Abraham Y Lee

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:

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:

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.

US Patent:

7759111, Jul 20, 2010

Filed:

Aug 29, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/215352

Inventors:

Abraham Phillip Lee - Irvine CA, US
Jeffrey S. Fisher - Irvine CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

C12M 1/00
C12N 11/04

US Classification:

4352831, 435182

Abstract:

Devices and methods for the encapsulation of cells on microfluidic platforms are disclosed. The microfluidic device generally includes a plurality of functional regions to shear, focus, and encapsulate a desired cell or group of cells into a droplet. The microfluidic device can further comprise a polymerization zone to form a polymer bead around the droplet.

US Patent:

7811603, Oct 12, 2010

Filed:

May 8, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/746024

Inventors:

Abraham Phillip Lee - Irvine CA, US
Albert Tsung-Hsi Hsieh - Irvine CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

A61K 9/127

US Classification:

424450, 264 41

Abstract:

A method for forming monodisperse lipoplex assemblies includes providing a microfluidic device having a main microfluidic channel coupled to first and second reactant inlet channels. The first inlet channel is used to deliver a cationic lipid to the main channel while the second channel is used to deliver a nucleic acid. A droplet generation zone is provided in the main channel at the intersection of first and second carrier channels that contain a hydrophobic fluid. The cationic lipid, nucleic acid, and the hydrophobic fluid are then pumped through the device. In the droplet generation zone, shear force from the hydrophobic fluid pinches off droplets. The cationic lipid and nucleic acid are mixed in the generated droplets as the droplets move within a mixing region. A plurality of splitting channels may be coupled to the outlet of the device to produce smaller, monodisperse droplets having picoliter volumes.

US Patent:

7892434, Feb 22, 2011

Filed:

Aug 2, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/832894

Inventors:

Abraham P. Lee - Irvine CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

B01D 11/00

US Classification:

210634, 209 1, 209155, 209208, 210541, 210600, 210639, 210767, 95 31

Abstract:

Improved systems and methods are provided herein for passively filtering out droplets of different size such as satellite droplets from the generation of primary droplets and use these satellite droplets as the source for monodispersed production of submicron emulsions. The systems and methods described use active flow control to sort droplets of different size into desired collecting zones and use conventional shearing principles, and, as a result, provide 100% filtration of satellite droplets regardless of size differences.

US Patent:

7964078, Jun 21, 2011

Filed:

Feb 2, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/670945

Inventors:

Abraham P. Lee - Irvine CA, US
Lisen Wang - Irvine CA, US
Lisa Flanagan Monuki - Irvine CA, US
Edwin S. Monuki - Irvine CA, US
Svyatoslav A. Marchenko - North Hollywood CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

B03C 5/02

US Classification:

204643, 204547

Abstract:

A microfluidic separation device includes a microchannel formed in a substrate and being defined at least by a bottom surface, a first side wall, and second side wall. Fluid containing particles or cells is flowed through the microchannel from an upstream end to a downstream end. The downstream end terminates in a plurality of branch channels. A plurality of vertically-oriented electrodes are disposed on the first wall and on the second wall opposite to the first wall. A voltage source is connected to the plurality of opposing electrodes to drive the electrodes. The opposing, vertically-oriented electrodes may be used to focus a heterogeneous population of particles or cells for subsequent downstream separation via additional electrodes placed on one of the side walls. Alternatively, the opposing, vertically-oriented electrodes may be used to spatially separate a heterogeneous population of particles or cells for later collection in one or more of the branch channels.