Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090189088 | Fluorescence-activated cell detector - An apparatus for detecting particles of interest that are dispersed in a fluid mix, which typically includes other particles. The apparatus typically is associated with an interrogation platform arranged to operate in harmony with an opaque member having an orifice sized to promote single-file travel of the particles there-through. A currently preferred embodiment includes a light pipe configured to impinge stimulation-radiation substantially transverse to a direction of fluid flow through the opaque member. Particles of interest may be tagged using antibody-binding, fluorescing molecules. Stimulation radiation from the source causes the tagged particles to undergo a Stokes-shift emission of fluorescence. The resulting fluorescence is detected by the radiation detector and indicates passage of the particles of interest. One workable opaque member is advantageously included in a thin film assembly carried on a removable and disposable card that is adapted for reception in the interrogation platform. | 07-30-2009 |
20090272179 | Thin film particle sensor - A Coulter-style, microfluidic sensor formed by stacking a plurality of substantially non-electrically conductive layers, typically formed from thin polymer films. Certain layers carry patterned electrodes that are arranged to permit their connection to an electrical interrogation circuit. Electrodes may be disposed in a 3-dimensional array in the sensor. A fluid path through the sensor includes an orifice sized to promote single-file travel of particles. The orifice may be defined by a tunnel passing through at least one layer. Particles entrained in an electrolytic carrier fluid may be detected, or otherwise characterized, by interrogation circuitry connected to the sensor. Certain sensors may include portions of a fluid path disposed parallel to the layers. In certain preferred embodiments, the sensor is carried by a cartridge, which is adapted to couple with an interrogation platform. Desirably, such coupling places the sensor in-circuit with operable interrogation electronics, as well as with a fluid-flow control device. Structure included in a cartridge may provide fluid sample loading, routing, and storage capabilities. | 11-05-2009 |
20100199788 | INSTRUMENTED PIPETTE TIP - An improved pipette tip ( | 08-12-2010 |
20110030888 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A MICROFLUIDIC SENSOR - A method to manufacture microfluidic sensors, typically including componentizing substrate layers One such method includes providing a plurality of layers of material configured to permit their stacking to form at least a first cap layer, a first channel layer, an interrogation layer, and a second channel layer During assembly, ribbon sections of substrate layers are sandwiched to cooperatively align elements through-the-thickness of the sandwich Individual sensors are then removed from the sandwich ribbon A componentizing step includes forming one or more elements for successive sensors spaced along the axial length of a ribbon Certain elements include electrically conductive patterned structures preferably printed onto a substrate using conductive ink and a printing process, sometimes placing material in operable position to conduct electricity through the thickness of at least one nbbon Other elements may include channels, tunnels, and vias that can be machined, stamped, or cut into a ribbon section. | 02-10-2011 |
20110162439 | REUSABLE THIN FILM PARTICLE SENSOR - A microfluidic sensor formed by stacking a plurality of substantially non-electrically conductive layers, typically formed from thin polymer films. Certain layers may carry patterned electrodes that are arranged to permit their connection to an electrical interrogation circuit. Electrodes may be disposed in a 3-dimensional array in the sensor. A fluid path through the sensor includes an orifice sized to promote single-file travel of particles. The orifice may be defined by a tunnel passing through at least one layer. Particles entrained in an electrolytic carrier fluid may be detected, or otherwise characterized, by interrogation circuitry connected to certain embodiments of the sensor. Sensors generally include portions of a fluid path disposed parallel to the layers. Sensors may operate under the Coulter principle, and/or Stokes' shift phenomena. In certain embodiments, the sensor may be carried by a cartridge, which is adapted to couple with an interrogation platform. In any case, coupling desirably places the sensor in-circuit with operable interrogation structure, as well as with a fluid-flow control device. Structure included in a cartridge may provide fluid sample loading, routing, and storage capabilities. | 07-07-2011 |
20110189650 | MICROFLUIDIC CELL SORTER WITH ELECTROPORATION - A biological particle manipulating device and method of its use. The device includes structure arranged to urge biological particles into substantially single file travel through an interrogation zone. Operable alignment structure nonexclusively include sheathed fluid flow, capillary tubes, an orifice, and fluid microchannels. One or more detector, selected from a plurality of operable such structures, may be employed to sense the presence of a biologic particle in the interrogation zone. Certain exemplary detectors may operate on the Coulter principle, or may detect a Stokes' shift, or side-scatter radiation. Discrimination structure is generally provided to categorize particles as being in one or another sub-population of a mix of biological particles that may be carried in a fluid sample, such as by cell type, size, or the like. Particle manipulating structure is disposed to impose a change on substantially all particles in any selected sub-population while leaving unchanged substantially the remaining sub-population(s). The device may be operated to essentially purify (in a living or viable sense) a sample including biological particles that are carried in a fluid diluent. The device may also be operated to electroporate cells on either a discriminating, or nondiscriminating, basis. | 08-04-2011 |
20110189714 | MICROFLUIDIC CELL SORTER AND METHOD - A biological particle sorting device and method of its use. The device includes structure arranged to urge biological particles into substantially single file travel through an interrogation zone. Operable alignment structure nonexclusively include sheathed fluid flow, capillary tubes, an orifice, and fluid microchannels. One or more detector, selected from a plurality of operable such structures, may be employed to sense the presence of a biologic particle in the interrogation zone. Certain exemplary detectors may operate on the Coulter principle, or may detect a Stokes' shift, or side-scatter radiation. Discrimination structure is generally provided to categorize particles as being in one or another sub-population of a mix of biological particles that may be carried in a fluid sample, such as by cell type, size, or the like. Killing structure, such as a laser, is disposed to neutralize all particles in any undesired sub-population while leaving undamaged the desired sub-population(s). The device may be operated to essentially purify (in a living or viable sense) a sample including biological particles that are carried in a fluid diluent. | 08-04-2011 |
20120261067 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A MICROFLUIDIC SENSOR - A method to manufacture microfluidic sensors | 10-18-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120046883 | PIPETTE INSTRUMENT - A pipette instrument | 02-23-2012 |
20130258318 | COMBINED OPTICAL IMAGING AND ELECTRICAL DETECTION TO CHARACTERIZE PARTICLES CARRIED IN A FLUID - An apparatus for, and a method of, characterizing a plurality of particles carried by a fluid that can be urged to move through a channel in a microfluidic cassette by combining data analysis of a first signal that is optically-based, and data analysis of a second signal that is electrically-based. Optically-based information is typically obtained by a digital image sensor. Electrically-based information can be obtained by direct measurement of impedance; sometimes in an arrangement operating under the Coulter principle. Data provided by exemplary characterization includes at least one of: volumetric cell count; viability percentage or ratio; particle type; and a particle size histogram. | 10-03-2013 |
20130327957 | FLUORESCENCE FLOW CYTOMETRY - A flow cytometer including a laser, indexing structure, adjustment structure, and sensor structure. The cytometer is conventionally used with a removable microfluidic cassette, which is installed at a first position that is enforced by the indexing structure. The adjustment structure changes a relative position between an interrogation aperture of the cassette and the laser beam. Feedback from the sensor structure is used to optimize propagation of the laser through the interrogation aperture to reduce (and hopefully eliminate) autofluorescence caused by beam impingement onto the cassette. | 12-12-2013 |
20140094377 | METHOD FOR MUTIPLEXED MICROFLUIDIC BEAD-BASED IMMUNOASSAY - A method for performing multiplexed bead-based immunoassays using a microfluidic cassette capable of detecting a particle passing in substantially single file through an interrogation zone and generating a Coulter effect signal responsive to a characteristic of the particle. A fluid sample may be prepared by associating antibody-coated beads of different sizes to particles of interest. A first multiplexing option may be based on bead size, in which case the intensity of the Coulter signal is used to sort or characterize the particles. A second multiplexing option may be based on detection of Stokes' shift phenomena, or even simply emission intensity, in which case particles may be characterized responsive to intensity of the signal resulting from detection of radiation. The first and second multiplexing options may be employed together to populate an array of particle characteristics. | 04-03-2014 |
20140264082 | FLUORESCENCE FLOW CYTOMETRY DEVICE AND METHOD - A flow cytometer including a laser, indexing structure, adjustment structure, and sensor structure. The cytometer is conventionally used with a removable microfluidic cassette, which is installed at a first position that is enforced by the indexing structure. The adjustment structure changes a relative position between an interrogation aperture of the cassette and the laser beam. Feedback from the sensor structure is used to optimize propagation of the laser through the interrogation aperture to reduce (and hopefully eliminate) autofluorescence caused by beam impingement onto the cassette. | 09-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110260832 | SECURE VOICE BIOMETRIC ENROLLMENT AND VOICE ALERT DELIVERY SYSTEM - In one embodiment, a method includes enrolling a potential enrollee for an identity-monitoring service. The enrolling includes acquiring personally-identifying information (PII) and capturing a voiceprint. Following successful completion of the enrolling, the potential enrollee is an enrollee. The method further includes, responsive to an identified suspicious event related to the PII, creating an identity alert, establishing voice communication with an individual purporting to be the enrollee, and performing voice-biometric verification of the individual. The voice-biometric verification includes comparing one or more spoken utterances with the voiceprint. Following successful completion of the voice-biometric verification, the individual is a verified enrollee. In addition, the method includes authorizing delivery of the identity alert to the verified enrollee. | 10-27-2011 |
20120215758 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING COMPROMISED PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET - In one embodiment, a method includes generating, by a computer system, a search-engine query from stored identity-theft nomenclature. The method also includes querying, by the computer system, at least one search engine via the search-engine query. Further, the method includes crawling, by the computer system, at least one computer-network resource identified via the querying. In addition, the method includes collecting, by the computer system, identity-theft information from the at least one computer-network resource. Additionally, the method includes processing, by the computer system, the identity-theft information for compromised personally-identifying information (PII). | 08-23-2012 |
20130074166 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SECURE AND EFFICIENT ENROLLMENT INTO A FEDERATION WHICH UTILIZES A BIOMETRIC REPOSITORY - A method includes receiving data related to an individual, the data comprising a plurality of elements of personally-identifying information (PII). The method further includes building, via the plurality of elements of the PII, a compositional key for the individual. In addition, the method includes storing the compositional key and a biometric print for the individual as a biometric record in a biometric repository. The method also includes, via the compositional key, providing a plurality of federated entity (FE) computer systems with access to the biometric repository. | 03-21-2013 |