Patents by Inventor Stuart Polwart
Stuart Polwart 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: 8790595Abstract: Non-rigid tape apparatus and fabrication methods for microfluidic processing applications such as gel electrophoresis are provided, where microfluidic processing is performed on selected areas. Parts of the tape are formed by high pressure plastic film forming. Membranes and other structures are self sealing during and after penetration by pipettes and electrical probes. Rigid exoskeleton elements protect the non-rigid parts during processing and facilitate transport of the tape.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Stuart Polwart, Joel Fearnley, Douglas Roy, Peter Ghazal
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Publication number: 20130115714Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of performing the western blot analytical technique, wherein the method comprises carrying out the following steps in the following order: a), pre-staining the proteins within a sample; b). separating the proteins using gel electrophoresis; c). analysing the separated proteins to determine the total protein load and/or at least one housekeeping protein load; d). transferring the proteins onto at least one membrane; e). probing the separated proteins to detect a target protein; and f). analysing the probed proteins to determine the target protein's molecular weight and/or load.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2011Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES INCInventors: Kenneth G. Macnamara, Stuart Polwart
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Publication number: 20130071303Abstract: A membrane incubation device, wherein the membrane incubation device is adapted to incubate sections of at least one membrane individually.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2011Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: LAB901 LIMITEDInventors: Kenneth G. Macnamara, Stuart Polwart, David Barlow
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Publication number: 20120257470Abstract: Provided is a microfluidic mixing system comprising a loop system for transferring one or more fluids, wherein the loop system comprises a plurality of sub loops, each sub loop formed from one or more common channels shared with at least one other sub loop and completed by an outer channel portion that is not shared by any other sub loop, and wherein the outer channel portion of each sub loop comprises one or more valves such that the sub loop is capable of isolation from all other sub loops and each common channel comprises one or more valves such that the common channel is capable of isolation from the remainder of the loop system, and wherein one or more sub loops in the system comprise valves that are configured to enable peristaltic mixing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2010Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicant: ITI SCOTLAND LIMITEDInventors: Julien Chapron, Stuart Polwart, Jonathan Salmon
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Publication number: 20120195809Abstract: Non-rigid tape apparatus and fabrication methods for microfluidic processing applications such as gel electrophoresis are provided, where microfluidic processing is performed on selected areas. Parts of the tape are formed by high pressure plastic film forming. Membranes and other structures are self sealing during and after penetration by pipettes and electrical probes. Rigid exoskeleton elements protect the non-rigid parts during processing and facilitate transport of the tape.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2012Publication date: August 2, 2012Applicant: AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Stuart Polwart, Joel Fearnley, Douglas Roy, Peter Ghazal
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Patent number: 8124029Abstract: Non-rigid tape apparatus and fabrication methods for microfluidic processing applications such as gel electrophoresis are provided, where microfluidic processing is performed on selected areas. Parts of the tape are formed by high pressure plastic film forming. Membranes and other structures are self sealing during and after penetration by pipettes and electrical probes. Rigid exoskeleton elements protect the non-rigid parts during processing and facilitate transport of the tape.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2002Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: LAB901 LimitedInventors: Stuart Polwart, Joel Fearnley, Douglas Roy, Peter Ghazal
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Patent number: 8101137Abstract: An analysis instrument for processing a microfluidic device, having sample storage means, a microfluidic device holder, sample loading means for loading sample into a microfluidic device disposed in the holder, processing means for enabling a reaction in a microfluidic device, and detection means for detecting and/or measuring the reaction is disclosed. The microfluidic device holder is adapted to hold the microfluidic device including a tape in position for processing and/or detection. A microfluidic processing device is also disclosed which includes a reaction chamber, and a sample loading chamber into which a sample is injectable. The reaction chamber is operatively connected to the sample loading chamber. A cover extends across at least part of the sample loading chamber. The cover and the reaction chamber include pierceable material and are separated by an overspill cavity configured to accept any overspill of an injected sample.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2006Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Lab901 LimitedInventors: Stuart Polwart, Joel Fearnley, Kenneth G. Macnamara, Urs Lamb
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Publication number: 20100233675Abstract: Provided is a method for separating two or more analytes in a fluid, which method comprises: (a) binding each different analyte to a different functional particle in one or more binding zones, to produce two or more bound analytes; (b) allowing the bound analytes to move through a separating conduit to two or more separate functional zones; wherein, each different functional particle has, or can be controlled to have, a different function in the fluid as compared with the other functional particles; and wherein the separating conduit separates into two or more functional conduits, such that the separating conduit serves to separate the bound analytes into the separate functional conduits by means of the different functions of the different functional particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2007Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: ITI SCOTLAND LIMITEDInventors: Denise Barrault, Stuart Polwart, David Thomson, David Pritchard, Erling Sundrehagen
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Publication number: 20100175999Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfluidic device, comprising a laminate of first and second films, one or each film including an integrally thermoformed structure such that the films together define an enclosed volume (19) for fluid containment therebetween, characterised in that each film itself comprises a laminate of a relatively higher softening temperature thermoplastic polymeric material (14,17) and with respect thereto, a relatively lower melt temperature thermoplastic polymeric material (15,16), the respective relatively low melt temperature thermoplastic polymeric materials of each film being melted together to attach the said first and second films together. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing the microfluidic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2008Publication date: July 15, 2010Inventors: David Barlow, David Thompson, Ken MacNamara, Stuart Polwart
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Publication number: 20100126857Abstract: An analysis instrument for processing a microfluidic device, having sample storage means, a microfluidic device holder, sample loading means for loading sample into a microfluidic device disposed in the holder, processing means for enabling a reaction in a microfluidic device, and detection means for detecting and/or measuring the reaction is disclosed. The microfluidic device holder is adapted to hold the microfluidic device including a tape in position for processing and/or detection. A microfluidic processing device is also disclosed which includes a reaction chamber, and a sample loading chamber into which a sample is injectable. The reaction chamber is operatively connected to the sample loading chamber. A cover extends across at least part of the sample loading chamber. The cover and the reaction chamber include pierceable material and are separated by an overspill cavity configured to accept any overspill of an injected sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2006Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: Lab901 LimitedInventors: Stuart Polwart, Joel Fearnel, Kenneth G. MacNamara, Urs Lamb
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Publication number: 20100075311Abstract: A cartridge system includes a reagent component for storing one or more reagents and a processing component for processing the one or more reagents in an assay. The reagent component and the processing component are configured to be coupled together to form a cartridge. The reagent component and/or the processing component include at least one compartment configured to accept waste from the assay. The reagent component does not take part in processing the reagents in the assay, except to accept waste from the processing component. In one aspect, the cartridge system further includes a sensing component with at least one sensing element for detecting an analyte. In another aspect, the cartridge system further includes a sample preparation component for preparing a sample for the assay.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2007Publication date: March 25, 2010Applicant: ITI SCOTLAND LIMITEDInventors: Denise Barrault, Stuart Polwart, David Thomson, Jonathan Salmon
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Publication number: 20100047766Abstract: Provided is a method for separating two or more analytes in a fluid, which method comprises: (a) binding each different analyte to a different particle in a binding zone, to produce two or more bound analytes; (b) allowing the bound analytes to move through a separating conduit to two or more separate functional conduits; wherein each different particle has, or can be controlled to have, a different buoyancy in the fluid as compared with the other particles; and wherein the separating conduit is in fluid communication with the two or more functional conduits, each functional conduit being situated at a different height from the other functional conduits; and each functional conduit containing a fluid having a different fluid density from the fluids in the other functional conduits such that each different particle when attached to an analyte has neutral buoyancy in at least one of the functional conduits, thereby allowing separation of the bound analytes by means of the neutral buoyancies of the differentType: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2008Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: ITI SCOTLAND LIMITEDInventors: Denise Barrault, Stuart Polwart, David Thomson
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Publication number: 20090022628Abstract: Non-rigid tape apparatus and fabrication methods for microfluidic processing applications such as gel electrophoresis are provided, where microfluidic processing is performed on selected areas. Parts of the tape are formed by high pressure plastic film forming. Membranes and other structures are self sealing during and after penetration by pipettes and electrical probes. Rigid exoskeleton elements protect the non-rigid parts during processing and facilitate transport of the tape.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2008Publication date: January 22, 2009Inventors: Stuart Polwart, Joel Fearnley, Douglas Roy, Peter Ghazal
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Publication number: 20050089449Abstract: Non-rigid tape apparatus and fabrication methods for microfluidic processing applications such as gel electrophoresis are provided, where microfluidic processing is performed on selected areas. Parts of the tape are formed by high pressure plastic film forming. Membranes and other structures are self sealing during and after penetration by pipettes and electrical probes. Rigid exoskeleton elements protect the non-rigid parts during processing and facilitate transport of the tape.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2002Publication date: April 28, 2005Applicant: Lab 901 LtdInventors: Stuart Polwart, Joel Fearnley, Douglas Roy, Peter Ghazal
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Publication number: 20050079104Abstract: Non-rigid tape apparatus and fabrication methods for microfluidic processing applications such as gel electrophoresis are provided, where microfluidic processing is performed on selected areas. Parts of the tape are formed by high pressure plastic film forming. Membranes and other structures are self sealing during and after penetration by pipettes and electrical probes. Rigid exoskeleton elements protect the non-rigid parts during processing and facilitate transport of the tape.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2002Publication date: April 14, 2005Inventors: Stuart Polwart, Joel Fearnley, Douglas Roy, Peter Ghazal