University of Kentucky Research Foundation

The Penn State Research Foundation

University of California

Kmg2 Sensors Corporation

Sentech Biomed Corporation

The Pennsylvania State Research Foundation

Craig A Grimes

Keat Ghee Ong

Tejal Ashwin Desai

Kefeng Zeng

Plamen G Stoyanov

Dimitris Kouzoudis

Faton Tefiku

Leonidas G Bachas

Ketul C Popat

Gang Lui

Ketal C Popat

Gopal Mor

Maggie Paulose

Gary Barrett

Oomman K Varghese

Xiping Yang

Stefan Schmidt

Elizabeth Dickey

Dale M Grimes

Compositions including a surface or film comprising nanofibers, nanotubes or microwells comprising a bioactive agent for elution to the surrounding tissue upon placement of the composition in a subject are disclosed. The compositions are useful in medical implants and methods of treating a patient in need of an implant, including orthopedic implants, dental implants, cardiovascular implants, neurological implants, neurovascular implants, gastrointestinal implants, muscular implants, and ocular implants.

Nanostructure surface coated medical implants and methods of using the same

Compositions including a surface or film comprising nanofibers, nanotubes or microwells comprising a bioactive agent for elution to the surrounding tissue upon placement of the composition in a subject are disclosed The compositions are useful in medical implants and methods of treating a patient in need of an implant, including orthopedic implants, dental implants, cardiovascular implants, neurological implants, neurovascular implants, gastrointestinal implants, muscular implants, and ocular implants.

Circuitry and program code adapted for carrying out an associated technique for characterizing the response of one or more magnetoelastic sensor elements during exposure to an excitation field generated by an interrogation coil: including: (a) measuring a total sensor signal from the coil with the sensor element positioned within the excitation field within a spacing created by a winding of the coil; and (b) automatically determining: (i) a total measured impedance spectrum from said total sensor signal so measured, and (ii) a plurality of magnitude values representing the real part of a reconstructed impedance spectrum for the sensor element. The reconstructed impedance spectrum for the sensor element, having been calculated by subtracting an impedance generally attributable to the coil during the time an AC excitation signal is provided, from the total measured impedance. Subtraction of coil impedance from total complex impedance is accomplished by separate subtraction of the real part and of the imaginary part, represented as follows(&#x3c9;)]=(&#x3c9;)]&#x2212;(&#x3c9;)]&#x2003;&#x2003;Equation (12)and(&#x3c9;)]=(&#x3c9;)]&#x2212;(&#x3c9;)]&#x2003;&#x2003;Equation (13)where subscript 't' indicates total complex impedance, 's' indicates sensor element impedance, and &#x201c;c&#x201d; indicates coil impedance.

Impedance analysis technique for frequency domain characterization of magnetoelastic sensor element by measuring steady-state vibration of element while undergoing constant sine-wave excitation

A network of remote sensing node assemblies, a first and second of which each has a sensor element, as well as associated technique and program code for transmitting information collected about a liquid environment. The network provides the capability of sensing the liquid to collect a wide variety of types of information/data about the liquid and any surrounding environments, and transmitting from the originating node assembly to a different node within acoustic transmission range, and then transmitting further to a third node assembly where the information may be processed and communicated to a user, or further transmitted by way of suitable medium, preferably as electromagnetic signals, to a host location for processing into a compilation of data. Each of at least two sensing node assemblies has at least one sensor element adapted for operation while immersed within the liquid, a source of power, and a transducer for receiving acoustic waves/signals transmitted from another node assembly. The transducer is adapted for emitting sensor information collected by one or more sensor element(s) at that node, as well as acting as a pass-through node for information collected at other nodes. A third node assembly of the network is adapted for receiving and processing sensor information acoustically transmitted from other nodes. The third node can have its own processor unit(s) and means for transmitting sensor information to a remote host, whether originating at the third node (if so equipped) or another node assembly.

Network of sensor nodes assemblies and method of remote sensing within liquid environments

Circuitry adapted for carrying out associated techniques for: (a) calculating a damping factor, e.g., a damping ratio represented by &#x3b6;, or a quality factor Q, where &#x3b6;&#x2248;1/2Q, for a transient signal received, having been emitted from a resonator-type sensor element; (b) determining amplitude, A, of the transient signal; or (c) generating a frequency response dataset of interrelated points for the transient signal. A threshold comparison circuit is included for converting the transient signal received into a first and second digital waveform; the first digital waveform represents cycle crossings of the transient signal associated with a first threshold value, and the second digital waveform represents cycle crossings of the transient signal associated with a second threshold value. The transient signal may be converted, likewise, into third, and so on, digital waveforms, whereby the third digital waveform represents cycle crossings of the transient signal associated with a third threshold value. Respective digital counters are included, each of which is adapted for determining a total number of cycles of the first, second, third, and so on, digital waveform. A processing unit of suitable speed and capacity is employed for the calculating of the damping factor, determining an amplitude, and/or generating a frequency response dataset.

Technique and electronic circuitry for quantifying a transient signal using threshold-crossing counting to track signal amplitude

An electrical resistive device, including: an array of titania nanotubes open at an outwardly-directed end formed by anodizing at least a portion of a titanium layer; a plurality of palladium (or other noble metal) clusters having been deposited atop the nanotube array; and the nanotube array mechanically supported by an integral support member. The array of titania nanotubes may include a dopant. An exposure of titania nanotube array to radiant energy emitted within a range of frequencies from visible to ultraviolet, in the presence of oxygen, removes a contaminant, if present. The titanium layer may be deposited atop the integral support; or the unique doped titanium layer can be produced, prior to the anodizing thereof, by depositing titanium along with dopant atop the integral support member by a co-deposition process. Also, supported: method(s) of producing the electrical resistive devices.

Titania nanotube arrays for use as sensors and method of producing

An apparatus for determining elasticity characteristics of a thin-film layer. The apparatus comprises a sensor element having a base magnetostrictive element at least one surface of which is at least partially coated with the thin-film layer. The thin-film layer may be of a variety of materials (having a synthetic and/or bio-component) in a state or form capable of being deposited, manually or otherwise, on the base element surface, such as by way of eye-dropper, melting, dripping, brushing, sputtering, spraying, etching, evaporation, dip-coating, laminating, etc. Among suitable thin-film layers for the sensor element of the invention are fluent bio-substances, thin-film deposits used in manufacturing processes, polymeric coatings, paint, an adhesive, and so on. A receiver, preferably remotely located, is used to measure a plurality of values for magneto-elastic emission intensity of the sensor element in either characterization: (a) the measure of the plurality of values is used to identify a magneto-elastic resonant frequency value for the sensor element; and (b) the measure of the plurality of successive values is done at a preselected magneto-elastic frequency.

Magnetoelastic sensor for characterizing properties of thin-film/coatings

An apparatus for dispersing a first plurality of conductive elongated nano-elements distributed within a carrier-fluid to assemble a conductive device made of a first charge-receptive area of a support surface to which at least one nano-element has attached, including: a nozzle through which the elongated nano-elements are directed such that the nano-elements pass through an electromagnetic field for imparting a preselected charge thereto, and toward at least the first charge-receptive area. The charge-receptive area is given a charge such that it attracts a first end-portion of one of the nano-elements. Also, a method of assembling a conductive device. Steps include: applying a first charge to the first charge-receptive area to attract a first end-portion of at least one nano-element; and dispersing from a nozzle, the plurality of elongated nano-elements distributed within a carrier-fluid initially contained in a reservoir, such that the nano-elements pass through an electromagnetic field for imparting a preselected charge thereto and toward the first charge-receptive area.

Apparatus and method for dispersing nano-elements to assemble a device

A temperature sensing apparatus including a sensor element made of a magnetically soft material operatively arranged within a first and second time-varying interrogation magnetic field, the first time-varying magnetic field being generated at a frequency higher than that for the second magnetic field. A receiver, remote from the sensor element, is engaged to measure intensity of electromagnetic emissions from the sensor element to identify a relative maximum amplitude value for each of a plurality of higher-order harmonic frequency amplitudes so measured. A unit then determines a value for temperature (or other parameter of interst) using the relative maximum harmonic amplitude values identified. In other aspects of the invention, the focus is on an apparatus and technique for determining a value for of stress condition of a solid analyte and for determining a value for corrosion, using the relative maximum harmonic amplitude values identified. A magnetically hard element supporting a biasing field adjacent the magnetically soft sensor element can be included.

Temperature, stress, and corrosive sensing apparatus utilizing harmonic response of magnetically soft sensor element (s)

An electrically small radiator structure for radiating electromagnetic waves having an electrical size, k*a, with a value less than &pgr;/2 and above &pgr;/20,000 and configured to have at least a first and second magnetic, or electric, dipole element. Dipole elements are preferably oriented such that a source-associated standing energy value for the structure, or W (t ), is low, Radiative Q value preferably less than (k*a) ; and each of the elements, whether paired with respective electric dipole elements, is in electrical communication through a feed circuit to at least one power source. Further, a first dipole pair (or element) oriented orthogonally with respect to a second pair (or element) are in voltage phase-quadrature; the structure is operational at a frequency below 5 GHz; and dipole moments oriented such that the following is generally satisfied: a divergence of the Poynting vector of the pairs with respect to retarded time, namely &nabla;&verbar; &middot;N, has a value less than 1.0. Also, a method of producing electromagnetic waves using an electrically small radiator structure, including configuring the structure to have at least a first and second pair of dipole moments and an electrical size, k*a, with a value less than &pgr;/2 and above &pgr;/20,000; and powering a first feed area of the first pair and a second feed area of the second pair with at least one source operating at a frequency to radiate the waves.

Electrically-small low Q radiator structure and method of producing EM waves therewith

An analyte, viscosity, or temperature sensing apparatus for operative arrangement within a time-varying magnetic field, including a sensor with an outer surface that is chemically, frictionally, or thermally responsive and adhered to a base magnetostrictive element, and a receiver to measure a first and second value for magneto-elastic emission intensity of the sensor taken at, respectively, a first and second interrogation frequency. A change in mass or a change in material stiffness of the sensor due to the responsiveness, the viscosity and mass density of a fluid therearound, or the temperature, can be identified. The receiver, alternatively, measures a plurality of successive values for magneto-elastic emission intensity of the sensor taken over an operating range of successive interrogation frequencies to identify a value for the sensor's magneto-elastic resonant frequency (a fundamental frequency or harmonic thereof). Several sensors in an ordered array will provide a &ldquo;package&rdquo; of information.

Remote magneto-elastic analyte, viscosity and temperature sensing apparatus and associated methods of sensing

A pressure sensing apparatus for operative arrangement within an environment, having: a sensor comprising a hermetically-sealed receptacle, at least one side of which has an flexible membrane to which a magnetically hard element is attached. Enclosed within the receptacle is a magnetostrictive element that vibrates in response to a time-varying magnetic field. Also included is a receiver to measure a plurality of successive values for magneto-elastic emission intensity of the sensor taken over an operating range of successive interrogation frequencies to identify a resonant frequency value for the sensor. Additional features include: (a) the magnetically hard element may be adhered to an inner or outer side of, or embedded within, the membrane; (b) the magnetostrictive element can include one or more of a variety of different pre-formed, hardened regions; (c) the magneto-elastic emission may be a primarily acoustic or electromagnetic emission; and (d) in the event the time-varying magnetic field is emitted as a single pulse or series of pulses, the receiver unit can detect a transitory time-response of the emission intensity of each pulse (detected after a threshold amplitude value for the transitory time-response is observed). A Fourier transform of the time-response can yield results in the frequency domain. Also, an associated method of sensing pressure of an environment is included that uses a sensor having a magnetostrictive element to identify a magneto-elastic resonant frequency value therefore. Using the magneto-elastic resonant frequency value identified, a value for the pressure of the environment can be identified.

Magnetoelastic sensing apparatus and method for remote pressure query of an environment

A resonant sensing apparatus for operative arrangement within a test environment to sense an analyte. A sensing structure is included having an antenna in electrical communication with a resonant circuit and a structural element made of a material that selectively responds to the analyte. This sensing structure will resonate at a particular characteristic resonant frequency in the presence of an applied interrogation electromagnetic field and the analyte upon the occurrence of the selective response. A receiver is used for remotely identifying a value for the characteristic resonant frequency by measuring a plurality of values for electromagnetic emission intensity of the sensing structure taken over an operating range of frequencies. A length of a conductive segment of any component of the resonant circuit may also function as the antenna. A method of sensing an analyte with the sensing structure includes arranging the sensing structure within a test environment and applying an interrogation electromagnetic field causing the sensing structure to resonate. A pre-correlation made between a series of resonant frequency values taken for the sensing structure and a corresponding series of analyte sensing values can be used for the sensing.

Growing community of inventors

Boalsburg, PA, United States of America

Craig A Grimes