Waveguides Patents (Class 422/82.11)
  • Patent number: 12085581
    Abstract: The automatic analyzer includes a first storage device that stores sample information including a measurement result of a reaction solution for each sample and a second storage device that stores the sample information on at least a part of the samples among the sample information stored in the first storage device, in which when the automatic analyzer reaches a predetermined operation state, the control device performs a backup process of backing up the sample information on the samples satisfying a predetermined backup condition from the first storage device to the second storage device, and deleting the sample information on the backed up samples from the first storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Ito, Osamu Matsumoto, Ryota Watanabe
  • Patent number: 12061146
    Abstract: An electricity measuring type surface plasmon resonance sensor includes: a plasmon resonance intensifying sensor chip in which a prism and a sensor chip including an electrode, a silicon semiconductor film, and a plasmon resonance film electrode arranged in this order are arranged in an order of the prism, the electrode, the silicon semiconductor film, and the plasmon resonance film electrode; and an electric measuring apparatus which directly measures a current or voltage from the electrode and the plasmon resonance film electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amrita Sana, Giles Allison, Hironori Suzuki, Hidemi Kato, Masao Ando, Viet Cuong Le
  • Patent number: 12044624
    Abstract: A system includes: an objective lens; a first light source to feed first illuminating light through the objective lens and into a flowcell (e.g., with a relatively thin film waveguide) to be installed in the system, the first illuminating light to be fed using a first grating on the flowcell; and a first image sensor to capture imaging light using the objective lens, wherein the first grating is positioned outside a field of view of the first image sensor. Dual-surface imaging can be performed. Flowcells with multiple swaths bounded by gratings can be used. An auto-alignment process can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventors: Yinghua Sun, Stanley S. Hong, Frederick Erie, Alex Nemiroski, M. Shane Bowen, Danilo Condello, Dietrich Dehlinger, Marco A. Krumbuegel, Anthony Lam, Aaron Liu, Bojan Obradovic, Mark Pratt
  • Patent number: 11993686
    Abstract: The present application discloses a surface treatment method of a polymer for 5G, belonging to the technical field of surface treatment of polymer. By injecting and adding the oxygen elements to the polymer, the polymer matrix elements and the injected atoms can form a blend structure, which can increase the surface roughness of the polymer, improve its bonding strength with the metal, and thus enhance its anti-peel strength. The surface treatment method of the application has the surface resistivity, surface roughness, water absorption and tensile properties of the polymer all considered. The equipment used in the invention has long service life and low cost, and can realize large-scale roll-to-roll production. The method can be popularized in polymer surface treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignees: Beijing Normal University, Guangdong Guangxin Ion Beam Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bin Liao, Xiao Ouyang, Guoliang Wang, Xiaoping Ouyang, Jun Luo, Pan Pang, Lin Chen, Xu Zhang, Xianying Wu, Minju Ying
  • Patent number: 11969729
    Abstract: A microdevice for detecting aldehydes or ketones by utilizing a rotary platform, the microdevice comprising a disc-shaped rotary platform and a microfluidic structure disposed on the rotary platform, and the microfluidic structure comprising a sample storage part, an eluent storage part, a separation part, a first microfluid flow channel, a second microfluid flow channel, and an absorption pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Hyun Park, Byoung Hyoun Kim, Su Youn Han
  • Patent number: 11684686
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are flexible plasma applicators based on fibrous layers that are capable of rapidly sanitizing a surface via either direct or indirect contact with said surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignees: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INCORPORATEDg
    Inventors: Aaron Mazzeo, Jingjin Xie, Qiang Chen, Subrata Roy
  • Patent number: 11662346
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to: sensing and/or authentication using luminescence imaging; diagnostic assays, systems, and related methods; temporal thermal sensing and related methods; and/or to emissive species, such as those excitable by white light, and related systems and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: C2Sense, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Manning Swager, Jason R. Cox, Robert Deans
  • Patent number: 11662310
    Abstract: Building blocks are provided for on-chip chemical sensors and other highly-compact photonic integrated circuits combining interband or quantum cascade lasers and detectors with passive waveguides and other components integrated on a III-V or silicon. A MWIR or LWIR laser source is evanescently coupled into a passive extended or resonant-cavity waveguide that provides evanescent coupling to a sample gas (or liquid) for spectroscopic chemical sensing. In the case of an ICL, the uppermost layer of this passive waveguide has a relatively high index of refraction that enables it to form the core of the waveguide, while the ambient air, consisting of the sample gas, functions as the top cladding layer. A fraction of the propagating light beam is absorbed by the sample gas if it contains a chemical species having a fingerprint absorption feature within the spectral linewidth of the laser emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jerry R. Meyer, Igor Vurgaftman, Chadwick Lawrence Canedy, William W. Bewley, Chul Soo Kim, Charles D. Merritt, Michael V. Warren, R. Joseph Weiblen, Mijin Kim
  • Patent number: 11578964
    Abstract: An optical coherence tomography (OCT) apparatus includes a light source unit to generate light, a coupler unit to generate coupled light using reference light and measurement light generated by splitting the light, split the coupled light into n coupled and split lights and irradiate the n coupled and split lights, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2, a detection unit to irradiate the incident n coupled and split lights to n spectroscopes respectively and sequentially scan each light separated from each of the spectroscopes by wavelength range, and an image generation unit to generate a 2-dimensional single image using a result of the scanning by the detection unit. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the OCT image acquisition rate by distributing the scan time for a plurality of split lights using a plurality of array detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: KYUNGPOOK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jeehyun Kim, Pilun Kim
  • Patent number: 11527452
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reconstituted wafer- and/or panel-level package comprising a glass substrate having a plurality of cavities. Each cavity is configured to hold a single IC chip. The reconstituted wafer- and/or panel-level package can be used in a fan-out wafer or panel level packaging process. The glass substrate can include at least two layers having different photosensitivities with one layer being sufficiently photosensitive to be capable of being photomachined to form the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Heather Debra Boek, Paul Bennett Dohn, Jin Su Kim, Aize Li, Hugh Michael McMahon, Jun-Ro Yoon
  • Patent number: 11480426
    Abstract: An optical displacement sensing system is provided. With configuration of an optical sensor disposed on a displacement platform and in cooperation with a broadband light source and an optical spectrum analyzer, when the displacement platform moves, the waveguide grating of the optical sensor is resonated and the reflected light provided with a resonance wavelength is formed. The waveguide grating has the plurality of grating periods, and when the displacement platform moves to a different position to make the broadband light source correspond to a different grating period, the position can correspond to the different resonance wavelength. Therefore, according to the aforementioned configuration, the position is determined according to the different resonance wavelength, instead of using an optical encoder; furthermore, the micrometer-scale or nanometer-scale displacement detection is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Cheng-Sheng Huang, Yen-Chieh Wang
  • Patent number: 11397150
    Abstract: Presently disclosed is a way to provide a measuring device capable of easily detecting measurement abnormality without increasing load in hardware. The measuring device may include: an emission means that may emit light to a measurement target region; a light measurement means that may measure light output from the measurement target region by emission with the emission means; a driving means that may move a position of at least one of the measurement target region and the emission means; and a determination means that may compare measurement values of the light measured a plurality of times by the light measurement means while changing positions of the measurement target region by the driving means and thereby determines abnormality of a measurement result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youichi Aoki, Tetsuya Noda
  • Patent number: 11204326
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising a first optical Mach-Zehnder interferometric sensor (MZI1) with a large FSR, wherein a plasmonic waveguide (107) thin-film or hybrid slot, is incorporated as transducer element planar integrated on Si3N4 photonic waveguides and a second optical interferometric Mach-Zehnder (MZI2), both comprising thermo-optic phase shifters (104, 106) for optimally biasing said MZI sensor (MZI1) and MZI as variable optical attenuator VOA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignees: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki-Research Committee E.L.K.E, AMO GmbH Gesellschaft für Angewandte Mikro- und Optoelektronic Mit Beschränkter Haftung
    Inventors: Nikolaos Pleros, Dimitrios Tsiokos, Georgios Ntampos, Dimitra Ketzaki, Anna-Lena Giesecke
  • Patent number: 11192109
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices for the rapid and automated processing of sample populations are provided. Described are multiplexer microfluidic devices configured to serially deliver a plurality of distinct sample populations to a sample processing element rapidly and automatically, without cross-contaminating the distinct sample populations. Also provided are microfluidic sample processing elements that can be used to rapidly and automatically manipulate and/or interrogate members of a sample population. The microfluidic devices can be used to improve the throughput and quality of experiments involving model organisms, such as C. elegans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Adela Ben-Yakar, Navid Ghorashian, Sertan Kutal Gökçe, Sam Xun Guo, William Neil Everett, Frederic Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 11125761
    Abstract: Methods and devices for rapid assessment of the severity of injury not due to a natural disease based upon measurement of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Antibodyshop A/S
    Inventors: Kristian Bangert, Lars Otto Uttenthal
  • Patent number: 11097246
    Abstract: Methods and systems for highly-sensitive label-free multiple analyte sensing, biosensing, and diagnostic assay are disclosed. The systems comprise an on-chip integrated two-dimensional photonic crystal sensor chip. The invention provides modulation methods, wavelength modulation and intensity modulation, to monitor the resonance mode shift of the photonic crystal microarray device and further provides methods and systems that enable detection and identification of multiple species to be performed simultaneously with one two-dimensional photonic crystal sensor chip device for high throughput chemical sensing, biosensing, and medical diagnostics. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Omega Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Swapnajit Chakravarty, Yunbo Guo, Ray T Chen
  • Patent number: 11086113
    Abstract: Various embodiments (300, 400, 500) for a multi-focal selective illumination microscopy (SIM) system for generating multi-focal patterns of a sample are disclosed. The embodiments (300, 400, 500) of the multi-focal SIM system perform a focusing, scaling and summing operation on each generated multi-focal pattern in a sequence of multi-focal patterns that completely scan the sample to produce a high resolution composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: The United States of America
    Inventors: Hari Shroff, Andrew York
  • Patent number: 11085878
    Abstract: A radiation detection system may include a radiation source, and a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) radiation detector. The SPR radiation detector may include a structure, a surface plasmon support material on portions of the structure and configured to receive radiation from the radiation source that initiates a surface plasmon at an interface between the structure and the surface plasmon support material, and a probing device coupled to the structure and configured to detect the surface plasmon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: EAGLE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Susanne M. Lee, Madison A. Young, Erin K. Sharma
  • Patent number: 11067573
    Abstract: A chip for localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) biosensing and imaging having a glass coverslip compatible for use in a standard microscope and at least one array of functionalized plasmonic nanostructures patterned onto the glass coverslip with electron beam nanolithography. The nanostructures can be regenerated allowing the chip to be used multiple times. Also disclosed is a method for determining the fractional occupancy values for surface-bound receptors as a function of time for LSPR biosensing from the spectroscopic response of the array and modeling the photon count in each spectrometer channel, allowing for a functional relationship to be determined between the acquired spectrum and the fractional occupancy of binding sites on the array. Additionally disclosed is a method for the spatiotemporal mapping of receptor-ligand binding kinetics in LSPR imaging using the chip and projecting a magnified image of the array to a CCD camera and monitoring the binding kinetics of the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Marc P. Raphael, Joseph A Christodoulides, Jeff M Byers
  • Patent number: 11002710
    Abstract: A method for measuring mechanical parameters of a multilayer composite thin film structure and belongs to the technical field of online tests of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS for short) material parameters. Equivalent Young modulus and equivalent residual stress of each layer of the multilayer composite thin film structure can be obtained in one step by means of solving an equation set on the basis of a relationship between first-order resonance frequency of multilayer composite fixed-fixed beams and multilayer composite cantilever beams and parameters such as material characteristics and structure size, the online test of multilayer thin film materials can be realized, the test structure and calculating method are simple, and the accuracy is higher. The present invention further discloses a device for measuring mechanical parameters of the multilayer composite thin film structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Zaifa Zhou, Chao Sun, Xinge Guo, Qingan Huang
  • Patent number: 10933412
    Abstract: Devices that can transport biological materials are described. The devices incorporate capillary channeled fibers that can effectively transport living cells as well as other biological materials such as nutrients, growth factors, waste materials, etc. The devices can include a sorptive material at one end of the fibers that can improve transport of materials through the devices. The devices can differentially transport different cell types, particularly when the fibers are held in a vertical orientation. Diagnostic devices that incorporate the capillary channeled fibers are described that can be utilized to separate cell types from one another. Tissue engineering scaffolds that incorporate the capillary channeled fibers are described that can more efficiently transport materials into and out of the scaffolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen J. L. Burg, Suzanne Tabbaa
  • Patent number: 10883923
    Abstract: This invention relates a biomarker detection system, for detecting cancer biomarkers using optical heterodyning. The system includes a tunable laser configured to produce a plurality of laser beams of at least two frequencies, a pair of optical fibers coated with gold nanoparticles and functionalized with an antibody is configured to undergo a change of fiber surface of each optical fiber by adsorbing molecules of an analyte on a surface of the antibody, modify a reflection of the plurality of laser beams inside a fiber core of the each optical fiber when the each optical fiber is bent, and create an audible beat frequency; and perform spectral analysis. A frequency spectrum analyzer configured to provide a composition information of the adsorbed molecules based on a spectral analysis of the beat frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: M.I.S. Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Mohammad E Khosroshahi
  • Patent number: 10697012
    Abstract: This invention provides substrates for use in various applications, including single-molecule analytical reactions. Methods for propagating optical energy within a substrate are provided. Devices comprising waveguide substrates and dielectric omnidirectional reflectors are provided. Waveguide substrates with improved uniformity of optical energy intensity across one or more waveguides and enhanced waveguide illumination efficiency within an analytic detection region of the arrays are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng Frank Zhong, Paul Lundquist, Mathieu Foquet, Jonas Korlach, Hovig Bayandorian
  • Patent number: 10260095
    Abstract: The invention relate to systems and methods for sequencing polynucleotides, as well as detecting reactions and binding events involving other biological molecules. The systems and methods may employ chamber-free devices and nanosensors to detect or characterize such reactions in high-throughput. Because the system in many embodiments is reusable, the system can be subject to more sophisticated and improved engineering, as compared to single use devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: GENAPSYS, INC.
    Inventors: Hesaam Esfandyarpour, Kosar Baghbani Parizi, Mark F. Oldham, Eric S. Nordman, Richard T. Reel, Susanne Baumhueter, Cheryl Heiner, Frank Lee
  • Patent number: 10088428
    Abstract: A surface refractive index acquisition system for characterization of a sample is provided. The system comprises a grating device configured to receive the sample, and first and second grating regions. First and second grating periods are selected to provide optical resonances for light respectively in first and second wavelength bands. A light source is configured to illuminate part of the first and second grating regions simultaneously. An imaging system is configured to image light from the grating device and comprises an optical element focusing light in a transverse direction and being invariant in an orthogonal transverse direction, the optical element being oriented such that the longitudinal direction of the grating device is oriented to coincide with the invariant direction of the optical element, and an imaging spectrometer comprising an entrance slit having a longitudinal direction oriented to coincide with the invariant direction of the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Danmarks Tekniske Universitet
    Inventors: Anders Kristensen, Christoph Vannahme, Martin Dufva
  • Patent number: 10018566
    Abstract: Optical readers and alignment tools for detecting the level of an analyte. Described herein are small, disposable partially-encapsulated sensing chips for detecting an analyte level from a fluid sample (e.g., a blood sample) having an edge of the integrated sensing chip exposed to directly expose a plurality of excitation and a collection waveguides, as well as optical readers and methods of operating them. A fluid sample maybe applied to a sensing surface of the sensing chip in the housing so that an analyte level can be optically detected. Also described are methods of sensing an analyte using these devices and systems including an optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: LDIP, LLC
    Inventors: Ming Tan, Yun-Pei Chang, Leyla Sabet, Ashutosh Shastry, Christopher E. Todd, Reuven Duer
  • Patent number: 9976969
    Abstract: A method of evaluating a crystallized silicon layer on a substrate includes injecting light into the substrate in such a way that it is wave-guided by the substrate. Wave-guided injected light is diffracted out of the substrate by periodic features of the silicon layer. The diffracted light is detected and processed to evaluate the crystalline layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Coherent LaserSystems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Paul Van Der Wilt
  • Patent number: 9878328
    Abstract: This describes an apparatus comprising a plate with a number of elements having a hydrophilic surface arranged in an array with an overlay having a hydrophobic surface. A height of the overlay is between about 5% and 100% of the diameter of the elements. The application also discloses a wall circumferential to the plate; and a removable grid insertable into the apparatus, said grid comprising dividers enclosing a number of through-holes, said through-holes spaced in the grid to allow alignment of the through-holes of the grid over the elements in the plate when said grid is inserted into the apparatus, said dividers of the grid inserted into the apparatus form sides of wells bottomed by the plate and at least one element on said plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Curiox Biosystems Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Namyong Kim, Siah Chong Cheong, Melvin Han Wen Lye, Mark Siew Peng Phong, Li Li, Teow Soon Seah
  • Patent number: 9829485
    Abstract: A biosensor device for detecting biological particles, the biosensor device comprising a substrate, a regular pattern of pores formed in the substrate, and a plurality of sensor active structures each of which being arranged on a surface of a corresponding one of the pores, wherein each of the plurality of sensor active structures is sensitive to specific biological particles and is adapted to modify electromagnetic radiation interaction properties in the event of the presence of the respective biological particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Pablo Garcia Tello, Freddy Roozeboom
  • Patent number: 9354170
    Abstract: A method includes detecting D2O in a sample by fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescence spectroscopy may be near-infrared fluorescence spectroscopy. The method may include observing an excitation wavelength of the sample at 620 nm to 640 nm. The method may also include observing an emission wavelength of the sample at 900 nm to 1000 nm. The method includes detecting D2O and D2O nano-clusters and their alterations in presence of suspended or colloidal objects including bio-molecules or cells, by emission spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA
    Inventors: Anjan Kr. Dasgupta, Hirak Kumar Patra
  • Patent number: 9274104
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a measuring system using an optical waveguide is provided. The measuring system has an optical waveguide, magnetic fine particles, a magnetic field applying unit, a light source and a light receiving element. The optical waveguide has a sensing area to which first substances having a property of specifically bonding to subject substances to be measured are fixed. Second substances having a property of specifically bonding to the subject substances are fixed to the magnetic fine particle. The magnetic field applying unit generates a magnetic field for moving the magnetic fine particles. The light source inputs a light into the optical waveguide. The light receiving element receives the light output from the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ichiro Tono, Shingo Kasai, Takaaki Wada, Isao Nawata, Masaaki Hirakawa, Tomohiro Takase, Kayoko Oomiya, Takeshi Yamauchi, Tadahiro Nakayama, Isamu Nitta
  • Patent number: 9164026
    Abstract: Systems and methods for chip-integrated label-free detection and absorption spectroscopy with high throughput, sensitivity, and specificity are disclosed. The invention comprises packaged chips for multiplexing photonic crystal microcavity waveguide and photonic crystal slot waveguide devices. The packaged chips comprise crossing waveguides to prevent leakage of fluids from the microfluidic channels from the trenches or voids around the light guiding waveguides. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Omega Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Swapnajit Chakravarty, Amir Hosseini, Ray T. Chen
  • Patent number: 9140652
    Abstract: Performing a measurement using an optical field enhancement device which includes a transparent substrate having a transparent fine uneven structure on a surface and a metal film formed on a surface of the fine uneven structure on the surface of the substrate, in which a subject is placed on the metal film of the optical field enhancement device, then excitation light is projected onto an area of the optical field enhancement device on which the subject is placed, and light generated by the projection of the excitation light is detected from a back surface side of the transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Naya, Shinya Hakuta
  • Patent number: 9063135
    Abstract: Systems and methods for chip-integrated label-free detection and absorption spectroscopy with high throughput, sensitivity, and specificity are disclosed. The invention comprises packaged chips for multiplexing photonic crystal waveguide and photonic crystal slot waveguide devices. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Omega Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Swapnajit Chakravarty, Amir Hosseini, Ray T. Chen
  • Publication number: 20150140556
    Abstract: The present invention provides, in addition to other things, methods, systems, and apparatuses that involve the use of an optical fiber with grating and particulate coating that enables simultaneous heating; optical detection; and optionally temperature measurement. Methods, systems, and apparatuses of the present invention may be used in many applications including isothermal and/or thermal cycling reactions. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides methods, systems, and apparatuses for use in detecting, quantifying and/or identifying one or more known or unknown analytes in a sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Jacques Albert, Anatoli Ianoul, Aliaksandr Bialiayeu, Adam Bottomley
  • Publication number: 20150140680
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integral label-free biosensor capable of analyzing a biomolecule with high sensitivity by integrating a light source, a photodetector, an optical waveguide, and a microcantilever on a substrate, and a method of detecting a bio-antigen by using the same. The integral label-free biosensor according to the present invention may be manufactured with low cost, be easily integrated with a silicon electron device, and detect a biomolecule with high sensitivity by using a label-free method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Chul HUH, Sang Hyeob KIM, Byoung Jun PARK, Eun Hye JANG, Myung Ae CHUNG
  • Patent number: 9028772
    Abstract: A method may involve forming one or more photoresist layers over a sensor located on a structure, such that the sensor is covered by the one or more photoresist layers. The sensor is configured to detect an analyte. The method may involve forming a first polymer layer. Further, the method may involve positioning the structure on the first polymer layer. Still further, the method may involve forming a second polymer layer over the first polymer layer and the structure, such that the structure is fully enclosed by the first polymer layer, the second polymer layer, and the one or more photoresist layers. The method may also involve removing the one or more photoresist layers to form a channel through the second polymer layer, wherein the sensor is configured to receive the analyte via the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Huanfen Yao, Jeffrey George Linhardt, Babak Parviz
  • Patent number: 9023281
    Abstract: Chemical indicator apparatuses containing one or more chemical indicators for use in monitoring the quality of water in an aquatic environment. The apparatuses are designed and configured to be submersible in the water that is being monitored. In some embodiments, each apparatus includes a plurality of immobilized-dye-based chemical indicators that undergo a physical change as levels of one or more constituents of the water change. Such indicators can be read by one or more suitable optical readers. These and other embodiments are designed and configured to be movable by a corresponding monitoring/measuring apparatus, for example, via a magnetically coupled drive. Also disclosed are a variety of features that can be used to provide a chemical indicator apparatus with additional functionalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Step Ahead Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Publication number: 20150110676
    Abstract: Beginning with a sheet of optically transparent material, one may fabricate a great many shaped optical wafers, each in the form of a thin and essentially flat piece of optical material having a narrow cross-sectional width relative to length, and a sharply narrowed tip at one end. The fabrication process involves passing a sheet of optically transparent material through one or more operational steps wherein cutting, shearing, embossing, microperforating, or a combination thereof is performed. The fabrication process may further include a cladding operation, a tip texturing operation, and an analyte-reactive reagent deposition operation. The completed optical wafers are separated and each may be mounted into a user-operated device along with systems for educing a fluid sample to be expressed from a living organism, for bringing the tip of the optical wafer into contact with the fluid sample, and for illuminating and assaying the fluid sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nomura
  • Patent number: 9012207
    Abstract: A biomolecular assay includes a substrate with a metallic layer on at least one surface thereof. The metallic film includes nanocavities. The nanocavities are configured to enhance signals that are representative of the presence or amount of one or more analytes in a sample or sample solution, and may be configured to enhance the signal by a factor of about two or more or by a factor of about three or more. Such signal enhancement may be achieved with nanocavities that are organized in an array, randomly positioned nanocavities, or nanocavities that are surrounded by increased surface area features, such as corrugation or patterning, or nanocavities that have quadrilateral or triangular shapes with tailored edge lengths, or with a plurality of nanoparticles. Methods for fabricating biomolecular substrates and assay techniques in which such biomolecular substrates are used are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Steven M. Blair, Farhad Mahdavi, Yongdong Liu, James N. Herron, Ajay Nahata
  • Publication number: 20150098866
    Abstract: An optic light guide test sensor comprises a light guide, a reagent-coated membrane, and a mesh layer. The reagent-coated membrane and the mesh layer are attached to the light guide at an output end of the light guide. The light guide test sensor is adapted to be used to test the level of an analyte in a biological fluid sample when used with a readhead. A method of manufacturing the light guide test sensor involves providing a plurality of light guides, providing a strip of reagent-coated membrane, and providing a strip of mesh layer. The reagent-coated membrane and mesh layer are attached to the light guides by ultrasonic welding. The reagent-coated membrane and mesh layer may also be attached to the light guides by adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Reynolds, Steven C. Charlton, Sung-Kwon Jung, Suny J. George
  • Patent number: 8999264
    Abstract: A coating formula and method for surface coating non-porous surfaces. Microfluidic devices including said coating achieve desired properties including increased hydrophilicity, improved adhesion, stability and optical clarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Pugia
  • Publication number: 20150093816
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for analyzing a fluid sample. In one aspect, the device includes a fluidic substrate that comprises a micro-fluidic component embedded in the fluidic substrate configured to propagate a fluid sample via capillary force through the device and a means for providing a fluid sample connected to the micro-fluidic component. The device also includes a lid attached to the fluidic substrate at least partly covering the fluidic substrate and at least partly closing the micro-fluidic component. The fluidic substrate may be a silicon fluidic substrate and the lid may be a CMOS chip. In another aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method for fabricating such a device, and the method may include providing a fluidic substrate, providing a lid, and attaching, through a CMOS compatible bonding process, the fluidic substrate to the lid to close the fluidic substrate at least partly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Liesbet Lagae, Peter Peumans
  • Patent number: 8992860
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating diffusion effects. Diffused regions of a segmented flow of multiple, miscible fluid species may be vented off to a waste channel, and non-diffused regions of fluid may be preferentially pulled off the channel that contains the segmented flow. Multiple fluid samples that are not contaminated via diffusion may be collected for analysis and measurement in a single channel. The systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating diffusion effects may be used to minimize or eliminate diffusion effects in a microfluidic system for monitoring the amplification of DNA molecules and the dissociation behavior of the DNA molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Murphy, Scott Corey, Alex Flamm, Ben Lane, Conrad Laskowski, Chad Schneider
  • Patent number: 8994946
    Abstract: An analytical assembly within a unified device structure for integration into an analytical system. The analytical assembly is scalable and includes a plurality of analytical devices, each of which includes a reaction cell, an optical sensor, and at least one optical element positioned in optical communication with both the reaction cell and the sensor and which delivers optical signals from the cell to the sensor. Additional elements are optionally integrated into the analytical assembly. Methods for forming and operating the analytical system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Joseph McCaffrey, Stephen Turner, Ravi Saxena
  • Patent number: 8992836
    Abstract: Embodiments of optofluidic devices or methods according to the application can provide on-chip, label-free, massively parallel analysis of analytes. An embodiment of the optofluidic device can comprise a microresonator, a waveguide optically coupled to the microresonator, and a fluidic channel that exposes an analyte to an evanescent field from the microresonator, wherein the light signal has a linewidth lesser than the width of at least one resonance of the light signal propagating in the microresonator. The light signal can be tuned across a spectrum of light wavelengths, wherein the spectrum of wavelengths includes one or more wavelengths defining the at least one resonance in the microresonator. The light transmission through the waveguide over the spectrum of wavelengths of the input light can be detected, and an absorption spectrum of the analyte can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Arthur Nitkowski, Michal Lipson
  • Patent number: 8991238
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable digital reader for urinalysis. The portable digital reader for reading an analysis target chip including a plurality of test areas, comprises: a main body including a light emitting section having light emitting elements for radiating light, an integral optical splitter for uniformly distributing the light from the light emitting section to each test area of the analysis target chip, a light receiving section for receiving light reflected from the each test area so as to convert the same to electric signals, and a measuring section for measuring concentration according to the electric signals obtained from the light receiving section; a main supporting body having the analysis target chip and assembled with the main body; and an auxiliary supporting body assembled between the analysis target chip and the main supporting body, including a groove for assembling the analysis target chip, and assembled with the main supporting body to be exchanged after use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Dae Sik Lee, Hyun Woo Song, Byoung Goo Jeon, Min Joon Kim, Moon Youn Jung, Seon Hee Park
  • Patent number: 8974751
    Abstract: Sample liquid is collected in a chamber downstream of a separating device. Adjoining the chamber are a plurality of channels which guide the sample liquid to one or more investigating regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Microparts GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Rodenfels, Gert Blankenstein
  • Patent number: 8968677
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for dispersion of a labeling conjugate in a diagnostic assay, the result being a one-step assay. By eliminating a conjugate pad as in conventional lateral diagnostic devices, and forming a frazil ice pellicle (FIP), rehydration and flow are improved resulting in better reproducibility, improved sensitivity, and reduced costs of individual assay devices. The formation of a frazil ice film formed on a super cooled surface of a sample receiving means simplifies assay assembly. Lyophilization of the FIP improves the release of a sample/analyte/label matrix into a macro channel as in a direct flow assay, while at the same time allowing reagents to mix and flow, thereby optimizing the assay performance. The reagents of the conjugate and the formation of the FIP stabilize the conjugate proteins and provide extended shelf life to the diagnostic assay device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Quantum Design International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald T. LaBorde, Nicholas J. Neild
  • Patent number: 8961898
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bilayer membrane produced using a microchannel capable of easily forming bilayer membranes such as planar lipid bilayer membranes in large quantities, and a production method thereof. A process for producing a bilayer membrane of the present invention comprises forming a state where two liquid phases or liquid and gaseous phases each containing amphipathic molecules are alternately arranged in a microchannel, discharging one of the two liquid phases or the gaseous phase of the liquid and gaseous phases through branch minichannels formed in the wall on one side or in the walls on both sides to contact the remaining liquid phases adjacent to each other, and thereby forming a side-by-side arrangement of bilayer membranes comprising the amphipathic molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Tokyo Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Takasi Nisisako, Takahiro Baba