Northeastern University

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.

Harvard College

Gregory J Kowalski

Arthur R Foster

Dale Larson

Jason Oliver Fiering

Jeffrey W Ruberti

Amy Taylor

Masoud Modaresifar

Mehmet Sen

Daniel Burkey

Yuwei Zhang

Wajeeh M Saadi

A system for calorimetry includes a well having a volume for receiving a sample, an input feature to facilitate reception of the sample in the well, a light source to irradiate the well and the sample with incident light, and a photonic sensor chip disposed at the bottom of the well. The photonic sensor chip includes plural nanohole array (NHA) sensors. A light detector is configured to measure transmission of light through the NHA sensors to obtain a series of extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) measurements. Frame elements secure and mutually couple the light source, the photonic sensor chip, the light detector, and the input feature to form a calorimetry unit. A processor is configured to calculate a calorimetry measurement as a function of the series of EOT measurements, the calorimetry measurement being indicative of energy released as a result of the sample in the well undergoing a change.

Fast, single injection well plate micro-calorimeter using photonic sensors

A method for calorimetry includes flowing a first fluid through a co-flow reactor microchannel having plural inlets and an outlet, the first fluid flowing through each of the inlets, and measuring transmission of light through a Nano Hole Array (NHA) sensor to obtain a baseline extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) measurement. The flow of the first fluid is stopped, the microchannel is emptied of the first fluid, and the first fluid and a second fluid are passed through the microchannel such that a reaction occurs, the first fluid flowing through a first of the inlets and the second fluid flowing through a second of the inlets. While flowing the first and second fluids, transmission of light through the NHA sensor is measured to obtain a reaction EOT measurement. A calorimetry measurement, indicative of energy released during the reaction, is calculated as a function of the baseline and reaction EOT measurements.

Stop-start method in a microfluidic calorimeter

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a microfluidic calorimeter apparatus. A microfluidic calorimeter system includes a calorimetry apparatus and a processor in connection with the apparatus. The apparatus includes a microfluidic laminar flow channel connected to two inlets for flowing fluid into the laminar flow channel. Below the laminar flow channel is a plurality of microscale temperature sensors at known positions in the channel. The processor is in connection with the discrete temperature sensors and determines a calorimetry measurement based on local temperatures derived from data output by the microscale temperature sensors and the respective positions of the sensors in the channel.

System and method for a microfluidic calorimeter

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for assembling polymer-forming molecular components such that highly-structured arrays of polymer strands, such as collagen fibrils, are formed without the need for cells. A polymer nanoloom is designed to control the self-assembly of monomers into fibrils and related tissue constructs including ligament, tendon, cartilage, and bone. A nanoloom system comprises a polymer printhead, a temperature controller, and a movable substrate for polymer printing. A polymer printhead contains one or more nanoreactors that can control the assembly of collagen fibrils or other polymers on a nanoscale. Methods are provided for temperature-driven, enzyme-driven, and cholesteric assembly of collagen or other polymers into two- or three-dimensional tissue constructs.

Nanoloom for controlling polymer assembly

Methods and apparatus for ultra-sensitive temperature sensing and calorimetry. Radiation is directed at a thin electrically conductive film having one or more small apertures. The incident radiation excites surface plasmons on a first surface of the electrically conductive film, and energy associated with the surface plasmons couples to an opposite surface of the electrically conductive film, where surface plasmon-enhanced radiation (SPER) is emitted from the aperture(s). A temperature-sensitive fluid or solid dielectric material is disposed contiguous with at least a portion of the electrically conductive film, such that a temperature change in the dielectric material alters a resonance condition for the SPER. Measurable changes in the SPER due to altered resonance conditions provide for an ultrasensitive temperature sensor that can detect small temperature changes in the dielectric material. The disclosed methods and apparatus may be used for a variety of applications including, but not limited to, nanoscale to microscale calorimetry for pharmaceutical and biotechnology products, combustion sensing, explosive detection, and biotoxin monitoring.

Ultra-sensitive temperature sensing and calorimetry

A refrigeration system particularly suitable for an automobile air conditioning system is disclosed. The system includes an ejector to raise the pressure of the working fluid to the condenser pressure and a boiler which utilizes waste heat from the automobile engine. The boiler produces a near sonic velocity saturated vapor for input to the primary nozzle of the ejector. The near sonic velocity input maximizes the stagnation temperature and pressure of the fluid entering the primary nozzle for a given low or limited temperature heat source such as automobile waste heat. The refrigeration system uses a working fluid having a property such that its entropy when in a saturated vapor state decreases as pressure decreases, which maximizes the input pressure for a given heat source and prevents the vapor from condensing in the ejector. A high efficiency primary nozzle is also provided, allowing the system to take advantage of the decreasing entropy property of the saturated vapor. A refrigerant storage subsystem may be included in the system to provide an adequate transient response to changes in the waste heat output from the automobile engine and during the engine warm up period.

Hydrocarbon fluid, ejector refrigeration system

A refrigeration system particularly suitable for an automobile air conditioning system is disclosed. The refrigeration system uses a hydrocarbon as the working fluid. The system includes an ejector in the refrigeration cycle and a boiler which utilizes waste heat from the automobile engine. A refrigerant storage subsystem may be included in the system to provide an adequate transient response to changes in the waste heat output from the automobile engine and during the engine warm up period.

Growing community of inventors

Beverly, MA, United States of America

Gregory J Kowalski