Patents by Inventor James L. Smith

James L. Smith 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).

  • Publication number: 20250114082
    Abstract: Introduced here is an ingestible device comprising a capsule having a central axis therethrough, at least one propulsion component, and at least one motor configured to supply motive power to the propulsion component(s). The propulsion component(s) may be disposed at locations radially offset from the central axis. Upon receiving input indicative of a request to alter a position and/or an orientation of the ingestible device, the motor(s) can supply motive power to some or all of the propulsion component(s) to cause movement of the ingestible device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2024
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel V. Moyer, Torrey P. Smith, James G. Erd, Daniel A. Luebke, Kian L. Tuma
  • Patent number: 12262103
    Abstract: A vehicular camera assembly includes a printed circuit board, a metallic shield element at least partially enclosing the printed circuit board, and a housing at least partially enclosing the shield element. The housing includes a front housing portion accommodating a lens. An imager is disposed at the printed circuit board and is optically aligned with the lens. The camera assembly includes an electrical connector for electrically connecting an electrical connecting element of the printed circuit board to a wire harness of a vehicle. The shield element includes at least one seam, with one or more seams including a respective gap between opposing edge regions of the shield element and an overlapping tab that extends from one of the opposing edge regions that at least partially closes the respective seam. The housing and the shield element are in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Nazar F. Bally, James L Smith, Jonathan D. Conger
  • Publication number: 20250074840
    Abstract: A plasticized pyrotechnic material can be easily portioned and formed or molded into a desired shape and burns at a high temperature (>2000° C.) but does not detonate. The plasticized pyrotechnic material may preferably include a combination of about 70-99% by weight of a pyrotechnic composition and about 1-30% by weight of a plasticizer composition comprising various low to mid molecular weight polyisobutylenes. The pyrotechnic material comprises inorganic oxidizers (e.g. metal oxides, oxohalide salts, nitrates, nitrites, chlorates/perchlorates) and metal or metal oxides powders mixed intimately. The plasticizer may include a small amount of a fluoropolymer, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and may also include up to 1-2% by weight of a processed oil, such as a mineral oil or motor oil. Some embodiments may also include a biocide precursor molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Jimmie Oxley, James L. Smith, Taylor Busby, Athina Kominia
  • Patent number: 12240874
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are nucleotide sequences encoding an insecticidal protein exhibiting Lepidopteran inhibitory activity, as well as novel insecticidal proteins referred to herein as a BCW 001, BCW 002, BCW 003, and BCW toxic protein-containing chimeras and BCW toxin insecticide, transgenic plants expressing the chimeras or the insecticide, and methods for detecting the presence of the nucleotide sequences or the insecticide in a biological sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: James A. Baum, David J. Bowen, Catherine A. Chay, David J. Chi, William P. Clinton, Crystal L. Dart, Leigh English, Stanislaw Flasinski, Victor M. Guzov, Kevin A. Jarrell, Uma R. Kesanapalli, Thomas M. Malvar, Robert M. McCarroll, Jason S. Milligan, Jay P. Morgenstern, Deborah G. Rucker, Sara A. Salvador, Temple F. Smith, Carlos E. Soto, Collin M. Stultz, Brian M. Turczyk, Ty T. Vaughn, Moritz W. F. Von Rechenberg
  • Publication number: 20250063304
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device may be formed from a layer of fabric having opposing first and second ends. The ends may have first and second respective ear openings that receive a user's ears and may have speakers for playing audio. A soft central portion of the fabric between the ends may overlap the user's eyes. The wearable electronic device may have control circuitry that receives power from a power source. Sensors may be used to gather sensor information such as biometric sensor information. The sensors, control circuitry, and power source may be mounted in a stiff edge portion of the fabric. The stiff edge portion of the fabric may have an elongated strip shape and may extend along an upper edge of the central and the electronic device. Stiffener structures sandwiched between inner and outer layers of the fabric may be used to support speakers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Andrea L. Blakemore, Amit S. Barve, Donald L. Olmstead, Joshua A. Hoover, Samuel G. Smith, Seulbi Kim, James G. Griffin, II, Linda D. Benavente-Notaro
  • Patent number: 12213888
    Abstract: An elbow arthroplasty system having a ball and a socket. The ball is configured for coupling to at least one member of one of the following groups: (i) a humerus, and (ii) a radius, an ulna, or both of the radius and the ulna. The socket is configured for coupling to at least one member of the other of the following groups: (i) the humerus, and (ii) the radius, the ulna, or both of the radius and the ulna. The socket defines a cavity that is configured to receive at least a portion of the ball. The ball may be a spheroid, an ellipsoid, a sphere, or a portion of one of the foregoing with a convex surface. The socket may be configured with a concave surface that is spheroidal, ellipsoidal, or spherical and designed to mate with the ball. An elbow arthroplasty method using a ball and a socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
    Inventors: James L. Cook, Trent M. Guess, Matthew J. Smith
  • Patent number: 12102615
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to methods for producing novel occidiofungin analogues lacking xylose (OF-?xyl analogue). OF-?xyl analogues can contain aldehyde, amine, triazole, or hydrazones. The aldehyde, amine, triazole or hydrazone containing analogues of OF-?xyl can be further modified by substitution with additional functional groups. Various OF-?xyl analogues described herein have reduced inflammation and toxicity and superior pharmacological properties compared to the natural occidiofungins. Accordingly, certain embodiments of the invention provide methods of treating or preventing fungal infections by administering to the subjects in need thereof the OF-?xyl analogues described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignees: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, SANO CHEMICALS
    Inventors: James L. Smith, Mengxin Geng, Akshaya Ravichandran, Ravi Orugunty
  • Patent number: 12049433
    Abstract: A plasticized pyrotechnic material can be easily portioned and formed or molded into a desired shape and burns at a high temperature (>2000° C.) but does not detonate. The plasticized pyrotechnic material may preferably include a combination of about 70-99% by weight of a pyrotechnic composition and about 1-30% by weight of a plasticizer composition comprising various low to mid molecular weight polyisobutylenes. The pyrotechnic material comprises inorganic oxidizers (e.g. metal oxides, oxohalide salts, nitrates, nitrites, chlorates/perchlorates) and metal or metal oxides powders mixed intimately. The plasticizer may include a small amount of a fluoropolymer, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and may also include up to 1-2% by weight of a processed oil, such as a mineral oil or motor oil. Some embodiments may also include a biocide precursor molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Jimmie Oxley, James L. Smith, Taylor Busby, Athina Kominia
  • Publication number: 20230144468
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a unique, two-part, water-soluble polymer matrix material and a method of application that immobilizes a wide variety of loose powder or crystalline hazardous materials and renders them “safe” or at least “safer” for handling and transport. The polymer matrix material is a two-part polymer material comprising a liquid cross-linking polymer and a cross-linking agent, initiator, or biocide contained in a solution. The cross-linking agent functions to cross-link the polymer and cause it to harden in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Jimmie Oxley, James L. Smith, Robert Ichiyama, Gerald Kagan
  • Publication number: 20230128640
    Abstract: A vehicular camera assembly includes a printed circuit board, a metallic shield element at least partially enclosing the printed circuit board, and a housing at least partially enclosing the shield element. The housing includes a front housing portion accommodating a lens. An imager is disposed at the printed circuit board and is optically aligned with the lens. The camera assembly includes an electrical connector for electrically connecting an electrical connecting element of the printed circuit board to a wire harness of a vehicle. The shield element includes at least one seam, with one or more seams including a respective gap between opposing edge regions of the shield element and an overlapping tab that extends from one of the opposing edge regions that at least partially closes the respective seam. The housing and the shield element are in contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Nazar F. Bally, James L. Smith, Jonathan D. Conger
  • Publication number: 20230080152
    Abstract: Examples are directed toward collecting, by a LC-MS device, a full scan of ion chromatograms of a sample. The LC-MS device determines observed ions contained in the full scan, based on mass-to-charge ratios (m/z), and determines, for a formation curve of an observed ion, a formation point at which fifty percent of the observed ion has formed. The LC-MS device determines a fragmentation curve of a precursor ion, based on a fragmentation point of the fragmentation curve equivalent to the formation point at which fifty percent of the precursor ion has fragmented, and identifies the precursor ion by referencing the LC-MS library to confirm that the observed ion is a product of the fragmentation of the precursor ion. The LC-MS device indicates a goodness of fit between the fragmentation curve, as observed, and a model fragmentation curve, as stored in the LC-MS library.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Homeland Security
    Inventors: Jimmie Oxley, James L. Smith, Alexander Yevdokimov, Kevin Colizza
  • Publication number: 20220229017
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an improved sample preparation technique, swab, swab holder and solvent for the removal of trace chemical materials from swabs and delivery of the trace materials into a mass spectrometer (MS) or an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS). The devices and techniques aid the delivery of the analyte into the instrument inlet and concurrently serves as an ionization source. The technique includes the steps of positioning or shaping the swab so that a pointed analyte release area is directed toward the inlet of the MS or IMS, adding a solvent to the swab and charging the swab to create an ionized analyte spray (Taylor Cone spray) into the inlet of the detection instrument. Solvent may include a chemical for depressing the ionization of residual solvent or enhancing the ionization of the desired analyte and this chemical may serve as an internal standard or benchmark.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Jimmie Oxley, James L. Smith, Alexander Yevdokimov
  • Patent number: 11300542
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an improved sample preparation technique and adapter device for the removal of trace materials from swabs and delivery of the trace materials into a mass spectrometer (MS) or an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS). The adapter device and technique aids the delivery of the analyte into the instrument inlet and concurrently serves as an ionization source. The technique includes the steps of positioning or shaping the swab so that a pointed analyte release corner or tip is directed toward the inlet of the MS or IMS, adding a solvent to the swab and charging the swab to create an ionized analyte spray pointed at or positioned within the inlet of the detection instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Jimmie Oxley, James L. Smith, Alexander Yevdokimov, Gerald Kagan
  • Publication number: 20220017431
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a unique plasticized pyrotechnic material which can be easily portioned and formed or molded into a desired shape and which burns at a high temperature (>2000° C.) but does not detonate. The plasticized pyrotechnic material may preferably include a combination of about 70-99% by weight of a pyrotechnic composition and about 1-30% by weight of a plasticizer composition comprising various low to mid molecular weight polyisobutylenes. The pyrotechnic material comprises inorganic oxidizers (e.g. metal oxides, oxohalide salts, nitrates, nitrites, chlorates/perchlorates) and metal or metal oxides powders mixed intimately. The plasticizer may include a small amount of a fluoropolymer, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and may also include up to 1-2% by weight of a processed oil, such as a mineral oil or motor oil. Some embodiments may also include a biocide precursor molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Jimmie Oxley, James L. Smith, Taylor Busby, Athina Kominia
  • Patent number: 11225510
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a modified lantibiotic containing an intact cysteine at the C-terminus, particularly, a cysteine that is not decarboxylated and that contains a free carboxyl group. Derivatives of the modified lantibiotic comprising a moiety conjugated to the carboxyl group of the terminal cysteine are also provided. A bacterium that produces a modified lantibiotic having an intact cysteine at the C-terminus are also provided, wherein the bacterium is genetically modified to inactivate a gene that encodes a decarboxylase enzyme that decarboxylates the cysteine at the C-terminus of a precursor lantibiotic. Methods of producing a modified lantibiotic having an intact cysteine at the C-terminus by culturing a bacterium that synthesizes the modified lantibiotic and purifying the lantibiotic are also provided. Mutants of lantibiotics, particularly, mutacin 1140 having higher anti-bacterial activity or higher bacterial expression compared to mutacin 1140 are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: James L. Smith, Jerome Escano
  • Publication number: 20210169846
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to methods for producing novel occidiofungin analogues lacking xylose (OF-?xyl analogue). OF-?xyl analogues can contain aldehyde, amine, triazole, or hydrazones. The aldehyde, amine, triazole or hydrazone containing analogues of OF-?xyl can be further modified by substitution with additional functional groups. Various OF-?xyl analogues described herein have reduced inflammation and toxicity and superior pharmacological properties compared to the natural occidiofungins. Accordingly, certain embodiments of the invention provide methods of treating or preventing fungal infections by administering to the subjects in need thereof the OF-?xyl analogues described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: JAMES L. SMITH, MENGXIN GENG, AKSHAYA RAVICHANDRAN, RAVI ORUGUNTY
  • Publication number: 20200338377
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a unique, two-part, water-soluble polymer matrix material and a method of application that immobilizes a wide variety of loose powder or crystalline hazardous materials and renders them “safe” or at least “safer” for handling and transport. The polymer matrix material is a two-part polymer material comprising a liquid cross-linking polymer and a cross-linking agent, initiator, or biocide contained in a solution. The cross-linking agent functions to cross-link the polymer and cause it to harden in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Jimmie Oxley, James L. Smith, Robert Ichiyama, Gerald Kagan
  • Publication number: 20200292495
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an improved sample preparation technique and adapter device for the removal of trace materials from swabs and delivery of the trace materials into a mass spectrometer (MS) or an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS). The adapter device and technique aids the delivery of the analyte into the instrument inlet and concurrently serves as an ionization source. The technique includes the steps of positioning or shaping the swab so that a pointed analyte release corner or tip is directed toward the inlet of the MS or IMS, adding a solvent to the swab and charging the swab to create an ionized analyte spray pointed at or positioned within the inlet of the detection instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Jimmie Oxley, James L. Smith, Alexander Yevdokimov, Gerald Kagan
  • Publication number: 20200199182
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a modified lantibiotic containing an intact cysteine at the C-terminus, particularly, a cysteine that is not decarboxylated and that contains a free carboxyl group. Derivatives of the modified lantibiotic comprising a moiety conjugated to the carboxyl group of the terminal cysteine are also provided. A bacterium that produces a modified lantibiotic having an intact cysteine at the C-terminus are also provided, wherein the bacterium is genetically modified to inactivate a gene that encodes a decarboxylase enzyme that decarboxylates the cysteine at the C-terminus of a precursor lantibiotic. Methods of producing a modified lantibiotic having an intact cysteine at the C-terminus by culturing a bacterium that synthesizes the modified lantibiotic and purifying the lantibiotic are also provided. Mutants of lantibiotics, particularly, mutacin 1140 having higher anti-bacterial activity or higher bacterial expression compared to mutacin 1140 are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: JAMES L. SMITH, JEROME ESCANO
  • Patent number: 10577399
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a modified lantibiotic containing an intact cysteine at the C-terminus, particularly, a cysteine that is not decarboxylated and that contains a free carboxyl group. Derivatives of the modified lantibiotic comprising a moiety conjugated to the carboxyl group of the terminal cysteine are also provided. A bacterium that produces a modified lantibiotic having an intact cysteine at the C-terminus are also provided, wherein the bacterium is genetically modified to inactivate a gene that encodes a decarboxylase enzyme that decarboxylates the cysteine at the C-terminus of a precursor lantibiotic. Methods of producing a modified lantibiotic having an intact cysteine at the C-terminus by culturing a bacterium that synthesizes the modified lantibiotic and purifying the lantibiotic are also provided. Mutants of lantibiotics, particularly, mutacin 1140 having higher anti-bacterial activity or higher bacterial expression compared to mutacin 1140 are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: James L. Smith, Jerome Escano