| Micronics, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120135511 | PORTABLE HIGH GAIN FLUORESCENCE DETECTION SYSTEM - Disclosed is a compact, microprocessor-controlled instrument for fluorometric assays in liquid samples, the instrument having a floating stage with docking bay for receiving a microfluidic cartridge and a scanning detector head with on-board embedded microprocessor for controlling source LEDs, emission signal amplification and filtering in an isolated, low noise, high gain environment within the detector head. Multiple optical channels may be incorporated in the scanning head. In a preferred configuration, the assay is validated using dual channel optics for monitoring a first fluorophore associated with a target analyte and a second fluorophore associated with a control. Applications include molecular biological assays based on PCR amplification of target nucleic acids and fluorometric assays in general, many of which require temperature control during detection. Sensitivity and resistance to bubble interference during scanning are shown to be improved by use of a heating block with reflective mirror face in intimate contact with a thermo-optical window enclosing the liquid sample. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120115214 | PORTABLE HIGH GAIN FLUORESCENCE DETECTION SYSTEM - An instrument for fluorometric assays in liquid samples is disclosed. The instrument may include multiple optical channels for monitoring a first fluorophore associated with a target analyte and a second fluorophore associated with a control. The disclosed instrument finds utility in any number of applications, including microfluidic molecular biological assays based on PCR amplification of target nucleic acids and fluorometric assays in general. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120064612 | MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES FOR FLUID MANIPULATION AND ANALYSIS - The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and methods for manipulating and analyzing fluid samples. The disclosed microfluidic devices utilize a plurality of microfluidic channels, inlets, valves, filter, pumps, liquid barriers and other elements arranged in various configurations to manipulate the flow of a fluid sample in order to prepare such sample for analysis. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120064597 | MICROFLUIDIC MIXING AND ANALYTICAL APPARATUS - Disclosed herein is a device comprising a pair of bellows pumps configured for efficient mixing at a microfluidic scale. By moving a fluid sample and particles in suspension through an aperture between the paired bellows pump mixing chambers, molecular collisions leading to binding between the particles and ligands in the sample are enhanced. Such devices provide an alternative for mixing that does not use a vent and can be used with a variety of particles in suspension such as magnetic beads to capture or purify useful cells and molecules. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20100274155 | SANITARY SWAB COLLECTION SYSTEM, MICROFLUIDIC ASSAY DEVICE, AND METHODS FOR DIAGNOSTIC ASSAYS - Biohazard specimen collection containers are provided with an external disposable skin, that is stripped away and discarded after the biohazardous specimen is collected, thus reducing or eliminating objectionable or dangerous residues on the outside surfaces of the container. Further, we teach that the sample collection container with external disposable skin may also serve as an integrated microfluidic biosample processing and analytical device, thereby providing a single entry, disposable assay unit, kit and system for “world-to-result” clinical diagnostic testing. These integrated assay devices are provided with synergic, multiple safe-handling features for protecting healthcare workers who handle them. The modified collection containers and analytical devices find application, for example, in PCR detection of infectious organisms or pathogenic markers collected on a swab. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100173395 | MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES FOR FLUID MANIPULATION AND ANALYSIS - The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and methods for manipulating and analyzing fluid samples. The disclosed microfluidic devices utilize a plurality of microfluidic channels, inlets, valves, filter, pumps, liquid barriers and other elements arranged in various configurations to manipulate the flow of a fluid sample in order to prepare such sample for analysis. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100167384 | MICROFLUIDIC MIXING AND ANALYTICAL APPARATUS - Disclosed herein is a device comprising a pair of bellows pumps configured for efficient mixing at a microfluidic scale. By moving a fluid sample and particles in suspension through an aperture between the paired bellows pump mixing chambers, molecular collisions leading to binding between the particles and ligands in the sample are enhanced. Such devices provide an alternative for mixing that does not use a vent and can be used with a variety of particles in suspension such as magnetic beads to capture or purify useful cells and molecules. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100112723 | MICROFLUIDIC APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING BLOOD TYPING AND CROSSMATCHING - Microfluidic cartridges for agglutination reactions are provided. The cartridges include a microfluidic reaction channel with at least two intake channels, one for an antigen-containing fluid and the other for an antibody-containing fluid, conjoined to a reaction channel modified by incorporation of a downstream flow control channel. At low Reynolds Number, the two input streams layer one on top of the other in the reaction channel and form a flowing, unmixed horizontally-stratified laminar fluid diffusion (HLFD) interface for an extended duration of reaction. Surprisingly, the design, surface properties, and flow regime of microfluidic circuits of the present invention potentiate detection of antibody mediated agglutination at the stratified interface. Antigen:antibody reactions involving agglutination potentiated by these devices are useful in blood typing, in crossmatching for blood transfusion, and in immunodiagnostic agglutination assays, for example. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100065513 | FILTER CLOTH ASSEMBLY - Apparatuses and methods for making and using a filter cloth assembly are described. A filter cloth assembly can have a liquid permeable filtering media attached to a connector ring. The liquid permeable filtering media separates at least one solid from at least one liquid in a slurry. The filtering media has a feed hole formed therein to allows passage of a slurry through the filtering media. The connector ring includes a flange having an upper flange section and a lower flange section. The lower flange section receives an edge of the feed hole to connect the filtering media to the connector ring such that the face of the filtering media is substantially flush with the upper flange section. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20090325276 | INTEGRATED MICROFLUIDIC ASSAY DEVICES AND METHODS - Combinations of microfluidic diagnostic testing modules for simultaneous evaluations of serological and molecular biological targets are provided, and include panel testing for both antibodies (or antigens) and nucleic acid targets in one single-use device. These improvements are directed to evaluating the overall progress and activity of a pathogenic process in real time, at the point of care, not merely the presence or absence of a particular diagnostic marker, which can often be incomplete or misleading. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090148933 | INTEGRATED NUCLEIC ACID ASSAYS - Integrated microfluidic cartridges for nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and detection from clinical samples are disclosed. The devices are single-entry, sanitary, and disposable. The devices enable simplex or multiplex nucleic acid target detection, as for example: assay panels for multiple infectious agents, or assay panels for cancerous cell types. Methods for use of microfluidic cartridges in a fully automated, pneumatically controlled apparatus are also disclosed. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090148847 | RAPID MAGNETIC FLOW ASSAYS - Disclosed is an improvement in methods for nucleic acid and immunological bioassays. The methods comprise a step for “sweeping” paramagnetic bead: target molecule complexes so as to capture them with an affinity capture agent on a test pad by moving a magnetic force field from outside to inside the test pad area so as to bring into contact the paramagnetic complexes with the capture agent, while sweeping any unbound paramagnetic material off the test pad by moving the magnetic field from inside to outside the test pad area. Surprisingly, the paramagnetic complexes are rapidly affinity-extracted from the moving magnetic field. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090081771 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HEATING, COOLING AND HEAT CYCLING ON MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE - An integrated heat exchange system on a microfluidic card. According to one aspect of the invention, the portable microfluidic card has a heating, cooling and heat cycling system on-board such that the card can be used portably. The microfluidic card includes one or more reservoirs containing exothermic or endothermic material. Once the chemical process of the reservoir material is activated, the reservoir provides heat or cooling to specific locations of the microfluidic card. Multiple reservoirs may be included on a single card to provide varying temperatures. The assay chemicals can be moved to the various reservoirs to create a thermal cycle useful in many biological reactions, for example, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or rtPCR. According to another aspect of the invention, the integrated heat exchanger is an adjacent microfluidic circuit containing fluid that is either independently heated or cooled, or is an exothermic or endothermic material, such that the fluid in the adjacent circuit imparts a change in temperature to the assay fluid in an independent circuit. According to yet another aspect of the invention, a thermal electric cooler (TEC) is used for thermocycling the amplification chamber of a disposable microfluidic card. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090061450 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIAGNOSIS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES - A biosafe apparatus is disclosed for assay and diagnosis of respiratory pathogens comprising a nasal sampling device, a single entry, disposable microfluidic cartridge for target nucleic acid amplification, and an instrument with on-board assay control platform and target detection means. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090022624 | MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES FOR FLUID MANIPULATION AND ANALYSIS - The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and methods for manipulating and analyzing fluid samples. The disclosed microfluidic devices utilize a plurality of microfluidic channels, inlets, valves, filter, pumps, liquid barriers and other elements arranged in various configurations to manipulate the flow of a fluid sample in order to prepare such sample for analysis. | 01-22-2009 |
