| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080237134 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO CAPTURE AND RELEASE MICROBE PARTICLES USING AMINO-FUNCTIONALIZED SILICA - Methods and apparatus to capture and release microbe particles using amino-functionalized silica substrates are described. An example apparatus adapted to capture a microbe particle includes a silica substrate and a positively charged material to at least partially coat the silica substrate. The positive charged material includes an aminopropyl functional group. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080316854 | Microfluid mixer - A microfluid mixer is provided. The non-linear electrokineticsis is applied to the design of the microfluid mixer. The microfluid mixer comprises a first and a second microfluidic elements, a mixing reservoir, and a micro channel unit, wherein the micro channel unit has at least two control channels for respectively connecting the first and the second microfluidic elements and the mixing reservoir. When two microfluids are mixed in the mixing reservoir, the electro-osmosis fluid field of the microfluids in the control channel of the mixing reservoir is changed by applying AC signal, such that powerful chaotic mixing effect is therefore produced by the two microfluids in the mixing reservoir. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090092989 | MICROFLUIDIC PLATFORMS FOR MULTI-TARGET DETECTION - Disclosed are example methods and devices for detecting one or more targets. An example method includes placing a sample including a first target with in a microfluidic device and hybridizing a plurality of copies of the first target with a plurality of nanostructures. The example method includes applying an electric current to the plurality of nanostructures and using an electric field created by the electric current to move the plurality of nanostructures. In addition, the plurality of nanostructures are sorted and evaluated to determine at least one of a presence, an absence, or a quantity of the first target. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090277792 | Method for concentrating charged particles and apparatus thereof - The present invention discloses a method for concentrating charged particles and an apparatus thereof. The method comprises: providing a substrate comprising a reservoir; disposing a conducting granule in the reservoir, the conducting granule being negatively charged or positively charged and comprising nano-pores or nano-channels capable of permitting ion permeation; disposing a buffer solution in the reservoir, the buffer solution comprising counter-ions having an opposite electric property to the conducting granule; adding the charged particles into the buffer solution, the charged particles being co-ions having an identical electric property as the conducting granule; and applying an external electric field on the conducting granule. While the external electric field is applied on the conducting granule, the counter-ions exit from the nano-pores or nano-channels and have a nonuniform concentration on a surface of the conducting granule such that a transient ion super-concentration phenomenon occurs at an ejecting pole on the conducting granule. Hence the present invention has potential application in bead-based molecular assays. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20100264040 | METHOD FOR CONCENTRATING PARTICLES OR MOLECULES AND APPARATUS THEREOF - The present invention provides a method for concentrating particles or molecules and an apparatus thereof. The apparatus comprises a substrate, a conducting granule having nano-pores or nano-channels capable of permitting ion permeation, an electrolyte solution comprising counter-ions having an opposite electric property to the conducting granule, and an external field. Wherein, particles or molecules to be concentrated have an identical electric property as the conducting granule at a predefined pH value, and are added into the electrolyte solution with the predefined pH value. While the external electric field is applied across the reservoir where the conducting granule is sitting, the counter-ions exit from the nano-pores or nano-channels and such that a transient ion super-concentration phenomenon occurs at an ejecting pole on the conducting granule so as to concentrate the particles or molecules. Hence the present invention has potential application in bead-based molecular assays. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20110042215 | AC FIELD INDUCED BIOMOLECULE CYRSTALLIZATION AND HYDRATION CAGE DISRUPTION - An apparatus and methods for biomolecular crystallization is disclosed. The method includes providing biomolecule solution and bringing the biomolecule solution into direct contact with a plurality of electrodes. An alternating current is applied to the plurality of electrodes to impart a dielectrophoresis force upon the biomolecule solution and to form at least one crystal from the biomolecule solution. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110081676 | RAPID DETECTION OF VIABLE BACTERIA SYSTEM AND METHOD - An improved system and method is provided for detecting viable bacteria in a suspension sample. A sample of a suspension in which bacterial presence is suspected is collected from a source and a portion of the sample transferred to a microfluidic unit. A series of analysis signals at different frequencies are applied to the sample portion. An impedance is measured via a signal analyzer for the sample portion for each of the analysis signals to define an impedance data set. An initial bulk capacitance value is determined for a model circuit based on the impedance dataset. After a predetermined time period, a new bulk capacitance value is determined for on another portion of the sample. The difference between the new bulk capacitance and the initial bulk capacitance value is compared to a threshold value to determine if viable bacterial is present in the sample. | 04-07-2011 |
