Patents Assigned to Brigham Young University
  • Hand power tool and drive train
    Patent number: 10052749
    Abstract: A drive train for supplying power to a power tool may include, a motor, a motor shaft, a rotational coupling mechanism connected to the motor shaft, and a drive shaft connected to the rotational coupling mechanism that forms the shape of a “U.” A pair of enmeshed bevel gears transfers the motion from the motor shaft to an orthogonal tool bit. The drive train may also include a hammering device that transfers a rotational impacting motion to the tool bit. A hand power tool for driving a screw may include a tool shell with an integrally formed vertical handle, a rotational recess formed into the tool shell opposite the handle, and a tool chuck within the rotational recess that drives a screw. The tool may incorporate the drive train as described above. The tool may include a mechanism for locking the tool chuck in a particular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Christopher Mattson, Robert Campbell, Clark Davis, David Olligschlager, Brad Solomon, Samuel Wilding
  • Collaborative project management
    Patent number: 10048841
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and program product are disclosed for collaborative project management. One apparatus includes a selection module that receives a selection by a local user of an information handling device to display an application screen of a remote user of multiple remote users. The application screen of the remote user displays a project used by the multiple remote users in a collaborative environment. The apparatus includes a display module that displays on the information handling device the application screen of the remote user. The application screen of the remote user is updated immediately as modifications to the project are made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Brett Stone, Philip Cox, David French, Ammon Hepworth, Charles Gregory Jensen, Walter Edward Red
  • Ceragenin particulate materials and methods for making same
    Patent number: 10039285
    Abstract: Particulate ceragenin materials may be manufactured by (i) providing a ceragenin feed material comprised of ceragenin molecules, each having a sterol backbone and a plurality cationic groups attached thereto; (ii) fracturing the ceragenin feed material in a milling apparatus to produce a ceragenin particulate material having a particle size distribution with a median particle size in a range from 5 nm to 20 ?m; and (iii) during fracturing, maintaining the ceragenin feed with a moisture content of less than or equal to 10% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Paul B. Savage, Carl Genberg
  • COMPACT ACOUSTIC RESONATOR FOR ENCLOSED SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20180174566
    Abstract: A noise reduction system includes an enclosed system in which undesirable acoustic noise is generated by one or more associated noise-generating subsystems, and an acoustic resonator mounted on an exterior wall of the enclosed system, with an opening being defined through the exterior wall to allow for the passage of sound pressure waves from within the enclosed system to the acoustic resonator. The acoustic resonator includes a neck connected to the exterior wall at the opening and through which sound pressure waves from the enclosed system travel, at least two branches extending off from the neck, and a resonator connected to a distal end of each of the at least two branches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicants: Caterpillar Inc., Brigham Young University
    Inventors: David Charles Copley, Scott David Sommerfeldt, Matthew Franklin Calton
  • METHODS FOR REDUCING CELLULAR PROLIFERATION AND TREATING CERTAIN DISEASES
    Publication number: 20180169114
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating cancer and/or reducing cellular proliferation in a patient, comprising identifying a patient in need of treatment and administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one cationic steroid antimicrobial (CSA), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Kits comprising such compositions and instructions on such methods are also contemplated herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Carl Genberg, Paul B. Savage
  • Band-selective aperture shading for sidelobe reduction in TX/RX phased array satellite communications transceivers
    Patent number: 9997843
    Abstract: For phased array aperture shading for sidelobe reduction in satellite communication transceivers, apparatus and systems are disclosed. One apparatus includes a planar array antenna tile having a plurality of patch antenna elements. The apparatus also includes a transmit feed point that drives the planar array antenna tile. The apparatus further includes a feed network element that distributes power unequally among two or more of the patch antenna elements, wherein the feed network element connects the two or more patch antenna elements to the transmit feed point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Karl F. Warnick
  • Method and apparatus for finite analysis pre-processing
    Patent number: 9996642
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for finite analysis pre-processing may include (1) receiving a processing request that identifies a geometries within a design space and a finite analysis pre-processing operation to be performed thereon, (2) determining an interface that is common to a first geometry and a second geometry of the geometries, and (3) conducting the finite analysis pre-processing operation on at least the interface between the first geometry and the second geometry previous to concurrently conducting the finite analysis pre-processing operation on an unprocessed portion of the first geometry and an unprocessed portion of the second geometry. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Jared C. Briggs, C. Greg Jensen, Chia Chi Teng, W. Edward Red
  • Hand tool impacting device with floating pin mechanism
    Patent number: 9981364
    Abstract: A hand tool impacting device may include, a drive shaft with an aperture, an impaler disk, and a floating pin positioned within the aperture of the drive shaft. A set of circular ramps on the outer edge of the impaler disk may interact with a stationary pin insert to translate the drive shaft and create an impacting motion. A pair of springs placed against either side of the floating pin may allow a specialized tool bit to engage or disengage the impaler disk, thereby allowing selective use of translational impacting motion, or rotational torque. An impact bit for engaging the impaler disk may include, a tool head configured to engage a work piece and a tool shaft configured to be inserted into a hollow drive shaft to engage a floating pin. According to one embodiment, the impact bit includes a number of sleeves to guide the tool head during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Christopher Andrew Mattson, Jake Allred, Jeremy Alsup, Travis Anderson, David Christensen, Jacob Morrise, Jon Ward
  • Methods for reducing cellular proliferation and treating certain diseases
    Patent number: 9943529
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating cancer and/or reducing cellular proliferation in a patient, comprising identifying a patient in need of treatment and administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one cationic steroid antimicrobial (CSA), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Kits comprising such compositions and instructions on such methods are also contemplated herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Carl Genberg, Paul B. Savage
  • Cationic steroid antimicrobial diagnostic, detection, screening and imaging methods
    Patent number: 9943614
    Abstract: The invention relates to diagnostic, detection, screening and imaging methods. In various embodiments, methods of diagnosis, detection, screening and imaging include administering a cationic steroid antimicrobial or CSA to a subject having or at risk of having an infection or a hyperproliferative disorder (e.g., a tumor, cancer or neoplasia) in an amount effective to diagnose or detect the infection or the hyperproliferative disorder (e.g., a tumor, cancer or neoplasia) in the subject. In a particular aspect, a detectable CSA, namely CSA-13 labeled with 99mTc is used to detect the presence of an infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Paul B. Savage
  • Surgical retractor
    Patent number: 9936937
    Abstract: A surgical retractor device for retaining and/or moving internal organs during minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgery is provided. The surgical retractor can be a single continuous structure that includes a shaft. The shaft can branch into a first elongate finger with a first distal end opposite the shaft and a second elongate finger with a second distal end opposite the shaft. The retractor can further include a resilient lattice structure disposed between the first elongate finger and the second elongate finger. The retractor can have an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration based on relative distance between the first distal end and the second distal end. When the retractor is in the collapsed configuration, spring force energy can be stored in the resilient lattice structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Bryce Edmondson, Quentin Allen, Michael McCain, John J. Pierce, Terri Bateman, Larry Howell
  • Anti-infective and osteogenic compositions and methods of use
    Patent number: 9931350
    Abstract: Cationic steroidal antimicrobials (“CSAs” or “ceragenins”) and methods of making and using the same. Particularly advantageous uses include treating infections in patient and sub-patient populations, especially those having a bone disease, a broken bone, a bone infection, or a bone implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Paul B. Savage, Carl Genberg
  • Data acquisition system with rotating probe members and ground reference electrode
    Patent number: 9909974
    Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a probe including a plurality of exterior rotating members defining a guard ring, and an interior rotating member having a circular shape and disposed within at least a portion of a perimeter defined by the plurality of exterior rotating members. The apparatus can also include a waveform generator electrically coupled to the guard ring and the interior rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Brian A. Mazzeo, W. Spencer Guthrie, Warren Kemmerer, Jared Baxter, Chloe Roedel
  • Collaborative CAx updates
    Patent number: 9875311
    Abstract: A method, executed by at least one processor, may include storing, within a set of memory locations within a storage medium, data for a feature of an engineering object in a first client format and a collaborative server format that is different than the first client format, the first client format corresponding to a first CAx application operable by a first user, the collaborative server format corresponding to a collaborative server. The method may also include updating the data for the feature in both the first client format and the collaborative server format in response to receiving an update to the feature from, or detecting an update to the feature by, the first CAx application or the collaborative server. A corresponding system and computer readable medium are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Kelly Eric Bowman, Joshua Coburn, Jon Tsai, Robert Freeman, Charles Greg Jensen
  • Surgical forceps
    Patent number: 9867631
    Abstract: Surgical forceps for gripping internal organs during minimally invasive surgery are provided. The surgical forceps can be a sanitizable sheet in a folded configuration that includes a first elongate region which transitions to a resilient hinge which transitions to a second elongate region, all of which are formed of the same sheet. The first elongate region can further include a first grasper end opposite the resilient hinge and the second elongate region can include a second grasper end opposite the resilient hinge. The resilient hinge can apply a spring force to the first elongate region and the second elongate region that biases the forceps in an open configuration where the first grasper end and the second grasper end are distal from each other. When an external force is applied against the resilient hinge, the first grasper end can close against the second grasper end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Bryce Edmondson, Clayton Grames, Landen Bowen, Eric Call, Terri Bateman, Spencer Magleby, Larry Howell
  • Lavage and/or infusion using CSA compounds for increasing fertility in a mammal
    Patent number: 9867836
    Abstract: Increasing fertility in a mammal utilizes cationic steroidal antimicrobial (CSA) compounds and CSA-containing compositions. Such treatment in a mammal includes administering a formulation (e.g., lavage and/or infusion) including at least one CSA compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to the reproductive structure(s) of the mammal (e.g., horse, dairy cow, human, etc.). The formulation may be applied topically as lavage and/or infusion to desired reproductive structures, such as the vagina, cervix, uterus, penis, or combinations thereof. The formulation may kill both planktonic and biofilm forms of sperm killing microbes, and may at least partially break up a microbial plaque or film located within any of the reproductive structures (e.g., the uterus).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chad S. Beus, Paul B. Savage
  • EXTRACTING APERIODIC COMPONENTS FROM A TIME-SERIES WAVE DATA SET
    Publication number: 20180000369
    Abstract: A method is described for extracting aperiodic components from a time-series wave data set for diagnosis purposes. The method may include collecting time-series wave data within a controlled environment were a plurality of contrasting conditions can be used in collecting the time-series wave data set. Aperiodic components can be extracted from the time-series wave data set and the aperiodic components can then be fitted to the plurality of contrasting conditions of the controlled environment to product regressed aperiodic components from which diagnostic determination can be made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Bruce Leonard Brown, Suzanne B. Hendrix, Dawson W. Hedges
  • Device dispensing apparatus
    Patent number: 9839270
    Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a container including a lid, and a cradle configured to support a device. The apparatus can include a lifting mechanism operably coupled to the cradle and the lid. The lifting mechanism can be configured to move between a storage position where the cradle is disposed in the container to a dispensing position where the cradle is disposed outside of the container. The lifting mechanism can be configured to move between the storage position and the dispensing position in response to moving the lid. The lifting mechanism can include a first link aligned parallel to a second link when the lifting mechanism is in the dispensing position and when the lifting mechanism is in the storage position. The first link and the second link can both be within the same plane when in a position between the storage position and the dispensing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Larry Howell, Spencer Magleby, Holly Greenburg Nihipali, Samuel Wilding
  • Apparatus and method for determining denaturation thermograms of blood plasma or serum
    Patent number: 9829386
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining thermograms of blood plasma or serum includes two or more reaction vessels that each comprise a temperature sensing coil and a heating coil that is coaxial with and exterior to, or interleaved with, the temperature sensing coil. The apparatus also includes a heat conductive body having two or more cavities formed therein for receiving the reaction vessels. A corresponding method includes activating the heating coils of the reaction vessels and collecting temperature data for the reaction vessels with the temperature sensing coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventor: Lee D. Hansen
  • Vascular Stents and Related Methods
    Publication number: 20170333232
    Abstract: A vascular stent assembly includes at least a first and a second strut, each including a thickness and a depth. The assembly includes a pair of end radii, with each of the first and second struts extending from one of the pair of end radii. A thickness of at least one of the first and second struts includes a tapering profile extending from one of the end radii to another of the end radii, the tapering profile following a continuously increasing or decreasing function through at least half a length of the at least one strut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Darrell J. Skousen, Brian D. Jensen, Anton E. Bowden