University of Virginia Patent Foundation

Other

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Leidos Innovations Technology, Inc.

Zygem Corporation Limited

University of Pittsburgh

University of California

Virginia Commonwealth University

James Madison University

Microlab Diagnostics, Inc.

James P Landers

Orion N Scott

Brian Root

Jerome Ferrance

Matthew R Begley

Joan Marie Bienvenue

Christopher J Easley

David Saul

Robert P Oda

An-Chi Tsuei

Douglas J South

Michael E Egan

James M Karlinsey

Michael H Jones

Daniel J Marchiarullo

John W Pettit

Matthew Daniel Solomon

Daniel G Mills

Daniel C Leslie

Jason Paul Hayes

Matthew Springer

Peter Van Ruijven

Jingyi Li

Christopher Birch

Michael Edward Egan

Paul Kinnon

H Randall Bell

Peter Karl Trost

Dan Leslie

Jian Wen

Jennifer Monahan-Dian

Andreas H&uuml;hmer

James R Craighead

James K Palmer

Robert L Stout

Marcel Utz

Brian H Augustine

Shannon Theresa Krauss

Jacquelyn A DuVall

Delphine Le Roux

Daniel A Nelson

Brandon L Thompson

Jessica V Norris

Doug South

Lindsay Ann Legendre

Ling Huang

Scott Barker

Mary E Power

Sushil Shrinivasan

Kelley A Wolfe

Michael C Breadmore

Joy M Polefrone

W Christopher Hughes

James F Palmer

Matthew Yeung

David Vigil

Andrew Guy

Stan Wada

Betina De Gorordo

Steward Dodman

Tom Moran

Stuart Knowles

Fernando Dias

Rick Gardner

Pamela E Norris

Andreas Huhmer

Zhili Huang

Rajani Prasad

Tracey Dawson Green

Microfluidic devices for analyzing cellular components from biological samples which contain more than one cell type are provided. The microdevice separates cells by type, releases cellular components such as DNA (e.g. by cell lysis) and processes the cellular components (for example, by amplification) to generate products of interest for further analysis. Samples that can be analyzed using the microfluidic devices include forensic samples such as samples from sexual assault victims, and the products of interest include short tandem repeat (STR) amplicons for DNA profiling.

Microdevice for differential separation, purification and amplification of forensic samples

A collection device for a biological sample to capture target compounds such as viruses or other pathogens or particles for testing from within the sample and move the captured target compound to a separate chamber for subsequent processing. The collection device can include an openable substance blister including capture particles located in a cup interior. Capture particles can attract and bind the target compounds from the sample. An extraction tube extracts any nucleic acid from the target compound for storage or subsequent amplification and testing to confirm presence of known microorganisms. The extraction tube can comprise a heat-deformable material and can be connected to a microfluidic cartridge for further processing of nucleic acid including, amplification and detection. The microfluidic cartridge includes valves and a plurality of chambers for amplification.

Method and system for sample collection, storage, preparation and detection

A microfluidic device for the detection of drugs, explosives, chemical warfare, or other substances which is able to directly accept a swab into the device for testing. This device additionally contains on-board reagents to perform colorimetric testing for threshold determination directly in the device. These features are useful in a wide array of situations, such as at security checkpoints, environmental monitoring, clinical analysis, which require testing completely unknown substances and therefore must test for multiple different substances in one test. This is especially useful for police and other law enforcement officials who often must use field-deployable platforms making accurate field-testing critical for safety.

Devices, systems, and methods for detecting substances

A method to extract, amplify and separate nucleic acid in a microfluidic device having a plurality of chambers and channels can include a) introducing cells having nucleic acid to a first chamber of the microfluidic device and subjecting the cells in the first chamber to conditions that lyse the cells. The method can further include b) subjecting the first chamber to centrifugal force, thereby allowing the lysate or a portion thereof having nucleic acid to be distributed to a second chamber through a first channel in the microfluidic device. The method can also include c) combining the lysate or the portion thereof and reagents for amplification of the nucleic acid, thereby providing a second mixture. The method can also include d) subjecting the second chamber to centrifugal force, thereby allowing gas to be expelled from the second mixture.

Devices and methods for extraction, separation and thermocycling

The present invention relates to methods for detecting polymeric analytes, especially biopolymers, and sensors for detecting the polymeric analytes. The present invention uses magnetic beads in a rotating magnetic field to provide a visual detection of the presence of a polymeric analyte, such as nucleic acids, lipids, polysaccharides, proteins, etc. When a polymeric analyte binds to the magnetic beads, application of a rotating magnetic field to the beads results in unique pinwheel formations. Without the presence of the polymeric analyte, the movement of the magnetic beads induced by the rotating magnetic field differs significantly from the pinwheel formations. The pinwheel, therefore, is used to detect the presence of polymeric analytes.

Detection of polymeric analytes

A cartridge interface module (CIM), configured to engage with a removable microfluidic cartridge in a nucleic acid analyzer system can include a fluidics component, which is configured to initiate and support a liquid extraction of nucleic acids from a biological sample contained in the removable microfluidic cartridge. The CIM also includes a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assembly component which can be configured to initiate and support amplification of the extracted nucleic acids. The CIM may also include a high voltage electrodes component that is configured to initiate and support separation of the amplified nucleic acids into nucleic acid fragments in a separation channel of the removable microfluidic cartridge. The CIM also includes a detection optics component that can be configured to collect, detect, and direct label nucleic acid fragments. The CIM is configured to integrate with a microfluidic chip architecture of an inserted removable microfluidic cartridge.

Cartridge interface module

A mechanical input to a fluidic filter network can be actuated. The fluidic filter network can include respective branches fluidically coupling the mechanical input to respective deformable mechanical outputs. A mechanical displacement can be selectively coupled a selected deformable mechanical output of the fluidic filter network to a deformable mechanical input of a microfluidic device. A fluid flow in a portion of the microfluidic device can be controlled using the displacement, the selected deformable mechanical output can be selected at least in part by actuating the mechanical input to produce a displacement having energy in a specified range of frequencies, and the fluidic filter network is generally fluidically isolated from the microfluidic device.

Frequency-based filtering of mechanical actuation using fluidic device

A microfluidic cartridge can include at least one nucleic acid analysis portion. Each nucleic acid analysis portion can include a fluidic network being configured for micro-liter volumes or less, a sample input at the beginning of the fluidic network, a plurality of vent ports and fluidic channels in the fluidic network configured to effectuate hydrodynamic movement within the fluidic network, an extraction mixture reservoir in the fluidic network, a mixing chamber in the fluidic network, an amplification chamber in the fluidic network, and a separation channel in the fluidic network. A nucleic acid analyzer can be capable of performing nucleic acid analysis using the microfluidic cartridge. A nucleic acid analysis method can be performed using the microfluidic cartridge.

Microfluidic cartridge

A wheel and bracket device that is removably attachable to a ladder. The present invention allows users to more conveniently transport a ladder, ladder tree stand, or other such device, along with objects that may be supported thereon. The present invention is a bracket that is adapted to enclose a rail and a rung of a ladder and be securely affixed to the ladder via a locking mechanism, such as a locking pin. A wheel is rotatably attached to the bracket, thereby allowing users to push or pull the ladder across terrain, rather than being forced to carry the ladder.

Removable ladder wheels

Aspects of the disclosure provide a microfluidic chip to facilitate DNA analysis. The microfluidic chip includes a first domain configured for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA fragments, a dilution domain coupled to the first domain to dilute a PCR mixture received from the first domain, and a second domain that is coupled to the dilution domain so as to receive the amplified DNA fragments. The second domain includes a separation channel that is configured to perform electrophoretic separation of the amplified DNA fragments. In addition, the disclosure provides a DNA analyzer to act on the microfluidic chip to perform an integrated single chip DNA analysis.

DNA analyzer

Aspects of the disclosure provide a microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip includes a first domain configured for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA fragments, and a second domain for electrophoretic separation. The first domain includes at least a first reaction reservoir designated for PCR amplification based on a first sample, and a second reaction reservoir designated for PCR amplification based on a second sample. The second domain includes at least a first separation unit coupled to the first reaction reservoir to received first amplified DNA fragments based on the first sample, and a second separation unit coupled to the second reaction reservoir to received second amplified DNA fragments based on the second sample. The first separation unit is configured to perform electrophoretic separation for the first amplified DNA fragments, and the second separation unit is configured to perform electrophoretic separation for the second amplified DNA fragments.

Multiple-sample microfluidic chip for DNA analysis

A microfluidic chip includes one or more reaction chambers to hold fluids for chemical or biochemical reactions, such as PCR. A non-contact heat source heats the reaction chamber and the fluid, such that the heat source does not contact the reaction chamber or the fluid. The heat source can heat the reaction chamber and the fluid separately, where the reaction chamber and the fluid separately absorb heat radiation from the heat source. A temperature sensor acquires a temperature of the reaction chamber and/or the fluid. Control circuitry controls the heat source according to a cycling profile for the reaction in the fluid to cycle the heat source between heating and not heating the reaction chamber and the fluid based on the temperature acquired by the temperature sensor. Cooling can be provided passively or actively.

Non-contact infrared thermocycling

Aspects of the disclosure provides a DNA analyzer to facilitate an integrated single-chip DNA analysis. The DNA analyzer includes an interface for coupling a microfluidic chip to the DNA analyzer. The microfluidic chip includes a first domain configured for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA fragments, and a second domain fluidically coupled to the first domain to receive the DNA fragments and perform electrophoretic separation of the DNA fragments. The DNA fragments are tagged with fluorescent labels. The DNA analyzer includes a detection module to excite the fluorescent labels to emit fluorescence and detect the emitted fluorescence. The detection module includes a laser source, a set of optical elements, a filter module and a photo-detector.

Optical approach for microfluidic DNA electrophoresis detection

The present invention relates to microfluidic systems and methods for controlling the flow of fluid using passive components engineered into the microchannels. These passive flow components include fluidic diodes, fluidic capacitors, and fluidic inductors. Various fluidic circuits are provided to control fluid flow including fluid rectifiers, fluid band pass filters, and fluid timers.

Passive components for micro-fluidic flow profile shaping and related method thereof

Growing community of inventors

Charlottesville, VA, United States of America

James P Landers