Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090014360 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PARTICLE FOCUSING IN MICROCHANNELS - Various systems, methods, and devices are provided for focusing particles suspended within a moving fluid into one or more localized stream lines. The system can include a substrate and at least one channel provided on the substrate having an inlet and an outlet. The system can further include a fluid moving along the channel in a laminar flow having suspended particles and a pumping element driving the laminar flow of the fluid. The fluid, the channel, and the pumping element can be configured to cause inertial forces to act on the particles and to focus the particles into one or more stream lines. | 01-15-2009 |
20090221073 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CELL MANIPULATION - Devices for fluid control and biological particle manipulation (e.g., cell enrichment and blood sampling) are disclosed. The devices a based on the ability to control the flow of fluids through the use of microfluidic valves. The valves are characterized, for example, by microstructures disposed on a mobile diaphragm. | 09-03-2009 |
20090298067 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR DETECTING CELLS AND OTHER ANALYTES - The invention features methods, devices, and kits for the isolation of analytes (e.g., a cell). A sample containing a desired analyte is introduced into a microfluidic device containing moieties that bind the desired analyte. A shear stress is applied that is great enough to prevent binding of undesired analytes and low enough to allow binding of the analyte of interest. Once bound, the desired analytes can be analyzed (e.g., counted). The invention also features methods for determining a shear stress for isolating a desired analyte. | 12-03-2009 |
20090305224 | Methods for the Cryopreservation of Mammalian Cells - The present invention features novel methods for the cryopreservation of mammalian cell that combine the advantages of the slow-freezing and vitrification approaches while avoiding their shortcomings. Generally, the methods include the use of a capillary tube made of a thermally conductive wall material and a thin wall such that the ratio of the thermal conductivity of the wall material to the wall thickness is at least 1,000-500,000. The solution is then exposed to temperatures equal to or less than −80° C. and the vitrification solution containing the mammalian cells is cooled at a rate equal to or greater than 30,000-100,000,000° C./minute. The exposure of the capillary tube with a thermally conductive and thin wall allows for vitrification of the solution in the absence of ice formation. Cryoprotectants can also be added to the vitrification solution to further prevent ice formation. | 12-10-2009 |
20100021984 | Microfluidic Droplet Encapsulation - Microfluidic devices and methods for the encapsulation of particles within liquid droplets are disclosed. The new methods and devices form 1-100 picoliter-size monodisperse droplets containing the particles, such as single cells, encapsulated in individual liquid droplets. The particles can be encapsulated in droplets of a fluid by passing a fluid containing the particles through a high aspect-ratio microchannel to order the particles in the fluid, followed by forming the fluid into droplets. The resulting fraction of the liquid droplets with a single particle (e.g., a cell) is higher than the corresponding fraction of single-particle liquid droplets predicted by Poisson statistics. | 01-28-2010 |
20100055758 | Magnetic Device for Isolation of Cells and Biomolecules in a Microfluidic Environment - The present invention features a new and useful magnetic device and methods of its use for isolation, enrichment, and purification of cells, proteins, DNA, and other molecules. In general the device includes magnetic regions or obstacles to which magnetic particles can bind. The chemical groups, i.e., capture moieties, on the surface of the magnetic particles may then be used to bind particles, e.g., cells, or molecules of interest from complex samples, and the bound species may then be selectively released for downstream collection or further analysis. | 03-04-2010 |
20100092393 | TUNABLE HYDROGEL MICROPARTICLES - Techniques are provided to produce and use non-spherical colloidal particles with independently tuned size, shape, flexibility, and chemical properties. A pre-polymer mixture for forming hydrogel particles includes a percentage of PEGDA selected to impart a target stiffness to the particles and includes, a percentage of acrylic acid selected to impart an independent target chemical function to the particles. The mixture also includes a percentage of photo-initiator to polymerize PEGDA upon exposure to a light source to impart an independently selected target size or shape or both to the particles. | 04-15-2010 |
20100273675 | Methods for detecting fetal abnormality - The invention relates to a method of identifying fetal abnormality from a maternal blood sample by capturing an image of a fetal nucleated red blood cell obtained from the maternal blood sample; inputting probe intensities for a plurality of nucleic acid probes that bind fetal nucleic acids of interest; analyzing the probe intensities; and generating a diagnostic output according to results of the analysis. In some embodiments, the probes are specific to a chromosome. | 10-28-2010 |
20110070581 | Separation of Leukocytes - Leukocytes (e.g., neutrophils, monocytes and/or lymphocytes) can be captured and separated from blood by removing platelets using a spiral channel, followed by capturing individual leukocyte types in a series of cell capture channels having leukocyte binding moieties. Accordingly, various microfluidic-based cell affinity chromatography methods can be used to separate leukocytes from whole blood. | 03-24-2011 |
20110294187 | CAPTURING PARTICLES - Methods and systems capturing particles suspended in a fluid flowed through a micro-channel, can include flowing the fluid including the particles to be captured through a micro-channel and past a groove defined in a surface of a wall of the micro-channel such that flowing the fluid past the groove forms microvortices in the fluid; contacting at least some of the particles against an adherent disposed on one or more of walls of the microchannel after the microvortices form in the fluid; and capturing at least some of the particles contacting the adherent. | 12-01-2011 |
20110306043 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ENRICHMENT AND ALTERATION OF CIRCULATING TUMOR CELLS AND OTHER PARTICLES - The invention features devices and methods for detecting, enriching, and analyzing circulating tumor cells and other particles. The invention further features methods of diagnosing a condition, e.g., cancer, in a subject by analyzing a cellular sample from the subject. | 12-15-2011 |
20120003687 | METHODS FOR COUNTING CELLS - The invention features methods of quantifying cells in a sample by lysing the cells followed by the measurement of at least one intracellular component. Methods of the invention are especially useful for quantifying small numbers of cells, e.g., over a large surface area or volume compared to the cell size. In a preferred embodiment, methods of the invention are performed using a microfluidic device. | 01-05-2012 |
20120015835 | Devices and Methods for Enrichment and Alteration of Circulating Tumor Cells and Other Particles - The invention features devices and methods for detecting, enriching, and analyzing circulating tumor cells and other particles. The invention further features methods of diagnosing a condition, e.g., cancer, in a subject by analyzing a cellular sample from the subject. | 01-19-2012 |
20120183963 | DETERMINATION OF FETAL ANEUPLOIDY BY QUANTIFICATION OF GENOMIC DNA FROM MIXED SAMPLES - The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, i.e. aneuploidy. In addition, the present invention provides methods to determine when there are insufficient fetal cells for a determination and report a non-informative case. The present invention involves quantifying regions of genomic DNA from a mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying DNA polymorphisms from the mixed sample. | 07-19-2012 |
20120196273 | DEVICES AND METHOD FOR ENRICHMENT AND ALTERATION OF CELLS AND OTHER PARTICLES - The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample. | 08-02-2012 |
20120225473 | Devices And Method For Enrichment And Alteration Of Cells And Other Particles - The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample. | 09-06-2012 |
20120270209 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR SPECIFIC CAPTURE AND RELEASE OF BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE COMPONENTS - Living cells can be selectively and reversibly bound to functionalized dissolvable material (e.g., cross-linked hydrogel compositions) and subsequently released from the composition as viable cells. In some examples, the cells are released by reducing the degree of cross-linking within a functionalized hydrogel composition and/or dissolving the functionalized hydrogel composition bound to the cells. The functionalized hydrogel compositions can be adhered to silicon- and silicon-oxide containing surfaces, such as glass and aminated silicon. The living cells can be isolated from biological samples, such as blood, by selectively binding certain cells from the sample to the functionalized hydrogel, removing unbound cells and later releasing viable bound cells from the functionalized hydrogel. | 10-25-2012 |
20120292233 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PARTICLE FOCUSING IN MICROCHANNELS - Various systems, methods, and devices are provided for focusing particles suspended within a moving fluid into one or more localized stream lines. The system can include a substrate and at least one channel provided on the substrate having an inlet and an outlet. The system can further include a fluid moving along the channel in a laminar flow having suspended particles and a pumping element driving the laminar flow of the fluid. The fluid, the channel, and the pumping element can be configured to cause inertial forces to act on the particles and to focus the particles into one or more stream lines. | 11-22-2012 |
20130011210 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PARTICLE FOCUSING IN MICROCHANNELS - Various systems, methods, and devices are provided for focusing particles suspended within a moving fluid into one or more localized stream lines. The system can include a substrate and at least one channel provided on the substrate having an inlet and an outlet. The system can further include a fluid moving along the channel in a laminar flow having suspended particles and a pumping element driving the laminar flow of the fluid. The fluid, the channel, and the pumping element can be configured to cause inertial forces to act on the particles and to focus the particles into one or more stream lines. | 01-10-2013 |
20130189688 | RARE CELL ANALYSIS USING SAMPLE SPLITTING AND DNA TAGS - The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, e.g. aneuploidy. The present invention involves labeling regions of genomic DNA in each cell in said mixed sample with different labels wherein each label is specific to each cell and quantifying the labeled regions of genomic DNA from each cell in the mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying labeled DNA polymorphisms from each cell in the mixed sample. | 07-25-2013 |
20130189689 | RARE CELL ANALYSIS USING SAMPLE SPLITTING AND DNA TAGS - The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, e.g. aneuploidy. The present invention involves labeling regions of genomic DNA in each cell in said mixed sample with different labels wherein each label is specific to each cell and quantifying the labeled regions of genomic DNA from each cell in the mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying labeled DNA polymorphisms from each cell in the mixed sample. | 07-25-2013 |
20130210644 | FETAL ANEUPLOIDY DETECTION BY SEQUENCING - The present invention provides apparatus and methods for enriching components or cells from a sample and conducting genetic analysis, such as SNP genotyping to provide diagnostic results for fetal disorders or conditions. | 08-15-2013 |
20130288242 | DETERMINATION OF FETAL ANEUPLOIDY BY QUANTIFICATION OF GENOMIC DNA FROM MIXED SAMPLES - The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, i.e. aneuploidy. In addition, the present invention provides methods to determine when there are insufficient fetal cells for a determination and report a non-informative case. The present invention involves quantifying regions of genomic DNA from a mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying DNA polymorphisms from the mixed sample. | 10-31-2013 |
20130288903 | Methods For The Diagnosis Of Fetal Abnormalities - The present invention relates to methods for detecting, enriching, and analyzing rare cells that are present in the blood, e.g. fetal cells. The invention further features methods of analyzing rare cell(s) to determine the presence of an abnormality, disease or condition in a subject, e.g. a fetus by analyzing a cellular sample from the subject. | 10-31-2013 |
20130295565 | RARE CELL ANALYSIS USING SAMPLE SPLITTING AND DNA TAGS - The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, e.g. aneuploidy. The present invention involves labeling regions of genomic DNA in each cell in said mixed sample with different labels wherein each label is specific to each cell and quantifying the labeled regions of genomic DNA from each cell in the mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying labeled DNA polymorphisms from each cell in the mixed sample. | 11-07-2013 |
20130295588 | COUNTING PARTICLES USING AN ELECTRICAL DIFFERENTIAL COUNTER - This disclosure relates to methods and devices to count particles of interest, such as cells. The methods include obtaining a fluid sample that may contain particles of interest; counting all types of particles in a portion of the sample using a first electrical differential counter to generate a first total; removing any particles of interest from the portion of the fluid sample; counting any particles remaining in the portion of the fluid sample using a second electrical differential counter after the particles of interest are removed to generate a second total; and calculating a number of particles of interest originally in the fluid sample by subtracting the second total from the first total, wherein the difference is the number of particles of interest in the sample. These methods and related devices can be used, for example, to produce a robust, inexpensive diagnostic kit for CD4+ T cell counting in whole blood samples. | 11-07-2013 |
20130302796 | Devices And Methods For Enrichment And Alteration Of Circulating Tumor Cells And Other Particles - The invention features devices and methods for detecting, enriching, and analyzing circulating tumor cells and other particles. The invention further features methods of diagnosing a condition, e.g., cancer, in a subject by analyzing a cellular sample from the subject. | 11-14-2013 |
20130324418 | Analysis Of Rare Cell-Enriched Samples - The present invention relates to methods for detecting, enriching, and analyzing rare cells that are present in the blood, e.g., epithelial cells. The invention further features methods of analyzing rare cell(s) to determine the presence of an abnormality, disease or condition in a subject by analyzing a cellular sample from the subject. | 12-05-2013 |
20140030231 | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR PRESERVING TISSUES AND ORGANS - The present invention generally relates to methods and compositions to determine viability of an organ for transplantation and other medical purposes. One aspect of the invention relates to a method for assessing the viability of an organ by measuring the energy parameters to determine the energy level of the organ by determining the stored cellular energy (e.g., ATP levels), and/or energy consumption over a particular time period of viability. The energy parameters can be compared to reference energy parameters as a highly accurate and reliable prediction of viable cell yield, and organ viability. Another aspect of the invention relates methods to preserve or extend the time period of viability of an organ any combination of (i) preservation perfusion of the organ to prevent ischemic damage, (ii) chemical metabolic suppression of the organ e.g., using metabolic suppressants, (iii) metabolic suppression by physical or environmental conditions, e.g., sub-zero non-freezing storage. | 01-30-2014 |
20140030788 | MICROSCALE AND NANOSCALE STRUCTURES FOR MANIPULATING PARTICLES - The devices and systems described herein include one or more fluid paths, e.g., channels, and one or more selectively permeable obstacles arranged in the fluid path(s), each including a plurality of aligned nanostructures, e.g., nanotubes or nanorods, defining an outer surface of the obstacle and an internal network of voids. The obstacle(s) can further include binding moieties applied to the outer surface and/or to the surfaces of the individual nanostructures within the obstacle(s). The devices can be manufactured by forming the dense groupings of nanostructures to extend outwards and upwards from a substrate; forming a fluidic channel, bonding the fluidic channel to the substrate; and optionally applying binding moieties to the obstacles. The devices can be used to manipulate cells within fluid samples. | 01-30-2014 |
20140079601 | High Definition Nanomaterials - A microfluidic device for manipulating particles can include a substrate and one or more obstacles, each obstacle comprising a plurality of aligned nanostructures including a plurality of nanoparticles or a plurality of polymer layers, or a combination thereof. The obstacle on a substrate can be forests with intra-carbon nanotube spacing ranging between 5-100 nm for isolation of particles such as very small viruses and proteins. | 03-20-2014 |