Patents by Inventor Todd Thorsen
Todd Thorsen 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: 11767498Abstract: An in vitro tissue plate may include a well plate, a fluidic plate disposed on a bottom surface of the well plate, and a media manifold disposed on a bottom surface of the fluidic plate. The well plate may have at least two wells, including a tissue well and a waste well. The fluid plate may include a fluid channel extending between and fluidly connecting the tissue well to the waste well. The media manifold may include a one or more media outlets fluidly connected to the fluid channel. A tissue layer may be deposited in the tissue well. The tissue layer may include human cells such as neurovascular cells.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2020Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human ServicesInventors: Johanna Bobrow, Todd Thorsen, David Walsh, Christina Zook, Min Jae Song, Marc Ferrer-Alegre, Sam Michael, Yen-Ting Tung, Molly Elizabeth Boutin
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Publication number: 20210062128Abstract: An in vitro tissue plate may include a well plate, a fluidic plate disposed on a bottom surface of the well plate, and a media manifold disposed on a bottom surface of the fluidic plate. The well plate may have at least two wells, including a tissue well and a waste well. The fluid plate may include a fluid channel extending between and fluidly connecting the tissue well to the waste well. The media manifold may include a one or more media outlets fluidly connected to the fluid channel. A tissue layer may be deposited in the tissue well. The tissue layer may include human cells such as neurovascular cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Johanna Bobrow, Todd Thorsen, David Walsh, Christina Zook
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Patent number: 10509018Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices and methods for using the same. In particular, microfluidic devices of the present invention are useful in conducting a variety of assays and high throughput screening. Microfluidic devices of the present invention include elastomeric components and comprise a main flow channel; a plurality of branch flow channels; a plurality of control channels; and a plurality of valves. Preferably, each of the valves comprises one of the control channels and an elastomeric segment that is deflectable into or retractable from the main or branch flow channel upon which the valve operates in response to an actuation force applied to the control channel.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Stephen R. Quake, Marc A. Unger, Hou-Pu Chou, Todd A. Thorsen, Axel Scherer
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Patent number: 10365670Abstract: Electrical and electromechanical devices often require maintaining a specific temperature, or a narrow range or temperatures, during operation. An assembly regulates the temperature of a device by providing a variable thermal resistance between the device and a heatsink. The device can be mounted to a base having a high thermal resistance, the base thermally isolating the device from the heatsink. At low environmental temperatures, the base enables the device to rise to its operating temperature as a result of the device's waste heat, and with no or minimal use of a heater. As the environmental temperature increases, a working fluid, having a low thermal resistance, undergoes thermal expansion to fill a portion of a volume in the base between the device and the heat sink, lowering the thermal resistance between the device and the heatsink to maintain the device at the required operating temperature.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2017Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Reuel B. Swint, Gregory D. Allen, Todd A. Thorsen, Boris G. Kharas, Donna-Ruth Webb Yost
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Publication number: 20180094294Abstract: This invention provides microfabricated devices and methods for detecting, analyzing and sorting biological materials and particles. Droplets containing the particles are provided in an extrusion fluid, passed through a detection region, and then directed into a branch channel according to predetermined characteristics. For example, cells or viral particles contained in droplets of aqueous solvent are flowed past a detector in the nonpolar extrusion fluid decane, and routed into a selected branch channel for subsequent analysis or use.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Stephen R. Quake, Todd Thorsen
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Publication number: 20180095481Abstract: Electrical and electromechanical devices often require maintaining a specific temperature, or a narrow range or temperatures, during operation. An assembly regulates the temperature of a device by providing a variable thermal resistance between the device and a heatsink. The device can be mounted to a base having a high thermal resistance, the base thermally isolating the device from the heatsink. At low environmental temperatures, the base enables the device to rise to its operating temperature as a result of the device's waste heat, and with no or minimal use of a heater. As the environmental temperature increases, a working fluid, having a low thermal resistance, undergoes thermal expansion to fill a portion of a volume in the base between the device and the heat sink, lowering the thermal resistance between the device and the heatsink to maintain the device at the required operating temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Reuel B. Swint, Gregory D. Allen, Todd A. Thorsen, Boris G. Kharas, Donna-Ruth Webb Yost
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Patent number: 9714443Abstract: High-density microfluidic chips contain plumbing networks with thousands of micromechanical valves and hundreds of individually addressable chambers. These fluidic devices are analogous to electronic integrated circuits fabricated using large scale integration (LSI). A component of these networks is the fluidic multiplexor, which is a combinatorial array of binary valve patterns that exponentially increases the processing power of a network by allowing complex fluid manipulations with a minimal number of inputs. These integrated microfluidic networks can be used to construct a variety of highly complex microfluidic devices, for example the microfluidic analog of a comparator array, and a microfluidic memory storage device resembling electronic random access memories.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Sebastian J. Maerkl, Todd A. Thorsen, Xiaoyan Bao, Stephen R. Quake, Vincent Studer
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Publication number: 20170001195Abstract: A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Inventors: Marc Alexander Unger, Hou-Pu Chou, Todd A. Thorsen, Axel Scherer, Stephen R. Quake, Markus Enzelberger, Mark L. Adams, Carl L. Hansen
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Publication number: 20160318020Abstract: This invention provides microfabricated devices and methods for detecting, analyzing and sorting biological materials and particles. Droplets containing the particles are provided in an extrusion fluid, passed through a detection region, and then directed into a branch channel according to predetermined characteristics. For example, cells or viral particles contained in droplets of aqueous solvent are flowed past a detector in the nonpolar extrusion fluid decane, and routed into a selected branch channel for subsequent analysis or use.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Stephen R. Quake, Todd Thorsen
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Publication number: 20160123958Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices and methods for using the same. In particular, microfluidic devices of the present invention are useful in conducting a variety of assays and high throughput screening. Microfluidic devices of the present invention include elastomeric components and comprise a main flow channel; a plurality of branch flow channels; a plurality of control channels; and a plurality of valves. Preferably, each of the valves comprises one of the control channels and an elastomeric segment that is deflectable into or retractable from the main or branch flow channel upon which the valve operates in response to an actuation force applied to the control channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Stephen R. Quake, Marc A. Unger, Hou-Pu Chou, Todd A. Thorsen, Axel Scherer
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Publication number: 20150375227Abstract: This invention provides microfabricated devices and methods for detecting, analyzing and sorting biological materials and particles. Droplets containing the particles are provided in an extrusion fluid, passed through a detection region, and then directed into a branch channel according to predetermined characteristics. For example, cells or viral particles contained in droplets of aqueous solvent are flowed past a detector in the nonpolar extrusion fluid decane, and routed into a selected branch channel for subsequent analysis or use.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2014Publication date: December 31, 2015Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Stephen R. Quake, Todd Thorsen
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Patent number: 9176137Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices and methods for using the same. In particular, microfluidic devices of the present invention are useful in conducting a variety of assays and high throughput screening. Microfluidic devices of the present invention include elastomeric components and comprise a main flow channel; a plurality of branch flow channels; a plurality of control channels; and a plurality of valves. Preferably, each of the valves comprises one of the control channels and an elastomeric segment that is deflectable into or retractable from the main or branch flow channel upon which the valve operates in response to an actuation force applied to the control channel.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Stephen R. Quake, Marc A. Unger, Hou-Pu Chou, Todd A. Thorsen, Axel Scherer
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Publication number: 20150276089Abstract: A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Marc Alexander Unger, Hou-Pu Chou, Todd A. Thorsen, Axel Scherer, Stephen R. Quake, Markus Enzelberger, Mark L. Adams, Carl L. Hansen
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Publication number: 20150183633Abstract: A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Marc A. Unger, Hou-Pu Chou, Todd A. Thorsen, Axel Scherer, Stephen R. Quake
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Publication number: 20140322489Abstract: A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Marc A. Unger, Hou-Pu Chou, Todd A. Thorsen, Axel Scherer, Stephen R. Quake
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Patent number: 8846183Abstract: A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2011Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Marc A. Unger, Hou-Pu Chou, Todd A. Thorsen, Axel Scherer, Stephen R. Quake
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Publication number: 20140199713Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices and methods for using the same. In particular, microfluidic devices of the present invention are useful in conducting a variety of assays and high throughput screening. Microfluidic devices of the present invention include elastomeric components and comprise a main flow channel; a plurality of branch flow channels; a plurality of control channels; and a plurality of valves. Preferably, each of the valves comprises one of the control channels and an elastomeric segment that is deflectable into or retractable from the main or branch flow channel upon which the valve operates in response to an actuation force applied to the control channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2014Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: STEPHEN R. QUAKE, MARC A. UNGER, HOU-PU CHOU, TODD A. THORSEN, AXEL SCHERER
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Patent number: 8695640Abstract: A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Marc A. Unger, Hou-Pu Chou, Todd A. Thorsen, Axel Scherer, Stephen R. Quake
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Patent number: 8673645Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices and methods for using the same. In particular, microfluidic devices of the present invention are useful in conducting a variety of assays and high throughput screening. Microfluidic devices of the present invention include elastomeric components and comprise a main flow channel; a plurality of branch flow channels; a plurality of control channels; and a plurality of valves. Preferably, each of the valves comprises one of the control channels and an elastomeric segment that is deflectable into or retractable from the main or branch flow channel upon which the valve operates in response to an actuation force applied to the control channel.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Stephen R. Quake, Marc A. Unger, Hou-Pu Chou, Todd A. Thorsen, Axel Scherer
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Patent number: 8658367Abstract: A microfluidic device is provided for analyzing or sorting biological materials, such as polynucleotides, polypeptides, proteins, enzymes, viruses and cells. The invention can be used for high throughput or combinatorial screening. The device comprises a main channel and an inlet channel that communicate at a droplet extrusion region so that droplets of solution are deposited into an immiscible solvent in the main channel. Droplets can thereafter be sorted according to biological material detected in each droplet.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Stephen R. Quake, Todd Thorsen