Zhishan C Hua

US Patent:

8551599, Oct 8, 2013

Filed:

Aug 31, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/551071

Inventors:

Zhishan Hua - Raleigh NC, US
Erdogan Gulari - Ann Arbor MI, US
Mark A. Burns - Ann Arbor MI, US
Rohit Pal - Fishkill NY, US
Onnop Srivannavit - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

International Classification:

B32B 3/24
B32B 3/26
F16K 7/12
F16K 7/17
F16K 31/02
F16K 31/126
B81C 1/00

US Classification:

428138, 428 68, 428 72, 428137, 428172, 428913, 422 681, 137 67, 137 74, 137825, 137828, 137829, 251 11, 251 61, 25112901, 25112906

Abstract:

A microactuator may be configured by activating a source of electromagnetic radiation to heat and melt a selected set of phase-change plugs embedded in a substrate of the microactuator, pressurizing a common pressure chamber adjacent to each of the plugs to deform the melted plugs, and deactivating the source of electromagnetic radiation to cool and solidify the melted plugs.

US Patent:

8562807, Oct 22, 2013

Filed:

Dec 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/747231

Inventors:

Vijay Srinivasan - Durham NC, US
Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US
Zhishan Hua - Greensboro NC, US
Arjun Sudarsan - Cary NC, US
Allen E. Eckhardt - Durham NC, US
Vamsee K. Pamula - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

Advanced Liquid Logic Inc. - Research Triangle Park NC

International Classification:

G01N 27/453

US Classification:

204600

Abstract:

Droplet actuators for conducting droplet operations, such as droplet transport and droplet dispensing, are provided. In one embodiment, the droplet actuator may include a substrate including, droplet operations electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; and reference electrodes associated with the droplet operations electrodes and extending above the surface of the substrate. Other embodiments of droplet actuators and methods of loading and using such droplet actuators are also provided.

US Patent:

20090311713, Dec 17, 2009

Filed:

Aug 24, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/546253

Inventors:

Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US
Zhishan Hua - Raleigh NC, US
Allen E. Eckhardt - Durham NC, US
Vijay Srinivasan - Durham NC, US
Vamsee K. Pamula - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC. - Research Triangle Park NC

International Classification:

C12Q 1/68

US Classification:

435 6

Abstract:

The invention relates to certain novel approaches to reducing or eliminating the movement of contaminants from one droplet to another on a droplet actuator via liquid filler fluid. In one application, a method of detecting an analyte is provided and includes providing in a detection window a droplet including a signal-producing substance indicative of the presence and/or quantity of an analyte and one or more magnetically responsive beads which may interfere with signal produced by the signal producing substance. The method further includes using a magnetic field for magnetically removing the magnetically responsive beads from the detection window and/or magnetically restricting the magnetically responsive beads from entering the detection window while transporting and/or retaining the droplet in the detection window. The method additionally includes detecting a signal produced by the signal-producing substance.

US Patent:

20100190263, Jul 29, 2010

Filed:

Jan 25, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/692954

Inventors:

Vijay Srinivasan - Durham NC, US
Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US
Arjun Sudarsan - Cary NC, US
Zhishan Hua - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc. - Research Triangle Park NC

International Classification:

G01N 1/00
C07K 1/26
G01N 27/26
B01D 57/02
B01L 3/00
G01N 31/20
B67D 7/00

US Classification:

436174, 422101, 204600, 422 82, 204450, 222 1

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a droplet actuator and methods of making and using the droplet actuator including one or more substrates configured to form a droplet operations gap and including a physical or chemical feature that may be provided at a predetermined locus within or exposed to the droplet operations gap and configured to retain a bubble in position within the droplet operations gap.

US Patent:

20100221713, Sep 2, 2010

Filed:

Aug 24, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/546115

Inventors:

Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US
Zhishan Hua - Raleigh NC, US
Allen E. Eckhardt - Durham NC, US
Vijay Srinivasan - Durham NC, US
Vamsee K. Pamula - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC. - Research Triangle Park NC

International Classification:

C12Q 1/68

US Classification:

435 6

Abstract:

The invention relates to certain novel approaches to reducing or eliminating the movement of contaminants from one droplet to another on a droplet actuator via liquid filler fluid. In one application, droplet actuators are used to conduct genetic analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The invention addresses the need for improved methods of performing PCR on a droplet actuator that provide for optimum amplification and detection of a sample target.

US Patent:

20100270156, Oct 28, 2010

Filed:

Dec 23, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/682830

Inventors:

Vijay Srinivasan - Durham NC, US
Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US
Vamsee K. Pamula - Durham NC, US
Zhishan Hua - Raleigh NC, US
Arjun Sudarsan - Cary NC, US
Philip Paik - Chula Vista CA, US

Assignee:

ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC. - Research Triangle Park NC

International Classification:

C07K 1/26

US Classification:

204450

Abstract:

A droplet actuator with a droplet formation electrode configuration associated with a droplet operations surface, wherein the electrode configuration comprises one or more electrodes configured to control volume of a droplet during formation of a sub-droplet on the droplet operations surface. Methods of making and using the droplet actuator are also provided.

US Patent:

20100282608, Nov 11, 2010

Filed:

Sep 4, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/676384

Inventors:

Vijay Srinivasan - Durham NC, US
Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US
Alexander Shenderov - Raleigh NC, US
Zhishan Hua - Durham NC, US
Arjun Sudarsan - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC. - Research Triangle Park NC

International Classification:

G01N 27/26
B01J 19/00
B23P 11/00

US Classification:

204450, 204600, 29428

Abstract:

The invention provides a droplet actuator comprising a base substrate and a top substrate separated to form a gap, wherein: (a) the base substrate comprises electrodes configured for conducting droplet operations in the gap; and (b) the top substrate comprises a first portion coupled to second portion, where the second portion comprises one or more openings establishing a fluid path extending from an exterior of the droplet actuator and into the gap. The invention also provides related methods of manufacturing the droplet actuator, methods of using the droplet actuator, and methods of loading the droplet actuator.

US Patent:

20110097763, Apr 28, 2011

Filed:

May 13, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/991966

Inventors:

Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US
Zhishan Hua - Durham NC, US
Allen E. Eckhardt - Durham NC, US
Vijay Srinivasan - Durham NC, US
Vamsee K. Pamula - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC. - Research Triangle Park NC

International Classification:

C12P 19/34

US Classification:

435 912

Abstract:

The invention relates to certain novel approaches to reducing or eliminating the movement of contaminants from one droplet to another on a droplet actuator via liquid filler fluid. In one application, droplet actuators are used to conduct genetic analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The invention addresses the need for improved methods of performing PCR on a droplet actuator that provide for optimum amplification and detection of a sample target.