Patents by Inventor Lothar Schmid
Lothar Schmid 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: 20220212194Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated front the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets arc sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2021Publication date: July 7, 2022Applicants: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität AugsburgInventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
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Publication number: 20220040696Abstract: Microfluidic device having a plurality of microfluidic channels and corresponding dielectrophoresis (DEP) electrode arrays, each channel arranged to direct fluid over a DEP electrode array such that in use target particles are manipulated by the DEP electrode array. The device also has a first connection point and second connection point for connecting the device to an alternating current source, a first input of each DEP electrode array connected to the first connection point via the first conductor and second input of each DEP electrode array connected to the second connection point via the second conductor. A resistance of the first conductor between the first input of each electrode and the first connection point, and a resistance of the second conductor between the second input of each electrode and the second connection point is substantially at least an order of magnitude less than a total resistance of the connected electrode arrays.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2019Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: Heather MURTON, Lothar SCHMID, Eduardo BOADA
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Patent number: 11229911Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität AugsburgInventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
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Patent number: 10570361Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität AugsburgInventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
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Publication number: 20190211293Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2019Publication date: July 11, 2019Applicants: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität AugsburgInventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
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Publication number: 20170321177Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2017Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
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Patent number: 9695390Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2011Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität AugsburgInventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
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Publication number: 20150298157Abstract: Acoustic waves, including surface acoustic waves, are useful to control fluids. In one aspect, acoustic waves may be applied to a fluid flowing in a channel to control or alter its flow characteristics, e.g., its flow rate or direction. Acoustic waves are typically applied using electrically-controlled acoustic wave generators, and thus, the flow of fluid can be controlled to a surprisingly high degree. If the fluid is caused to form a series of droplets, then acoustic waves may be used to control the volume of fluid in each droplet, to alter the rate droplets are formed, or the like. Acoustic waves may be used to deflect the flow of fluid in a channel, and in some cases, to cause fluid to flow to different locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2013Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Lothar Schmid
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Publication number: 20130213488Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2011Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
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Patent number: 6584772Abstract: In a method of limiting the charge pressure of an internal combustion engine charged using an exhaust gas turbocharger, a control unit performs an actual value/setpoint value comparison of a controlled variable with a predefined limit value and generates or limits actuating signals for an actuator drive of an actuator acting upon the controlled variable. The setpoint value is taken from a characteristic map memory as a function of the instantaneous operating state of the internal combustion engine. In order to allow the internal combustion engine to operate at the highest possible charge pressure and corresponding power output, measured values of the temperature and of the pressure upstream and downstream, respectively, from a compressor of the exhaust gas turbocharger are used for reading the limit value from the characteristic map memory.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Frank Haupt, Lothar Schmid
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Publication number: 20020088226Abstract: In a method of limiting the charge pressure of an internal combustion engine charged using an exhaust gas turbocharger, a control unit performs an actual value/setpoint value comparison of a controlled variable with a predefined limit value and generates or limits actuating signals for an actuator drive of an actuator acting upon the controlled variable. The setpoint value is taken from a characteristic map memory as a function of the instantaneous operating state of the internal combustion engine. In order to allow the internal combustion engine to operate at the highest possible charge pressure and corresponding power output, measured values of the temperature and of the pressure upstream and downstream, respectively, from a compressor of the exhaust gas turbocharger are used for reading the limit value from the characteristic map memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2001Publication date: July 11, 2002Inventors: Frank Haupt, Lothar Schmid