Patents Assigned to Vanderbilt University
  • METHODS FOR FABRICATING CARBON NANOTUBE ARRAYS WITH A HIGH STRUCTURAL FACTOR
    Publication number: 20220314211
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a carbon nanotube (“CNT”) array includes providing a substrate with a CNT catalyst disposed on a surface of the substrate, heating the CNT catalyst to an annealing temperature, exposing the CNT catalyst to a CNT precursor for an exposure period to pre-load the CNT catalyst, and exposing the pre-loaded CNT catalyst to a carbon source for a growth period to form the CNT array. The formed CNT array comprises a plurality of CNT bundles that are aligned with one another in an alignment direction. At least one of the plurality of bundles comprises an average structural factor of 1.5 or less along an entirety of the length thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Yuyang Song, Shailesh N. Joshi, Piran R. Kidambi, Peifu Cheng
  • 2-beta-naphthyl-acetic acid analogs as AKR1C3 inhibitors and methods of using same
    Patent number: 11459295
    Abstract: The invention includes 2-?-naphthyl-acetic acid derivatives, which are selective AKR1C3 inhibitors. In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention are (R)-naproxen analogs. The invention further includes methods of treating cancer, such as prostate cancer and/or castration-resistant prostate cancer, using at least one compound of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignees: THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Trevor M. Penning, Adegoke Adeniji, Lawrence J. Marnett
  • GENERATION OF HUMAN ALLERGEN- AND HELMINTH-SPECIFIC IGE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC USE
    Publication number: 20220308065
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to human monoclonal IgE antibodies, and IgG antibodies engineered therefrom. Such engineered antibodies can be used to blunt pathologic IgE responses in subjects, such as in the treatment or prevention of allergies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Vanderbilt University
    Inventor: Scott A. SMITH
  • System and method of testing for leaks after anastomosis
    Patent number: 11452481
    Abstract: Devices, kits, and methods for testing the integrity of a cavity within an anatomical organ. For example, the devices, kits, and methods described herein are useful for detecting leaks in an anastomosis or for testing the integrity or repair of a defect in anatomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventor: Timothy M. Geiger
  • Continuous automated perfusion culture analysis system (CAPCAS) and applications of same
    Patent number: 11447734
    Abstract: A continuous automated perfusion culture analysis system (CAPCAS) comprises one or more fluidic systems configured to operate large numbers of biodevices in parallel. Each fluidic system comprises an input reservoir plate for receiving media; a biodevice plate comprising an array of biodevices fluidically coupled to the input reservoir plate, configured such that each biodevice has independent media delivery, fluid removal, stirring, and gas control, and each biodevice is capable of continuously receiving the media from the input reservoir plate; and an output plate fluidically coupled to the biodevice plate for real-time analysis and sampling. The operations of the CAPCAS are automated and computer-controlled wirelessly. The CAPCAS can also be used for abiotic and biotic chemical synthesis processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ronald S. Reiserer, Gregory B. Gerken, David K. Schaffer, John P. Wikswo
  • Method and apparatus for augmented locomotion
    Patent number: 11439564
    Abstract: Provided are apparatuses for augmenting human speed, human-driven compliant mechanisms, artificial limbs to augment human movement, and the like. The apparatuses can include variable stiffness mechanisms including springs that can be configured to selectively store and subsequently release energy generated by human movement. The apparatuses can selectively release the captured energy supplied by the human to provide force and power output beyond the physical capability of the human.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: David Braun, Amanda Sutrisno, Tiange Zhang
  • HUMAN MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES TO SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
    Publication number: 20220281958
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to antibodies binding to and neutralizing the coronavirus designated SARS-CoV-2 and methods for use thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: James E. CROWE, JR., Seth ZOST, Robert CARNAHAN, Pavlo GILCHUK
  • Efficient laser-induced single-event latchup and methods of operation
    Patent number: 11435399
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for testing a threshold energy required to cause a latchup on an electronic component. An exemplary method includes applying a series of laser pulses to a testing object with a pulsed laser unit. The testing object is connected to a testing circuit which can measure the energy of each of the series of laser pulses, and detect whether a pulse of the series of laser pulses resulted in a latchup on the testing object. Upon detecting the pulse, the method provides for logging the energy of the pulse using a recording unit and logging the latchup status of the test device. If a latchup is detected, the testing circuit automatically mitigates the latchup event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Andrew L. Sternberg, Ronald D. Schrimpf, Robert A. Reed
  • Steerable surgical needle
    Patent number: 11426197
    Abstract: A steerable surgical needle (10) includes an elongated needle shaft (12), a beveled tip portion (14), and a flexural element (16) that connects the needle shaft (12) with the tip portion (14) and permits the tip portion to deflect relative to the needle shaft. A method for steering the surgical needle (10) through tissue includes the steps of advancing the needle in the body tissue to induce tip flexure which causes the needle to follow a curved trajectory, and rotating the needle about its longitudinal axis in place, without advancement, to remove the tip flexure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Philip J. Swaney, Robert J. Webster, III
  • Indazole compounds as MGLUR4 allosteric potentiators, compositions, and methods of treating neurological dysfunction
    Patent number: 11427573
    Abstract: Indazole compounds which are useful as allosteric potentiators/positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4 (mGluR4); synthetic methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of using the compounds, for example, in treating neurological and psychiatric disorders or other disease states associated with glutamate dysfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: P. Jeffrey Conn, Craig W. Lindsley, Andrew S. Felts, Colleen M. Niswender, Rory A. Capstick, Paul K. Spearing, Sean R. Bollinger
  • Antagonists of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M
    Patent number: 11414406
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are 3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-6-amine compounds, which may be useful as antagonists of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M4 (mAChR M4). Also disclosed herein are methods of making the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of treating disorders using the compounds and compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Craig W. Lindsley, P. Jeffrey Conn, Darren W. Engers, Julie L. Engers, Aaron M. Bender
  • Methods and systems for optimizing selection and placement of cochlear implant electrode arrays using patient-specific cochlear information and applications of same
    Patent number: 11406826
    Abstract: A method for using information of patient-specific cochlea size and/or shape to determine a patient-customized cochlear implant electrode insertion and placement plan includes segmenting shapes of structures of interest (SOIs) of the cochlea in a pre-operative CT image of the cochlea using a shape model; defining a 3D modiolar hugging curve within the shape model of the SOIs as a sequence of points; automatically transforming the defined 3D modiolar hugging curve to the pre-operative CT image so as to obtain a modiolar curve in the cochlea; rigidly registering an EA shape model of the EA to the modiolar curve in the cochlea, thereby placing a resting state shape of the EA within the patient's SOIs such that the EA matches the modiolar curve in the cochlea; and determining a patient-customized insertion plan for electrode placement using the registered EA shape model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jack H. Noble, Robert F. Labadie, Benoit M. Dawant
  • Actively reconfigurable, hyperbolic metasurfaces
    Patent number: 11409142
    Abstract: Metallic and dielectric domains in phase change materials (PCM) provide spatially localized changes in the local dielectric environment, enabling launching, reflection, and transmission of hyperbolic polaritons (HPs) at the PCM domain boundaries, and tuning the wavelength of HPs propagating in hyperbolic materials over these domains, providing a methodology for realizing planar, sub-diffractive refractive optics. This approach offers reconfigurable control of in-plane HP propagation to provide design optical functionality because the phase change material can be manipulated by changing the local structure, for example, to manipulate polaritons in the adjacent hyperbolic material, thus tuning the wave propagation properties of the polaritons in the hyperbolic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: Vanderbilt University, University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua D. Caldwell, Thomas G. Folland, Richard F. Haglund, Yohannes Abate
  • Optical overlay device
    Patent number: 11403836
    Abstract: Devices and methods for visibly highlighting areas of a region including an imager configured to image the region with a sensitivity to at least one of wavelength, light level, or contrast greater than the human eye, an overlay element configured to visibly highlight areas of the region and registered to the imager to produce alignment of imaged features with highlighted features at the same location on the region, and at least one of a controller executing a program or logic configured to process acquired images from the imager to identify areas of the region determined not visible to the human eye, and control the overlay element to visibly highlight those areas on the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: AI BIOMED CORP., VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Adnan Abbas, Melanie McWade, Anita Mahadevan-Jansen
  • Methods of preventing platelet activation
    Patent number: 11400103
    Abstract: A method of preventing or reducing the occurrence of malondiadehyde and/or levuglandin protein modification in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of at least one reactive dicarbonyl scavenger compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: John A. Oates, Olivier Boutaud, Irene Zagol-Ikapitte
  • Phosphorylated hexaacyl disaccharides (PHADs) for treating or preventing infections
    Patent number: 11389465
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to phosphorylated hexaacyl disaccharide (PHAD) compounds, compositions, and methods for treating or preventing infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Edward Sherwood, Antonio Hernandez, Julia Bohannon
  • Methods for treating atherosclerosis with gamma-ketoaldehyde scavengers
    Patent number: 11389414
    Abstract: A method of treating atherosclerosis, comprising administering to a patient in need there of an effective gamma-ketoaldehyde scavenging amount of a gamma-ketoaldehyde scavenging compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Macrae F. Linton, John A. Oates, Sean S. Davies, L. Jackson Roberts, II, Venkataraman Amarnath, Patricia G. Yancey, Huan Tao
  • Drug delivery device and applications of same
    Patent number: 11382791
    Abstract: A drug delivery device includes a catheter; a retention cap attached to an end of the catheter, having an operably openable surface; a flexible membrane having a rim securely connected to an inner surface of the catheter to define a first volume and a second volume therein, such that the second volume is substantially the same as a desired drug volume; and a pressurizable member coupled to the catheter. In use, the desired drug volume is preloaded into the second volume of the catheter that in turn is slided into a guidance device, when the guidance device is placed in a target, the pressurizable member applies a pressure into the first volume to exert a force upon the flexible membrane to operably squeeze the second volume, which in turn pressurizes the operably openable surface of the retention cap to open, thereby unloading the desired drug volume into the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Robert L. Galloway
  • Multichannel pumps and applications of same
    Patent number: 11384751
    Abstract: A push-pull micropump includes one or more pairs of channels configured to transfer one or more fluids, each channel pair having an aspiration channel and an injection channel; and an actuator configured to engage the one or more pairs of channels, wherein the actuator comprises a plurality of rolling members and a driving member configured such that when the driving member rotates, the plurality of rolling members rolls along the one or more pairs of channels to cause individually the one or more fluids to transfer through each channel pair simultaneously at different flowrates or the same flowrate, depending upon actuated lengths of the aspiration and injection channels of each channel pair, wherein an actuated length of a channel is defined by a length of the channel along which the plurality of rolling members rolls during a full rotation of the driving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: John P. Wikswo, Ronald S. Reiserer, David K. Schaffer, Dmitry A. Markov, Clayton M. Britt
  • Positive allosteric modulators of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M4
    Patent number: 11376254
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are tricyclic compounds, including 3-(difluoromethyl)-4-methylpyrimido[4?,5?:4,5]thieno[2,3-c]pyridazin-8-amine compounds, which may be useful as positive allosteric modulators of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M4 (mAChR M4). Also disclosed herein are methods of making the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of treating neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with muscarinic acetylcholine receptor dysfunction using the compounds and compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Craig W. Lindsley, P. Jeffrey Conn, Darren W. Engers, Julie L. Engers