Patents Assigned to Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties
  • Patent number: 10568104
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for telecommunications spectrum sharing between multiple heterogeneous users, which leverage a hybrid approach that includes both distributed spectrum sharing, spectrum-sensing, and use of geo-reference databases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignees: FEDERATED WIRELESS, INC., VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ashwin Amanna, Joseph Mitola, III, Thomas Charles Clancy, Jeffrey H. Reed, Robert McGwier, Avik Sengupta, Akshay Kumar
  • Patent number: 10561964
    Abstract: Hydrophobic particles such as coal and hydrophobized mineral fines can be readily separated from hydrophilic impurities by forming agglomerates in water using a hydrophobic liquids such as oil. The agglomerates of hydrophobic particles usually entrap large amounts of water, causing the moisture of the recovered hydrophobic particles to be excessively high. This problem can be overcome by dispersing the hydrophobic agglomerates in a hydrophobic liquid that can be readily recycled. The dispersion can be achieved using specially designed apparatus and methods that can create a turbulence that can help destabilize the agglomerates in a recyclable hydrophobic liquid and facilitate the dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Roe-Hoan Yoon, Gerald Luttrell, Nikhil Gupta
  • Patent number: 10562038
    Abstract: Fine coal is cleaned of its mineral matter impurities and dewatered by mixing the aqueous slurry containing both with a hydrophobic liquid, subjecting the mixture to a phase separation. The resulting hydrophobic liquid phase contains coal particles free of surface moisture and droplets of water stabilized by coal particles, while the aqueous phase contains the mineral matter. By separating the entrained water droplets from the coal particles mechanically, a clean coal product of substantially reduced mineral matter and moisture contents is obtained. The spent hydrophobic liquid is separated from the clean coal product and recycled. The process can also be used to separate one type of hydrophilic particles from another by selectively hydrophobizing one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Roe-Hoan Yoon, Mert Kerem Eraydin
  • Patent number: 10543639
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a three dimensional object includes steps of: providing a digital description of the object as a set of voxels; sequentially creating an actual set of voxels corresponding to the digital set of voxels. At least one voxel comprises a polymer derived from: polyol and an ionic monomer. The calculated charge density of the resulting polymer is 0.01 to 0.7 mEq/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company, Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc
    Inventors: Travis Kyle Hodgdon, Timothy E Long, Allison M Pekkanen, Abby Rebecca Whittington, Christopher Bryant Williams, Callie Elizabeth Zawaski, Douglas M Graham, Corey J Kenneally, Freddy Arthur Barnabas, Andre Stevenson
  • Patent number: 10537379
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of medical treatment of diseases and disorders, as well as the field of biomedical engineering. Embodiments of the invention relate to the delivery of Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) through the vasculature of organs to treat tumors embedded deep within the tissue or organ, or to decellularize organs to produce a scaffold from existing animal tissue with the existing vasculature intact. In particular, methods of administering non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE) in vivo are provided for the treatment of tumors located in vascularized tissues and organs. Embodiments of the invention further provide scaffolds and tissues from natural sources created using IRE ex vivo to remove cellular debris, maximize recellularization potential, and minimize foreign body immune response. The engineered tissues can be used in methods of treating subjects, such as those in need of tissue replacement or augmentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Sano, Rafael V. Davalos, John L. Robertson, Paulo A. Garcia, Robert E. Neal
  • Patent number: 10541765
    Abstract: One or more processors control processing of radio frequency (RF) signals using a machine-learning network. The one or more processors receive as input, to a radio communications apparatus, a first representation of an RF signal, which is processed using one or more radio stages, providing a second representation of the RF signal. Observations about, and metrics of, the second representation of the RF signal are obtained. Past observations and metrics are accessed from storage. Using the observations, metrics and past observations and metrics, parameters of a machine-learning network, which implements policies to process RF signals, are adjusted by controlling the radio stages. In response to the adjustments, actions performed by one or more controllers of the radio stages are updated. A representation of a subsequent input RF signal is processed using the radio stages that are controlled based on actions including the updated one or more actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy James O'Shea, Thomas Charles Clancy, III
  • Patent number: 10527708
    Abstract: A method for estimating the location of a wireless terminal is disclosed that is based on using: the known location of one or more devices, empirical data that indicates the relative position of the wireless terminal to the devices, and empirical data that indicates the relative position of the wireless terminal (which is at an unknown location) relative to other wireless terminals that are also at unknown locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignees: Polaris Wireless, Inc., Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Scot Douglas Gordon, Sayed Reza Monir Vaghefi, R. Michael Buehrer
  • Patent number: 10507238
    Abstract: The present invention relates to infectious DNA clones, infectious chimeric DNA clones of porcine circovirus (PCV), vaccines and means of protecting pigs against viral infection or postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) caused by PCV2. The new chimeric infectious DNA clone and its derived, avirulent chimeric virus are constructed from the nonpathogenic PCV1 in which the immunogenic ORF gene of the pathogenic PCV2 replaces a gene of the nonpathogenic PCV1, preferably in the same position. The chimeric virus advantageously retains the nonpathogenic phenotype of PCV1 but elicits specific immune responses against the pathogenic PCV2. The invention further embraces the immunogenic polypeptide expression products. In addition, the invention encompasses two mutations in the PCV2 immunogenic capsid gene and protein, and the introduction of the ORF2 mutations in the chimeric clones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC., IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Xiang-Jin Meng, Martijn Fenaux, Patrick G. Halbur
  • Publication number: 20190366533
    Abstract: An articulated multi-link robotic tail (MLRT) system is provided comprising a rigid housing, an actuation unit coupled to the rigid housing, and an MLRT having a proximal end that is coupled to the rigid housing and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The MLRT comprises N segments, where N is a positive integer that is greater than or equal to one. Each segment comprises i links, where i is a positive integer that is greater than or equal to two. Each link is mechanically coupled to an actuator of the actuation unit and capable of being actuated by the actuator to which it is mechanically coupled to adjust a pitch, yaw and roll of the MLRT. The articulated MLRT system is well suited for being integrated with a mobile robot to assist in stabilizing and maneuvering the mobile robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Pinhas Ben-Tzvi, Wael Saab, William Rone, Yujiong Liu
  • Patent number: 10471254
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively treating aberrant cells such as cancer cells through administration of a train of electrical pulses is described. The pulse length and delay between successive pulses is optimized to produce effects on intracellular membrane potentials. Therapies based on the system and method produce two treatment zones: an ablation zone surrounding the electrodes within which aberrant cells are non-selectively killed and a selective treatment zone surrounding the ablation zone within which target cells are selectively killed through effects on intracellular membrane potentials. As a result, infiltrating tumor cells within a tumor margin can be effectively treated while sparing healthy tissue. The system and method are useful for treating various cancers in which solid tumors form and have a chance of recurrence from microscopic disease surrounding the tumor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Sano, Christopher B. Arena, Scott S. Verbridge, Rafael V. Davalos
  • Patent number: 10470822
    Abstract: The invention provides for a system for estimating a 3-dimensional treatment volume for a device that applies treatment energy through a plurality of electrodes defining a treatment area, the system comprising a memory, a display device, a processor coupled to the memory and the display device, and a treatment planning module stored in the memory and executable by the processor. In one embodiment, the treatment planning module is adapted to generate an estimated first 3-dimensional treatment volume for display in the display device based on the ratio of a maximum conductivity of the treatment area to a baseline conductivity of the treatment area. The invention also provides for a method for estimating 3-dimensional treatment volume, the steps of which are executable through the processor. In embodiments, the system and method are based on a numerical model which may be implemented in computer readable code which is executable through a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Paulo A. Garcia, Rafael V. Davalos
  • Patent number: 10457883
    Abstract: A process for cleaning and dewatering hydrophobic particulate materials is presented. The process is performed in in two steps: 1) agglomeration of the hydrophobic particles in a first hydrophobic liquid/aqueous mixture; followed by 2) dispersion of the agglomerates in a second hydrophobic liquid to release the water trapped within the agglomerates along with the entrained hydrophilic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: Roe-Hoan Yoon
  • Publication number: 20190324206
    Abstract: An article comprising one or more layers of plasmonic nanoparticles located between opposing layers of dielectric materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Guoliang Liu, Assad U. Khan
  • Patent number: 10448989
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of biomedical engineering and medical treatment of diseases and disorders. Methods, devices, and systems for in vivo treatment of cell proliferative disorders are provided. In embodiments, the methods comprise the delivery of high-frequency bursts of bipolar pulses to achieve the desired modality of cell death. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to a device and method for destroying aberrant cells, including tumor tissues, using high-frequency, bipolar electrical pulses having a burst width on the order of microseconds and duration of single polarity on the microsecond to nanosecond scale. In embodiments, the methods rely on conventional electroporation with adjuvant drugs or irreversible electroporation to cause cell death in treated tumors. The invention can be used to treat solid tumors, such as brain tumors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher B. Arena, Rafael V. Davalos, Michael B. Sano
  • Patent number: 10452493
    Abstract: Aspects disclosed in the detailed description include a microprocessor fault detection and response system. The microprocessor fault detection and response system utilizes a hardware-based fault-attack aware microprocessor extension (FAME) and a software-based trap handler for detecting and responding to a fault injection on a microprocessor. Upon detecting the fault injection, the hardware FAME switches the microprocessor from a normal mode to a safe mode and instructs the microprocessor to invoke the software-based trap handler in the safe mode. The hardware-based FAME provides fault recovery information to the software-based trap handler via a fault recovery register (FRR) for restoring the microprocessor to a fault-free state. By utilizing a combination of the hardware-based FAME and the software-based trap handler, it is possible to effectively protect the microprocessor from malicious fault attacks without significantly increasing performance and area overheads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Bilgiday Yuce, Nahid Farhady Ghalaty, Patrick R. Schaumont
  • Patent number: 10429526
    Abstract: A radiation detector and detection method comprising one or more antineutrino capture sections having a plurality of cells. The cells including hydrogen, act as scintillators and contain a wavelength shifter. Also included are a plurality of neutron capture layers containing a neutron capture agent. The cells are disposed between said neutron capture layers. The layers act as scintillators to convert the radiation emission of a neutron capture to light for transmission to at least one of the cells and the cells and layers have different scintillation time constants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Huber, Jonathan M. Link, Mariani Camillo
  • Patent number: 10423207
    Abstract: Procedures are described for enhancing target system execution integrity determined by power fingerprinting (PFP): by integrating PFP into the detection phase of comprehensive defense-in-depth security; by deploying a network of PFP enabled nodes executing untrusted devices with predefined inputs forcing a specific state sequence and specific software execution; by embedding module identification information into synchronization signaling; by combining signals from different board elements; by using malware signatures to enhance PFP performance; by automatic characterization and signature extraction; by providing secure signature updates; by protecting against side-channel attacks; performing real-time integrity assessment in embedded platform by monitoring their dynamic power consumption and comparing it against signatures from trusted code, including pre-characterizing power consumption of the platform by concentrating on trace sections carrying the most information about the internal execution status; by u
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Reed, Carlos R. Aguayo Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20190282294
    Abstract: Described herein are methods of performing immunotherapy on a subject and/or determining if a subject will be responsive to ablation immunotherapy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: RAFAEL V. DAVALOS, NATALIE BEITEL WHITE, NIKOLAOS DERVISIS, IRVING COY ALLEN
  • Patent number: 10407681
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods utilizing double strand ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) to control parasitic nematodes, including Pratylenchus penetrans. More particularly, the present invention relates to several specific synthetic dsRNAs that induce RNA interference (RNAi) in the target nematodes and methods of delivering the dsRNAs to them, such as allowing feeding on plants containing the dsRNAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: The United States of America, as represented by The Secretary of Agriculture, Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathryn K. Kamo, Paulo C. R. Vieira, Jonathan D. Eisenback
  • Patent number: 10406219
    Abstract: Provided herein is a multivalent Brucella vaccine expressing at least one heterologous M. tuberculosis antigen. The vaccines described herein serve as an environmentally safe bivalent vaccine for protection against Brucella and Mycobacterium infections simultaneously. In particular, a multivalent vaccine comprising a Brucella strain transformed with a vector that expresses at least one M. tuberculosis antigen, where the M. tuberculosis antigen(s) is codon optimized for the Brucella strain is provided. In some aspects, the Brucella strain is B. abortus strain RB51 leuB and the M. tuberculosis antigen is one or more of Ag85B, Rv2660c, and ESAT6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Sriranganathan Nammalwar, Hamzeh Al Qublan, Garrett Smith, Stephen Boyle, Gerhardt Schurig