Patents by Inventor Antonio Varone
Antonio Varone has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11371000Abstract: The invention generally relates to a microfluidic platforms or “chips” for testing and understanding cancer, and, more specifically, for understanding the factors that contribute to cancer invading tissues and causing metastases. Tumor cells are grown on microfluidic devices with other non-cancerous tissues under conditions that simulate tumor invasion. The interaction with immune cells can be tested to inhibit this activity by linking a cancer chip to a lymph chip.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2017Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: EMULATE, INC.Inventors: Geraldine A Hamilton, Norman Wen, Catherine Karalis, Antonio Varone, Daniel Levner, Riccardo Barrile
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Publication number: 20220106547Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of gels for cell cultures, including but not limited to microfluidic devices and transwell devices, for culturing cells, such as organ cells, e.g. airway cells, intestinal cells, etc., and co-culturing cells, (e.g. parenchymal cells and endothelial cells, etc). As one example, the use of gels results in improved lung cell cultures, such as when using transwells and microfluidic devices, (e.g. for culturing healthy airway epithelial cells, culturing diseased airway epithelial cells, e.g., CF epithelial cells that are ciliated). The present invention relates to fluidic devices, methods and systems for use with gel layers within a microfluidic device. In particular, a partial gel layer is disposed within a microchannel of a microfluidic device. For example, a partial gel layer has a thickness ranging between approximately 20-100 ?m. A dilute partial gel layer of less than 100 ?m may be formed from a polymer solution of 0.5 mg/ml.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2021Publication date: April 7, 2022Inventors: Debora Barreiros Petropolis, Remi Villenave, Janna Nawroth, Tanvi Shroff, S. Jordan Kerns, Antonio Varone
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Publication number: 20220081676Abstract: The present invention relates to devices including microfluidic devices, e.g. Skin on-Chip (Skin-Chip), for simulating a physiological response to agents and injury, including tattoo injury. In particular, a Skin-Chip is intended for use in replicating the interaction of tattoo ink with skin on a cellular level, including but not limited to mechanisms of wound healing following a tattoo gun and/or tattoo needle induced skin injury; ink particle effects such as pigment retention, pigment distribution and pigment clearance; inflammatory response to foreign particles, i.e. tattoo ink, etc. Further, effects of tattoo inks on simulated microfluidic skin is extended to determine effects of systemic ink exposure upon other organs through use of organ chips, e.g. liver-chips, kidney-chips, Lymph node-chips, etc. In some embodiments, safer ink formulations, e.g. less toxic ink particles, less toxic ink diluents, etc., are contemplated for development and use over currently available tattoo inks and diluents.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Lian Leng, Justin Nguyen, Norman Wen, Antonio Varone
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Patent number: 11248203Abstract: A microfluidic device is contemplated comprising an open-top cavity with structural anchors on the vertical wall surfaces that serve to prevent gel shrinkage-induced delamination, a porous membrane (optionally stretchable) positioned in the middle over a microfluidic channel(s). The device is particularly suited to the growth of cells mimicking dermal layers.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2021Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: EMULATE, INCInventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Antonio Varone, Justin Nguyen, Lina Williamson, S. Jordan Kerns, Catherine Karalis, Geraldine Hamilton, Carol Lucchesi
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Publication number: 20220033757Abstract: A microfluidic device is contemplated comprising an open-top cavity with structural anchors on the vertical wall surfaces that serve to prevent gel shrinkage-induced delamination, a porous membrane (optionally stretchable) positioned in the middle over a microfluidic channel(s). The device is particularly suited to the growth of cells mimicking dermal layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Antonio Varone, Justin Nguyen, Lina Williamson, S. Jordan Kerns, Catherine Karalis, Geraldine Hamilton, Carol Lucchesi
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Patent number: 11150255Abstract: Compositions, devices and methods are described for preventing, reducing, controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, surface-mediated clot formation, or coagulation in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, blood (or other fluid with blood components) that contains anticoagulant is introduced into a microfluidic device comprising one or more additive channels containing one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood that makes contact with it “on-chip” before moving into the experimental region of the chip.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2017Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: EMULATE, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Jacob Fraser, Justin Nguyen, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Hyoungshin Park, Antonio Varone, Andries Van der Meer, Monicah Otieno, David Conegliano
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Publication number: 20210229097Abstract: An in vitro microfluidic “organ-on-chip” is described herein that mimics the structure and at least one function of specific areas of the epithelial system in vivo. In particular, a multicellular, layered, microfluidic culture is described, allowing for interactions between lamina propria-derived cells and the associated tissue specific epithelial cells and endothelial cells. This in vitro microfluidic system can be used for modeling inflammatory tissue, e.g., autoimmune disorders involving epithelia and diseases involving epithelial layers. These multicellular, layered microfluidic “organ-on-chip”, e.g. “epithelia-on-chip” further allow for comparisons between types of epithelia tissues, e.g., lung (Lung-On-Chip), bronchial (Airway-On-Chip), skin (Skin-On-Chip), cervix (Cervix-On-Chip), blood brain barrier (BBB-On-Chip), etc., in additional to neurovascular tissue, (Brain-On-Chip), and between different disease states of tissue, i.e. healthy, pre-disease and diseased areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2021Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: S. Jordan Kerns, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Daniel Levner, Carolina Lucchesi, Antonio Varone, Remi Villenave
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Publication number: 20210214670Abstract: A microfluidic device is contemplated comprising an open-top cavity with structural anchors on the vertical wall surfaces that serve to prevent gel shrinkage-induced delamination, a porous membrane (optionally stretchable) positioned in the middle over a microfluidic channel(s). The device is particularly suited to the growth of cells mimicking dermal layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2021Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Antonio Varone, Justin Nguyen, Lina Williamson, S. Jordan Kerns, Catherine Karalis, Geraldine Hamilton, Carol Lucchesi
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Patent number: 11059041Abstract: An in vitro microfluidic “organ-on-chip” is described herein that mimics the structure and at least one function of specific areas of the epithelial system in vivo. In particular, a multicellular, layered, microfluidic culture is described, allowing for interactions between lamina propria-derived cells and the associated tissue specific epithelial cells and endothelial cells. This in vitro microfluidic system can be used for modeling inflammatory tissue, e.g., autoimmune disorders involving epithelia and diseases involving epithelial layers. These multicellular, layered microfluidic “organ-on-chip”, e.g. “epithelia-on-chip” further allow for comparisons between types of epithelia tissues, e.g., lung (Lung-On-Chip), bronchial (Airway-On-Chip), skin (Skin-On-Chip), cervix (Cervix-On-Chip), blood brain barrier (BBB-On-Chip), etc., in additional to neurovascular tissue, (Brain-On-Chip), and between different disease states of tissue, i.e. healthy, pre-disease and diseased areas.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2020Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Emulate, Inc.Inventors: S. Jordan Kerns, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Daniel Levner, Carolina Lucchesi, Antonio Varone, Remi Villenave
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Patent number: 10989721Abstract: Compositions, devices and methods are described for preventing, reducing, controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, surface-mediated clot formation, or coagulation in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, blood (or other fluid with blood components) that contains anticoagulant is introduced into a microfluidic device comprising one or more additive channels containing one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood that makes contact with it “on-chip” before moving into the experimental region of the chip.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2017Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: EMULATE, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Jacob Fraser, Justin Nguyen, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Hyoungshin Park, Antonio Varone, Andries Van der Meer, Monicah Otieno, David Conegliano
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Patent number: 10961496Abstract: A microfluidic device is contemplated comprising an open-top cavity with structural anchors on the vertical wall surfaces that serve to prevent gel shrinkage-induced delamination, a porous membrane (optionally stretchable) positioned in the middle over a microfluidic channel(s). The device is particularly suited to the growth of cells mimicking dermal layers.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2016Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: EMULATE, INC.Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Antonio Varone, Justin Nguyen, Lina Williamson, S. Jordan Kerns, Catherine Karalis, Geraldine Hamilton, Carol Lucchesi
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Publication number: 20210062129Abstract: An in vitro microfluidic “organ-on-chip” device is described herein that mimics the structure and at least one function of specific areas of the epithelial system in vivo. In particular, a stem cell-based Lung-on-Chip is described. This in vitro microfluidic system can be used for modeling differentiation of cells on-chip into lung cells, e.g., a lung (Lung-On-Chip), bronchial (Airway-On-Chip; small-Airway-On-Chip), alveolar sac (Alveolar-On-Chip), etc., for use in modeling disease states of derived tissue, i.e. as healthy, pre-disease and diseased tissues. Additionally, stem cells under differentiation protocols for deriving (producing) differentiated lung cells off-chips may be seeded onto microfluidic devices at any desired point during the in vitro differentiation pathway for further differentiation on-chip or placed on-chip before, during or after terminal differentiation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Janna Nawroth, Riccardo Barrile, David Conegliano, Remi Villenave, Carolina Carolina, Justin Nguyen, Antonio Varone, Catherine Karalis, Geraldine Hamilton
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Publication number: 20210031197Abstract: An in vitro microfluidic “organ-on-chip” is described herein that mimics the structure and at least one function of specific areas of the epithelial system in vivo. In particular, a multicellular, layered, microfluidic culture is described, allowing for interactions between lamina propria-derived cells and the associated tissue specific epithelial cells and endothelial cells. This in vitro microfluidic system can be used for modeling inflammatory tissue, e.g., autoimmune disorders involving epithelia and diseases involving epithelial layers. These multicellular, layered microfluidic “organ-on-chip”, e.g. “epithelia-on-chip” further allow for comparisons between types of epithelia tissues, e.g., lung (Lung-On-Chip), bronchial (Airway-On-Chip), skin (Skin-On-Chip), cervix (Cervix-On-Chip), blood brain barrier (BBB-On-Chip), etc., in additional to neurovascular tissue, (Brain-On-Chip), and between different disease states of tissue, i.e. healthy, pre-disease and diseased areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2020Publication date: February 4, 2021Inventors: S. Jordan Kerns, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Daniel Levner, Carolina Lucchesi, Antonio Varone, Remi Villenave
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Patent number: 10908171Abstract: Compositions, devices and methods are described for preventing, reducing, controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, surface-mediated clot formation, or coagulation in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, blood (or other fluid with blood components) that contains anticoagulant is introduced into a microfluidic device comprising one or more additive channels containing one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood that makes contact with it “on-chip” before moving into the experimental region of the chip.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2017Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: EMULATE, INC.Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Jacob Fraser, Justin Nguyen, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Hyoungshin Park, Antonio Varone, Andries Van der Meer, Monicah Otieno, David Conegliano
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Patent number: 10852311Abstract: Compositions, devices and methods are described for preventing, reducing, controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, surface-mediated clot formation, or coagulation in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, blood (or other fluid with blood components) that contains anticoagulant is introduced into a microfluidic device comprising one or more additive channels containing one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood that makes contact with it “on-chip” before moving into the experimental region of the chip.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2017Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Emulate, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Jacob Fraser, Justin Nguyen, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Hyoungshin Park, Antonio Varone, Andries Van der Meer, Monicah Otieno, David Conegliano
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Patent number: 10828638Abstract: An in vitro microfluidic “organ-on-chip” is described herein that mimics the structure and at least one function of specific areas of the epithelial system in vivo. In particular, a multicellular, layered, microfluidic culture is described, allowing for interactions between lamina propria-derived cells and the associated tissue specific epithelial cells and endothelial cells. This in vitro microfluidic system can be used for modeling inflammatory tissue, e.g., autoimmune disorders involving epithelia and diseases involving epithelial layers. These multicellular, layered microfluidic “organ-on-chip”, e.g. “epithelia-on-chip” further allow for comparisons between types of epithelia tissues, e.g., lung (Lung-On-Chip), bronchial (Airway-On-Chip), skin (Skin-On-Chip), cervix (Cervix-On-Chip), blood brain barrier (BBB-On-Chip), etc., in additional to neurovascular tissue, (Brain-On-Chip), and between different disease states of tissue, i.e. healthy, pre-disease and diseased areas.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Emulate, Inc.Inventors: S. Jordan Kerns, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Daniel Levner, Carolina Lucchesi, Antonio Varone, Remi Villenave
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Publication number: 20200332240Abstract: The present invention contemplates compositions, devices and methods of simulating biological fluids in a fluidic device, including but not limited to a microfluidic chip. In one embodiment, fluid comprising a colloid under flow in a microfluidic chip has a fluid density or viscosity similar to a bodily fluid, e.g. blood, lymph, lung fluid, or the like. In one embodiment, a fluid is provided as a Theologically biomimetic blood surrogate or substitute for simulating physiological shear stress and cell dynamics in fluidic device, including but not limited to immune cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Antonio Varone, Magdalena Kasendra, Carolina Lucchesi, S. Jordan Kerns, Riccardo Barrile, Sonalee Barthakur
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Publication number: 20200283732Abstract: An in vitro microfluidic intestine on-chip is described herein that mimics the structure and at least one function of specific areas of the gastrointestinal system in vivo. In particular, a multicellular, layered, microfluidic intestinal cell culture, which is some embodiments is derived from patient's enteroids-derived cells, is described comprising L cells, allowing for interactions between L cells and gastrointestinal epithelial cells, endothelial cells and immune cells. This in vitro microfluidic system can be used for modeling inflammatory gastrointestinal autoimmune tissue, e.g., diabetes, obesity, intestinal insufficiency and other inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders. These multicellular-layered microfluidic intestine on-chips further allow for comparisons between types of gastrointestinal tissues, e.g., small intestinal duodenum, small intestinal jejunum, small intestinal ileum, large intestinal colon, etc., and between disease states of gastrointestinal tissue, i.e.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventors: Athanasia Apostolou, Antonio Varone, Magdalena Kasendra, Raymond Luc
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Publication number: 20190119618Abstract: The invention generally relates to a microfluidic platforms or “chips” for testing and understanding cancer, and, more specifically, for understanding the factors that contribute to cancer invading tissues and causing metastases. Tumor cells are grown on microfluidic devices with other non-cancerous tissues under conditions that simulate tumor invasion. The interaction with immune cells can be tested to inhibit this activity by linking a cancer chip to a lymph chip.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2017Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Geraldine Hamilton, Norman Wen, Catherine Karalis, Antonio Varone, Daniel Levner, Riccardo Barrile
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Patent number: 10228381Abstract: Compositions, devices and methods are described for preventing, reducing, controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, surface-mediated clot formation, or coagulation in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, blood (or other fluid with blood components) that contains anticoagulant is introduced into a microfluidic device comprising one or more additive channels containing one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood that makes contact with it “on-chip” before moving into the experimental region of the chip.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2017Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: EMULATE, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Jacob Fraser, Justin Nguyen, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Hyoungshin Park, Antonio Varone, Andries Van der Meer, Monicah Otieno, David Conegliano