Murat A Okandan

US Patent:

6537437, Mar 25, 2003

Filed:

Nov 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/712634

Inventors:

Paul C. Galambos - Albuquerque NM
Murat Okandan - Albuquerque NM
Stephen Montague - Albuquerque NM
James H. Smith - Redmond WA
Phillip H. Paul - Livermore CA
Thomas W. Krygowski - Cortlandt Manor NY
James J. Allen - Albuquerque NM
Christopher A. Nichols - Hauppauge NY

Assignee:

Sandia Corporation - Albuquerque NM

International Classification:

G01N 2726

US Classification:

204600, 204601, 204606, 204660

Abstract:

Microfluidic devices are disclosed which can be manufactured using surface-micromachining. These devices utilize an electroosmotic force or an electromagnetic field to generate a flow of a fluid in a microchannel that is lined, at least in part, with silicon nitride. Additional electrodes can be provided within or about the microchannel for separating particular constituents in the fluid during the flow based on charge state or magnetic moment. The fluid can also be pressurized in the channel. The present invention has many different applications including electrokinetic pumping, chemical and biochemical analysis (e. g. based on electrophoresis or chromatography), conducting chemical reactions on a microscopic scale, and forming hydraulic actuators.

US Patent:

6645757, Nov 11, 2003

Filed:

Feb 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/779164

Inventors:

Murat Okandan - Albuquerque NM
Paul C. Galambos - Albuquerque NM

Assignee:

Sandia Corporation - Albuquerque NM

International Classification:

C12M 100

US Classification:

4352851, 4352852, 4352861, 4352865, 4352885, 204164, 20440301, 204409

Abstract:

An apparatus and method are disclosed for in vitro transformation of living cells. The apparatus, which is formed as a microelectromechanical device by surface micromachining, can be used to temporarily disrupt the cell walls or membrane of host cells one at a time so that a particular substance (e. g. a molecular tag, nucleic acid, bacteria, virus etc. ) can be introduced into the cell. Disruption of the integrity of the host cells (i. e. poration) can be performed mechanically or electrically, or by both while the host cells are contained within a flow channel. Mechanical poration is possible using a moveable member which has a pointed or serrated edge and which is driven by an electrostatic actuator to abrade, impact or penetrate the host cell. Electroporation is produced by generating a relatively high electric field across the host cell when the host cell is located in the flow channel between a pair of electrodes having a voltage applied therebetween.

US Patent:

6797187, Sep 28, 2004

Filed:

Jan 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/351135

Inventors:

Paul C. Galambos - Albuquerque NM
Murat Okandan - Albuquerque NM
Stephen Montague - Albuquerque NM
James H. Smith - Redmond WA
Phillip H. Paul - Livermore CA
Thomas W. Krygowski - Coutlandt Manor NY
James J. Allen - Albuquerque NM
Christopher A. Nichols - Hauppauge NY

Assignee:

Sandia Corporation - Albuquerque NM

International Classification:

B01D 6700

US Classification:

216 2, 216 27, 216 41, 216 80, 216 97

Abstract:

Microfluidic devices are disclosed which can be manufactured using surface-micromachining. These devices utilize an electroosmotic force or an electromagnetic field to generate a flow of a fluid in a microchannel that is lined, at least in part, with silicon nitride. Additional electrodes can be provided within or about the microchannel for separating particular constituents in the fluid during the flow based on charge state or magnetic moment. The fluid can also be pressurized in the channel. The present invention has many different applications including electrokinetic pumping, chemical and biochemical analysis (e. g. based on electrophoresis or chromatography), conducting chemical reactions on a microscopic scale, and forming hydraulic actuators.

US Patent:

7004198, Feb 28, 2006

Filed:

Jul 20, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/894636

Inventors:

Murat Okandan - Albuquerque NM, US
Paul C. Galambos - Albuquerque NM, US
Gilbert L. Benavides - Los Ranchos NM, US
Dale L. Hetherington - Albuquerque NM, US

Assignee:

Sandia Corporation - Albuquerque NM

International Classification:

F16K 37/00

US Classification:

137827, 137554, 137833, 204601, 251368

Abstract:

An apparatus for simultaneously aligning and interconnecting microfluidic ports is presented. Such interconnections are required to utilize microfluidic devices fabricated in Micro-Electromechanical-Systems (MEMS) technologies, that have multiple fluidic access ports (e. g. 100 micron diameter) within a small footprint, (e. g. 3 mm×6 mm). Fanout of the small ports of a microfluidic device to a larger diameter (e. g. 500 microns) facilitates packaging and interconnection of the microfluidic device to printed wiring boards, electronics packages, fluidic manifolds etc.

US Patent:

7127301, Oct 24, 2006

Filed:

Apr 28, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/426152

Inventors:

Murat Okandan - Albuquerque NM, US
Kurt O. Wessendorf - Albuquerque NM, US
Todd R. Christenson - Albuquerque NM, US

Assignee:

Sandia Corporation - Albuquerque NM

International Classification:

A61N 1/05

US Classification:

607116, 607 54

Abstract:

An electrode array which has applications for neural stimulation and sensing. The electrode array can include a large number of electrodes each of which is flexibly attached to a common substrate using a plurality of springs to allow the electrodes to move independently. The electrode array can be formed from a combination of bulk and surface micromachining, with electrode tips that can include an electroplated metal (e. g. platinum, iridium, gold or titanium) or a metal oxide (e. g. iridium oxide) for biocompatibility. The electrode array can be used to form a part of a neural prosthesis, and is particularly well adapted for use in an implantable retinal prosthesis where the electrodes can be tailored to provide a uniform gentle contact pressure with optional sensing of this contact pressure at one or more of the electrodes.

US Patent:

7246524, Jul 24, 2007

Filed:

May 2, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/120843

Inventors:

Deepesh K. Kholwadwala - Albuquerque NM, US
Gabriel A. Johnston - Trophy Club TX, US
Brandon R. Rohrer - Albuquerque NM, US
Paul C. Galambos - Albuquerque NM, US
Murat Okandan - Albuquerque NM, US

Assignee:

Sandia Corporation - Albuquerque NM

International Classification:

G01L 7/08

US Classification:

73715

Abstract:

The present invention comprises a novel, lightweight, massively parallel device comprising microelectromechanical (MEMS) fluidic actuators, to reconfigure the profile, of a surface. Each microfluidic actuator comprises an independent bladder that can act as both a sensor and an actuator. A MEMS sensor, and a MEMS valve within each microfluidic actuator, operate cooperatively to monitor the fluid within each bladder, and regulate the flow of the fluid entering and exiting each bladder. When adjacently spaced in a array, microfluidic actuators can create arbitrary surface profiles in response to a change in the operating environment of the surface. In an embodiment of the invention, the profile of an airfoil is controlled by independent extension and contraction of a plurality of actuators, that operate to displace a compliant cover.

US Patent:

7291003, Nov 6, 2007

Filed:

Sep 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/947969

Inventors:

Murat Okandan - Albuquerque NM, US
Paul Galambos - Albuquerque NM, US

Assignee:

Sandia Corporation - Albuquerque NM

International Classification:

B29C 47/08

US Classification:

425463, 425462, 425464, 4253782, 425DIG 217, 4251315

Abstract:

A micromachined spinneret is disclosed which has one or more orifices through which a fiber-forming material can be extruded to form a fiber. Each orifice is surrounded by a concentric annular orifice which allows the fiber to be temporarily or permanently coated with a co-extrudable material. The micromachined spinneret can be formed by a combination of surface and bulk micromachining.

US Patent:

7308317, Dec 11, 2007

Filed:

Feb 17, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/060473

Inventors:

Murat Okandan - Edgewood NM, US
Kurt O. Wessendorf - Albuquerque NM, US

Assignee:

Sandia Corporation - Albuquerque NM

International Classification:

A61N 1/05

US Classification:

607115, 607 53

Abstract:

An electrode array is disclosed which has applications for neural stimulation and sensing. The electrode array, in certain embodiments, can include a plurality of electrodes each of which is flexibly attached to a common substrate using a plurality of springs to allow the electrodes to move independently. In other embodiments of the electrode array, the electrodes can be fixed to the substrate. The electrode array can be formed from a combination of bulk and surface micromachining, and can include electrode tips having an electroplated metal (e. g. platinum, iridium, gold or titanium) or a metal oxide (e. g. iridium oxide) for biocompatibility. The electrode array can be used to form a part of a neural prosthesis, and is particularly well adapted for use in an implantable retinal prosthesis.