Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090292480 | Synthetic Microfluidic Microvasculature Network - A synthetic microfluidic microvasculature network and associated methods mimic the structure, fluid flow characteristics, and physiological behavior of physiological microvasculature networks. Computational methods for simulating flow and particle adherence in synthetic and physiological microvascular systems and methods for determining parameters influencing particle adhesion and drug delivery are described with applications in the optimization of drug delivery and microvascular treatments and in describing disease mechanisms that affect the microvasculature. | 11-26-2009 |
20100112667 | Microfluidic Biological Extraction Chip - A microfluidic cartridge for isolating biological molecules having a capture chamber containing functionalized solid supports maintained in a fluidized state provides reduced pressure drops and bubble formation during microfluidic extraction. The cartridge may include an electric field lysis chamber and/or a chemical lysis chamber. The electric-field lysis chamber may comprise an electrically insulating structure arranged between two opposing planar electrodes. | 05-06-2010 |
20100227312 | Particle Adhesion Assay for Microfluidic Bifurcations - A method for characterizing particle adhesion in microfluidic bifurcations and junctions comprises at least one idealized bifurcation or junction. Multiple bifurcations and/or junctions can be combined on a single microfluidic chip to create microfluidic networks configured for assays specifically to characterize particle interactions at junctions or to screen particles for desired interactions with microfluidic bifurcations and/or junctions. | 09-09-2010 |
20110277632 | Electrostatic Aerosol Concentrator - Disclosed is an electrostatic aerosol concentrator for the concentration of aerosol particles and their collection for subsequent analysis. The concentrator comprises an airflow chamber that includes alternately energized and grounded electrode elements that work in concert to impart radial inward motion to charged aerosol particles and focusing them toward an enriched aerosol outlet. If desired, filtered air inlets may be used to provide a sheath of aerosol-free air along the chamber periphery and prevent deposition of particles onto electrode surfaces. Aerosol particles entering the airflow chamber may carry a positive or negative charge naturally, or a charge may be induced on the particles using a charging section located upstream of the aerosol inlet. Natural or induced charges on the aerosol particles may be used to selectively concentrate subpopulations of aerosol particles from a mixture of particles. For example, bacterial spores or aerosolized viruses may be selectively enriched without concentrating other aerosol particles. The particles of interest are focused and collected at an aerosol rich outlet in a small air volume, while the majority of the airflow, stripped of particles of interest, is purged to the atmosphere through an aerosol lean outlet. | 11-17-2011 |
20120312690 | Method and Apparatus for Separating Particles by Dielectrophoresis - Particle separation apparatus separate particles and particle populations using dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces generated by one or more pairs of electrically coupled electrodes separated by a gap. Particles suspended in a fluid are separated by DEP forces generated by the at least one electrode pair at the gap as they travel over a separation zone comprising the electrode pair. Selected particles are deflected relative to the flow of incoming particles by DEP forces that are affected by controlling applied potential, gap width, and the angle linear gaps with respect to fluid flow. The gap between an electrode pair may be a single, linear gap of constant gap, a single linear gap having variable width, or a be in the form of two or more linear gaps having constant or variable gap width having different angles with respect to one another and to the flow. | 12-13-2012 |
20120330629 | Synthetic Microfluidic Microvasculature Networks - A synthetic microfluidic microvasculature network and associated methods mimic the structure, fluid flow characteristics, and physiological behavior of physiological microvasculature networks. Computational methods for simulating flow and particle adherence in synthetic and physiological microvascular systems and methods for determining parameters influencing particle adhesion and drug delivery are described with applications in the optimization of drug delivery and microvascular treatments and in describing disease mechanisms that affect the microvasculature. | 12-27-2012 |
20130101991 | MICROFLUIDIC ASSAY IN IDEALIZED MICROVASCULAR NETWORK FOR SELECTION AND OPTIMIZATION OF DRUG DELIVERY VEHICLES TO SIMULATED TUMORS - An apparatus for assaying a tumor drug delivery vehicle and or drug can include an idealized microvascular network (IMN) of one or more interconnected idealized flow channels in fluid communication through a porous wall with a tissue space (e.g., idealized tissue space) containing animal cells and means for quantifying drug delivery through the IMN to the animal cells. | 04-25-2013 |
20130149735 | MICROFLUIDIC ASSAY IN IDEALIZED MICROVASCULAR NETWORK FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF LEUKOCYTE ADHESION CASCADE - Methods of assaying the leukocyte adhesion cascade (LAC) and monitoring leukocyte rolling, adhesion, and/or migration can be implemented with an apparatus that includes an idealized microvascular network (IMN) of one or more interconnected idealized flow channels in fluid communication through a porous wall with a tissue space (e.g., idealized tissue space). The methods of assaying the LAC can be implemented with means for quantifying modulation of the leukocyte adhesion cascade. Methods of assaying the LAC can be implemented with the device and one or more active agents to monitor leukocyte rolling, adhesion, and/or migration in the presence of absence of the active agent. Migration can be through the idealized flow channels, through the porous wall, and/or into the tissue space. | 06-13-2013 |