University of MissoUri, ColUMbia

Accelerating Large Scale Protein Structural Alignments with Graphics Processing Unit (Morning Elevator Pitch) Innovation in Lowering the Lower Limit Of Neutron Detection in Diamond Spectroscopic Detectors Combination Of Single-Cell Electroporation and Electrical Recording Using the Same Electrode Preferential Direction Two Phase Flow Valve Ultra-Rapid Cooling Method for Cell Cryopreservation Geocdx: An Enterprise System for Change Detection in High-Resolution Satellite And Aerial Imagery (Afternoon Elevator Pitch) Active Cooling Of High Speed Seeker Missile Domes and Radomes Liquids for Micro Gas Pumping Oil Repellant Surface Nanosecond Pulsed Tirpas: Improved Photoacoustic Detection Photoacoustic Detection Of Metastatic Melanoma In Situ Optical Monitoring Device Of Spent Nuclear Storage Large Diamond Crystal Structures Utilizing Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition And Fluidized Substrate Solid-State Nuclear Energy Conversion System Software-Based Charge Deep Level Transient Spectrometer Nano-Gap Embedded Gratings for Surface Plasmon Enhanced Fluorescence Tongue Imaging for Determining Health Status (Morning Elevator Pitch) Steerable Epidural Catheter with Steering-Hub and Injection Port Compact Shock Wave Generating Device for Drug Delivery Adsorbed Natural Gas Tank (Afternoon Elevator Pitch) Radioisotope Microbattery Based On Liquid Semiconductors Tissue Viability Camera/Projector Photoacoustic Probe for Burn Injury Diagnosis (Morning Elevator Pitch) Cathodes for Lithium Air Battery Cell (Morning Elevator Pitch) Improved Adsorbed Natural Gas Storage Tank Gold Coated Lanthanide Nanoparticle (Morning Elevator Pitch) Eldercare Monitoring System (Afternoon Elevator Pitch) Neutron Production From Hydride Forming Metals Under thermal Shock (Morning Elevator Pitch) Thermally-Driven Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (Afternoon Elevator Pitch)

University of MissoUri, st. loUis

Germanium Compounds with Favorable Photolumiescent Properties for Diverse Solid-State Applications Q3D: Quantitative Three Dot Test (Afternoon Elevator Pitch)

MissoUri University of sCienCe & teChnology

Smart Rocks for Integrated Monitoring and Mitigation Of Bridge Scour Material for Near-Field Electromagnetic Noise Reduction in Electronic Systems Microwave and Millimeter Wave Camera

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University of MissoUri, ColUMbia

aCCelerating large sCale Protein strUCtUral alignMents with graPhiCs ProCessing Unit

University of Missouri researchers have developed an algorithm, called ppsAlign, which is a high-performance protein structural alignment tool designed to tackle the computational complexity issues from protein struc-tural data. Results have indicated a many-fold increase in speed over other highly touted alignment algorithms, while maintaining comparable or better quality in all cases.

Large-scale protein structural alignment, an indispensable tool to life sciences and pharmaceutical industry, poses a tremendous challenge on computational resources. To ensure structural alignment accuracy and efficiency, some research has attempted to parallelize traditional alignment algorithms in grid environments. However, these solutions are costly and are of limited accessibility. Other’s trade alignment quality for speed by using high-level characteristics of structure fragments for structure comparisons. An inexpensive, accurate, and speedy algo-rithm is needed to handle the ever-growing size of protein structures. This algorithm uses a parallel protein structur-al alignment framework designed and optimized to exploit the parallelism of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).

Potential Areas of Application: Computational Biology, Drug discoveryPatent Status: Provisional Patent FiledInventor(s): Bin Pang, Chi-Ren Shyu. Michela BecchiContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

innovation in lowering the lower liMit of neUtron deteCtion in diaMond sPeCtrosCoPiC deteCtors

Diamond is intrinsically limited in its detection capabili-ties on the lower end of the fast neutron region. To over-come this deficiency an innovation has been developed that combines various materials with diamond in certain configurations. These configurations are important to the specific application of the detection system and can be optimized to fit various applications. In general, however, the lower limit in fast neutron detection has been low-ered by a factor of 3.52. This allows for the detection of neutrons in the epithermal region while not inhibiting the detection of faster neutrons and adds the features seen in the pulse height spectrum making the determination of the true neutron spectrum from the measured pulse height spectrum more feasible. Configurations with three components allow for the simultaneous detection of ther-mal, epithermal, and fast neutrons in real time with clear separation of what energy regime each signal came from with spectroscopic capabilities.

This innovation can lead to new personal integral or real time dosimeters, neutron flux monitors, detection sys-tems for the identification of neutron emitting sources such as that required in national security and nonprolif-eration, and fundamental physics experiments such as fusion. There is generally no size limitations in this innova-tion where detector sizes can range from lightweight hand held devices to large portal monitors without a loss of the properties previously described.

Potential Areas of Application: Neutron Detection SystemsPatent Status: Multiple Provisional Patents FiledInventor(s): Eric Lukosi, Mark PrelasContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

CoMbination of single-Cell eleCtroPoration and eleCtriCal reCording Using the saMe eleCtrode

Cells release electro-active substances, which can be detected by nearby electrochemical microelectrodes. In addition, extracellular electrodes can be used to measure changes in membrane potential of a nearby cell. On the other hand electroporation of cells can be used to intro-duce substances, e.g., to stimulate the cell or introduce genetic materials. The present invention discloses a meth-od to use electrodes located directly adjacent to the cell(s) to both electroporate cells and record electrical signals originating from the cell. The present invention is used at the single-cell level and takes advantage of the desirable location of the stimulating/recording electrode for a cell-recording device with minimal complexity. This invention provides applications in the basic study of physiology by the following: discovering or assaying drugs which target cell activity; cell-based biosensors of toxins; and introduc-ing exogenous molecules into the cell to affect cellular mechanisms.

Potential Areas of Application: Medical applications of screening for drugs, Pharmaceutical applicationsPatent Status: Non-Provisional Patent FiledInventor(s): Kevin Gillis, Jaya GhoshContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

Preferential direCtion two Phase flow valve

As technology and electronic performance has increased so has the demand for more effective cooling of high performance electronic devices. High power electronic devices are creating more heat than the heat transfer ca-pacity of traditional heat pipes. The use of oscillating heat pipes enable a compact cooling solution, keeping high power electronic devices below at a reasonable operating temperature.

Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed an innovative oscillating heat pipe heat spreader with two phase flow check-valves to control the flow direction of oscillating heat pipes in positions without a gravitational advantage. The innovative design can significantly activate and maintain the oscillating motion and enhance the heat transport capability. Most importantly, this new check-valve oscillating heat pipe will not depend on the gravity.

Potential Areas of Application: Operation of oscillating heat pipes in positions without gravitational advantage, High power thermal management and High heat flux applicationsInventor(s): Aaron Hathaway, Hongbin MaContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

Ultra-raPid Cooling Method for Cell CryoPreservation

Cryopreservation is a process where cells or whole tissues are preserved by cooling to low sub-zero temperatures. At these temperatures biological activity, including death, is stopped. This method of preservation is often used in se-men, blood, embryo, and other tissue storage. Research-ers at the University of Missouri utilized ultra-high heat transfer coefficient of thin film evaporation to create an ultra-rapid cooling method. In this method, liquid evapo-rates sharply using thin film evaporation, and absorbed a considerably large quantity of heat. Such design will give birth to a novel cell cryopreservation method through vitrification with relatively low concentrations of cryopro-tectants.

Potential Areas of Application: Cell CryopreservationInventor(s): Hongbin Ma, Fengmin Su, Xu HanContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

geoCdx: an enterPrise systeM for Change deteCtio. in high-resolUtion satellite and aerial iMagery

GeoCDX is an enterprise system for change detection pro-cessing and exploitation of large volumes of high-resolu-tion satellite and airborne imagery. It supports all current US high-resolution commercial satellite imagery sensors and numerous airborne sensors. The change detection algorithms are cross-sensor and cross-resolution capable. Fully automated processing of imagery includes: image cataloging, image overlap identification, image-to-image co-registration, automated feature extraction, change detection, and change-type clustering. An easy-to-use web interface allows for interaction with the change detection results in a variety of ways. GeoCDX can export results of analysis as HTML and/or self-contained KMZ files contain-ing analysis tags, placemarks, polygons, before and after imagery overlays (supports time-cycling in GoogleEarth™, and change intensity maps.

Terra 4D Systems, LLC currently has a world-wide, ex-clusive license to the GeoCDX technology. Following the University’s use of the system as an operational prototype for a US government agency, Terra 4D Systems, LLC has landed two pilot projects utilizing GeoCDX: one with a sat-ellite imagery provider and another with an aerial photog-raphy and GIS firm.

Potential Areas of Application: Military intelligence and defense, Disaster monitoring and assessment, Cost-effective map and GIS data maintenancePatent Status: US PatentsInventor(s): Curt Davis, Matt Klaric, Grant Scott, Brian Claywell, Chi-Ren Shyu, James KellerContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

aCtive Cooling of high sPeed seeker Missile doMes and radoMes

This invention provides a unique and improved method of designing, fabricating and integrating active cooling heat spreaders on the back surface of IR-seeking missile window domes and RF guided ceramic (or silicon carbide, fused silica or other materials) radomes to enhance their performance. This advanced heat spreader coupled to either type of missile can significantly reduce the dome/radome temperature and thereby providing improved missile performance and / or higher missile speeds. The active cooling approach uses oscillating heat pipes (OHP) that have demonstrated effective thermal conductivi-ties up to 20,000 W/m*k. In addition, this active cooling component can be fabricated from the same materials as the domes and radomes, thus matching the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Such a condition can signifi-cantly reduce the transient and/or non-equilibrium stress in both the R-seeking domes and the RF guided radome missiles produced by the thermal gradients during the missiles travel at Mach 3-6. Another attractive operating feature is the OHP performs better as the thermal heat density increases. The heat is removed from the Forced Convective OHP (FC-OHP) by flowing working fluid through thin surface radiator coupled with the external skin or wall of the missile. Other approaches employing external airflow and cooling will be utilized as heat exchangers expending the thermal heat from the window dome or ceramic type radomes.

Potential Areas of Application: Reduce temperature in missile window domes and ceramic radome nose conesPatent Status: Patent PendingInventor(s): Hongbin Ma, LaVern SchlieContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielwc@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

liqUids for MiCro gas PUMPing

Micro gas pumping is used in applications ranging from scientific research in molecular biology to the science be-hind ink jet printers. These gas pumps main responsibili-

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ties are gas trapping, delivering and releasing. Research-ers at the University of Missouri are developing a method to increase the releasing and trapping capabilities of micro gas pumps. Their novel method provides a leakage tight feature that prevents unwanted release of gas from the pump. The gas flow rate can easily be controlled with their new technique.

Potential Areas of Application: Analytical devices, MEMSPatent Status: Patent PendingInventor(s): Jae Wan Kwon, Jian JiaoContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

oil rePellant sUrfaCe

Confining and manipulating non-aqueous low surface tension liquids within a desired area is not trivial but pose great challenges in microfluidic devices. Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a novel tech-nique to form . “virtual” microfluidic channel for guiding low-tension liquids. Newly developed oil-repellant surfaces formed by using a plasma assisted surface micromachin-ing process have been employed to control the surface wettability for low surface tension liquids. These surfaces have been utilized to form microfluidic channels without sidewalls.

Potential Areas of Application: Microfluidic devices, Fluid containmentPatent Status: Patent PendingInventor(s): Jae Wan Kwon, Riberet AlmeidaContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

nanoseCond PUlsed tirPas: iMProved PhotoaCoUstiC deteCtion

The development of specialized methods that allow for rapid inexpensive detection, identification, and quantifica-tion of biologically and chemically relevant compounds has the potential to both revolutionize the detection and treatment of disease and result in quantum leaps in sci-entific knowledge. Photoacoustic spectroscopy is such a novel technology for the detection of chemicals and that has a great potential. The current invention developed by researchers at the University of Missouri is an improvement to photoacoustic detection with the potential to revolutionize the detection of small and large absorbing molecules, including envi-ronmental pollutions and disease indicators. The com-bination of Total Internal Reflection Photoacoustic Spec-troscopy (TIRPAS) with the use of a nanosecond pulsed laser increases the sensitivity and selectivity of chemical detection over current methods like UV-VIS spectroscopy, and has many of the characteristics of being a disruptive technology.

Potential Areas of Application: Disease marker detection, Environmental pollution detection, Chemical detectionPatent Status: Provisional Patent FiledInventor(s): Benjamin S. Goldschmidt, Amanda S. Sudduth, Paul J. D. Whiteside, John A. ViatorContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

PhotoaCoUstiC deteCtion of MetastatiC MelanoMa

Cancer cells that are able to metastasize and spread through the lymph or blood to other tissues like lungs, liver, brain and bones are particularly dangerous and will require a different treatment regime than a primary tu-mor. There is therefore a critical need for better methods to detect and isolate circulating cancer cells.

Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed photoacoustic technology that will detect and isolate melanoma cells circulating in the blood in a more effective and efficient manner without the use of staining. The tech-nology enables high throughput screening of low levels of metastasis in a potential melanoma patient. Furthermore, the cells can be isolated for further characterization using a proprietary flow cell. This invention will be useful for rapid diagnosis of melanoma as well as for monitoring melanoma patients.

Potential Areas of Application: High throughput screening for melanoma, Monitoring of melanoma patients, Isolation of melanoma cells Patent Status: Patent 7,968,347 issued, others pendingInventor(s): John A. Viator, Paul S. Dale, Devin McCormack, Kiran BhattacharyyaContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

in sitU oPtiCal Monitoring deviCe of sPent nUClear storage

There are 104 operational nuclear reactors in the United States. These reactors supply 19.6 percent of the nation’s electricity, emission-free. However, due to its high radioactivity, the storage and containment of spent nuclear fuel is a critical challenge. Temporarily, the department of energy stores spent nuclear fuel in dry cask storage containers. Dry cask storage containers use an inert gas atmosphere to inhibit corrosion of the cladding. Structural failures in the cladding material would allow radioactive material to leak out into the environment. To provide crucial information to those maintaining stewardship over used fuel, University of Missouri researchers have proposed a solution. Leaked fuel elements react with the inert gas atmosphere and the radiation from the spent fuel to create photons. The photon wavelengths are characteristic of the impurity, which leaks from the fuel, water vapor from imperfect

drying or elements characteristic of corroding metal. Optical measurements of the reaction signal problems with leaking fuel elements, the presence of water, or corroding metals. Such optical measurements would also be beneficial for the in situ diagnostic monitoring of gas-cooled Very High Temperatures Reactors (VHTR) or Molten Core Reactors. Potential Areas of Application: In situ monitoring of dry cask nuclear storage containers, Gas-cooled VHTR, Molten Core Reactors Patent Status: Provisional Patent Filed Inventor(s): Mark Prelas Contact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

large diaMond Crystal strUCtUres Utilizing hot filaMent CheMiCal vaPor dePosition and flUidized sUbstrate

The current state-of-the-art in growing synthetic large single crystals is limited to approximately 30 ct stones and with scale lengths on the order of a half inch. This technology will increase the scale length to 2 inches and weights in excess of 1000 ct. The applications of a viable diamond single crystal growth technology are many. There is a need for large diamond wafers in optics, electronics, mechanical systems, and for gemstones. One important application for large scale diamond crystals is in neutron spectroscopy. The spectroscopy measurement is based on carbon-recoil detectors. This is similar to the proto recoil scintillation detectors, but is based on the col-lection of charge rather than photons. The scintillation de-tectors are limited to poor energy resolution through poor conversion of photons into electrons via a photocathode. Interference from other atomic species in these detectors further limits the resolution of these sensors. An ideal sensor for neutron spectroscopy can be achieved through use of a high density matrix of a single species of light atoms and charge carriers result directly from neutron interactions with detector medium. Such a medium has high electron, hole mobility, and low noise. Based upon these criteria, a single crystal diamond radiation detector is an ideal candidate.

These detectors will be robust, portable, low-costs, radia-tion hard, and capable of operating at room temperature (i.e. no cooling) with a high intrinsic efficiency. In order to develop this new and advanced platform for neutron spectroscopy, a multi-faceted effort must be made to produce large-size, single-crystal diamonds. Researchers at the University of Missouri have presented a new growth approach that will be used in the development of a new neutron sensor, which will have a wide range of applica-tions due to the large detection efficiency provided by the innovative growth technique proposed.

Potential Areas of Application: Neutron detectors, Diamond electronics, Diamond optics, Diamond wear-resistant surfaces, Diamond based tools and dies, Gemstones

Patent Status: Provisional Patent Filed Inventor(s): Mark Prelas, Paul Mason Contact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

solid-state nUClear energy Conversion systeM

The solid-state nuclear energy conversion system is a means to utilize ionizing radiation directly for the pro-duction of electricity. Ionizing radiation when interacting with a solid material creates electron-hole pairs. Current methods of using ionizing radiation for direct energy con-version are limited to efficiencies of 1 to 3%. Research-ers at the University of Missouri have invented a way to use electron-hole pairs to generate electrical current and power. The method has a direct conversion efficiency limitation of 42%.

Potential Areas of Application: Direct conversion of fission and fusion energy in nuclear batteries to nuclear power plantsInventor(s): Mark PrelasContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

software-based Charge deeP level transient sPeCtroMeter

The present invention is a novel Charge-based Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (Q-DLTS) system for the charac-terization of wide band-gap semiconductor materials. This straightforward design takes advantage of the emergence of fast data acquisition cards and modern graphical development environments. This system foregoes all hardware-based data processing in favor of adaptable software-based algorithms. The only necessary electronic components are those essential to integrate and amplify the thermally emitted trapped charge transients, and to provide the timing signals that control each measure-ment cycle. Trap excitation is achieved via voltage or light stimulation. The software-based algorithm then digitally filters the raw charge data, compensates for spurious input signals, and constructs a Q-DLTS spectrum based upon user-defined input parameters. Trap signature infor-mation such as thermal activation energy, capture cross section, and concentration can be obtained.

Potential Areas of Application: Semiconductor and optoelectronic devices, Wide band-gap semiconductor growth research, High-resistivity bulk material characterizationPatent Status: Non-Provisional Patent FiledInventor(s): Daniel E. Montenegro, Jason B. Rothenberger, Mark A. Prelas, Robert V. Tompson and Annie TiptonContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

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nano-gaP eMbedded gratings for sUrfaCe PlasMon enhanCed flUoresCenCe

Researchers at the University of Missouri have invented a slide substrate that significantly enhances fluorescence and Raman signature through novel engineering of optical cavities within plasmonic gratings. In fact, the substrate allows users of fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy (customers) to identify single molecules using epifluores-cence microscopy. By using this slide substrate, customers would not need a confocal microscope at a cost of approximately $1 M. In-stead, those customers could pick hotspots on the slides, enabling them to image single molecules with a simple microscope at a cost closer to $20,000.

Potential Areas of Application: Life Sciences, Semiconductor Industry, Material SciencesPatent Status: Patent PendingInventor(s): Kunal Bhatnagar, Venumadhav Korampally, Shubhra Gangopadhyay, Keshab GangopadhyayContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

tongUe iMaging for deterMining health statUs

In traditional Chinese medicine, the tongue is an im-portant indicator of overall health. Various areas of the tongue are thought to be associated with various bodily functions, and traditional Chinese healers make health recommendations based on viewing the tongue. Accord-ing to traditional Chinese medicine, a view of different features of the tongue can indicate the health of internal organs such as the kidneys, bladder, intestine, spleen, stomach, liver, gallbladder, lungs and the heart. Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a computational method that can be used to standardize these diagnoses based on the tongue, and have packaged the method with a database of known tongue-health as-sociations into a mobile app that will allow users to have traditional Chinese healing advice at their fingertips. A user of this mobile app can take a picture of his tongue, and code developed at MU will compare that image with a large database of images to indicate the health of the user’s organs. Other users can also monitor changes in their own tongue using this mobile app to obtain even more personalized health information.

Potential Areas of Application: Analysis of tongue to detect physical status via mobile deviceInventor(s): Ye Duan, Dong Xu, Shao LiContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

steerable ePidUral Catheter with steering-hUb and injeCtion Port

Chronic back and neck pain, which are resistant to oral medications, are most commonly treated through inter-ventional pain procedures like epidural steroid injections (ESIs). The two common practices to treat neck and back pain are either via direct needle injection at the site of pain (transforaminal approach) or to place a catheter into the epidural space through which medicine can be delivered (interlaminar approach). The transforaminal approach is commonly used to treat pain located in the higher regions of the spine, such as the cervical or upper thoracic regions. While this procedure has provided great-er long term pain relief over the interlaminar approach, it consequently has an increased risk of complications associated with treatment such as inadvertent vascular or nerve injury. Current epidural catheters cannot be easily manipulated to point at the targeted pain site due to their small size and difficulty in their manipulation. This leads to injec-tions of steroids, which may not be directed to the target site, thus reducing effectiveness. Therefore, there is a need to provide an epidural catheter that is controlled and directed to target nerve roots of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine for site-specific delivery of drug therapy.

Potential Areas of Application: Back pain relief, Neck pain reliefPatent Status: Patent PendingInventor(s): Ebby G. Varghese, Zachary T. HafezContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

CoMPaCt shoCk wave generating deviCe for drUg delivery

Inventor(s) have developed a microdevice creating shock waves from the output of nanoenergetic materials of ox-ide, fuel and explosive materials in nanoscale. The shock wave generation can be triggered using digital circuitry, and characteristics of the pulse can be controlled by changing the type of nanoenergetic material and vari-ous components of the device. The characteristics of the shock wave that can be controlled include pulse intensity, and pulse duration. Large arrays of the devices can be se-lectively triggered using digital circuit addressing in a way that can be used for various purposes in the biomedical field such as cell permeabilization, acceleration of micro/nano-particles, and cavitation. These processes are used for targeted delivery of imaging agents, drugs, or genes, and for disintegration of kidney stones. The tunability of the shock waves allows the device to be adapted for use in a wide range of applications. DNA and nanoparticles delivery have been demonstrated.

Potential Areas of Application: Drug delivery, Killing cancer cells, Imaging, Fragmentation of kidney stone, Gene therapy

Patent Status: Non-Provisional Patent FiledInventor(s): Shubhra Gangopadhyay, Steve Apperson, Luis Polo-Parada, Andrey Bezmelnitsyn, Keshab GangopadhyayContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

adsorbed natUral gas tank

The benefits of the University of Missouri’s adsorption technology is that it is cheap and environmentally friendly. We can store natural gas in tanks at 180 V/V (volumetric units at STP : volumetric units of tank) at only 500 psig. Today, vehicles running on natural gas hold fuel at 3,600 psig. Aside from the safety implications, this pressure adds a huge cost to the pump price of natural gas due to the significant investment in multi-stage compressors and energy to reach 3,600 psig. With our adsorption technol-ogy, the natural gas usually won’t require compression since fueling stations can tap into mains that run between 200 and 1,500 psig throughout the country. Most fueling stations wouldn’t have compressors at all; just storage tanks. Those fueling stations located in areas of lower pressure would need compressors, but the single stage compressors consuming less energy would still require significantly less capital than compressed natural gas stations. Without requiring a significant capital invest-ment in a fueling facility, adsorption technology can solve the “chicken and the egg” dilemma. In the past, fuel distributors have been reluctant to invest in natural gas fueling stations because of a lack of natural gas vehicles. Similarly, drivers have been reluctant to equip their cars for natural gas driving because of the shortage of places to fill up. These divergent but dependent interests creates the “chicken and the egg” dilemma because it is difficult to know what should come first. With Missouri’s adsorp-tion technology, the capital investment in fueling is so small that a fuel distributor will not need to wait as long for a commitment from drivers to convert to natural gas.

Adsorbed natural gas vehicle tanks will require the added cost of adsorption material filling the tank, but that cost will be more than offset by a decreased cost of metal or carbon fiber material for the tank shell, since the lower pressure adsorption tanks will have thinner walls than compressed gas tanks. Throw in all the other costs as-sociated with the lower pressure (less expensive valves, fuel lines, and presumably less involved certification), and adsorption technology looks favorable next to tradi-tional compressed gas. Plus, since so much money can be saved with the fueling stations, adsorption technology has the potential to pay off relative to gasoline much more quickly.

Potential Areas of Application: ANG VehiclesPatent Status: US 11-937,150; US 13-278,754; US 60-857,554Inventor(s): Galen Suppes, Peter Pfeifer, Parag Shah

Contact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

radioisotoPe MiCrobattery based on liqUid seMiCondUCtors

A major obstacle to realizing the potential of miniature mi-cromechanical devices has been the power source. Large batteries have prevented some of these systems from being employed as stand-alone devices. A long lasting source is also important in many potential micro/nano-technology systems. The invention reports a novel tech-nique using liquid semiconductors for a highly efficient and long-life microbattery based on MEMS technology.

Potential Areas of Application: Small Power Sources, Long Life BatteriesPatent Status: Non-Provisional Patent FiledInventor(s): Jae Kwon, Tongtawee WacharasindhuContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

tissUe viability CaMera/ProjeCtor

In the United States, 492,000 tibia, fibula and ankle fractures occur each year, with tibia fractures being the most common long bone fracture. A significant number of those fractures need debridement to take out the non-viable tissue. This technology will lead to a medical device that can improve the judgment of viability of tissue. If suc-cessful, the medical devices will be used by orthopedic doctors.

A medical device is being designed to provide surgeons with extra help through a real-time imaging system for them to differentiate viable and non-viable soft tissues (mainly muscles) during debridement procedure. This equipment will be able to avoid under-debridement, which may lead to infection and other complications and also avoid over-debridement (unnecessary cutting of healthy soft tissue), which may lead to delayed recovery or even amputation.

Potential Areas of Application: Orthopedic surgery of tibia, fibula and ankle fracturesPatent Status: Patent PendingInventor(s): Gang Yao, David Volgas, James Stannard, Hao LiContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

PhotoaCoUstiC Probe for bUrn injUry diagnosis

Currently burn diagnosis is performed by highly trained burn surgeons at regional burn centers. These surgeons use subjective measures to determine the extent of burn injury and base clinical management on these measures. No objective method for determining burn depth and imagining was available until researchers at the University

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of Missouri-Columbia developed a method using a photo-acoustic probe.

This photoacoustic method utilizes a probe that irradiates burns with low energy laser pulses, resulting in a subsur-face picture of the distribution of viable and coagulated hemoglobin that delineates the viable, stasis, and necrotic zones in burn injury. Additionally, it will determine the acoustic impedance of skin using laser induced pulsed ultrasound, allowing precise reconstruction of injury depth. These two techniques constitute the dual nature of the photoacousic probe. Knowing the depth of these zones and their evolution over time will allow clinicians to determine whether a wound needs to be grafted or if it will heal on its own. With 450,000 burn victims in 2011, this question is reoccurring and central to burn injury management.

Potential Areas of Application: Burn assessment tool for burn centersPatent Status: Patent Pending Inventor(s): John A. ViatorContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

Cathodes for lithiUM air battery Cell

Li-air batteries can have more than ten times the theoreti-cal energy density than Li-ion batteries. They are promis-ing for light weight, long range and safer electric vehicles. Li-air batteries with organic electrolytes in the air elec-trodes have technical problems of forming solid lithium oxides which can block the pores of the cathodes for air breathing. With acid based electrolytes, reaction products are soluble in the electrolytes and the battery life can be extended significantly. Furthermore, Li-air batteries with acid electrolytes can be made into rechargeable batteries with an oxygen evolution catalyst. They also have higher power densities.

Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed cathode structures that lead to achieving high energy and power densities in Li-air batteries.

Potential Areas of Application: Rechargeable batteries for transportation & portable electronicsPatent Status: US Provisional Patent Filed Inventor(s): Yangchuan Xing, Kan Huang, Yunfeng LiContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

iMProved adsorbed natUral gas storage tank

Absorbed natural gas tanks allow for low pressure natural gas storage. This means that tanks can take on a variety of shapes. Adsorbents, such as activated charcoal, are utilized to reduce the pressure required to store natural

gas. The manufacturing and assembly of these storage tanks can be a complex and expensive process.

Researchers at the University of Missouri have an im-proved designed for an adsorbed gas storage tank. This design will uses less binder, operate at a low overall pres-sure, and have substantially greater capacity than tradi-tional adsorbed gas tanks.

Potential Areas of Application: Natural gas storage and transport, Potential application to gas-powered vehiclesPatent Status: US Provisional Patent Filed Inventor(s): Peter Pfeifer, Jimmy RomanosContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

gold Coated lanthanide nanoPartiCle

Despite fervent research efforts, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in the developed world. In males, prostate cancer accounts for a disproportionate number of cancer-related diagnoses and fatalities. Promis-ing treatments involve utilizing radiogold nanoparticles for radiation therapy. Previous work using gum arabic, EGCG, and starch as surfactants shows impressive therapeutic efficacy in animal models. However, clinical implementa-tion of these systems will require improved tissue target-ing. Incorporating surfactants onto the surface of the gold should allow for tumor specific localization in vivo. While recent attempts to utilize bombesin as such a targeting agent show little to no tumor specificity, modifications to that system may yield improved results.

Further forays into harnessing gold nanoparticles for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes involve utilizing the ß-/gamma decay modes associated with 199Au as well as layering radiogold onto existing MRI contrast agents. Additionally, gold can be used as a potent absorber to sequester radioactive daughter products in the decay of alpha emitting isotopes such as 225Ac. Incorporating 225Ac into a La/GdPO4 core should create an effective theragnostic agent. Once layered with a gold outer shell, the shell can be functionalized in the same manner as the nanoparticles.

Potential Areas of Application: Cancer diagnosisPatent Status: US Patent Filed Inventor(s): Mark F. McLaughlin, J. David Robertson, Paul H. PevsnerContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

elderCare Monitoring systeM

The system proposed uses several technologies to pro-cess a patient’s motion to predict future care needs. The first technology is an improved system that monitors a subject through sensors and a X-Box Kinect camera

placed in the subject’s environment. This allows for a se-ries of inventive data processing algorithms to capture the subject’s activity patterns, gait, and other physiological data. The inventive system includes a passive physiologi-cal sensor network, an event-driven video sensor (X-Box Kinect), a reasoning engine (data fusion and processing means) that fuses sensor and video data and analyzes patterns of behavioral activity, and a display and interface means that provides interactive retrieval and visualization of the sensor data to a monitor.

Another developed technology is a hydraulic bed sensor placed in the mattress of the patient. In a non-invasive fashion, it records quantitative data on respiration and heartbeat as the patient rests. These two technologies, coupled with electronic health records, enable healthcare staff to provide better care to patients and identify health conditions before those conditions are apparent. The out-put of these algorithms is a predictive health assessment that sends alerts to the staffed physician. These alerts point out symptoms that indicate everything from fall risk to anxiety and even depression.

Potential Areas of Application: Eldercare Facilities & In-Home MonitoringPatent Status: US Patents Filed Inventor(s): Marjorie Skubic, Marilyn Rantz, Erik Stone, David HeiseContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

neUtron ProdUCtion froM hydride forMing Metals Under therMal shoCk

Intense neutron bursts were observed after thermal shocking a hydride forming metal (titanium) under a high pressure deuterium atmosphere. The metal underwent a specific conditioning process in which deuterium was loaded into it. Next, the metal underwent a fast thermal shock, rapidly going from -190° C to 45° C. Subsequently, a large emission of neutrons was observed. It is believed that rapid temperature changes produce large internal pressures within the metal lattice, causing the emission of neutrons. Optimization of the technique could lead to an energy source that requires a relatively minimal amount of input energy.

Potential Areas of Application: Neutron source, Energy sourcePatent Status: Provisional Patent Filed Inventor(s): Mark PrelasContact: Wayne McDaniel, UMC, McDanielWC@missouri.edu, 573-884-3302

therMally-driven air Conditioning and refrigeration

Building cooling is the number one use of grid-tied peak demand electricity, and the worldwide air conditioning equipment market is $70 billion per year. ThermAvant Technologies, LLC is in the early stages of commercializing its patent-pending, heat-driven refrigeration technology. Referred to as the HHP-JET, the system uses an advanced “ejector vapor compression cycle” to convert low cost, readily available thermal energy (e.g. 200-400F waste heat or combustion gas) into useful cooling (e.g. 0-50F cold air or liquid) at unprecedented efficiencies. Co-invented by ThermAvant and the University of Missouri, the HHP-JET technology is currently funded by the U.S. Army and National Science Foundation to provide energy efficient, environmentally friendly space cooling. Applications include natural gas-powered HVAC units, exhaust-gas powered cooling for vehicles or stationary platforms, and solar thermal-driven chillers. The HHP-JET utilizes uniquely designed supersonic jet nozzles, mixers and diffusers to evaporate, entrain and compress a low pressure, low temperature refrigerants during warm and hot ambient conditions with >5x the efficiency of prior ejector-based coolers. The HHP-JET attributes include: few moving parts; built from low cost components; high efficiencies and thus low operating costs that are competitive with electrically-powered mechanical vapor compression air conditioners; and avoids the energy, environmental and economic challenges posed by status quo grid-tied HVAC units. ThermAvant expects to begin installing HHP-JET systems within 24 months in order to penetrate this very large market opportunity. Potential areas of applications: waste heat- or natural gas-powered space cooling; Vehicle exhaust-powered air conditioning; water desalination Patent Status: US and EU patents filed Inventor(s): Dr. Hongbin “Bill” Ma; Dr. Peng Cheng; Mr. Joe Boswell Contact: Joe Boswell, Joe.Boswell@ThermAvant.com, 415-264-0668

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University of MissoUri, st. loUis

gerManiUM CoMPoUnds with favorable PhotolUMiesCent ProPerties for diverse solid-state aPPliCations

The development of efficient luminescent materials for use in lighting and photovoltaic applications and as bio- and chemical sensors have been hindered due to problems associated with aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) of light emission, which is notorious for rendering luminophores ineffective for solid state applications. In order for luminescent materials to have practical applica-tions in semiconducting and electronic devices, a lumino-phore should exhibit high fluorescence quantum yield in the solid state. Unfortunately many organic fluorophores experience ACQ of light emission in solution as well as in the solid state as a result of interactions with neighbor-ing fluorophores. As a result, low concentrations of the fluorophore molecule must be used in order to minimize contact between adjacent molecules to mitigate the ACQ effect resulting in decreased sensitivity and reliability of the fluorescent signal.

Researchers at the University of Missouri-St. Louis have synthesized and investigated germoles whose aggregates fluoresce more strongly than their solutions. The optical and electronic properties of these germoles are intricately linked to their electronic structures, which can be tuned for the development of blue, green, and the more rare red light-emitting materials. As a result of these novel pho-toluminescent properties, these compounds exhibit high fluorescence quantum yields in the solid state for long periods of time.

Potential Areas of Application: Chemical or biological sensors and components of light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), Thin-film transistors, Host materials for electroluminescent devices and solar cellsPatent Status: U.S. Provisional Patent Application filedInventor(s): Janet Braddock-Wilking and Teresa BandrowskyContact: Tamara Wilgers, UMSL, WilgersT@umsl.edu, 314-516-6884

q3d: qUantitative three dot test

Q3D Visual Diagnostics, LLC (Q3D-VD), is commercializing a non-invasive ophthalmic device for quantitative mea-surement of amblyopia (lazy eye). The extremely sensi-tive device allows clinicians to improve treatment of and health outcomes for children with amblyopia. It is the only device that can detect amblyopia early, quantify severity and monitor treatment progress. Amblyopia is most ef-fectively treated before age 6; severe amblyopia can lead to permanent vision loss.

The Worth 4-Dot is the current standard for diagnosis of amblyopia, but it is a blunt qualitative method that can detect only the presence of severe amblyopia and cannot effectively monitor treatment progress.

Approximately 1.2 million children in the US have amblyo-pia. Using the Q3D, healthcare professionals can detect, diagnose and begin treatment of amblyopia much sooner than has ever been possible. Early diagnosis and inter-vention shortens the treatment cycle and significantly improves health outcomes. The Q3D is quick and easy to administer; early stage visual suppression can be de-tected during normal screenings by pediatricians, optom-etrists and school nurses.

The device has been tested in two clinical trials (UMSL and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital) showing excel-lent results for efficacy and use with young children. It has additional applications and a range of potential related hardware and software products expanding its commer-cial viability.

Q3D Visual Diagnostics licensed the technology from UMSL, has completed the transfer of the initial prototype, and is currently developing industry ready prototypes for FDA approval. Q3D-VD is seeking funds to facilitate final development including device design and electron-ics, operational protocols, clinical testing, and first-run production.

Potential Areas of Application: Visual suppression, Binocular function, Optic neuritisPatent Status: US Patent 7,686,452Inventor(s): Carl Bassi, Michael Howe, Wayne GarverContact: RJ Lindmark, UMSL, RJ.Lindmark@theincubationfactory.com, 314-450-5956

MissoUri University of sCienCe & teChnology

sMart roCks for integrated Monitoring and Mitigation of bridge sCoUr

Bridge scour is an erosion process of soil deposits around the foundations of a river-crossing bridge when its piers and abutments interfere with the flow of the river. It is characterized by the formation of scour holes around the foundations. Scour at bridge foundations and abutments is a worldwide issue. In the United States, it is the most common cause of bridge collapses. As floods occur more frequently in recent years, more bridges become scour critical, potentially resulting in bridge failure. Before 1997, more than 10,000 bridges out of 460,000 over-water bridges were scour critical and 132,000 were scour sus-ceptible. By 2005, approximately 26,000 of them became scour critical and more than 190,000 bridges scour susceptible.

To prevent collapse, scour must be monitored and its mitigation strategy must be developed in real time. Pres-ent methodologies with portable and fixed instruments, such as divers, probing rods, ground penetrating radars, boats, sonars and other monitoring systems can hardly be applied when they are needed the most as strong current and floating debris in the river do not allow their proper applications. In this invention, a smart rock system is in-troduced to tackle the challenge of scour monitoring and mitigation in real time. The new method can be cost-effec-tively applied and tested for existing bridges and new con-structions. It is an innovative way of tracking rocks that can also be used to stabilize bridge foundations. Since the movement of rocks installed around a bridge foundation is part of the scour process, the smart rock system can pro-vide reliable and robust scour data in real time. Additional rocks can be added to foundations as needed. Overall, the smart rock system can facilitate an evaluation of the criti-cal scour condition of bridges and reduce damage and loss of life from bridge failures caused by scour.

Potential Areas of Application: Monitoring and mitigation of bridge scourPatent Status: Patent PendingInventor(s): Chen, Genda; Pommeranke, David; Zhou, Zhi; Huang, YingContact: Eric Anderson, Missouri S&T, EricWA@mst.edu, 573-341-4551

Material for near-field eleCtroMagnetiC noise redUCtion in eleCtroniC systeMs

The invented material is a composite. It contains a host polymer matrix, which is a flexible elastomer (a thermoset material, e.g., silicone), or a thermoplastic rubber. Inclu-sions are randomly dispersed carbonaceous particles, which are shungite crumbs, and magnetically soft ferrite

or ferromagnetic alloy inclusions. The material layer is flexible, formable and has an adhesive glue-like sticky surface. The material provides wideband electromagnetic near-field reduction over the radio frequency range from about 300 MHz to about 10 GHz. It can also be used as a coating on electronics to shield electromagnetic noise-generating components (e.g., chips, heatsinks, connec-tors, extended conductors) from other electronic units.

Potential Areas of Application: Near-field electromagnetic noise reductionPatent Status: Patent PendingInventor(s): Koledintseva, MarinaContact: Eric Anderson, Missouri S&T, EricWA@mst.edu, 573-341-4551

MiCrowave and MilliMeter wave CaMera

A microwave and millimeter wave one-shot imaging system or camera for rapid imaging of an object using an array of modulated slot antennas has been patented by researchers from the Missouri University of Science & Technology. This array measures the electric field scat-tered by the object at a sufficient number of discrete loca-tions corresponding to a certain spatial domain located away from the object. The use of the slots modulated by active elements such as diodes or by other means and their arrangement provides for high measurement sen-sitivity and spatial resolution associated with the array elements at higher frequencies. The array is subsequently integrated with other system components including the radio frequency transmitter and receiver circuits, proces-sor, and display. Using special processing of the mea-surements at the discrete locations, 2D or 3D images of the object’s spatial and/or dielectric profiles can be generated (e.g., holographic images). The slot antennas incorporated into the array may take various designs (e.g., sub-resonant slots, resonant slots) depending on the application. The array may have the ability to measure electric field at different polarizations that may increase the amount of geometrical and materials information revealed about the imaged object. The array may also be slightly displaced in two orthogonal directions to increase the number of samples obtained per wavelength resulting in increased spatial resolution of the system. For instance, the displacement can be just a quarter-wavelength. When built with linearly polarized modulated slots, the electric field in the orthogonal direction can be still measured by rotating the array 90 degrees.

Potential Areas of Application: Taking measurements of transmitted and/or reflected signals at high frequenciesPatent Status: US Patent 8,212,573Inventor(s): Zoughi, Reza; Pomeranke, David; Ahmed, Mohammad; Ghasr, Mohammad; Kharkivskiy, SergiyContact: Eric Anderson, Missouri S&T, EricWA@mst.edu, 573-341-4551