Patents Assigned to University
  • Water-triggered origami with a polymeric web
    Patent number: 9556545
    Abstract: A hydrophobic polymer fiber mat that folds in response to the application of water along a predetermined fold line, thereby allowing for the formation of three-dimensional objects strictly through the targeted application of water. The fiber mat is preferably formed by electrospinning a polymer, such as poly(vinyl acetate), to form mats with average fiber diameters ranging from 0.5 to 1 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Syracuse University
    Inventors: Patrick T. Mather, Jaimee Marie Robertson, Amir Torbati
  • Excised specimen imaging using a combined PET and micro CT scanner
    Patent number: 9557281
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus for imaging a tissue specimen excised during surgery with a combined positron emission tomography (PET) and micro computed tomography (micro CT) scanner. The specimen is scanned with a CT imaging system of the combined PET and micro CT scanner. The specimen is also scanned with a PET imaging system of the combined PET and micro CT scanner. A PET image is constructed based on data acquired by the PET imaging system. A micro CT image is constructed based on data acquired by the micro CT imaging system. The micro CT image includes at least one visualization of a lesion marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Ramsey D. Badawi, Kai Yang
  • Precise broadband frequency modulated laser
    Patent number: 9559486
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including a laser with a plurality of internal or external actuators for affecting an optical frequency of light output by the laser, wherein the plurality of actuators have a corresponding plurality of different frequency response bands for changing optical properties of the laser and a corresponding plurality of actuation ranges of optical frequencies affected. Also included is an optical detector, and a plurality of optical paths configured to direct light output by the laser onto the detector. A laser controller is configured to provide a plurality of inputs to the plurality of actuators based on a detector signal output from the optical detector and the corresponding frequency response bands and actuation ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Montana State University, Bridger Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter A. Roos, Randy R. Reibel, Brant Kaylor, Zeb Barber, William Randall Babbitt
  • Herpes virus vaccine and methods of use
    Patent number: 9555100
    Abstract: Provided herein are, for example, immunogenic compositions and methods of using the same for the treatment or prevention of Herpesvirus infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Deborah H. Spector, Christopher S. Morello, Kimberly A. Kraynyak
  • Customized wavefront-guided methods, systems, and devices to correct higher-order aberrations
    Patent number: 9554889
    Abstract: Methods and systems for manufacturing a wavefront-guided scleral lens prosthetic device customized for an eye of a patient include obtaining a first scleral lens prosthetic device with a central optic zone configured to vault over the eye's cornea and a peripheral haptic zone configured to align with the eye's sclera, collecting measurements of any offset and/or rotation of the first scleral lens prosthetic device relative to the eye's pupil and of any aberrations, particularly higher-order aberrations, generating a wavefront-guided profile from the measurements, and fabricating a second scleral lens prosthetic device with the profile on a surface of a central optic zone configured to vault over the eye's cornea and a peripheral haptic zone customized to align with the eye's sclera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Boston Foundation for Sight, University of Rochester
    Inventors: Lynette K. Johns, Geun-Young Yoon, Olga Tomashevskaya
  • Multi-stage permanent magnet structure and integrated power inductors
    Patent number: 9558878
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods directed to multi-stage permanent magnet and implementations of a permanent magnet on-chip power inductor. Various circuit models, design considerations and simulation results are described. The multi-stage permanent magnet includes layers with uniform or non-uniform magnets used to control the flux distribution. The permanent magnet on-chip power converter for DC-DC switching power converters that may include a top ferrite layer, a spiral winding layer, a permanent magnet layer, a bottom ferrite layer, and a substrate layer. The permanent magnet layer may comprise a multi-stage structure wherein each stage has a decreasing area as compared to an immediate lower stage. A method of manufacturing a Permanent On-Chip Power Inductor (PMOI) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama
    Inventor: Jaber A. Abu-Qahouq
  • Epitaxial structure
    Patent number: 9559255
    Abstract: An epitaxial structure is provided. The epitaxial structure includes a substrate, an first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer, a first carbon nanotube layer and a second carbon nanotube layer. The first epitaxial layer is located on the substrate. The first carbon nanotube layer is located between the substrate and the first epitaxial layer. The second epitaxial layer is located on the first epitaxial layer. The second carbon nanotube layer is located between the first epitaxial layer and the second epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yang Wei, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Method of making ionic liquid mediated sol-gel sorbents
    Patent number: 9555394
    Abstract: Ionic liquid (IL)-mediated sol-gel hybrid organic-inorganic materials present enormous potential for effective use in analytical microextraction. One obstacle to materializing this prospect arises from high viscosity of ILs significantly slowing down sol-gel reactions. A method was developed which provides phosphonium-based, pyridinium-based, and imidazolium-based IL-mediated advanced sol-gel organic-inorganic hybrid materials for capillary microextraction. Scanning electron microscopy results demonstrate that ILs can serve as porogenic agents in sol-gel reactions. IL-mediated sol-gel coatings prepared with silanol-terminated polymers provided up to 28 times higher extractions compared to analogous sol-gel coatings prepared without any IL in the sol solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Abdul Malik, Anne M. Shearrow
  • Nanofluids for thermal management systems
    Patent number: 9556375
    Abstract: A nanofluid is generally provided for use in a heat transfer system. The nanofluid can include nanoparticles suspended in a base liquid at a nanoparticle concentration in the nanofluid of about 0.01% to about 5% by volume. The nanoparticles can include zinc-oxide nanoparticles. The nanofluid for use in a heat transfer system can, in one embodiment, further include a surfactant. Thermal management systems configured to cool a computer having integrated circuits that generate heat during use are also provided. The thermal management system can include a zinc-oxide nanofluid circulated through a series of tubes via a pump such that heat produced by electronic components of the computer can be captured by the circulating nanofluid and then removed from the nanofluid by a radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Dale A. McCants, Andrew M. Hayes
  • Systems, devices, methods, apparatus and computer-accessible media for providing optical imaging of structures and compositions
    Patent number: 9557154
    Abstract: Exemplary systems, devices, methods, apparatus and computer-accessible media for providing and/or utilizing optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) and fluorescence of structures and, e.g., multimodality imaging using OFDI techniques and fluorescence imaging techniques are described. For example, an arrangement can provide at least one electro-magnetic radiation to an anatomical structure. Such exemplary arrangement can include at least one optical core and at least one cladding at least partially surrounding the fiber(s). A region between the optical core(s) and the cladding(s) can have an index that is different from indexes of the optical core(s) and the cladding(s). The arrangement can also include at least one apparatus which is configured to transmit the radiation(s) via the optical core(s) and the cladding(s) to the anatomical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: The General Hospital Corporation, Boston University
    Inventors: Guillermo J. Tearney, Brett Eugene Bouma, Hongki Yoo, Milen Shishkov, Joseph Gardecki, Roman Shubochkin, Theodore Morse, Farouc Amin Jaffer
  • Electrochemical systems configured to harvest heat energy
    Patent number: 9559388
    Abstract: Electrochemical systems for harvesting heat energy, and associated electrochemical cells and methods, are generally described. The electrochemical cells can be configured, in certain cases, such that at least a portion of the regeneration of the first electrochemically active material is driven by a change in temperature of the electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cells can be configured to include a first electrochemically active material and a second electrochemically active material, and, in some cases, the absolute value of the difference between the first thermogalvanic coefficient of the first electrochemically active material and the second thermogalvanic coefficient of the second electrochemically active material is at least about 0.5 millivolts/Kelvin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Board of Trustees of the Leland Staford Junior University
    Inventors: Seok Woo Lee, Yuan Yang, Hadi Ghasemi, Gang Chen, Yi Cui
  • Sensor for measuring flow speed of a fluid
    Patent number: 9557344
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring flow speed of a fluid, comprising: a light-absorbing optical fiber having a fiber Bragg grating inscribed in the fiber; wherein light is emitted into the light-absorbing optical fiber to heat the optical fiber and the fiber Bragg grating, and when the fluid passes over the sensor, the flow speed of the fluid is determined by the rate of heat loss from the sensor, and the temperature of the sensor is determined from the wavelength shift of the central wavelength of the fiber Bragg grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Inventors: Hwayaw Tam, Aping Zhang, Shaorui Gao, Lok Hin Cho
  • Field effect transistors and methods of forming same
    Patent number: 9559209
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A first source/drain layer is formed over a substrate. A channel layer is formed over the first source/drain layer. A second source/drain layer is formed over the channel layer. The first source/drain layer, the channel layer, and the second source/drain layer are patterned to form a fin-shaped structure. A gate stack is formed on a sidewall of the fin-shaped structure. The fin-shaped structure is patterned to expose a top surface of the first source/drain layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd., National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Chee Wee Liu, Samuel C. Pan, I-Hsieh Wong, Hung-Yu Yeh
  • Catheterscope 3D guidance and interface system
    Patent number: 9554729
    Abstract: Visual-assisted guidance of an ultra-thin flexible endoscope to a predetermined region of interest within a lung during a bronchoscopy procedure. The region may be an opacity-identified by non-invasive imaging methods, such as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) or as a malignant lung mass that was diagnosed in a previous examination. An embedded position sensor on the flexible endoscope indicates the position of the distal tip of the probe in a Cartesian coordinate system during the procedure. A visual display is continually updated, showing the present position and orientation of the marker in a 3-D graphical airway model generated from image reconstruction. The visual display also includes windows depicting a virtual fly-through perspective and real-time video images acquired at the head of the endoscope, which can be stored as data, with an audio or textual account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Timothy D. Soper, Robb W. Glenny, Eric J. Seibel
  • Flux focusing magnetic gear assembly using ferrite magnets or the like
    Patent number: 9559577
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a flux focusing magnetic gear assembly using ferrite magnets or the like. The present invention also relates generally to a flux focusing magnetic gear assembly using ferrite magnets or the like that incorporates an outer stator assembly that converts a variable input to a constant output. The present invention further relates generally to an axially aligned flux focusing magnetic gear assembly using ferrite magnets or the like. The improved flux focusing magnetic gear assemblies of the present invention find applicability in traction, wind, and ocean power generation, among other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventor: Jonathan Bird
  • Inlet and outlet geometries for a vertical three-stream microfluidic device
    Patent number: 9556412
    Abstract: An example includes an apparatus for separating cells from a fluid sample, including a plenum, defining: a centrally located top inlet, and respective side outlets disposed below the inlet and to the side of the inlet; and a bottom outlet disposed below the top inlet, to the side of the two or more outlets, wherein the plenum is configured to receive a fluid and cells suspension through the inlet, and direct it to the bottom outlet, against respective side-walls extending between the bottom outlet and the two or more side outlets, and wherein the distance between each of the two or more side outlets and the bottom outlet is selected to encourage cells to exit through the bottom outlet under a force. Lateral/vertical distance between the inlet and side outlets can provide lateral fluid travel, thereby allowing time for gravity to bias cells toward an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Allison Hubel, Jacob Hanna
  • Mach-Zehnder interferometer having a doubly-corrugated spoofed surface plasmon polariton waveguide
    Patent number: 9557223
    Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) structure based on a doubly-corrugated spoofed surface plasmon polariton (DC-SSPP) waveguide is presented. The dependence of phase change on the dielectric loading of the DC-SSPP structure causes the output from both arms to interfere and enhance features on the transmission spectrum of the MZI. The proposed MZI structure can be used for tag-free bio-molecular sensing. The highly localized electro-magnetic field at frequencies close to SSPP resonance is shown to reduce the sample amount needed to produce interference patterns without affecting the selectivity of the sensing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents Of The University Of Michigan
    Inventors: Pinaki Mazumder, Zhao Xu, Kyungjun Song
  • System and apparatus for illuminating a specimen
    Patent number: 9557551
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates generally to a method and system for an improved lighting apparatus compatible with imaging small specimens for viewing or photographic purposes. In certain embodiments, the disclosed technology provides an apparatus for projecting light on specimens from opposing light sources at varying distances and angles. In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes an elongated stem that allows the light sources to be repositioned quickly, easily, and accurately. The elongated stem may be flexible and may be used in conjunction with a positioning system, such as a rack and pinion system, thereby allowing precise movement of the light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: University of Maine System
    Inventor: Joseph Knight Staples
  • Intensity-modulated ion therapy
    Patent number: 9555265
    Abstract: The therapeutic treatment of a patient using intensity-modulated proton therapy is described. In one example, a method of creating a proton treatment plan is presented that divides volumes of interest into sub-volumes, applies dose constraints to the sub-volumes, finds one or more feasible configurations of a proton therapy system, and selects a proton beam configuration that improves or optimizes one or more aspects of proton therapy. In some implementations, the method of dividing volumes into sub-volumes includes creating fractional sub-volumes based at least in part on proximity to a target volume boundary. In some implementations, the method of finding an improved or optimal proton beam configuration from a set of feasible configurations includes finding a minimum of a cost function that utilizes weighting factors associated with treatment sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Loma Linda University Medical Center
    Inventor: Reinhard W. Schulte
  • Quantum dots, methods of manufacturing quantum dots and methods of manufacturing organic light emitting display devices using the same
    Patent number: 9559322
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a quantum dot, a core may be formed using (utilizing) at least one cation precursor and at least one anion precursor. The core may be reacted with a shell forming precursor and a ligand forming precursor for more than one hour to form a shell enclosing the core and a ligand. A nanoparticle including the core, the shell and the ligand may be washed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd., Industry-Academia Cooperation Foundation, Hongik University
    Inventors: Hee-Joo Ko, Hee-Sun Yang, Ki-Heon Lee, Jeong-Hoon Lee, Chang-Ho Lee