Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100303687 | FLUIDIC DEVICES WITH DIAPHRAGM VALVES - This invention provides fluidic devices, in particular microfluidic devices, with diaphragm valves having low failure rates. Low failure rates are achieved by inhibiting sticking of the diaphragm to functional surfaces such as valve seats, valve chamber and fluidic channels and conduits. One way to implement this is to provide exposed surfaces facing the diaphragm, particularly valve seats, with a low energy material, such as a noble metal, a perfluorinated polymer, a self-assembled monolayer, hard diamond, diamond-like carbon or a metal oxide. In other embodiments, the valves are provided with ridges and the diaphragm is adhered to the fluidic or actuation layer with an adhesive material. | 12-02-2010 |
20110005932 | UNIVERSAL SAMPLE PREPARATION SYSTEM AND USE IN AN INTEGRATED ANALYSIS SYSTEM - The invention provides a system that can process a raw biological sample, perform a biochemical reaction and provide an analysis readout. For example, the system can extract DNA from a swab, amplify STR loci from the DNA, and analyze the amplified loci and STR markers in the sample. The system integrates these functions by using microfluidic components to connect what can be macrofluidic functions. In one embodiment the system includes a sample purification module, a reaction module, a post-reaction clean-up module, a capillary electrophoresis module and a computer. In certain embodiments, the system includes a disposable cartridge for performing analyte capture. The cartridge can comprise a fluidic manifold having macrofluidic chambers mated with microfluidic chips that route the liquids between chambers. The system fits within an enclosure of no more than 10 ft | 01-13-2011 |
20110126911 | Composite Plastic Articles - This invention provides composite plastic articles and methods of making them. The articles can be fluidic or microfluidic devices having fluidic conduits and, optionally, pneumatic conduits that regulate flow in the fluidic conduits. The articles comprise a first substrate coated with a layer of a material that comprises, or onto which have been introduced, reactive groups. For example, the substrate can be a plastic coated with an oxide or a siloxane onto which hydroxyl groups have been introduced. These articles are covalently bonded with other articles comprising reactive groups on their surfaces, for example, polysiloxanes treated to have silanol groups. Certain articles have specified locations on their surfaces that are not bonded to the other piece. For example, the coating can be removed from these locations before bonding. Such locations can be useful as functional elements of various devices, such as valve seats in valves of microfluidic devices. | 06-02-2011 |
20110240127 | Fluidic Article Fabricated In One Piece - In one aspect this invention provides an article fabricated in one piece comprising at least one aperture through the piece, wherein the aperture defines a non-microfluidic volume, and a microfluidic channel formed in a surface of the piece onto which the aperture opens, wherein the channel is in fluidic communication with the aperture, wherein the aperture and the microfluidic channel define a fluidic circuit. | 10-06-2011 |
20110290648 | Capillary Electrophoresis Device - This invention provides a capillary electrophoresis device in which capillaries are thermally regulated on a thermally responsive electrical path attached to an electrically insulating circuit board. This invention also provides an optical scanner useful for scanning an array of capillaries. A laser, optical detector and optical selector are in an arrangement that allows the optical detector to selectively detect an optical signal from any one or more of the plurality of electrophoresis capillaries. | 12-01-2011 |
20120181460 | Valves with Hydraulic Actuation System - This invention provides a device comprising at least one diaphragm valve actuated by a hydraulic actuation system. The device comprises a fluidics layer, an actuation layer and an elastic layer sandwiched between the fluidics layer and the actuation layer. The diaphragm valve comprises: a valve inlet and valve outlet comprised in the fluidics layer; a valve seat; a diaphragm comprised in the elastic layer; and an actuator. The diaphragm is actuatable to move into contact or out of contact with the valve seat, thereby closing or opening the diaphragm valve. The actuator comprises: a hydraulic conduit; a translator; and an incompressible fluid contained within the hydraulic conduit, wherein the incompressible fluid communicates with the translator and with the diaphragm. Translation of the translator transmits pressure through the incompressible fluid to actuate the diaphragm. The invention also provides systems including elements to operate the device and methods of using the device. | 07-19-2012 |
20130074944 | Methods and Apparatuses for Releasably Fastening Pins - The present technology relates to pins that are used for moving liquid samples from source wells into target wells. A releasable fastening mechanism simplifies calibration of positions (e.g., vertical positions) of the pins relative to a frame releasably holding the pins. | 03-28-2013 |
20130115607 | Sample Preparation, Processing and Analysis Systems - This disclosure provides an integrated and automated sample-to-answer system that, starting from a sample comprising biological material, generates a genetic profile in less than two hours. In certain embodiments, the biological material is DNA and the genetic profile involves determining alleles at one or a plurality of loci (e.g., genetic loci) of a subject, for example, an STR (short tandem repeat) profile, for example as used in the CODIS system. The system can perform several operations, including (a) extraction and isolation of nucleic acid; (b) amplification of nucleotide sequences at selected loci (e.g., genetic loci); and (c) detection and analysis of amplification product. These operations can be carried out in a system that comprises several integrated modules, including an analyte preparation module; a detection and analysis module and a control module. | 05-09-2013 |
20130203634 | INTEGRATED ANALYSIS SYSTEM - The invention provides systems, devices, methods, and kits for performing an integrated analysis. The integrated analysis can include sample processing, library construction, amplification, and sequencing. The integrated analysis can be performed within one or more modules that are fluidically connected to each other. The one or more modules can be controlled and/or automated by a computer. The integrated analysis can be performed on a tissue sample, a clinical sample, or an environmental sample. The integrated analysis system can have a compact format and return results within a designated period of time. | 08-08-2013 |
20130224846 | Universal Sample Preparation System and Use in an Integrated Analysis System - The invention provides a system that can process a raw biological sample, perform a biochemical reaction and provide an analysis readout. For example, the system can extract DNA from a swab, amplify STR loci from the DNA, and analyze the amplified loci and STR markers in the sample. The system integrates these functions by using microfluidic components to connect what can be macrofluidic functions. In one embodiment the system includes a sample purification module, a reaction module, a post-reaction clean-up module, a capillary electrophoresis module and a computer. In certain embodiments, the system includes a disposable cartridge for performing analyte capture. The cartridge can comprise a fluidic manifold having macrofluidic chambers mated with microfluidic chips that route the liquids between chambers. The system fits within an enclosure of no more than 10 ft | 08-29-2013 |
20140065628 | Methods and Devices for Multi-Color, Out-of-Phase Detection in Electrophoresis - The disclosure provides methods and devices for separating and detecting nucleic acid fragments labeled with a plurality of spectrally resolvable dyes using a single light source or multiple light sources. Use of a greater number of light sources increases the number of spectrally resolvable dyes that can be interrogated. Labeling fragments with a greater number of spectrally resolvable dyes permits more overlapping of fragments with differentiation of the fragments, and thus separation can be conducted on a smaller range of fragment sizes/lengths. To improve the detection sensitivity of a detection system employing multiple light sources, light emitted by the light sources can be spatially separated from one another and/or the intensity of each of the light sources can be modulated. Each of the one or more light sources can be, e.g., a laser or a light-emitting diode. The methods and devices of the disclosure are useful for performing genetic analysis, e.g., analysis of a plurality of STR markers utilized in a forensic database (e.g., CODIS) to identify humans. | 03-06-2014 |
20140170645 | UNIVERSAL SAMPLE PREPARATION SYSTEM AND USE IN AN INTEGRATED ANALYSIS SYSTEM - The invention provides a system that can process a raw biological sample, perform a biochemical reaction and provide an analysis readout. For example, the system can extract DNA from a swab, amplify STR loci from the DNA, and analyze the amplified loci and STR markers in the sample. The system integrates these functions by using microfluidic components to connect what can be macrofluidic functions. In one embodiment the system includes a sample purification module, a reaction module, a post-reaction clean-up module, a capillary electrophoresis module and a computer. In certain embodiments, the system includes a disposable cartridge for performing analyte capture. The cartridge can comprise a fluidic manifold having macrofluidic chambers mated with microfluidic chips that route the liquids between chambers. The system fits within an enclosure of no more than 10 ft | 06-19-2014 |
20150024436 | SAMPLE PREPARATION, PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEMS - This disclosure provides an integrated and automated sample-to-answer system that, starting from a sample comprising biological material, generates a genetic profile in less than two hours. In certain embodiments, the biological material is DNA and the genetic profile involves determining alleles at one or a plurality of loci (e.g., genetic loci) of a subject, for example, an STR (short tandem repeat) profile, for example as used in the CODIS system. The system can perform several operations, including (a) extraction and isolation of nucleic acid; (b) amplification of nucleotide sequences at selected loci (e.g., genetic loci); and (c) detection and analysis of amplification product. These operations can be carried out in a system that comprises several integrated modules, including an analyte preparation module; a detection and analysis module and a control module. | 01-22-2015 |