Electrophoretic Or Electro-osmotic Apparatus Patents (Class 204/600)
  • Patent number: 9907891
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid pump or rotary cutter having at least one first element (9??, 10??) which can be brought from a transport state into an operating state by changing at least one mechanical property. Such a pump can, for example, be a blood pump for the medical, microinvasive area. The object of achieving a transition between the transport state and the operating state which is as comfortable as possible and in so doing leaving a freedom in the design of corresponding apparatus, in particular of a pump, which is as large as possible, is achieved using the means of the invention in that the first element at least partly comprises a material (24, 25, 26, 27) or can be filled with a material or material mixture which passes through a chemical reaction, in particular cross-linking, or a crystallization for transition into the operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ECP ENTWICKLUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
    Inventors: Petra Wiessler, Sven-Rene Friedel, Reiner Liebing, Sami Er, Henning Schlicht
  • Patent number: 9903836
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to microfluidic devices and methods for fabricating the devices. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to microfluidic devices having encapsulated fluidic tubing and encapsulated electrodes, microfluidic devices having encapsulated fluidic tubing, encapsulated capillary loops and encapsulated electrodes, and methods of fabricating devices having encapsulated fluidic tubing, encapsulated capillary loops and encapsulated electrodes resulting in reduced dead volume interconnects between the fluidic tubing and capillary loops and associated microchannels and aligned fluidic tubing openings, capillary loop openings, electrodes and other device features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Saint Louis University
    Inventors: Robert Scott Martin, Asmira Selmovic Alagic, Alicia Johnson Hoover
  • Patent number: 9801757
    Abstract: This invention provides for a device and methods of dispensing a precise predetermined volume of liquid of discrete drops, vapor, or mist while preventing contamination due to Pull Back and ensuring precision dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie A. Voss, Gary S. Hall, Catie A. Morley
  • Patent number: 9790508
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel nucleic acid molecule that can be used for detection of peanuts. The peanut-binding nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is characterized in that it binds to a peanut allergen with a dissociation constant of 10 nM or less, and preferably contains a polynucleotide consisting of any of base sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 15, for example. It is also preferable that, for example, the peanut-binding nucleic acid molecule of the present invention binds with significant specificity to the peanut allergen rather than to a soybean protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: NEC Solution Innovators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoko Murata, Katsunori Horii, Ikuo Shiratori, Jou Akitomi, Naoto Kaneko, Iwao Waga
  • Patent number: 9784711
    Abstract: A disposable cartridge used in a digital microfluidics system has a bottom layer with first hydrophobic surface, a rigid cover plate with second hydrophobic surface, and a gap there-between. The bottom layer is a flexible film on an uppermost surface of a cartridge accommodation site of a system, attracted to and spread over the uppermost surface by an underpressure. A lower surface of the plate and the flexible bottom layer are sealed to each other. The assembled cartridge is removed from the cartridge accommodation site in one piece and potentially includes samples and processing fluids. The system has a base unit and a cartridge accommodation site with an electrode array of individual electrodes and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the gap by electrowetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Daniel Hoffmeyer, Tiffany Lay, Travis Lee, Marc N. Feiglin, Werner Halg, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
  • Patent number: 9768406
    Abstract: An OLED display panel and a manufacturing method thereof, a display device and a filling method of a filling adhesive are provided. The OLED display panel comprises: a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite to each other; a first adhesive dam connected with and located between the first substrate and the second substrate, and provided with at least one opening; a second adhesive dam connected with and located between the first substrate and the second substrate, located outside the first adhesive dam, and forming a sealed cell together with the first substrate and the second substrate; an OLED device located on an inner side of the first adhesive dam and on the first substrate; and a filling adhesive filled in the inner side of the first adhesive dam. With the OLED display panel, the adjusting difficulty of production engineering of the OLED display panel can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhongyuan Sun, Kaihong Ma
  • Patent number: 9756870
    Abstract: A device (1) for detecting the bacterial charge in a liquid or semi-liquid food product comprises a main containment body (2), an analysis chamber (3), located inside the containment body (2) and designed to contain a certain quantity of product to be examined, one or more heating means (4) designed to heat the product inside the analysis chamber (3), at least one temperature sensor (5) designed to monitor the temperature of the product inside the analysis chamber (3) and sensor means (6) designed to detect the impedance in the product inside the analysis chamber (3). The analysis chamber (3) has an elongate shape and extends along a principal axis (3a), while the one or more heating means (4) are symmetrical about a plane at right angles to the principal axis (3a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: ALI S.p.A.-CARPIGIANI GROUP
    Inventors: Andrea Cocchi, Roberto Lazzarini
  • Patent number: 9719961
    Abstract: The invention provides an electrophoresis cassette, methods for making the electrophoresis cassette, and method of fractionating analytes from a sample based upon electrophoretic mobility in a single application of the sample to an electrophoretic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SAGE SCIENCE, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Grosvenor Sabin, Todd J. Barbera, Paul Chandler Sabin, T. Christian Boles
  • Patent number: 9707563
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a reagent fluid dispensing device may be provided. The reagent fluid dispensing device may include a chamber for receiving a reagent fluid, the chamber having a first opening and a second opening; a first fluid conduit connected to the first opening of the chamber; a reservoir connected to the first fluid conduit, the reservoir having a first opening, wherein the first opening of the reservoir is connected to the first fluid conduit to form a passive valve, wherein the reservoir is dimensionalized for storing a predetermined volume of the reagent fluid; and a pneumatic conduit connected to the second opening of the chamber, wherein selective application of pneumatic pressure to the chamber through the pneumatic conduit transfers the reagent fluid from the reservoir to the chamber through the first fluid conduit. According to various embodiments, a microfluidic device including the reagent fluid dispensing device, and a method of dispensing a reagent fluid may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
    Inventors: Mo-Huang Li, Jackie Y. Ying, Guolin Xu, Yoke San Daniel Lee, Emril Mohamed Ali, Tseng-Ming Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9709870
    Abstract: An electronic paper device includes a ground plane, a charge receiving layer, and a porous stand off layer disposed over the charge receiving layer. An active layer is interposed between the ground plane and the charge receiving layer, the active layer including a plurality of microcapsules containing charged pigments. A system for writing information to electronic paper is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Napoleon Leoni, Omer Gila, Henryk Birecki, Richard Fotland
  • Patent number: 9671365
    Abstract: A method for dispensing liquid for use in biological analysis may comprise positioning liquid to be dispensed via electrowetting. The positioning may comprise aligning the liquid with a plurality of predetermined locations. The method may further comprise dispensing the aligned liquid from the plurality of predetermined locations through a plurality of openings respectively aligned with the predetermined locations. The dispensing may be via electrowetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, LLC
    Inventors: Charles S. Vann, Debjyoti Banerjee, Timothy G. Geiser, James C. Nurse, Nigel P. Beard
  • Patent number: 9630180
    Abstract: A droplet actuator with a droplet formation electrode configuration associated with a droplet operations surface, wherein the electrode configuration may include 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: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Zhishan Hua, Arjun Sudarsan, Philip Y. Paik
  • Patent number: 9618475
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to FET arrays including large FET arrays for monitoring chemical and/or biological reactions such as nucleic acid sequencing-by-synthesis reactions. Some methods provided herein relate to improving signal (and also signal to noise ratio) from released hydrogen ions during nucleic acid sequencing reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Rothberg, Todd Rearick
  • Patent number: 9599595
    Abstract: A modulator for simply providing fast and precise sampling of a chromatographic peak eluting from a first column into a second column of a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatograph, where the modulator includes a planar component containing a first gas passage for connecting a carrier gas source to the second separation column, a second gas passage for connecting the first separation column to an exhaust outlet, a connecting gas passage between the first and second gas passages, and two individually controllable open/close valves arranged in parallel connection in the first gas passage between its connection to the carrier gas source and the branch-off of the connecting gas passage, and where the gas passages and valves are formed in the planar component by micromachining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Udo Gellert
  • Patent number: 9594056
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure digital microfluidic arrays that may be fabricated by a printing method, whereby digital microfluidic electrodes arrays are printed, via a printing method such as inkjet printing, onto a suitable substrate. In some embodiments, a substrate and/or ink is prepared or modified to support the printing of electrode arrays, such as via changes to the surface energy. In some embodiments, porous and/or fibrous substrates are prepared by the addition of a barrier layer, or, for example, by the addition or infiltration of a suitable material to render the surface capable of supporting printed electrodes. Various example embodiments involving hybrid devices formed by the printing of digital microfluidic arrays onto a substrate having a hydrophilic layer are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto
    Inventors: Ryan Fobel, Andrea Kirby, Aaron Wheeler
  • Patent number: 9554487
    Abstract: A apparatus for controlling heat transfer between portions of a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes a substrate including at least part of a hydraulic circuit, the hydraulic circuit including a plurality of microconduits, the plurality of microconduits including a first microconduit and a second microconduit. The apparatus further includes a liquid metal flowing through the hydraulic circuit and a magnetic field configured to selectively direct the flow of the liquid metal between the plurality of microconduits. The flow of the liquid metal through the hydraulic circuit transfers heat between a first portion of the substrate and the liquid metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Andrew F. Glew, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9545631
    Abstract: Cartridge has a container with at least one well having a channel from a well opening to a container base side, protrusions on the container base side, and a flat polymer film with a hydrophobic upper surface kept at a distance from the base side by the protrusions. The container and film are reversibly attachable to a liquid droplet manipulation instrument so the lower surface of the film abuts at least one electrode array of the instrument. The container enables displacement of a liquid droplet from a well through the channel onto the hydrophobic upper surface and above the electrode array. The instrument has a control unit with a voltage control and an electrode selector for individually selecting each electrode of the electrode array and for providing the selected electrode with a voltage to controlling guided movement of a liquid droplet by electrowetting. A kit and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventor: Marc N. Feiglin
  • Patent number: 9535281
    Abstract: The general inventive concepts relate to display technology, and provides a display panel, a display device, and a method for fabricating a display panel. It reduces ripples in the display panel and light leakage around the pixel region from occurring when the display panel is subject to a pressure. The display panel comprises a first and second substrate which are arranged oppositely. The first substrate comprises a black matrix layer and a first magnetic layer. The second substrate comprises a second magnetic layer which corresponds to the first magnetic layer in position. The first and second magnetic layers form an attractive magnetic field force between the first and second substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignees: Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd., Beijing Boe Display Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Wu, Hongming Zhan, Chao Tian
  • Patent number: 9527724
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods for sealing a glass microstructure assembly comprise providing one or more side retainer members on a base plate adjacent the glass microstructure assembly, the side retainer members having a height less than an uncompressed height defined by the glass microstructure assembly. The methods also comprise compressing the glass microstructure assembly via a load bearing top plate in intimate contact with the top glass layer while heating the glass microstructure assembly and the top plate to a glass sealing temperature, the glass sealing temperature being a temperature sufficient to make glass viscous, wherein the glass microstructure assembly is compressed until the load bearing top plate contacts the side retainer members, and wherein the lower surface of the top plate maintains adhesion to the upper surface of the top glass layer at the glass sealing temperature while the load bearing plate is supported by the side retainer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Thierry Luc Alain Dannoux, Paulo Gaspar Jorge Marques, Ronan Tanguy
  • Patent number: 9517469
    Abstract: Methods and devices for conducting chemical or biochemical reactions that require multiple reaction temperatures are described. The methods involve moving one or more reaction droplets or reaction volumes through various reaction zones having different temperatures on a microfluidics apparatus. The devices comprise a microfluidics apparatus comprising appropriate actuators capable of moving reaction droplets or reaction volumes through the various reaction zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignees: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Alexander D. Shenderov, Michael G. Pollack
  • Patent number: 9513253
    Abstract: Droplet actuators and techniques for droplet-based assays are provided. A method of conducting an assay comprises: incubating a droplet in oil, the droplet comprising an umbelliferone substrate, a sample potentially comprising an enzyme which cleaves the umbelliferone substrate, and a zwitterionic surfactant; and detecting a signal emitted from the droplet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore Winger
  • Patent number: 9458543
    Abstract: An active matrix electrowetting on dielectric (AM-EWOD) device includes a plurality of array elements configured to manipulate one or more droplets of fluid on an array, each of the array elements including a corresponding array element circuit. Each array element circuit includes write circuitry configured to write data to the corresponding array element for controlling the manipulation of the droplets of fluid, and sensor circuitry configured to sense an impedance present at the corresponding array element. The sensor circuitry is configured to operate in one of a normal mode of sensitivity for detection of a droplet, or a high mode of sensitivity to detect an electric property of an array element hydrophobic surface. The sensor circuitry includes an active element, such as an active capacitor or active transistor, and a capacitance across the active element is different in the normal sensitivity mode as compared to the high sensitivity mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Benjamin James Hadwen
  • Patent number: 9436057
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a display panel comprising micro-containers filled with an electrophoretic fluid wherein each of the microcells has a bottom and one surface of the bottom is in contact with the electrophoretic fluid, the display panel has a first area and a second area, and the microcells in the first area have substantially the same bottom thickness and the microcells in the second area have added bottom thicknesses. Such a display panel is useful for many applications, such as bar codes, anti-counterfeiting labels, direction signages, shelf labels or watermarks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: E INK CALIFORNIA, LLC
    Inventors: Yih-Ming Kang, Donald A. Schultz
  • Patent number: 9335307
    Abstract: A gas chromatograph in which components of a sample of a gas mixture are separated via a separation column, a sensing element of a thermal conductivity detector is operated at a first temperature to detect separated components and to generate a detector signal in response to detected components, an evaluation unit evaluates detector signals and determines concentrations of detected components, a further sensing element of a further thermal conductivity detector is operated at a second temperature different from the first temperature, to detect gas components of widely different concentration ranges at high sensitivity, where the thermal conductivity detectors are calibrated for different concentration ranges, and the evaluation unit compares the detector signal with the detector signal of the further thermal conductivity detector to output a concentration value determined from the signal of the thermal conductivity detector calibrated for the measured component concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Aosheng Wang, Ray Dean Shepherd, Christoph Klawun
  • Patent number: 9321049
    Abstract: A method, circuit and apparatus for detecting capacitance on a droplet actuator, inter alia, for determining the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at an electrode on a droplet actuator by: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) a substrate comprising electrodes arranged on the substrate for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; (ii) a capacitance detection circuit for detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; (b) detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; and (c) determining from the capacitance the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at the droplet operations surface at the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan A. Sturmer, Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Philip Y. Paik
  • Patent number: 9291811
    Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the invention, an electrowetting device and a method for improving the response speed of an electrowetting device may be provided. The electrowetting device can includes: an electrode; an insulation film including a dielectric material that is coated over the electrode; a droplet positioned over the insulation film; and a power control unit configured to control a voltage applied to the electrode, where the power control unit reaches a particular contact angle by applying a first voltage that is higher than a second voltage corresponding to the particular contact angle, and applies the second voltage once the particular contact angle is reached. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the response speed of an electrowetting device can be improved by applying different voltages according to the contact angle of the droplet in an electrowetting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Myongji University Industry and Academia Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Sang-Kug Chung, Jeong-Byung Chae, Jeong-Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 9284525
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the application of at least one voltage pulse to at least two containers fitted with electrodes, by means of which at least one voltage pulse is applied to at least one container, while at least one other container is subjected to a preparation or a post-processing. According to the invention the method comprises mutual exchange of the respective positions of the container to which a voltage pulse has already been applied and the further container. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device (1) for making electrical contact with at least one container fitted with electrodes, with at least one receptacle (3, 7) upon which at least one container can be set, and with at least one contact appliance (8) for making contact with the electrodes of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: LONZA COLOGNE GMBH
    Inventors: Ludger Altrogge, Timo Gleissner, Andreas Heinze, Herbert Müller-Hartmann, Andreas Wirth
  • Patent number: 9266076
    Abstract: A device for generating droplets includes a substrate comprising a reservoir site configured to hold a liquid and including a first electrode, a droplet creation site including a second electrode, and droplet separation site disposed between the reservoir site and the droplet creation site and containing an electrode. The device includes control circuitry operatively coupled to the first, second, and third electrodes. The control circuitry is configured to measure the fluid volume on the electrodes and independently adjust an applied voltage to increase/decrease the quantity of fluid. The device can move fluid onto the creation site or back onto to the reservoir site. When the fluid volume is at the desired value or range, a driving voltage is delivered to the first and second electrodes to form a new droplet. The device may generate droplets having a uniform or user-defined size smaller than the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Chang-Jin Kim, Jian Gong
  • Patent number: 9216414
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present invention provide devices and methods for preparing oligonucleotides and for assembling nucleic acid molecules using microfluidic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Gen9, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Li-Yang Chu
  • Patent number: 9199201
    Abstract: A pump comprises a plurality of electroosmotic membranes comprising one or more positive electroosmotic membranes and one or more negative electroosmotic membranes; and a plurality of electrodes comprising one or more cathodes and one or more anodes. The electrodes are pre-charged, chargeable, rechargeable or combinations thereof and the cathode and anode are operatively coupled to each other. The positive electroosmotic membranes and negative electroosmotic membranes are disposed alternatively and at least one cathode is disposed on one side of one of the membranes and at least one anode is disposed on another side of that membrane, and wherein at least one cathode or anode is disposed between a positive electroosmotic membrane and a negative electroosmotic membrane. The pump is an electroosmotic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Puleo, Ralf Lenigk
  • Patent number: 9201042
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing fluids with desired concentration factors. According to one embodiment, an arrangement of digital microfluidic (DMF) based electrode platforms are provided. The arrangement may be configured to carry out a sequence of mix steps that may demand storage of resultant fluid mixtures produced in intermediate mix steps. Such sequences of mix steps may be desirable as a result of the decreased demand for initial fluid samples, and reduced wastage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: INDIAN STATISTICAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Bhargab B. Bhattacharya, Sudip Roy, Krishnendu Chakrabarty
  • Patent number: 9182591
    Abstract: An electrowetting system and method for the movement of a droplet across the surface of a substrate, utilizing an applied voltage. The actuation of the droplet is achieved by introducing a diode into the idealized electrical circuit of the electrowetting system. The diode is in parallel with a capacitor (dielectric) and effectively shorts the droplet on the side of a lower potential electrode so that the entire voltage drop is across the dielectric over the higher potential electrode. This difference in potential creates an energy imbalance that is effective in moving the droplet towards the higher potential electrode. If the voltage polarity is reversed, the direction of actuation will also be reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventors: Nathan B. Crane, Qi Ni
  • Patent number: 9169573
    Abstract: An active matrix electrowetting on dielectric (AM-EWOD) device includes a substrate electrode and a plurality of array elements, each array element including an array element electrode. The AM-EWOD device further includes thin film electronics disposed on a substrate. The thin film electronics includes first circuitry configured to supply a first time varying signal V1 to the array element electrodes, and second circuitry configured to supply a second time varying signal V2 to the substrate electrode. An actuation voltage is defined by a potential difference between V2 and V1, and the first circuitry further is configured to adjust the amplitude of V1 to adjust the actuation voltage. V1 may be adjusted to adjust the actuation voltage while V2 remains unchanged. The actuation voltage may be controlled to operate the AM-EWOD device between high and low voltage modes of operation in accordance with different droplet manipulation operations to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Benjamin James Hadwen
  • Patent number: 9134248
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a system component and method for analysis of airborne analytes by absorbing the analytes into a liquid and interrogating the liquid with an analytical instrument. In some examples, a cartridge with a microfluidic chip contains a vessel of a colloidal solution of nanostructured particles in a liquid. The vessel is broken, releasing the solution into microfluidic containers on the chip. Air having analytes is passed over the chip leading to absorption of airborne analytes into the solution. The analytes bind with the nanostructures and are detected optically. Techniques are disclosed for filling the vessel in a way that maintains the efficacy of the solution until it is needed for measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: OndaVia, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl D. Meinhart, Brian D. Piorek, T.J. Reed, Ian Cutler, Philip Strong
  • Patent number: 9103468
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices, along with their methods of formation and use, are provided. The microfluidic device can include a substrate with a main channel and a first auxiliary channel defined in the substrate's surface. The main channel has a main width of about 1000 ?m or less. The first auxiliary channel intersects with the main channel at a first aperture defined in a first side wall of the main channel. A second auxiliary channel can intersect with the main channel at a second aperture defined in a second side wall of the main channel. A plurality of main channels and respective auxiliary channel(s) can be included on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Chen Li, Fanghao Yang, Xianming Dai, Yan Tong
  • Publication number: 20150144489
    Abstract: A disposable cartridge used in a digital microfluidics system has a bottom layer with first hydrophobic surface, a rigid cover plate with second hydrophobic surface, and a gap there-between. The bottom layer is a flexible film on an uppermost surface of a cartridge accommodation site of a system, attracted to and spread over the uppermost surface by an underpressure. A lower surface of the plate and the flexible bottom layer are sealed to each other. The assembled cartridge is removed from the cartridge accommodation site in one piece and potentially includes samples and processing fluids. The system has a base unit and a cartridge accommodation site with an electrode array of individual electrodes and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the gap by electrowetting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Daniel Hoffmeyer, Tiffany Lay, Travis Lee, Marc N. Feiglin, Werner Halg, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
  • Publication number: 20150144488
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for electrophoretic or electrophoretically assisted enrichment of sperm cells along a channel placed between two chambers. According to certain preferred embodiments, the methods and apparatuses may be used, simultaneous to sperm cell enrichment for the separation of said sperm cells from a pre-treatment chemical compound with which they have been contacted to improve their fertilization ability when subsequently used, for example, in intrauterine insemination or another method of insemination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Howard James
  • Publication number: 20150148238
    Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based surface modification and washing. According to one embodiment, a method of splitting a droplet is provided, the method including providing a droplet microactuator including a droplet including one or more beads and immobilizing at least one of the one or more beads. The method further includes conducting one or more droplet operations to divide the droplet to yield a set of droplets including a droplet including the one or more immobilized beads and a droplet substantially lacking the one or more immobilized beads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicants: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC., Duke University
    Inventors: Vamsee Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Richard B. Fair
  • Patent number: 9034164
    Abstract: The present invention is configured to be provided with: a bottom-equipped tubular cell main body that forms an internal space S1 that extends in a longer direction, and has one end part that is opened; a pair of applying electrodes that are arranged so as to face to each other in the internal space; and a fixing spacer that intervenes between the pair of applying electrodes to thereby define a distance between the applying electrodes, and fixes the pair of applying electrodes, wherein in a state where the fixing spacer is inserted into the cell main body, in a lower part of the internal space of the cell main body, a zeta potential measuring space in which the pair of applying electrodes are exposed is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: HORIBA, LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Makoto Nagura
  • Publication number: 20150129427
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the extraction of analyte compounds from a sample comprising one or more analytes in a donor phase into an acceptor phase, comprising the steps of: a) providing an electrically conductive donor phase comprising the compounds in a first electrically conductive solvent or solvent blend, and an electrode arranged in electrically conductive contact with the donor phase, b) providing an electrically conductive acceptor phase in electrically conductive contact with a second electrode; and c) providing an insulator phase in fluid communication with at least one of the donor phase and the acceptor phase, wherein the insulator phase is immiscible with the donor phase and/or the acceptor phase, and d) (d) applying an electrical field between the first and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Robert-Jan Raterink, Peter Lindenburg, Thomas Hankemeier
  • Patent number: 9028775
    Abstract: This technology is a method and apparatus for the semi-continuous measurement of the concentration of constituents of airborne particles which couples a laminar flow, water condensation particle collector to a microfluidic device for assay of particle chemical composition by electrophoresis. The technology has been used for the assay of sulfates, nitrates, chlorides, and organic acids contained in fine and submicrometer atmospheric particles. For these compounds the apparatus and method described is capable of one-minute time resolution at concentrations at the level of micrograms of analyte species per cubic meter of air. Extension to other analytes is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignees: Aerosol Dynamics Inc., Colorado State University Research
    Inventors: Susanne Vera Hering, Gregory Stephen Lewis, Steven Russel Spielman, Charles Sherman Henry, Scott Douglas Noblitt, Jeffrey Lee Collett, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150122655
    Abstract: A sample separation apparatus (200) for separating a fluidic sample, the sample separation apparatus (200) comprising a first separation unit (204) for separating the fluidic sample, a first fluid drive (202) configured for conducting the fluidic sample to be separated through the first separation unit (204), a second separation unit (208), arranged downstream of the first separation unit (204), for further separating the fluidic sample after treatment by the first separation unit (204), a second fluid drive (206) configured for at least partially conducting the fluidic sample, after treatment by the first separation unit (204), through the second separation unit (208), and a fluidic valve (218) having fluidic interfaces (222, 224, 226, 228) fluidically coupled to the first fluid drive (202) and the second fluid drive (206) and being switchable for performing the separation of the fluidic sample, wherein the sample separation apparatus (200) is configured for adjusting a pressure at a predefined position to a
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Konstantin Choikhet, Klaus Witt
  • Patent number: 9016198
    Abstract: Printers, methods, and apparatus to filter imaging oil are disclosed. An example apparatus to filter imaging oil, includes adjacent electrodes and a switching circuit. The example switching circuit selectively generates an electrostatic field between the adjacent electrodes to cause particles suspended in the imaging oil between the adjacent electrodes to adhere to at least one of the adjacent electrodes, and generates an alternating electric field between the adjacent electrodes to cause the particles to be detached from the adjacent electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Quang P Lam, Michael H Lee, Omer Gila
  • Patent number: 9017941
    Abstract: A method for nucleic acid analysis including injecting a slight amount of nucleic acid sample for analysis, characterized in that most of a nucleic acid sample which is not used, excluding the slight amount of the nucleic acid sample which is used for analysis, can be obtained as a pure product which is not contaminated with a fluorescent material, and a microchip for analyzing nucleic acid which enables such method for nucleic acid analysis, are provided. The method for nucleic acid analysis may analyze at least two different nucleic acid samples in a continuous manner by sequentially injecting the at least two different nucleic acid samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Postech Academy-Industry Foundation
    Inventors: Jong Hoon Hahn, Byoung Joo Kwak, Han-Ok Kim
  • Patent number: 9011662
    Abstract: The invention provides droplet actuator assemblies and systems and methods of manufacturing the droplet actuator assemblies. In certain embodiments, two-piece enclosures are used to form a droplet actuator assembly that houses a droplet operations substrate. In certain other embodiments, one-piece enclosures are used to form a droplet actuator assembly that houses a droplet operations substrate. In the plastic injection molding process for forming substrates of the droplet actuator assemblies of the present invention may utilize insert molding (or overmolding) processes for forming a gasket in at least one substrate, thereby avoiding the need for providing and installing a separate gasket component. Further, the droplet actuator assemblies may include features that allow ultrasonic welding processes to be used for bonding substrates together. The manufacturing systems of the present invention for fabricating the droplet actuator assemblies may utilize continuous flow reel-to-reel manufacturing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Tih-Hong Wang, George Brackett, David Clevenger, Donovan E. Bort
  • Patent number: 9011663
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, LLC
    Inventor: Umberto Ulmanella
  • Patent number: 9012206
    Abstract: The invention provides methods of performing a sizing analysis. In the methods, a sizing ladder used in performing the sizing analysis is corrected. In one method, the sizing ladder is corrected for batch-to-batch variations in a sieving gel. In another method, the sizing ladder is corrected for a sample concentration that is different from the archival sizing ladder concentration. Methods are also provided in which the sizing ladder is corrected using a standard marker in a sample and/or using a real-time standard sizing ladder. The methods may be used individually or in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Camporese, Advit Bhatt, Josh Molho, Hui Xu, Ken Summers
  • Publication number: 20150101930
    Abstract: An electroosmotic pump unit includes at least a first pump element, at least a second pump element, and an electrode. Each pump element includes a tube, an electrically grounded fluid inlet, a fluid outlet electrically coupled to the electrode, and a porous monolith immobilized in the tube and having open pores having net surface charges. When the electrode applies a voltage across the monoliths, a fluid supplied to the first pump element flows through the pump elements in a direction from a fluid inlet of the first pump element toward a fluid outlet of the second pump element. A plurality of electroosmotic pump units may be connected in series in a pump assembly. The electroosmotic pump unit, or pump assembly, may be connected to an apparatus such as a HPLC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Shaorong Liu
  • Patent number: 9005418
    Abstract: Proteins that are electrophoretically separated in a gel are derivatized to produce fluorescent emissions by incorporating halo-substituted organic compounds into one or both of the electrode buffer solutions at the two ends of the gel. The halo-substituted compounds used are ones that bear an electric charge at the pH of the buffer solutions and gel, and the polarity of the charge on the compounds is such that the compounds migrate from the electrode buffer into the gel under the electrophoretic influence concurrently with the migration of the proteins into the gel. Once the proteins are separated and distributed within the gel and the gel is fully penetrated with the halo-substituted compounds, the gel is irradiated with ultraviolet light to induce a reaction between the halo-substituted compounds and the proteins through the tryptophan residues on the proteins, producing fluorescent reaction products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Belisle
  • Publication number: 20150096890
    Abstract: A biological sample processing system (1) includes a liquid droplet manipulation instrument (20) with an electrode array (21) for inducing a movement of a liquid droplet (19) by electrowetting; a substrate (22); and a control unit (23). An electrode selector (34) of the control unit (23) is configured to individually select and provide each electrode (35) of the electrode array (21) with a voltage. The control unit (23) includes a central processing unit (36) for individually selecting at least one electrode (35) and for providing the selected electrode(s) (35) with an individual voltage pulse. The biological sample processing system (1) also includes a cartridge (40) with a container (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Marc N. Feiglin, Joseph A. Mamone, Michael Franklin, Timothy Francis Lee