Patents Assigned to The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
  • Patent number: 12279814
    Abstract: An end effector assembly for an optical surgical instrument includes a jaw member and a plurality of optical elements positioned within a cavity of the jaw member. The jaw member has a tissue contacting surface. The jaw member has a proximal portion that is configured to secure a fiber optic cable thereto such that a distal end of the fiber optical cable extends into the cavity. The plurality of optical elements are arranged in a staircase-like manner that rises towards the tissue contacting surface as the plurality of optical elements extends distally within the cavity. The plurality of optical elements is configured to direct a beam of light exiting the fiber optic cable towards the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignees: Covidien LP, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: William H. Nau, Jr., Eric R. Larson, Duane E. Kerr, Nathaniel M. Fried, Thomas C. Hutchens, Thomas W. Meiser, Luke A. Hardy
  • Patent number: 12258545
    Abstract: A microalgae curtain wall includes photobioreactors, an interior glass panel, an exterior glass panel, and transoms. The photobioreactors are adapted to receive sunlight and carbon dioxide to grow microalgae received therein. The exterior glass panel is offset from the interior glass panel forming a gap therebetween. The transoms hold the interior glass panel and the exterior glass panel therebetween. The transoms suspend the photobioreactors in the gap and between the interior glass panel and the exterior glass panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
    Inventor: Kyoung Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 12199441
    Abstract: An example apparatus for controlling one or more inverters is provided herein. In some embodiments, the apparatus for controlling one or more inverters may include one or more controllers. In some embodiments, each of the one or more inverters is associated with at least one power source. In some embodiments, each of the one or more controllers may configured to provide droop control, voltage magnitude control, phase control, frequency control and inertia control for an associated inverter of the one or more inverters. In some embodiments, each of the one or more controllers comprises a voltage control loop, a virtual inertia control loop, and a droop control loop enabling the power supplies to sync with a power grid and/or other power supplies when the power supply is disconnected from the power grid and/or other power supplies and/or connected to a power supply to the power grid and/or other power supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Madhav Manjrekar, Prithwiraj Roy Chowdhury
  • Publication number: 20240393526
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of and systems for creating an anti reflection structure surface (ARSS) on a fiber optic tip, as well as fiber optic tips themselves. A representative method can comprise providing a fiber optic having a first tip at a first end of the fiber optic and a second tip at a second end of the fiber optic opposite the first end of the fiber optic, each of the first and second tip having an end face; disposing a layer of masking material on a surface of the end face of one of the fiber optic tips; exposing the layer of masking material to a laser to form one or more metal islands of the surface of the fiber optic tip; and etching the surface to provide one or more anti reflection structures on the surface of the fiber optic tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Applicant: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Thomas Clifton Hutchens, Ishwar D. Aggarwal, Benjamin A. Vaca
  • Patent number: 12128394
    Abstract: In one aspect, separation media are described herein operable for removing one or more water contaminants, including NOM, fluorinated chemicals, and/or derivatives thereof. Briefly, a separation medium comprises a silica-containing granular support; and an oligomeric stationary phase forming a film on individual grains of the granular support. In some embodiments, the oligomeric stationary phase comprises oligomeric chains covalently bound to the individual grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Jordan Poler, James E. Amburgey, Abhispa Sahu, Tim B. Eldred
  • Patent number: 12128250
    Abstract: A radiation treatment planning system can include a machine learning system that receives patient data, including an image scan (e.g., CT scan) and contour(s), a physician prescription, including planning target and dose, and device (radiation beam) data and outputs predicted fluence maps. The machine learning system includes at least two stages, where a stage of the at least two stages includes converting image scans from the patient data to projection images. A treatment planning system can receive the predicted fluence maps and generates treatment plans without performing inverse optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignees: DUKE UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Qingrong Wu, Yaorong Ge, Fang-Fang Yin, Qiuwen Wu, Chunhao Wang, Yang Sheng, Xinyi Li, Wentao Wang
  • Patent number: 11982693
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of the present disclosure integrate a non-intrusive current sensor in the form of a current mismatch sensor into a power module having paralleled semiconductor structures or components. The current mismatch can be detected by the current sensor by monitoring a magnetic flux density between the paralleled components or devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Babak Parkhideh, Andreas Lauer
  • Patent number: 11984759
    Abstract: Methods of operating a grid ancillary service with an uninterruptible power supply (GAUPS) device are provided. A method of operating a GAUPS device includes controlling a switch of the GAUPS device in response to a signal that is generated by the switch, to control efficiency of an inverter and quality of power supplied to a load via the inverter. The switch is coupled between the inverter and the load. Related systems and devices are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Sukumar Kamalasadan, Robin Bisht, Sherif Abdelrazek
  • Patent number: 11961392
    Abstract: An edge device for monitoring safety of a highway work zone is disclosed. The edge device includes at least one camera, one or more processors, and memory. The at least one camera is configured to capture images in sequence. The memory stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to: perform vehicle detection over an input of a data stream of the images, from the at least one camera, utilizing just-in-time processing; determine a level of safety by tracking vehicles detected and performing a time sequence analysis of the vehicles; and send a signal to one or more assisted reality devices indicating the level of safety thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
    Inventors: Hamed Tabkhivayghan, Omidreza Shoghli
  • Patent number: 11849722
    Abstract: Methods and compositions of storing a biological material are described herein. In some embodiments, these methods provide one or more advantages over current methods. For example, methods described herein can be used to prepare and process biological materials for storage at elevated temperatures. In one aspect, a method of storing a biological material comprises providing a preservation composition and exposing the preservation composition to electromagnetic radiation to form an amorphous solid matrix containing the biological material. In some embodiments, the method further comprises monitoring temperature of the preservation composition during the exposure to the electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE NC
    Inventors: Susan Trammell, Gloria Elliott, Madison Young
  • Patent number: 11824344
    Abstract: In preferred embodiments, a short circuit protection system for a wide-band gap power electronics converter composed of multiple half-bridge legs is presented. The main approaches of the system are a single point of monitoring (SPM) for multiple switching legs, and non-invasive implementation and fast speed of the short circuit current detection. Ultra-high frequency (UHF) AC current, tens or hundreds of MHz, flowing through the DC-link capacitors represents the short circuit current occurred at the multiple switching legs. To capture the UHF AC current, a non-invasive MHz bandwidth magnetic current sensor is applied to the PCB conduction path of the converter. In this digest, simulation results of the short circuit current representation through the DC-link network and the magnetic field distribution in PCB layout for the selection of the proper location of the detection, and experimental results showing the UHF AC current sensing performance are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
    Inventors: Babak Parkhideh, Chondon Roy
  • Publication number: 20230049618
    Abstract: Provided are antibodies, and fragments and derivatives thereof, particularly humanized derivatives thereof, which bind to tumor antigens. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules encoding chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that bind to tumor antigens, polypeptides and CARs encoded by the nucleic acid molecules, vectors and host cells that include the nucleic acid molecules, methods of making the same, and methods for using the same to generate a persisting population of genetically engineered T cells in a subject, expanding a population of genetically engineered T cells in a subject, modulating the amount of cytokine secreted by a T cell, reducing the amount of activation-induced calcium influx into a T cell, providing an anti-tumor immunity to a subject, treating a mammal having a MUC1-associated disease or disorder, stimulating a T cell-mediated immune response to a target cell population or tissue in a subject, and imaging a MUC1-associated tumor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicants: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, OncoTAb, Inc.
    Inventors: Pinku Mukherjee, Jordon Wang, Kexin Huang, Yan He
  • Patent number: 11554181
    Abstract: Provided are antibodies, and fragments, derivatives, and nanoparticle conjugates thereof, particularly humanized derivatives thereof, which bind to tumor antigens. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules encoding chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that bind to tumor antigens, polypeptides and CARs encoded by the nucleic acid molecules, vectors and host cells that include the nucleic acid molecules, methods of making the same, and methods for using the same to generate a persisting population of genetically engineered T cells in a subject, expanding a population of genetically engineered T cells in a subject, modulating the amount of cytokine secreted by a T cell, reducing the amount of activation-induced calcium influx into a T cell, providing an anti-tumor immunity to a subject, treating a mammal having a MUC1-associated disease or disorder, stimulating a T cell-mediated immune response to a target cell population or tissue in a subject, and imaging a MUC1-associated tumor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignees: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, OncoTab, Inc.
    Inventors: Pinku Mukherjee, Jordon Wang, Kexin Huang, Yan He
  • Patent number: 11542181
    Abstract: In one aspect, separation media are described herein operable for removing one or more water contaminants including NOM and derivatives thereof. Briefly, a separation medium includes a nanoparticle support and an oligomeric stationary phase forming a film on individual nanoparticles of the support, the film having thickness of 1 to 100 nm. In some embodiments, oligomeric chains of the stationary phase are covalently bonded to the individual nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Jordan Poler, James E. Amburgey, Billy R. Johnson, Amir Y. Alansari, Timothy Eldred
  • Patent number: 11443842
    Abstract: Systems and methods for efficient and automatic determination of radiation beam configurations for patient-specific radiation therapy planning are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes receiving data based on patient information and geometric characterization of one or more organs at risk proximate to a target volume of a patient. The method includes determining automatically one or more radiation treatment beam configuration sets. Further, the method includes presenting the determined one or more radiation beam configuration sets via a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: Duke University, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Qingrong Jackie Wu, Yaorong Ge, Fang-Fang Yin, Lulin Yuan
  • Publication number: 20220241614
    Abstract: A radiation treatment planning system can include a machine learning system that receives patient data, including an image scan (e.g., CT scan) and contour(s), a physician prescription, including planning target and dose, and device (radiation beam) data and outputs predicted fluence maps. The machine learning system includes at least two stages, where a stage of the at least two stages includes converting image scans from the patient data to projection images. A treatment planning system can receive the predicted fluence maps and generates treatment plans without performing inverse optimization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Qingrong Wu, Yaorong Ge, Fang-Fang Yin, Qiuwen Wu, Chunhao Wang, Yang Sheng, Xinyi Li, Wentao Wang
  • Patent number: 11358004
    Abstract: Systems and methods for radiation treatment planning based on a model of planning strategies knowledge including treatment states and treatment actions are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes receiving geometric characterization data of a target volume for radiation treatment of a patient. The method also includes receiving geometric characterization data of at least one organ at risk proximate the target volume. Further, the method includes constructing a model for applying a predetermined radiation dosage to the target volume based on the received data. The model includes treatment states and associated treatment actions selectable to implement at each state. The method includes presenting information about at least one treatment state, the treatment actions associated with the at least one treatment state, and the rewards associated with the treatment actions associated with the at least one treatment state. The method also includes reconstructing the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignees: Duke University, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Qingrong Wu, Yaorong Ge, FangFang Yin, Chunhao Wang, Jiahan Zhang, Manisha Palta, Yang Sheng
  • Patent number: 11292749
    Abstract: In one aspect, composite carbide compositions are described herein which can facilitate the efficient and/or economical manufacture of articles comprising SiC. Briefly, a composite carbide composition comprises silicon carbide (SiC) particles and a silica interparticle phase covalently bonded to the SiC particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Ahmed El-Ghannam, Tony Schmitz
  • Patent number: 11285242
    Abstract: Silicon carbide (SiC) is an inert material with excellent biocompatibility properties. The biocompatibility is associated with the chemical inertness of the material. Tissue response to inert material is the formation of thin fibrous capsule. In some embodiments described herein, the conversion of SiC from inert material to bioactive material capable of stimulating cell function and making direct bond with tissue is described and the body response to bioactive materials is direct binding without any fibrous capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventor: Ahmed El-Ghannam
  • Patent number: 11218148
    Abstract: Various examples are provided related to diode clamped solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs). Their configuration allows operation of the SSCB without dynamic voltage balancing issues. In one example, a diode clamped SSCB includes source-side switches and line-side switches connected between a DC source connection and a line-side connection. Clamping capacitors are connected at a common connection point between the source-side and line side switches and source-side and line-side clamping diodes are connected between the source-side switches and line-side switches and the clamping capacitors. Sequential switching of the source-side switches or line-side switches can avoid dynamic voltage balancing issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: University of North Carolina Charlotte
    Inventors: Madhav Manjrekar, Ehab H. Shoubaki, Tiancan Pang