THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160023018 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IRRADIATION THERAPY USING VOXEL BASED FUNCTIONAL MEASUREMENTS OF ORGANS AT RISK - A method and apparatus for irradiation therapy using voxel based function measurements of organs-at-risk (OAR). The method includes determining size and location of each voxel of a plurality of voxels in a reference frame of a radiation device. The method further includes obtaining measurements that relate to utility of tissue type at each voxel. The method further includes determining a subset of the voxels that enclose an organ-at-risk (OAR) volume. The method further includes determining a value of a utility measure fj at each voxel of the subset based on a corresponding value of the measurements. The method further includes determining a series of beam shapes and intensities which minimize a value of an objective function that is based on a computed dose delivered to an OAR voxel multiplied by the utility measure fj for that voxel summed over all voxels. | 01-28-2016 |
20150338402 | Tamm Structures for Enhanced Fluorescence Based Sensing, Imaging and Assays - Techniques for enhanced fluorescence include a Tamm substrate for a target optical frequency comprising a metal nanoscale layer deposited on a Bragg grating. The Bragg grating includes multiple dielectric layers including multiple high index of refraction layers alternating with multiple low index of refraction layers. The dielectric layers are parallel to the metal nanoscale layer; and, the thickness of each dielectric layer is about a fourth of a wavelength of the target optical frequency in the layer. The metal nanoscale layer is configured to host a fluorophore such that an S polarized emission from the fluorophore at the target optical frequency propagates out of the substrate perpendicular to the plurality of dielectric layers. | 11-26-2015 |
20150338345 | One Dimensional Photonic Crystals for Enhanced Fluorescence Based Sensing, Imaging and Assays - Techniques for enhanced fluorescence include a functionalized substrate for a target optical frequency comprising a one dimensional photonic crystal that is functionalized with a bioactive target molecule that has an affinity for a particular analytic. The one dimensional photonic crystal includes a plurality of dielectric layers including a plurality of high index of refraction layers alternating with a plurality of low index of refraction layers. The thickness of each layer is within a factor of four of a wavelength of the optical frequency in the layer. For emissions from a fluorophore bound to the target molecule and excited by incident light, there is an emission intensity maximum centered at an angle independent of the direction of the incident light. | 11-26-2015 |
20150324979 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INDIVIDUALLY OPTIMIZING UNIFORM CONTRAST ENHANCEMENTS IN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING - A method is provided for optimizing a contrast injection function for CT imaging. The method includes injecting, with an injector pump, a test bolus of a contrast agent into a subject. The method also includes computing, on a processor, an impulse enhancement function. The method also includes determining, on a processor, a target enhancement function for a region of interest. The method also includes determining, with a processor, a plurality of parameters for a functional form for a contrast injection function in a time domain. The method also includes determining for the contrast injection function a constraint. The method also includes determining, with a processor, particular values for the plurality of parameters, which satisfy the constraint and minimize a difference between a value of an enhancement function and the target enhancement function computed in the time domain at discrete time periods without use of a Fourier transform. | 11-12-2015 |
20150224088 | METHODS OF TREATMENT OF ISCHEMIA-INDUCED ANGIOGENESIS AND ARTERIOGENESIS - It has now been discovered that p53 is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis and arteriogensis. Inhibition of p53 stimulates angiogenesis, arteriogenesis and improves perfusion in limbs. Therefore, methods are provided for treating diabetic-induced ischemia in a subject in need thereof comprising locally administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more p53 molecule inhibitors or analogs and derivatives thereof to a site of ischemic tissue in the subject. Methods are provided for improving limb perfusion in a subject in need thereof comprising locally administering a therapeutically effective amount one or more p53 inhibitors together with a therapeutic agent or separately from the therapeutic agent to cells of a limb of a subject in need thereof. Methods are also provided for improving ischemia-induced angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in method of improving ischemia-induced angiogenesis in tissue of a limb comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount one or more p53 inhibitors individually or in combination with another therapeutic to a subject in need thereof. | 08-13-2015 |
20150182716 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EMERGENCY APNEIC OXYGENATION - Techniques for emergency apneic oxygenation include a cannula having a longitudinal inner passage with an inner diameter. A distal portion has a first outer diameter greater than the inner diameter, and is made of shape memory material shaped to bend in a first direction along the inner passage. A cannula base has a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter. A distance from a distal end of the cannula to a proximal end of the distal portion of the cannula is less than a distance from a surface of a throat of a subject to a distal surface of an airway of the subject. The inner passage is configured to pass a catheter connected at a proximal end to an oxygen source. In various embodiments, the cannula is used with a trocar and, optionally, a system base, or supplied in a kit with a catheter. | 07-02-2015 |
20140288036 | NOVEL C-17-HETEROARYL STEROIDAL CYP17 INHIBITORS/ANTIANDROGENS, IN VITRO BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES, PHARMACOKINETICS AND ANTITUMOR ACTIVITY - Described are steroidal C-17 benzoazoles, pyrimidinoazoles (azabenzoazoles) and diazines. Methods for their synthesis are also described, which include methods having a step of nucleophilic vinylic “addition-elimination” substitution reaction of 3β-acetoxy-17-chloro-16-formylandrosta-5,16-diene or analogs thereof and benzoazole or pyrimidinoazole nucleophiles and methods having a palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 17-iodoandrosta-5,16-dien-3β-ol or analogs thereof with tributylstannyl diazines. The compounds are potent inhibitors of human CYP17 enzyme as well as potent antagonists of both wild type and mutant androgen receptors (AR). The compounds are useful for the treatment of human prostate cancer. | 09-25-2014 |
20140113263 | Clinical Training and Advice Based on Cognitive Agent with Psychological Profile - A method and apparatus for a clinical simulation system targets psychological phenomena that can negatively impact the decision making of both a clinician and a patient. Techniques include identifying an independently reasoning agent in a medical clinical information processing system configured to simulate interactions between a clinician and a patient. The method also includes determining, on the system, psychological profile data that indicates one or more personality traits for the agent. The method further includes storing psychological profile data on the system in a hierarchical data structure for a natural language processing system. The method still further includes determining simulation output from the system based at least in part on the psychological profile data. | 04-24-2014 |
20110034344 | RESPONSE GENE TO COMPLEMENT 32 (RGC-32) IN DISEASE - The invention relates to antibodies that bind to a fragment of the Response Gene to Complement-32 (RGC-32), as well as methods of using these antibodies. Particular methods of using the antibodies of the present invention include, but are not limited to, methods of detecting RGC-32 in a sample, methods of assaying cell proliferation, as well as methods of detecting and/or monitoring the progression of abnormal conditions in a subject, where the disease states are associated with the presence or absence of RGC-32. | 02-10-2011 |
20100190684 | INHIBITION OF PALMITOYL ACYL TRANSFERASE EXPRESSION AND/OR ACTIVITY FOR THE REGULATION OF ANTIPROLIFERATIVE FACTOR ACTIVITY - The invention generally concerns inhibition of a molecule that has a role in post-translational modification of a receptor for antiproliferative factor (APF) of bladder epithelial cells, thereby modulating the APF. In particular, inhibition of DHHC2 activity and/or ZDHHC2 expression results in modulation of APF receptor activity, and in specific aspects such modulation is therapeutic and/or preventative for a bladder condition, such as interstitial cystitis. In addition, inhibition of CKAP4 palmitoylation in certain cases also decreases its activity as a tPA receptor on smooth muscle cells or surfactant A on type II pneumocytes, and/or generally inhibits its function as a cell membrane receptor, cell chaperone molecule, and/or membrane trafficking agent. | 07-29-2010 |
20100055113 | CELLULAR RECEPTOR FOR ANTIPROLIFERATIVE FACTOR - The present invention concerns the receptor for antiproliferative factor (APF) from bladder epithelial cells. In particular, there are compositions and methods for modulating APF, APF receptor, and/or the binding of APF to APF receptor. Agents that interfere with the binding of APF to its receptor or agents that enhance the binding of APF to its receptor are contemplated. In specific aspects, certain compositions are employed for a therapeutic purpose, such as interstitial cystitis or cancer, for example. | 03-04-2010 |