Sciences engineering portfolio (2010 08 05)

SCIENCES & ENGINEERING PORTFOLIO

Last revised 2010-08-05

Univalor Portfolio

FIELD TAB

Chemestry and Physics 1

Design 2

Devices, instruments and procedures 3

Electronic and Telecommunication 4

Engineering 5

Materials 6

Medical devices 7

Micro and nanotechnologies 8

Photonics 9

Research tools 10

Software, algorithms and systems 11

Life Sciences Portfolio 12

ID EM Title DDA Field TAB

518‐519‐520 EP Cost‐Effective and Environmentally Friendly Way of Transporting Viscous Oil

NG Chemestry and Physics 1

649

UM

ResportTM

TM Design 2 650 Opure ‐ Safe handling of drinking water

535 EP Overhaul your system : Simplify robotics by using self‐adaptive mechanical fingers

TM

Devices, instruments and procedures 3

690 UM Equipment for transporting thermolabile products

NG

393

EP

Digital Background Calibration Techniques for Multibit/Stage Pipelined and Time‐Interleaved ADCs

NG

Electronic and Telecommunication 4 457 A filterless color image sensor for digital camera NG

580 Compact, Directive and Loss Free mmW Antenna TM

753 Small but Strong ‐ A Packaged Bandpass Filter for Broadband Applications

TM

487

EP

Method for compensation of probe tip radius in scanning coordinate metrology

NG Engineering 5 489

Method for the measurement of rotary axes tilt, radial and axial motion errors as well as their location error on machine tools using a telescoping double ball bar

714 Condition‐Based Maintenance : Use cbmLAD to improve your software solution

300‐421 EP Porous and Ultra‐Porous Nanosheath Networks NG Materials 6

150 EP Visual Cortical Implant NG

Medical devices 7

331 EP/CHUM Robots in Blood Vessels using Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems

TM

434 EP/CHUM MR‐tracking based on selective RF excications TM

653 EP A new sacral neurostimulation strategy to enhance micturition in paraplegics

NG

667 UM Ozone Treatment of Polymers Confers Biocidal Properties

NG

177‐297‐322 UM/EP System and process for Low Temperature Sterilization using Gas Plasma

NG

733‐839 UM/IUGM Brain Imaging Optical Helmet NG

586 EP Direct 3D Microfabrication Process TM Micro and nanotechnologies 8

ID EM Title DDA Field TAB

356

EP

A simple and inexpensive technology to form low loss and complex waveguides in almost any optival material

NG

Photonics 9

475 Interference Security Image Structure TM

523 Design and Fabrication of ferroelectirc photonic crystalTHz waveguides

TM

524 Portable, low cost SPR biosensors TM

563 Use of optical fibers as strings for musical instruments

TM

581 Tunable C‐Band Fiber Laser TM

629 Color‐Changing and Color‐Tunable Photonic Crystal Fiber Textiles

TM

654 High Resolution Integrated Microfluidic Fabry‐Perot Refractometer in Silicon

TM

631 UM/EP Pushing The Limites of Calorimetry NG Research tools 10

379 UM/EP Multi‐User Quantum Cryptography System Using Wavelength Division Multiplexing

TM

Software, algorithms and systems 11

448 EP SPACE Codesign ‐ High Level System Design and Architecture Exploration Environment

NG

454 HEC Using a Simulation Game Approach to Teach ERP Concepts and to Support ERP Implementation Projects

NG

472 UM Pushing the limits of image processing ‐ Continuous Extension of Discrete Cosine Transform (CEDCT/CEDOFT)

TM

502 UM A software for systematic identification and correction of design defects in object‐oriented programs

TM

531 UM A Method and System for immersive sketching in a virtual ideation context

NG

626 EP Real‐Time Detection and Tracking of File Content TM

715 IUGM Reporting Tool of Disinfection Needs NG

805 HEC DataMatch ToolTM ‐ Essential software for linking different databases

NG

1 Chemestry and Physics

Cost-Effective and Environmentally Friendly Way of

Transporting Viscous Oil

Cost-Effective and Environmentally Friendly Way of Transporting Viscous Oil

Researchers from École Polytechnique de Montréal suggest transporting by pipeline an oil mixture originating from high viscosity oil fields such as some oil sands and heavy crude oil fields.

Why this is considered important: With a continuous demand on energy associated with steady growth on prices, oil exploration and exploitation has been extended to high density types of oil fields known for decades. Considering the size of such fields, generally extended over very large surfaces, transferring the raw material from extraction to transformation plants represents quite a challenge. This transportation need currently requires dilution with a lighter cut and costly heat-based separation thereafter.

Proposal: Performance:

Louis Fradette and Philippe Tanguy propose recipes to form an endless emulsion made of heavy crude oil, water and fine particles. Simply adding particle to water then mix to raw material will produce a so called Pickering’s emulsion easily transportable by pipeline. Here what happens: the particles introduced will produce a layer between oil and water, encapsulating oil or water, depending on proportions, into droplets and reducing the overall viscosity of the mixture. At the end of the process, a purely mechanical process allows for separating the oil from the water, allowing for reusing the water in a closed-loop.

• Best for oil with API of 16 and below; • Once diluted, the emulsion viscosity can

lowered to an equivalent of 20+ API; • Wide variety of particles (type and size) can be

used for downstream processes compatibility; • Between 15 and 30% water is added to prepare

the emulsion; • Water can be fully recycled after minimal

treatment; and • Water salinity does not affect the emulsion

stability.

The one-stop shop for accessing technologies arising from

Université de Montréal and most of its affiliated institutions

To discuss commercial rights or partnership: Contact Normand at [email protected]

+1 (514)-340-3243 ext 4224

Ref: VAL-518-519-520-ÉP

http://www.univalor.ca/�

mailto:[email protected]

2 Design

ResportTM

Opure - Safe handling of drinking water

RReessppoorrtt™™

Voted overwhelmingly by athletes!

Resport is athletic wear that easily stabilises long hair, holding it high on the head and out of the way for free and safe movements. With its ergonomic fit, Resport is indispensible for a variety of sports such as martial arts, hockey, skiing, water polo, football, etc.

Resport’s unique design features a detachable hood for immediate versatility. Resport was designed with the participation of athletes to maximize the performance. The chosen technical fabric permits unobstructed hearing. It can be made in any color and with any type of fabric to offer performance characteristics such as temperature and moisture control.

Several models are available for different types of activities

Contact

Thomas Martinuzzo, Jr. Eng. Project Manager, Science & Engineering Univalor +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243 [email protected]

Opure

Daily task of water supplies

Transport

Storage

Fill up at pump

Water Water qualityquality

- Lack of education regarding safe practices- Poverty, which limits access to hygiene products- Degradation of drinking water and sanitation

Safe drinking water is a major issue in most develop-ing countries, where improvements in its use, management and quality are greatly needed.

Inte

rventio

ns

Opure helps tackle this problem by keeping clean keeping clean drinking waterdrinking water during the whole daily task. It is not a purifier, so there are no filters to change. It pro-vides a simple solutionsimple solution that is both affordableaffordable and effectiveeffective.

Safe handling of drinking waterSafe handling of drinking water

Thomas Martinuzzo, Jr. Eng.Project Leader Sciences and [email protected] ext: 4243

Marie-Claude Asselin, BDIIndustrial Designer,[email protected],514-991-5660

Interested in improving the quality of life of millions of people? Contact us!

Opure ensures safe handling of drinking water from safe handling of drinking water from its source to consumptionits source to consumption. There is no contamina-tion when being filledfilled and it protects the water from contamination during transportationtransportation and storagestorage. The system is used directly by end-users, helping them adopt good habits.

4 million people die worldwide every year 4 million people die worldwide every year due to water related diseasesdue to water related diseases

Causes include: Causes include:

3 Devices, instruments and

procedures

Overhaul your system: Simplify robotics by using self-adaptive mechanical fingers

Equipment for transporting thermolabile products

Let’s grasp your future:

Optimize the design of your self-adaptive mechanical system

Conceiving adaptive gripping modules is now easier and faster: you can design self-adaptive mechanisms dedicated to your customer within a few days instead of months! Unlike their complex electronic-based predecessors, these self-adaptive robotic fingers are based on simple, inexpensive, easily built and controlled designs that self adjust to the shape of the object seized without any electronics, sensors, or controls. Prof. Birglen of École Polytechnique of Montréal has developed an innovative method to generate novel solutions that will take designers to the next level of designing.

Contact: Thomas Martinuzzo, Jr Eng Univalor Project Manager, Business Development Science & Engineering +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4224 [email protected]

Lionel Birglen, PhD École Polytechnique de Montréal Assistant Professor +1 (514) 340-4711 ext: 3329 [email protected]

Our Reference: VAL-535-ÉP

TECHNOLOGY The advantages of linkage-driven self-adaptive fingers have been proven. At this time however, designers get by with only a handful of known architectures and customize them to suit their needs. Modifying an existing design to fit the requirements of a customer’s application is a costly step for both designer and end-user. The method proposed here eases this step and allows designers to synthesize more than 3000 new architectures. Among possible designs, 27 are currently available through a software application that optimizes the architecture in myriad ways to suit your needs.

“SELF-ADAPTIVE MECHANICAL FINGER AND METHOD"

Provisional Patent application 61/165,982

BEYOND CURRENT DESIGNS A tool that will take you to a new level of designing: more than 3000 possible designs that offer fewer or equal number of links than existing solutions. COST REDUCTION Instead of modifying one of the known designs available, directly design your own customized architecture.

USER-FRIENDLY TOOL The platform is easy to use and implement on a well-known computing environment.

I P P R O T E C T I O N

A D VA N TA G E S

mailto:[email protected]�



Equipment for transporting thermolabile productsMaintaining a stable temperature when transporting heat sensitive products is the key to preserving the integrity of samples and ensuring test reliability. Containers currently on the market do not always provide optimum sample preservation or organization, which can lead to loss of samples and, ultimately, increased costs. Technology This equipment has been designed at L’École de Design of the Université de Montréal. It is specially adapted for thermolabile products. Developed in consultation with representatives from a Biobank, this transport container meets the specifications of Biobanks and enhances both reliability and ease of use. Description The container is divided into two compartments capable of maintaining separate temperatures through passive devices (dry ice and a ice-pack). The tubes are organized vertically in racks to permit better traceability and easy handling.

Applications Due to its unique design, this container can be used to transport thermolabile products such as blood samples vaccines, and veterinary samples. Features

Cold storage from 2-3 days No external power source Homogenous temperature in compartments Resistant, lightweight and clean material Easy access and efficient organization Excellent traceability given superior visibility

of samples

Business Opportunity

Univalor is seeking a commercial partner to support development and commercialization.

Contact:

Thomas Martinuzzo, JR. ENG. Univalor Project Leader, Science & Engineering +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243 [email protected]

Ref: VAL-690-UdM

École de Design

4 Electronic and

Telecommunication

Digital Background Calibration Techniques for Multibit/Stage

Pipelined and Time-Interleaved ADCs

A filterless color image sensor for digital camera

Compact, Directive and Loss Free mmW Antenna

Small but Strong - A Packaged Bandpass Filter for Broadband Applications

Last updated: April 2009 www.univalor.ca

Digital Background Calibration Techniques for Multibit/Stage Pipelined and Time-Interleaved ADCs

Reference: VAL-393-EP

Keywords: Analog-to-digital converter, background calibration, multi-bit/stage pipelined ADC

Background

Calibration of circuits may be performed in a variety of ways, but there are two general types: background and foreground calibration. Operation of the circuit is stopped while foreground calibration is carried out. However, background calibration requires undisrupted operation, making it inherently more challenging to measure circuit values with any of the known test signals.

Technology

Efficient calibration of circuits can be performed using imprecise voltages by using differing fixed ratios of such voltages in a subtractive manner.

These techniques improve linearity by several bits in single and multi-channel pipelined analog-to-digital converters.

Applications

This calibration technique could be used:

• For analog-to-digital converters that are omnipresent in the industry (tele-communication, sensing, etc.);

• For time interleaved analog-to-digital converts that are required when an increased speed is desired.

Competitive Advantages

Many features of this process will have an edge in the market: SIMPLE TECHNIQUE. This technique does not need accurate calibration voltages or an increased sub-digital-to-analog resolution. It also enables the calibration of the front-end-hold sample. COST-EFFECTIVE. Only minor modification is needed to the ADC structure, which will not decrease the ADC performance in terms of speed and power consumption. In addition, the necessary analog circuits for calibration can be shared with the ADC sub-blocks (e.g. string resistances). EFFICIENT. It has been demonstrated that calibration of circuits which rely on voltages and/or resistances can coexist on-chip with a background calibrated ADC. A successful global gain correction, which is essential for time-interleaved analog-to-digital converters, has also been established. EXTENTED CAPABILITIES. Techniques to shorten calibration time have already been proposed.

Patent Status

US Patent Application


Univalor is seeking licensing agreements with commercial partners.

Contact

Normand Gadoury, P. Eng. Manager Business Development

Univalor +1 (514) 340-3243 ext. 4224

[email protected]

Kamal El-Sankary Ph.D. student

École Polytechnique de Montréal +1 (514) 340-4711 ext. 5073

[email protected]

Mohamad Sawan Professor

École Polytechnique de Montréal +1 (514) 340-4711 ext. 5943 [email protected]

A filterless color image sensor for digital camera

Reference: VAL-457-EP Keywords: Sensor, Imaging, Camera, Filterless, Pixel, CCD, CMOS

Background Tendencies go towards reducing consumption of paper and other non-reusable materials in order to transmit and diffuse information. This digitization era encounter some challenges since certain media, such as pictures can not be easily digitized with a sufficiently acceptable degree of quality. While digital cameras are becoming more and more popular, they currently have spatial resolutions of about 1 to 2 Mega Pixels/cm2, which is by far inferior to conventional cameras with photosensitive chemical film.

Technology We propose a new sensor principle based on the principle of depth of penetration of electromagnetic rays. In the case of semiconductor mono-crystalline materials, such as silicon, the depth of penetration of a light ray is proportional to its wavelength. The technology consists of a pixel having three electrodes that can discriminate between the colors red, green, and blue, and thereby reconstruct a color image.

Figure shows the principle of wavelength penetration into solids (silicon) used by the filterless color image sensor.

Applications This new sensor can be used within any imaging application. This image sensor can be easily integrated in digital camera to replace current sensor.

Competitive advantages HIGH-QUALITY IMAGE SENSOR. This technology allows image sensors having a resolution greater than 2 Mega pixels/cm2 and getting closer to the resolution of conventional chemical films. HIGH-RESOLUTION. High resolution since one pixel detects three colors. LOW COST. No filter deposition, thereby eliminating the costly production step. UN autre aspect du low cost est que l’on peut le fabriquer en CMOS … INTEGRATED. The signal processing circuit can be included in the same chip as the pixel matrix. There is no use of an external circuit as required for CCD camera.

Patent Status silicon surface 1 2 3

PCT Application (PCT/CA2007/000997) National phases US, UK, JP (Q4 – 2007)

Absorption coefficient: 1) α(red) = 2.5 µm 2) α(green) = 1.11 µm 3) α(blue) = 0.77 µm

Business Opportunity Univalor is seeking partners to support the development phase and to commercialize this technology.

Contact

Normand Gadoury, P. Eng. Manager, Business development,

Sciences & Engineering Univalor

+1 (514) 340-3243 ext. 4224 [email protected]

Yves Audet, PhD Professor


[email protected]

www.univalor.ca


Compact, Directive and Loss Free mmW Antenna Except at lower microwave frequencies, the dissipation loss at millimetre wave frequencies is a significant challenge that can considerably degrade the link budget in wireless systems. This antenna has been designed to specifically address this problem and can easily be customized for any given application.

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240270

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SimulationMeasurement

Features Fully directive Low-loss Flexible beam shaping and gain adjustment Compatible with high dielectric constant

substrates (e.g. silicon) No field-trapping effect Substrate embedding/integration and

common substrate for circuits and antenna Connections compatible with MMICs Low fabrication cost due to planar

fabrication process Applications:

Millimetre wave communications, sensors, and imaging

24 GHz and above

Technology: A directive planar surface wave launcher enables an efficient excitation of a guided surface wave in a grounded dielectric slab. Conductor losses are minimized by the reduction of conductor elements and by the introduction of an isolation film or an air gap between the dielectric slab and the ground plane. The curved ground plane allows the radiation of waves into free space without strong reflections. Finally, a planar lens placed directly on top of the dielectric slab shapes/focuses the wave in the H-Plane. This antenna has been fully tested with a scaled prototype at 12GHz and can be easily tested at higher frequencies (including the 60 GHz to 94GHz band).

antenna's design

Data available upon request (some under NDA): - Prototype measurements results - CAD model and photos - PCT application filed

Ref: VAL-580-ÉP PCT Application “Compact dielectric slab-mode antenna” filed on Nov. 2nd 2007

Contact:

Thomas Martinuzzo [email protected]

+1 (514)-340-3243 ext 4243

H-Plane antenna pattern

Small but Strong

A Packaged Bandpass Filter

for Broadband

Applications

Fig (a) & (b) Measured performance of the packaged proof of concept in UWB band


K E Y FA C T S

Contacts: Thomas Martinuzzo, Jr Eng Univalor Project Manager, Business Development Science & Engineering +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243 [email protected]

US Provisional Patent 61/285,230

Freq (GHz) 0.04 2.5 5 10.5 11 17

Filter (dB) 59.9 15.3 1.0 1.5 2.3 -

Packaged Filter(dB) 63.41 17.9 1.2 4.0 3.0 31.0


Ke Wu, PhD École Polytechnique de Montréal Professor +1 (514) 340-4711 ext: 5991 [email protected]

• BROADBAND APPLICATIONS

Principle to be used with center frequency from 600 MHz to 60 GHz with a fractional bandwidth over 100%

• SIMPLE AND SMALL Single layer, <1×1cm2

• PACKAGED Directly integrated into a

commercial package

• EFFICIENT PROOF OF CONCEPT

Prototype covers the entire FCC UWB band

Professor Ke Wu and PhD Researcher Liang Han of École Polytechnique de Montréal, have invented a novel, small but extremely efficient band pass filter design. TECHNOLOGY Using a novel filter topology, the researchers have designed, simulated and built a competitive band pass filter. The principle that drives the filter can be used for centre frequency from 600MHz to 60GHz with a fractional bandwidth over 100%. To illustrate the concept, a prototype dedicated to UWB applications has been integrated and fully tested in a leaded package for off-the-shelf use. PROTOTYPE FOR UWB SYSTEMS A 3dB Bandwidth of 7.6GHz within the UWB band (i.e. 3GHz to 10.6GHz) is achieved with a 30dB out-of-band rejectionfrom 12.3GHz to 16.3GHz. The filter insertion loss data are:



5 Engineering

Method for compensation of probe tip radius in scanning

coordinate metrology

Method for the measurement of rotary axes tilt, radial and axial motion errors as well as their location error on machine

tools using a telescoping double ball bar

Condition-Based Maintenance: Use cbmLAD to improve your software solution

Last updated : 27 April 2009 www.univalor.ca

Method for the compensation of probe tip radius in scanning coordinate metrology Reference: VAL-487-EP

Keywords: Compensation, probe tip radius, coordinate measuring machine, scanning, free-form surface

Background Nowadays, the new generation high performance coordinate measuring machines (CMM) equipped with scanning probes offer new and effective possibilities for shape measurements. The accuracy of these high end CMM scanning probes is in the sub-micrometer range and can be useful for the measurement of precise geometric features. Nevertheless, the information about the real shape of the measured object can be distorted using the CMM machine built-in data processing software for the probe tip radius compensation. An algorithm to accurately measure these shapes is proposed.

Applications By easily measuring large numbers of points, this algorithm provides detailed form verification and can accurately determine size and location of the measured features. Applications requiring this type of precision are common in the automotive, aerospace and electronic industries.

Competitive Advantages HIGH DEFINITION. The new compensation method provides high definition measurements, and is specially suited for small features such as sharp edges and discontinuous surfaces. SPEED. The proposed method generates precise measurements at record speeds by measuring exact coordinated points without inconsistent point order, overlapping or estimation while detecting data incoherence.

Patent Status US Provisional Patent Application.

Technology In order to accurately compensate for the stylus tip radius, especially in the case of the measurement of freeform surfaces with discontinuities, we propose a new method, which does not require an explicit offset surface representation and does not use smoothing to be applied as a pre-processing operation on the collected CMM data set of stylus tip centre coordinates.

MINICUT tool edge D=0.5mm

0

0.005

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0.045

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0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035 0.04 0.045 0.05X [mm]

Y [m

m]

New correctionCMM correction (5um offset)

This figure shows the two sets of compensated points for measured results of the plain section of a tool cutting edge. The dashed line and square points represent the CMM built-in software compensated data. The compensation line and circle show the results for the same data using the method proposed.


Contact Normand Gadoury, P. Eng. Manager, Business development,



Rene Mayer,Ph.D Professor


[email protected]


Method for the measurement of rotary axes tilt, radial and axial motion errors as well as

their location error on machine tools using a telescoping double ball bar Reference: VAL-489-ÉP

Keywords: Rotary axes, metrology, machine tools, telescoping ball bar, radial errors, axial error, tilt errors, alignment errors, axis position errors

Background In recent years, industries have increasingly used five-axis machine tools for their exceptional capacity to produce parts with complex shapes. Over time, these machines deviate from an ideal condition to an error prone state, as motion, alignment, and position of axes must constantly be adjusted. These errors affect machined part quality and recalibrating a 5-axis machine tool is a very complex, time consuming and expensive ongoing process. For effective measuring of volumetric errors, industries use a magnetic double ball bar (DBB). However, an easy, expeditious method for the metrology of rotary axis motions does not currently exist.

Technology A method is proposed to measure almost all

motion and link errors with both rotary table (C-Axis) and trunnion types (A-Axis). Two series of five to seven DBB tests are performed for each type. The results are then used in a mathematical model to calculate any axial, two radial, two

tilt axis motion errors, and to determine the squareness and axis offsets for each axis.

Applications This method can be used to plan maintenance work and also to update compensation parameters in all industries using computer numerical control (CNC) machines where a high level of quality is required.

Competitive advantages

EASE OF IMPLEMENTATION: The method is easy to implement and does not require any change in the production of machine tools.

SHORT TIME: The tests are simple and have a short process time (between 15 to 30 minutes). This improves maintenance speeds and efficacy, ultimately improving machining performance and productivity.

UNIVERSALITY: This method can be used for all machine tool rotary axes.

Patent Status

US Provisional Patent Application


Contact Normand Gadoury, Eng.

Manager, Business development, Sciences & Engineering

Univalor +1 (514) 340-3243 ext. 4224

[email protected]

Rene Mayer, PhD Professor


[email protected]

Trunnion type

Rotary table type

A D VA N TA G E S

• EASY TO USE AND TO

INTERPRET No statistical knowledge required.

• NO RELIABILITY ANALYSIS No need for failure data.

• DETECTS ANY PARTICULAR PHENOMENON. Rogue components are identified.

• SAVES TIME AND MONEY SPENT SEARCHING FOR ROOT CAUSES. Helps specialists in detecting special patterns.

• SOLUTION EASY TO IMPLEMENT. cbmLAD is Windows XP and Vista compatible.

S O L U T I O N

A READY-TO-INTEGRATE SOFTWARE MODULE

Soumaya Yacout,

Pro Our Reference: VAL-714-ÉP

Condition-Based Maintenance :

Use cbmLAD to improve your software solution.

For the first time, the artificial intelligence data mining technique called Logical

Analysis of Data (LAD) has been applied to machine fault diagnostics.

Professor Soumaya Yacout from École Polytechnique of Montréal and her team have developed a software tool, cbmLAD, to implement the LAD technique in a Condition-Based Maintenance application.

AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DATA MINING TECHNIQUE In the context of Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM), Logical Analysis of Data is used to identify the state of a machine or system, particularly the initial stages of transitioning from normal function to potential failure. By improving the detection of this critical state in CBM, the technology proposed here helps to schedule maintenance actions that decrease the risk of operation disruption.

TECHNOLOGY To perform condition based-maintenance, the software analyzes the historical data already stored in a company database and performs a learning process, which includes identifying and characterizing certain anomalies. From this process, two classes are identified: machines or systems in good or normal condition and those in bad or deteriorating condition.

DEDICATED APPLICATIONS For engines, pumps, aging software & systems, a diagnosis of the asset’s state of health.

cbmLAD uses the data already gathered during usage, analyze it carefully and efficiently, and give well informed diagnosis of the state of degradation.

For aviation, vehicles or any equipment uses a large number of repairable spare parts, a sorting & isolation of parts that cause recurrent troubles.

cbmLAD searches for recurrent patterns of bad performance and identifies the responsible parts by their serial numbers.

For situation where a controlled experimental design cannot be performed, the inter reactions between different factors affecting productivity are understood & managed cbmLAD is a powerful tool for learning the hidden relations between system’s elements, and how they inter-react.

Contact: Normand Gadoury, Univalor Director, Business Development Science & Engineering +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4224 [email protected]

Soumaya Yacout, Professor École Polytechnique de Montréal +1 (514) 340-4711 ext: 4517 [email protected]




6 Materials

Porous and Ultra-Porous Nanosheath Networks

Version3: 27 April 2009 www.univalor.ca

Porous and Ultra-Porous Nanosheath Networks Reference: VAL-300-EP, VAL-421-EP

Keywords: Ultra-Porous, Polymer, Substrates, polyelectrolyte, Nanosheath, protein molecular, Networks,

LBL Deposition.

Background Porous polymer materials with interconnected porosity are receiving a great deal of attention due to their broad application and also the complex preparation challenges they pose. One of the main problems researchers are grappling with, for both existing processes and those under development, is how to encapsulate polymer material with a shield or nanosheath to offer greater control over porosity.

Technology This process enables flexible control and replication of pore size, distribution, and void volume. The Ultra-porous polymer substrates are fabricated by layering polyelectrolytes and proteins onto the internal surface of a porous co-continuous polymer blend.

Step-by-step illustration of the approach for fabricating ultra-porous

polymer/protein nanosheath networks.

Features This porous polymer material with interconnected porosity offers several advances in the field: Self-assembled layer thickness. The self-assembled layer is about 100 nanometers thick in total. High level of void fraction structures. These structures possess void fractions of up to 99.6% with internal surface areas of 0.6-2.3 per unit volume. Internal pore size control. It has been demonstrated that the internal pore size can be closely controlled, producing both extremely low and high void fraction structures.

Applications The proposed process has many applications in life sciences, chemical engineering, biomedicine, and pharmaceutics, where it can be used for such things as tissue engineering, drug delivery, making chromatographic materials, and serving as catalysis in chemical and biochemical reactions.

Patent Status Two different Patent Applications (US and PCT)

Business Opportunity Univalor is seeking partners to develop and commercialize this technology.

Contact




M. Basil Favis, Ph.D. Professor


[email protected]

7 Medical devices

Visual Cortical Implant

Robots in Blood Vessels using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Systems

MR-tracking based on selective RF excications

A new sacral neurostimulation strategy to enhance micturition in paraplegics

Ozone Treatment of Polymers Confers Biocidal Properties

System and process for Low Temperature Sterilization using

Gas Plasma

Brain Imaging Optical Helmet

Our Reference VAL‐150‐EP

Visual Cortical Implant With the ageing of the population, more persons loose the sight further to optical nerve’s degenerations. While a lot of researches is being made in this area, there is, so far, no effective preventive treatment against it. That explains the interest of the scientific and medical community for visual implants.

Technology It is a system with three main components:

a micro-camera mounted onto a pair of glasses to capture the image

a pocket-sized external controller to process the image and send the appropriate commands

a biocompatible multiunit implant no bigger than 1 cm2 to stimulate the cerebral visual cortex.

The commands for stimulation and monitoring as well as electrical energy that powers the implant are transmitted by electromagnetic waves between the external controller and the implant; hence, no wires, or physical connections of any kind pass through the skin or skull. Development Status Tests on rats are currently made to validate the assembly and the insertion of electrode matrix, as well as the functioning of a low resolution (4x4 electrodes) intracortical visual prosthesis.

The left picture is captured by the current digital camera prototype. On the right, it is the same image, processed and refined into 256 points of light by the control software that will be generated by the implant. Advantages

Greater number of blind people targeted. Stimulation disregarding the optic nerve pathway

Miniaturization. 1000 electrodes in a implant. No direct connection. A bi-directional radio-frequency

link. Higher image resolution: visual acuity of approximately

20/30 is the target.

IP protection “Body electronic implant and artificial vision system thereof"

Granted in Europe (EP1333883) DE, FR, UK, IT Granted in the US (US 7,027,824) Granted in China (CN 214074) Granted in Japan (2002-542464) Pending in Canada (2,427,867)



Thomas Martinuzzo, JR. ENG. Univalor Project Leader, Science & Engineering +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243 [email protected]

Mohamad Sawan, Ph. D. Polytechnique Montréal Professor +1 (514) 340-4711 ext: 5943 [email protected]

www.univalor.ca

Robots in Blood Vessels using Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems Reference: VAL-331-MULTI

Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging, micro robot, magnetic propulsion, blood vessels, nanomedicine.

Background Medical applications of microrobotics is a burgeoning field held back only by the challenge of producing miniature, safe and energy efficient propulsion systems. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) were developed and used mostly for diagnostic, their high capital cost and their high potential led to new usages such as interventional imaging or effective and convenient way of controlling a robot for applications in blood vessels.

Technology The MR-Sub (Magnetic Resonance Submarine) technology provides surgeons a robot capable of being controlled inside blood vessels. The technique consists of applying magnetic gradients generated by an MRI system to exert a displacement force of the ferromagnetic core embedded onto a miniature device. MRI propels the microdevice in the human blood, determines its location, computes the corrective actions through a feedback control algorithms and adjusts the magnetic gradients according to the navigation of preplanned path.

Applications MR-Sub opens the door for Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS), thus providing shorter recovery periods for patients. The descendents of MR-Sub could be even more widely employed with the introduction of remote wireless controlled devices that have a maximum dimension of a few hundred micrometers. At this size and precision, these magnetically propelled robots can be used to reduce the risks of obstruction of the blood vessels and of

tissue damage caused by friction of the tether wire currently used within complex pathways. Other MIS applications include angioplasties and highly localized drug deliveries for chemotherapy or biopsies. In cancer therapy, they would provide a greater ability to target the site of interest.

Competitive Advantages ACCESS TO INACCESSIBLE SITES. Access to specific hard to reach locations would have a relatively large impact on modern medicine by providing the foundation for a host of new clinical procedures. VARIABLE ROBOT SIZE ACCORDING TO TASK. The quantity of ferromagnetic particles is related to the size of the robot and determined by the blood flow at the location where the treatment is performed within the body, making this technology highly adaptive and flexible. MAGNETIC PROPULSION. The magnetic propulsion concept is an extremely promising method for in vivo applications using micro robots. This magnetic propulsion system is easy to fabricate and miniaturize and MRI machines are already present in almost every hospital.

Patent Status A set of IPs that extend the use of MRI toward interventional procedures, including controlling devices for drug delivery for instance with MRI, real-time tracking of any size medical devices with MRI and quantitative evaluation with MRI.

Business Opportunity Univalor is seeking partners to support research and to commercialize or license this technology.

Contact

Thomas Martinuzzo, JR. ENG. Project Manager, Science & Engineering

Univalor +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243

[email protected]

Sylvain Martel, Ph.D. Professor



MR-tracking based on selective RF excitations Reference: VAL-434-MULTI

Keywords: MRI, endovascular interventions, medical devices tracking, real time localization.

Background Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems offer many advantages over traditional imaging systems, such as radiation free and 3-D imaging. Their use for minimal invasive surgical operation is currently limited by distortions on images caused by the medical instruments used as well as the difficulty to achieve a good resolution along with a satisfactory acquisition rate.

While this could require the development and use of special “magnetic distortion free” medical instruments, another option is to improve MRI systems in order to manage those distortions and potentially use them.

Technology This new method called Magnetic Signature Selective Excitation Tracking (MS-SET) proposes to use the magnetic signature of particular devices in order to visualize them adequately.

The method is based on imaging using a magnetic perturbation in order to excite spins selectively according to their position from the perturbation.

Applications This technology was developed for new-interventional Magnetic Resonance guided operations (endovascular embolization, intra-arterial chemotherapy, etc.) in order to localize the medical devices used. It is based on a passive tracking method which could be easily applicable on existing devices such as catheters or guidewires.

Competitive Advantages Many features of this process will give this technology an edge in the market: ENHANCED 3-D IMAGE QUALITY: The technology uses an enhanced projection method for the characterization and the correction of the different magnetic perturbation sources. REAL TIME RESOLUTION: This technology achieves a temporal resolution of few milliseconds per image, which allows tracking of an object during an operation. PLURALITY OF APPLICATIONS: the method can be used for many medical applications that require detection, localization or characterization of particular devices.

Patent Status US Provisional Patent Application

Business Opportunity Univalor is seeking sponsor research and licensing agreements with a commercial partner.

Contact

Thomas Martinuzzo, JR. ENG. Project Manager, Science & Engineering

Univalor +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243

[email protected]

Sylvain Martel, Ph.D. Professor


US Provisional Patent Pending 61/098,733:”Sacral neurostimulation to induce micturition in paraplegics”

Our Reference VAL‐653‐EP

A new sacral neurostimulation strategy to enhance micturition in paraplegics

Spinal cord-injured (SCI) patients need bladder rehabilitation to improve their quality of life. Presently, sacral neurostimulation is one of the most promising techniques. However, the only implantable neurostimulator in the market requires an irreversible rhizotomy, which can abolish sexual and defecation reflexes as well as any sacral sensations remaining for those with incomplete SCI. Technology We are proposing a sacral neurostimulation strategy based on nerve conduction blockade using high frequency stimulation as an alternative to rhizotomy. This strategy increases selective bladder stimulation, decreases detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia and avoids resorting to rhizotomy. Description A low-frequency current stimulation is applied (unilaterally or bilaterally) to sacral nerve(s) in order to induce a satisfactory contraction of the bladder muscle. The degree of contraction can be modulated by adjusting the stimulation frequency, amplitude and pulse width. High-frequency stimulation can be used to produce a complete block of nerve conduction, and/or a partial block aiming for large diameter axons innervating the sphincter, thereby circumventing dyssynergia. Development Status Acute dog experiments have been carried out to test the proposed strategy. High-frequency blockade was achieved in 8 out of 9 animals. These results show the potential benefit of the proposed strategy and encourage further exploration into its long-term efficiency through chronic experiments.

Advantages

No rhizotomy side effects. Improved selectivity of stimulation. Decreased sphincter dyssynergia.



Contact:

Normand Gadoury, P. Eng. Univalor Manager, Science & Engineering +1 (514) 340-3243 ext. 4224 [email protected]

Faycal Mounaim, École Polytechnique de Montréal PhD Candidate +1 (514) 340-4711 ext: 7840 [email protected]

Ozone Treatment of Polymers Confers Biocidal Properties

Disinfection is one of the main challenges of the modern world. Infection control is a major objective in reducing the level of nosocomial infections. The food and pharmaceutical industries, too, have an obligation to present their products pathogen and contamination free. For the first time, a method of treatment that confers residual biocidal properties to polymers has been reported. PhD student Ahlem Mahfoudh, under the supervision of Professor Moisan & Professor Barbeau of Université de Montréal, has applied a treatment to polymer surfaces to give them a biocidal property. The extent and life span of the biocidal effect depends upon the nature of the polymer surface. This technology would enable food processors and healthcare establishments to overcome some of the problems that exist in the handling and final quality assurance of their products.

Contact: Normand Gadoury, Univalor Project Manager, Business Development Science & Engineering +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4224 [email protected]

Michel Moisan, D. Sc. Université de Montréal Professor +1 (514) 343-6671 [email protected]


TECHNOLOGY These specially treated polymer surfaces are able to inactivate various species of vegetative and sporulated bacteria after being briefly exposed to a dry gaseous-ozone flow. This ozone-induced process is technically simple to perform and is safe for operators and the environment. It does not require active precursors as in grafting. This technology has been tested by applying accepted standards of sterilization and disinfection. The inactivation rate over 4 days after polymer exposure to ozone is a 4 to 5 log reduction of B. atrophaeus spores—i.e. from 1 million spores down to 100 or even 10 spores. Four weeks after the exposure to ozone, there was still a 1 log reduction of spore load.

“BIOCIDE POLYMER OBJECTS AND METHODS OF PREPARATION

THEREOF"

Provisional Patent application

•EFFICIENCY Rapid disinfection in a one-step process.

•SIMPLICITY AND LOW COST Only oxygen is required to provide ozone. No need for sophisticated apparatus that conventional surface modification techniques require.

•HOSPITAL & INDUSTRIAL USE Packaging materials for hospitals and the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries •NON-TOXICITY Meets ISO 109935 standards for human toxicity. •ECO-FRIENDLY No noxious waste is produced.


A D VA N TA G E S



27 April 2009 www.univalor.ca

System and process for Low Temperature Sterilization using Gas Plasma Reference: VAL-177-MULTI, VAL-297-UM and VAL-322-UM

Keywords: Sterilization, Gas Plasma, Temperature, Electric Field, Biomaterial, Catheter

Background With the arrival of medical instruments and accessories made from heat sensitive polymers, quick and effective sterilization has become not only difficult but controversial. High pressures and temperatures produced by standard technologies like autoclaves can destabilize the material. In addition, other processes can cause the release of toxic gases.

Technology This novel Gas Plasma Sterilization system uses ionized gas or gas plasma to form molecular species that have biocidal properties. These species, generated in situ, permit the sterilization of objects at sufficiently low temperatures (below 50ºC). The gases used present no danger to the operator or the patient.

Application This technology can be used for the sterilization of all types of instruments, accessories or materials and is particularly appropriate for heat-sensitive medical such as catheters or dental implants and devices.

Competitive Advantages SHORTER STERILIZATION TIME. The combination of low temperature and low pressure allows the fastest sterilization process to date. APPLICABLE FOR A WIDE RANGE OF MATERIALS AND OBJECTS. The formation of biocidal agents within a post-discharge chamber allows the treatment of a wide range of medical materials that are sensitive to temperature, radiation and chemicals. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. No toxic residues are produced, making this process completely harmless for the operator and patient. INEXPENSIVE DESIGN. This system is relatively inexpensive, and with the added advantages of being more versatile and completely non-toxic, it could replace all conventional sterilization devices in the future. DEVELOPED BY A DEDICATED TEAM WITH SOLID EXPERTISE. With over 50 years of experience in the field of plasma gases and sterilization processes, this team could generate further developments and advances in the field.

Patent Status Family of three patents in US as well as in Europe: o US 6,707,254; o US 11/044,998; and o US 11/142,904.


Contact

Thomas Martinuzzo, Jr. Eng. Project Leader, Business Development

Science and Engineering Univalor


Michel Moisan, Ph.D. Professor

Université de Montréal +1 (514) 343-6671

[email protected]

• EASY OPTODE SET-UP • ADJUSTABLE • COMFORTABLE • LOW COST/WASHABLE • GREAT LOOKING DESIGN

Brain

Imaging Optical Helmet

Nathalie Young, bachelor student in industrial design at the University of Montreal, and her supervisor Nevenka Prijic have been working on a product designed to facilitate the daily use of near infrared spectrometry (NIRS), at the request of Dr Yves Joanette and post-doctoral researcher Karima Kahlaoui at Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (University of Montreal Geriatrics Institute).

PROBLEM When making NIRS brain measurements, researchers lack a convenient and efficient apparatus that can support and position the required optodes.

Contact: Normand Gadoury Univalor Manager, Business Development, Science and Engineering +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4224 [email protected]

Our Reference: VAL-733- IUGM & VAL-839-UM

K E Y F E AT U R E S

I P P R O T E C T I O N “Support Helmet for Head Sensors” US Provisional application 61/329,268.

SOLUTION The technology proposed is an innovative answer to the needs of anyone operating an NIRS brain imaging system. BIOHTM is an ergonomic helmet crafted for maximum efficiency and testing versatility. Its rigid outer shell holds optodes in place and maintains the required distance between each emitter and receptor, while the flexible interior provides maximum comfort for the patient. Direct contact between the optodes and the skull is no longer a problem since hair can be moved out of the way through the helmet openings.

NEXT STEP

Univalor is looking for a partner to help optimize the optode grid (for size adjusting) and to work together in bringing the BIOHTM to market.

A P P L I C AT I O N S

• MEDICAL NEUROSCIENCE/EDUCATION SPEECH/LINGUISTICS DEGENERATIVE DISEASE STUDY (ALZHEIMER’S)

• GOVERNMENTAL LIE DETECTION INTELLIGENCE TRAINING

• MARKETING MARKET RESEARCH

• ROBOTICS/GAMING



8 Micro and nanotechnologies

Direct 3D Microfabrication Process

COST-EFFECTIVE

FAST

SCALABLE

REPETITIVE

LOW ENVIRONMENTAL

REQUIREMENTS

DIRECT WRITING OF 3D STRUCTURES

VARIABILITY OF MATERIALS

VARIABILITY OF RADIATION SOURCES (UV, Vis, etc.)

Direct 3D Microfabrication Process

This process builds three dimensional (3D) functionalized microstructures by using a direct-writing technique. It uses rapid hardening of a material under a radiation to provide the ability of manufacturing complex 3D forms, in real time and without the need of any further processing.

E x a m p l e s o f A p p l i c a t i o n s

Contact: Thomas Martinuzzo, Jr Eng. Univalor Project Manager, Science & Engineering (514) 340-3243 x4243 [email protected]

A D VA N TA G E S

Louis Laberge Lebel, R&D PhD Candidate. 514-340-4711 x7409 [email protected]


I P P R O T E C T I O N “METHOD FOR PREPARING FREEFORM THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURES” US 12/252,722

9 Photonics

A simple and inexpensive technology to form low loss and

complex waveguides in almost any optival material

Interference Security Image Structure

Design and Fabrication of ferroelectirc photonic crystalTHz waveguides

Portable, low cost SPR biosensors

Use of optical fibers as strings for musical instruments

Tunable C-Band Fiber Laser

Color-Changing and Color-Tunable Photonic Crystal Fiber

Textiles

High Resolution Integrated Microfluidic Fabry-Perot Refractometer in Silicon

Last updated: November 2004, Revised April 2009 www.univalor.ca

A simple and inexpensive technology to form low loss and complex waveguides in almost any optical material

Reference: VAL-356-EP

Keywords: waveguides, nonlinear optical materials, low loss waveguides, optical devices, low cost

Background Forming waveguides is considered to be a complex process requiring numerous operations such as plasma deposition, masking and chemical processing, and/or processing with femtosecond lasers. These processes limit the types of materials that can be used for waveguides.

Technology The process that has been developed uses a simple heat source, such as a laser, to melt and process a substrate directly. While in motion, the laser produces local heating that etches the substrate, leaving behind a ridge waveguide.

Applications Waveguide couplers, interferometers and many passive components that are extremely complex to fabricate with current techniques can now be fabricated within minutes. Large scale integration of optical devices for sensing, telecommunication, and biomedical applications will now be possible.

Competitive Advantages This process delivers a competitive edge in many ways: SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE. The infrastructure required for processing waveguides is minimal, as it does not require expensive mask aligners, chemical processing facilities or complex etching. This results in a cost-effective and easily implemented process. ANY OPTICAL MATERIAL. The use of laser to fabricate the waveguides allows inscription directly onto nonlinear crystalline materials (e.g. quartz, lithium niobate, KTP, etc.), which until now have been largely difficult to process. This opens the market for nonlinear waveguide devices. LOW LOSS WAVEGUIDES. Since this process depends on local melting and consolidation of the melt, it potentially benefits from an annealing process that produces smooth sides and leads to low optical propagation losses. COMPLEX WAVEGUIDES. Since nonlinear materials can also be used to make waveguides, it is possible to incorporate periodic poling for phase-matching and to inscribe complex waveguide structures directly onto these materials.

Patent Status Canadian Provisional Patent Application PCT Application

Business Opportunity Univalor is seeking partners to commercialize or license this technology.

Contact

Normand Gadoury, P. Eng. Manager, Business Development

Univalor +1 (514) 340-3243 ext. 4224

[email protected]

Raman Kashyap, Ph.D. Professor



Interference Security Image Structure

Reference: VAL-475 Keywords: Optical Security, Optical Filters, Metamerism, Metal-Dielectric Filters, Hidden Image.

Background Fast progress in color reprographic technology combined with a rise of criminal and terrorist activity stimulates the need for new and enhanced security features to be incorporated in financial and identity documents. It is important to continuously innovate in the domain of anti-counterfeiting devices in order to stay one step ahead of present and future counterfeiters. The use of optical interference filters (interference security image structures - ISIS) has gained in popularity due to its complex manufacturing process and its easy to use validation by the public.

Technology The technology uses interference filters having a color shift as a function of the observation angle. In order to increase the security offered by such filters, the technology proposes to: o Increase their complexity as well as performance

by adding new properties to the simple color shift. o Preserve their simplicity of use in order to facilitate

their identification by the general public. Due to a large difference in optical properties at high angles of incidence between two filters or the filter and material, the technology allows encoding information.

Applications The proposed technology has many applications in the security domain. It addresses ID cards, related documents, credit cards but also product trafficking (drug, luxury goods, software licences etc.)

Competitive Advantages COMPLEXITY OF REPRODUCTION. The color change effect can not be reproduced by reprographic techniques such as photocopying, printing, photography, etc. COMPLEXITY OF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. The technology augments the complexity of the manufacturing process therefore the protection offered by this device. EASE OF USE. The public has a color reference image to compare with the color shift image. Currently, counterfeiting is based on color variation without any color reference. The validation of the color shift is necessary to improve the performance and the ease of reading by the public. MULTI-ELEMENTS. The device is made of at least two elements; its configuration allows encoding information which can be read using optical means for example a laser. HIDDEN IMAGE. The hidden image is an element which offers an easy to use validation by the public.

Examples Example of a patterned interference filter showing a red to yellow color shift as a function of the observation angle.


Contact Thomas Martinuzzo, Jr. Eng.

Project Manager, Science & Engineering Univalor

+1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243 [email protected]

Ludvik Martinu, PhD Professor

École Polytechnique de Montréal +1 (514) 340-4711 poste 4099

[email protected]

Last update : 27April 2009 www.univalor.ca

Design and Fabrication of ferroelectric photonic crystal THz waveguides

Reference: VAL-523-ÉP Keywords : THz, waveguide, Photonics, Polymer, THz guidance, Hollow Fiber, Bragg Fibers

Background Waveguides for THz have recently received considerable attention. THz region links electronics and photonics domains promicing novel high speed data transmission and advanced sensing applications. Various THz waveguides have been proposed aiming at reduced transmission and coupling losses. Today, hollow polymer waveguides with inner metallic layers and metal wires with plasmon mediated guidances exhibit the lowest transmission losses.

Technology We have developed a draw based technique for the fabrication of ferroelectric all-polymer hollow Bragg fibers for THz guidance. Choosing ferroelectric polymer as one of the layers in a fiber periodic reflector low loss transmission and minimal coupling loss can be achieved. All-plastic material combination also offers outstanding mechano-elastic properties.

Example of the hollow all-polymer Bragg fibers featuring periodic multilayers of PC and ferroelectric PVDF polymers. Applications THz waves promice critical advantages in many application sectors: • Security: firearm and explosive detection • Spectroscopy: materials caracterization • Idustry: noninvasive imagery, quality control • Environment: pollutant detection • Biology: gene screening • Chemistry: physico-chemical reaction dynamics • Telecom: secure small distance communications

Competive Advantages • Low cost, scalable fabrication process: fiber is

drawn from a preform in a single manufacturing step without the need of any post-processing.

• Tunability: ferroelectric response of a PVDF polymer, can be tuned in a wide range.

• Advanced sensing: hollow core fiber can accept analyte directly into its core, thus dramatically enhansing coupling with probing light.

Business Opportunity Univalor is seeking partners to support university research leading to potential commercial deployment through a licence.

Contact

Thomas Martinuzzo, Jr. Eng. Project Manager, Science & Engineering

Univalor +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243

[email protected]

Maksim Skorobogatiy, Ph.D Professor

École Polytechnique de Montréal +1 (514) 340 4711 ext : 3327

http://www.photonics.phys.polymtl.ca/ [email protected]

www.univalor.ca

Portable, low cost SPR biosensors

Reference: VAL-524-ÉP Keywords: Surface Plasmon Resonance, SPR, fiber optics, waveguide, biosensor

Background The Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) technique is used for the ultrasensitive detection of bio-chemical molecules as well as for studying biological binding kinetics. Despite its potential for various in-field sensor applications, the SPR technique still remains laboratory bound due to its bulky, expensive setup.

Technology This innovation proposes the miniaturization of waveguide-based SPR biosensors. The first challenge overcome to achieve portability was to satisfy phase matching condition between waveguide mode and plasmon by employing a multilayer photonic crystal waveguide with a low refractive index core. This enables tuning of the effective refractive index of the Gaussian-like core mode anywhere from zero to the core dielectric. Phase matching with plasmon at any desirable wavelength is achieved using any material combination for the waveguide.

This miniature biosensor operates from IR to visible wavelengths and has comparable sensitivity to its laboratory predecessors.

Applications Due to the label free resonant nature of SPR transduction, this method has quickly become the technology of choice for direct detection of binding events between a target analyte and its corresponding receptor. It is used for a plethora of bioanalytical applications, such as tracking a biological reaction by monitoring angular, spectral or phase characteristics of the reflected light. The present innovation, due to its portability and capability, offers an attractive method of SPR detection but also opens the path for other applications such as in the food industry, homeland security, healthcare, etc.

Competitive Advantages • Low cost, scalable fabrication of photonic

crystal Bragg fibers. • Design flexibility: phase matching with plasmon

at any desired wavelength regardless of waveguide materials.

• Effective single-mode operation regime: Gaussian-like mode, allowing easy sensor excitation and interrogation.

• Portability without compromising sensitivity: offers same high performance of an entire laboratory setup.

Original research was published in the October 2006 issue of “Applied Physics Letters,” which was later featured in the October 2006 technology highlights of “Nature Photonics.”

Intellectual Property US Patent 7,460,238 “Plasmon excitation by the gaussian-like core mode of a photonic crystal waveguide”.


Contact

Sensor features low refractive index core surrounded by a photonic crystal reflector. One side of the reflector is metallized and

exposed to the liquid analyte.

K. Robbie, Queens

M. Skorobogatiy, École Polytechnique de

Experimental implementations can be in

planar (upper figure) or Bragg fiber geometries (lower figure)

Maksim Skorobogatiy, PhD Professor

École Polytechnique de Montréal +1 (514) 340 4711 ext: 3327

http://www.photonics.phys.polymtl.ca/ [email protected]


Univalor +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243

[email protected]

Use of optical fibers as strings for musical instruments

A researcher (and music lover) from École Polytechnique de Montréal has replaced the usual nylon guitar strings with multimode optical fibers through which a laser light circulates. From this simple substitution emerges a new sound alchemy.

Why this is considered important: Electronics have had a growing presence in music. However, despite improvements in the quality of electronic instruments, to produce a rich acoustic sound, acoustic instruments must be used. This is no longer the case. By replacing vibrating strings with optical fibers that use both spatial filtering and the fundamental vibration of each stretched optical fiber to produce chords, a wide range of resonant sounds can be produced and customized.

Proposal: On the frame of an acoustic guitar, Professor Kashyap has replaced the usual nylon strings with multimode optical fibers. When you hit a string, the laser’s luminous waves are activated and dislocated. Each luminous mode exhibits a specific shape. The helter skelter provoked between the light modes is sampled at the end of the string by a sensor in which a single mode lightwave circulates. This last wave serves as a benchmark against which the turbulence of the multimode waves is measured. “The single mode fiber catches a signal that is proportional to the optical fiber’s vibration,” explains Raman Kashyap. “In fact, it reproduces the exact frequency of the string.” From there, the signal passes into a photosensor which transforms the wave into an electrical signal and finally sends it to a classic audio system with amplifier and speakers.

Performance: • As on an acoustic guitar, the full harmonic

richness of a note is preserved. • Any tone of the harmonic series can be isolated

and amplified. • The received signal is numerically modified,

producing richer and more varied synthesized sounds than existing electronic instruments can create.

• Additional applications include designing seismographs with heightened sensitivity and greater efficiency.

Contact: Thomas Martinuzzo [email protected] +1 (514)-340-3243 ext 4243

Ref: VAL-563-ÉP

US 12/228,175: “Mems tunable silicon Fabry‐Perot cavity and applications thereof” Our Reference: VAL‐581‐EP

Tunable C-Band Fiber Laser Lasers and sensors are the most expensive devices in fiber optic networks. Because of their small spectral width and good beam quality, low cost tunable lasers are key to lowering the operation and deployment costs of telecommunication networks. They are also used for passive component characterization and spectroscopy. Technology Our innovation is a tunable Erbium doped ring fiber laser using a micro-electro-mechanical (MEM) Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity.

The Fabry-Perot cavity is formed by two distributed Bragg mirrors made of alternate vertical layers of silicon and air. One of these mirrors is stationary while the other can be displaced using an electrostatic comb drive actuator. As voltage is increased between the combs, the suspended comb (and mirror) is attracted toward the fixed one, thereby reducing the length of the F-P cavity and enabling a smaller wavelength to be filtered.

Applications This flexible laser can be used in: - telecommunication networks - laser machining - bio-sensing Features

Quasi all fiber laser Enables tuning over the whole C-band Fabrication completed in only one step Laser Tuning range: 35 nm F-P cavity tuning range: 101 nm Maximum applied voltage for full tuning: 37 V Laser Spectral width: less than 0.03 nm

FWHM 14.4 kHz MEMS mechanical resonance

frequency



Contact:

Thomas Martinuzzo, Jr. Eng. Univalor Project Manager, Science & Engineering +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243 [email protected]

Yves-Alain Peters, PhD École Polytechnique de Montréal Associate Professor +1 (514) 340-4711 ext: 3100 [email protected]

Our Reference: VAL‐629‐EP

Color-Changing and Color-Tunable Photonic Crystal Fiber Textiles

Presently, most photonic textiles are made from telecommunication grade silica glass fibers because of fiber availability and low cost. However, conventional photonic textiles are too rigid to wear comfortably. Moreover, before such fibers can be weaved they require post-processing, which involves mechanical scratching to force the light out, leaving them fragile and difficult to handle.

Technology The proposed technology is a thin, flexible polymer optical fiber with a colored appearance with or without light. This plastic Photonic Band Gap fiber contains nanolayers of two distinct polymers, which result in colorful interference of light. The fiber naturally emits colored light without the need of mechanical post-processing. The fiber only needs a white light source for operation since it filters out colors until the desired color is attained. By controlling the relative intensities of the ambient and guided light, the overall fiber color can be varied. Another key advantage is the stability of the emitted color over time, as the fiber color is coded in its geometry and no colorants or additives are needed.

Development Status The first prototypes of all the claimed inventions have been demonstrated in textiles using a semi-automatic Jacquard loom. An industrial scale process for fiber fabrication has been developed. A Study on the compatibility of new fibers with standard industrial waving machinery is in progress.

Applications Due to their unique appearance, durability and transmission properties, we predict this fiber will be quickly adopted for smart textiles in flexible displays, advertising, and design. We also see this fiber being applied in various compact all-fiber devices such as passband filters, all-fiber spectrometers, narrow band illuminators, and sensors. Advantages

Color coded by geometry. Resistant to fading. Flexible and thin, like natural thread. Inexpensive, recyclable, environmentally friendly. Simple design, with a single white light source. Durable, with stable color emission over time.



Contact: Thomas Martinuzzo, Jr. Eng. Univalor Project Manager, Science & Engineering+1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243 [email protected]

Maksim Skorobogatiy, PhD École Polytechnique de Montréal Professor +1 (514) 340-4711 ext: 3327 [email protected]

Our Reference: VAL‐654‐EP US Patent 12/228175: “Mems tunable silicon fabry‐perot cavity and applications thereof”

High Resolution Integrated Microfluidic Fabry-Perot Refractometer in Silicon

Technology The organization of this Fabry-Perot cavity opens the way to characterization of a particle in a volume for analyses like flow cytometry Our sensor, by confining a cell in a resonator through which light makes several passes, could yield superior resolution compared with those where the light passes through the sample only once. In addition, components are fabricated simultaneously in a conventional microfabrication process (DRIE) and can be integrated into microfluidic systems.

Description The liquids are placed in the reservoir where they flow (due to the capillary effect) into the microchannel and to the Fabry-Perot cavity formed by the two Bragg reflectors. Light from a broadband light source is incident on the Fabry-Perot’s reflective surfaces from an optical fiber placed in the alignment groove. The transmitted light is collected by a second optical fiber, which is connected to an optical spectrum analyzer.

Applications Given its portability and performance, this refractometer can be used as a sensor for cell detection (in flow cytometry, chromatography, etc). Its integration on microfluidic devices means it can be used in a lab on a chip. It can also be used to measure the concentration of non-absorbing/non-fluorescent compounds in liquid-phase separation systems (e.g. liquid chromatography). Advantages

Low production cost. Standard microfabrication. Easy manufacturing. Entire structure is created in a

single photolithography step and etched by standard deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) process.

High resolution. Sensitivity of 920nm/RIU and detection limit of Δn=10-5 (when tested experimentally with homogenous liquids).

Portable. On-chip laboratory integration. Very robust, reusable.



Contact: Thomas Martinuzzo, JR. ENG. Univalor Project Manager, Science & Engineering +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243 [email protected]

Yves-Alain Peters, PhD École Polytechnique de Montréal Professor +1 (514) 340-4711 ext: 3100 [email protected]

10 Research tools

Pushing The Limites of Calorimetry

Pushing The Limits of Calorimetry A research team from the University of Montréal has managed for the first time to downscale calorimetry to the nano level for a semiconductor monocrystal. This is a breakthrough for the study of fundamental phenomena in nano- and self-organised structures, and in micro- and opto-electronics.

Features:

Thin layer of monocrystalline semi-conductor Minimize the thermal losses by conduction. In-situ measurements Common semiconductor manufacturing processes

Applications:

Study of heat produced by biological processes Thermal characterization of self-ordering of

organic molecules on surface, Investigation of catalysis reaction. Formation and evolution of nanostructures on

surface, Solid phase reactions in ultra-thin films,

Calcium-silicate-hydrate

at the nanoscale

Technology:

Nanocalorimeter

The nanocalorimeter is made of a Si frame supporting an extremely thin SiNx insolating membrane covered by a thin metal strip. Facing this strip, but on the other side of the membrane is a thin layer of monocrystalline silicon. This technology will enable the study from a thermal point of view of surface and near-surface phenomena on an atomically pure, ordered and well documented surface.

Data available upon request (some under Non-Disclosure Agreement):

Prototype measurements results and CAD model and photos US provisional application filed

Ref: VAL-631-ÉP

Interested in learning more?

Contact: Normand Gadoury [email protected]

11 Software, algorithms and

systems

Multi-User Quantum Cryptography System Using Wavelength Division Multiplexing

SPACE Codesign - High Level System Design and Architecture

Exploration Environment

Using a Simulation Game Approach to Teach ERP Concepts and to Support ERP Implementation Projects

Pushing the limits of image processing - Continuous Extension

of Discrete Cosine Transform (CEDCT/CEDOFT)

A software for systematic identification and correction of design defects in object-oriented programs

A Method and System for immersive sketching in a virtual

ideation context

Real-Time Detection and Tracking of File Content Reporting Tool of Disinfection Needs

DataMatch ToolTM - Essential software for linking different

databases

Last updated : 2009-04-27 www.univalor.ca

Multi-User Quantum Cryptography System Using Wavelength Division Multiplexing Reference: VAL-379-MULTI

Keywords: quantum cryptography, network, wavelength division multiplexing, quantum network

Background Confidentiality in telecommunications is increasingly important in personal, economic and political realms.

The traditional approach for cryptography uses algorithms to code messages or data. This method, while efficient, is limited by its computation time. With the potential advent of quantum computerization, this limitation poses a significant threat to secure telecommunications. The concept of quantum cryptography was developed in the early 80s and is now a generic procedure referred to as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). Today, commercial QKD systems are available for dedicated optical fiber links between two parties only.

Technology This team has developed a method to apply QKD to multi-user networks.

The process is based on sending numerous signals over the same fiber on different wavelengths of light. Using multiple wavelengths means that two systems can generate a secret key that is completely unknown by even the server distributing the information.

Applications This method and its related equipment could be applied to QKD multi-user systems by using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM).

Solution for implementing the method MULTI-USERS USING WDM. With the star topology using wavelength division multiplexing, the server can simultaneously establish as many distinct secret keys as necessary for any user.

MINIMUM NUMBER OF TRUSTED SERVERS. It has been demonstrated that communication between two users through several servers would only require half of the servers to be trustworthy. TUNABLE SOURCE OF ENTANGLED PHOTONS. This group is currently working on the design of an all-fiber tunable source of entangled photons required for the implementation of this method.

Patent Status US and Canada Provisional Patent Applications

Business Opportunity Univalor is seeking exclusive licensing agreements with a commercial partner.

Contact Thomas Martinuzzo, Jr. Eng.

Project Manager, Science & Engineering Univalor

+1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243 [email protected]

Suzanne Lacroix Professor


Nicolas Godbout Professor



SPACE Codesign - High Level System Design and Architecture Exploration Environment Reference: VAL-448-EP

Keywords: embedded design, hardware-software co-simulation, hardware-software architecture exploration performance estimation, electronic design automation, FPGA design.

Background Technological progress in the realm of transistors is so rapid that the number of available transistors doubles every 18 months. And with the integration of more than 100 million transistors on the same chip now, finding more efficient solutions for raising system design productivity and lowering costs is imperative.

Technology SPACE Codesign is a platform that enhances productivity and reduces costs of embedded system designs. Using a common SystemC specification language for both hardware and software modules, SPACE Codesign generates a fast simulation and performance estimation of the described architecture to find the best software/hardware partitioning choice. Because this platform comes with a refinement methodology based on four abstraction levels, application developers can produce precise simulation results by making architectural choices when validating system functionality at each level. In addition, SPACE Codesign offers a modeling environment that integrates the hardware and software parts of a given application.

Applications SPACE Codesign can be used within the frameworks of a diversity of applications using electronic embedded system design.

Competitive Advantages Many features of this process will give this technology an edge in the market:

Software/hardware co-simulation environment: SPACE Codesign allows simulating and estimating performance in order to evaluate and find the best software and hardware partitioning.

Fast evaluation: the estimation of the different software/hardware configurations can be processed rapidly and effortlessly and at any stage during an architectural exploration.

C++/SystemC as specification language: SPACE Codesign uses a language that is becoming a standard language in the ESL industry.

Homogeneous specification: SPACE Codesign uses a common specification language for both hardware and software modules. This enables evaluation of different configurations during architectural exploration without having to make any changes in the specification.

Embedded software environment: services for embedded software development are supported integrally in SPACE Codesign. This includes cross compilation, co-simulation, and target processor simulations. Natural RTOS integration allows for real embedded software simulation, responding to real time events and prioritizing the work to be done.

Business Opportunity Univalor is seeking investment or licensing agreements with a commercial partner.

Contact Normand Gadoury, P. Eng. Manager, Business Development



Guy Bois, Ph.D. Professor


[email protected]


Using a Simulation Game Approach to Teach ERP Concepts and to Support ERP Implementation Projects

Reference: VAL-454-HEC

Keywords: Enterprise Resource Planning, ERP, Simulation, Tool, Sell, Services Background

While ERP implementations are reached maturation in most important companies, there is still room for implementations in small to medium size companies. This is supported by lighter version of software but pose the problem of selling the added value to owners and managers, fighting accepted rule-of-thumb of the market that there is an added X$ per 1$ for software to cover implementation, training. Considering complexity of such software suites, and instead of conventional A to Z training, there is a need to easily demonstrate the value of ERP and to expose deciders to its functionality.

Technology

Based on customized turn-based simulation games, managers of companies or students in executive MBA and others are put in a situation in which they will be exposes the real-life ERP or in which they will have to run real-life ERP;

The technology is made of web interfaces, simulation engines and scripts that generate actions in the real ERP environment from managerial decisions.

The technology can be used to:

• Develop technical skills at using ERP (part of academic program);

• Experience the benefits of enterprise integration firsthand;

• Develop a hands-on understanding of the concepts underlying enterprise systems.

Applications

The technology has numerous applications: • Training to students in administration; • Firsthand of current and future managers in

MBA sessions; • Supporting sales managements (1 hour

simulation); • Sales oriented boot-camp (1-2 days); • Pre-implementation boot-camp (1-2 days); • Implementation boot-camp (2-5 days).

HEC Montréal has organized multiple simulation games, the last one in June 2006 involving MBA students.

For more information: Simulation Game

Business Opportunity Univalor is seeking partners to support the deployment of the technology as well as support development phase towards stand alone product.

Contact Normand Gadoury, P. Eng. Manager, Business development,


+1 (514) 340-3243 ext. 4224

[email protected]

Pierre-Marjorique Léger, PhD Assistant Professor

HEC Montréal +1 (514) 340-7013

[email protected]

Pushing the limits of image processing Continuous Extension of Discrete Cosine Transform (CEDCT / CEDOFT)

Reference: VAL-472-UM

Background Digital image capturing, processing and loading is expected to grow by an average of 24% from 2004 to 2009. Expectations for obtaining images with a more accurate definition are rising as the markets grow. Several competitive algorithms are emerging to process 2D and 3D images but none really offers a fast, memory efficient and high quality image approach.

Technology The technology is a data processing technique based on the orbit functions of compact Lie groups, called Discrete Orbit-Function Transforms (DOFT). The continuous extensions of DOFTs (CEDOFT) have good analytic properties, such as convergence, localization and differentiability of the trigonometric series, which are all important for data interpolation. It allows fast and effective processing of images and it is not restricted to rectangular grids in 2-dimensional space, but performs others symmetries such as triangular or tetrahedral in 2D, 3D and more dimensions.

Applications The technology provides a comprehensive set of reference-standard algorithms and graphical tools for analysis, visualization, and image manipulation, such as improving degraded images, denoising enhancing image quality, image segmentation, interpolation / zooming, rotation, texture analysis, data compression, etc. Image processing has a wide range of applications from Internet to satellite images processing, to name a few examples.

Competitive Advantages FAST PROCESSING for 2D images The

CEDCT / CEDOFT outperforms these high-order interpolation methods by a factor of 2 to 4 in the speed of interpolation. For 3D images the interpolation speed becomes faster than for bicubic spline by a factor of 10 and more.

QUALITY RATIO CEDCT / CEDOFT technology is an improvement for the common data compression technologies. It can provide higher PSNR (Peak Signal to Noise Ratio) at the same compression factor or lower compression at same PSNR.

MULTI-DIMENSIONS The technology performs image processing with grids of dimensions n>2. In particular, time can be the 3rd dimension, as in video images and could be more efficient than current methods.

SYMMETRY The DOFTs are unique transforms as they allow fast processing of images defined not only on the rectangular 2D grids, but they allow analysis and processing of images on grids of other symmetries (e.g. triangular, hexagonal, tetrahedral, etc.). There are no similar analogs for this technology in the current algorithms.

Business Opportunity Univalor is seeking business partners that would license the technology to develop and to commercialize in different market segments.

Patent Status 3 pending patents

Contact


Univalor +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243

[email protected]

Jiri Patera, Ph.D. Professor

Université de Montréal +1 (514) 343-6419

[email protected]

www.univalor.ca

Example

5

© UNIVALOR

CEDCT

CEDCT with A(k,l > 0.5 N)=0

(Size 120 x 48; DOFT by blocks N= 24 x 24)

Original data provided by US NAWC, through Dr. Sklansky (UC Irvine) & Dr. Valin (LMC)

Original images

Fast denoising and compression

www.univalor.ca

A software for systematic identification and correction of design defects

in object-oriented programs

Reference: VAL-502-UM

Keywords: Design defects, antipatterns, metamodel, object-oriented architectures, detection algorithms

Background Design defects coupled with poor error feedback for programmers, impede good design practices and slow the evolution and maintenance of object-oriented architectures. To keep down the escalating costs produced by design defects (DD), numerous techniques and processes have been proposed to correct them in the software development process and to ease the maintenance of these programs. Because DD are detected semi-automatically and corrected manually, their root causes are not easily identified, making them difficult to eliminate during the development phase.

Technology This software allows for the systematic detection and correction of DD. By inputting an informal textual description of the DD to be corrected, a detection algorithm is generated that can function within the given program. The algorithm then produces a description of the detected DD and proposes appropriate corrections. A language has been developed to describe the defects according to the program’s unique structures and semantic properties.

Applications Applications include: • Detecting and correcting DD during development • Training and performance enhancement of

programmers • Enabling quality control of software

Potential for: • Enforcing quality standards • Detecting any recurrent structures of copying,

plagiary, and malicious programs

Competitive advantages UNIQUE: This is the first software that detects and corrects DD automatically.

SPEED. The software generates a list of DD quickly, even with large programs, lowering maintenance costs.

GENERIC. This software can be used with any object-oriented program. It is not necessary to develop an ad-hoc solution for each program.

STRUCTURE AND SEMANTIC ANALYSIS. This software produces a structure and semantic analysis that improves efficiency not only for the end-users of the program, but for the programmers themselves.


Contact

Thomas Martinuzzo, Jr. Eng Project Manager, Business development,



Yann-Gaël, Guéhéneuc Professor

École Polytechnique de Montreal (514) 340-4711 ext 7116

yann-gaë[email protected]

A Method and System for immersive sketching in a virtual ideation context

Reference: VAL-531-UM Keywords: Virtual reality, Interactive tactile display system, Design process, 3D Modeling

Background Due to their limitations, most virtual reality tools are considered passive instruments in the process of ideation. Having an immersive 3D virtual reality environment would remedy this restriction and be a creative and productive boon for all types of designers.

Technology

This technology is a novel conceptual tool for sketching in a virtual world. Using a digital pen and a graphic tablet inside a spherical projection system, designers can sketch in real time while being surrounded by the conceptual representations of their sketches. With the proposed technology, when the basic shapes of the spatial model are complete, they are mapped as a spherical template image and projected through an immersive spherical display like the Panoscope.

Designers can then sketch freehand on the spherical template image and see in real time the results of their work as it is projected simultaneously through the display. Interaction between collaborators can happen instantly and spontaneously within the sphere through live communication.

Applications

This tool was developed chiefly for designers and architects, and anyone involved in ideation.

Competitive Advantages

Any abstractions, ambiguities or inaccuracies of a sketch can be addressed without disrupting the design process. Current technologies cannot provide this type of flexible, time-saving feature. The template image is displayed on a digital freehand sketching device and is simultaneously projected on an immersive display, providing instant perspective and creating an interactive, productive environment. Using off-the-shelf low-cost components is an appealing prospect for any designer.

Patent Status US Provisional Patent Application

Business Opportunity Univalor is seeking early investors for this technology in order to develop a real application case.

Contact




Tomás Dorta, PhD Professor

University of Montreal +1 (514) 343-6111 ext. 5010

tomá[email protected]

http ://www.din.umontreal.ca/dorta.html

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G o ve r n me nt s , P u b l i c S ec ur i t y A ge n c i e s o r a ny O r ga n i za t i o n t ha t ne e d s t o c o nt r o l o r e ns u r e t h e t ra ns mi s s i o n o f f i l e s no w has t h e op p or t u n i t y t o g o b e y o nd c ur r en t l i m i t e d re a l - t i me c y be r -s u rv e i l l a n ce s o l u t i on s t ec h n o l o gi e s ( s n i f f e rs ) .

SOLUTION To remedy the problems of slow speeds

and heavy computing resources of current

sniffer technologies, Professor Jean-Pierre

David, École Polytechnique de Montréal,

has proposed a system that enables real-

time file content detection and tracking

over a network.

This system has three components: a

database of indexed files to be monitored,

an optimized algorithm, and hardware to

implement the algorithm (an FPGA board

or on chip depending on volume).

When one of the protected files passes

into a network, it is automatically detected

by the system, a report indicating the

transmission is sent, and an alarm is set

off. Depending on the application, its

transmission can even be blocked before it

arrives at its destination.

Contact: Thomas Martinuzzo, Jr. Eng. Univalor Project Manager, Science & Engineering +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4243 [email protected]

Jean-Pierre David, PhD École Polytechnique de Montréal Professor +1 (514) 340-4711 ext: 3327 [email protected]


CURRENT KNOWN LIMITATIONS: • Detection and tracking performance

may be reduced with encrypted files.

(nevertheless, pre-encrypted files can

also be monitored if they are already

encrypted in the file data-base);

• The system may also detect a file

that is similar but not exactly the

same as one protected file (this may

be an advantage for some

applications).

“NETWORK FILE TRANSMISSION

MONITORING”

US Provisional Patent Pending: 61/057,944

DOES NOT DEPEND ON DATA TRANSMISSION PROTOCOLS. PROTECTED FILES ARE NOT TAGGED. CAN BE APPLIED TO ALL TYPES OF DATA FILES AND FORMATS, INCLUDING COMPRESSED FILES. DETECTABLE DATA TRANSMISSIONS INCLUDE THE DOWNLOADING OR UPLOADING OF WEBPAGES OR THE TRANSMISSION OF EMAILS. WORKS AT 10GBIT/S AND MORE. MAY ALSO SERVE AS FILE TRACKING SYSTEM ( IF SEVERAL SYSTEMS ARE INSTALLED AT STRATEGIC PLACES ON THE NETWORK)


A D VA N TA G E S

Cyber Surveillance National Security Child Pornography Detection Cyber Watching Virus Prevention Confidentiality Protection


USER FRIENDLY

Requests sent through a graphic interface

representing the hospital floor plan.

SIMPLE

Six mouse clicks or less to place one

maintenance order.

HISTORY

Printable tables of operations.

TRACEABILITY

Source of the infection more easily

traceable in case of epidemic outbreak.

BIDIRECTIONNAL

COMMUNICATION

between caregivers and housekeeping

staff.

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This software has been designed by the

Institut universitaire de gériatrie de

Montréal. It was first tested in geriatric

short-term units and then quickly adopted

by the entire hospital to meet the needs

of caregivers, housekeeping staff and

administrators in infection prevention.

Orders can be placed through this user

friendly application with just a few mouse

clicks. Every user is identified in the

software through his intranet or local

network Windows session and receives

relevant tailored access.

Daily or final disinfection requests can be

linked to any landmark (bed, corridor,

station…) by specifying the technique or

procedure. Standard operating procedure

is codified according to patient disease.

Once a request is made, a worksheet

summarizing the request can be printed,

showing room, bed, technique, date,

applicant’s name and equipment needed.

The software can also inform the

housekeeping staff of urgent disinfections

via pager and keeps records for reporting

and traceability purposes.

Contact: Normand Gadoury, P. Eng Univalor Manager, Science & Engineering+1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4224 [email protected]

Jean-François Champagne, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal Departmental Head, Hygiene-Sanitary conditions +1 (514) 340-2800 ext: 3704 [email protected]

DataMatchTool

Essential software for linking different

databases

TM

VA L U E P R O P O S A L

A READY-TO-USE SOFTWARE TO LINK DATA ENTRIES FROM

DIFFERENT DATABASES

A D VA N TA G E S

• FINDS PERFECT MATCHES

BETWEEN ENTRIES FROM TWO DATABASES. Save time and money spent searching by hand.

• PROPOSES CLOSE MATCHES BETWEEN REMAINING DATA ENTRIES. Accept and save suggestions for the next session.

• DETECTS NOISY ELEMENTS. Add to a noise list to improve the matching process.

• RETRIEVES DATA BY DATES. Specify a specific date or time period or retrieve from the most recent financial report.

• EASY TO USE AND TO INTERPRET. User friendly and intuitive user interface.

• EASY TO IMPLEMENT. DMTTM is Windows 7, Vista and XP compatible.

Our Reference: VAL-805-HEC

PROPOSAL DataMatch Tool™ (DMT™) uses a powerful algorithm that can rapidly find perfect matches and suggest one or several close matches. This feature enables the user to consider misspellings or possible spelling variations as valid matches. A user friendly interface makes it very easy to accept or reject suggestions or to create new matches. DMT™ keeps user defined matches in memory to facilitate future sessions. DMT™ can also perform absolute or relative date matches and retrieve data for a specific date or period. Reports can be produced as text files or exported to Excel or Access.

Click here for a video demonstration of the software.

Claude Francoeur, Professor HEC Montréal +1 (514) 340-6847 [email protected] www.datamatchtool.com

Contact: Normand Gadoury, Univalor Director, Business Development Science & Engineering +1 (514) 340-3243 ext: 4224 [email protected]

Based on their experience in academic research and their knowledge in data collection and analysis, researchers from HEC Montreal have developed a convenient software tool with a powerful algorithm to match data from different databases.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED When researchers and analysts are collecting data for substantial projects, they often face the hurdle of linking data that comes from various sources. Company names, for instance, can be recorded multiple ways: IBM, International Business Machines, or Int’l Bus. Mach. Legal endings of company names are also often written differently (Incorporated, Limited, Corporation / Inc., Ltd., Corp.) or missing altogether. Available database software on the market such as Access will only link fields that match perfectly, making it necessary to go through entries one by one to match relevant information between databases.


www.datamatchtool.com

www.datamatchtool.com

http://expertise.hec.ca/professorship_information_financiere_strategique/datamatch-tool/

12 Life Sciences Portfolio

ID Title Field

VAL‐790‐CHUM VAL‐652‐UM

Tansplantation: Monitoring pre‐graft and post‐graft Transplantation: Selecting the Best Donors

Transplantation Molecular diagnostic

VAL‐789‐CHUM Use of Novel Proteasome Inhibitors to Treat Cancer and Disorders in the Immune System

Oncology

VAL‐740‐IRCM New Family of Nucleosides and Nucleotides Analogues

Oncology & Antiviral

VAL‐737‐CHUM New Targets for Inflammatory Disease of the Nervous System Including Multiple Sclerosis

Central Nervous System

VAL‐708‐UM A New Platform for Generating Optimized Peptides Library

Technology Platform

VAL‐678‐CHUM Delivering that Antigen to the Right Spot Vaccine

VAL‐620‐MULTI Age‐Related Macular Degeneration Drying up Development of the Dry Form of AMD

Ophthamology

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A method of assessing the risk of graft rejection (AVR) and GVHD

TECHNOLOGIES

Two Opportunities:

An ELISA test for the prognosis and diagnosis of

transplant acute vascular rejection (AVR). The assay

detects the levels of anti-LG3 antibodies in serum

samples, eliminating the need for a biopsy.

A predictive test that assesses the risk of donor bone marrow induced

Graft-versus-Host-Disease (GVHD) in a recipient. The test is based on

the analysis of the gene expression profiles of hematopoietic cells of

potential donors obtained by multiplexed quantitative PCR (qPCR).

Contact info:

Anne-Marie Larose, PhD, MBA Business Development Manager Gestion Univalor, LP Tel : 1-514-340-3243 Ext. 4239 Fax : 1-514-340-3204

[email protected]

Two tests that help to solve graft rejection problems. Dr Marie-Josée Hébert is Professor of Medicine and Director of the Solid Organ Transplant Program at Université de Montréal , and Researcher at the CHUM Research Centre. Dr Claude Perreault is Professor of Medicine and Director of the IRIC Immunobiology Laboratory at Université de Montréal, and Hematologist at Maisonneuve-Rosemont

Hospital .

B A C K G R O U N D

I N T E L L E C T U A L

P R O P E R T Y

PROTECTION AT DIFFERENT STAGING POINTS FOR E ACH BIOMARKER

K E Y W O R D S

Biomarker, Transplantat ion,Graf t Reject ion, GVHD, Pronost ic, Diagnost ic

http://www.univalor.ca/

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BACKGROUND Proteasomes are essential

for intracellular protein degradation. For fast

growing cells and activated lymphocytes,

proteasome inhibition results in growth

inhibition and apoptosis. Resting cells are

much less sensitive to proteasome inhibition

via apoptosis induction. This differential cell

susceptibility provides a therapeutic window

to kill fast growing cells, such as tumor cells

and lymphoblasts, without harming most

somatic cells. Proteasome inhibitors can be

used to treat cancers and immune

disorders.

TECHNOLOGY Dr. Wu and the Chinese

National Center for Drug Screening

(CNCDS) in Shanghai, have screened

45,000 small molecule compounds to

identify novel proteasome inhibitors. The

screening and subsequent functional

studies resulted in 9 lead compounds.

Further lead optimization by medicinal

chemistry led to the synthesis of a novel

compound, LGP07154, which has an

enzymatic IC50 of 16 nM. This molecule has

a low molecular weight (500 Daltons) and its

structure is resistant to degradation by

digestive tract enzymes, thus it can be

administered orally.

RESULTS Lead compounds were identified

using enzymatic assays and in vitro

biological assays. Their acute toxicity was

assessed using unstimulated mouse

thymocytes. Among the compounds tested,

4 drugs induced substantial cell death at a

concentration 2-3 fold above the IC50 of T-

cell proliferation. Twenty derivatives were

synthesized based on the structure of the

best lead and a compound with superior

IC50 was identified and further

characterized.

In comparison with Velcade™, a competitive

inhibitor of proteasome proteases, the novel

proteasome inhibitors have similar but not

identical activities.

“BODY ELECTRONIC IMP LANT AND ARTIFICIAL V IS ION SYSTEM

VAL-789-CHUM

Contact info:

Clermont Beaulieu, PhD Business Development Manager Gestion Univalor, LP Tel : 1-514-340-3243 Ext 3287 Fax : 1-514-340-3204 [email protected]

To inhibit malignant cell proliferation.

To repress undesirable overactive immune responses.

A P P L I C AT I O N S D I SPO NI BL ES

A D VA N TA G E S D I SPO NI BL ES LGP07154 is a small

synthetic molecule.

Velcade, a proteasome inhibitor, has been validated and approved by the FDA for treatment by i .v. admin. of multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma.

LGP07154 is available in both oral and i.v. formulations, offering a new mode of

administration.


P R O P E R T Y

US patent fi led

Q3 2009


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BACKGROUND A antimetabolites are one of

the oldest and most important classes of

antineoplastic agents. They exert their effects via

chain termination of DNA strands, by inhibiting

enzymes such as DNA polymerase and

ribonucleotide reductase, or by inhibiting DNA

methylation. They are important drugs used in

the treatment of leukemias, lymphomas, and

some solid tumors. They are, however, quite toxic

and patients suffer severe side effects during

treatment.

The development of chemotherapy resistance

and tumor cell metastasis also represent great

challenges in cancer treatment. More specific and

less toxic compounds are highly desirable. The

present invention has the potential to offer

improvements in these areas.

TECHNOLOGY Dr. Yvon Guindon of the

Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal

(IRCM) in Quebec, Canada, has developed a

novel synthesis method which enables the

development of synthetic nucleosides as a whole

new class of antimetabolites.

The novel antimetabolites have a quaternary

stereogenic center at the C3-prime position of the

ribose moiety. They could potentially be used in

combination with other anti-tumor therapies to

increase the overall treatment effectiveness and

selectivity, and to minimize undesirable side

effects. This promising new family of molecules

can be used for cancer treatment and may help to

solve the problem of chemotherapy resistance.

Furthermore, these analogues could also be used

for other applications, such as anti-viral treatment

or in the design of novel siRNA gene inactivation

technology.


• Anti-cancer treatment • Anti-viral treatment • Novel siRNA technology

ide

• Known mechanism of action: ant imetabol i te

A D VA N TA G E S

• Versati le synthetic method

• Simple chemical enti ty • Incremental approach:

New drug in combinat ion, then 1s t l ine

• Minimize undesired seffect: reduce toxici ty

• Clinically val idated target: (onco, vi ral )

DEVELOPMENT STATUS The novel

synthesis method has been validated and a bank

of unique, new chemical entities is available.

Proof of principle has been completed in vitro for

several compounds using representative cancer

cell lines (e.g. breast, bladder, prostate and

kidney). Screening as antiviral agent is planned to

proceed in the near future.

I N T E L L E C T U A L P R O P E R T Y

“BODY ELECTRONIC IMPLANT AND ARTIFICIAL VISION SYSTEM

VAL-740-IRCM

Contact info: Louis Provencher, PhD, DESS Adm Business Development Manager Gestion Univalor, LP Tel : 1-514-340-3243 Ext 4498 Fax : 1-514-340-3204 [email protected]

Patent pending in US, EP, IN, CN and JP

fi led Q3/2009

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TECHNOLOGY

A new diagnostic marker, inhibitor, and therapeutic

target for inflammatory diseases of the CNS and

the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

DEVELOPMENT STATUS

Validated target

A lead compound (peptide)

In vitro, in situ and in vivo experiments showed

that Ninjurin-1 is an adhesion molecule of the BBB,

and plays an important role in the recruitment of

myeloid cells to the inflamed CNS.

Peptides were designed to target and block human

and mouse Ninjurin-1. In an experimental human

BBB model, in vitro studies using the peptides

reduced the migration of myeloid cells across the

cerebral endothelium. Two different murine models

of neuroinflammation were used for the in vivo

studies. The lead peptide decreased myeloid cell

infiltration into the CNS, reduced tissue damage,

and delayed the onset of clinical signs of the

disease.

APPLICATION

Treatment of inflammatory diseases of the CNS or

the PNS, such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

OPPORTUNITIES

This discovery is important because myeloid cells

are considered "conductors" of inflammatory

reactions, promoting lymphocyte proliferation and

actively participate in tissue destruction.

Neuroinflammatory diseases, whether

autoimmune or traumatic, represent an

economic burden of over 10B$ in North

America.

More than 600,000 MS patients are currently

diagnosed and treated in specialized

neurology clinics in the USA and Canada.

The currently available drugs reduce the

activity and the severity of the disease by

about 30% in approximately 60% of patients.

Development plan would include:

Peptide optimization and development of new peptide inhibitor analogues (or other types of inhibitory molecules);

Further preclinical studies.

VAL-737-CHUM (Dr Prat’s website)

Contact info:

Anne-Marie Larose, PhD, MBA Business Development Manager Gestion Univalor, LP Tel : 1-514- 340-3243 Ext. 4239 Fax : 1-514-340-3204 [email protected]

B A C K G R O U N D

Immune cell migration to the central nervous system (CNS) is the leading cause of cerebral inflammation. In Multiple Sclerosis, inflammatory demyelinating lesions are associated with a compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB) and with perivascular infiltration of immune cells into the CNS. The movement of leukocytes from the blood to the CNS is orchestrated by many factors, including cell adhesion molecules that enable immune cells to adhere and cross the BBB.

Dr. Alexandre Prat and his team at the CHUM-Research Centre demonstrated that the blockade of adhesion molecule Ninjurin-1, expressed on the surface of BBB-endothelial cells, restricts monocyte, macrophage and dendritic cell migration towards the brain.


P R O P E R T Y USPR, CA, AU PATENT

APPLICATIONS Prior i ty date Q2/2009

K E Y W O R D S Therapeutic Target , Inf lammatory Diseases, Mul t iple Sc leros is


http://www.chumtl.qc.ca/crchum/chercheurs/chercheurs-liste/prat-a.en.html


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Efficient amino lactam peptide library synthesis

TECHNOLOGY

This solid-phase method allows the

assembly of amino lactam peptides

so that compound l ibraries can be

generated. It uses simple bui lding

blocks that are easily prepared from

homoserine and aspartic acid. Amino

lactams can induce peptide turn

conformations. This effective method for

systematically scanning peptides is useful for

the rapid identification of secondary structure

necessary for the biological activity of

peptides1.

DEVELOPMENT STATUS

The effectiveness of the approach was

validated using therapeutic peptide

candidates bearing aliphatic, aromatic,

branched and functionalized side-chains.

The methodology is applicable to IRORI-

Kan™ and Mimitope Lantern™ split and mix

techniques for generating chemical libraries.

ADVANTAGES

OPTIMAL METHOD OF SYNTHESIS:

SYSTEMATIC SCANNING POSSIBLE

READILY AVAILABLE BUILDING BLOCKS

PROVIDE STEREOCHEMICALLY PURE AMINO

LACTAM PEPTIDES

FAST AND SIMPLE SUPPORTED FMOC-COMPATIBLE METHODOLOGY FOR

EFFECTIVELY PRODUCING LACTAM

PEPTIDES

AMINO-LACTAM PEPTIDES ANALOGS:

OPTIMIZED SARS

IMPROVED BIOAVAILABILITY

ENHANCED SOLUBILITY

APPLICATIONS

GENERATE LACTAM PEPTIDE LIBRARIES

FOR SAR STUDIES.

IDENTIFY BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE PEPTIDE

AND PROTEIN CONFORMERS.

PRODUCTION OF OPTIMIZED PEPTIDES AND

PROTEINS FOR THERAPEUTIC USE.

1 Jamieson AG et al., J Am Chem Soc, 2009; Boutard N et

al. Chem Biol Drug Des. 2010; Ronga, L. et al.

Biopolymers, Peptide Science 2010, in press.

Incorporation of structural mimics into biologically active peptides has been widely used to restrict conformational mobility, enhance selectivity and increase potency.

Technologies that permit the convenient and rapid introduction of mimics into peptides constitute powerful tools for studying structure-activity relationships (SARs) and designing biologically active compounds in the drug discovery process.

B A C K G R O U N D

Peptide Mimics, Peptidic Analogs, Lactam, Optimization, Peptide Synthesis, Protein Synthesis, Peptidomimetic Synthesis

K E Y W O R D S

VAL-708-UM

Contact info:

Anne-Marie Larose, PhD, MBA Business Development Manager Gestion Univalor, LP Tel : 1-514-340-3243 Ext. 4239 Fax : 1-514-340-3204 [email protected]

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US PROVISIONAL APPLICATION

Filed on Q1/2009


P R O P E R T Y


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BACKGROUND

Improving vaccine efficiency is the focus of one of

the fastest growing branches of the

pharmaceutical industry. Vaccine immunization

generally induces only humoral response.

Vaccines that can elicit both humoral and cell-

mediated immune responses are of great interest.

Antigens are presented to CD4+ helper T cells by

MHC class II molecules, however, to get a robust

cytotoxic response, antigens also need to be

presented to cytotoxic CD8+ T cells by MHC

class I molecules. There is a need for novel

compounds and methods for increasing antigen

presentation by both types of MHC molecules.

TECHNOLOGY

The present technology involves gp100, a

melanoma/melanocyte shared antigen, that can

be presented by both Major Histocompatibility

Complex (MHC) class I and class II molecules

when expressed endogenously by melanoma and

non-melanoma cells.

Dr. Réjean Lapointe and his colleagues at

Université de Montréal have identified gp100

sequences that are required for MHC class I and

class II presentation. These sequences may be

included in the expression cassettes for DNA

vaccines in order to optimize MHC presentation of

various vaccine antigens.

RESULTS

In vitro proof of concept results demonstrated that

specific gp100 sequences mobilized an

endogenous protein (GFP) to the endosomal

compartment. In vivo proof of concept is planned

for an undisclosed new vaccine.

Figure on the top:

Endosomal mobilization of gp100/GFP. 293T

cells were stained with anti-LAMP-1 conjugated

with Alexa Fluor-568 (red) and analyzed by

confocal microscopy. Yellow vesicles in the

merge image represent colocalization of

gp100/GFP and LAMP-1 (white arrows).

VAL-678-CHUM

Contact info:

Louis Provencher, PhD, DESS Adm. Business Development Manager Gestion Univalor, LP Phone: 1-514-340-3243 Ext. 4498 Fax: 1-514-340-3204 [email protected]

Vaccination: Enhanced

presentation of antigens


A D VA N TA G E S D I SPO NI BL ES Targeted antigens are

presented by both MHC

class I and class I I

molecules, resulting in

the activation of both the

humoral and cell -mediated

immune responses

Gp100 peptide sequences

required for endosomal

localization have been

identi fied


P R O P E R T Y

US patent was f i led February 2008

GFP LAMP-1 GFP/LAMP-1 Phase contrast


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BACKGROUND Age-related macular

degeneration (AMD) is a disease associated with

aging that gradually destroys vision in the center

of the visual field. AMD is a leading cause of

visual impairment in adults over 60 years of age.

The prevalence of this disorder is expected to

double in the next decades due to aging of the

population.

Macular degeneration is divided into two forms:

dry (non-neovascular) and wet (neovascular). The

wet form occurs in about 10% of cases and is

characterized by the proliferation of blood vessels

that are prone to leakage. Wet AMD can rapidly

lead to severe loss of central vision. The

underlying pathogenesis and sequence of events

that lead to AMD are partly due to the

accumulation of oxidized lipoproteins and the

subsequent macrophage infiltration that act as

triggers. Recently, CD36 has emerged as a new

biological target involved in lipid accumulation

and its modulation may be of interest in wet and

dry AMD treatment.

TECHNOLOGY The technology was developed

by internationally renowned scientists Drs. Ong

and Lubell from Université de Montréal, and

Dr. Chemtob from CHU Ste-Justine Research

Centre, and consists of a unique class of CD36

modulators that inhibits choroidal

neovascularization in a murine model of AMD.

These small synthetic azapeptides of 6 to 9

residues are specific ligands of the scavenger

receptor CD36.

RESULTS A structure-activity relationship study

was performed that identified lead compounds.

Proof of concept:

In vitro: Binding studies demonstrated

specificity towards CD36

Ex vivo: Inhibition of angiogenesis in the rat

aortic ring model

In vivo: Inhibition of choroidal

neovascularization in the laser injury murine

model.

Untreated Post Treatment

Figure above:

Flat mounts of the RPE/choroid/sclera showing the reduction of

choroid vessels detected using FITC-conjugated dextran following

the treatment with DBG178 (right panel) as compared to the

untreated control (left panel). The endothelial cells were visualized

in red using lectin (bandeiraea simplicifolia).

“BODY ELECTRONIC IMP LANT AND ARTIFICIAL V IS ION SYSTEM

VAL-566-620-MULTI

Contact info:

Louis Provencher, PhD, DESS Adm. Business Development Manager Gestion Univalor, LP Phone: 1-514-340-3243 Ext. 4498 Fax: 1-514-340-3204 [email protected]

Potential therapeutic application

o Wet AMD

o Dry AMD


A D VA N TA G E S D I SPO NI BL ES

Unique class of compounds

Complementary to anti -VEGF therapies

Proof-of-Principle

completed in vivo


P R O P E R T Y

2 PCT patent appl ication

f i led in 2009


Sciences engineering portfolio (2010 08 05)

Documents

Transcript of Sciences engineering portfolio (2010 08 05)