Patents by Inventor Christopher Culbertson

Christopher Culbertson 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: 8580546
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a micro-organ device comprises providing a microscale support having one or more microfluidic channels and one or more micro-chambers for housing a micro-organ and printing a micro-organ on the microscale support using a cell suspension in a syringe controlled by a computer-aided tissue engineering system, wherein the cell suspension comprises cells suspended in a solution containing a material that functions as a three-dimensional scaffold. The printing is performed with the computer-aided tissue engineering system according to a particular pattern. The micro-organ device comprises at least one micro-chamber each housing a micro-organ; and at least one microfluidic channel connected to the micro-chamber, wherein the micro-organ comprises cells arranged in a configuration that includes microscale spacing between portions of the cells to facilitate diffusion exchange between the cells and a medium supplied from the at least one microfluidic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Steve R. Gonda, Robert C. Chang, Binil Starly, Christopher Culbertson, Heidi L. Holtorf, Wei Sun, Julia Leslie
  • Patent number: 8343740
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a micro-organ device comprises providing a microscale support having one or more microfluidic channels and one or more micro-chambers for housing a micro-organ and printing a micro-organ on the microscale support using a cell suspension in a syringe controlled by a computer-aided tissue engineering system, wherein the cell suspension comprises cells suspended in a solution containing a material that functions as a three-dimensional scaffold. The printing is performed with the computer-aided tissue engineering system according to a particular pattern. The micro-organ device comprises at least one micro-chamber each housing a micro-organ; and at least one microfluidic channel connected to the micro-chamber, wherein the micro-organ comprises cells arranged in a configuration that includes microscale spacing between portions of the cells to facilitate diffusion exchange between the cells and a medium supplied from the at least one microfluidic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Steve R. Gonda, Iris von Gustedt-Gonda, legal representative, Robert C. Chang, Binil Starly, Christopher Culbertson, Heidi L. Holtorf, Wei Sun, Julia Leslie
  • Publication number: 20090309346
    Abstract: A resettable combat vehicle restraint system prevents secondary impacts within the vehicle cabin during crash, mine blast, or rollover events by positioning the occupant within a load attenuating seat to best survive the dangerous event. The preferred embodiment of the restraint system includes a five point restraint, webbing retractors for each lap and shoulder belt with the capability for both reversible and pyrotechnic pretensioning, an active headrest, and a crash recognition module to electrically activate the pyrotechnic pretensioners and to electrically modulate the actions of the reversible pretensioning retractors and the active headrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Charles Van Druff, Christopher Culbertson
  • Publication number: 20080261288
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a micro-organ device comprises providing a microscale support having one or more microfluidic channels and one or more micro-chambers for housing a micro-organ and printing a micro-organ on the microscale support using a cell suspension in a syringe controlled by a computer-aided tissue engineering system, wherein the cell suspension comprises cells suspended in a solution containing a material that functions as a three-dimensional scaffold. The printing is performed with the computer-aided tissue engineering system according to a particular pattern. The micro-organ device comprises at least one micro-chamber each housing a micro-organ; and at least one microfluidic channel connected to the micro-chamber, wherein the micro-organ comprises cells arranged in a configuration that includes microscale spacing between portions of the cells to facilitate diffusion exchange between the cells and a medium supplied from the at least one microfluidic channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Steve R. Gonda, Iris von Gustedt-Gonda, Robert C. Chang, Binil Starly, Christopher Culbertson, Heidi L. Holtorf, Wie Sun, Julia Leslie
  • Publication number: 20070273192
    Abstract: An Occupant Retraction System (ORS) retracts a partially exposed occupant into a vehicle. The system responds to a trigger, wherein an occupant support retracts and actively pulls the occupant into the vehicle interior. The triggering event may be initiated by a manual switch, a rollover sensor, a crash sensor, a hostile ordnance sensor, or the like. A belt, harness, or foot strap may be connected to the occupant support to pull the occupant into the vehicle interior. A forcing means may be provided by a spring, hydraulic, pneumatic, or electro-mechanical actuator. The system further includes a damper for limiting acceleration to a safe maximum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Charles Van Druff, Christopher Culbertson, Mark Emory, Mark Forster
  • Publication number: 20060284012
    Abstract: A mobile aircrew restraint system includes a track system and a trolley which runs along the track and carries a retractor which releases a webbing strap attached to a harness. The track is preferably an extruded or sectioned track which follows contours of an aircraft interior and may be removable and/or retractable to allow additional room for oversize cargo. The trolley includes an interlock pin which cooperates with interlock holes spaced one to two feet apart along the track, and includes a release handle for disengaging the interlocking pin. The strap retractor is attached to the trolley and is controllable to limit the payout of the webbing strap. The harness is worn by an aircrew member and is attached to the webbing strap by releasable buckles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Charles VanDruff, Eric Kawabata, Christopher Culbertson