Patents by Inventor Yann A. Astier

Yann A. Astier 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: 10393642
    Abstract: A technique related to sorting entities is provided. An inlet is configured to receive a fluid, and an outlet is configured to exit the fluid. A nanopillar array, connected to the inlet and the outlet, is configured to allow the fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet. The nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to separate entities by size. The nanopillars are arranged to have a gap separating one nanopillar from another nanopillar. The gap is constructed to be in a nanoscale range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Robert L. Bruce, Joshua T. Smith, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Patent number: 10058895
    Abstract: A technique relates sorting entities. The entities are introduced into a nanopillar array. The entities include a first population and a second population, and the nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to have a gap separating one from another. The nanopillars are ordered to have an array angle relative to a fluid flow direction. The entities are sorted through the nanopillar array by transporting the first population of the entities less than a predetermined size in a first direction and by transporting the second population of the entities at least the predetermined size in a second direction different from the first direction. The nanopillar array is configured to employ the gap with a gap size less than 300 nanometers in order to sort the entities having a sub-100 nanometer size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Joshua T. Smith, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Patent number: 9975147
    Abstract: A technique relates sorting entities. The entities are introduced into a nanopillar array. The entities include a first population and a second population, and the nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to have a gap separating one from another. The nanopillars are ordered to have an array angle relative to a fluid flow direction. The entities are sorted through the nanopillar array by transporting the first population of the entities less than a predetermined size in a first direction and by transporting the second population of the entities at least the predetermined size in a second direction different from the first direction. The nanopillar array is configured to employ the gap with a gap size less than 300 nanometers in order to sort the entities having a sub-100 nanometer size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Joshua T. Smith, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Patent number: 9914118
    Abstract: A technique relates to a nanogap array. A substrate has been anisotropically etched with trenches that have tapered sidewalls. A sacrificial layer is on bottoms and the tapered sidewalls of the trenches. A filling material is formed on top of the sacrificial layer in the trenches. Nanogaps are formed where at least a portion of the sacrificial layer has been removed from the tapered sidewalls of the trenches while the sacrificial layer remains on the bottoms of the trenches. Each of the nanogaps is formed between one tapered sidewall of the substrate and a corresponding tapered sidewall of the filling material. The one tapered sidewall of the substrate opposes the corresponding tapered sidewall. A capping layer is disposed on top of the substrate and the filling material, such that the nanogaps are covered but not filled in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Markus Brink, Michael F. Lofaro, Joshua T. Smith
  • Patent number: 9868119
    Abstract: A technique related to sorting entities is provided. An inlet is configured to receive a fluid, and an outlet is configured to exit the fluid. A nanopillar array, connected to the inlet and the outlet, is configured to allow the fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet. The nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to separate entities by size. The nanopillars are arranged to have a gap separating one nanopillar from another nanopillar. The gap is constructed to be in a nanoscale range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Robert L. Bruce, Joshua T. Smith, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Patent number: 9835538
    Abstract: A technique relates sorting biopolymers. The biopolymers are introduced into a nanopillar array, and the biopolymers include a first population and a second population. The nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to have a gap separating one from another. The biopolymers are sorted through the nanopillar array by transporting the first population of the biopolymers less than a predetermined bumping size according to a fluid flow direction and by transporting the second population of the biopolymers at least the predetermined bumping size according to a bumped direction different from the fluid flow direction. The nanopillar array is configured to employ the gap with a gap size less than 300 nanometers in order to sort the biopolymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Joshua T. Smith, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Patent number: 9835539
    Abstract: A technique relates sorting biopolymers. The biopolymers are introduced into a nanopillar array, and the biopolymers include a first population and a second population. The nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to have a gap separating one from another. The biopolymers are sorted through the nanopillar array by transporting the first population of the biopolymers less than a predetermined bumping size according to a fluid flow direction and by transporting the second population of the biopolymers at least the predetermined bumping size according to a bumped direction different from the fluid flow direction. The nanopillar array is configured to employ the gap with a gap size less than 300 nanometers in order to sort the biopolymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Joshua T. Smith, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Patent number: 9782773
    Abstract: A technique relates to a nanogap array. A substrate has been anisotropically etched with trenches that have tapered sidewalls. A sacrificial layer is on bottoms and the tapered sidewalls of the trenches. A filling material is formed on top of the sacrificial layer in the trenches. Nanogaps are formed where at least a portion of the sacrificial layer has been removed from the tapered sidewalls of the trenches while the sacrificial layer remains on the bottoms of the trenches. Each of the nanogaps is formed between one tapered sidewall of the substrate and a corresponding tapered sidewall of the filling material. The one tapered sidewall of the substrate opposes the corresponding tapered sidewall. A capping layer is disposed on top of the substrate and the filling material, such that the nanogaps are covered but not filled in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Markus Brink, Michael F. Lofaro, Joshua T. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170205329
    Abstract: A technique related to sorting entities is provided. An inlet is configured to receive a fluid, and an outlet is configured to exit the fluid. A nanopillar array, connected to the inlet and the outlet, is configured to allow the fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet. The nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to separate entities by size. The nanopillars are arranged to have a gap separating one nanopillar from another nanopillar. The gap is constructed to be in a nanoscale range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Robert L. Bruce, Joshua T. Smith, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Patent number: 9636675
    Abstract: A technique related to sorting entities is provided. An inlet is configured to receive a fluid, and an outlet is configured to exit the fluid. A nanopillar array, connected to the inlet and the outlet, is configured to allow the fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet. The nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to separate entities by size. The nanopillars are arranged to have a gap separating one nanopillar from another nanopillar. The gap is constructed to be in a nanoscale range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Robert L. Bruce, Joshua T. Smith, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Publication number: 20170043339
    Abstract: A technique relates to a nanogap array. A substrate has been anisotropically etched with trenches that have tapered sidewalls. A sacrificial layer is on bottoms and the tapered sidewalls of the trenches. A filling material is formed on top of the sacrificial layer in the trenches. Nanogaps are formed where at least a portion of the sacrificial layer has been removed from the tapered sidewalls of the trenches while the sacrificial layer remains on the bottoms of the trenches. Each of the nanogaps is formed between one tapered sidewall of the substrate and a corresponding tapered sidewall of the filling material. The one tapered sidewall of the substrate opposes the corresponding tapered sidewall. A capping layer is disposed on top of the substrate and the filling material, such that the nanogaps are covered but not filled in.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Markus Brink, Michael F. Lofaro, Joshua T. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170045475
    Abstract: A technique relates to a nanogap array. A substrate has been anisotropically etched with trenches that have tapered sidewalls. A sacrificial layer is on bottoms and the tapered sidewalls of the trenches. A filling material is formed on top of the sacrificial layer in the trenches. Nanogaps are formed where at least a portion of the sacrificial layer has been removed from the tapered sidewalls of the trenches while the sacrificial layer remains on the bottoms of the trenches. Each of the nanogaps is formed between one tapered sidewall of the substrate and a corresponding tapered sidewall of the filling material. The one tapered sidewall of the substrate opposes the corresponding tapered sidewall. A capping layer is disposed on top of the substrate and the filling material, such that the nanogaps are covered but not filled in.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Markus Brink, Michael F. Lofaro, Joshua T. Smith
  • Publication number: 20160144361
    Abstract: A technique related to sorting entities is provided. An inlet is configured to receive a fluid, and an outlet is configured to exit the fluid. A nanopillar array, connected to the inlet and the outlet, is configured to allow the fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet. The nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to separate entities by size. The nanopillars are arranged to have a gap separating one nanopillar from another nanopillar. The gap is constructed to be in a nanoscale range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Robert L. Bruce, Joshua T. Smith, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Publication number: 20160146717
    Abstract: A technique related to sorting entities is provided. An inlet is configured to receive a fluid, and an outlet is configured to exit the fluid. A nanopillar array, connected to the inlet and the outlet, is configured to allow the fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet. The nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to separate entities by size. The nanopillars are arranged to have a gap separating one nanopillar from another nanopillar. The gap is constructed to be in a nanoscale range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Robert L. Bruce, Joshua T. Smith, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Publication number: 20160146778
    Abstract: A technique relates sorting biopolymers. The biopolymers are introduced into a nanopillar array, and the biopolymers include a first population and a second population. The nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to have a gap separating one from another. The biopolymers are sorted through the nanopillar array by transporting the first population of the biopolymers less than a predetermined bumping size according to a fluid flow direction and by transporting the second population of the biopolymers at least the predetermined bumping size according to a bumped direction different from the fluid flow direction. The nanopillar array is configured to employ the gap with a gap size less than 300 nanometers in order to sort the biopolymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Joshua T. Smith, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Publication number: 20160144406
    Abstract: A technique relates sorting entities. The entities are introduced into a nanopillar array. The entities include a first population and a second population, and the nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to have a gap separating one from another. The nanopillars are ordered to have an array angle relative to a fluid flow direction. The entities are sorted through the nanopillar array by transporting the first population of the entities less than a predetermined size in a first direction and by transporting the second population of the entities at least the predetermined size in a second direction different from the first direction. The nanopillar array is configured to employ the gap with a gap size less than 300 nanometers in order to sort the entities having a sub-100 nanometer size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Joshua T. Smith, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Publication number: 20160144405
    Abstract: A technique relates sorting entities. The entities are introduced into a nanopillar array. The entities include a first population and a second population, and the nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to have a gap separating one from another. The nanopillars are ordered to have an array angle relative to a fluid flow direction. The entities are sorted through the nanopillar array by transporting the first population of the entities less than a predetermined size in a first direction and by transporting the second population of the entities at least the predetermined size in a second direction different from the first direction. The nanopillar array is configured to employ the gap with a gap size less than 300 nanometers in order to sort the entities having a sub-100 nanometer size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Joshua T. Smith, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch
  • Publication number: 20160146718
    Abstract: A technique relates sorting biopolymers. The biopolymers are introduced into a nanopillar array, and the biopolymers include a first population and a second population. The nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to have a gap separating one from another. The biopolymers are sorted through the nanopillar array by transporting the first population of the biopolymers less than a predetermined bumping size according to a fluid flow direction and by transporting the second population of the biopolymers at least the predetermined bumping size according to a bumped direction different from the fluid flow direction. The nanopillar array is configured to employ the gap with a gap size less than 300 nanometers in order to sort the biopolymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Yann A. Astier, Joshua T. Smith, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Chao Wang, Benjamin H. Wunsch