Patents Assigned to The Massachusetts Institute Technology
  • Molecular actuators, and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 7138075
    Abstract: The synthesis of thiophene based conducting polymer molecular actuators, exhibiting electrically triggered molecular conformational transitions is reported. Actuation is believed to be the result of conformational rearrangement of the polymer backbone at the molecular level, not simply ion intercalation in the bulk polymer chain upon electrochemical activation. Molecular actuation results from ?—? stacking of thiophene oligomers upon oxidation, producing a reversible molecular displacement that leads to surprising material properties, such as electrically controllable porosity and large strains. The existence of active molecular conformational changes is supported by in situ electrochemical data. Single molecule techniques have been used to characterize the molecular actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Patrick A. Anquetil, Ian W. Hunter, John D. Madden, Peter G. Madden, Anthony E. Pullen, Timothy M. Swager, Bing Xu, Hsiao-hua Yu
  • Heart rate monitor
    Patent number: 7139605
    Abstract: A method for analyzing an EKG signal in real time to produce a heart rate indication. The most recent digitized samples of the EKG are stored in a buffer and evaluated to identify each R-wave peak sample value that (a) immediately precedes and is larger that the most recently stored digital sample value, (b) is larger than any other sample value in the buffer, and (c) differs from the first sample value in the buffer by more than a predetermined threshold value. The threshold is a fraction of the rise time slope of the last peak. The real time heart rate indication is calculated from the time duration separating the last two detected peaks, but rate indications outside the range of 30–200 beats per minute, and which depart from the preceding rate indication by more than 50 percent, are discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Vadim Gerasimov
  • System for and method of motion and force synchronization with time delay reduction in multi-user shared virtual environments
    Publication number: 20060256080
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-executable code stored on computer readable media for synchronizing the evolving state of a dynamic object in a shared virtual environment among a plurality of geographically separated computers connected in a communications network including data communications links introducing time delays in the propagation of data between said computers. The synchronization scheme utilizes an advanced feedback controller to compensate for the state error between sites, comprised of a linear compensator and a Smith predictor based internal model, to determine correct control forces creating a smooth input while maintaining high levels of responsiveness and consistency. A recovery filter for restoring the natural motion of the virtual object distorted by synchronization control is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Mandayam Srinivasan, Anuradha Annaswamy, Joono Cheong
  • Living olefin polymerization processes
    Patent number: 7135544
    Abstract: Processes for the living polymerization of olefin monomers with terminal carbon-carbon double bonds are disclosed. The processes employ initiators that include a metal atom and a ligand having two group 15 atoms and a group 16 atom or three group 15 atoms. The ligand is bonded to the metal atom through two anionic or covalent bonds and a dative bond. The initiators are particularly stable under reaction conditions in the absence of olefin monomer. The processes provide polymers having low polydispersities, especially block copolymers having low polydispersities. It is an additional advantage of these processes that, during block copolymer synthesis, a relatively small amount of homopolymer is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Richard R. Schrock, Robert Bauman
  • SIR2 activity
    Publication number: 20060252076
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods of screening compounds that modulate cellular and organismal processes by modification of the activity of SIR2 and/or transcription factors, e.g., p53, particularly methods of screening for compounds that modify lifespan and/or metabolism of a cell or an organism by modulation of the activity of SIR2 and/or transcription factors, e.g., p53, and more particularly to methods of screening for compounds that modulate the activity of Sir2 and/or transcription factors, e.g., p53. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for screening a compound, by providing a test mixture comprising a transcription factor, Sir2, and a Sir2 cofactor with the compound, and evaluating an activity of a component of the test mixture in the presence of the compound. The invention further relates to therapeutic uses of said compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Leonard Guarente, Homayoun Vaziri, Shin-Ichiro Imai
  • Artificial human limbs and joints employing actuators, springs, and variable-damper elements
    Publication number: 20060249315
    Abstract: Biomimetic Hybrid Actuators employed in biologically-inspired musculoskeletal architectures employ an electric motor for supplying positive energy to and storing negative energy from an artificial joint or limb, as well as elastic elements such as springs, and controllable variable damper components, for passively storing and releasing energy and providing adaptive stiffness to accommodate level ground walking as well as movement on stairs and surfaces having different slopes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Hugh Herr, Daniel Paluska, Peter Dilworth
  • Bioactive fraction of
    Patent number: 7132117
    Abstract: The invention provides new uses and products for treatment of sexual dysfunction and male infertility. The products include bioactive components of extracts from roots of the plant Eurycoma longifolia mixed in preparations for topical application and administation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignees: Government of Malaysia, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: T.G. Sambandan, ChoKyun Rha, Azizol Abdul Kadir, Norhaniza Aminudim, Joharl Mohammed Saad
  • Color vision deficiency screening test resistant to display calibration errors
    Patent number: 7128418
    Abstract: A method for testing a plurality of regions in a color space to identify any of, or a subcombination of, the following color vision deficiencies: protanopia, deuteranopia, tritanopia, and related anomalies. A set of distractor colors is distributed across a region of color space such that the confusion line through a single target color intersects approximately the middle of the set. The distractor set spans a region extending in both chromaticity and luminance, which provides leeway for display errors since the confusion line will intersect the set even if colors do not render exactly as specified, and color deficient observers would still not be able to identify the target. A web-based implementation enables remote testing of subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Wendelin L. Sachtler
  • Methods for purifying and isolating recombinant chondroitinases
    Patent number: 7129335
    Abstract: The invention relates to rationally designed polysaccharide lyases and uses thereof. In particular, the invention relates to modified chondroitinase B. The modified chondroitinase B enzymes of the invention are useful for a variety of purposes, including cleaving and sequencing polysaccharides such as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) as well as removing polysaccharides from a solution. The invention also includes methods of inhibiting anticoagulant activity, inhibiting angiogenesis, treating cancer, and inhibiting maternal malarial infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Kevin Pojasek, Rahul Raman, Ram Sasisekharan
  • Magnetically active semiconductor waveguides for optoelectronic integration
    Patent number: 7130494
    Abstract: A magneto-optical device includes a waveguide structure that has at least one cladding region and core region. The cladding region and core region comprise semiconductor alloy materials. Either the at least one cladding region or the core region is doped with ferromagnetic materials so as to increase the magneto-optical activity of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Rajeev J. Ram, Tauhid Zaman, Xiaoyun Guo
  • Method and apparatus for distributing requests among a plurality of resources
    Publication number: 20060242299
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for distributing a request to one of a plurality of resources. A request is mapped to a location in mathematical mapping space. Each of the plurality of resources is mapped to a respective location or locations in the mathematical mapping space. The request is allocated to one of the resources based on a mathematical relationship between the request location and the resource location in the mathematical mapping space. An apparatus for distributing a request to one of a plurality of resources includes the plurality of resources and an input receiving a resource request. A mapper in communication with the input maps the request to a request location in a mathematical mapping space and maps each of the plurality of resources to at least one resource locations in the mathematical mapping space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David Karger, Eric Lehman, F. Leighton, Matthew Levine, Daniel Lewin, Rina Panagrahy
  • Acoustic pulse actuator
    Publication number: 20060236777
    Abstract: The invention provides an acoustic actuator, including an acoustic stress wave generator and an actuation material operatively positioned relative to the acoustic stress wave generator for delivery of acoustic stress waves from the generator to the actuation material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Joshua Chambers, Steven Hall, Jesse Simon
  • Optical frequency filter
    Patent number: 7127172
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical signal shaping device such as an optical filter having a profile such that transmission of light through the device varies as a function of frequency over a selected bandwidth. The optical signal shaping device of the present invention includes a frequency dependent disperser that disperses the input optical signal to form a dispersed signal having a plurality of frequencies, a frequency selective modulator that modulates at least one of the plurality of frequencies and a frequency dependent combiner that combines the frequencies to form a modulated output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Jerry C Chen
  • Anti-pathogen treatments
    Patent number: 7125839
    Abstract: Chimeric molecules that contain at least one pathogen-detection domain and at least one effector domain, and their methods of use in preventing or treating a pathogen infection in a cell or organism are described. The pathogen-detection domain and effector domain of the chimeric molecules are domains not typically found in nature to be associated together. Agents are also described herein having at least one pathogen-interacting molecular structure and at least one effector-mediating molecular structure, the agent being one that is non-naturally-occurring in a cell. The methods of prevention and treatment described herein are effective for a broad spectrum of pathogens and exhibit little or no toxic side-effects. Assays for the detection of a pathogen, pathogen component, or product produced or induced by a pathogen, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Todd H. Rider
  • Wavelength insensitive integrated optic polarization splitter
    Patent number: 7127131
    Abstract: An integrated optic polarization splitter includes a pair of waveguide elements with a first waveguide element having a horizontal orientation and a second waveguide element having a vertical orientation formed from a plurality of waveguide core layers. The first and second waveguide elements are intersected or nearly intersected at one end of the structure and separated at the other end of the structure and the transition there between is made to be adiabatic. The waveguide elements receive an optical signal having both a TE component and a TM component. The TE component propagates along the horizontally oriented waveguide element and the TM component propagates along the vertically oriented waveguide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Michael R. Watts
  • Method and apparatus for distributing requests among a plurality of resources
    Patent number: 7127513
    Abstract: The invention relates to distributing a request to one a plurality of resources. A request is mapped to a location in mathematical mapping space. Each of the plurality of resources is mapped to a respective location or locations in the mathematical mapping space. The request is allocated to one of the resources based on a mathematical relationship between the request location and the resource location in the mathematical mapping space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David Karger, Eric Lehman, F. Thomson Leighton, Matthew Levine, Daniel Lewin, Rina Panigrahy
  • Micropower logarithmic analog to digital conversion system and method with offset and temperature compensation
    Patent number: 7126509
    Abstract: A logarithmic analog-to-digital converter system is disclosed. The system includes a transconductor for receiving an input signal and for producing a transconductor output signal at a transconductor output, a logarithmic circuit unit that is coupled to an input of the transconductor, a comparator amplifier for receiving the transconductor output signal and for producing a comparator amplifier output signal at a comparator amplifier output, and an integrating capacitor coupled to the transconductor output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ji-Jon Sit, Rahul Sarpeshkar
  • Highly luminescent color-selective nanocrystalline materials
    Patent number: 7125605
    Abstract: A nanocrystal capable of light emission includes a nanoparticle having photoluminescence having quantum yields of greater than 30%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Moungi Bawendi, Klavs F. Jensen, Bashir O. Dabbousi, Javier Rodriguez-Viejo, Frederic Victor Mikulec
  • Multiple oxidation smoothing method for reducing silicon waveguide roughness
    Patent number: 7123805
    Abstract: The light-guiding structure includes a waveguide structure that comprises a substrate and a low refractive index underclad material. The waveguide structure is oxidized to form an oxidized layer on a surface of the waveguide structure. The oxidized layer is isotropically etched after the reaction-limited oxidation regime is approaching the diffusion-limited regime and repeatedly oxidized and etched so that the waveguide structure is continuously oxidized in the reaction-limited regime, reducing the overall time of oxidation and volume of oxidized material so that the waveguide structure has its sidewall roughness reduced efficiently enabling high transmission rates of guided light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel K. Sparacin, Kazumi Wada, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Chemical vapor deposition of antimicrobial polymer coatings
    Publication number: 20060228966
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is directed to antimicrobial surfaces comprised of hydrocarbon polymers with significant hydrophobic character which also contain an amino group with a pKa greater than or equal to about 8. In certain embodiments initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) is used to coat a surface with an antimicrobial polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Karen Gleason, Tyler Martin, Kelvin Chan