Patents by Inventor Timothy M. Swager

Timothy M. Swager 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).

  • Patent number: 10620143
    Abstract: A sensor including a fluorinated receptor can be used to identify an analyte through shift in 19F NMR resonance of the receptor when the receptor interacts with the analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Yanchuan Zhao, Lily Chen
  • Patent number: 10545093
    Abstract: A detector can detect an analyte including a carbon-carbon multiple bond moiety and capable of undergoing Diels-Alder reaction with a heteroaromatic compound having an extrudable group. The detector can detect, differentiate, and quantify ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Joseph M. Azzarelli, Kathleen R. White
  • Publication number: 20190388849
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may be useful for optofluidic devices. For example, optofluidic devices using dynamic fluid lens materials represent an ideal platform to create versatile, reconfigurable, refractive optical components. For example, the articles described herein may be useful as fluidic tunable compound micro-lenses. Such compound micro-lenses may be composed of two or more components (e.g., two or more inner phases) that form stable bi-phase emulsion droplets in outer phases (e.g., aqueous media). In some embodiments, the articles described herein may be useful as light emitting droplets. Advantageously, the plurality of droplets may be configured such that light rays may modified (e.g., via stimulation of the droplets, exposure to an analyte such as a pathogen) to have a detectable emission intensity and/or angle of maximum emission intensity under a particular set of conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Sara N. Nagelberg, Mathias Kolle, Lukas Zeininger, Kent Harvey, Myles Herbert
  • Publication number: 20190375887
    Abstract: Porous compositions such as flexible polymers with side chain porosity are generally provided. In some embodiments, the composition comprises a flexible polymer backbone and a plurality of rigid side chains. In some embodiments, the rigid side chains form pores. In some embodiments, the rigid side chains may comprise two or more [2.2.2] bicyclic cores (e.g., formed by a ring opening metathesis polymerization. The compounds and methods described herein may be useful in various applications including, for example, gas separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Yuan He, Zachary Smith, Sharon Lin, Francesco Maria Benedetti
  • Patent number: 10475601
    Abstract: Devices comprising at least two electrodes with a layer disposed therebetween are disclosed. In some embodiments, the layer disposed therebetween may be an insulator. In some embodiments, the layer may be capable of being deformed. Deforming the layer may cause a change in one or more materials properties of the device, such as the electrical properties and/or the optical properties of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Lang, Timothy M. Swager, Vladimir Bulovic, Farnaz Niroui, Ellen Sletten
  • Publication number: 20190337806
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to compositions including discrete nanostructures (e.g., nanostructures including a functionalized graphene layer and a core species bound to the functionalized graphene layer), and related articles and methods. A composition may have a coefficient of friction of less than or equal to 0.02. Discrete nanostructures may have a substantially non-planar configuration. A core species may reversibly covalently bind a first portion of a functionalized graphene layer to a second portion of the functionalized graphene layer. Articles, e.g., articles including a plurality of discrete nanostructures and a means for depositing the plurality of discrete nanostructures on a surface, are also provided. Methods (e.g., methods of forming a layer) are also provided, including depositing a composition onto a substrate surface and/or applying a mechanical force to the composition, e.g., such that the composition exhibits a coefficient of friction of less than or equal to 0.02.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy M. Swager, Intak Jeon, Gee Hoon Park, Pan Wang
  • Patent number: 10466218
    Abstract: A sensor can include a conductive region in electrical communication with at least two electrodes, the conductive region including a conductive material and an alkene-interacting metal complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Sophie Liu, Graham Sazama, Alexander R. Petty, Jan M. Schnorr
  • Publication number: 20190285757
    Abstract: Compositions, devices, and methods for determining ionizing radiation are generally described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Maggie He, Lukas Zeininger
  • Publication number: 20190212333
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may be useful in the detection of analytes. The systems and methods may allow for a relatively simple and rapid way for detecting analytes such as chemical and/or biological analytes and may be useful in numerous applications including sensing, food manufacturing, medical diagnostics, performance materials, dynamic lenses, water monitoring, environmental monitoring, detection of proteins, detection of DNA, among other applications. For example, the systems and methods described herein may be used for determining the presence of a contaminant such as bacteria (e.g., detecting pathogenic bacteria in food and water samples which helps to prevent widespread infection, illness, and even death). Advantageously, the systems and methods described herein may not have the drawbacks in current detection technologies including, for example, relatively high costs, long enrichment steps and analysis times, and/or the need for extensive user training.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Qifan Zhang, Suchol Savagatrup
  • Publication number: 20190184356
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods for forming droplets and/or emulsions. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods comprise two or more components miscible at a first temperature and immiscible at a second temperature, dispersed in an outer phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Edmundo Daniel Blankschtein, Lauren Dell Zarzar, Vishnu Sresht, Ellen Sletten, Julia Ann Kalow
  • Publication number: 20190170737
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may be useful in the detection of analytes. The systems and methods may allow for a relatively simple and rapid way for detecting analytes such as chemical and/or biological analytes and may be useful in numerous applications including sensing, food manufacturing, medical diagnostics, performance materials, dynamic lenses, water monitoring, environmental monitoring, detection of proteins, detection of DNA, among other applications. For example, the systems and methods described herein may be used for determining the presence of a contaminant such as bacteria (e.g., detecting pathogenic bacteria in food and water samples which helps to prevent widespread infection, illness, and even death). Advantageously, the systems and methods described herein may not have the drawbacks in current detection technologies including, for example, relatively high costs, long enrichment steps and analysis times, and/or the need for extensive user training.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Hadley Sikes Johnson, Qifan Zhang, Eric Alexander Miller, Lukas Zeininger, Ki-Joo Sung, Kosuke Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20190170736
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may be useful in the detection of analytes. The systems and methods may allow for a relatively simple and rapid way for detecting analytes such as chemical and/or biological analytes and may be useful in numerous applications including sensing, food manufacturing, medical diagnostics, performance materials, dynamic lenses, water monitoring, environmental monitoring, detection of proteins, detection of DNA, among other applications. For example, the systems and methods described herein may be used for determining the presence of a contaminant such as bacteria (e.g., detecting pathogenic bacteria in food and water samples which helps to prevent widespread infection, illness, and even death). Advantageously, the systems and methods described herein may not have the drawbacks in current detection technologies including, for example, relatively high costs, long enrichment steps and analysis times, and/or the need for extensive user training.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Qifan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20190135637
    Abstract: Carbon-based materials, and associated methods and articles, are generally provided. In some embodiments, a carbon-based material comprises a carbon-based portion and a functional group bonded to the carbon-based portion. The functional group may be capable of forming a reversible covalent bond with a species. Carbon may make up greater than or equal to 30 wt % of the carbon-based portion. The carbon-based portion may comprise graphene, and a ratio of a total number of functional groups in a plurality of functional groups bonded to the graphene to a total number of carbon atoms in the plurality of carbon atoms of the graphene may be greater than or equal to 1:50. The carbon-based portion may comprise graphene, and greater than or equal to 70% of the graphene sheets may be spaced apart from their nearest neighbors by a distance of greater than or equal to 10 ?. A method may comprise applying a voltage to a carbon-based material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Intak Jeon, Timothy M. Swager
  • Patent number: 10252231
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods for forming droplets and/or emulsions. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods comprise two or more components miscible at a first temperature and immiscible at a second temperature, dispersed in an outer phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Edmundo Daniel Blankschtein, Lauren Dell Zarzar, Vishnu Sresht, Ellen Sletten, Julia Ann Kalow
  • Publication number: 20190086360
    Abstract: A sensor can include a redox-active complex. The sensor can be voltage sensitive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicants: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Suchol Savagatrup, Vera Schroder, Maggie He, Sibo Lin, Xi-Xiang Zhang, Khaled N. Salama
  • Patent number: 10236450
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to compositions including bridged bicyclic compounds such as iptycene-based structures and extended iptycene structures. In some embodiments, the compositions may be useful in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic photovoltaics, and other devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Troy Andrew Van Voorhis, Marc A. Baldo, Tony Wu, Katsuaki Kawasumi, Tianyu Zhu
  • Publication number: 20190031832
    Abstract: Disclosed are cross-linked polymers comprising a monomer, a cross-linker, and a sulfur moiety in the polymer backbone. Methods of making cross-linked polymers comprising a monomer, a cross-linker, and a sulfur moieity in the polymer backbone are disclosed. A metal complex, comprising a cross-linked polymer chelated to a toxic heavy metal atom or ion is disclosed. The disclosure provides a method of toxic heavy metal remediation using the cross-linked polymers. Also provided are articles and coatings comprising the disclosed cross-linked polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Wen J. Ong
  • Patent number: 10160715
    Abstract: Methods for mechanochemically synthesizing compositions comprising bridged bicyclic-based compounds such as iptycene-based compounds are generally provided. In some cases, two or more polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons may be mechanochemically reacted such that the product comprises the bridged bicyclic-based compound. In some embodiments, the product (e.g., the bridged bicyclic compound) may comprise two or more [2.2.2] bicyclic cores. In certain embodiments, the mechanochemical reactions described herein may produce higher order bridged bicyclic-based compounds such as oligoiptcyenes or poly-iptycenes. In certain embodiments, the bridged bicyclic based compound comprises a molecular cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Yanchuan Zhao, Silvia Veleirinho de Oliveira Rocha
  • Publication number: 20180330897
    Abstract: Devices comprising at least two electrodes with a layer disposed therebetween are disclosed. In some embodiments, the layer disposed therebetween may be an insulator. In some embodiments, the layer may be capable of being deformed. Deforming the layer may cause a change in one or more materials properties of the device, such as the electrical properties and/or the optical properties of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Lang, Timothy M. Swager, Vladimir Bulovic, Farnaz Niroui, Ellen Sletten
  • Patent number: 10082016
    Abstract: A composition for stabilizing dispersed particles in an ionically charged solution is disclosed. The composition includes a carbonaceous substrate, the carbonaceous substrate operable to undergo a grafting-to approach for functionalization. The composition also includes a covalently bound stabilizing polymer, the covalently bound stabilizing polymer operable to be prepared as a diazonium salt for grafting to the carbonaceous substrate and a plurality of positively and negatively charged subgroups, the plurality of positively and negatively charged subgroups positioned within the covalently bound stabilizing polymer, where the plurality of positively and negatively charged subgroups are operable to stabilize the dispersed particles amongst positively and negatively charged ions within the ionically charged solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Carlos A. Zuniga, John B. Goods, Jason R. Cox, Timothy M. Swager