Patents Assigned to University of North Carolina
  • Alpha-1-adrenergic receptor agonist therapy
    Patent number: 11213514
    Abstract: Presented herein, inter alia, are novel methods of treating heart diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Paul C. Simpson, Jr., Brian C. Jensen
  • Activatable CRISPR/CAS9 for spatial and temporal control of genome editing
    Patent number: 11214779
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a genetically encoded light- or chemically-activated Cas9 engineered through the site-specific installation of an activatable lysine amino acid. Such activatable Cas9 proteins can be used in CRISPR/Cas9 systems to control gene expression temporally, spatially, or both. Systems, methods, kits, and compositions for manipulation of sequences and/or activities of target sequences are provided. Also provided are methods of directing CRISPR complex formation in cells and methods for selecting specific cells by introducing precise mutations utilizing the CRISPR/Cas9 system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignees: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Alexander Deiters, James B. Hemphill, Aravind Asokan, Erin Borchardt
  • Methods, systems, and computer readable media for decoding video using rate sorted entropy coding
    Patent number: 11212531
    Abstract: According to one method, a method for decoding data using rate sorted entropy coding occurs at a video decoder implemented using at least one processor. The method comprises: receiving rate control information associated with a first bitstream; determining, using the rate control information, a maximum amount of bits available for a next symbol in the first bitstream; determining, using a symbol probability model and a first deterministic algorithm, an amount of bits for a least probable value of the next symbol; and determining that the next symbol is included in the first bitstream if the amount of bits for the least probable value of the next symbol is less than or equal to the maximum amount of bits available for the first bitstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
    Inventors: Ketan Dasharath Mayer-Patel, Aaron Joseph Smith
  • Methods and compositions for antibody-evading virus vectors
    Patent number: 11208438
    Abstract: The present invention provides AAV capsid proteins comprising a modification in the amino acid sequence and virus vectors comprising the modified AAV capsid protein. The invention also provides methods of administering the virus vectors and virus capsids of the invention to a cell or to a subject in vivo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignees: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Aravind Asokan, Mavis Agbandje-McKenna, Long Ping Victor Tse, Brittney Gurda
  • Chemoenzymatic synthesis of structurally homogeneous ultra-low molecular weight heparins
    Patent number: 11203772
    Abstract: Methods for preparing synthetic heparins are provided. Synthetic heparin compounds, including ultralow molecular weight heparin compounds are provided. Also provided are methods of chemoenzymatically synthesizing structurally homogeneous ultra-low molecular weight heparins. Heparin compounds provided herein can have anticoagulant activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Yongmei Xu, Jian Liu
  • Systems and methods for modeling neural architecture
    Patent number: 11200672
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for modeling neural architecture. Regions of interest of a brain of a subject can be identified based on image data characterizing the brain of the subject. the identified regions of interest can be mapped to a connectivity matrix. The connectivity matrix can be a weighted and undirected network. A multivariate transformation can be applied to the connectivity matrix to transform the connectivity matrix into a partial correlation matrix. The multivariate transformation can maintain a positive definite constraint for the connectivity matrix. The partial correlation matrix can be transformed into a neural model indicative of the connectivity matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: Ohio State Innovation Foundation, The Penn State Research Foundation, University of North Carolina, University of San Francisco
    Inventors: Skyler Cranmer, Bruce Desmarais, Shankar Bhamidi, James Wilson, Matthew Denny, Zhong-Lin Lu, Paul Stillman
  • Methods to generate gastrointestinal epithelial tissue constructs
    Patent number: 11193110
    Abstract: A method of making a live cell construct is carried out by: (a) providing a non-cellular support having a top surface and a bottom surface, (b) contacting live undifferentiated cells to the non-cellular support, and then (c) propagating a gastrointestinal epithelial cell monolayer on said top surface. In some embodiments, the live cells in the monolayer include: (i) undifferentiated cells (e.g., stem or progenitor cells); and (ii) optionally, but in some embodiments preferably, differentiated cells (e.g., enterocytes, Paneth cells, enteroendocrine cells, tuft cells, microcells, intra-epithelial lymphocytes, and/or goblet cells). Constructs formed by such methods and methods of using the same (e.g., in high through-put screening) are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Nancy Allbritton, Yuli Wang, Christopher Sims, Scott Magness, Scott Bultman
  • Generating descriptions of image relationships
    Patent number: 11195048
    Abstract: In implementations of generating descriptions of image relationships, a computing device implements a description system which receives a source digital image and a target digital image. The description system generates a source feature sequence from the source digital image and a target feature sequence from the target digital image. A visual relationship between the source digital image and the target digital image is determined by using cross-attention between the source feature sequence and the target feature sequence. The system generates a description of a visual transformation between the source digital image and the target digital image based on the visual relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignees: Adobe Inc., The University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Trung Huu Bui, Zhe Lin, Hao Tan, Franck Dernoncourt, Mohit Bansal
  • S-Nitrosothiol-mediated hyperbranched polyesters
    Patent number: 11186681
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to compositions comprising degradable polymers and methods of making degradable polymers. Specifically, the disclosed degradable polymers comprise a biodegradable polymer backbone, a nitric oxide linker moiety, and a nitric oxide molecule. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Mark Schoenfisch, Lei Yang, Yuan Lu
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EARLY DETECTION OF VIRAL DISEASES
    Publication number: 20210364517
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and systems for early detection of viral diseases, and more specifically to systems and methods for early detection of viral diseases that are capable of detecting very low viral loads, such as for example and not limitation, SARS-CoV-2 loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicants: The Penn State Research Foundation, The National Institute of Standards and Technology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
    Inventors: Vyacheslav V. ROTKIN, Ming ZHENG, Tetyana IGNATOVA, Daniel HAYES, Suresh KUCHIPUDI
  • System, fluidics cartridge, and methods for using actuated surface-attached posts for processing cells
    Patent number: 11179723
    Abstract: A cell processing system, fluidics cartridge, and methods for using actuated surface-attached posts for processing cells are disclosed. Particularly, the cell processing system includes a fluidics cartridge and a control instrument. The fluidics cartridge includes a cell processing chamber that has a micropost array therein, a sample reservoir and a wash reservoir that supply the cell processing chamber, and a waste reservoir and an eluent reservoir at the output of the cell processing chamber. A micropost actuation mechanism and a cell counting mechanism are provided in close proximity to the cell processing chamber. A method is provided of using the cell processing system to collect, wash, and recover cells. Another method is provided of using the cell processing system to collect, wash, count, and recover cells at a predetermined cell density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: REDBUD LABS, INC., THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
    Inventors: Richard Chasen Spero, Jay Kenneth Fisher, Richard Superfine
  • Methods and compositions using RNA interference and antisense oligonucleotides for inhibition of KRAS
    Patent number: 11180759
    Abstract: The invention relates to the inhibition of expression of mutant KRAS sequences using RNA interference, antisense oligonucleotides, and chemically-modified oligonucleotides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Chad Pecot, Salma H. Azam
  • Carbon storage using ash, seawater, and alkali activator as a non-cement-based building materials
    Patent number: 11174201
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide and ash are two major waste by-products from coal fire production. Presented herein is are methods, material, and devices for storing carbon using high ash-content building material. The idea is to generate materials with commercial values to offset the cost for carbon capture. Ash with alkali activator (geopolymer) concrete has been studied extensively for its superior performance (higher strength) than ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete. However, most geopolymer concrete needs energy input in the forms of pressure and heat, which in turn are usually based on electricity produced through power plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventor: Shen-En Chen
  • Methods and uses for molecular tags
    Patent number: 11177020
    Abstract: Methods and uses for molecular tags are disclosed. Molecular tags may be attached to nucleic acid molecules. The attachment of the nucleic acid molecules prior to PCR amplification and sequencing improves the accuracy of genetic analysis and detection of genetic variations and diversity. Molecular tags may also be used for detection of drug-resistant variants. Methods for using molecular tags for determining and correcting PCR errors and/or sequencing error are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Cassandra B. Jabara, Jeffrey A. Anderson, Ronald I. Swanstrom
  • HUMAN WASTE WATER AND HUMAN-DERIVED PATHOGEN SCOUTING TOOL
    Publication number: 20210349021
    Abstract: The present subject matter provides processes and kits for identifying the presence of waste water or human-derived pathogens, particularly those associated with the presence of human fecal matter, in surface or subsurface water sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: University of North Carolina Wilmington
    Inventors: Mary M. Turbe, Lawrence B. Cahoon
  • NITRIC OXIDE-RELEASING CYCLODEXTRINS AS BIODEGRADABLE ANTIBACTERIAL SCAFFOLDS AND METHODS PERTAINING THERETO
    Publication number: 20210346424
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are cyclodextrin molecules covalently modified to store and release nitric oxide, as well as methods of making and uses thereof. The covalently modified cyclodextrin molecules may be tailored, in several embodiments, to release nitric oxide in a controlled manner and are useful for reduction and/or eradication of bacteria and for the treatment of disease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Mark H. Schoenfisch, Haibao Jin
  • Method for quantifying DNA fragments in a sample by size
    Patent number: 11168373
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are DNA amplification methods for quantifying DNA fragments of a target DNA in a sample by size. This can be used, for example, to detect tumor-derived viral DNA in blood sample and distinguish it from larger viral DNA from non-tumor sources. In particular, disclosed herein are methods of detecting, monitoring or treating a human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated malignancy in a subject that involves detecting a presence or absence of at least one circulating tumor-derived HPV DNA in a sample from the subject. Kits for accomplishing the same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Gaorav Gupta, Bhishamjit S. Chera, Sunil Kumar
  • Miniature charged particle trap with elongated trapping region for mass spectrometry
    Patent number: 11158496
    Abstract: A miniature electrode apparatus is disclosed for trapping charged particles, the apparatus including, along a longitudinal direction: a first end cap electrode; a central electrode having an aperture; and a second end cap electrode. The aperture is elongated in the lateral plane and extends through the central electrode along the longitudinal direction and the central electrode surrounds the aperture in a lateral plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to define a transverse cavity for trapping charged particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: J. Michael Ramsey, Kevin Schultze
  • FLOW CELLS UTILIZING SURFACE-ATTACHED STRUCTURES, AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20210316303
    Abstract: A flow cell is provided that includes surface-attached structures in a chamber. The structures are movable in response to a magnetic or electric field. A target extraction or isolation system includes the flow cell and a driver configured for applying a magnetic or electric field to the interior of the flow cell to actuate movement of the structures. The flow cell may be utilized to extract or isolate a target from a sample flowing through the flow cell. Further, a microfluidic system is provided that includes surface-attached structures and a microarray, wherein actuated motion of the surface-attached structures is used to enhance flow, circulation, and/or mixing action for analyte capture on the microarray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicants: Redbud Labs, Inc., THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
    Inventors: Richard Chasen Spero, Jay Kenneth Fisher, Richard Superfine
  • Methods, systems, and computer readable media for improved digital holography and display incorporating same
    Patent number: 11137719
    Abstract: A method for digital holography includes modeling a hologram using a forward propagation model that models propagation of a light field from a hologram plane to an image plane. The method further includes computing the hologram as a solution to an optimization problem that is based on the model. The method further includes configuring at least one spatial light modulator using the hologram. The method further includes illuminating the spatial light modulator using a light source to create a target image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
    Inventors: Praneeth Kumar Chakravarthula, Felix Heide