University of Michigan

Total Se

Tao Li

Yogesh B Gianchandani

Ryan Meredith

Roma Y Gianchandani

Duxin Sun

Alexander Benken

Yu Sui

Yushu Ma

Jeremy Felton

Qisen Cheng

Johnathan Lewis

Jinhui Liao

Partha Dutta

John-Richard Ordonez-varela

Investigating the permeability and porosity of geological samples is a routine element of geological studies, and is of particular interest in the oil and gas industry. Core-flood experiments are commonly performed on rock samples to measure transport characteristics in the laboratory. This disclosure reports the design and implementation of a high resolution distributed pressure measurement system for core-flood experiments. A series of microfabricated pressure sensors can be embedded in bolts that are housed within the pressurized polymer sheath that encases a rock core. A feedthrough technology has been developed to provide lead transfer between the sensors and system electronics across a 230-bar pressure difference. The system has been successfully benchtop tested with fluids such as synthetic oil and/or gas. Pressure measurements were recorded over a dynamic range of 20 bar with a resolution as small as 0.3 mbar.

Distributed pressure measurement system for core flood experiments

An ingestible electronic capsule for the collection of samples along a gastric intestinal tract and methods relating thereto are provided. The ingestible electronic capsule includes a housing and a cap that form an interior chamber. The cap includes a sampling port and one or more sample collection chambers are disposed within the interior chamber. A motor is also disposed within the interior chamber and is configured to rotate one of the cap and the one or more sample collection chambers so to align one or the one or more sample collection chambers and the sampling port of the cap so to allow for sample collection. A microcontroller is also disposed within the interior chamber and is in communication with at least the motor. The microcontroller is configured to control the selective alignment of the sampling port and one of the one or more sample collection chambers and induce gastric intestinal fluid sampling.

Sampling device for drug development and diagnosis of gastric-intestinal diseases

An environmental logging system that includes a housing and an electronic logging circuit sealed within the housing. The logging circuit includes an energy source, transducer, charging circuit, trigger circuit, electronic control unit (ECU), and transmitter. The energy source is charged by the charging circuit using electricity from the transducer in response to external energy applied to the transducer. Commands may also be received by the circuit via the transducer. The ECU includes a processor, memory, and one or more sensors, and it operates under power from the energy source to store data from the sensor(s). The transmitter is coupled to the ECU and transmits the data via electromagnetic radiation outside the housing. The trigger circuit supplies operating power to the processor only when the voltage level of the energy source is above a minimum threshold. The housing may be a tubular shell filled with a polymeric material.

Environmental logging system

A sub-millimeter packaged microsystem includes a microsystem located in a sealed cavity defined between first and second portions of a micropackage. One or both micropackage portions can be fabricated from a metal suitable for use in a harsh environment, such as an oil well environment. The microsystem includes electronic components and can be configured to communicate with external components through a wall of the micropackage by wireless communication or by conductive feedthroughs. Pluralities of microsystems, first micropackage portions, and/or second micropackage portions are simultaneously placed during a batch assembly process. The assembly process may include micro-crimping the first and second micropackaging portions together without the need for bonding materials and related process steps.

Packaged microsystems

A sensor is mounted to a needle at a location proximate to a tip of the needle. The sensor senses tissue density of tissue in contact with the tip as the needle passes through the tissue. Further, the sensor detects a change in tissue density as the tip passes from one tissue to a target tissue.

In-situ tissue analysis device and method

A sensor is mounted to a biopsy needle at a location proximate to a tip of the needle. The sensor senses properties of tissue in contact with the sensor and proximate to the tip.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Tao Li