David J Weitz

US Patent:

7556776, Jul 7, 2009

Filed:

Sep 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/221585

Inventors:

Seth Fraden - Newton MA, US
Darren Roy Link - Guilford CT, US
Galder Cristobal-Azkarate - Bordeaux, FR
Jung uk Shim - Lexington MA, US
David A. Weitz - Bolton MA, US

Assignee:

President and Fellows of Harvard College - Cambridge MA
Brandeis University - Waltham MA

International Classification:

B01L 3/02

US Classification:

422100, 156300, 366341, 347 96, 436 43, 436 63, 436180, 422 50, 422 681, 422 81, 422 82, 422101

Abstract:

The present invention relates generally to microfluidic structures, and more specifically, to microfluidic structures and methods including microreactors for manipulating fluids and reactions. In some embodiments, structures and methods for manipulating many (e. g. , 1000) fluid samples, i. e. , in the form of droplets, are described. Processes such as diffusion, evaporation, dilution, and precipitation can be controlled in each fluid sample. These methods also enable conditions within the fluid samples (e. g. , concentration) to be controlled. Manipulation of fluid samples can be useful for a variety of applications, including testing for reaction conditions, e. g. , in crystallization, chemical, and biological assays.

US Patent:

7708949, May 4, 2010

Filed:

Dec 28, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/024228

Inventors:

Howard A. Stone - Brookline MA, US
Shelley L. Anna - Pittsburgh PA, US
Nathalie Bontoux - Cagnes sur Mer, FR
Darren R. Link - Cambridge MA, US
David A. Weitz - Bolton MA, US
Irina Gitlin - Brookline MA, US
Eugenia Kumacheva - Toronto, CA
Piotr Garstecki - Cambridge MA, US
Willow Diluzio - Westford MA, US
George M. Whitesides - Newton MA, US

Assignee:

President and Fellows of Harvard College - Cambridge MA
Governing Council of the Univ. of Toronto - Toronto

International Classification:

B01L 3/02
G01N 11/04
B01L 99/00
G05D 7/00

US Classification:

422100, 422 681, 422103, 422110, 436180

Abstract:

A microfluidic method and device for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid is provided. The device can be fabricated simply from readily-available, inexpensive material using simple techniques.

US Patent:

7968287, Jun 28, 2011

Filed:

Oct 8, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/961695

Inventors:

Andrew Griffiths - Strasbourg, FR
David Weitz - Cambridge MA, US
Keunho Ahn - San Diego CA, US
Darren R. Link - Lexington MA, US
Jerome Bibette - Paris, FR

Assignee:

Medical Research Council Harvard University - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

C12Q 1/68

US Classification:

435 6, 435180, 435375

Abstract:

The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.

US Patent:

8592221, Nov 26, 2013

Filed:

Apr 18, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/595107

Inventors:

Seth Fraden - Newton MA, US
Hakim Boukellal - Paris, FR
Yanwei Jia - Medford MA, US
Seila Selimovic - Bronx NY, US
Amy Rowat - Cambridge MA, US
Jeremy Agresti - Cambridge MA, US
David A. Weitz - Bolton MA, US

International Classification:

G01F 11/00

US Classification:

436180, 422502, 422503, 137 2, 137 14

Abstract:

Microfluidic structures and methods for manipulating fluids, fluid components, and reactions are provided. In one aspect, such structures and methods can allow production of droplets of a precise volume, which can be stored/maintained at precise regions of the device. In another aspect, microfluidic structures and methods described herein are designed for containing and positioning components in an arrangement such that the components can be manipulated and then tracked even after manipulation. For example, cells may be constrained in an arrangement in microfluidic structures described herein to facilitate tracking during their growth and/or after they multiply.

US Patent:

20020191265, Dec 19, 2002

Filed:

Jun 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/881508

Inventors:

Michael LaGasse - Lexington MA, US
Morris Kesler - Bedford MA, US
David Weitz - Cambridge MA, US
Mikhail Fridberg - Framingham MA, US
Hemonth Rao - Burlington MA, US
Jeffrey Shultz - West Townsend MA, US
Kevin Weldon - Townsend MA, US

International Classification:

G02F001/03

US Classification:

359/246000

Abstract:

A multi-stage polarization transformer is described that includes a first polarization transformer stage that receives an optical signal at an input and that generates a first transformed optical signal at an output. The first transformed optical signal has a polarization state within a first predetermined range. A second polarization transformer stage receives the first transformed optical signal at an input and generates a second transformed optical signal at an output. The second transformed optical signal has a polarization state within a second predetermined range. The second predetermined range is less than the first predetermined range.

US Patent:

20030166509, Sep 4, 2003

Filed:

Nov 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/300070

Inventors:

David Edwards - Boston MA, US
Richard Batycky - Newton MA, US
Jennifer Schmitke - Boston MA, US
Nicolas Tsapis - Cambridge MA, US
David Weitz - Bolton MA, US
Jeffrey Hrkach - Cambridge MA, US

Assignee:

Advanced Inhalation Research, Inc. - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

A61K038/28
A61L009/04
A61K009/14
A61K031/56
A61K031/4965
A61K031/496
A61K031/137

US Classification:

514/003000, 424/046000, 514/182000, 514/252130, 514/255060, 514/651000

Abstract:

The present invention features pharmaceutical compositions comprising nanoparticles containing a sustained release bioactive agent, method of making such compositions, and method of therapy using such compositions.

US Patent:

20040010060, Jan 15, 2004

Filed:

Mar 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/392123

Inventors:

Mathieu Joanicot - Chatenay-Malabry, FR
Ani Nikova - San Diego CA, US
Maria Talingting - Burlington NJ, US
David Weitz - Bolton MA, US

International Classification:

C08F002/00

US Classification:

523/201000

Abstract:

The invention relates to new vesicles structures, and their use for delivering actives. The vesicles according to the invention are obtained from di-block copolymers. The vesicles comprise an external shell of a di-block copolymer comprising a hydrophilic block and a hydrophobic block, and at least one internal shell of the same or another di-block copolymer comprising a hydrophilic block and a hydrophobic block, the hydrophobic block of the external shell facing the hydrophobic block of the internal shell(s), and further comprise a hydrophobic compound between the shells.

US Patent:

20070195127, Aug 23, 2007

Filed:

Jan 24, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/698298

Inventors:

Keunho Ahn - San Diego CA, US
Henry Chong - Cambridge MA, US
Jeremy Agresti - Cambridge MA, US
David Weitz - Bolton MA, US
Darren Link - Guilford CT, US

Assignee:

President and Fellows of Harvard College - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

B41J 2/06

US Classification:

347055000

Abstract:

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for the control of fluidic species and, in particular, to the coalescence of fluidic droplets. In certain instances, the systems and methods are microfluidic. In one aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for causing two or more fluidic droplets within a channel to coalescence. The fluidic droplets may be of unequal size in certain cases. In some embodiments, a first fluidic droplet may be caused to move at a first velocity, and a second fluidic droplet may be caused to move at a second velocity different from the first velocity, for instance, substantially greater than the first velocity. The droplets may then coalesce, for example, upon application of an electric field. In the absence of an electric field, in some cases, the droplets may be unable to coalesce. In some cases, two series of fluidic droplets may coalesce, one or both series being substantially uniform. For instance, one series of droplets may have a distribution of diameters such that no more than about 5% of the droplets have a diameter greater than about 10% of the average diameter. In certain cases, one or more series of droplets may each consist essentially of a substantially uniform number of entities of a species therein (i.e., molecules, cells, particles, etc.). The fluidic droplets may be coalesced to start a reaction, and/or to stop a reaction, in some cases. For instance, a reaction may be initiated when a species in a first droplet contacts a species in a second droplet after the droplets coalesce, or a first droplet may contain an ongoing reaction and a second droplet may contain a species that inhibits the reaction. Other embodiments of the invention are directed to kits or methods for promoting the coalescence of fluidic droplets.