Patents by Inventor Muthu Wijesundara
Muthu Wijesundara 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).
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Patent number: 11679047Abstract: Pressure modulating soft actuator array devices and related systems and methods. One example of the present systems comprises: a device having a body that defines a plurality of cavities; a pressure source configured to be in fluid communication with the plurality of cavities; a plurality of sensors configured to capture data indicative of pressure within the plurality of cavities; and one or more controllers configured to actuate the pressure source to move fluid toward and/or away from one or more of the plurality of cavities in response to data captured by the plurality of sensors; wherein the device is configured to be disposed between a user and a surface on which the user is seated upon.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2018Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas SystemInventors: Muthu Wijesundara, Wei Carrigan
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Publication number: 20220299130Abstract: A corrugated diaphragm actuator may include a chamber body including a plurality of walls defining a cavity. The plurality of walls may include a first wall including a first corrugated diaphragm defining at least one first corrugated channel, and the corrugated diaphragm may be configured for expanding outwardly when a positive pressure is applied within the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2022Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventors: Muthu Wijesundara, Veysel Erel
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Publication number: 20210220206Abstract: This disclosure includes manipulating apparatuses and related methods. Some manipulating apparatuses include an actuator having a semi-rigid first segment, a semi-rigid second segment, and one or more flexible cells disposed between the first segment and the second segment, where the actuator is configured to be coupled to a fluid source such that the fluid source can communicate fluid to vary internal pressures of the one or more cells, and where each cell is configured such that adjustments of an internal pressure of the cell causes angular displacement of the second segment relative to the first segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Muthu Wijesundara, Wei Carrigan, Mahdi Haghshenas Jaryani
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Publication number: 20210113402Abstract: Pressure modulating soft actuator array devices and related systems and methods. One example of the present systems comprises: a device having a body that defines a plurality of cavities; a pressure source configured to be in fluid communication with the plurality of cavities; a plurality of sensors configured to capture data indicative of pressure within the plurality of cavities; and one or more controllers configured to actuate the pressure source to move fluid toward and/or away from one or more of the plurality of cavities in response to data captured by the plurality of sensors; wherein the device is configured to be disposed between a user and a surface on which the user is seated upon.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2018Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Muthu WIJESUNDARA, Wei Carrigan
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Patent number: 10912701Abstract: This disclosure includes manipulating apparatuses and related methods. Some manipulating apparatuses include an actuator having a semi-rigid first segment, a semi-rigid second segment, and one or more flexible cells disposed between the first segment and the second segment, where the actuator is configured to be coupled to a fluid source such that the fluid source can communicate fluid to vary internal pressures of the one or more cells, and where each cell is configured such that adjustments of an internal pressure of the cell causes angular displacement of the second segment relative to the first segment.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2016Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas SystemInventors: Muthu Wijesundara, Wei Carrigan, Mahdi Haghshenas Jaryani
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Publication number: 20200323657Abstract: In one embodiment, a robotic mirror therapy system for providing therapy to a user having a impaired hand, the system including a motion command glove configured to be worn on a healthy hand of the user or another person, the motion command glove comprising position sensors configured to determine the position and orientation of the healthy hand and its fingers, a motion actuator glove configured to be worn on the user's impaired hand, the motion actuator glove comprising actuators configured to actuate the impaired hand and its fingers, and a control unit configured to receive position data from the motion command glove and to control actuation of the actuators of the motion actuator glove such that the impaired hand mirrors motion of the healthy hand.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2020Publication date: October 15, 2020Inventors: Charu Pande, Mahdi Haghshenas-Jaryani, Muthu Wijesundara
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Patent number: 10653538Abstract: This disclosure includes bubble actuator arrays and methods for making and using the same. Some bubble actuator arrays include a first flexible layer having a substantially flat first portion and a plurality of second portions that protrude away from the first portion to define chambers, a flexible second layer sealed to the first layer to define a plurality of cells in the chambers and between the layers, and where the array can be coupled to a fluid source such that the internal pressures of the cells can be varied. Some of the present methods include adjusting with a processor and fluid source the pressure in the cells of an array. Others of the present methods include placing sacrificial material into chambers of a molded first layer such that a plurality of cells is formed when a second layer is molded coincident to the first and the sacrificial material is removed.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEMInventors: Muthu Wijesundara, Wei Carrigan
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Patent number: 10406365Abstract: A regenerative interface electrode comprising a multilayer or sandwiched stack of dies that are oriented at their distal ends with at least one layer inset such that it forms a groove into which a nerve may be positioned inside the groove. The die layers include electrodes that connect to the nerve, allowing the nerve to be modulated. The electrodes in the die layers are connected to a PCB, which may communicate with a recording device. The distal end of the sandwiched die layers forming the groove is inserted into a nerve tube, into which the nerve is inserted.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2015Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: Young-Tae Kim, Mario Romero-Ortega, Muthu Wijesundara, Caleb Nothnagle
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Publication number: 20180344488Abstract: This disclosure includes bubble actuator arrays and methods for making and using the same. Some bubble actuator arrays include a first flexible layer having a substantially flat first portion and a plurality of second portions that protrude away from the first portion to define chambers, a flexible second layer sealed to the first layer to define a plurality of cells in the chambers and between the layers, and where the array can be coupled to a fluid source such that the internal pressures of the cells can be varied. Some of the present methods include adjusting with a processor and fluid source the pressure in the cells of an array. Others of the present methods include placing sacrificial material into chambers of a molded first layer such that a plurality of cells is formed when a second layer is molded coincident to the first and the sacrificial material is removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Muthu WIJESUNDARA, Wei Carrigan
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Publication number: 20180303698Abstract: This disclosure includes manipulating apparatuses and related methods. Some manipulating apparatuses include an actuator having a semi-rigid first segment, a semi-rigid second segment, and one or more flexible cells disposed between the first segment and the second segment, where the actuator is configured to be coupled to a fluid source such that the fluid source can communicate fluid to vary internal pressures of the one or more cells, and where each cell is configured such that adjustments of an internal pressure of the cell causes angular displacement of the second segment relative to the first segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2016Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Muthu WIJESUNDARA, Wei CARRIGAN, Mahdi HAGHSHENAS JARYANI
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Patent number: 10064744Abstract: This disclosure includes bubble actuator arrays and methods for making and using the same. Some bubble actuator arrays include a first flexible layer having a substantially flat first portion and a plurality of second portions that protrude away from the first portion to define chambers, a flexible second layer sealed to the first layer to define a plurality of cells in the chambers and between the layers, and where the array can be coupled to a fluid source such that the internal pressures of the cells can be varied. Some of the present methods include adjusting with a processor and fluid source the pressure in the cells of an array. Others of the present methods include placing sacrificial material into chambers of a molded first layer such that a plurality of cells is formed when a second layer is molded coincident to the first and the sacrificial material is removed.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2014Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEMInventors: Muthu Wijesundara, Wei Carrigan
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Publication number: 20160340534Abstract: New piezoresistive ink compositions are described herein. Such compositions can be used in printing applications and can be useful to print onto non-uniform surfaces. The ink compositions can be useful in strain-sensing devices, which may be applied to electrical appliances, electronic devices and in robotics. Such strain-sensing devices can be a flexible and transparent strain sensor or as a tactile sensor. Methods of making strain-sensing devices and other embodiments are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Inventors: Muthu WIJESUNDARA, Caleb NOTHNAGLE
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Publication number: 20160331556Abstract: This disclosure includes bubble actuator arrays and methods for making and using the same. Some bubble actuator arrays include a first flexible layer having a substantially flat first portion and a plurality of second portions that protrude away from the first portion to define chambers, a flexible second layer sealed to the first layer to define a plurality of cells in the chambers and between the layers, and where the array can be coupled to a fluid source such that the internal pressures of the cells can be varied. Some of the present methods include adjusting with a processor and fluid source the pressure in the cells of an array. Others of the present methods include placing sacrificial material into chambers of a molded first layer such that a plurality of cells is formed when a second layer is molded coincident to the first and the sacrificial material is removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2014Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: Muthu WIJESUNDARA, Wei CARRIGAN
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Publication number: 20060008661Abstract: A method of depositing silicon carbide on a substrate, including placing a substrate in a low pressure chemical vapor deposition chamber; flowing a single source precursor gas containing silicon and carbon into the chamber; maintaining the chamber at a pressure not less than approximately 5 mTorr; and maintaining the substrate temperature less than approximately 900° C. The Method also includes a method for depositing a nitrogen doped silicon carbide by the addition of nitrogen containing gas into the chamber along with flowing a single source precursor gas containing silicon and carbon into the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2004Publication date: January 12, 2006Inventors: Muthu Wijesundara, Gianluca Valente, Roger Howe, Albert Pisano, Carlo Carraro, Roya Maboudian