Patents by Inventor Thomas Ober

Thomas Ober 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).

  • Inertio-elastic focusing of particles in microchannels
    Patent number: 10307760
    Abstract: One example of systems and methods for inertio-elastic focusing of particles in microchannels includes a substrate including a channel having an inlet and an outlet. A viscoelastic fluid, i.e., a fluid having a dynamic viscosity that varies with shear rate, and that carries suspended particles is driven through the channel. The volumetric flow rate at which the fluid is driven results in the formation of a localized pathline in the fluid at or near a center of the channel. The localized pathline defines a width that is equal to or slightly greater than a hydraulic diameter of the particle. The particles in the fluid are focused into the localized pathline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignees: The General Hospital Corporation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Mehmet Toner, Gareth McKinley, Eugene Lim, Thomas Ober
  • INERTIO-ELASTIC FOCUSING OF PARTICLES IN MICROCHANNELS
    Publication number: 20160339434
    Abstract: One example of systems and methods for inertio-elastic focusing of particles in microchannels includes a substrate including a channel having an inlet and an outlet. A viscoelastic fluid, i.e., a fluid having a dynamic viscosity that varies with shear rate, and that carries suspended particles is driven through the channel. The volumetric flow rate at which the fluid is driven results in the formation of a localized pathline in the fluid at or near a center of the channel. The localized pathline defines a width that is equal to or slightly greater than a hydraulic diameter of the particle. The particles in the fluid are focused into the localized pathline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Mehmet Toner, Gareth McKinley, Eugene Lim, Thomas Ober