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).
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Publication number: 20240001265Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Syrena C. Fernandes, Samuel B. Berry
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Patent number: 11772017Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Trustee of Tufts CollegeInventors: Charles R. Mace, Syrena C. Fernandes, Samuel B. Berry
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Publication number: 20230081694Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2021Publication date: March 16, 2023Applicant: Trustees of Tufts CollegeInventors: Charles R. Mace, Keith Baillargeon, Jessica C. Brooks
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Publication number: 20210268500Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2019Publication date: September 2, 2021Applicant: Trustees of Tufts CollegeInventors: Daniel J. Wilson, Charles R. Mace
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Publication number: 20210263027Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2019Publication date: August 26, 2021Applicant: Trustees of Tufts CollegeInventors: Charles R. Mace, Jessica C. Brooks, Syrena C. Fernandes, Keith Baillargeon
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Publication number: 20200391139Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2020Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Syrena C. Fernandes, Samuel B. Berry
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Patent number: 10758846Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Trustees of Tufts CollegeInventors: Charles R. Mace, Syrena C. Fernandes, Samuel B. Berry
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Patent number: 10732167Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 24, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: Charles R. Mace, Ozge Akbulut Halatci, Ashok A. Kumar, Nathan D. Shapiro, George M. Whitesides
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Publication number: 20200129886Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2018Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Christopher Luby
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Patent number: 10436768Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 29, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: Charles R. Mace, Ashok A. Kumar, Dyann F. Wirth, George M. Whitesides
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Publication number: 20180318732Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Syrena C. Fernandes, Samuel B. Berry
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Publication number: 20180155666Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Daniel J. Wilson, Irene Lui, Charles R. Mace
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Publication number: 20180080922Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: Charles R. MACE, Ashok A. KUMAR, Dyann F. WIRTH, George M. WHITESIDES
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Patent number: 9857353Abstract: A kit for separating a sample comprising one or more biological analytes of interest using a multi-phase system comprising: a) two or more phase components selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a surfactant, and combinations thereof; b) optionally a tag molecule capable of binding the one or more biological analytes of interest; and c) instructions for: (i) combining the two or more phase-separated solutions with a common solvent to create a multi-phase system; (ii) optionally, combining the biological analyte of interest and tag molecule, and (iii) separating the biological analyte of interest from the sample.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2015Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: Charles R. Mace, Ashok A. Kumar, Dyann F. Wirth, George M. Whitesides
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Publication number: 20170370709Abstract: An imaging system for a biological sample includes a sample container having at least one biological cell that is in contact with an interface surface of a container interface. The imaging system also includes illuminating optics that output a light beam aligned with a sample plane, the light beam being oriented horizontally along a transverse (XY) plane and illuminating the biological cell vertically along an axial (XZ) plane. The imaging system further includes imaging optics aligned horizontally along the transverse (XY) plane with the interface in the sample container, the imaging optics being configured to detect along the axial (XZ) plane a magnified image of a measurable contact angle between the biological cell and the interface surface. The measurable contact angle changes over time and is indicative of biological adhesion between the biological cell and another biological cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2016Publication date: December 28, 2017Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Jenna A. Walz
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Publication number: 20170322196Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2017Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: Charles R. MACE, Ozge Akbulut HALATCI, Ashok A. KUMAR, Nathan D. SHAPIRO, George M. WHITESIDES
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Patent number: 9714934Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: Charles R. Mace, Ozge Akbulut Halatci, Ashok A. Kumar, Nathan D. Shapiro, George M. Whitesides
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Patent number: 9678088Abstract: An aqueous multi-phase system for diagnosis of sickle cell disease is described, including two or more phase-separated phases including: a first aqueous phase including a first phase component and having a first density between about 1.025 g/cm3 and about 1.095 g/cm3; and a second aqueous phase including a second phase component and having a second density between about 1.100 g/cm3 and about 1.140 g/cm3; wherein the first density is lower than the second density; and each of the first and second phase components include at least one polymer.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Children's Medical Center Corporation, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.Inventors: George M. Whitesides, Ashok A. Kumar, Jonathan W. Hennek, Caeul Lim, Yovany Moreno, Charles R. Mace, Manoj T. Duraisingh, Matthew R. Patton, Si-yi Ryan Lee, Gaetana D'Alesio-Spina, Carlo Brugnara, Thomas P. Stossel
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Patent number: 9410953Abstract: The present invention relates to a formulations and methods for coupling a reactant (or probe precursor) to a functionalized surface for purposes of forming an arrayed sensor. This method includes the steps of: providing a surface having a reactive functional group; and introducing onto the surface, at a plurality of discrete locations, two or more compositions of the invention, which include a different reactant (probe precursor) and a non-nucleophilic additive, wherein such introduction is carried out under conditions effective to allow for covalent binding of the reactant to the surface via the reactive functional group. This results in a probe-functionalized array that substantially overcomes the problem of surface morphological anomalies on the array surface. Use of the resulting arrays in various detection systems is also encompassed.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: University of RochesterInventors: Charles R. Mace, Amrita R. Yadav, Benjamin L. Miller
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Publication number: 20160124001Abstract: Multi-phase systems and kits using these multiphase systems are described. The Multi-phase system described herein comprises multiple phase-separated phases each comprises a phase component and the phases, taken together, represent a density gradient. The kit comprising the multiphase system as described herein may be used to separate biological analytes such as cells. Non-limiting examples of the biological analytes include normal erythrocyte with hemoglobin Hb AA, Hb CC, and Hb AS, sickle cell erythrocyte with hemoglobin Hb SS and Hb SC, reticulocyte, iron deficiency anemia red blood cell, ?-thalessemia trait red blood cell, and normal red blood cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: George M. WHITESIDES, Ashok A. KUMAR, Jonathan W. HENNEK, Caeul LIM, Yovany MORENO, Charles R. MACE, Manoj T. DURAISINGH, Matthew R. PATTON, Ryan LEE, Gaetana D' ALESIO-SPINA, Carlo BRUGNARA