| CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120100615 | CELL FATE CONVERSION OF DIFFERENTIATED SOMATIC CELLS INTO GLIAL CELLS - The present invention relates to the reprogramming of differentiated somatic cells, such as those differentiated cells that arise from embryonic mesoderm, into glial cells. Glial cells produced from this reprogramming are functionally equivalent to glial cells that arise from ectodermal origins. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120100113 | DIFFERENTIATION METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF GLIAL CELL POPULATIONS - The present invention provides methods for generating oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from pluripotent cells, as well as methods for sustaining these oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in relatively pure cultures for long periods of time. The present invention also provides methods for further differentiating these oligodendrocyte progenitor cells into various glial cells. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120098152 | POROUS MATERIAL HAVING ANISOTROPIC STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - A method of forming an anisotropic porous material includes forming an aerogel precursor, the aerogel precursor including a matrix material and a liquid dispersion medium for dispersing the matrix material. The aerogel precursor is frozen so that the dispersion is solidified while controlling the direction of crystal growth within the aerogel precursor. The aerogel precursor is freeze dried to sublime the dispersion medium and form the porous material. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120088857 | POLYMER REINFORCED POROUS MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A method of forming a porous material having improved compressive strength, includes forming an aerogel precursor that includes a polymer having a functional group capable of undergoing a crosslinking reaction dispersed in a dispersion medium. The precursor also includes a crosslinking agent. The aerogel precursor is frozen so that the dispersion is solidified, and freeze dried to sublime the dispersion medium and form the porous material. The crosslinking agent is reacted with the functional group to effect crosslinking, thus improving the compressive strength of the porous material. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120088855 | LOW DENSITY HYDROPHOBIC MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - Low density, buoyant materials, in particular hydrophobic aerogels, may be used to absorb hydrophobic liquids. The materials are adapted to float on aqueous solutions and can absorb oils or other hydrophobic liquids from the surface of the solution without absorbing appreciable amounts of the aqueous solution. Methods for creating and using the materials are disclosed. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120086139 | POROUS MATERIAL HAVING CONTROLLED VOIDS AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - A porous material having controlled void dimensions and method of forming the same includes forming an aerogel precursor, the aerogel precursor including a matrix material and a liquid dispersion medium for dispersing the matrix material. A plurality of particles having preselected dimensions is dispersed in the aerogel precursor. The aerogel precursor with the particles dispersed therein is frozen so that the liquid dispersion is solidified. The aerogel precursor is freeze dried to sublime the dispersion medium and form the porous material. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120083543 | POROUS MATERIAL HAVING IMPROVED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A method of forming a porous material having improved compressive strength includes forming an aerogel precursor, the aerogel precursor including a matrix material and a liquid dispersion medium for dispersing the matrix material. A freeze/thaw cycle is performed on the aerogel precursor, the freeze/thaw cycle including freezing the aerogel precursor so that the dispersion is solidified and thawing the aerogel precursor to liquefy the frozen dispersion medium. The aerogel precursor is frozen so that the dispersion is solidified, and freeze dried to sublime the dispersion medium and form the porous material. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120075638 | SEGMENTATION AND QUANTIFICATION FOR INTRAVASCULAR OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGES - A system and related methods for automatic or semi-automatic segmentation and quantification of blood vessel structure and physiology, including segmentation and quantification of lumen, guide wire, vessel wall, calcified plaques, fibrous caps, macrophages, metallic and bioresorbable stents are described, and including visualization of results. Calcified plaque segmentation can be used to estimate the distribution of superficial calcification and inform strategies stenting. Volumetric segmentation and quantification of fibrous caps can provide more comprehensive information of the mechanisms behind plaque rupture. Quantification of macrophages can aid diagnosis and prediction of unstable plaque and associated acute coronary events. Automated detection and quantification of metallic and bioresorbable stents can greatly reduce the analysis time and facilitate timely decision making for intervention procedures. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120071810 | PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY INCLUDING LIGHT PRETREATMENT - A method of photodynamic therapy is described that includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of a photosensitizer to an area of tissue such as the skin of a subject, delivering a first photoirradiation with light having a wavelength suitable to activate the photosensitizer to the area of skin, allowing a sufficient interval of time to pass for an effective amount of the photosensitizer to penetrate the tissue, and then delivering a second photoirradiation with light having a wavelength suitable to activate the photosensitizer to provide a therapeutic effect. Use of multiple photoirradiations increases the speed with which the photosensitizer can penetrate the tissue to reach the area where the source of the disease is present. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120063655 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PRODUCING AN IMPLANT - A computer implemented method for determining the 3-dimensional shape of an implant to be implanted into a subject includes obtaining a computer readable image including a defective portion and a non-defective portion of tissue in the subject, superimposing on the image a shape to span the defective portion, and determining the 3-dimensional shape of the implant based on the shape that spans the defective portion. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20110311158 | MOTION ARTIFACT REMOVAL - Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with removing motion artifacts from MR images are described. One example method includes controlling an MRI apparatus to acquire a fully sampled, centric-ordered, non-interleaved, data set from an object to be imaged and controlling a Generalized Auto-Calibrating Partially Parallel Acquisition (GRAPPA) logic to produce a GRAPPA duplicate of a single partition through the data set. The method also includes computing, from the GRAPPA duplicate, a GRAPPA navigator for a phase encoding (PE) line in the single partition and computing an error between the PE line in the single partition and a corresponding PE line in the GRAPPA duplicate using the GRAPPA navigator. The method also includes selectively replacing data in the PE line in the single partition with replacement data upon determining that the error exceeds a threshold. The method may include reconstructing an MR image based, at least in part, on the single partition. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110305638 | Modulation of Macrophage Activation - The invention provides methods for treating pathological conditions associated with an undesirable inflammatory component. The invention is generally directed to reducing inflammation by administering cells that modulate macrophage activation. The invention is also directed to drug discovery methods to screen for agents that modulate the ability of the cells to modulate macrophage activation. The invention is also directed to cell banks that can be used to provide cells for administration to a subject, the banks comprising cells having desired potency to modulate macrophage activation. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110293578 | Use of Stem Cells to Prevent Neuronal Dieback - The invention is generally directed to treatment of neuronal injury. In particular, the invention is directed to reducing axonal retraction (“dieback”) that occurs as a result of the interaction of activated macrophages with dystrophic axons that are produced during nervous system acute or chronic injury. The invention is also directed to promoting axonal growth/regeneration. The invention is specifically directed to using stem cells or their secreted cellular factors, such as would be produced in conditioned cell culture medium, to ameliorate or prevent axonal dieback and/or promote growth/regeneration of axons. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110264178 | Probe for Neural Stimulation - A neural probe for stimulating neural tissue is disclosed. The probe comprises a three-dimensional arrangement of individually addressable electrodes. As a result, embodiments of the present invention can steer stimulative electric current through a wide range of paths through neighboring neural tissue. This enables specific targeting of neural selected neural tissue. In addition, embodiments of the present invention provide increased tolerance to probe misplacement or movement after insertion. Further, embodiments of the present invention enable changes in the neural tissue being stimulated without requiring additional surgical procedures. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110241685 | SWITCHED MODE PRE-AMPLIFICATION AND AM FEEDBACK FOR ON-COIL SWITCHED MODE AMPLIFIERS IN PARALLEL TRANSMISSION MRI - Example systems, apparatus, circuits, and so on described herein concern parallel transmission in MRI with on-coil current-mode (CMCD) amplifiers. One example apparatus includes switched voltage-mode class D (VMCD) pre-amplifiers. Another example apparatus includes amplitude modulation of the output of the CMCD amplifiers using feedback control based, at least in part, on a comparison of an envelope of transmit coil current to an envelope of an input RF pulse. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110241682 | ON-COIL CURRENT MODE CLASS D RF POWER AMPLIFIER IN HIGH FIELD PARALLEL TRANSMISSION MRI - Example systems, apparatus, circuits, and so on described herein concern parallel transmission in high field MRI. One example apparatus includes a balun network that produces out-of-phase signals that are amplified to drive current-mode class-D (CMCD) field effect transistors (FETs) that are connected by a coil that includes an LC (inductance-capacitance) leg. The LC leg is to selectively alter the output analog RF signal and the analog RF signal is used in high field parallel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) transmission. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110241681 | HALL EFFECT CURRENT SENSOR - Example systems, apparatus, circuits, and so on described herein concern a Hall effect current sensor that includes a planar portion of a conductor that is oriented perpendicular to a base magnetic field in which it is located. In the presence of the magnetic field, a differential voltage is produced across the planar portion that is proportional to a strength of the magnetic field and the amount of current flowing through the conductor. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110217708 | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR DETECTING COLON CANCERS - This application describes methods and compositions for detecting and treating vimentin-associated neoplasia. Differential methylation of the vimentin nucleotide sequences has been observed in vimentin-associated neoplasia such as colon neoplasia. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110195896 | ISOFORM-SPECIFIC INSULIN ANALOGUES - A method treating a mammal by administering a physiologically effective amount of an insulin analogue or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof where the insulin analogue displays more than twofold greater binding affinity to insulin receptor isoform A (IR-A) than insulin receptor isoform B (IR-B). The insulin analogue may be a single-chain insulin analogue or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, containing an insulin A-chain sequence or an analogue thereof and an insulin B-chain sequence or an analogue thereof connected by a polypeptide of 4-13 amino acids. A single-chain insulin analogue may display greater in vitro insulin receptor binding to IR-A but lower binding to IR-B than normal insulin while displaying less than or equal binding to IGFR than normal insulin. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110166064 | HALOGEN-STABILIZED INSULIN - An insulin analogue comprises a B-chain polypeptide incorporating a halogenated phenylalanine at position B24, B25 or B26. The halogenated phenylalanine may be ortho-monofluoro-phenylalanine, ortho-monobromo-phenylalanine, ortho-monochloro-phenylalanine, or para-monochloro-phenylalanine. The analogue may be of a mammalian insulin, such as human insulin. A nucleic acid encodes such an insulin analogue. The halogenated insulin analogues retain significant activity. A method of treating a patient comprises administering a physiologically effective amount of the insulin analogue or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof to a patient. Halogen substitution-based stabilization of insulin may enhance the treatment of diabetes mellitus in regions of the developing world lacking refrigeration. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110165058 | Growth of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes - A method for synthesizing carbon nanotubes having a narrow distribution of diameter and/or chirality is presented. The method comprises providing catalyst particles to a reactor for synthesizing the carbon nanotubes, wherein the catalyst particles are characterized by a narrow distribution of catalyst-particle diameters and a narrow distribution of catalyst-particle compositions. Preferably, the catalyst particles are characterized by a mean catalyst-particle diameter of 2.6 nm or less and a composition of Ni | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110160798 | SEPARATED-INTERFACE NERVE ELECTRODE - Example ionic coupling electrodes are described. One example ionic conducting electrode includes a first portion that can be coupled to a single phase current source. The first portion carries current flow via electrons. The electrode includes a second portion to apply a current to a nerve tissue. The second portion carries current flow via ions. The second portion is positioned between the nerve tissue and the first portion to prevent the first portion from touching the nerve tissue. The current applied to the nerve tissue is produced in the second portion in response to a current that is present in the first portion. The current present in the first portion is provided from a single phase current source. The electrode may be used in applications including, but not limited to, nerve block applications and nerve stimulation applications. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110096092 | NON-CARTESIAN CAIPIRINHA - Example systems, methods, and apparatus concern non-Cartesian CAIPIRINHA (Controlled Aliasing In Parallel Imaging Results IN Higher Acceleration). One example parallel magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI) apparatus includes a radio frequency (RF) manipulation logic configured to control the pMRI apparatus to perform a non-Cartesian CAIPIRINHA acquisition process in which under-sampled data is acquired using a non-Cartesian (e.g., radial) pattern. The apparatus also includes a reconstruction logic configured to reconstruct the under-sampled data as a function of phase shift applied by the non-Cartesian CAIPIRINHA acquisition process and coil sensitivities acquired during the non-Cartesian CAIPIRINHA acquisition process. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110093233 | THROUGH-TIME RADIAL GRAPPA CALIBRATION - Example systems and methods control a parallel magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI) apparatus to acquire radial calibration data sets throughout time. Example systems and methods also control the pMRI apparatus to acquire an under-sampled radial data set from the object to be imaged. Example systems and methods then control the pMRI apparatus to reconstruct an image of the object to be imaged from the under-sampled radial data set. The reconstruction depends, at least in part, on a through-time radial GRAPPA calibration where a value for a point missing from k-space in the under-sampled radial data set is computed using a GRAPPA weight set calibrated and applied for the missing point. The GRAPPA weight set is computed from data in the radial calibration data sets. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110082188 | GENE EXPRESSION PROFILING OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE - The present invention relates to methods for identifying and/or classifying patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), particularly patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Gene expression profiling shows broad and fundamental differences in the pathogenic mechanism of UC and CD. The subject method is based on the findings that certain genes are differentially expressed in intestinal tissue of IBD patients compared with related normal cells, such as normal colon cells. That change can be used to identify or classify IBD cells by the upregulation and/or downregulation of expression of particular genes, alterations in protein levels or modification, or changes at the genomic level (such as mutation, methylation, etc), e.g., an event which is implicated in the pathology of inflammatory bowel diseases. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110077196 | NON-STANDARD INSULIN ANALOGUES - An insulin analogue comprises a B-chain polypeptide containing at least one alteration selected from a methylated phenylalanine substitution at position B24 and an addition of two amino acids to the carboxyl end of the B-chain polypeptide. A first amino acid at position B31 is selected from glutamate and aspartate, and a second amino acid at position B32 is selected from glutamate, alanine and aspartate. The methylated phenylalanine may be ortho-monofluoro-phenylalanine, meta-monobromo-phenylalanine or para-monochloro-phenylalanine. The analogue may be an analogue of a mammalian insulin, such as human insulin. A nucleic acid encoding such an insulin analogue is also provided. A method of treating a patient comprises administering a physiologically effective amount of the insulin analogue or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof to a patient. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110059887 | MEAL-TIME INSULIN ANALOGUES OF ENHANCED STABILITY - A method treating a patient includes administering a physiologically effective amount of a fibrillation-resistant insulin analogue or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof to the patient. The fibrillation-resistant insulin analogue or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, contains an insulin A-chain sequence modified at position A8 and an insulin B-chain sequence or an analogue thereof. The fibrillation-resistant insulin analogue may exhibit thermodynamic stability similar to or exceeding that of wild-type human insulin and displays a susceptibility to fibrillation similar to or exceeding that of wild-type human insulin. An insulin analogue may display greater in vitro insulin receptor binding than normal insulin while displaying binding to IGFR less than twice that of normal insulin and less than that of fast-acting insulin analogs. The fibrillation-resistant insulin may be used to treat a patient by subcutaneous injection or by using an implantable or external insulin pump, due to its fibrillation resistance. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110028967 | CHARACTERIZING ABLATION LESIONS USING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY (OCT) - Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with characterizing Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) lesions using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) are described. One example method includes acquiring an OCT signal from a Region Of Interest (ROI) in an ablated material. The example method may also include determining whether a lesion was formed by the ablation by analyzing optical properties of the ROI as recorded in the OCT signal. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110004118 | NEURAL PROSTHESIS SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROL - Multiple designs, systems, methods and processes for control using electrical signals recorded from clinically paralyzed muscles and nerves are presented. The discomplete neural prosthesis system and method for clinically paralyzed humans utilizes a controller. The controller is adapted to receive a volitional electrical signal generated by the human that is manifest below the lesion that causes the clinical paralysis. The controller uses at least the volitional electrical signal to generate a control signal that is output back to a plant to change the state of the plant, which in one aspect is one or more of the user's paralyzed muscles to achieve a functional result or to devices in the environment around the user that are adapted to receive commands from the controller. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20100241190 | ONSET-MITIGATING HIGH-FREQUENCY NERVE BLOCK - A method of blocking signal transmission through a nerve with reduced onset activity includes applying an HFAC to an axon of a nerve to block the transmission of signals through the axon. The method may also include applying a direct current (DC) to the axon, increasing the amplitude of the DC over time to a predetermined amplitude, applying the HFAC, and then decreasing the DC. The method may also include temporarily reducing the amplitude of the HFAC to permit the transmission of signals through the axon and subsequently increasing the amplitude to block transmission without triggering an onset response. The method may also include temporarily applying an unbalanced charge to the nerve and then balancing the charge over time. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100240609 | PHTHALOCYANINE SALT FORMULATIONS - Pharmaceutical compositions of phthalocyanine compounds with a structure according to Formula (I) are described. Phthalocyanines are photosensitizer compounds having a phthalocyanine ring system that can be used for photodynamic therapy. Different phthalocyanines and phthalocyanine salts are shown to have useful characteristics such as water solubility, oil solubility, or tunable photostability. Formulations of phthalocyanines and phthalocyanine salts that can be used for topical and systemic administration are described. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100239143 | REDUCING ACQUISITION TIME - Systems, methods, apparatus, and other embodiments associated with reducing imaging acquisition time are described. One example method includes accessing an under-sampled data set and a library of previously acquired data sets. The method includes producing an approximation of the under-sampled data set by transforming data stored in the library. The method includes producing a sparsified data set from the approximation and the under-sampled data set and then reconstructing the sparsified data set into a sparse image using a reconstruction technique configured to reconstruct sparse data. The method includes producing a fully-sampled approximation of the under-sampled data set and producing a final reconstructed image from the sparse image and the fully sampled approximation. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100209906 | Methods and compositions for detecting colon cancers - This application describes methods and compositions for detecting and treating vimentin-associated neoplasia. Differential methylation of the vimentin nucleotide sequences has been observed in vimentin-associated neoplasia such as colon neoplasia. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100201363 | CALIBRATING PARALLEL MRI WITH CARTESIAN CONTINUOUS SAMPLING - Example systems, methods, and apparatus control a pMRI apparatus to produce a pulse sequence having an extended acquisition window, and overlapping phase-encoding gradients and read gradients. One example method controls a pMRI apparatus to produce a trajectory having Cartesian and non-Cartesian segments that sample in a manner that satisfies the Nyquist criterion in at least one region of a volume to be imaged. The pMRI apparatus is controlled to apply radio frequency energy to the volume according to the pulse sequence and following the trajectory and to acquire MR signal from the volume in response to the application of the RF energy. The MR signal includes a first component associated with the Cartesian segment of the trajectory and a second component associated with the non-Cartesian segment of the trajectory. The example method includes calibrating a reconstruction process using Nyquist-satisfying data from the second component. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100131029 | METHOD OF TREATING OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA USING ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION - A method for treating a medical condition, such as obstructive sleep apnea, includes the step of stimulating a nerve, particularly the hypoglossal nerve, using at least one of the following techniques: (a) continuous low-level electrical stimulation; (b) electrical stimulation synchronized with a physical process, such as inspiration, without feedback from the nerve being stimulated; and (c) intermittent electrical stimulation at controlled intervals based on the patient's metabolism. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100099601 | FIBRILLATION-RESISTANT INSULIN AND INSULIN ANALOGUES - A fibrillation-resistant insulin analogue may be a single-chain insulin analogue or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, containing an insulin A chain sequence or an analogue thereof and an insulin B chain sequence or an analogue thereof connected by a polypeptide of 4-10 amino acids. The fibrillation-resistant insulin analogue preferably displays less than 1 percent fibrillation with incubation at 37° C. for at least 21 days. A single-chain insulin analogue displays greater in vitro insulin receptor binding than normal insulin while displaying less than or equal binding to IGFR than normal insulin. The fibrillation-resistant insulin may be used to treat a patient using an implantable or external insulin pump, due to its greater fibrillation resistance. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100076301 | ADAPTIVE IMAGING PARAMETERS WITH MRI - Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with automatically adapting MRI controlling parameters are described. One exemplary method embodiment includes configuring an MRI apparatus to acquire MR signal data using a non-rectilinear trajectory. The example method may also include acquiring MR signals, transforming the MR signals into image data, and selectively adapting the MRI controlling parameters based, at least in part, on information associated with the MR signals. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100066365 | METHODS FOR FAT SIGNAL SUPPRESSION IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - The present invention is directed to methods for chemical species signal suppression in magnetic resonance imaging procedures, wherein Dixon techniques are enhanced by continuously sampling techniques. In the invention, k-space data is acquired during the entire period of read gradient associated with a gradient echo pulse acquisition scheme. The invention utilizes a total sampling time (TST) acquisition during the entire read gradient, using three echoes of a TST data set to achieve chemical species separation in both homogenous fields as well as areas of field inhomogeneity. As an example, a continuously sampled rectilinearly FLASH pulse sequence is modified such that the time between echoes was configured to be 2.2 milliseconds, with TE selected to allow 180° phase variation in the fat magnetization between each of the three TE's (TE | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100063380 | Steady state dark blood magnetic resonance imaging - Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with steady state dark blood magnetic resonance imaging MRI are described. One example method includes controlling an MRI apparatus to produce a steady state pulse sequence. The example method may also include controlling the MRI apparatus to generate radio frequency (RF) energy and magnetic gradients associated with the steady state pulse sequence. The steady state pulse sequence is different from conventional steady state pulses in that it is characterized by regularly spaced slice selection excitation pulses to excite a region to be imaged in an object to be imaged using a consistent repetition time (TR), a set of readout modules, and a set of a magnetization preparation modules. A magnetization preparation module is characterized by gradients associated with imaging not being active, gradients associated with slice selection being active, and RF pulses associated with slice selection being active. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100062403 | SITUATED SIMULATION FOR TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND THERAPY - Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with producing an immersive training content module (ITCM) are described. One example system includes a capture logic to acquire information from which the ITCM may be produced. An ITCM may include a set of nodes, a set of measures, a logic to control transitions between nodes during a training session, and a logic to establish values for measures during the training sessions. Therefore, the example system may also include an assessment definition logic to define a set of measures to be included in the ITCM and an interaction logic to define a set of interactions to be included in the ITCM. The ITCM may be written to a computer-readable medium. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20090322322 | SCANNING SUSCEPTOMETER - According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a magnet assembly to produce a static magnetic field and a set of high-T | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090318590 | Dynamic mechanical polymer nanocomposites - Polymer nanocomposites exhibit a reversible change in stiffness and strength in response to a stimulus. The polymer nanocomposites include a matrix polymer with a comparably low modulus and strength and nanoparticles that have a comparably high modulus and strength. The particle-particle interactions are switched by the stimulus, to change the overall material's mechanical properties. In a preferred embodiment, a chemical regulator is used to facilitate changes of the mechanical properties. Methods for inducing modulus changes in polymer nanocomposites are also disclosed. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090304814 | FIBRILLATION RESISTANT PROTEINS - Protection of proteins against fibrillation may be afforded by introduction of certain histidine substitutions into the protein, such that a pair of histidines are present with sufficient spacing as to allow the histidines to coordinate with zinc. In the case of insulin, introduction of histidine residue substitutions at residues A4 and A8 together or a histidine residue substitution at residue B1, provides increased resistance to fibrillation while maintaining at least a majority of the activity of the insulin analogue. Introduction of a histidine residue substitution at residue A8 restores at least a portion of fibrillation resistance that may have been harmed by substitutions present on the B-chain such as those present in fast-acting insulins. Proteins protected by such histidine substitutions may be used to provide a pharmaceutical composition. A method of treating a patient includes administering a physiologically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition to the patient. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090288599 | SELF-WELDED METAL-CATALYZED CARBON NANOTUBE BRIDGES AND SOLID ELECTROLYTIC NON-VOLATILE MEMORIES - Systems and methods for simultaneously creating a plurality of carbon nanotubes on substrates and across large wafers via employing vapor deposition of material on the surface of the substrate and fluid flow to aid in and direct the growth of the nanotubes in pre-specified locations and directions. In addition, the nanotubes created can be used as gas and chemical sensors, electronic switches, resonators, and non-volatile memory devices. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090265421 | Internet measurement system application programming interface - Systems, application programming interfaces, and other embodiments associated with internet measurements are described. Example systems and methods facilitate requesting that a control server acquire internet measurements from a set of distributed measurement points. One example application programming interface (API) includes a list request interface to provide a list request to a control server. The list request may request a list of measurement points from the control server. The example API may also include a list receipt interface to receive a list response from the control server. The list response may contain information concerning measurement points. The API may enable a user to perform a complex series of internet measurements by giving the user access to standardized function calls for accessing a distributed internet measurement system. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090259725 | EMAIL CONSUMER REPUTATION - Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with email address consumer reputation are described. One example method includes detecting a provision of an email address to an email address consumer. The example method may also include warning a user that the email address consumer may be associated with undesirable email traffic upon determining that the email address consumer satisfies a standard based on data acquired from a reputation system. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090254144 | System and Method of Bladder and Sphincter Control - A method and system for bladder control are disclosed. In embodiments, a method for bladder control is provided that comprises coupling an electrode to an afferent nerve that is related to the bladder. Applying a plurality of pulse burst stimulations via the electrode causes voiding of urine from the bladder. In embodiments, the plurality of pulse burst stimulations to the afferent nerve reduces external urethral sphincter (EUS) contractions and evokes bladder contractions to expel urine from the subject. In embodiments, the plurality of pulse burst stimulations to the afferent nerve evokes bladder contractions alone to expel urine from the subject. In embodiments, a system for bladder control is provided that comprises an electrode for applying a pulse burst stimulus to an afferent nerve or dermatome to reduce reflex contractions and a signal generator for generating the pulse burst stimulus. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090247723 | TELECHELIC POLYMER COMPOSITION - A telechelic polymer composition comprising a telechelic polymer having phenolic hydroxyl groups at both ends and having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 1,000 to 10,000, and a compound having a benzoxazine ring structure or a compound having a naphthoxazine ring structure. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090247709 | DIAMINE POLYMER AND RESIN COMPOSITION THEREOF - A diamine polymer comprising a repeat unit represented by the following formula (I) in which diamine is linked to form a triaza ring; | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090240006 | NOVEL NAPHTHOXAZINE COMPOSITION - The present invention is intended to provide a novel naphthoxazine composition having a smaller amount of volatile components (weight reduction) upon curing, and is to provide a naphthoxazine composition characterized in that a naphthoxazine compound having a phenolic hydroxyl group in the same molecule is further added with an epoxy resin, and a molded product obtained by molding the naphthoxazine composition. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090177075 | Resolution enhanced T1-insensitive steady state imaging (RE-TOSSI) - Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with RE-TOSSI are described. One system embodiment includes an MRI apparatus configured to produce a RE-TOSSI pulse sequence and to acquire T2-weighted images in response to the RE-TOSSI pulse sequence. An example RE-TOSSI pulse sequence includes a TOSSI portion and a non-inverting, non-TOSSI portion. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090162855 | Identification of Genetic Variants Associated with Increased Severity of Pulmonary Disease - A method of determining a genetic component contributing to the severity of a pulmonary disease in a patient comprises determining the presence or absence of one or more single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Endothelin Receptor A (EDNRA) gene or the Interleukin-8 (IL-8) gene of the patient. The SNPs are rs5335 or rs1801708 for EDNRA, or rs4O73 for IL-8. The pulmonary disease may be cystic fibrosis or lymphangioleimyomatosis. Determining the presence or absence of one or more of SNPs rs5335 or rs1801708 in the EDNRA gene or rs4073 in the IL-8 gene of the patient may also be used in a method of treating a patient having a pulmonary disease. A kit may comprise one or more probes for determining the presence or absence of one or more of SNPs rs5335 and rs1801708 in the EDNRA gene or the SNP rs4073 in the IL-8 gene. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090143297 | MODULATORS OF ANTIESTROGEN PHARMACOLOGY - A protein, designated ERCoA3 is provided. The ERCoA3 protein interacts with the estrogen receptor and the progesterone receptor and causes activation of these receptors is provided. Also provided are polynucleotides which encode ERCoA3 or block translation of the mRNA which encodes ERCoA3. Antibiodies that bind to one or more epitopes in the human ERCoA3 protein are provided. The present invention also relates to methods of inhibiting or reducing tamoxifen or estrogen induced proliferation of cancer cells, particularly breast cancer cells, endometrial cancer cells and uterine cancer cells. The method comprises reducing the activity or levels of ERCoA3 in such | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090134876 | Multi-frequency excitation coils for MRI - Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an RF coil for use in multi-nuclear excitation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The RF coil includes a set of two or more L-C coils. Members of the set of two or more L-C coils have individual resonance frequencies. An RF amplifier is placed near the RF coil. The RF amplifier is controllable to selectively produce the individual resonance frequency of a member of the set of two or more L-C coils based, at least in part, on a digital input provided to the RF amplifier. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090130654 | METHOD FOR SCREENING HIV DRUG SENSITIVITY - A method for monitoring ARV resistance, to determine viral fitness, and to forecast possible drug failure utilizes two nucleic acid sequences. One nucleic acid includes a retroviral nucleic acid devoid of at least a majority of the sequence for one of the two long terminal repeat regions. A second nucleic acid, includes a retroviral nucleic acid sequence devoid of the sequences encoding an envelope gene and the second long terminal repeat region of the retrovirus. The method allows the rapid cloning of an amplicon into an HIV-1 genome vector through recombination/gap repair in organisms such as yeast. The vectors can be directly passed to a mammalian cell line which has been specifically engineered to produce replication competent HIV-1 particles. The susceptibility of an isolate to any of several ARVs, i.e. PRIs, NRTIs, NNRTIs, T20, as well as entry and integrase inhibitors in developmentlclinical trials, may be tested. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090069703 | SYSTEM FOR ARTIFACT DETECTION AND ELIMINATION IN AN ELECTROCARDIOGRAM SIGNAL RECORDED FROM A PATIENT MONITOR - A system eliminates artifacts from an electrocardiogram signal. The system includes a monitor for receiving an electrocardiogram signal from a patient and a microprocessor utilizing a shift-invariant wavelet transform for decomposing the electrocardiogram signal into a plurality of scales. The microprocessor applies rules to the scales for removing artifacts from the scales. The microprocessor reassembles the plurality of scales to produce a reconstructed and accurate electrocardiogram signal without the artifacts. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090053102 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC IMAGING (ECGI) - Noninvasive systems and methods are provided for determining electrical activity for a heart of a living being. A processor is configured to meshlessly compute data that represents heart electrical activity from a set of noninvasively measured body surface electrical potentials. This is accomplished using data that describes a geometric relationship between a plurality of locations corresponding to where the body surface electrical potentials were measured and the heart. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090047257 | Novel cell populations and uses thereof - The invention provides, among other things, novel cell populations of CD133 | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090030480 | Controlling seizure activity with electrical stimulation - Apparatus and methods associated with controlling seizure activity with electrical stimulation that either suppress axonal conduction between brain structures and/or that generate a desired response in a targeted neuronal pool are described. One example apparatus includes an implantable stimulating electrode that provides an electrical stimulus to fiber tracts of the hippocampal commissure of the brain of a subject. The stimulus may be a high frequency structure that prevents communication of signals associated with an epileptic episode and/or prevents seizure activity in a target nucleus. The example apparatus may also include a detection logic that detects specific electrical activity in the central nervous system that identifies that an epileptic episode is imminent. The example apparatus includes a pacing system to selectively configure and apply the electrical stimulus to fiber tracts of the hippocampal commissure of the brain. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090004526 | PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FOR FUEL CELL - A proton exchange membrane (PEM) with an ion exchange capacity of not less than 1 molar equivalent per kilogram and less than 20% water swelling is provided. The PEM includes a polymer having a polyphosphazene backbone with a polyaromatic functional group linked to the polyphosphazene as a polyaromatic side chain, a non-polyaromatic functional group linked to the polyphosphazene as a non-polyaromatic side chain, and an acidic functional group linked to the non-polyaromatic side chain. The polyaromatic functional group linked to the polyphosphazene provides for increased thermal and chemical stability, excellent ionic conductivities and low water swelling. The mole fraction of polyaromatic functional groups linked to the polyphosphazene backbone is between 0.05 and 0.60. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20080308421 | Device for the Adjustment of the Ph of Aqueous Solutions - A device for adjustment of the pH of a target liquid includes a working electrode ( | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080294221 | Action potential conduction prevention - An example method for selectively and reversibly preventing the conduction of action potentials in a targeted nerve region is presented. The method includes generating an electrical waveform having two phases and selectively depolarizing a nerve membrane using the electrical waveform. The nerve membrane is depolarized to a state where the nerve membrane cannot conduct an action potential. The depolarization is achieved by selectively repetitively providing the electrical waveform to a targeted nerve region associated with the nerve region to control m gates and h gates in the region and thus to control the availability of ions. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080279834 | Methods and Reagents for Identifying/Isolating T Regulatory (Treg) Cells and for Treating Individuals - An affinity ligand is reactive to the GARP protein may be capable of binding to an extracellular domain of GARP protein expressed on regulatory T (Treg) cells. The affinity ligand may be an antibody and may be used to identify Treg cells. A method comprises providing a blood sample from a subject and determining the amount of Treg cells in that sample. A composition containing Treg cells may be administered to an individual to suppress effector T cell activity in the individual. A composition containing an affinity ligand capable of binding to a GARP domain may be administered to an individual to suppress Treg cell activity and increase effector T cell activity in the individual. A kit for detecting Treg cells may include an affinity ligand reactive with mammalian GARP protein. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080242765 | Self-assembled nanofiber templates; versatile approaches for polymer nanocomposites - Polymer nanocomposites, nanoparticle-containing organogels utilized in forming the polymer nanocomposites, and methods for forming the polymer nanocomposites and nanoparticle-containing organogels are disclosed. Relatively simple and versatile methods are utilized to form the polymer nanocomposites. The process is based on the format of a three-dimensional network of well-individualized nanoparticles, such nanofibers through gelation thereof with an appropriate non-polymeric solvent. The nanoparticle-containing organogel is subsequently filled with a solution of a desired matrix polymer, the composite is dried and compacted to create the polymer nanocomposite. Polymer nanocomposites can be prepared which exhibit dramatic changes in mechanical properties, such as increased shear modulus, when compared to the neat polymer. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080231282 | On-coil switched mode amplifier for parallel transmission in MRI - Example systems, apparatus, circuits, and so on described herein concern parallel transmission in MRI. One example apparatus includes at least two field effect transistors (FETs) that are connected by a coil that includes an LC (inductance-capacitance) leg. The apparatus includes a controller that inputs a digital signal to the FETs to control the production of an output analog radio frequency (RF) signal. The LC leg is to selectively alter the output analog RF signal and the analog RF signal is used in parallel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) transmission. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080221445 | Gated optical coherence tomography (OCT) environmental chamber - Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with gated optical coherence tomography (OCT) are described. One example method includes generating an image control signal to control an OCT apparatus to acquire an image of an embryonic heart at a specified point in time during a cardiac cycle of the embryonic heart. The method may also include controlling the OCT apparatus to acquire the image based on the image control signal. In different examples, the image may be acquired in vivo or from an excised heart that is paced. The OCT apparatus and the embryonic heart may be housed in an environmental chamber having a set of controllable environmental factors. Therefore, the method may include detecting and controlling the set of controllable environmental factors. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080218169 | METHODS FOR FAT SIGNAL SUPPRESSION IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - The present invention is directed to methods for chemical species signal suppression in magnetic resonance imaging procedures, wherein Dixon techniques are enhanced by continuously sampling techniques. In the invention, k-space data is acquired during the entire period of read gradient associated with a gradient echo pulse acquisition scheme. The invention utilizes a total sampling time (TST) acquisition during the entire read gradient, using three echoes of a TST data set to achieve chemical species separation in both homogenous fields as well as areas of field inhomogeneity. As an example, a continuously sampled rectilinearly FLASH pulse sequence is modified such that the time between echoes was configured to be 2.2 milliseconds, with TE selected to allow 180° phase variation in the fat magnetization between each of the three TE's (TE | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080199882 | METHOD FOR DETECTION OF BIOMARKERS FOR EXPOSURE TO STACHYBOTRYS - A method of determining exposure of an individual to a macrocyclic trichothecene comprises isolating a sample of at least a portion of a naturally occurring protein from an individual, and detecting a reaction of the sample with a macrocyclic trichothecene. The macrocyclic trichothecene may be a product of | 08-21-2008 |
