Patents Assigned to Trustees of the Tufts College
  • Patent number: 11957657
    Abstract: Disclosed are combination therapies including administration of I-DASH inhibitors and PGE2 antagonists, and the use of such therapies in the treatment of cell proliferative diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: William W. Bachovchin, Hung-sen Lai, Wengen Wu
  • Patent number: 11944941
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nanoporous membrane including a porous support layer and a selective layer. The selective layer, being deposited on a surface of the porous support layer, has an effective pore size smaller than that of the porous support layer and contains an array of polymeric nanoparticles that have on their surfaces a plurality of —C(?O)XR groups. Also disclosed are methods of fabricating a nanoporous membrane described above and using the nanoporous membrane for separating a mixture that contains two solutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Ayse Asatekin, Ilin Sadeghi
  • Patent number: 11948093
    Abstract: Techniques for generating and managing, including simulating and training, deep tensor neural networks are presented. A deep tensor neural network comprises a graph of nodes connected via weighted edges. A network management component (NMC) extracts features from tensor-formatted input data based on tensor-formatted parameters. NMC evolves tensor-formatted input data based on a defined tensor-tensor layer evolution rule, the network generating output data based on evolution of the tensor-formatted input data. The network is activated by non-linear activation functions, wherein the weighted edges and non-linear activation functions operate, based on tensor-tensor functions, to evolve tensor-formatted input data. NMC trains the network based on tensor-formatted training data, comparing output training data output from the network to simulated output data, based on a defined loss function, to determine an update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE, RAMOT AT TEL-AVIV UNIVERSITY LTD.
    Inventors: Lior Horesh, Elizabeth Newman, Misha E. Kilmer, Haim Avron
  • Patent number: 11932968
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and a method for automated extraction of silk fibroin from silk cocoons. The silk extraction system can include a boiling tank, a rinsing tank, and a rinse bowl attached to a robotic arm. The rinse bowl has a porous bottom surface adapted to retain an extracted silk fibroin. The robotic arm can move the rinse bowl between the boiling tank and the rinsing tank for separate stages of processing. A silk processing algorithm is executed by a processor to automate the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: Trustees of Tufts College, Canon Virginia, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Iuchi, Thomas Wheeless, Samuele Battah, Fiorenzo G. Omenetto
  • Publication number: 20240083999
    Abstract: Described herein are single domain VHH polypeptides (antibodies) that bind to and/or neutralize the cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6), in particular, human IL-6 (hIL-6). Anti-hIL-6 VHH polypeptide products, methods, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits are provided for treating a subject having or at risk of having a disease, disorder, pathology, or infection associated with or induced by IL-6 or dysfunctional IL-6 signaling. The methods, compositions and kits include a single domain, anti-hIL-6 VHH polypeptide (antibody), or hIL-6 binding portion thereof, that specifically binds to and/or neutralizes IL-6 and treats or prevents IL-6-induced illnesses and diseases. The anti-hIL-6 VHHs, or hIL-6 binding portion thereof, may be recombinantly produced and expressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicants: Trustees of Tufts College, Vicero, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles B. SHOEMAKER, Vikram KANSRA
  • Publication number: 20240062530
    Abstract: A system for training a neural network includes a neural network configured to receive a training input in an image space and produce an enhanced image. The system further includes an error signal generator configured to compare the enhanced image to a ground truth and generate an error signal that is communicated back to the neural network to train the neural network. Additionally, the system includes a neural input enhancer configured to modify the training input in response to receiving at least one of an output from the neural network or the error signal. Modifying the training input improves one of an efficiency or a training result of the neural network beyond the communication of the error signal to only the neural network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicants: Trustees of Tufts College, Research Foundation of the City University of New York
    Inventors: Karen A. Panetta, Shreyas Kamath Kalasa Mohandas, Shishir Paramathma Rao, Srijith Rajeev, Rahul Rajendran, Sos S. Agaian
  • Publication number: 20240055101
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to the artificial intelligence (AI) automatic methods, computer program product, and systems and methodology for dietary and medical treatment planning, food waste estimation, analyzing three-dimensional food image construction, measurement, nutrient estimation, nutritional assessment, evaluation, prediction and management. More particularly, the embodiments described herein relate to utilizing an AI-based algorithm that can automatically, detect food items from images acquired by cameras for dietary assessment, dietary planning, and for estimating food waste. In one aspect, the method may include food calorie estimation techniques using machine learning and computer vision techniques for dietary assessment. In another aspect, the tools may apply to personalized nutrition. The method may also include the automation of nutrition planning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicants: Trustees of Tufts College, Research Foundation of the City University of New York
    Inventors: Karen A. Panetta, Shishir Paramathma Rao, Shreyas Kamath Kalasa Mohandas, Rahul Rajendran, Srijith Rajeev, Erin Hennessy, Christina Economos, Eleanor Tate Shonkoff, Sos S. Agaian
  • Patent number: 11896937
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing a filtration membrane. The method includes providing a copolymer solution by dissolving a statistical copolymer in a mixture of a co-solvent and a first organic solvent, coating the copolymer solution onto a porous support layer to form a polymeric layer thereon, coagulating the polymeric layer on top of the support layer to form a thin film composite membrane, and immersing the thin film composite membrane into a water bath to obtain a filtration membrane. Also disclosed are a filtration membrane prepared by the method, and a process of filtering a liquid using the filtration membrane thus prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Prity Bengani-Lutz, Ayse Asatekin Alexiou
  • Publication number: 20240046612
    Abstract: A method comprising: obtaining a plurality of data sets, each of the plurality of data sets being generated, at least in part, by using by a different one of a plurality of sensors, each of a plurality of sensors including a wearable sensor that is worn by a user or a sensor that is positioned at a same location as the user; combining the plurality of data sets to produce a fused data set; processing the fused data set to identify at least one of a performance of the user in completing a task, a cognitive load of the user, and/or one or more objects that are positioned at the same location as the user; and outputting an indication of a state of the user based on an outcome of the processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicants: Trustees of Tufts College, Research Foundation of the City University of New York
    Inventors: Karen A. Panetta, Sos S. Agaian, Aruna Ramesh, Shishir Paramathma Rao, Shreyas Kamath Kalasa Mohandas, Srijith Rajeev, Rahul Rajendran
  • Patent number: 11885929
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a composition comprising a hierarchical opal that exhibits structural color when exposed to incident electromagnetic radiation. The hierarchical opal comprises nanoscale periodic cavities separated by a lattice constant, and includes a surface having grooves. The grooves may form a diffractive optical element on the surface of the hierarchical opal, such as a diffuser, a diffraction grating, a beamsplitter, a beam displacement opic, a Fresnel lens, and a micro lens, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventor: Fiorenzo G. Omenetto
  • Patent number: 11883140
    Abstract: A method is directed to continuously, non-invasively, and directly measuring blood pressure, and includes providing a calibrated measurement device having a blood-flow control balloon and a sensor array. The method further includes placing the sensor array in a non-invasive manner over the surface of a patch of skin connected to an artery by adjoining soft tissues and inflating the blood-flow control balloon with a controlled amount of pressure. In response to the inflating of the blood-flow control balloon, changes in the artery geometry and forces are detected, via the sensor array, during a heartbeat cycle. The changes correspond to spatio-temporal signals from the artery or in the adjoining soft tissues. The spatio-temporal signals are measured and processed, via a controller, to determine blood-pressure parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: Trustees of Tufts College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Mandayam A. Srinivasan, Mohan Thanikachalam, Edward Howard Adelson, Abhijit Biswas
  • Patent number: 11880463
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides systems and methods for detecting malware, including receiving thermal images of an integrated circuit, and generating a power density profile using at least one of the thermal images. The present disclosure further includes comparing the power density profile to an expected power density profile of the integrated circuit, and determining, based on the comparison, if the integrated circuit is in an abnormal operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignees: Trustees of Tufts College, Drexel University
    Inventors: Mark Hempstead, David Werner, Eric Miller, Kyle Juretus, Ioannis Savadis
  • Patent number: 11874279
    Abstract: Arrays of single molecules and methods of producing an array of single molecules are described. Arrays with defined volumes between 10 attoliters and 50 picoliters enable single molecule detection and quantitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: David R. Walt, David M. Rissin
  • Patent number: 11861511
    Abstract: Systems and methods may ethically evaluate intelligent systems operating in a real-world environment. The systems and methods may generate a clone of the intelligent system, and test the clone in a simulation environment. If the clone passes the testing, the systems and methods may permit the intelligent system to continue operating in the real-world environment. If the clone fails the testing, the systems and methods may override the intelligent system, such as disabling the intelligent system and assuming control in the real-world environment. The systems and methods may be implemented at a hardware level of a data processing device to prevent interference with the systems and methods by the intelligent system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Matthias J. Scheutz, Thomas H. Arnold
  • Publication number: 20230390409
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are therapeutic conjugates having an extended circulating serum half-life. The therapeutic conjugates comprise a therapeutic moiety linked to a half-life extension moiety via a fibroblast activation protein, alpha (FAP?)-cleavable linker. Methods of using the therapeutic conjugates are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicants: Avacta Life Sciences Limited, Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Amrik Basran, Matthew P. Vincent, Emma Jenkins, Estelle Adam, William Bachovchin
  • Patent number: 11834692
    Abstract: Disclosed are components and methods for preparing tagatose from galactose via isomerization reactions using engineered components. The engineered components include microbial cells and methods for preparing microbial cells that have been engineered to catalyze isomerization of galactose to tagatose, in which the microbial cells express cytoplasmically an exogenous L-arabinose isomerase enzyme. The disclosed microbial cells may further be modified for use in methods for preparing tagatose from galactose via isomerization reactions where the microbial cells are treated with reagents that permeabilize the cells. The disclosed methods enable isomerization reactions of galactose to tagatose at relatively high rates, high conversions, and elevated temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Nikhil U. Nair, Josef R. Bober
  • Patent number: 11833272
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides transparent, elastic silk hydrogels for applications, including corneal reshaping to restore visual acuity and photolithography. The present disclosure also provides methods of photocrosslinking silk fibroin protein using riboflavin as a photoinitiator and exposing such riboflavin doped silk fibroin to light resulting in the formation of a transparent, elastic hydrogel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Fiorenzo G. Omenetto, Matthew B. Applegate, David L. Kaplan
  • Publication number: 20230381330
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are therapeutic conjugates having an extended circulating serum half-life. The therapeutic conjugates comprise a drug moiety linked to a half-life extension moiety via an enzyme-cleavable linker. Methods of using the therapeutic conjugates are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicants: Avacta Life Sciences Limited, Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Amrik Basran, Matthew P. Vincent, Emma Jenkins, Estelle Adam, William Bachovchin
  • Patent number: 11824158
    Abstract: A gel electrolyte composite containing a nonvolatile electrolyte and a zwitterionic polymer scaffold in which the non-volatile electrolyte is a non-lithium-containing ionic liquid, a sodium-containing ionic liquid, or a lithium-containing ionic liquid and the zwitterionic polymer scaffold is formed from one or more zwitterionic monomers only or both one or more zwitterionic monomers and one or more non-zwitterionic monomers. The zwitterionic polymer scaffold contains 8 mol % or higher of zwitterions relative to the total content of the gel electrolyte composite when the nonvolatile electrolyte is a non-lithium-containing ionic liquid, and contains 1 mol % or higher of zwitterions relative to the total content of the gel electrolyte composite when the nonvolatile electrolyte is a sodium-containing ionic liquid or a lithium-containing ionic liquid. Also disclosed are a method of preparing the above-described gel electrolyte composite and an electrochemical energy storage device containing same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Anthony J. D'Angelo, Morgan Taylor, Matthew Panzer, Huan Qin
  • Patent number: 11796564
    Abstract: A method comprises using an atomic-force microscope, acquiring a set of images associated with surfaces, and, using a machine-learning algorithm applied to the images, classifying the surfaces. As a particular example, the classification can be done in a way that relies on surface parameters derived from the images rather than using the images directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Igor Sokolov, Milos Miljkovic