Patents Assigned to Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Patent number: 12341822
    Abstract: Embodiments of the innovation relate to a server device, comprising a controller having a memory and a processor, the controller configured to establish a first secure environment with a client device, the first secure environment having an associated server asset policy; provide the asset to the client device via the first secure environment; receive a request from the client device, via the first secure environment, to utilize the asset with a user-selected application according to a user-selected asset policy; establish a second secure environment with the client device, the second secure environment having the user-selected application and the associated user-selected asset policy and the second secure environment isolated from the first secure environment; and provide the asset to the client device via the second secure environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Craig Shue, Lane Harrison
  • Patent number: 12324128
    Abstract: A combined electrohydrodynamic (EHD) and dielectrophoretic (DEP) cooling approach for a processor or similar electronics in a zero gravity environment is beneficial in space exploration. An EHD pumping mechanism is defined by an array of alternating, polarized electrodes surrounding a heat sink coupled to the processor for heat exchange, such as a thermally conductive layer or coating. The array may be circular, rectangular, or any suitable geometry, generally guided by a shape of the heat sink/processor. Cooling fluid is drawn or pumped towards the heat sink by EHD electrodes, and a dielectrophoretic (DEP) electrode disposed above the center of the heat sink extracts the generated vapor bubbles away from the heated surface with a diverging electrical field. One configuration calls for a radial arrangement of EHD electrodes drawing the cooling fluid towards a centrally located heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventor: Jamal S. Yagoobi
  • Patent number: 12322769
    Abstract: Cathode material from exhausted lithium ion batteries are dissolved in a solution for extracting the useful elements Co (cobalt), Ni (nickel), Al (Aluminum) and Mn (manganese) to produce active cathode materials for new batteries. The solution includes compounds of desirable materials such as cobalt, nickel, aluminum and manganese dissolved as compounds from the exhausted cathode material of spent cells. Depending on a desired proportion, or ratio, of the desired materials, raw materials are added to the solution to achieve the desired ratio of the commingled compounds for the recycled cathode material for new cells. The desired materials precipitate out of solution without extensive heating or separation of the desired materials into individual compounds or elements. The resulting active cathode material has the predetermined ratio for use in new cells, and avoids high heat typically required to separate the useful elements because the desired materials remain commingled in solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Yan Wang, Diran Apelian, Haiyang Zou
  • Patent number: 12297518
    Abstract: Lithium recycling from expended Li-Ion batteries occurs thought selective recovery of lithium charge materials from a recycling stream including transition metals used for the charge material. Li recovery includes dissolving the lithium based charge material in an organic acid having a resistance or lack of affinity to dissolution of transition metals, and distilling a leach solution formed from the dissolved charge material for generating a powder including lithium and trace impurities of the transition metals. Sintering of the generated powder forms lithium carbonate and carbonates of the trace impurities that eluded the selective leach, however, since the trace impurities are insoluble in water, the lithium carbonate is recoverable by water washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Yan Wang, Jiahui Hou, Xiaotu Ma, Jinzhao Fu
  • Patent number: 12280177
    Abstract: Decellularized plant tissues and the use of these plant tissues as scaffolds are disclosed herein. Particularly, decellularized plant tissues are functionalized such to allow for human cell adhesion, thereby allowing for their use as scaffolds for human cells. These scaffolds can then be used in a number of applications/markets, including as research tools for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and basic cellular biology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignees: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY—JONESBORO, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: William L. Murphy, Gianluca Fontana, Joshua Gershlak, Glenn Gaudette, Pam Weathers, Tanja Dominko, Marsha Rolle, Sarah Hernandez, Carol Cramer, Luis Fabircio Medina-Bolivar, Bernard Binder
  • Patent number: 12209806
    Abstract: An atomizing spray dryer employs one or more stages defined by ultrasonic transducers in close proximity to a liquid feed opening forming a path of an atomization flow for producing uniform droplets from a close tolerance with the transducer. The atomization flow exits a gap between the transducer and an outer edge of the opening, such that the passed liquid is responsive to an oscillation of the transducer for forming the droplets. A conical or other suitably shaped transducer engages a substantially round liquid feed opening. Subsequent stages may include a circular, ring, or other suitable shape aligned to receive the atomization flow from a circumference of the conical base, or may also take any suitable shape, preferably to receive droplets directed by the first stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Jamal S. Yagoobi, Mengqiao Yang, Mehrnoush F. Dardashti
  • Publication number: 20250028784
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present innovation relate to a Fourier dot product analog matrix multiplier device. In one arrangement, the analog matrix multiplier device is configured as a set of analog transistor circuits and can include a set of signal generators and a Fourier dot product circuit. The components of the analog matrix multiplier device are configured to perform a Fourier dot product multiplication process relative to coefficients received by the analog matrix multiplier device. The Fourier dot product analog matrix multiplier device leverages the low power capabilities of analog circuits and a mathematical algorithm to reduce the number of components and power required to perform matrix multiplication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Jack Adiletta, Ukluhan Guler
  • Publication number: 20240423550
    Abstract: A concussion detection system comprises a kinematic detection device configured to be carried by a head of a user and a concussion detection device disposed in electrical communication with the kinematic detection device. The concussion detection device comprises a controller configured to: receive kinematic data from the kinematic detection device, the kinematic data associated with a head impact of the user, apply the kinematic data to a strain prediction engine to generate a strain identifier associated with the head impact and a concussion risk assessment associated with the strain identifier, and output the concussion risk assessment based upon the strain identifier and configured to identify a concussion risk associated with the head impact. The concussion detection device can assess concussion risk in the user for an individual impact, or based on a history of multiple head impacts, and can further take into account head or brain size differences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Songbai JI, Shaoju WU
  • Patent number: 12145013
    Abstract: A volatile liquid storage container has combustion resistance properties from a flexible sock or tube constructed of fire resistant fibers coupled to a neck of the storage container to prevent flame flash-back into the storage container. The storage container defines an enclosed volume having an orifice in the container material leading to a neck for pouring and filling the enclosed volume for exchanging the contents therein. The tube is elongated and surrounds a circumference of the orifice for engaging any ignition source entering through the orifice. The flexible nature of the tube or sock allows it to extend to an opposed interior surface of the enclosed volume, and ensures that the tube or sock is immersed in the fluid for encircling any ignition path to the volatile liquid without interfering with an ability to pour or refill the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Brian E. Elias, Robert G. Zalosh, Ali S. Rangwala, Samim Safaei Boroojeny, Larry Genovesi
  • Publication number: 20240324922
    Abstract: A health experience detection system comprises an eye-tracking device and a health experience detection device disposed in electrical communication with the eye-tracking device. The health experience detection device comprises a controller having a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to: receive eye-movement data from the eye-tracking device, the eye-movement data associated with eye-movement of a user and comprising at least one of saccade event data and fixation event data, apply the eye-movement data to a health experience identification engine to generate a health experience identifier associated with the user, and output a notification regarding the health experience identifier of the user as associated with the eye-movement data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Soussan Djamasbi, Javad Norouzi Nia, Doaa Alrefaei, Diane Strong, Randy Paffenroth
  • Publication number: 20240307005
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and processes for estimating blood pressure. Systems described herein comprise at least one sensor for measuring at least one waveform related to blood pressure from a patient; at least one processor; and at least one computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon executable instructions to carry out a method comprising: receiving, from the at least one sensor, the at least one waveform and determining one or more features comprising at least one or more temporal features and one or more morphology features; and analyzing the one or more features using one or more trained models to determine one or more blood pressure (BP) value associated with the patient; and outputting the one or more BP value determined for the patient based on the received one or more features. The system allows for continuous and noninvasive calculations of a blood pressure to the patient or other users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Rajesh S. Kasbekar, Edward A. Clancy
  • Patent number: 12082979
    Abstract: A surgical head clamp and robotics platform secures a head of a patient and positions an instrument relative to the head for a medical procedure. The head clamp and robotics platform comprises a planar C-shaped frame for at least partially encircling the head of a patient. An instrument arm is mounted is to a free distal end of one arm member of the frame. The instrument arm extends away from the arm member in a direction transverse to the plane of the frame. The instrument arm includes a base mounted to the arm member for movement along three degrees of freedom relative to the frame, a proximal portion extending from and pivotally connected to the base, and a distal instrument holder extending from and pivotally connected to the proximal portion. The instrument arm functions to selectively position the instrument in an angular position relative to the head clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Gregory S. Fischer, Benjamin Piecuch, Dino Kasvikis, Perry A. Genova
  • Patent number: 12074302
    Abstract: Cathode material from exhausted lithium ion batteries are dissolved in a solution for extracting the useful elements Co (cobalt), Ni (nickel), Al (Aluminum) and Mn (manganese) to produce active cathode materials for new batteries. The solution includes compounds of desirable materials such as cobalt, nickel, aluminum and manganese dissolved as compounds from the exhausted cathode material of spent cells. Depending on a desired proportion, or ratio, of the desired materials, raw materials are added to the solution to achieve the desired ratio of the commingled compounds for the recycled cathode material for new cells. The desired materials precipitate out of solution without extensive heating or separation of the desired materials into individual compounds or elements. The resulting active cathode material has the predetermined ratio for use in new cells, and avoids high heat typically required to separate the useful elements because the desired materials remain commingled in solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Yan Wang, Eric Gratz, Qina Sa, Zhangfeng Zheng, Joseph Heelan, Kee-Chan Kim
  • Patent number: 12055381
    Abstract: A strain gauge device employs a reflective base adapted to reflect a divergent optical signal, and a glass tube attached to the reflective base for optical communication therewith, the glass tube having a working length into which an optical fiber is inserted. The optical fiber is configured for transporting an optic signal indicative of the detected strain. The optic fiber has an outside diameter slightly smaller than an inside diameter of the glass tube for providing a slight tolerance. A distal end is disposed in slidable communication with an interior of the glass tube and accommodated by the tolerance, and a sensing circuit at the proximate end receives an optical signal indicative of strain or displacement. A resilient buffer layer made of soft silicone is disposed outside the glass tube to allow for large deformation measurements and reduce the distortion of the deformation by the introduction of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Yuxiang Liu, Hamed Jafarishad, Mucheng Li
  • Patent number: 12049409
    Abstract: Bauxite residue recovery includes mixing a solution of hydrochloric acid (HCL) according to a predetermined concentration, and adding the HCL solution to a quantity of raw red mud recovered from industrial operations as waste material. The highly alkaline property of the bauxite residue, commonly known as red mud is at least partially neutralized from the HCL, and makes the resulting washed red mud more amenable to subsequent uses in various applications in fields such as construction, wastewater treatment, and metal recovery processes. The process recovers washed red mud from the red mud and HCL solution by filtering the raw red mud and HCL solution for generating a stream of leach liquor from the filtrate and the recovered washed red mud from the residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Himanshu Tanvar, Brajendra Mishra
  • Patent number: 12046725
    Abstract: Cathode material from exhausted lithium ion batteries are dissolved in a solution for extracting the useful elements Co (cobalt), Ni (nickel), Al (Aluminum) and Mn (manganese) to produce active cathode materials for new batteries. The solution includes compounds of desirable materials such as cobalt, nickel, aluminum and manganese dissolved as compounds from the exhausted cathode material of spent cells. Depending on a desired proportion, or ratio, of the desired materials, raw materials are added to the solution to achieve the desired ratio of the commingled compounds for the recycled cathode material for new cells. The desired materials precipitate out of solution without extensive heating or separation of the desired materials into individual compounds or elements. The resulting active cathode material has the predetermined ratio for use in new cells, and avoids high heat typically required to separate the useful elements because the desired materials remain commingled in solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Yan Wang, Diran Apelian, Haiyang Zou
  • Patent number: 12017410
    Abstract: A nozzle apparatus for a 3D printer employs a center post or shape and extrudes a circumferential, tubular form having a central void. The nozzle includes a radial arrangement of prongs or supports around a center post, which provides space for molten print medium to flow in a 360° form around the center post. The nozzle extrudes a hollow tubular form around the post that can lay a tube shaped article on a perpendicular print bed, or can be used to deposit high resolution, hollow cylindrical segments for forming lightweight articles with less volume of print medium required due to the hollow extruded shape. A stream of air or gas may be emitted into the center of the extrusion for maintaining a tubular shape. Other suitable shapes may be employed by altering the contour of the center post and the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Ethan R. Wilke, Loris Fichera, Nicholas E. Pacheco
  • Publication number: 20240192198
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to biomimetic proteoliposomes, a method of making and a method of using the same. In particular, this disclosure provides proteoliposomes comprising one or more phospholipid carrier and one or more protein embedded in the one or more phospholipid carrier, wherein the one or more phospholipid carrier comprises a phospholipid composition with similar proportions of phospholipids as a naturally occurring cell type and a phospholipid concentration of about 1-50 mM; and wherein the one or more protein comprises a protein composition with similar proportions of proteins as the naturally occurring cell type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Christina M. Bailey-Hytholt, Daniel Zimmer
  • Patent number: 11961626
    Abstract: A fiber optic based particle manipulation system employs one or more optical fibers for emanating a refracted optical manipulation signal directed at a target particle for fixing or manipulating the particle for examination, research and manufacturing. A target particle may be a living cell or inanimate sample or compound of matter. An alignment linkage controls optical fibers carrying the manipulation signal for focusing one or more manipulation signals on the target particle. Manipulated particles occupy a fluid medium of either liquid or gas, and are responsive to the manipulation signal based on both photon bombardment and temperature differential from photon contact. The temperature differential is based on surface properties of the target particle, as smooth particles tend to exhibit a greater thermal differential for stronger displacement forces driving or affecting the target particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Yuxiang Liu, Chaoyang Ti, Qi Wen
  • Patent number: 11955613
    Abstract: Cathode material from exhausted lithium ion batteries are dissolved in a solution for extracting the useful elements Co (cobalt), Ni (nickel), Al (Aluminum) and Mn (manganese) to produce active cathode materials for new batteries. The solution includes compounds of desirable materials such as cobalt, nickel, aluminum and manganese dissolved as compounds from the exhausted cathode material of spent cells. Depending on a desired proportion, or ratio, of the desired materials, raw materials are added to the solution to achieve the desired ratio of the commingled compounds for the recycled cathode material for new cells. The desired materials precipitate out of solution without extensive heating or separation of the desired materials into individual compounds or elements. The resulting active cathode material has the predetermined ratio for use in new cells, and avoids high heat typically required to separate the useful elements because the desired materials remain commingled in solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Yan Wang, Eric Gratz, Qina Sa, Zhangfeng Zheng, Joseph Heelan, Kee-Chan Kim