Patents by Inventor Alberto Fernandez-Nieves

Alberto Fernandez-Nieves 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: 11766823
    Abstract: A method or apparatus for creating a three-dimensional tissue construct of a desired shape for repair or replacement of a portion of an organism. The method may comprise injecting at least one biomaterial in a three-dimensional pattern into a first material such that the at least one biomaterial is held in the desired shape of the tissue construct by the first material. The apparatus may comprise an injector configured to inject at least one biomaterial in a three-dimensional pattern into a first material such that the at least one biomaterial is held in the desired shape of the tissue construct by the first material. The first material may comprise a yield stress material, which may be a material exhibiting Herschel-Bulkley behavior. The tissue construct may have a smallest feature size of ten micrometers or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Ettor Angelini, Wallace Gregory Sawyer, Kyle Gene Rowe, Tapomoy Bhattacharjee, Alberto Fernandez-Nieves, Ya-Wen Chang, Samantha M. Marquez
  • Patent number: 11654612
    Abstract: A method or apparatus for three-dimensionally printing. The method may comprise causing a phase change in a region of the first material by applying focused energy to the region using a focused energy source, and displacing the first material with a second material. The apparatus may comprise a container configured to hold a first material, a focused energy source configured to cause a phase change in a region of the first material by applying focused energy to the region, and an injector configured to displace the first material with a second material. The first material may comprise a yield stress material, which is a material exhibiting Herschel-Bulkley behavior. The yield stress material may comprise a soft granular gel. The second material may comprise one or more cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Alberto Fernandez-Nieves, Thomas Ettor Angelini, Ya-Wen Chang, Samantha M. Marquez
  • Publication number: 20220055287
    Abstract: A method or apparatus for three-dimensionally printing. The method may comprise causing a phase change in a region of the first material by applying focused energy to the region using a focused energy source, and displacing the first material with a second material. The apparatus may comprise a container configured to hold a first material, a focused energy source configured to cause a phase change in a region of the first material by applying focused energy to the region, and an injector configured to displace the first material with a second material. The first material may comprise a yield stress material, which is a material exhibiting Herschel-Bulkley behavior. The yield stress material may comprise a soft granular gel. The second material may comprise one or more cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Alberto Fernandez-Nieves, Thomas Eltor Angelini, Ya-Wen Chang, Samantha M. Marquez
  • Patent number: 11192292
    Abstract: A method or apparatus for three-dimensionally printing. The method may comprise causing a phase change in a region of the first material by applying focused energy to the region using a focused energy source, and displacing the first material with a second material. The apparatus may comprise a container configured to hold a first material, a focused energy source configured to cause a phase change in a region of the first material by applying focused energy to the region, and an injector configured to displace the first material with a second material. The first material may comprise a yield stress material, which is a material exhibiting Herschel-Bulkley behavior. The yield stress material may comprise a soft granular gel. The second material may comprise one or more cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignees: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Georigia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Alberto Fernandez-Nieves, Thomas Ettor Angelini, Ya-Wen Chang, Samantha M. Marquez
  • Publication number: 20210252777
    Abstract: A method or apparatus for creating a three-dimensional tissue construct of a desired shape for repair or replacement of a portion of an organism. The method may comprise injecting at least one biomaterial in a three-dimensional pattern into a first material such that the at least one biomaterial is held in the desired shape of the tissue construct by the first material. The apparatus may comprise an injector configured to inject at least one biomaterial in a three-dimensional pattern into a first material such that the at least one biomaterial is held in the desired shape of the tissue construct by the first material. The first material may comprise a yield stress material, which may be a material exhibiting Herschel-Bulkley behavior. The tissue construct may have a smallest feature size of ten micrometers or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Ettor ANGELINI, Wallace Gregory SAWYER, Kyle Gene ROWE, Tapomoy BHATTACHARJEE, Alberto FERNANDEZ-NIEVES, Ya-Wen CHANG, Samantha M. MARQUEZ
  • Patent number: 11007705
    Abstract: A method or apparatus for creating a three-dimensional tissue construct of a desired shape for repair or replacement of a portion of an organism. The method may comprise injecting at least one biomaterial in a three-dimensional pattern into a first material such that the at least one biomaterial is held in the desired shape of the tissue construct by the first material. The apparatus may comprise an injector configured to inject at least one biomaterial in a three-dimensional pattern into a first material such that the at least one biomaterial is held in the desired shape of the tissue construct by the first material. The first material may comprise a yield stress material, which may be a material exhibiting Herschel-Bulkley behavior. The tissue construct may have a smallest feature size of ten micrometers or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Ettor Angelini, Wallace Gregory Sawyer, Kyle Gene Rowe, Tapomoy Bhattacharjee, Alberto Fernandez-Nieves, Ya-Wen Chang, Samantha M. Marquez
  • Publication number: 20180021140
    Abstract: A method or apparatus for creating a three-dimensional tissue construct of a desired shape for repair or replacement of a portion of an organism. The method may comprise injecting at least one biomaterial in a three-dimensional pattern into a first material such that the at least one biomaterial is held in the desired shape of the tissue construct by the first material. The apparatus may comprise an injector configured to inject at least one biomaterial in a three-dimensional pattern into a first material such that the at least one biomaterial is held in the desired shape of the tissue construct by the first material. The first material may comprise a yield stress material, which may be a material exhibiting Herschel-Bulkley behavior. The tissue construct may have a smallest feature size of ten micrometers or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicants: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Ettor Angelini, Wallace Gregory Sawyer, Kyle Gene Rowe, Tapomoy Bhattacharjee, Alberto Fernandez-Nieves, Ya-Wen Chang, Samantha M. Marquez
  • Publication number: 20170361534
    Abstract: A method or apparatus for three-dimensionally printing. The method may comprise causing a phase change in a region of the first material by applying focused energy to the region using a focused energy source, and displacing the first material with a second material. The apparatus may comprise a container configured to hold a first material, a focused energy source configured to cause a phase change in a region of the first material by applying focused energy to the region, and an injector configured to displace the first material with a second material. The first material may comprise a yield stress material, which is a material exhibiting Herschel-Bulkley behavior. The yield stress material may comprise a soft granular gel. The second material may comprise one or more cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicants: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Georigia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Alberto Fernandez-Nieves, Thomas Ettor Angelini, Ya-Wen Chang, Samantha M. Marquez
  • Publication number: 20150290362
    Abstract: Composite constructs of polymer matrices and polymeric microgels, and methods of making and using thereof, are described. The addition of the microgels to polymeric matrices retains the overall mechanical properties of the matrices and enables cell spreading, invasion and vascularization. Using fibrin as a model system, composite fibrin constructs with microgels are described, in which microgels form unique interconnected pockets within the fibrin matrix. The microgel assembly is driven by the polymerization dynamics of fibrin, and the architecture of these interconnected pockets can be tuned. The composite constructs support cell spreading, migration and infiltration more efficiently than do control matrices. The composite constructs can be used attract cells and/or to deliver therapeutic, diagnostic, nutraceutical, prophylactic and cosmetic agents to a desired site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Alison Douglas, Thomas Barker, Louis Andrew Lyons, Alberto Fernandez-Nieves
  • Patent number: 7776927
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to emulsions such as multiple emulsions, and to methods and apparatuses for making emulsions, and techniques for using the same. A multiple emulsion generally describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein which, in some cases, can contain even smaller droplets therein, etc. Emulsions, including multiple emulsions can be formed in certain embodiments with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored to include any number of inner droplets, in any desired nesting arrangement, within a single outer droplet. In addition, in some aspects of the invention, one or more droplets may be controllably released from a surrounding droplet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Liang-Yin Chu, Ho Cheung Shum, Alberto Fernandez-Nieves, Andrew S. Utada, Enric Santanach Carreras, David A. Weitz
  • Publication number: 20090012187
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to emulsions such as multiple emulsions, and to methods and apparatuses for making emulsions, and techniques for using the same. A multiple emulsion generally describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein which, in some cases, can contain even smaller droplets therein, etc. Emulsions, including multiple emulsions can be formed in certain embodiments with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored to include any number of inner droplets, in any desired nesting arrangement, within a single outer droplet. In addition, in some aspects of the invention, one or more droplets may be controllably released from a surrounding droplet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: Liang-Yin Chu, Ho Cheung Shum, Alberto Fernandez-Nieves, Andrew S. Utada, Enric Santanach Carreras, David A. Weitz