The Provost Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth, Near Dublin

Cellix Limited

Allegro Research Limited

Allegro Technologies Limited

Other

Igor V Shvets

Dmitry Kashanin

Vivienne Williams

Juergen Osing

Sergei Makarov

Cecilia Franken

Dermot P Kelleher

Yuri Volkov

Alexander Shvets

Dmitriy Kashanin

Guido Mariotto

Francesco Dicorato

Hans L&ouml;schner

Ivajlo Rangelow

Frank O'Dowd

Aoife Gallagher

Tomasz P Zawada

Jeurgen Osing

Dmitri Kashanin

Jens Voight

Sergio Fernandez-Ceballos

Peter G&uuml;thner

Roman Kantor

Giuseppe Manai

Sunil Kumar Arora

Sumesh Sofin Ramakrishna Pilli

Jurgen Osing

Christophe Dohen

Toby Paul

An apparatus for microfluidic flow cytometry analysis of a particulate containing fluid An apparatus for microfluidic flow cytometry analysis of a particulate containing fluid comprises a hydrodynamic focussing apparatus for providing a focused stream of particulate containing fluid; and a microfluidic chip. The chip has a plurality of layers and comprises a microfluidic channel that extends through the chip substantially orthogonal to a plane of the layers of the chip, and is in fluid communication with the hydrodynamic focusing apparatus for receipt of a focused steam of particulate containing fluid. The chip also comprises a detection zone comprising at least one pair of electrodes in electrical communication with the microfluidic channel. At least one pair of electrodes comprise an excitation electrode coupled to an AC signal source and a detection electrode configured to detect AC impedance changes in the microfluidic channel between the electrodes resulting from particles passing between the electrodes in the microfluidic channel. Methods of sorting mammalian sperm cells according to sex is also described.

Apparatus for microfluidic flow cytometry analysis of a particulate containing fluid

This invention relates to the field of microfluidic flow cytometry and more generally microfluidic techniques for analysis of particulate-containing fluids. It deals with the improvements to such technologies in order to identify subsets of particles or sub-populations of cells that differ in their properties, and, if necessary, separate the said identified sub-populations of cells, e.g. sex of semen cells, alive cells from the dead ones, cancerous cells from the healthy ones, subsets of viruses, bacteria or subsets of particles. This invention disclosure deals with the apparatus and the method for detection of cells or particles based on measurements of complex AC impedance between electrodes across the flow of fluid containing such cells or particles.

System and method for improved identification of particles or cells

A microfluidic chip for focussing a stream of particulate containing fluid comprises a sample microfluidic channel configured to receive the stream of particulate containing fluid, a guidance microfluidic channel having a polygonal cross-sectional area and configured to receive a stream of guidance fluid, and a common microfluidic channel having a polygonal cross sectional area formed by the merging of the sample microfluidic channel and the guidancemicrofluidic channel at an oblique angle along only part of one or more sides of the guidance microfluidic channel, and a detection zone disposed in the common microfluidic channel having one or more sensors. The merging of the sample microfluidic channel and the guidance microfluidic channel is configured to provide a composite fluid stream containing a focussed beam of particulates that is disposed asymmetrically in the common microfluidic channeladjacent a corner or side of the common microfluidic channel and wherein the one or more sensors are configured for sensing a characteristic of the focussed beam of particulates in the common channel.

Microfluidic chip for focussing a stream of particulate containing fluid

The present invention relates to an optical device for imaging and measuring characteristics of an objects surface shape, surface spectral reflectance and structure of sub-surface layers. In particular, the invention relates to imaging of topography of human skin and skin sub-surface layers and determination of concentration of skin constituents. The present invention has applications in areas such as skin care, dermatology, cosmetics, wound management and tricology. The imaging device of the invention significantly improves photometric stereo measurements by suppressing specular reflection and allows accurate determination of the surface shape. Consequently the device allows elimination of the influence of the shape and illumination conditions on spectral measurements and allows accurate measurement of skin constituents.

Method and apparatus for imaging tissue topography

There is provided a method of cleaning a dispensing assembly for small liquid droplets less than 50 &#x3bc;l and even as low as 10 nl. A purging step with pressurized gas followed by a cleaning step using a suitable cleaning liquid is carried out a number of times.

Cleaning of system for dispensing of liquid droplets

The present invention is directed to a method for measuring the migration of cells in a channel under the influence of an analyte wherein said cells are separated from said analyte by a semi-permeable membrane and said cells are subjected to controlled flow conditions while the analyte is static and in the form of a viscous substance or gel.

Method for measuring the migration of cells in a channel under the influence of an analyte

The present invention is directed to a liquid droplet monitoring and measuring apparatus for use with a liquid dispensing system of the type comprising a nozzle having a liquid dispensing tip and means for delivering the dispensed liquid through the nozzle onto a receiving substrate. Further, the invention provides a method of monitoring and measuring the volume of a liquid droplet as it is being dispensed from a liquid dispensing system comprising a nozzle having a dispensing tip. The main use for the invention is in the fields of drug discovery, genomics, medical diagnostics and other life science-related applications. The invention could also be used in other areas for example in the food industry, cosmetic industry or the chemical industry.

Apparatus and method for monitoring and measurement of droplets

A method of preparing an array of conducting or semi-conducting nanowires may include forming a vicinal surface of stepped atomic terraces on a substrate, and depositing a fractional layer of dopant material to form nanostripes having a width less than the width of the atomic terraces. Diffusion of the atoms of the dopant nanostripes into the substrate may form the nanowires.

Method of forming conducting nanowires

A magnetoresistive medium () includes a substrate () which has been treated to provide a miscut vicinal surface () in the form of terraces () and steps () of atomic and nanometer scale. There are discrete separated spacer nanowires () provided by an intermediate partial spacer film on each terrace () against each step (). A further main film () provides main nanowires ((),()). A thin protective layer () covers the main nanowires ((),()) which form two separate subsets of main nanowires with different exchange interaction with the substrate and thus a different response to an external magnetic field. In use, when an external magnetic field (H) is applied the response of the main nanowires ((),()) changes as the exchange coupling with the substrate () varies and the magnetisation on the main nanowires ((),()) change. This is shown by the arrows while prior to the application of the external magnetic field, they might, for example, be aligned. Many different constructions of magnetoresistive media are described.

Magnetoresistive medium including nanowires

There is provided a liquid droplet monitoring and measuring apparatus () for a liquid droplet dispensing system having a nozzle () with a dispensing tip (). The apparatus () comprises an inner chamber () surrounded by an outer shield (), preferably not in contact with each other. An RF oscillator electrically energizes the liquid through an electrode (). The inner chamber () is connected through pre-amplifiers (), band pass filters (conditioning amplifier () to a signal read-out device (). The operation of the apparatus is based on the measurement of the capacitance between the nozzle () and the inner chamber (). As a droplet () grows on the dispensing tip (), the capacitance between the nozzle () and the inner chamber () increases. Therefore, the signal detected and received by the signal read-out device () changes. This change is directly related to the volume of the droplet which can therefore be measured. In another embodiment, the liquid is not energized but is used to change the dielectric constant of a capacitor formed by, for example, the nozzle () and a substrate.

Apparatus and method for droplet measurements

A dispensing assembly for liquid droplets that includes a dispenser connected to a liquid carrying pipe which in turn is connected to a source of pressurized liquid. The dispenser has an elongated body member having a main bore connected to the liquid carrying pipe. At the other end, the main bore has a valve seat that is connected to a nozzle having a nozzle bore terminating in a dispensing tip. An elongated valve boss of ferromagnetic material covered with a soft polymer is mounted in the main bore and has a cross-sectional area less than that of the main bore. A separate valve boss actuating coil assembly has upper and lower coils that are separate from the main body that can be unplugged from both coils and from the liquid carrying pipe. As such, the main body can be a disposable member.

Dispensing assembly for liquid droplets

Biological assays using various constructions of biochips are disclosed to mirror in vivo situations. The biochipcomprises a microchannelhaving a liquid outlet port, bubble release portand a liquid outlet portwith an associated bubble release port. A multiplicity of tests can be performed often by coating the bore of the microchannelwhich various adhesion mediating proteins or the use of chemoattractants. The assay assemblycomprises a syringe pump feeding the biochip. An inverted microscope, digital cameraand recorderare provided. A sample liquid containing cells in suspension is injected slowly through the biochip and the effect of the assay recorded over a long period.

Method of assaying cellular adhesion with a coated biochip

A liquid outlet link assembly is provided for liquid delivery output rates below 10 &mgr;l per minute so as to smooth out the flow from a positive displacement pump which has an immediate step pumping rate which is relatively substantially larger than the delivery rate required through the liquid outlet means. Essentially, this liquid link assembly has a bubble of air or some other pressure activated expansion means which initially contracts on the step pump such as a syringe pump operation and then gradually expands over time, allowing a steady output rate through the link assembly.

Liquid pumping system

Biological assays using various constructions of biochips are disclosed to mirror in vivo situations. The biochip comprises a microchannel having a liquid outlet port , bubble release port and a liquid outlet port with an associated bubble release port . A multiplicity of tests can be performed often by coating the bore of the microchannel which various adhesion mediating proteins or the use of chemoattractants. The assay assembly comprises a syringe pump feeding the biochip . An inverted microscope , digital camera and recorder are provided. A sample liquid containing cells in suspension is injected slowly through the biochip and the effect of the assay recorded over a long period.

Biological assay method

A dispensing assembly for liquid droplets that includes a dispenser connected to a liquid carrying pipe which in turn is connected to a source of pressurized liquid. The dispenser has an elongated body member having a main bore connected to the liquid carrying pipe. At the other end, the main bore has a valve seat that is connected to a nozzle having a nozzle bore terminating in a dispensing tip. A valve boss of ferromagnetic material covered with a soft polymer is mounted in the main bore and has a cross-sectional area less than that of the main bore. A separate valve boss actuating coil assembly has upper and lower coils that are separate from the main body that can be unplugged from both coils and from the liquid carrying pipe. As such, the main body can be a disposable member.

Growing community of inventors

Castleknock, Ireland

Igor V Shvets