Biological Or Biochemical Patents (Class 703/11)
  • Patent number: 8862202
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for assessing the condition of a cartilage in a joint, particularly a human knee. The methods include converting an image such as an MRI to a three dimensional map of the cartilage. The cartilage map can be correlated to a movement pattern of the joint to assess the affect of movement on cartilage wear. Changes in the thickness of cartilage over time can be determined so that therapies can be provided. Information on thickness of cartilage and curvature of cartilage or subchondral bone can be used to plan therapy. Information on movement pattern can be used to plan therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Eugene J. Alexander, Thomas P. Andriacchi, Philipp Lang, Sandy A. Napel
  • Patent number: 8862451
    Abstract: A programmer device includes an interface that communicates with an implantable fluid delivery device and a user interface that displays a representation of a portion of the implantable fluid delivery device and displays an indication of a location of fluid within the implantable fluid delivery device during a delivery phase, e.g., a priming or bridging phase. The user interface may display a representation of progress of the delivery phase. The user interface may display the indication of the location of the fluid within internal tubing of the implantable fluid delivery device or within a catheter of the implantable fluid delivery device. The programmer device may display the representation of the progress of the delivery phase as a simulation of the delivery phase or during the actual delivery phase of the implantable fluid delivery device. A user may therefore observe a location of fluid corresponding to progress of the delivery phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah B. Alme, Touby A. Drew, Jiaying Shen
  • Publication number: 20140303345
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a GPCR fusion protein. In particular embodiments, the GPCR fusion protein comprises: a) a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR); and b) an autonomously folding stable domain, where the autonomously folding stable domain is N-terminal to the GPCR and is heterologous to the GPCR. The GPCR fusion protein is characterized in that is crystallizable under lipidic cubic phase crystallization conditions. In certain embodiments, the GPCR fusion protein may be crystallizable in a complex with a G-protein or in a complex with an antibody that binds to the IC3 loop of the GPCR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Brian K. Kobilka, Yaozhong Zou
  • Publication number: 20140303082
    Abstract: In the past decade a great deal of structural information for class A-GPCRs (G protein-coupled receptors) has emerged. However, the structural and electronic basis of ligand selectivity for closely related receptor subtypes such as the angiotensin receptors AT1aR and AT2R, which present completely diverse biological functions in response to the same ligand, is poorly understood. In order to monitor complex responses in biosystems it is useful to have ligands that present a gradient in terms of selectivity. In this study we present an efficient method to tune ligand selectivity for the two angiotensin II receptor subtypes, AT1aR and AT2R, by controlling aromatic-prolyl interactions in angiotensin II, through alternation of aromatic electronics. On the basis of this strategy, an AT2R selective and high affinity agonist analogue (Ki=3 nM) was obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: Andreas Tzakos
  • Publication number: 20140303952
    Abstract: Prediction of a preferred position and orientation of a ligand bound to a macromolecule is described. The ligand and the macromolecule can form a stable complex based on matching of physico-chemical properties and probabilistic relaxation labeling. The macromolecule can be a protein and a physico-chemical property can be hydrogen bonding. A potential docking location for the ligand on the surface of the protein is determined. Then, on the potential docking location and the ligand, the donor and acceptor atoms are identified. Probabilistic relaxation labeling is utilized to facilitate identification of the potential matching pairs of donors and acceptors, according to local shape complementarity and a geometric constraint for the conformation of hydrogen bond. A scoring function can rank the potential matching pairs to obtain the preferred ligand position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
    Inventors: Doris Zhiguan WANG, Hong YAN
  • Patent number: 8855940
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting coliform bacteria in water from reflected light, and also includes devices for the measurement, calculation and transmission of data relating to that method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Bowling Green State University
    Inventor: Robert K. Vincent
  • Patent number: 8855937
    Abstract: A system for estimating a crop characteristic comprises a database, a plant growth model correlator, and a crop characteristic estimator. The database includes plant growth models for a plurality of fields. The plant growth model correlator is communicatively coupled with the database. The plant growth model correlator is configured for determining at least one harvested field with a first plant growth model which correlates with a second plant growth model for at least a portion of an unharvested field. The crop characteristic estimator is configured for estimating a crop characteristic for the unharvested field based on actual crop characteristic data obtained from the at least one harvested field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Robert J. Lindores
  • Patent number: 8855938
    Abstract: A method, computer product, and computer system of minimizing surprisal data comprising: at a source, reading and identifying characteristics of a genetic sequence of an organism; receiving an input of rank of at least two identified characteristics of the genetic sequence of the organism; generating a hierarchy of ranked, identified characteristics based on the rank of the at least two identified characteristics of the genetic sequence of the organism; comparing the hierarchy of ranked, identified characteristics to a repository of reference genomes; and if at least one reference genome from the repository matches the hierarchy of ranked, identified characteristics, comparing nucleotides of the genetic sequence of the organism to nucleotides from the at least one matched reference genome, to obtain differences and create surprisal data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Friedlander, James R. Kraemer
  • Patent number: 8855973
    Abstract: An embodiment of an apparatus includes a simulator and a determiner. The a simulator is configured to simulate a system and to propagate at least one state of the simulated system through time in response to a value of a parameter, and the determiner is configured to determine a next value of the parameter in response to a characteristic of another state of the model and a representation of at least one level set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Tokitae LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Baym, Philip Andrew Eckhoff, Daniel Jay MacDonald, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Karima R. Nigmatulina, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140294137
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for determining and visualizing the perfusion of the myocardial muscle with the aid of static CCTA images. In at least one embodiment, the device includes a segmentation unit for segmenting the coronary blood vessels and the left myocardial muscle from a CCTA image of the heart; a first simulation unit for simulating the blood flow through the coronary blood vessels; and a second simulation unit by which the local perfusion of the myocardial muscle is determined on the basis of the ascertained blood flow into different regions of the myocardial muscle. The perfusion of the different regions of the myocardial muscle is visualized in a schematized image on a visualization unit. By virtue of the proposed device it is possible to dispense with further imaging examinations after the performance of a CCTA scan, thereby relieving the pressure both on the part of the physician and on the part of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Dominik BERNHARDT, Michael SCHEUERING, Fernando VEGA-HIGUERA
  • Publication number: 20140297246
    Abstract: A blood glucose meter and computer-implemented method for facilitating accurate glycemic control by modeling blood glucose using circadian profiles is provided. Anti-hyperglycemic medications are categorized based on similar glucose lowering effects. A circadian profile is built by collecting at least two recent typical measurements of pre-meal and post-meal period data stored on a glucometer, identifying a dose of an anti-hyperglycemic medication, and identifying the class of the anti-hyperglycemic medication. A model of glucose management through the circadian profile is created by estimating expected blood glucose values and their predicted errors at each of the meal periods, visualizing the expected blood glucose values and their predicted errors over time for each meal period in a log-normal distribution, and selecting one of the meal periods and, for each anti-hyperglycemic medication in the identified class, modeling a change in the dose of the anti-hyperglycemic medication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Anthony Michael Albisser, Lucienne Marie Ide
  • Patent number: 8849578
    Abstract: A prediction method for predicting the effect of an amino acid modification on the rate of aggregation (solubility) of a reference polypeptide comprising: calculating the difference in hydrophobicity (?Hydr) between the reference polypeptide and a modified polypeptide, calculating the difference in ?-sheet propensity (??Gcoil-?+??G?-coil) between the reference polypeptide and modified polypeptide, calculating the difference in charge (? Charge) between the reference polypeptide and modified polypeptide, and calculating: [x* ?Hydr]+[y*(??Gcoil-?+??G?-coil)]?[z*? Charge], wherein x, y and z are scaling factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Cambridge University Technical Services Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher Dobson, Fabrizio Chiti, Jesus Zurdo
  • Patent number: 8846932
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for modulating the function of transcription factors, especially transcription factors that recruit epigenetic regulators (histone modifying enzymes) to specific DNA promoters. The targeted transcription factors include but are not limited to the myocyte enhancing factor (MEF2), the forkhead/winged helix transcription factor FOXP3 and the transcription factor GATA3. Also disclosed are small molecule modulators of MEF2 and its associated factors that include but not limited to histone deacetylases (HDACs), p300/CBP and Cabin1 and the therapeutic applications thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Lin Chen, Nimanthi Jayathilaka, Aidong Han, Nicos A. Petasis
  • Publication number: 20140288910
    Abstract: Described are methods, systems and apparatus for hypothesizing a biological relationship in a biological system. A database of biological assertions is provided consisting of biological elements, relationships among the biological elements, and relationship descriptors characterizing the properties of the elements and relationships. A biological element may be selected from the database and a logical simulation may be performed within the biological database, from the selected biological element, through relationship descriptors, along a path defined by potentially causative biological elements to discern a biological element hypothetically responsible for the change in the selected biological element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Selventa, Inc.
    Inventors: Dundee Navin Chandra, Suresh Toby Segaran, David Kightley, Justin Sun, Dexter Pratt
  • Patent number: 8843356
    Abstract: A method for confirming the association of a query QTL or a query gene in the genome of a second species with a clinical trait T exhibited by the second species. A first QTL or a first gene in a first species that is linked to a trait T? is found. The trait T? is indicative of trait T. A region of the genome of the first species that comprises the first QTL or the first gene is mapped to a particular region of the genome of the second species. A query QTL or a query gene in the second species that is potentially associated with the trait T is found. The potential association of the query QTL or the query gene with the clinical trait T is confirmed when the query QTL or the query gene is in the particular region of the genome of the second species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
    Inventors: Eric E. Schadt, John Lamb
  • Patent number: 8843321
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for estimating a glucose level of a person having diabetes comprises. One method may comprise: receiving into a computing device a plurality of measured glucose results from a glucose sensor coupled to the person; using the computing device to analyze the plurality of measured glucose results with a probability analysis tool configured to determine a probability of glucose sensor accuracy based on the plurality of measured glucose results; and using the computing device to estimate a glucose level of the person with a recursive filter configured to estimate the glucose level based on the plurality of measured glucose results weighted with the probability of glucose sensor accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Duke, Abhishek S. Soni, Stefan Weinert
  • Publication number: 20140278322
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a surgical plan for altering an abnormal bone using a generic normal bone model are discussed. For example, a system for planning a surgery on an abnormal bone can include a model receiver module configured to receive a generic normal bone model. The generic normal bone model, such as a parametric model derived from statistical shape data, can include a data set representing a normal bone having an anatomical origin comparable to the abnormal bone. An input interface can be configured to receive an abnormal bone representation including a data set representing the abnormal bone. A surgical planning module can include a registration module configured to register the generic normal bone model to the abnormal bone representation by creating a registered generic model. A surgical plan formation module can be configured to identify one or more abnormal regions of the abnormal bone using the registered generic model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Branislav Jaramaz, Constantinos Nikou
  • Publication number: 20140278321
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a treatment plan for cosmetic procedures, for example, a hair transplantation procedure, are provided. The treatment plan allows user to provide input on a proposed hair element using a free-hand drawing in a two-dimensional plane, and for the proposed hair element to be generated and displayed on a three-dimensional model of a body surface. Various techniques and methods described in the application provide for improved planning of a natural looking hair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Restoration Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Zhang, Gabriele Zingaretti, Franklin Timothy McArthur
  • Publication number: 20140278320
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods may relate to a system for predicting a respirator fit by comparing a respirator model in a deformed state to a specific facial model. In an illustrative example, an internal measurement may be calculated between an inside part of the respirator model and the facial model. The internal measurement may be compared against a predetermined threshold to determine a fit of the respirator model, for example. In various implementations, the internal measurement may be a distance and/or a volume between the respirator and facial model. In some implementations, a 3D representation of the respirator model may be displayed upon a 3D representation of the facial model. In some implementations, a color-coded facial display may characterize areas of comfort and discomfort with respect to the respirator model. For example, areas of comfort and discomfort may be objectively determined in view of an applied pressure by the respirator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Xiaoli Wang, Henry Chen, Hao Bai, Paul Derby, Hari Thiruvengada, Vicken Sarkissian, Yajun-Edwin Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140278319
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods may relate to a system for predicting a respirator fit by comparing a specific respirator model to a specific facial model in a dynamic position. In an illustrative example, one or more dynamic positions may be generated by actual user movement and/or simulated user movement. For example, a facial model may be generated by altering a static model in view of actual and/or simulated movements. In various implementations, a facial model may be compared against a variety of respirator models from a respirator model database. In some implementations, a 3D representation of the respirator model may be displayed upon a 3D representation of the facial model. In some implementations, a color-coded facial display may characterize areas of comfort and discomfort with respect to the respirator model. For example, areas of comfort and discomfort may be objectively determined in view of an applied pressure by the respirator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Hari Thiruvengada, Paul Derby, Henry Chen, Hao Bai, Xiaoli Wang, Vicken Sarkissian, Yajun-Edwin Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140275088
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of identifying compounds useful in modifying the activity of Aldolase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Timothy J. Cardozo, Jürgen Bosch, Sondra Maureen Nemetski
  • Publication number: 20140261467
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a treatment plan for cosmetic procedures, for example, a hair transplantation procedure, are provided. The treatment plan automatically modifies or generates one or more proposed harvesting or implantation sites within a first hair element based on one or more parameters in one or more second hair elements. Various techniques and methods described in the application provide for improved planning of a natural looking hair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Restoration Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Zhang, Mohan (a.k.a. Radhika Mohan) Bodduluri, Gabriele Zingaretti, Theodore Thuong Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20140277032
    Abstract: A method and related apparatus are provided for making an ultrasonic irradiation plan include generating a 3D organ model from an input image, generating irradiation information about a unit treatment volume based on at least one of a movement and a deformation of an organ in the 3D organ model, simulating irradiation of ultrasound for virtual treatment by using the generated irradiation information, and making an ultrasonic irradiation plan based on the simulation. Additionally, a method is provided for determining if such an ultrasonic irradiation plan is applicable, and if so carrying it out by emitting appropriate ultrasonic radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min-su AHN, Won-chul BANG
  • Publication number: 20140278324
    Abstract: A method of simulating electrical propagation in the heart muscle on a computing device having a processor and a memory includes providing a structural representation of a heart muscle. The structural representation includes a plurality of tissue elements. The plurality of tissue elements have a shape corresponding to shape of a heart muscle. The method includes storing a model of electric potential propagation through the structural representation in the memory. The model includes a piecewise linear equation describing electrical activity within each tissue element and a difference equation describing conduction from one of the tissue elements to an adjacent tissue element. The method also includes providing a first set of tunable parameters for inclusion in the piecewise linear equation and a second tunable parameter for inclusion in the difference equation. The method further includes tuning the first set of tunable parameters and the second tunable parameter in the model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: VISIBLE ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, LLC.
    Inventors: Oliver Richard John Bates, Peter Salem Spector
  • Publication number: 20140278295
    Abstract: Methods for assessing the consistency and reliability of the calculations using cycle closures in relative binding free energy calculation paths. The methods are used for determining relative strength of binding between a receptor and individual members of a set ligands to form complexes between individual ligand set members and the receptor, in which the binding free energy difference with the lowest error is determined by probabilistic determination of the free energy differences and error distributions about those differences along each of the legs of the closed thermodynamic cycle that probabilistically lead to the hysteresis(es) value(s) observed for each closed of the closed thermodynamic cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Lingle Wang, Teng Lin, Robert Abel
  • Publication number: 20140278323
    Abstract: Systems and methods for ecosystem habitat optimization modeling, particularly in aquatic systems. Hydraulic modeling output is combined with biological suitability criteria within a geospatial framework to produce geospatial and numeric output. Hybridizing output from a physical habitat simulation model is overlaid onto a visual platform with biologic criteria supporting morphological design and analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Wayne S. Wright, John T. Monahan
  • Publication number: 20140278325
    Abstract: A tool for implementing a correction plan in an external fixation frame having a plurality of adjustment elements or screws, for example, generally includes a driver, a motor, a controller, and a processor. The driver is adapted to engage and rotate each of the screws. The motor is coupled the driver and adapted to rotate the driver. The controller is connected to the motor and configured to control operation of the motor. The a processor adapted configured to: receive correction plan data; receive identification data including information for identifying at least one of the plurality of screws; determine movement of at least one of the plurality of the screws based on the correction plan data and the identification data; and send signals indicative of the determined movement to the controller in order to rotate at least one of the plurality of screws according to a predetermined correction plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Stryker Trauma GmbH
    Inventors: Vinzenz Burgherr, Adam John Edelhauser, Yves Stephane Crozet, Marcel Aeschlimann, Christoph Dworzak, Antonino Lanci, Markus Mast
  • Patent number: 8838201
    Abstract: A non-invasive imaging system, including an imaging scanner suitable to generate an imaging signal from a tissue region of a subject under observation, the tissue region having at least one anatomical substructure and more than one constituent tissue type; a signal processing system in communication with the imaging scanner to receive the imaging signal from the imaging scanner; and a data storage unit in communication with the signal processing system, wherein the data storage unit is configured to store a parcellation atlas comprising spatial information of the at least one substructure in the tissue region, wherein the signal processing system is adapted to: reconstruct an image of the tissue region based on the imaging signal; parcellate, based on the parcellation atlas, the at least one anatomical substructure in the image; segment the more than one constituent tissue types in the image; and automatically identify, in the image, a portion of the at least one anatomical substructure that correspond to one
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Susumu Mori, Andreia V. Faria, Michael I. Miller, Kenichi Oishi
  • Patent number: 8831302
    Abstract: A method for anatomical analysis and joint implant design. Embodiments provide users with the ability to anatomically analyze a single bone or a series of bones that exist in a database, evaluate surgical landmarks and axes, identify differences among specific characteristics of a given population, and modify existing implants or create new implant designs based on anatomical analyses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventor: Mohamed Rashwan Mahfouz
  • Patent number: 8831924
    Abstract: A system and method for converting static/still medical images of a particular patient into dynamic and interactive images interacting with medical tools including medical devices by coupling a model of tissue dynamics and tool characteristics to the patient specific imagery for simulating a medical procedure in an accurate and dynamic manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Surgical Theater LLC
    Inventor: Mordechai Avisar
  • Publication number: 20140249792
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: HeartFlow, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. TAYLOR
  • Publication number: 20140249790
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for evaluating cardiovascular treatment options for a patient. One method includes creating a three-dimensional model representing a portion of the patient's heart based on patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart or vasculature; and for a plurality of treatment options for the patient's heart or vasculature, modifying at least one of the three-dimensional model and a reduced order model based on the three-dimensional model. The method also includes determining, for each of the plurality of treatment options, a value of a blood flow characteristic, by solving at least one of the modified three-dimensional model and the modified reduced order model; and identifying one of the plurality of treatment options that solves a function of at least one of: the determined blood flow characteristics of the patient's heart or vasculature, and one or more costs of each of the plurality of treatment options.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: HEARTFLOW INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Spilker, David Eberle, Leo Grady
  • Publication number: 20140249791
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: HeartFlow, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. TAYLOR
  • Patent number: 8825412
    Abstract: Methods for non-invasive prenatal ploidy calling are disclosed herein. Methods for determining the ploidy status of a chromosome in a gestating fetus from genotypic data measured from a sample of DNA from the mother of the fetus and from the fetus, and from genotypic data from the mother and optionally also from the father are disclosed herein. The ploidy state is determined by using a joint distribution model to create a set of expected allele distributions for different possible fetal ploidy states given the parental genotypic data, and comparing the expected allelic distributions to the pattern of measured allelic distributions measured in the mixed sample, and choosing the ploidy state whose expected allelic distribution pattern most closely matches the observed allelic distribution pattern. In an embodiment, the mixed sample of DNA may be preferentially enriched at a plurality of polymorphic loci in a way that minimizes the allelic bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Natera, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Rabinowitz, George Gemelos, Milena Banjevic, Allison Ryan, Zachary Demko, Matthew Hill, Bernhard Zimmermann, Johan Baner
  • Patent number: 8822225
    Abstract: A method of identifying a patient who is non-compliant with prescribed diet and/or phosphate binder regimen calculates a phosphorus-protein ratio (PPR) by calculating the patient's protein intake, measuring the patient's serum phosphorus concentration, and estimating the amount of phosphorus removed by the patient's kidneys from measured residual urea clearance. The PPR is the ratio between the total amount of phosphorus removed from the patient and the patient's protein intake. The method enables identifying a patient that is non-compliant with prescribed diet and/or phosphate binder regimen if the PPR is outside of an acceptable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank A. Gotch, Amanda K. Stennett, Norma J. Ofsthun
  • Publication number: 20140244228
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a method of optimization of a nucleotide coding sequence coding for an amino acid sequence, wherein the nucleotide coding sequence is optimized for expression in a host cell. The present disclosure also relates to system for optimizing a nucleotide coding sequence coding for an amino acid sequence, wherein the nucleotide coding sequence is optimized for expression in a host cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicants: AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
    Inventors: Dong-Yup LEE, Bevan Kai Sheng CHUNG, Yuansheng YANG
  • Publication number: 20140244229
    Abstract: Volatile organic compounds emitted from gastric cancer cell metabolite is separated and detected using HS-SPME/GC-MS. A volatile compounds fingerprint atlas-spectrum model are disclosed for early gastric cancer diagnosis/warning Volatiles 3-octanone and 2-butanone as indicators of gastric cancer cells which are not contained in the headspace of gastric mucosal cells GES-1. Meanwhile, the ratio of mass to volume to concentration of 4-isopropoxy alcohol, nonanoic acid, and 4-butoxy n-butanol is as follows: 4-isopropoxy alcohol [gastric cancer cells]/[normal gastric mucosa cells]?0.31; nonanoic acid [gastric cancer cells]/[normal gastric mucosa cells]?0.36; and 4-butoxy n-butanol [gastric cancer cells]/[normal gastric mucosa cells]?0.40. The volatile organic compound in cell metabolite to be detected is compared with the fingerprint atlas-spectrum model, so as to implement screening and warning of the early gastric cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Yixia Zhang, Daxiang Cui
  • Patent number: 8818737
    Abstract: Methods, systems, algorithms and means for describing, analyzing and predicting protein folding motifs and other structures are provided. In one aspect, the Protein Folding Shape Code (PFSC) methods, systems, algorithms and means of the present invention apply generally to all of the categories of protein analysis and description, and are especially relevant to the geometric analysis and descriptions of proteins from their respective sequences or sequence portions. In a novel approach, the present inventions render analysis with respect to the alpha carbons of five-amino acid elements of a protein, utilizing available data to derive torsion angles and pitch distances, to thereby generate a series of overlapping analysis that can be expressed by a plurality of 27 vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Sundia Meditech Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jiaan Yang
  • Patent number: 8818733
    Abstract: A photodynamic therapy system and methods determine the amount (concentration) of a photosensitizer agent present in the target tissue. The system may also determine the tissue oxygenation. The system may also determine light dosimetry parameters based on the amount of photosensitizer in the tissue and/or the tissue oxygenation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, College of Charleston
    Inventors: Linda R. Jones, Herbert C. Wolfsen, Michael B. Wallace, Nathan J. Towles, Fletcher B. Moore
  • Patent number: 8818782
    Abstract: A system for developing patient-specific therapies based on dynamic modeling of patient-specific physiology and method thereof are disclosed. The system includes software modules configured to provide access via a computer to one or more data collection protocols defining at least a type of patient-specific data to be collected and a manner in which the patient-specific data is to be collected, and to information from which one or more patient-specific models, configured to simulate one or more aspects of the patient's physiology, is developed. Another software module of the system is configured to provide access via the computer to one or more software tools that apply patient-specific data, collected according to the one or more data collection protocols, to the one or more patient specific models to determine therefrom one or more patient-specific therapies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Ajay Thukral, Paul Galley, Siva Chittajallu, Stefan Weinert
  • Publication number: 20140234974
    Abstract: Described herein is a gene regulatory network based focused approach to cell transformation. The methods described herein allow for identification of circuit and sub-circuit repertoires for which modification in a starting cell type can result in generation of a transformed cell type in a durable and persistent manner, without requiring potentially deleterious genome modification. The described methods and compositions produced by the methods find widespread application in regenerative medicine applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Isabelle Peter, Yong Zhu, Eric H. Davidson
  • Patent number: 8812243
    Abstract: A method, computer product and computer system of transmitting a compressed genome of an organism: a computer at a source reading an uncompressed sequence and a reference genome from a repository; the computer comparing nucleotides of the genetic sequence of the organism to nucleotides from a reference genome, to find differences where nucleotides of the genetic sequence of the organism which are different from the nucleotides of the reference genome; the computer using the differences to create surprisal data, the surprisal data comprising a starting location of the differences within the reference genome, and the nucleotides from the genetic sequence of the organism which are different from the nucleotides of the reference genome; and the computer transmitting, to a destination, a compressed genome comprising: surprisal data and an indication of the reference genome, discarding sequences of nucleotides that are the same in the sequence of the organism and reference genome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carlos H. Cardonha, Robert R. Friedlander, Ricardo G. Herrmann, James R. Kraemer, Julio Nogima
  • Patent number: 8812244
    Abstract: This is a system for integrating a system of education, monitoring and advising on glucose testing, diet, exercise and drug administration, by a wireless link, or GPRS system, using a device which is lightweight and portable (and easily carried by the patient) and which is capable of: glucose testing and recording the results; providing some feedback and advice from internal programs based on the results and on patient preferences; and transmitting the glucose testing results for external recording (e.g., on a server) and external analysis, feedback and advice from the server, and for feedback and advice from an appropriately knowledgeable and health care experienced party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: EOS Health, Inc.
    Inventor: Kimon Angelides
  • Patent number: 8812240
    Abstract: Functional imaging information is used to determine a probability of residual disease given a treatment. The functional imaging information shows different characteristic levels for different regions of the tumor. The probability is output for planning use and/or used to automatically determine dose by region. Using the probability, the dose may be distributed by region so that some regions receive a greater dose than other regions. This distribution by region of dose more likely treats the tumor with a same dose, allows a lesser dose to sufficient treat the tumor, and/or allows a greater dose with a lesser or no increase in risk to normal tissue. The dose plan may account for personalized tumors as each patient may have distinct tumors. Probability of dose application accuracy may also be used, so that a combined treatment probability allows efficient dose planning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Shipeng Yu, Glenn Fung, Steven Florian Petit, Hugo J. W. L. Aerts, Claudia Offermann, Michel Oellers, Philippe Lambin, Dirk de Ruysscher, Andreas Lubbertus Aloysius Johannes Dekker, Sriram Krishnan
  • Patent number: 8812247
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of optimization of a protein coding sequences for expression in a given host cell. The methods apply genetic algorithms to optimise single codon fitness and/or codon pair fitness sequences coding for a predetermined amino acid sequence. In the algorithm generation of new sequence variants and subsequent selection of fitter variants is reiterated until the variant coding sequences reach a minimum value for single codon fitness and/or codon pair fitness. The invention also relates to a computer comprising a processor and memory, the processor being arranged to read from and write into the memory, the memory comprising data and instructions arranged to provide the processor with the capacity to perform the genetic algorithms for optimization of single codon fitness and/or codon pair fitness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: DSM IP Assets B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Andries Roubos, Noël Nicolaas Maria Elisabeth Van Peij
  • Patent number: 8805663
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for solving the Navier-Stokes equation of blood dynamics as a Non-Newtonian fluid in the left ventricle. The method seeks to provide a model of the model of myocardial motion as an elastic membrane. This invention provides a new method to study the blood flow inside a biological membrane, estimated using quadratic equations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventors: Saeed Ranjbar, Mersedeh Karvandi, Mahdi Ajzachi
  • Patent number: 8805662
    Abstract: A simulator for driving a prosthetic element includes a prosthetic drive mechanism that drive the prosthetic element during an accelerated wear test of the prosthetic element. A simulation input represents the action of the simulator and a sensor mechanism is used to measure the force and torque applied to the prosthetic element. Position and orientation control sensors are further used to measure displacement of the prosthetic element. A closed loop feedback control system, responsive to the sensors, is used to determine a drive signal for the drive mechanism. The control system advantageously adds a computational model that incorporates mechanical representations of ligament fibers. The computational model is a non-human approximation to situations that would be encountered by the prosthesis within the human body and includes dimensional geometry of insertion sites and mechanical properties of ligament fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Mechanical Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce F. White
  • Patent number: 8805768
    Abstract: Techniques, including systems and methods, for generating data are disclosed and suggested herein. Original data used in connection with one or more applications is analyzed in order to determine one or more distribution characteristics for the original data. The distribution characteristics are used to generate data that is similarly distributed. The generated data may be used as seed data for demonstrating, testing, or otherwise using one or more applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Reza B'Far, Yasin Cengiz, Tsai-Ming Tseng, Fei Wihardjo, Huyvu Nguyen, Elizabeth Lingg, Sreedhar Chitullapally, Alan Waxman, Steven Miranda, Christopher Leone
  • Publication number: 20140222407
    Abstract: A method positions a profile of a prosthetic component on the three-dimensional model of a limb. Patient-specific anatomical data of the limb is gathered. First and second anatomical landmarks are identified to determine a first spatial relationship. A third anatomical landmark is identified to determine a second spatial relationship with respect to the first spatial relationship. The profile of the prosthetic component is positioned in all but one degree of freedom. A fourth anatomical landmark is identified to position the profile of the prosthetic component in the one remaining degree of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Sean Jordan, Michael Dean Hughes, Mark Ellsworth Nadzadi, Brian William McKinnon, Paul Charles Crabtree, JR., David Timothy Mehl
  • Publication number: 20140222406
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: HeartFlow, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. TAYLOR