Patents by Inventor Shawn M. Dirk
Shawn M. Dirk has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10435568Abstract: The present invention relates to antifouling coatings capable of being switched by using heat or ultraviolet light. Prior to switching, the coating includes an onium cation component having antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Upon switching, the coating is converted to a conjugated polymer state, and the cationic component is released with any adsorbed biofilm layer. Thus, the coatings herein have switchable and releasable properties. Methods of making and using such coatings are also described.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Michele L. Baca Denton, Shawn M. Dirk, Ross Stefan Johnson
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Publication number: 20170226350Abstract: The present invention relates to antifouling coatings capable of being switched by using heat or ultraviolet light. Prior to switching, the coating includes an onium cation component having antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Upon switching, the coating is converted to a conjugated polymer state, and the cationic component is released with any adsorbed biofilm layer. Thus, the coatings herein have switchable and releasable properties. Methods of making and using such coatings are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2017Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Michele L. Baca Denton, Shawn M. Dirk, Ross Stefan Johnson
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Patent number: 9580608Abstract: The present invention relates to antifouling coatings capable of being switched by using heat or ultraviolet light. Prior to switching, the coating includes an onium cation component having antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Upon switching, the coating is converted to a conjugated polymer state, and the cationic component is released with any adsorbed biofilm layer. Thus, the coatings herein have switchable and releasable properties. Methods of making and using such coatings are also described.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Michele L. Baca Denton, Shawn M. Dirk, Ross Stefan Johnson
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Patent number: 9555583Abstract: The present invention is related to methods of fabricating neural interfaces using 3D projection micro-stereolithography.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2013Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignees: Sandia Corporation, STC.UNMInventors: Shawn M. Dirk, Stephen Buerger, Kirsten Nicole Cicotte, Elizabeth L. Dirk, Greg Reece, Patrick Lin
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Patent number: 9212430Abstract: A method for preparing an electrochemical biosensor uses bias-assisted assembly of unreactive -onium molecules on an electrode array followed by post-assembly electro-addressable conversion of the unreactive group to a chemical or biological recognition group. Electro-addressable functionalization of electrode arrays enables the multi-target electrochemical sensing of biological and chemical analytes.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Jason C. Harper, Ronen Polsky, Shawn M. Dirk, David R. Wheeler, Dulce C. Arango, Susan M. Brozik
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Patent number: 9157161Abstract: A thin film with multiple binding functionality can be prepared on an electrode surface via consecutive electroreduction of two or more aryl-onium salts with different functional groups. This versatile and simple method for forming multifunctional surfaces provides an effective means for immobilization of diverse molecules at close proximities. The multifunctional thin film has applications in bioelectronics, molecular electronics, clinical diagnostics, and chemical and biological sensing.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2011Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Susan M. Brozik, Jason C. Harper, Ronen Polsky, David R. Wheeler, Dulce C. Arango, Shawn M. Dirk
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Patent number: 9102801Abstract: A method including reducing a particle size of lignin particles to an average particle size less than 40 nanometers; after reducing the particle size, combining the lignin particles with a polymeric material; and forming a structure of the combination. A method including exposing lignin to a diazonium precursor including a functional group; modifying the lignin by introducing the functional group to the lignin; and combining the modified lignin with a polymeric material to form a composite. An apparatus including a composite of a polymer and lignin wherein the lignin has an average particle size less than 100 micrometers.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignees: Sandia Corporation, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Shawn M. Dirk, Kirsten Nicole Cicotte, David R. Wheeler, David A. Benko
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Publication number: 20140334991Abstract: Thermally or photochemically activated small molecule delivery polymers and platforms enable ‘on-demand’ delivery of a vapor-phase lubricant, such as pentanol or other alcohols, that enable scheduled or as-needed lubrication of MEMS devices, thereby greatly improving the reliability and lifespan of the devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Inventors: Ross Stefan Johnson, Shawn M. Dirk, Cody M. Washburn, Michael T. Dugger
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Patent number: 8859190Abstract: Novel photo-writable and thermally switchable polymeric materials exhibit a refractive index change of ?n?1.0 when exposed to UV light or heat. For example, lithography can be used to convert a non-conjugated precursor polymer to a conjugated polymer having a higher index-of-refraction. Further, two-photon lithography can be used to pattern high-spatial frequency structures.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2013Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Shawn M. Dirk, Ross Stefan Johnson, Robert Boye, Michael R. Descour, William C. Sweatt, David R. Wheeler, Bryan James Kaehr
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Patent number: 8703391Abstract: A polymeric matrix material exhibits low loss at optical frequencies and facilitates the fabrication of all-dielectric metamaterials. The low-loss polymeric matrix material can be synthesized by providing an unsaturated polymer, comprising double or triple bonds; partially hydrogenating the unsaturated polymer; depositing a film of the partially hydrogenated polymer and a crosslinker on a substrate; and photopatterning the film by exposing the film to ultraviolet light through a patterning mask, thereby cross-linking at least some of the remaining unsaturated groups of the partially hydrogenated polymer in the exposed portions.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Shawn M. Dirk, Roger D. Rasberry, Kamyar Rahimian
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Patent number: 8426321Abstract: A process for making a dielectric material where a precursor polymer selected from poly(phenylene vinylene)polyacetylene, poly(p-phenylene), poly(thienylene vinylene), poly(1,4-naphthylene vinylene), and poly(p-pyridine vinylene) is energized said by exposure by radiation or increase in temperature to a level sufficient to eliminate said leaving groups contained within the precursor polymer, thereby transforming the dielectric material into a conductive polymer. The leaving group in the precursor polymer can be a chloride, a bromide, an iodide, a fluoride, an ester, an xanthate, a nitrile, an amine, a nitro group, a carbonate, a dithiocarbamate, a sulfonium group, an oxonium group, an iodonium group, a pyridinium group, an ammonium group, a borate group, a borane group, a sulphinyl group, or a sulfonyl group.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Shawn M. Dirk, Ross S. Johnson, David R. Wheeler, Gregory R. Bogart
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Patent number: 8427809Abstract: Precursor polymers to conjugated polymers, such as poly(phenylene vinylene), poly(poly(thiophene vinylene), poly(aniline vinylene), and poly(pyrrole vinylene), can be used as thermally switchable capacitor dielectrics that fail at a specific temperature due to the non-conjugated precursor polymer irreversibly switching from an insulator to the conjugated polymer, which serves as a bleed resistor. The precursor polymer is a good dielectric until it reaches a specific temperature determined by the stability of the leaving groups. Conjugation of the polymer backbone at high temperature effectively disables the capacitor, providing a ‘built-in’ safety mechanism for electronic devices.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Shawn M. Dirk, Ross S. Johnson
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Patent number: 8223472Abstract: A capacitor having at least one electrode pair being separated by a dielectric component, with the dielectric component being made of a polymer such as a norbornylene-containing polymer with a dielectric constant greater than 3 and a dissipation factor less than 0.1 where the capacitor has an operating temperature greater than 100° C. and less than 170° C.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2008Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Shawn M. Dirk, David R. Wheeler
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Patent number: 7955945Abstract: A process for making a dielectric material where a precursor polymer selected from poly(phenylene vinylene) polyacetylene, poly(p-phenylene), poly(thienylene vinylene), poly(1,4-naphthylene vinylene), and poly(p-pyridine vinylene) is energized said by exposure by radiation or increase in temperature to a level sufficient to eliminate said leaving groups contained within the precursor polymer, thereby transforming the dielectric material into a conductive polymer. The leaving group in the precursor polymer can be a chloride, a bromide, an iodide, a fluoride, an ester, an xanthate, a nitrile, an amine, a nitro group, a carbonate, a dithiocarbamate, a sulfonium group, an oxonium group, an iodonium group, a pyridinium group, an ammonium group, a borate group, a borane group, a sulphinyl group, or a sulfonyl group.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2010Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Shawn M. Dirk, Ross S. Johnson, David R. Wheeler, Gregory R. Bogart
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Patent number: 7550071Abstract: Methods are described for the electrochemical assembly of organic molecules on silicon, or other conducting or semiconducting substrates, using iodonium salt precursors. Iodonium molecules do not assemble on conducting surfaces without a negative bias. Accordingly, the iodonium salts are preferred for patterning applications that rely on direct writing with negative bias. The stability of the iodonium molecule to acidic conditions allows them to be used with standard silicon processing. As a directed assembly process, the use of iodonium salts provides for small features while maintaining the ability to work on a surface and create structures on a wafer level. Therefore, the process is amenable for mass production. Furthermore, the assembled monolayer (or multilayer) is chemically robust, allowing for subsequent chemical manipulations and the introduction of various molecular functionalities for various chemical and biological applications.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2005Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Shawn M. Dirk, Stephen W. Howell, David R. Wheeler
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Patent number: 7314505Abstract: Onium salt chemistry can be used to deposit very uniform thickness stationary phases on the wall of a gas chromatography column. In particular, the stationary phase can be bonded to non-silicon based columns, especially microfabricated metal columns. Non-silicon microfabricated columns may be manufactured and processed at a fraction of the cost of silicon-based columns. In addition, the method can be used to phase-coat conventional capillary columns or silicon-based microfabricated columns.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2005Date of Patent: January 1, 2008Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: David R. Wheeler, Patrick R. Lewis, Shawn M. Dirk, Daniel E. Trudell