Patents by Inventor Zhishan Hua
Zhishan Hua 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).
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Publication number: 20130059366Abstract: The invention is directed to a droplet actuator device and methods for integrating gel electrophoresis analysis with pre or post-analytical sample handling as well as other molecular analysis processes. Using digital microfluidics technology, the droplet actuator device and methods of the invention provide the ability to perform gel electrophoresis and liquid handling operations on a single integrated device. The integrated liquid handling operations may be used to prepare and deliver samples to the electrophoresis gel, capture and subsequently process products of the electrophoresis gel or perform additional assays on the same sample materials which are analyzed by gel electrophoresis. In one embodiment, one or more molecular assays, such as nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) quantification by real-time PCR, and one or more sample processing operations such as sample dilution is performed on a droplet actuator integrated with an electrophoresis gel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2010Publication date: March 7, 2013Applicants: DUKE UNIVERSITY, ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vijay Srinivasan, Zhishan Hua, Hon Lung Chu, Michael Hauser, Allen Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20130017544Abstract: An integrated droplet actuator device and methods are provided for performing PCR amplification and high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis on a single droplet actuator. HRM analysis can be used in combination with PCR amplification for detection of sequence variations (e.g., single-nucleotide polymorphisms, nucleotide-repeat polymorphisms, mutation scanning and assessment of DNA methylation) within one or more genes of interest. The PCR amplicons can be fluorescently labeled during amplification using a saturating DNA intercalating fluorescent dye, a 5?-labeled primer, or labeled probes. Also provided are a droplet actuator device and methods for sample preparation using the droplet actuator and detection of sequence variations on the same droplet actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2012Publication date: January 17, 2013Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic IncInventors: Allen E. Eckhardt, Zhishan Hua
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Patent number: 8088578Abstract: The invention relates to certain novel approaches to reducing or eliminating the movement of contaminants from one droplet to another on a droplet actuator via liquid filler fluid. In one application, a method of detecting an analyte is provided and includes providing in a detection window a droplet including a signal-producing substance indicative of the presence and/or quantity of an analyte and one or more magnetically responsive beads which may interfere with signal produced by the signal producing substance. The method further includes using a magnetic field for magnetically removing the magnetically responsive beads from the detection window and/or magnetically restricting the magnetically responsive beads from entering the detection window while transporting and/or retaining the droplet in the detection window. The method additionally includes detecting a signal produced by the signal-producing substance.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2009Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Zhishan Hua, Michael G. Pollack
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Publication number: 20110256542Abstract: The invention relates to certain novel approaches to reducing or eliminating the movement of contaminants from one droplet to another on a droplet actuator via liquid filler fluid. In one application, droplet actuators are used to conduct genetic analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The invention addresses the need for improved methods of performing PCR on a droplet actuator that provide for optimum amplification and detection of a sample target.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2009Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Zhishan Hua, Allen E. Eckhardt, Prasanna Thwar, Vijay Srinivasan, Vamsee K. Pamula
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Publication number: 20110104747Abstract: Methods of concentrating beads in a droplet and/or loading beads on a fluidic device are provided, including among other things, a method of concentrating beads in a droplet, the method comprising: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) an interior droplet operations volume; and (ii) a reservoir exterior to the interior volume; (iii) a droplet established in a liquid path extending from the reservoir into the interior volume; (b) providing magnetically responsive beads in the portion of the droplet which is in the reservoir; (c) magnetically attracting the magnetically responsive beads through the liquid path into the portion of the droplet which is in the interior volume; and (d) forming a droplet comprising one or more of the magnetically responsive beads in the interior volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2009Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Ramakrishna Sista, Zhishan Hua, Vamsee K. Pamula, Arjun Sudarsan, Vijay Srinivasan, Prasanna Thwar, Alexander Shenderov, Dwayne Allen
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Publication number: 20110097763Abstract: The invention relates to certain novel approaches to reducing or eliminating the movement of contaminants from one droplet to another on a droplet actuator via liquid filler fluid. In one application, droplet actuators are used to conduct genetic analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The invention addresses the need for improved methods of performing PCR on a droplet actuator that provide for optimum amplification and detection of a sample target.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2009Publication date: April 28, 2011Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Zhishan Hua, Allen E. Eckhardt, Prasanna Thwar, Vijay Srinivasan, Vamsee K. Pamula
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Publication number: 20100307917Abstract: Droplet actuators for conducting droplet operations, such as droplet transport and droplet dispensing, are provided. In one embodiment, the droplet actuator may include a substrate including, droplet operations electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; and reference electrodes associated with the droplet operations electrodes and extending above the surface of the substrate. Other embodiments of droplet actuators and methods of loading and using such droplet actuators are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2008Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Zhishan Hua, Arjun Sudarsan, Allen Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20100282608Abstract: The invention provides a droplet actuator comprising a base substrate and a top substrate separated to form a gap, wherein: (a) the base substrate comprises electrodes configured for conducting droplet operations in the gap; and (b) the top substrate comprises a first portion coupled to second portion, where the second portion comprises one or more openings establishing a fluid path extending from an exterior of the droplet actuator and into the gap. The invention also provides related methods of manufacturing the droplet actuator, methods of using the droplet actuator, and methods of loading the droplet actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2008Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Alexander Shenderov, Zhishan Hua, Arjun Sudarsan
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Publication number: 20100270156Abstract: A droplet actuator with a droplet formation electrode configuration associated with a droplet operations surface, wherein the electrode configuration comprises one or more electrodes configured to control volume of a droplet during formation of a sub-droplet on the droplet operations surface. Methods of making and using the droplet actuator are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2008Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Zhishan Hua, Arjun Sudarsan, Philip Paik
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Publication number: 20100221713Abstract: The invention relates to certain novel approaches to reducing or eliminating the movement of contaminants from one droplet to another on a droplet actuator via liquid filler fluid. In one application, droplet actuators are used to conduct genetic analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The invention addresses the need for improved methods of performing PCR on a droplet actuator that provide for optimum amplification and detection of a sample target.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2009Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Zhishan Hua, Allen E. Eckhardt, Prasanna Thwar, Vijay Srinivasan, Vamsee K. Pamula
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Publication number: 20100190263Abstract: The present invention is directed to a droplet actuator and methods of making and using the droplet actuator including one or more substrates configured to form a droplet operations gap and including a physical or chemical feature that may be provided at a predetermined locus within or exposed to the droplet operations gap and configured to retain a bubble in position within the droplet operations gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2010Publication date: July 29, 2010Applicant: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.Inventors: Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Arjun Sudarsan, Zhishan Hua
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Publication number: 20100055394Abstract: A microactuator may be configured by activating a source of electromagnetic radiation to heat and melt a selected set of phase-change plugs embedded in a substrate of the microactuator, pressurizing a common pressure chamber adjacent to each of the plugs to deform the melted plugs, and deactivating the source of electromagnetic radiation to cool and solidify the melted plugs.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2009Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: The Regents Of The University Of MichiganInventors: Zhishan Hua, Erdogan Gulari, Mark A. Burns, Rohit Pal, Onnop Srivannavit
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Publication number: 20090311713Abstract: The invention relates to certain novel approaches to reducing or eliminating the movement of contaminants from one droplet to another on a droplet actuator via liquid filler fluid. In one application, a method of detecting an analyte is provided and includes providing in a detection window a droplet including a signal-producing substance indicative of the presence and/or quantity of an analyte and one or more magnetically responsive beads which may interfere with signal produced by the signal producing substance. The method further includes using a magnetic field for magnetically removing the magnetically responsive beads from the detection window and/or magnetically restricting the magnetically responsive beads from entering the detection window while transporting and/or retaining the droplet in the detection window. The method additionally includes detecting a signal produced by the signal-producing substance.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2009Publication date: December 17, 2009Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Zhishan Hua, Allen E. Eckhardt, Prasanna Thwar, Vijay Srinivasan, Vamsee K. Pamula