Patents by Inventor Umberto Ulmanella

Umberto Ulmanella 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: 11192105
    Abstract: An analysis system may perform operations on an analyte that may be combined with multiple regents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a volume into which the reagents to be combined with the analyte are aspirated one-by-one. The volume may be formed as a serpentine channel in a valve manifold associated with sippers for aspirating the reagents. The reagents may then be mixed by cycling a pump to move the reagents within the mixing volume or channel. For this, the reagents may be aspirated from a recipient into the volume or channel, ejected back into the recipient, and this process may be performed repeatedly to enhance mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Michael Dai Wang, Umberto Ulmanella, Stephen Wayne Clark, Johanna Lynn Whitacre, Steven Scott Phelps, Michelle L. Alvarez, Michael Adalbert Niziolek, Debra Sue Bryan, Joshua Augustin Darland
  • Publication number: 20210270708
    Abstract: An analysis instrument may perform analytical operations on an analyte that is combined with multiple reagents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a nozzle sipper that aspirates reagents from a recipient, along with an analyte. The reagents may be directed to a volume and may be repeatedly moved into and out of the volume by cycling of a pump. The reagents may be ejected into a destination recipient with the nozzle sipper promoting vorticity in the recipient to enhance mixing. The repeated aspiration and ejection through the nozzle sipper effectively mixes the reagents and the template in an automated or semi-automated fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Michael Dai Wang, Umberto Ulmanella, James Michael Osmus, Stephen Wayne Clark, Johanna Lynn Whitacre, Steven Scott Phelps, Michelle L. Alvarez, Michael Adalbert Niziolek, Debra Sue Bryan, Joshua Augustin Darland
  • Patent number: 11016008
    Abstract: An analysis instrument may perform analytical operations on an analyte that is combined with multiple reagents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a nozzle sipper that aspirates reagents from a recipient, along with an analyte. The reagents may be directed to a volume and may be repeatedly moved into and out of the volume by cycling of a pump. The reagents may be ejected into a destination recipient with the nozzle sipper promoting vorticity in the recipient to enhance mixing. The repeated aspiration and ejection through the nozzle sipper effectively mixes the reagents and the template in an automated or semi-automated fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.
    Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Michael Dai Wang, Umberto Ulmanella, James Michael Osmus, Stephen Wayne Clark, Johanna Lynn Whitacre, Steven Scott Phelps, Michelle L. Alvarez, Michael Adalbert Niziolek, Debra Sue Bryan, Joshua Augustin Darland
  • Publication number: 20210018527
    Abstract: A method includes, under control of control circuitry implementing a mixing protocol, aspirating reagents from multiple different reagent reservoirs into a cache channel. Designated amounts of the reagents are automatically aspirated from the corresponding reagent reservoirs by corresponding sippers based on the mixing protocol implemented by the control circuitry. The method also includes discharging the reagents from the cache channel into a mixing reservoir, and mixing the reagents within the mixing reservoir to form a reagent mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Johanna L. Whitacre, Steven S. Phelps, Bradley Kent Drews, Debra Sue Bryan, II, Michael A. Niziolek, Joshua A. Darland, Umberto Ulmanella, Michael Dai Wang, Michelle L. Alvarez, Stephen Wayne Clark
  • Patent number: 10830784
    Abstract: A method includes, under control of control circuitry implementing a mixing protocol, aspirating reagents from multiple different reagent reservoirs into a cache channel. Designated amounts of the reagents are automatically aspirated from the corresponding reagent reservoirs by corresponding sippers based on the mixing protocol implemented by the control circuitry. The method also includes discharging the reagents from the cache channel into a mixing reservoir, and mixing the reagents within the mixing reservoir to form a reagent mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.
    Inventors: Johanna L. Whitacre, Steven S. Phelps, Bradley Kent Drews, Debra Sue Bryan, II, Michael A. Niziolek, Joshua A. Darland, Umberto Ulmanella, Michael Dai Wang, Michelle L. Alvarez, Stephen Wayne Clark
  • Publication number: 20200230598
    Abstract: An analysis system may perform operations on an analyte that may be combined with multiple regents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a volume into which the reagents to be combined with the analyte are aspirated one-by-one. The volume may be formed as a serpentine channel in a valve manifold associated with sippers for aspirating the reagents. The reagents may then be mixed by cycling a pump to move the reagents within the mixing volume or channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Michael Dai Wang, Umberto Ulmanella, Stephen Wayne Clark, Johanna Lynn Whitacre, Steven Scott Phelps, Michelle L. Alvarez, Michael Adalbert Niziolek, Debra Sue Bryan, Joshua Augustin Darland
  • Patent number: 10625260
    Abstract: An analysis system may perform operations on an analyte that may be combined with multiple regents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a volume into which the reagents to be combined with the analyte are aspirated one-by-one. The volume may be formed as a serpentine channel in a valve manifold associated with sippers for aspirating the reagents. The reagents may then be mixed by cycling a pump to move the reagents within the mixing volume or channel. For this, the reagents may be aspirated from a recipient into the volume or channel, ejected back into the recipient, and this process may be performed repeatedly to enhance mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.
    Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Michael Dai Wang, Umberto Ulmanella, Stephen Wayne Clark, Johanna Lynn Whitacre, Steven Scott Phelps, Michelle L. Alvarez, Michael Adalbert Niziolek, Debra Sue Bryan, Joshua Augustin Darland
  • Patent number: 10537892
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and techniques for providing for enhanced fluid mixing in a sample vial. A plunger head may be removably housed inside of a cap that is attached to a container; the cap may have an opening allowing a shaft, e.g., a probe or sipper shaft, to be inserted into the cap and into the plunger head. The shaft may be used to push the plunger head free of the cap, and then to reciprocate the plunger head within the container to mix the content. Withdrawal of the shaft may then cause the plunger head to disengage from the shaft and remain in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.
    Inventors: James Christopher Blake, Umberto Ulmanella, Bradley Kent Drews, Michael Dai Wang, Stephen Wayne Clark, Michael Adalbert Niziolek
  • Patent number: 10329598
    Abstract: Methods and kits for preparing nucleic acid fragments from a sample of purified nucleic acid are provided. Alternatively, chromatin or other long polymers can be sheared with similar methods and kits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vladimir I. Bashkirov, Umberto Ulmanella, Robert G. Eason, Bradford J. Taft
  • Patent number: 10246736
    Abstract: Methods and kits for preparing nucleic acid fragments from a sample of purified nucleic acid are provided. Alternatively, chromatin or other long polymers can be sheared with similar methods and kits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Vladimir I. Bashkirov, Umberto Ulmanella, Robert G. Eason, Bradford J. Taft
  • Publication number: 20180185842
    Abstract: An analysis system may perform operations on an analyte that may be combined with multiple regents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a volume into which the reagents to be combined with the analyte are aspirated one-by-one. The volume may be formed as a serpentine channel in a valve manifold associated with sippers for aspirating the reagents. The reagents may then be mixed by cycling a pump to move the reagents within the mixing volume or channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Michael Dai Wang, Umberto Ulmanella, Stephen Wayne Clark, Johanna Lynn Whitacre, Steven Scott Phelps, Michelle L. Alvarez, Michael Adalbert Niziolek, Debra Sue Bryan, Joshua Augustin Darland
  • Publication number: 20180188279
    Abstract: A method includes, under control of control circuitry implementing a mixing protocol, aspirating reagents from multiple different reagent reservoirs into a cache channel. Designated amounts of the reagents are automatically aspirated from the corresponding reagent reservoirs by corresponding sippers based on the mixing protocol implemented by the control circuitry. The method also includes discharging the reagents from the cache channel into a mixing reservoir, and mixing the reagents within the mixing reservoir to form a reagent mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Johanna L. Whitacre, Steven S. Phelps, Bradley Kent Drews, Debra Sue Bryan, II, Michael A. Niziolek, Joshua A. Darland, Umberto Ulmanella, Michael Dai Wang, Michelle L. Alvarez, Stephen Wayne Clark
  • Publication number: 20180185840
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and techniques for providing for enhanced fluid mixing in a sample vial. A plunger head may be removably housed inside of a cap that is attached to a container; the cap may have an opening allowing a shaft, e.g., a probe or sipper shaft, to be inserted into the cap and into the plunger head. The shaft may be used to push the plunger head free of the cap, and then to reciprocate the plunger head within the container to mix the content. Withdrawal of the shaft may then cause the plunger head to disengage from the shaft and remain in the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: James Christopher Blake, Umberto Ulmanella, Bradley Kent Drews, Michael Dai Wang, Stephen Wayne Clark, Michael Adalbert Niziolek
  • Publication number: 20180188141
    Abstract: An analysis instrument may perform analytical operations on an analyte that is combined with multiple reagents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a nozzle sipper that aspirates reagents from a recipient, along with an analyte. The reagents may be directed to a volume and may be repeatedly moved into and out of the volume by cycling of a pump. The reagents may be ejected into a destination recipient with the nozzle sipper promoting vorticity in the recipient to enhance mixing. The repeated aspiration and ejection through the nozzle sipper effectively mixes the reagents and the template in an automated or semi-automated fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Michael Dai Wang, Umberto Ulmanella, James Michael Osmus, Stephen Wayne Clark, Johanna Lynn Whitacre, Steven Scott Phelps, Michelle L. Alvarez, Michael Adalbert Niziolek, Debra Sue Bryan, Joshua Augustin Darland
  • Publication number: 20180016624
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multiple analyte detection include a system for distribution of a biological sample that includes a substrate, wherein the substrate includes a plurality of sample chambers, a sample introduction channel for each sample chamber, and a venting channel for each sample chamber. The system may further include a preloaded reagent contained in each sample chamber and configured for nucleic acid analysis of a biological sample that enters the substrate and a sealing instrument configured to be placed in contact with the substrate to seal each sample chamber so as to substantially prevent sample contained in each sample chamber from flowing out of each sample chamber. The substrate can be constructed of detection-compatible and assay-compatible materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Min YUE, David M. LIU, Joy ROY, Yuh-Min CHIANG, Joon Mo YANG, Dennis LEHTO, Charles S. VANN, Nigel P. BEARD, Ian A. HARDING, John R. Van Camp, Alexander DROMARETSKY, Sergey V. ERMAKOV, Mark F. OLDHAM, Maryam SHARIATI, Umberto ULMANELLA
  • Patent number: 9714444
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multiple analyte detection include a system for distribution of a biological sample that includes a substrate, wherein the substrate includes a plurality of sample chambers, a sample introduction channel for each sample chamber, and a venting channel for each sample chamber. The system may further include a preloaded reagent contained in each sample chamber and configured for nucleic acid analysis of a biological sample that enters the substrate and a sealing instrument configured to be placed in contact with the substrate to seal each sample chamber so as to substantially prevent sample contained in each sample chamber from flowing out of each sample chamber. The substrate can be constructed of detection-compatible and assay-compatible materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Min Yue, David M. Liu, Joy Roy, Yuh-Min Chiang, Joon Mo Yang, Dennis Lehto, Charles S. Vann, Nigel P. Beard, Ian A. Harding, John R. Van Camp, Alexander Dromaretsky, Sergey V. Ermakov, Mark F. Oldham, Maryam Shariati, Umberto Ulmanella
  • Patent number: 9528152
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an analyte detection system is provided that includes a nanochannel, an electrode arrangement, and a plurality of nanoFET devices disposed in the nanochannel. A plurality of nucleic acid base detection components can be used that include a plurality of nanopores, a plurality of nanochannels, a plurality of hybridization probes, combinations thereof, and the like. According to other embodiments of the present teachings, different coded molecules are hybridized to a target DNA molecule and used to detect the presence of various sequences along the target molecule. A kit including mixtures of coded molecules is also provided. In some embodiments, devices including nanochannels, nanopores, and the like, are used for manipulating movement of DNA molecules, for example, in preparation for a DNA sequencing detection. Nanopore structures and methods of making the same are also provided as are methods of nucleic acid sequencing using the nanopore structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hongye Sun, Mark F. Oldham, John O'Neill, Charles R. Connell, Umberto Ulmanella, Aldrich N. K. Lau, Theo Kotseroglou, Kenneth J. Livak
  • Publication number: 20150337299
    Abstract: Methods and kits for preparing nucleic acid fragments from a sample of purified nucleic acid are provided. Alternatively, chromatin or other long polymers can be sheared with similar methods and kits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Vladimir I. BASHKIROV, Umberto Ulmanella, Robert G. Eason, Bradford J. Taft
  • Publication number: 20150337300
    Abstract: Methods and kits for preparing nucleic acid fragments from a sample of purified nucleic acid are provided. Alternatively, chromatin or other long polymers can be sheared with similar methods and kits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Vladimir I. BASHKIROV, Umberto ULMANELLA, Robert G. EASON, Bradford J. TAFT
  • Publication number: 20150260311
    Abstract: The present teachings relate to microfluidic valves and pumping systems, which may be suitable for controlling and facilitating liquid flow. Electrodes are disposed proximately to volumes containing a liquid. The liquid flow can be facilitated by electrowetting forces. Processes for controlling the flow of liquids, as well as for pumping liquids, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventor: Umberto Ulmanella