Patents by Inventor Abigail June Spencer

Abigail June Spencer 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).

  • Publication number: 20210238526
    Abstract: The methods and systems described herein provide a cell culture platform with an array of tissue modeling environments and dynamic control of fluid flow. The cell culture platform includes an array of wells that are fluidically coupled by microchannel structures. The dynamically controlled flow of fluid interacts with cells grown within the microchannels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Coppeta, Joseph L. Charest, Else M. Vedula, Jeffrey T. Borenstein, Abigail June Spencer, Brett C. Isenberg
  • Patent number: 11001796
    Abstract: The methods and systems described herein provide a cell culture platform with an array of tissue modeling environments and dynamic control of fluid flow. The cell culture platform includes an array of wells that are fluidically coupled by microchannel structures. The dynamically controlled flow of fluid interacts with cells grown within the microchannels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Coppeta, Joseph L. Charest, Else M. Vedula, Jeffrey T. Borenstein, Abigail June Spencer, Brett C. Isenberg
  • Patent number: 10376884
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein related to an apparatus including a fluid flow plate and a microfluidic valve assembly. The fluid flow plate includes a plurality of polymer layers that define a fluid flow passage through the microfluidic valve assembly. The microfluidic valve assembly includes a valve seat, a flexible membrane, a valve cavity, a valve head, and an actuator. The actuator is configured to selectively control pressure applied by the valve head to the flexible membrane, such that in a first actuator state the valve head depresses the flexible membrane into the valve cavity and into contact with the valve seat, thereby preventing fluid flow through the valve assembly, and in a second state, the valve head and the flexible membrane are retracted substantially out of the valve cavity allowing fluid to flow through the valve assembly. In various implementations, the valve seat and/or the flexible membrane include an elastomer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Mescher, Jonathan Robert Coppeta, Abigail June Spencer, Brett Isenberg
  • Publication number: 20180142196
    Abstract: The methods and systems described herein provide a cell culture platform with an array of tissue modeling environments and dynamic control of fluid flow. The cell culture platform includes an array of wells that are fluidically coupled by microchannel structures. The dynamically controlled flow of fluid interacts with cells grown within the microchannels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Coppeta, Joseph L. Charest, Else M. Vedula, Jeffrey T. Borenstein, Abigail June Spencer, Brett C. Isenberg
  • Patent number: 9777252
    Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein are generally related to a cell culture system. More particularly, the systems and methods enable the culturing and interconnecting of a plurality of tissue types in a biomimetic environment. By culturing organ specific tissue types within a biomimetic environment and interconnecting each of the organ systems in a physiologically meaningful way, experiments can be conducted on in vitro cells that substantially mimic the responses of in vivo cell populations. In some implementations, the organ systems are fluidically connected with a constant-volume pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignees: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC., THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Joseph Cuiffi, Mark Joseph Mescher, Jonathan Robert Coppeta, Samuel Walker Inman, Abigail June Spencer, Transon Van Nguyen, Jeffrey T. Borenstein
  • Publication number: 20160220997
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein related to an apparatus including a fluid flow plate and a microfluidic valve assembly. The fluid flow plate includes a plurality of polymer layers that define a fluid flow passage through the microfluidic valve assembly. The microfluidic valve assembly includes a valve seat, a flexible membrane, a valve cavity, a valve head, and an actuator. The actuator is configured to selectively control pressure applied by the valve head to the flexible membrane, such that in a first actuator state the valve head depresses the flexible membrane into the valve cavity and into contact with the valve seat, thereby preventing fluid flow through the valve assembly, and in a second state, the valve head and the flexible membrane are retracted substantially out of the valve cavity allowing fluid to flow through the valve assembly. In various implementations, the valve seat and/or the flexible membrane include an elastomer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Mescher, Jonathan Robert Coppeta, Abigail June Spencer, Brett Isenberg
  • Publication number: 20160145553
    Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein are generally related to a cell culture system. More particularly, the systems and methods enable the culturing and interconnecting of a plurality of tissue types in a biomimetic environment. By culturing organ specific tissue types within a biomimetic environment and interconnecting each of the organ systems in a physiologically meaningful way, experiments can be conducted on in vitro cells that substantially mimic the responses of in vivo cell populations. In some implementations, the organ systems are fluidically connected with a constant-volume pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Cuiffi, Mark Joseph Mescher, Jonathan Robert Coppeta, Samuel Walker Inman, Abigail June Spencer, Transon Van Nguyen, Jeffrey T. Borenstein
  • Patent number: 9249387
    Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein are generally related to a cell culture system. More particularly, the systems and methods enable the culturing and interconnecting of a plurality of tissue types in a biomimetic environment. By culturing organ specific tissue types within a biomimetic environment and interconnecting each of the organ systems in a physiologically meaningful way, experiments can be conducted on in vitro cells that substantially mimic the responses of in vivo cell populations. In some implementations, the organ systems are fluidically connected with a constant-volume pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., The Massachusettes Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Joseph Cuiffi, Mark Joseph Mescher, Jonathan Robert Coppeta, Samuel Walker Inman, Abigail June Spencer, Transon Van Nguyen, Jeffrey T. Borenstein
  • Publication number: 20140212964
    Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein are generally related to a cell culture system. More particularly, the systems and methods enable the culturing and interconnecting of a plurality of tissue types in a biomimetic environment. By culturing organ specific tissue types within a biomimetic environment and interconnecting each of the organ systems in a physiologically meaningful way, experiments can be conducted on in vitro cells that substantially mimic the responses of in vivo cell populations. In some implementations, the organ systems are fluidically connected with a constant-volume pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicants: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Cuiffi, Mark Joseph Mescher, Jonathan Robert Coppeta, Samuel Walker Inman, Abigail June Spencer, Transon Van Nguyen, Jeffrey T. Borenstein