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PATENT MONITORMicrofluidic devices

Quarterly ReportQ1 2019

2© 2019 All rights reserved | www.knowmade.com

Microfluidic devices – Patent Monitor | Quarterly Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 3

METHODOLOGY 7

KEY FACTS OF THE QUARTER 8IntroductionMain industrial IP players of the quarterTechnical segment analysisNew patent applications & patents newly grantedRe-assigned patentsAbandoned or expired patentsMain IP Collaborations

MAIN IP PLAYERS 19APPLIED MATERIALSBERKELEY LIGHTSBOE TECHNOLOGYEMULATEHPIBMLANSION BIOTECH

MAIN START-UP FIRMS 33EDEN MICROFLUIDICSCELLINO BIOTECHENG4LIFEEVORION BIOTECHNOLOGIESELEGENIGENESIS BIOTECH SHANGHAITIKOMATADVANCED NANOBIO TECHNOLOGIESUFRACTION8

MAIN ACTIVE ACADEMIC INVENTORS 36

MAIN PATENT LITIGATIONS 38CYTONOME vs NANOCELLECT BIOMEDICAL – Patent infringementNUVOTRONICS vs COMPONENTZEE – Correction of inventorshipBIO-RAD vs 10X GENOMICS – Inter partes review

ACCESS TO IP ANALYSTS 42



INTRODUCTION



PATENT MONITORTake advantage of periodic updates on IP activities

CONTENTS

Monthly IP database (Excel file)•New patent applications

• Patents newly granted

• Patents expired or abandoned

• Transfer of IP rights (re-assignment,

licensing)

• Patent litigation & opposition

Quarterly report (PDF slide deck)On a quarterly basis, this report will

provide the IP trends over the last three

months, with a close look to key IP

players and key patented technologies.

Access to IP analysts (100h a

year)On-demand Q&A and discussion session

with our analysts on specific patented

technologies or company IP portfolios

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QUARTERLY REPORTContents

On a quarterly basis, this report will provide the IP trends overthe last three months, with a close look to key IP players andkey patented technologies.

•Main patent applicants, their notable patent filings and technologies.

•New entrants and their patents.

•Technology trends and notable patented technical solutions.

•Key patents newly granted, their owners and claimed inventions.

•Main IP right transfers (reassignments, licensing agreements).

•Key patents newly expired or abandoned, their owners and theirpotential market impact.

•Noteworthy news on patent litigation and opposition, plaintiffs anddefendants, patents and products involved.



QUARTERLY REPORTMonthly IP database

The patents are manually categorized in technicalsegments using keyword analysis of patent title,abstract and claims, in conjunction with expert reviewof the subject-matter of inventions.

Identify easily and efficiently- New patents applications - Patents newly granted - Patents expired or abandoned- Transfer of IP rights - Patent litigation

Download a sample file

Segments(a X indicate a patent belonging to the segment)

http://www.knowmade.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Patent-Monitor-Monthly-Excel-File-Microfluidic-device-SAMPLE.xlsx



METHODOLOGY



METHODOLOGYTerminologies for Patent Analysis (1/2)

Patent Applicant, Patent AssigneeAn applicant is a person or organization (e.g. company, university, etc.) who/which has filed a patent application. An assignee is a person or organization (e.g. company, university, etc.)who/which holds patent rights. There may be more than one applicant/assignee per patent application.

Patent FamilyA patent family is a set of patents and patent applications that have been filed to protect a single invention made by (a) common inventor(s). The patent protection of an invention beginsby the filing of a first patent application (the priority document), most of the time in the country the applicant or the inventor(s) is domiciliated in, prior to the filings of other patentapplications (claiming priority of the priority document) to extend the protection to other countries. All members of a patent family, except American continuation-in-part, share all theirpriorities.

Priority DateThe priority date is the date on which a priority patent application was filed. The priority date is used to determine which documents may be considered as prior art to challenge thenovelty and the inventive step of an invention claimed in a patent. At this date the patent document is not made available to the public by the office yet.

Priority NumberA priority number is the filing number of a priority document. The priority number is made up of a country code (two letters), the year of filing (two or four digits) and a serial number(variable, maximum seven digits).

Publication DateThe publication date is the date on which the patent application was first published by the office. It is the date on which the patent document is made available to the public, therebybecoming part of the state of the art globally.

First publication dateIt is the earliest publication date among all publication dates of all patent documents belonging to a patent family. This date’s year is called “year of first publication” in this report. Thedate or year of publication of a patent family must always read as the date or year of first publication.

Publication NumberThe publication number is the number assigned to a patent application on publication. Publication numbers are generally made up of a country code (two letters) and a serial number(variable, one to twelve digits) (e.g. DE202004009768).



METHODOLOGYTerminologies for Patent Analysis (2/2)

CitationsA citation is a reference made to a prior art document that is considered relevant to determine the patentability of a given invention. Citations are made by the applicant or by the officeexaminer during the examination of the patent application.

WO and EP Patent ApplicationsInternational (WO) and European (EP) patent applications are administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO), respectively.• WO applications designate Contracting parties (official or non-official countries) of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) through their national or regional systems and will have the

same effect as national or regional patent applications in each designated state or region, leading to a granted patent in each state or region. In this report, patent families are oftendesignated by their funding PCT member. A good way to know if a PCT application entered into national phase is to check on WIPO’s Patentscope database.

• EP applications are regional patent applications designating Contracting States of the European Patent Convention (EPC), and may lead to granted EP patents. Each EP patent has thesame effect as a bundle of national patents one for each designated country. A EP patent can also be validated for 4 countries that are not Contracting States of the EPC but enteredinto an agreement with the EPO (as of 2018-04-10 these countries are Morocco, the Republic of Moldova, Tunisia and Cambodia).

Legal Status of the Patent Document (patent or patent application)Granted: It is an enforceable patent issued by a patent office after the examination of the corresponding patent application.Pending: It is a patent application that has been filed but not yet accepted or rejected by the patent office nor than withdrawn by the applicant.Abandoned/Lapsed: A patent or published application that is not enforceable before the end of the normal term for formal reasons. In most cases, a document acquire this status

because the applicant withdrew his patent application after it has been published, failed to respond to an office action during the examination, or did not pay the maintenance fees.Typical office status for Lapsed could be “abandoned”, “lapsed”, “withdrawn”, “surrendered”, etc.

Expired: A granted patent that is no longer in force as it has reached its maximum duration (in most countries: 20 years from the filing date).Rejected/Revoked: A patent or published application that is not enforceable before the end of the normal term for patentability-related reasons.• The status “rejected” mainly refers to a pre-grant patent application for which a grant decision has been denied (e.g. due to a lack of patentability of the invention).• The status “revoked” mainly refers to a formerly granted patent that have been later cancelled by an office (e.g. following an Opposition, a Post Grant Review or an Inter Partes

Review) or a court. Typical office status for “Revoked” could be “suspended”, “interrupted”, “cancelled”, “revoked”, “refused”, etc.

International Patent Classification (IPC)The technical content of patent documents is classified in accordance with the International Patent Classification (IPC). The publishing office assigns an IPC symbol valid at the time ofpublication of the patent application. The complete IPC can be found on the website of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO - http://www.wipo.int/ipcpub).

https://www.wipo.int/portal/en/index.html

https://www.epo.org/index.html

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/search.jsf

http://www.wipo.int/ipcpub



METHODOLOGYSegment definition

SEGMENTATION BY STATUS

NEW PATENT: New patent families published during themonth (extensions from older patent families are excluded).

GRANTED PATENT: Patents granted during the quarter (grantedpatents from older patent families containing already grantedpatents are excluded).

PATENT TRANSFERT: Re-assignments (IP transfers) during thequarter.

DEAD PATENT: Granted patents expired or abandoned duringthe quarter.

Patents were manually segmented according to their status (new patent, granted patents etc.), and to their applications (Cell culture, Inkjet etc.)

SEGMENTATION BY APPLICATION

3D PRINTING: Patent claiming 3D printing device using microfluidic technologies.ANALYTICAL DEVICE: Patent claiming an analytical device (HPLC, spectrometer etc.) using microfluidic technologies.BATTERY & ENERGY: Patent claiming device for energy storage/management (e.g. fuel cell).CELL CULTURE: Patent claiming cell culture device using microfluidic technologies.CELL SEPARATION & ANALYSIS: Patent claiming cell separation device or cell analysis device (e.g. cytometer) usingmicrofluidic technologies.COOLING DEVICE: Patent claiming cooling device (e.g. IC cooling) using microfluidic technologies.DIAGNOSTIC & PoC: Patent claiming a diagnostic device or of point-of-care device using microfluidic technologies.DISPLAY & OPTICS: Patent claiming a display/optic device using microfluidic technologies (e.g. microfluidic pixel).DROPLET PROCESSING: Patent claiming a device for microdroplet processing (e.g. EWOD, droplet generation etc.) usingmicrofluidic technologies.DRUG DELIVERY & TREATMENT: Patent claiming a drug delivery device (e.g. microneedles) or specific treatment usingmicrofluidic technologies.DRUG SCREENING: Patent claiming a drug screening device (e.g. drug evaluation) using microfluidic technologies.ENVIRONMENT & AGRO-FOOD: Patent claiming a device for environment monitoring (e.g. water quality testing, pesticideanalysis etc.) using microfluidic technologies.FLUID CONTROL: Patent claiming a device for fluid control (e.g. micropumps, microvalves, micromixer etc.) usingmicrofluidic technologies.INKJET: Patent claiming an inkjet device (inkjet-printer, nozzle etc.) using microfluidic technologies.MANUFACTURING METHODS: Patent claiming apparatus or method to manufacture microfluidic device.MATERIALS MANUFACTURING: Patent claiming method or device to manufacture/synthetize materials (e.g. polymers,nanoparticles) using microfluidic technologies.MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY: Patent claiming a device for molecular biology/biochemistry analysis (e.g. PCR,sequencing, proteomics) using microfluidic technologies.ORGAN ON CHIP: Patent claiming a device related to an organ on chip.SAMPLE PREPARATION: Patent claiming a device for the preparation of a sample using microfluidic technologies.SINGLE CELL PROCESSING: Patent claiming a device for single cell processing (e.g. single cell sorting or analysis).OTHER CHIP & SYSTEMS: Patent claiming a microfluidic chip or systems without specific application.OTHER: Patent claiming a device on other specific application using microfluidic technologies.



KEY FACTS OF THE QUARTER



Q1 2019 KEY FACTSIntroduction

Key facts of the quarter:

612 NEW PATENT APPLICATIONS227 GRANTED PATENTS37 PATENT TRANSFERTS25 DEAD PATENTS

7 Main industrial IP players selected and analyzed

12 IP collaborations identified (patent co-filings)

9 New start-up firms identified

6 Active academic inventors selected

3 Patent litigations

JanuaryFebruaryMarch



DEAD PATENT; 25; 3%

GRANTED PATENT; 227; 25%

NEW PATENT; 612; 68%

PATENT TRANSFERT; 37; 4%

Q1 2019 KEY FACTSMain industrial IP players of the quarter

Slingshot Printing LLC

and other Chinese applicants

A PerkinElmer Company

The IP activity of this quarter shows over 600 new patent applications, 220 patents newly granted, 25 granted patents that are expired or abandoned and 37patents that are re-assigned. For new patent applications, main industrial IP players are BOE TECHNOLOGY (and several other Chinese applicants), HP,EMULATE, QUANTUMDX and SEKISUI CHEMICAL. For patents newly granted, main industrial IP players are LANSION BIOTECHNOLOGY (and several other Chineseapplicants), HP, EMULATE, IBM and MICROJET. Granted patents of Chinese applicants are mainly Chinese patents. For granted patents that are expired orabandoned during this quarter, main industrial IP players are CALIPER (a PerkinElmer Company) and FUNAI ELECTRIC. These companies have lost several grantedpatents during this quarter. For IP transfers (re-assigned patents), main new assignees are SLINGSHOT PRINTING (patents from FUNAI ELECTRIC) and NEXUSDX(patents from SAMSUNG).

and other Chinese applicants



Q1 2019 KEY FACTSTechnical segment analysis

IP activity in the field of microfluidics in Q1 2019

The most active segment in Q1 2019 are Diagnostic & PoC. In this segment, 111 new patent applications were filed, 36 patents were granted (1st grant), 8 patent families were involved in in IPtransfers and 3 granted patents were expired or abandoned. QUANTUMDX has filed 6 new patent applications in this segment. The fluid control segment is also a very active domain, and HP hasfiled 3 new patent applications. APPLIED MATERIALS has filed 4 new patent applications related to nanopore sequencing. SHARP has filed 3 new patent applications in the field of dropletprocessing (EWOD). Few new patents were filed in the Inkjet segment, and no patent newly granted was identified. However, a lot of patents were re-assigned to SLINGSHOT PRINTING (fromFUNAI ELECTRIC). In the Manufacturing method segment, several US granted patents owned by Caliper (PerkinElmer) are now expired, among them the US patent US6321791 involved in recentpatent litigation against SONY (PanNAT® Molecular Diagnostic System, Sony SH800 and/or Sony FX500) and Menarini Silicon Biosystems (DEPArray system).

Slingshot

Printing LLC

Logo represents significative activity of an applicant in the selected segment

https://sobjprd.questel.fr/sobj/servlet/get_pds/US6321791B1.pdf?userid=QPRK1003&type=0&pdfid=7768326&ekey=953



Q1 2019 KEY FACTSTechnical segment analysis: New patent applications & patents newly granted

BOE TECH.

HP EMULATEQUANTUM

DXSEKISUI

CHEMICALAPPLIED

MATERIALSESSENLIX IBM

TOTAL NEW PATENTS 14 8 6 6 5 4 4 4

Diagnostic & PoC 2 2 6 2 4 2

Fluid control 4 1 2

Other chip & system 6 1 2

Cell separation & analysis 1 1

Molecular biology & biochemistry 2 1 4 1

Analytical device 2

Cell culture 3

Manufacturing methods 2 1

Sample preparation 1

Drug screening 1 1

Organ on chip 4

Display & optics 1

Selection of main industrial IP players of the quarter for new

patent families

MOST NOTABLE NEW PATENT(Manual selection by Knowmade IP analyst)

SEGMENT

WO2019/040637 - Methods and systems for generating droplets (10X GENOMICS) Droplet processing

WO2019/060042 - Method for simple fluidic addressing of a nanopore (APPLIED MATERIALS)Molecular biology &

biochemistry

US20190024033 - Systems, devices and methods for microfluidic culturing, manipulation andanalysis of tissues and cells (CELLANYX DIAGNOSTICS)

Cell separation & analysis Diagnostic & PoC

WO2019/060689 - Discrete volume dispensing system flow rate and analyte sensor (ECCRINESYSTEMS, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI)

Diagnostic & PoC

WO2019/040599 - Positional tracking and encoding in microfluidic devices (ELEGEN)Droplet processing, Fluid

control

WO2019/046052 - Methods for preparing therapeutically active cells using microfluidics(GPB SCIENTIFIC, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND)

Cell culture, Cell separation & analysis

US20190001334 - Electro-kinetic device for species exchange (IBM, TECHNION RESEARCH &DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION)

Fluid control, Molecular biology & biochemistry

US20190094178 - Microfluidic device with laterally insertable electrodes (IBM) Diagnostic & PoC

US20190062684 - Microfluidic system for reproducing functional units of tissues and organsin vitro (NORTIS)

Organ on chip

US20190030537 - Microfluidic device with droplet pre-charge on input (SHARP) Droplet processing

US20190076021 - Closed microfluidic network for strain sensing embedded in a contact lensto monitor intraocular pressure (SMARTLENS)

Diagnostic & PoC

US2019008401 - Cell sorter (TOSHIBA) Cell separation & analysis

US20190017905 - Dual-image based bioimaging devices and techniques (VOR) Diagnostic & PoC

US20190039299 - 3d printing methods using mixing nozzles (VOXEL8) 3D Printing

USXXXXXXX Click to link pdf document

NANJING LANSION BIOTECH

HP IBM EMULATE CYTONOME INTEL CAPITALBIO

TOTAL GRANTED PATENTS 7 4 3 2 2 2 1Diagnostic & PoC 5

Fluid control 3 1 1 1Other chip & system 3 1 1

Cell separation & analysis 1Analytical device 1 1 1

Environment & agro-food

Organ on chip 1Cooling device 1

Display & optics 1

MOST NOTABLE PATENTS NEWLY GRANTED(Manual selection by Knowmade IP analyst)

SEGMENT

US10221442 - Compositions and methods for sample processing (10X GENOMICS) Sample preparation

US10232373 - Size alternating injection into drops to facilitate sorting (BIO RAD, GNUBIO) Droplet processing

US10222392 - System and method for screening a library of samples (DUPONT PIONEER, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY)

Other chip & system

EP3027259 - Systems and methods for drug delivery, treatment, and monitoring (ALCYONE LIFESCIENCES)

Drug delivery & treatment

US10168317 - Microfluidic device, system, and method for tracking single cells and single cell lineages (CORNELL UNIVERSITY )

Single cell

US10190960 - Micro-lens systems for particle processing systems (CYTONOME) Cell separation & analysis

US10233491 - Valved cartridge and system (INTEGENX) Fluid control

Selection of main industrial IP players of the quarter for

patents newly granted

Notable patents were selected on the basis of their citations, family size, scope of the claims and legal status.A selection of main industrial applicants is detailed in the focus on main IP player

https://sobjprd.questel.fr/sobj/servlet/get_pds/WO201940637A1.pdf?userid=QPRK1005&type=0&pdfid=86389981&ekey=1021


https://sobjprd.questel.fr/sobj/servlet/get_pds/US20190024033A1.pdf?userid=QPRK1005&type=0&pdfid=85779628&ekey=1023















https://sobjprd.questel.fr/sobj/servlet/get_pds/EP3027259B1.pdf?userid=QPRK1005&type=0&pdfid=86596482&ekey=998






Q1 2019 KEY FACTSTechnical segment analysis: Re-assigned patents

SLINGSHOT PRINTING

NEXUS DXMICROFLUIDIC

MEMS SOLUTIONMICOBIOMED

TOTAL RE-ASSIGNED PATENTS 21 6 3 2

Diagnostic & PoC 4 1 2

Fluid control 2 2

Inkjet 21

Selection of main industrial IP players of the quarter for re-assigned patents

MOST NOTABLE RE-ASSIGNED PATENTS(Manual selection by Knowmade IP analyst)

SEGMENT

US7413289 - Low energy, long life micro-fluid ejection device (SLINGSHOT PRINTING) Inkjet

US7364268 - Nozzle members, compositions and methods for micro-fluid ejection heads (SLINGSHOT PRINTING)

Inkjet

US7080896 - A process for making a micro-fluid ejection device having high resistance heater film (SLINGSHOT PRINTING)

Inkjet

US7041226 - Methods for improving flow through fluidic channels (SLINGSHOT PRINTING) Inkjet

US9164091 - Centrifugal micro-fluidic device and method for detecting analytes from liquid specimen (NEXUS DX)

Diagnostic & PoC

US10058864 - Microfluidic structure and microfluidic device having the same (NEXUS DX) Fluid control

US20180141046 - Microfluidic assay platforms (MICOBIOMED) Diagnostic & PoC

US9387478 - Micro-fluidic modules on a chip for diagnostic applications (MICROFLUIDIC MEMS SOLUTION)

Diagnostic & PoC

Slingshot

Printing LLC21 PATENT FAMILIES

After a large patent acquisition from Lexmark in 2013 to boost its inkjet business, FUNAIELECTRIC wants to get more money out of those IP assets. In this way, 21 patents familiesowned by FUNAI ELECTRIC are involved in the transfer of IP rights with SLINGSHOT PRINTING.These patents are in the field of Inkjet.

6 patents families are involved in the transfer of IP rights between SAMSUNG ELECTRONICSand NEXUS DX. These patents are in the field of Diagnostic & PoC and Fluid control. It is worthto note that Samsung Electronics has acquired in 2011 the Nexus division of ITC Nexus HoldingCompany (ITC).

3 patents families are involved in the transfer of IP rights between LEXMARK andMICROFLUIDIC MEMS SOLUTION. These patents are in the field of Diagnostic & PoC and Fluidcontrol.

2 patents families are involved in the transfer of IP rights between SILOAM BIOSCIENCES andMICOBIOMED. These patents are in the field of Diagnostic & PoC. It is worth to note thatSILOAM BIOSCIENCES was acquired by MICOBIOMED in 2018.

6 PATENT FAMILIES

2 PATENT FAMILIES

3 PATENT FAMILIES

A selection of main industrial applicants is detailed in the focus on main IP player USXXXXXXX Click to link pdf document

Notable patents were selected on the basis of their citations, family size, scope of the claims and legal status.











Q1 2019 KEY FACTSTechnical segment analysis: Abandoned or expired patents

CALIPER*FUNAI

ELECTRICADVION CANON

LIFE TECHNOLOGIES

STMICROELECTRONICS

TOTAL DEAD PATENTS 3 2 1 1 1 1

Diagnostic & PoC 1

Fluid control 1 1 1

Other chip & system 1

Molecular biology & biochemistry 1

Manufacturing methods 3

Inkjet 2

Selection of main industrial IP players of the quarter for dead

patents

MOST NOTABLE DEAD PATENTS(Manual selection by Knowmade IP analyst)

STATUS SEGMENT

US6167910 - Multi-layer microfluidic devices (CALIPER) ExpiredManufacturing

methods

US20100110145 - Heater stack and method for making heater stack with heaterelement decoupled from substrate (FUNAI ELECTRIC)

Failure to paymaintenance fees

Inkjet

US7841700 - Radiation activated micro-fluid ejection devices and methods for ejectingfluids (FUNAI ELECTRIC)

Failure to paymaintenance fees

Inkjet

US8945481 - Microfluidic devices and method for their use (LIFE TECHNOLOGIES)Failure to pay

maintenance feesFluid control

US8956815 - Intercalation methods and devices (TOXIC REPORT)Failure to pay

maintenance fees

Molecular biology &

biochemistry

US7879301 - Microfluidic element (CANON)Failure to pay

maintenance feesFluid control

A selection of main industrial applicants is detailed in the focus on main IP player* PerkinElmer company


Notable patents were selected on the basis of their citations, family size, scope of the claims and legal status.

If a patent is dead (expired or abandoned), is it possible to make the formerly patented product?An expired patent cannot be asserted against competitors. However, other live patents may still cover different parts, features or combinations described in the expiredpatent. Moreover, in some countries, a lapsed patent can be reinstated/restored by paying an additional fee plus the maintenance fee, and reasoning that delay ornonpayment of the maintenance fee within the prescribed period was unintentional.









Q1 2019 KEY FACTSMain IP CollaborationsThis table shows main new collaborations involving industrial applicants. It highlights the collaborations with industrials players that have led to co-filings.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICANTS ACADEMIC APPLICANTS TITLE SEGMENT ORIGINAL DOCUMENT

EMULATE CEDARS SINAI MEDICAL CENTER Systems and methods for growth of intestinal cells in microfluidic devices Organ on chip, Cell culture US20190031992

CELLBIOCAN

FUND TEKNIKER, FUNDACION INSTITUTO INVESTIG MARQUES, SERVICIO

CANTABRO DE SALUD, UNIVERSIDAD DE CANTABRIA

Cartridge, device and method for detecting, capturing, identifying and counting circulating tumour cells

Cell separation & analysis WO2019/025437

TOTALCNRS, ECOLE NORMALE SUPERIEURE LYON, UNIVERSITE CLAUDE BERNARD

LYON 1Method for producing a microfluidic device Manufacturing methods WO2019/048900

ECCRINE SYSTEMS UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI Discrete volume dispensing system flow rate and analyte sensor Diagnostic & PoC WO2019/060689

IMAGINE OPTIC SPAINFUNDACIO INSTITUTE DE CIENCIES

FOTONIQUES, INSTITUTE CATALANA DE RECERCA I ESTUDIS AVANCATS

A hand-held microfluidic detection deviceDiagnostic & PoC, Analytical

deviceWO2019/015947

GPB SCIENTIFICPRINCETON UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF

MARYLANDMethods for preparing therapeutically active cells using microfluidics

Cell culture, Cell separation & analysis

WO2019/046052

IBMTECHNION RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

FOUNDATIONElectro-kinetic device for species exchange

Fluid control, Molecular biology& biochemistry

US20190001334

IM HEALTHCAREPOHANG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE &

TECHNOLOGY POSTECHFet fet based biosensor using membrane with microfluidic channel for multiplex detection

and detection method using the sameDiagnostic & PoC KR101956860

MICAREO UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON Particle separation systems and methods Cell separation & analysis WO2019/035952

MICROBIOTIX UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Device for optimization of microorganism growth in liquid culture Cell culture WO2019/046613

MICROBIOTIX UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Methods for lysis of cells within a sample Sample preparation WO2019/028381

INDUSTRIAL APPLICANTS INDUSTRIAL APPLICANTS TITLE SEGMENT ORIGINAL DOCUMENT

LANYI TECHNOLOGY SHANGHAI KUNDAO BIOTECHNOLOGYOn the basis of microfluidic and immunomagnetic separation dual strategy of trace amounts

of cell capture systemCell separation & analysis CN109486653

USXXXXXXX Click to link pdf documentA selection of main industrial applicants is detailed in the focus on main IP player








https://sobjprd.questel.fr/sobj/servlet/get_pds/KR101956860B1.pdf?userid=QPRK1005&type=0&pdfid=86505200&ekey=895




https://sobjprd.questel.fr/sobj/servlet/get_pds/CN109486653A.pdf?userid=QPRK1005&type=0&pdfid=86827747&ekey=1013



MAIN IP PLAYERS OF THE QUARTER



Q1 2019 OVERVIEWFocus on main IP players of the quarter: APPLIED MATERIALS

• 4 new patent families published in March 2019 in the field of nanopore sequencing filed by APPLIED MATERIALS (a major supplier in the semiconductor industry). Nanopore sequencingis one of the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies believed to be capable of revolutionizing DNA analysis. Nanopore sequencing is performed using an electrical detectionmethod, which generally includes transporting a sample through the nanopore, which is immersed in a conducting fluid, and applying electric potential across the nanopore.

• It is very interesting to note that this is the first time that Applied Materials published patents in the field of nanopore sequencing. These patent families include PCT and pendingU.S. applications (WO2019/060052, WO2019/060172, WO2019/060042 and WO2019/060168). Inventors of these patents are Philip A. Kraus (Vice President at Applied Materials),Johnson Joseph (Process Engineer at Applied Materials), Mangesh Bangar (Process Engineer – Industrial lithography at Applied Materials), Kenichi Ohno (Process Engineer –semiconductor thin film development at Applied Materials), Zohreh Razavi Hesabi (Process Engineer at Applied Materials) and Ankit Vora (MTS Chemist, now Research Scientist /Chemist at Facebook).

• Several companies with strong experience in microelectronics and semiconductors (e.g., Hitachi, IBM, Samsung Electronics, Intel, Qualcomm or GlobalFoundries) have already filedpatents claiming solid-state nanopores. These new patents show that solid-state nanopore sequencing technology attracts more and more players from the semiconductor industry.Indeed, their know-how in the field of semiconductors and nanoscale engineering is very useful for this type of biological application.

IP activity of APPLIED MATERIALS in the field of microfluidics.

Patents related to nanopore sequencing

This quarter, the company has:

4 NEW PATENT APPLICATIONS

0 GRANTED PATENT

0 PATENT TRANSFERT

0 DEAD PATENT

One patent family can belong to different segments

WO2019/060052WO2019/060172WO2019/060042WO2019/060168

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/docs2/pct/WO2019060052/pdf/F2hisxxlQ1pzr-cApM9-ACmhz9GYXYp5insFM9KNBXIOl_88Ch7Lv8yqak4f8HENob0_5KDC8Gl-FtJAImtvEcYKPi9IabaYS38C0YITj5ciN4gsX98c08-vAuXpzsfV?docId=id00000047538300&psAuth=ZZS6Nv03lNO0lJ3M2CnPOvwr60yiJgIYScudRuld8PM

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/docs2/pct/WO2019060172/pdf/Ab11XuZ5OIZvjabh1jpgcuzUfKzOc-eWF3Sa7tvd_HWevCpR5HDDSqujFTZqWOj_kFdpXzxEZYedrakbGApYo2ah4fQUzjgs84uMYutCEm5ifeKzVCPNtCY3HZ3EorQ-?docId=id00000047558002&psAuth=Rdh0keL-ImLy4DkhhniexLT1_ze9xI-IQGmns7x4vEc

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/docs2/pct/WO2019060042/pdf/oRVch4CJb8-UEM8KN6INCEfSOUrPJ3hLGzR-g6ZN_yo-dodOPmtD2y6_I7quQds9QdlR_dGhMf6dKJZUm-kyYDqdQJIIVkA8gcq0WpJLllbWBGrqBJ_YcpY1Gw7f6lpf?docId=id00000047492809&psAuth=I2UJj11zHU2hAECPja3ogFFuU1Slh6tsjQ4gTaPdYx8

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/docs2/pct/WO2019060168/pdf/3rGLwJqifGAAGuRyI904VYS3eFtYhBq7S7LgUShF2st1M0lXiYE77NOvUUS8tqz2Gs6Al6JZcGrgnW8aG4Z8ycIv0Mfkzvwl0rUsfJ5FIJjWdPgqjHa3xiIq621aY6nt?docId=id00000047487296&psAuth=z-jaXFVdTK5SmOk73N4nisSHjCysfr7-THgZyTWmp7E

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/docs2/pct/WO2019060052/pdf/F2hisxxlQ1pzr-cApM9-ACmhz9GYXYp5insFM9KNBXIOl_88Ch7Lv8yqak4f8HENob0_5KDC8Gl-FtJAImtvEcYKPi9IabaYS38C0YITj5ciN4gsX98c08-vAuXpzsfV?docId=id00000047538300&psAuth=ZZS6Nv03lNO0lJ3M2CnPOvwr60yiJgIYScudRuld8PM

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/docs2/pct/WO2019060172/pdf/Ab11XuZ5OIZvjabh1jpgcuzUfKzOc-eWF3Sa7tvd_HWevCpR5HDDSqujFTZqWOj_kFdpXzxEZYedrakbGApYo2ah4fQUzjgs84uMYutCEm5ifeKzVCPNtCY3HZ3EorQ-?docId=id00000047558002&psAuth=Rdh0keL-ImLy4DkhhniexLT1_ze9xI-IQGmns7x4vEc

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/docs2/pct/WO2019060042/pdf/oRVch4CJb8-UEM8KN6INCEfSOUrPJ3hLGzR-g6ZN_yo-dodOPmtD2y6_I7quQds9QdlR_dGhMf6dKJZUm-kyYDqdQJIIVkA8gcq0WpJLllbWBGrqBJ_YcpY1Gw7f6lpf?docId=id00000047492809&psAuth=I2UJj11zHU2hAECPja3ogFFuU1Slh6tsjQ4gTaPdYx8

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/docs2/pct/WO2019060168/pdf/3rGLwJqifGAAGuRyI904VYS3eFtYhBq7S7LgUShF2st1M0lXiYE77NOvUUS8tqz2Gs6Al6JZcGrgnW8aG4Z8ycIv0Mfkzvwl0rUsfJ5FIJjWdPgqjHa3xiIq621aY6nt?docId=id00000047487296&psAuth=z-jaXFVdTK5SmOk73N4nisSHjCysfr7-THgZyTWmp7E



PATENT NUMBER

TYPE SEGMENT TITLE PATENT DETAILS IMAGE

WO2019/060052 New patentMolecular biology &

biochemistryPore formation in a substrate

Methods are provided for manufacturing well-controlled, solid-state nanopores and arrays of well-controlled,solid-state nanopores. In one aspect, methods for manufacturing nanopores and arrays of nanopores exploit aphysical seam. One or more etch pits are formed in a topside of a substrate and one or more trenches, whichalign with the one or more etch pits, are formed in a backside of the substrate. An opening is formed betweenthe one or more etch pits and the one or more trenches. A dielectric material is then formed over the substrate,for example, by oxidation or atomic layer deposition, to fill the opening. Contacts are then formed or placed onthe topside and the backside of the substrate and a voltage is applied from the topside to the backside of thesubstrate, or vice versa, through the dielectric material to form a nanopore. In another aspect, the nanopore isformed at or near the center of the opening at a seam, which is formed in the dielectric material.


biochemistry

Method to reduce pore diameter using atomic layer deposition

and etching

Methods are provided for manufacturing weil-confrolied, solid-state nanopores and arrays of well-controlled,solid-state nanopores by a cyclic process including atomic layer deposition (ALD), or chemical vapor deposition(CVD), and etching. One or more features are formed in a thin film deposited on a topside of a substrate. Adielectric material is deposited over the substrate having the one or more features in the thin film. An etchingprocess is then used to etch a portion of the dielectric material deposited over the substrate having the one ormore features in the thin film. The dielectric material deposition and etching processes are optionally repeatedto reduce the size of the features until a well-controlled nanopore is formed through the thin film on thesubstrate.


biochemistry

Method for simple fluidic addressing of a nanopore

Aspects disclosed herein relate to methods of high-volume manufacturing of an array of biological sensingdevices on a substrate, each of the biological sensing devices having a vertical or horizontal membrane havingone or more solid-state nanopores therethrough, and methods for simple fiuidic addressing of each nanopore.in one aspect, a method for forming a nanopore by applying a voltage from a positive electrode to a negativeelectrode through a free-standing membrane is disclosed. In other aspects, methods for forming a plurality ofnanopores on a wafer are disclosed, in another aspect, a single-sided processing method for forming a nanoporedevice is disclosed to provide a device having a bath on either side of a nanopore, which are addressable from asingle side of the substrate. In yet another aspect, a method for fiuidically addressing a plurality of nanoporedevices is disclosed.


biochemistry

Method to create a free-standing membrane for biological applications

Methods of manufacturing well-controlled nanopores using directed self-assembly and methods ofmanufacturing free-standing membranes using selective etching are disclosed, in one aspect, one or morenanopores are formed by directed self-assembly with block co-polymers to shrink the critical dimension of afeature which is then transferred to a thin film. In another aspect, a method includes providing a substratehaving a thin film over a highly etchable layer thereof, forming one or more nanopores through the thin filmover the highly etchable layer, for example, by a pore diameter reduction process, and then selectively removinga portion of the highly etchable layer under the one or more nanopores to form a thin, free-standing membrane.

Q1 2019 OVERVIEWAPPLIED MATERIALS : notable patents selected by Knowmade analyst








Q1 2019 OVERVIEWFocus on main IP players of the quarter: BERKELEY LIGHTS

• Berkeley Lights has developed the Beacon® platform, a flexible instrument that combines structured visible light technology and microfluidic design to automate isolation, growth,screening, and manipulation of thousands of monoclonal cell populations in parallel.

• Berkeley Lights strengthens this technology for gene editing application with the grant of the US patent US10239058 claiming a method of generating a clonal population ofgenetically modified cells in a microfluidic device comprising sequestration nanopens. Moreover, Berkeley Lights continues the development of optoelectrowetting technology withthe publication of new us patent application US20190060907. Optoelectrowetting enables the manipulation of aqueous droplets or cells in droplets of oil allowing researchers toaliquot, measure, titrate, combine, split and dilute at nanoliter volumes.

• Berkeley Lights also continues to develop emerging applications in the field of cell therapy manufacturing (WO2019/018801). This patent describes surface modifying and surfacefunctionalizing reagents, preparation thereof, and methods for modifying surfaces to activate T Lymphocytes. T lymphocyte activation by antigen presenting dendritic cells is oneaspect of preparing tumor-targeting cytotoxic T lymphocytes for use in immunotherapy.

IP activity of BERKELEY LIGHTS in the field of microfluidics.

US10239058

US20190060907

WO2019/018801



1 GRANTED PATENT

0 PATENT TRANSFERT

0 DEAD PATENT










Q1 2019 OVERVIEWBERKELEY LIGHTS: notable patents selected by Knowmade analyst

PATENT NUMBER


US10239058Granted Patent

Molecular biology &

biochemistry / Single Cell

Methods, systems and devices for selection and generation of genome edited clones

Methods are described herein for isolating clonal populations of cells having a defined geneticmodification. The methods are performed, at least in part, in a microfluidic device comprising one ormore sequestration pens. The methods include the steps of: maintaining individual cells (or precursorsthereof) that have undergone a genomic editing process in corresponding sequestration pens of amicrofluidic device; expanding the individual cells into respective clonal populations of cells; anddetecting, in one or more cells of each clonal population, the presence of a first nucleic acid sequencethat is indicative of the presence of an on-target genome edit in the clonal population of cells. Alsodescribed are methods of performing genome editing within a microfluidic device, and compositionscomprising one or more clonal populations of cells generated according to the methods disclosed herein.

US20190060907 New patentDroplet

processingDroplet generation in a microfluidic device having an optoelectrowetting configuration

Systems and methods are described herein for improved droplet generation within microfluidicapparatuses. Electrowetting forces of varying configurations may be used to separate droplets from afluidic reservoir in a reproducible and rapid manner. In many embodiments, separation of droplets fromthe fluidic reservoir is performed without the use of highly specialized surfactants.

WO2019/018801 New patentDrug delivery & treatment

Antigen-presenting synthetic surfaces, covalently functionalized surfaces, activated t

cells, and uses thereof

Some embodiments of the invention include modified surfaces configured to activate T lymphocytes,related methods of using such modified surfaces to activate T lymphocytes, and compositions containingsuch activated T lymphocytes. This patent provides a method of treating a subject in need of treating acancer.






Q1 2019 OVERVIEWFocus on main IP players of the quarter: BOE TECHNOLOGY

• BOE Technology, founded in April 1993, is an IoT Chinese company providing intelligent interface products and professional services for information interaction and human health.BOE’s three core businesses are Display and Sensor Devices, Smart Systems and Healthcare Services. In 2017, BOE’s yearly new-patent applications amounted to 8678, 85% of whichare invention patents. In total, BOE has over 29,000 patent families, ranking among the top of the industry. In the field of microfluidic, the company has about 80 patent families. Themajority of them were published in 2018 and 2019, showing a strong and recent interest of BOE Technology for microfluidics, and a lot of new patents from this company areexpected in the coming years.

• BOE TECHNOLOGY is the most active IP player of the quarter. Its patenting activity is mainly related to chips and systems for various applications (spectrometry, immunoassay, cellseparation). The IP strategy of BOE TECHNOLOGY is mainly focused on China and in the US. Therefore, it is unlikely that the company will extend these patents in Europe.WO2019007036 (PoC - chemiluminescent immunoassay) and WO2019/041955 (droplet processing) are new patent applications that could be extended in the US.

IP activity of BOE TECHNOLOGY in the field of microfluidics.

WO2019007036

WO2019/041955



0 GRANTED PATENT

0 PATENT TRANSFERT

0 DEAD PATENT








Q1 2019 OVERVIEWBOE TECHNOLOGY: notable patents selected by Knowmade analyst

PATENT NUMBER


WO2019007036 New patentDiagnostic &

PoCMicro-fluidic chip, device and method for

chemiluminescent immunoassay

A micro-fluidic chip, device and method for chemiluminescent immunoassay. The micro-fluidic chipcomprises: a bottom plate (6), and a first liquid inlet channel (1), a second liquid inlet channel (2), a thirdliquid inlet channel (3), an immune reaction tank (4), and a light-emitting reaction pool (5) formed on afirst surface of the bottom plate. A discharging end of the immune reaction pool (4) is communicatedwith a liquid inlet end of the light-emitting reaction pool (5), and a primer (9) is provided in the immunereaction pool (4). The primer (9) is used for fixing an antigen-antibody complex generated in the immunereaction pool (4). A liquid outlet end of the first liquid inlet channel (1) is communicated with the liquidinlet end of the immune reaction pool (4), and the first fluid inlet channel (1) is used for introducing theantigen and antibody to be tested into the immune response pool (4). The liquid outlet end of thesecond liquid inlet channel (2) is communicated with the liquid inlet end of the immune response pool(4), and the second liquid inlet channel (2) is used for introducing an alkaline solution into the immuneresponse pool (4).The liquid outlet end of the third liquid inlet channel (3) is communicated with theliquid inlet end of the light-emitting reaction pool (5), and the third liquid inlet channel (3) is used forintroducing an oxidant solution into the light-emitting reaction pool (5).

WO2019/041955 New patentDroplet

processing

Microfluidic substrate and manufacturing method thereof, microfluidic chip, and control

method

A microfluidic chip and controlling method are provided. The microfluidic chip includes a microfluidicsubstrate, comprising a first substrate, a droplet driving assembly over the first substrate, and atemperature detection assembly. The droplet driving assembly includes a first electrode layer having aplurality of control electrodes, and each of the plurality of control electrodes is configured as part of adriving unit to drive a droplet to move along a predetermined path over the microfluidic substrate. Thetemperature detection assembly comprises at least one temperature sensor. The at least onetemperature sensor positionally corresponds to the plurality of control electrodes such that each of theat least one temperature sensor detects a temperature at a position associated with one of the pluralityof control electrodes corresponding to the each of the at least one temperature sensor.





Q1 2019 OVERVIEWFocus on main IP players of the quarter: EMULATE

• EMULATE, founded in 2013 and based in the US, develops organs-on-chips human emulation technology solutions to emulate human biology to understand how diseases, medicines,chemicals, and food affect human health.

• EMULATE has filed 6 new patents this quarter. These patents are mainly related to organ on chip and cell culture, that is in good agreement with the activities of the company. Thenew patent application US20190031992 is co-filed with CEDARS SINAI MEDICAL CENTER. This patent application describes a device, Emulate’s Intestine-Chip, that aims to personalizedrug treatments for people suffering from gastrointestinal diseases like IBD and Crohn’s disease.

• Two US design patents field by EMULATE were granted over this quarter (Other chip & system segment). Moreover, 1 US patent filed in collaboration with JANSSEN BIOTECH wasgranted (US10228381). This patent describes devices and methods of preventing, reducing, controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, surface-mediated clot formation, orcoagulation in a microfluidic device or chip. This patent is related to the Thrombosis-on-Chip and is the only published patent resulting from the collaboration between EMULATEand JANSSEN.

IP activity of EMULATE in the field of microfluidics.



1 GRANTED PATENT

0 PATENT TRANSFERT

0 DEAD PATENT

US10228381US20190031992

US20190093077 US design patentsUSD842493USD838864







https://sobjprd.questel.fr/sobj/servlet/get_pds/USD842493S1.pdf?userid=QPRK1005&type=0&pdfid=86468661&ekey=986

https://sobjprd.questel.fr/sobj/servlet/get_pds/USD838864S1.pdf?userid=QPRK1005&type=0&pdfid=85773987&ekey=1043



Q1 2019 OVERVIEWEMULATE: notable patents selected by Knowmade analyst

PATENT NUMBER



Organ on chip Additive channels

The present invention contemplates compositions, devices and methods of preventing, reducing,controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, swine-mediated clot formation, or coagulation in amicrofluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, blood (or other fluid with blood components) thatcontains anticoagulant is introduced into a microfluidic device comprising one or more additive channelscontaining one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood thatmakes contact with it “on-chip” before moving into the experimental region of the chip.

US20190031992 New patent Organ on chipSystems and methods for growth of intestinal

cells in microfluidic devices

The invention relates microfluidic chips seeded with stem-cell-derived cells that mature and/ordifferentiate into intestinal cells. In one embodiment, the stems are induced pluripotent stem cells(hiPSCs) and the intestinal cells are foregut cells. In some embodiments, such forgut chips are tested foreffects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during critical periods in tissue development mimickingcritical periods of fetal development for short and long term downstream effects. In particular, methodsfor use are provided for induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to elucidate adverse effects andmechanisms of chronic low-dose EDC exposures on developing gut and hypothalamic neuropeptidergicneurons, and serves as a platform for mimicking the in utero exposure to EDCs. Moreover, in yet furtherembodiments, iPS cells derived from obese individuals are seeded on chips for determining effects ofEDCs in relation to obsesigens.





Q1 2019 OVERVIEWFocus on main IP players of the quarter: HP

• HP is very active in the field of microfluidics. The company has over 200 patent families in the field of microfluidics, and about 50% are published since 2016. In thisdynamic trend, the company has filed 8 new patent applications this quarter, and these patents are mainly related to fluid control (e.g. microvalves, micromixers) andPoint-of-Care (dielectrophoresis separator).

• HP which holds a strong patent portfolio in the field of microfluidics strengthen its portfolio with new granted patents on fluid control (device for fluid mixture,apparatuses for fluid movement control and device with capillary chamber), and on analytical device (Optical spectrometer). These patents mainly granted in Taiwanwill be extend in US, EP and CN. However, these different patents do not claim key technical features, and these patents should not have a strong impact on the field ofmicrofluidics.

IP activity of HP in the field of microfluidics.



4 GRANTED PATENTS

0 PATENT TRANSFERT

0 DEAD PATENT

US10240978WO2019/017875

WO2019/013825







Q1 2019 OVERVIEWHP: notable patents selected by Knowmade analyst

PATENT NUMBER



Analytical device

Optical spectrometer

An apparatus comprising a microfluidic channel supported by a substrate; an optical spectrometercomprising: a waveguide, the waveguide comprising an input coupler and outcouplers; a light source todirect light to the input coupler of the waveguide; and optical sensors supported by the substrate, eachof the optical sensors optically coupled to one of the outcouplers.

WO2019/017875 New patentDiagnostic &

PoCDielectrophoresis separators with cell ejection

devices

The patent application describes a microfluidic device that includes at least one microfluidic channel, adielectrophoresls separator to separate a plurality of cells passing within the at (east one microfluidicchannel, and a thermal resistor to eject at least one cell from the microfluidic device.

WO2019/013825 New patent Fluid control Microfluidic valve

Disclosed herein are various example microfluidic valves that avoid much of the reliability issues andfabrication complexities found in many existing microfluidic valves. The disclosed microfluidic valveseach comprise a firing chamber having an orifice and connected to two portions of liquid conduit by tworespective ports. The microfluidic valves each further comprise a thermal resistor to close the valve. Thethermal resistor generates a bubble in a firing chamber that is sufficiently large such that liquid in thefiring chamber is sufficiently expelled to break any continuous string or stream of liquid extendingthrough or across the firing chamber from one port to another port. The ports are sized such thatmenisci form across each of the ports upon collapse of the bubble. The menisci inhibit liquid fromflowing back into the firing chamber, maintaining the capillary break, the interruption of liquid flowthrough the firing chamber, and maintaining the valve in a closed state.






Q1 2019 OVERVIEWFocus on main IP players of the quarter: IBM

• IBM is active in the field of microfluidics. The company has over 100 patent families in the field of microfluidics. In 2019, about 15 new patented invention are expected. This quarter,IBM has filed 4 new patents in the field of diagnostic (1 notable patent on wearable sweat sensor) and fluid control (microfluidic probe technology). The microfluidic probe is a non-contact scanning technology, first developed at IBM Research-Zurich, to perform local (bio)chemical reactions on surfaces. This patent (US20190001334) come from a deepcollaboration between the team led by Govind Kaigala at IBM Research-Zurich and the group of Moran Bercovici at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Overall, 6 patents co-filedbetween IBM and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology were published since 2013, and the majority of them were granted in several countries.

• Moreover, IBM has 3 US patent applications that were granted over this quarter. These patents are in various fields: analytical device (Optical sensor for spectroscopy), display(shapeable tactile touch screen) and fluid control for lab on chip (rocking Brownian motor for nanoparticles). This US granted patent (US10232370) is closely related to a publication inthe peer-review journal Science published in 2018 (link). IBM Research team showed in this paper the first real world demonstration of a rocking Brownian motor for nanoparticles. Themotors propel nanoscale particles along predefined racetracks to enable researchers to separate nanoparticle populations with unprecedented precision. The reported findings showgreat potential for lab-on-a-chip applications in material science, environmental sciences or biochemistry.

IP activity of IBM in the field of microfluidics.



3 GRANTED PATENT

0 PATENT TRANSFERT

0 DEAD PATENT


US20190094178

US20190001334 US10223251US10232370



https://arxiv.org/pdf/1808.08147.pdf







Q1 2019 OVERVIEWIBM: notable patents selected by Knowmade analyst

PATENT NUMBER


US20190001334 New patent

Fluid control/Molecularbiology &

biochemistry

Electro-kinetic device for species exchange

The patent relates to device for the delivery of minimally dispersed liquid interfaces for sequentialsurface chemistry. The inventors demonstrate rapid liquid switching on a microfluidic probe, whichenables localized multi-step surface reactions. The method is implemented using a vertical microfluidicprobe, allowing contact-free interaction with an open surface. Several applications, includingmeasurements of receptor–ligand reaction kinetics are demonstrated.

US20190094178 New patentDiagnostic &

PoCMicrofluidic device with laterally insertable

electrodes

The device comprises a substrate with a microchannel formed as a groove on a main surface of thesubstrate. The device further comprises one or more conduits extending parallel to the main surface ofthe substrate. The conduits further extend from a lateral surface of the substrate up to a lateral wall ofthe microchannel. The one or more conduits are otherwise configured so as to allow insertion of one ormore electrodes therein, respectively, such that an end of each of the one or more electrodes can reachinto the microchannel. Applications may notably be found for sweat analysis (e.g., via patches), urinecollection/analysis (e.g., via diapers), or saliva collection/analysis (e.g., via mouthguards). Such analysesmay, in particular, be advantageous for analyzing performances of athletes.


Fluid control Microfluidic ratchets for displacing particles

The patented device comprises a substrate with a channel defined therein, on an upper surface of thesubstrate, wherein a bottom wall of the channel comprises several contiguous steps having anasymmetric profile along a main direction of the channel, so as to form a ratchet topography. The devicefurther comprises a lid, opposite to and at a distance from the upper surface of the substrate, so as toface the bottom wall of the channel. The bottom wall and the lid are designed to allow like sign chargesto accumulate thereat, in presence of a polar liquid confined in the channel between the bottom walland the lid, so as to allow displacement of nanoscale particles in the polar liquid, along said maindirection of the channel, under application of an alternating force to said nanoscale particles, inoperation of the device.


Display & optics

Testing apps in micro-fluidics based devices

This invention generally relates to remote testing of software applications, and more specifically, toremote testing of software applications on computer devices having display screens that have transversemovement. Due to technological advancements, there are several mobile computing devices thatinclude a transparent overlay in the form of a shapeable, moveable membrane over a display screen.The membrane is movable in a direction perpendicular to the display screen; and bumps, ridges andother shapes can be formed in the membrane, over the display screen. These shapes can be used tosimulate knobs, keys and other three-dimensional shapes or structures that can be located andidentified by touch. These shapes also provide tactile feedback and provide for greater convenienceusing the touch screen interface. The moveable membrane can also be manipulated to give other visualcues to a user.







Q1 2019 OVERVIEWFocus on main IP players of the quarter: NANJING LANSION BIOTECH

• LANSION BIOTECHNOLOGY (NANJING LANSION BIOTECH) is a Chinese company specialized in research & development, production, services of in vitro diagnostic reagents and devices.The company has about 80 patent families published since 2017, mainly related to microfluidics (chips for PoC devices).

• Several patent applications filed by LANSION BIOTECHNOLOGY were granted over this quarter. These patents claim mainly chips for PoC devices (immunoassay). However, the majorityof new patents applications and granted patents are utility models. Utility models can be considered as small inventions because they have comparatively lower level of inventive stepand are less costly than a patented invention. After a preliminary examination, a utility model only takes several months from filing to grant. Therefore, utility model protection can beuseful for some inventions that have small technical improvements but are of significant commercial value. Moreover, the IP strategy of Lansion Biotechnology is focused on China,and it is unlikely that the company will extend these patents in the US or in Europe, and no notable patents were selected.

IP activity of NANJING LANSION BIOTECH in the field of microfluidics.



7 GRANTED PATENT

0 PATENT TRANSFERT

0 DEAD PATENT




MAIN START-UP FIRMS OF THE QUARTER



Q1 2019 OVERVIEWFocus on start-up firms 1/2

EDEN MICROFLUIDICS: EDEN MICROFLUIDICS was founded in 2017 and is based in France. The companyaims to provide advanced and certified materials, microfabrication and microfluidics solutions to bothresearchers and industrial partners. First published patent application: WO2019/053219. The inventionrelates to a purifying device designed to clean a fluid (waste water) of at least one pollutant, comprisinga microfluidic purification network.

CELLINO BIOTECH: CELLINO BIOTECH was founded in 2017 and is based in the US. The companydevelops intracellular delivery lasers and nanotechnology to provide gene editing for cell-based therapy.First published patent application: WO2019/046304. The patent claims an intracellular delivery systemcomprising a laser-activated surface; cells positioned at a distance from the laser-activated surface; and alaser pulse that enables the cells to import and/or export cargo (RNA, DNA, etc.) from or to a mediumsurrounding the cells.

ENG4LIFE: ENG4LIFE is an academic spin-off founded in 2018 and based in Italy. The company has aprincipal goal the industrialization of technological solutions based on engineering methods applied totypical problems of the life sciences (pharmaceutical and biomedical) First published patent application:WO2019/049186. The patent claims a continuous microfluidic process for the preparation ofnanoliposomes for the administration of iron and other micronutrients in nutraceutical or fortified foodproducts.

EVORION BIOTECHNOLOGIES: EVORION BIOTECHNOLOGIES was founded in 2017 and is located inGermany. The company develops groundbreaking, high-performance cell culture systems that enablemultiparametric analysis of complex cell populations at single-cell resolution. First published patentapplication: WO2019/048714. The invention relates to hydrogels and polymers suitable as buildingblocks for hydrogels as well as advantageous methods for encapsulating cells and/or particles. Alsoprovided are kits and methods for producing the hydrogels.


https://eden-microfluidics.com/


https://www.cellinobio.com/


http://www.eng4life.it/


https://www.evorion.de/




Q1 2019 OVERVIEWFocus on start-up firms 2/2

ELEGEN: ELEGEN was founded in 2017 and is based in the US. The company’s mission is to deploymicrofluidic technology in a new generation of DNA synthesizers aimed at enabling and acceleratingbiomedical advances. The company has no website. First published patent application: WO2019/040599.The invention relates to methods and compositions for routing and tracking multiple mobile units(beads, droplets, cells, bubbles, slugs and immiscible volumes) within a microfluidic device. The synthesisof large library of specific DNA or other nucleic acid molecules is achieved according to the methods andcompositions described in this patent.

IGENESIS BIOTECH SHANGHAI: IGENESIS BIOTECH (Shanghai) was founded in 2015 and is based inShanghai. The company has no website. First published patent application: CN109266518,CN109234141. These patents describe biological reaction devices with microfluidic structure for variousbiochemistry and molecular biology applications.

TIKOMAT: TIKOMAT was founded in 2015 and is based in Finland. The company has no website. Firstpublished patent application: WO2019/008235. The invention relates to fluid handling micro devices thatcan act as a micro- pump, compressor, dozer, valve, manifold or mixer, depending on the application.Operation of those devices is based on magnetic-field-induced shape changes of the Magnetic ShapeMemory (MSM) materials using a magnetic field sources placed outside the microfluidic device.

ADVANCED NANOBIO TECHNOLOGIES: ADVANCED NANOBIO TECHNOLOGIES was founded in 2017 andis based in Hong Kong. The company has no website. First published patent application: US20190091684.The invention describes a multi-channel microfluidic device for multi-parallel analyte detection, whichhas a different number of ports at two ends thereof and can use both the ports at two ends as inlets torealize a synchronized mode and an independent mode.

UFRACTION8: UFRACTION8 was founded in 2017 and is based in Scotland. The company providesscalable bioprocessing technology enabling biomass filtration, separation and dewatering, used withwide range of microbes like micro algae, yeast and bacteria, sorting biomass from culture medium withno harm and no flocculants unlike centrifuges, filters and membranes. First published patent application:GB201820944. No information available on this patent application. USXXXXXXX Click to link pdf document






http://ufraction8.com/



MAIN ACTIVE ACADEMIC INVENTORS



Q1 2019 OVERVIEWFOCUS ON MAIN ACTIVE ACADEMIC INVENTORS

NAME : MORAN BERCOVICIInstitution : Technion - Israel Institute of TechnologyResearch Interests : Microscale flow and transport phenomena, Electrokinetic flow,Focusing and separation of chemical and biological species, Microscale two-phase flow,Electrohydrodynamic instabilities, Microfluids and nanofluids, Lab on a chip devices andassays, Point-of-care medical diagnostics, On-chip molecular diagnostics andimmunoassays, On-chip environmental monitoring.Number of patents in the field of microfluidics : 15 patent familiesEmail : [email protected]

NAME : CURT I. CIVINInstitution: University of Maryland School of MedicineResearch Interests : Cell purification, Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine,Pediatrics, Physiology, Pediatric Oncology, Gene Therapy, Pediatric Hematology,Childhood Cancer, Childhood Leukemia, Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation,Myeloid DiseasesNumber of patents in the field of microfluidics : 9 patent familiesEmail : [email protected]

NAME : DAVID A. HAAKEInstitution : University of CaliforniaResearch Interests : Pathogen detection, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecularmechanisms of pathogenesis. Strong track record of successful research grantapplications from government agencies including the National Institutes of Health.Number of patents in the field of microfluidics : 5 patent familiesEmail : [email protected]

NAME : DONALD E. INGBERInstitution : Harvard CollegeResearch Interests : Advances in mechanobiology, tumor angiogenesis, tissueengineering, systems biology, nanobiotechnology and translational medicine. He is thefounding director of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at HarvardUniversity.Number of patents in the field of microfluidics : 85 patent familiesEmail : [email protected]

NAME : MADOU MARCInstitution : University of California, IrvineResearch Interests: Miniaturization science (MEMS and NEMS) with emphasis onchemical and biological applications. Current projects include polymer actuators (fordrug delivery), C-MEMS and CD based fluidics. Besides miniaturization techniques andmaterials choices, scaling laws are considered.Number of patents in the field of microfluidics : 16 patent familiesEmail : [email protected]

NAME : LUIS FERNANDO VELÁSQUEZ-GARCÍAInstitution : Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyResearch Interests : Fabrication of micro and nanoelectromechanical systems,electrospray, field electron devices, 3-D HV packaging, mass spectrometry, propulsion,and chemical reactors.Number of patents in the field of microfluidics : 5 patent familiesEmail : [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]








MAIN PATENT LITIGATION OF THE QUARTER



Q1 2019New patent litigation filed

PLAINTIFF DEFENDANTNATURE OF THE

ACTION PATENT SEGMENT CASE START DATE END DATE

ACCUSED PRODUCT

CYTONOMENANOCELLECT BIOMEDICAL

Patent infringement

US6877528US8623295US9011797US9339850

US10029263US10029283US10065188

Cell separation & analysis

1:19-cv-00301 02/12/2019 NAWOLF Cell Sorter

microfluidic device

WOLF Cell Sorter

Plaintiff Cytonome files this complaint for patent infringement against Defendant NanoCellect Biomedical. Cytonome is a US basedcompany that develops advanced solutions in cell purification for the industrial, clinical and life science research markets. NanoCellect,founded in 2009, is in the business of designing, researching, developing, and selling microfluidic devices, systems, and methods usedfor cell analysis and sorting. NanoCellect announced the launch of its WOLF Cell Sorter product in the United States on June 15, 2016.The WOLF® Cell Sorter enables sterile, bench-top flow cytometry for cell sorting, cell enrichment, and plate dispensing. Cytonomerequests that the Court enter judgment in its favor and against NanoCellect on the causes of action set forth above:

A. enter judgment that NanoCellect has infringed and is infringing one or more claims of each of the Cytonome Patents under 35U.S.C. § 271;

B. enter judgment that NanoCellect’s infringement was and is willful and award enhanced damages up to three times theamount of actual damages found in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 284;

C. award Cytonome all damages adequate to compensate Cytonome for NanoCellect’s patent infringement, such damages to bedetermined by a jury, and if necessary an accounting to adequately compensate Cytonome for NanoCellect’s infringement;

D. enter a permanent injunction against NanoCellect and its affiliates, subsidiaries, assigns, employees, agents, or anyone actingin privity or concert with NanoCellect, from infringing the Cytonome Patents;

E. an award of pre-judgment and post-judgment interest at the maximum rate allowed by law;F. an order finding that this is an exceptional case and awarding Cytonome its costs, expenses, disbursements, and reasonable

attorneys’ fees related to NanoCellect’s patent infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 285 and all other applicable statutes, rules andcommon law; and

G. such other further relief, in law or equity, as this Court deems just and proper.













ACCUSED PRODUCT

NUVOTRONICS COMPONENTZEECorrection of inventorship

US10128601

Fluid control / methods for establishing

electrical connections

5:19-cv-00072 02/28/2019 NA NA

Nuvotronics files a complaint for declaratory relief against ComponentZEE and Masud Beroz and/or forcorrection of inventorship on US10128601. Nuvotronics is a technology company focused on providing nextgeneration radio frequency and millimeter wave microelectronic components. ComponentZEE is a companycreated in 2014 and operated by its founder and sole member, Masud Beroz.

Nuvotronics prays for judgment and seeks relief as follows:A. For declaration that one or more Nuvotronics employees is a joint inventor on the ’601 Patent and an

appropriate order under 35 U.S.C. § 256(b) that the inventorship on the ’601 Patent be amended to includeone or more Nuvotronics employees as inventors; and/or

B. For Judgment that the ’601 Patent is invalid;C. Alternatively, for Judgment that the ’601 Patent is not enforceable;D. All applicable costs and attorneys’ fees, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §

285; andE. For such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. Fluid pressure activated electrical

contact devices and methodsUS10128601









ACCUSED PRODUCT

BIO-RAD 10X GENOMICSInter partesreview (IPR)

US9695468US9689024US9856530

Droplet processing,

molecular biology & biochemistry,

sample preparation

IPR2019-00574IPR2019-00566IPR2019-00565IPR2019-00567IPR2019-00568

01/15/2019 NA NA

BIO-RAD has filed 5 IPR (Inter partes review) against 3 patents owned by 10X GENOMICS. Inter partes review is a trial proceeding conducted at the Boardto review the patentability of one or more claims in a patent only on a ground that could be raised under §§ 102 or 103, and only on the basis of prior artconsisting of patents or printed publications.

Related Litigation:10X GENOMICS has filed parallel lawsuits in 2018 at the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) and United States District Court for the Northern Districtof California alleging that Bio-Rad infringes the US9856530, US9689024 and US9695468. Bio-Rad Accused Products are ddSEQ Cartridge Holder, ddSEQCartridges, ddSEQ Single-Cell Isolator and Single-Cell Sequencing Solution.

Methods for droplet-based sample preparationUS9689024

Methods and systems for processing polynucleotidesUS9856530

Methods for droplet-based sample preparationUS9695468












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