Patents Assigned to McGill University
  • Publication number: 20130255361
    Abstract: In most cancers, a significant factor in a poor outcome for the individual cancer victim is metastatic disease, i.e., dissemination of tumour cells to other parts of the human body via the circulation, such as distant organs, and their subsequent proliferation therein to form multiple other cancer tumours. The presence of circulating tumour cells, or CTCs, represents a vital intermediate step in this process and variations of a few CTCs within blood samples containing tens of billions of cells may denote the outcome for a patient or impact the cancer treatment regimen. At present no low cost field deployable technique for filtering CTCs exists. According to embodiments of the invention micro-machined filters with high aspect ratio, with and without, functionalization are employed to perform multi-parameter filtering for CTCs based upon compatibility with low cost semiconductor processes within multiple materials including silicon, polymers and silicon carbide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning / McGill University
    Inventor: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning / McGill University
  • Publication number: 20130240348
    Abstract: Amongst the candidates for very high efficiency electronics, solid state light sources, photovoltaics, and photoelectrochemical devices, and photobiological devices are those based upon metal-nitride nanowires. Enhanced nanowire performance typically require heterostructures, quantum dots, etc which requirement that these structures are grown with relatively few defects and in a controllable reproducible manner. Additionally flexibility according to the device design requires that the nanowire at the substrate may be either InN or GaN. Methods of growing relatively defect free nanowires and associated structures for group IIIA-nitrides are presented without the requirement for foreign metal catalysts, overcoming the non-uniform growth of prior art techniques and allowing self-organizing quantum dot, quantum well and quantum dot-in-a-dot structures to be formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning / McGill University
    Inventor: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning / McGill University
  • Publication number: 20130236153
    Abstract: Optical fibers and optical fiber tapers have application within many optical systems and optical devices. To date manufacturing such fibers and fiber tapers has been restricted to drawing constant diameter fibers in gravity driven processes and symmetric tapers through pulling with localized heating. However, it would be beneficial to be able to generate arbitrary profiles when pulling an optical fiber into a fiber taper allowing an initial uniform section, reducing transition, wire section, increasing transition and final uniform section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning / McGill University
    Inventors: Martin Rochette, Chams Baker
  • Patent number: 8518657
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing the presence of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) or predicting the risk of developing HSP in a human subject, comprising detecting the presence or absence of a defect in a gene encoding a polypeptide comprising the sequence of FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO: 19), in a nucleic acid sample of the subject, whereby the detection of the defect is indicative that the subject has or is at risk of developing HSP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignees: Universite de Montreal, The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University, VAL-CHUM L.P.
    Inventors: Guy A. Rouleau, Paul Valdmanis, Inge Meijer, Pierre Drapeau, Patrick Dion
  • Publication number: 20130203702
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds, compositions containing same and methods for inhibiting human farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase or for the treatment or prevention of disease conditions using said compounds;
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University
    Inventors: Youla S. Tsantrizos, Joris Wim De Schutter, Yih-Shyan Lin
  • Publication number: 20130184173
    Abstract: Biomarkers that can be used for the diagnosis and prognosis of multiple sclerosis in pediatric patients presenting with clinically isolated syndrome or acquired demyelination syndrome are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/Mcgill University
    Inventors: Amit Bar-Or, Elizabeth Colman, Katja Geling
  • Patent number: 8486690
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the ideal time for and outcome of reproductive health procedures including in vitro fertilization by establishing a correlation between the successful outcome of said procedure and the spectra of a body fluid obtained using a chosen analytical modality for a population of patients, acquiring for a patient a spectrum of the body fluid of the patient using said chosen modality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: McGill University
    Inventor: David Hugh Burns
  • Patent number: 8486624
    Abstract: A novel gene (EPM2A) that is deleted or mutated in people with Lafora's disease is described. The EPM2A gene encodes a protein having an active catalytic site of a protein tyrosine phosphatase. Many different sequence mutations as well as several microdeletions in EPM2A have been found that co-segregate with Lafora's disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: The Hospital for Sick Children, McGill University, The Regents of the University of California, The United States of America, as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Stephen W. Scherer, Berge A. Minassian, Antonio Delgado-Escueta, Guy Rouleu
  • Patent number: 8484153
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting a circadian state of an individual. The methods comprise: providing a model representative of the response of the circadian state to light stimulus, the model comprising at least one model variable representative of a probability distribution function (PDF) of a phase offset of the circadian state of the individual; and using the model to estimate an updated PDF of the phase offset, wherein using the model to estimate the updated PDF of the phase offset comprises performing a Bayesian estimation process commencing with an initial PDF of the phase offset and iterating toward the updated PDF of the phase offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignees: Pulsar Informatics, Inc., The Royal Institute for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University, The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Christopher Mott, Guy Dumont, Diane Boivin, Daniel Mollicone
  • Patent number: 8476871
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for controlling a doubly-fed induction machine. In operation a rotor current vector is processed with a rotor position estimate vector. A scalar error quantity is the determined in dependence upon a stator current vector and the processed rotor current vector. The scalar error quantity is integrated and an estimate of the rotor angular frequency is determined in dependence upon the integrated scalar error quantity. To obtain a rotor position estimate, the estimate of the rotor angular frequency is integrated and a rotor position estimate vector is determined in dependence upon the rotor position estimate. The rotor position estimate vector is then provided for processing the rotor current vector. As output signals a signal indicative of the rotor position estimate vector and a signal indicative of the estimate of the rotor angular frequency are provided for controlling the doubly-fed induction machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University
    Inventors: Boon T. Ooi, Baike Shen, Victor Low
  • Publication number: 20130121956
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a matrix for inducing or enhancing osteoclast differentiation. The matrix comprises a material having an osteoclastogenic agent associated therewith, the agent being releasable from the material in an amount which is sufficient to induce or enhance osteoclast differentiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: McGill University
    Inventor: McGill University
  • Publication number: 20130115730
    Abstract: It would be beneficial to integrate MEMS devices with silicon CMOS electronics, package them in controlled environments, e.g. vacuum for MEMS resonators, and provide industry standard electrical interconnections such as solder bumps. However, to do so requires through-wafer via-based electrical interconnections. However, the fragile nature of the MEMS devices, the requirement for vacuum, hermetic sealing, and the stresses placed on metallization membranes are not present in conventional CMOS packaging. Accordingly there is provided a means of reinforcing through-wafer vias for integrated MEMS-CMOS circuits by in-filling the through-wafer electrical vias with low temperature deposited ceramic materials deposited with processes compatible with post-processing of CMOS electronics. Beneficially ceramics such as silicon carbide provide enhanced mechanical strength, enhanced expansion matching, and increased thermal conductivity in comparison to silicon and solder materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning / McGill University
    Inventor: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning / McGill University
  • Patent number: 8423104
    Abstract: A system for detecting haemozoin in a sample, said system including a light source for exciting the sample with an optical signal to generate a non-linear optical response, and a detector for detecting the generated non-linear optical response from the excited sample. A method for detecting haemozoin in a sample, the method including exciting the sample with an optical signal to generate a non-linear optical response from the sample, and detecting the emitted non-linear optical signal from the excited sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: McGill University
    Inventors: Paul W. Wiseman, Jonathan Belisle, Santiago Constantino, Scott D. Bohle, Elias George, Marie-Josée Bellemare, Mara Leimanis
  • Publication number: 20130087890
    Abstract: Semiconductor micro- and nanotubes allow the incorporation of ordered structures such as quantum wells and quantum dots into them providing the potential for ultralow threshold micro- and nanoscale lasers for use in applications such as future ultrahigh-speed photonic systems as well as quantum information processing. According to the invention a means of manufacturing these with high reproducibility, low processing complexity, and at high densities is provided. Also provided is a means of releasing these micro- and nanotubes with low stress and a method of “pick-and-place” allowing micro- and nanotubes to be exploited in devices integrated on substrates that are either incompatible with the manufacturing technique or where the area of substrate required to manufacture them is detrimental to the cost or performance of the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning / McGill University
    Inventor: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learn
  • Patent number: 8409901
    Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are small integrated devices or systems that combine electrical and mechanical components. It would be beneficial for such MEMS devices to be integrated with silicon CMOS electronics and packaged in controlled environments and support industry standard mounting interconnections such as solder bump through the provisioning of through-wafer via-based electrical interconnections. However, the fragile nature of the MEMS devices, the requirement for vacuum, hermetic sealing, and stresses placed on metallization membranes are not present in packaging conventional CMOS electronics. Accordingly there is provided a means of reinforcing the through-wafer vias for such integrated MEMS-CMOS circuits by in filling a predetermined portion of the through-wafer electrical vias with low temperature deposited ceramic materials which are deposited at temperatures below 350° C., and potentially to below 250° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University
    Inventors: Mourad El-Gamal, Dominique Lemoine, Paul-Vahe Cicek, Frederic Nabki
  • Patent number: 8388943
    Abstract: This invention relates to multipotent stem cells, purified from the peripheral tissue of mammals, and capable of differentiating into neural and non-neural cell types. These stem cells provide an accessible source for autologous transplantation into CNS, PNS, and other damaged tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: McGill University
    Inventors: Jean Toma, Mahnaz Akhavan, Karl J. L. Fernandes, Mathieu Fortier, Freda D. Miller
  • Publication number: 20130053273
    Abstract: Rapid and specific detection of biological cells and biomolecules is important to biological assays across diverse fields including genomics, proteomics, diagnoses, and pathological studies. Microarrays and microfluidics increasingly dominate such detection techniques due to the ability to perform significant numbers of tests with limited sample volumes. A snap chip assembly is provided for the transfer of a microarray of reagents within semi-spherical liquid droplets on a transfer chip to a target assay microarray on an assay chip following assembly of the two chips and physical contact of the droplets with the target array. Reagents in nanolitre quantities are spotted on both chips and selectively transferred as liquid droplets between transfer chip and assay chip within the contact areas. Using the snap chip structure the inventors performed immunoassays with colocalization of capture and detection antibodies with 10 targets and bead-in-gel droplet microarrays with 9 targets in the low pg/ml regime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning / McGill University
    Inventors: David Juncker, Huiyan Li
  • Patent number: 8384033
    Abstract: There is described a method for determining a quantitative parameter of a compound in an analysis sample, comprising: providing a scattering medium in physical contact with the analysis sample, the scattering medium having at least one layer, an index of refraction of the scattering medium being superior to an index of refraction of the analysis sample; propagating, in the scattering medium, an incident beam of light having a wavelength substantially corresponding to an absorption wavelength of the compound such that an evanescent wave is generated at an interface between the scattering medium and the analysis sample; taking n intensity measurements of a reflected beam of light for the analysis sample, n being superior to one; and determining the quantitative parameter of the compound using the n intensity measurements for the analysis sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Royal Institute for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University
    Inventors: David H. Burns, Fabiano Pandozzi
  • Patent number: 8379440
    Abstract: A phase-change material for use in a phase-change memory device is provided. The phase-change material includes at least one metal and is reversibly phase-changeable, switchable, to a detectable metallic glass state or to a detectable crystalline state thereof. There is also provided a phase-change memory, that includes at least one phase change memory cell comprising the phase change material whereby the phase-change material and thereby the phase-change memory cell is reversibly programmable to one of these states. A method of fabricating the phase-change memory is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University
    Inventor: Zaven Altounian
  • Patent number: 8366625
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of polymers as contrast agents for ultrasounds. The idea is to have a molecular imprint in the polymer that is specific for a given molecule or analyte. When that molecule binds to the polymer it induces a conformational change that results in an increase in the ultrasound signal, referred to as a target-bound state. The method can also be used for example for quantitative measurements of analytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: McGill University
    Inventors: David Burns, David Troiani, Jonathan Dion