Patents Assigned to The Texas A&M University System
  • Electrochemically expanded materials and reactor and method for producing the same
    Patent number: 11623867
    Abstract: Methods and reactors for electrochemically expanding a parent material and expanded parent materials are described. Current methods of expanding parent materials incompletely-expand parent material, requiring expensive and time-consuming separation of expanded parent material from unexpanded parent materials. This problem is addressed by the methods and reactor for electrochemically expanding a parent material described herein, which during operation maintain electrical connectivity between the parent material and an electrical power source. The resulting materials described herein have a greater proportion of expanded parent material relative to unexpanded parent material compared to those made according to others methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Thomas C. Achee, Micah J. Green, Charles B. Sweeney, Wanmei Sun
  • Coatings for materials
    Patent number: 11624151
    Abstract: A textile includes a substrate and a coating applied to a surface of the substrate. The coating includes a plurality of bilayers positioned one on top of the other. Each bilayer includes a first layer including a cationic polymer and a second layer comprising an anionic polymer. The cationic polymer in the first layer includes a polyethyleneimine (PEI), a poly(vinyl amine) (PVAm), a poly(allyl amine) (PAAm), a polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDDA), or a chitosan (CH). The anionic polymer in the second layer includes a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), a poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS), a poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), a poly(sodium phosphate) (PSP), or a poly(vinyl sulfate) (PVS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Jaime Christopher Grunlan, Ryan J. Smith
  • FERRATE COMPOSITIONS FOR SURFACE DISINFECTION
    Publication number: 20230108381
    Abstract: Methods for disinfecting a surface are provided which include contacting a surface with a solution comprising Fe(VI)O42?, thereby disinfecting the surfaces. In some cases, the surface to be contacted with the solution is in a space suitable for human occupancy and the surface is arranged in the ambient of the space. In addition, solutions comprising Fe(VI)O42? are provided. The solutions may additionally include a hypohalite salt and a surfactant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicants: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, The United States Government as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Virender K. SHARMA, Chetan JINADATHA
  • AGRICULTURAL SENSOR PLACEMENT AND FAULT DETECTION IN WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS
    Publication number: 20230100511
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for optimized sensor deployment and fault detection in the context of agricultural irrigation and similar applications. For instance, a computing device may execute a genetic algorithm (GA) routine to determine an optimal sensor deployment scheme such that a mean-time-to-failure (MTTF) for the system is maximized, thereby improving communication of sensor measurements. Moreover, in various embodiments, a centralized fault detection scheme may be employed and a soil moisture of a field can be determined by statistically inferring soil moistures at locations of faulty nodes using spatial and temporal correlations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Yanxiang YANG, Jiang HU, Dana O. PORTER, Thomas H. MAREK, Charles C. HILLYER, Lijia SUN
  • Processable, tunable thiol-ene crosslinked polyurethane shape memory polymers
    Patent number: 11613603
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a platform shape memory polymer system. Such an embodiment exhibits a blend of tunable, high performance mechanical attributes in combination with advanced processing capabilities and good biocompatibility. A post-polymerization crosslinking synthetic approach is employed that combines polyurethane and thiol-ene synthetic processes. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Keith Hearon, Landon D. Nash, Thomas Wilson, Duncan J. Maitland, Mark A. Wierzbicki
  • Indole regulation of antigen presenting cells
    Patent number: 11612586
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions for affecting the development of antigen presenting cell (APC, e.g., a macrophage or dendritic cell). The methods include maturing an APC, promoting anti-inflammatory phenotype, promoting development of a T regulatory cell (Treg) from a naive T cell. The methods generally include exposing an APC to a tryptophan derived microbiota metabolite (TDMM), such as an anti-inflammatory or pro-mucosal TDMM, and permitting the APC to mature. In some embodiments, the conditioned APC is exposed to a naive T cell to further promote development of a T regulatory cell (Treg). In some embodiments, the TDMM is selected from the group consisting of indole, indole-3-acetate, 5-hydroxyindole, and indole-3-pyruvate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: The Texas A&M University System, Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Robert C. Alaniz, Arul Jayaraman, Kyongbum Lee
  • Single anchor terminal
    Patent number: 11608604
    Abstract: A single anchor terminal is provided for a roadside wire rope barrier. The single anchor terminal includes a release post, a brace, and an anchor base. The brace supports the release post in an upright position and extends from the release post to the anchor base. The brace has a first portion attached to the release post and a second portion coupled to the first portion with a release component. The anchor base includes a main post that supports the release post and a brace anchor that is coupled to the main post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael S. Brackin, Dean C. Alberson, Roger P. Bligh, Delbert Lance Bullard, Jr.
  • Thermochromic compositions, thermochromic substrates, and related methods of making
    Patent number: 11608428
    Abstract: Vanadium oxide nanomaterials dispersed in a polymeric matrix, substrates including the vanadium oxide nanomaterials dispersed in a polymeric matrix, and related methods of making vanadium oxide nanomaterials dispersed in a polymeric matrix are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Sarbajit Banerjee, Kate E. Pelcher, Nathan A. Fleer, Diane G. Sellers
  • ACTIVATED FERRATE COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20230085218
    Abstract: Activated ferrate solutions, methods of their preparation, and methods of disinfecting surfaces and oxidizing pollutants in water are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventor: Virender K. Sharma
  • THREE DIMENSIONAL STROBO-STEREOSCOPIC IMAGING SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
    Publication number: 20230082607
    Abstract: A 3D strobo-stereoscopic imaging system includes a rotary drive configured to couple to a sample to be imaged by the system, wherein the rotary drive is configured to rotate the sample about a rotational axis when coupled to the rotary drive, a stroboscopic illuminator, a stroboscopic control module coupled to the rotary drive and the stroboscopic illuminator, wherein the stroboscopic control module is configured to repeatedly activate the stroboscopic illuminator at a frequency that is based on a rotational speed of the sample about the rotational axis, a stereoscopic imaging unit including a pair of laterally spaced cameras orientable in the direction of the sample, and an image reconstruction module coupled to the stereoscopic imaging unit and configured to reconstruct a 3D image of the sample from images produced by the pair of cameras of the stereoscopic imaging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventor: ChaBum Lee
  • Designer collagens and use thereof
    Patent number: 11597756
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides synthetic collagen and methods of making and using synthetic collagen that include a synthetic collagen that facilitates wound closure comprising an isolated and purified triple helical backbone protein that facilitates wound closure comprising one or more alteration in a triple helical backbone protein sequence, that stabilize the isolated and purified triple helical backbone protein and does not disrupt an additional collagen ligand interaction; and one or more integrin binding motifs, wherein the isolated and purified triple helical backbone protein facilitates wound closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Brooke H. Russell, Magnus Hook, Mariah S. Hahn, Elizabeth M. Cosgriff-Hernandez, Neungseon Seo, Marvin Xuejun Xu, Jose J. Rivera, Mary Beth Monroe
  • Light weight, modular, powered, transfemoral prosthesis
    Patent number: 11596530
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a prosthetic leg including a modular knee element coupled to a modular ankle element. The modular knee element includes a knee motor rotatable about an axis of a shaft in the knee motor. The modular ankle element includes a drive portion coupled to a surface-contacting portion via a pylon having a top and bottom end. The top end is coupled to the drive portion and the bottom end is coupled to the surface-contacting portion. The drive portion includes an ankle motor coupled to a rotary series elastic actuator (RSEA) and a first pulley coupled to the RSEA. The surface-contacting portion includes a hinge and a second pulley with a belt engaging at least a portion of at least one of the first and second pulley, and a modular foot element coupled to the bottom of the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Daniel McGowan, Pilwon Hur
  • Radiopaque thermoplastic polymer
    Patent number: 11597792
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a polymer composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer that: (a) is bonded to iodine, (b) includes a vinyl group, and (c) includes urethane linkages. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, SHAPE MEMORY MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Grace Fletcher, Landon D. Nash, Kendal Ezell, Duncan J. Maitland
  • Polymer composites with highly tunable thermal and mechanical properties and methods of manufacture
    Patent number: 11597861
    Abstract: A method of forming an polymer composites is disclosed herein that includes infiltrating CNT sponges with a polymer or metal to form a composite. The method uses a relatively easy, scalable, and low-cost synthesis process that makes the composites attractive as TIM. CNTs in the sponge structure are covalently bonded, resulting in a low Young's modulus while at the same time maintaining a good thermal conductivity. This strategy makes it possible to obtain both high deformability and high thermal conductivity, which are difficult to have simultaneously due to their adverse correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Choongho Yu, Hong Wang, Gang Yang
  • Cycloidal rotor micro-air vehicle
    Patent number: 11591084
    Abstract: A cycloidal rotor air vehicle includes an airframe, a first cycloidal rotor assembly supported by the airframe and configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation relative to the airframe, the first cycloidal rotor assembly including a blade having a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the first axis of rotation, a first motor configured to rotate the first cycloidal rotor assembly about the first axis of rotation, a first servo coupled to the blade of the first cycloidal rotor assembly and configured to adjust the pitch of the blade, and a control system supported on the airframe and configured to control the operation of the first motor and the first servo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Moble Benedict, Carl C. Runco, David A. Coleman
  • System for measuring anomalous diffusion using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and associated method
    Patent number: 11585755
    Abstract: A system and associated method measures anomalous diffusion of biomolecules in cell membranes of intact cells and includes a laser that illuminates a cell membrane within an intact cell to express fluorescently tagged biomolecules. The laser photobleaches a region of interest and illuminates the region of interest over time. A detector detects the fluorescence recovery over time within the region of interest to yield fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) data. A controller computes the mean square displacement (MSD) of diffusing biomolecules and a time-dependent diffusion coefficient D(t) from a plurality of time points of the FRAP data and determines the anomalous diffusion in the cell membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventor: Minchul Kang
  • Transition barrier for connecting a permanent barrier to a temporary barrier
    Patent number: 11585057
    Abstract: A transition barrier for transitioning from a permanent median barrier to a temporary median barrier, the transition barrier having: a) a first end; the first end being connectable to the permanent median barrier by a permanent median barrier connector; b) a second end; the second end being connectable to the temporary median barrier by a temporary median barrier connector; c) a transition section defining a transition wall of a predetermined length between the first end and the second end; the transition wall having a top, bottom, front and a back; d) at least one barrier brace proximate the transition wall, for supporting said transition wall; and e) at least one spacer, proximate the back of the transition wall for contact with a surface of the permanent concrete barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: AMG METALS, INC., POWELL (RICHMOND HILL) CONTRACTING LIMITED, THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: John David Pierson, Ben Powell, Nauman Mansoor Sheikh
  • Heated endovascular catheter injection device
    Patent number: 11576679
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising: a catheter; an optic fiber having a long axis and a short axis that is orthogonal to the long axis; first and second radiopaque elements coupled to the optic fiber; a first wire coupled to the optic fiber and extending from the first radiopaque element to the second radiopaque element; a fluid; wherein (a)(i) the first wire wraps at least partially around an exterior surface of the optic fiber; (a)(ii) an outer diameter of the first wire and an outer diameter of the optic fiber are collectively less than an inner diameter of the catheter, and (a)(iii) the first wire is configured to center the optic fiber within the catheter within a plane orthogonal to the long axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Duncan J. Maitland, Mark A. Wierzbicki, Landon D. Nash, Wonjun Hwang
  • Methods for producing graphene-based materials from graphite
    Patent number: 11577961
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing graphene-based materials includes (a) positioning graphite into an inner chamber of a rotatable housing of a rod mill. A plurality of elongate rigid rods are loosely positioned in the housing. In addition, the method includes (b) rotating the housing of the rod-mill after (a). Further, the method includes (c) rod milling the graphite with the rods during (b) to produce a first portion of the graphene-based materials and milled graphite. The first portion of the graphene-based materials include 30 layers or less of graphene and the milled graphite comprises more than 30 layers of graphene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Ahmad Amiri, Mohammad Naraghi
  • Catalyst systems comprising carborane cocatalysts
    Patent number: 11572375
    Abstract: Disclosed are catalyst systems comprising the reaction product of at least the following: A) a procatalyst; and B) at least one cocatalyst structure selected from the following i) through iii): i) at least one cocatalyst comprising an anion having Structure 1 as shown below: ?as described herein; or ii) at least one cocatalyst comprising an anion having Structure 2 as shown below: ?as described herein; or iii) a combination of i and ii.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignees: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Jerzy Klosin, Rafael Huacuja, Oleg V. Ozerov, Jessica De Mott