Patents Assigned to The University of Akron
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Patent number: 11236323Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and processes in the field of self-cleaning system using digestive proteins. One composition includes a substrate, a digestive protein capable of decomposing a stain molecule, and a linker moiety bound to both said digestive protein and said substrate. The processes include binding a substrate to a surface and forming a linker moiety between a digestive protein and said substrate.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignees: Toyota Motor Corporation, The University of AkronInventors: Ping Wang, Minjuan Zhang, Hongfei Jia, Archana H. Trivedi, Masahiko Ishii
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Publication number: 20220030031Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention is directed to a blockchain secured, software-defined network and monitoring system comprising: a multi-controller software-defined network (SDN) network layer; a blockchain based security and autonomy layer; a deep learning-driven decision making layer comprising the one or more computational centers and a horizontal data plane layer. In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods for ensuring the integrity of a control commands and optimizing performance and security using the blockchain secured, software-defined network and monitoring system. In various embodiments, the present invention relates to methods for extracting useful features from said labelled and non-labelled data contained in the horizontal data plane layer in the blockchain secured, software-defined network and monitoring system using a knowledge domain-enabled hybrid semi-supervision learning method.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2019Publication date: January 27, 2022Applicant: The University of AkronInventors: Jin KOCSIS, Mututhanthrige Praveen Sameera FERNANDO, Yifu WU
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Patent number: 11225543Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides a novel approach to the addition of plasticizers for softening TPUs, i.e., lowering the durometer and the melt viscosity. This approach involves incorporating bonded sulfonate groups with quaternary ammonium counterions into the TPU. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the softening of TPU is achieved by incorporating an ionic diol, such as N,N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethane-sulfonic acid (BES), coupled with various bulky alkyl ammonium cations, during the chain extension step of the TPU synthesis. It is believed that that steric hindrance of the bulky quaternary ammonium groups weakens the dipole-dipole interactions of the sulfonate groups and/or lowers the crystallinity of the hard block, thereby creating additional free volume that softens the polymer and lowers the melt viscosity.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2019Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: The University of AkronInventors: Matthew Becker, Robert A. Weiss, Zachary Kurtiss Zander, Don S. Wardius, Karl W. Haider, Bruce D. Lawrey
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Patent number: 11221292Abstract: A method for locating human remains in a clandestine or undocumented burial includes providing a spectroscopy assembly including a spectroscopy probe with a distal end to a location that may include human remains, wherein the spectroscopy assembly is configured to identify whether a salt of a fatty acid is present based on overtone wavelengths of the salt of the fatty acid; inserting the distal end of the spectroscopy probe into a testing spot at the location that may include human remains; and analyzing, with the spectroscopy assembly and after the step of inserting, whether the salt of the fatty acid having the overtone wavelengths is present in the location that may include human remains. The step of analyzing may include near-infrared spectroscopy, and the overtone wavelengths may be characterized by an absorption band contour extending from about 1670 nm to about 1800 nm.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2020Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: The University of AkronInventors: Afrin Lopa, David Perry, Timothy Matney, Linda Barrett
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Patent number: 11207676Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) for the biomimetic study of the multicellular interactions of bone cells includes a PDMS substrate and cap, which together form one or more wells that are fluidly coupled by tubes. The wells are configured to support various bone cells and related cellular support substrates therein, while the tubes allow conditioned medium (CM), including soluble signals, and various other co-factors to be communicated among the various wells. By controlling the configuration among and between various bone cells in the wells, the temporal and spatial limitations associated with traditional in vivo bone tissue models is removed. In addition, the LOC enables a particular research objective to be studied by allowing the user to configure the arrangement of the wells/tubes of the LOC, so as to control the manner in which bone cell soluble signals, bone cell contact, and bone cell matrix interaction interplay.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2018Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: The University of AkronInventor: Marnie M. Saunders
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Patent number: 11197873Abstract: The present invention provides pharmaceutical compounds for the treatment of high-grade superficial bladder cancer in patent in need thereof. Further described are compositions of azolium salts for use in such treatment.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignees: The University of Akron, The Institute for Cancer ResearchInventors: Wiley Jay Youngs, Philip H. Abbosh, Michael Lee Stromyer, Marie Renee Southerland, Uttam Satyal, David Joseph Weader
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Patent number: 11180877Abstract: A dry adhesive includes a first plurality of fiber segments mechanically interlocked with a second plurality of fiber segments. A dry adhesive can include a first plurality of fibers mechanically interlocked with a second plurality of fibers or a single plurality of fibers having a first end region mechanically interlocked with a second end region. The fiber segments and fibers can be aligned, electrospun nanofibers. One or more continuous and scalable methods of making aligned fibers are also provided. One or more apparatuses are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2018Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: The University of AkronInventor: Shing-Chung Josh Wong
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Patent number: 11174501Abstract: A method of enzyme-based processing of plant-based materials includes steps of providing a bulk amount of a plant-based material having a substantial amount of the cell walls in a physically-intact condition; providing an enzyme broth having an enzyme capable of breaking down the cell walls in the physically-intact condition; combining the bulk amount of the plant-based material with the enzyme broth; allowing the enzyme capable of breaking down the cell walls in the physically-intact condition to break down at least a portion of the cell walls in the physically-intact condition to thereby produce intact oil bodies, hydrolyzed carbohydrates, and intact protein bodies; collecting a first product including the intact oil bodies; collecting a second product including the hydrolyzed carbohydrates; and collecting a third product including the intact protein bodies.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: The University of AkronInventor: Lu-Kwang Ju
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Patent number: 11162978Abstract: A method of operating a scanning thermal microscopy probe to model thermal contact resistance at an interface between a sample and a tip of the probe includes providing a sample to be measured; providing a scanning thermal microscopy probe including a tip; contacting the sample to be measured with the tip; and determining, with a model, a thermal conductivity (k) of the sample from a probe current (I) of the scanning thermal microscopy probe.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: The University of AkronInventors: Jiahua Zhu, Yifan Li
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Patent number: 11161928Abstract: A star block copolymer and a thermoplastic elastomer including plurality of the star block copolymers and a method of making both is taught. The star block copolymers of the present invention include a core component having a styrene oligomer wherein arms emanate from the core component and the arms are poly(isobutylene-block-styrene) diblock copolymers.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: The University of AkronInventors: Joseph Kennedy, Turgut Nugay, Nihan Nugay
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Patent number: 11155668Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides a functionalized thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) containing bulk incorporated or surface-grafted quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC)s for contact-killing of a variety of microbes, where the QACs are on the surface of TPU to provide a sterile surface material that prevents bacteria commonly involved in device-associated infections (DAIs) from proliferating. The functionalized TPUs of the present invention can be formed into a wide variety of 3-dimensional shapes, such as catheters, medical tubing, laryngeal or tracheal stents, sutures, prosthetics, wound dressings, and/or a coating for medical devices and contains the residue of either a QAC containing diol monomer or an alkene functional diol monomer, which then allows the TPU to be functionalized with a QAC containing disulfide or free thiol compound, to form a quaternary ammonium functionalized thermoplastic polyurethane compound having antimicrobial properties for use in medical devices.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignees: The University of Akron, Cook Medical Technologies, LLCInventors: Matthew L. Becker, Zachary K. Zander, Sean Chambers, Alec Cerchiari, Willie C. McRoy, Jr.
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Patent number: 11142596Abstract: A polyisobutylene-based polymer network comprising the thiol-ene reaction product of at least two thiol-terminated polyisobutylene precursor polymers and at least one multi-functional allyl-containing precursor moiety or polymer in the presence of light or heat. The at least two thiol-terminated polyisobutylene precursor polymers have at least two thiol end groups. When each polyisobutylene precursor polymer has only two thiol end groups then the allyl-containing precursor moiety or polymer has at least three functional groups, and wherein when the allyl-containing precursor moiety or polymer has two functional groups then each polyisobutylene precursor polymer has at least three thiol end groups.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: The University of AkronInventors: Joseph Kennedy, Turgut Nugay, Nihan Nugay
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Patent number: 11146125Abstract: A permanent magnet machine includes a machine housing and a stator. The machine housing has an inner surface. The stator is disposed within the machine housing. The stator has a stator core having an exterior surface. At least one of the inner surface and the exterior surface defines a discontinuous region that is arranged to minimize points of contact between the inner surface and the exterior surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignees: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, The University of AkronInventors: Kenneth Webber, Delynn Streng, Iftekhar Hasan, Yilmaz Sozer, Alejandro J. Pina Ortega, Jeffrey T. Klass, Mohammed R. Islam
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Publication number: 20210314502Abstract: A multi-purpose imaging and display system includes a display; a detector coupled to the display and having a field of view; and a filter communicating with the detector. The field of view is imaged by the detector through the filter, the filter configured to be sensitive to a first frequency spectrum, so the detector displays only objects within the field of view on the detector that emit one or more frequencies within the first frequency spectrum. The detector and filter can work together in different operational states or modes for acquiring image data of a target object under investigation. A computing device can be included to process acquired image data, and communication interfaces can be employed to achieve networking of multiple systems. A peripheral interface allows a plurality of peripheral devices to be selectively added to tailor the data acquisition and display capabilities of the imaging and display system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Applicant: The University of AkronInventor: Yang Liu
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Patent number: 11116211Abstract: A functionalized polyurethane polymer is provided, the polymer defined by the formula where each R? is independently derived from a diisocyanate, where each R? represents the soft segment of the polymer, where n is the number of repeat units within the soft segment of the polymer, where m is the number of repeating mer units in the polymer, where each E is a pendant-functionalized amide unit chain extender, wherein the nitrogen atom of the amide group is part of the polymer backbone. A method for preparing the polymer is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: The University of AkronInventors: Abraham Joy, Chao Peng, Zhuoran Li, Nicholas Nun, Apoorva Vishwakarma
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Patent number: 11103613Abstract: In various aspects, the present invention provides a degradable and resorbable novel phosphate functionalized amino acid-based poly(ester urea) adhesive and related methods for its synthesis and use. These adhesives are formed from phosphate functionalized PEU polymers and copolymers crosslinked using one or more divalent metal crosslinking agents. The phosphate functionalized amino acid-based poly(ester urea) adhesives of various embodiments of the present invention have been found particularly effective in bonding bone to either bone or metal and have demonstrated adhesive strengths on bone samples that were significant and comparable to commercially available poly(methyl methacrylate) bone cement.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: The University of AkronInventors: Matthew Becker, Vrushali Dinkar Bhagat
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Patent number: 11084952Abstract: A coating composition is described that has good film forming and blocking properties in a composition that also has low or no VOCs. The coating compositions herein include functionalized urethane (meth)acrylate polymers that allow better film formation and particle coalescence while maintaining the low or no VOC levels. In one aspect, the coating compositions include functionalized polymers with a higher glass transition temperature (Tg) to aid in achieving good block resistance but a low minimum film forming temperature (MFFT) to achieve good particle coalescence and film formation all while being substantially free of co-solvents, coalescent aid and/or plasticizers.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignees: SWIMC, LLC, The University of AkronInventors: Mark Soucek, Anisa Cobaj, Brian Makowski
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Patent number: 11066316Abstract: A method for treating an oil-containing medium including oil or grease or both oil and grease includes the steps of combining algae with an oil-containing medium and allowing the algae to engulf or uptake at least a portion of the oil or grease in the oil-containing medium. A mixture for treating oil or grease or both oil and grease includes an oil-containing medium including oil or grease or both oil and grease and phagotrophic algae that engulf or uptake at least a portion of the oil or grease in the oil-containing medium.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2014Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: The University of AkronInventors: Lu-Kwang Ju, Majid Hosseini
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Patent number: 11069894Abstract: An electrochemical storage device including a conductive material and an electrochemical storage device material held together by a covalently crosslinked binder matrix. A method of forming an electrode for an electrochemical storage device, the method including the steps of: mixing electrochemical storage device material, conductive material, linear polymer, and crosslinker with one or more solvents, the resultant mixture forming an electrode slurry, crosslinking the linear polymer with the crosslinker to thereby create a covalently crosslinked polymer network of the polymer and crosslinker, the crosslinked polymer network physically or chemically binding together the electrochemical storage device material and the conductive material.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2016Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: The University of AkronInventors: Yu Zhu, Feng Zou
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Publication number: 20210214613Abstract: An ionic liquid crystal elastomer composition includes a liquid crystal elastomer; and an ionic liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2021Publication date: July 15, 2021Applicants: Kent State University, The University of AkronInventors: Antal Jákli, Chenrun Feng, Chathuranga Prageeth Hemantha Rajapaksha, Vikash Kaphle, Thein Kyu