Microfab Technologies Inc.

Microfab Technology, Inc.

Microfab Technoologies, Inc.

Christopher J Frederickson

Donald J Hayes

David B Wallace

David W Taylor

Matthew D Hayes

Murray Sinks

A method and apparatus is disclosed which employs a pulse-controlled microdroplet fluid delivery system for precisely dispensing fragrances and other odor producing vapors. The pulse-controlled fluid delivery device is capable of ejecting microdroplets of fluid with a diameter less than 350 micrometers at a controlled ejection rate based upon inkjet printing technology. The pulse-controlled fluid delivery system includes mechanisms for vaporizing the fluids and delivery of the vapors to the nose, which is controlled by a programmable system controller capable of real time data-driven dispensing with a multi-fluid capability. Synthesis of custom fragrances is made possible by a multijet programmed control system which adjusts dispensing rates of components. Calibration of a prior art &ldquo;electronic nose&rdquo; is disclosed. A precise calibration gas is produced in real-time to counteract the effect of drifting.

Method for calibrating a sensor for measuring concentration of odors

A method and apparatus is disclosed which employs a pulse-controlled microdroplet fluid delivery system for precisely dispensing fragrances and other odor producing vapors. The pulse-controlled fluid delivery device is capable of ejecting microdroplets of fluid with a diameter less than 350 micrometers at a controlled ejection rate based upon ink-jet printing technology. The pulse-controlled fluid delivery system includes mechanisms for vaporizing the fluids and delivery of the vapors to the nose, which is controlled by a programmable system controller capable of real time data-driven dispensing with a multi-fluid capability. Synthesis of custom fragrances is made possible by a multijet programmed control system which adjusts dispensing rates of components. Calibration of a prior art &ldquo;electronic nose&rdquo; is disclosed. A precise calibration gas is produced in real-time to counteract the effect of drifting.

Method and apparatus for delivery of fragrances and vapors to the nose

A method and apparatus for dispensing pheromones, semiochemicals, and other materials that can control the behavior or physiology of insects and other pests are described. The dispensers (AgJets) use electronic dispensing technology such as that used in ink jet printing. The units have a self-containing reservoir for the to-be-dispensed chemical, and they are capable of being activated to dispense by an electromagnetic signal from a broadcasting controller unit. Picoliter volumes of pheromones and semiochemicals can be dispensed in drop-on-demand mode. The units for dispensing shall be powered by battery and/or solar energy for hands-off operation in remote sites. The units may also have weather monitoring devices (thermometer, anemometer, humidity measurement), and such climactic information can be transmitted to central receiving stations and/or used locally in the AgJet device to control chemical dispensing.

Method and apparatus for dispensing airborne materials for controlling pests

Miniaturized, self-contained apparatus for conducting bio-chemical reactions and analyses is formed in a compact structure comprising a substrate which includes a plurality of reaction chambers and a plurality of analysis chambers which are in fluid communication with the reaction chambers. Independently controllable heaters and coolers are positioned in thermal contact with the reaction chambers to permit parallel processing of biological samples at different temperature cycles. The apparatus is especially useful for performing and analyzing the results of a polymerase chain reaction.

Flexible apparatus with ablation formed chamber(s) for conducting bio-chemical analyses

An ink-jet dispenser for the micro-dispensation of airborne materials into an individual's airspace for inhalation or sniffing. The ink-jet dispenser will allow the study of temporal integration times, inter-nostril summation, backwards and forwards masking, and other olfactory phenomena.

Devices for presenting airborne materials to the nose

Miniaturized, self-contained apparatus for conducting bio-chemical reactions and analyses is formed in a compact structure made from a substrate which includes a plurality of reaction chambers and a plurality of analysis chambers which are in fluid communication with the reaction chambers. Independently controllable heaters and coolers are positioned in thermal contact with the reaction chambers to permit parallel processing of biological samples at different temperature cycles. The apparatus is especially useful for performing and analyzing the results of a polymerase chain reaction.

Making apparatus for conducting biochemical analyses

Thermo-cycling for biological material is provided by a channel such as a capillary tube extending through a series of temperature control elements. Each temperature control element maintains the adjacent portion of the channel at a desired temperature. Fluid to be processed is introduced into the tube through the inlet and flows, preferably through capillary action, to the outlet. The temperature of the fluid changes as it passes each temperature control element and is thus thermo-cycled through a predetermined sequence of temperatures.

Inline thermo-cycler

Biological material is cycled through a sequence of temperatures by containing the material in a vessel positioned in a chamber maintained at a temperature which is no higher than the lowest temperature in a predetermined temperature sequence. The vessel is then irradiated with varying levels of electromagnetic radiation to heat the material and cycle it through a sequence of predetermined temperatures.

Methods and apparatus for direct heating of biological material

Arrays of electro-mechanical dispensers are used to form extremely small drops of fluid and locate them precisely on substrate surfaces in miniature arrays. The printed arrays may consist of DNA, immunoassay reagents or the like. A positioning support such as an X-Y table moves the dispensing devices and substrate surfaces relative to each other to locate the drops on the substrates in predetermined patterns. Arrays of probes as dense as one thousand per square centimeter with center-to-center spacing as small as twenty-five micrometers are formed.

Growing community of inventors

Little Elm, TX, United States of America

Christopher J Frederickson