Florida Institute of Technology Available Technology

Spatial Domain Multiplexing
Invented by Dr. Murshid and Dr. Grossman
A novel and revolutionary spatial domain multiplexing technique for optical fibers has been developed. This technique provides a method to launch, transport and detect two or more optical channels operating at exactly the same wavelength inside an optical fiber. Hence the bandwidth of existing and new optical fiber systems can be doubled, tripled or increased by multiple folds. It adds a new dimension to existing multiplexing techniques and complements time division multiplexing (TDM) as well as wavelength/dense wavelength division-multiplexing (WDM/DWDM) techniques.
The Infinity Fan—3D Oscillation Via a Spherical Mechanism
Invented by Dr. Larochelle—Patent# 6,213,715
The Infinity Fan is designed to be either a desktop or standing fan with motion in both the vertical and horizontal directions. The motion that the spherical mechanism produces makes the fan face move in an “infinity” or sideways figure-eight pattern upon a spherical surface. The fan head spans 80 degrees in the horizontal plane and 40 degrees in the vertical plane. This path was developed to circulate the air in a room with the fan placed in a corner. The Infinity Fan provides both back-and-forth and up-and-down movement in a continuous sweeping motion—all powered by only one motor.
Antifouling Aging Testing Systems
Invented by Dr. Swain
At present, there is no clear alternative that provides similar performance. Present accumulation of fouling and surface roughening leads to significant economic, performance and ecological penalties to an industry critical for world economic exchange and growth: the shipping industry. The race is now on to develop reliable and environmentally acceptable alternatives. This requires a scientific testing protocol (http://ccbc.fit.edu) that imitates the service conditions experienced by the coatings.
Method for Accurate Lightning Strike Prediction
Invented by Dr. Dwyer and Dr. Rassoul
According to the National Lightning Safety Institute, the total annual cost of lightning damage to the United States is $4 billion to $5 billion. The ever-increasing reliance on microelectronics for critical business and governmental activity amplifies the potential damage that lightning can cause. A new technology developed by researchers at Florida Institute of Technology and the University of Florida can help mitigate that risk: a novel method for accurate lightning strike warning and after-the-fact strike location determination. An on-site instrument provides a 1 millisecond warning of an impending lightning strike to the site and after-the-fact evidence that lightning has struck within 100 meters of the instrument.
Detection of Emulated Environments via Stochastic Processes
Invented by Richard Ford
This is a novel method for detecting the presence of emulated environments on a computer system. The primary application of the invention is to detect the presence of “undetectable” debuggers that rely on system emulation. This is a new process for detection of such debuggers and environment which relies on the statistical properties of system call timing to detect their the presence. As such, it is not environment specific – it requires no prior knowledge of the emulated environment. The primary advantage of the method is that even complete system emulation is not sufficient to mask the present of the emulated environment. This solves an important problem related to the field of reverse engineering, where a software module is attacked via emulation. In particular, the emerging field of Digital Rights Management is particularly susceptible to such reverse engineering attacks.
 
Optical Sensor Technologies
Fiber Optic Liquid Level Detector
Invented by Dr. Murshid—Patent # 6,801,678
A new liquid-level-measurement technology based on fiber-optics has been developed as compact, lightweight
alternative to systems based on float gauges and other conventional sensors. For liquids that pose explosion
hazards, fiber-optic sensors are inherently safer because they do not include electrical connections inside
tanks.
Fiber-Optic Switch
Invented by Dr. Grossman and Dekate—Patent # 7,302,128
Most fiber-optic switches are addressed and function digitally. We have developed an Analog Fiber-Optic Switch (AFOS) having the favorable attributes of both wavelength and fiber type independence, a measured extinction ratio of 80 dB or more, low insertion loss, simple construction and low cost. In addition, our realization of AFOS provides analog modes of operation and may serve as an electronically controlled variable optical attenuator as well as functioning as an external analog or digital modulator.
Fiber-Optic Sensor
Invented by Dr. Grossman and Dekate—Patent# 7,286,237
 We have designed a novel three-mirror sensor that measures two independent parameters such as hydrogen concentration and the temperature simultaneously. The three-mirror sensor has the ability to extract two sets of parameter measurements simultaneously with a single sensor head and single wavelength, thereby minimizing system cost and complexity and increasing accuracy since both parameters are measured at the same spatial location.
 
Biomedical Technologies
New Device for Inhibiting Arterial Plaque Growth
Invented by Dr. Mitra -Patent # 6,847,700
When partial or complete closure of a coronary artery occurs, angioplasty is commonly performed to reopen the artery. However, the frustration of laser and balloon angioplasty is that in many cases the plaque quickly accumulates to reclose the artery and this phenomenon is called restenosis. A device has been developed to deliver externally generated ionizing dose of pulsed x-ray irradiation to the arterial wall to prevent restenosis. This device can be also used for other therapeutic applications such as irradiation of tumors with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
Optical Imaging Using Ultrafast Laser for Tumor Detection
Invented by Dr. Hsu - Patent # 6,738,659
The technology is a new approach of utilizing ultrafast laser for optical imaging. The conventional time-resolved optical imaging technologies rely on the computationally intensive inverse analysis for image reconstruction. This technology avoids that by selecting an optimum temporal pulse width based on the probed medium’s intrinsic radiative properties. Once the pulse width is determined, the time-resolved refl ectance signals can reveal the location and size of inclusion within the probed medium without resorting to the inverse analysis algorithm.
Optical Tomography System Using Short Pulse Laser for Early Cancer Diagnostics
Invented by Dr. Mitra
An advanced optical tomography (AOT) system is developed for in-vivo diagnosis of early cancer and tumors with high spatial and temporal resolution. The AOT imaging system using the time-resolved methods with pulsed excitation and gated detection is used to examine the response of tissue to an ultrashort incident pulsed laser source.
Methods and compositions for determining lipid peroxidation levels in oxidant stress syndromes and diseases
Invented by Garret, Rokach, Pratico, Trojanowski
The invention includes methods useful for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and the evaluation of enhanced levels of lipid peroxidation in a mammal. The methods utilize isoprostanes as sensitive and stable molecular markers for lipid peroxidation in a mammal. Methods of identifying compounds useful for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease or for reducing levels of lipid peroxidation in a mammal are also included. The invention also includes kits useful for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and for the evaluation of levels of lipid peroxidation in a mammal.