Patents by Inventor Travis Lee

Travis Lee 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: 11543383
    Abstract: A liquid droplet manipulation system has a substrate with at least one electrode array and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes of the electrode array and for providing the electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting. A working film is placed on top of the electrodes for manipulating samples in liquid droplets with the electrode array. At least one selected individual electrode of the electrode array is configured to be penetrated by light of an optical detection system for the optical inspection or analysis of samples in liquid droplets that are located on the working film. Also disclosed is working film that is to be placed on the electrode array and a cartridge that includes such a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Travis Lee, Michael Benjamin Franklin, Kailiang Wang, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
  • Patent number: 11466242
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing electroporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Zymergen Inc.
    Inventors: John Cesarek, Travis Lee, Richard Hansen
  • Publication number: 20200325433
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing electroporation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: John Cesarek, Travis Lee, Richard Hansen
  • Patent number: 10731121
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing electroporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Zymergen Inc.
    Inventors: John Cesarek, Travis Lee, Richard Hansen
  • Publication number: 20190241859
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing electroporation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: John Cesarek, Travis Lee, Richard Hansen
  • Patent number: 10233419
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing electroporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Zymergen Inc.
    Inventors: John Cesarek, Travis Lee, Richard Hansen
  • Publication number: 20180074013
    Abstract: A liquid droplet manipulation system has a substrate with at least one electrode array and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes of the electrode array and for providing the electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting. A working film is placed on top of the electrodes for manipulating samples in liquid droplets with the electrode array. At least one selected individual electrode of the electrode array is configured to be penetrated by light of an optical detection system for the optical inspection or analysis of samples in liquid droplets that are located on the working film. Also disclosed is working film that is to be placed on the electrode array and a cartridge that includes such a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: TRAVIS LEE, Michael Benjamin Franklin, Kailiang Wang, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
  • Patent number: 9915631
    Abstract: A digital microfluidics system for manipulating samples in liquid droplets within a gap between a first hydrophobic surface of a bottom layer and a second hydrophobic surface of at least one disposable cartridge. Disposable cartridges comprise a body and/or a rigid cover plate. The bottom layer of each disposable cartridge is a flexible film that is sealingly attached to the body or plate. The cartridge has no spacer between the first and second hydrophobic surfaces. When using these cartridges, the bottom layers configured as a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets thereon, is placed on an electrode array of a digital microfluidics system. The array has individual electrodes. The digital microfluidics system also comprises a central control unit for controlling the selection of the individual electrodes of the electrode array and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Daniel Hoffmeyer, Tiffany Lay, Travis Lee
  • Publication number: 20180002652
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing electroporation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: John Cesarek, Travis Lee, Richard Hansen
  • Patent number: 9857332
    Abstract: A liquid droplet manipulation system has a substrate with at least one electrode array and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes of the electrode array and for providing the electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting. A working film is placed on top of the electrodes for manipulating samples in liquid droplets with the electrode array. At least one selected individual electrode of the electrode array is configured to be penetrated by light of an optical detection system for the optical inspection or analysis of samples in liquid droplets that are located on the working film. Also disclosed is working film that is to be placed on the electrode array and a cartridge that includes such a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Travis Lee, Michael Benjamin Franklin, Kailiang Wang, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
  • Patent number: 9784711
    Abstract: A disposable cartridge used in a digital microfluidics system has a bottom layer with first hydrophobic surface, a rigid cover plate with second hydrophobic surface, and a gap there-between. The bottom layer is a flexible film on an uppermost surface of a cartridge accommodation site of a system, attracted to and spread over the uppermost surface by an underpressure. A lower surface of the plate and the flexible bottom layer are sealed to each other. The assembled cartridge is removed from the cartridge accommodation site in one piece and potentially includes samples and processing fluids. The system has a base unit and a cartridge accommodation site with an electrode array of individual electrodes and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the gap by electrowetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Daniel Hoffmeyer, Tiffany Lay, Travis Lee, Marc N. Feiglin, Werner Halg, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
  • Patent number: 9377439
    Abstract: A disposable cartridge had body, bottom layer with first hydrophobic surface, top layer with a second hydrophobic surface, and gap between. The bottom layer is a flexible film sealingly attached at its circumference to the top layer. No spacer is between the layers. The top layer has loading sites for transferring processing liquids into the gap. In use, the bottom layer is a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets and is placed on an electrode array of a digital microfluidics system having base unit with cartridge accommodation site and electrode array at the site. The electrode array is supported by a bottom substrate that extends in a first plane and has individual electrodes. The system also includes a central control unit for controlling selection of the electrodes and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the gap by electrowetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Travis Lee, Tiffany Lay, Bruce Richardson, S. Nicholas Reimitz
  • Patent number: 9132398
    Abstract: A microfluidic device for analyzing a sample of interest is provided. The microfluidic device can comprise a microfluidic device body, wherein the microfluidic device body comprises a sample preparation area, a nucleic acid amplification area, a nucleic acid analysis area, and a network of fluid channels. Each of the sample preparation area, the nucleic acid amplification area and the nucleic acid analysis area are fluidly interconnected to at least one of the other two areas by at least one of the fluid channels. Using the microfluidic device, sample preparation can be combined with amplification of a biologically active molecule, and a suitable biological sample can be provided for analysis and/or detection of a molecule of interest. The small-scale apparatus and methods provided are easier, faster, less expensive, and equally efficacious compared to larger scale equipment for the preparation and analysis of a biological sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: RHEONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Peng Zhou, Lincoln C. Young, Todd Roswech, Gwendolyn Spizz, Zongyuan Chen, Benjamin W. Thomas, Travis Lee
  • Publication number: 20150144489
    Abstract: A disposable cartridge used in a digital microfluidics system has a bottom layer with first hydrophobic surface, a rigid cover plate with second hydrophobic surface, and a gap there-between. The bottom layer is a flexible film on an uppermost surface of a cartridge accommodation site of a system, attracted to and spread over the uppermost surface by an underpressure. A lower surface of the plate and the flexible bottom layer are sealed to each other. The assembled cartridge is removed from the cartridge accommodation site in one piece and potentially includes samples and processing fluids. The system has a base unit and a cartridge accommodation site with an electrode array of individual electrodes and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the gap by electrowetting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Daniel Hoffmeyer, Tiffany Lay, Travis Lee, Marc N. Feiglin, Werner Halg, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
  • Patent number: 8943719
    Abstract: Greeting cards can be organized into multiple sender profiles. Greeting cards for each profile are displayed in one or more displays. The display can include one or more tiered display panels. Each tiered display panel can include multiple rows of pockets for displaying greeting cards in a full-facing or partial facing manner and captions at one or more of the pockets to display the internal content of the greeting cards. The display also can include a display panel identifying the sender profile associated with the apparatus. Each sender profile can be assigned a unique color which is applied to the display panel associated with the respective sender profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: Julie Post-Smith, Steve Laserson, Anne Marie Thomas, Margey Lowery, Sharon Schneider, Carly Price, Valeria Cardoso, Christian Schmidt, Mark Jones, Paul Mougey, Travis Lee, John Grimley, Jay Highland, Katie Doran, Lori Mukoyama
  • Publication number: 20140353157
    Abstract: A digital microfluidics system for manipulating samples in liquid droplets within a gap between a first hydrophobic surface of a bottom layer and a second hydrophobic surface of at least one disposable cartridge. Disposable cartridges comprise a body and/or a rigid cover plate. The bottom layer of each disposable cartridge is a flexible film that is sealingly attached to the body or plate. The cartridge has no spacer between the first and second hydrophobic surfaces. When using these cartridges, the bottom layers configured as a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets thereon, is placed on an electrode array of a digital microfluidics system. The array has individual electrodes. The digital microfluidics system also comprises a central control unit for controlling the selection of the individual electrodes of the electrode array and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel Hoffmeyer, Tiffany Lay, Travis Lee
  • Patent number: 8821705
    Abstract: A digital microfluidics system manipulates samples in liquid droplets within disposable cartridges and has disposable cartridges each with a bottom layer, a top layer and a gap therebetween. A base unit with cartridge accommodation sites and at least one electrode array with electrodes works with a cover plate at the sites and a control unit for controlling selection of the electrodes and for providing them with voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the cartridges by electrowetting. The cover plate has an electrically conductive material that extends parallel to the array. A selection of disposable cartridges and a method for manipulating samples in liquid droplets that adhere to a hydrophobic surface can be used with the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Torleif Ove Bjornson, Marc Nathan Feiglin, Michael Benjamin Franklin, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, Travis Lee, Kailiang Wang
  • Publication number: 20130134039
    Abstract: A digital microfluidics system manipulates samples in liquid droplets within disposable cartridges and has disposable cartridges each with a bottom layer, a top layer and a gap therebetween. A base unit with cartridge accommodation sites and at least one electrode array with electrodes works with a cover plate at the sites and a control unit for controlling selection of the electrodes and for providing them with voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the cartridges by electrowetting. The cover plate has an electrically conductive material that extends parallel to the array. A selection of disposable cartridges and a method for manipulating samples in liquid droplets that adhere to a hydrophobic surface can be used with the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Torleif Ove Bjornson, Marc Nathan Feiglin, Michael Benjamin Franklin, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, Travis Lee, Kailiang Wang
  • Patent number: 8340477
    Abstract: In some embodiments, provided are methods and reading devices with image capture capabilities for efficiently capturing multiple images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ben Foss, Leyla Najafi, David Poisner, Gretchen Anderson, Jeff Witt, Daniel Senatore, Matthew Peterson, Travis Lee
  • Publication number: 20120115738
    Abstract: A microfluidic device for analyzing a sample of interest is provided. The microfluidic device can comprise a microfluidic device body, wherein the microfluidic device body comprises a sample preparation area, a nucleic acid amplification area, a nucleic acid analysis area, and a network of fluid channels. Each of the sample preparation area, the nucleic acid amplification area and the nucleic acid analysis area are fluidly interconnected to at least one of the other two areas by at least one of the fluid channels. Using the microfluidic device, sample preparation can be combined with amplification of a biologically active molecule, and a suitable biological sample can be provided for analysis and/or detection of a molecule of interest. The small-scale apparatus and methods provided are easier, faster, less expensive, and equally efficacious compared to larger scale equipment for the preparation and analysis of a biological sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Peng Zhou, Lincoln C. Young, Todd Roswech, Gwendolyn Spizz, Zongyuan Chen, Benjamin W. Thomas, Travis Lee