Patents by Inventor Esther Amstad
Esther Amstad 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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Publication number: 20230099063Abstract: The present invention relates to self-healing shells incorporating amphiphilic molecules having metal-coordinating group(s) reversibly cross-linked with metal cations.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2019Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Gianluca Etienne, Esther Amstad
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Patent number: 10876688Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the production of fluidic droplets. Certain aspects of the invention are generally directed to systems and methods for creating droplets by flowing a fluid from a first channel to a second channel through a plurality of side channels. The fluid exiting the side channels into the second channel may form a plurality of droplets, and in some embodiments, at very high droplet production rates. In addition, in some aspects, double or higher-order multiple emulsions may also be formed. In some embodiments, this may be achieved by forming multiple emulsions through a direct, synchronized production method and/or through the formation of a single emulsion that is collected and re-injected into a second microfluidic device to form double emulsions.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: David A. Weitz, Esther Amstad
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Publication number: 20200360569Abstract: A polymeric structure comprising a plurality of spherical or polyhedral polymeric cells bound through their sidewalls via a connection element, wherein the polymeric cells and the connection element have a different Young's modulus.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Esther Amstad, Huachuan Du
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Publication number: 20200085753Abstract: The invention relates to microparticles comprising a crosslinked gel and methods for making and using same.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: David A. Weitz, Stefanie Utech, Esther Amstad, Raluca Ostafe, Angelo S. Mao, David J. Mooney, Connie Chang Wilking, Huanan Wang, Radivoje Prodanovich
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Patent number: 10471016Abstract: The invention relates to microparticles comprising a crosslinked gel and methods for making and using same.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2018Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: David J. Mooney, David A. Weitz, Stefanie Utech, Radivoje Prodanovich, Esther Amstad, Raluca Ostafe, Angelo S. Mao, Connie Chang Wilking, Huanan Wang
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Publication number: 20190086034Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the production of fluidic droplets. Certain aspects of the invention are generally directed to systems and methods for creating droplets by flowing a fluid from a first channel to a second channel through a plurality of side channels. The fluid exiting the side channels into the second channel may form a plurality of droplets, and in some embodiments, at very high droplet production rates. In addition, in some aspects, double or higher-order multiple emulsions may also be formed. In some embodiments, this may be achieved by forming multiple emulsions through a direct, synchronized production method and/or through the formation of a single emulsion that is collected and re-injected into a second microfluidic device to form double emulsions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventors: David A. Weitz, Esther Amstad
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Patent number: 10151429Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the production of fluidic droplets. Certain aspects of the invention are generally directed to systems and methods for creating droplets by flowing a fluid from a first channel to a second channel through a plurality of side channels. The fluid exiting the side channels into the second channel may form a plurality of droplets, and in some embodiments, at very high droplet production rates. In addition, in some aspects, double or higher-order multiple emulsions may also be formed. In some embodiments, this may be achieved by forming multiple emulsions through a direct, synchronized production method and/or through the formation of a single emulsion that is collected and re-injected into a second microfluidic device to form double emulsions.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2014Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: David A. Weitz, Esther Amstad
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Publication number: 20180214385Abstract: The invention relates to microparticles comprising a crosslinked gel and methods for making and using same.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2018Publication date: August 2, 2018Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: David J. Mooney, David A. Weitz, Stefanie Utech, Radivoje Prodanovich, Esther Amstad, Raluca Ostafe, Angelo S. Mao, Connie Chang Wilking, Wang Huanan
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Publication number: 20160279068Abstract: The invention relates to microparticles comprising a crosslinked gel and methods for making and using same.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2014Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventors: Stefanie Utech, Radivoje Prodanovic, Esther Amstad, Raluca Ostafe, David A. Weitz, Angelo S. Mao, David J. Mooney, Connie Chang Wilking, Wang Huanan
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Publication number: 20160271513Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microfluidics, and to spray drying and other drying techniques. Various embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems and methods for drying fluids contained within a channel such as a microfluidic channel. For example, a fluid may be partially or completely dried within a microfluidic channel, prior to being sprayed into a collection region. In some embodiments, the fluids may be dried relatively rapidly, resulting in spray-dried particles that are partially or completely amorphous. For instance, the fluid may contain salts, drugs, small molecules, ceramics, inorganic species, metals, sugars, polymers, etc., which may be dried to form partially or completely amorphous nanoparticles containing these species.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2014Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: David A. Weitz, Esther Amstad, Frans Spaepen
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Publication number: 20160091145Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the production of fluidic droplets. Certain aspects of the invention are generally directed to systems and methods for creating droplets by flowing a fluid from a first channel to a second channel through a plurality of side channels. The fluid exiting the side channels into the second channel may form a plurality of droplets, and in some embodiments, at very high droplet production rates. In addition, in some aspects, double or higher-order multiple emulsions may also be formed. In some embodiments, this may be achieved by forming multiple emulsions through a direct, synchronized production method and/or through the formation of a single emulsion that is collected and re-injected into a second microfluidic device to form double emulsions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: David A. Weitz, Esther Amstad
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Publication number: 20160008778Abstract: Devices and methods for dividing droplets are generally described. In some embodiments, an article may comprise a fluidic channel comprising an array of obstructions. In certain embodiments, the arrangement of obstructions in the array may affect the flow path of fluid in the channel. For example, the array of obstructions may be used to convert a polydisperse population of droplets into a relatively monodisperse population of droplets. Passing a polydisperse population of droplets through the array may result in the division of droplets such that the population of droplets exiting the array has a narrower distribution in the characteristic dimensions of the droplets. The arrangement of obstructions in the array may allow for high-throughput production of a substantially monodisperse population of droplets in some cases. In some embodiments, the population of droplets exiting the array may be converted into particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2014Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventors: David A. Weitz, Esther Amstad, Ralph Alexander Sperling
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Publication number: 20140284001Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microfluidics, and to spray drying and other drying techniques. By at least partially drying fluids within a microfluidic channel, instead of or in addition to conventional spray drying techniques, better control of the drying process can be achieved in certain aspects of the invention. In addition, various embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems and methods for drying fluids contained within a channel such as a microfluidic channel. For example, a fluid may be partially or completely dried within a microfluidic channel, prior to being sprayed into a collection region. In some embodiments, gases such as air may be directed into a channel containing a fluid, which may facilitate drying of the fluid. In some cases, the fluid may be accelerated due to the introduction of gases into the channel, and in certain embodiments, droplets of fluid may be disrupted to form smaller droplets as a result.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2013Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicants: President and Fellows of Harvard College, BASF SEInventors: Esther Amstad, Christian Holtze, David A. Weitz