Patents Assigned to Ecole Polytechnique
  • Patent number: 9524370
    Abstract: A privacy-preserving method for performing a disease susceptibility test on a patient, said method comprising: (I) performing homomorphic computations, (J) obtaining a test result which is partly decrypted with a first part (prk1 resp. prk2) of a private key, (L) decrypting said partly decrypted result with a second part (prk2 resp. prk1) of said private key, wherein said homomorphic computations are based on encrypted genomic markers of the patient, on encrypted clinical and/or environmental markers, and on encrypted ancestry markers of the patient. The invention is also related to a method for inferring ancestry in the encrypted domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Jean L. Raisaro, Erman Ayday, Paul McLaren, Jean-Pierre Hubaux, Amalio Telenti
  • Publication number: 20160359991
    Abstract: A recommender system for determining multimedia items to be presented in an online interface of a multimedia content provider. The recommender system continuously observes the user's behavior in order to define a context for the user which on the basis of which recommendations are computed. The recommender system observes a variety of events so as to improve the level of pertinence of the recommendations which are presented to the user in the online interface. The recommender system further observes the collection of multimedia items which are hosted by an online multimedia content provider system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Florent GARCIN, Boi Faltings
  • Patent number: 9476827
    Abstract: The invention substantially relates to an imaging system for the chemical, biological or biochemical analysis of a sample (10), comprising a device (40) for holding the sample (10), a device (20) for optical detection, a lighting device (30), liable to emit a monochromatic light beam, and a wide aperture objective (f1), It is substantially characterized in that the objective (f1) is configured for, downstream of the sample (10): focusing the excitation light beam reflected at a point (C) located in the focal plane (FF) of said objective (f1), and transforming the retransmitted or scattered light beam into a quasi-parallel beam, and in that the system further comprises a device (70) for selectively blocking the collected light beam by said objective (f1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignees: Ecole Polytechnique, Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique-CNRS, Universite Des Sciences Et Technologies De Lille 1
    Inventors: François Ozanam, Jean-Noël Chazalviel, Rabah Boukherroub, Elisabeth Anne-Gabrielle Galopin, Anne Chantal Gouget-Laemmel, Sabine Szunerits, Larbi Touahir
  • Publication number: 20160306020
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of a hyperpolarized solution of molecules comprises the steps: 1) suspending or coating of a micro-particulate matrix, which is comprising or consisting of the molecules, with a glass-forming solution or suspension comprising a DNP-suitable polarizing agent at a first temperature at which the micro-particulate matrix is not dissolving; 2) lowering the temperature leading to a frozen glassy DNP sample; 3) transferring the electron spin polarization of the polarizing agent in the glassy sample in a magnetic field to abundant nuclear spins of the glass-forming solution or suspension and/or the polarizing agent as well as to abundant nuclear spins of the molecules and cross-polarization from the abundant nuclear spins in the molecules to one different nuclear spin type in the molecules; and 4) increasing the temperature and dissolving the molecules which are hyperpolarized with respect of the different nuclear spins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: Ecole Polytechnique federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Sami Antoine Adrien JANNIN, Geoffrey BODENHAUSEN, Lyndon EMSLEY
  • Publication number: 20160308150
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) based on a porphyrin core and a ?-conjugated linker or acceptor introduced between the porphyrin core and an anchoring group having a high absorption coefficient covering the whole UV-Visible and near-infrared spectral response, and their use as sensitizer or dye and an electrochemical or optoelectronic device including a compound of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Chenyi Yi, Fabrizio Giordano, Shaik Mohammad Zakeeruddin, Michael Graetzel
  • Patent number: 9460861
    Abstract: The present invention relates to modified surfaces. The surfaces comprise an inorganic material on which a phosphinic acid derivative is adsorbed. The phosphinic acid thus turns out to be a new anchoring group useful for surface derivatization. The invention has many applications for photoelectric conversion devices, batteries, capacitors, electrochromic displays, chemical sensors, biological sensors, light emitting diodes, electrodes, semiconductors, separation membranes, selective adsorbents, adsorbents for HPLC, catalysts, implants, nanoparticles, antiadhesives, and anticorrosion coatings, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Shaik Mohammad Zakeeruddin, Peter Pechy, Michael Graetzel
  • Publication number: 20160279418
    Abstract: The present invention provides a closed-loop system for real-time control of epidural and/or subdural electrical stimulation comprising: means for applying to a subject neuromodulation with adjustable stimulation parameters, said means being operatively connected with a real-time monitoring component comprising sensors continuously acquiring feedback signals from said subject, said signals being neural signals and/or signals providing features of motion of said subject, said system being operatively connected with a signal processing device receiving said feedback signals and operating real-time automatic control algorithms, said signal processing device being operatively connected with said means and providing said means with new stimulation parameters, with minimum delay. The system of the invention improves consistency of walking in a subject with a neuromotor impairment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Gregoire Courtine, Nikolaus Wenger, Eduardo Martin Moraud, Silvestro Micera, Marco Bonizzato
  • Patent number: 9421348
    Abstract: A system for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease is provided by moving cerebrospinal fluid containing particles know to contribute to onset of Alzheimer's disease from a source of cerebrospinal fluid to the stomach or bladder, where the particles are safely digested by gastric acid or excreted, the system including an implantable pump, an inlet catheter, an outlet catheter, and a one-way valve. The system further includes at least one filter to filter harmful particles from the cerebrospinal fluid and return the filtered cerebrospinal fluid back to the source of cerebrospinal fluid, where the harmful particles blocked by the filter may be rinsed off the filter and transported to the stomach or bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Tim Lenihan, Bruce Meadows
  • Publication number: 20160238626
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensing tip (8) comprising a conventional tip (1), such as a pipette tip, which is essentially made of a cavity which communicates with the external environment through an aperture (3) located at the tip distal end; the sensing tip (8) furthermore comprising an electrical impedance sensor made of at least two electrodes (4,5,6) located respectively outside (4) and inside (5,6) said conventional tip (1) and wherein the sensing area is arranged within said aperture (3). The invention also covers the use of the above-cited sensing tip (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFLP
    Inventors: David Vincent Bonzon, Georges Henri Muller, Philippe Renaud, Yann Barrandon
  • Patent number: 9420483
    Abstract: All wireless devices must comply with the local radio regulations which are set by international and national regulatory bodies such as the European Telecommunication Standardization Institute (ETSI) for Europe and the Federal Commission for Communication (FCC) for US. A new firmware module is proposed, that will ensure that devices, in all circumstances will comply with the ETSI regulations for single channel emissions in the 868 MHz ISM band. Namely, assuring compliance with the duty-cycle limit, the maximum TX time and minimum TX-off time limit. Such a solution has not been researched mostly due to the popularity of the virtually worldwide 2.4 GHz ISM band which does not have duty-cycle limitations. The wireless sensor networks (WSN) operating in the 868 MHz band have their own niche applications that benefit from the increased signal range. The development and the acceptance of such applications will benefit from the existence of the proposed module implemented in firmware/software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Mitko Tanevski, Alexis Boegli, Pierre-Andre Farine
  • Patent number: 9399613
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing formic acid in a catalyzed chemical reaction from hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide gas, said reaction being conducted in an acidic medium comprising a polar solvent over a wide range of temperatures at total gas pressure of hydrogen and carbon dioxide up to 250 bar without the addition of base, carbonate, hydrogen carbonate or formate. The method of the present invention is advantageous since the reaction may be conducted in a polar solvent such as water or DMSO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Severine Moret, Paul Joseph Dyson, Gabor Laurenczy
  • Patent number: 9396882
    Abstract: The present invention refers to using the principal of a room temperature molten ionic liquid, to an electrolyte, to devices comprising the ionic liquid co-melting, and to the preparation of a room temperature ionic liquid via various physical and chemical methods. The room temperature molten ionic liquid comprises at least two component salts, at least one of which is not molten at room temperature, but, if combined with another salt, is in the molten state at room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Zing Zhang, Chengcheng Xi, Yiming Cao, Feifei Gao, Peng Wang, Shaik Mohammad Zakeeruddin, Michael Graetzel
  • Publication number: 20160202244
    Abstract: A method for preparing a topographically structured hydrogel microarray is described comprising the steps of a) providing one or more types of biomolecule(s) on top of micropillars of an array of micropillars, preferably by means of robotical spotting, b) providing a partially crosslinked hydrogel on a substrate, preferably attached to a substantially rigid and/or planar substrate, c) simultaneously soft-embossing a hydrogel microwell array and transferring the biomolecule(s) from the micropillars to the microwells by pressing the micropillars of the array of step a) onto the partially crosslinked layer of hydrogel of step b) until substantial completion of crosslinking and d) demolding the array of micropillars of step a) from the hydrogel microwell array of step c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Samy Gobaa, Matthias Lutolf
  • Patent number: 9389353
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a transparent and birefringent mineral solid thin layer comprises the following steps: a) preparing a colloidal solution constituted by anisotropic mineral nanoparticles in suspension in a dispersion liquid; b) depositing the colloidal solution on a surface of a substrate by spreading as a thin layer while applying directional shear stress tangentially to the surface of the substrate so as to deposit the colloidal solution as a liquid thin layer on the surface of the substrate, the value of the shear stress and the concentration of mineral nanoparticles in the colloidal solution being determined in such a manner as to cause the anisotropic mineral nanoparticles to be aligned along the direction of the shear stress tangential to the surface of the substrate; and c) drying the liquid thin layer by evaporating the dispersion liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignees: Ecole Polytechnique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Thierry Gacoin, Jong Wook Kim, Khalid Lahlil, Jean-Pierre Boilot, Jacques Peretti
  • Patent number: 9375347
    Abstract: The device comprises at least an inlet tube for the passage of fluid to be drained, said tube being connected to a chamber wherein said chamber comprises rotating means for adjusting the flow rate in said tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventor: Nikolaos Stergiopulos
  • Patent number: 9366694
    Abstract: A multimode local probe microscope having a resonator, a first electrode, and a second electrode, an excitation source adapted to generate mechanical resonance in the resonator, a metal tip fastened to the resonator, movement mechanism for imparting relative movement between the local probe and a sample and adapted to bring the end of the tip to within a distance Z lying in the range 0 to 100 nm, and detector for detecting at least one electrical signal representative of friction forces at the terminals of said electrodes. The metal tip is electrically connected to the output second electrode and the microscopy apparatus includes amplifier and filter for amplifying and filtering signals relating to the friction forces and to the tunnelling current in a single electronic circuit, and configured for regulating the distance Z between the end of the tip and the surface of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignees: Ecole Polytechnique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Marc Chaigneau, Akli Karar, Bernard Drevillon, Razvigor Ossikovski
  • Patent number: 9359334
    Abstract: The present invention provides new bi- and polypyridine ligands of ruthenium dyes. The invention also provides solar cells, in particular dye-sensitized solar cells comprising the dyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Mohammad Khaja Nazeeruddin, Michael Graetzel, Alessandro Abbotto, Chiara Marinzi, Norberto Manfredi, Filippo De Angelis
  • Patent number: 9346957
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a near-infrared fluorescent dye that is cell permeable and can be attached to selected proteins in living cells. The dye has the general formula or its corresponding spirolactone wherein Y is chosen from the group consisting of Si, Ge and Sn; R0 is —COO? or COOH; R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15 and R16 are substituents, including hydrogen, independently from each other. The dye (i) absorbs and emits light at wavelengths above 600 nm; (ii) possesses high photostability; (iii) has high extinction coefficients and high quantum yields; (iv) can be derivatized with different molecules; and (v) is membrane-permeable and shows minimal background binding to biomolecules and biomolecular structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Keitaro Umezawa, Lukinavicius Grazvydas, Kai Johnsson
  • Patent number: 9348194
    Abstract: A light pulse source (100), being adapted for generating repetitive optical pulses, comprises a continuous wave (cw) laser (10) being arranged for providing cw laser light, an optical microresonator (20) being made of a resonator material, which has a third order (Kerr) nonlinearity and an anomalous resonator dispersion, wherein the cw laser (10) is arranged for coupling the cw laser light into the optical microresonator (20), which, at a predetermined relative detuning of the cw laser (10) and the optical microresonator (20), is capable of including a light field in a soliton state, wherein soliton shaped pulses can be coupled out of the optical microresonator (20) for providing the repetitive optical pulses, and a tuning device (30) being arranged for creating and maintaining the predetermined relative detuning of the cw laser (10) and the optical microresonator (20) based on a tuning time profile being selected in dependency on a thermal time constant of the optical microresonator (20) such that the solito
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Tobias Herr, Michael L. Gorodetsky, Tobias Kippenberg
  • Patent number: 9337435
    Abstract: A dye sensitized solar cell, wherein a compacting compound whose molecular structure comprises a terminal group, a hydrophobic part and an anchoring group is co-adsorbed together with the dye on the semi-conductive metal oxide layer of the photoanode, forming a dense mixed self-assembled monolayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Peng Wang, Shaik Mohammad Zakeeruddin, Michael Graetzel