Patents Assigned to Northeastern University
  • Patent number: 9377528
    Abstract: A roaming sensor system collects data on the condition of roads and bridge decks and identifies and maps defects, including cracks, potholes, debonding, tracking, delamination, surface ice, surface water, and rebar corrosion. Data are collected by a vehicle or a fleet of vehicles driven at normal traffic speeds. The vehicle is outfitted with sensors that collect data using acoustic surface waves, ground penetrating radar, mm wave surface radar, and/or video images. The data are transmitted to a control center for analysis and distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Ralf Birken, Ming-Liang Wang, Carey M. Rappaport, Sara Wadia-Fascetti, J. Gregory McDaniel
  • Publication number: 20160178567
    Abstract: A single-walled carbon nanotube-based micron scale multiplex biosensor is provided that enables the detection of glucose, lactate, and urea. The sensor is based on modification of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes using a linker that non-covalently associates with the nanotubes and covalently couples to an enzyme. Reaction of a physiological substrate with the enzyme results in increased resistance of the nanotubes within the sensor. The sensor is suitable for use in patient monitoring, particularly in a clinical setting. Incorporation of read out electronics and an RF signal generator into the sensor device enables it to communicate to a relay station or remote receiver. Methods are also provided for fabricating the biosensor device and using the device for detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Jin Young Lee, Ahmed BUSNAINA, Hanchul CHO, Sivasubramanian SOMU
  • Publication number: 20160175278
    Abstract: Provided herein are novel agents that modulate AhR activity for use in therapeutic compositions and methods thereof for inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and tumor cell invasion and metastasis. The agents comprise AhR inhibitors or non-constitutive AhR agonists of Formula (I) and (II) for the inhibition of cancer cell growth and parameters that characterize tumor metastasis, such as tumor cell invasiveness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicants: Trustees of Boston University, Northeastern University, Boston Medical Center Corporation
    Inventors: David H. SHERR, Michael POLLASTRI, Jennifer SCHLEZINGER, Sarah HAIGH MOLINA, Scott SCHAUS, Joshua Robert GIGUERE
  • Publication number: 20160166460
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, methods and components of a joint actuating gait training system. The gait training system includes a base support frame and an upper flexion actuation assembly movably coupled to the base support frame and a lower flexion actuation assembly movably coupled to the base support frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Patrick Murphy, Michelle Cleary, Shawn Gelsinger, Melanie Jessel, Steven McKanas, Robert Struble, Maciej Pietrusinski, Sheng-Che Yen, Qingchao Kong, Constantinos Mavroidis
  • Patent number: 9365946
    Abstract: Damascene templates have two-dimensionally patterned raised metal features disposed on an underlying conductive layer extending across a substrate. The templates are topographically flat overall, and the patterned conductive features establish micron-scale and nanometer-scale patterns for the assembly of nanoelements into nanoscale circuits and sensors. The templates are made using microfabrication techniques together with chemical mechanical polishing. These templates are compatible with various directed assembly techniques, including electrophoresis, and offer essentially 100% efficient assembly and transfer of nanoelements in a continuous operation cycle. The templates can be repeatedly used for transfer of patterned nanoelements thousands of times with minimal or no damage, and the transfer process involves no intermediate processes between cycles. The assembly and transfer processes employed are carried out at room temperature and pressure and are thus amenable to low cost, high-rate device production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Ahmed Busnaina, Hanchul Cho, Sivasubramanian Somu, Jun Huang
  • Patent number: 9363991
    Abstract: A drilling system including a motor that produces a sonic, linear oscillatory motion is provided for removing a frozen biological sample from a stored frozen specimen and methods of use thereof without thawing the remainder of the specimen. The stator and slider assembly is operated by a servo controller which can communicate and be programmed through a port of a PC equipped with software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Northeastern University
    Inventors: Dale Larson, Jeffrey Ruberti, John Slusarz, Nicholas Goulas, Erin Rush, Trevor Ehret
  • Publication number: 20160108016
    Abstract: Disclosed are compounds and compositions that modulate cannabinoid receptors, methods of modulating cannabinoid receptors, and methods of treating various disorders related to the modulation of cannabinoid receptors. This disclosure is directed to methods of treating cannabinoid dependence, neuropathy, inflammation, glaucoma, a neurodegenerative disorder, a motor function disorder, a gastrointestinal disorder, hypothermia, emesis, loss of appetite, or anorexia associated with AIDS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Alexandros MAKRIYANNIS, Ganesh A. THAKUR, Rishi SHARMA
  • Patent number: 9315078
    Abstract: An instantaneous/real-time wireless dynamic tire pressure sensor (DTPS) for characterizing pavement qualities and for detecting surface and subsurface pavement defects under normal driving conditions. Signal processing provides quantitative assessment of surface conditions. DTPS includes a vehicle tire valve stem-mounted pressure sensor and wheel hub-mounted signal conditioning, amplification, and transmitting circuitry. A signal processing computer within the vehicle is wirelessly coupled to the hub-mounted circuitry. Tire pressure changes caused by ground vibration excitation from the interaction between the tire and pavement at normal driving speeds are detected. When acoustic radiation from a surface wave is significantly stronger than acoustic noise, subsurface information can be extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Ming Wang, Qi Wang, J. Gregory McDaniel, Nian X. Sun
  • Patent number: 9313423
    Abstract: A device and method for performing fluorescence imaging with digitally time reversed ultrasound encoded light, using a source of ultrasound waves, a coherent light source, a digital optical phase conjugation (DOPC) device comprising a camera and a spatial light modulator (SLM), a detector of fluorescence, and one or more computers, to obtain an output that at least approximates an interaction between a complete time reversed field, of all of the encoded light's fields, and the scattering medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
    Inventors: Ying Min Wang, Benjamin Judkewitz, Charles A. DiMarzio, Changhuei Yang
  • Publication number: 20160096334
    Abstract: The use of magnetic fields in the production of porous articles is generally described. Certain embodiments comprise exposing a matrix to a magnetic field such that particles within the matrix form one or more elongated regions (e.g., one or more regions in which the particles chain). In some embodiments, after the magnetic field has been applied, the particles and/or a liquid within the matrix can be at least partially removed. Removal of the particles and/or the liquid can leave behind anisotropic pores within the remainder of the matrix material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeastern University
    Inventors: Jonathan Samuel Sander, Yet-Ming Chiang, Randall Morgan Erb
  • Patent number: 9301940
    Abstract: The invention features compounds that have antibacterial activity, their use for the treatment of bacterial infections, screening methods that use whole animals or plant seedlings to identify compounds that inhibit a pathogen in the animal or plant, and screening methods to identify compounds that increase the lifespan of an organism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignees: The General Hospital Corporation, Northeastern University
    Inventors: Frederick M. Ausubel, Kim Lewis, Terence I. Moy, Suresh Gopalan
  • Publication number: 20160081577
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring brain activity of a subject are disclosed, comprising: positioning a plurality of electric field sensors at multiple positions on the exterior of a skull of the subject; measuring one to three components of a plurality of instantaneous electric field vectors generated by a plurality of electric field sources, the electric field vectors being measured by the plurality of electric field sensors; and determining brain activity of the subject based on the measurement of the plurality of instantaneous electric field vectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Srinivas SRIDHAR, Yury PETROV, Ozgur YAVUZCETIN
  • Patent number: 9261552
    Abstract: A fault detector for operating process of electric arc furnace and method thereof are disclosed, which belong to the technical field of fault detection. The fault detector includes the temperature signal acquisition equipment, the current signal acquisition equipment and a host computer. The multimode fault monitoring and diagnosis method comprises the following steps: acquiring and standardizing the data; establishing the preliminary monitoring model for the operating process to obtain common subsets of M operating modes and typical subsets of every operating mode; calculating the T2 statistics and the SPE statistics, and monitoring and diagnosing fault in the operating process. The present invention has the advantages that the colorimetric temperature measurement can improve the calculation accuracy, different equipment becomes compatible, and the fault detector is suitable for operating in industrial production process with a variety of steady modes and can diagnose faults in a certain operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Yingwei Zhang, Wenyou Du, Zhiming Li, Yunpeng Fan
  • Patent number: 9241928
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to compositions including certain compounds identified by a quantitative, high throughput assay to be effective in inhibiting the ability of a bacterium to kill a host organism, as well as methods for using these compounds for treating bacterial infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: The General Hospital Corporation, Northeastern University
    Inventors: Terence Moy, Annie Conery, Kim Lewis, Frederick M. Ausubel, Read Pukkila-Worley
  • Patent number: 9244035
    Abstract: A glucose sensor suitable for measuring glucose levels in human saliva is provided. Systems containing the glucose sensor and methods for making and using the sensor are also provided. The glucose sensor is highly sensitive and can detect glucose levels at least down to 5 ppm. Fabrication of the sensor involves depositing single-walled carbon nanotubes onto the surface of a working electrode in a 3 electrode electrochemical detector and functionalizing the nanotubes by depositing layers of polymers, metallic nanoparticles, and glucose oxidase enzyme onto the nanotubes. The sensor can be used as a disposable, single-use device or as part of an analytical system, such as a microfluidics system, for the analysis of multiple analytes. The sensor enables the diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes to be performed without pain or the need for finger pricks in a home or clinical setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Wenjun Zhang, Ming L. Wang
  • Patent number: 9238811
    Abstract: siRNA-conjugated liposomes and micelles, methods of making such conjugates, and methods of using such conjugates, such as for the delivery of siRNA to cells to reduce expression of target polypeptides in such cells, are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Vladimir Torchilin, Tiziana Musacchio
  • Publication number: 20160007804
    Abstract: Described herein is a nut shelling device and method of manufacturing a nut shelling device that includes a cylindrical housing, a drum positioned in the cylindrical housing, an actuating cap rotatably coupled to the cylindrical housing and coupled to the drum, a containment receptacle coupled to the cylindrical housing, a first sieve coupled to the cylindrical housing, and a second sieve positioned in the containment receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Justin Evans, William Haugh, Michael Minerbi, Alary Price, Sinan Müftü
  • Patent number: 9228859
    Abstract: A method of constructing a sensor includes depositing a first material in a predetermined arrangement to form a structure. The depositing results in at least one void occurring within the structure. The method further includes depositing a second material within the voids. The second material may have electrical properties that vary according to deformation of the second material. The method also includes providing electrical access to the second material to enable observation of the one or more electrical properties. A sensor includes a structure that has one or more voids distributed within the structure. The sensor also includes a material deposited within the one or more voids. The material may be characterized by one or more electrical properties such as piezoresistivity. The sensor includes a first contact electrically coupled to a first location on the material, and a second contact electrically coupled to a second location on the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Richard Ranky, Constantinos Mavroidis
  • Patent number: 9222465
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a non-rotating wind energy generator uses the fluid flow principles of vortex shedding and transverse galloping to generate oscillatory, linear motion of a beam, and linear alternators, optionally located near both ends of the beam, generate electrical power when the beam is in motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Dylan Thorp, Liam Byers, Mitchell Noah, Thomas Olsen, Evan Weiner, Mohammad Taslim
  • Publication number: 20150328497
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a robotic ankle and balance training platform comprises a footplate to support a foot. The footplate is capable of rotation about an inversion/eversion axis and a plantar/dorsiflexion axis. The robotic platform further comprises an actuation system configured to apply an assistive inversion/eversion force and a resistive inversion/eversion force to the footplate and an assistive plantar/dorsiflexion force and a resistive plantar/dorsiflexion force to the footplate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Paul R. DOUCOT, Alexander MAZZOTTA, Alexandra BUGLIARI, Nathaniel LAVINS, Amir Bahador Farjadian BEJESTAN, Maureen HOLDEN, Constantinos MAVROIDIS, Jan VALENZUELA