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20160058 – A new data collection and algorithm system automatically detects nitrogen stress on the leaves of corn plants. Small-scale unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) collect high resolution images in the visual (RGB) spectrum by hovering over stressed areas at a low altitude. Computer vision RGB image analysis algorithms eliminate the need of a control/reference plant by analyzing the color and... Read More
20170075 – A newly developed direct synthesis method creates zeolite nanosheets with nanometer thicknesses and a high aspect ratio. The process creates zeolite nanosheets with enhanced mass transport properties within their nanopores, favorable to applications such as catalysis and separation. The nanosheets feature many desirable characteristics: predominant thickness of 5nm (2.5 unit cells), 0.6... Read More
20130079 – A reconstruction algorithm improves separation of signals to generate images in multiband MRI, reducing artifacts that could hinder clinical acceptance due to readability issues. The method iteratively calibrates a reconstruction kernel for use in MRI, reconstructing images from k-space data acquired using accelerated MRI techniques, such as simultaneous multi-slice acquisitions using... Read More
20160259 – A deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrode system allows simultaneous neuromodulation and reception of the neuronal response. The method provides electromagnetic (EM) stimulation (using at least three probes for simultaneous modulation) in pulsed and/or continuous wave configuration with different wave forms. A multi-strip multichannel array electrode generates rotating electric fields, and... Read More
20140093 – A new method performs simultaneous multislice (SMS) MR imaging using multiband RF excitation, enabling generalized multiband slice accelerated imaging for any type of MR pulse sequence (e.g. SE, TSE, HASTE, GRASE, GRE, SSFP, etc.). This method acquires reference scan images and uses balanced gradients to realize CAIPIRINHA FOV (field-of-view) shift. Overlapped signals from simultaneously... Read More
20160374 – A lung biopsy tool features an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) sensor, LED illumination, a camera chip, steering capabilities and a flexible biopsy needle. Unique aspects of the device are the integrated camera chip (1x1mm Naneye camera) and LED illumination. The device is less than 2 mm in diameter and can therefore be deployed through the tool port of a standard bronchoscope. While... Read More
20140302 – An approach for channel tracking and transmit beamforming with limited feedback exploits the spatial-temporal channel correlation. These methods considerably reduce computational burden and avoid the limitations of codebook-based feedback and Markov chain modeling. The transmitter periodically transmits a beamformed pilot signal in the downlink, while the receiver quantizes the... Read More
20170087 – A new technique manufactures conductive polymer composites (CPCs) using co-continuous polymer blends with interfacial graphene as the conductive filler. This technology combines two current CPC manufacturing methods with an innovative approach to create CPCs with superior electrical properties. The approach uses polylactic acid (PLA) and polystyrene (PS) co-continuous polymer blends as... Read More
20130170 – A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parallel transmission (pTx) pulse design targets RF homogenization in multiband (MB) excitation and refocusing and other spin manipulations while limiting the specific absorption rate (SAR). These pulses can significantly improve RF uniformity in each image slice while largely reducing global and local SAR. With full pTx hardware capable of... Read More
20160011 – An ultra-high density two-terminal integrated composite capacitor uses a parallel combination of metal oxide metal (MOM), metal oxide silicon (MOS) and metal insulator metal (MIM) capacitors physically laid over one another. This design both conserves area while providing capacitance density comparable to deep trench capacitors. The MOS capacitor, used in accumulation mode, offers high... Read More
20150323 – This technology improves upon a previous variable linkage variable displacement machine technology, the high efficiency variable displacement pump, which has a crankshaft-driven adjustable six-bar linkage to vary the displacement of a piston. This new technology is a cam-driven adjustable linkage that also varies the displacement of a piston. This highly efficient mechanism reaches true... Read More
20170018 – A high-voltage, fully-integrated neural stimulator chip for electrical microstimulation features a small chip area and high channel density. Using a feedback-assisted current mirror structure with resource sharing and an efficient chip layout achieves simultaneous high-voltage compliance, high output impedance and high channel count. A foreground current calibration uses a single external... Read More
20160413 – A miniature system on a chip (SoC) device enables continuous, full-duplex neural recording with simultaneous electrical microstimulation. The technology enables precise, closed-loop neuromodulation based on direct neuronal feedback. Scalable and with a small chip area and high channel density, this new design could suppress electrode noise and support high impedance electrodes, especially... Read More
20160323 – A neuro-muscular stimulator implanted inside the mouth stimulates the hypoglossal nerve and the genioglossus muscle to prevent obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or breathing obstruction caused by inadequate motor tone of the tongue and/or pharyngeal wall muscles. The device consists of an implantable stimulator lead connected to an exposed part, positioned in the lower jaw, that acts as an... Read More
20170091 – A small-scale, hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) augments quad-rotor maneuverability with solar-powered fixed-wing energy collection and supply capabilities. Selecting an aerial platform often requires choosing between the flight time and long-range capabilities of a fixed-wing aircraft or the maneuverability and stationary characteristics of a multi-rotor platform. This reconfigurable... Read More
20120077 – A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method for multiband imaging (MB), also known as Simultaneous Multi Slice (SMS) imaging, significantly reduces required peak power. The technology improves MB performance by time shifting the RF pulses of a multiband RF pulse. Normally, all of the multiband pulses (at different frequency bands) are applied at the same time. In this new method, the... Read More
20150170 – Target selectivity of neuromodulation, e.g., deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy, is critical as the precise locus and pattern of the stimulation dictates the degree to which desired treatment responses are achieved and adverse side effects are avoided. A new concept for neuromodulation generates orientation selective and rotating electric fields that provide more precise and efficient... Read More
20160286 – An effective and economical electrochemical oxidation process for aqueous and gaseous sulfide removal can remove hydrogen sulfide (HS) directly from aqueous environments. The technology uses an electrode system where anodic oxidation directly or indirectly oxidizes sulfide or scavenges sulfide by anodically generated ferrous. By removing HS directly from both liquid (aqueous) and gas... Read More
20140063 – An optical interconnect can be used as the interconnect in spin-based computation and logic systems. The spin-optical interconnect scheme consists of a spin-to-optical transmitter and an optical-to-spin receiver, which are connected with multichannel, integrated optical waveguides or fibers. For data transmission, a spin-based signal is converted to an optical signal and transmitted via... Read More
20140289 – A non-toxic cryopreservative solution increases the safety and viability of preserved cells, for many applications, such as cell therapy. The multi-component, cell-optimized solutions contain no dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and have shown significantly higher (more than double) post-thaw recovery of human cells than DMSO. The solutions show promise in storing, preserving and recovering... Read More
20130219 – Computational-RAM (CRAM) technology featuring a low-power, non-volatile processor architecture produces very high computational performance. The technology conserves power by integrating computational elements into memory arrays so that data no longer needs to move to a separate location for processing. Since data does not have to be accessed sequentially through the interconnect network,... Read More
20160135 – Bordetella pertussis (Bp) is the bacterial agent of pertussis (whooping cough) in humans. Current acellular pertussis vaccines, which target only a narrow range of Bp virulence factors, lack efficacy in preventing respiratory tract colonization or disease transmission. Bp cell surface iron receptors are essential for the uptake of iron and are critical for growth in the host. New methods... Read More
20170369 – The One Health Systems Mapping and Analysis Resource Toolkit (OH-SMART) is an interactive process that fosters working across organizational and disciplinary lines when preparing or responding to disease outbreaks or addressing other complex One Health challenges. Although this mapping tool was initially developed to assist agencies in coordinating effective outbreak response planning,... Read More
20110093 – A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology for multiband (MB), also known as Simultaneous Multi Slice (SMS), imaging uses multichannel transmit to overcome fundamental limitations in specific absorption rate (SAR). The approach uses multiple coils for radiofrequency (RF) transmit, in which each set of simultaneously excited slices are excited by an optimal combination of the... Read More
20110092 – A novel approach to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) significantly accelerates the acquisition of large volume images. The approach consists of two different stages: contrast preparation followed by image encoding. The contrast preparation step uses a common contrast preparation module, which is subsequently “stored” in the longitudinal axis (parallel to the static field of the magnet, B,... Read More
20160377 – Microanalytical calibration materials can be synthesized from doped silica gel (or doped silica glass) with trace-level chemical precision (within 10 ppm of a target concentration) and acceptable homogeneity. The procedure begins by preparing a doping substrate (commercially available nanoporous silica gel) and then immersing it in a nonpolar liquid solvent medium. A dopant source... Read More
20170023 – An environmentally friendly process has been developed for the synthesis of isoprenecarboxylic esters and their corresponding polymers from a fermentation product of glucose: mevalonolactone. In this method, bio-renewable mevalonate is used to synthesize mevalonolactone, which can then be converted to anhydromevalonolactone. An eliminative opening of anhydromevalonolactone using a base... Read More
20150177 – A first-ever magnetic brain array can modulate (stimulate) neuron cells and other biological components sensitive to magnetic fields. The array offers low energy consumption and high density, and consists of magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) sensors for 3D mapping with potential for closed-loop operation. The technique generates magnetic fields for biomedical applications by rotating a... Read More
20170397 – The Vision-aided Inertial Navigation Systems (VINS) algorithm uses visual and inertial data for tracking in real time the 3D position and attitude of an IMU-camera pair. Please visit the Multiple Autonomous Robotic Systems laboratory website for more information.
20150218 – An intra-cremator device captures dental mercury (DHgS) from dental amalgam fillings during cremation. The device uses nanometer-scale particles and ceramic substrates in a strategically placed filter system that incorporates nanoparticle sorbent agglomerates that capture vapor phase mercury contaminants at high temperatures. The porous filter allows body combustion to proceed and... Read More
20130335a – A new modular multilevel converter (MMC) can reach twice the voltage levels as conventional electrical energy transmission topologies. The modular structure of this MMC enables it to reach three voltage levels by adding a bidirectional switch with half the voltage stress, resulting in low switching frequency and near sinusoidal voltage waveforms. Benefits of these submodule topologies... Read More
20150060-1 – A novel AC homopolar motor topology is extremely efficient, and with minimal maintenance required, it drives down operating costs. The motor comes with an optional outer-rotor/inner-stator, as well as a single set of windings that provide both torque and magnetic suspension without using rare-earth permanent magnets or a separate set of armature coils. The design enables a predictive,... Read More
20170355 – A dual-incentive peer mentoring model, Positive Peer-Pressured Productivity (PQUAD), shows promising results in increasing academic productivity of early-career faculty. PQUAD combines an increased awareness of peers’ academic work with a weighted lottery for which tickets are earned on the basis of academic output. The incentive program assigns points for different scholarly activities... Read More
20150366 – This low-cost, model-based simulation software with hardware integration for real-time controller implementation allows users to model electro-mechanical prototype devices. This solution provides both simple and complex control algorithms that users with no prior knowledge of programming or microcontrollers can easily implement. The hardware controller is built around TI Delfino... Read More
20160317 – A new algorithm solves the ubiquitous optimal power flow problem for distribution networks—in real-time. This method develops distributed feedback controllers that continuously drive inverter output powers to solve AC optimal power flow (OPF) problems. The controllers update power set points based on voltage measurements as well as given (time-varying) OPF targets, and implement solutions... Read More
20110144 – A new architecture for organic photodetectors uses multiple layers to provide a tunable response specific to the wavelength of interest. The single-device design, which uses multiple organic photodetector subcells in a stacked/tandem architecture, uses organic semiconductors with complementary optical absorption for broadband optical response. The device permits a tunable spectral... Read More
z04142 – A particle-detecting integrated circuit that contains a device with a pair of conductive lines positioned in a vacuum environment can detect particles in real time in a semiconductor vacuum environment. The conductive lines are spaced at a critical pitch corresponding to diameters of particles of interest. An impedance measurement system linked to the circuit detects a change in an... Read More
20160097 – A newly discovered xylose operon converts xylose from lignocellulosic biomass into TCA compounds, which can then be further converted to 1,4-butanediol (BDO). A new synthetic pathway in E. coli produces 1,4-butanediol in only six steps, making it more efficient than previous pathways used in current industrial methods (which require 20 steps). The technology combines previous pathways,... Read More
z02058 – A solid immersion tunneling ellipsometer can accurately measure properties of thin and ultra-thin films (e.g., less than 100 Angstroms thick). A solid immersion apparatus (e.g., a prism or an objective lens in combination with the solid immersion lens) facilitates optical tunneling and provides information to determine characteristics (e.g., thickness or index of refraction) of samples... Read More
z00175 – A novel ellipsometer uses radial symmetry and exploits polarization properties of high numerical aperture lenses. For example, circularly polarized light may be focused to and reflected from a spot on a sample using an objective lens. A radially symmetric analyzer apparatus (e.g., a pure polarization rotator such as two half wave plates and a radially symmetric analyzer such as a... Read More
20140052 – Gradient-Modulated Sweep Imaging with Fourier Transformation (GM-SWIFT) is an extension of SWIFT technology. SWIFT is an MRI pulse sequence that uses nearly simultaneous transmit and receive and frequency swept pulses, to achieve significantly quieter image acquisition. Moreover, it is able to visualize tissues with ultrashort transverse relaxation time (e.g. bone, tendon, meniscus, lung,... Read More
20150315 – A high-speed three-way crank-slider valve can be used in switch-mode hydraulic circuits. Its unique drive mechanism features two valve spools axially driven by crank-slider mechanisms. By phase shifting the two crank links, which are on a common crankshaft, the duty cycle of the valve is adjusted. The two spools split and re-combine flow such that two switching cycles occur per revolution... Read More
20170036 – An innovative annuloplasty ring, used in conjunction with an annuloplasty procedure in large animal models, creates consistent, reproducible models of aortic stenosis for long-term evaluation of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) devices. The Calcified Annulus Model (CAM) annuloplasty ring is flexible, circular, planar in shape and covered with a fabric sheath secured to... Read More
20150061 – A new method using parallel transmission radiofrequency (RF) pulses for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) under strict temperature rise constraints is expected to provide safer and more powerful MRI exams. The method compresses a model for a subject to be scanned by the MRI system into voxel clusters. Each voxel cluster defines a virtual observation point with peak sensitivity to the local... Read More
20150103 – FreeBee, a cross-technology framework implemented in software, can enable communication between Wi-Fi Access Points (APs), ZigBee devices and Bluetooth devices. With no required changes to the air-to-air physical layer Wi-Fi standard, it uses pulse-position modulation (PPM) to encode data in mandatory beacons. The communication comes from the network and therefore does not use any... Read More
20160412 – A bicycle-based collision prevention system provides timely and effective alerts to both the motorist and bicyclist about impending rear and/or cross-traffic collisions. The system uses a combination of sensors, intelligent algorithms, human-computer interfaces and a display/notification system to predict and prevent rear and side crashes at intersections. The device is mounted on the... Read More
20170037-1 – A new process uses a novel catalyst to synthesize butadiene in high yields from biomass-derived tetrahydrofuran (THF). Butadiene is made by contacting THF (or a THF derivative or combination thereof) with a heterogeneous acid catalyst to yield a diene. This new P-based heterogeneous catalyst, which is highly efficient at converting furans to dienes, performs dehydro-decyclization of... Read More
20170032 – A novel imaging sequence offers motion-robust quantification of the transmit field amplitude (B mapping) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The technique acquires images with two off-resonance shifts, using an interleaved Bloch-Siegert scheme along with an off-resonance insensitive B sensitization to allow for motion-robust quantification of the RF transmit field for cardiac scans in a... Read More
20160395 – A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence, which allows for complete blood suppression during quantitative imaging, can improve the robustness of quantitative myocardial tissue characterization. The technique, which can be used in commercially available MRI scanners with no additional hardware, improves diagnostic capabilities by suppressing blood signals from quantitative maps. The... Read More
20160229 – A novel alternating flow (AF) hydraulic pump combines the flow from pairs of oscillating pistons. By phase shifting the motion between the piston pairs, the combined flowrate of the pump is varied. This variable pump technology can be realized with a number of pump architectures include inline, axial piston, or radial piston. In the radial piston architecture, a common shaft drives two... Read More
