Patents Assigned to University of Houston System
  • Publication number: 20200124569
    Abstract: A biosensor may provide a magnetoresistive (MR) film comprising a nonmagnetic layer may be sandwiched between the two ferromagnetic layers. The MR film may be positioned on a substrate, where the edges of the MR film are in contact with leads. Additionally, the leads may be in contact with pads. The sensors may provide quasi-digital readout that enable greatly enhanced sensitivity. In some embodiments, biosensors may be arranged as array of sensors. The array of sensors may be arranged as a symmetric or asymmetric N1×N2 array, where N1 and N2 are integers, N1 represents the number of sensors linked together in series, and N2 represents the number of sensor sets in parallel, where each sensor set may comprise one or more sensors. Further, the array of sensors may be coupled to a voltmeter, which may be a single voltmeter in some cases that allows the sensors to all be probed simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Dmitri Litvinov, Long Chang, Richard Willson
  • Patent number: 10607753
    Abstract: A method and composition for doped HTS tapes having directional flux pinning and critical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: University of Houston System, SuperPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkat Selvamanickam, Yimin Chen
  • Patent number: 10589316
    Abstract: A process of fabricating the waterproof coating may include selecting a substrate, utilizing a sol-gel comprising a silane or silane derivative and metal oxide precursor to coat the substrate, and optionally coating the substrate with a hydrophobic chemical agent and/or other chemical agents to create a surface with nanoscopic or microscopic features. The process may utilize an all solution process or controlled environment for fabricating self-cleaning and waterproof coating that prevent wetting or staining of a substrate, or may utilize a controlled environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Seamus Curran, Kang-Shyang Liao, Nigel Alley, Amrita Haldar, Alexander Wang, Renat Tatarin
  • Patent number: 10593040
    Abstract: Provided herein are digital-implemented methods for performing simultaneous analyses on an object on the skin of an animal body, for example, a human, to classify the object as a skin cancer, an ulcer or neither. The analyses are performed simultaneously on a hand-held imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: University of Houston System
    Inventor: George Zouridakis
  • Publication number: 20200077881
    Abstract: An excitation force (internal or external) and phase-sensitive optical coherence elastography (OCE) system, used in conjunction with a data analyzing algorithm, is capable of measuring and quantifying biomechanical parameters of tissues in situ and in vivo. The method was approbated and demonstrated on an example of the system that combines a pulsed ultrasound system capable of producing an acoustic radiation force on the crystalline lens surface and a phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for measuring the lens displacement caused by the acoustic radiation force. The method allows noninvasive and nondestructive quantification of tissue mechanical properties. The noninvasive measurement method also utilizes phase-stabilized swept source optical coherence elastography (PhS-SSOCE) to distinguish between tissue stiffness, such as that attributable to disease, and effects on measured stiffness that result from external factors, such as pressure applied to the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Kirill V. Larin, Jiasong Li, Manmohan Singh, Chen Wu, Salavat Aglyamov
  • Patent number: 10577677
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering rare earth metals from rare earth metal-containing magnets includes fragmenting or commutating the magnets, contacting the commutated magnets with a mixture of low molecular weight carboxylic acids such as formic acid and water, and removing or extracting non-rare earth metal carboxylate phases such as an iron carboxylate (formate) phase from a rare earth metal carboxylate (formate) phase, using a solvent such as water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Allan J. Jacobson, Pradeep Samarasekere
  • Publication number: 20200063255
    Abstract: A system and method for depositing a coating may comprise a coating chemical reactor, surface activation component, and a deposition component. A target surface may be prepared for deposition with the surface activation component. The coating chemical reactor may comprise a coating chemical dispenser and a coating chemical verifier that prepares the coating chemical for deposition. The coating chemical verifier may utilize an optical excitation source and at least one optical detector, wherein chemical substances are identified by unique signatures composed of binary code. The coating chemical may be received by the deposition component to depositing the coating chemical on the target surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Seamus Curran, Nigel Alley, Kang-Shyang Liao, Amrita Haldar
  • Publication number: 20200030303
    Abstract: Identified compounds demonstrate protein kinase inhibitory activity and inhibition of dependent cell signaling pathways, such as NOD2 cell signaling. More specifically, the compounds are demonstrated to inhibit receptor interacting kinase 2 (RIPK2) and/or Activin-like kinase 2 (ALK2). Compounds that are either dual RIPK2/ALK2 inhibitors or that preferentially inhibit RIPK2 or ALK2 could provide therapeutic benefit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM, TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE
    Inventors: Gregory Cuny, Chalada Suebsuwong, Alexei Degterev
  • Publication number: 20200033266
    Abstract: Imaging systems and methods, referred to herein as surface ablation lathe tomography (SALT), may be capable of providing whole organ tomography to provide 3D imaging. The system may provide a UV source that excites a sample, and a camera may capture imaging of fluorescent emission cause by the excitation. The tissue sample may be treated or stained with an imaging agent, such as fluorescent markers with fluorescently-tagged antibodies. The sample may also be infused with and/or embedded in paraffin wax. The tissue sample embedded in paraffin may be placed on a rotating mechanism that rotates, while the UV source excites a desired region and the camera captures imaging of a thin surface layer or shell of the sample. The system may also provide an ablation mechanism, such as a microtome blade or lathe, to ablate surface of the sample during rotation to allow imaging of subsequent layers of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: David Mayerich, Jason Eriksen
  • Patent number: 10544152
    Abstract: The invention relates to the novel analogs of selective 5HT2CR agonist WAY163909, the preparation, and the use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignees: The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, University of Houston System
    Inventors: Kathryn A. Cunningham, Scott R. Gilbertson
  • Patent number: 10547076
    Abstract: Electrochemical devices including solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) or thin film solid oxide fuel cells (TFSOFCs) having a porous metallic anode with nanoporous surface structure enabling the deposition of a dense, impermeable thin film electrolyte layer on the porous anode. Fabricating methods include forming a mixture of nanopowder metallic agents and nanopowder proppant that are sintered, smoothed and etched to form the nanoporous surface structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Rabi Ebrahim, Mukhtar Yeleuov, Alex Ignatiev
  • Publication number: 20200024701
    Abstract: Systems and methods of manufacturing a thermoelectric, high performance material by using ball-milling and hot pressing materials according to various formulas, where some formulas substitute a different element for part of one of the elements in the formula, in order to obtain a figure of merit (ZT) suitable for thermoelectric applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Zhifeng Ren, Huaizhou Zhao, Zhongjia Tang, Jiehe Sui, Yucheng Lan, Qing Jie
  • Publication number: 20200017954
    Abstract: A nanoporous metal can be formed by projecting laser patterns using a spatial light modulator (SLM) onto a gold/silver alloy film immersed in diluted nitric acid solutions. Heat accumulation induced by the photothermal effect enables localized dealloying in dilute nitric acid. NPG micropatterns can be formed at the irradiated spots while the surrounding alloy remains intact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Wei-Chuan SHIH, Fusheng ZHAO, Jingting LI
  • Patent number: 10533777
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein are directed towards the fabrication of a solar absorber comprising an IR reflector layer deposited on a substrate; a first cermet layer deposited in contact with the IR reflector layer; a second cermet layer deposited in contact with the first cermet layer; a first anti-reflection coating layer deposited in contact with the second cermet layer; a second anti-reflection coating layer deposited in contact with the first anti-reflection coating layer. A sputtering process may be used to deposit some or all of the layers, and the YSZ layers in each cermet layer may be deposited with a tuned partial oxygen pressure in order to form a layer that is oxygen-deficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Zhifeng Ren, Feng Cao, Daniel Kraemer, Gang Chen
  • Publication number: 20200009163
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to compositions and methods requiring these compositions that may act to reduce the incidence and/or reoccurrence of kidney stones and/or other pathological calcification diseases, symptoms, or conditions. The compositions include a polyphosphate material, which may be method of treating pathological calcification. In some embodiments, the polyphosphate material included in the composition to be administered may be a linear tripolyphosphate material or a hexametaphosp hate material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Rimer, Bryan G. Alamani
  • Publication number: 20200011832
    Abstract: A method of directly measuring SO2 and other trace gases by configuring an electrochemical cell (ECC) sonde; and an ECC sonde pump inlet filter to remove ozone and other trace gases. Further, calibration and operation procedures for the SO2 and other trace gas ECC sondes are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: James FLYNN, Gary A. MORRIS
  • Patent number: 10522875
    Abstract: An improved lead acid battery (LAB) battery may provide high charge acceptance and may be suitable for a wide range of applications, including a variety of new applications. The new battery can sustain 67% of the maximum capacity even at a very high charging rate of IOC. This battery may decrease the use of lead in comparison to prior lead acid battery designs by up to 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Yan Yao, Yanliang Liang, Saman Gheytani, Yan Jing
  • Patent number: 10513521
    Abstract: The present invention provides bicyclic heteroaryl inhibitors of BMP signaling and compositions and methods for inhibiting BMP signaling. Exemplary compounds include those of Formula I: These compounds and compositions may be used to modulate cell growth, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis, and thus may be useful for treating diseases or conditions associated with BMP signaling, including inflammation, cardiovascular disease, hematological disease, cancer, and bone disorders, as well as for modulating cellular differentiation and/or proliferation. These compounds and compositions may also be used to reduce circulating levels of ApoB-100 or LDL and treat or prevent acquired or congenital hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipoproteinemia; diseases, disorders, or syndromes associated with defects in lipid absorption or metabolism; or diseases, disorders, or syndromes caused by hyperlipidemia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignees: The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc., University of Houston System, The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Arthur Lee, John C. McKew, Paresma R. Patel, Paul B. Yu, Agustin H. Mohedas, Philip E. Sanderson, Gregory D. Cuny, Wei Zheng, Xiuli Huang
  • Patent number: 10515782
    Abstract: A system and method for rapid atomic layer etching (ALET) including a pulsed plasma source, with a spiral coil electrode, a cooled Faraday shield, a counter electrode disposed at the top of the tube, a gas inlet and a reaction chamber including a substrate support and a boundary electrode. The method includes positioning an etchable substrate in a plasma etching chamber, forming a product layer on the surface of the substrate, removing a portion of the product layer by pulsing a plasma source, then repeating the steps of forming a product layer and removing a portion of the product layer to form an etched substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Vincent M. Donnelly, Demetre J. Economou
  • Publication number: 20190381301
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to a method of delivery of an active agent to a target tissue, in a subject in need thereof comprising positioning a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer to enable delivery of ultrasound energy to the target tissue. Such a method comprises energizing the high intensity focused ultrasound transducer; imaging at least a portion of the target tissue; and discontinuing delivery of ultrasound energy. Further, such a method may comprise administering the active agent to the subject under the conditions of thermal stimulation. In another embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a method of treating a tumor in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a therapeutic agent to the subject and providing thermal stimulation to the tumor. In some embodiments, there is provided a method for increasing the efficacy of a therapeutic agent in a target tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicants: University of Houston System, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital
    Inventors: Pei-Herng Hor, Raja Muthupillai, Jiming Zhang