Patents by Inventor Tammy Y. Olson

Tammy Y. Olson 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).

  • Patent number: 9852824
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an aerogel or xerogel includes column structures of a material having minor pores therein and major pores devoid of the material positioned between the column structures, where longitudinal axes of the major pores are substantially parallel to one another. In another embodiment, a method includes heating a sol including aerogel or xerogel precursor materials to cause gelation thereof to form an aerogel or xerogel and exposing the heated sol to an electric field, wherein the electric field causes orientation of a microstructure of the sol during gelation, which is retained by the aerogel or xerogel. In one approach, an aerogel has elongated pores extending between a material arranged in column structures having structural characteristics of being formed from a sol exposed to an electric field that causes orientation of a microstructure of the sol during gelation which is retained by the elongated pores of the aerogel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Marcus A. Worsley, Theodore F. Baumann, Joe H. Satcher, Jr., Tammy Y. Olson, Joshua D. Kuntz, Klint A. Rose
  • Publication number: 20170182563
    Abstract: Provided are methods for making hollow gold nanospheres.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jin Z Zhang, Adam SCHWARTZBERG, Tammy Y Olson
  • Publication number: 20170184505
    Abstract: The invention is drawn to novel nanostructures comprising hollow nanospheres and nanotubes for use as chemical sensors, conduits for fluids, and electronic conductors. The nanostructures can be used in microfluidic devices, for transporting fluids between devices and structures in analytical devices, for conducting electrical currents between devices and structure in analytical devices, and for conducting electrical currents between biological molecules and electronic devices, such as bio-microchips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jin Z. Zhang, Adam Schwartzberg, Tammy Y. Olson
  • Patent number: 9276063
    Abstract: The invention is drawn to novel nanostructures comprising hollow nanospheres and nanotubes for use as chemical sensors, conduits for fluids, and electronic conductors. The nanostructures can be used in microfluidic devices, for transporting fluids between devices and structures in analytical devices, for conducting electrical currents between devices and structure in analytical devices, and for conducting electrical currents between biological molecules and electronic devices, such as bio-microchips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jin Z. Zhang, Adam Schwartzberg, Tammy Y. Olson
  • Publication number: 20150192579
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a plurality of metal nanoparticles functionalized with a plurality of organic molecules tethered thereto, each organic molecule having a primary face and a secondary face. The plurality of organic molecules preferentially interact with the one or more analytes when placed in proximity therewith. The plurality of organic molecules comprise one or more of: one or more modifying groups on the primary face in place of one or more primary hydroxyl groups; and one or more modifying groups on the secondary face in place of one or more secondary hydroxyl groups. At least one of the one or more analytes is an energetic compound. In another embodiment, a method includes chemically modifying a plurality of cyclodextrin molecules at a primary hydroxyl moiety to create a chemical handle; and tethering the plurality of cyclodextrin molecules to a metal nanoparticle using the chemical handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Yong-Jin Han, Carlos A. Valdez, Tammy Y. Olson, Sung Ho Kim, Joe H. Satcher
  • Patent number: 9012241
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a plurality of metal nanoparticles functionalized with a plurality of organic molecules tethered thereto, wherein the plurality of organic molecules preferentially interact with one or more analytes when placed in proximity therewith. According to another embodiment, a method for detecting analytes includes contacting a fluid having one or more analytes of interest therein with a plurality of metal nanoparticles, each metal nanoparticle having a plurality of organic molecules tethered thereto, and detecting Raman scattering from an analyte of interest from the fluid, the analyte interacting with one or more of the plurality of organic molecules. In another embodiment, a method includes chemically modifying a plurality of cyclodextrin molecules at a primary hydroxyl moiety to create a chemical handle, and tethering the plurality of cyclodextrin molecules to a metal nanoparticle using the chemical handle. Other systems and methods for detecting analytes are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Yong-Jin Han, Carlos A. Valdez, Tammy Y. Olson, Sung Ho Kim, Joe H. Satcher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8968865
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an aerogel includes a layer of shaped particles having a particle packing density gradient in a thickness direction of the layer, wherein the shaped particles are characterized by being formed in an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process using an impurity. In another embodiment, a method for forming a functionally graded porous nanostructure includes adding particles of an impurity and a solution to an EPD chamber, applying a voltage difference across the two electrodes of the EPD chamber to create an electric field in the EPD chamber, and depositing the material onto surfaces of the particles of the impurity to form shaped particles of the material. Other functionally graded materials and methods are described according to more embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Marcus A. Worsley, Theodore F. Baumann, Joe H. Satcher, Tammy Y. Olson, Joshua D. Kuntz, Klint A. Rose
  • Publication number: 20140012224
    Abstract: Provided are novel nanostructures comprising hollow nanospheres (HGNs) and nanotubes for use as chemical sensors, molecular specific photothermal coupling agents, and photothermal ablation compounds. The nanostructures can be used in electromagnetic radiation-induced phototherapy for treatment of cancer and other disorders. The nanostructures can also be used as a sensor that detects molecules. The nanostructures are of particular use in the fields of clinical diagnosis, clinical therapy, clinical treatment, and clinical evaluation of various diseases and disorders, manufacture of compositions for use in the treatment of various diseases and disorders, for use in molecular biology, structural biology, cell biology, molecular switches, molecular circuits, and molecular computational devices, and the manufacture thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jin Z. Zhang, Adam Schwartzberg, Tammy Y. Olson
  • Publication number: 20130004761
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an aerogel includes a layer of shaped particles having a particle packing density gradient in a thickness direction of the layer, wherein the shaped particles are characterized by being formed in an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process using an impurity. In another embodiment, a method for forming a functionally graded porous nanostructure includes adding particles of an impurity and a solution to an EPD chamber, applying a voltage difference across the two electrodes of the EPD chamber to create an electric field in the EPD chamber, and depositing the material onto surfaces of the particles of the impurity to form shaped particles of the material. Other functionally graded materials and methods are described according to more embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventors: Marcus A. Worsley, Theodore F. Baumann, Joe H. Satcher, JR., Tammy Y. Olson, Joshua D. Kuntz, Klint A. Rose
  • Patent number: 8137759
    Abstract: The invention is drawn to novel nanostructures comprising hollow nanospheres and nanotubes for use as chemical sensors, conduits for fluids, and electronic conductors. The nanostructures can be used in microfluidic devices, for transporting fluids between devices and structures in analytical devices, for conducting electrical currents between devices and structure in analytical devices, and for conducting electrical currents between biological molecules and electronic devices, such as bio-microchips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jin Z. Zhang, Adam Schwartzberg, Tammy Y. Olson
  • Publication number: 20120052511
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an aerogel or xerogel includes column structures of a material having minor pores therein and major pores devoid of the material positioned between the column structures, where longitudinal axes of the major pores are substantially parallel to one another. In another embodiment, a method includes heating a sol including aerogel or xerogel precursor materials to cause gelation thereof to form an aerogel or xerogel and exposing the heated sol to an electric field, wherein the electric field causes orientation of a microstructure of the sol during gelation, which is retained by the aerogel or xerogel. In one approach, an aerogel has elongated pores extending between a material arranged in column structures having structural characteristics of being formed from a sol exposed to an electric field that causes orientation of a microstructure of the sol during gelation which is retained by the elongated pores of the aerogel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventors: Marcus A. Worsley, Theodore F. Baumann, Joe H. Satcher, JR., Tammy Y. Olson, Joshua D. Kuntz, Klint A. Rose
  • Publication number: 20120045754
    Abstract: The invention is drawn to novel nanostructures comprising hollow nanospheres and nanotubes for use as chemical sensors, conduits for fluids, and electronic conductors. The nanostructures can be used in microfluidic devices, for transporting fluids between devices and structures in analytical devices, for conducting electrical currents between devices and structure in analytical devices, and for conducting electrical currents between biological molecules and electronic devices, such as bio-microchips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Jin Z. Zhang, Adam Schwartzberg, Tammy Y. Olson
  • Publication number: 20120028372
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a plurality of metal nanoparticles functionalized with a plurality of organic molecules tethered thereto, wherein the plurality of organic molecules preferentially interact with one or more analytes when placed in proximity therewith. According to another embodiment, a method for detecting analytes includes contacting a fluid having one or more analytes of interest therein with a plurality of metal nanoparticles, each metal nanoparticle having a plurality of organic molecules tethered thereto, and detecting Raman scattering from an analyte of interest from the fluid, the analyte interacting with one or more of the plurality of organic molecules. In another embodiment, a method includes chemically modifying a plurality of cyclodextrin molecules at a primary hydroxyl moiety to create a chemical handle, and tethering the plurality of cyclodextrin molecules to a metal nanoparticle using the chemical handle. Other systems and methods for detecting analytes are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Yong-Jin Han, Carlos A. Valdez, Tammy Y. Olson, Sung Ho Kim, Joe H. Satcher, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100009338
    Abstract: The invention is drawn to novel nanostructures comprising hollow nanospheres and nanotubes for use as chemical sensors, conduits for fluids, and electronic conductors. The nanostructures can be used in microfluidic devices, for transporting fluids between devices and structures in analytical devices, for conducting electrical currents between devices and structure in analytical devices, and for conducting electrical currents between biological molecules and electronic devices, such as bio-microchips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Jin Z. Zhang, Adam Schwartzberg, Tammy Y. Olson