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z01003 – Circuit linearity is improved by canceling, in part or entirely, at least one significant harmonic from a primary circuit’s output by using an identical auxiliary circuit’s output. This novel method provides a primary circuit and at least one auxiliary circuit that is substantially functionally identical to the primary circuit. The technique cancels at least a portion (and preferably,... Read More
z03117 – A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) using capacitive degeneration can overcome limitations of existing topologies. The design is comprised of an inductor capacitor LC tank coupled to a negative resistance cell. The capacitively emitter-degenerated topology is used with a cross-coupled MOS pair as the degeneration cell. The cross-coupled MOS pair contributes additional conductance and... Read More
20150339 – Polymeric materials containing polymerized GNA ligands deliver nucleic acids to the liver with low cytotoxicity. A series of cationic diblock glycopolymers derived from N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GNA) target asialoglycoprotein (ASGP) receptors on hepatocytes in the liver. These easily produced polymers bind to nucleic acids to form nanoparticles that cells efficiently take up. This novel... Read More
20150091 – An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system collects high resolution spatio-temporal data to automatically estimate perishable fruit yield parameters (e.g. count, size of fruit, number per tree). The small UAV, built with low-cost, commercial off-the-shelf hardware and software components, carries a computer that collects images from onboard stereo cameras. The robot can obtain good views of... Read More
20170154 – A site-specific patch, which attaches to the skin like an adhesive bandage, offers non-invasive transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) neuromodulation via dual-mode ultrasound array (DMUA) transducers. The DMUA transducer patch features lightweight transducers with a low-profile, layered structure of a 3D-printed lens (based on the treatment target and surface topography), thin polymer... Read More
z02093 – Ultrasound imaging using a dynamic nonlinear post-beamforming filter (e.g., based on a pth-order Volterra model) is capable of separating the linear and nonlinear components of image data (e.g., extracting the nonlinear components of the image data). The technique is applicable (but not limited) to both tissue and contrast agent nonlinearity. A system identification algorithm derives the... Read More
20170240 – A self-assembly process can build free-standing 3D, micro/nanoscale, hollow, polyhedral structures configured with a few layers of graphene-based materials (graphene and graphene oxide). The 3D structures have been further modified, without impacting their intrinsic properties, with metal patterns on their 3D surfaces. Coupling in all directions results in 3D plasmon hybridization on the... Read More
20170300 – A 3-dimensional metamaterial for orientation sensing features a perfectly anisotropic transmission response and can sense rotations along all three axes simultaneously. The technology, made from biocompatible materials, consists of micro-cubes patterned with split-ring resonators (SRRs). The sensor consists of a polymer cube with a gold patterned array of split ring resonators patterned... Read More
20180265-20180266 – An automated methodology provides detailed and reliable information from 3D models of corn canopies. High resolution images of corn stalks are collected and used to obtain 3D models of plants of interest. The 3D model focuses on maize in growth stages where the plants are still susceptible to treatment, and the 3D crop reconstructions provide measurements with a granularity and frequency... Read More
20180272-20180273 – The Guidebooks are not available for use by University of Minnesota students, faculty or staff. If you are affiliated with the University of Minnesota and would like a copy of the Guidebooks, contact Cheri Friedrich. Escape rooms are adventure activities that allow participants to solve hidden puzzles in collaboration with a group while “locked” in the same room. Healthcare escape... Read More
20170174 – A new absorbent technology simultaneously sorbs phosphate and phosphate-containing herbicides and pesticides (organophosphates, such as glyphosate-based herbicides) present in low concentrations typically found in agricultural runoff water. The technology is formed through hydrothermal carbonization of agricultural residues (e.g., corn stover), which results in a biomass-based hydrochar... Read More
20170160 – A manufacturing and delivery process design provides a medical device that can remedy heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The device, a three-dimensional textile structure manufactured with a superelastic wire, is delivered and attached by catheter to the left ventricle of the heart, where the superelastic textile structure provides a radial outward force on the left... Read More
20180063 – A two-stage variational approach for segmenting 3D bone computed tomography (CT) data performs robustly with respect to thin cartilage interfaces. The method uses fracture mechanics in the second stage to remove fine-scale contact bridges that connect object contours generated in the first stage. This approach eliminates spurious contacts between individual segmentation regions based on... Read More
20180128 – Calculating survival data, common in medical applications, faces challenges in applying predictive data-analytic methods because survival times for censored observations are unknown. A new approach analyzes survival data as a binary classification problem and uses software based on SVM+/LUPI (support vector machine, learning using privileged information) to solve the problem. The SVM+... Read More
20170401-20180211 – Custom-designed gradient refractive index (GRIN) optics is used to shape the intensity profile of a laser beam. Instead of using a single refractive surface to transform the beam, as in a custom aspheric lens or diffractive optic, in a GRIN element, the refractive index changes continuously throughout the device. The spatial variation in refractive index is designed to compensate for the... Read More
20180024-20180086 – A new frontier in computing, opened in the last decade, uses unary encoding: the data is not packed, but complex computations such as Gamma correction and edge detection in an image can be performed using very simple logic. This new computing method provides a deterministic parallel bit shuffling network that uses a simple, deterministic thermometer encoding of data to achieve near optimal... Read More
20160364 – An electronic spintronic-based circuit device transmits a voltage from an input to an output in an energy efficient, fast and low-power manner. The device is comprised of an input ferroelectric (FE) capacitor and an output FE capacitor, each magnetically coupled to a ferromagnetic (FM) channel beneath the capacitors. When the input FE capacitor receives an input signal, it causes a... Read More
20180069 – An auto-injector injects molecules of interest (e.g., dye, mRNA, etc.) into single cells in intact tissue, enabling single cell resolution with increased yield. The technology uses a 3-axis micromanipulator and a custom pressure rig controlled by user input and computer vision feedback. Incoming pressure is downregulated to a desired pressure set in the interface and delivered to a glass... Read More
20140089 – The problem of cell-internal electromigration (EM) on signal interconnects within a standard cell is solved using this technology which efficiently characterizes EM characteristics of gates in a standard cell library, under all pin positions, based on a single circuit simulation and graph-based methods. The approach uses Joule heating effects to model and efficiently characterize... Read More
20110169 – An algorithm uses semidefinite programming (SDP) formulation for state estimation (SE) to find the optimum solution for power distribution and could be used to manage power grids. The improved SE algorithms, which provide greater reliability (e.g., decreased power interruption, greater resilience to malicious attacks) for a regional transmission organization (RTO) or smaller distribution... Read More
20150097 – Multi-band echo planar imaging (MB-EPI), a new approach to increase data acquisition efficiency and/or temporal resolution, can potentially overcome critical limitations of standard acquisition strategies for obtaining high-resolution, whole brain perfusion imaging using arterial spin labeling. While multiband may also introduce certain confounding effects, recent studies reveal that the... Read More
20140287 – A computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) tool, based on a novel predictive model for cancer detection from quantitative multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) data, uses magnetic resonance images to identify key markers of prostate cancer to aid in diagnosing and monitoring prostate cancer. The method, validated on histological prostate cancer tissue, requires the implementation of a multi-parametric MRI... Read More
20100155-20120287 – A dual mode ultrasound array system provides real-time 2D/3D displacement and strain imaging in the vicinity of a vessel to identify and localize the vessel walls. The system uses a real-time monitoring and feedback image control of the therapy based on imaging data acquired using the dual mode ultrasound array (DMUA) of transducer elements, and adaptive, real-time refocusing improves... Read More
20170385 – A growth approach for synthesizing lanthanum (La) doped barium tin oxide (BSO) shows high room-temperature conductivity and mobility. The synthesis method, called radical-based hybrid chemical beam approach, uses a chemical precursor for tin as a substitute for the solid tin source in a hybrid molecular beam epitaxy approach. The method produces highly transparent, highly reproducible and... Read More
20140121 – Multi-band SWIFT (MB-SWIFT) is a magnetic resonance pulse sequence that produces better diagnostic images by significantly increasing excitation and acquisition bandwidths, which reduces blurring, increases signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for fast relaxing spins, and allows imaging even without comprehensive shimming of the static magnetic field B0. This method is the first in the class of... Read More
20130136 – An IV line lifting device lifts and holds multiple IV lines and allows appropriate slack in the IV line to accommodate patient movement. The device clamps onto an IV pole, can be extended up or out, depending on the situation, and provides some different options for holding the IV lines (e.g., a spiral ring, a split ring or a notched separator). By keeping multiple IV lines suspended and... Read More
20170337 – A new type of terahertz (THz) metamaterial (MM), closed ring resonator (CRR) boasts an extremely high quality factor (Q-factor). The CRR contains thousands of metallic nanowires with nanometer sized dielectric gaps between them, and the displacement current between the nanowires drives the CRR working at its electromagnetic resonant frequencies. Dielectric nanogaps are added to the CRRs... Read More
20150077 – Cold Hardy Itasca Grape Variety for Making Dry White Wines Itasca, the University of Minnesota’s fifth cold-hardy wine grape, is the first cold-hardy variety with sufficiently low acidity to produce high quality, dry white wines. Itasca produces a clean, pleasant, light yellow to straw colored wine with a long finish. The wine features pear, quince, violet and melon aromas with subtle... Read More
20170074 – Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) is considered to be the most promising candidate for future information storage. HAMR uses a heating source to reduce the magnetic coercivity of the material during the write operation. This HAMR disk structure features an exchange coupling composite (ECC) comprised of a coupling layer (ECL) that separates a storage layer and a superparamagnetic... Read More
z05040 – An error detection method uses cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code to read a codeword reproduced by the perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) medium. This approach generates CRC parity bits based on a generator polynomial for a source information sequence recorded on PMR medium, records a codeword in which those parity bits are added to the source information sequence, and reads the... Read More
20120120 – A progressive series of five new coils make practical human cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) possible for the first time at 7T. MRI and MRS at 7T have great potential as tools for imaging and spectroscopic detection of cardiovascular diseases, yet there are currently no means available for practical 7T cardiac MRI and MRS. This new technology... Read More
z08023 – A post-Viterbi error correcting method computes a set of potential error starting positions for error events based on a syndrome value corresponding to the syndrome. Next, it computes a confidence value for each of the error events at each of the potential error starting positions in the refined set, and then it corrects the most likely error event in the detected codeword based on an... Read More
20130110 – An intraoral radiofrequency (RF) loop coil placed, between the teeth, efficiently images teeth and associated dental structures. The coil is oriented with its axis parallel (coaxial) with the Zeeman field (coil plane perpendicular to B0) and captures B1 information using the coil’s transverse sensitivity volume. This orientation provides one of the most appropriate fields of view (FOV)... Read More
20160388 – Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) may be treatable using newly-developed small molecules that show high antiproliferative activity against the pancreatic cancer cell line MiaPaca-2. This technology disrupts the mTOR and autophagy pathways, offering a new mechanism of action for treating pancreatic cancer. The molecules of interest have submicromolar activity, good metabolic... Read More
20170402 – An innovative protein-based scaffold optimizes the spatial connections among multiple enzymes in biocatalytic reactions. This technology uses a new type of self-assembling protein to form the scaffold and a better tagging system for attaching enzymes on the scaffold. This combination significantly improves biosynthetic efficiency with a robust and modular self-assembling protein scaffold... Read More
20130092 – iINTEGRATORS is a single-step, single-solve, unified framework of algorithms encompassing the class of second-order, time-accurate least mean square (LMS) methods for both 1 and 2 order time dependent systems. The framework, which takes a single set of inputs and produces the appropriate output using a single selected algorithm. It could serve as a next generation toolkit for... Read More
20120122 – A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method and apparatus amplifies radio frequency (RF) signals from MRI coils. The coils, containing antenna elements, are power amplified by a distributed power amplifier with electronic devices (e.g., field-effect transistors). The approach locates an MRI coil with antenna elements within an MR magnet and amplifies its RF signal to obtain high-power RF... Read More
20120121 – A variable resistance inductance capacitance (R-L-C) technology electrically controls a mechanical movement device (e.g., linear positioner, rotary motor, or pump) that selectively controls an electrical element to vary, and maintain at a selected value, its electrical resistance, inductance, and/or capacitance. The method uses an electrical signal to automatically move a portion of the... Read More
20120123 – A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method and apparatus can receive radio frequency (RF) signals while simultaneously transmitting a signal of like frequency. The MRI and spectroscopy technology removes artifacts of the transmitted excitation signal (Tx) from the received signal (Rx), leaving only the desired net received signal (NRx) to generate an image from the MR response if the... Read More
20170291 – A multi-part body coil apparatus can transmit (Tx) and/or receive (Rx) radiofrequency (RF) signals suitable for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or magnetic-resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The coil is configured as either a circularly polarized transverse-electric-magnetic (TEM) coil or a birdcage coil, and is easily assembled, disassembled (e.g., for easier maintenance, testing, tuning... Read More
20120119 – A new method automatically adjusts electrical performance of radiofrequency (RF) coil assemblies of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems during the medical imaging process of a subject in order to control changes in loading conditions of the RF coil caused by the subject during the imaging process. Automatically tuning the RF coil circuits provides real-time tuning that electrically... Read More
20120060 – A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach uses a spatiotemporally-encoded MRI pulse sequence (e.g., SWIRLY and/or STEREO) in combination with a smart, adaptive, or phased RF transmit front end. Combining these two components allows highly spatially localized regions of uniform excitation, even in the presence of Band B inhomogeneities. The transmit front end is comprised of a... Read More
20160420 – A new technology allows first-ever in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR). The process employs a feedback system with real-time load compensation that enables in vivo simultaneous transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) images. The RF front-end and coil subsystem maintains high isolation over variable loading conditions. Phase and gain adjustments... Read More
20170379 – A highly-flexible, solid-state electrolyte with reasonable ionic conductivity for a solid electrolyte offers potential solutions for supercapacitive sensors. The paper-based electrolyte is fabricated by mixing ionic liquid with a photo-curable polymer and then brushing this ionic gel on to filter paper. The gel dissolves the paper and subsequently becomes highly flexible after a short... Read More
20130311 – CRISPR/Cas systems can be used to create geminivirus resistance in plants. Using this genome editing tool, plants are pre-programmed with a Cas endonuclease and small RNA sequence that essentially give them an immune system that targets both conserved and non-conserved nucleotide sequences within the geminivirus genome. The technology can inhibit the geminivirus life cycle in three ways:... Read More
20180076 – MyStrengths MyHealth™ (MSMH) is a whole-person strengths-based consumer-facing mobile enhanced application designed for individuals, families, and communities to self-identify strengths, challenges, and needs. MSMH leverages the rigor of the Omaha System (Martin, 2005), a multi-disciplinary standardized health terminology and valid, reliable instrument that addresses all of health... Read More
20180072 – An automated model de-identification algorithm applies aggressive de-identification to a word co-occurrence model without sacrificing performance for word sense disambiguation. While some very common words must be included in the model (i.e., names in some of their occurrences, like “white”), the de-identification process removes anything that is not part of the SPECIALIST Lexicon and any... Read More
20170306 – A microfluidic channel structure limits capillary flow to one direction, offering an effective method to control capillary flow in microfluidic channels. This structure is very versatile since unidirectional flow is independent of liquid contact angle and surface tension. Connected small and large channels are designed so a fluid will not flow beyond the joint of the channels (it... Read More
20170326 – An accelerated MRI reconstruction approach, Robust Artificial-neural-networks for k-space Interpolation (RAKI) improves the noise properties of GeneRalized Autocalibrating Partial Parallel Acquisition (GRAPPA), which translates to image acceleration (i.e., faster scan times). This method learns a deep non-linear convolutional neural network (CNN) from limited scan-specific... Read More
20160153 – A 16-channel transceiver array (16LD) that combines loop and dipole elements maintains both the higher transmit and receive performance of the loop elements at shallower depths and the improved performance of the dipole elements at greater depths. The loop-dipole combination increases channel count and density beyond what can be currently achieved with dipole elements alone while reducing... Read More
