Patents Assigned to Texas Tech University
  • Cotton fiber dissolution and regeneration and 3D printing of cellulose based conductive composites
    Patent number: 10311993
    Abstract: The present invention includes composition and methods for a core matrix comprising a dissolved cellulose fiber of, e.g., high molecular weight (DP>5000) or microcrystalline cellulose of low molecular weight (DP: 150-300), printed into a two or three dimensional pattern; a conductive material comprising a carbon nanotube or graphene oxide disposed on or about the cellulose fiber or microcrystalline cellulose; and an enhancer or stabilizer that stabilizes the dissolved cellulose or microcrystalline cellulose disrupted during a printing process, wherein the conductive material and the cellulose or microcrystalline cellulose forms one or more features in or on the cellulose fiber or microcrystalline cellulose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Noureddine Abidi, Yang Hu
  • Molecular discrimination of regulated and non-regulated serotypes
    Patent number: 10287638
    Abstract: The present invention provides a set of oligonucleotides to screen for the presence of targeted Salmonella serotypes in an enrichment or to characterize presumptive colonies. The set of oligonucleotides includes at least one set of primers and probe for the detection of Salmonella serotype selected from typhimurium, enteritidis, newport, heidelberg, infantis, virchow and Hadar. The set of oligonucleotides may include up to 5 different primer sets and the corresponding probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Guy Loneragan, Mindy M. Brashears, Kendra Nightingale, Marie Bugarel
  • Universal influenza vaccine
    Patent number: 10286062
    Abstract: The present invention includes an isolated antigen against influenza A and a method of making the same that includes an ectodomain of influenza A Matrix Protein 2 (M2e) and a stem region of an influenza A hemagglutinin 2 (HA2) protein and an adjuvant. The invention further includes formulating the antigen into an isolated immune response stimulating fusion protein and/or a vaccine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Mingtao Zeng, Junwei Li
  • CHEMICALLY PATTERNED MICROFLUIDIC PAPER-BASED ANALYTICAL DEVICE (C-µPAD) FOR MULTIPLEX ANALYTE DETECTION
    Publication number: 20190118175
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method for a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (?PAD), for low-cost and user-friendly analytical devices capable of use for disease screening, point-of-care pathogen and biomarker detection, food and water quality testing. A microfluidic paper-based analytical device is further produced by chemical vapor deposition for multiplex heavy metal detection in water. Assay demonstrations proved that the immobilization of functional groups and multiplex heavy metal detection is suitable for real-world applications and established the approach for DNA analysis. The disclosed invention comprises multilayer capability, including the ability for various biomolecules to be immobilized with charge interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Jungkyu Kim, Jasmine Pramila Devadhasan, Ryan Howse
  • Smart phone based multiplexed viscometer for high throughput analysis of fluids
    Patent number: 10209171
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and an apparatus for determining the viscosity of a fluid. The apparatus comprising that includes a microchannel connected to a glass capillary in fluid communication with the microchannel, a digital camera positioned with respect to the glass capillary to capture two or more images of a fluidic slug as a fluid travels within the glass capillary, and a processor communicably coupled to the digital camera that determines a viscosity of the fluid based on the two or more digital images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Siva A. Vanapalli, Deepak E. Solomon
  • Carbidopa for the treatment of cancer
    Patent number: 10064834
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method of inhibiting or reducing mTOR signaling or inhibition of indoleamine dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) in a subject with a proliferative disease, which comprises administering to the subject having or suspected to have the proliferative disease, a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of the compound of Formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Vadivel Ganapathy, Yangzom D. Bhutia, Babu Ellappan, Sabarish Ramachandran
  • Methods of reducing ignition sensitivity of energetic materials
    Patent number: 10017429
    Abstract: An energetic material comprising an elemental fuel, an oxidizer or other element, and a carbon nanofiller or carbon fiber rods, where the carbon nanofiller or carbon fiber rods are substantially homogeneously dispersed in the energetic material. Methods of tailoring the electrostatic discharge sensitivity of an energetic material are also disclosed. Energetic materials including the elemental fuel, the oxidizer or other element, and an additive are also disclosed, as are methods of reducing ignition sensitivity of the energetic material including the additive. The additive is combined with the elemental fuel and a metal oxide to form the energetic material. The energetic material is heated at a slow rate to render inert the energetic material to ignition while the energetic material remains ignitable when heated at a fast rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignees: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Michael A Daniels, Ronald J Heaps, Michelle Pantoya
  • Method to introduce into ground meat
    Patent number: 9995735
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method of introducing a pathogenic infection into one or more peripheral lymph nodes of an animal for testing of meat, comprising: inoculating at one or more peripheral lymph node drainage areas the animal with a known amount of a known pathogen; harvesting one or more peripheral lymph nodes from the animal; grinding meat or meat trimmings and the one or more peripheral lymph nodes into ground meat; and determining a ratio of a number of peripheral lymph nodes infected to the weight of the meat or meat trimmings used to create the ground meat, wherein the infected ground meat can be used to test interventions against the known pathogen in a grinding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Guy Loneragan, Thomas Edrington, Katelyn Malin
  • Internal bone lengthener device and method of use thereof
    Patent number: 9949772
    Abstract: An extramedullary bone lengthener and use thereof that is an internal device that does not require nailing. The invention includes a telescoping plate that attaches to the upper and lower portions of the bone via screws; a small motor affixed on or within the plate. This motor, controlled remotely, will controllably lengthen the plate, thus lengthening the bone. The bone will be cut (osteotomy) then the plate will be applied to both ends and fixed to each end with screws. The motor will be controlled from outside by a remote control which will allow the plate to expand causing lengthening of the attached bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: Texas Tech University System, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Amr Abdelgawad, Noe Vargas-Hernandez, Khaled Emara, Mario E. Rodriguez
  • Lung cancer adjuvant therapy
    Patent number: 9943502
    Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer comprising an antineoplastic drug and an inhibitor of chromosome maintenance region 1 (CRM1) protein expression or activity, wherein the inhibitor of CRM1 enhances the anti-neoplastic effect of the antineoplastic drug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventor: Weimin Gao
  • Liquid oil production from shale gas condensate reservoirs
    Patent number: 9932808
    Abstract: A process of producing liquid oil from shale gas condensate reservoirs and, more particularly, to increase liquid oil production by huff-n-puff in shale gas condensate reservoirs. The process includes performing a huff-n-puff gas injection mode and flowing the bottom-hole pressure lower than the dew point pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventor: James J. Sheng
  • Use of the naked-tufted mutant in upland cotton to improve fiber quality, increase seed oil content, increase ginning efficiency, and reduce the cost of delinting
    Patent number: 9877445
    Abstract: Described is a naked-tufted seed mutant line of Gossypium hirsutum L., developed from lines initially produced by chemical mutagenesis, which significantly reduces the formation of linters on the surface of the cotton seed. In a preferred embodiment, the lines carrying the naked seed mutation have reduced seed coat neps, reduced short fiber content, improved yarn quality, increased seed oil content, and improved AFIS fiber maturity. The naked-tufted seed of the mutant line significantly reduces the time and energy required for ginning, oil extraction, and reduces the need to delint the cotton seed prior to planting. In a preferred embodiment, the mutant is incorporated into a well-adapted commercial cultivar of upland cotton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Dick L. Auld, Efrem Bechere
  • Enhanced selective expression of transgenes in fiber producing plants
    Patent number: 9873882
    Abstract: Methods and means are provided to enhance the selective expression of transgenes under control of a fiber-selective promoter, in fiber cells, particularly cotton fiber cells by including target sites for naturally occurring microRNAs with a specific expression profile, particularly with a differential expression profile between cells leading to fibers and other cells of the fiber producing plant, into the transcribed region of genes of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: Bayer CropScience NV, Texas Tech University
    Inventors: Frank Meulewaeter, Zhixin Xie, Gengxiang Jia, Arnab Ghosh, Forrest Sheng Bao
  • RNA interference-based therapeutic against anthrax
    Patent number: 9862951
    Abstract: The present invention includes siRNAs and antibodies that block the interaction between TEM8 and/or CMG2 cell surface proteins and anthrax toxin and methods of treating anthrax exposure with the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Mingtao Zeng, Maria T. Arevalo
  • Methods, systems, and computer medium having computer programs stored thereon to optimize reservoir management decisions
    Patent number: 9816366
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums for optimizing the placement of wells in a reservoir. Embodiments include, for example, determining for a reservoir a productivity index for each coordinate of a reservoir using reservoir metrics associated with the reservoir, generating a grid pattern of the reservoir using the productivity index with time values extracted for each coordinate, determining a total dynamic productivity index for each coordinate, and determining placement of one or more wells responsive to the total dynamic productivity index and minimum spacing between the one or more wells. Embodiments further include, for example, generating a production analysis report for the reservoir that includes an assessment of well placement and generating a wells placement map using one or more total dynamic productivity index indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Ghazi D. AlQahtani, Mohamed Y. Soliman, Ismael Regis de Farias, Jr.
  • Multilateral wells placement via transshipment approach
    Patent number: 9810052
    Abstract: A multilateral well placement methodology is provided for hydrocarbon reservoirs utilizing transshipment network optimization to best fit productivity conditions in the reservoir. Multilateral well trajectories are generated which ensure contact with hydrocarbon rich pockets in the reservoir. Different levels of branching for lateral wells are also permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Ghazi D. AlQahtani, Noah E. Berlow, Mohamed Y. Soliman
  • MICRODEVICE FOR CELL SEPARATION UTILIZING ACTIVATION PHENOTYPE
    Publication number: 20170307611
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for a microdevice to separate blood cells based on differences in antigen expression. Specifically, cells of the same phenotype are separated based on whether or not they are activated during infection or resting. The device of the present disclosure takes a small sample of blood and provides differential cell counts that can be used to test for infection and inflammatory response. The device can be used to identify sepsis and other infections rapidly. By measuring differences in activated white cell counts such as neutrophils, the device of the present disclosure measures physiological response to infection in hospitalized patients recovering from burns, surgeries, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: Texas Tech University System
    Inventor: Dimitri PAPPAS
  • Immunomodulation using spores and pollen grains
    Patent number: 9782351
    Abstract: The present invention includes compositions, methods of making and using the compositions for modulating the immune response in a subject by providing a vaccine composition having a pollen/spore disposed in a pharmaceutical carrier for delivery to a subject, wherein the pollen/spore comprises multiple pores that connect an outer surface of the pollen/spore to an inner cavity and one or more antigens disposed on the outer surface, in the inner cavity, in the multiple pores, or a combination thereof, wherein the one or more antigens modulate an immune responses in the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Harvinder S. Gill, Shashwati Atwe, Yunzhe Ma
  • CANCER TREATMENT UTILIZING SP-141 TO BIND WITH MDM2 AND ACT AS AN INHIBITOR OF MDM2 EXPRESSION
    Publication number: 20170283413
    Abstract: An SP-141 compound is a novel small molecule that can serve as a molecular-targeted chemotherapeutic agent. In one embodiment, the labeled compound can comprise SP-141, which comprises 6-methoxy-1-(naphthalen-1-yl)-9 H-pyrido[3,4-b]indote. The compound inhibits expression of oncogenes such as the Mouse Double Minute 2 protein. The compound can bind directly to Mouse Double Minute 2 to inhibit cancer growth including breast cancer growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Ruiwen Zhang, Wei Wang
  • System and method for simulation and design of discrete droplet microfluidic systems
    Patent number: 9779189
    Abstract: A computerized method for designing a discrete droplet microfluidic system: (a) provides an initial set of droplet based networks; (b) codes each droplet based network into a data structure such that all the data structures form a current set of data structures; (c) creates new data structures by performing one or more genetic operators on the current set of data structures; (d) adds new data structures to the current set of data structures; (e) creates a new set of data structures that satisfies one or more design parameters; (f) replaces the current set of data structures with the new set of data structures; (g) repeats steps (c), (d), (e) and (f) until the new set of data structures has been created a third number of times; and (h) displays/outputs the current set of data structures as possible designs for the discrete droplet microfluidic system to one or more output devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Jeevan Maddala, Raghunathan Rengaswamy