Kenneth Lee Hawkins

US Patent:

7011791, Mar 14, 2006

Filed:

Sep 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/956467

Inventors:

Bernhard H. Weigl - Seattle WA, US
Ronald L. Bardell - Redmond WA, US
Andrew Kamholz - Seattle WA, US
Matthew Munson - Seattle WA, US
Eric Schilling - Seattle WA, US
Kenneth Hawkins - Sammamish WA, US

Assignee:

University of Washington - Seattle WA

International Classification:

G01N 21/00
G01N 31/22
G01N 15/06
G01N 33/00
G01N 33/48

US Classification:

422 58, 422 50, 422 681, 422 81, 422 8201, 422 8205, 422 8209, 422100, 422101, 422102, 422103, 436 43, 436 52, 436 53, 436174, 436180

Abstract:

Microfluidic devices and methods are provided for enhancing detection of a diffusion pattern formed by particles diffusing between at least two fluid streams in parallel laminar flow such that an interface is formed between them by increasing the dimension of the streams in the diffusion direction. This may be accomplished by flowing the streams through a transforming turn, or by flowing the streams through a channel having diverging walls. Devices and methods are also provided for enhancing diffusion between two streams comprising changing the interface between said streams from a narrow interface to a broad interface.

US Patent:

7550267, Jun 23, 2009

Filed:

Sep 14, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/226054

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Hawkins - Sammamish WA, US
Paul Yager - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

University of Washington - Seattle WA

International Classification:

G01N 21/00
G01N 31/00
G01N 33/00
G01N 33/53
G01N 35/08

US Classification:

435 71, 436 52, 436 53, 436514, 436518, 436164, 436172, 436180, 422 81, 422 82, 422 8208, 422100

Abstract:

An improved microscale diffusion immunoassay utilizing multivalent reactants is disclosed. In particular, a method for detecting the presence of analyte particles in an analyte fluid is disclosed, the method comprising: (a) providing the analyte fluid comprising the analyte particles; (b) providing a diffusion fluid comprising binding particles capable of binding with the analyte particles; (c) flowing the analyte fluid and the diffusion fluid in adjacent laminar flow through a microfluidic channel; (d) allowing the analyte particles to diffuse into the diffusion fluid and bind with the binding particles to form analyte/binding particle complexes; and (e) detecting the presence of the analyte particles and the analyte/binding particle complexes, wherein each of the binding particles is capable of binding with more than one analyte particle, and wherein each of the analyte particles is capable of binding with more than one binding particle. Methods for determining the concentration of the analyte particles are also disclosed.

US Patent:

20060272716, Dec 7, 2006

Filed:

May 11, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/382779

Inventors:

Kenneth Hawkins - Sammamish WA, US
David Markel - Boise ID, US
Paul Yager - Seattle WA, US
Matthew Munson - Gaithersburg MD, US

Assignee:

University of Washington - Seattle WA

International Classification:

F15C 1/06

US Classification:

137833000

Abstract:

A method for fabricating an adhesiveless microfluidic device using solvent assisted thermal welding is provided. The method comprises use of a plurality of device layers of a bulk chemical conformation composition having a glass transition temperature that can be disrupted by a disrupting agent without total solvation, wherein the plurality of device layers when assembled define a plurality of defined component features. The device layers are immersed into the disrupting agent for a time period sufficient to disrupt the glass transition temperature of a defined depth of the surfaces of the device layers prior to their removal from the disrupting agent. The plurality of device layers are assembled and registered by contacting the plurality of device layer surfaces to form the defined component features. Pressure and heat are simultaneously applied to bring the assembly to a temperature below the pressure-specific, glass transition temperature of the bulk chemical conformation composition; but above the pressure-specific, glass transition temperature of the disrupted surface layer of the composition, for a time period sufficient to affect a weld between the contacted surfaces of the plurality of device layers. The temperature of the assembly is reduced over a time period sufficient to anneal the contacted surfaces of the plurality of device layers to form the microfluidic device.