Patents by Inventor Sufi Zafar

Sufi Zafar 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: 11944968
    Abstract: Techniques regarding one or more microfluidic chips with integrated electronic sensors are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can regard an apparatus that can comprise a conductive plug of a reference electrode structure, the conductive plug extending from within a microfluidic channel to within a reference fluid holding chamber that is in fluid isolation from the microfluidic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sufi Zafar, Yuksel Temiz, Emmanuel Delamarche
  • Patent number: 11860146
    Abstract: A device includes a housing with a reference electrode having a metal plug extending through the housing. One or more sensing surfaces are disposed on an exterior of the housing, where the one or more sensing surfaces are configured to perform a nutrient measurement of a soil. A moisture sensor is disposed on an exterior of the housing for detecting a moisture level of the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sufi Zafar, Hendrik F. Hamann
  • Patent number: 11845079
    Abstract: A structure, apparatus, and method are disclosed. A silicon substrate with a microfluidic system that receives a sample fluid and prepares an analyte solution received by a reservoir containing a sensing surface is electrically connected to a semiconductor device. The structure includes a component for receiving a sample fluid, a component for preparing the sample fluid, a CRISPR system for cleaving a reporter species when the sample fluid contains a target sequence, a sorting component for separating the cleaved reporter species from the sample fluid and the CRISPR products, a cavity for receiving an analyte solution containing the cleaved reporter species, and a sensing surface in the cavity. The sensing surface detects electrical signals induced by reaction events in the analyte solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Vince Siu, Sufi Zafar, Benjamin Hardy Wunsch
  • Publication number: 20230392178
    Abstract: A structure for culturing cells includes growth medium regions on a surface of the structure. Each of the growth medium regions includes a growth medium surface configured to receive and promote growth in a cell that is being cultured. The structure includes a non-growth medium. The non-growth medium includes a non-growth medium surface configured to receive the cell that is being cultured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Amos Cahan, Guy M. Cohen, Theodore G. van Kessel, Sufi Zafar
  • Patent number: 11815486
    Abstract: A substrate's embedded substrate contact electrode forms a reference voltage point. A gate insulator is spaced outwardly from the substrate and has an exposed outer surface configured for contact with a fluid analyte. A device region is intermediate the substrate and the gate insulator; source and drain regions are adjacent the device region; and a field insulator is spaced outwardly of the drain region, the source region, and the substrate away from the device region. The gate insulator and the field oxide are formed of different materials having different chemical sensitivities to the fluid analyte. The field insulator is coupled to the substrate through the field insulator capacitance. The gate insulator capacitance is much smaller than the field insulator capacitance. The embedded substrate contact electrode can be connected to a separate voltage so that the electrical potential between the substrate and the source region can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul M. Solomon, Sufi Zafar
  • Patent number: 11781166
    Abstract: A structure for culturing cells includes growth medium regions on a surface of the structure. Each of the growth medium regions includes a growth medium surface configured to receive and promote growth in a cell that is being cultured. The structure includes a non-growth medium. The non-growth medium includes a non-growth medium surface configured to receive the cell that is being cultured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Amos Cahan, Guy M. Cohen, Theodore G. van Kessel, Sufi Zafar
  • Publication number: 20230173484
    Abstract: A structure, apparatus, and method are disclosed. A silicon substrate with a microfluidic system that receives a sample fluid and prepares an analyte solution received by a reservoir containing a sensing surface is electrically connected to a semiconductor device. The structure includes a component for receiving a sample fluid, a component for preparing the sample fluid, a CRISPR system for cleaving a reporter species when the sample fluid contains a target sequence, a sorting component for separating the cleaved reporter species from the sample fluid and the CRISPR products, a cavity for receiving an analyte solution containing the cleaved reporter species, and a sensing surface in the cavity. The sensing surface detects electrical signals induced by reaction events in the analyte solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Vince Siu, Sufi Zafar, Benjamin Hardy Wunsch
  • Patent number: 11510598
    Abstract: Embodiments include methods, systems, and apparatus for identification, detection, and removal of cancerous cells from a patient. The apparatus includes an apparatus handle. The apparatus also includes a display including a pH measurement result. The apparatus also includes an apparatus tip including a reference electrode and a plurality of sensing surfaces, wherein each of the plurality of sensing surfaces is connected to a base of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) device. The BJT device further includes a collector and an emitter. The apparatus also includes automation circuitry including a processing unit in communication with the apparatus tip and the display. The plurality of sensing surfaces includes a conducting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Azeem Zafar, Sufi Zafar
  • Publication number: 20220362768
    Abstract: Techniques regarding one or more microfluidic chips with integrated electronic sensors are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can regard an apparatus that can comprise a conductive plug of a reference electrode structure, the conductive plug extending from within a microfluidic channel to within a reference fluid holding chamber that is in fluid isolation from the microfluidic channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Sufi Zafar, Yuksel Temiz, Emmanuel Delamarche
  • Patent number: 11483387
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention include using a controller to control a transceiver to transmit a sensor query signal to a first sensor at a first location of one or more locations having one or more sensors, wherein the sensor query signal energizes a first power supply for the first sensor, wherein energizing the power supply causes the first sensor to perform a sensor reading at the first location and transmit to the transceiver an encoded response signal representing the sensor reading, and analyzing, using the controller, the encoded response signal to determine the sensor reading at the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bruce Gordon Elmegreen, Levente Klein, Sufi Zafar
  • Patent number: 11453001
    Abstract: Techniques regarding one or more microfluidic chips with integrated electronic sensors are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can regard an apparatus that can comprise a conductive plug of a reference electrode structure, the conductive plug extending from within a microfluidic channel to within a reference fluid holding chamber that is in fluid isolation from the microfluidic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sufi Zafar, Yuksel Temiz, Emmanuel Delamarche
  • Patent number: 11448614
    Abstract: An electrochemical sensor array includes a thermal oxide configured to interface with one or more analytes. There is a transistor device layer that includes a plurality of field effect transistors (FETs) on top of the thermal oxide. A contact and wiring structure layer is on top of the transistor device layer and operative to couple to control nodes of each of the plurality of FETs. The contact and wiring structure are on a side opposite to that of the thermal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sufi Zafar, Steven J. Holmes, Bruce B. Doris
  • Patent number: 11428699
    Abstract: A sensor including a surface plasmon resonance detector with a reservoir for containing a liquid sample. The sensor further includes a sensing metallic film positioned within the reservoir so that at least a majority of a surface of the sensing metallic film is to be in contact with the liquid sample being housed within the reservoir. The sensory also includes a semiconductor device having a contact in electrical communication with the sensing metal containing film that is positioned within the reservoir. The semiconductor device measures the net charges of molecules within the liquid sample within a Debye length from the sensing metallic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bobby E. Feller, Jianqiang Lin, Robert D. Miller, Ramachandran Muralidhar, Tak H. Ning, Sufi Zafar
  • Patent number: 11422139
    Abstract: A sensor including a surface plasmon resonance detector with a reservoir for containing a liquid sample. The sensor further includes a sensing metallic film positioned within the reservoir so that at least a majority of a surface of the sensing metallic film is to be in contact with the liquid sample being housed within the reservoir. The sensory also includes a semiconductor device having a contact in electrical communication with the sensing metal containing film that is positioned within the reservoir. The semiconductor device measures the net charges of molecules within the liquid sample within a Debye length from the sensing metallic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bobby E. Feller, Jianqiang Lin, Robert D. Miller, Ramachandran Muralidhar, Tak H. Ning, Sufi Zafar
  • Publication number: 20220220528
    Abstract: A structure for culturing cells includes growth medium regions on a surface of the structure. Each of the growth medium regions includes a growth medium surface configured to receive and promote growth in a cell that is being cultured. The structure includes a non-growth medium. The non-growth medium includes a non-growth medium surface configured to receive the cell that is being cultured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Amos Cahan, Guy M. Cohen, Theodore G. van Kessel, Sufi Zafar
  • Patent number: 11384330
    Abstract: A device for monitoring a cell culture includes one or more electrochemical sensors configured to be positioned adjacent to or embedded within a medium of a cell culture. The one or more electrochemical sensors are configured to generate signals in accordance with the cell culture. A data storage device is configured to receive and store the signals from the one or more electrochemical sensors. A computation device is configured to analyze the signals from the one or more electrochemical sensors to determine cell activity over time using sensitivity information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amos Cahan, Guy M. Cohen, Theodore G. van Kessel, Sufi Zafar
  • Patent number: 11371071
    Abstract: A structure for culturing cells includes growth medium regions on a surface of the structure. Each of the growth medium regions includes a growth medium surface configured to receive and promote growth in a cell that is being cultured. The structure includes a non-growth medium. The non-growth medium includes a non-growth medium surface configured to receive the cell that is being cultured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amos Cahan, Guy M. Cohen, Theodore G. van Kessel, Sufi Zafar
  • Patent number: 11332772
    Abstract: A structure for culturing cells includes growth medium regions on a surface of the structure. Each of the growth medium regions includes a growth medium surface configured to receive and promote growth in a cell that is being cultured. The structure includes a non-growth medium. The non-growth medium includes a non-growth medium surface configured to receive the cell that is being cultured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amos Cahan, Guy M. Cohen, Theodore G. van Kessel, Sufi Zafar
  • Patent number: 11320394
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method of using a sensor. The method includes accessing a sample and exposing the sample to the sensor. The sensor includes a sensing circuit having with a field effect transistor (FET) having a gate structure. A cavity is formed in a fill material that is over the gate structure. A probe of the sensor is within a portion of the cavity. An upper region of the probe is above a top surface of the fill material, and a lower region of the probe is below the top surface of the fill material. The probe structure includes a 3D sensing surface structure, and a liner is formed on the 3D sensing surface and configured to function as a recognition element. A portion of the liner is on the lower region of the probe and positioned between sidewalls of the cavity and the 3D sensing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bruce B. Doris, Eugene J. O'Sullivan, Sufi Zafar
  • Publication number: 20220125347
    Abstract: A wearable monitoring system includes a first flexible substrate encapsulating a current ramping system to provide a current to an electrode in direct contact with a predetermined location of skin of a user to promote bodily fluid secretion, and a second flexible substrate placed over the predetermined location, the second flexible substrate having an integrated electrochemical sensor to determine bodily fluid concentration levels secreted through the skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: BRUCE B. DORIS, SUFI ZAFAR