Patents by Inventor Stephen Douglas Heister

Stephen Douglas Heister 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).

  • Microelectronic thermal valve
    Patent number: 11867319
    Abstract: A microfabricated valve with no moving parts. In one embodiment, the valve includes a reservoir of a liquid that is in fluid communication with an outlet channel having a throat that is less than 100 microns wide. Preferably, the channel is an elongated slit. The configuration of channel is adapted and configured such that surface tension of the liquid prevents flow out of the channel. A heater increases the temperature of the meniscus of the fluid, until a portion of the fluid is ejected from the channel. The ejection of the fluid creates both a thrusting effect and a cooling effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Alina Alexeenko, Anthony George Cofer, Stephen Douglas Heister
  • MICROELECTRONIC THERMAL VALVE
    Publication number: 20220057018
    Abstract: A microfabricated valve with no moving parts. In one embodiment, the valve includes a reservoir of a liquid that is in fluid communication with an outlet channel having a throat that is less than 100 microns wide. Preferably, the channel is an elongated slit. The configuration of channel is adapted and configured such that surface tension of the liquid prevents flow out of the channel. A heater increases the temperature of the meniscus of the fluid, until a portion of the fluid is ejected from the channel. The ejection of the fluid creates both a thrusting effect and a cooling effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Alina Alexeenko, Anthony George Cofer, Stephen Douglas Heister
  • Microelectronic thermal valve
    Patent number: 10995879
    Abstract: A microfabricated valve with no moving parts. In one embodiment, the valve includes a reservoir of a liquid that is in fluid communication with an outlet channel having a throat that is less than 100 microns wide. Preferably, the channel is an elongated slit. The configuration of channel is adapted and configured such that surface tension of the liquid prevents flow out of the channel. A heater increases the temperature of the meniscus of the fluid, until a portion of the fluid is ejected from the channel. The ejection of the fluid creates both a thrusting effect and a cooling effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Alina Alexeenko, Anthony George Cofer, Stephen Douglas Heister
  • MICROELECTRONIC THERMAL VALVE
    Publication number: 20170159847
    Abstract: A microfabricated valve with no moving parts. In one embodiment, the valve includes a reservoir of a liquid that is in fluid communication with an outlet channel having a throat that is less than 100 microns wide. Preferably, the channel is an elongated slit. The configuration of channel is adapted and configured such that surface tension of the liquid prevents flow out of the channel. A heater increases the temperature of the meniscus of the fluid, until a portion of the fluid is ejected from the channel. The ejection of the fluid creates both a thrusting effect and a cooling effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Alina Alexeenko, Anthony George Cofer, Stephen Douglas Heister