Patents by Inventor Thomas Matula

Thomas Matula 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: 10794827
    Abstract: Embodiments are generally related to differentiating and/or separating portions of a sample that are of interest from the remainder of the sample. Embodiments may be directed towards separating cells of interest from a cell sample. In some embodiments, acoustic impedances of the cells of interest may be modified. For example, the acoustic properties of the cells of interest may be modified by attaching bubbles to the cells of interest. The cell sample may then be subjected to an acoustic wave. The cells of interest may be differentiated and/or separated from the remainder of the sample based on relative displacements and/or volumetric changes experienced by the cells of interest in response thereto. The cells of interest may be separated using a standing wave and sorted into separate channels of a flow cell. Optionally, the cells may be interrogated by a light source and differentiated by signals generated in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: Thomas Matula, Andrew A. Brayman, Oleg A. Sapozhnikov, Brian MacConaghy, Jarred Egan Swalwell, Camilo Perez
  • Publication number: 20170328834
    Abstract: Embodiments are generally related to differentiating and/or separating portions of a sample that are of interest from the remainder of the sample. Embodiments may be directed towards separating cells of interest from a cell sample. In some embodiments, acoustic impedances of the cells of interest may be modified. For example, the acoustic properties of the cells of interest may be modified by attaching bubbles to the cells of interest. The cell sample may then be subjected to an acoustic wave. The cells of interest may be differentiated and/or separated from the remainder of the sample based on relative displacements and/or volumetric changes experienced by the cells of interest in response thereto. The cells of interest may be separated using a standing wave and sorted into separate channels of a flow cell. Optionally, the cells may be interrogated by a light source and differentiated by signals generated in response thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Thomas Matula, Andrew A. Brayman, Oleg A. Sapozhnikov, Brian MacConaghy, Jarred Egan Swalwell, Camilo Perez
  • Patent number: 9645080
    Abstract: Embodiments are generally related to differentiating and/or separating portions of a sample that are of interest from the remainder of the sample. Embodiments may be directed towards separating cells of interest from a cell sample. In some embodiments, acoustic impedances of the cells of interest may be modified. For example, the acoustic properties of the cells of interest may be modified by attaching bubbles to the cells of interest. The cell sample may then be subjected to an acoustic wave. The cells of interest may be differentiated and/or separated from the remainder of the sample based on relative displacements and/or volumetric changes experienced by the cells of interest in response thereto. The cells of interest may be separated using a standing wave and sorted into separate channels of a flow cell. Optionally, the cells may be interrogated by a light source and differentiated by signals generated in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Thomas Matula, Andrew A. Brayman, Oleg A. Sapozhnikov, Brian MacConaghy, Jarred Egan Swalwell, Camilo Perez
  • Publication number: 20150017678
    Abstract: Embodiments are generally related to differentiating and/or separating portions of a sample that are of interest from the remainder of the sample. Embodiments may be directed towards separating cells of interest from a cell sample. In some embodiments, acoustic impedances of the cells of interest may be modified. For example, the acoustic properties of the cells of interest may be modified by attaching bubbles to the cells of interest. The cell sample may then be subjected to an acoustic wave. The cells of interest may be differentiated and/or separated from the remainder of the sample based on relative displacements and/or volumetric changes experienced by the cells of interest in response thereto. The cells of interest may be separated using a standing wave and sorted into separate channels of a flow cell. Optionally, the cells may be interrogated by a light source and differentiated by signals generated in response thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: University of Washington Through Its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: Thomas Matula, Andrew A. Brayman, Oleg A. Sapozhnikov, Brian MacConaghy
  • Patent number: 7804595
    Abstract: A system and method for determining bubble shell properties using optical scattering. One or more ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) bubbles is placed in an imaging volume and illuminated with a laser. The UCA is exposed to pressure variations (e.g., using pulses of imaging or therapeutic ultrasound), while optical scattering data are collected and processed. The scattering intensity is related to the radius of the UCA. Thus, changes in the radius due to varying pressure conditions results in variations in the scattering intensity. The collected data are processed to provide a radius versus time (RT) relationship. The RT relationship is fit to one or more conventional dynamic models. The fitted empirical data can be used to determine one or more UCA parameters, such as shear modulus and shell viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Thomas Matula, Jingfeng Guan
  • Publication number: 20070098232
    Abstract: A system and method for determining bubble shell properties using optical scattering. One or more ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) bubbles is placed in an imaging volume and illuminated with a laser. The UCA is exposed to pressure variations (e.g., using pulses of imaging or therapeutic ultrasound), while optical scattering data are collected and processed. The scattering intensity is related to the radius of the UCA. Thus, changes in the radius due to varying pressure conditions results in variations in the scattering intensity. The collected data are processed to provide a radius versus time (RT) relationship. The RT relationship is fit to one or more conventional dynamic models. The fitted empirical data can be used to determine one or more UCA parameters, such as shear modulus and shell viscosity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Thomas Matula, Jingfeng Guan