Michael George Pollack

US Patent:

6911132, Jun 28, 2005

Filed:

Sep 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/253368

Inventors:

Vamsee K. Pamula - Durham NC, US
Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US
Philip Y. Paik - Durham NC, US
Hong Ren - Chapel Hill NC, US
Richard B. Fair - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

Duke University - Durham NC

International Classification:

G01N027/26
B01D057/00

US Classification:

204600, 204660, 204663, 204666, 239690, 366349

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided for manipulating droplets. The apparatus is a single-sided electrode design in which all conductive elements are contained on one surface on which droplets are manipulated. An additional surface can be provided parallel with the first surface for the purpose of containing the droplets to be manipulated. Droplets are manipulated by performing electrowetting-based techniques in which electrodes contained on or embedded in the first surface are sequentially energized and de-energized in a controlled manner. The apparatus enables a number of droplet manipulation processes, including merging and mixing two droplets together, splitting a droplet into two or more droplets, sampling a continuous liquid flow by forming from the flow individually controllable droplets, and iterative binary or digital mixing of droplets to obtain a desired mixing ratio.

US Patent:

7329545, Feb 12, 2008

Filed:

Sep 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/253342

Inventors:

Vamsee K. Pamula - Durham NC, US
Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US
Philip Y. Paik - Durham NC, US
Hong Ren - Chapel Hill NC, US
Richard B. Fair - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

Duke University - Durham NC

International Classification:

G01N 35/08
G01N 35/00
G01N 1/00
B01L 3/02
B32B 5/02

US Classification:

436 53, 436 43, 436 47, 436 52, 436 63, 436174, 436180, 422 50, 422 681, 422 81, 422 82, 422100

Abstract:

In a method for sampling a continuous liquid flow, the liquid flow is supplied to a surface along an input flow path. The liquid flow is sampled by forming a sample droplet from a portion of the liquid flow. The sample droplet is moved along an analysis flow path to a processing area of the surface, where the sample droplet is processed. Discrete sample droplets are formed and moved using an electrowetting technique. A binary mixing apparatus and method are also provided. The apparatus comprises an array of electrodes, an electronic controller communicating with the electrodes, a sample droplet supply area communicating with the array, and an additive droplet supply area communicating with the array. The electronic controller alternately energizes and de-energizes selected electrodes to carry out droplet-to-droplet binary mixing operations to obtain one or more droplets having a target mixing ratio.

US Patent:

7439014, Oct 21, 2008

Filed:

Dec 15, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/639736

Inventors:

Vamsee K. Pamula - Durham NC, US
Vijay Srinivasan - Durham NC, US
Allen E. Eckhardt - Durham NC, US
Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US
Richard B. Fair - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc. - Research Triangle Park NC
Duke University - Durham NC

International Classification:

C12Q 1/00

US Classification:

435 4, 436518

Abstract:

The present invention relates to droplet-based surface modification and washing. According to one embodiment, a method of providing a droplet in contact with a surface with a reduced concentration of a substance is provided, wherein the method includes: (a) providing a droplet microactuator comprising a surface in contact with a droplet comprising a starting concentration and starting quantity of the substance and having a starting volume; (b) conducting one or more droplet operations to merge a wash droplet with the droplet provided in step (a) to yield a combined droplet; and (c) conducting one or more droplet operations to divide the combined droplet to yield a set of droplets comprising: (i) a droplet in contact with the surface having a decreased concentration of the substance relative to the starting concentration; and (ii) a droplet which is separated from the surface.

US Patent:

7569129, Aug 4, 2009

Filed:

Mar 10, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/077569

Inventors:

Vamsee K. Pamula - Durham NC, US
Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US
Philip Y. Paik - Durham NC, US
Hong Ren - Chapel Hill NC, US
Richard B. Fair - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc. - Research Triangle Park NC

International Classification:

F04B 19/00
B81B 7/00

US Classification:

204450, 204600, 204672

Abstract:

Methods are provided for manipulating droplets. The methods include providing the droplet on a surface comprising an array of electrodes and a substantially co-planer array of reference elements, wherein the droplet is disposed on a first one of the electrodes, and the droplet at least partially overlaps a second one of the electrodes and an intervening one of the reference elements disposed between the first and second electrodes. The methods further include activating the first and second electrodes to spread at least a portion of the droplet across the second electrode and deactivating the first electrode to move the droplet from the first electrode to the second electrode.

US Patent:

7727723, Jun 1, 2010

Filed:

Dec 15, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/639710

Inventors:

Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US
Vamsee K. Pamula - Durham NC, US
Dwayne J. Allen - Durham NC, US
Richard B. Fair - Durham NC, US
Peter Griffin - Woodside CA, US

Assignee:

Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc. - Research Triangle Park NC
Duke University - Durham NC
The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

C12Q 1/68
C07H 21/04
G01N 15/06

US Classification:

435 6, 435 911, 435 912, 536 231, 422 8205

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a droplet microactuator and to systems, apparatuses and methods employing the droplet microactuator for executing various protocols using droplets. The invention includes a droplet microactuator or droplet microactuator system having one or more input reservoirs loaded with reagents for conducting sequencing protocols, such as the reagents for conducting a pyrosequencing protocol. The invention also includes a droplet microactuator or droplet microactuator system, having one or more input reservoirs loaded with a sample for conducting a pyrosequencing protocol.

US Patent:

7759132, Jul 20, 2010

Filed:

Oct 23, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/585491

Inventors:

Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US
Vamsee K. Pamula - Durham NC, US
Richard B. Fair - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

Duke University - Durham NC

International Classification:

G01N 1/10
C25B 9/00
G01N 27/00

US Classification:

436180, 436 53, 422 50, 422100, 204450, 204556

Abstract:

Methods for performing microfluidic sampling are provided. The method includes providing a substrate including an arrangement of first, second and third electrodes, wherein the second electrode is interposed between the first and third electrodes. The method additionally includes causing a fluid input to continuously flow to the first electrode and biasing the first, second and third electrodes to a first voltage to cause a portion of the fluid input to spread across the second and third electrodes. The method further includes biasing the second electrode to a second voltage different from the first voltage to form a droplet on the third electrode, the droplet being separate from the fluid input.

US Patent:

7763471, Jul 27, 2010

Filed:

Aug 16, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/839762

Inventors:

Vamsee K. Pamula - Durham NC, US
Vijay Srinivasan - Durham NC, US
Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc. - Research Triangle Park NC
Duke University - Durham NC

International Classification:

G01N 33/00

US Classification:

436 86, 422 681, 436174

Abstract:

Methods of using protein crystallization droplet actuators are provided. Protein sample droplets and reagent droplets are dispensed, transported, and merged to yield an array of crystallization conditions by electrowetting droplet operations in a gap comprising oil filler fluid. The oil filler fluid is doped with a surfactant that enhances droplet operations using the protein sample.

US Patent:

7815871, Oct 19, 2010

Filed:

Dec 15, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/639664

Inventors:

Vamsee K. Pamula - Durham NC, US
Vijay Srinivasan - Durham NC, US
Michael G. Pollack - Durham NC, US
Allen E. Eckhardt - Durham NC, US
Philip Y. Paik - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc. - Research Triangle Park NC

International Classification:

B01J 8/00
G01N 27/26

US Classification:

422189, 204643, 422 81

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a droplet microactuator system. According to one embodiment, the droplet microactuator system includes: (a) a droplet microactuator configured to conduct droplet operations; (b) a magnetic field source arranged to immobilize magnetically responsive beads in a droplet during droplet operations; (c) a sensor configured in a sensing relationship with the droplet microactuator, such that the sensor is capable of sensing a signal from and/or a property of one or more droplets on the droplet microactuator; and (d) one or more processors electronically coupled to the droplet microactuator and programmed to control electrowetting-mediated droplet operations on the droplet actuator and process electronic signals from the sensor.