Patents by Inventor Gary Daniel Smith

Gary Daniel Smith 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).

  • Microfluidic cell culture device
    Patent number: 8865464
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices for cell culturing and methods for using the same are disclosed. One device includes a substrate and membrane. The substrate includes a reservoir in fluid communication with a passage. A bio-compatible fluid may be added to the reservoir and passage. The reservoir is configured to receive and retain at least a portion of a cell mass. The membrane acts as a barrier to evaporation of the bio-compatible fluid from the passage. A cover fluid may be added to cover the bio-compatible fluid to prevent evaporation of the bio-compatible fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Shuichi Takayama, Lourdes Marcella Cabrera, Yun Seok Heo, Gary Daniel Smith
  • Integrated microfluidic control employing programmable tactile actuators
    Patent number: 8313941
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices having active features such as valves, peristaltic pumps, and mixing portions are fabricated to have a thin elastomeric membrane over the active features. The active features are activated by a tactile actuator external to the membrane, for example, a commercial Braille display. The display may be computer controlled, for example by simple text editor software, to activate individual Braille protrusions or a plurality of protrusions to actuate the active portions of the microfluidic device. Integral devices can incorporate the tactile actuators in a single device, but still external to the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of Michigan
    Inventors: Shuichi Takayama, Xiaoyue Zhu, Wei Gu, Gary Daniel Smith, Yunseok Heo, Brenda S. Cho, Nobuyuki Futai
  • MICROFLUIDIC CELL CULTURE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING SAME
    Publication number: 20100323447
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices for cell culturing and methods for using the same are disclosed. One device includes a substrate and membrane. The substrate includes a reservoir in fluid communication with a passage. A bio-compatible fluid may be added to the reservoir and passage. The reservoir is configured to receive and retain at least a portion of a cell mass. The membrane acts as a barrier to evaporation of the bio-compatible fluid from the passage. A cover fluid may be added to cover the bio-compatible fluid to prevent evaporation of the bio-compatible fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Shuichi Takayama, Lourdes Marcella Cabrera, Nobuyuki Futai, Yun Seok Heo, Gary Daniel Smith, Xiaoyue Zhu
  • MICROFLUIDIC CELL CULTURE DEVICE
    Publication number: 20100323439
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices for cell culturing and methods for using the same are disclosed. One device includes a substrate and membrane. The substrate includes a reservoir in fluid communication with a passage. A bio-compatible fluid may be added to the reservoir and passage. The reservoir is configured to receive and retain at least a portion of a cell mass. The membrane acts as a barrier to evaporation of the bio-compatible fluid from the passage. A cover fluid may be added to cover the bio-compatible fluid to prevent evaporation of the bio-compatible fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Shuichi Takayama, Lourdes Marcella Cabrera, Yun Seok Heo, Gary Daniel Smith
  • Microfluidic cell culture device and method for using same
    Publication number: 20100247384
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices for cell culturing and methods for using the same are disclosed. One device includes a substrate and membrane. The substrate includes a reservoir in fluid communication with a passage. A bio-compatible fluid may be added to the reservoir and passage. The reservoir is configured to receive and retain at least a portion of a cell mass. The membrane acts as a barrier to evaporation of the bio-compatible fluid from the passage. A cover fluid may be added to cover the bio-compatible fluid to prevent evaporation of the bio-compatible fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Shuichi Takayama, Lourdes Marcella Cabrera, Nobuyuki Futai, Yun Seok Heo, Gary Daniel Smith, Xiaoyue Zhu
  • INTEGRATED MICROFLUIDIC CONTROL EMPLOYING PROGRAMMABLE TACTILE ACTUATORS
    Publication number: 20100233799
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices having active features such as valves, peristaltic pumps, and mixing portions are fabricated to have a thin elastomeric membrane over the active features. The active features are activated by a tactile actuator external to the membrane, for example, a commercial Braille display. The display may be computer controlled, for example by simple text editor software, to activate individual Braille protrusions or a plurality of protrusions to actuate the active portions of the microfluidic device. Integral devices can incorporate the tactile actuators in a single device, but still external to the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Shuichi Takayama, Xiaoyue Zhu, Wei Gu, Gary Daniel Smith, Yunseok Heo, Brenda S. Cho, Nobuyuki Futai
  • Integrated microfluidic control employing programmable tactile actuators
    Patent number: 7745211
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices having active features such as valves, peristaltic pumps, and mixing portions are fabricated to have a thin elastomeric membrane over the active features. The active features are activated by a tactile actuator external to the membrane, for example, a commercial Braille display. The display may be computer controlled, for example by simple text editor software, to activate individual Braille protrusions or a plurality of protrusions to actuate the active portions of the microfluidic device. Integral devices can incorporate the tactile actuators in a single device, but still external to the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Shuichi Takayama, Xiaoyue Zhu, Wei Gu, Gary Daniel Smith, Yunseok Heo, Brenda S. Cho, Nobuyuki Futai