Patents by Inventor Willem Van Roy

Willem Van Roy 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: 11776564
    Abstract: A memory device including at least one channel and a fluid including particles is provided. In one aspect, the channel includes a least some of the fluid. The memory device may further include an actuator configured to induce a movement of the particles in the channel; and a writing element configured to arrange the particles in a sequence, thereby yielding a sequence of particles in the channel. The particles may include first particles and second particles. The particles may be in a first state or a second state in the channel. In certain aspects, the channel is configured to preserve the sequence of the particles. The memory device may further include a reading element for detecting the sequence of the particles in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: IMEC vzw
    Inventors: Maarten Rosmeulen, Arnaud Furnemont, Devin Verreck, Antonio Arreghini, Willem Van Roy, Kherim Willems
  • Publication number: 20230204540
    Abstract: An electric field gradient focusing device is provided that includes: (i) a fluidic channel having an inlet and an outlet for a fluid, (ii) a first actuator configured to induce a fluid flow in the fluidic channel from the inlet to the outlet via AC electroosmosis, and (iii) a second actuator configured to generate a DC electric field gradient along at least part of the fluidic channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Willem Van Roy, Chengxun Liu, Tinne De Moor
  • Publication number: 20230137689
    Abstract: The present inventive concept relates to a method for measuring analyte concentration in a sample fluid, comprising: receiving dilution fluid or sample fluid comprising analyte in a microfluidic channel, wherein the dilution fluid or sample fluid further comprises a molecule which is different from the analyte; performing a first affinity-based assay in a first detection zone of the microfluidic channel to measure a signal indicative of the concentration of the molecule in the dilution fluid or sample fluid; mixing the dilution fluid or sample fluid in the microfluidic channel with another of the dilution fluid or sample fluid to obtain a diluted sample fluid; performing a second affinity-based assay in a second detection zone of the microfluidic channel to measure a signal indicative of the concentration of the molecule in the diluted sample fluid; performing a third assay in the second detection zone to measure a signal indicative of the concentration of the analyte in the diluted sample fluid; determining
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Kris COVENS, Willem VAN ROY, Tim STAKENBORG, Cindy LIU, Jennifer SATTERWHITE WARDEN
  • Publication number: 20220355013
    Abstract: According to an aspect there is provided a method for automatic maintenance of a dialysis system. The dialysis system includes a plurality of filter sections where each filter section includes a blood flow channel, a dialysate flow channel, and a membrane separating the blood flow channel from the dialysate flow channel and having a plurality of pores through which substances are exchanged between a blood flow in the blood flow channel and a dialysate flow in the dialysate flow channel. The method includes determining, for each filter section of the plurality of filter sections, whether a maintenance criterion is fulfilled. The method also includes triggering a maintenance event for a filter section of the plurality of filter sections for which the maintenance criterion is fulfilled. The method also includes executing the maintenance event and optionally administering a thrombolytic agent to the blood flow channel of the filter section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Fokko Wieringa, Willem Van Roy, Patrick van Deursen, Lucas Lindeboom
  • Publication number: 20220299503
    Abstract: There is provided a method and a system for measuring analyte concentration in a sample. The sample is provided to a microfluidic channel. A surface of the microfluidic channel is provided with affinity probes for binding the analyte to the surface. A signal which is indicative of the binding of the analyte to the affinity probes is measured temporally. The temporally measured signal is then analyzed to determine a pseudo-rate constant which is indicative of how fast the temporally measured signal changes with time. The analyte concentration in the sample is determined by comparing the determined pseudo-rate constant to a predetermined relationship which relates pseudo-rate constants to analyte concentrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Kris COVENS, Sarp KERMAN, Willem VAN ROY
  • Publication number: 20220199112
    Abstract: A memory device including at least one channel and a fluid including particles is provided. In one aspect, the channel includes a least some of the fluid. The memory device may further include an actuator configured to induce a movement of the particles in the channel; and a writing element configured to arrange the particles in a sequence, thereby yielding a sequence of particles in the channel. The particles may include first particles and second particles. The particles may be in a first state or a second state in the channel. In certain aspects, the channel is configured to preserve the sequence of the particles. The memory device may further include a reading element for detecting the sequence of the particles in the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Maarten ROSMEULEN, Arnaud FURNEMONT, Devin VERRECK, Antonio ARREGHINI, Willem VAN ROY, Kherim WILLEMS
  • Publication number: 20220091117
    Abstract: A device (1) for sensing an analyte, the device (1) comprises at least a sample inlet (10) for receiving a sample, affinity probes (111) selected to have a preferential binding to the analyte, a transducer (11) sensitive to a characteristic of the analyte and/or a label attached to the analyte, the transducer not being a FET transducer, and a desalting unit (13) for desalting the received sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Kris Covens
  • Patent number: 10928305
    Abstract: A sensor device for quantifying luminescent targets comprises a light source, a detector, a modulator, and a processor. The light source is adapted for exciting the luminescent target. The detector is adapted for detecting the luminescence of the luminescent target resulting in a measured signal which comprises a desired signal originating from the luminescent target and a background signal. The modulator is adapted for modulating a physical parameter resulting in a modulation of the desired signal which is different from the modulation of the background signal. The processor is configured to correlate the modulation of the physical parameter with the modulation of the desired signal and/or the modulation of the background signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Pol Van Dorpe
  • Patent number: 10871447
    Abstract: Sensor devices for quantifying luminescent targets are described herein. An example device comprises a light source for exciting the targets, thus generating luminescence signals and a detector for detecting these signals, resulting in a detected signal which comprises a desired signal originating from the targets and a background signal. It moreover comprises a bleaching device for bleaching of at least part of the sources generating the background signal and a processor configured to trigger the bleaching device to start bleaching, and to trigger the light source for exciting the remaining luminescent targets which are not bleached, and to trigger the detector for detecting the luminescence signal of the remaining luminescent targets, so as to generate a measurement signal representative for the quantification of the luminescent targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Imec VZW
    Inventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Pol Van Dorpe
  • Patent number: 10845310
    Abstract: A sensor device for quantifying luminescent targets configured in an at least one dimensional pattern. The sensor device comprises a detector for obtaining an at least one dimensional pattern of measured signals, wherein the detector is adapted for detecting the luminescence of the luminescent targets, resulting in a measured pattern. The sensor device moreover comprises a processor configured to correlate the measured pattern with at least one reference pattern, so as to generate a measurement signal representative for the quantification of luminescent targets. The at least one reference pattern is a recorded pattern or an expected pattern. A recorded pattern is a pattern which is obtained by the detector before the measured pattern is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Pol Van Dorpe
  • Patent number: 10359363
    Abstract: A sensor device for quantifying luminescent targets. The device comprises a light source for exciting the targets, thus generating luminescence signals, and a detector for detecting these signals of the targets in a cell, resulting in a detected signal comprising a desired signal and a background signal. The detector has a spatial cell resolution and/or a time resolution that is so high that only a limited number of targets will be present in the cell when measuring at low concentration and/or that only a limited number of targets add to the cell in between two measurements. A change in the number of targets in the cell can be observed in the detected signal. The device comprises a processor configured to distinguish the desired and the background signal, and to combine the detected signals of the different cells and/or moments in time, to quantify the targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Pol Van Dorpe
  • Publication number: 20190201890
    Abstract: A microfluidic pumping system for providing continuous or pulsed pumping action of a sample fluid along a microfluidic channel of a microfluidic device is described. The pumping system comprises at least one actuator comprising an actuator channel and at least one polarizer for generating pumping fluid motion, and at least one microfluidic rectification system for facilitating the flow of a sample fluid in a predetermined direction, the at least one microfluidic rectification system being laid out in or along the microfluidic channel, and the at least one actuator being adapted for creating a pressure in the microfluidic channel, the system thus being adapted for providing continuous or pulsed fluid movement of the sample fluid along the microfluidic channel when actuation of the pumping fluid in the actuator channel takes place and further providing sample fluid immobilization when no actuation takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Willem VAN ROY, Jan GENOE
  • Publication number: 20180188176
    Abstract: A sensor device for quantifying luminescent targets configured in an at least one dimensional pattern. The sensor device comprises a detector for obtaining an at least one dimensional pattern of measured signals, wherein the detector is adapted for detecting the luminescence of the luminescent targets, resulting in a measured pattern. The sensor device moreover comprises a processor configured to correlate the measured pattern with at least one reference pattern, so as to generate a measurement signal representative for the quantification of luminescent targets. The at least one reference pattern is a recorded pattern or an expected pattern. A recorded pattern is a pattern which is obtained by the detector before the measured pattern is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Pol Van Dorpe
  • Publication number: 20180188156
    Abstract: A sensor device for quantifying luminescent targets comprises a light source, a detector, a modulator, and a processor. The light source is adapted for exciting the luminescent target. The detector is adapted for detecting the luminescence of the luminescent target resulting in a measured signal which comprises a desired signal originating from the luminescent target and a background signal. The modulator is adapted for modulating a physical parameter resulting in a modulation of the desired signal which is different from the modulation of the background signal. The processor is configured to correlate the modulation of the physical parameter with the modulation of the desired signal and/or the modulation of the background signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Pol Van Dorpe
  • Publication number: 20180172587
    Abstract: A sensor device for quantifying luminescent targets. The device comprises a light source for exciting the targets, thus generating luminescence signals, and a detector for detecting these signals of the targets in a cell, resulting in a detected signal comprising a desired signal and a background signal. The detector has a spatial cell resolution and/or a time resolution that is so high that only a limited number of targets will be present in the cell when measuring at low concentration and/or that only a limited number of targets add to the cell in between two measurements. A change in the number of targets in the cell can be observed in the detected signal. The device comprises a processor configured to distinguish the desired and the background signal, and to combine the detected signals of the different cells and/or moments in time, to quantify the targets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Pol Van Dorpe
  • Publication number: 20180172588
    Abstract: Sensor devices for quantifying luminescent targets are described herein. An example device comprises a light source for exciting the targets, thus generating luminescence signals and a detector for detecting these signals, resulting in a detected signal which comprises a desired signal originating from the targets and a background signal. It moreover comprises a bleaching device for bleaching of at least part of the sources generating the background signal and a processor configured to trigger the bleaching device to start bleaching, and to trigger the light source for exciting the remaining luminescent targets which are not bleached, and to trigger the detector for detecting the luminescence signal of the remaining luminescent targets, so as to generate a measurement signal representative for the quantification of the luminescent targets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Pol Van Dorpe
  • Publication number: 20180156788
    Abstract: A device (1) for sensing an analyte, the device (1) comprises at least a sample inlet (10) for receiving a sample, affinity probes (111) selected to have a preferential binding to the analyte, a transducer (11) sensitive to a characteristic of the analyte and/or a label attached to the analyte, the transducer not being a FET transducer, and a desalting unit (13) for desalting the received sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Kris Covens
  • Patent number: 9683253
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method to analyze or identify a cell. The method comprises: providing a cell, stimulating the cell with a stimulant thereby modifying a cell membrane impedance of the cell, monitoring the cell membrane impedance of the cell and identifying the cell based on the monitored cell membrane impedance. A corresponding device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Chengxun Liu, Willem Van Roy, Liesbet Lagae, Chengjun Huang
  • Patent number: 9146235
    Abstract: An integrated fluorescence detector for detecting fluorescent particles is described. An example integrated fluorescence detector comprises a substrate, the substrate comprising an integrated detection element for detecting fluorescence radiation from fluorescent particles upon excitation of the particles with incident excitation radiation. The integrated fluorescence detector also comprises a sensing layer adapted for accommodating fluorescent particles to be sensed. The integrated fluorescence detector further comprises a photonics crystal layer arranged in between the sensing layer and the substrate, the photonics crystal layer comprising an absorption material designed such that the photonics crystal layer is configured for diffracting incident excitation radiation into a lateral direction in which the photonics crystal layer extends for incident excitation radiation having a wavelength within at least 10 nm of the predetermined excitation wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignees: IMEC VZW, Katholicke Universiteit Leuven, KU LEUVEN R&D
    Inventors: Pol Van Dorpe, Sarp Kerman, Peter Peumans, Willem Van Roy
  • Publication number: 20150168392
    Abstract: An integrated fluorescence detector for detecting fluorescent particles is described. An example integrated fluorescence detector comprises a substrate, the substrate comprising an integrated detection element for detecting fluorescence radiation from fluorescent particles upon excitation of the particles with incident excitation radiation. The integrated fluorescence detector also comprises a sensing layer adapted for accommodating fluorescent particles to be sensed. The integrated fluorescence detector further comprises a photonics crystal layer arranged in between the sensing layer and the substrate, the photonics crystal layer comprising an absorption material designed such that the photonics crystal layer is configured for diffracting incident excitation radiation into a lateral direction in which the photonics crystal layer extends for incident excitation radiation having a wavelength within at least 10 nm of the predetermined excitation wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicants: KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN, KU LEUVEN R&D, IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Pol Van Dorpe, Sarp Kerman, Peter Peumans, Willem Van Roy