Patents by Inventor Millicent A. Firestone

Millicent A. Firestone 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: 20130000764
    Abstract: A user-friendly multi-layer micro/nanofluidic flow device and micro/nano fabrication process are provided for numerous uses. The multi-layer micro/nanofluidic flow device can comprise: a substrate, such as indium tin oxide coated glass (ITO glass); a conductive layer of ferroelectric material, preferably comprising a PZT layer of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) positioned on the substrate; electrodes connected to the conductive layer; a nanofluidics layer positioned on the conductive layer and defining nanochannels; a microfluidics layer positioned upon the nanofluidics layer and defining microchannels; and biomolecular nanovalves providing bio-nanovalves which are moveable from a closed position to an open position to control fluid flow at a nanoscale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Hao Li, Leonidas E. Ocola, Orlando H. Auciello, Millicent A. Firestone
  • Patent number: 8343425
    Abstract: A user-friendly multi-layer micro/nanofluidic flow device and micro/nano fabrication process are provided for numerous uses. The multi-layer micro/nanofluidic flow device can comprise: a substrate, such as indium tin oxide coated glass (ITO glass); a conductive layer of ferroelectric material, preferably comprising a PZT layer of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) positioned on the substrate; electrodes connected to the conductive layer; a nanofluidics layer positioned on the conductive layer and defining nanochannels; a microfluidics layer positioned upon the nanofluidics layer and defining microchannels; and biomolecular nanovalves providing bio-nanovalves which are moveable from a closed position to an open position to control fluid flow at a nanoscale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Hao Li, Leonidas E. Ocola, Orlando H. Auciello, Millicent A. Firestone
  • Patent number: 8168746
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for the insertion of protein in storage vehicles and the recovery of the proteins from the vehicles, the method comprising supplying isolated protein; mixing the isolated protein with a fluid so as to form a mixture, the fluid comprising saturated phospholipids, lipopolymers, and a surfactant; cycling the mixture between a first temperature and a second temperature; maintaining the mixture as a solid for an indefinite period of time; diluting the mixture in detergent buffer so as to disrupt the composition of the mixture, and diluting to disrupt the fluid in its low viscosity state for removal of the guest molecules by, for example, dialysis, filtering or chromatography dialyzing/filtering the emulsified solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Millicent A. Firestone, Philip D. Laible
  • Publication number: 20080319169
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for the insertion of protein in storage vehicles and the recovery of the proteins from the vehicles, the method comprising supplying isolated protein; mixing the isolated protein with a fluid so as to form a mixture, the fluid comprising saturated phospholipids, lipopolymers, and a surfactant; cycling the mixture between a first temperature and a second temperature; maintaining the mixture as a solid for an indefinite period of time; diluting the mixture in detergent buffer so as to disrupt the composition of the mixture, and diluting to disrupt the fluid in its low viscosity state for removal of the guest molecules by, for example, dialysis, filtering or chromatography dialyzing/filtering the emulsified solid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Millicent A. Firestone, Philip D. Laible
  • Patent number: 6537575
    Abstract: A mixture is provided which manifests a gel phase at a temperature higher than that in which the mixture manifests a liquid phase. The mixture is a combination of a lipid, a polymer-grafted phospholipid and a surfactant. It is biomimetic in nature and changes phases when subjected to one or a plurality of environmental stimuli.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Millicent A. Firestone, David M. Tiede