Patents by Inventor Charles R. Mace

Charles R. Mace 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: 12372523
    Abstract: Articles and methods involving fluidic devices are generally provided. In some embodiments, a fluidic device comprises a first layer comprising a central region in fluidic communication with an environment external to the fluidic device. The first layer may also comprise a first channel and a second channel in fluidic communication with the central region and extending radially outwards therefrom. The first and second channels may comprises first and second sample regions from which first and second samples can be removed from the fluidic device. In some embodiments, a fluidic device comprises a first layer and a second, filtration layer configured to separate blood cells from plasma positioned between the environment external to the fluidic device and the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Jessica E. Schilling, Syrena C. Fernandes, Keith Baillargeon
  • Publication number: 20250235801
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are kits, articles, and methods for blood separation, comprising: a support structure comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a channel between the inlet and the outlet; a separation device; and an absorbent layer; wherein the absorbent layer and support structure are configured such that the absorbent layer can be positioned in the support structure and be in fluidic connection with the inlet and the outlet of the support structure; wherein the separation device is removable from the support structure; wherein the outlet is a vessel and/or is configured to be in fluidic connection with a vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Applicant: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Keith Baillargeon
  • Publication number: 20250231173
    Abstract: Articles and methods to separate blood cells from plasma are generally provided. In some embodiments, an article comprises an absorbent layer comprising a sample collection region laterally spaced from and fluidically connected with filters. The sample collection region may be removable, in some embodiments. In some embodiments, an article comprises a first filter and a second, filter configured to separate blood cells from plasma positioned between the environment external to the article and the first filter. In the context of the present disclosure, it has been recognized that the articles and methods described herein can be used to passively separate plasma with a high purity from whole blood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Applicant: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Giorgio Gianini Morbioli, Keith Baillargeon
  • Publication number: 20250177974
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed toward fluidic devices that allow lateral and/or vertical transport of a fluid comprising cells, and possibly at least a portion of the cells disposed in the fluid, through one or more layers therein. For example, some fluidic devices comprise a layer comprising a channel that allows for lateral transport of a fluid comprising cells and/or cells disposed in such a fluid. As another example, some fluidic devices comprise a layer comprising a vertical transport region that allows for vertical transport of a fluid comprising cells and/or cells disposed in such a fluid. The fluidic devices described herein may also comprise one or more layers that filter cells and/or do not allow for transport of cells therethrough. The use of such layers in combination with layers allowing for lateral and/or vertical cell transport may advantageously allow cells to be transported through one or more portions of a device and retained at another portion of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Applicant: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Lara P. Murray
  • Publication number: 20250041768
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a first layer of a porous material with pores having a first average pore size and a liquid-receiving area through which a liquid sample is received into the microfluidic device. A second layer of another porous material, with pores of a second average pore size, is stacked below the first layer and has a channel with a starting end positioned at least in part in an overlapping manner with the liquid-receiving area. The channel has a terminating end extending laterally at a predetermined wicking distance from the starting end. The first average pore size and the second average pore size cause a wicking effect in which at least some of the liquid sample flows along the channel at least a portion of the wicking distance between the starting end and the terminating end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Syrena C. Fernandes, Samuel B. Berry
  • Patent number: 12145085
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a first layer of a porous material with pores having a first average pore size and a liquid-receiving area through which a liquid sample is received into the microfluidic device. A second layer of another porous material, with pores of a second average pore size, is stacked below the first layer and has a channel with a starting end positioned at least in part in an overlapping manner with the liquid-receiving area. The channel has a terminating end extending laterally at a predetermined wicking distance from the starting end. The first average pore size and the second average pore size cause a wicking effect in which at least some of the liquid sample flows along the channel at least a portion of the wicking distance between the starting end and the terminating end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Syrena C. Fernandes, Samuel B. Berry
  • Patent number: 12115471
    Abstract: A method is directed to separating contaminants from mammalian cells in an aqueous multiphase system, and includes loading a container with a liquid having a top liquid phase and a bottom liquid phase. A cover medium is inserted in the container with a mixture of cultured mammalian cells and contaminants. The container is incubated and centrifuged for respective periods of time. In response to the centrifuging, the cells are separated from the contaminants in accordance with the respective density of the cells, the contaminants, and each liquid phase, resulting in the cells being located at a liquid-to-liquid interface between the top liquid phase and the bottom liquid phase and the contaminants being located at the bottom of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Christopher Luby
  • Publication number: 20240337653
    Abstract: Articles and methods involving fluidic devices are generally provided. In some embodiments, a fluidic device comprises a first layer comprising a central region in fluidic communication with an environment external to the fluidic device. The first layer may also comprise a first channel and a second channel in fluidic communication with the central region and extending radially outwards therefrom. The first and second channels may comprises first and second sample regions from which first and second samples can be removed from the fluidic device. In some embodiments, a fluidic device comprises a first layer and a second, filtration layer configured to separate blood cells from plasma positioned between the environment external to the fluidic device and the first layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Jessica E. Schilling, Syrena C. Fernandes, Keith Baillargeon
  • Publication number: 20240001265
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a first layer of a porous material with pores having a first average pore size and a liquid-receiving area through which a liquid sample is received into the microfluidic device. A second layer of another porous material, with pores of a second average pore size, is stacked below the first layer and has a channel with a starting end positioned at least in part in an overlapping manner with the liquid-receiving area. The channel has a terminating end extending laterally at a predetermined wicking distance from the starting end. The first average pore size and the second average pore size cause a wicking effect in which at least some of the liquid sample flows along the channel at least a portion of the wicking distance between the starting end and the terminating end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Syrena C. Fernandes, Samuel B. Berry
  • Patent number: 11772017
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a first layer of a porous material with pores having a first average pore size and a liquid-receiving area through which a liquid sample is received into the microfluidic device. A second layer of another porous material, with pores of a second average pore size, is stacked below the first layer and has a channel with a starting end positioned at least in part in an overlapping manner with the liquid-receiving area. The channel has a terminating end extending laterally at a predetermined wicking distance from the starting end. The first average pore size and the second average pore size cause a wicking effect in which at least some of the liquid sample flows along the channel at least a portion of the wicking distance between the starting end and the terminating end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Trustee of Tufts College
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Syrena C. Fernandes, Samuel B. Berry
  • Publication number: 20230081694
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are articles and methods for blood separation. For example, inventive articles and methods that remove red blood cells from blood samples are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Keith Baillargeon, Jessica C. Brooks
  • Publication number: 20210268500
    Abstract: Articles and methods involving fluidic devices are generally provided. In some embodiments, a fluidic device comprises a first layer comprising first and second regions that are disconnected from each other in the first layer and a second layer comprising a channel in fluidic communication with the first and second regions. The device may also comprise a third layer comprising a channel in fluidic communication with the first and second regions. One or more portions of a channel and/or one or more reagents may comprise reagent. In some embodiments, a method comprises flowing two or more fluid samples towards each other through a channel. The fluids may meet at an interface and/or may react at an interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Daniel J. Wilson, Charles R. Mace
  • Publication number: 20210263027
    Abstract: Articles and methods involving fluidic devices are generally provided. In some embodiments, a fluidic device comprises a first layer comprising a central region in fluidic communication with an environment external to the fluidic device. The first layer may also comprise a first channel and a second channel in fluidic communication with the central region and extending radially outwards therefrom. The first and second channels may comprises first and second sample regions from which first and second samples can be removed from the fluidic device. In some embodiments, a fluidic device comprises a first layer and a second, filtration layer configured to separate blood cells from plasma positioned between the environment external to the fluidic device and the first layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Jessica C. Brooks, Syrena C. Fernandes, Keith Baillargeon
  • Publication number: 20200391139
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a first layer of a porous material with pores having a first average pore size and a liquid-receiving area through which a liquid sample is received into the microfluidic device. A second layer of another porous material, with pores of a second average pore size, is stacked below the first layer and has a channel with a starting end positioned at least in part in an overlapping manner with the liquid-receiving area. The channel has a terminating end extending laterally at a predetermined wicking distance from the starting end. The first average pore size and the second average pore size cause a wicking effect in which at least some of the liquid sample flows along the channel at least a portion of the wicking distance between the starting end and the terminating end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Syrena C. Fernandes, Samuel B. Berry
  • Patent number: 10758846
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a first layer of a porous material with pores having a first average pore size and a liquid-receiving area through which a liquid sample is received into the microfluidic device. A second layer of another porous material, with pores of a second average pore size, is stacked below the first layer and has a channel with a starting end positioned at least in part in an overlapping manner with the liquid-receiving area. The channel has a terminating end extending laterally at a predetermined wicking distance from the starting end. The first average pore size and the second average pore size cause a wicking effect in which at least some of the liquid sample flows along the channel at least a portion of the wicking distance between the starting end and the terminating end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Syrena C. Fernandes, Samuel B. Berry
  • Patent number: 10732167
    Abstract: A multi-phase system includes a phase-separated solution comprising at least two phases, each phase having a phase component selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a surfactant and combinations thereof, wherein at least one phase comprises a polymer, wherein the phases, taken together, represent a density gradient. Novel two-phase, three-phase, four-phase, five-phase, or six-phase systems are disclosed. Using the disclosed multi-phase polymer systems, particles, or other analyte of interest can be separated based on their different densities or affinities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Ozge Akbulut Halatci, Ashok A. Kumar, Nathan D. Shapiro, George M. Whitesides
  • Publication number: 20200129886
    Abstract: A method is directed to separating contaminants from mammalian cells in an aqueous multiphase system, and includes loading a container with a liquid having a top liquid phase and a bottom liquid phase. A cover medium is inserted in the container with a mixture of cultured mammalian cells and contaminants. The container is incubated and centrifuged for respective periods of time. In response to the centrifuging, the cells are separated from the contaminants in accordance with the respective density of the cells, the contaminants, and each liquid phase, resulting in the cells being located at a liquid-to-liquid interface between the top liquid phase and the bottom liquid phase and the contaminants being located at the bottom of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Christopher Luby
  • Patent number: 10436768
    Abstract: The disclosed methods use a multi-phase system to separate samples according to the density of an analyte of interest. The method uses a multi-phase system that comprises two or more phase-separated solutions and a phase component such as a surfactant or polymer. The density of the analyte of interest differs from the densities of the rest of the sample. The density of the analyte of interest is substantially the same as one or more phases. Thus, when the sample is introduced to the multi-phase system, the analyte of interest migrates to the phase having the same density as the analyte of interest, passing through one or more phases sequentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Ashok A. Kumar, Dyann F. Wirth, George M. Whitesides
  • Publication number: 20180318732
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a first layer of a porous material with pores having a first average pore size and a liquid-receiving area through which a liquid sample is received into the microfluidic device. A second layer of another porous material, with pores of a second average pore size, is stacked below the first layer and has a channel with a starting end positioned at least in part in an overlapping manner with the liquid-receiving area. The channel has a terminating end extending laterally at a predetermined wicking distance from the starting end. The first average pore size and the second average pore size cause a wicking effect in which at least some of the liquid sample flows along the channel at least a portion of the wicking distance between the starting end and the terminating end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Syrena C. Fernandes, Samuel B. Berry
  • Publication number: 20180155666
    Abstract: A cultureware system is directed to maintaining viability of mammalian cells, and includes a disposable holding container having a cell receiver with a cell-receiving surface. The cell receiver consists of a cell-adhesion inducement material including a polystyrene material and a glass material. The system further includes a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating lining the cell-adhesion inducement material of the cell-receiving surface, and a culture of adherent mammalian cells located within the cell receiver on the PTFE coating. In response to attachment interaction between the mammalian cells and the PTFE coating, a decreased cell adhesion results in a cell viability rate of at least about 60% to about 70% over a 72-hour culturing period, the cell viability rate being under 90% over the 72-hour culturing period if, in the absence of the PTFE coating, the mammalian cells are located directly on the cell-adhesion inducement material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel J. Wilson, Irene Lui, Charles R. Mace