Available Technologies

Dual Suspension System for Automobiles

007-000x-cohen — The present invention makes it possible to have both a Solid-Axle Suspension system and an Independent Suspension system in a single vehicle, at any point of time. The invention allows for one vehicle to have both solid axle and independent suspension systems; and depending on the road conditions, and the necessity, the driver can switch from the independent suspension to the solid axle suspension system. Technically, in a four-wheeled automobile, solid axle suspension system has the le...

Alternative Gene Splicing of PI3K Offers Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy

012-0003-lee — Splice variants of genes in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway could enable early detection of prostate cancer, better prediction of clinical outcome, determination of genetic risk and cancer aggressiveness, and novel targets for intervention.  George Washington University researchers identified gene splicing differences that could lead to population-specific prostate cancer diagnosis and personalized therapeutics, both of which could reduce the number of deaths due ...

Diarrhea Therapy Using an Inhibitor of Cyclic Nucleotide Synthesis

013-026-murad — Diarrhea kills more than 800,000 children under the age of five every year. The majority of these deaths are caused by toxic strains of bacteria, such as that secrete a heat-stable toxin (STa) or that secrete cholera toxin. The STa and cholera toxins stimulate synthesis of cyclic nucleotides (cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP), activating a signaling pathway that causes diarrhea. Currently available compounds for inhibiting cyclic AMP/cyclic GMP synthesis are unsuitable, as they require lengthy ...

Nanometer thick films to protect friction surfaces in Engine Components

011-014-hsu — As crude oil price continues to increase, the urgency to substantially increase fuel economy of cars and trucks continues to rise. The scientists at George Washington University, led by Prof. S. Hsu, developed a cost-effective way to control friction between sliding surfaces.  When this technology is applied to engine components, substantial reduction of friction can be achieved, hence improving fuel economy. When an automobile runs, the components of the engine, like pistons and bea...

Super-Iron Nanoparticle based battery

010-0008-licht — Higher capacity electrochemical storage materials are needed to increase the energy storage capacity of batteries to improve devices ranging from portable consumer electronics, and lightweight medical to military devices. Improved battery technologies are based on abundant materials, which are environmentally benign and store substantially greater energy than conventional batteries. This invention relates to a super-iron particle based battery. Most iron materials and salts exist with iron ...

3D Scaffold with Growth Factor delivery for Bone and Cartilage Regeneration

013-034-castro — Osteoarthritis, affecting 48 million Americans, is characterized by progressive structural and functional degeneration at the bone and cartilage (osteochondral) interface. The inventors created a novel biphasic polymeric scaffold, integrating bone and cartilage layers, to regenerate such damaged tissue interfaces. New tissue formation is aided by biological cues from essential growth factors like bone morphogenic protein (BMP-2) and transforming growth factor (TGF-β1). Traditional method...

3D Bioprinted Tissue Scaffold for Improved Bone/Cartilage Regeneration

013-027-zhang — In orthopedics, it is often necessary to repair or replace cartilage and bone that has degenerated.  Engineered scaffolds can facilitate the regeneration of tissue by providing a structure for cells to attach to and a biomimetic environment conducive to new tissue formation.  Currently, limitations in fabrication techniques have meant that scaffolds often do not have appropriate mechanical integrity or proper internal structure to be most conducive to the formation of new tissue.  Ad...

iEye: Eye Diagnostics by Mobile Phone with Ultrasound

013-032-horelik — Eye conditions, like retinal detachment or shrapnel in the eye, can cause lasting damage if not diagnosed rapidly. Until now, diagnosis required trained medical personnel and equipment available only in a hospital or clinic.  To overcome this problem, GWU researchers have invented a mobile, real-time, easy-to-use diagnostic system that can be used on-site at remote locations by non-expert personnel with very limited training.  This device can automatically scan for and diagnose sever...

Easy-On Mini Probe Cover for Sterile Ultrasound Imaging

013-017-corman-cover — GW inventors have developed a sterile ultrasound probe cover that significantly reduces safety risks while performing ultrasound. Ultrasound probes are used to visualize anatomy of emergency medical patients. Speed is critical in emergency care, but currently many hospitals use extremely long sterile ultrasound probe covers that require a time consuming and tedious application process. This invention provides a minimized probe cover that comes with a rapid applicator. By covering only the po...

Catheter Improvements for Ultrasound Assisted Placement

013-017-corman-catheter — GW inventors have developed a catheter introduction set and kit that significantly enhances ease-of-use when performing ultrasound assisted catheter placement. Rapid and accurate catheter placement is critical in emergency care. Drug delivery via misplaced catheters can cause damage to blood vessels and may lead to amputation. Ultrasound assisted placement is a technique with a growing user base in emergency departments. Visualizing placement by ultrasound enables rapid and accurate...

Device to Control Atrial Arrhythmias After Open Heart Surgery

013-011-mercader — Arrhythmia is a condition involving a rapid heart rhythm that temporarily complicates the postoperative recovery from open heart surgery in both children and adults. Current temporary treatments for arrhythmias are medications or external electrical cardioversion shocks. These treatments result in unwanted side effects and risks, including significant pain and application of general anaesthetic. The inventors’ new method uses selective internal stimulation of the atrioventricular (AV) node ...

Intradiscal Microdialysis Probe for Diagnosing Low Back Pain

012-0007-desai — The proposed invention provides a device and method for diagnosing low back pain (LBP) associated with degenerative intervertebral discs (IVD). The microdialysis probe of this invention enables collection and measurement of  samples from the IVD. Previously samples could only be obtained from surgically removed IVDs, or from cadavers.  sampling provides a method to diagnose patients’ LBP on the basis of the molecular status of their IVD microenvironment. Internal disc disruption is the mo...

Improved Vanadium Boride-Air Multi Electron High Capacity Battery

10-0009-licht — The present invention relates to an improved Vanadium Boride (VB2) multiple electron high capacity battery that may be easily recharged. The VB2 battery uses nano-particulate vanadium boride to improve discharge potential and sustain higher power capabilities.  Presently, car batteries or electric charge storage systems can store only a fraction of the energy of gasoline owing to their limited charge storage density capacity. This discrepancy can be resolved by the storage of multiple ele...

Genetic Biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorders

11-0006-hu — Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders affecting as many as 1 in 110 children and adults. The major symptoms associated with ASD are deficits in social understanding and interactions, impairment in language development and communication skills, and restrictive interests and repetitive behaviors. Although ASD appears to be the most genetically determined of all psychiatric disorders, there are no genes or other biomarkers that are diagnostic for ASD and little is k...

Solar Thermal Electrochemical Photo (STEP) Carbon Capture Process

09-000x-licht — Solar Thermal Electrochemical Photo (STEP) Carbon capture Process is a method to capture and remove atmospheric carbon dioxide, using both the visible part of sunlight and the thermal energy of the sunlight. Traditional solar cells/panels convert only up to 40% of the sun’s thermal heat to solar energy. The remaining 60% of the sunlight is untapped as it relates to the production of solar energy.  STEP uses an electrolysis cell consisting of molten lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) as the electr...

Carbon Dioxide Free Production of Iron

10-006-licht — Researchers at the George Washington University have developed a revolutionary CO2-free method of producing iron that could provide a breakthrough for an industry that has been using the same highly polluting process of iron smelting for more than three thousand years. By using renewable solar energy and a process of solar conversion called Solar Thermal Electrochemical Photo (STEP) energy conversion, Dr. Licht is able to easily extract pure metal iron from the two prevalent iron ores, hem...

Unobtrusive Driver Drowsiness Detection System and Method

09-000x-eskandarian — Driver drowsiness, also known as driver fatigue, was identified as a main concern of fatal accidents by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and its research partners. NHTSA and partners have sought several methods for passenger and commercial vehicle drivers. This invention provides a distinct method and an algorithm to detect drowsy driver without a camera or a Global Positioning System (GPS). Inventors conducted long, in-depth studies of the mechanisms of a drowsy ...

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Resonator as Mass Sensor in Diagnostics

11-0004-zaghloul — Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) devices are used in biosensors, gas, and chemical sensors because of their sensitivity to mass perturbations. SAW devices resonate and generate acoustic waves that are converted to electric signals, and vice versa, by the use of Interdigital Transducers or IDTs. The electric signals are then converted to mechanical energy by piezoelectric substrates.  SAW devices comprise of an input and an output transducer that convert acoustic waves generated by the SAW reso...

Next Generation Wireless Amplifier Technology: BiSTA (Bipolar Stacked Transistor Architecture)

11-007-farmer —  A new design for an integrated circuit amplifier operating at very high frequencies. Current high frequency amplifiers use expensive III-V technologies (GaAs, InP). This invention uses commercial silicon technology. Commercial low frequency applications include: Commercial high frequency applications include: Military Uses include:

Method for Isolating Intact Nuclei

10-001-nagata — Current methods of nuclear isolation from liver disrupts the plasma membrane via homogenization and separation of the nuclei by ultracentifucation through gradients of sucrose or other substances for up to 80 min. The use of ultracentifugation for such a long time increases the potential for nuclear damage and degradation by endogenous proteases. The subject invention uses a conventional table top centrifuge instead of an ultracentrifuge. The centrifugation time, speed, force, and amounts ...

Amplified Bimorph Scanning Mirror, Optical System and Method of Scanning

04-00x-zara — Over ninety percent of all human cancers arise in epithelial tissues. Several imaging techniques including MRI, ultrasound and optical coherence tomography (OCT) and elastography are used to detect cancers.  However, the resolution of MRI and ultrasound is too low for the imaging of epithelial tissues. When compared with MRI and ultrasound, OCT has much higher resolution, 10μm or less.  The higher resolution is advantageous in cancer detection of epithelial tissues that are accessible usin...

Novel Compounds that Target Mycobacteria and Other Pathogenic Bacteria

11-038-dowd — Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is one of the deadliest infectious diseases.  Emergence of drug resistant strains of Mtb and co-infection with HIV has made TB both difficult and expensive to treat.  New TB therapies are needed to shorten treatment and be effective against all strains and metabolic states of the organism.  Mtb synthesize sisoprenoids (essential for the bacterial cell wall biosynthesis) via the nonmevalonate pathway, which is absent in humans. ...

MOBIES: Mobile-Interface Enhancement Service for Web Databases

11-018-zhang — A large number of hidden web databases provide proprietary form-based interfaces (consisting of textboxes, drop-down boxes, etc) for users to input their desired values in a search query. Form-based interfaces are often difficult-to-use and error-prone on mobile devices (PDA/smart phones), mainly because of limitations such as smaller screen, trickier text input, etc. Despite that many efforts (e.g., interface rendering) have been made to enhance mobile-user experience through mobile OS o...

Just-In-Time Analytics on Large File Systems

11-008-huang —  Today a file system with billions of files, millions of directories and petabytes of storage is no longer an exception. As file systems grow, users are increasingly keen to perform complex queries, such as “How many files have been updated since ten days ago?” and “Which are the top five largest files that belong to John?”  The first is an example of aggregate queries that provide a high-level summary of all or part of the file systems, while the second is top-k queries that locate the k ...

Self-Repairing and Self-Sustaining Autonomous Machines

11-025-hsu —  Machines are subject to wear due to friction between moving parts.  The expensive heavy equipment, such as wind turbines and aircraft propellers, are expensive to shut down or repair. Researchers at the George Washington University have developed a real-time sensor and nanotechnology-based system that detects the component surface damage in moving parts, such as gears, and repairs and sustains the moving parts of the machines automatically.  The self-repairing system enables the machines...

A Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW)-Based Sensor for VLSI Circuits

06-00x-zaghloul —  The George Washington University researchers have published several research articles describing surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices with various characteristics. This summary relates to a Circular SAW Device based on CMOS fabrication, with interdigital transducers (IDT) that are in a specific concentric shape.  Because the IDTs are in a circular shape, the device has a significantly lower insertion loss when compared with conventional SAW devices.  The input IDT sends acoustic waves via a ...

Atmospheric Pressure Air Microplasma

011-0036-montaser — Microplasmas are used in a wide range of fields including medicine (cutting, coagulation, and target specific cancer treatments), the automotive industry, the military, and packaging.  Currently, mobile use of these microplasmas is limited due to size and power constraints for generating the plasma.  The technology provided by this invention reduces the power requirements and complexity of generating microplasmas in order to enable the development of mobile devices. The George Washington Un...

Ultrasound Shoebomb Detector

012-0024-bergen — Researchers at the George Washington University have developed a fast, safe, and reliable mechanism to scan shoes for explosives, without the need for shoe removal.  Airport security screenings can cause long lines, delays, congestion, and missed flights.  In order to protect against possible threats in the form of explosives hidden in shoes, passengers and airport personnel are currently required to remove their shoes and have them cleared by x-ray scanners.  This is not only an inconven...

Targeting NEF To Decrease Risk Of Coronary Artery Disease In HIV-Infected Patients

005-000x-bukrinsky —  HIV-infected patients have high risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). The major cause of CAD is formation of arterial plaques, which include cholesterol-loaded macrophages (foam cells). GW inventors identified the HIV regulatory protein Nef as a causative factor in foam cell formation. Treatment with inhibitors of Nef will prevent cholesterol buildup and decrease risk of CAD for HIV-infected patients. Normally excess cholesterol leaves macrophages by the ABCA1 transporter. HIV protein Ne...

A Method to Assay Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) Inhibitor Biological Activities and Efficacy

012-0029-chiaramello —  A key mechanism of epigenetic control of gene expression is acetylation of histones.  Currently, compounds inhibiting histone deacetylase (HDAC) are identified by assaying for differentiation of transformed cells. Known HDAC inhibitors suffer from high toxicities, presumably due to lack of specificity. New screening methods are actively under development with the promise of identifying new HDAC inhibitors with lower toxicity. GW investigators developed a fluorescence-based screening platf...

Flexible Integrated Circuit Packaging

012-0012-li — The George Washington University has invented a way to package integrated circuits (ICs) in a flexible, twistable, and stretchable format.  In addition to many applications in wearable electronics, flexible circuits can be useful in any situation where a circuit must conform to a non-uniform space, or allow for deflection during operation. This method enables performance improvements over other flexible circuit technologies by allowing for the use of any standard IC on the market, includin...

Evaporation-Driven Colloidal Deposition

005-000x-reeves — A new method of making self-assembled nanoparticle wiresinvolves:(1) at about ambient temperature and at or near atmosphericpressure, immersing a hydrophilic solid substrateat a non-horizontal angle (e.g., vertically) into asuspension of nanoparticles in a solvent, the suspensionhaving a negative meniscus, the immersion forming asolid-liquid-air interface at the meniscus of the suspension;(2) gradually exposing the immersed substrate to air bygradually removing (preferably evaporating) the ...

Optical Coherence Elastography (OCE) Medical Imaging Device

007-000x-zara — This invention uses OCT for elastography to achieve unprecedented analysis of small structures. Elastography is a medical imaging technique that measures a tissue’s hardness. Tissues of interest, such as cancers, atherosclerotic plaques, or scars are distinguishable from normal tissue by their hardness. Elastography involves imaging tissue before and after applying a mechanical force. Changes in the image provide input on the hardness or elastacity of underlying tissues. While devices have...

Companion Diagnostics and Compound Screening Assay for PI3K Inhibitors

013-006-lee — The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) protein family regulates cellular functions including growth, proliferation, survival, differentiation, and motility. Because these functions are critical for cancer progression, many companies are developing therapeutic compounds to inhibit PI3K. GW inventors identified an alternative splicing variant  that causes insensitivity to one or more of these PI3K inhibitors. This discovery can be developed into a companion diagnostic test that will limit...