Patents by Inventor Afrin Lopa

Afrin Lopa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method utilizing in-situ, subsurface, near-infrared spectroscopy to detect buried human remains
    Patent number: 11221292
    Abstract: A method for locating human remains in a clandestine or undocumented burial includes providing a spectroscopy assembly including a spectroscopy probe with a distal end to a location that may include human remains, wherein the spectroscopy assembly is configured to identify whether a salt of a fatty acid is present based on overtone wavelengths of the salt of the fatty acid; inserting the distal end of the spectroscopy probe into a testing spot at the location that may include human remains; and analyzing, with the spectroscopy assembly and after the step of inserting, whether the salt of the fatty acid having the overtone wavelengths is present in the location that may include human remains. The step of analyzing may include near-infrared spectroscopy, and the overtone wavelengths may be characterized by an absorption band contour extending from about 1670 nm to about 1800 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: Afrin Lopa, David Perry, Timothy Matney, Linda Barrett
  • METHOD UTILIZING IN-SITU, SUBSURFACE, NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY TO DETECT BURIED HUMAN REMAINS
    Publication number: 20200393369
    Abstract: A method for locating human remains in a clandestine or undocumented burial includes providing a spectroscopy assembly including a spectroscopy probe with a distal end to a location that may include human remains, wherein the spectroscopy assembly is configured to identify whether a salt of a fatty acid is present based on overtone wavelengths of the salt of the fatty acid; inserting the distal end of the spectroscopy probe into a testing spot at the location that may include human remains; and analyzing, with the spectroscopy assembly and after the step of inserting, whether the salt of the fatty acid having the overtone wavelengths is present in the location that may include human remains. The step of analyzing may include near-infrared spectroscopy, and the overtone wavelengths may be characterized by an absorption band contour extending from about 1670 nm to about 1800 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Afrin Lopa, David Perry, Timothy Matney, Linda Barrett