Patents by Inventor Ken Babcock

Ken Babcock 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: 9835614
    Abstract: System and Method for measuring the growth of a bacterial culture and its response to one or more antimicrobials using measurement of mass of individual microbes. Methods include periodic sampling, determining change in mass and concentration, and comparing growth rates of cultures in nutrient broth vs. mixtures containing various antibiotic mixtures. A number of antimicrobials can be compared in one measurement by multiplexing or using multiple sensors to measure in parallel. Growth and antibiotic efficacy can be assessed at low concentrations at the onset of growth, typically within 1 to 2 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Affinity Biosensors, LLC
    Inventors: Ken Babcock, Cynthia Schneider
  • Patent number: 9242792
    Abstract: A grain storage pit includes an open-top chamber configured to be substantially flush-mounted in a surface and a grain-receiving grate that covers at least a portion of the open-top chamber so that grain may be poured into the open-top chamber through the grate from a truck positioned over the pit. The grate has a convex-shaped upper surface so that a cover placed over the grate more effectively sheds water. The grain storage pit may also include one or more unloading ports for facilitating removal of grain from the pit. At least one of the unloading ports may be adjustably mounted to an opening in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Inventor: Ken Babcock
  • Patent number: 9134294
    Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention detects changes in cell biomechanics caused by any of a variety of diseases and conditions. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus of the invention detect infection of red blood cells. In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus comprising a microfluidic channel with a constriction, for trapping infected red blood cells while allowing healthy red blood cells to deform and pass through the channel. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a suspended microchannel resonator for detecting and counting red blood cells at the constriction of the microfluidic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Scott Manalis, Thomas Burg, Subra Suresh, Ken Babcock
  • Publication number: 20150072373
    Abstract: System and Method for measuring the growth of a bacterial culture and its response to one or more antimicrobials using measurement of mass of individual microbes. Methods include periodic sampling, determining change in mass and concentration, and comparing growth rates of cultures in nutrient broth vs. mixtures containing various antibiotic mixtures. A number of antimicrobials can be compared in one measurement by multiplexing or using multiple sensors to measure in parallel. Growth and antibiotic efficacy can be assessed at low concentrations at the onset of growth, typically within 1 to 2 hours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: AFFINITY BIOSENSORS, LLC
    Inventors: Ken Babcock, Cynthia Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140345369
    Abstract: A method for measuring a the viscosity of a fluid in a microchannel including steps of introducing a fluid containing particles to the microchannel, causing the fluid to flow through the microchannel by a applying a pressure drop, measuring a transit time of one or more particles through the microchannel, determining the flow rate from the particle transit times and the known volume of the microchannel, and determining the viscosity of the fluid from the flow rate and pressure drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: AFFINITY BIOSENSORS, LLC
    Inventor: Ken Babcock
  • Publication number: 20140064890
    Abstract: A grain storage pit includes an open-top chamber configured to be substantially flush-mounted in a surface and a grain-receiving grate that covers at least a portion of the open-top chamber so that grain may be poured into the open-top chamber through the grate from a truck positioned over the pit. The grate has a convex-shaped upper surface so that a cover placed over the grate more effectively sheds water. The grain storage pit may also include one or more unloading ports for facilitating removal of grain from the pit. At least one of the unloading ports may be adjustably mounted to an opening in the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Ken Babcock
  • Patent number: 8567135
    Abstract: A grain storage pit includes an open-top chamber configured to be substantially flush-mounted in a surface and a grain-receiving grate that covers at least a portion of the open-top chamber so that grain may be poured into the open-top chamber through the grate from a truck positioned over the pit. The grain storage pit may also include one or more unloading ports for facilitating removal of grain from the pit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: Ken Babcock
  • Publication number: 20110277404
    Abstract: A grain storage pit includes an open-top chamber configured to be substantially flush-mounted in a surface and a grain-receiving grate that covers at least a portion of the open-top chamber so that grain may be poured into the open-top chamber through the grate from a truck positioned over the pit. The grain storage pit may also include one or more unloading ports for facilitating removal of grain from the pit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Ken Babcock
  • Publication number: 20110124095
    Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention detects changes in cell biomechanics caused by any of a variety of diseases and conditions. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus of the invention detect infection of red blood cells. In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus comprising a microfluidic channel with a constriction, for trapping infected red blood cells while allowing healthy red blood cells to deform and pass through the channel. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a suspended microchannel resonator for detecting and counting red blood cells at the constriction of the microfluidic channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Scott Manalis, Thomas Burg, Subra Suresh, Ken Babcock
  • Publication number: 20090053749
    Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention detects changes in cell biomechanics caused by any of a variety of diseases and conditions. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus of the invention detect infection of red blood cells. In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus comprising a microfluidic channel with a constriction, for trapping infected red blood cells while allowing healthy red blood cells to deform and pass through the channel. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a suspended microchannel resonator for detecting and counting red blood cells at the constriction of the microfluidic channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Scott Manalis, Thomas Burg, Subra Suresh, Ken Babcock