University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160101194 | SMART.RTM. Medication Adherence Formulation, Method, Device and System for Topical, Vaginal or Rectal Routes of Administration - Novel compositions, methods, systems and devices are disclosed which contain markers for definitive medication adherence monitoring for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) delivered topically, vaginally or rectally. This invention is useful in a wide range of contexts, including, but not limited to, clinical trial settings, home use settings, or other settings, where it is necessary to definitively confirm that a given patient has taken or been administered a given medication at the correct time and in the correct dosage via a topical, vaginal or rectal route of delivery. Specific formulations of markers are disclosed for inclusion in compositions for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) delivery, including but not limited to delivery of microbicidally active compounds such that on topical, vaginal or rectal delivery, said AEM is detected in the breath or an Exhaled Drug Emplacement Marker, EDEM, which is a metabolite of the AEM, is detected in the breath. | 04-14-2016 |
20160083692 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMERIC SCAFFOLDS AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING NERVE GROWTH FACTOR TO NERVE TISSUE - A polymerizable unit that yields an electrochemically responsive polymer (advantageously pyrrole) is anchored by polymerization within a polycaprolactone matrix to form an electroactive scaffold upon which cells can be cultured and in which the micro- and nano-topological features of the polycaprolactone matrix are preserved. A scaffold manufactured in accordance with the preferred embodiment can support Schwann cells, which produce nerve growth factor when electrically stimulated. Nerve growth factor has been demonstrated to promote the regeneration of nerve tissue. By implanting the scaffold on which Schwann cells have been cultured into damaged nerve tissue and applying a voltage across the scaffold, nerve growth factor is produced, thereby promoting repair of the damaged nerve tissue. | 03-24-2016 |
20160022745 | BUTYROGENIC BACTERIA AS PROBIOTICS TO TREAT CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE - The subject invention pertains to the use of certain bacterial strains, particularly butyrogenic bacteria, for preparing a composition to treat and/or prevent | 01-28-2016 |
20160000794 | METHODS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF SJOGREN'S SYNDROME - The finding that patients with Sjögren's syndrome exhibit a statistically significant increase in expression of BMP6 in the salivary gland, relative to healthy control subjects, is described. Also described is the finding that overexpression of BMP6 in the salivary glands of mice results in an increase in electrical potential across the salivary gland. Methods of diagnosing a subject as having Sjögren's syndrome, or at risk for developing Sjögren's syndrome, by measuring the level of BMP6 expression in a salivary gland of a subject, measuring electrical potential in a salivary gland of a subject, or both, are described. Methods of treating a subject with Sjögren's syndrome, or methods of increasing salivary flow in a subject, by administering an agent that inhibits BMP6 expression or activity are also described. The use of XIST and MECP2 as diagnostic and therapeutic targets for male Sjögren's syndrome patients is further described. | 01-07-2016 |
20150374443 | CRANIAL ALIGNMENT DEVICE FOR USE IN INTRACRANIAL STEREOTACTIC SURGERY - A cranial alignment device for use in intracranial stereotactic radiotherapy includes a nosepiece that is custom shaped to mate with the dorsum and alae of the patient's nose. | 12-31-2015 |
20150343239 | QUALITY-CONTROL JIG FOR USE WITH RADIOTHERAPY APPARATUS - A jig for calibrating an image-guided radiotherapy apparatus is disclosed. The jig includes a ball bearing and a three-axis positioner. Once the ball bearing has been moved to the calculated radiation isocenter of the apparatus, other calibration procedures can be performed by directing light onto the jig. | 12-03-2015 |
20150306220 | CONTROLLING THE ACTIVITY OF GROWTH FACTORS, PARTICULARLY TGF-BETA, IN VIVO - TGF-β growth factor and its latent complex are conjugated to magnetic micro- or nanoparticles and to magnetic micro- or nanodiscs. By exposing the resulting conjugates to magnetic fields, the TGF-β growth factor can be released from its latent complex in vivo, potentially making it useful in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. And by exposing a conjugate of TGF-β growth factor and a magnetic particle to a sufficiently strong, radiofrequency magnetic field, the TGF-β growth factor can be denatured and thereby deactivated, potentially making it possible to avoid triggering tumorigenesis, atherosclerosis, fibrotic disease, and cancer. | 10-29-2015 |
20150265712 | DRUG DELIVERY USING ELECTROCHEMICALLY-TRIGGERED BIODEGRADABLE ELECTROACTIVE MATERIALS - A biodegradable electroactive material can be doped with a drug and the drug can be delivered to a living subject by stimulating the material with an electrical potential. The material (in this case a polymer) has an electrochemically responsive oligoaniline block terminated with a carboxylic acid moiety and is linked to an alcohol-terminated diol by an ester bond. Advantageously, the diol is PEG-400, PEG-2000, PCL-530, or PCL-2000. | 09-24-2015 |
20150202453 | SECURING A TMS COIL TO THE PATIENT'S HEAD - A helmet is used to detachably secure a TMS coil to the head of a patient. The helmet has a flexible sack containing a multiplicity of beads and also has a valve that permits air to enter and to be withdrawn from the interior volume of the sack. The handle of the TMS coil is inserted into the helmet, and the helmet is placed upon the head of a patient. Withdrawing air from the interior volume of the sack through the valve causes the sack to shrink and compresses the beads into a compact mass that conforms to the shape of the patient's head. Maintaining the vacuum causes the sack to retain its shape, making it possible to hold the helmet and TMS coil in proper position during a TMS study. | 07-23-2015 |
20150050634 | APPARATUS FOR USE IN A LECTURE ENVIRONMENT - A system for use in a lecture environment in which a lecturer delivers a lecture to students. The lecturer can broadcast questions to the students to test their understanding of the subject matter of the lecture, and the students' answers to those question are made available to the lecturer in real time. This makes it possible for the lecturer to adapt the lecture to the students' level of understanding of the subject matter of the lecture. | 02-19-2015 |
20140377224 | Method of Treating or Retarding the Development of Blindness - A method for treating an ocular disorder characterized by the defect or absence of a normal gene in the ocular cells of a human or animal subject involves administering to the subject by subretinal injection an effective amount of a recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying a nucleic acid sequence encoding the normal gene under the control of a promoter sequence which expresses the product of the gene in the ocular cells. The ocular cells are preferably retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, and the gene is preferably an RPE-specific gene, e.g., RPE65. The promoter is one that can express the gene product in the RPE cells. Compositions for subretinal administration are useful in this method. | 12-25-2014 |
20140370475 | SIMULATION SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR SURGICAL TRAINING - A three-dimensional radiological image of a living being is acquired and an anatomical feature of interest therein is identified. A three-dimensional print of the feature is created; the print has haptic characteristics that are similar to those of the anatomical feature of interest. The print is incorporated into a model upon which a medical student can simulate a surgical operation. | 12-18-2014 |
20140343425 | ENHANCED ULTRASOUND IMAGING INTERPRETATION AND NAVIGATION - Systems and techniques are provided in which the orientation of an ultrasonic image display is configured to match the ultrasound probe orientation for ease of interpretation. The position and the orientation of an ultrasound probe are tracked using a tracking device having one or more position and orientation sensors. The orientation of a displayed ultrasound image is automatically adjusted to reflect the position and orientation of the ultrasound probe relative to the body structure being imaged. In some embodiments, a background image (with possible landmarks) is provided based on the location and orientation of the tracked ultrasound probe. | 11-20-2014 |
20140300959 | TELESCOPE AND TELESCOPE ARRAY FOR USE IN SPACECRAFT - A catadioptric telescope is a modified version of a conventional Maksutov-Cassegrain optical telescope. In accordance with the invention, the reflecting surfaces of the primary mirror and the secondary spot mirror are on the second surfaces of the primary mirror and correcting lens, respectively. In further accordance with the invention, two of these telescopes can be joined together to form a binocular telescope array. The array can be easily customized to suit different remote sensing/satellite applications. | 10-09-2014 |
20140287451 | FLOW CHAMBERS, METHODS OF USING THE FLOW CHAMBER, AND METHODS OF MAKING THE FLOW CHAMBER - In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, embodiments of the present disclosure, in one aspect, relate to a device (or “flow chamber”), methods of making a device, methods of using a device, and the like. | 09-25-2014 |
20140280317 | EFFICIENT PUBLISH/SUBSCRIBE SYSTEMS - A publish/subscribe system is described that can adjust to provide high performance for diverse application environments through an attribute structure based on predicates of a subscription, each attribute structure with one or more buckets to which attribute values of a subscription may be stored. Various data structures can be used in the attribute structure to locate the buckets containing the subscriptions. The data structures selected for each subscription are based on the attribute type and predicate operators of the subscription. | 09-18-2014 |
20140276173 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING RESISTANCE AND WORK OF BREATHING FOR VENTILATOR-DEPENDENT PATIENTS - Methods for non-invasively and accurately estimating and monitoring resistance and work of breathing parameters from airway pressure and flow sensors attached to the ventilator-dependent patient using an adaptive mathematical model are provided. These methods are based on calculations using multiple parameters derived from the above-mentioned sensors. The resistance and work of breathing parameters are important for: assessing patient status and diagnosis, appropriately selecting treatment, assessing efficacy of treatment, and properly adjusting ventilatory support. | 09-18-2014 |
20140271718 | NOVEL TYPE 1 DIABETES VACCINES, AND METHODS OF USE - The subject invention provides compositions for alleviating type 1 diabetes (T1D). In preferred embodiments, the compositions comprise an effective amount of one or more antigen presenting cells (APCs) that have been pulsed with one or more bacterial isolates and/or compounds from the isolates. The bacteria used to pulse the APCs are, preferably, those that confer upon the APCs the ability to inhibit the generation of diabetes-promoting T cells. In specific embodiments, these bacteria may be, for example, | 09-18-2014 |
20140208459 | TYCLV RESISTANCE - Molecular markers are described for determining the presence or absence of a gene conferring resistance to tomato yellow leaf curl virus from | 07-24-2014 |
20140120630 | SENSORS USING HIGH ELECTRON MOBILITY TRANSISTORS - Embodiments of the invention include sensors comprising high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with capture reagents on a gate region of the HEMTs. Example sensors include HEMTs with a thin gold layer on the gate region and bound antibodies; a thin gold layer on the gate region and chelating agents; a non-native gate dielectric on the gate region; and nanorods of a non-native dielectric with an immobilized enzyme on the gate region. Embodiments including antibodies or enzymes can have the antibodies or enzymes bound to the Au-gate via a binding group. Other embodiments of the invention are methods of using the sensors for detecting breast cancer, prostate cancer, kidney injury, glucose, metals or pH where a signal is generated by the HEMT when a solution is contacted with the sensor. The solution can be blood, saliva, urine, breath condensate, or any solution suspected of containing any specific analyte for the sensor. | 05-01-2014 |
20140092633 | ELECTROMECHANICAL INDUCTORS AND TRANSFORMERS - Devices and systems for power electronic circuits are provided. Embodiments of the present invention enable high density inductive energy storage by using electromechanical coupling between an electrically conducting inductive element and a mechanical resonator to passively store energy via both electromagnetic and mechanical mechanisms. A microelectromechanical inductor (MEMI) is provided utilizing a magnet and a conductor. In a specific embodiment, the MEMI includes a permanent magnet on a compliant layer centrally disposed within a spiral coil. In a further embodiment, a second coil is provided near the magnet to provide a resonating transducer. | 04-03-2014 |
20140090547 | MODULAR WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORK FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND USER INTERFACES FOR USE THEREWITH - A wireless sensor network for musical instruments is provided that will allow a musician to communicate natural performance gestures (orientation, pressure, tilt, etc) to a computer. User interfaces and computing modules are also provided that enable a user to utilize the data communicated by the wireless sensor network to supplement and/or augment the artistic expression. | 04-03-2014 |
20140057792 | NMR RF PROBE COIL EXHIBITING DOUBLE RESONANCE - NMR probe coils designed to operate at two different frequencies, producing a strong and homogenous magnetic field at both the frequencies. This single coil, placed close to the sample, provides a method to optimize the NMR detection sensitivity of two different channels. In addition, the present invention describes a coil that generates a magnetic field that is parallel to the substrate of the coil as opposed to perpendicular as seen in the prior art. The present invention isolates coils from each other even when placed in close proximity to each other. A method to reduce the presence of electric field within the sample region is also considered. Further, the invention describes a method to adjust the radio-frequency tuning and coupling of the MAR probe coils. | 02-27-2014 |
20130311582 | MAXIMIZING CIRCLE OF TRUST IN ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS - Methods are provided for constructing an on-the-fly circle of trust for a user of an online social network to enable the user to reduce the likelihood that information will be leaked to an unwanted target. In one embodiment, a maximum circle of trust is constructed by using an iterative greedy construction (IGC) algorithm with leakage estimation using disjoint cut-sets. In another embodiment, the maximum circle of trust is constructed by using the IGC algorithm with leakage estimation using a hybrid method where the initial CT is constructed using the disjoint cut-sets and then the neighbors not included in the CT are sorted in non-decreasing order of visibilities and then each of these neighbors is included in the CT one at a time while checking if the leakage is below a threshold using a Sampling algorithm. In yet another embodiment, randomized rounding is used to construct the maximum circle of trust. | 11-21-2013 |
20130293068 | ASYNCHRONOUS FLUIDIC IMPULSE STRAIN-BASED ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM - Energy harvesting systems and devices are provided that harvest energy from external asynchronous force impulses using fluidic force transfer of the external force impulses to a plurality of compliant piezoelectric layers that seal a corresponding plurality of inner cavities. Each inner cavity can contain a compressible gas. Direct fluidic force transfer can be accomplished via a compressible or incompressible fluid between an external cover and the compliant piezoelectric layers. | 11-07-2013 |
20130275900 | PORTABLE INTERACTIVE INTERFACE FOR INTERVIEW-BASED INVESTIGATIONS - An interactive interface for interview-based investigations is provided in which a process flow diagram is displayed on a portable computing device. When the portable computing device recognizes selection of a node of the process flow diagram, an expansion of the node is displayed overlapping a portion of the process flow diagram. The expansion of the node is presented to allow for data entry (or information display) while displaying the flow chart position. | 10-17-2013 |
20130216500 | METHOD OF TREATING OR RETARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF BLINDNESS - A method for treating an ocular disorder characterized by the defect or absence of a normal gene in the ocular cells of a human or animal subject involves administering to the subject by subretinal injection an effective amount of a recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying a nucleic acid sequence encoding the normal gene under the control of a promoter sequence which expresses the product of the gene in the ocular cells. The ocular cells are preferably retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, and the gene is preferably an RPE-specific gene, e.g., RPE65. The promoter is one that can express the gene product in the RPE cells. Compositions for subretinal administration are useful in this method. | 08-22-2013 |
20130212410 | RENEWABLE ENERGY CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Various examples are provided for renewable energy control. In one example, among others, a system includes a PV source, a multi-core processor load, and a solar power manager configured to adjust an operating point of the PV source about a maximum power point by dynamically adjusting a transfer ratio and a load level. In another example, a method includes sensing an output current supplied to a multi-core processor load by a power converter at a first transfer ratio, sensing another output current supplied at a second transfer ratio, and determining an operating point of the PV source with respect to a maximum power point based upon the output currents. In another example, a system includes a power manager configured to switch servers between a renewable energy supply and a utility energy supply based at least in part upon a budget level and the load power consumption. | 08-15-2013 |
20130195334 | Sample Point-Based, Blob-Like, Closed-Surface Delineation Approach - A method, system, computer program product, and computer readable media for a semi-automated surface extraction approach to delineating an object of interest (OOI) from 3-D medical image data sets. This approach is imaging modality independent and results in enhanced displays of blob-like anatomies, including internal organs (e.g., cardiac chambers, liver) or disease processes (e.g., tumor masses). In an embodiment of the method: (I) the user provides multiple representative points located on the surface of the OOI using a Multi-Planar Reconstruction (MPR) tool; (2) those Cartesian points are translated into polar coordinates (each 3-D point is represented via two angles and a height), which uniquely define the surface points for a radial object, (3) a Radial-Basis Function (RBF) interpolator, with a Thin Plate Spline (TPS) radial function, finds the height function for the polar domain, and (4) polar domain representation of the OOI surface is converted back to Cartesian coordinates. | 08-01-2013 |
20130184567 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF POSITION AND MOVEMENT DETECTION FOR UROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT - Systems and methods of detecting position and movement of the bladder and urethra are provided. In one embodiment, a system is provided including a flexible tube, or catheter, with one or more MEMS sensors and an RF antenna embedded thereon; and an RF receiver located external to the flexible tube. The sensors in the flexible tube can be connected to external electronics, which are in turn connected to a computing device. The MEMS sensors provide motion detection and the RF sensors provide position/distance detection. The MEMS sensors can include, but are not limited to, one or more accelerometers, gyroscopes, stress sensors, tilt sensors, and/or pressure sensors. In operation, the flexible tube is inserted into the bladder through the urethra to detect the location of the bladder neck and track the motion and/or shape of the urethra. The results of the tracking can be provided on a display. | 07-18-2013 |
20130172840 | CONTEXT-SENSITIVE FLOW INTERRUPTER AND DRAINAGE OUTFLOW OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM - Embodiments of the invention provide methods and devices for improved drainage systems and tubing. In one embodiment, a context-sensitive flow interrupter is provided that inhibits or facilitates flow of fluid when engaged with a mating holder. In another embodiment, outflow is optimized through control of the pressure in gas pockets in a tube, drainage tube or assembly. In one such embodiment, gas pockets are vented to inhibit excessive back-pressure or suction on an organ, vessel or cavity being drained. In another such embodiment, loops in the tubes are avoided by using a mechanical template in the form of a groove or peg assembly to thread the slack in the drainage tube to generate a monotonic gradient. In another embodiment, such as for active drainage systems, a bypass channel is provided that allows an applied vacuum to go around an obstruction created by the collection of fluid in an undrained dependent loop. | 07-04-2013 |
20130149684 | PHYSIOLOGICAL SIMULATOR TOOLKIT AND VIEWER - An interactive simulation tool and viewer is provided where a user can build upon a defined ontology; specify custom displays of dynamic variables; specify custom meshes; edit the topology of a compartmental model to create different scenarios; and create questions that are integrated-with, and based-upon, the simulation. In addition to the authoring portion, the generated simulation scenarios can then be executed and interacted within the viewer. | 06-13-2013 |
20130147535 | TUNABLE ACTIVE DIRECTIONAL COUPLERS - Active directional couplers are provided. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the subject active directional couplers are tunable. The tuning is accomplished via varactors connected to the lines of the active directional couplers. Active directional elements are provided between different lines of the subject active directional couplers to control a signal path between ports of the different lines. The active directional elements are selected from diodes, transistors, inverting amplifiers, non-inverting amplifiers, differential amplifiers, and active baluns. The lines include a phase shift element between the two ports of each line. The phase shift element is selected from a transmission line, a delay line, and a phase shifter. Advantageously, the subject lines do not have to be designed for ideal phase shifting and can be designed at near 90° or near λ/4 values. | 06-13-2013 |
20130078742 | ENHANCEMENT OF PROPERTIES OF THIN FILM FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS - Methods are provided for enhancing properties, including polarization, of thin-film ferroelectric materials in electronic devices. According to one embodiment, a process for enhancing properties of ferroelectric material in a device having completed wafer processing includes applying mechanical stress to the device, independently controlling the temperature of the device to cycle the temperature from room temperature to at or near the Curie temperature of the ferroelectric material and back to room temperature while the device is applied with the mechanical stress, and then removing the mechanical stress. Certain of the subject methods can be performed as part of a back end of line (BEOL) process, and may be performed during the testing phase at wafer or die level. | 03-28-2013 |
20120319226 | FABRICATION OF ROBUST ELECTROTHERMAL MEMS WITH FAST THERMAL RESPONSE - Embodiments of the invention provide robust electrothermal MEMS with fast thermal response. In one embodiment, an electrothermal bimorph actuator is fabricated using aluminum as one bimorph layer and tungsten as the second bimorph layer. The heating element can be the aluminum or the tungsten, or a combination of aluminum and tungsten, thereby providing a resistive heater and reducing deposition steps. Polyimide can be used for thermal isolation of the bimorph actuator and the substrate. For MEMS micromirror designs, the polyimide can also be used for thermal isolation between the bimorph actuator and the micromirror. | 12-20-2012 |
20120265024 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF SCREENING FOR MEDICAL STATES USING SPEECH AND OTHER VOCAL BEHAVIORS - Systems and methods of screening for neurological and other diseases utilizing a subject's speech behavior are provided. According to one embodiment, a system is provided that includes an identification device used to determine a health state of a subject by receiving, as input to an interface of the device, one or more speech samples from the subject. The speech samples can be provided to the device by an intentional action of a user or passively due to the device being in the signal path of the subject's speech. The samples are communicated to a processor that identifies the acoustic measures of the samples and compares the acoustic measures of the samples with baseline acoustic measures stored in a memory of the device. The results of this determination can be communicated back to the subject or provided to a third party. | 10-18-2012 |
20120199812 | STRAIN TUNABLE SILICON AND GERMANIUM NANOWIRE OPTOELECTRONIC DEVICES - Silicon, silicon-germanium alloy, and germanium nanowire optoelectronic devices and methods for fabricating the same are provided. According to one embodiment, a P-I-N device is provided that includes a parallel array of intrinsic silicon, silicon-germanium or germanium nanowires located between a p+ contact and an n+ contact. In certain embodiments, the intrinsic silicon and germanium nanowires can be fabricated with diameters of less than 4.9 nm and 19 nm, respectively. In a further embodiment, vertically stacked silicon, silicon-germanium and germanium nanowires can be formed. | 08-09-2012 |
20120020117 | ELECTROMECHANICAL INDUCTORS AND TRANSFORMERS - Devices and systems for power electronic circuits are provided. Embodiments of the present invention enable high density inductive energy storage by using electromechanical coupling between an electrically conducting inductive element and a mechanical resonator to passively store energy via both electromagnetic and mechanical mechanisms. A microelectromechanical inductor (MEMI) is provided utilizing a magnet and a conductor. In a specific embodiment, the MEMI includes a permanent magnet on a compliant layer centrally disposed within a spiral coil. In a further embodiment, a second coil is provided near the magnet to provide a resonating transducer. | 01-26-2012 |
20100272688 | METHOD OF TREATING OR RETARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF BLINDNESS - A method for treating an ocular disorder characterized by the defect or absence of a normal gene in the ocular cells of a human or animal subject involves administering to the subject by subretinal injection an effective amount of a recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying a nucleic acid sequence encoding the normal gene under the control of a promoter sequence which expresses the product of the gene in the ocular cells. The ocular cells are preferably retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, and the gene is preferably an RPE-specific gene, e.g., RPE65. The promoter is one that can express the gene product in the RPE cells. Compositions for subretinal administration are useful in this method. | 10-28-2010 |
20090068147 | RAAV VECTOR-BASED PRO-OPIOMELANOCORTIN COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF USE - Disclosed are methods for the use of pro-opiomelanocortin-encoding polynucleotides in the creation of transformed host cells and transgenic animals. In particular, the use of recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vector compositions, virions, and pluralities of virus particles that comprise a nucleic acid segment that expresses one or more mammalian pro-opiomelanocortin polypeptides in suitably transformed host cells is described. Also disclosed are methods for the treatment and amelioration of symptoms of a variety of conditions and disorders in an animal, including hyperinsulinemia, obesity, adiposity, overeating, and related eating disorders. | 03-12-2009 |