Patents Assigned to The Regents of the University Michigan
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Patent number: 5555470Abstract: A Michelson interferometer is used to determine the displacement of a force loaded member, the loaded member having a reflective surface applied thereto to reflect light back to a beam splitter in the interferometer apparatus. Light is also reflected back from a reflective surface attached to a stationary member. The interaction of the reflected light from the movable and stationary member interacts to form an interference fringe pattern which may be used to determine the amount of displacement and, therefor, the force applied to the loaded member. The apparatus is comprised of a material which is substantially resistive to thermal deformation.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1995Date of Patent: September 10, 1996Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Neil M. Cole, Robert G. Dennis
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Patent number: 5555495Abstract: Adaptive control of a system with a human in the loop is accomplished by sensing human operator reactions to a disturbance in the system and characterizing the operator response to the disturbance. The operator response is characterized in one of several forms by predicting a response based on a model quantifying a response based on statistics or merely measuring a response for accumulation of data to be employed by an artificial intelligent system. The disturbance which provides the human operator reaction, is applied or occurs naturally based on other stimulus and is measured by the system. Quantifying the results of the disturbance and the operator response comparison allows selection of a control mode by identifying one or more categories of reaction response or a graduated modification of the control law employed in the system. Various modes or categories for control of the system incorporate different sensitivities on a macro scale or an entirely different control algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1993Date of Patent: September 10, 1996Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: David A. Bell, Lon E. Bell, Simon Levine, Yoram Koren
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Patent number: 5552076Abstract: An electrorheological fluid that includes a dispersed particulate phase of anhydrous amorphous ceramic particles. The anhydrous amorphous ceramic particles can be of a very precisely tailored composition that is unavailable in crystalline form, for obtaining enhanced electrorheological response. The amorphous particles are substantially free of water when used, and have reduced tendency to absorb water in use. Accordingly, the electrorheological fluid containing anhydrous amorphous electrorheologically responsive ceramic particles has wide applicability for use, and enhanced durability in such use.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1994Date of Patent: September 3, 1996Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Daniel R. Gamota, Brian L. Mueller, Frank E. Filisko
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Patent number: 5549674Abstract: A novel cell seeded hollow fiber bioreactor is described as a potential bioartificial kidney. Renal cells are seeded along a hollow fiber in a perfused bioreactor to reproduce the ultrafiltration function and transport function of the kidney. Maintenance of tissue specific function and ultrastructure suggest that this bioreactor provides an economical device for treating renal failure as well as studying renal tubululogenesis in vitro.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1993Date of Patent: August 27, 1996Assignee: The Regents of The University of MichiganInventors: H. David Humes, Deborah A. Cieslinski
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Patent number: 5545524Abstract: The present invention provides a rapid reproducible method for generating chromosome region-specific probes for diagnostic and research applications. The method of the present invention comprises microdissecting a chromosome of interest to produce a DNA fragment, treating the dissected DNA fragment with topoisomerase I, amplifying the treated dissected DNA fragment and labelling the amplified DNA. By utilizing the method of the present invention, region-specific probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) from a single microdissected chromosome may be generated.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 1993Date of Patent: August 13, 1996Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Jeffrey M. Trent, Paul S. Meltzer
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Patent number: 5543413Abstract: This invention relates to a novel class of 4,5,6,7-substituted non-nucleoside, non-phosphorylatable pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines which exhibit both significantly lower levels of cytotoxicity and superior antiviral activity than known nucleoside, non-nucleoside, and non-nucleoside, non-phosphorylatable pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives, particularly against human DNA viruses such as cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). These compounds are represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.4 is -NH.sub.2 or -NHCH.sub.3 ;R.sup.5 is -CN,-CSNH.sub.2, or -CSeNH.sub.2 ;R.sup.6 is -H or -NH.sub.2 ; andR.sup.7 is selected from the group consisting ofaryls and aralkyls having 6 to 30 carbon atoms;aliphatic oxy-hydrocarbyls having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, lacking free hydroxyl groups and further lacking acyl or acyl derivatized groups; andoxy-hydrocarbyls having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, at least one aryl or aralkyl group, and only one oxy-group;with the proviso that if R.sup.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1994Date of Patent: August 6, 1996Assignee: Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Leroy B. Townsend, John C. Drach, Thomas E. Renau
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Patent number: 5540615Abstract: An in-process rotary machine balancer which utilizes a plurality of vibration wave motors with unbalanced rotor members for positioning the unbalanced rotors to cancel a measured imbalance of a rotating machine. Each unbalanced rotor member is positioned in rotation with respect to a rotating machine component by activating a respective vibration wave motor to orient the plurality of unbalanced rotor members to a desired trigonometric configuration which balances the rotating machine part. Preferably, an off-the-shelf vibration wave motor is modified by affixing an eccentric mass to the rotor member which provides the corresponding rotary imbalance. Preferably, a pair of vibration wave motors are utilized on a rotating machine shaft such that their initial configuration offsets and balances each respective eccentric mass in order to determine the imbalance of a rotating shaft. Corresponding rotation of each unbalanced rotor member produces a corresponding opposite imbalance which balances the rotating shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1994Date of Patent: July 30, 1996Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventor: Syed Murtuza
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Patent number: 5541947Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for generating high pulse energy, short optical pulses having relatively high contrast. The system comprises a diode laser to seed a compact diode pumped amplifier, and comprises pulse shaping and cleaning elements to achieve relatively high energies and high contrast. The system is not locked to a fixed repetition rate as it is controlled by an electronic trigger. The system of the invention comprises a selectively triggered pulse source (asynchronous) which is coupled to pulse amplifying/pulse shaping means, which is coupled to pulse cleaning means, which is further coupled to a chirped pulse amplification (CPA) system.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1995Date of Patent: July 30, 1996Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Geard A. Mourou, John A. Nees
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Patent number: 5536808Abstract: The preferred polymers comprise cyclic units having sulphur at the 1 position, nitrogen at the 3 position, a substituent R group carried off of a carbon at the 4 position, and a carbon at each of the 2 and 5 positions of the thiazole ring. Each of the units is connected through the 2 or 5 position to another thiazole unit. Intermediate units are connected through the 2 and 5 positions to thiazole units on either side, terminal (end) units are connected to a respective adjacent thiazole unit at the 2 position, hydrogen or another substituent is carried off of the 5 position of the terminal unit. The R substituent group is a hydrocarbon having more than 1 carbon atom.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1994Date of Patent: July 16, 1996Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: M. David Curtis, John I. Nanos, Mark D. McClain
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Patent number: 5534535Abstract: Antiviral nucleoside analogues contain a substituted benzimidazole base attached to a carbocyclic ring in place of the conventional sugar residue. Particularly preferred compounds include those in which the 2-, 5- and 6- positions of the benzimidazole base are substituted by halogen. The compounds have activity against herpes virus especially cytomegalovirus and also hepatitis B virus infections.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1994Date of Patent: July 9, 1996Assignees: Burroughs Wellcome Co., The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Leroy B. Townsend, John C. Drach, Steven S. Good, Susan M. Daluge, Michael T. Martin
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Patent number: 5534423Abstract: This invention provides methods of increasing the frequency of contact between vectors and stationary target cells in an apparatus containing them which involves causing the vectors to move towards the target cells with motion above and beyond random Brownian motion. The methods of this invention include causing the vectors to move in the direction of the cells by (1) causing flow-through of a liquid containing the vectors through or past a cell bed, (2) moving charged vectors towards the target cells by electrodiffusion and (3) centrifuging vectors and cells to cause settling of vectors onto the cells.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1993Date of Patent: July 9, 1996Assignee: Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Bernhard O. Palsson, Michael F. Clarke, Alice S. Y. Chuck
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Patent number: 5495415Abstract: A trainable, pattern recognition-based method and system for detecting misfire in a reciprocating internal combustion engine having an engine cycle frequency in the frequency domain from crankshaft angular velocity. Preferably, a pattern recognition system including a neural network is utilized. Crankshaft angular position is sensed to develop an electrical signal which is a function of the crankshaft angular velocity. The electrical signal contains data which is sampled. The sampled data is transformed to an equivalent frequency domain spectrum including frequency components of the engine cycle frequency and harmonics thereof. A load signal such as mass airflow and an RPM signal are generated. The magnitudes and phases of the frequency components and the load and RPM signals are supplied to the neural network to distinguish between a true misfire and normal cyclic variability which characterizes the combustion process.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1993Date of Patent: February 27, 1996Assignee: Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: William B. Ribbens, Jaehong Park, Giorgio Rizzoni
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Patent number: 5492109Abstract: An involuntary respiratory apparatus for perfusing and entraining a breathable liquid from the lungs of a patient. The system includes a number of components which are interconnected by a conduit so as to form a substantially closed loop, single path circuit. The various components include a reservoir, a pump, an oxygenator, a heat exchanger, an endotracheal tube, a Y-connector, a valve and a controller. To simulate inspiration, the controller closes the valve, which is located downstream of the Y-connector, thereby forcing the liquid into the lungs of the patient. After a tidal volume of liquid has been perfused into the patient's lungs, the controller opens the valve. The Y-connector is shaped such that the flow of liquid through its inspiratory limb will cause the liquid in the patient's lungs to be entrained into the flow out of the Y-connector. In this manner, the Y-connector operates as an ejector pump and allows the apparatus to continuously perfuse the liquid through the single path circuit.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1993Date of Patent: February 20, 1996Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Ronald B. Hirschl, Jean P. Montoya, Scott I. Merz
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Patent number: 5490105Abstract: A memory cell (i.e. CMMC) for use in GaAs circuits such as MESFETs wherein read and write operations can both be performed using as few as two access transistors biased as current mirrors to driver transistors of the cell. This new memory cell offers larger read access currents for faster access times and also faster write times than in a conventional memory cell. This cell does not require that the driver transistors be scaled with respect to the access transistors, resulting in a smaller cell area. In the CMMC, the gate of each access transistor is biased by a storage node voltage. The source node of each access transistor is biased by a word line which is pulled low, towards ground. As a result, each access transistor has a gate-source voltage ofV.sub.GS (access)=V.sub.CS +V.sub.CG -V.sub.WORDwhere V.sub.CS is the cell storage voltage (with respect to cell ground), V.sub.CG is the cell ground voltage and V.sub.WORD is the word line voltage at the cell.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1994Date of Patent: February 6, 1996Assignee: Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Ajay Chandna, Richard B. Brown
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Patent number: 5487008Abstract: Engine misfire is detected in a reciprocating internal combustion engine having an engine cycle frequency in the frequency domain from crankshaft angular velocity. Crankshaft angular position is sensed to develop an electrical signal which is a function of the crankshaft angular velocity. The electrical signal contains data which is sampled. The sampled data is transformed to an equivalent frequency domain spectrum including frequency components of the engine cycle frequency and harmonics thereof. A statistical decision algorithm is applied to the magnitudes of the frequency components to distinguish between a true misfire and normal cyclic variability which characterizes the combustion process. In one embodiment, the misfired cylinder is identified based on the phase of the frequency component at the engine cycle frequency. In another embodiment, the identity of the misfired cylinder is determined by shifting the sampled data prior to transforming the data.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1993Date of Patent: January 23, 1996Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: William B. Ribbens, Jaehong Park
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Patent number: 5486536Abstract: Using in vitro adhesion of recombinant rat L-selectin-Ig or rat neutrophils, it has been demonstrated that these materials bind to sulfatide that has been present in solid phase on a plastic surface. The binding activity appears to have structural requirements, with the sulfate group being critically present in position 3 on the pyranose ring of galactose. When used in vivo, it has been demonstrated that sulfated glycolipids such as brain sulfatide and ganglioside, have significantly protective effects in two models of lung inflammation, the first systemic activation of complement and the second occurring after intrapulmonary deposition of immune complexes. Both inflammatory reactions are complement, neutrophil and selectin-dependent. The protective effects of these compounds are linked to their ability to prevent the recruitment of neutrophils into lung tissue. On the basis of these findings, it is demonstrated by sulfatides and related compounds have significant in vivo anti-inflammatory activities.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1994Date of Patent: January 23, 1996Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Peter A. Ward, Masayuka Miyasaka, Yasuo Suzuki
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Patent number: 5483122Abstract: Method and apparatus for accelerating charged particles in a compact two-beam accelerator including a high voltage diode which generates an annular intense electron beam and a pencil-shaped secondary beam. The annular beam is modulated and functions as a driver beam for the secondary beam. A focusing magnetic field created by external focusing magnetic field coils adjusts the radius of the annular beam within a plurality of resonant cavity structures of an accelerating portion of the accelerator such that the phase slippage of the secondary beam, with reference to the co-propagated driver beam, is corrected. Correction of the phase slippage results in a secondary beam that is continuously accelerated. The external magnetic field also controls the energy of the secondary beam. Such high energy charged particles are useful in a wide variety of applications, such as medical radiation therapy, sterilization of medical equipment, industrial materials processing, inspection and industrial ion implantation.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1994Date of Patent: January 9, 1996Assignee: Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Yaroslav S. Derbenev, Yue-Ying Lau, Ronald M. Gilgenbach
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Patent number: 5477519Abstract: Digital data is stored using optical means exclusively in a storage media which is characterized with a soft-phonon mode. Electric dipole domains in the storage medium are caused to reverse in polarity in response to the impinging thereon of an optical pulse. The optical pulse, which may be formed of a plurality of colliding optical pulses, must have sufficient energy to cause the reversal of the polarization of the electric dipole domain, or the reorientation thereof, without providing sufficient energy whereby the dipole reverts to its initial condition. Any material which exhibits structural phase transitions associated with soft-phonons which can couple directly or by non-linear processes to incident irradiation are candidates for optical domain-switching.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1994Date of Patent: December 19, 1995Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Stephen B. Fahy, Roberto Merlin
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Patent number: 5460965Abstract: Proteins, and corresponding DNA and RNA sequences, useful for the regulation of expression of .kappa.B-containing genes are disclosed. These proteins are useful to either stimulate or inhibit the expression of .kappa.B-containing genes. Proteins stimulating the expression of .kappa.B-containing genes have an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of from position 1 to position 374 of p100 [SEQ ID NO: 2]. Proteins having an inhibitory effect on the expression of .kappa.B-containing genes have sequences either at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of from position 407 to the carboxyl end of p100 [SEQ ID NO: 2] or having an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to the amino sequence of either from position 1 to 100 sor from position 101 to position 374 of p100 [SEQ ID NO: 2].Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1993Date of Patent: October 24, 1995Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Gary J. Nabel, Roland M. Schmid, Neil D. Perkins
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Patent number: 5459069Abstract: Devices are provided for the growth of human stem and/or hematopoietic cells in culture. Bioreactors are provided in which diverse cell types are simultaneously-cultured in the presence of appropriate levels of nutrients and growth factors substantially continuously maintained in the bioreactor while removing undesirable metabolic products. This simultaneous culture of multiple cell types successfully reconstructs hematopoietic tissue ex vivo. Optionally, at least one growth factor is provided through excretion by transfected stromal cells, particularly heterologous cells. The stromal cells and hematopoietic cells are maintained separately and both the adherent and non-adherent cells are harvested.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 1994Date of Patent: October 17, 1995Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Bernhard O. Palsson, Stephen G. Emerson, Richard M. Schwartz