The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 12, 2007
Filed:
Oct. 28, 2005
John S. Foster, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
John C. Harley, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Steven H. Hovey, Goleta, CA (US);
Richard T. Martin, Goleta, CA (US);
Hung D. Nguyen, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Paul J. Rubel, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
John S. Foster, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
John C. Harley, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Steven H. Hovey, Goleta, CA (US);
Richard T. Martin, Goleta, CA (US);
Hung D. Nguyen, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Paul J. Rubel, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Innovative Micro Technology, Goleta, CA (US);
Abstract
A micromechanical particle sorting chip uses an actuator divided into two parts to direct a component of interest into one of a plurality of possible exit paths, based on detection of a fluorescent signal emanating from the component of interest. The two-part actuator may include a force-generating portion and a microactuator portion. The microactuator portion may be disposable, whereas the force-generating portion may be reuseable. By bringing the force-generating portion into proximity to the microactuator portion, the microactuator is induced to move, thereby separating the component of interest from the rest of the fluid stream. The force-generating portion and the microactuator portion may be optimized and fabricated separately, thereby leading to faster, more reliable and less expensive particle sorting.