Patents by Inventor Nathan S. Lewis
Nathan S. Lewis 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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Patent number: 6290911Abstract: The present invention provides a combinatorial approach for preparing arrays of chemically sensitive polymer-based sensors which are capable of detecting the presence of a chemical analyte in a fluid in contact therewith. The described methods and devices comprise combining varying ratios of at least first and second organic materials which, when combined, form a polymer or polymer blend that is capable of absorbing a chemical analyte, thereby providing a detectable response. The detectable response of the sensors prepared by this method is not linearly related to the mole fraction of at least one of the polymer-based components of the sensors, thereby making arrays of these sensors useful for a variety of sensing tasks.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1998Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Robert H. Grubbs, Robert D. Sanner, Eric J. Severin
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Patent number: 6244096Abstract: The present invention provides a device for detecting the presence of an analyte, wherein said analyte is a microorganism marker gas. The device comprises a sample chamber having a fluid inlet port for the influx of the microorganism marker gas; a fluid concentrator in flow communication with the sample chamber, wherein the fluid concentrator has an absorbent material capable of absorbing the microorganism marker gas and thereafter releasing a concentrated microorganism marker gas; and an array of sensors in fluid communication with the concentrated microorganism marker gas. The sensor array detects and identifies the marker gas upon its release from fluid concentrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1999Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Erik J. Severin, Bernard Wong
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Patent number: 6170318Abstract: Methods of use and devices for detecting analyte in fluid. A system for detecting an analyte in a fluid is described comprising a substrate having a sensor comprising a first organic material and a second organic material where the sensor has a response to permeation by an analyte. A detector is operatively associated with the sensor. Further, a fluid delivery appliance is operatively associated with the sensor. The sensor device has information storage and processing equipment, which is operably connected with the device. This device compares a response from the detector with a stored ideal response to detect the presence of analyte. An integrated system for detecting an analyte in a fluid is also described where the sensing device, detector, information storage and processing device, and fluid delivery device are incorporated in a substrate.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventor: Nathan S. Lewis
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Patent number: 6093308Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g., electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1999Date of Patent: July 25, 2000Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Erik Severin
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Patent number: 6017440Abstract: A sensor array for detecting a microorganism comprising first and second sensors electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, wherein the sensors comprise a region of nonconducting organic material and a region of conducting material compositionally that is different than the nonconducting organic material and an electrical path through the regions of nonconducting organic material and the conducting material. A system for identifying microorganisms using the sensor array, a computer and a pattern recognition algorithm, such as a neural net are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1998Date of Patent: January 25, 2000Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Michael S. Freund
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Patent number: 6013229Abstract: A sensor array for detecting analyte in a fluid. The sensor comprises a substrate having an array of sensors. Each sensor comprises a combination of a first organic material at a concentration and a second organic material at a concentration, wherein the first organic material is different from the second organic material. The sensor array further includes a detector operatively associated with each said sensor. The sensor array is built from a feedstock of organic materials such that the number of sensors is greater than the number of different organic materials which form the sensors.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1998Date of Patent: January 11, 2000Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Michael S. Freund
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Patent number: 6010616Abstract: A sensor array for detecting an analyte in a fluid, comprising at least first and second chemically sensitive resistors electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, wherein each of the chemically sensitive resistors comprises a mixture of nonconductive material and a conductive material. Each resistor provides an electrical path through the mixture of nonconductive material and the conductive material. The resistors also provide a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising an analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with an analyte at a second different concentration. A broad range of analytes can be detected using the sensors of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1997Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Michael S. Freund
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Patent number: 5959191Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g. electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1998Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Michael S. Freund
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Patent number: 5951846Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g. electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1998Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Michael S. Freund
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Patent number: 5911872Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g., electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1997Date of Patent: June 15, 1999Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Erik Severin
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Patent number: 5891398Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g. electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 1998Date of Patent: April 6, 1999Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Michael S. Freund
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Patent number: 5788833Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g., electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1996Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Erik Severin
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Patent number: 5698089Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g. electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1996Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Michael S. Freund
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Patent number: 5571401Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g. electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1995Date of Patent: November 5, 1996Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Michael S. Freund
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Patent number: 4764439Abstract: A method for converting solar energy to electricity is provided using solid-liquid interface photoelectrochemical cells wherein the liquid phase comprises a nonaqueous solvent, an electrolyte dissolved therein forming an ionically conductive solution and a redox couple suitable to accept and donate electrons from and to the electrodes. The redox couple is present in an amount sufficient to sustain a predetermined current and the concentrations of the electrolyte and redox couple in the solution are sufficient to provide no greater than a selected small voltage drop relative to the output voltage of the cell. The efficiency of conversion of light to electrical energy of such photoelectrochemical cells is 10% and greater.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 1984Date of Patent: August 16, 1988Assignee: Sera Solar CorporationInventors: James F. Gibbons, George W. Cogan, Christian M. Gronet, Nathan S. Lewis
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Patent number: 4459343Abstract: Solid-liquid interface photoelectrochemical cells are provided wherein the liquid phase comprises a nonaqueous solvent, an electrolyte dissolved therein forming an ionically conductive solution and a redox couple suitable to accept and donate electrons from and to the electrodes. The redox couple is present in an amount sufficient to sustain a predetermined current and the concentrations of the electrolyte and redox couple in the solution are sufficient to provide no greater than a selected small voltage drop relative to the output voltage of the cell. The efficiency of conversion of light to electrical energy of such photoelectrochemical cells are 10% and greater.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1982Date of Patent: July 10, 1984Assignee: SERA Solar CorporationInventors: James F. Gibbons, George W. Cogan, Christian M. Gronet, Nathan S. Lewis
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Patent number: 4439302Abstract: A variety of redox mediating agents employing bipyridinium reagents and such reagents in conjunction with dispersed noble metals, such as platinium, are disclosed as coatings for substrates and electrodes. The agents may be charged by an applied voltage or by photoelectric effects or may be equilibrated with hydrogen. The agents are useful in reducing biological materials and electrolytic hydrogen production.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1981Date of Patent: March 27, 1984Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Mark S. Wrighton, Dana C. Bookbinder, James A. Bruce, Raymond N. Dominey, Nathan S. Lewis