Abstract:
Layers of boron-doped silicon (36) having reduced out-of-plane curvature are disclosed. The layers have substantially equal concentrations of boron near th etop (38) and bottom (40) surfaces. Since the opposing concentrations are substantially equal, the compressive stresses on the layers (36) are substantially balanced, thereby resulting in layers (36) with reduced out-of-plane curvature.
Abstract:
An integratable fluid flow and property microsensor assembly is configured to be operably embedded in a microfluidic cartridge of the type used in lab-on-a-chip systems. The assembly is a robust package having a microstructure flow sensor contained within a housing in order to achieve a robust sensing device. The cartridge provides a flow path to the assembly, which directs the fluid across the flow sensor and returns the fluid to the cartridge flow path. The flow sensor monitors the controlled flow of fluid and transmits signals indicative of that flow. The assembly structure provides a robust sensor that is operable and accurate in many different applications.
Abstract:
A fluid driving system for portable flow cytometers (10) or other portable devices that accept a less precise and less stable pressure source, and then adjusts the pressure in a closed-loop manner to maintain a constant, desired flow velocity. The fluid driving system may be used in portable or wearable cytometers (10) for use in remote locations, such as at home or in the field.
Abstract:
A system relating to sample analyzers, and more particular, to sample analyzers that are simple to operate and have a reduced risk of providing an erroneous result to a user. In some cases, the sample analyzer may be a portable sample analyzer that includes a disposable fluidic cartridge. The operators of the analyzers need not be trained.
Abstract:
A system relating to sample analyzers, and more particular, to sample analyzers that are simple to operate and have a reduced risk of providing an erroneous result to a user. In some cases, the sample analyzer may be a portable sample analyzer that includes a disposable ftuidic cartridge. The operators of the analyzers need not be trained.
Abstract:
An apparatus having a disposable cytometer cartridge containing pumps, pressure chambers, reservoirs, flow sensors, flow channels, and microfluidic circuits with fluid operations on the cartridge. The circuits may include mesopumps and mesovalves embedded in the chip, card or cartridge. The apparatus may have multiple detecting, analyzing and identification capabilities of blood or other fluids of interest. The sample to be tested may be entered in the disposable microfluidic cartridge which in turn is insertable in a hand-holdable or portable cytometer instrument. This apparatus may have significant application in biological warfare agent detection, water analyses, environmental checks, hematology, and other clinical and research fields.
Abstract:
A sample analyzer with a removable and/or disposable cartridge for use at the point of care of a patient such as in a doctor's office, in the home, or elsewhere in the field. By providing a removable and/or disposable cartridge with all of the needed reagents and/or fluids, the sample analyzer can be reliably used outside of the laboratory environment, with little or no specialized training. One or more white blood cell parameters are measured in a first flow channel, one or more red blood cell parameters are measured in a second flow channel.
Abstract:
A portable or wearable cytometer (10) that can be used at remote locations, such as in the field or at home. The flow cytometer (10) of the present invention may help improve the healthcare of many weak, sick or elderly people by providing early detection of infection. By detecting the infection early, the infection may be more readily treatable. In military applications, the portable cytometer (10) of the present invention may help save lives by providing early detection of infection due to biological agents.
Abstract:
An integrated mesopump-sensor (300, 320) suitable for disposition in two- and three-dimensional arrays having small dimensions is disclosed. One mesopump (30, 320) is formed of an electrostatically attractable flexible diaphragm (70, 240) disposed through cavities or pumping chambers (64) formed between two opposing electrostatically chargeable material layers (72, 74). Fluid is pumped through the chambers by sequentially moving the diaphragm (70, 240) toward the first chargeable layer (72), then towards the second chargeable layer (74), which can pull and push the fluid through a series of chambers (64, 132, 134, 136), and past the sensor (303, 354, 422, 502). One group of sensors utilizes multiple and varied chemoresistive sensors which can vary in resistance differently in response to the presence of various analytes. Another group of sensors utilzes chemo-fluorescent sensors (502, 506) that fluoresce in the presence of particular analytes. Some mesopump-sensor systems (600) can be manufactured using MEMS technology and can be coupled to controllers (602) for sequencing the pumps (60) and analyzing sensor outputs using methods including Principle Component Analysis.
Abstract:
A system relating to sample analyzers, and more particular, to sample analyzers that are simple to operate and have a reduced risk of providing an erroneous result to a user. In some cases, the sample analyzer may be a portable sample analyzer that includes a disposable fluidic cartridge. The operators of the analyzers need not be trained.