Patents by Inventor Timothy Swager

Timothy Swager 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: 11733192
    Abstract: A sensor for carbon dioxide can include an amidine functional group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Swager, Bora Yoon, Gary Walsh
  • Publication number: 20210341405
    Abstract: A sensor can include one or more of a semiconducting material, an oxidation catalyst, and an oxidation enhancer, the sensor being configured to detect an analyte, such as methane, a thiol, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy SWAGER, Mate BEZDEK, Richard LIU
  • Patent number: 11143613
    Abstract: A sensor can include a conductive region in electrical communication with at least two electrodes, the conductive region can include a mixture of a square-planar metal complex and a carbon nanotube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Timothy Swager, Sibo Lin
  • Publication number: 20210255159
    Abstract: Wacker oxidation can be used as a signal transduction mechanism for the selective and sensitive detection of ethylene in air via chemiresistive sensing. Using this system, the senescence of lisianthus flowers and carnations can be monitored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Swager, Darryl Fong, Shaoxiong Luo, Rafaela Da Silveira Andre
  • Patent number: 11047826
    Abstract: A sensor can include a catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Timothy Swager, Vera Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20200088668
    Abstract: A sensor for carbon dioxide can include an amidine functional group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Timothy Swager, Bora Yoon, Gary Walsh
  • Publication number: 20190285577
    Abstract: A sensor can include a catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Timothy Swager, Vera Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20190250115
    Abstract: A sensor can include a conductive region in electrical communication with at least two electrodes, the conductive region can include a mixture of a square-planar metal complex and a carbon nanotube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Swager, Sibo Lin
  • Publication number: 20090087376
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of compounds that are suitable for imaging amyloid deposits in living patients. The invention relates, in part, to a method of imaging amyloid deposits in brain in vivo to allow antemortem diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The present invention also relates to therapeutic uses for such compounds, as exemplified by compounds of the formula (1) in which Y is independently S, O, or N and m is 1, 2, or 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicants: The General Hospital Corporation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pittsburg of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Brian Bacskai, Bradley T. Hyman, William E. Klunk, Chester A. Mathis, Timothy Swager, Evgueni Nesterov, Ivory Hills
  • Publication number: 20070215839
    Abstract: The synthesis of thiophene based conducting polymer molecular actuators, exhibiting electrically triggered molecular conformational transitions is reported. Actuation is believed to be the result of conformational rearrangement of the polymer backbone at the molecular level, not simply ion intercalation in the bulk polymer chain upon electrochemical activation. Molecular actuation results from ?-? stacking of thiophene oligomers upon oxidation, producing a reversible molecular displacement that leads to surprising material properties, such as electrically controllable porosity and large strains. The existence of active molecular conformational changes is supported by in situ electrochemical data. Single molecule techniques have been used to characterize the molecular actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Patrick Anquetil, Ian Hunter, John Madden, Peter Madden, Anthony Pullen, Timothy Swager, Bing Xu, Hsiao-hua Yu
  • Publication number: 20070117954
    Abstract: The present invention provides materials, devices, and methods involving new heterocyclic, shape-persistent monomeric units with internal free volume. In some cases, materials the present invention may comprise monomers, oligomers, or polymers that incorporate a heterocyclic, shape-persistent iptycene. The present invention may provide materials having low dielectric constants and improved stability at high operating temperatures due to the electron-poor character of materials. In addition, compositions of the invention may be easily synthesized and readily modified to suit a particular application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Swager, Jean Bouffard
  • Publication number: 20070081921
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a class of luminescent and conductive polymer compositions having chromophores, and particularly solid films of these compositions exhibiting increased luminescent lifetimes, quantum yields and amplified emissions. These desirable properties can be provided through polymers having rigid groups designed to prevent polymer reorganization, aggregation or ?-stacking upon solidification. These polymers can also display an unusually high stability with respect to solvent and heat exposures. The invention also relates to a sensor and a method for sensing an analyte through the luminescent and conductive properties of these polymers. Analytes can be sensed by activation of a chromophore at a polymer surface. Analytes include aromatics such as heterocycles, phosphate ester groups and in particular explosives and chemical warfare agents in a gaseous state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Swager, John Amara
  • Publication number: 20060127929
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to organic polymers able to participate in an analyte-recognition process, where an analyte facilitates an energy transfer between an energy donor and an energy acceptor. Certain embodiments of the invention make use of fluorescent conjugated polymers, such as poly(phenylene ethynylene)s and other polymers comprising pi-conjugated backbones. For example, one aspect of the invention provides a fluorescent conjugated polymer and an indicator that can interact with each other in the presence of an analyte to produce an emissive signal. In some cases, the interaction may include energy exchange mechanisms, such as Dexter energy transfer or the strong coupling effect. The interaction of the conjugated polymer and the indicator, in some instances, may be facilitated through specific interactions, such as a protein/carbohydrate interaction, a ligand/receptor interaction, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Swager, Peter Seeberger, Juan Zheng, Matthew Disney
  • Publication number: 20060120923
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a class of luminescent and conductive polymer compositions having chromophores, and particularly solid films of these compositions exhibiting increased luminescent lifetimes, quantum yields and amplified emissions. These desirable properties can be provided through polymers having rigid groups designed to prevent polymer reorganization, aggregation or ?-stacking upon solidification. These polymers can also display an unusually high stability with respect to solvent and heat exposures. The invention also relates to a sensor and a method for sensing an analyte through the luminescent and conductive properties of these polymers. Analytes can be sensed by activation of a chromophore at a polymer surface. Analytes include aromatics, phosphate ester groups and in particular explosives and chemical warfare agents in a gaseous state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Timothy Swager, Jye-Shane Yang, Vance Williams, Yi-Jun Miao, Claus Lugmair, Igor Levitsky, Jinsang Kim, Robert Deans
  • Publication number: 20060120917
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a class of luminescent and conductive polymer compositions having chromophores, and particularly solid films of these compositions exhibiting increased luminescent lifetimes, quantum yields and amplified emissions. These desirable properties can be provided through polymers having rigid groups designed to prevent polymer reorganization, aggregation or ?-stacking upon solidification. These polymers can also display an unusually high stability with respect to solvent and heat exposures. The invention also relates to a sensor and a method for sensing an analyte through the luminescent and conductive properties of these polymers. Analytes can be sensed by activation of a chromophore at a polymer surface. Analytes include aromatics, phosphate ester groups and in particular explosives and chemical warfare agents in a gaseous state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Timothy Swager, Jye-Shane Yang, Vance Williams, Yi-Jun Miao, Claus Lugmair, Igor Levitsky, Jinsang Kim, Robert Deans
  • Publication number: 20060073607
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to polymers with lasing characteristics that allow the polymers to be useful in detecting analytes. In one aspect, the polymer, upon an interaction with an analyte, may exhibit a change in a lasing characteristic that can be determined in some fashion. For example, interaction of an analyte with the polymer may affect the ability of the polymer to reach an excited state that allows stimulated emission of photons to occur, which may be determined, thereby determining the analyte. In another aspect, the polymer, upon interaction with an analyte, may exhibit a change in stimulated emission that is at least 10 times greater with respect to a change in the spontaneous emission of the polymer upon interaction with the analyte. The polymer may be a conjugated polymer in some cases. In one set of embodiments, the polymer includes one or more hydrocarbon side chains, which may be parallel to the polymer backbone in some instances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Aimee Rose, Timothy Swager, Zhengguo Zhu, Vladimir Bulovic, Conor Madigan
  • Publication number: 20050282898
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to methods for synthesizing milnacipran or congeners thereof. Another aspect of the present invention relates to asymmetric methods for synthesizing enantiomerically enriched milnacipran or congeners thereof. The present invention also relates to methods for synthesizing intermediates useful in the non-asymmetric or asymmetric methods for synthesizing enantiomerically enriched milnacipran or congeners thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: Collegium Pharmaceutical
    Inventors: Stephen Buchwald, Timothy Swager, Roman Rariy
  • Publication number: 20050196775
    Abstract: The present invention relates to fluorescent, semiconductive polymers comprising electron withdrawing groups bonded to the polymer. The invention also relates to a method of detecting analytes comprising contacting the analyte with the fluorescent, semiconductive polymers of the present invention. The invention also relates to light emitting devices, photovoltaic devices, and sensors comprising the fluorescent, semiconductive polymers of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Swager, Youngmi Kim
  • Publication number: 20050147534
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to luminescent and/or optically absorbing compositions and/or precursors to those compositions, including solid films incorporating these compositions/precursors, exhibiting increased luminescent lifetimes, quantum yields, enhanced stabilities and/or amplified emissions. The present invention also relates to sensors and methods for sensing analytes through luminescent and/or optically absorbing properties of these compositions and/or precursors. Examples of analytes detectable by the invention include, but are not limited to, electrophiles, alkylating agents, thionyl halides, and phosphate ester groups including phophoryl halides, cyanides and thioates such as those found in certain chemical warfare agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Swager, Tae-Hyun Kim, Shi-Wei Zhang