Catherine R Cabrera

US Patent:

6482306, Nov 19, 2002

Filed:

Sep 22, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/404454

Inventors:

Paul Yager - Seattle WA
Mark R. Holl - Shoreline WA
Andrew Kamholz - Seattle WA
Catherine Cabrera - Seattle WA
Katerina Macounova - Seattle WA

Assignee:

University of Washington - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B01F 1300

US Classification:

204600, 204450, 366341, 366349, 137808, 137827

Abstract:

An electroÃsmotic mixing device and a method for mixing one or more fluids for use in meso- or microfluidic device applications. The mixing device provides batch or continuous mixing of one or more fluids in meso- or microfluidic channels. An electric field is generated in the channel in substantial contact with chargeable surfaces therein. No alterations of the geometry of existing flow paths need be made, and the degree of mixing in the device can be controlled by the length of the electrodes, the flow rate past the electrodes, and the voltage applied to those electrodes. The degree of mixing is affected by choice of materials for the chargeable surface (in some cases by the selection of materials or coatings for channel walls) and the ionic strength of the fluids and the type and concentration of ions in the fluids. The ionic strength of fluids to be mixed is sufficiently low to allow electroosmotic flow. The method and device of this invention is preferably applied to fluids to having low ionic strength less than or equal to about 1 mM.

US Patent:

7141429, Nov 28, 2006

Filed:

Oct 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/268620

Inventors:

Matthew S. Munson - Gaithersburg MD, US
Catherine R. Cabrera - Cambridge MA, US
Paul Yager - Seattle WA, US
Anson Hatch - Seattle WA, US
Andrew Kamholz - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

University of Washington - Seattle WA

International Classification:

G01N 35/08
B01D 17/00

US Classification:

436 53, 436 52, 210511

Abstract:

This invention provides methods for using liquid junction potentials to control the transport of charged particles in fluid streams that are in laminar flow within microfluidic channels. Applications of the methods of this invention include sample preconditioning (removal of interfering substances), electrophoretic separation (fractionation) of charged particles, enhanced or delayed mixing of charged particles across a fluid interface relative to diffusion only, focusing charged particles in a fluid stream in one or two dimensions, and concentration of charged reactants at a fluid interface.

US Patent:

20040256230, Dec 23, 2004

Filed:

Feb 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/788884

Inventors:

Paul Yager - Seattle WA, US
Mark Holl - Seattle WA, US
Darrel Bell - Van Couver WA, US
James Brody - Pasadena CA, US
Catherine Cabrera - Seattle WA, US
Andrew Kamholz - Seattle WA, US
Katerina Macounova - Seattle WA, US
Dong Qin - Kenmore WA, US

Assignee:

University of Washington - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B01D059/50
G01N027/26
G01L001/20

US Classification:

204/450000, 204/600000

Abstract:

Devices and methods are provided for separation of particles of a first selected electrophoretic mobility or isoelectric point from a fluid comprising particles of at least one other selected electrophoretic mobility or isoelectric point. The devices comprise a microchannel comprising an inlet for introducing the fluid into the microchannel; electrodes to either side of the microchannel for applying a selected voltage to produce an electrical field across the microchannel orthogonal to the length of the microchannel; and outlets in said microchannel placed to receive outlet portions of the fluid containing enhanced concentrations of each type of particle. The devices may be used for particle detection, quantification, separation, mixing, dilution and concentration. Electrophoretic tags may be used to provide particles with altered electrophoretic mobilities and/or isoelectric points. Interior particles of cells or organisms may be released, separated and detected by these devices and methods. The devices and methods may be used to separate particles such as proteins and microorganisms from biological fluids such as blood, or to separate and detect airborne contaminants such as bacterial warfare agents from air. The devices and methods may be included in devices including other separation and detection methods.

US Patent:

20050118570, Jun 2, 2005

Filed:

Aug 12, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/916784

Inventors:

Mark Hollis - Concord MA, US
Nicholas Freeland Judson - Somerville MA, US
Christina Rudzinski - Belmont MA, US
Lalitha Parameswaran - Billerica MA, US
Theodore Fedynyshyn - Sudbury MA, US
Catherine Cabrera - Cambridge MA, US
Laura Bortolin - Devens MA, US

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

C12Q001/70
C12Q001/68
G01N033/53
C12M001/34

US Classification:

435005000, 435006000, 435007100, 435287200

Abstract:

The present invention provides improved methods, compositions, and devices for separating and/or detecting targets from biological, environmental, or chemical samples.

US Patent:

20050277204, Dec 15, 2005

Filed:

Feb 11, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/056518

Inventors:

Mark Hollis - Concord MA, US
Nicholas Freeland Judson - Somerville MA, US
Christina Rudzinski - Belmont MA, US
Lalitha Parameswaran - Billerica MA, US
Theodore Fedynyshyn - Sudbury MA, US
Catherine Cabrera - Cambridge MA, US
Laura Bortolin - Devens MA, US
Robert King - Lexington MA, US
Matthew Angel - Lexington MA, US

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G01N033/543

US Classification:

436518000

Abstract:

The present invention provides improved devices for separating and/or detecting targets from biological, environmental, or chemical samples.

US Patent:

20060196771, Sep 7, 2006

Filed:

May 22, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/419717

Inventors:

Matthew Munson - Gaithersburg MD, US
Catherine Cabrera - Cambridge MA, US
Paul Yager - Seattle WA, US
Anson Hatch - Seattle WA, US
Andrew Kamholz - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

University of Washington - Seattle WA

International Classification:

C07K 1/26
G01N 27/447

US Classification:

204451000, 204601000

Abstract:

This invention provides methods for using liquid junction potentials to control the transport of charged particles in fluid streams that are in laminar flow within microfluidic channels. Applications of the methods of this invention include sample preconditioning (removal of interfering substances), electrophoretic separation (fractionation) of charged particles, enhanced or delayed mixing of charged particles across a fluid interface relative to diffusion only, focusing charged particles in a fluid stream in one or two dimensions, and concentration of charged reactants at a fluid interface.

US Patent:

20120138469, Jun 7, 2012

Filed:

Nov 13, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/939292

Inventors:

Paul Yager - Seattle WA, US
Mark Holl - Seattle WA, US
Darrel J. Bell - Vancouver WA, US
James Brody - Pasadena CA, US
Catherine R. Cabrera - Seattle WA, US
Andrew E. Kamholz - Seattle WA, US
Katerina Macounova - Seattle WA, US
Dong Qin - Kenmore WA, US

Assignee:

University of Washington - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B01D 57/02

US Classification:

204548, 204644

Abstract:

Devices and methods are provided for separation of particles of a first selected electrophoretic mobility or isoelectric point from a fluid comprising particles of at least one other selected electrophoretic mobility or isoelectric point. The devices comprise a microchannel; electrodes to either side of the microchannel for applying a selected voltage to produce an electrical field across the microchannel orthogonal to the length of the microchannel; and outlets in said microchannel placed to receive outlet portions of the fluid containing enhanced concentrations of each type of particle. The devices may be used for particle detection, quantification, separation, mixing, dilution and concentration; to release, separate and detect interior particles of cells or organisms, and to separate particles such as proteins and microorganisms from biological fluids such as blood; or to separate and detect airborne contaminants such as bacterial warfare agents from air.