DREXEL UNIVERSITY Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160140864 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING BINGE EATING DISORDERS - Systems, methods, devices, and applications for managing a binge eating disorder (BED). A smartphone and server application may be provided for monitoring and treating BED. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) may be used for automated and/or manual acquisition of data related to triggers associated with BED. Risk factors may be captured in real-time to provide data to both patients and clinicians. For manual data acquisition, the user may be prompted to input emotional states, urges to binge, eating behavior, and binge episodes. For automated acquisition, time, place (e.g. via GPS), medicine adherence, and physical activity may be recorded. The user may be provided with alerts and/or interventions when it is determined that they are at risk of binging. | 05-19-2016 |
20160139063 | Strain Mapping in TEM Using Precession Electron Diffraction - A sample material is scanned with a transmission electron microscope (TEM) over multiple steps having a predetermined size at a predetermined angle. Each scan at a predetermined step and angle is compared to a template, wherein the template is generated from parameters of the material and the scanning. The data is then analyzed using local mis-orientation mapping and/or Nye's tensor analysis to provide information about local strain states. | 05-19-2016 |
20160137529 | Plasma Spark Discharge Reactor and Durable Electrode - A plasma spark discharge reactor for treating water. The plasma spark discharge reactor comprises a HV electrode with a head and ground electrode that surrounds at least a portion of the HV electrode. A passage for gas may pass through the reactor to a location proximate to the head to provide controlled formation of gas bubbles in order to facilitate the plasma spark discharge in a liquid environment. | 05-19-2016 |
20160111011 | System and Method for Evaluating Reading Comprehension - A method for evaluating reading comprehension is provided. The method includes the steps of providing at least one printed passage of text; providing a test subject, the test subject wearing a device for measuring brain frontal lobe usage; requiring the test subject to read the printed passage; providing a question based on the printed passage for the test subject to answer; and determining whether the device measures brain frontal lobe usage. A system for performing the method is also provided. | 04-21-2016 |
20160106751 | SMALL MOLECULAR INHIBITORS OF RAD51 RECOMBINASE AND METHODS THEREOF - The invention includes compositions comprising a selective small-molecule inhibitor of RAD51 recombinase and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention further includes methods of treating or preventing cancer in a subject, comprising the step of administering to the subject the compositions contemplated within the invention. | 04-21-2016 |
20160089372 | Compositions Useful for Treating Herpes Simplex Labialis and/or Herpes Esophagitis, and Methods Using Same - The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods for treating diseases and disorders caused by herpes simplex virus type 1, including herpes simplex labialis or herpes esophagitis, in a subject. In certain embodiments, the compositions of the invention comprise an ATM inhibitor and an anti-herpetic agent. In other embodiments, the compositions comprise a Chk2 inhibitor and an anti-herpetic agent. In yet other embodiments, the compositions comprise a Chk2 inhibitor and an ATM inhibitor, and optionally an anti-herpetic agent. | 03-31-2016 |
20160085893 | Solver for Hardware Based Computing - Full-AC load flow constitutes a core computation in power system analysis. A performance gain with a hardware implementation of a sparse-linear solver using a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is achieved by use of a DC network emulation of the power system bus. Analog Behavioral Models (ABMs)are used in an efficient strategy for designing analog emulation engines for large-scale power system computation. A generator model is also developed using analog circuits for load flow emulation for power system analysis to reduce computation time. The generator model includes reconfigurable parameters using operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs). The circuit module is used with other reconfigurable circuits, i.e., transmission lines and loads. | 03-24-2016 |
20160076098 | METHODS OF DIAGNOSING AND TREATING CHRONIC PAIN - The invention includes compositions and methods useful for the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, assessment, and characterization of inflammation or pain (e.g., neuropathic pain) in a subject in need thereof, based upon the expression level of at least one miRNA that is associated with inflammation or pain. In one aspect, the invention relates to compositions and methods for the prediction of a subject's responsiveness of a treatment of inflammation or pain. | 03-17-2016 |
20160075872 | Toughening of Anhydride Cured Thermosetting Epoxy Polymers Using Grafted Triglycerides - Grafted triglycerides prepared from an epoxidized triglyceride and an acid anhydride containing 4 to 40 carbon atoms are reacted with an epoxy resin and an anhydride curing agent to yield an epoxy thermoset. By varying the length of fatty residues on the grafted triglyceride, the number of fatty residues per triglyceride, the identity of the epoxy resin and the anhydride curing agent, it is possible to prepare epoxy thermosets that exhibit superior physical properties compared to the properties of epoxy thermosets prepared without the grafted triglyceride, or as compared to epoxy thermosets wherein the epoxidized triglyceride is used in place of the grafted triglyceride. A significant improvement in fracture toughness with a minimal reduction of glass transition temperature may be thus achieved. | 03-17-2016 |
20160074408 | NOVEL COMPOSITIONS USEFUL IN TREATING BRAIN-RELATED DISEASES OR DISORDERS AND METHODS USING SAME - The present invention provides compounds useful for treating or preventing a brain-related disease or disorder. The present invention further provides a method of treating or preventing a brain-related disease or disorder in a patient, the method comprising administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of the invention. The present invention further provides a method of modulating the activity of a monoamine transporter. | 03-17-2016 |
20160074234 | RADIAL COMPRESSION UTILIZING A SHAPE-MEMORY ALLOY - Radial compression may utilize a shape memory alloy. The shape-memory alloy may comprise nickel titanium. A compressive force may be applied to a body part of an animal. For example, the device may be utilized to provide a compressive force to a limb of a human. The device may be utilized to provide compressive therapy to treat patients that suffer from, for example, chronic venous insufficiency or neuromuscular disorders, for recreational massage, or the like. Wires comprising a shape-memory alloy may be wound around an object. The wires may be individually, electrically controlled to provided radial compression. Radial compression utilizing a shape memory alloy concurrently may provide compressive force and thermal energy to an object. | 03-17-2016 |
20160064181 | Device for Nanoscale Sample Manipulation - A manipulating device for manipulating sample objects having dimensions between about 10 nm and 10,000 nm. The device is attached to a top plate of a microscope, wherein the top plate moves along a Z-axis. The device further has first and second arms attachable to said top plate, wherein when attached the first and second are positioned relative to one another to grasp a sample object. The first and second arms are adapted to move along an X-axis and a Y-axis. The device further has a controller adapted to control movement of the first and second arms. | 03-03-2016 |
20160051692 | NOVEL METHODS OF USE OF BIOMIMETIC PROTEOGLYCANS - In one aspect, the present invention relates to a new method of treating or preventing urinary incontinence in a mammal in need thereof. In certain embodiments, the method comprises contacting a composition comprising at least one biomimetic proteoglycan with the urethral or periurethral tissue of the mammal. | 02-25-2016 |
20160045638 | Thermosensitive and Crosslinkable Polymer Composite for Three-Dimensional Soft Tissue Scaffold Printing - A hydrogel material for use in three-dimensional scaffold printing is disclosed. The material is formed from a first triblock polymer having a formula ABA and a second triblock polymer having a formula AmaBAma, wherein A is a first polymer, B is a second polymer, and Ama is a methacrylate of the first polymer. The material is thermosensitive and photocrosslinkable. A method of manufacturing the material is also disclosed. | 02-18-2016 |
20150377878 | DEVICES, METHODS, AND KITS FOR DETECTING AN ANALYTE IN A SAMPLE - One aspect of the invention provides a device for detecting an analyte in a sample. The device includes: a sample loading region, an imaging window, a well, and an absorbent pad. The sample loading region is in fluid communication with the well. The well is in fluid communication with the absorbent pad, such that when a fluid sample comprising solid support structures and a liquid carrier are applied to the sample loading region, the fluid sample travels to the well and at least part of the liquid carrier is absorbed into the absorbent pad. | 12-31-2015 |
20150377496 | Heat Pump Water Heater - An energy efficient heat pump system capable of operating in extreme low and high temperature environments. The heat pump system includes an evaporator, a heater operatively associated with the evaporator, compressor and condenser. In an exemplary embodiment, the heat pump system may further include a plasma pulse-spark system to facilitate removal of scale deposits. The heater heats an environmental medium prior to the environmental medium exchanging energy with a refrigerant located in an evaporator coil of the evaporator in order to maintain a predetermined minimum temperature differential between the environmental medium when it contacts the evaporator coil and the refrigerant when located in the evaporator coil. The system allows efficient operation at low temperatures. | 12-31-2015 |
20150375965 | Modular Escalating Wheelchair Lift - A modular lift system that can be mounted on a stairway is disclosed. The system includes forks located on a first floor onto which the user rolls their wheelchair. The forks are motor operated to traverse a toothed track between the first floor and a second floor with the wheelchair and the user riding the forks. When the forks reach the second floor, the user rolls the wheelchair off the forks. | 12-31-2015 |
20150364673 | Freestanding Films With Electric Field-Enhanced Piezoelectric Coefficients - A method to produce low-temperature sinterable powders which are then subsequently used to fabricate freestanding piezoelectric films with very large electric-field-enhanced piezoelectric response is provided. The −d | 12-17-2015 |
20150361247 | TOUGHENING CROSS-LINKED THERMOSETS - Grafted triglycerides comprising an acrylated triglyceride grafted with a fatty acid residue containing 4 to 28 carbon atoms. Also described are methods for making a grafted triglyceride and for curing a material selected from vinyl esters and unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof and optionally a reactive diluent. The method includes the steps of mixing a grafted triglyceride of the present invention with a material selected from vinyl esters, unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof to form a mixture, and curing the mixture to form a cured resin system. A cured resin system comprising a cured product obtained by the foregoing method and composites containing the cured product and a filler or reinforcing material are also disclosed. This method also includes use of the grafted triglycerides to make toughened resin and composite systems with reduced hazardous air pollutants without significantly reducing the glass transition temperature and significantly increasing the viscosity. | 12-17-2015 |
20150357573 | Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Photovoltaic Device and Method for Making - A novel photovoltaic device including a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) material that is capable of converting solar energy to electrical energy and method for making. The device may optionally include a conductive container for holding the PDLC material. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention is directed to a self assembled PDLC material, a holographically synthesized PDLC material or a block co-polymer dispersed liquid crystal material. It is envisioned that the invention may be used a power source for any device, system or application. In particular, the invention may be used for any application involving the conversion of solar energy to electrical energy. | 12-10-2015 |
20150351701 | Methods, Computer-Readable Media, and Systems for Predicting, Detecting the Onset of, and Preventing a Seizure - One aspect of the invention provides a method of predicting a seizure in a subject comprising: (a) recording single neuron activity for a plurality of interneurons within the subject's mesial temporal lobe; (b) recording local field potential (LFP) within the subject's mesial temporal lobe; (c) measuring interneuron synchrony within the subject's mesial temporal lobe; and (d) detecting a pattern of interneuron activity and interneuron synchrony within the subject's mesial temporal lobe associated with an increased likelihood of a seizure. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for preventing a seizure in a subject comprising: (a) performing any one of the methods described herein; and (b) upon detection of the pattern, administering a therapeutically effective intervention to the subject to prevent onset of a seizure. Another aspect of the invention provides a non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer-readable program code including instructions for performing any of the methods described herein. | 12-10-2015 |
20150344873 | Whole Genome Mapping by DNA Sequencing With Linked-Paired-End Library - The present invention relates to innovative means of generating sequence-linked DNA fragments and subsequent uses of such linked DNA fragments for de novo haplotype-resolved whole genome mapping and massively parallel sequencing. In various embodiments described herein, the methods of the invention relate to methods of generating paired-end nucleic acid fragment sharing common linker nucleic acid sequences using a nicking endonuclease, a T7 endonuclease, a restriction enzyme, or a transposase, methods of analyzing the nucleotides sequences from the linked-paired-end sequenced fragments, and methods of de novo whole genome mapping. Thus, the methods of this invention allow establishing sequence contiguity across the whole genome, and achieving high-quality, low-cost de novo assembly of complex genomes. | 12-03-2015 |
20150342883 | Hyaluronidase and a Low Density Second PEG Layer on the Surface of Therapeutic-Encapsulated Nanoparticles to Enhance Nanoparticle Diffusion and Circulation - A delivery system comprising an organic nanoparticle, a hyaluronidase anchored or conjugated to the organic nanoparticle. The organic nanoparticle may be selected from a polymer-based nanoparticle, a lipid-based nanoparticle and nanoparticle formed by lipid-like molecules. In some embodiments, the hyaluronidase is covalently bound to a linker or spacer which, in turn, is anchored or covalently bound to the organic nanoparticle. The delivery system may also comprise an active pharmaceutical agent, a diagnostic agent, and/or a cellular membrane. The organic nanoparticle may further have a low density poly(ethylene glycol) layer on the surface. Methods for using the delivery system including for treating or diagnosing a disease are also provided. The organic nanoparticle provides enhanced diffusion/penetration through the extracellular matrix found in tumors, as well as increased circulation time in a human or animal body. | 12-03-2015 |
20150333943 | JOINT PAPR REDUCTION AND RATE ADAPTIVE ULTRASONIC OFDM PHYSICAL LAYER FOR HIGH DATA RATE THROUGH-METAL COMMUNICATIONS - A link adaptive orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed (OFDM) ultrasonic physical layer is provided that is capable of high data rate communication through metallic structures. The use of an adaptive OFDM subcarrier-based modulation technique mitigates the effects of severe frequency selective fading of the through-metal communication link and improves spectral efficiency by exploiting the slow-varying nature of the channel. To address the potential ill effects of peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) and to make more efficient use of the power amplifiers in the system, the invention modifies and implements a symbol rotation and inversion-based PAPR reduction algorithm in the adaptive OFDM framework. This joint adaptive physical layer is capable of increasing data rates by roughly 220% in comparison to conventional narrowband techniques at average transmit powers of roughly 7 mW while constrained to a desired BER. | 11-19-2015 |
20150311386 | Methods for Making Water Soluble Quantum Dots - A novel quantum dot containing two different metals at non-toxic levels which is capable of narrow bandwidth near infrared emissions at wavelengths of 600-1100 nm. The quantum dot is fabricated via an aqueous method which forms a structure having an inner region of one composition and an outer region of a different composition, wherein the inner region contains at least a first metal and the outer region contains at least a second metal. The quantum dots may be enabled for bioconjugation and may be used in a method for tissue imaging and analyte detection. | 10-29-2015 |
20150310153 | Methods and Computer-Readable Media for Synthesizing a Multi-Corner Mesh-Based Clock Distribution Network for Multi-Voltage Domain and Clock Meshes and Integrated Circuits - One aspect of the invention provides a including: (a) placing N×N max size buffers at an (n−1)st level of one of the voltage domains i until a maximum slew slew | 10-29-2015 |
20150293496 | FAST BAND PASS HOLOGRAPHIC POLYMER DISPERSED LIQUID CRYSTAL - A hyperspectral holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) medium comprising broadband reflective properties comprises dopants that result in a hyperspectral HPDLC with fast transitional switching speeds. A technique for fabrication of hyperspectral broadband HPDLC mediums involves dynamic variation of the holography setup during HPDLC formation, enabling the broadening of the HPDLC medium's wavelength response. Dopants may include carbon nanoparticles, piezoelectric nanoparticles, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, a high dielectric anisotropy compound, semiconductor nanoparticles, electrically conductive nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, or the like. The hyperspectral HPDLC having fast switching speeds may be used to form a mirror stack with electrically-switchable beam steering capability. | 10-15-2015 |
20150285760 | DIELECTROPHORETIC DEVICE FOR ANALYSIS OF CELL MECHANICS - A quadrupole dielectrophoresis device including at least one quadrupole electrode and a matrix patterned with at least one microspot comprising a cell-adherent protein. The quadrupole electrode is positionable to exert a dielectrophoretic force on a cell adhered to the microspot and at least one property of the cell is determined during exertion of the dielectrophoretic force. The quadrupole dielectrophoresis device may include an electric cell-substrate impedance sensing system for measuring cell deformation. A plurality of microspots and quadrupole electrodes may be provided in the device in which case the quadrupole electrodes may be multiplexed to simultaneously exert the same or different forces on different cells adhered to different microspots. Methods of using the quadrupole dielectrophoresis device to analyze cell mechanics are also provided. | 10-08-2015 |
20150265672 | MODULATION OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS CCCDNA TRANSCRIPTION - The present invention provides small molecule inhibitors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA, which are useful as therapeutics in the management of chronic HBV. The compounds of the invention achieve epigenetic modification of the cccDNA, histone modification and histone deacetylase activity inhibition, thus modulating HBV cccDNA. The present invention further provides methods for modulating HBV cccDNA, for treating or preventing HBV in a subject, and for modulating cccDNA transcription of hepatitis B in a subject. | 09-24-2015 |
20150216706 | Cervical Spine Protection Apparatus and Methods of Use - The invention is directed to a cervical spine protection apparatus one or more composite bands attached to provide restraint of one or more motions of the cervical spine of a wearer. The apparatus is designed to protect a wearer from incurring cervical spinal injuries, and/or to reduce the severity of cervical spine injuries without substantially compromising the normal functional range of motion of the wearer's cervical spine. | 08-06-2015 |
20150211650 | Flow Control/Shut-off Valve Assembly - A flow valve assembly includes a valve operable between an open position and a closed position and a controller operatively coupled to the valve to operate the valve between the open position and the closed position. A mechanically or electrically operated assembly is provided to determine an amount of fluid flow through the valve when the valve is in the open position. A mechanically or electrically operated mechanism moves the valve from the open position to the closed position when the amount of fluid flow exceeds a predetermined value. A method of operating the valve is also provided. | 07-30-2015 |
20150209564 | ULTRASOUND DEVICE AND THERAPEUTIC METHODS - The present invention is directed to an ultrasound device for use in implementing therapeutic treatments and transdermal analyte delivery. The device includes a piezoelectric transducer that efficiently and safely converts electrical energy to ultrasonic waves, and has a unique structure including a piezoelectric element positioned between two opposing, flexible concave covers. The device may be used for various therapeutic purposes including wound healing, tissue stimulation and transdermal analyte delivery. The invention is further directed to a novel analyte delivery system including the ultrasound device and an encapsulated analyte. | 07-30-2015 |
20150204612 | Systems and Methods of Using Phase Change Material in Power Plants - Cooling systems and methods for cooling in a power plant using a phase change material. In one embodiment, a phase change material container includes at least one phase change material which may be in the form of a slurry; and at least one conduit for transporting the fluid through the phase change material when located in the phase change material container. The system may also comprise an air flow chamber; and a phase change material flow system including a pump for pumping phase change material from an outlet of phase change material container, to at least one phase change material spray nozzle. The phase change material flow system is configured to ensure that solidified phase change material is returned to the phase change material container. | 07-23-2015 |
20150198610 | Lectin Assay for Assessing Glycoforms as an Early Marker in Disease - The present invention provides methods, compositions, apparatus, and kits for assessing glycoforms of proteins as a biomarker for disease. A purified recombinant form of lectin is used as a detector molecule to specifically label target sugars expressed in disease states. The high affinity of recombinant lectin allows for automation of assays that would be used in the diagnosis of diseases such as, but not limited to, cancer or liver disease. | 07-16-2015 |
20150160456 | REFLECTIVE SURFACE - The invention relates to a reflective surface substantially perpendicular to a vector field described by the equation: | 06-11-2015 |
20150135293 | RECONFIGURABLE ANTENNA BASED SOLUTIONS FOR DEVICE AUTHENTICATION AND INTRUSION DETECTION IN WIRELESS NETWORKS - Channel based authentication schemes for intrusion detection that operates at the physical layer are described that apply the capabilities of a pattern re-configurable antenna for improved performance. Performance gains are achieved by the schemes as a function of the number of antenna modes. The first scheme relies on a channel based fingerprint for differentiating between transmitters whereas another scheme poses the intruder detection problem as a generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) test problem that operates on the channel realizations corresponding to different modes present in a reconfigurable antenna. The benefits of these two schemes over single element antennas are demonstrated. General guidelines are provided on how to choose the different elements of the decision metric in order to realize better performance for physical layer based authentication schemes based on any diversity scheme. | 05-14-2015 |
20150112299 | Magnetically-Controllable Delivery System for Therapeutic Agents - A magnetic delivery system for delivering a magnetizable particle to a location in a body, the device includes a magnetizable object implanted in the body, wherein the magnetizable object includes a plurality of segments distributed throughout the magnetizable object and wherein the segments are configured to provide a magnetic gradient for attracting the magnetizable particle and an external source of a magnetic field capable of (i) magnetizing the magnetizable particle and (ii) increasing a degree of magnetization of the magnetizable object and thereby creating the magnetic gradient. A drug delivery system including the magnetic delivery system and a magnetizable particle associated with a therapeutic agent and/or a cell. A cell delivery system based on the magnetic delivery system and a magnetizable particle associated with a cell. A method of using the magnetic delivery system for delivery of a therapeutic agent and/or a cell to a targeted location in a body. | 04-23-2015 |
20150105294 | PIEZOELECTRIC MICROCANTILEVER SENSORS FOR BIOSENSING - A piezoelectric microcantilever for sensing compounds or molecules. The piezoelectric microcantilever, may include at least one electrode, an insulation layer, a receptor, an immobilization layer, a non-piezoelectric layer and a piezoelectric layer The sensor is capable of self actuation and detection. The piezoelectric layer may be constructed from a highly piezoelectric thin lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate film, a highly piezoelectric thin zirconate titanate film, a highly piezoelectric lead-free film. Methods of using the sensors and flow cells and arrays including the sensors are also described. | 04-16-2015 |
20150094859 | SEMI-AUTONOMOUS RESCUE APPARATUS - A cutting device is configured to attach to a boom arm. The cutting device includes a saw assembly with a cutting portion configured to cut into a target surface. The cutting device also includes a motor assembly coupled to the saw assembly. The motor assembly has at least two motors configured to rotate the saw assembly about two different axes. The cutting device further comprises a control system operatively coupled to the motor assembly. The control system has at least two sensors coupled to the saw assembly and the control system is configured to position the saw assembly to cut a target surface based on feedback from the at least sensors. | 04-02-2015 |
20150038812 | FUNCTIONAL NEAR INFRARED SPECTROCOPY BASED BRAIN COMPUTER INTERFACE - Described herein are fNIR-based brain computer interfaces. Training of individuals to intentionally control neural activity in specific cortical areas, thereby up-regulating and down-regulating oxygenation levels in specific locations in the brain is also provided herein. Further, continuous and/or binary control over computing environments using fNIR brain computer interfaces. Further still, a scale for brain interface index for oxygenation of a portion of the brain is provided herein. | 02-05-2015 |
20150038593 | DISAGGREGATION OF AGGREGATED NANODIAMOND CLUSTERS - The present invention is directed to methods of disaggregating nanodiamond clusters, especially those clusters typically produced from detonation syntheses, the nanodiamond particles and dispersions produced from these disaggregation processes, and compositions derived from these nanodiamond particles and dispersions. | 02-05-2015 |
20150038584 | MATERIALS FOR DISINFECTION PRODUCED BY NON-THERMAL PLASMA - Aspects of the present subject matter are directed to a method comprising contacting an fluid, optionally containing an added organic material, with a non-thermal plasma to form a disinfection composition, wherein the disinfection composition is a liquid, and contacting a surface with the disinfection composition, wherein the surface is at least partially disinfected upon contact with the disinfection composition. Additional aspects of the present subject matter are directed to a method comprising forming a disinfection composition by contacting an organic material with a non-thermal plasma, wherein the disinfection composition is a liquid. A further aspect of the present subject matter is directed to a disinfection composition comprising an organic material contacted by a non-thermal plasma, wherein the disinfection composition is a liquid. | 02-05-2015 |
20150035950 | Integration of Digital Image Correlation with Acoustic Emission - An inventive approach is disclosed to integrate Digital Image Correlation (DIC) with the Acoustic Emission method that may be used for structural health monitoring and assessment of critical structural components in civil, mechanical, and aerospace industries. The inventive approach relies on passively recording acoustic emission across the specimen being tested and activating the DIC cameras automatically to measure deformation on the specimen's surface. The resulting acousto-optic system can be used to determine damage initiation, progressive damage development, identify critical regions and make lifetime predictions of the tested specimen. | 02-05-2015 |
20150025418 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING TISSUE - A sensor system for measuring an elastic modulus and a shear modulus and a method for evaluating a tissue. The invention pertains to a method for determining the presence of and/or characterizing abnormal growths, using a piezoelectric finger sensor (PEFS) system. The PEFS system may be particularly useful for screening for tumors and various forms of cancer. Additionally, the PEFS system may be useful for various dermatological applications. | 01-22-2015 |
20150024408 | WATER SOLUBLE NANOCRYSTALLINE QUANTUM DOTS CAPABLE OF NEAR INFRARED EMISSIONS - A novel quantum dot capable of near infrared emissions at wavelengths of 750-1100 is made by forming solid solutions of metal sulfide, metal selenide or metal sulfide selenide by incorporating a suitable amount of an additional metallic element or elements to provide an emission wavelength in the range of 750 nm to 1100 nm. The quantum dots may be enabled for bioconjugation and may be used in a method for tissue imaging and analyte detection. | 01-22-2015 |
20150023920 | NOVEL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING OR TREATING CANCER METASTASIS - The invention includes a method of preventing or treating metastasis in a subject diagnosed with cancer, the method comprising determining whether at least one gene encoding one or more proteins is upregulated in a cancer tissue sample from the subject as compared to the level of expression of the at least one gene in a non-cancer control sample of the same tissue, and, if the at least one gene is upregulated in the cancer tissue sample from the subject, administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more protein depleting agents. | 01-22-2015 |
20150019588 | Identifying Implicit Relationships Between Social Media Users To Support Social Commerce - Assuming that an initial social network is unavailable because explicit connections between users are missing or incomplete, temporal analysis may be used to identify the implicit relationship between social media users. Temporal data may be used to extract implicit relationship regardless of their specific activities such as visiting the same web pages or commenting on the same web objects. | 01-15-2015 |
20150018968 | METHOD FOR CREATING AN INTERNAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM WITHIN TISSUE SCAFFOLDS USING COMPUTER-AIDED TISSUE ENGINEERING - An artificial tissue including an internal mass transport network having a plurality of channels, wherein the channels are designed to substantially mimic naturally occurring vascular network and a method for creating an internal transport system within a tissue scaffold to improve circulation, diffusion, and mass transport properties by utilizing computer-aided tissue engineering (CATE). The artificial tissue has the internal mass transport network of channels embedded, deposited, or molded within a scaffold, wherein the channels are made from a biodegradable transporting material and the scaffold is made from a scaffold material. The artificial tissue of the invention includes a basic circulatory system embedded within the tissue scaffold. This system provides mass transport throughout the entire scaffold and degrades after the new circulatory system develops. | 01-15-2015 |
20140378222 | MOBILE VIRTUAL CINEMATOGRAPHY SYSTEM - A virtual cinematography system (SmartVCS) is disclosed, including a mobile tablet device, wherein the mobile tablet device includes a touch-sensor screen, a first hand control, a second hand control, and a motion sensor. The SmartVCS including a motion tracking camera configured to track the movements of the motion sensor and generate motion tracking information and a computer operatively coupled to the motion tracking camera configured to receive the motion tracking information and to transmit the motion tracking information to the first mobile tablet device, wherein the first mobile device is configured to overlay the motion tracking information onto a virtual landscape. | 12-25-2014 |
20140372081 | REAL TIME ARTIFACT REMOVAL - Noise artifacts may be removed from a signal utilizing functional near infrared (fNIR) spectroscopy measurement techniques. The noise removal may be accomplished in field conditions, such as, for example, in an operating room setting. In an example configuration, to remove noise artifacts, independent component analysis (ICA) and principal component analysis (PCA) may be implemented in a procedure that utilizes a dark current measurement as a reference signal. The use of the combined ICA/PCA analysis and dark current measurement reference signal allows noise to be removed on a per channel basis, thus providing an effective noise removal procedure and allowing for a single active measurement channel. | 12-18-2014 |
20140364749 | CALIBRATION FOR BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS - Blood pressure measurement devices comprising a transducer may have error introduced when the transducer is placed in mechanical communication with a vein or artery. This error may be based on alignment, applanation, calibration, and the contact based stress required to obtain a signal from pressure in a vein or artery. The present invention teaches isolating and removing this error from the blood pressure system which may increase the accuracy of the measurement. Calibration is also provided. | 12-11-2014 |
20140360890 | ASYMMETRIC SENSORS - Cantilever Sensors made of piezoelectric material may be structured with various configurations of asymmetric anchors as well as asymmetric electrodes. Such asymmetry enables measurement of resonant properties of the cantilever that are otherwise unmeasurable electrically, resulting in significant advantages for ease of measurement. In addition the asymmetry enables expression of torsional and/or lateral modes that are otherwise absent, and these modes also exhibit excellent mass-change sensitivity. The asymmetries may enable resonant mode impedance-coupling. | 12-11-2014 |
20140352448 | ALL ELECTRIC PIEZOELECTRIC FINGER SENSOR (PEFS) FOR SOFT MATERIAL STIFFNESS MEASUREMENT - A PEFS (Piezoelectric Finger Sensor) acts as an “electronic finger” capable of accurately and non-destructively measuring both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus of tissues with gentle touches to the surface. The PEFS measures both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus variations in tissue generating a less than one-millimeter spatial resolution up to a depth of several centimeters. This offers great potential for in-vivo early detection of diseases. A portable hand-held device is also disclosed. The PEF offers superior sensitivity. | 12-04-2014 |
20140351398 | EFFICIENT DISTRIBUTED ALGORITHM FOR THE LOCATION DESIGN AND ROUTING PROBLEM - The Location Design and Routing problem asks to find a subset of “depot” nodes and a spanning forest of a graph such that every connected component in the forest contains at least one depot. This problem arises in a number of both logistical and computer networking problems, for example, in selecting the number and location of distribution centers in vehicle routing networks. This problem is functionally equivalent to that of supernode selection in peer-to-peer networks. A distributed algorithm approximates a solution to this problem that runs in a logarithmic number of communication rounds with respect to the number of nodes (independent of the topology of the network), and, under assumptions on the embedding of the edge weights, whose solutions are within a factor of 2 of optimal. | 11-27-2014 |
20140342393 | FLOW CHAMBER ANALYTE DETECTION METHOD - A flow chamber and method for detecting the presence of one more cell produced analytes under flow conditions. The flow chamber includes two compartments separated by a permeable membrane on which a plurality of cells may be positioned. The permeable membrane shields one or more analyte sensors positioned one compartment from the convective transport forces of a fluid flow within the other compartment to allow reliable and accurate detection of cell-produced analytes and determination of the concentration of cell-produced analytes. | 11-20-2014 |
20140315284 | ENHANCED DETECTION SENSITIVITY WITH PIEZOELECTRIC MICROCANTILEVER SENSORS - A method for enhancing the detection sensitivity of a piezoelectric microcantilever sensor. The method may involve providing a piezoelectric microcantilever and inducing a change in the Young's modulus during detection of a species of interest. The change in the Young's modulus may be induced or enhanced by the application of a DC bias electric field to the piezoelectric layer that enhances non-180° polarization domain switching of the piezoelectric layer. The change in the Young's modulus may also result from binding of the species of interest to the piezelectric microcantilever sensor or a combination of binding and application of a DC bias electric field. Significantly enhanced detection sensitity results from the changed Young's modulus of the piezoelectric layer. | 10-23-2014 |
20140268047 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING EFFECTS OF DRUGS BY RECORDING OCULAR PARAMETERS - The invention is directed to quantification of the effects of drugs on a patient using pupillometric measures. Apparatus and processes for obtaining control and patient measures and deriving relationships from same are provided. The methods of the invention provide doctor quantitative feedback on patient symptoms and on the effects of a drug or dosage of same on a patient, as well as provide assessment capability to patients as and law enforcement | 09-18-2014 |
20140257128 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETECTING AND PREDICTING SEIZURES - The present invention describes systems and methods for predicting and detecting a seizure in a subject. The methods of the invention comprise measuring interneuron synchrony in terms of the coherence between interneuron action potentials and local field potential oscillations. In one embodiment, the detection of specific patterns of coherence, correlation and firing rate of interneurons predicts an upcoming seizures. | 09-11-2014 |
20140249285 | RENEWABLE BIO-BASED (METH) ACRYLATED MONOMERS AS VINYL ESTER CROSS-LINKERS - Anhydrosugar-based monomers prepared from isosorbide, isomannide, and isoidide and resin systems containing these anhydrosugar-based monomers that are partially to fully bio-based, which may produce materials having properties that meet or exceed the properties of similar petroleum derived vinyl ester resins. | 09-04-2014 |
20140213702 | Precursors to Echogenic Polymer Microcapsules or Nanocapsules - One aspect of the invention provides a precursor to an echogenic polymer microcapsule or nanocapsule. The precursor includes an emulsion including a polymer solution and an aqueous solution including a water-soluble sublimable solute. This aspect of the invention can have a variety of embodiments. In one embodiment, the water-soluble sublimable solute can be an ammonium salt. For example, the ammonium salt can be ammonium carbonate. | 07-31-2014 |
20140213526 | SMALL SURVIVAL-PROMOTING/IMMUNOMODULATORY PEPTIDE FOR TREATMENT OF BRAIN DAMAGE, NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS, AND INFLAMMATORY DISORDERS - A synthetic peptide sequence demonstrating neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory functions is disclosed. Methods of use for the synthetic peptide are also provided. | 07-31-2014 |
20140212908 | Fetal Pulmonary Cells and Uses Thereof - Isolated mixed populations of fetal pulmonary cells, engineered three-dimensional tissue constructs of these cells, and uses thereof in identifying therapeutic agents which augment, repair, and/or replace dysfunctional native lung and to perform in vitro studies such as pharmaceutical screening, models for lung development and disease and characterization of chemical or mechanical injury are provided. | 07-31-2014 |
20140195539 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS OF A SCIENTIFIC FIELD - A system and method are provided for automatically generating systematic reviews of received information in a field of science and technology, such as scientific literature, where the systematic review includes a systematic review of a research field in the scientific literature. The method includes the steps of constructing a time series networks of words, passages, documents, and citations and/or co-citations within received information into a synthesized network, decomposing the networks into clusters of fields or topics, performing part-of-speech tagging of text within the received information to provide tagged text, constructing semantic structures of concepts and/or assertions extracted from the source text, generating citation-based and content-based summaries of the clusters of fields or topics and the semantic structures, and generating structured narratives of the clusters of fields or topics and the summaries of the generated semantic structures. Narratives of the citation-based and content-based summaries are merged into a systematic review. | 07-10-2014 |
20140173817 | CERVICAL SPINE PROTECTION APPARATUS AND METHODS OF USE - The invention is directed to a cervical spine protection apparatus one or more composite bands attached to provide restraint of one or more motions of the cervical spine of a wearer. The apparatus is designed to protect a wearer from incurring cervical spinal injuries, and/or to reduce the severity of cervical spine injuries without substantially compromising the normal functional range of motion of the wearer's cervical spine. | 06-26-2014 |
20140170201 | UNIFORM FIELD MAGNETIZATION AND TARGETING OF THERAPEUTIC FORMULATIONS - Systems and methods for magnetic targeting of therapeutic particles are provided. Therapeutic particles comprise one or more magnetic or magnetizable materials and at least one therapeutic agent. Therapeutic particles are specifically targeted using uniform magnetic fields capable of magnetizing magnetizable materials, and can be targeted to particular locations in the body, or can be targeted for capture, containment, and removal. Also provided are bioresorbable nanoparticles prepared without the use of organic solvents, and methods for therapeutically using such bioresorbable nanoparticles. | 06-19-2014 |
20140162130 | COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING FREE-STANDING TWO-DIMENSIONAL NANOCRYSTALS - The present invention is directed to compositions comprising free standing and stacked assemblies of two dimensional crystalline solids, and methods of making the same. | 06-12-2014 |
20140158600 | MAGNETIC FLUID MANIPULATORS AND METHODS FOR THEIR USE - One aspect of the invention provides a device for sorting non-magnetic particles. The device includes: (a) a fluid holding chamber comprising an inner and outer surface; (b) a fluid in contact with the inner surface of the fluid holding chamber, said fluid containing a dispersion of magnetic particles and at least two sets of non-magnetic particles; and (c) at least two sources of magnetic fields positioned in close proximity to, or inside of, the fluid holding chamber. The at least two sources of magnetic fields produce a changeable pattern of magnetic field minima and maxima regions thereby causing said non-magnetic particles in the fluid to be transported towards the magnetic field minima regions by magnetic force. At least one of said sources of magnetic fields comprises an array of magnetizable features on a micrometer or nanometer length scale. | 06-12-2014 |
20140152377 | FERROELECTRIC NANOSHELL DEVICES - Disclosed herein are nanoscale devices comprising one or more ferroelectric nanoshells characterized as having an extreme curvature in at least one spatial dimension. Also disclosed are ferroelectric field effect transistors and metal ferroelectric metal capacitors comprising one or more ferroelectric nanoshells. Methods for controlling spontaneous ferroelectric polarization in nanoshell devices are also disclosed. | 06-05-2014 |
20140148953 | DYNAMIC LOUD MODELING OF A BUILDING'S ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR DEMAND RESPONSE APPLICATIONS - A dynamic electrical load model for an HVAC chiller for use in demand response applications is described herein. A dynamic model for coupling a building's electrical and thermal characteristics is described. This allows for more accurate planning of the dispatching of load for demand side response. | 05-29-2014 |
20140129019 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMPUTER-AIDED TISSUE ENGINEERING FOR MODELING, DESIGN AND FREEFORM FABRICATION OF TISSUE SCAFFOLDS, CONSTRUCTS, AND DEVICES - One aspect of the invention provides a material delivery system including: a plurality of nozzles and one or more controllers adapted and configured to control the plurality of nozzles to simultaneously deposit heterogeneous materials including one or more cells to manufacture a part or device. Another aspect of the invention provides a method including simultaneously depositing heterogeneous materials including one more cells using a plurality of nozzles. | 05-08-2014 |
20140124357 | PRE-TREATING WATER WITH NON-THERMAL PLASMA - The present invention consists of a method of pre-treatment of adulterated water for distillation, including adulterated water produced during hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) of shale rock during natural gas drilling. In particular, the invention is directed to a method of treating adulterated water, said adulterated water having an initial level of bicarbonate ion in a range of about 250 ppm to about 5000 ppm and an initial level of calcium ion in a range of about 500 ppm to about 50,000 ppm, said method comprising contacting the adulterated water with a non-thermal arc discharge plasma to produce plasma treated water having a level of bicarbonate ion of less than about 100 ppm. Optionally, the plasma treated water may be further distilled. | 05-08-2014 |
20140093979 | Microfabricated QLIDA Biosensors with an Embedded Heating and Mixing Element - An apparatus and method for detecting an analyte are described. The apparatus includes at least one microchannel adapted for an analyte to adhere to an interior surface thereof, a mixing element positioned within at least a portion of the at least one microchannel, a light source for energizing quantum dots conjugated with the analyte within the at least one microchannel, and a detection system for detecting and quantifying fluorescent energy emitted by the quantum dots in one or more predetermined wavelength ranges, wherein each wavelength range being correlated to one and only one type of analyte. The method includes the steps of providing a sample to at least one microchannel coated with an antibody, contacting the sample with a conjugate comprising a quantum dot and an antibody that specifically binds to the analyte, increasing electrothrermal flow of the sample, energizing the quantum dot with a light source, detecting fluorescent emission from the quantum dot, and correlating the fluorescent emission to the presence of or the concentration of the analyte in the sample. | 04-03-2014 |
20140088207 | POLYMERIZED IONIC LIQUID BLOCK COPOLYMERS AS BATTERY MEMBRANES - The present invention is directed to compositions useful for use in separators for use in lithium ion batteries, and membranes, separators, and devices derived therefrom. | 03-27-2014 |
20140080141 | CLEAR MARGIN DETERMINATION DURING CANCER SURGERY - One or more aqueous, near infrared emitting, high yield, highly photoluminescent, stable quantum dots conjugated to one or more biomarkers specific moieties. The conjugated quantum dots have an enhanced detection sensitivity and selectivity and may be formed using a novel and efficient method for conjugating one or more biomarker specific moieties to the quantum dots. The invention is further directed to a method for using the conjugated quantum dots for cancer detection in the margin of excised tissue. | 03-20-2014 |
20140080040 | HOLOGRAPHIC POLYMER DISPERSED LIQUID CRYSTALS - A hyperspectral holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) medium comprising broadband reflective properties may comprise dopants that result in a hyperspectral HPDLC with fast transitional switching speeds. Dopants may include alliform carbon particles, carbon nanoparticles, piezoelectric nanoparticles, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, a high dielectric anisotropy compound, semiconductor nanoparticles, electrically conductive nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, or the like. A technique for fabrication of hyperspectral broadband HPDLC mediums may involve dynamic variation of the holography setup during HPDLC formation and spatial multiplexing that may enable broadening of the HPDLC medium's wavelength response. Fabrication may include concurrently running multiple exposures and exploiting superpositioning of the resultant gratings. The hyperspectral HPDLC may be capable of blocking and/or filtering wavelengths in the range of approximately 390 nm to approximately 12 μm. | 03-20-2014 |
20140076067 | ALL ELECTRIC PIEZOELECTRIC FINGER SENSOR (PEFS) FOR SOFT MATERIAL STIFFNESS MEASUREMENT - A PEFS (Piezoelectric Finger Sensor) acts as an “electronic finger” capable of accurately and non-destructively measuring both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus of tissues with gentle touches to the surface. The PEFS measures both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus variations in tissue generating a less than one-millimeter spatial resolution up to a depth of several centimeters. This offers great potential for in-vivo early detection of diseases. A portable hand-held device is also disclosed. The PEF offers superior sensitivity. | 03-20-2014 |
20140058260 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING TISSUE - The present invention provides a sensor system for measuring an elastic modulus and a shear modulus and a method for using the sensor system to evaluate a tissue by determining the presence of and/or characterizing abnormal growths. The method involves applying a set of forces of different magnitudes to one or more locations of tissue, detecting the corresponding displacements due to said applied forces, determining the forces acting on those locations of tissue which are a combination of forces from the applied voltages and the countering forces from tissue deformation, obtaining the elastic modulus and/or shear modulus for a plurality of locations, and determining abnormal growth invasiveness, malignancy or the presence of a tumor from said elastic and/or shear moduli. | 02-27-2014 |
20140051989 | DEVICES ADAPTED FOR ULTRASOUND LOCATION IN PATIENTS AND METHOD OF USE - The present invention relates to devices including a plurality of voids that enhance visualization of the devices in a patient using ultrasound imaging. The sizes of the voids can vary to accommodate ultrasound devices having different ultrasound wave frequencies. The present invention is also directed to a method for using ultrasound imaging technology to detect the location of devices comprising a plurality of voids in a patient. An ultrasound device, such as a wireless, portable ultrasound device, may be used to propagate ultrasound waves towards the patient where the device is inserted. An ultrasound imaging device may then be used to generate an image of the device or a portion thereof from which the location of the device in the patient can be determined. | 02-20-2014 |
20140050793 | Novel Compositions for Inhibiting Virus Entry and Promoting Virolysis, and Methods Thereof - The present invention includes a composition comprising a gold nanoparticle complexed with a cysteine-containing peptide. The invention also includes the method of preparing a composition comprising a gold nanoparticle complexed with a cysteine-containing peptide. The invention further includes a method of causing virolysis of a virus using the compositions described therein. | 02-20-2014 |
20140045178 | DETECTION OF NUCLEIC ACIDS USING A CANTILEVER SENSOR - Detection of miniscule amounts of nucleic acid is accomplished via binding of target nucleic acid to probe material, composed of nucleic acid, which is bound to a sensor configured to sense mass. The sensor is prepared by immobilizing a probe material to a surface of the sensor, wherein the probe material is known to bind to the target nucleic acid. The prepared sensor is exposed to the target nucleic acid. The target nucleic acid binds to the probe material. The mass accumulated on the sensor reflects the amount of target nucleic acid bound to the probe material. | 02-13-2014 |
20140042989 | ELECTROCHEMICAL FLOW CAPACITORS - The present invention generally relates to devices for energy storage technologies, and more particularly to electrochemical flow capacitor systems and applications. Embodiments of this invention provide energy storage devices comprising: a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode current collector, and an ion-permeable separator separating the positive and negative electrode current collectors; a positive electrode disposed between the positive electrode current collector and the ion-permeable separator; a negative electrode disposed between the negative electrode current collector and the ion-permeable separator; wherein at least one of the positive and negative electrodes comprises a non-stationary (including moveable or flowable, relative to the current collectors) solid or semi-solid composition comprising supercapacitive particles and an electrolytic solvent; and wherein the electrolytic solvent is substantially free of electrochemically oxidizable or reducible species. In some embodiments, the electrodes are in electrical communication with at least a portion of the respective electrode current collector. | 02-13-2014 |
20140042368 | CYCLONIC REACTOR WITH NON-EQUILIBRIUM GLIDING DISCHARGE AND PLASMA PROCESS FOR REFORMING OF SOLID HYDROCARBONS - A reactor for reforming a hydrocarbon, and associated processes and systems, are described herein. In one example, a reactor is provided that is configured to use non-equilibrium gliding arc discharge plasma. In another example, the reactor uses a vortex flow pattern. Two stages of reforming are described. In a first stage, the hydrocarbon absorbs heat from the wall of the reactor and combusts to form carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water. In a second stage, a gliding arc discharge is use to form syngas, which is a mixture of hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide. The heat generated by the combustion of the first stage transfers to the wall of the reactor and heated products of the second stage mix with incoming hydrocarbon to provide for partial recuperation of the reaction energy. | 02-13-2014 |
20140031439 | FILLED NANOPOROUS POLYMER MEMBRANE COMPOSITES FOR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND METHODS FOR MAKING THEM - A new class of membranes for use in protective clothing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a polymer-polymer membrane with an ionic polymer located within the nanopores of a porous polymer host membrane. A method for making the polymer-polymer membranes involves filling porous polymers with ionic polymers. The porous polymers may be fabricated by a template synthesis which involves sorption. The ionic polymers may be filled in the nanopores of the porous polymer by plasma-induced graft copolymerization of the ionic polymer with the porous polymeric host membrane. | 01-30-2014 |
20140017448 | METHOD FOR THE FORMATION OF SERS SUBSTRATES - A method for the formation of surface enhanced Raman scattering substrates. The method produces thin substrates that have a nanoparticle ink deposited thereon. The nanoparticle ink may be any suitable nanoparticle ink such as silver, gold or copper nanoparticle ink which includes stabilized nanoparticles. The substrates and nanoparticle ink undergo a first step of heating in order to remove liquid vehicle from the ink The substrates and nanoparticles then undergo a second step of heating for an amount of time sufficient to remove a substantial portion of the stabilizer and provide a fractal aggregate nanoparticle layer on the substrate having a certain resistivity or conductivity suitable for Raman scattering. This creates SERS substrates with enhanced amplification properties. | 01-16-2014 |
20140014563 | DESALINATION SYSTEM AND PROCESS - The present invention pertains to an effective system and method for reducing or eliminating the formation of scale in desalination systems. The system utilizes at least one pair of electrodes in direct contact with a liquid to induce an oscillating electric field directly in a portion of the liquid or a liquid stream of the desalination system. The electric field is capable of inducing bulk precipitation of ions, minerals, salts, particulates, contaminants or a combination thereof from the liquid stream. | 01-16-2014 |
20140004000 | LEAD-FREE PIEZOELECTRIC CERAMIC FILMS AND A METHOD FOR MAKING THEREOF | 01-02-2014 |
20130330229 | PLASMA SYSTEM FOR AIR STERILIZATION - A method for decontaminating bioaerosol with high concentrations of bacterial, viral, spore and other airborne microorganisms or biologic contaminants in flight at high flow rates. A plasma screen created across the flow of air contaminated with airborne biologic agents renders contaminants non-culturable within milliseconds. The technology may cooperate with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. It may be particularly beneficial in preventing bioterrorism and the spread of toxic or infectious agents, containing airborne pandemic threats such as avian flu, sterilizing spaces such as hospitals, pharmaceutical plants and manufacturing facilities, treating exhaust ventilation streams, minimizing biological environmental pollutants in industrial settings, improving general air quality, preventing sick building syndrome. | 12-12-2013 |
20130317403 | CERVICAL SPINE PROTECTION APPARATUS AND METHODS OF USE - The invention is directed to a cervical spine protection apparatus one or more composite bands attached to provide restraint of one or more motions of the cervical spine of a wearer. The apparatus is designed to protect a wearer from incurring cervical spinal injuries, and/or to reduce the severity of cervical spine injuries without substantially compromising the normal functional range of motion of the wearer's cervical spine. | 11-28-2013 |
20130310731 | METHODS FOR NON-THERMAL APPLICATIONS OF GAS PLASMA TO LIVING TISSUE - Method for the non-thermal treatment of human or animal tissue with high-voltage electrical discharge plasma is disclosed. The disclosed method employs current through plasma and through tissue not for the purpose of heating the tissue, but instead to maintain the plasma proximate to the tissue being treated. Also disclosed is a method of limiting the current through plasma and through tissue to minimize tissue heating by placement of an insulator or semiconductor between an electrode and tissue resulting in generation of a high-voltage discharge similar to a dielectric barrier discharge. The disclosed non-thermal plasma treatment can be employed to promote coagulation of blood, sterilization, disinfection, re-connection of tissue, and treatment of tissue disorders without causing significant thermal tissue damage. | 11-21-2013 |
20130309595 | ELECTROCATALYSTS FOR FUEL CELLS - Disclosed are metallized carbonaceous materials, processes for forming such materials, and electrodes and fuel cells comprising the disclosed materials. | 11-21-2013 |
20130277614 | SYNTHESIS OF WATER SOLUBLE NON-TOXIC NANOCRYSTALLINE QUANTUM DOTS AND USES THEREOF - An economic, direct synthetic method for producing water soluble ZnS QDs that are ready for bioconjugation is provided. The method can produce aqueous ZnS QDs with emission wavelengths varying from 400 nm to 700 nm. Highly luminescent metal sulfide (MS) QDs are produced via an aqueous synthesis route. MS QDs are capped with thiol-containing charged molecules in a single step. The resultant MS QDs exhibit the distinctive excitonic photoluminescence desired of QDs and can be fabricated to avoid undesirable broadband emissions at higher wavelengths. The aqueous ZnS QDs are stable in biological fluids over a long period of time. In addition, non-toxic ZnS QDs have been produced with good photoluminescence properties. | 10-24-2013 |
20130274892 | Electrospun Mineralized Chitosan Nanofibers Crosslinked with Genipin for Bone Tissue Engineering - The present invention relates to an electrospun chitosan scaffold. The scaffold mimics natural bone mechanical properties and structure through mineralization without hindering the biocompatibility for osteoblasts. The electrospun mineralized scaffold is useful in bone regeneration therapies. | 10-17-2013 |
20130253127 | TOUGHENING CROSS-LINKED THERMOSETS - Grafted triglycerides comprising an acrylated triglyceride grafted with a fatty acid residue containing 4 to 28 carbon atoms. Also described are methods for making a grafted triglyceride and for curing a material selected from vinyl esters and unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof and optionally a reactive diluent. The method includes the steps of mixing a grafted triglyceride of the present invention with a material selected from vinyl esters, unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof to form a mixture, and curing the mixture to form a cured resin system. A cured resin system comprising a cured product obtained by the foregoing method and composites containing the cured product and a filler or reinforcing material are also disclosed. This method also includes use of the grafted triglycerides to make toughened resin and composite systems with reduced hazardous air pollutants without significantly reducing the glass transition temperature and significantly increasing the viscosity. | 09-26-2013 |
20130244121 | NOVEL APPLICATIONS FOR ALLIFORM CARBON - This invention relates to novel applications for alliform carbon, useful in conductors and energy storage devices, including electrical double layer capacitor devices and articles incorporating such conductors and devices. Said alliform carbon particles are in the range of 2 to about 20 percent by weight, relative to the weight of the entire electrode. Said novel applications include supercapacitors and associated electrode devices, batteries, bandages and wound healing, and thin-film devices, including display devices. | 09-19-2013 |
20130236972 | Liver Sinusoid Model - A liver sinusoid model includes a generally planar substrate having first and second generally parallel microchannels formed therein. A microporous membrane is disposed between and separating the first and second generally parallel microchannels. A first layer of cells lines one side of the membrane in the first microchannel. The first layer of cells are all a first common cell type. A second layer of cells extends parallel to the first layer of cells in one of the first microchannel and the second microchannel. The second layer of cells is all of a second common cell type. A liver sinusoid bioreactor utilizing the inventive model is also disclosed. | 09-12-2013 |
20130225953 | CONCURRENT STIMULATION EFFECT DETECTION - Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) imaging is utilized to measure the influence of stimulation in real time. An fNIRS imaging device is integrated into a transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) stimulator by embedding fNIRS optodes on the tDCS stimulating electrodes. During tDCS stimulation, blood oxygenation levels are measured. For example, concentrations of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin are measured and compared to the concentrations of a baseline resting state to provide feedback on the efficacy of tDCS. Based on the feedback, a tDCS threshold and a dose-response relation for a particular subject can be quantified, and individualized stimulation parameters can be determined for the particular subject. | 08-29-2013 |
20130219362 | DESIGN RULE HIERARCHY, TASK PARALLELISM, AND DEPENDENCY ANALYSIS IN LOGICAL DECISION MODELS - A binary augmented constraint network (BACN) allows dependency relationships to be determined without solving constraints. BACN models design decisions as first-class members and expresses how decisions make assumptions upon each other using logical constraints. Pairwise dependency relations (PWDRs) are determined based on the BACN. A design rule hierarchy (DRH) based on assumption relations among design decisions identifies parallelizable tasks within software design. Modules within the same layer of the hierarchy suggest concurrent tasks. Dependencies between layers or within a module suggest possible need for communication. In one configuration, decisions within the top layer of the hierarchy are the most influential design rules, which dominate the rest of the system, and are kept stable. The decisions within subsequent layers assume design decisions in previous layers. The design decisions within each layer are clustered into modules. Modules within the same layer are independent from each other and are candidates for concurrent implementation. | 08-22-2013 |
20130208608 | RECONFIGURABLE ANTENNAS AND CONFIGURATION SELECTION METHODS FOR AD-HOC NETWORKS - Reconfigurable antennas in an ad-hoc network are provided where all nodes employ MIMO/SIMO/MISO communication techniques. Three types of reconfigurable antennas: Reconfigurable Printed Dipole Array (RPDA), Reconfigurable Circular Patch Antenna (RCPA) and Two-Port Reconfigurable CRLH Leaky Wave Antennas are used. The RPDA, RCPA and the CRLH Leaky Wave antennas have a different number of configurations as well as different degrees of pattern diversity between possible configurations. To effectively use these antennas in a network, the performance of centralized and decentralized antenna configuration selection schemes are quantified for reconfiguration at one or both link ends. The sum capacity of the network is used as a metric to quantify the performance of these antennas in measured and simulated network channels. | 08-15-2013 |
20130207847 | BI-DIRECTIONAL MAGNETIC PERMEABILITY ENHANCED METAMATERIAL (MPEM) SUBSTRATE FOR ANTENNA MINIATURIZATION - A bi-directional antenna includes a plurality of unit cells stacked in two perpendicular planes (Y-X and Z-X planes) to form cube shaped unit cells whereby inductive loops are placed on four faces corresponding to the Y-X and Z-X planes. Each unit cell includes a magnetic permeability enhanced metamaterial. The resulting antenna has the ability to couple magnetic fields oriented in both the X and Y directions with increased permeabilities and can be used to realize a variety of different antenna architectures that do not have their magnetic field confined in a single direction. | 08-15-2013 |
20130207077 | METHODS FOR MAKING WATER SOLUBLE QUANTUM DOTS - A novel quantum dot containing two different metals at non-toxic levels which is capable of narrow bandwidth near infrared emissions at wavelengths of 600-1100 nm. The quantum dot is fabricated via an aqueous method which forms a structure having an inner region of one composition and an outer region of a different composition, wherein the inner region contains at least a first metal and the outer region contains at least a second metal. The quantum dots may be enabled for bioconjugation and may be used in a method for tissue imaging and analyte detection. | 08-15-2013 |
20130205902 | ASYMMETRIC SENSOR - An asymmetric sensor having asymmetric electrodes and/or being asymmetrically anchored provides enhanced sensitivity. In example embodiments, part of the electrode on a sensor is etched or removed resulting in enhanced mass-change sensitive resonant modes. In another example embodiment, a sensor is anchored asymmetrically, also resulting in enhanced mass-change sensitive resonant modes. By asymmetrically anchoring a piezoelectric portion of a sensor, resonant bending modes of the sensor can be measured electrically without external instrumentation. Modifying the electrode of a piezoelectric cantilever enables expression of mass-change sensitive resonant modes that normally do not lend themselves to electrical measurement. | 08-15-2013 |
20130198565 | DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND MITIGATION OF SOFTWARE FAULTS - A computational geometry technique is utilized to detect, diagnose, and/or mitigate fault detection during the execution of a software application. Runtime measurements are collected and processed to generate a geometric enclosure that represents the normal, non-failing, operating space of the application being monitored. When collected runtime measurements are classified as being inside or on the perimeter of the geometric enclosure, the application is considered to be in a normal, non-failing, state. When collected runtime measurements are classified as being outside of the geometric enclosure, the application is considered to be in an anomalous, failing, state. In an example embodiment, the geometric enclosure is a convex hull generated in N-dimensional Euclidean space. Appropriate action (e.g., restart the software, turn off access to a network port) can be taken depending on where the measurement values lie in the space. | 08-01-2013 |
20130194148 | TRANSPARENT CONFORMAL POLYMER ANTENNAS FOR RFID AND OTHER WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS APPLICATIONS - An optically transparent conformal polymer antenna and a method for producing the antenna from optically transparent conductive polymers. The method includes selecting an antenna design; providing an optically transparent conductive polymer material capable of being printed using an ink jet printer device; and printing layers of the polymer in the desired antenna design pattern onto a substrate. The surface tension of the polymer solution is adjusted to allow the material to pass through a printer head for printing on a flexible substrate. The material is modified to have a higher conductivity than regular conductive polymer materials so that a suitable antenna may be formed. | 08-01-2013 |
20130178587 | Antibody Immobilization Using Poly(ethylene glycol) Crosslinking - Provided is a method for immobilizing a macromolecule to a solid support material using poly(ethylene glycol), and a device obtained from the method. The macromolecule can be a polypeptide, such as an antibody. | 07-11-2013 |
20130170057 | TWO MIRROR SYSTEM - A method for producing a multiple surface system that may be a two-mirror surface. The method involves first finding from a given primary curve an appropriate secondary curve. The method then uses ideas from exterior differential systems to grow from the primary curve and the secondary curve, primary and secondary mirror surfaces. The Cartan-Kähler theorem gives a strong indication of the existence of such solution surfaces. | 07-04-2013 |
20130144176 | NON-INVASIVE BLOOD PRESSURE SENSOR - A non-invasive pressure measurement device measures pressure of fluid in a conduit via a piezoelectric transducer positioned proximate to the conduit having a fluid passing therethrough. The piezoelectric transducer is in communication with the conduit via a plate member having a protrusion extending outward from one side of the member. In one application, the device continuously measures blood pressure without the need for an inflatable cuff. Also, the device can detect and measure heart beat pulses from the fluid and utilize heart beat pulse information to provide further characteristics pertaining to the fluid in the conduit. | 06-06-2013 |
20130140241 | Magnetic Fluid Manipulators and Methods for Their Use - Device and methods for use of these devices to manipulate substantially non-magnetic particles dispersed inside a magnetic fluid by employing a changeable pattern of local magnetic field maxima and minima are provided. | 06-06-2013 |
20130095774 | METHOD FOR SELECTING STATE OF A RECONFIGURABLE ANTENNA IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM VIA MACHINE LEARNING - A method for selecting the state of a reconfigurable antenna installed at either the receiver or transmitter of a communication system is provided. The proposed method uses online learning algorithm based on the theory of multi-armed bandit to perform antenna state selection. The selection technique utilizes the Post-Processing Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PPSNR) as a reward metric and maximizes the long-term average reward over time. The performance of the learning based selection technique is empirically evaluated using wireless channel data. The data is collected in an indoor environment using a 2×2 MIMO OFDM system employing highly directional metamaterial Reconfigurable Leaky Wave Antennas. the learning based selection technique shows performance improvements in terms of average PPSNR and regret over conventional heuristic policies. | 04-18-2013 |
20130091607 | METHODS OF PREPARING NANOPROBES AND ENDOSCOPE-LIKE DEVICES - The present invention is directed to methods of preparing nanoprobes, including multifunctional cellular endoscope-like devices, comprising nanotubes, nanorods, and/or nanowires. | 04-11-2013 |
20130086734 | CERVICAL SPINE PROTECTION APPARATUS AND METHODS OF USE - The invention is directed to a cervical spine protection apparatus one or more composite bands attached to provide restraint of one or more motions of the cervical spine of a wearer. The apparatus is designed to protect a wearer from incurring cervical spinal injuries, and/or to reduce the severity of cervical spine injuries without substantially compromising the normal functional range of motion of the wearer's cervical spine. | 04-11-2013 |
20130080443 | MULTI-SCALE SEGMENTATION AND PARTIAL MATCHING 3D MODELS - A scale-Space feature extraction technique is based on recursive decomposition of polyhedral surfaces into surface patches. The experimental results show that this technique can be used to perform matching based on local model structure. Scale-space techniques can be parameterized to generate decompositions that correspond to manufacturing, assembly or surface features relevant to mechanical design. One application of these techniques is to support matching and content-based retrieval of solid models. Scale-space technique can extract features that are invariant with respect to the global structure of the model as well as small perturbations that 3D laser scanning may introduce. A new distance function defined on triangles instead of points is introduced. This technique offers a new way to control the feature decomposition process, which results in extraction of features that are more meaningful from an engineering viewpoint. The technique is computationally practical for use in indexing large models. | 03-28-2013 |
20130059988 | REMENDABLE INTERFACES FOR POLYMER COMPOSITES - Functionalized polymer matrix and/or reinforcement materials that are capable of a thermoreversible Diels-Alder reaction are useful for making composite materials. Also disclosed is a composite material which includes one or both of functionalized reinforcement materials and functionalized polymer matrix materials, as well as a method for repairing a composite material including the step of thermally treating the composite material at a temperature sufficient to react a functionality on one of the reinforcement material and the polymer matrix material with another functionality via a Diels-Alder reaction. A method of making a composite material including functionalizing one or both of a reinforcing material and a polymer matrix material with a first reactive group, providing a second reactive group capable of undergoing a Diels-Alder reaction with the first reactive group and reacting the first and second reactive groups to form a composite material, is also described. | 03-07-2013 |
20130045474 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR DETECTING AND MONITORING HIV AND OTHER INFECTIONS AND DISEASES - Disclosed herein are bio-nanosensor devices and methods suitable for blood assays. The bio-nanosensors are based on thickness shear mode transducer capable of transmitting a shear wave into a biofluid adjacent to a bio-functionalized sensing interface of a piezoelectric crystal. The bio-functionalized sensing interface includes one or more antibodies and/or biomarker-specific ligands capable of sensing HIV. The disclosed bio-nanosensors are capable of defecting the presence of HIV virus at picogram sensitivities using no more than 10 μl of blood in less than 15 minutes. | 02-21-2013 |
20130034863 | Apparatus and Methods for Detecting Inflammation Using Quantum Dots - Apparatus and methods for detecting an a biomarker indicative of an inflammatory condition, including a capillary tube adapted for one or more biomarkers to adhere to an interior surface thereof, a light source for energizing quantum dots conjugated with the biomarkers within the capillary tube, and a detection system for detecting and quantifying fluorescent energy emitted by the quantum dots in one or more predetermined wavelength ranges, each wavelength range being correlated to one and only one of the biomarkers. A method of stabilizing the fluorescence intensity of quantum dots is also disclosed. | 02-07-2013 |
20130025300 | HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER - An energy efficient heat pump system capable of operating in extreme low and high temperature environments. The heat pump system includes an evaporator, a heater operatively associated with the evaporator, compressor and condenser. In an exemplary embodiment, the heat pump system may further include a plasma pulse-spark system to facilitate removal of scale deposits. The heater heats an environmental medium prior to the environmental medium exchanging energy with a refrigerant located in an evaporator coil of the evaporator in order to maintain a predetermined minimum temperature differential between the environmental medium when it contacts the evaporator coil and the refrigerant when located in the evaporator coil. The system allows efficient operation at low temperatures. | 01-31-2013 |
20130018454 | Small Diameter Vascular Graft Produced by a Hybrid Method - The present invention relates to a hybrid graft and methods of generating the hybrid graft. The hybrid graft comprises an exterior surface and a luminal surface. The luminal surface comprises a micropattern of grooves to which cells adhere and orient along. The exterior surface comprises electrospun microfibers wherein the microfibers provide mechanical properties to the graft. The hybrid graft is capable supporting endothelial cell attachment, endothelial cell alignment, cell proliferation, and maintaining their in vivo function. The graft of the invention can recapitulate the in vivo morphology and function of natural vascular endothelium. | 01-17-2013 |
20130012913 | INJECTABLE CROSS-LINKED HYDROGELS FOR BIOMATERIAL APPLICATIONS - An injectable hydrogel composition comprising: water; and poly(vinyl alcohol) chemically cross-linked with a second polymer to form a cross-linked resin, wherein the second polymer is selected from the group consisting of: a polyhydric alcohol compound, a polyvalent epoxy compound, a polyvalent amine compound, a dialdehyde compound, a diisocyanate compound, and mixtures thereof, wherein the cross-linked resin has a degree of cross-linking of from about 0.0001 mol/mL to about 0.002 mol/mL, and wherein the hydrogel is flowable when heated above its melting point. | 01-10-2013 |
20130001365 | ORBITAL DEBRIS MITIGATION USING HIGH DENSITY PLASMA - The present invention is directed to mitigating orbital debris in outer space by concentrating the plasma existing in space. The debris mitigation method involves sending a satellite device | 01-03-2013 |
20120321527 | CYCLONIC REACTOR WITH NON-EQUILIBRIUM GLIDING DISCHARGE AND PLASMA PROCESS FOR REFORMING OF SOLID HYDROCARBONS - A reactor for reforming a hydrocarbon, and associated processes and systems, are described herein. In one example, a reactor is provided that is configured to use non-equilibrium gliding arc discharge plasma. In another example, the reactor uses a vortex flow pattern. Two stages of reforming are described. In a first stage, the hydrocarbon absorbs heat from the wall of the reactor and combusts to form carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water. In a second stage, a gliding arc discharge is use to form syngas, which is a mixture of hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide. The heat generated by the combustion of the first stage transfers to the wall of the reactor and heated products of the second stage mix with incoming hydrocarbon to provide for partial recuperation of the reaction energy. | 12-20-2012 |
20120299627 | CLOCK MESH SYNTHESIS WITH GATED LOCAL TREES AND ACTIVITY DRIVEN REGISTER CLUSTERING - A clock mesh network synthesis method is proposed which enables clock gating on the local sub-trees of the clock mesh network in order to reduce the clock power dissipation. Clock gating is performed with a register clustering strategy that considers both i) the similarity of switching activities between registers in a local area and ii) the timing slack on every local data path of the design area. The method encapsulates the efficient implementation of the gated local trees and activity driven register clustering with timing slack awareness for clock mesh synthesis. With gated local tree and activity driven register clustering, the switching capacitance on the mesh network can be reduced by 22% with limited skew degradation. The method has two synthesis modes as low power mode and high performance mode to serve different design purposes. | 11-29-2012 |
20120296265 | APPARATUS FOR ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE PIN-TO-HOLE SPARK DISCHARGE AND USES THEREOF - Disclosed herein are atmospheric pressure pin-to-hole pulsed spark discharge devices and methods for creating plasma. The devices include a conduit for fluidically communicating a gas, a plasma, or both, therethrough, portion of the conduit capable of being connected to a gas supply, and a second portion of the conduit capable of emitting a plasma; a positive electrode comprising a sharp tip; and a ground plate electrode. Disclosed are methods for treating a skin ulcer using non-thermal plasma include flowing a gas through a cold spark discharge zone simultaneously with the creation of a pulsed spark discharge to give rise to a non-thermal plasma emitted from a conduit, the non-thermal plasma comprising NO; and contacting a skin ulcer with said non-thermal plasma for sufficient time and intensity to give rise to treatment of the skin ulcer. | 11-22-2012 |
20120296012 | ROOM TEMPERATURE IONIC LIQUID-EPOXY SYSTEMS AS DISPERSANTS AND MATRIX MATERIALS FOR NANOCOMPOSITES - Formulations containing a mixture of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid or an adduct of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid which may initiate curing of the epoxy resin, the mixture having nano-materials dispersed or dissolved therein. These formulations can be used for the preparation of nanocomposites. Methods of preparing nanocomposites by curing a dispersion of nano-materials in a mixture of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid or an adduct of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid which may initiate curing of the epoxy resin. Nanocomposites comprising a cured product formed by curing an epoxy resin with an ionic liquid or an adduct of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid having nano-materials dispersed or dissolved therein. Embodiments of the invention permit manufacture of nanocomposites having relatively high fracture toughness, relatively high loadings of nano-materials and the ability to tailor the properties of the nano-composites. | 11-22-2012 |
20120280417 | LEAD-FREE PIEZOELECTRIC CERAMIC FILMS AND A METHOD FOR MAKING THEREOF - This invention relates to a method of making lead-free piezoelectric ceramic films. Specifically, the invention is directed to a method for fabricating lead-free piezoelectric free standing films having enhanced piezoelectric properties. The films may be used for a number of applications including incorporation in microelectronic devices such as energy harvesting devices and sensor technologies. | 11-08-2012 |
20120253265 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR THE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF MALIGNANCY IN ENTERIC DISEASES USING NON-THERMAL PLASMA - Non-thermal plasma is a partly ionized gas, which can be generated by a high-voltage electric field at a low pressure. Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for treating an enteric disease in vivo using non-thermal plasma. The disclosed apparatuses have a first conduit comprising a lumen and a tip; a first electrode disposed within the lumen of the first conduit; a second electrode comprised of a metal conduit disposed within the first conduit; an insulator disposed within the lumen of the first conduit, the insulator configured to electrically insulate the first electrode from the second electrode; and a gas channel disposed between the outer surface of the metal conduit and the inner surface of the first conduit, the gas channel being capable of feeding a gas from a gas source to the tip, wherein when the potential is applied, the gas is ionized to produce the non-thermal plasma. | 10-04-2012 |
20120156091 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR TREATING SURFACES WITH SURFACE PLASMA` - Methods and devices for treating surfaces of objects using a non-thermal plasma are disclosed herein. The non-thermal plasma is generated through the use of an apparatus configured to generate a non-thermal plasma on its surface. The apparatus is comprised of a substrate that contains one or more electrodes of different polarity. The electrodes are placed within a layer of the substrate acting as a dielectric layer. The apparatus may also have additional layers to contain the dielectric layer. When an appropriate potential, being either an alternating current or pulsed high voltage potential, is applied and removed from the one or more electrodes, the gas on at least one surface of the apparatus becomes ionized and forms a non-thermal plasma. The electrodes can be configured to be of various shapes and sizes to modify or tune the plasma. | 06-21-2012 |
20120141332 | VORTEX REACTOR AND METHOD OF USING IT - A vortex reactor is provided. The vortex reactor includes a substantially cylindrical shaped portion forming a reaction chamber therein, wherein said substantially cylindrical shaped portion forms a first charged electrode; a circumferential flow apparatus fluidly connected to the reaction chamber for creating a circumferential fluid flow; a second charged electrode; and an outlet for releasing said circumferential fluid flow. Also provided are methods of processing particulate solids using the vortex reactor of the invention. | 06-07-2012 |
20120136860 | MULTI-SCALE SEGMENTATION AND PARTIAL MATCHING 3D MODELS - A scale-Space feature extraction technique is based on recursive decomposition of polyhedral surfaces into surface patches. The experimental results show that this technique can be used to perform matching based on local model structure. Scale-space techniques can be parameterized to generate decompositions that correspond to manufacturing, assembly or surface features relevant to mechanical design. One application of these techniques is to support matching and content-based retrieval of solid models. Scale-space technique can extract features that are invariant with respect to the global structure of the model as well as small perturbations that 3D laser scanning may introduce. A new distance function defined on triangles instead of points is introduced. This technique offers a new way to control the feature decomposition process, which results in extraction of features that are more meaningful from an engineering viewpoint. The technique is computationally practical for use in indexing large models. | 05-31-2012 |
20120135390 | PLASMA TREATMENT FOR GROWTH FACTOR RELEASE FROM CELLS AND TISSUES - Aspects of the present invention are related to methods comprising contacting an endothelial cell in an endothelial cell population with a non-thermal plasma to release an angiogenic growth factor. The released angiogenic growth factor may induce endothelial cell proliferation. In certain embodiments, the angiogenic growth factor is fibroblast growth factor-2. Preferably, the non-thermal plasma may be an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge. Additional aspects of the present invention are directed to methods for treating a disease comprising promoting angiogenesis by contacting an endothelial cell in a endothelial cell population with a non-thermal plasma to release an angiogenic growth factor. The angiogenic growth factor may induce endothelial cell proliferation. Further aspects of the present invention are directed to methods for treating a disease comprising inhibiting angiogenesis by contacting an endothelial cell in a endothelial cell population with a non-thermal plasma to reduce the number of endothelial cells in the population. | 05-31-2012 |
20120121683 | FUNCTIONAL NANOPARTICLE FILLED NANOTUBES AND METHODS OF THEIR PRODUCTION - Carbon nanotubes with a suspension or colloidal solution of functional nanoparticles and methods for production of carbon nanotubes loaded with functional nanoparticles are provided. | 05-17-2012 |
20120119625 | ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE - A piezoelectric energy harvesting device (PEHD) comprising a driving element, conducting element, piezoelectric layer and non-piezoelectric layer capable of converting ambient mechanical energy into electrical energy. The piezoelectric layer may be constructed from PMN-PT or PZT having a thickness of about 1-150 μm. The PEHD may be used to generate about 1 W. The harvested energy may be stored and used to power microelectronic devices and rechargeable battery technologies. | 05-17-2012 |
20120106613 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTING RECONFIGURABLE ANTENNAS IN MIMO SYSTEMS - A method allows reconfigurable multi-element antennas to select the antenna configuration in MIMO, SIMO and MISO communication system. This selection scheme uses spatial correlation, channel reciprocal condition number, delay spread and average Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) information to select the antenna radiation pattern at the receiver. Using this approach, it is possible to achieve capacity gains in a multi-element reconfigurable antenna system without modifying the data frame of a conventional wireless communication system. The capacity gain achievable with this configuration selection approach is calculated through numerical simulations using reconfigurable circular patch antennas at the receiver of a MIMO system that employs minimum mean square error receivers for channel estimation. Channel capacity and Bit Error Rate (BER) results show the improvement offered relative to a conventional antenna selection technique for reconfigurable MIMO systems. | 05-03-2012 |
20120102651 | TWO-PIECE LIGHTWEIGHT LITTER SYSTEM - This invention is directed to a durable, compact, two-piece, light weight, load sustaining litter system for the transport of humans, animals or objects. The litter system comprises a litter frame, a fabric disposed between the structure of the frame, at least one hinge and at least one coupling mechanism. The litter system may be quickly assembled under adverse conditions and may be particularly beneficial in transporting individuals who are injured, disabled and/or incapable of movement under combat and/or emergency conditions. | 05-03-2012 |
20120100524 | TUBULAR FLOATING ELECTRODE DIELECTRIC BARRIER DISCHARGE FOR APPLICATIONS IN STERILIZATION AND TISSUE BONDING - Disclosed is a device and method for contacting a biological substrate. A non-thermal plasma device delivers a non-thermal plasma discharge using a dielectric conduit, an igniter electrode and a RF electrode. The dielectric conduit fluidicly communicates a gas therethrough and an igniter electrode ionizes at least a portion of the gas. The RF electrode, disposed circumferentially proximate to the exterior of the dielectric conduit, generates non-thermal plasma from the ionized gas. The non-thermal plasma is discharged from the dielectric conduit and contacts a biological substrate. The non-thermal plasma discharge may be suitable for tissue bonding and sterilization applications. | 04-26-2012 |
20120093709 | NANOPOROUS CARBIDE DERIVED CARBON WITH TUNABLE PORE SIZE - The present invention provides a method for producing a nanoporous carbide-derived carbon composition with a tunable pore structure and a narrow pore size. Also provided are compositions prepared by the method. | 04-19-2012 |
20120092784 | REFLECTIVE SURFACE - The invention relates to a reflective surface substantially perpendicular to a vector field described by the equation: W(x,y,z)=T (proj(x,v,z))−(x,v,z)+proj(x,v,z)−(x,v,z)∥T(proj(x,y,z))−(x,y,z)∥ ∥proj(x,y,z)−(x,y,z)∥ and a method for forming the reflective surface. The reflective surface is capable of providing a non-reversed, substantially undistorted direct reflection. | 04-19-2012 |
20120090985 | NON-EQUILIBRIUM GLIDING ARC PLASMA SYSTEM FOR CO2 DISSOCIATION - A reactor for dissociating carbon dioxide, and associated processes and systems, are described herein. In one example, a reactor is provided that is configured to use non-equilibrium gliding arc discharge plasma. In another example, the reactor uses a vortex flow pattern. A diaphragm may be used at the output of the reactor to control the vortex flow pattern. In some examples, the reactor may be configured to have varying upper and lower chamber sizes. | 04-19-2012 |
20120060984 | Carbon Nanotubes Containing Confined Copper Azide - The invention concerns copper azide containing carbon nanotubes. The invention also concerns methods of producing such nanotubes by placing CuO nanoparticles within carbon nanotubes to produce CuO-containing carbon nanotubes, contacting CuO-containing carbon nanotubes with hydrogen to produce reduced nanotubes; and contacting the reduced nanotubes with hydrazoic acid to produce copper azide containing carbon nanotubes. | 03-15-2012 |
20120041124 | COMPOSITE REPAIR RESINS CONTAINING MINIMAL HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS AND VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND - The present invention relates to a composition and method for fabricating composite resins that produce either reduced or zero volatile organic compound (VOC) and zero hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions. The non-volatile reactive diluents of the composite resin, fatty acid monomers, enhance the stability, shelf-life, flexibility and strength of the composite resin. The resins incorporating fatty acid monomers may be used to repair military equipment or for any commercial repair purposes. | 02-16-2012 |
20110305837 | POLY(ETHYLENE GLYCOL) AND POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) BY INITIATED CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION - A method for ionic polymerization of ethylene oxide. In the first step of the method, a gaseous monomer composition comprising ethylene oxide at a first flow rate is mixed with a gaseous ionic polymerization initiator at a second flow rate, thereby forming a mixture. The formed mixture is then heated with at least one heated filament to thereby form at least one polymer. The method may also be employed to coat a variety of different substrates in situ during the polymerization reaction. | 12-15-2011 |
20110305118 | Fiber Optic Hydrophone Sensors And Uses Thereof - Disclosed is detecting changes in pressure in a medium, with an optical fiber having a core diameter at an immersion surface contact of the fiber of less than 10 μm; a layer of material deposited on said end of the fiber, the material being of a thickness of from about 2 nm to about 10 nm. Also disclosed is detecting pressure waves in a medium comprising: contacting the medium with a fiber optic, the fiber integrated with a light source and a detector, the fiber optic having a diameter of less than 10 μm at an immersion surface contact of the fiber; providing a thin layer of material on the immersion surface contact, wherein said thin layer of material is of a thickness in a range of from about 2 nm to about 10 nm; and detecting Fresnel back reflections from the immersion end of the fiber. | 12-15-2011 |
20110295903 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS OF A SCIENTIFIC FIELD - A system and method are provided for automatically generating systematic reviews of received information in a field of science and technology, such as scientific literature, where the systematic review includes a systematic review of a research field in the scientific literature. The method is preferably implemented by a programmed computer and includes the steps of constructing a time series networks of words, passages, documents, and citations and/or co-citations within received information into a synthesized network, decomposing the networks into clusters of fields or topics, performing part-of-speech tagging of text within the received information to provide tagged text, constructing semantic structures of concepts and/or assertions extracted from the source text, generating citation-based and content-based summaries of the clusters of fields or topics and the semantic structures including measuring the saliency, novelty, significance, and transformative features of individual entities in the clusters of fields or topics and semantic structures, and generating structured narratives of the clusters of fields or topics and the summaries of the generated semantic structures, including labeling and summarizing features of the clusters of fields or topics and delinearizing the resulting clusters into templates that provide summarizations of the structure and trends of the information in the clusters at multiple levels of abstraction. Narratives of the citation-based and content-based summaries are merged into a systematic review having a predetermined arrangement. | 12-01-2011 |
20110288199 | Fiber-Hydrogel Composite for Tissue Replacement - The present invention includes tailored fiber-reinforced hydrogel composites for implantation into a subject. The present invention also includes systems and methods for controlling the relative percent volume of the hydrogel and fibers, cross-linking, fiber orientation, weave and density, such that the material properties of the composite can be controlled and/or customized to match particular tissue types. The composites of the present invention are suitable for repairing or replacing musculoskeletal tissues and/or fibrocartilage, such as the meniscus, ligaments and tendons. | 11-24-2011 |
20110277618 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BRAIDING MICRO STRANDS - A method and apparatus for fabricating microbraided structures is provided. A microbraiding device includes first and second carrier members that are movable with respect to each other. Each carrier includes a plurality of shelters. Spool-less strands of microfiber are retained in shuttles that are movable between the first and second shelters under magnetic forces. The microbraid structure is fabricated as the shuttles move between the first shelters, and as the first carrier member moves relative to the second carrier member. | 11-17-2011 |
20110270400 | PHASE TRANSITIONING HYDROGELS - A method of forming and the resulting hydrogel composition comprising poly(vinyl alcohol) at a final concentration of about 20% (w/w) to about 65% (w/w) and polyethylene glycol at a final concentration of about 2% (w/w) to about 20% (w/w), wherein the hydrogel composition has a total polymer content, above about 30% (w/w), higher than the total polymer content of a precursor polymer solution formulated prior to the formulation of the hydrogel composition. The hydrogel composition may further comprise poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) at a fmal concentration of about 0.10% (w/w) to about 0.75% (w/w). | 11-03-2011 |
20110265227 | PIEZOELECTRIC MICROCANTILEVERS AND USES IN ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY - The invention is direct to a piezoelectric microcantilever for static contact and dynamic noncontact atomic force microscopy which may be carried out in solution. The piezoelectric microcantilever, which includes a piezoelectric layer and a non-piezoelectric layer is capable of self actuation and detection. The piezoelectric layer may be constructed from a lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (Pb(Mg | 10-27-2011 |
20110264117 | TISSUE JOINING DEVICE AND INSTRUMENT FOR ENABLING USE OF A TISSUE JOINING DEVICE - A tissue joining device and a surgical instrument for employing the tissue joining device are provided. The tissue joining device may be designed such that a first member may be inserted into a second member in discrete increments so that two lumen structures can properly be combined. | 10-27-2011 |
20110260946 | MIMO ANTENNA ARRAYS BUILT ON METAMATERIAL SUBSTRATES - A magnetic permeability enhanced metamaterial is used to enhance the antenna array of a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) communication system. A rectangular patch antenna array is formed including a stack of a plurality of unit cells, where each unit cell includes an inductive loop of magnetic permeability enhanced metamaterials embedded in a host dielectric substrate. The use of such metamaterials permits the antenna arrays to be made smaller, and have less mutual coupling, when using a metamaterial substrate. The measured channel capacities of the antenna arrays are similar for the metamaterial and conventional substrates; however, the capacity improvement when using MIMO relative to single antenna communication systems is greater for antennas on metamaterial substrates. | 10-27-2011 |
20110260109 | WATER SOLUBLE NANOCRYSTALLINE QUANTUM DOTS - An economic, direct synthetic method for producing water soluble QDs that are ready for bioconjugation is provided. The method can produce aqueous QDs with emission wavelengths varying from 400 nm to 700 nm. Highly luminescent metal sulfide (MS) QDs are produced via an aqueous synthesis route. MS QDs are capped with thiol-containing charged molecules in a single step. The resultant MS QDs exhibit the distinctive excitonic photoluminescence desired of QDs and can be fabricated to avoid undesirable broadband emissions at higher wavelengths. This provides a significant improvement over the present complex and expensive commercial processes for the production of QDs. The aqueous QDs are stable in biological fluids over a long period of time. In addition, nontoxic ZnS QDs have been produced with good photoluminescence properties by refluxing the ZnS QD suspensions over a period of time. | 10-27-2011 |
20110257320 | COMPOSITE REPAIR RESINS CONTAINING MINIMAL HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS AND VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND - The present invention relates to a composition and method for fabricating composite resins that produce either reduced or zero volatile organic compound (VOC) and zero hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions. The non-volatile reactive diluents of the composite resin, fatty acid monomers, enhance the stability, shelf-life, flexibility and strength of the composite resin. The resins incorporating fatty acid monomers may be used to repair military equipment or for any commercial repair purposes. | 10-20-2011 |
20110251604 | NANO DISCHARGES IN LIQUIDS - The present invention is direct to a nano-probe corona tool and uses thereof. A nano-probe corona tool is disclosed having a tip with a diameter in the nano-scale, typically around 100 nm. The nano-probe corona tool is constructed of electrically conductive material. On the other end of the tool, a pulsed voltage source outputs a pulsed voltage to generated a pulsed electrical potential at the tip. The pulsed electrical potential at the tip causes a plasma discharge corona to occur. Uses of the corona discharge include, but are not limited to, optical emission spectroscopy, in the enhancement of deposition of coatings and nanoscale welding, e.g., nanotube or nanowires to a contact pad and welding two nanowires together, and in nanoscale surgery. For example, a nano-probe comprising CNTs may be inserted into cell membranes. The resulting corona discharge may be used to destroy tumors within the cell. | 10-13-2011 |
20110246636 | Efficient Distributed Algorithm for the Location Design and Routing Problem - The Location Design and Routing problem asks to find a subset of “depot” nodes and a spanning forest of a graph such that every connected component in the forest contains at least one depot. This problem arises in a number of both logistical and computer networking problems, for example, in selecting the number and location of distribution centers in vehicle routing networks. This problem is functionally equivalent to that of supernode selection in peer-to-peer networks. A distributed algorithm approximates a solution to this problem that runs in a logarithmic number of communication rounds with respect to the number of nodes (independent of the topology of the network), and, under assumptions on the embedding of the edge weights, whose solutions are within a factor of 2 of optimal. | 10-06-2011 |
20110208063 | NON-CONTACT FREQUENCY DOMAIN NEAR INFRARED ABSORPTION (fNIR) DEVICE FOR ASSESSING TISSUE DAMAGE - A device for measuring the progress of healing of a wound over time includes at least one diode laser source that provides respective input wavelengths into at least one source fiber, a first optical switch that sequentially switches wavelengths among the respective input wavelengths into the at least one source fiber, a probe that does not touch the wound dunng use, the probe including the at least one source fiber and at least two detectors spaced thereon, an optical system that provides source light from the at least one source fiber to the wound and that detects light scattered by the wound surface and provides the scattered light to the detectors, and a processing unit responsive to outputs of the detectors for providing at least four independent measurements for calculation of an absorption coefficient/Ia and a scattering coefficient/I's of the light by the wound | 08-25-2011 |
20110199563 | Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Photovoltaic Device and Method for Making - A novel photovoltaic device including a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) material that is capable of converting solar energy to electrical energy and method for making. The device may optionally include a conductive container for holding the PDLC material. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention is directed to a self assembled PDLC material, a holographically synthesized PDLC material or a block co-polymer dispersed liquid crystal material. It is envisioned that the invention may be used a power source for any device, system or application. In particular, the invention may be used for any application involving the conversion of solar energy to electrical energy. | 08-18-2011 |
20110192789 | METAL OR METAL OXIDE DEPOSITED FIBROUS MATERIALS - A method for electrospraying nanosized metal or metal oxide particles onto a substrate. A metal oxide deposited fibrous material comprising a substrate, fibers and metal oxide particles may be made using the method. The material may be a flexible and porous fibrous matrix on which metal oxide particles may be uniformly deposited on a surface thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention is directed to an electrospun nanofibrous material on which electrosprayed photocatalytic metal oxide particles are uniformly deposited without agglomeration. | 08-11-2011 |
20110175183 | INTEGRATED PLASMONIC LENS PHOTODETECTOR - Metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors may see increased responsivity when a plasmonic lens is integrated with the photodetector. The increased responsivity of the photodetector may be a result of effectively ‘guiding’ photons into the active area of the device in the form of a surface plasmon polariton. In one embodiment, the plasmonic lens may not substantially decrease the speed of the MSM photodetector. In another embodiment, the Shottkey contacts of the MSM photodetector may be corrugated to provide integrated plasmonic lens. For example, one or more of the cathodes and anodes can be modified to create a plurality of corrugations. These corrugations may be configured as a plasmonic lens on the surface of a photodetector. The corrugations may be configured as parallel linear corrugations, equally spaced curved corrugations, curved parallel corrugations, approximately equally spaced concentric circular corrugations, chirped corrugations or the like. | 07-21-2011 |
20110172565 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING TISSUE - A sensor system for measuring an elastic modulus and a shear modulus and a method for evaluating a tissue. The invention pertains to a method for determining the presence of and/or characterizing abnormal growths, using a piezoelectric finger sensor (PEFS) system. The PEFS system may be particularly useful for screening for tumors and various forms of cancer. Additionally, the PEFS system may be useful for various dermatological applications. | 07-14-2011 |
20110159109 | TITANIA DISPERSION AND METHOD FOR MAKING - A novel method for preparing a titania dispersion by blending two different titania dispersions synthesized by a solvothermal process and a hydrolysis process. The titania dispersion has a plurality of titania particles substantially uniformly dispersed therein and can be blended to provide a high concentration of titania with an anatase crystalline structure to provide the desired level of photocatalytic activity. The present invention also permits the preparation of transparent titania dispersions. The solution may be used for various decontamination and clean energy generation applications. | 06-30-2011 |
20110154903 | METHOD FOR STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING USING A SMART SENSOR SYSTEM - The structural health monitoring method of the present invention utilizes ultrasound to determine information about deformation, stress and/or damage in structural elements. The method propagates ultrasound through at least a portion of a material having fully-reversible nonlinear elasticity, receives the ultrasound which has been propagated through at least a portion of the material and determining information about the structural element from attenuation and/or time of flight of said received ultrasound. | 06-30-2011 |
20110153022 | BALLOON-ASSISTED ANNULUS REPAIR - The present invention is directed to an inflatable annulus repair device ( | 06-23-2011 |
20110138916 | SELF-EXCITING, SELF-SENSING PIEZOELECTRIC CANTILEVER SENSOR - A piezoelectric cantilever sensor includes a piezoelectric layer and a non-piezoelectric layer, a portion of which is attached to the piezoelectric layer. In one embodiment, one end of the non-piezoelectric layer extends beyond the end of piezoelectric layer to provide an overhang. The overhang piezoelectric cantilever sensor enables increased sensitivity allowing application of the device in more viscous environments, such as liquid media, as well as application in liquid media at higher flow rates than conventional piezoelectric cantilevers. In another embodiment, the sensor includes first and second bases and at least one of the piezoelectric layer and the non-piezoelectric layer is affixed to each of the first and second bases to form the piezoelectric cantilever sensor. In this embodiment, the sensor is robust and exhibits excellent sensing characteristics in both gaseous and liquid media, even when subjected to relatively high flow rates. | 06-16-2011 |
20110138915 | DETECTING AN ANALYTE USING A PIEZOELECTRIC CANTILEVER SENSOR - A piezoelectric cantilever sensor includes a piezoelectric layer and a non-piezoelectric layer, a portion of which is attached to the piezoelectric layer. In one embodiment, one end of the non-piezoelectric layer extends beyond the end of piezoelectric layer to provide an overhang. The overhang piezoelectric cantilever sensor enables increased sensitivity allowing application of the device in more viscous environments, such as liquid media, as well as application in liquid media at higher flow rates than conventional piezoelectric cantilevers. In another embodiment, the sensor includes first and second bases and at least one of the piezoelectric layer and the non-piezoelectric layer is affixed to each of the first and second bases to form the piezoelectric cantilever sensor. In this embodiment, the sensor is robust and exhibits excellent sensing characteristics in both gaseous and liquid media, even when subjected to relatively high flow rates. | 06-16-2011 |
20110124124 | ENHANCED DETECTION SENSITIVITY WITH PIEZOELECTRIC MICROCANTILEVER SENSORS - A method for enhancing the detection sensitivity of a piezoelectric microcantilever sensor. The method may involve providing a piezoelectric microcantilever and inducing a change in the Young's modulus during detection of a species of interest. The change in the Young's modulus may be induced or enhanced by the application of a DC bias electric field to the piezoelectric layer that enhances non-180° polarization domain switching of the piezoelectric layer. The change in the Young's modulus may also result from binding of the species of interest to the piezoelectric microcantilever sensor or a combination of binding and application of a DC bias electric field Significantly enhanced detection sensitivity results from the changed Young's modulus of the piezoelectric layer. | 05-26-2011 |
20110122542 | SUPERCAPACITOR COMPOSITIONS, DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS - Disclosed are supercapacitor materials comprising compositions having pores that are optimally sized to maximize capacitance. Also disclosed are related methods for fabricating such supercapacitors. | 05-26-2011 |
20110115896 | HIGH-SPEED AND LARGE-SCALE MICROSCOPE IMAGING - An imaging system generates an image of a specimen by acquiring images of individual portions of the specimen and combining the images to form a composite image. The system moves the specimen to a set of predetermined locations such that all portions of the specimen are captured into images. At each location, images are heuristically acquired at a different distance from an acquisition lens, and the image with the sharpest focus is selected. The selected images are combined to form a composite image by computing and removing overlapping regions of the adjacent images with sub-pixel spatial accuracy. And, the system is capable of imaging thick specimens with high topological variations. | 05-19-2011 |
20110086435 | DETERMINATION OF DISSOCIATION CONSTANTS USING PIEZOELECTRIC MICROCANTILEVERS - A method for determining the dissociation constant (K | 04-14-2011 |
20110086368 | METHOD FOR IMMUNE RESPONSE DETECTION - A method for detecting one or more immunological response factors that is expressed in response to a therapeutic treatment and/or disease using a piezoelectric microcantilever sensor (PEMS) to assess a patient's immunological response. The method involves measuring a frequency shift of the PEMS caused by binding the immunological response factors to one or more receptors on the PEMS. The method may be used to determine the effectiveness of a prescribed therapeutic treatment and/or monitor the progress of a disease. | 04-14-2011 |
20110076734 | Electrowetting Microarray Printing System and Methods for Bioactive Tissue Construct Manufacturing - Apparatuses and methods for manufacturing three-dimensional, bioactive, tissue scaffold fabrications with embedded cells and bioactive materials, such as growth factors, using biomimetic structure modeling, solid freeform fabrication, biocompatible hydrogel material, and electrowetting on dielectric-based multi-microarray printing. | 03-31-2011 |
20110066072 | INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE SENSOR - An intracranial pressure device for measuring CSF pressure in a skull includes a housing located between the scalp and the skull containing pressure device circuitry and a conduit extending downwardly from the housing to the vicinity of the CSF. A pressure sensor is coupled to the conduit and located in communication with the CSF wherein the pressure sensor directly senses the pressure of the CSF and provides a signal representative of the pressure of the CSF to the pressure device circuitry by way of the conduit. The skull has a dura and the conduit extends by way of an opening through the skull and an opening through the dura to position the sensor in direct contact with the CSF. A fluid reservoir can be in communication with the CSF by way of a tube and by way of the housing. The fluid reservoir contains CSF. | 03-17-2011 |
20110062014 | PLASMA REACTOR - A plasma reactor ( | 03-17-2011 |
20110060260 | CERVICAL SPINE PROTECTION APPARATUS AND METHODS OF USE - The invention is directed to a cervical spine protection apparatus one or more composite bands attached to provide restraint of one or more motions of the cervical spine of a wearer. The apparatus is designed to protect a wearer from incurring cervical spinal injuries, and/or to reduce the severity of cervical spine injuries without substantially compromising the normal functional range of motion of the wearer's cervical spine. | 03-10-2011 |
20110044884 | HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM HYDROGEN SULFIDE - The present subject matter is directed to plasma dissociation of fluidic hydrogen sulfide to hydrogen and sulfur. A reactor is configured to have a plasma discharge and a vortex flow pattern. The plasma discharge provides energy to the hydrogen sulfide disassociation reaction and the vortex flow pattern helps to cause the condensation of sulfur molecules. The condensation of sulfur molecules helps to reduce the amount of energy input required to disassociate a certain amount of hydrogen sulfide. Additionally, the reactor may be configured to have a vortex flow pattern that provides for a recirculation zone in which relatively warm reaction products may exchange their heat energy with relatively cool input fluids. | 02-24-2011 |
20110033504 | ARTICLES AND METHODS FOR REPAIRING DAMAGED NERVOUS TISSUE - The invention concerns substrates comprising a biocompatible gel and at least one of a plurality of cells, said cells being capable of producing at least one therapeutic agent. Other aspects of the invention concern methods of making such substrates and methods of repairing and regenerating damaged nervous tissue with the substrates. | 02-10-2011 |
20110026019 | METHOD FOR THE FORMATION OF SERS SUBSTRATES - A method for the formation of surface enhanced Raman scattering substrates. The method produces thin substrates that have a nanoparticle ink deposited thereon. The nanoparticle ink may be any suitable nanoparticle ink such as silver, gold or copper nanoparticle ink which includes stabilized nanoparticles. The substrates and nanoparticle ink undergo a first step of heating in order to remove liquid vehicle from the ink. The substrates and nanoparticles then undergo a second step of heating for an amount of time sufficient to remove a substantial portion of the stabilizer and provide a fractal aggregate nanoparticle layer on the substrate having a certain resistivity or conductivity suitable for Raman scattering. This creates SERS substrates with enhanced amplification properties. | 02-03-2011 |
20110016841 | ALTERNATE TWIST PLY YARN WITH LOW RESIDUAL TWIST - ATP yarns having high twist efficiency (low residual twist) as well as methods for increasing the self plying action that occurs in ATP yarn processing. The self plying action and the ATP yarn structure may be improved by increasing the convergence angle of the singles twist yarns to above 50 degrees (compared to current values of 0 to 35 degrees). The increased convergence angle permits an increase in the ply twist above the level possible by self plying alone. This results in a yarn with reduced residual singles twist. An array of singles torque jets and an optional ply torque jet has been developed to achieve a high convergence angle. The angle between the singles torque jet axes can be varied from 0 to 180 degrees. | 01-27-2011 |
20110011801 | DESALINATION SYSTEM AND PROCESS - The present invention pertains to an effective system and method for reducing or eliminating the formation of scale in desalination systems. The system utilizes at least one pair of electrodes in direct contact with a liquid to induce an oscillating electric field directly in a portion of the liquid or a liquid stream of the desalination system. The electric field is capable of inducing bulk precipitation of ions, minerals, salts, particulates, contaminants or a combination thereof from the liquid stream. | 01-20-2011 |
20110006218 | NANODIAMOND COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THEREOF - Provided are functionalized nanodiamonds. Also provided are methods for fabricating such functionalized nanodiamonds. Also provided are composites including nanodiamonds and polymers. Also provided are methods for fabricating such composites including nanodiamonds and polymers. Also provided are electrospun fibers including nanodiamonds and polymers. Also provided are methods for fabricating such electrospun fibers including nanodiamonds and polymers. | 01-13-2011 |
20110001092 | WATER SOLUBLE NANOCRYSTALLINE QUANTUM DOTS - An economic, direct synthetic method for producing water soluble QDs that are ready for bioconjugation is provided. The method can produce aqueous QDs with emission wavelengths varying from 400 nm to 700 nm. Highly luminescent metal sulfide (MS) QDs are produced via an aqueous synthesis route. MS QDs are capped with thiol-containing charged molecules in a single step. The resultant MS QDs exhibit the distinctive excitonic photoluminescence desired of QDs and can be fabricated to avoid undesirable broadband emissions at higher wavelengths. This provides a significant improvement over the present complex and expensive commercial processes for the production of QDs. The aqueous QDs are stable in biological fluids over a long period of time. In addition, nontoxic ZnS QDs have been produced with good photoluminescence properties by refluxing the ZnS QD suspensions over a period of time. | 01-06-2011 |
20100300872 | Methods for Low Temperature Hydrogen Sulfide Dissociation - A method of H | 12-02-2010 |
20100297687 | DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT OF MASS CHANGE USING AN ELECTROMECHANICAL RESONATOR - A change in impedance of a electromechanical resonating sensor is utilized to detect and/or measure a change in mass accumulated on the sensor. The impedance is monitored at a fixed frequency. The fixed frequency may be at or near the resonance frequency of the sensor. In various configurations, the sensor comprises a quartz crystal microbalance sensor or a piezoelectric cantilever sensor. | 11-25-2010 |
20100297686 | DEVICES FOR INTRACELLULAR SURFACE-ENHANCED RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY - Provided are surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) devices suitable for intra-subject (e.g., intracellular) observation, which devices may be of nanoscale size. Also provided are related SERS analysis methods. | 11-25-2010 |
20100285392 | ELECTROCATALYSTS FOR FUEL CELLS - Disclosed are metallized carbonaceous materials, processes for forming such materials, and electrodes and fuel cells comprising the disclosed materials. | 11-11-2010 |
20100281962 | ALL ELECTRIC PIEZOELECTRIC FINGER SENSOR (PEFS) FOR SOFT MATERIAL STIFFNESS MEASUREMENT - A PEFS (Piezoelectric Finger Sensor) acts as an “electronic finger” capable of accurately and non-destructively measuring both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus of tissues with gentle touches to the surface. The PEFS measures both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus variations in tissue generating a less than one-millimeter spatial resolution up to a depth of several centimeters. This offers great potential for in-vivo early detection of diseases. A portable hand-held device is also disclosed. The PEF offers superior sensitivity. | 11-11-2010 |
20100262047 | PHYSICAL THERAPY SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The invention is directed to a physical therapy system including a glove with a set of acoustic sensors and a positive feedback system and method for teaching finger extension. The system may also include a pair of gloves with a set of acoustic sensors and a positive feedback system to teach clapping. In another aspect, the system may include a glove with an acoustic sensor, an object with a corresponding sensor and a positive feedback system for teaching arm extension. The invention may be particularly useful for providing a rehabilitation method for individuals affected with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262044 | ORTHOSIS AND METHOD OF USE FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF DROPFOOT - A functional electrical stimulation brace responsive to various positions of an intended wearer's foot. The device includes a plurality of sensors positioned at different locations under the intended wearer's foot to detect the current position of the foot. Outputs from the sensors are fed to a controller that uses logic to activate an electrical stimulation unit that stimulates the peroneal muscles of a patient at the appropriate times during the patient's gait. The device may also employ mechanical stabilization of the ankle in addition to the functional electrical stimulation by means of an ankle foot orthosis with a variable resistance hinge. The electrodes are embedded in fixed locations in the brace upper portion so that optimal location of the electrodes relative to the peroneal muscles is maintained every time the device is applied. Also provided is a method for assistance and rehabilitation for a patient by electrical stimulation of the peroneal muscles. In the method, the position of the foot is detected and the peroneal muscles are stimulated responsive to particular positions of the patient's foot in order to activate the muscles at the appropriate times during the patient's gait. The device also provides lateral and torsional stability by means of the ankle-foot orthosis. | 10-14-2010 |
20100260869 | Biocidal materials - Provided are materials that effectively kill pathogenic bacteria and other organisms. Also disclosed are methods that concern the use of materials having biocidal activity, and biocidal systems that incorporate such materials. | 10-14-2010 |
20100239463 | LEAD-FREE PIEZOELECTRIC CERAMIC FILMS AND A METHOD FOR MAKING THEREOF - This invention relates to lead-free piezoelectric ceramic films and a method of making thereof. Specifically, the invention is directed to a method for fabricating lead-free piezoelectric free standing films having enhanced piezoelectric properties. The films may be used for a number of applications including incorporation in microelectronic devices such as energy harvesting devices and sensor technologies. | 09-23-2010 |
20100231997 | DYNAMIC TIME MULTIPLEXING FABRICATION OF HOLOGRAPHIC POLYMER DISPERSED LIQUID CRYSTALS FOR INCREASED WAVELENGTH SENSITIVITY - Described herein is a new holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) medium with broadband reflective properties, and a new technique for fabrication of broadband HPDLC mediums. The new technique involves dynamic variation of the holography setup during HPDLC formation, enabling the broadening of the HPDLC medium's wavelength response. Dynamic variation of the holography setup may include the rotation and/or translation of one or more motorized stages, allowing for time and spatial, or angular, multiplexing through variation of the incident angles of one or more laser beams on a pre-polymer mixture during manufacture. An HPDLC medium manufactured using these techniques exhibits improved optical response by reflecting a broadband spectrum of wavelengths. A new broadband holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal thin film polymeric mirror stack with electrically-switchable beam steering capability is disclosed. | 09-16-2010 |
20100224818 | FREESTANDING FILMS WITH ELECTRIC FIELD-ENHANCED PIEZOELECTRIC COEFFICIENTS - A method to produce low-temperature sinterable powders which are then subsequently used to fabricate freestanding piezoelectric films with very large electric-field-enhanced piezoelectric response is provided. The −d | 09-09-2010 |
20100219136 | FLUID TREATMENT USING PLASMA TECHNOLOGY - A method for the treatment of fluid including the step of exposing the fluid to a pulsed plasma discharge. The pulsed plasma discharge will be generated using a suitable electrode configuration to generate the plasma discharge in the fluid. Apparatus useful in the method may include a vessel, at least two electrodes for generating a plasma discharge in water, and a flow inlet and a flow outlet to allow water to be passed through the vessel. Also described is an in-line water treatment, where a pulsed plasma discharge is used in a pipe carrying moving water. Plasma based fluid treatment system may have many advantages in comparison to other treatment methods, such as very minimal maintenance, low operating power, and minimal pressure loss through the device. | 09-02-2010 |
20100216627 | METHOD OF MAKING MIXED METAL OXIDE CERAMICS - A method of making dielectric ceramics containing mixed metal oxides is provided. The method comprises the steps of at least partially coating a metal oxide powder with a metal hydroxide or metal oxide, compacting the coated powder with one or more additional metal compounds or metal compound precursors, and directly sintering the compact in a single step. The method of the invention may be used to avoid occurrence of significant quantities of one or more undesired but thermodynamically or kinetically favored side products. The method of the invention may also be used to synthesize perovskites, in particular lead-magnesium-niobium (PMN), lead-magnesium-niobium-lead-titanium (PMN-PT) perovskites, or lead zirconate titanate (PZT). | 08-26-2010 |
20100216211 | FIBROUS MATS CONTAINING CHITOSAN NANOFIBERS - The invention relate to fibrous mats comprising chitosan nanofibers and, optionally, at least one filler material, at least one additive, or both. The invention also relates to methods of making same, and devices that include a fibrous mat comprising chitosan nanofibers. | 08-26-2010 |
20100216172 | FLOW-BASED ENHANCEMENT OF SPECIFICITY FOR LABEL-FREE BIOCHEMICAL ASSAYS - A label-free biochemical assay, in which label-free interrogation of a target-receptor layer is performed while the target-receptor layer is subjected to a relatively strong flow of an analyte-containing fluid. The volumetric flow rate for the assay is selected based on calibration data corresponding to the target substance, which advantageously results in fewer and/or smaller false-positive signals corresponding to non-target substances compared to those produced with the fluid being stationary. In various embodiments, the label-free interrogation method can be electro-mechanical and/or optical. | 08-26-2010 |
20100210032 | SPECIFICITY AND SENSITIVITY ENHANCEMENT IN CANTILEVER SENSING - The invention is directed to a sensor system including at least one sensor and target specific receptors bound substrates for purposes of enhancing detection sensitivity. Optionally, the sensor system may include quantum dots for independently verifying the presence of a target molecule or compound. The sensor system may be particularly beneficial in the field of medical diagnostics, bio-defense, food safety, water safety and general chemical detection. | 08-19-2010 |
20100204674 | Magnetically-Controllable Delivery System for Therapeutic Agents - A magnetic delivery system for delivering a magnetizable particle to a location in a body, the device includes a magnetizable object implanted in the body, wherein the magnetizable object includes a plurality of segments distributed throughout the magnetizable object and wherein the segments are configured to provide a magnetic gradient for attracting the magnetizable particle and an external source of a magnetic field capable of (i) magnetizing the magnetizable particle and (ii) increasing a degree of magnetization of the magnetizable object and thereby creating the magnetic gradient. A drug delivery system including the magnetic delivery system and a magnetizable particle associated with a therapeutic agent and/or a cell. A cell delivery system based on the magnetic delivery system and a magnetizable particle associated with a cell. A method of using the magnetic delivery system for delivery of a therapeutic agent and/or a cell to a targeted location in a body. | 08-12-2010 |
20100197823 | Polymeric Resorbable Composites Containing an Amorphous Calcium Phosphate Polymer Ceramic for Bone Repair and Replacement - A method for making bioresorbable composites of a non-crystalline calcium phosphate ceramic synthesized within encapsulating microspheres of bioresorbable polymeric material for use in bone repair and replacement is provided. The composites include microspheres and scaffolds produced therefrom. | 08-05-2010 |
20100168499 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AIR DISINFECTION AND STERILIZATION - A method for decontaminating bioaerosol with high concentrations of bacterial, viral, spore and other airborne microorganisms or biologic contaminants, in flight at high flow rates. A plasma screen created across the flow of air contaminated with airborne biologic agents renders contaminants non-culturable within millisecond. The technology may cooperate with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. It may be particularly beneficial in preventing bioterrorism and the spread of toxic or infectious agents, containing airborne pandemic threats such as avian flu, sterilizing spaces such as hospitals, pharmaceutical plants and manufacturing facilities, treating exhaust ventilation streams, minimizing biological environmental pollutants in industrial settings, improving general air quality, and preventing sick building syndrome. | 07-01-2010 |
20100160466 | FILLED NANOPOROUS POLYMER MEMBRANE COMPOSITES FOR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND METHODS FOR MAKING THEM - A new class of membranes for use in protective clothing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a polymer-polymer membrane with an ionic polymer located within the nanopores of a porous polymer host membrane. A method for making the polymer-polymer membranes involves filling porous polymers with ionic polymers. The porous polymers may be fabricated by a template synthesis which involves sorption. The ionic polymers may be filled in the nanopores of the porous polymer by plasma-induced graft copolymerization of the ionic polymer with the porous polymeric host membrane. | 06-24-2010 |
20100148519 | ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE - A piezoelectric energy harvesting device (PEHD) comprising a driving element, conducting element, piezoelectric layer and non-piezoelectric layer capable of converting ambient mechanical energy into electrical energy. The piezoelectric layer may be constructed from PMN-PT or PZT having a thickness of about 1-150 ?m. The PEHD may be used to generate about 1 W. The harvested energy may be stored and used to power microelectronic devices and rechargeable battery technologies. | 06-17-2010 |
20100145253 | METHODS FOR NON-THERMAL APPLICATION OF GAS PLASMA TO LIVING TISSUE - Method for the non-thermal treatment of human or animal tissue with high-voltage electrical discharge plasma is disclosed. The disclosed method employs current through plasma and through tissue not for the purpose of heating the tissue, but instead to maintain the plasma proximate to the tissue being treated. Also disclosed is a method of limiting the current through plasma and through tissue to minimize tissue heating by placement of an insulator or semiconductor between an electrode and tissue resulting in generation of a high-voltage discharge similar to a dielectric barrier discharge. The disclosed non-thermal plasma treatment can be employed to promote coagulation of blood, sterilization, disinfection, re-connection of tissue, and treatment of tissue disorders without causing significant thermal tissue damage. | 06-10-2010 |
20100130367 | Methods of Quantitatively Assessing Inflammation with Biosensing Nanoparticles - The present invention includes a method of using one or more biomarkers to identify individuals with inflammatory disease using Quantum Dots conjugated to targeting moieties that will specifically bind to biomarker proteins or nucleic acids encoding the biomarker, where detection of the biomarker is associated with the inflammatory disease. | 05-27-2010 |