Microfab Technologies Inc.

Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Abbott Laboratories Corporation

The Mead Corporation

Microfab Technology, Inc.

Microfab Technoologies, Inc.

David B Wallace

Donald J Hayes

John R Pies

Christopher J Frederickson

David W Taylor

James L Stortz

Michael T Boldman

Matthew D Hayes

Donald J Verlee

Frederic L Clark

Ioan Achiriloaie

Kenneth R Houseman

Mickey H Everett

Roger G Self

Norman Comparini

Daniel R Fusting

Ronald E Marusak

Scott D Ayers

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 for making a laminated carrier film for use in releasing interstitial fluid from skin for collection or measurement includes providing a printhead having an orifice and a reservoir containing a meltable absorber substance, the printhead being capable in response to electrical signals, to eject droplets of said meltable absorber substance from the orifice; supporting a carrier film having a series of spaced apart openings for a meltable absorber substance on a support base, in close proximity to the printhead, whereby the spaced apart openings on the carrier film can be positioned relative to the orifice to receive absorber substance droplets ejected from the printhead; filling the spaced apart openings of the carrier film with meltable absorber substance ejected from the printhead; and covering the carrier film on one side with a clear polymer film strip selected to allow laser energy to pass through the clear polymer film in order to reach the meltable absorber substance inside the openings.

Method for fabricating laminated carrier for collecting interstitial fluid from the skin

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 more reliable and precise method of determining the olfactory threshold is provided by a digitally operated apparatus that dispenses controlled amounts of a volatile test fluid from a digital jetting device of the type used for ink jet printing. A precise number and size of micro droplets are dispensed onto a heater which vaporizes the fluid at a test location where a patient can sniff and report whether the odor is sensed. Incremental adjustments are made to determine the approximate threshold of olfactory perception of the odor. Sensors are included to verify dispensing and to coordinate dispensing with breathing.

Digital olfactometer and method for testing olfactory thresholds

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

A carrier film has one or more openings or wells loaded with a meltable absorbing substance for absorbing laser energy. The carrier film has a clear film which covers one side of the opening containing the absorber substance and the open side of the opening in the carrier film is positioned adjacent to the skin and irradiated through the clear cover film by a laser beam. The melted laser energy absorbing substance is ejected to form a spot laying on the skin. After moving the carrier film, a laser beam impinges the spot thereby raising a tiny blister on the skin containing interstitial fluid. The interstitial fluid is collected for diagnosis and analysis. A method of making and loading the carrier film with a digitally operated dispenser of the type used for ink jet printing is disclosed. Special construction of the opening appears to enhance ejection.

Method for collecting interstitial fluid from the skin

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

A method of producing, on a physical medium, a gradient tonal representation of an image and a printhead for producing the same. An input image is divided into first and second regions. First, continuously variable intensity level, continuous tone and second, discretely variable intensity level, half-tone portions of the representation which respectively correspond to the first and second regions of the image are then printed by depositing selected quantities of ink on the first and second portions of the physical medium such that each pixel thereof has an ink intensity level corresponding to the image intensity level for the corresponding one of the pixels of the first region of the image. The ink is deposited on the second portion of the physical medium by depositing a spot of ink having a first diameter on selected ones of the pixels of the second portion, depositing a spot of ink having a second diameter on others of the pixels of the second portion and depositing no ink on still others of the pixels of the second portion such that the second portion of the representation has the desired ink intensity level. The color of the ink ejected may be black, in which case, the gradient tonal representation produced thereby shall be a gray scale representation, or other color such as yellow, cyan or magenta.

Method for producing gradient tonal representation and a printhead for producing the same

The present invention uses a novel waveform to allow the droplet volume dispensed from a demand mode inkjet type device to be increased and selected according to easily controllable parameters. The current invention departs from the conventional drive method by significantly increasing the time for energy input in the initial instance as well is in all later application of the drive voltage to the device. In shape, the waveform is the same whether a unipolar or bipolar pulse is utilized; however, the transition times in the initial instance are up to three times the acoustic resonance and the delay times are of the same order. Droplet diameter can be varied from 1X the orifice diameter to 2X the orifice diameter resulting in an 8:1 range of droplet volume. Since the volume modulation results from changes in the waveform used to drive the solder jet device, the drop volume can be changed and altered in real time.

Method of drop size modulation with extended transition time waveform

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

A compact printhead assembly is designed for employment in a soldering operation without the need for fluxes and without conducting the operation in a confined chamber. A self-contained printhead assembly has an internal reservoir and internal heating elements for raising the temperature above the melting temperature of solder or other liquid to be dispensed in microdroplets from a working surface at one end of the printhead housing. A jetting device containing an electro-mechanical transducer is pulsed to produced droplets at an exit orifice located at the working surface. Inert gas is preheated by the housing and delivered to the working surface to establish an oxygen-free atmosphere around the exit orifice and between the working surface and a substrate located a working distance away, whereby microdrops can be formed and deposited without harmful oxidation.

Printhead for liquid metals and method of use

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.

Method and apparatus for making miniaturized diagnostic arrays

Depoling and aging of a piezoelectric transducers used at elevated temperatures is controlled by poling the transducer, applying a bias voltage in the same direction as the transducer is poled to maintain the piezoelectric transducer at an elevated potential, and applying a drive voltage having a lesser magnitude than the bias voltage to induce elastic strain in the transducer.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

David B Wallace