual cell from which the nucleic acid material captured by the object originated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin T. Chapman, Eric D. Hobbs, Steven W. Short, Mark P. White, Daniele Malleo
  • Patent number: 11318479
    Abstract: Individual biological cells can be selected in a micro-fluidic device and moved into isolation pens in the device. The cells can then be lysed in the pens, releasing nucleic acid material, which can be captured by one or more capture objects in the pens. The capture objects with the captured nucleic acid material can then be removed from the pens. The capture objects can include unique identifiers, allowing each capture object to be correlated to the individual cell from which the nucleic acid material captured by the object originated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Berkeley Lights, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin T. Chapman, Eric D. Hobbs, Steven W. Short, Mark P. White, Daniele Malleo
  • Patent number: 11305283
    Abstract: Biological activity in holding pens in a micro-fluidic device can be assayed by placing in the holding pens capture objects that bind a particular material of interest produced by the biological activity. The biological material of interest that binds to each capture object can then be assessed, either in the micro-fluidic device or after exporting the capture object from the micro-fluidic device. The assessment can be utilized to characterize the biological activity in each holding pen. The biological activity can be production of the biological material of interest. Thus, the biological activity can correspond to or arise from one or more biological cells. Biological cells within a holding pen can be clonal cell colonies. The biological activity of each clonal cell colony can be assayed while maintaining the clonal status of each colony.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Berkeley Lights, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin T. Chapman, Daniele Malleo, J. Tanner Nevill, Steven W. Short, Mark P. White, M. Jimena Loureiro
  • Patent number: 11192107
    Abstract: A microfluidic apparatus can comprise a dielectrophoresis (DEP) configured section for holding a first liquid medium and selectively inducing net DEP forces in the first liquid medium. The microfluidic apparatus can also comprise an electrowetting (EW) configured section for holding a second liquid medium on an electrowetting surface and selectively changing an effective wetting property of the electrowetting surface. The DEP configured section can be utilized to select and move a micro-object in the first liquid medium. The EW configured section can be utilized to pull a droplet of the first liquid medium into the second liquid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Berkeley Lights, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Y. Khandros, J. Tanner Nevill, Steven W. Short, Ming C. Wu
  • Publication number: 20200230601
    Abstract: A microfluidic device can comprise at least one swept region that is fluidically connected to unswept regions. The fluidic connections between the swept region and the unswept regions can enable diffusion but substantially no flow of media between the swept region and the unswept regions. The capability of biological micro-objects to produce an analyte of interest can be assayed in such a microfluidic device. Biological micro-objects in sample material loaded into a microfluidic device can be selected for particular characteristics and disposed into unswept regions. The sample material can then be flowed out of the swept region and an assay material flowed into the swept region. Flows of medium in the swept region do not substantially affect the biological micro-objects in the unswept regions, but any analyte of interest produced by a biological micro-object can diffuse from an unswept region into the swept region, where the analyte can react with the assay material to produce a localized detectable reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Mark P. White, Eric D. Hobbs, J. Tanner Nevill, Daniele Malleo, Steven W. Short
  • Patent number: 10646871
    Abstract: A microfluidic device can comprise at least one swept region that is fluidically connected to unswept regions. The fluidic connections between the swept region and the unswept regions can enable diffusion but substantially no flow of media between the swept region and the unswept regions. The capability of biological micro-objects to produce an analyte of interest can be assayed in such a microfluidic device. Biological micro-objects in sample material loaded into a microfluidic device can be selected for particular characteristics and disposed into unswept regions. The sample material can then be flowed out of the swept region and an assay material flowed into the swept region. Flows of medium in the swept region do not substantially affect the biological micro-objects in the unswept regions, but any analyte of interest produced by a biological micro-object can diffuse from an unswept region into the swept region, where the analyte can react with the assay material to produce a localized detectable reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Berkeley Lights, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark P. White, Eric D. Hobbs, J. Tanner Nevill, Daniele Malleo, Steven W. Short
  • Publication number: 20200078788
    Abstract: Biological activity in holding pens in a micro-fluidic device can be assayed by placing in the holding pens capture objects that bind a particular material of interest produced by the biological activity. The biological material of interest that binds to each capture object can then be assessed, either in the micro-fluidic device or after exporting the capture object from the micro-fluidic device. The assessment can be utilized to characterize the biological activity in each holding pen. The biological activity can be production of the biological material of interest. Thus, the biological activity can correspond to or arise from one or more biological cells. Biological cells within a holding pen can be clonal cell colonies. The biological activity of each clonal cell colony can be assayed while maintaining the clonal status of each colony.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin T. Chapman, Daniele Malleo, J. Tanner Nevill, Steven W. Short, Mark P. White, M. Jimena Loureiro
  • Patent number: 10376886
    Abstract: Biological activity in holding pens in a micro-fluidic device can be assayed by placing in the holding pens capture objects that bind a particular material of interest produced by the biological activity. The biological material of interest that binds to each capture object can then be assessed, either in the micro-fluidic device or after exporting the capture object from the micro-fluidic device. The assessment can be utilized to characterize the biological activity in each holding pen. The biological activity can be production of the biological material of interest. Thus, the biological activity can correspond to or arise from one or more biological cells. Biological cells within a holding pen can be clonal cell colonies. The biological activity of each clonal cell colony can be assayed while maintaining the clonal status of each colony.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Berkeley Lights, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin T. Chapman, Daniele Malleo, J. Tanner Nevill, Steven W. Short, Mark P. White, M. Jimena Loureiro
  • Publication number: 20190134630
    Abstract: A microfluidic device can comprise at least one swept region that is fluidically connected to unswept regions. The fluidic connections between the swept region and the unswept regions can enable diffusion but substantially no flow of media between the swept region and the unswept regions. The capability of biological micro-objects to produce an analyte of interest can be assayed in such a microfluidic device. Biological micro-objects in sample material loaded into a microfluidic device can be selected for particular characteristics and disposed into unswept regions. The sample material can then be flowed out of the swept region and an assay material flowed into the swept region. Flows of medium in the swept region do not substantially affect the biological micro-objects in the unswept regions, but any analyte of interest produced by a biological micro-object can diffuse from an unswept region into the swept region, where the analyte can react with the assay material to produce a localized detectable reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Mark P. White, Eric D. Hobbs, J. Tanner Nevill, Daniele Malleo, Steven W. Short
  • Patent number: 10245588
    Abstract: A structure for providing a boundary for a chamber in a microfluidic apparatus can comprise dielectrophoresis (DEP) configurations each having an outer surface and electrowetting (EW) configurations each having an electrowetting surface. The DEP configurations can facilitate generating net DEP forces with respect to the outer surfaces of the DEP configurations to move micro-objects on the outer surfaces, and the EW configurations can facilitate changing wetting properties of the electrowetting surfaces to move droplets of liquid medium on the electrowetting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Berkeley Lights, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Y. Khandros, Daniele Malleo, J. Tanner Nevill, Steven W. Short, Ming C. Wu
  • Publication number: 20180272350
    Abstract: Biological activity in holding pens in a micro-fluidic device can be assayed by placing in the holding pens capture objects that bind a particular material of interest produced by the biological activity. The biological material of interest that binds to each capture object can then be assessed, either in the micro-fluidic device or after exporting the capture object from the micro-fluidic device. The assessment can be utilized to characterize the biological activity in each holding pen. The biological activity can be production of the biological material of interest. Thus, the biological activity can correspond to or arise from one or more biological cells. Biological cells within a holding pen can be clonal cell colonies. The biological activity of each clonal cell colony can be assayed while maintaining the clonal status of each colony.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin T. Chapman, Daniele Malleo, J. Tanner Nevill, Steven W. Short, Mark P. White, M. Jimena Loureiro
  • Patent number: 10010882
    Abstract: A microfluidic device can comprise at least one swept region that is fluidically connected to unswept regions. The fluidic connections between the swept region and the unswept regions can enable diffusion but substantially no flow of media between the swept region and the unswept regions. The capability of biological micro-objects to produce an analyte of interest can be assayed in such a microfluidic device. Biological micro-objects in sample material loaded into a microfluidic device can be selected for particular characteristics and disposed into unswept regions. The sample material can then be flowed out of the swept region and an assay material flowed into the swept region. Flows of medium in the swept region do not substantially affect the biological micro-objects in the unswept regions, but any analyte of interest produced by a biological micro-object can diffuse from an unswept region into the swept region, where the analyte can react with the assay material to produce a localized detectable reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Berkeley Lights, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark P. White, Eric D. Hobbs, J. Tanner Nevill, Daniele Malleo, Steven W. Short
  • Publication number: 20180126380
    Abstract: A structure for providing a boundary for a chamber in a microfluidic apparatus can comprise dielectrophoresis (DEP) configurations each having an outer surface and electrowetting (EW) configurations each having an electrowetting surface. The DEP configurations can facilitate generating net DEP forces with respect to the outer surfaces of the DEP configurations to move micro-objects on the outer surfaces, and the EW configurations can facilitate changing wetting properties of the electrowetting surfaces to move droplets of liquid medium on the electrowetting surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Igor Y. Khandros, Daniele Malleo, J. Tanner Nevill, Steven W. Short, Ming C. Wu
  • Patent number: 9895699
    Abstract: A microfluidic optoelectronic tweezers (OET) device can comprise dielectrophoresis (DEP) electrodes that can be activated and deactivated by controlling a beam of light directed onto photosensitive elements that are disposed in locations that are spaced apart from the DEP electrodes. The photosensitive elements can be photodiodes, which can switch the switch mechanisms that connect the DEP electrodes to a power electrode between an off state and an on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Berkeley Lights, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven W. Short, Ming C. Wu
  • Patent number: 9889445
    Abstract: Biological activity in holding pens in a micro-fluidic device can be assayed by placing in the holding pens capture objects that bind a particular material of interest produced by the biological activity. The biological material of interest that binds to each capture object can then be assessed, either in the micro-fluidic device or after exporting the capture object from the micro-fluidic device. The assessment can be utilized to characterize the biological activity in each holding pen. The biological activity can be production of the biological material of interest. Thus, the biological activity can correspond to or arise from one or more biological cells. Biological cells within a holding pen can be clonal cell colonies. The biological activity of each clonal cell colony can be assayed while maintaining the clonal status of each colony.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Berkeley Lights, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin T. Chapman, Daniele Malleo, J. Tanner Nevill, Steven W. Short, Mark P. White, M Jimena Loureiro
  • Publication number: 20170043343
    Abstract: A microfluidic apparatus can comprise a dielectrophoresis (DEP) configured section for holding a first liquid medium and selectively inducing net DEP forces in the first liquid medium. The microfluidic apparatus can also comprise an electrowetting (EW) configured section for holding a second liquid medium on an electrowetting surface and selectively changing an effective wetting property of the electrowetting surface. The DEP configured section can be utilized to select and move a micro-object in the first liquid medium. The EW configured section can be utilized to pull a droplet of the first liquid medium into the second liquid medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Igor Y. KHANDROS, J. Tanner NEVILL, Steven W. SHORT, Ming C. WU