Abraham Tr A Lee

US Patent:

6370757, Apr 16, 2002

Filed:

May 10, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/568615

Inventors:

Abraham P. Lee - Walnut Creek CA
William J. Benett - Livermore CA
Daniel L. Schumann - Concord CA
Peter A. Krulevitch - Pleasanton CA
Joseph P. Fitch - Livermore CA

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

B23P 1102

US Classification:

29447, 29517

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for loading deposit material, such as an embolic coil, into a shape memory polymer (SMP) gripping/release mechanism. The apparatus enables the application of uniform pressure to secure a grip by the SMP mechanism on the deposit material via differential pressure between, for example, vacuum within the SMP mechanism and hydrostatic water pressure on the exterior of the SMP mechanism. The SMP tubing material of the mechanism is heated to above the glass transformation temperature (Tg) while reshaping, and subsequently cooled to below Tg to freeze the shape. The heating and/or cooling may, for example, be provided by the same water applied for pressurization or the heating can be applied by optical fibers packaged to the SMP mechanism for directing a laser beam, for example, thereunto. At a point of use, the deposit material is released from the SMP mechanism by reheating the SMP material to above the temperature Tg whereby it returns to its initial shape. The reheating of the SMP material may be carried out by injecting heated fluid (water) through an associated catheter or by optical fibers and an associated beam of laser light, for example.

US Patent:

6480730, Nov 12, 2002

Filed:

Dec 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/742775

Inventors:

Christopher B. Darrow - Pleasanton CA
Stephen M. Lane - Oakland CA
Abraham P. Lee - Walnut Creek CA
Amy W. Wang - Berkeley CA

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

A61B 505

US Classification:

600347, 600345

Abstract:

An implantable chemical sensor system for medical applications is described which permits selective recognition of an analyte using an expandable biocompatible sensor, such as a polymer, that undergoes a dimensional change in the presence of the analyte. The expandable polymer is incorporated into an electronic circuit component that changes its properties (e. g. , frequency) when the polymer changes dimension. As the circuit changes its characteristics, an external interrogator transmits a signal transdermally to the transducer, and the concentration of the analyte is determined from the measured changes in the circuit. This invention may be used for minimally invasive monitoring of blood glucose levels in diabetic patients.

US Patent:

6733172, May 11, 2004

Filed:

Mar 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/096788

Inventors:

Abraham P. Lee - Irvine CA
Asuncion V. Lemoff - Union City CA
Robin R. Miles - Danville CA

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

B01F 1308

US Classification:

366341, 3661651, 366348, 417 48, 417 50

Abstract:

A magnetohydrodynamic fluidic system mixes a first substance and a second substance. A first substrate section includes a first flow channel and a first plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to the first flow channel. A second substrate section includes a second flow channel and a second plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to the second flow channel. A third substrate section includes a third flow channel and a third plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to the third flow channel. A magnetic section and a control section are operatively connected to the spaced electrodes. The first substrate section, the second substrate section, the third substrate section, the first plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes, the second plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes, the third plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes, the magnetic section, and the control section are operated to move the first substance through the first flow channel, the second substance through the second flow channel, and both the first substance and the second substance into the third flow channel where they are mixed.

US Patent:

6740094, May 25, 2004

Filed:

Jan 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/761023

Inventors:

Duncan J. Maitland - Pleasant Hill CA
Abraham P. Lee - Walnut Creek CA
Daniel L. Schumann - Concord CA
Dennis L. Matthews - Moss Beach CA
Derek E. Decker - Byron CA
Charles A. Jungreis - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

A61F 1100

US Classification:

606108

Abstract:

An actuator system is provided for acting upon a material in a vessel. The system includes an optical fiber and a shape memory polymer material operatively connected to the optical fiber. The shape memory polymer material is adapted to move from a first shape for moving through said vessel to a second shape where it can act upon said material.

US Patent:

6780320, Aug 24, 2004

Filed:

Jun 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/177332

Inventors:

Abraham P. Lee - Irvine CA
Mark G. Bachman - Irvine CA

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

B01D 1100

US Classification:

210634, 210511, 422 69, 422129, 417 48, 417 50, 435 4, 4352873, 436180

Abstract:

A magnetohydrodynamic fluidic system includes a reagent source containing a reagent fluid and a sample source containing a sample fluid that includes a constituent. A reactor is operatively connected to the supply reagent source and the sample source. MHD pumps utilize a magnetohydrodynamic drive to move the reagent fluid and the sample fluid in a flow such that the reagent fluid and the sample fluid form an interface causing the constituent to be separated from the sample fluid.

US Patent:

7250775, Jul 31, 2007

Filed:

Nov 12, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/987179

Inventors:

John Collins - Irvine CA, US
Abraham Lee - Irvine CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

G01R 27/08
G01R 27/26

US Classification:

324692, 324713, 324667

Abstract:

Microfluidic devices and methods that use electrical admittance as the basis for measuring flow rate of fluids and/or for distinguishing (e. g. , characterizing, sorting, separation, etc. ) different particles, chemical compositions or biospecies (e. g. , different cells, cells containing different substances, different particles, different chemical compositions, etc. ).

US Patent:

7291154, Nov 6, 2007

Filed:

Nov 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/713622

Inventors:

Duncan J. Maitland - Pleasant Hill CA, US
Abraham P. Lee - Walnut Creek CA, US
Daniel L. Schumann - Concord CA, US
Dennis L. Matthews - Moss Beach CA, US
Derek E. Decker - Byron CA, US
Charles A. Jungreis - Pittsburgh PA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

A61F 11/00

US Classification:

606108

Abstract:

An actuator system is provided for acting upon a material in a vessel. The system includes an optical fiber and a shape memory polymer material operatively connected to the optical fiber. The shape memory polymer material is adapted to move from a first shape for moving through said vessel to a second shape where it can act upon said material.

US Patent:

7595195, Sep 29, 2009

Filed:

Feb 11, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/777470

Inventors:

Abraham Phillip Lee - Irvine CA, US
Yung-Chieh Tan - Irvine CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

B01L 3/02

US Classification:

436 52, 436180, 422100, 422101

Abstract:

Systems and methods that control the size and composition of emulsified droplets, multi-lamellar and asymmetric vesicles, encapsulation of reagents, membrane proteins, and sorting of vesicles/droplets. More particularly, microfluidic devices for controlled viscous shearing of oil-water emulsions of micro- and nano-scale droplets, the subsequent formation of amphiphilic vesicles such as liposomes, polymer vesicles, micelles, and the like, the post-assembly and post-processing of the droplets including splitting, fusing, sorting and the like, polymer emulsions, and the integration of amphiphilic vesicle production-line on a single microfluidic chip. Preferably, the microfluidic device enables oil-water co-flows with tunable viscous shear forces higher than the immiscible interfacial tension forces that generate favorable conditions for droplet formation.