Abstract: In one representative embodiment, a method of perfusing organs in a patient's body is provided. The method comprises isolating the visceral arteries and the visceral veins from blood circulating through the patient's heart and perfusing the visceral arteries, the visceral veins, and the abdominal organs with a perfusion fluid that is fluidly separated from the blood circulating through the patient's heart. While the visceral arteries and the visceral veins are isolated, and the visceral arteries, the visceral veins, and the abdominal organs are being perfused, the patient's blood is allowed to continue to circulate through the heart.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 9, 2023
Publication date:
May 25, 2023
Applicant:
University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Inventors:
Bryan W. Tillman, Amit D. Tevar, Youngjae Chun
Abstract: A digital microfluidic system includes a substrate, a plurality of electrode sets provided on the substrate, wherein each of the electrode sets includes two co-planar interdigitated finger electrodes, and a driving circuit including an AC/DC voltage source and a controller. Each of the electrode sets is individually addressable by the driving circuit under control of the controller such that an AC/DC voltage generated by the AC/DC voltage source may be selectively provided to one or more of the electrode sets. Also, an anti-biofouling electrode for a digital microfluidic system includes an electrode layer, and a slippery liquid infused porous surface structure provided on the electrode layer.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 25, 2023
Publication date:
May 25, 2023
Applicant:
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for monitoring and regulating physiological states and functions are disclosed. Several embodiments include application of one or more microelectrode arrays to a dorsal root ganglion for measurement of sensory neuron activity, or stimulation of sensory reflex circuits. The methods and apparatuses can be used, for example, for monitoring or controlling bladder function in a patient.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 2, 2022
Publication date:
May 25, 2023
Applicant:
University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Inventors:
Douglas Weber, Robert Gaunt, Timothy Bruns
Abstract: Described is a method comprising directing an ultra-low voltage electron beam to a surface of a first insulating layer. The first insulating layer is disposed on a second insulating layer. The method includes modifying, by the application of the ultra-low voltage electron beam, the surface of the first insulating layer to selectively switch an interface between a first state having a first electronic property and a second state having a second electronic property.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 11, 2021
Publication date:
May 18, 2023
Applicant:
University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Abstract: A method of analyzing instructor discourse includes recording an audio signal representing speech of the instructor during a class session, converting the audio signal to a session transcript comprising speech data for the session using an automatic speech recognition tool and segmenting the transcript into utterances, extracting a set of features from the session transcript, filtering student talk out from the utterances, analyzing a first subset of the features to produce a number of local context predictions for each utterance of the session transcript, analyzing a second subset of the features to produce a number of global context predictions for the session transcript, and combining a subset of the number of local context predictions and the number of global context predictions into a classification that attends to differential reliability.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 14, 2021
Publication date:
May 18, 2023
Applicants:
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, a body corporate
Abstract: Disclosed cannula systems can detect the tissue type within which the cannula tip is located in real time using electrodes adjacent the cannula tip. The sensing cannula system can differentiate when the cannula tip is in adipose tissue or muscle based on electrical impedance. The system can be used in fat grafting and liposuction procedures, for example. An operator can detect if the cannula tip enters muscle by watching for an indicator light or audible alarm that is automatically activated by the device based on a change in sensed impedance. The device may also stop the flow of fat through a pump halting injection into the sub-muscular space.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 3, 2023
Publication date:
May 18, 2023
Applicants:
University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, UPMC
Inventors:
David Turer, William W. Clark, April Lawrence, Ehsan Qaium, Joseph P. Rubin, Cameron Dezfulian
Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and related methods useful for free radical scavenging, with particular selectivity for mitochondria. The compounds comprise a nitroxide-containing group attached to a mitochondria-targeting group. The compounds can be cross-linked into dimers without loss of activity. Also provided herein are methods, for preventing, mitigating and treating damage caused by radiation. The method comprises delivering a compound, as described herein, to a patient in an amount and dosage regimen effective to prevent, mitigate or treat damage caused by radiation.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 5, 2023
Publication date:
May 11, 2023
Applicant:
University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Abstract: A system, device and method of imaging using a real-time, AI-enabled analysis device coupled to an imaging device during an image scan of a subject includes: receiving data corresponding to a plurality of image frames from the imaging device and user input identifying a region of interest (ROI) in a first image frame; providing data corresponding to the first image frame, including the identified ROI and data corresponding to the remaining image frames to the AI-enabled data processing system; accepting a plurality of valid image frames from the plurality of image frames based on a predefined set of computer vision rules and a minimum accepted frame threshold; calculating, frame by frame, an ROI function value of the plurality of valid image frames; determining whether a predetermined ROI function value has been reached; and alerting an operator of the imaging device that the predetermined ROI function value has been reached.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 2, 2022
Publication date:
April 27, 2023
Applicant:
University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Abstract: Disclosed herein are safety devices that are positioned on the end of a fiberoptic cable, such as those used in surgical procedures, to prevent patients and other objects from the risk of burn from light or heat emitted from the end of the cable when not connected to an optical instrument. The disclosed safety devices can be added to the ends of existing cables and/or can be included at the end of cables during manufacture. In some embodiments, the safety device replaces an existing connector at the end of a cable, and in some embodiments the safety device is added in addition to a connector at the end of the cable. In some embodiments, a slit end cover is included over an open end of an adaptor that is mounted on a distal connector of a fiberoptic cable.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 13, 2022
Publication date:
April 13, 2023
Applicants:
University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, UPMC
Inventors:
Steven Gerard Docimo, William W. Clark, Alexandra Marie Delazio, John A. Holmes, Benjamin T. Ristau
Abstract: An energy harvesting device includes a housing (2), a moveable device (12) disposed within the housing and including a first surface including a first material (15) and a second surface including a second material (17), wherein the moveable device is operable to move to bring the first and second surfaces together and apart to cause contact and separation between the first and second materials, a first strap (4) attached to the housing, a second strap (6) coupled to the moveable device, wherein movement of the second strap causes operation of the moveable device, and electronic circuitry (20) structured to harvest energy from the electrical charge generated by the contact between the first and second materials.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 22, 2022
Date of Patent:
April 11, 2023
Assignee:
University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions for vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) comprising a RSV F polypeptide stabilized in a prefusion conformation and an inulin adjuvant. Also disclosed herein are methods of vaccinating a subject against a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection comprising administering to the subject an RSV F polypeptide stabilized in a prefusion conformation and an inulin adjuvant. In some embodiments, the subject is a female, and the method can reduce RSV infection in the subject and/or in the offspring of the subject. In some embodiments, the method decreases vaccine-enhanced respiratory disease (VERD) and/or eosinophilia in the subject or offspring of the subject.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2019
Date of Patent:
April 11, 2023
Assignees:
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION, CALDER BIOSCIENCES INC., VAXINE PTY LTD
Inventors:
Kerry McGarr Empey, Nikolai Petrovsky, Christopher Marshall
Abstract: Compounds and methods for modulating the activity of receptors are disclosed. Some of the compounds modulate the activity of glycine receptors. Certain embodiments of the compounds are useful for treatment of pain, treatment of opioid addiction, and/or reduction of side effects attributable to opioid use.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 8, 2022
Publication date:
March 30, 2023
Applicant:
University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Abstract: A method (and system) of segmenting one or more histological structures in a tissue image represented by multi-parameter cellular and sub-cellular imaging data includes receiving coarsest level image data for the tissue image, wherein the coarsest level image data corresponds to a coarsest level of a multiscale representation of first data corresponding to the multi-parameter cellular and sub-cellular imaging data. The method further includes breaking the coarsest level image data into a plurality of non-overlapping superpixels, assigning each superpixel a probability of belonging to the one or more histological structures using a number of pre-trained machine learning algorithms to create a probability map, extracting an estimate of a boundary for the: one or more histological structures by applying a contour algorithm to the probability map, and using the estimate of the boundary to generate a refined boundary for the one or more histological structures.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 16, 2021
Publication date:
March 30, 2023
Applicant:
University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Inventors:
Srinivas C. Chennubhotla, Om Choudhary, Akif Burak Tosun, Jeffrey Fine
Abstract: The invention relates to magnesium screws and screw-like devices for dental implant surgery and, more particularly, to magnesium and magnesium-based tenting devices for implementation in periosteal and gingival tissue overlying an alveolar ridge of a mandible or maxilla to provide vertical ridge augmentation, i.e., bone regeneration. The tenting devices may be composed of magnesium in dry form, such as metallic magnesium and salts thereof; or magnesium alloy including magnesium in dry form and at least one alloying element or compound; or magnesium-polymer composite including magnesium in dry form and at least one polymer.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 16, 2021
Publication date:
March 30, 2023
Applicant:
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating age-related retinal diseases by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNPase) inhibitor and/or a PNPase purine nucleoside substrate. In some examples, the subject can have AMD or glaucoma.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 19, 2021
Publication date:
March 23, 2023
Applicant:
University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Abstract: Methods are disclosed for treating an acute respiratory distress syndrome, such as an acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with a viral infection, such as SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) in a subject in need thereof. These methods include administering to the subject a pharmaceutical preparation comprising isolated matrix bound vesicles (MBV) derived from extracellular matrix.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 15, 2021
Publication date:
March 9, 2023
Applicant:
University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Inventors:
Stephen Francis Badylak, George S. Hussey, Raphael Crum
Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for preparing a structure or object using an additive manufacturing process referred to as sequential cold spray laser sintering. The method includes depositing by cold spraying a plurality of sequential layers of material onto a substrate/build plate or particles of materials onto a compacted powder bed of material and employing an energy source to sinter or melt each of the plurality of sequential layers or powders to produce sequential sintered layers, wherein the number of additional layers is determined based on those needed to produce the final structure.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 26, 2021
Publication date:
March 9, 2023
Applicants:
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION, CONCURRENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Inventors:
Prashant N. KUMTA, Abhijit ROY, Howard Arthur KUHN, Matthew CRIADO, John Michael OHODNICKI, Brock T. GOLESICH, Juan J. VALENCIA, Michael John POLLOCK, Michael L. TIMS
Abstract: The present invention provides methods for increasing expression of utrophin in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a post-transcriptionally utrophin upregulator compound. The present invention also provides methods for treating a subject having a muscular dystrophy. This invention further provides methods for high-throughput screening for a post-transcriptional utrophin upregulator compound.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 14, 2021
Publication date:
March 9, 2023
Applicants:
THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for transient-based decoding of neural signals. In one aspect, a device such as a brain-computer interface (BCI), includes at least one processor configured to receive a plurality of neural signals from a subject. The at least one processor can detect, from the plurality of neural signals, first neural activity unique to a first defined temporal window corresponding to an onset phase of an intended action of the subject. The at least one processor can detect, from the plurality of neural signals, second neural activity unique to a second defined temporal window, occurring after the first temporal window and corresponding to an offset phase of the intended action. The at least one processor can generate at least one output indicative of the intended action, responsive to detecting at least one of the first neural activity or the second neural activity.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 7, 2022
Publication date:
March 9, 2023
Applicant:
University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education