Patents Assigned to Simon Fraser University
  • Patent number: 9474897
    Abstract: A catheter may include electrodes for transvascular nerve stimulation. The electrodes may be positioned within lumens of the catheter and aligned with apertures in the outer wall of the catheter. The electrodes may produce focused electrical fields for stimulation of one or more nerves. In one embodiment, the catheter may include a set of proximal electrodes and a set of distal electrodes, and the proximal electrodes may stimulate a patient's left phrenic nerve and the distal electrodes may stimulate a patient's right phrenic nerve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventors: Viral Thakkar, Joaquin Andres Hoffer, Bao Dung Tran, Douglas G. Evans, John Nash
  • Publication number: 20160193599
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are anion-conducting polymers that comprise a cationic benzimidazolium and imidazolium moieties. Methods of forming the polymers and membranes comprising the polymers are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: Simon Fraser University
    Inventors: Owen Thomas, Steven Holdcroft, Andrew Wright
  • Publication number: 20160190663
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of batteries operably positioned to be charged and discharged. At least a first battery and a second battery of the plurality of batteries include a stack of electrochemical cells encased in an electrically inert case. A pair of battery tabs outwardly extends from the case. At least the first battery and the second battery in the battery assembly are configured to be electrically connected through their battery tabs with one or more hollow busbars forming a passage for a coolant flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Majid Bahrami, Peyman Taheri Bonab, Todd Pratt
  • Publication number: 20160152538
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods for repelling an Anopheles gambiae including applying to a site of interest an effective amount of a compound of Formula I: wherein: R1 is methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-butyl, or allyl; R2 is at positions 2, 3 or 4 and is H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-butyl, or allyl; and R3 is optionally present at positions 2, 3 and 4, and is allyl; with the provisos that when R2 is at position 2, R3 if present is at position 3, or when R2 is at position 3, R3 if present is at positions 2 or 4, or when R2 is at position 4, R3 if present is at position 2; and with the proviso that the compound of Formula I does not include a compound according to Formula II: wherein R1? is methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-butyl, or allyl; or mixture thereof to a site of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: Simon Fraser University
    Inventors: Erika Plettner, Bernard Roitberg
  • Patent number: 9333363
    Abstract: This disclosure describes, among other embodiments, systems and related methods for selecting electrode combinations to be used during nerve pacing procedures. A first set of electrode combinations of a nerve pacing system, such as a phrenic nerve pacing system for diaphragm activation, may be mapped (or tested) to determine the location of the electrode combinations relative to a target nerve. Once the general location of the target nerve is known, a more localized second set of electrode combinations may be tested to determine the most suitable electrode combinations for nerve stimulation. At various stages of the mapping process, electrode combinations that are non-optimal may be discarded as candidates for use in a nerve pacing procedure. The systems and methods described herein may allow for the selection of electrode combinations that are most suitable for stimulation of the left and right phrenic nerves during diaphragm pacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventors: Joaquin Andres Hoffer, Gautam Sadarangani, Marc Andre Nolette, Viral Thakkar, Bao Dung Tran
  • Publication number: 20160120256
    Abstract: An impact diverting mechanism having a top layer and a bottom layer is provided. The two layers are connected such that the top layer is configured to move in relation to the bottom layer when impacted, and therefore is able to divert impact and reduce rotational and linear acceleration on the bottom layer. The impact diverting mechanism may be attached to, or configured to attach to, an object in need of protection, such as a helmet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: Simon Fraser University
    Inventors: Farid Golnaraghi, Gaofeng Gary Wang, Daniel Eamon Abram, Combiz Jelveh
  • Patent number: 9315630
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are anion-conducting polymers that comprise a cationic benzimidazolium and imidazolium moieties. Methods of forming the polymers and membranes comprising the polymers are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventors: Owen Thomas, Steven Holdcroft, Andrew Wright
  • Patent number: 9264111
    Abstract: A data communication system has a station that includes multiple antenna elements. The station communicates to the antenna elements by way of digital data channels. Each antenna is connected to an RF module that receives data by way of a corresponding digital data channel, encodes and transmits the data. Adaptive beamforming may be performed for interference mitigation. Embodiments use the strength of pilot signals and/or error vector magnitudes as cost functions for an adaptive beamforming alogorithm such as optimum combining. Unused sub-carriers may be applied to provide in-band communication to facilitate channel switching, data reallocation and other interference mitigation strategies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventors: Rodney G. Vaughan, D. Andrew G. Lea, Ronald J. Vanderhelm
  • Patent number: 9242088
    Abstract: A catheter may include electrodes for transvascular nerve stimulation. The electrodes may be positioned within lumens of the catheter and aligned with apertures in the outer wall of the catheter. The electrodes may produce focused electrical fields for stimulation of one or more nerves. In one embodiment, the catheter may include a set of proximal electrodes and a set of distal electrodes, and the proximal electrodes may stimulate a patient's left phrenic nerve and the distal electrodes may stimulate a patient's right phrenic nerve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventors: Viral Thakkar, Joaquin Andres Hoffer, Bao Dung Tran, Douglas G. Evans, John Nash, Steven Campbell Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9232824
    Abstract: An impact diverting mechanism having a top layer and a bottom layer is provided. The two layers are connected such that the top layer is configured to move in relation to the bottom layer when impacted, and therefore is able to divert impact and reduce rotational and linear acceleration on the bottom layer. The impact diverting mechanism may be attached to, or configured to attach to, an object in need of protection, such as a helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventors: Farid Golnaraghi, Gaofeng Gary Wang, Daniel Eamon Abram, Combiz Jelveh
  • Patent number: 9220898
    Abstract: Electrode structures for transvascular nerve stimulation combine electrodes with an electrically-insulating backing layer. The backing layer increases the electrical impedance of electrical paths through blood in a lumen of a blood vessel and consequently increases the flow of electrical current through surrounding tissues. The electrode structures may be applied to stimulate nerves such as the phrenic, vagus, trigeminal, obturator or other nerves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventor: Joaquin Andres Hoffer
  • Patent number: 9215486
    Abstract: A method of transmitting a live video stream and a pre-recorded video stream over a wireless network to a mobile device, the method including: receiving the live video stream and the pre-recorded video stream for a current scheduling window; dividing the live video stream and the pre-recorded video stream into segments in the current scheduling window, each segment including an aggregate data amount, a transmission start time and a transmission end time; determining a transmission schedule for the current scheduling window, said transmission schedule including the segments; locating slack time slots, the slack time slots being time slots for which no segment is allocated; and scheduling bursts associated with the pre-recorded video stream in the slack time slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventors: Mohamed Hefeeda, Cheng-Hsin Hsu
  • Patent number: 9168377
    Abstract: Electrode structures for transvascular nerve stimulation combine electrodes with an electrically-insulating backing layer. The backing layer increases the electrical impedance of electrical paths through blood in a lumen of a blood vessel and consequently increases the flow of electrical current through surrounding tissues. The electrode structures may be applied to stimulate nerves such as the phrenic, vagus, trigeminal, obturator or other nerves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventor: Joaquin Andres Hoffer
  • Publication number: 20150259371
    Abstract: The invention provides, in part, compounds that are capable of inhibiting a glycosyltransferase, such as a uridine diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine:polypeptide ? N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, an N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase, a fucosyltransferase, a xylotransferase or a sialyltransferase. The invention also provides methods for using the compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: David Jaro Vocadlo, Tracey Maureen Gloster, Lehua Deng, Wesley Franklin Zandberg
  • Patent number: 9133864
    Abstract: A small, flexible fluidic actuator is presented which may be of millimeter scale in size and made of suitable flexible materials such as silicone. A manufacturing method and two analytical models for the device along with experimental test results are also disclosed. The flexible fluidic actuator devices disclosed include multidirectional fluidic actuator joints providing independently controllable multi-directional actuation movement. The dynamic behavior of the joints for various pressure loads was also characterized and described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Carlo Menon, John Berring
  • Patent number: 9125406
    Abstract: The invention provides in part dialkoxybenzene compounds for controlling infestation by a Trichoplusia ni, and methods thereof. The compounds include a compound of Formula I: where R1 may be methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-butyl, isopentyl (3-methylbutyl) or allyl; R2 may be at positions 2, 3 or 4 and may be H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-butyl, isopentyl (3-methylbutyl) or allyl; and R3 may be optionally present at positions 2, 3 and 4, and is allyl; except that when R2 is at position 2, R3 if present is at position 3, and when R2 is at position 3, R3 if present is at positions 2 or 4, and when R2 is at position 4, R3 if present is at position 2, and when R2 is at position 4 and R3, if present, has reacted with an OH group at position 1 in a Markovnikov sense, then R3 becomes R4, a dihydrofuran.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignees: Simon Fraser University, The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Erika Plettner, Murray Bruce Isman
  • Patent number: 9120781
    Abstract: The invention provides compounds of Formula (I) for selectively inhibiting glycosidases, prodrugs of the compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds or prodrugs of the compounds. The invention also provides methods of treating diseases and disorders related to deficiency or overexpression of O-GlcNAcase, accumulation or deficiency of O-GlcNAc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: Simon Fraser University, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Alectos Therapeutics Inc.
    Inventors: Tong-Shuang Li, Ernest J. Mceachern, David J. Vocadlo, Yuanxi Zhou, Yongbao Zhu, Kun Liu, Harold G. Selnick
  • Patent number: 9108059
    Abstract: Electrode structures for transvascular nerve stimulation combine electrodes with an electrically-insulating backing layer. The backing layer increases the electrical impedance of electrical paths through blood in a lumen of a blood vessel and consequently increases the flow of electrical current through surrounding tissues. The electrode structures may be applied to stimulate nerves such as the phrenic, vagus, trigeminal, obturator or other nerves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventor: Joaquin Andres Hoffer
  • Patent number: 9108058
    Abstract: A system for stimulating a left phrenic nerve and a right phrenic nerve of a patient includes a signal generator to produce stimulation signals; a lead structure configured for insertion into a venous system of the patient, the lead structure having a plurality of leads to receive stimulation signals from the signal generator; a plurality of second pairs of electrodes on the lead structure proximate a distal portion of the lead structure and configured to receive stimulation signals from at least one of the plurality of leads; a plurality of first pairs of electrodes on the lead structure proximal of the plurality of second pairs of electrodes and configured to receive stimulation signals from at least one of the plurality of leads; and a control system programmed to (a) select a first stimulation pair of electrodes from the plurality of first pairs of electrodes to stimulate the left phrenic nerve, and (b) select a second stimulation pair of electrodes from the plurality of second pairs of electrodes to stim
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventor: Joaquin Andres Hoffer
  • Patent number: 9079868
    Abstract: The invention provides compounds of Formula (I) for selectively inhibiting glycosidases, prodrugs of the compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds or prodrugs of the compounds. The invention also provides methods of treating diseases and disorders related to deficiency or overexpression of O-GlcNAcase, accumulation or deficiency of O-GlcN Ac.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventors: David Jaro Vocadlo, Ernest John McEachern