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:
Feb. 12, 2008
Filed:
Oct. 18, 2002
Neville A. Bonwit, Mountain View, CA (US);
Ronald E. Pelrine, Boulder, CO (US);
John S. Bashkin, Fremont, CA (US);
Neville A. Bonwit, Mountain View, CA (US);
Ronald E. Pelrine, Boulder, CO (US);
John S. Bashkin, Fremont, CA (US);
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for performing successive chemical or biochemical operations in an automated or semi-automated format are disclosed. The apparatus includes (i) a substrate having two or more wells, where each well is separated from adjacent well(s) by an energy barrier, (ii), a magnetic bead having a surface on which at least one of said operations is performed, and (iii) electromagnets positioned adjacent said wells, for use in producing controlled-time electromagnetic fields in one or more selected wells. A control unit operatively coupled to the electromagnets functions to produce controlled-time electromagnetic forces on the bead that are effective to transfer the bead from one well to another across the energy barrier and optionally, to agitate the bead within a well.