Patents by Inventor Geraldine Hamilton

Geraldine Hamilton 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).

  • Publication number: 20180320125
    Abstract: A microfluidic device is contemplated comprising an open-top cavity with structural anchors on the vertical wall surfaces that serve to prevent gel shrinkage-induced delamination, a porous membrane (optionally stretchable) positioned in the middle over a microfluidic channel(s). The device is particularly suited to the growth of cells mimicking dermal layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Antonio Varone, Justin Nguyen, Lina Williamson, S. Jordan Kerns, Katia Karalis, Geraldine Hamilton, Carol Lucchesi
  • Publication number: 20180305651
    Abstract: The invention relates to culturing brain endothelial cells, and optionally astrocytes and neurons in a fluidic device under conditions whereby the cells mimic the structure and function of the blood brain barrier. Culture of such cells in a microfluidic device, whether alone or in combination with other cells, drives maturation and/or differentiation further than existing systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: S. Jordan Kerns, Norman Wen, Carolina Lucchesi, Christopher David Hinojosa, Jacob Fraser, Geraldine Hamilton, Gad Vatine, Samuel Sances, Clive Svendsen, Daniel Levner, Dhruv Sareen
  • Publication number: 20180305668
    Abstract: Microfluidic “organ-on-a-chip” devices have been developed with the aim to replicate human tissues in vitro. However, there is no option to quantitatively monitor biological processes that take place within the chip, over time. Destructive methods in order to analyze, tissue formation, gene expression, protein secretion etc. require the harvest of the “tissue” at a certain time point. Described herein are methods and compositions for non-destructive molecular imaging methods and systems in order to quantitatively monitor specific biological processes, over time, within the chip, without the need to harvest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Dan Gazit, Gadi Pelled, Zulma Gazit, Dmitriy Sheyn, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Geraldine Hamilton
  • Publication number: 20180298332
    Abstract: The invention relates to culturing brain endothelial cells, and optionally astrocytes and neurons in a fluidic device under conditions whereby the cells mimic the structure and function of the blood brain barrier. Culture of such cells in a microfluidic device, whether alone or in combination with other cells, drives maturation and/or differentiation further than existing systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: S. Jordan Kerns, Norman Wen, Carolina Lucchesi, Christopher David Hinojosa, Jacob Fraser, Geraldine Hamilton, Gad Vatine, Samuel Sances, Clive Svendsen, Daniel Levner, Dhruv Sareen
  • Publication number: 20180298331
    Abstract: The invention relates to culturing brain endothelial cells, and optionally astrocytes and neurons in a fluidic device under conditions whereby the cells mimic the structure and function of the blood brain barrier. Culture of such cells in a microfluidic device, whether alone or in combination with other cells, drives maturation and/or differentiation further than existing systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: S. Jordan Kerns, Norman Wen, Carolina Lucchesi, Christopher David Hinojosa, Jacob Fraser, Geraldine Hamilton, Gad Vatine, Samuel Sances, Clive Svendsen, Daniel Levner, Dhruv Sareen
  • Patent number: 10087422
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are organ chips that can be individually used or integrated together to form different microphysiological systems, e.g., for use in cell culturing, drug screening, toxicity assays, personalized therapeutic treatment, scaffolding in tissue repair and/or replacement, and/or pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamics studies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Donald E. Ingber, Kevin Kit Parker, Geraldine A. Hamilton, Anthony Bahinski
  • Publication number: 20180216074
    Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to methods and devices that can be used to induce functional organ structures to form within an implantation device by implanting it in vivo within the body of a living animal, and allowing cells and tissues to impregnate the implantation device and establish normal microenvironmental architecture and tissue-tissue interfaces. Then the contained cells and tissues can be surgically removed intact and either transplanted into another animal or maintained ex vivo by perfusing it through one or more of the fluid channels with medium and/or gases necessary for cell survival.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicants: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE, CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Donald E. Ingber, Yusuke Torisawa, Geraldine Hamilton, Akiko Mammoto, Tadanori Mammoto, Catherine Spina
  • Publication number: 20180185844
    Abstract: An in vitro microfluidic “organ-on-chip” is described herein that mimics the structure and at least one function of specific areas of the epithelial system in vivo. In particular, a multicellular, layered, microfluidic culture is described, allowing for interactions between lamina propria-derived cells and the associated tissue specific epithelial cells and endothelial cells. This in vitro microfluidic system can be used for modeling inflammatory tissue, e.g., autoimmune disorders involving epithelia and diseases involving epithelial layers. These multicellular, layered microfluidic “organ-on-chip”, e.g. “epithelia-on-chip” further allow for comparisons between types of epithelia tissues, e.g., lung (Lung-On-Chip), bronchial (Airway-On-Chip), skin (Skin-On-Chip), cervix (Cervix-On-Chip), blood brain barrier (BBB-On-Chip), etc., in additional to neurovascular tissue, (Brain-On-Chip), and between different disease states of tissue, i.e. healthy, pre-disease and diseased areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: S. Jordan Kerns, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Daniel Levner, Carolina Lucchesi, Antonio Varone, Remi Villenave
  • Patent number: 9962698
    Abstract: A microfluidic system includes a microfluidic device connected to a bubble trap device whereby fluid flowing to the microfluidic device passes through the bubble trap device to remove gas bubbles prior to entering the microfluidic device. The bubble trap can include a separation chamber and an exhaust chamber separated by a hydrophobic porous membrane and gas bubbles in the fluid entering the separation chamber pass through the hydrophobic porous membrane into the exhaust chamber while the fluid remains in the separation chamber. The bubble trap can be formed by bonding a first body portion to a first side of the hydrophobic porous membrane and bonding a second body portion to a second side of the hydrophobic porous membrane. The exhaust chamber can be connected to an elongated exhaust channel that limits the evaporation losses of the fluid through the hydrophobic porous membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Donald E. Ingber, Geraldine A. Hamilton, Daniel Levner, Christopher Hinojosa, Daniel Patterson
  • Patent number: 9951313
    Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to methods and devices that can be used to induce functional organ structures to form within an implantation device by implanting it in vivo within the body of a living animal, and allowing cells and tissues to impregnate the implantation device and establish normal microenvironmental architecture and tissue-tissue interfaces. Then the contained cells and tissues can be surgically removed intact and either transplanted into another animal or maintained ex vivo by perfusing it through one or more of the fluid channels with medium and/or gases necessary for cell survival.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Children's Medical Center Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Ingber, Yusuke Torisawa, Geraldine Hamilton, Akiko Mammoto, Tadanori Mammoto, Catherine Spina
  • Publication number: 20180057788
    Abstract: The invention relates to culturing brain endothelial cells, and optionally astrocytes and neurons in a fluidic device under conditions whereby the cells mimic the structure and function of the blood brain barrier. Culture of such cells in a microfluidic device, whether alone or in combination with other cells, drives maturation and/or differentiation further than existing systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Jordan Kerns, Norman Wen, Carol Lucchesi, Christopher Hinojosa, Jacob Fraser, Geraldine Hamilton, Gad Vatine, Sam Sances, Clive Svendsen, Daniel Levner, Dhruv Sareen
  • Publication number: 20180017586
    Abstract: Compositions, devices and methods are described for preventing, reducing, controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, surface-mediated clot formation, or coagulation in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, blood (or other fluid with blood components) that contains anticoagulant is introduced into a microfluidic device comprising one or more additive channels containing one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood that makes contact with it “on-chip” before moving into the experimental region of the chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Jacob Fraser, Justin Nguyen, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Hyoung Shin Park, Antonio Varone, Andries Va der Meer, Monica Otieno, David Conegliano
  • Publication number: 20180017582
    Abstract: Compositions, devices and methods are described for preventing, reducing, controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, surface-mediated clot formation, or coagulation in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, blood (or other fluid with blood components) that contains anticoagulant is introduced into a microfluidic device comprising one or more additive channels containing one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood that makes contact with it “on-chip” before moving into the experimental region of the chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Jacob Fraser, Justin Nguyen, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Hyoung Shin Park, Antonio Varone, Andries Van der Meer, Monica Otieno, David Conegliano
  • Publication number: 20180017584
    Abstract: Compositions, devices and methods are described for preventing, reducing, controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, surface-mediated clot formation, or coagulation in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, blood (or other fluid with blood components) that contains anticoagulant is introduced into a microfluidic device comprising one or more additive channels containing one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood that makes contact with it “on-chip” before moving into the experimental region of the chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Noeman Wen, Jacob Fraser, Justin Nguyen, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Hyoung Shin Park, Antonio Varone, Andries Van der Meer, Monica Otieno, David Conegliano
  • Publication number: 20180015455
    Abstract: Compositions, devices and methods are described for preventing, reducing, controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, surface-mediated clot formation, or coagulation in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, blood (or other fluid with blood components) that contains anticoagulant is introduced into a microfluidic device comprising one or more additive channels containing one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood that makes contact with it “on-chip” before moving into the experimental region of the chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Jacob Fraser, Justin Nguyen, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Hyoung Shin Park, Antonio Varone, Andries Van der Meer, Monica Otieno, David Conegliano
  • Publication number: 20180017585
    Abstract: Compositions, devices and methods are described for preventing, reducing, controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, surface-mediated clot formation, or coagulation in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, blood (or other fluid with blood components) that contains anticoagulant is introduced into a microfluidic device comprising one or more additive channels containing one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood that makes contact with it “on-chip” before moving into the experimental region of the chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Jacob Fraser, Justin Nguyen, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Hyoung Shin Park, Antonio Varone, Andries Van der Meer, Monica Otieno, David Conegliano
  • Publication number: 20180017583
    Abstract: Compositions, devices and methods are described for preventing, reducing, controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, surface-mediated clot formation, or coagulation in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, blood (or other fluid with blood components) that contains anticoagulant is introduced into a microfluidic device comprising one or more additive channels containing one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood that makes contact with it “on-chip” before moving into the experimental region of the chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Jacob Fraser, Justin Nguyen, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Hyoung Shin Park, Antonio Varone, Andries Van der Meer, Monica Otieno, David Conegliano
  • Publication number: 20180015462
    Abstract: Compositions, devices and methods are described for preventing, reducing, controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, surface-mediated clot formation, or coagulation in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, blood (or other fluid with blood components) that contains anticoagulant is introduced into a microfluidic device comprising one or more additive channels containing one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood that makes contact with it “on-chip” before moving into the experimental region of the chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Levner, Christopher David Hinojosa, Norman Wen, Jacob Fraser, Justin Nguyen, Riccardo Barrile, Geraldine Hamilton, Catherine Karalis, Hyoung Shin Park, Antonio Varone, Andries Van der Meer, Monica Otieno, David Conegliano
  • Publication number: 20170327781
    Abstract: An organomimetic device includes a microfluidic device that can be used to culture cells in its microfluidic channels. The organomimetic device can be part of dynamic system that can apply mechanical forces to the cells by modulating the microfluidic device and the flow of fluid through the microfluidic channels. The membrane in the organomimetic device can be modulated mechanically via pneumatic means and/or mechanical means. The organomimetic device can be manufactured by the fabrication of individual components separately, for example, as individual layers that can be subsequently laminated together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Jose Fernandez-Alcon, Norman Wen, Richard Novak, Donald E. Ingber, Geraldine A. Hamilton, Christopher Hinojosa, Karel Domansky, Daniel Levner, Guy Thompson, Kambez Hajipouran Benam, Remi Villenave, Thomas Umundum, Alfred Paris, Georg Bauer
  • Publication number: 20170285003
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to a microfluidic platforms or “chips” for testing and understanding cancer, and, more specifically, for understanding the factors that contribute to cancer invading tissues and causing metastases. Tumor cells are grown on microfluidic devices with other non-cancerous tissues under conditions that simulate tumor invasion. The interaction with immune cells can be tested to inhibit this activity by linking a cancer chip to a lymph chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Geraldine A. Hamilton, Norman Wen, Catherine Karalis, Antonio Varone, Daniel Levner, Riccardo Barrile