Labcyte Inc.

Xerox Corporation

Picoliter Inc.

Xerox Parc

Leland Stanford Junior University

Richard G Stearns

Richard N Ellson

David L Hecht

Babur B Hadimioglu

Shehrzad Ahmed Qureshi

L Noah Flores

Scott Alan Elrod

Mitchell Wayne Mutz

David A Jared

Stephen J Hinkson

Joy Roy

Joseph D Olechno

David Kalman Biegelsen

Steven A Buhler

John Stuart Fitch

Donald Leonard Smith

Sammy S Datwani

Kenneth H P Chang

Marsha N Blauwkamp

Jennifer M Hardee

Vittorio R Castelli

Jeffrey J Folkins

David Kirtland Fork

Warren Bruce Jackson

Gordon S Kino

Butrus Thomas Khuri-Yakub

Meng H Lean

Calvin F Quate

Edward Anthony Richley

Dan S Bloomberg

Gregory J Kovacs

John S Berkes

Tracy Eugene Thieret

Brendan C Casey

Lamar T Baker

William F Gunning

William L Gary

John A Frank

Martin G Lim

Lucien P Ghislain

Steven E Nelson

Nicholas K Sheridan

Ian Sinclair

William B McDonald, Iii

W Glen Petrie

Wilfredo T Sagun

Eunchul Choe

Jonathan Wingfield

Abdul M El Hatem

Focused acoustic radiation, referred to as tonebursts, are applied to a volume of liquid to generate a set of droplets. In one embodiment, a first toneburst is applied to temporarily raise a mound or protuberance on a free surface of the fluid. After the mound has reached a certain state, at least two additional toneburst can be applied to the protuberance to sequentially eject multiple bursts of multiple droplets. In one embodiment, the state of the mound can be maintained by a sustained acoustic signal, during which time multiple additional tonebursts can be applied to sequentially eject multiple bursts of multiple droplets from the mound.

Focused acoustic radiation for rapid sequential ejection of subwavelength droplets

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

System and methods are described herein for detecting positions or trajectories and/or controlling directions of charged droplets during travel. The systems and methods are useful for determining the locations of the charged droplets in real-time based on signals induced in the electrodes of a sensor surrounding an aperture through which the charged droplet passes in flight from the source well to the target. The signals from the sensor electrodes can be measured and used to determine a position or trajectory of the droplet. The systems and methods are useful for modifying trajectories of the charged droplets in real-time, such as based on determined positions identified as having a trajectory deviating from the target. The trajectories can be modified by applying voltages to electrodes surrounding an aperture through which the charged droplet passes in flight from the source well to the target.

Systems and methods for charged droplet detection and control

Focused acoustic radiation, referred to as tonebursts, are applied to a volume of liquid to generate a set of droplets. The droplets generated are substantially smaller in scale than the focal spot size of the acoustic beam (e.g., the frequency at which the acoustic transducer operates). Further, the droplets have trajectories that are substantially in the direction of the acoustic beam propagation direction. In one embodiment, a first toneburst is applied to temporarily raise a protuberance on a free surface of the fluid. After the protuberance has reached a certain state, a second toneburst is applied to the protuberance to break it into very small droplets. In one embodiment, the state of the protuberance at which the second toneburst is supplied is the time period shortly after the protuberance reaches its maximum height but before the protuberance recedes back into the volume of fluid.

Focused acoustic radiation for the ejection of subwavelength droplets

Focused acoustic radiation for the ejection of sub wavelength droplets

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 system for fluid transport is provided where a quantity of fluid is held in a reservoir. A droplet generator is employed to generate droplets from the fluid, for example a nozzle-based system or a nozzleless system such as an acoustic ejection system. A generated droplet has a trajectory whereby it arrives at a target. A circuit is used to modify one or more characteristics of the generated droplet in a way which increases the likelihood that the droplet will not splash or bounce when it arrives at the target. The circuit may in different embodiments control the speed of the droplet or the Weber number of the droplet. The circuit may create an electric field in an area of space where the droplet passes. The circuit may charge the droplet by causing it to contact ions.

Avoidance of bouncing and splashing in droplet-based fluid transport

Devices and methods are provided for ejecting a droplet from a reservoir using focused acoustic radiation having a plurality of nonsimultaneous and discrete frequency ranges. Such frequency ranges may be used to control droplet volume and/or velocity. Optionally, satellite fluid ejection from the reservoir is suppressed.

Droplet ejection using focused acoustic radiation having a plurality of frequency ranges

Growing community of inventors

Felton, CA, United States of America

Richard G Stearns