01902nas a2200133   4500008004100000245007500041210006600116520127800182100002401460700001601484700002001500700001701520856023101537       2007                        eng d00aUnited {States} {Patent}: 7271007 - {Microscale} diffusion immunoassay0 aUnited States Patent 7271007 Microscale diffusion immunoassay3 aMethods and apparatuses are provided for determining presence and concentration of analytes by exploiting molecular binding reactions and differential diffusion rates. Analyte particles and binding particles are allowed to diffuse toward each other, and slowing of the diffusion front is detected when they meet. From the position of the diffusion front, presence and concentration of analyte particles can be determined. One embodiment provides a competitive immunoassay in a microfluidic format. This diffusion immunoassay (DIA) relies on measuring the concentration of labeled antigen along one dimension of a microchannel after allowing it to diffuse for a short time into a region containing specific antibodies. A simple microfluidic device, the T-Sensor, was used to implement a DIA to measure the concentration of phenytoin, a small drug molecule. Concentrations of analyte over the range of 50 to 1600 nM can be measured in less than a minute. The assay is homogeneous, rapid, requires only microliter volumes of reagents and sample, and is applicable to a wide range of analytes, including therapeutic drugs, molecular biological markers, and environmental contaminants. Methods for separating particles of similar size in a diffusion separator are also provided.1 aWeigl, Bernhard, H.1 aYager, Paul1 aKamholz, Andrew1 aHatch, Anson  uhttp://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=14&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=%22Weigl%3B+Bernhard%22.INNM.&OS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%22&RS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%2201426nas a2200169   4500008004100000245014600041210006900187260000800256520063200264100002400896700002400920700002000944700002000964700002000984700002101004856023101025       2006                        eng d00aUnited {States} {Patent}: 7011791 - {Microfluidic} devices for rotational manipulation of the fluidic interface between multiple flow streams0 aUnited States Patent 7011791 Microfluidic devices for rotational  cmar3 aMicrofluidic 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.1 aWeigl, Bernhard, H.1 aBardell, Ronald, L.1 aKamholz, Andrew1 aMunson, Matthew1 aSchilling, Eric1 aHawkins, Kenneth  uhttp://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=17&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=%22Weigl%3B+Bernhard%22.INNM.&OS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%22&RS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%2201922nas a2200145   4500008004100000245007500041210006600116260000800182520127800190100002401468700001601492700002001508700001701528856023101545       2003                        eng d00aUnited {States} {Patent}: 6541213 - {Microscale} diffusion immunoassay0 aUnited States Patent 6541213 Microscale diffusion immunoassay  capr3 aMethods and apparatuses are provided for determining presence and concentration of analytes by exploiting molecular binding reactions and differential diffusion rates. Analyte particles and binding particles are allowed to diffuse toward each other, and slowing of the diffusion front is detected when they meet. From the position of the diffusion front, presence and concentration of analyte particles can be determined. One embodiment provides a competitive immunoassay in a microfluidic format. This diffusion immunoassay (DIA) relies on measuring the concentration of labeled antigen along one dimension of a microchannel after allowing it to diffuse for a short time into a region containing specific antibodies. A simple microfluidic device, the T-Sensor, was used to implement a DIA to measure the concentration of phenytoin, a small drug molecule. Concentrations of analyte over the range of 50 to 1600 nM can be measured in less than a minute. The assay is homogeneous, rapid, requires only microliter volumes of reagents and sample, and is applicable to a wide range of analytes, including therapeutic drugs, molecular biological markers, and environmental contaminants. Methods for separating particles of similar size in a diffusion separator are also provided.1 aWeigl, Bernhard, H.1 aYager, Paul1 aKamholz, Andrew1 aHatch, Anson  uhttp://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=23&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=%22Weigl%3B+Bernhard%22.INNM.&OS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%22&RS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%2201903nas a2200253   4500008004100000245007800041210006900119260000800188520096500196100002401161700001601185700002101201700001901222700002201241700002001263700002301283700002001306700001901326700002001345700001801365700002001383700001501403856023101418       2002                        eng d00aUnited {States} {Patent}: 6454945 - {Microfabricated} devices and methods0 aUnited States Patent 6454945 Microfabricated devices and methods  csep3 aThis invention provides microfabricated systems for extraction of desired particles from a sample stream containing desired and undesired particles. The sample stream is placed in laminar flow contact with an extraction stream under conditions in which inertial effects are negligible. The contact between the two streams is maintained for a sufficient period of time to allow differential transport of the desired particles from the sample stream into the extraction stream. In a preferred embodiment the differential transport mechanism is diffusion. The extraction system of this invention coupled to a microfabricated diffusion-based mixing device and/or sensing means allows picoliter quantities of fluid to be processed or analyzed on devices no larger than silicon wafers. Such diffusion-based mixing or sensing devices are preferably channel cell systems for detecting the presence and/or measuring the quantity of analyte particles in a sample stream.1 aWeigl, Bernhard, H.1 aYager, Paul1 aBrody, James, P.1 aHoll, Mark, R.1 aForster, Fred, K.1 aAltendorf, Eric1 aGalambos, Paul, C.1 aKenny, Margaret1 aSchutte, David1 aHixson, Gregory1 aZebert, Diane1 aKamholz, Andrew1 aWu, Caicai  uhttp://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=25&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=%22Weigl%3B+Bernhard%22.INNM.&OS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%22&RS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%2201808nas a2200229   4500008004100000245009000041210006900131260000800200520092700208100002401135700001601159700002101175700001901196700002001215700001901235700002001254700001801274700002001292700001501312700002001327856023101347       1999                        eng d00aUnited {States} {Patent}: 5972710 - {Microfabricated} diffusion-based chemical sensor0 aUnited States Patent 5972710 Microfabricated diffusionbased chem  coct3 aA channel-cell system is provided for detecting the presence and/or measuring the presence of analyte particles in a sample stream comprising: a) a laminar flow channel; b) two inlets in fluid connection with the laminar flow channel for respectively conducting into the laminar flow channel (1) an indicator stream which may comprise an indicator substance which indicates the presence of the analyte particles by a detectable change in property when contacted with the analyte particles, and (2) the sample stream; c) wherein the laminar flow channel has a depth sufficiently small to allow laminar flow of the streams and a length sufficient to allow particles of the analyte to diffuse into the indicator stream to the substantial exclusion of the larger particles in the sample stream to form a detection area; and d) an outlet for conducting the streams out of the laminar flow channel to form a single mixed stream.1 aWeigl, Bernhard, H.1 aYager, Paul1 aBrody, James, P.1 aHoll, Mark, R.1 aKenny, Margaret1 aSchutte, David1 aHixson, Gregory1 aZebert, Diane1 aKamholz, Andrew1 aWu, Caicai1 aAltendorf, Eric  uhttp://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=36&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=%22Weigl%3B+Bernhard%22.INNM.&OS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%22&RS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%22