Optical-fiber based light force particle trapping and microfluidic apparatus, system and method

37 Pages·2012·1.37 MB·English

UC Merced Office of Technology Transfer
UC Merced is uniquely able to y This document describes more than 25 technologies invented at UC Merced
in the fields of natural sciences, engineering and medicine.
rapidly transfer its innovations
into competitive advantages. y UC Merced builds relationships with environment-friendly industries that
complement its teaching, research and public service mission.
y For more details, contact UC Merced’s Office of Technology Transfer
at [email protected].
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED INVENTIONS | 1
DOROTHY LELAND SAM TRAINA
Chancellor Vice Chancellor for Research
University of California, Merced University of California, Merced
Innovation Begins Here
The University of California, Merced, opened its doors in 2005 with an ambitious mission to become a premier,
world-class university focused on teaching, research and public service in the heart of California’s rapidly growing
San Joaquin Valley.
In a short time, we have grown into a community of more than 5,000 This brochure represents a major milestone in the
students and more than 140 faculty members with credentials continuing progress of UC Merced. It is with great pride
from some of the world’s top-ranked universities. that we share with you the fruits of our faculty’s research.
This document catalogues the inventions generated
As with all other University of California campuses, UC Merced from January 2007 to July 2012 and acknowledges the
has a strong dedication to research and scholarship. We are proud faculty who developed these fruits. Eighty-five inventions
to report that even in our brief period of existence, UC Merced’s have been processed during this brief time, tracking the
talented progress of larger, more established campuses, especially
researchers have produced scores of inventions that have the when considering that a disproportionate percentage of
potential to change people’s lives, industries and communities. our faculty are assistant professors who are early in their
careers.
A byproduct of these research activities is intellectual property that
can be copyrighted or patented. A vital element of our public service Our deepest admiration and appreciation go to the
obligation to the people of California is to ensure that these research dedicated faculty, staff and students identified in
discoveries make the responsible transition from idea to application this document. Many thanks to Sonal Gadre, Jennifer
as products or services that benefit the community and our society. Biancucci, Lorena Anderson, Vincent Cook and Richard
Miller for the production of this brochure.
2 | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED INVENTIONS
THE OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER is committed
to accomplishing UC Merced’s vision of teaching,
research and service benefiting society.
Our mission is to provide excellence in assisting our
faculty, staff and students in the process of technology
transfer from initial recording and filing a patent to
commercialization.
Table of Contents
Undergraduate Research Database Recommendations System (URDRS).......................................................6
Optical Fiber Based Light Force Particle Trapping and Microfluidic System ......................................................7
Round Multisection Recycle Bin ............................................................................................... 8
Activated Carbon-Based Composite Biomaterials for Neural Engineering ......................................................... 9
Energy-Free Concentrator and Energy-Free Pump for Micrometer-Scale System...............................................10
Atmospheric-Pressure Magneto-Hydrodynamics Heat and Power Generator for Commercial and Residential Applications........12
Preventing HIV Infection with Bifunctional Griffithsin Analogs..............................................................14
Highly Potent HIV Entry Inhibitors .......................................................................................15
Inexpensive Nanoparticle-Based Expectorant..............................................................................16
Light-Scattering Technique to Determine Stem Cell Fates for Micrometer-Scale System............................................18
Chemical Modulation of Hepatitis C Virus Mutation Rates ..................................................................19
Efficient Combined Heating, Cooling and Power Generation Cycle ..........................................................20
Self-Tuning, Critical Branching Neural Computation........................................................................21
Novel Responsive Polymer System and its 1D Nanohybrid Thin Films.........................................................22
Practical Carbon Nanotube Photovoltaic Materials.............................................................................24
Internal Compound Parabolic Concentrator ...............................................................................26
Improved Fresnel Lens Concentrator for Solar Cells ........................................................................27
Efficient Fresnel Lens Concentrator for Solar Cells .........................................................................28
Improved Aplanatic Solar Concentrator ...................................................................................29
Design Methods for Solar Concentrator Photovoltaic Systems ..............................................................30
Improved Non-Tracking Solar Photovoltaic Concentrators...................................................................31
Efficient Solar Concentrator with a Low-Cost Tracking Mechanism...........................................................32
Köhler Homogenizer for Aplanatic Solar Concentrator.......................................................................33
LDSK, a Serum-Free Cell Culture Medium for Vascular Differentiation........................................................34
About UC Merced’s Inventions Program ..................................................................................36
Licensing Contact
RICHARD MILLER, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research
Office of Technology Transfer
University of California, Merced
5200 N. Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343
tel: [phone]
email: [email protected]
4 | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED INVENTIONS

Undergraduate Research Database
Recommendations System (URDRS)
AN INTERNET-BASED SYSTEM TO HELP STUDENTS
DISCOVER RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS
INVENTORS Background
DONALD A. BARCLAY The research projects conducted by undergraduate students are frequently driven by the need to fulfill the
DAVID C. NOELLE requirements of specific assignments within the framework of formal course curricula. It is desirable to
have an Internet-accessible software tool that supports students to discover and access library and other
information resources to complete scholarly research projects related to their coursework.
Libraries’ information-retrieval systems are designed to answer queries with specific documents, rather
than broad publication databases. But because students are not as familiar with technical or expert
vocabulary with which to hone their searches, they often face difficulties in finding the most relevant
scholarly information.
The novel software system enables the student researchers to effectively retrieve broad and relevant information
by simply querying the course information. It also enhances the opportunity for the students to expand their basic
information literacy.
Description The system is expected to generate and store
anonymized query transaction records in a
Researchers at UC Merced have developed an easy-
separate database, which can be further analyzed
to-use, Internet-based software tool, Undergraduate
using machine learning methods to improve and
Research Database Recommendation System
expand upon the recommendations made by
(URDRS), that uses a locally managed knowledge
the system. The system is scalable and can save
base coupled with the machine learning methods
librarians significant time for repetitive reference,
to increase the success of undergraduate students
instruction, development of online tutorials and
as they attempt to discover and access information
website tinkering.
resources needed to complete scholarly research
projects related to their coursework.
Applications
URDRS supports course-based research, prompting This invention is generally useful for the
the user to volunteer information about the undergraduate students to conduct course-based
education context of the current query, potentially research. URDRS can be integrated into a website,
including course-identity information and even catalog, course management system and other Web-
specific course-assignment information. Ranked accessible resource.
results are to be provided in a manner that
facilitates subsequent access to the recommended Advantages
databases. On the back end, knowledge bases are The novel software system enables the student
formed with data from campus course catalogs, researchers to effectively retrieve broad and
syllabi, faculty web pages, course reading lists, etc. relevant information by simply querying the course
It can be updated and modified easily, and it allows information. It also enhances the opportunity for the
the instructors and librarians to add content and students to expand their basic information literacy.
limits to further enhance student success.
6 | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED INVENTIONS
Optical Fiber Based Light Force Particle
Trapping and Microfluidic System
A LESS ExPENSIVE, HIGHER qUALITY WAY TO
TRAP PARTICLES FOR USE WITH ANY STANDARD
MICROSCOPE
INVENTOR Background
JAY E. SHARPING Dual beam optical traps, used in conjunction
TESSA PINON with microfluidic channels, are used for
ALESSANDRO CASTELLI manipulating micron size dielectric objects such
LINDA S. HIRST
as biological cells or polystyrene beads. This
type of manipulation is helpful for studying the
mechanical properties of soft particles and the
dynamics of particles suspended in microfluidic
flows, and for holding and observing living
cells over extended periods of time. However,
optical traps/microfluidic systems suitable
Applications
for practical applications have been quite
y The UC Merced microfluidic system is useful
complicated and expensive to make, primarily
for dual-beam optical trap system has potential
due to the difficulties of holding optical fibers
in measuring micro-fluidic flow rates, measuring
in place mechanically on the chip or of using in
elasticity of cells
situ optical wave-guides or lasers as substitutes
for optical fibers. Of particular concern is the y High school biology classrooms
need to incorporate complex micro fabricated
Advantages
components into a system’s design to make it
compact enough for use with microscopes. THE ADVANTAGES OF THE UC MERCED SYSTEM:
y Simple
y Inexpensive
UC Merced scientists have invented a novel fiber-based
y Reliable
dual-beam optical trap/microfluidic system with an alignment
y Alignment quality
verification procedure that gives a measure of device quality
that is simple, compact and inexpensive to construct.
Description
UC Merced scientists have invented a novel
fiber-based dual-beam optical trap/microfluidic
system with an alignment verification procedure
that gives a measure of device quality that is
simple, compact and inexpensive to construct. Its
chip can be fabricated using standard plexiglass,
resistive wire, optical fiber and a relatively simple
hear-etching platform. The UC Merced system
is capable of maintaining a precise alignment
(comparable to much more complicated optical
traps) in an integrated, robust package that is
small enough and rugged enough for use in
standard microscopes.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED INVENTIONS | 7
Round Multisection Recycle Bin
A FREE-STANDING, ONE-STOP, ACCESSIBLE RECEPTACLE
FOR MANY DIFFERENT RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
INVENTORS Background Advantages
MATTHEW HIROTA Effective waste disposal is essential for health and IN CONTRAST TO RECYCLE BINS COMMONLY
ERIC SCOTT sanitation, and recycling helps us keep our environment USED NOW, UC MERCED’S SYSTEM IS:
clean. Waste is divided into categories such as compost y convenient
and recyclables, while some must go to a landfill. y accessible from all sides
Different collecting bins for each category take up a lot y more attractive
of space, and can sometimes be overlooked by even the y free standing
most diligent recycler.
Staff members at UC Merced have come up with a unique design that
incorporates all categories of waste. The bin, which is accessible from
all sides, features three different colored sections: compost, recycle and
landfill, making it easier for people to discard items in the correct place.
Description
Staff members at UC Merced have come up with a unique
design that incorporates all categories of waste. The bin,
which is accessible from all sides, features three different
colored sections: compost, recycle and landfill, making it
easier for people to discard items in the correct place.
Applications
The UC Merced multisection recycle bin is commercially
attractive and can be used in public places such as
hospitals, college cafeterias, malls, schools and airports.
Having materials collected in the same place but already
sorted by category could cut down on sorting costs,
making the bins attractive to the waste-management
industry, as well.
8 | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED INVENTIONS
Activated Carbon-Based Composite
Biomaterials for Neural Engineering
A PLATFORM FOR STEM CELLS TO ATTACH, THRIVE AND
MULTIPLY TO REGENERATE DAMAGED OR LOST TISSUES
INVENTOR Background Applications
WEI-CHUN CHIN Serious health problems like spinal cord injuries, Activated biomaterials will help develop
CHI-SHUO CHEN diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons and Huntingtons medical implantation devices that are practical
ERIC YI-TONG CHEN and other medical conditions demand research into and valuable to the medical community and
regenerative tissue engineering. Stem-cell technology the general public. Companies that market
and therapy have been explored, and direct injection bioscaffolds, transplantation and medical
of stem cells has yielded positive, yet limited products for neuronal or non-neuronal tissues
outcomes, in part because so many cells are lost in the are potential candidates.
transfer. There is an urgent need for efficient way to
transfer the stem cells.
Researchers at UC Merced have developed inexpensive biomaterials for neural engineering that will provide a safe,
more effective substrate, or 3D scaffold, for promoting human embryonic stem cells for regenerative
tissue engineering.
Description Advantages
Researchers at UC Merced have developed THE UC MERCED ACTIVATED BIOMATERIALS HAVE
inexpensive biomaterials for neural engineering that A COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL AS THEY ARE:
will provide a safe, more effective substrate, or 3D y Non-toxic, safe and carbon-based
scaffold, for promoting human embryonic stem cells y Economical and time efficient
for regenerative tissue engineering. Recently, carbon
y Highly stable, bio-friendly and
related micro- or nanobiomaterials have been used
semi-conductive
in the construction of bioscaffolds. Among these
y A safe platform for repairing neural and other
materials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene
tissue damages
have shown some success in supporting stem cell
attachment and differentiation. However, there is
evidence that these platforms are actually toxic to the
stem cells.
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Rati 0.5 Rati 0.5 Rati 0.5 Rati 0.5
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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED INVENTIONS | 9