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| 20110136162 | Compositions and Methods for Functionalized Patterning of Tissue Engineering Substrates Including Bioprinting Cell-Laden Constructs for Multicompartment Tissue Chambers - The present invention relates to microfluidic systems and methods for monitoring or detecting a change in a characteristic of an input substance. Specifically, the invention relates to a model for in vitro pharmacokinetic study and other pharmaceutical applications, as well as other uses including computing, sensing, filtration, detoxification, production of chemicals and biomolecules, testing cell/tissue behavior, toxicology, drug metabolism, drug screening, drug discovery, and implantation into a subject. The present invention also relates to systems and methods of a microplasm functionalized surface patterning of a substrate. The present invention represents an improvement over existing plasma systems used to modify the surface of a substrate, as the present invention creates surface patterning without the use of a mask, stamp or a chemical treatment. | 06-09-2011 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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| 20090187237 | Inner Hair Cell Stimulation Model for Use by a Cochlear Implant System - The stimulation provided in the electrically stimulated cochlea is modulated in accordance with the amplitude of a received acoustic signal and the onset of a sound in a received acoustic signal to provide increased sound perception. An onset time that corresponds to the onset of a sound is detected in an acoustic signal associated with a frequency band. A forcing voltage and a transmitting factor are determined, wherein the forcing voltage and the transmitting factor are associated with the frequency band at the detected onset time. The acoustic signal is modulated as a function of the forcing voltage and the transmitting factor to generate an output signal. The generated output signal can be used to stimulate the cochlea. The modulation strategy can be used in conjunction with sound processing strategies that employ frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, or a combination of frequency and amplitude modulation. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20100179616 | Outer Hair Cell Stimulation Model for the Use by an Intra-Cochlear Implant - Contrast between various frequency components of sound is enhanced through a lateral suppression strategy to provide increased speech perception in the electrically stimulated cochlea. A received audio signal is divided into a plurality of input signals, wherein each input signal is associated with a frequency band. A plurality of envelope signals are generated by determining the envelope of each of a plurality of the input signals. At least one of the envelope signals is scaled in accordance with a scaling factor to generate at least one scaled envelope signal. An output signal is generated by combining at least one envelope signal with at least one scaled envelope signal, and the cochlea is stimulated based on the generated output signal. The lateral suppression strategy can be applied to one or more frequency bands using scaled amplitude signals associated with one or more neighboring frequency bands. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100234920 | Spectral Contrast Enhancement in a Cochlear Implant Speech Processor - Psychophysical tests are administered to cochlear implant (CI) users to determine a spectral modulation transfer function (SMTF), smallest detectable spectral contrast as a function of spectral modulation frequency, for each individual CI user. The determined SMTF for individual CI user is compared against a SMTF of a normal hearing person to determine the specific enhancements needed. A profile of spectral enhancement achievable with variation of filter parameters, sigma and maximum that best fits the needed enhancements for the individual CI user is selected. Based on the corresponding sigma and maximum selected, a sound processing strategy is adjusted to provide customized spectral contrast enhancement for the individual CI user. The sound processing strategy implemented includes an outer hair cell model. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20110319965 | Optimizing Pitch Allocation in a Cochlear Stimulation System - Optimizing pitch allocation in a cochlear stimulation system may include implanting an electrode array having a plurality of electrodes into the cochlea of a patient, where the electrode array has an associated implant fitting characteristic that defines a relationship between the implanted electrode array and audio frequencies, presenting sounds through the electrode array to the patient, receiving from the patient a selection of one of the sounds that most closely conforms to a single note, and determining a slope of the implant fitting characteristic of the electrode array based on the sound selected by the patient. Each sound may include a fundamental frequency and one or more harmonics. The optimization may also include changing a center frequency of a band pass filter associated with each electrode based on the determined slope. | 12-29-2011 |
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| 20110166625 | Methods and Apparatus For Cochlear Implant Signal Processing - A cochlear implant processing strategy increases speech clarity and higher temporal performance. The strategy determines the power spectral component within each channel, and dynamically selects or de-selects the channels through which a stimulation pulse is provided as a function of whether the spectral power of the channel is high or low. “High” and “low” are estimated relative to a selected spectral power, for example. The selected spectral power can be estimated by signal average or mean, or by other criteria. Once a selection of the channels to stimulate has been made, the system can decide that only those channels are stimulated, and stimulation is removed from the other channels. The selected channels are the ones on which the spectral power is above the mean of all the available channels. Fewer channels are stimulated at any time and the contrast of the stimulation is enhanced. Also, the temporal resolution increases as the number of channels that must be stimulated on a given frame decreases. This way, the channels which are presented to the patient are fewer in number and contain more temporal information. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110166626 | Methods and Apparatus For Cochlear Implant Signal Processing - A cochlear implant processing strategy increases speech clarity and higher temporal performance. The strategy determines the power spectral component within each channel, and dynamically selects or de-selects the channels through which a stimulation pulse is provided as a function of whether the spectral power of the channel is high or low. “High” and “low” are estimated relative to a selected spectral power, for example. The selected spectral power can be estimated by signal average or mean, or by other criteria. Once a selection of the channels to stimulate has been made, the system can decide that only those channels are stimulated, and stimulation is removed from the other channels. The selected channels are the ones on which the spectral power is above the mean of all the available channels. Fewer channels are stimulated at any time and the contrast of the stimulation is enhanced. Also, the temporal resolution increases as the number of channels that must be stimulated on a given frame decreases. This way, the channels which are presented to the patient are fewer in number and contain more temporal information. | 07-07-2011 |
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| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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| 20080226553 | Cell-Based Rna Interference and Related Methods and Compositions - This invention provides, among other things, methods for performing RNA interference in stem cells and methods for using stem cells in vivo. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20090217404 | Cell-based RNA interference and related methods and compositions - The invention provides, among other things, methods for performing RNA interference (RNAi) in stem cells (such as embryonic stem cells) and methods for using such stem cells in vivo. The invention also provides various animal models based on conditional/inducible, reversible, tissue-specific/spacial, and/or developmental stage-specific/temporal RNAi of certain target genes, which animal model may be useful for, e.g., drug target identification and/or validation. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20100186097 | CELL-BASED RNA INTERFERENCE AND RELATED METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS - The invention provides, among other things, methods for performing RNA interference in stem cells and methods for using the stem cells in vivo. | 07-22-2010 |
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| 20100113416 | JANUS KINASE INHIBITORS FOR TREATMENT OF DRY EYE AND OTHER EYE RELATED DISEASES - Methods, kits, and compositions for treating dry eye disorders and other related eye diseases are provided, wherein the methods, kits, and compositions utilize a JAK inhibitor. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20110223210 | HETEROARYL SUBSTITUTED PYRROLO[2,3-b]PYRIDINES AND PYRROLO[2,3-b]PYRIMIDINES AS JANUS KINASE INHIBITORS - The present invention provides heteroaryl substituted pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines and heteroaryl substituted pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrimidines that modulate the activity of Janus kinases and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to activity of Janus kinases including, for example, immune-related diseases, skin disorders, myeloid proliferative disorders, cancer, and other diseases. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110224157 | HETEROARYL SUBSTITUTED PYRROLO[2,3-b]PYRIDINES AND PYRROLO[2,3-b]PYRIMIDINES AS JANUS KINASE INHIBITORS - The present invention provides heteroaryl substituted pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines and heteroaryl substituted pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrimidines that modulate the activity of Janus kinases and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to activity of Janus kinases including, for example, immune-related diseases, skin disorders, myeloid proliferative disorders, cancer, and other diseases. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20120263676 | COMPOSITIONS, METHODS AND KITS RELATING TO HER-2 CLEAVAGE - The present invention relates to compositions, methods and kits based on the ADAM-mediated cleavage of Her-2. The present invention also relates to treatments for cancer, and in particular, breast cancer, by modulating the ADAM-mediated cleavage of Her-2. Further, the invention relates to compositions, methods and kits based on the surprising synergistic effect between inhibition of Her-2 cleavage by an ADAM and certain cytostatic (e.g., Herceptin) and cytotoxic (e.g., Taxol) compounds in, among other things, inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and inducing cell death. Additionally, the invention relates to novel variants of ADAM15, designated ADAM15 variant 1 and ADAM15 variant 2, now identified and isolated. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120301464 | JANUS KINASE INHIBITORS FOR TREATMENT OF DRY EYE AND OTHER EYE RELATED DISEASES - Methods, kits, and compositions for treating dry eye disorders and other related eye diseases are provided, wherein the methods, kits, and compositions utilize a JAK inhibitor. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120329782 | AZEPINE INHIBITORS OF JANUS KINASES - The present invention provides compounds that modulate the activity of Janus kinases and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to activity of Janus kinases including, for example, immune-related diseases, skin disorders, myeloid proliferative disorders, cancer, and other diseases. | 12-27-2012 |
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| 20110295468 | Control Of A Vehicle Powertrain In Response To Brake Pedal Input - In the event that the brake pedal and accelerator pedal are depressed simultaneously, powertrain output is decreased monotonically with brake pedal input. In a lower range of brake pedal input, the brakes are prevented from actuating or are allowed to actuate minimally. In a higher range of pedal input, the powertrain output continues to be decreased and the brakes are allowed to actuate. In yet another higher range of pedal input, the powertrain output is substantially decreased such that a minimal powertrain output is achieved. The powertrain may include an internal combustion engine and/or an electric motor. The brake pedal input is determined based on a sensor associated with the brake pedal, the brake booster, or the master cylinder. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20120116656 | Vacuum Boost For Vehicle Braking - Power brakes are typically vacuum assisted, with the vacuum provided from the intake manifold. If the engine is commanded to operate for a long period at a condition with low intake manifold vacuum, the vacuum within the brake booster may drop to a level which is marginal or insufficient for a present or subsequent braking operation. To ensure sufficient vacuum in the intake manifold to provide to the brake booster, the engine may be commanded to operate at a condition to increase intake manifold vacuum by one of: adjusting cam timing, increasing engine speed, and increasing EGR. In the case of a stop-start vehicle, the engine speed is increased from zero to a condition that provides the desired vacuum. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120237367 | Method and System for Providing Vacuum - A vacuum source arbitration system is disclosed. In one example, vacuum is supplied to a vacuum reservoir via an ejector during a first condition, and vacuum is supplied to the vacuum reservoir via an engine intake manifold during a second condition. The approach may provide a desired level of vacuum in a reservoir while reducing engine fuel consumption. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20130113270 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BRAKE CONTROL - Methods and systems are provided to reduce a hard brake pedal feel. A brake control variable is adjusted in anticipation of a hard pedal condition to increase hydraulic brake line pressure and maintain a normal pedal feel. A pedal force is inferred from brake line pressure relative to brake booster vacuum. | 05-09-2013 |
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| 20090005420 | Inhibitors of Matrix Metallaproteinases - The present invention provides novel compounds of formulas I-IX, as described herein. Also provided are compositions of compounds of formulas I-IX, methods of making compounds of formulas I-IX, and methods of using compounds of formulas I-IX. The compounds of the invention can be used to inhibit matrix metalloproteinases, and are useful to treat conditions and diseases associated therewith. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090269779 | Galectin-3 cleavage as a marker for matrix metalloproteinase activity in cancer - Provided are differential antibodies recognizing the cleaved and non-cleaved forms of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and methods of using the antibodies as surrogate diagnostic markers for the presence of active MMPs in cancer, such as growing breast cancers. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20110224275 | INHIBITORS OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES - The present invention provides novel compounds of formulas I-IX, as described herein. Also provided are compositions of compounds of formulas I-IX, methods of making compounds of formulas I-IX, and methods of using compounds of formulas I-IX. The compounds of the invention can be used to inhibit matrix metalloproteinases, and are useful to treat conditions and diseases associated therewith. | 09-15-2011 |
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| 20110117867 | RECEIVED SIGNAL STRENGTH INDICATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD - Received signal strength indicator apparatus and methods are disclosed. A received signal strength indicator includes a modem, a display, a processor, and a step-up converter. The modem is configured to receive a signal. The processor is coupled to the modem and the display. The processor is configured to determine a strength of the signal and to indicate the strength of the signal on the display. The step-up converter is coupled to one of the modem, the processor, and the display. The step-up converter is configured to step-up the voltage of a power source to power the one of the modem, the processor, and the display. The received signal strength indicator is usable for determining a location for installing a vending machine. The location for installing the vending machine is selected based on the strength of the received signal. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20120191612 | PORTABLE E-WALLET AND UNIVERSAL CARD - Universal cards are used in place of all the other traditional cards which a person may want to carry. The universal card can include a short range communications transceiver to communicate with a mobile device. The mobile device can include a user interface and an e-wallet application so that the user can interface with the e-wallet application for programming the universal card via the short range communication link. Once programmed, the universal card emulates a function of a traditional card. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20130024372 | PORTABLE E-WALLET AND UNIVERSAL CARD - Universal cards are used in place of all the other traditional cards which a person may want to carry. The universal card can include a short range communications transceiver to communicate with a mobile device. The mobile device can include a user interface and an e-wallet application so that the user can interface with the e-wallet application for programming the universal card via the short range communication link. Once programmed, the universal card emulates a function of a traditional card. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130030997 | PORTABLE E-WALLET AND UNIVERSAL CARD - Universal cards are used in place of all the other traditional cards which a person may want to carry. The universal card can include a short range communications transceiver to communicate with a mobile device. The mobile device can include a user interface and an e-wallet application so that the user can interface with the e-wallet application for programming the universal card via the short range communication link. Once programmed, the universal card emulates a function of a traditional card. | 01-31-2013 |
