Patents Assigned to The Texas A&M University Systems
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Patent number: 11420205Abstract: An instrument for energizing molecules contained in a sample solution may include a droplet generator configured to generate droplets of the sample solution. The droplet generator illustratively has an elongated nozzle defining an orifice at one end thereof from which the droplets exit the droplet generator, and the orifice illustratively defines a first longitudinal axis centrally therethrough. A molecule energizing source is configured to produce a molecule energizing field, and is positioned relative to the nozzle orifice such that the molecule energizing field extends into at least some of the generated droplets along a direction non-parallel with the first longitudinal axis. The molecule energizing field illustratively carries energy which heats at least one of the generated droplets sufficiently to induce structural changes in at least one molecule contained in the at least one of the generated droplets.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2018Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignees: Indiana University Research and Technology Corp., The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: David E. Clemmer, Tarik J. El-Baba, Daniel R. Fuller, Daniel W. Woodall, David H. Russell, Evan R. Williams
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Publication number: 20220259503Abstract: Hydrocarbon conversion and transportation methods and apparatuses are provided. An apparatus may apply electron beam irradiation to hydrocarbons (i.e., natural gas) to convert the hydrocarbons to liquid fuel. Lower-weight hydrocarbons may be converted into medium-weight organics through a gas to liquid process (GTL). The electrons may generate radicals that facilitate desired reactions. The hydrocarbons may be temperature and pressure controlled. For example, the hydrocarbons may be at lower temperatures (e.g., cryogenic or otherwise below ambient) and/or at higher pressures (e.g., greater than standard atmospheric pressures). Temperature suppression may reduce decomposition reactions. A high energy electron beam (e.g., 500 keV or higher, such as 10 MeV) could be used for the conversion process. The hydrocarbon may be liquefied. The liquid-like, higher density lower-weight hydrocarbons may lead to radical-neutral interactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2020Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: David Staack, Kunpeng WANG
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Publication number: 20220259585Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of constructing a phage display library where at least 90% of combinatorial regions in the phage display library include at least one in-frame amber codon. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the formed phage display libraries. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of selecting peptides or proteins that bind to a desired target (e.g., a ligand binding site of a desired target) by utilizing the phage display libraries of the present disclosure. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to peptides that have been screened from the phage display libraries and methods of the present disclosure, such as inhibitors of sirtuin 2, or inhibitors of ENL.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2020Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: The Texas A&M University SystemInventor: Wenshe Liu
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Patent number: 11414556Abstract: A biodegradable and biocompatible three dimensional construct comprising a combination of a nano silicate (e.g., laponite) and two different polymers, the two polymers each individually providing at least one covalently linked polymer chain and at least one ionically linked polymer chain, the polymeric chains forming a dual strengthening intertwined polymeric system. The constructs demonstrate improved mechanical and strength properties, while the bioinks provide a material having superior printability characteristics suitable for printing a three dimensional biodegradable construct having an aspect ratio of greater than 2.0. The bioink may also comprise cells or combinations of cells. Methods of using the constructs and bioinks for wound healing preparations and tissue regeneration are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2018Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEMInventors: Akhilesh K. Gaharwar, David Chimene
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Publication number: 20220250914Abstract: A method of electrochemical exfoliation, may include: electrochemically exfoliating a parent material comprising coke, wherein the electrochemically exfoliating comprises introducing the parent material into a porous chamber, applying pressure to the porous chamber to thereby compress the parent material in the porous chamber, and applying a potential bias to the parent material while at least a portion of the parent material is in contact with an electrolyte solution to produce a mixture of exfoliated material and unexfoliated parent material, wherein the exfoliated material comprises exfoliated graphene; and separating at least a portion of the exfoliated material from the unexfoliated parent material.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2022Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicants: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc., The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: Rohan Ashok Hule, Micah J. Green, Sanjit Saha, Pritishma Lakhe, Sundararajan Uppili, Sergey Yakovlev
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Publication number: 20220249983Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a new and improved separation process that isolates individual minerals from brines containing a mixture of minerals. The brines may be derived from seawater, brackish water, oilfield brines, solution mining, mine run-off, and other sources. Typically, the minerals are recovered as chlorides using a variety of processing steps including evaporation, centrifugation, elutriation, filtration, electrocogulation, crystallization, adsorption, and chromatography.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2021Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEMInventor: Mark Holtzapple
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Publication number: 20220248616Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for deep reinforcement learning-based irrigation control to maintain or increase crop yield and/or other desired crop status, and/or reduce water use. One or more computing devices can be configured to determine an amount of water to be applied to at least one crop in at least one of a plurality of irrigation management zones through execution of a deep reinforcement learning routine. Further, the computing devices can determine a start time and an end time to be applied to the at least one of the plurality of irrigation management zones based at least in part on the amount of water determined by the deep reinforcement learning module. Finally, the computing devices can instruct an irrigation system to apply irrigation to the at least one of the plurality of irrigation management zones in accordance with the start time and the end time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2020Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: Yanxiang YANG, Hongxin KONG, Jiang HU, Dana O. PORTER, Thomas H. MAREK, Kevin R. HEFLIN
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Publication number: 20220252457Abstract: A passive infrared (PIR) sensor system, includes a PIR sensor configured to produce an output signal in response to receiving infrared (IR) radiation, an electronic shutter positionable in a field of view (FOV) of the PIR sensor, wherein the electronic shutter includes a liquid crystal (LC) material, wherein the electronic shutter includes a first state providing a first transmissivity of IR radiation through the electronic shutter and a second state providing a second transmissivity of IR radiation through the electronic shutter that is less than the first transmissivity, and a shutter actuator configured to apply an actuation signal to the electronic shutter to actuate the electronic shutter between the first state and the second state.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2020Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: Ya Wang, Libo Wu, Zhangjie Chen
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Patent number: 11407851Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising: an iodine containing thermoset open-cell shape memory polymer (SMP) foam that is x-ray visible; wherein (a) the SMP foam is configured to expand from a compressed secondary state to an expanded primary state in response to thermal stimulus, (b) the SMP foam is a poly(urethane-urea-amide). Other embodiments are described herein.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: Landon D. Nash, Kendal P. Ezell
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Patent number: 11407819Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and composition including vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, chimeric molecule of an extracellular fibrinogen binding protein (Efb) and targeted agent delivery pharmaceutical composition comprising at least a portion of a modified N-terminus region, at least a portion of a modified C-terminus region, or both, wherein the modified extracellular fibrinogen binding protein results in inhibiting the fibrinogen binding, C3 binding, or both or administering to a subject a pharmacologically effective amount of a vaccine in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, comprising a modified extracellular fibrinogen binding protein comprising at least a portion of a modified N-terminus region, at least a portion of a modified C-terminus region, or both, wherein the modified extracellular fibrinogen binding protein results in not shielding the staphylococcus bacterium from recognition by a phagocytic receptor.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignees: The Texas A&M University System, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Università Degli Studi Di PaviaInventors: Ya-Ping Ko, Magnus Hook, Srishtee Arora, Livia Visai, Federico Bertoglio, Michael Hust, Doris Meier
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Patent number: 11406401Abstract: An embolectomy device comprised of an expansion unit and a support unit is disclosed. The expansion unit can be actuated in response to one or more external stimuli, and the support unit, located proximately to the expansion unit, provides a force to hold the expansion unit in place and to further induce the expansion unit's radial expansion. The radial expansion of the expansion unit causes the expansion unit to physically contact a blood clot, enabling the blood clot to be removed. In some embodiments, the expansion unit can be fabricated from a shape memory polymer foam. In some embodiments the support unit can be fabricated from any elastic material including, without limitation, shape memory alloys.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2019Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: Jason Szafron, Duncan Maitland, Ward Small, IV, Patrick R. Buckley, Andrea D. Muschenborn
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Publication number: 20220233080Abstract: A system for monitoring one or more physiological parameters includes a plurality of patches positionable at a plurality of locations on a surface of a body, wherein the plurality of patches are electrically isolated from each other, wherein a first patch of the plurality of patches includes a transmitter configured to inject an electrical signal into the body at a first location on the surface of the body, and wherein a second patch of the plurality of patches includes a sensor configured to detect a bio-impedance signal at a second location on the surface of the body that is spaced from the first location, and wherein the bio-impedance signal is induced within the body by the electrical signal injected from the first patch which is electrically isolated from the second patch.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2020Publication date: July 28, 2022Applicant: The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: Roozbeh Jafari, Kaan Sel, Bassem Ibrahim
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Patent number: 11395723Abstract: A surgical device for identification of a surgical site of interest, such as a craniofacial or dental site (root apex of an identified tooth), and a method for using the device is provided. The device includes a perimeter bar and a plurality of intermediate cross bars arranged in a grid structure. The device can be used during a surgical procedure requiring enhanced precision, such as during an endodontic surgical procedure, by positioning the device next to a patient's tooth and capturing a CBCT image, the CBCT image being used to identify a drilling location. The device can be repositioned alongside the patient's tooth, and used to identify an accurate drilling position.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2018Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: Sid Poorya Jalali, David Krupnick
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Patent number: 11390815Abstract: A process and apparatus for cracking liquid hydrocarbon materials into light hydrocarbon fractions using a carrier gas including methane and hydrogen.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: David Staack, Kunpeng Wang
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Patent number: 11393153Abstract: A method for performing object occlusion is disclosed. The method includes capturing an image of a physical item, determining a location and an orientation of a first virtual item with an augmented reality registration function; generating an augmented reality image, wherein the augmented reality image comprises a rendering of the first virtual item in the image using a first rendering function to depict the location and orientation of the first virtual item in the image and a rendering of a second virtual item in the image with a second rendering function; displaying the augmented reality image, wherein occlusion of the first virtual item by the physical item is shown in the augmented reality image based on occlusion of the first virtual item by the second virtual item wherein the first virtual item depicts a next step in the step-by-step instructions for the assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: The Texas A&M University SystemInventor: Wei Yan
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Publication number: 20220219814Abstract: A projectile-launched aircraft system includes a projectile launcher including a triggering mechanism, a rotary-wing, hover-capable aircraft including a rotor assembly that includes at least one rotor blade, wherein the rotor blade includes a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration that is circumferentially spaced from the stowed configuration about a pivot axis, wherein, upon actuation of the triggering mechanism, the projectile launcher is configured to launch the aircraft along a flightpath.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2020Publication date: July 14, 2022Applicant: The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: Moble Benedict, Hunter J. Denton, Hao Kang, Vikram Hrishikeshavan
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Patent number: 11382962Abstract: Vaccine compositions including a yeast comprising an immunostimulatory polypeptide and optionally an antigenic polypeptide are provided herein. The immunostimulatory polypeptide and the antigenic polypeptide are expressed or displayed on the surface of the yeast vaccine composition. Methods of using the vaccine composition to vaccinate subjects are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas, The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: Olivia B. Faulkner, Lisa Bielke, Leona Nicole Calhoun, Luc Berghman, Billy Hargis
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Patent number: 11369385Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising: an outer conduit; a shape memory polymer (SMP) foam; a metal backbone including: (a)(i) a first portion that extends from the SMP foam proximal end to the SMP foam distal end and which is generally covered by the SMP foam, and (a)(ii) a distal portion that extends distally from the SMP foam distal end and which is not covered by the SMP foam; wherein: (b)(i) SMP foam and the metal backbone are both included within the outer conduit adjacent to the outer conduit distal end; (b)(ii) the metal backbone distal portion transitions from a secondary shape that is uncoiled to a primary shape that is coiled; and (b)(iii) the metal backbone distal portion is in the metal backbone distal portion secondary shape and is located between the SMP foam distal end and the distal end of the outer conduit.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignees: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, SHAPE MEMORY MEDICAL, INCInventors: Duncan J. Maitland, Todd L. Landsman, Jennifer N. Rodriguez, Anthony J. Boyle, Alan C. Glowczwski, Mark A. Wierzbicki
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Patent number: 11369720Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising: a substrate of a medical device; an un-foamed polyurethane coating directly contacting the substrate and fixedly attached to the substrate; a thermoset polyurethane shape memory polymer (SMP) foam, having first and second states, which directly contacts the polyurethane coating and fixedly attaches to the polyurethane coating; wherein the polyurethane coating fixedly attaches the SMP foam to the substrate. Other embodiments are described herein.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: Rachael Muschalek, Keith Hearon, Landon D. Nash, Duncan J. Maitland
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Patent number: 11364290Abstract: Vaccine vectors and methods of using the vaccine vectors to enhance the immune response to an Apicomplexan parasite and reduce the morbidity or mortality associated with subsequent infection are provided herein. The vaccine vectors include a polynucleotide encoding a Rhomboid polypeptide and optionally include an immune-stimulatory polypeptide suitably expressed on the surface of the vaccine vector.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas, The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: John R. Barta, Luc Berghman, Srichaitanya Shivaramaiah, Olivia B. Faulkner, Lisa Bielke, Billy Hargis