Xerox Corporation

Labcyte Inc.

Leland Stanford Junior University

Microsonic Systems Inc.

Palo Alto Research Center Inc.

Picoliter Inc.

Babur B Hadimioglu

Scott Alan Elrod

Butrus Thomas Khuri-Yakub

Joy Roy

Calvin F Quate

Richard N Ellson

Jaan Noolandi

Eric G Rawson

Richard H Bruce

Richard G Stearns

David A Horine

Robert Arthur Sprague

Martin G Lim

Steven A Buhler

John Stuart Fitch

Michael C Weisberg

David L Steinmetz

Kaiser H Wong

James Bernard Kruger

Vibhu Vivek

Lamar T Baker

Shinya Akamine

Joseph D Olechno

John M Lennon

Marsha N Blauwkamp

Jerry Elkin

Jennifer M Hardee

Ratnakar Dadi

David Kalman Biegelsen

David Kirtland Fork

Jurgen Hans Daniel

Eric Saund

David L Hecht

James William Stasiak

Rene A Lujan

Donald Leonard Smith

Richard L Weisfield

Stephen David White

Tiao-Yuan Huang

James C Mikkelsen

Mostafa R Yazdy

Jay Daulton

Richard J Goldstein

Abdul M ElHatem

William F Gunning

I-Wei Wu

Anne A Chiang

Robert P Kowalski

Thanh D Truong

Jaime Lerma

James Charles Zesch

Marina LaPalma, Legal Representative

Takamasa J Oki

Abdul M El Hatem

Donald L Smith

Systems and methods described herein employ focused acoustic energy applied to a reservoir containing a fluid to eject a fluid sample from the fluid sample reservoir, e.g. to an inlet of an analytical device. In many embodiments, the ejected fluid sample traverses an air gap separating the inlet of the analytical device from an upper surface of the fluid in the fluid sample reservoir. In many embodiments, the ejected fluid sample comprises one or more droplets ejected from the fluid sample reservoir, which can contain particles suspended in the fluid sample.

Acoustic concentration, transfer and analysis of samples containing particles

A fluid impermeable transducer includes an assembly of a transducer head and a casing, and an actuator disposed in the casing rearward of the back of the transducer head and operable to transmit acoustic energy through the transducer head. The transducer head and casing define a working portion of the transducer that is fluid impermeable.

Fluid impermeable ultrasonic transducer

A method is provided for achieving transfection of host cells using sonoporation. An acoustic radiation generator is positioned in acoustic coupling relationship with respect to a reservoir containing host cells to be transfected, exogenous material to be incorporated into the host cells, and a cell-compatible fluid medium. The acoustic radiation generator is activated to generate acoustic radiation and direct the acoustic radiation into the reservoir in a manner effective to enable transfection of the host cells with the exogenous material.

High-efficiency transfection of biological cells using sonoporation

A fabricated structure for use with an associated marking device is provided. In one form, the fabricated structure includes a self-lifting spring finger having a nib for marking.

Self-assembling structures for electrostatic extraction of pigments from liquid inks for marking

Apparatus and methods to form high efficiency and uniform Fresnel lens arrays for ultrasonic liquid manipulation are provided. An ultrasonic transducer array may be fabricated by forming top and bottom electrodes on top and bottom surfaces of a sensor plate. The ultrasonic transducer array may generate ultrasonic energy to manipulate one or more samples. Each of the top and bottom electrodes may be coupled to a radio frequency source and arranged to form one of a solid shape or a pattern. Additional apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Methods and systems to form high efficiency and uniform fresnel lens arrays for ultrasonic liquid manipulation

Apparatus and methods for ultrasonic coupling using ultrasonic radiation pressure generating are provided. Ultrasonic energy is generated to propagate in the form of ultrasonic waves in a medium coupled to a second element. The ultrasonic energy is converged in the medium to couple the medium to an object located at a distance from the second element. Additional apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Methods and systems for ultrasonic coupling using ultrasonic radiation pressure

An improved method and apparatus for delivering medication to the lungs is described. Acoustic ink printing technology is modified to operate as an inhaler that generates tiny droplets near a patient's nose or mouth. The tiny droplets are easily carried by air currents into the patient's lungs. The inhaler itself is preferably a battery operated portable device that can be easily carried and easily cleaned to avoid contaminating the medication.

Inhaler that uses focused acoustic waves to deliver a pharmaceutical product

Various fluidic techniques can employ ducting structures, such as microstructures, that extend between other components, such as plate-like structures. A ducting structure can, for example, include an inlet opening toward or near one plate-like structure, an outlet opening toward or near another plate-like structure, and a duct in which fluid flows after being received through the inlet opening and before being provided through the outlet opening. In some implementations, a ducting structure is photo-defined, such as by exposing a photoimageable structure and then removing either exposed or unexposed regions. In some implementations, a ducting structure is a freestanding polymer microstructure. In some implementations, ducting structures are microstructures that extend approximately the same length between first and second plate-like structures, and have a ratio of length to maximum cavity diameter of approximately two or more. A printhead implementation includes an array of such microstructures supported between drive side and drop side assemblies.

Fluidic structures

In accordance with one aspect of the present exemplary embodiment, provided is a hand-held printer system and method for printing on a target. The system includes a hand-held printer, a target position sensing system which senses a position of the target, and a hand-held printer position sensing system which senses a position of the hand-held printer relative to a printing surface of the target. A control mechanism actuates the printing of the hand-held printer based on the sensed positions.

Hand-propelled wand printer

Method of using focused acoustic waves to deliver a pharmaceutical product

The present invention provides a method and device for the acoustic ejection of fluid droplets having a constant drop size from fluid-containing reservoirs having varying fluid heights contained therein without the need for repositioning the acoustic ejector in the z direction by adjusting the RF frequency and amplitude. In one embodiment, the device is comprised of: a plurality of reservoirs each adapted to contain a fluid; an ejector comprising a means for generating acoustic radiation, means for controlling the RF frequency and amplitude used to generate the acoustic radiation, means for focusing the acoustic radiation at a focal point near the fluid surface in each of the reservoirs; and a means for positioning the ejector in acoustically coupled relationship to each of the reservoirs. The invention is useful in a number of contexts, particularly in the preparation of biomolecular arrays.

Frequency correction for drop size control

Provided is a priming mechanism for priming a biofluid drop ejection device having a drop ejection opening leading to an ejection reservoir. The priming mechanism includes a vacuum unit which generates a vacuum force, connected to a vacuum nozzle. The vacuum nozzle is located over the drop ejection opening. A disposable sleeve or tubing is attached to the vacuum nozzle and is placed in operational contact with the drop ejection opening. A fluid height detection sensor is positioned to sense a fluid height within at least one of the disposable tubing and the vacuum nozzle. Upon sensing a predetermined fluid height, by the fluid height detection sensor, the priming operation is completed, and the primer mechanism is removed from the operational contact with the drop ejection opening.

Priming mechanisms for drop ejection devices

Methods for testing proper operation of drop ejection units in a multi-ejector system are provided to determine whether the drop ejectors have been properly filled and/or the ejectors are emitting fully formed droplets. The methods include testing the ejectors prior to drop ejection. In this method, a priming system is used wherein fluid received by the priming system is ejected onto a test substrate to allow a scanner to determine the existence of the fluids at selected locations. The selected locations are correlated to the drop ejection units to determine which ejection units do not have biofluid or sufficient biofluid. A further method allows for ejection prior to printing, on a test substrate wherein testing for both the fullness of the ejector units as well as proper emission of the ejectors of droplets may be tested. The ejectors after being primed, eject the biofluids which are then scanned and correlated to each individual ejector. A further method provided is a laser scattering method wherein a laser beam is interposed between the drop emission path of the ejectors. Laser detection then determines whether a correlated drop ejector is properly emitting droplets.

Testing method and configurations for multi-ejector system

A biofluid drop ejection unit for ejecting biofluid drops. A biofluid drop ejection mechanism of such a unit includes a transducer, which generates energy used to emit the biofluid drop. Further provided is a reagent cartridge or biofluid containment area which holds the biofluid. The reagent cartridge or biofluid containment area is configured to hold low volumes of biofluid and to avoid contamination of the biofluid. The reagent cartridge or biofluid containment area is in operational connection with the drop ejection mechanism such that upon operation of the drop ejection mechanism, biofluid drops are emitted. The biofluid drop ejection mechanism is a high efficiency device, and may be configured as two separate pieces or as a single disposable unit.

Devices for biofluid drop ejection

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Babur B Hadimioglu