Mingqi Te Zhao, 604110 College Main St, Bryan, TX 77801

7007710, Mar 7, 2006

Apr 21, 2003

10/421677

Jonathan Heller - San Francisco CA, US
John Stults - Redwood City CA, US
Uthara Srinivasan - Palo Alto CA, US
Luc Bousse - Los Altos CA, US
Mingqi Zhao - Cupertino CA, US

Predicant Biosciences, Inc. - South San Francisco CA

B08B 7/00
F15B 21/00

137 1501, 137807, 137827, 137833, 251368, 204601, 422100, 436180

Microfluidic devices provide substances to a mass spectrometer. The microfluidic devices include first and second surfaces, at least one microchannel formed by the surfaces, and an outlet at an edge of the surfaces which is recessed back from an adjacent portion of the edge. Hydrophilic surfaces and/or hydrophobic surfaces guide substances out of the outlet. A source of electrical potential can help move substances through the microchannel, separate substances and/or provide electrospray ionization.

7105812, Sep 12, 2006

Jun 18, 2004

10/871498

Mingqi Zhao - San Jose CA, US
Iuliu Blaga - Fremont CA, US
Luc Bousse - Los Altos CA, US
John Stults - Redwood City CA, US
Jing Ni - Sunnyvale CA, US

Predicant Biosciences, Inc. - South San Francisco CA

H01J 49/04
B01D 59/44

250288, 250281, 250285, 250428, 422100

A microfluidic chip formed with multiple fluid channels terminating at a tapered electrospray ionization tip for mass spectrometric analysis. The fluid channels may be formed onto a channel plate that are in fluid communication with corresponding reservoirs. The electrospray tip can be formed along a defined distal portion of the channel plate that can include a single or multiple tapered surfaces. The fluid channels may terminate at an open-tip region of the electrospray tip. A covering plate may substantially enclose most portions of the fluid channels formed on the channel plate except for the open-tip region. Another aspect of the invention provides methods for conducting mass spectrometric analysis of multiple samples flowing through individual fluid channels in a single microfluidic chip that is formed with a tapered electrospray tip having an open-tip region.

7391020, Jun 24, 2008

Nov 3, 2006

11/556671

Luc Bousse - Los Altos CA, US
Mingqi Zhao - San Jose CA, US

H01J 49/04
B01D 59/44

250288, 250281, 250285, 250428, 422100

The invention provides related apparatus and methods of making an integrated electrospray tip by depositing ionic and/or electronic conductor materials onto a planar substrate. The invention also features methods of forming an electrospray apparatus comprising coupling a first planar substrate to the surface of a second planar substrate, wherein a surface on at least one of the substrates includes one or more microfluidic channels and/or reservoirs which are at least partially or totally enclosed therebetween. The conductive regions of the apparatus do not intersect the microfluidic channels within other portions of the apparatus provided preferably. The invention further provides related apparatus and methods for manufacturing and using microfluidic devices with integrated electrodes for electrospray ionization. The electrospray apparatus in some embodiments may include an electronic conductor electrode or an ionic conductor electrode formed from a microfluidic channel containing a conductive material selected from a variety of solutions and gels.

7654127, Feb 2, 2010

Dec 21, 2006

11/614211

Peter Krulevitch - Pleasanton CA, US
Mingqi Zhao - San Jose CA, US
Sebastian Bohm - Los Gatos CA, US
Deon Anex - Livermore CA, US
Michael Gearhart - Fremont CA, US

Lifescan, Inc. - Milpitas CA

G01F 25/00
G01N 19/00

73 116, 738659

The present application is directed to systems and methods associated with infusion pumps, which can optionally utilize an electrokinetic driving mechanism. Infusion pumps, including electrokinetically-driven pumps, are discussed, along with schemes for controlling their operation. As well, systems and methods of detecting malfunctions in infusion pumps are discussed. Any number of malfunctions can be detected including the presence of occlusions and/or leaks. In some instances, a measurement associated with some aspect of electrokinetic phenomena (e. g. , an electrode measurement such as voltage or current) is compared with one or more sample values, the comparison allowing an indication of pump malfunction to be determined. A variety of such measurements and comparison techniques are discussed in the present disclosure.

7666287, Feb 23, 2010

Dec 21, 2006

11/614517

Mingqi Zhao - San Jose CA, US
Mark Huang - Pleasanton CA, US
Stan Thomas - Palo Alto CA, US
Peter Krulevitch - Pleasanton CA, US

Lifescan, Inc. - Milpitas CA

G01N 27/27

204600, 156242, 156250, 156299, 156 60, 156219, 427 58, 2988802, 204450, 417 48, 137803

A method for preparing an electrokinetic element is provided and generally includes providing a porous membrane adapted for use in an electrokinetic pump and encapsulating the porous membrane within a polymer substrate to yield an electrokinetic element base member having the porous membrane encapsulated by the polymer. In one embodiment, the method can include laminating the porous membrane between opposed sheets of a polymer before the step of encapsulating. The method can also include cutting the electrokinetic element base member into a plurality of slices and assembling an electrokinetic infusion pump by inserting a slice into a chamber of the pump.

7944366, May 17, 2011

Sep 18, 2006

11/532691

Peter Krulevitch - Pleasanton CA, US
Sebastian Bohm - Los Gatos CA, US
Mingqi Zhao - San Jose CA, US
Deon Anex - Livermore CA, US

Lifescan, Inc. - Milpitas CA

G08B 21/00
A61M 31/00
A61M 37/00
A61M 1/00
G01F 25/00
B23H 11/00
G01R 31/00

340679, 604 48, 604131, 604151, 73 116, 2042751, 324500

Systems and methods of detecting occlusions and fluid-loss conditions (e. g. , disconnects and/or leakages) in an infusion pump are discussed. For example, electrokinetic infusion pumps may develop an occlusion in the fluid flow path, which can disrupt control of fluid dispersed from the pump. As well, an infusion set disconnect can also result in a fluid-loss that can be disruptive. Such disruptions can be troublesome to systems that control the infusion pump, such as closed loop controllers. Accordingly, systems and methods described herein can be used to detect such occlusions and fluid-loss conditions during infusion pump operation. For example, a position sensor can be used to monitor fluid flow from the infusion pump, with the measurement being compared with an expected value to detect an occlusion or fluid-loss condition. Other algorithms for utilizing the position sensor are also described.

2002007, Jun 27, 2002

Aug 24, 2001

09/939327

Mingqi Zhao - Cupertino CA, US
Petr Vanysek - DeKalb IL, US
Antonio Ricco - Los Gatos CA, US
Hilary Lackritz - Cupertino CA, US
Zhu Qun - Mountain View CA, US
Uyen Nguyen - San Jose CA, US
Torleif Bjornson - Gilroy CA, US

G01N027/26
G01N027/447

204/451000, 204/601000, 422/099000

A microfluidic device having integrated components for conducting chemical operations. Depending upon the desired application, the components include electrodes for manipulating charged entities, heaters, electrochemical detectors, sensors for temperature, pH, fluid flow, and other useful components. The device may be fabricated from a plastic substrate such as, for example, a substantially saturated norbornene based polymer. The components are integrated into the device by adhering an electrically conductive film to the substrate. The film may be made of metal or an electrically conducting ink and is applied to the device through metal deposition, printing, or other methods for applying films. Methods for reducing bubble formation during electrokinetic separation and methods for heating material in a microfluidic device are also disclosed.

2002012, Sep 5, 2002

Sep 19, 2001

09/957579

Mingqi Zhao - Cupertino CA, US
Hilary Lackritz - Cupertino CA, US
Richard Crooks - College Station TX, US

G01N027/26
G01N027/447

422/099000, 204/451000, 204/601000

A microdevice having integrated components for conducting chemical operations. Depending upon the desired application, the components include electrodes for manipulating charged entities, heaters, electrochemical detectors, sensors for temperature, pH, fluid flow, and the like. The device is fabricated from a plastic substrate that is comprised of a substantially saturated norbornene based polymer. The components are integrated into the device by adhering an electrically conductive film to the substrate. The film is made of metal or ink and is applied to the device through metal deposition or printing.