US Patent 7695988 - Spectral nanofluidic analysis

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7695988.html

This patent from Cornell Research Foundation appears basic to the use of quantum dots in microfluidic analysis of biomolecules. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method comprising:

conjugating molecules with a plurality of different types of quantum dots having different emission spectra to form conjugates;

driving the conjugates through a sub-micrometer channel detection volume;

exciting the conjugates in the sub-micrometer channel; and

detecting emission from multiple regions of the spectrum.

US Patent 7616367 - Carbon fiber MEMS

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7616367.html

In order to produce higher deflections and higher switching speeds for MEMS optical devices this patent from Cornell Research Foundation teaches using graphene or carbon nanotube fibers as the bending portion of the MEMS device. Claim 1 reads:

1. A micro-electro-mechanical device scanner comprising:

a substrate;

a fiber supported by the substrate at a clamped end of the fiber; and

a mirror supported by a second, free end of the fiber.

US Patent 7615788 - SiC MEMS

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7615788.html

This patent from Cornell Research Foundation teaches monolithically integrated MEMS capable of withstanding a harsher environment than conventional silicon MEMS by using silicon carbide material. Claim 1 reads:

1. A device formed on a silicon carbide substrate, the device comprising:

silicon carbide based monolithic integrated signal conditioning or system control circuitry supported by the substrate; and

a silicon carbide containing microelectromechanical structure supported by the silicon carbide substrate.

US Patent 7457021 - Fiber based MEMS

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7457021.html

Micromachined materials have traditionally been limited to silicon, metal, and ceramic films with some more recent work being done with polymers. However, this patent from Cornell Research Foundation teaches an entirely different approach using carbon fibers as the actuation material for a micromirror type actuator having improved mechanical and flexure properties. Claim 1 reads:

1. A micro-electro-mechanical device scanner comprising:

a substrate;

an array of fibers supported by the substrate at a clamped end of the array of fibers; and

a mirror supported by a second, free end of the array of fibers.

US Patent 7409851 - Functionalized MEMS biosensor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7409851.html

This patent from Cornell Research Foundation with priority going back to March 29, 2005 includes some basic claims to MEMs oscillators used in bioassays. Although prior art was applied against the claims the applicant argued that the device operates using a "catalyzing adsorption site" which produces resonant shifts in non-aqueous environments such as air or vacuum which was alleged to be distinguished form the prior art. Claim 1 reads:

1. A MEMs device comprising:

a MEMs oscillator;

a catalyzing adsorption site supported by the oscillator, such that the sites provide control of chemical surface functionality for the detection of desired analytes, wherein the site is adapted to obtain a desired oscillator resonant frequency shift, such shift representing the difference between a site with attached analyte and without attached analyte.

However, some relevant prior art may have been overlooked such as

Mechanical Resonant Immunospecific Biological Detector 2000 (teaches micromechanical cantilevers used in air or vacuum for bioassays)

OR

Attogram detection using nanoelectromechanical oscillators 4/2004 (teaches micromechanical cantilevers employing catalyzing capture sites, this at least should have been cited by the applicant since it shares two common inventors with the patent)

OR

Microcantilever resonance-based DNA detection with nanoparticle probes 5/2003 (also employing catalyzing capture sites)

US Patent 7405434 - Quantum dot conjugates in a nanofluidic channel

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7405434.html

Quantum dot nanocrystals have often been employed as fluorescent tags for biomolecules and nanofluidic channels have been used for chemical sorting. This patent from Cornell Research combines both these techniques in a molecular analysis system. Claim 1 reads:


1. A device comprising:

a channel having a narrow detection portion sized to promote single molecule flow through the channel;

a laser for focusing light substantially uniformly across a width of the detection portion;

means for moving different types of quantum dot and molecule conjugates through the detection portion; and

a detector for detecting emissions from the quantum dots.

US Patent 7358822 - MEMS oscillator using temperature modulation control

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7358822.html

One common method to actuate MEMS cantilevers and other structures is to include a thermal heater as part of the MEMS structure and use a bi-layer of material having differing thermal expansion coefficients which causes bending upon heating. However, for applications in MEMS oscillators a proximal heater can have adverse effects on the resonance frequency. This patent from Cornell teaches using a remote laser for the actuation to avoid such problems. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method comprising:

modulating temperature of a portion of a device having a microelectromechanical oscillator formed from a device layer supported by a support layer; and

wherein temperature modulation creates oscillation of the oscillator; and

wherein the oscillator is spaced apart from the portion of the device having its temperature modulated.

US Patnet 7339244 - 3D MEMS lattice structure

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7339244.html

This patent from Cornell Research Foundation included some basic claims to treelike silicon structures formed so as to create a 3D structure useful as a filter for nanofluidics or in optical sensors/amplifiers. Claims 1 and 13 read:

1. A pair of columns formed from a semiconductor substrate, the columns comprising: multiple wires of silicon extending substantially parallel to a floor of the substrate between the pair of columns; and oxide surrounding each wire.

13. A three dimensional lattice of tips formed from a semiconductor substrate comprising: an array of substantially parallel pillars; and a nanotip on each pillar extending substantially perpendicular from the pillar to an adjacent pillar.