Patents by Inventor Zdenek Slouka

Zdenek Slouka 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: 11293057
    Abstract: The invention provides an alternating current electrospray technology that can generate micron sized droplets in oil at very high throughput for emulsion or digital PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). This technology outperforms the throughput of the current gold standard in droplet generation using flow-focusing technology by at least a factor of 100. The design is simple and can generate a billion to a trillion monodispersed droplets in about one hour. This is much faster than flow-focusing which is limited to a few million droplets per hour. The droplet size and generation rate can also be easily adjusted by changing the voltage of the AC electric field. The range of produced droplet sizes is about 1-100 microns, wherein the droplets are monodispersed in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: University of Notre Dame du Lac
    Inventors: Hsueh-Chia Chang, David B. Go, Zdenek Slouka, Satyajyoti Senapati, Yongfan Men, Zehao Pan
  • Patent number: 11016079
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, compositions, and devices for an integrated, heterogeneous ion-exchange membrane-based plastic microfluidic biochip platform that can be used to detect multiple diagnostic markers present in real samples. Its various components can be easily integrated in a modular fashion for different applications. Automated control allows sequential and dynamic activation of different components on the chip. The integrated platform consists of three units and is designed to execute the following functions: (i) separation of the target biomolecules from the real sample, (ii) localizing and concentrating the targeted molecules at a specific location in the microfluidic chip, and (iii) detection of the targeted molecules using hybridization/docking events against a complementary ssDNA oligoprobe sequence or a specific antibody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: University of Notre Dame du Lac
    Inventors: Zdenek Slouka, Satyajyoti Senapati, Sunny S. Shah, Hsueh-Chia Chang
  • Patent number: 10669572
    Abstract: Described are methods for detecting and quantifying biomolecules such as polynucleotides or polypeptides in an electrophoresis matrix using ion concentration polarization and nanoparticle aggregation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: University of Notre Dame du Lac
    Inventors: Steve Marczak, Hsueh-Chia Chang, Zdenek Slouka, Satyajyoti Senapati
  • Publication number: 20200049690
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, compositions, and devices for an integrated, heterogeneous ion-exchange membrane-based plastic microfluidic biochip platform that can be used to detect multiple diagnostic markers present in real samples. Its various components can be easily integrated in a modular fashion for different applications. Automated control allows sequential and dynamic activation of different components on the chip. The integrated platform consists of three units and is designed to execute the following functions: (i) separation of the target biomolecules from the real sample, (ii) localizing and concentrating the targeted molecules at a specific location in the microfluidic chip, and (iii) detection of the targeted molecules using hybridization/docking events against a complementary ssDNA oligoprobe sequence or a specific antibody.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Zdenek Slouka, Satyajyoti Senapati, Sunny S. Shah, Hsueh-Chia Chang
  • Patent number: 10557820
    Abstract: A DNA/RNA detection technology is provided. The open flow detection technique includes a substrate defining a pair of opposing microchannels, a pair of opposing electrodes in the opposing microchannels, and at least one ion exchanging nanomembrane coupled between the opposing microchannels such that the opposing microchannels are connected to each other only through the nanomembrane, wherein the nanomembrane is functionalized with a probe complementary to the macromolecule. A voltammeter is provided to measure the electrical current or potential across the nanomembrane, and detect a change in the measured electrical current or potential to quantify the presence of the macromolecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC
    Inventors: Hsueh-Chia Chang, Zdenek Slouka, Satyajyoti Senapati, Li-Jing Cheng
  • Publication number: 20190352698
    Abstract: The invention provides an alternating current electrospray technology that can generate micron sized droplets in oil at very high throughput for emulsion or digital PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). This technology outperforms the throughput of the current gold standard in droplet generation using flow-focusing technology by at least a factor of 100. The design is simple and can generate a billion to a trillion monodispersed droplets in about one hour. This is much faster than flow-focusing which is limited to a few million droplets per hour. The droplet size and generation rate can also be easily adjusted by changing the voltage of the AC electric field. The range of produced droplet sizes is about 1-100 microns, wherein the droplets are monodispersed in size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: University of Notre Dame du Lac
    Inventors: Hsueh-Chia CHANG, David B. GO, Zdenek SLOUKA, Satyajyoti SENAPATI, Yongfan MEN, Zehao PAN
  • Patent number: 10247720
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, compositions, and devices for an integrated, heterogenerous ion-exchange membrane-based plastic microfluidic biochip platform that can be used to detect multiple diagnostic markers present in real samples. Its various components can be easily integrated in a modular fashion for different applications. Automated control allows sequential and dynamic activation of different components on the chip. The integrated platform consists of three units and is designed to execute the following functions: (i) separation of the target biomolecules from the real sample, (ii) localizing and concentrating the targeted molecules at a specific location in the microfluidic chip, and (iii) detection of the targeted molecules using hybridization/docking events against a complementary ssDNA oligoprobe sequence or a specific antibody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC
    Inventors: Zdenek Slouka, Satyajyoti Senapati, Sunny S. Shah, Hsueh-Chia Chang
  • Publication number: 20180346975
    Abstract: Described are methods for detecting and quantifying biomolecules such as polynucleotides or polypeptides in an electrophoresis matrix using ion concentration polarization and nanoparticle aggregation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Steve Marczak, Hsueh-Chia Chang, Zdenek Slouka, Satyajyoti Senapati
  • Publication number: 20170108485
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, compositions, and devices for an integrated, heterogenerous ion-exchange membrane-based plastic microfluidic biochip platform that can be used to detect multiple diagnostic markers present in real samples. Its various components can be easily integrated in a modular fashion for different applications. Automated control allows sequential and dynamic activation of different components on the chip. The integrated platform consists of three units and is designed to execute the following functions: (i) separation of the target biomolecules from the real sample, (ii) localizing and concentrating the targeted molecules at a specific location in the microfluidic chip, and (iii) detection of the targeted molecules using hybridization/docking events against a complementary ssDNA oligo-probe sequence or a specific antibody.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Zdenek Slouka, Satyajyoti Senapati, Sunny S. Shaw, Hsueh-Chia Chang
  • Publication number: 20160238556
    Abstract: A DNA/RNA detection technology is provided. The open flow detection technique includes a substrate defining a pair of opposing microchannels, a pair of opposing electrodes in the opposing microchannels, and at least one ion exchanging nanomembrane coupled between the opposing microchannels such that the opposing microchannels are connected to each other only through the nanomembrane, wherein the nanomembrane is functionalized with a probe complementary to the macromolecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Hsueh-Chia Chang, Zdenek Slouka, Satyajyoti Senapati, Li-Jing Cheng
  • Publication number: 20130068632
    Abstract: A DNA/RNA detection technology is provided. The open flow detection technique includes a substrate defining a pair of opposing microchannels, a pair of opposing electrodes in the opposing microchannels, and at least one ion exchanging nanomembrane coupled between the opposing microchannels such that the opposing microchannels are connected to each other only through the nanomembrane, wherein the nanomembrane is functionalized with a probe complementary to the macromolecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC
    Inventors: Hsueh-Chia Chang, Zdenek Slouka, Satyajyoti Senapati, Li-Jing Cheng