Document Document Title
US08368020B2 Particle beam system
A particle beam system comprises a particle beam source 5 for generating a primary particle beam 13, an objective lens 19 for focusing the primary particle beam 13 in an object plane 23; a particle detector 17; and an X-ray detector 47 arranged between the objective lens and the object plane. The X-ray detector comprises plural semiconductor detectors, each having a detection surface 51 oriented towards the object plane. A membrane is disposed between the object plane and the detection surface of the semiconductor detector, wherein different semiconductor detectors have different membranes located in front, the different membranes differing with respect to a secondary electron transmittance.
US08368019B2 Particle beam system
A particle beam system comprises a particle beam source 5 for generating a primary particle beam 13, an objective lens 19 for focusing the primary particle beam 13 in an object plane 23; a particle detector 17; and an X-ray detector 47 arranged between the objective lens and the object plane. The X-ray detector comprises plural semiconductor detectors, each having a detection surface 51 oriented towards the object plane. A membrane is disposed between the object plane and the detection surface of the semiconductor detector, wherein different semiconductor detectors have different membranes located in front, the different membranes differing with respect to a secondary electron transmittance.
US08368011B2 Ion detector
By detecting water clusters in expiration with high sensitivity, prevention of drink-driving and prevention of drowsy driving are performed. Also, device operation is performed in a non-contact manner. Problem: an effective method for prevention of drink-driving and prevention of drowsy driving for drivers has not been present. Effect: expiration can be sensed in a spatially-restricted place.
US08368010B2 Quadrupole mass spectrometer
A quadruple mass spectrometer capable of reducing a settling time-period necessary in a process of changing, in a pulsed or step-like pattern, a voltage to be applied to a quadruple mass filter in a scan or SIM measurement. In the SIM measurement, an optimal settling-time calculation sub-section sets a length of the settling time-period according to a difference ΔM between a next-measurement mass value and a mass value used in an adjacent measurement, and the next-measurement mass value. This makes it possible to shorten a duration of a repetitive cycle in the SIM measurement or increase a time-period assignable to a measurement operation, while ensuring a voltage stabilization time-period sufficient to detect ions having the next-measurement mass value.
US08368009B2 Device for use in normalizing readings on a testing machine
An example optic module verification device for use in periodic normalization of a testing machine used to test samples in wells is disclosed. The example testing machine includes a plurality of photon counters that each count photons emitted from different wells. The example verification device includes a plurality of verification wells located so as to each be associated with one of the photon counters when used in the testing machine. The example device also includes a photon emitter in each verification well, each photon emitter including a C14 source, a scintillator adjacent the C14 source, and a filter over the scintillator. The example photon emitters each have a determined initial base value for emitted photons, and each photon emitter is positioned in its verification well to emit photons through the filter to the associated photon counter when used in the testing machine.
US08368006B2 Driving a laser scanning section using a basic period of a pulse signal based on a period of a resonance frequency and accumulated period errors to produce a correction period quantity
A laser projector can generate a pulse signal capable of being generated according to the resolution of the clock signal, the pulse signal having a basic period and a basic pulse width each infinitely approximated to the characteristics of the resonance frequency. Moreover, because the laser projector can generate a pulse signal capable of correcting the errors led to be included in the approximated pulse signal, the laser projector can drive the scanning section with a horizontal vibration width corresponding to the resonance frequency, and can suitably display a projected image on a projection plane.
US08368002B2 In-line image sensor in combination with linear variable filter based spectrophotometer
A photosensitive apparatus including a full width array of photosensors and a first photosensor chip. The first photosensor chip including a linear array of photosensors having a plurality of pixels arranged in a long direction and a linear variable filter adapted to transmit at least ten unique bandwidths of wavelengths of light along a length of the linear variable filter where the linear variable filter is fixedly secured to the linear array. Each respective pixel receives a unique bandwidth of wavelengths of light as a light passes through the linear variable filter and the length is aligned with the long direction. The full width array of photosensors is arranged perpendicular to a process direction of a printing device.
US08367999B2 Solid state imaging device comprising dummy regions each containing a multiplication register and an amplifier
A multi-port solid-state imaging device of one embodiment includes an imaging region and a plurality of units. The imaging region contains a plurality of pixel columns. The units are arrayed in a direction in which the pixel columns are arrayed, and generate signals based on charges from the imaging region. Each unit has an output register, a multiplication register, and an amplifier. The output register transfers a charge from one or more corresponding pixel columns. The multiplication register receives the charge from the output register to generate a multiplied charge. The amplifier generates a signal based on the multiplied charge from the multiplication register. The solid-state imaging device contains a region where the units are provided, and a first dummy region and a second dummy region located on both sides in the above-mentioned direction of the region. In each of the first dummy region and the second dummy region, a multiplication register and an amplifier are provided.
US08367998B2 Image sensor having a charge pump circuit and a drive transistor
An image sensor includes a charge pump circuit supplying first to third signals having sequentially decreasing voltage levels, a reset transistor having a drain and a gate connected with the charge pump circuit to form a diode connection and receiving the first to third signals, a photodiode generating photocharges, a transfer transistor forming a series connection between the photodiode and the reset transistor, a floating diffusion region forming a parallel connection between the transfer transistor and the reset transistor and storing the photocharges, and a drive transistor connected with the floating diffusion region, the reset transistor, a power supply voltage terminal, and a unit pixel output terminal. A gate of the transfer transistor receives a turn-off voltage if the first or second signal is supplied, and receives a turn-off voltage or a turn-on voltage if the third signal is supplied.
US08367995B2 System and method for automatic positioning of a solar array
The system and method for automatic positioning of a solar array utilizes modular neural processors pre-trained from existing solar data to estimate the direction of the sun at any location and at any time, irrespective of the orientation or movement of the base unit, and to determine solar panel servo tracking system steering commands for optimal orientation of the solar panel surfaces towards the sun. The automatic positioning system may be used in power generation or water desalination facilities. The device integrates a GPS system, an electronic compass, and an inclination sensor for determination of the orientation of the base unit. Periodic control commands are issued to conventional servo systems for automatic steering of a solar array for maximum solar power acquisition to optimize energy gain versus energy consumption in steering.
US08367992B1 Aircraft, missile, projectile, or underwater vehicle with reconfigurable control surfaces
The present invention relates to an aircraft, missile, projectile, or underwater vehicle with an improved control system and a method for increasing the maneuverability or stability of an aircraft, missile, projectile, or underwater vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for increasing the maneuverability or stability of an aircraft, missile, underwater vehicle or projectile through the use of removable control surfaces. The technical advantage of the removable control surface system (or “removable control surface”) over other systems is that the removable control surface system enables the aircraft, missile, underwater vehicle or projectile to have two or more design configurations, each configuration being tailored to the aircraft, missile, projectile, or underwater vehicle's specific stability or maneuverability requirements during a specific portion of the flight.
US08367990B2 Modular commercial microwave oven
A microwave oven cabinet is ergonomic designed to provide for both stacking and jigsaw-type back-to-back interlining of multiple units of the microwave ovens. In particular, the cabinet configuration advantageously establishes a reduced footprint, ergonomically designed microwave oven which can be effectively employed in various fields, including fast food chains wherein multiple such ovens may need to be functionally positioned in a limited area, while still being easily accessible.
US08367987B2 Flexible PTC heating element and method of manufacturing the heating element
The flexible PTC heating element according to the invention has one of the following constitutions. A portion of an electrodes and a PTC resistor is impregnated into a flexible substrate. A flexible substrate is made of resin foam or rubber material having a concave/convex shape formed on the surface. The flexible PTC heating element has an elongation deformation portion disposed to at least one of an electrode and a PTC resistor. A flexible substrate has adhesiveness and either a flexible substrate or a flexible cover material has an elongation control portion. Therefore, the flexible PTC heating element is highly flexible and excellent in vibration durability.
US08367981B2 Baking apparatus, baking method and method of reducing gap width
A baking apparatus including a hot plate and a substrate rotation member is provided. The hot plate has a heating surface. The substrate rotation member includes a rotation ring and a plurality of support arms. The rotation ring is configured to surround the hot plate. The support arms are disposed over the heating surface of the hot plate. Each of the support arms includes a connection part and a support part, wherein the connection part is configured to connect the rotation ring and the support part, and a supporting surface of the support part for supporting the substrate is higher than the heating surface of the hot plate.
US08367980B2 Method for controlling the humidity level in a cooking oven
A method for controlling the humidity level in a cavity of a cooking oven provided with a steam generator comprises the monitoring of the power delivered to the steam generator in order to maintain the power to a predetermined value that is correlated to a choice made by the user among a plurality of predetermined values corresponding to different values of at least one cooking parameter, particularly the degree of browning of the food.
US08367978B2 Hybrid infrared convection paint baking oven and method of using the same
An infrared convection paint baking oven comprising a tunnel having an entrance and exit, the tunnel having top and side walls equipped with air ducts that communicate with a at least one air pressure blower to form an air plenum in the interior of said tunnel. The oven is equipped with at least one exhaust to re-circulate heated air and vent moisture and volatiles from said tunnel. The exhaust communicates said pressure blower with air make up and an RTO. The re-circulated air flow is divertible from the exhaust to the furnace to control temperature and VOC emissions. Infrared light assemblies are arranged in said tunnel interior on the top and side walls such that air from said plenum is circulated around said light assemblies to form a convection air current. The light assemblies are in close proximity to each other at the entrance and along a distance of said tunnel to form a warm up zone. The light assemblies are spaced further apart along the remainder of said tunnel length toward said exit to form a curing zone.
US08367977B2 Food product heating device with food heating slot between heating elements
A compact portable heating device adapted to heat multiple food products simultaneously is provided. The heating device includes at least one heating element positioned opposite at least one other heating element to form a slot between heating surfaces of the elements for receiving food product. One heating element is mounted to move linearly along a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the heating surfaces. Preferably, a first set of movable heating elements are meshed with a second set of heating elements to form an alternating arrangement. One or more heat generators, e.g. steam generators, are positioned to provide heat while minimizing the size of the device.
US08367975B2 Temperature adjustment method
A temperature adjustment method is provided to improve operating efficiency and reduce costs. Control of a heating unit in a thermal processing system including a heating control section is performed based on a first output control pattern obtained by subjecting a detection temperature provided by a first temperature detecting unit to an integral operation, a differential operation, and a proportional operation under a condition of a first set of temperature-setting conditions, a second output control pattern obtained by determining a first heat quantity in a period from the start of an increase in temperature detected by a second temperature detecting unit until the temperature inside the processing chamber reaches a maximum temperature, and using a second heat quantity obtained by subtracting the part of the output provided by the proportional operation from the first heat quantity.
US08367974B2 Electric shaver
A hair cutting device (100) comprising: a housing (106); a detector adapted to detect motion of the device with respect to a skin surface (400) against which the device is juxtaposed; a hair cutting head (300) having a heated wire (260) suitable for heating hair growing from the skin, the hair cutting head being movable between a first, hair cutting position and a second retracted position at which the wire is removed from the vicinity of the skin; a controller (118) adapted to move the cutting head to the first position or to the second position when it does not responsive to said detected motion.
US08367973B2 Heater with temperature detecting device and battery structure with the heater
A heater with temperature detecting device, arranged to accurately detect the temperature of a laminated sheet heater over long periods, and a battery structure including the same. A first embodiment includes a laminated sheet heater and a temperature sensor having a temperature measuring portion. The laminated sheet heater includes first and second insulating resin films, a heater element, a first metal sheet, and a second metal sheet and includes a heater metallic section in which, any one of only the first metal sheet and only a combination of the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet is arranged in a lamination layering direction of the laminated sheet heater. The temperature sensor is fastened to the heater metallic section with a flat rivet and fixed to an outer surface of the first metal sheet with the temperature measuring portion in contact with the first metal sheet.
US08367972B2 Systems and methods for diagnosing secondary weld errors
A controller for a welding system adapted to determine a value of a weld secondary parameter across a weld secondary component based on a sensed parameter is provided. The controller may also be adapted to compare the determined value to a reference value range and to alert a user to a presence and location of a weld secondary error when the determined value is outside the referenced value range.
US08367971B2 Method of working material with high-energy radiation
According to the present invention, a method of working material with high-energy radiation is provided, wherein a polymer matrix (1) is irradiated with high-energy radiation, in particular with a laser beam (9), wherein the radiation is focused onto a focal point (11) and the focal point (11) is set such that the focal point (11) lies behind the surface (3) of the polymer matrix (1) facing the radiation, and material removal is brought about at the polymer matrix (1), and consequently a reaction space (13) is created within the polymer matrix (1).
US08367967B2 Method and apparatus for repairing thermal barrier coatings
A method and apparatus for repairing a thermal barrier coating on components in gas turbine engines and the like. The apparatus includes a microplasma spray gun having an anode, cathode, and an arc generator for generating an electric arc between the anode and cathode. The apparatus includes a nozzle for emitting arc gas into the electric arc. The electric arc is operable for ionizing the gas to create a plasma gas stream. A powder injector injects powdered thermal barrier coating material into the plasma gas stream. Defective areas of the thermal barrier coating can be patched on the component without masking the component.
US08367966B2 Ceramic plasma reactor and reaction apparatus
The ceramic plasma reactor includes: a plurality of unit electrodes each of which comprises a plate-shaped ceramic dielectric body 4 and a conductive film 3 embedded in the ceramic dielectric body superimposing them each other with a gap which works as a discharge portion 11, and preferably being formed by sandwiching one unit electrode 2b having no through holes 15 by two unit electrodes having plural through holes 2a there between. A partition wall plate 9 is provided by facing one of unit electrodes on a side opposite to the gap and being held by a holding member 7 at a predetermined distance so as to form there between a gas introducing-circulating portion 21 for introducing and circulating gas in the through-holes 15 so as to send gas introduced to the gap between the unit electrodes as a discharge portion by applying a voltage thereto to generate plasma.
US08367960B2 Process for rail restoration and rail manufacture using welding
A method for restoring a worn rail section includes cleaning a worn surface of a rail section to expose a clean metal surface, heating the rail section to a first temperature before welding, welding new metal on the clean metal surface of the rail section after heating the rail section to the first temperature, heating the rail section to a second temperature after the welding to heat-treat a heat-affected area caused by the welding, and shaping the rail section, wherein the welding is performed by a gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process.
US08367955B2 Illuminated wall switch
An electrical switch includes a housing and at least two electrical terminals. A pivoting toggle is provided within the housing for controlling the electrical connection between the two terminals. A light source is mounted to the housing in a fixed position and a length of optically conductive material extends from within the toggle to adjacent the light source, such that, when the light source is on, light is visible through the toggle via the optically conductive material.
US08367950B2 Key module for mobile device
The key module for the mobile device includes a key top 6; a base plate 2 on which a fixed-side contact 7 is disposed; a dome 4 that is disposed on the fixed-side contact 7; a dome sheet 5 that covers the dome 4; an LED module 3 disposed on the base plate 2; and a light guide plate 1 that is disposed on the dome sheet 5. Such a configuration causes light emitted by the LED module 3 propagates within the light guide plate, and exits the light from an exit surface of the light guide plate on the key top 6 side. The light guide plate 1 is formed by inkjet printing a dot pattern in white ink onto a surface of a base material formed from a thermosetting polyurethane elastomer sheet, which surface is opposite to the exit surface of the light guide plate.
US08367949B2 Electric operating device of vehicle seat
An electric operating device includes an operation member for operating to activate a plurality of electric functions provided at a vehicle seat. The operation member is disposed at a position outside of the vehicle seat allowing operation by a seated person seated on the vehicle seat. The operation member is constructed to be capable of operating to pivot about an axis and operating to move to slide in a diametrical direction. Further, an operation structure for pivoting about the axis for switching a pivoting position of the operation member is configured as an electric function mode switching structure for selecting the electric function as an operational object from the plurality of electric functions. Further, a slide moving operating structure for switching a slide position in the diametrical direction of the operation member is configured as an activation control structure for operating to activate the electric function selected as the operational object.
US08367947B2 Anti-ghosting keyboard
A computer keyboard is disclosed to remediate the phantom key or ghosting problem. Diodes are added to the PCB or contact-receptive membrane to eliminate reverse current, which is responsible for phantom key strikes. These one-way diodes increase the number of possible concurrent combinations that a microcontroller with limited inputs can support.
US08367946B2 Micrometering device
A micrometering device for metering and weighing free-flowing bulk materials, such as, for example, flour, powder or fine-grain granules, is described. A reliable weighing with small batch sizes may be achieved, by arranging a weighing container for the weighing device separate from a reservoir for the product for weighing.
US08367944B2 Cable and flexible conduit gland
A cable and flexible conduit gland for securing a cable and a flexible conduit to a box member is disclosed to include a casing having a middle stop flange extending around the periphery thereof, a first fastening member and a second fastening member formed integral with the periphery thereof and respectively disposed at two opposite sides relative to the middle stop flange ad and a tapered inner surface portion located on the inside wall, a collar inserted into the casing and having a tapered front extension fitting the tapered inner surface of the casing, an elastic packing ring stopped against the rear end of the collar, and a holding-down cap fastened to the first fastening member of the casing to hold down the collar and the packing ring and to lock the inserted flexible conduit and cable together.
US08367942B2 Low profile electrical interposer of woven structure and method of making same
An electrical interposer for connecting two electronic devices includes a plurality of first cores with undulating structure extending in a first direction and a plurality of second cores with undulating structure extending in a second direction angular with the first direction. Each first core has first peaks and first valleys alternately arranged in the first direction and each first peak is electrically connected with a corresponding neighboring first valley but insulated from others. Each second core has second peaks and second valleys alternately arranged in the second direction and each second peak is electrically connected with a corresponding neighboring second valley but insulated from others. The first cores and the second cores interlace with each other to reach a woven structure with the first peaks and the second peaks jointly constituting an upper interface, and the first valleys and the second valleys jointly constituting a lower interface.
US08367937B2 Printed circuit board with a signal line pair and method of manufacturing the same
A first insulating layer is formed on a suspension body. A write wiring trace is formed on the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed on the first insulating layer to cover the write wiring trace. A write wiring trace and read wiring traces are formed on the second insulating layer. The write wiring trace is arranged above the write wiring trace. The write wiring trace includes a conductor layer and reinforcing alloy layers. The reinforcing alloy layers are sequentially formed to cover an upper surface and side surfaces of the conductor layer.
US08367933B1 Data cables with improved pair property balance
A communication cable can comprise twisted pairs of electrical conductors for transmitting electrical signals, such as for digital communication or data transmission. The pairs can be twisted to different lengths, thereby managing interference among the pairs. The electrical conductors of the pairs can be individually insulated with a polymeric material comprising a base polymer that is foamed with a gas such as nitrogen. The respective foaming levels of the electrical conductors in each pair can be selected to balance electrical properties among the pairs.
US08367931B2 Segmented decompression resistant cable splice and method of installation
An electrical splice, resistant to decompression failure for use in gassy hydrocarbon wells, is segmented thereby permitting the installation of the splice quickly and efficiently. The segmented cable splice provides a passage into which is inserted an electrical crimping union which provides a detent to engage a ridge on the interior passage of the segmented sleeve. When each sleeve is complete, the exterior surface of the complete splice is either cylindrical or flat; and covered by protective transition covers having epoxy encapsulating each contained conductor line back to the armored cover, thereby providing mechanical protection and inhibiting movement of the spliced conductors within the splice connection.
US08367930B2 Grounding mechanism for electronic device
A grounding mechanism is used for an electronic device. The electronic device includes a housing and a battery cover. The grounding mechanism typically includes an elastic member including a main portion, a first bent portion, a second bent portion and a clamping portion. The main portion is attached to the housing. The first bent portion and the second bent portion respectively extend from two opposite ends of the main portion. The clamping portion extends from one side of the main portion, and includes two arms for clamping one part of the battery cover.
US08367919B2 Musical support apparatus
Embodiments of the inventive technology relate generally to item support apparatus. Although a focus of the inventive technology may, in some embodiments, be on support of musical related items such as musical instruments, keyboards, and sound speakers, the scope of the inventive technology and its applicability is not necessarily limited as such. In various embodiments, certain inventive technology provides enhanced functionality (e.g., stand adjustability), robust and simplified design (e.g., as may be found in a retention augmented item stand), enhanced performance (as may be found in a telescoping tube lock apparatus), and an ability to more easily control the elevation and lowering of heavy, stand supported items such as speakers.
US08367917B2 Hoop for a drum and method of making the same
A hoop for securing a drum head to a drum, the hoop having a lower portion configured to mount the hoop to a shell of the drum and a flange formed in the lower portion of the hoop. The flange being configured to receive a tension control device for tuning the drum head. The hoop may also include an upper portion that is above and normal to the flange and an annular upper edge formed on the upper portion of the hoop that is rolled over and bent inward toward an inner peripheral surface of the hoop. The upper portion may be fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the hoop be welding or another method of fixing.
US08367915B1 String compact adjustment apparatus
A string compact adjustment apparatus installed on a head of a stringed instrument includes a tuning peg, a pintle, a string holder, a holding ring, a clamp ring and a compact bushing. The pintle runs through the head. The holding ring and clamp ring run through the pintle and fixedly couple on the head. The string holder is fastened to one end of the pintle close to the holding ring, and the tuning peg is fastened to another end thereof. The compact bushing has a contact surface and the clamp ring has a mating latch surface. The compact bushing is pushed by the tuning peg to allow the contact surface to tightly press the latch surface so that the compact bushing is fixedly coupled on the tuning peg and the tuning peg is fixed without turning reversely, thus string tone can be maintained for a long duration.
US08367912B1 Maize variety hybrid X8F933
A novel maize variety designated X8F933 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X8F933 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X8F933 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X8F933, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X8F933. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X8F933.
US08367909B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH460162
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH460162. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH460162, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH460162 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH460162.
US08367906B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV774864
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV774864. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV774864, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV774864 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV774864 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV774864.
US08367905B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH226366
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH226366. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH226366, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH226366 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH226366.
US08367903B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV385282
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV385282. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV385282, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV385282 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV385282 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV385282.
US08367897B2 Soybean variety A1024230
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1024230. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1024230. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1024230 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1024230 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08367889B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV352638
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV352638. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV352638, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV352638 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV352638 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV352638.
US08367885B2 Method of preparing multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalysts with controlling pH and a method of preparing 1,3-butadiene using thereof
This invention relates to a method of preparing a multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalyst by changing the pH of a coprecipitation solution upon coprecipitation and a method of preparing 1,3-butadiene using the catalyst. The multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalyst, coprecipitated using a solution having an adjusted pH, the preparation method thereof, and the method of preparing 1,3-butadiene through oxidative dehydrogenation using a C4 mixture including n-butene and n-butane as a reactant are provided. The C4 raffinate, containing many impurities, is directly used as a reactant without an additional process for separating n-butane or extracting n-butene, thus obtaining 1,3-butadiene at high yield. The activity of the multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalyst can be simply increased through precise pH adjustment upon coprecipitation, which is not disclosed in the conventional techniques. This method can be applied to the increase in the activity of multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalysts reported in the art.
US08367877B2 Methods of purifying 1,2,4-butanetriol
Methods of purifying BT are disclosed. The method comprises adding at least one polyhydroxyl compound to a crude BT mixture comprising BT and at least one boron-containing compound to form a polyhydroxyl compound/BT mixture. In one embodiment, the polyhydroxyl compound/BT mixture is then heated to a temperature greater than the boiling point of BT but less than the boiling point of the at least one polyhydroxyl compound. In another embodiment, the polyhydroxyl compound/BT mixture is heated to a temperature greater than the melting point of the at least one polyhydroxyl compound, and then to a temperature greater than the boiling point of BT but less than the boiling point of the at least one polyhydroxyl compound. A composition comprising BT is also disclosed.
US08367873B2 Phenyl-substituted bicyclooctane-1,3-dione derivatives
The invention relates to novel compounds of the formula (I) in which X, Y, Z, A, B and G have the meanings given above, to a plurality of processes and intermediates for their preparation and to their use as pesticides and/or herbicides. Moreover, the invention relates to selective herbicidal compositions comprising, firstly, the phenyl-substituted bicyclooctane-1,3-dione derivates 33 and, secondly, a crop plant compatibility-improving compound.The present invention furthermore relates to increasing the activity of crop protection compositions comprising in particular phenyl-substituted bicyclooctane-1,3-dione derivates by adding ammonium salts or phosphonium salts and, if appropriate, penetrants, to the corresponding compositions, to processes for their preparation and to their use in crop protection as insecticides and/or acaricides and/or for preventing unwanted plant growth.
US08367872B2 Close-bonded diffractive optical element, optical material used therefor, resin precursor, and resin precursor composition
To obtain a close-contact multi-layer type diffractive optical element having a homogeneous high-refractive-index and low-dispersion resin layer, an acrylate-terminated oligomer, obtained by allowing excess bifunctional acrylate to react with bifunctional thiol, is used as a resin precursor for the high-refractive-index and low-dispersion resin layer.
US08367871B2 Process for production of optically active sulfoxide compound using iron-salan complex catalyst
An optically active sulfoxide compound that is useful as an intermediate for synthesis or an active ingredient of a physiologically active substance such as a pharmaceutical agent is produced at a high optical purity. A process for producing an optically active sulfoxide compound of formula (4) comprises oxidizing a sulfide compound of formula (3) in the presence of an optically active metal complex of formula (1), (1′), (2) or (2′) by using an oxidizing agent. The present invention is also directed to the optically active metal complex.
US08367870B2 Autocatalytic polyols
The present invention provides polymeric polyol compositions employing polyol compounds having multiple tertiary amine groups. Methods of making these compositions are also disclosed. Polyol formulations containing these polymeric polyol compositions and methods of making polyurethane gel and foam employing such polymeric polyol compositions are also provided.
US08367869B2 Aromatic amine derivative and organic electroluminescence device using the same
To attain an organic electroluminescence device having a long lifetime and high luminous efficiency, and is capable of emitting blue light having a high color purity, and an aromatic amine derivative for realizing the device, the present invention provides an aromatic amine derivative having a specific structure, and an organic electroluminescence device including an organic thin film layer composed of one or more layers including at least a light emitting layer and interposed between a cathode and an anode, in which at least one layer of the organic thin film layer contains the aromatic amine derivative alone or as a component of a mixture.
US08367868B2 Process for the synthesis of aryloxypropylamine and heteroaryloxypropylamine
The present invention relates to a process for the synthesis of aryloxypropylamine and heteroaryloxypropylamine of formula I: where: A is aryl or heteroaryl, where the aryl is preferably a phenyl, optionally substituted, selected from benzyl and tolyl and the heteroaryl is preferably thiophenyl; Y is an aryl, preferably phenyl, a substituted phenyl or a naphthyl, where the substituted phenyl is preferably selected from tolyl, trihalomethyltolyl and alkoxytolyl, starting from a suitable amino alcohol of formula II:
US08367867B2 Process and plant for urea production
A process for producing urea is disclosed, wherein liquid ammonia and carbon dioxide are reacted in a high-pressure synthesis section (100), and at least part of the carbon dioxide is fed to said synthesis section (100) in liquid phase. A plant operating according to said process and a method for modernizing existing plants accordingly are also disclosed.
US08367866B2 Single-source precursor and methods therefor
A single-source precursor composition includes R3B.NX3, where B is boron, N is nitrogen, and the R groups and the X groups are selected from hydrogen, alkyl groups, and aryl groups. At least one of the R groups is an alkyl group or an aryl group.
US08367859B2 Cyclohexane 1,4 carboxylates
The present invention relates to cyclohexanes having carboxylate derivatives at the 1 and 4, and optionally the 2, position. The invention also relates to processes for preparing such compounds wherein a portion of the starting materials utililzed is derived from renewable resources.
US08367858B2 Terephthalic and trimellitic based acids and carboxylate derivatives thereof
The present invention relates to novel substituted and unsubstituted terephthalic acid and carboxylate derivatives and products prepared therefrom having a significant renewable content. The invention also relates to processes for preparing substituted and unsubstituted terephthalic and carboxylate derivatives thereof wherein a portion of the starting materials utilized is derived from renewable resources. The invention also relates to novel cyclohexene based intermediates prepared in these processes and to conversion of these intermediates to substituted and unsubstituted cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylates and carboxylate derivatives thereof and novel forms of the resulting products having renewable content. The invention also relates to products prepared from substituted and unsubstituted terephthalic acid and carboxylate derivatives thereof derived from starting materials derived from renewable resources.
US08367853B2 Method and system for forming a precursor compound for non-bridged unsymmetric polyolefin polymerization catalyst
The present techniques relates generally to polyolefin catalysts and, more specifically, to preparing a precursor compound for an unsymmetric metallocene catalyst, for using the precursor compound to prepare catalysts, and for employing the precursor compounds to prepare catalysts for polyolefin polymerizations.
US08367852B2 Preparation of bile acids and intermediates thereof
Synthetic methods for preparing deoxycholic acid and intermediates thereof are provided.
US08367851B2 Hydroxymethylfurfural reduction methods and methods of producing furandimethanol
A method of reducing hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) where a starting material containing HMF in a solvent comprising water is provided. H2 is provided into the reactor and the starting material is contacted with a catalyst containing at least one metal selected from Ni, Co, Cu, Pd, Pt, Ru, Ir, Re and Rh, at a temperature of less than or equal to 250° C. A method of hydrogenating HMF includes providing an aqueous solution containing HMF and fructose. H2 and a hydrogenation catalyst are provided. The HMF is selectively hydrogenated relative to the fructose at a temperature at or above 30° C. A method of producing tetrahydrofuran dimethanol (THFDM) includes providing a continuous flow reactor having first and second catalysts and providing a feed comprising HMF into the reactor. The feed is contacted with the first catalyst to produce furan dimethanol (FDM) which is contacted with the second catalyst to produce THFDM.
US08367847B2 Production of monatin enantiomers
Methods for the preparation of the high intensity sweetener, monatin, 3-(1-amino-1,3-dicarboxy-3-hydroxy-but-4-yl)indole, its salts and internal condensation products thereof, including methods applicable to the large-scale production of monatin are described.
US08367838B2 Amines or amino alcohols as GLYT1 inhibitors
The invention relates to the use of compounds of formula I wherein the substituents are described in the description and claims for the treatment of psychoses, dysfunction in memory and learning, schizophrenia, dementia, attention deficit disorders or Alzheimer's disease. The invention also relates to some compounds of formula I and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
US08367835B2 Cyclic amine-1-carboxylic acid ester derivative and pharmaceutical composition containing the same
Provided is a compound useful as a therapeutic drug for pain and inflammation caused by various pathological conditions such as neuropathic pain and rheumatoid arthritis. The compound of the formula (I) or a salt thereof [wherein R1 is a methyl group or a hydrogen atom, R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkylcarbonyl group or an aryl carbonyl group, A represents a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkenyl group, an aryl group or a heteroaryl group (each group may be substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl and halogen), n and m each represent an integer of 1, 2 or 3, and p represents an integer of 0, 1, 2 or 3].
US08367833B2 Process for producing 6-aryloxyquinoline derivative and intermediate therefor
Disclosed is a process for producing 6-aryloxyquinoline derivatives useful as insecticides or fungicides for agricultural and horticultural use. The process comprises a cyclization reaction step of reacting an anthranilic acid derivative represented by general formula (1) with a kenone in the presence of an acid to obtain a quinolone derivative and a condensation reaction step of reacting the quinolone derivative with a halogen compound or an acid anhydride to obtain a quinoline derivative.
US08367832B2 Crystalline forms of Nelfinavir mesylate
The present invention provides novel crystalline forms of Nelfinavir mesylate, Form-A, Form-B, Form-C, Form-D and the process for their preparation without the use of any special equipment such as a spray drier, avoiding the use of highly flammable solvents such as ethers. The crystalline form can be tailored with the selection of the ante solvent and appropriate conditions for the process.
US08367831B2 Heterocyclic compound or salt thereof and intermediate thereof
Disclosed is a compound represented by the general formula: wherein R1 represents an aryl or heterocyclic group which may be substituted or the like; X1 represents a C2-C4 alkylene group or the like; X2, X3 and X5 independently represent NH, a bond or the like; X4 represents a lower alkylene group, a bond or the like; Y1 represents a bivalent alicyclic hydrocarbon residue which may be substituted or a bivalent alicyclic amine residue which may be substituted; and Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5 and Z6 independently represent a nitrogen atom, a group represented by the formula: CH, or the like, provided that at least one of Z3, Z4, Z5 and Z6 represents a nitrogen atom, or a salt thereof, which is useful as an antibacterial agent.
US08367822B2 Compositions and methods for bone formation and remodeling
The mechanism by which the high bone mass (HBM) mutation (G171V) of the Wnt coreceptor LRP5 regulates the canonical Wnt signaling was investigated. The mutation was previously shown to reduce Dkk protein-1-mediated antagonism, suggesting that the first YWTD repeat domain where G171 is located may be responsible for Dkk protein-mediated antagonism. However, we found that the third YWTD repeat, but not the first repeat domain, is required for DKK1-mediated antagonism. Instead, we found that the G171V mutation disrupted the interaction of LRP5 with Mesd, a chaperon protein for LRP5/6 that is required for the coreceptors' transport to cell surfaces, resulting in less LRP5 molecules on the cell surface. Although the reduction in the level of cell surface LRP5 molecules led to a reduction in Wnt signaling in a paracrine paradigm, the mutation did not appear to affect the activity of coexpressed Wnt in an autocrine paradigm. Together with the observation that osteoblast cells produce autocrine canonical Wnt, Wnt7b, and that osteocytes produce paracrine Dkk1, we believe that the G171V mutation may cause an increase in Wnt activity in osteoblasts by reducing the number of targets for paracrine Dkk1 to antagonize without affecting the activity of autocrine Wnt.
US08367820B2 Optically active ammonium salt compound, production intermediate thereof, and production method thereof
Disclosed is an optically active quaternary ammonium salt compound represented by the formula (1) below. Also disclosed are a production intermediate of such an optically active quaternary ammonium salt compound, and a method for producing such an optically active quaternary ammonium salt compound. (1) (In the formula, R1, R2, R21, R3 and R4 respectively represent an alkyl group, an aryl group or the like; R5 and R6 respectively represent an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or the like; and X− represents an anion.)
US08367817B2 Reagents for isolation of purified RNA
Compositions and methods to isolate intact RNA that is substantially free of DNA, termed purified RNA. RNA from any source (e.g., human, other animals, plants, viruses, etc.) may be isolated. In one embodiment, the sample is treated with phenol at a pH less than 4.0 and purified RNA is recovered from the aqueous phase. In another embodiment, RNA is precipitated from an acidified sample containing a low volume of an organic solvent. Other embodiments are disclosed. The same inventive composition may be used for several embodiments with pH adjustment. Purified RNA obtained by the inventive method may be used in assays where DNA contamination is undesirable, such as the polymerase chain reaction.
US08367814B2 Assay for BCR/ABL gene rearrangement
The present invention provides a simple high-throughput assay for detecting bcr/abl translocations. The method includes qualitative PCR methods for identifying the particular amplified translocation (e1a2 or b2a3/b3a2) and real time PCR for quantifying an amount of bcr/abl transcript (e1a2, b2a3 and b3a2). Quantitative measurement of bcr/abl transcript in accordance with the methods of the invention is useful for monitoring response to therapy.
US08367812B2 Preparation of organosilicon compounds
The synthesis of purified functionalized organosilicon compounds containing at least one active azo group having formula (I): [(G0)3SiO1/2]m[(G0)2SiO2/2]n[G0SiO3/2]o[SiO4/2]p[(G2)a(G1)a′(Z—CO—HN═NH—CO-A)SiO(3-a-a′)/2] entails providing at least one hydrazino (—HN—NH—) precursor (II) of the compound (I) and oxidizing the precursor (II) into an azo group specific to the compound (I) with the aid of an oxidizing system comprising at least one oxidant (Ox) and at least one base (B), wherein 1) Ox is selected from among the oxidants that can oxidize a hydrazine function into an azo function, with or without the exclusion of N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), 2) and/or Ox (optionally B) is/are employed in stoichiometric quantities in relation to the precursor (II); 3) and/or the organosilicon compounds (I) thus prepared are subjected to a purification post-treatment to eliminate any unwanted residues of the base B used, with the proviso that, when NBS is not excluded, characteristic (1) is combined with characteristic (2) and/or characteristic (3).
US08367809B2 Composite materials comprising supported porous gels containing reactive functional groups
This invention relates to a composite material that comprises a support member that has a plurality of pores extending through the support member and, located in the pores of the support member, and filling the pores of the support member, a macroporous cross-linked gel. The invention also relates to a process for preparing the composite material described above, and to its use. The composite material is suitable, for example, for separation of substances, for example by filtration or adsorption, including chromatography, for use as a support in synthesis or for use as a support for cell growth.
US08367805B2 Fc variants with altered binding to FcRn
The present application relates to a variant Fc region comprising at least one modification relative to a wild-type human Fc region, where the modification selected from the group consisting of 434S, 252Y/428L, 252Y/434S, and 428L/434S, and the numbering is according to the EU index.
US08367803B2 Synthetic repetitive proteins, the production and use thereof
A repetitive protein having repetition units comprising the consensus sequence (I) X1 X2 X3 X4 S X5 X6 Y G wherein X1 is G, Y, A or N X2 is G, L, Q X3 is R, K, T or P X4 is P, A, T or S X5 is D, T or S X6 is S, Q or T, and the consensus sequence (II) Z1 Z2 (Z3A)nZ4 Z5 Z6 wherein Z1 is S, Q, N, T or G Z2 is not an amino acid or A Z3 is A or G Z4 is not an amino acid, A or S Z5 is G, S, Q, N or T Z6 is G, P, S, Q, N or T n is a natural whole number, wherein 2≦n≦12.
US08367797B2 Nitro compound, amine compound and polyamide derived therefrom
A polyamide represented by formula (6) is provided. The polyamide is fabricated by performing a polycondensation reaction with amine compound shown in formula (4) and an acid or derivative thereof shown in formula (5) as monomers. In formulas (5) and (6), X represents aromatic groups or aliphatic groups. In formula (5), R represents OH group or halogen.
US08367794B2 Polyisocyanate mixtures
The invention relates to liquid polyisocyanate mixtures, to a process for their preparation and to their use in single- and two-component polyurethane coating compositions.
US08367793B2 Swellable materials and methods of use
One aspect of the present invention includes a swellable sol-gel composition including a plurality of interconnected organosilica nanoparticles. Another aspect of the present invention includes a swellable composite including a plurality of interconnected organosilica nanoparticles and a particulate material capable of binding to or reacting with a non-polar or organic sorbate. When dried, the sol-gel composition and the swellable composite may be capable of swelling to at least twice their dried volume when placed in contact with a non-polar or organic sorbate.
US08367792B2 Polysiloxane compound and method of producing the same
A polysiloxane represented by the formula (1) or (2): where R, R1, R2, m and n are defined in the specification.
US08367788B2 Catalytic process for preparing (meth)acrylic esters of N-hydroxyalkylated lactams
A process for catalytically preparing (meth)acrylic esters of N-hydroxyalkylated lactams and to the use thereof.
US08367785B2 Method for controlling a process for polymerisation of an olefin
Method for controlling a process for polymerising at least one olefin in a reaction zone, the process including in the reaction zone a reaction mixture and polymer particles, the reaction mixture containing a principal olefin and at least one further reagent. The method involves using the ratio of at least one further reagent to principal olefin in the polymer particles in the reaction zone or in the amorphous phase of the polymer particles.
US08367784B2 Continuous dosing of extremely fast initiators during polymerization reactions
The invention pertains to a process wherein initiators having a half-life from 0.0001 hour to 0.05 hour at the polymerization temperature are dosed to a polymerization mixture. The dosing of such initiator allows improved control of the polymerization rate and faster polymerization rates, and the process will render a polymer with very low residual initiator levels.
US08367777B2 Adhesive block ethylenic copolymers, cosmetic compositions containing them and cosmetic use of these copolymers
A linear, block copolymer, which is useful in cosmetics and improves the styling power and hold of hair laquer, adhesion of nail varnish and hold/adhesion of makeup, includes at least two blocks having different glass transition temperatures, Tg; where at least one of said blocks has a glass transition temperature of 20° C. to −100° C., and wherein the at least one block having a Tg of 20° C. to −100° C. is a copolymer B having a first monomer wherein the Tg of the corresponding homopolymer is in the range from more than 20° C. to 200° C., and a second monomer wherein the Tg of the corresponding homopolymer is in the range from 20° C. to −100° C.
US08367774B2 Process for agglomeration of superabsorbent polymer fine particles
Among other things, a process for producing an agglomerated superabsorbent polymer particle and an agglomerated superabsorbent polymer particle are disclosed. The process comprises the steps of: (A) bringing superabsorbent polymer fine particles having at least about 40 wt. %, a particle size of less than about 150 μm into contact with a fluid comprising to more than about 10 wt. % a cross-linkable, uncrosslinked polymer based on polymerized, ethylenically unsaturated, acid group-bearing monomers or salts thereof; and (B) cross-linking the uncrosslinked polymer by heating the superabsorbent polymer fine particles and the fluid to a temperature from about 20 to about 300° C., so that the cross-linkable, uncrosslinked polymer at least partially crosslinks.
US08367769B2 Silicon-based nanosilicon composites and fabrication methods
Embodiments of the invention provide silicon-based nanoparticle composites, where the silicon nanoparticles are highly luminescent. Preferred embodiments of the invention are Si—O solid composite networks, e.g., glass, having a homogenous distribution of luminescent hydrogen terminated silicon nanoparticles in a homogenous distribution throughout the solid. Embodiments of the invention also provide fabrication processes for silicon-based silicon nanoparticle composites. A preferred method for forming a silicon-based nanoparticle composite disperses hydrogen terminated silicon nanoparticles and an inorganic precursor of an organosilicon gel in an aprotic solvent to form a sol. A catalyst is mixed into the sol. The sol is then permitted to dry into a gel of the silicon-based nanoparticle composite.
US08367768B2 Encapsulant compositions and method for fabricating encapsulant materials
An encapsulant composition is provided. The encapsulant composition includes at least one silane-containing monomer and at least one resin monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic resin monomers and epoxy resin monomers, a filler of about 0.1-15 wt % of the encapsulant composition, and an initiator. The invention also provides a method for fabricating an encapsulant material.
US08367767B1 Friction lining for wet clutch
A friction lining for a wet clutch, in particular for a converter lockup, the clutch containing the ingredients—cellulose fibers, aramid fibers, fillers and a bonding agent. To provide a cost-effective friction lining suitable for the application under the conditions of a converter lockup clutch, it is proposed to admix powdered nutshell of percentage weight between 1% and 40%.
US08367764B2 Acrylic copolymer for use in highly filled composites
The invention relates to an acrylic copolymer additive useful as a process aid in highly filled polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) composites. The acrylic additive is especially useful in highly filled PVC flooring tiles, rolled flooring, pipe and siding. The acrylic copolymer additive contains from 50 to 79 weight percent of methyl methacrylate monomer units, and has a Tg of less than 90° C.
US08367763B2 Polyethylene composition for pressure pipes with enhanced flexibility
The present invention relates to a polyethylene composition comprising a base resin which comprises (a) an ethylene homo- or copolymer fraction (A); and (b) an ethylene homo- or copolymer fraction (B), wherein (i) fraction (A) has a lower average molecular weight than fraction (B); (ii) the base resin has a density of 940 to 947 kg/m3; (iii) the polyethylene composition has an MFR5 of 0.1 to 0.5 g/10 min; and (iv) the polyethylene composition has an SHI(2.7/210) of 10 to 49. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an article, preferably a pipe comprising said composition and to the use of said composition for the production of an article, preferably a pipe.
US08367760B1 Non-black rubber membranes
A roofing membrane comprising an olefinic rubber; and from about 20 to about 250 parts by weight of a silica filler per 100 parts by weight rubber; wherein the silica filler is chemically coupled to the olefinic rubber; and wherein the roofing membrane is non-black.
US08367752B2 Gel coat formulation
New gel coat composition, in particular new marine gel coat compositions, a process for their manufacture as well as their use to coat surfaces of articles exposed to light, water and solvents. The gel coats incorporate a precipitated silica having A BET surface of from 150 to 250 m2/g A SiO2 content of more than or equal to 98.5% by weight A Na2O content of less than or equal to 0.5% by weight.
US08367748B2 Surface-modified fillers
A filler which is surface-modified with a compound of the formula [(PG)-R1—Z]n—SP—[Y—R2-(AG)]m is particularly suitable for use in dental materials, for the preparation of adhesives, coatings and composites.
US08367743B2 Adhesion promoting photoinitiators for UV cured coatings over metal surfaces
Compounds containing both photoinitiator moieties and adhesion promoting moieties and coating formulations containing them are disclosed, in particular, durable UV cured primer layers for coil coatings. One embodiment includes a coated metal surface which comprises a metal substrate with at least one surface immediately adjacent to a coating layer comprising a photoinitiator chemically bound to an adhesion promoter is disclosed.
US08367741B2 Biomass high efficiency hydrothermal reformer
A method of producing synthesis gas by mixing a carbonaceous feed comprising at least one carbonaceous material with superheated steam to produce a reformer feedstock and reforming the reformer feedstock to produce a first synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide by introducing the reformer feedstock into a plurality of coiled tubes within a reformer at a reformer temperature and a reformer pressure at which at least a portion of the reformer feedstock is converted to synthesis gas.
US08367740B2 Hydrolysis resistant organomodified disiloxane ionic surfactants
An asymmetric organomodified disiloxane surfactant having the formula: MM′ wherein M comprises branched hydrocarbon substituents and M′ comprises a cationic, anionic or zwitterionic substituent and a polyether substituent that may be combined as one moiety, wherein the disiloxane surfactant has an enhanced resistance to hydrolysis between a pH of about 3 to about 12.
US08367732B2 Di-fluoro containing compounds as cysteine protease inhibitors
The present invention is directed to compounds that are inhibitors of cysteine proteases, in particular, cathepsins B, K, L, F, and S, and are therefore useful in treating diseases mediated by these proteases. The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and processes for preparing them.
US08367727B2 Method of using abscisic acid to treat diseases and disorders
Methods and compositions for treating inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal inflammation and maintaining normal gut health are described. These methods of the invention involve the administration of abscisic acid in amounts sufficient to alter the expression or activity of PPAR gamma in a cell. Also described are methods for suppressing the expression of cellular adhesion molecules in the gut and methods for increasing CTLA-4 expression on CD4+ T cells through administration of abscisic acid.
US08367726B2 Acid salt of tolterodine having effective stability for transdermal drug delivery system
The present invention relates to an acid salt of tolterodine with superior stabililty and useful as a transdermal drug delivery system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel acid salt of tolterodine with superior stabililty to the conventional acid salts of tolterodine, which is useful as a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of overactive bladder and can be formulated into a transdermal drug delivery system.
US08367723B2 Selenoquinone-derived active organometallic complexes, methods for synthesizing same, and uses thereof
The present invention relates to the synthesis of novel biologically active selenoquinone-derived organometallic complexes, and to the uses thereof in the context of preventing or treating cancer.
US08367718B2 Epigallocatechin gallate trimer and α-glucosidase inhibitor containing epigallocatechin gallate polymer
The present invention provides an α-glucosidase inhibitor containing a novel epigallocatechin gallate trimer and an epigallocatechin gallate polymer. Decomposition of starch derived from a meal and sugar derived from a polysaccharide can be suppressed by α-glucosidase inhibitory action, thus suppressing absorption. A food and drink excellent in α-glucosidase inhibitory action for suppressing sugar absorption and further for preventing diabetes for a long time can be provided by adding the α-glucosidase inhibitor to a food and drink.
US08367714B2 Cannabinoid receptor targeted agent
Compounds of the following formula: wherein X is H or substituted with with at least one X being substituted; and halo is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine; and stereoisomers and conjugable analogs thereof.
US08367705B2 Iminosugars and methods of treating bunyaviral and togaviral diseases
Provided are novel methods of treating and/or preventing a disease or condition caused by or associated with a virus belonging to the Bunyaviridae or Togaviridae family using iminosugars, such as DNJ derivatives.
US08367703B2 Method of treating a sore throat
A composition comprising an antacid, and a local, topical anesthetic. The composition is used to relieve pain or discomfort associated with a sore throat, and therefore, the invention is also directed to a method of alleviating the pain or discomfort associated with a sore throat comprising instructing a human to orally administer the composition.
US08367701B2 Crystalline pharmaceutical and methods of preparation and use thereof
Novel crystalline polymorphic forms, Forms A, B, C, D, and E of a compound of Formula I, which has been found to be a potent inhibitor of LFA-1, are disclosed. Methods of preparation and uses thereof in the treatment of LFA-1 mediated diseases are also disclosed in this invention.
US08367700B2 Substituted 4-(1.2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl)-4-oxobutyric acid amide as KCNQ2/3 modulators
The invention relates to substituted tetrahydroisoquinolinyl-4-oxobutyric acid amides, methods for the preparation thereof, medicinal products containing these compounds and the use of these compounds for the preparation of medicinal products.
US08367696B2 Aza-bridged-ring compound
[PROBLEMS] Provided is a compound which has an antagonistic action on a muscarinic M3 receptor and is useful as an active ingredient of a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for an inflammatory disease such as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and the like.[MEANS For SOLVING PROBLEMS] The present inventors have made studies on a compound having an antagonistic action on the binding of a muscarinic M3 receptor, and they have found that an aza-bridged-ring compound or a salt thereof has an antagonistic action on the binding of a muscarinic M3 receptor, thereby completing the present invention. The aza-bridged-ring compound of the present invention has an antagonistic action on the binding of a muscarinic M3 receptor, and can be used as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for an inflammatory disease such as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and the like.
US08367694B2 Carboline derivatives useful in the inhibition of angiogenesis
In accordance with the present invention, compounds that inhibit the expression of VEGF post-transcriptionally have been identified, and methods for their use provided. In one aspect of the invention, compounds useful in the inhibition of VEGF production, in the inhibition of angiogenesis, and/or in the treatment of cancer, diabetic retinopathy or exudative macular degeneration are provided. In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for the inhibition of VEGF production, the inhibition of angiogenesis, and/or the treatment of cancer, diabetic retinopathy or exudative macular degeneration using the compounds of the invention.
US08367692B2 Spiro (piperidine-4,2′-pyrrolidine)-1-(3,5-trifluoromethyl phenyl) methylcarboxamides as NK1 tachikynin receptor antagonists
Compounds of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. wherein R is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl; R1 is hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, C(O)OH, C(O)NH2 or (C1-4 alkylene)R10; R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl or R2 together with R3 and together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a C3-8 cycloalkyl group; R4 is C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy or halogen; R5 and R7 are independently hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen, C(O)NH2, C(O)OH or (C1-4 alkylene)R10; R6 and R8 are independently hydrogen or halogen; R9 is hydrogen, (C1-4 alkylene)R10, C(O)NH2, C(O)OH or R9 together with R form a 6 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing a further heteroatom selected from oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen; R10 is hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C(O)NH2, C(O)NH(C1-4 alkyl), C(O)N(C1-4 alkyl)2 or C(O)OH; n is 0, 1 or 2. processes for their preparation, to compositions containing them and to their use in the treatment of diseases and conditions for which antagonism of NK1 is beneficial.
US08367684B2 Derivatives of 4-(N-azacycloalkyl) anilides as potassium channel modulators
This invention provides potassium channel modulators which are compounds of formula I where at least one of W and Z is N; where the moiety is one of Groups A or B below A where Ar is a 1,2-fused, six membered ring aromatic group, bearing substituents R1 and R2 as defined below, and containing zero or one ring nitrogen atom; and where other substituents are defined herein. The invention also provides a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least one of the following: i) a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of formula I and ii) a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or prodrug thereof. The invention also provides a method of preventing or treating a disease or disorder which is affected by activities of potassium channels, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I or a salt, ester, or prodrug thereof.
US08367683B2 Composition and method for treatment of warts
Provided is a composition comprising 5-FU and salicylic acid. This composition is useful as a treatment for warts. As opposed to conventional compositions and methods, this composition need only be applied once a day. Also provided are methods for the preparation and use of the composition for treatment of warts.
US08367681B2 Pyrazolopyrimidines and related heterocycles as kinase inhibitors
The invention provides compounds of general formula (I) that inhibit selected kinases (Pim and/or CK2 kinases) and compositions containing such compounds. These compounds and compositions are useful for treating proliferative disorders such as cancer, as well as other kinase-associated conditions including inflammation, pain, and certain infections and immunological disorders.
US08367678B2 Treatment for spinal muscular atrophy
A method of treating spinal muscular atrophy. The method includes administering an effective amount of composition including a sodium-proton exchanger inhibitor and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or salt, to a subject with spinal muscular atrophy to ameliorate a symptom of spinal muscular atrophy.
US08367676B2 2-carboxamide-7-piperazinyl-benzofuran derivatives 774
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), wherein R1 is heteroaryl or heterocyclyl, optionally substituted; R2 is C1-4alkyl, heterocyclyl, C1-4alkylaryl, C1-4alkylheteroaryl, carbocyclyl, C1-4alkylheterocyclyl, heterocyclyl-heteroaryl, aryl-heterocyclyl, carbocyclyl-heteroaryl, heterocyclyl-aryl, optionally substituted; R3 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl, or R2 and R3 may together with the nitrogen atom, form a saturated ring system containing 4, 5 or 6 ring forming atoms, and optionally substituted; R4 is hydrogen, halogen, methyl or methoxy; to pharmaceutical composition containing said compounds and to the use of said compounds in therapy, for instance in treating cognitive disorders. The present invention further relates to new intermediates useful in the preparation thereof.
US08367675B2 Compounds and method for treatment of cancer
The present invention is directed to methods of use of a compound of Formula I: and/or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, tautomer, optical isomer, or combination thereof, a composition comprising the thiosemicarbazone, a method of administration thereof, and use thereof to treat a cancer.
US08367674B2 Piperazine derivatives
This invention relates to novel compounds that are piperazine derivatives, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to novel piperazine compounds that are derivatives of the chemokine CCR5 receptor antagonist, vicriviroc. This invention also provides pyrogen-free compositions comprising one or more compounds of the invention and a carrier and the use of the disclosed compounds and compositions in methods of treating diseases and conditions that are treated by administering chemokine CCR5 receptor antagonists, such as vicriviroc. The invention also relates to the use of one or more of the disclosed compounds as reagents in analytical studies involving vicriviroc.
US08367673B2 Substituted diketopiperazines as oxytocin antagonists
A method of treating or preventing diseases or conditions mediated through the action of oxytocin which comprises administering to a human in need thereof of an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08367668B2 Pyridazinone derivatives
Compounds of the formula (I), in which R1, R2 and R3 have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, are inhibitors of tyrosine kinases, in particular Met kinase, and can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of tumours.
US08367666B2 3-carbamoyl-2-pyridone derivatives
The present invention provides compounds having an agonistic activity to the cannabinoid receptor, which is represented by the formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and G are defined as herein, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions, atopic dermatitis treating agents, and anti-pruritus agents, especially anti-pruritus agents for oral used and for external application, which each contains the said compound as an active ingredient.
US08367664B2 Substituted 3-(5-membered unsaturated heterocyclyl-1, 3-dihydro-indol-2-one's and derivatives thereof as kinase inhibitors
The present invention relates to organic molecules capable of modulating tyrosine kinase signal transduction in order to regulate, modulate and/or inhibit abnormal cell proliferation.
US08367660B2 Modulators of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator
The present invention relates to modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator, compositions thereof, and methods therewith. The present invention also relates to methods of treating diseases using such CFTR modulators.
US08367653B2 Azetidinyl diamides as monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitors
Disclosed are compounds, compositions and methods for treating various diseases, syndromes, conditions and disorders, including pain. Such compounds are represented by Formula (I) as follows: wherein Y, Z, R1, and s are defined herein.
US08367652B2 Methods of treating hypertriglyceridemia
In various embodiments, the present invention provides methods of treating and/or preventing cardiovascular-related disease and, in particular, a method of blood lipid therapy comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising eicosapentaenoic acid or a derivative thereof.
US08367645B2 Compositions and methods for treating hyperproliferative diseases
The invention relates to a composition that includes a first agent selected including an agent that possesses anti-inflammatory activity or acetaminophen, phenacetin, tramadol and the like; a second agent selected from the group consisting of an oxidative phosphorylation inhibitor, an ionophore, and an adenosine 5-monophosphate-activated Protein kinase (AMPK) activator; a third agent that possesses or maintains serotonin activity.
US08367642B2 Methods of preventing or treating diseases and conditions using complex carbohydrates
The invention relates to a method of preventing and treating diseases and conditions associated with allergies, autoimmunity, the adhesion cascade, the metastatic cascade or the coronary cascade comprising administering (i) at least one complex carbohydrate as the sole active ingredient, or (ii) at least one pharmaceutical composition which comprises as an active ingredient a pharmacologically effective amount of at least one low purity or cosmetic grade complex carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of oligosaccharides, sialylated oligosaccharides, polysaccharides and glycosaminoglycans, and an effective amount of at least one transdermal or transmucosal carrier in an amount effective to deliver the complex carbohydrate into the blood stream.
US08367641B2 Use of modified oligo-β-(1,3)-glucans for treating diseases of the immune system, oligo-β-(1,3)-glucan-(1,3)-mannose, oligo-β-(1,3)-glucan-(1,3)-mannitol and derivatives thereof, methods for preparing them and medicaments containing them
The present invention relates to the use of at least one compound of formula (I) or (II), in which R1 is H and n is an integer from 2 to 10, for the preparation of a medicament for treating diseases chosen from the group comprising tumour, cancer, viral disease, bacterial disease, fungal disease, disease of the immune system, auto-immune disease or disease linked to a deficiency in immunostimulation, in human beings and warm-blooded animals. The invention also relates to new products having a mannose or mannitol termination as well as a method for preparing them.
US08367640B2 Complex consisted of a polysaccharide and an HBP
The invention relates to a complex consisted of a polysaccharide and an HBP, said polysaccharide being consisted from glycoside bonds of (1,6) and/or (1,4) and/or (1,3) and/or (1,2) type and functionalized with at least one salifiable or salified tryptophan derivative. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a complex according to the invention and to the use of a polysaccharide consisted of glycoside bonds of (1,6) and/or (1,4) and/or (1,3) and/or (1,2) type and functionalized with at least one salifiable or salified tryptophan derivative, for the preparation of a pharmaceutical formulation of stable HBPs.
US08367638B2 Galactose-pronged polysaccharides in a formulation for antifibrotic therapies
Methods and compositions for reducing fibrosis and cirrhosis are provided in which an effective dose of an admixture of a polysaccharide compound and, for example, a compound selected from the group consisting of antibodies specific to intracellular or cell-surface: (i) beta-PDGF receptors; (ii) synaptophysin; (iii) zvegf3; (iv) CCR1 receptors; (v) connective tissue growth factor; (vi) alpha 1-smooth muscle actin; (vii) matrix metalloproteinases MMP 2 and MMP9; (viii) matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors TIMP1 and TMP2; (ix) integrins; (x) TFG-β1; (xi) endothelin receptor antagonists; and (xii) collagen synthesis and degradation modulating compounds; (xiii) actin synthesis and degradation modulating compounds; and (xiv) tyrosine kinases is administered to an animal in order to treat fibrosis.
US08367637B2 Composition for treating arthritic disorder
The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating a joint disease containing as an active ingredient thereof a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid for which the endotoxin level thereof has been lowered to an extent that does not substantially induce inflammation or fever. As a result, it is possible to provide a composition for treating a joint disease which has the effects of protecting cartilage from mechanical irritation, inhibiting degenerative changes in cartilage caused by wear and inflammation, repairing cartilage injuries, suppressing inflammation and pain of joint tissue, inhibiting degeneration of synovial tissue, and inhibiting osteochondral destruction.
US08367636B2 Composition based on salts of hyaluronic acid for treating epithelial lesions
Compositions based on physiologically acceptable salts of hyaluronic acid having very low viscosity, usable for the treatment and prevention of epithelial lesions and lesions of the connective tissue.
US08367632B2 Methods for reverting methylation by targeting methyltransferases
Methods for restoring a desired pattern of DNA methylation, inducing re-expression of methylation-silenced tumor suppressor genes (TSGs), and/or inhibiting tumorigenicity both in vitro and in vivo in a subject in need thereof by administering an effective amount of one or more miR-29s sufficient to target one or more of DNMT3A and DNMT3B are disclosed.
US08367629B2 MCP-1 binding nucleic acids and use thereof
The present invention is related to a nucleic acid molecule capable of binding to MCP-1, whereby the nucleic acid molecule is for use as a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of a chronic disease or chronic disorder, preferably selected from the group consisting of chronic respiratory disease, chronic kidney disease and systemic lupus erythematosus.
US08367626B2 Elastin-like polymer delivery vehicles
In invention concerns elastin-like polymer (ELP) delivery compositions and methods for the use thereof. In some aspects ELP compositions may be used to deliver therapeutic nucleic acids, polypeptides of small molecules. In some aspects, in vivo delivery with ELP compositions can directed to specific target sites by the application of local hyperthermia therapy. Compositions and methods for ELP gene therapy are provided.
US08367623B2 Glycolipid and medicine for autoimmune disease containing the same as active ingredient
The invention is a glycolipid useful in treating autoimmune diseases and a medicine thereof as active ingredient for autoimmune diseases, represented by the formula wherein R1 is an aldopyranose group, R2 is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, R3 is —CH2—, —CH(OH)—CH2— or —CH═CH—, R4 is a hydrogen atom or CH3, x is 0-35, y and z represent integers satisfying y+z=0-3.
US08367616B2 Use of a granulin or a granulin-like compound in the therapy or prophylaxis of chronic pains
The invention relates to the use of a granulin or a granulin-like compound for producing a pharmaceutical composition for the therapy or prophylaxis of chronic pain, in particular for neuropathic pain.
US08367615B2 Stimulation of neuron regeneration by secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor
The present invention provides methods for stimulating neuronal survival, growth and regeneration by administering SLPIs to animals, such as humans. These methods can be used to treat a variety of neurological conditions such as neural injuries and degenerative diseases in subjects in need thereof.
US08367614B2 Rheumatoid arthritis-preventive agent for oral intake
There is provided a rheumatoid arthritis inhibitor for oral intake that has an inhibitory effect on rheumatoid arthritis and is excellent in safety. The rheumatoid arthritis inhibitor for oral intake of the present invention contains, as an active component, a casein hydrolysate containing free amino acids and peptides obtained by hydrolyzing animal milk casein to have an average chain length of not longer than 2.1 in terms of the number of amino acid residues, or a mixture of free amino acids and peptides contained in the hydrolysate.
US08367611B2 Activin-actriia antagonists for inhibiting germ cell maturation
In certain aspects, the present invention provides compositions and methods for decreasing FSH levels in a patient. The patient may, for example, be diagnosed with an FSH-related disorder or desire to delay or inhibit germ cell maturation.
US08367609B2 Methods of reducing skin damage and edema
This application features methods of treating (e.g., reducing, ameliorating, or preventing) skin damage (e.g., induced by UVB) by decreasing the level or activity of VEGF-A, e.g., in the skin, of a subject.
US08367605B2 Copolymer-1 improvements in compositions of copolymers
The present invention relates to an improved composition of copolymer-1 comprising copolymer-1 substantially free of species having a molecular weight of over 40 kilodaltons.
US08367601B2 Liquid concentrated fabric softener composition
Disclosed are concentrated liquid rinse cycle fabric softener compositions comprising a quaternary ammonium cation and benzylated alcohol solvent having between 50% to 90% weight active ingredients. Benzyl alcohol is disclosed as a preferred solvent to produce a clear liquid solution formulation rather than emulsion. The concentrated liquid rinse cycle fabric softener compositions of the present invention possess desirable stability, sustainability and fabric-softening properties. Methods of use are further described.
US08367596B2 Laundry detergent compositions in the form of an article
A laundry additive article comprises surfactant, water-soluble and/or water-dispersible film-forming polymer, plasticizer, bleach, suds suppressor and Remaining Water. The article is in the form of a first flexible porous dissolvable solid structure having a dry density and having a Percent open cell content.
US08367592B2 Lubricant for metallic material working and a method of press working a metallic material
To provide a lubricant for metallic material working and a method of press working a metallic material that makes it possible to improve the working accuracy of a press worked product and prolong the life of the die assembly beyond prior levels of life. [Solution] A lubricant for metallic material working comprises a mixture of a sulfur-based extreme pressure agent, an organic zinc compound, a calcium-based additive, and an ester compound, with lubricant base oil. The sulfur-based extreme pressure agent has a sulfur content of 5% by weight or higher based on the total weight of the lubricant. The organic zinc compound has a zinc content of 0.5% by weight or higher based on the total weight of the lubricant. The calcium-based additive has a calcium content of 0.5% by weight or higher based on the total weight of the lubricant. And the ester compound occupies a content of 1.0% by weight or higher based on the total weight of the lubricant. Additionally, the solution includes a method of press working a metallic material that employs such a lubricant.
US08367590B2 Gelled hydrocarbons for oilfield processes and methods of use
Gelled liquid hydrocarbons and methods for gelling hydrocarbons and treating subterranean wellbores employ a phosphorus compound of the formula: wherein, X is a straight chained alkyl or alkoxy group having 5 to 18 carbon atoms in combination with a polyvalent metal source.
US08367589B2 Polysaccharide treatment fluid and method of treating a subterranean formation
A treatment fluid for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore is formed from an aqueous medium, a diutan heteropolysaccharide having a tetrasaccharide repeating unit in the polymer backbone and a peroxide breaker. A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore may be carried out by introducing the treatment fluid into the formation through the wellbore. Breaking aids or catalysts may also be used with the treatment fluid.
US08367586B2 Collection and methods for its use
The present disclosure enables collections of variable heavy chain and variable light chain pairs comprising, in part, germline protein sequences that are pre-selected for functional properties relevant to developability, wherein the collections may be used to select against any antigen using, for example, phage display.
US08367578B2 Non-zeolite base metal SCR catalyst
An article for treating a gas containing nitrogen oxides having a monolith substrate loaded with a catalytic composition containing at least one catalytic component consisting of (i) at least one transition metal dispersed on a mixed oxide or composite oxide or a mixture thereof as support material consisting of cerium and zirconium; or (ii) cerium oxide and zirconium oxide as single oxides or a composite oxide thereof or a mixture of the single oxides and the composite oxide dispersed on an inert oxide support material, wherein at least one transition metal is dispersed thereon, wherein the at least one transition metal is selected from the group consisting of a metal from Group VIB, IB, IVA, VB, VIIB, and VIII and mixtures of any two or more thereof, provided that at least one selected transition metal is tungsten, wherein the catalytic composition is disposed on said monolith substrate.
US08367576B2 Charge-dispersing alpha prime-beta prime SiA1ON
Industrial blast nozzles are disclosed which have liners made, at least in part, from a SiAlON-containing ceramic material which has a surface resistance of about 12 megaOhms or less and an erosion rate of about 1.9×10−4 cm3/g or less. The SiAlON-containing ceramic material preferably contains a two-phase SiAlON, silicon carbide, and a conductive phase that is one or more of titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, zirconium nitride, and titanium carbide.
US08367573B2 Glass composition and its applications
A glass composition substantially free from lead and bismuth and containing vanadium oxide and phosphor oxide as main ingredients, wherein the sintered glass of the glass composition exhibits 109 Ωcm or more at 25° C.
US08367572B2 Optical glass
An optical glass has a composition including: 40 to 65 mass % of P2O5, and 0 to less than 5 mass % of Li2O+Na2O+K2O. In the optical glass, (MgO+CaO)/(Li2O+Na2O+K2O) which is a ratio of the total content expressed in mass % of MgO and CaO to the total content expressed in mass % of Li2O, Na2O, and K2O, is in a range from 6 to 38.
US08367568B2 Wet wipes having a liquid wipe composition with an organopolysiloxane
The present disclosure generally relates to wet wipes having liquid wipe compositions that including an organopolysiloxane that reduces sheet-to-sheet adhesion, improves the stack height, increases flexibility and maintains strength in the wet wipe. The liquid wipe compositions include an organopolysiloxane having the following structure: wherein p+q=1 to 2000, R1 is independently selected from a monovalent hydrocarbon group or hydroxyl group, and R2 and R3 are independently selected from a monovalent hydrocarbon group, a hydroxyl group, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in amine, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in polyether, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in quaternary, and a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in polyampholyte.
US08367564B2 Crystallization method of amorphous silicon layer
A crystallization method is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a substrate having an amorphous silicon layer, wherein the substate has first and second sides opposing each other and irradiating a laser beam onto the substrate so as to have an inclined angle with respect to the first and second sides of the substrate. The method further includes relatively moving one of the laser beam and the substate with respect to the other i) in a first direction from the first side to the second side of the substate and ii) in a second direction which crosses the first direction.
US08367561B2 Method in depositing metal oxide materials
The present invention relates to a method for enhancing uniformity of metal oxide coatings formed by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) or ALD-type processes. Layers are formed using alternating pulses of metal halide and oxygen-containing precursors, preferably water, and purging when necessary. An introduction of modificator pulses following the pulses of the oxygen-containing precursor affects positively on layer uniformity, which commonly exhibits gradients, particularly in applications with closely arranged substrates. In particular, improvement in layer thickness uniformity is obtained. According to the invention, alcohols having one to three carbon atoms can be used as the modificator.
US08367560B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes the steps of forming a silicate film by performing a first step of forming a metal oxide film on a silicon substrate, and a second step of inducing a solid phase reaction between the metal oxide film and a surface of the silicon substrate by heat treatment, and forming a high dielectric constant insulating film on the silicate film.
US08367556B1 Use of an organic planarizing mask for cutting a plurality of gate lines
An organic planarizing layer (OPL) is formed atop a semiconductor substrate which includes a plurality of gate lines thereon. Each gate line includes at least a high k gate dielectric and a metal gate. A patterned photoresist having at least one pattern formed therein is then positioned atop the OPL. The at least one pattern in the photoresist is perpendicular to each of the gate lines. The pattern is then transferred by etching into the OPL and portions of each of the underlying gate lines to provide a plurality of gate stacks each including at least a high k gate dielectric portion and a metal gate portion. The patterned photoresist and the remaining OPL layer are then removed utilizing a sequence of steps including first contacting with a first acid, second contacting with an aqueous cerium-containing solution, and third contacting with a second acid.
US08367555B2 Removal of masking material
Methods for removing a masking material, for example, a photoresist, and electronic devices formed by removing a masking material are presented. For example, a method for removing a masking material includes contacting the masking material with a solution comprising cerium. The cerium may be comprised in a salt. The salt may be cerium ammonium nitrate.
US08367554B2 Methods for forming a gate and a shallow trench isolation region and for planarizing an etched surface of silicon substrate
A method for forming a gate, which can improve the etching uniformity of the sidewalls of the gate, includes the following steps: forming a dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a polysilicon layer on the dielectric layer; etching the polysilicon layer; performing an isotropic plasma etching process on the etched polysilicon layer by using a mixed gases containing a fluorine-based gas and oxygen gas; and cleaning the semiconductor substrate subjected to the isotropic plasma etching process, thereby forming a gate. The present invention further provides a method for forming a shallow trench isolation region, which can improve the filling quality of a subsequent spacer and the electrical properties of the resultant shallow trench isolation region, and a method for planarizing an etched surface of silicon substrate, which can improve the etching uniformity of the surface of silicon substrate.
US08367553B2 Method for manufacturing through-silicon via
A method for manufacturing TSVs comprises following steps: A stack structure having a substrate, an ILD layer and a dielectric stop layer is provided, in which an opening penetrating through the ILD layer and the dialectic stop layer and further extending into the substrate is formed. After an insulator layer and a metal barrier are formed on the stack structure, a top metal layer is formed on the stack structure to fulfill the opening. A first planarization process stopping on the metal barrier is conducted, wherein the first planarization process has a polishing rate for removing the metal barrier less than that for removing the top metal layer. A second planarization process stopping on the dielectric stop layer is conducted, wherein the second planarization process has a polishing rate for removing the insulator layer greater than that for removing the dielectric stop layer. The dielectric stop layer is than removed.
US08367552B2 Method for fabrication of in-laid metal interconnects
The present invention relates to a method for fabrication of in-laid metal interconnects. The method comprises the steps of providing a substrate with a dielectric material on top thereof, depositing a protection layer on top of the dielectric material, depositing a sacrificial layer on top of the protection layer, the sacrificial layer having a mechanical strength that is lower than the mechanical strength of the protection layer, making an opening) through the sacrificial layer, through the protection layer and into the dielectric material, depositing a barrier layer in the opening and on the sacrificial layer, depositing metal material on the barrier layer, the metal material filling the opening, removing portions of the metal material existing beyond the opening by means of polishing, and removing the barrier layer and the sacrificial layer in one polishing step.
US08367551B2 Spin-printing of etchants and modifiers
The present invention is directed to processes for printing compositions containing etchants or modifiers onto surfaces by spinning a filament from a viscoelastic polymer solution containing an etchant or modifier. The present invention also relates to viscoelastic compositions used in the printing processes, and devices made therefrom.
US08367550B2 Fabricating low contact resistance conductive layer in semiconductor device
A conductive layer may be fabricated on a semiconductor substrate by loading a silicon substrate in to a chamber whose inside temperature is at a loading temperature in the range of approximately 250° C. to approximately 300° C., increasing the inside temperature of the chamber from the loading temperature to a process temperature, and sequentially stacking a single crystalline silicon layer and a polycrystalline silicon layer over the silicon substrate by supplying a silicon source gas and an impurity source gas in to the chamber, where the chamber may be, for example, a CVD chamber or a LPCVD chamber.
US08367545B2 System and method for monitoring copper barrier layer preclean process
A monitor wafer for use in monitoring a preclean process and method of making same are described. One embodiment is a monitor wafer comprising a silicon base layer; a capping layer disposed on the silicon base layer; and a barrier layer disposed on the USG layer. The monitor wafer further comprises a copper (“Cu”) seed layer disposed on the barrier layer; and a thick Cu layer disposed on the Cu seed layer.
US08367544B2 Self-aligned patterned etch stop layers for semiconductor devices
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes patterning a photoresist layer formed over a homogeneous semiconductor device layer to be etched; subjecting the semiconductor device to an implant process that selectively implants a sacrificial etch stop layer that is self-aligned in accordance with locations of features to be etched within the homogeneous semiconductor device layer, and at a desired depth for the features to be etched; etching a feature pattern defined by the patterned photoresist layer into the homogenous semiconductor device layer, stopping on the implanted sacrificial etch stop layer; and removing remaining portion of the implanted sacrificial etch stop layer prior to filling the etched feature pattern with a fill material.
US08367543B2 Structure and method to improve current-carrying capabilities of C4 joints
A system and method comprises depositing a dielectric layer on a substrate and depositing a metal layer on the dielectric layer. The system and method further includes depositing a high temperature diffusion barrier metal cap on the metal layer. The system and method further includes depositing a second dielectric layer on the high temperature diffusion barrier metal cap and the first dielectric layer, and etching a via into the second dielectric layer, such that the high temperature diffusion barrier metal cap is exposed. The system and method further includes depositing an under bump metallurgy in the via, and forming a C4 ball on the under bump metallurgy layer.
US08367540B2 Interconnect structure including a modified photoresist as a permanent interconnect dielectric and method of fabricating same
A photoresist conversion that changes a patterned photoresist into a permanent patterned interconnect dielectric is described. The photoresist conversion process includes adding a dielectric enabling element into a patterned photoresist. The dielectric enabling element-containing photoresist is converted into a permanent patterned dielectric material by performing a curing step. In one embodiment, a method is described that includes providing at least one photoresist to an upper surface of a substrate. At least one interconnect pattern is formed into the at least one photoresist. A dielectric enabling element is added to the patterned photoresist and thereafter the patterned photoresist including the dielectric enabling element is cured into a cured permanent patterned dielectric material. The cured permanent patterned dielectric material includes the dielectric enabling therein.
US08367537B2 Flash memory cell with a flair gate
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of forming a memory cell. The method includes etching a trench in a substrate and filling the trench with an oxide to form a shallow trench isolation (STI) region. A portion of an active region of the substrate that comes in contact with the STI region forms a bitline-STI edge. The method further includes forming a gate structure over the active region of the substrate and over the STI region. The gate structure has a first width substantially over the center of the active region of the substrate and a second width substantially over the bitline-STI edge, and the second width is greater than the first width.
US08367535B2 Method of fabricating semiconductor device
Example embodiments herein relate to a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method may include forming a liner insulating layer on a surface of a gate pattern to have a first thickness. Subsequently, a gap fill layer may be formed on the liner insulating layer by flowable chemical vapor deposition (FCVD) or spin-on-glass (SOG). The liner insulating layer and the gap fill layer may be recessed such that the liner insulating layer has a second thickness, which is smaller than the first thickness, in the region in which a metal silicide will be formed. Metal silicide may be formed on the plurality of gate patterns to have a relatively uniform thickness using the difference in thickness of the liner insulating layer.
US08367534B2 Non-uniformity reduction in semiconductor planarization
Provided is a method of planarizing a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a substrate. The method includes forming a first layer over the substrate. The method includes forming a second layer over the first layer. The first and second layers have different material compositions. The method includes forming a third layer over the second layer. The method includes performing a polishing process on the third layer until the third layer is substantially removed. The method includes performing an etch back process to remove the second layer and a portion of the first layer. Wherein an etching selectivity of the etch back process with respect to the first and second layers is approximately 1:1.
US08367533B2 Semiconductor devices including doped metal silicide patterns and related methods of forming such devices
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. The method includes forming an interlayer dielectric on a semiconductor substrate, forming a contact hole in the interlayer dielectric to expose the semiconductor substrate, forming a metal pattern including a dopant on the exposed semiconductor substrate, and performing a heat treatment process to react the semiconductor substrate with the metal pattern to form a metal silicide pattern. The heat treatment process includes diffuses the dopant into the semiconductor substrate.
US08367532B2 Semiconductor device and fabrication method
A semiconductor device in one embodiment has a first connection region, a second connection region and a semiconductor volume arranged between the first and second connection regions. Provision is made, within the semiconductor volume, in the vicinity of the second connection region, of a field stop zone for spatially delimiting a space charge zone that can be formed in the semiconductor volume, and of an anode region adjoining the first connection region. The dopant concentration profile within the semiconductor volume is configured such that the integral of the ionized dopant charge over the semiconductor volume, proceeding from an interface of the anode region which faces the second connection region, in the direction of the second connection region, reaches a quantity of charge corresponding to the breakdown charge of the semiconductor device only near the interface of the field stop zone which faces the second connection region.
US08367530B2 Substrate processing apparatus and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A substrate processing apparatus, including: a reaction container in which a substrate is processed; a seal cap, brought into contact with one end in an opening side of the reaction container via a first sealing member and a second sealing member so as to seal the opening of the reaction container air-tightly; a first gas channel, formed in a region between the first sealing member and the second sealing member in a state where the seal cap is in contact with the reaction container; a second gas channel, provided to the seal cap and through which the first gas channel is in communication with an inside of the reaction container; a first gas supply port that is provided to the reaction container and supplies a first gas to the first gas channel; and a second gas supply port that is provided to the reaction container and supplies a second gas into the reaction container, wherein a front end opening of the first gas supply port opening to the first gas channel, and a base opening of the second gas channel opening to the first gas channel being separated from each other in a state where the seal cap is in contact with the reaction container.
US08367529B2 Method for preparing a semiconductor
The invention concerns a method for preparing a NIII-V semiconductor. According to the invention, the method includes at least one step of doping a semiconductor of general formula AlxGa1-xN, wherein the atomic number x represents the number between 0 and 1 with a p-type electron-accepting dopant, as well as a co-doping step with a codopant capable of modifying the structure of the valency band. The invention also concerns a semiconductor as well as its use in electronics or optoelectronics. The invention further concerns a device as well as a diode using such a semiconductor.
US08367527B2 Method of fabricating polycrystalline silicon thin film
A method of fabricating a polycrystalline silicon thin that includes a metal layer forming operation of forming a metal layer on an insulating substrate, a first silicon layer forming operation of stacking a silicon layer on the metal layer formed in the metal layer forming operation, a first annealing operation of forming a silicide layer using by moving catalyst metal atoms from the metal layer to the silicon layer using an annealing process, a second silicon layer forming operation of stacking an amorphous silicon layer on the silicide layer, and a crystallization operation of crystallizing the amorphous silicon layer into crystalline silicon through the medium of particles of the silicide layer.
US08367525B2 Rapid patterning of nanostructures
A process for forming nanostructures comprises generating charged nanoparticles with an electrospray system and introduction of the charged nanoparticles to a substrate, so that the particles adhere to the substrate in order to form the desired structure. The charged nanoparticles may be directed to a target position by at least one deflector in the electrospray apparatus, which may also include a column optic system. The adhered nanoparticles may be sintered to form the structure. The electrospray apparatus may be single source, multi-source injection, or multi-source selection. An array of electrospray apparatuses with deflectors may be used concurrently to form the structure.
US08367522B1 Method and structure of integrated micro electro-mechanical systems and electronic devices using edge bond pads
A method for fabricating a monolithic integrated electronic device using edge bond pads as well as the resulting device. The method includes providing a substrate having a surface region and forming one or more integrated micro electro-mechanical systems and electronic devices on a first region overlying the surface region. One or more trench structures can be formed within one or more portions of the first region. A passivation material and a conduction material can be formed overlying the first region and the one or more trench structures. The passivation material and the conduction material can be etched to form one or more bonding pad structure. The resulting device can then be singulated within a vicinity of the one or more bond pad structures to form two or more integrated micro electro-mechanical systems and electronic devices having edge bond pads.
US08367516B2 Laser bonding for stacking semiconductor substrates
Methods and structures using laser bonding for stacking semiconductor substrates are described. In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a trench in a first substrate, and a bond pad on a second substrate comprising active circuitry. A top surface of the bond pad includes a first material. The first substrate is aligned over the second substrate to align the trench over the bond pad. An electromagnetic beam is directed into the trench to form a bond between the first material on the bond pad and a second material at a bottom surface of the first substrate.
US08367515B2 Hybrid shallow trench isolation for high-k metal gate device improvement
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device with improved performance is disclosed. The method comprises providing a substrate including a first region and a second region; forming at least one isolation region having a first aspect ratio in the first region and at least one isolation region having a second aspect ratio in the second region; performing a high aspect ratio deposition process to form a first layer over the first and second regions of the substrate; removing the first layer from the second region; and performing a high density plasma deposition process to form a second layer over the first and second regions of the substrate.
US08367514B2 Integrated circuit with capacitor and method for the production thereof
An integrated circuit and fabrication method are presented. The integrated circuit includes a capacitor containing a base electrode, a covering electrode, and a dielectric between the base and covering electrodes. The dielectric contains an oxide of a material contained in the base electrode, which may be produced by anodic oxidation. A peripheral edge of the dielectric is uncovered by the covering electrode. A base layer on the capacitor includes a cutout adjacent to the dielectric. During fabrication, the base layer protects the material of the base electrode that is to be anodically oxidized from chemicals, and also protects the surrounding regions from anodic oxidation. A precision resistor may be fabricated simultaneously with the capacitor.
US08367513B2 Systems and methods for fabricating self-aligned memory cell
Systems and methods are disclosed to form a resistive random access memory (RRAM) by forming a first metal electrode layer; depositing an insulator above the metal electrode layer and etching the insulator to expose one or more metal portions; depositing a Pr1-XCaXMnO3 (PCMO) layer above the insulator and the metal portions, wherein X is between approximately 0.3 and approximately 0.5, to form one or more self-aligned RRAM cells above the first metal electrode; and depositing a second metal electrode layer above the PCMO layer.
US08367509B1 Self-aligned method for forming contact of device with reduced step height
A method for forming a contact of a semiconductor device with reduced step height is disclosed, comprising forming a plurality of gates, forming a buffer layer on each of the gates, forming an insulating layer to fill spaces between the gates, forming strip-shaped photoresist patterns which cross the gates, etching the insulating layer to form first openings using a self-aligning process with the gates and the strip-shaped photoresist patterns as a mask, forming a conductive contact layer to fill the first openings, performing a first chemical mechanical polish (CMP) process to the conductive contact layer, removing the buffer layer, and forming a second chemical mechanical polish (CMP) process to the conductive contact layer.
US08367508B2 Self-aligned contacts for field effect transistor devices
A method for forming a field effect transistor includes forming a gate stack, a spacer adjacent to opposing sides of the gate stack, a silicide source region and a silicide drain region on opposing sides of the spacer, epitaxially growing silicon on the source region and the drain region; forming a liner layer on the gate stack and the spacer, removing a portion of the liner layer to expose a portion of the hardmask layer, removing the exposed portions of the hardmask layer to expose a silicon layer of the gate stack, removing exposed silicon to expose a portion of a metal layer of the gate stack, the source region, and the drain region; and depositing a conductive material on the metal layer of the gate stack, the silicide source region, and the silicide drain region.
US08367505B2 Memory in logic cell
Methods, devices, and systems for a memory in logic cell are provided. One or more embodiments include using a cell structure having a first gate, a second gate, and a third gate, e.g., a control gate, a back gate, and a floating gate, as a memory in logic cell. The method includes programming the floating gate to a first state to cause the memory in logic cell to operate as a first logic gate type. The method further includes programming the floating gate to a second state to cause the memory in logic cell to operate as a second logic gate type.
US08367497B2 Method to reduce trench capacitor leakage for random access memory device
A method is provided that includes forming a trench isolation structure in a dynamic random memory region (DRAM) of a substrate and patterning an etch mask over the trench structure to expose a portion of the trench structure. A portion of the exposed trench structure is removed to form a gate trench that includes a first corner formed by the substrate and a second corner formed by the trench structure. The etch mask is removed and the first corner of the gate trench is rounded to form a rounded corner. This is followed by the formation of an oxide layer over a sidewall of the gate trench, the first rounded corner, and the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate trench. The trench is filled with a gate material.
US08367496B2 Scavanging metal stack for a high-k gate dielectric
A stack of a high-k gate dielectric and a metal gate structure includes a lower metal layer, a scavenging metal layer, and an upper metal layer. The scavenging metal layer meets the following two criteria 1) a metal (M) for which the Gibbs free energy change of the reaction Si+2/y MxOy→2x/y M+SiO2 is positive 2) a metal that has a more negative Gibbs free energy per oxygen atom for formation of oxide than the material of the lower metal layer and the material of the upper metal layer. The scavenging metal layer meeting these criteria captures oxygen atoms as the oxygen atoms diffuse through the gate electrode toward the high-k gate dielectric. In addition, the scavenging metal layer remotely reduces the thickness of a silicon oxide interfacial layer underneath the high-k dielectric. As a result, the equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of the total gate dielectric is reduced and the field effect transistor maintains a constant threshold voltage even after high temperature processes during CMOS integration.
US08367494B2 Electrical fuse formed by replacement metal gate process
A method is provided for fabricating an electrical fuse and a field effect transistor having a metal gate which includes removing material from first and second openings in a dielectric region overlying a substrate, wherein the first opening is aligned with an active semiconductor region of the substrate, and the second opening is aligned with an isolation region of the substrate, and the active semiconductor region including a source region and a drain region adjacent edges of the first opening. An electrical fuse can be formed which has a fuse element filling the second opening, the fuse element being a monolithic region of a single conductive material being a metal or a conductive compound of a metal. A metal gate can be formed which extends within the first opening to define a field effect transistor (“FET”) which includes the metal gate and the active semiconductor region.
US08367490B2 Semiconductor structure and method for manufacturing the same
The present application discloses a semiconductor structure and a method for manufacturing the same. The semiconductor structure according to the present invention adjusts a threshold voltage with a common contact, which has a portion outside the source or drain region extending to the back-gate region and provides an electrical contact of the source or drain region and the back-gate region, which leads to a simple manufacturing process, an increased integration level and a lowered manufacture cost. Moreover, the asymmetric design of the back-gate structure further increases the threshold voltage and improves the performance of the device.
US08367487B2 Structure and method for fabricating a microelectronic device provided with one or more quantum wires able to form one or more transistor channels
The disclosure concerns a microelectronic device provided with one or more <>, able to form one or more transistor channels, and optimized in terms of arrangement, shape or/and composition. The invention also uses a method for fabricating said device, comprising the steps of: the forming, in one or more thin layers resting on a support, of a first block and a second block in which at least one transistor drain region and at least one transistor source region are respectively intended to be formed, and of a structure connecting the first block to the second block, and the forming, on the surface of the structure, of wires connecting a first region of the first block with another region of the second block which faces the first region.
US08367482B2 Methods for fabricating contacts of semiconductor device structures and methods for designing semiconductor device structures
Methods for fabricating contacts of semiconductor device structures include forming a dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate with active-device regions spaced at a first pitch, forming a first plurality of substantially in-line apertures over every second active-device region of the active-device regions, and forming a second plurality of substantially in-line apertures laterally offset from apertures of the first plurality over active-device regions over which apertures of the first plurality are not located. Methods for designing semiconductor device structures include forming at least two laterally offset sets of contacts over a substrate including active-device regions at a first pitch, the contacts being formed at a second pitch that is about twice the first pitch.
US08367481B2 Four MOSFET full bridge module
A molded, leadless packaged semiconductor multichip module includes 100 has four mosfets 10, 12, 14, 16 for a full bridge circuit. The mosfets may include two N-channel and two P-channel devices or four mosfets of the same type, but four N-channel are preferred. In module 100 there are two leadframes 30, 40 for assembling the mosfets. In particular, the two N-channel and two P-channel devices are disposed between two leadframes and encapsulated in an electrically insulating molding compound 84. The resulting package has four upper heat sinks 44.1-44.4 that are exposed in the molding compound 84 for transferring heat from the mosfets to the ambient environment. No wire bonds are required. This can significantly reduce the on resistance, RDSON. The top or source-drain lead frame 30 may be soldered to the sources and gates of the bridge mosfets.
US08367479B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
To prevent, in a resin-sealed type semiconductor package, generation of cracks in a die bonding material used for mounting of a semiconductor chip. A semiconductor chip is mounted over the upper surface of a die pad via a die bonding material, followed by sealing with an insulating resin. The top surface of the die pad to be brought into contact with the insulating resin is surface-roughened, while the bottom surface of the die pad and an outer lead portion are not surface-roughened.
US08367478B2 Method and system for internal layer-layer thermal enhancement
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for enhancing the cooling of a chip stack of semiconductor chips. The method includes creating a first chip with circuitry on a first side and creating a second chip electrically and mechanically coupled to the first chip by a grid of connectors. The method further includes creating a cavity in a second side of the first chip between the connectors and filling the cavity with a thermal material. The chip stack of semiconductor chips with enhanced cooling apparatus includes a first chip with circuitry on a first side and a second chip electrically and mechanically coupled to the first chip by a grid of connectors. The apparatus further includes wherein portions of a second side of the first chip between the connectors is removed to provide a cavity in which a thermal material is placed.
US08367472B2 Method of fabricating a 3-D device
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having an active surface, thinning the substrate by removing material from a second surface of the substrate opposite the active surface, bonding a metal carrier to the second surface of the thinned substrate, forming a via opening in the thinned substrate, forming a conductive member in the via opening, and patterning the metal carrier bonded to the second surface of the thinned substrate to form a metal pattern.
US08367471B2 Semiconductor assemblies, stacked semiconductor devices, and methods of manufacturing semiconductor assemblies and stacked semiconductor devices
Stacked semiconductor devices, semiconductor assemblies, methods of manufacturing stacked semiconductor devices, and methods of manufacturing semiconductor assemblies. One embodiment of a semiconductor assembly comprises a thinned semiconductor wafer having an active side releasably attached to a temporary carrier, a back side, and a plurality of first dies at the active side. The individual first dies have an integrated circuit, first through die interconnects electrically connected to the integrated circuit, and interconnect contacts exposed at the back side of the wafer. The assembly further includes a plurality of separate second dies attached to corresponding first dies on a front side, wherein the individual second dies have integrated circuits, through die interconnects electrically connected to the integrated circuits and contact points at a back side, and wherein the individual second dies have a thickness of approximately less than 100 microns.
US08367468B2 Electrode connection structure of semiconductor chip, conductive member, and semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
An electrode connection structure of a semiconductor chip is provided to realize a highly reliable electrical connection with low stress without using a bump. A conductive member may be used for such an electrode connection structure. A semiconductor device is provided wherein semiconductor chips are arranged in layers without providing the semiconductor chips with a through via, and a method is provided for manufacturing such a semiconductor device. A part or all of the surface of a horizontal recess, which is formed in an adhesive layer arranged between a first electrode of a lower layer and a second electrode of an upper layer, is provided with a conductive member for connecting the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08367465B2 Integrated circuit package on package system
A integrated circuit package on package system is provided including providing a base substrate having a base stackable connection, attaching a base integrated circuit on the base substrate, forming a stackable package including the base integrated circuit encapsulated with the base stackable connection partially exposed, and attaching a bottom package on the stackable package.
US08367463B2 Methods for forming resistive-switching metal oxides for nonvolatile memory elements
Nonvolatile memory elements are provided that have resistive switching metal oxides. The nonvolatile memory elements may be formed from resistive-switching metal oxide layers. Metal oxide layers may be formed using sputter deposition at relatively low sputtering powers, relatively low duty cycles, and relatively high sputtering gas pressures. Dopants may be incorporated into a base oxide layer at an atomic concentration that is less than the solubility limit of the dopant in the base oxide. At least one oxidation state of the metal in the base oxide is preferably different than at least one oxidation sate of the dopant. The ionic radius of the dopant and the ionic radius of the metal may be selected to be close to each other. Annealing and oxidation operations may be performed on the resistive switching metal oxides. Bistable metal oxides with relatively large resistivities and large high-state-to-low state resistivity ratios may be produced.
US08367461B2 Functional material for printed electronic components
The invention relates to a printable precursor comprising an organometallic zinc complex which contains at least one ligand from the class of the oximates and is free from alkali metals and alkaline-earth metals, for electronic components and to a preparation process. The invention furthermore relates to corresponding printed electronic components, preferably field-effect transistors.
US08367456B2 Method for production of ceramic tile with photovoltaic cells
A method for the production of a tile containing a photovoltaic cell including the steps of: producing a ceramic base body having one or more through holes and a water absorption equal to or less than 0.5 wt %; depositing on a surface of that ceramic base body an electro-conductive layer made of Ag or Ag—Al; a plurality of active layers; and a layer of electro-conductive material with grid-like structure, wherein the plurality of active layers includes in succession an n-type layer, a photo-active layer and a p-type layer.
US08367452B2 Infrared detector, infrared detecting apparatus, and method of manufacturing infrared detector
An infrared detector including a reflection portion which transmits far- and middle-infrared rays and which reflects near-infrared and visible rays; a photo-current generating portion having a plurality of layered quantum dot structures in each of which electrons are excited by the far- and middle-infrared rays having passed through the reflection portion so as to generate photo-current; a light emitting portion having a plurality of layered quantum well structures into each of which electrons of the photo-current generated by the photo-current generating portion are injected and in each of which the electrons thus injected thereinto are recombined with holes so as to emit near-infrared and visible rays; and a photo-detecting portion which detects the near -infrared and visible rays emitted from the light emitting portion and which detects the near-infrared and visible rays emitted from the light emitting portion and then reflected by the reflection portion.
US08367451B2 Method and structures for fabricating MEMS devices on compliant layers
Methods and structures for fabricating MEMS devices on compliant layers are provided. In particular, disclosed are methods and structures that can include the use of a sacrificial layer composed of a material having material properties relative to one or more other layers. These methods and structures can reduce final device shape sensitivity to process parameters, deposition temperature differences, specific material, time, and/or geometry. Further, such methods and structures can improve the final as-built shape of released devices, reduce variability in the as-built shape, eliminate decoupling of the deposited layers from the substrate, and reduce variability across a product array, die, or wafer.
US08367449B2 Semiconductor light-emitting apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor light-emitting apparatus that has high luminous efficiency and a high breakdown voltage as well as reduced breakdown voltage variation among lots. The semiconductor light-emitting apparatus includes a first clad layer and a second clad layer. An average dopant concentration of the second clad layer is lower than that of the first clad layer. The light-emitting apparatus also includes an active layer having an average dopant concentration of 2×1016 to 4×1016 cm−3. The active layer is made of (AlyGa1-y)xIn1-xP (0
US08367442B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor light emitting element
A method of manufacturing the semiconductor light emitting element comprises a semiconductor layer forming step of forming the multilayered nitride semiconductor layer on the first wafer having a transparent property; a bonding step of bonding the multilayered nitride semiconductor layer to the first wafer; a groove forming step of forming the groove extending from the lower surface of the first wafer to the multilayered nitride semiconductor layer; a light applying step of applying a first light to the lower surface of the multilayered nitride semiconductor layer through the first wafer to reduce a bonding force between the multilayered nitride semiconductor layer and the first wafer; a separating step of separating the first wafer from the multilayered nitride semiconductor layer; and a cutting step of cutting the second wafer along the groove to divide into a plurality of the semiconductor light emitting element.
US08367440B2 Semiconductor device and peeling off method and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
The present invention provides a peeling off method without giving damage to the peeled off layer, and aims at being capable of peeling off not only a peeled off layer having a small area but also a peeled off layer having a large area over the entire surface at excellent yield ratio. The metal layer or nitride layer 11 is provided on the substrate, and further, the oxide layer 12 being contact with the foregoing metal layer or nitride layer 11 is provided, and furthermore, if the lamination film formation or the heat processing of 500° C. or more in temperature is carried out, it can be easily and clearly separated in the layer or on the interface with the oxide layer 12 by the physical means.
US08367431B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor photonic device substrate
In a manufacturing method of a semiconductor photonic device substrate, before multi-layer films different in material composition are successively and gradually crystal-grown in one chamber, an inter-layer growth rate model showing a relation in growth rate between each layer is defined, a growth rate of a film corresponding to at least one or more layers is obtained by actual crystal growth using an individual substrate, a growth rate of a film corresponding to other layers is estimated from the obtained growth rate by the inter-layer growth rate model, and a growth time is determined in accordance with a film thickness of each layer of the semiconductor photonic device substrate based on the actually obtained growth rate and the estimated growth rate. These steps are carried out by using a computer system connected to an MOCVD equipment, and then, a crystal growth of the semiconductor photonic device substrate is performed.
US08367429B2 Adaptive endpoint method for pad life effect on chemical mechanical polishing
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor manufacturing method. The method includes defining a plurality of time regions of pad life for a polishing pad in a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) system; assigning a ladder coefficient to the polishing pad according to the plurality of time regions of pad life; defining a plurality of endpoint windows to the plurality of time regions, respectively, according to pad life effect; applying a CMP process to a wafer positioned on the polishing pad; determining a time region of a polishing signal of the wafer based on the ladder coefficient; associating one of the endpoint windows to the polishing signal according to the time region; and ending the CMP process at an endpoint determined by the endpoint window.
US08367421B2 Gas detector tube for determining benzene
An improved detection reaction for benzene in gas analysis with a gas detector tube formed of a carrier material impregnated with gold(III) oxide in a display layer.
US08367419B2 Compositions and methods for detection of explosives
This invention provides polymeric coordination compounds capable of forming three-dimensional microporous metal organic frameworks (MMOFs) that are useful for detection of explosive compounds. The polymeric coordination compounds comprise a repeating unit comprising a transition metal coordinated to at least one binding member of a bidentate binding site on each of two polyfunctional ligands and one binding site of a bis-pyridine exodentate bridging ligand, for example, the repeating unit comprising formula [Zn2(bpdc)2(bpee)] (bpdc=4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylate; bpee=1,2-bipyridylethene). Methods of preparing such polymeric coordination compounds, methods of using them for detection of explosive compounds, and sensors or sensor arrays comprising such polymeric coordination compounds for detection of explosive compounds, especially those comprising one or more nitro (—NO2) groups, are also disclosed.
US08367415B2 Specific gene polymorphisms in breast cancer diagnosis, prevention and treatment
A method for detecting a predisposition to breast cancer in a subject is provided. The method includes detecting in a biological sample from the subject one or more polymorphisms in the sequence of CD44 gene. The presence of one or more polymorphisms in the sequence of CD44 gene indicates that the subject has a predisposition for developing breast cancer.
US08367413B2 Determining formation fluid composition
Apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may operate to draw a formation fluid sample into a sampling port included in a down hole tool or tool body, to vaporize some part of the fluid sample to substantially fill an injection port with a gas phase, to differentiate gas components in the gas phase to provide differentiated gas components along a concentration gradient in a receiving section, to detect the differentiated gas components with a detector, and to determine a fingerprint of the differentiated gas components. The receiving section may comprise a diffusion section. A reaction section and a vacuum section may be used for waste consumption and/or absorption.
US08367411B2 Artificial blood vessel and method of manufacturing thereof
An artificial tissue capable of carrying necessary nutrients for maintaining activities of cells and tissues, and a method of manufacturing an artificial blood vessel. A plurality of forms of blood vessels are extracted from an image of a living tissue and made into a blood vessel form image. Each of the blood vessel forms of the blood vessel form image is adjusted and a blood vessel formation pattern is formed. A blood vessel cell culturing pattern of forming is formed, in a cell culturing layer. The blood vessel cell culturing pattern includes: a cell adhesion portion having adhesive properties with a blood vessel cell and formed to the blood vessel formation pattern; and a cell adhesion-inhibiting portion having cell adhesion-inhibiting properties for inhibiting adhesion with a blood vessel cell and formed in an area other than the cell adhesion portion. A blood vessel cell is adhered to the cell adhesion portion, and cultured into a tissue.
US08367407B2 Cells with altered fucosylation and producing antibodies therefrom
The present invention relates to a cell and mammal in which GDP-mannose 4,6-dehydratase is knocked-out. The cell and mammal are useful for the production of an antibody molecule having high antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxic activity, such as an antibody useful for treating various diseases. The cell and mammal are also useful for the production of a fragment of the antibody, and a fusion protein having the Fc region of the antibody.
US08367396B2 Transformed yeast cells that ferment pentose sugars
The present invention relates to host cells transformed with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a eukaryotic xylose isomerase obtainable from an anaerobic fungus. When expressed, the sequence encoding the xylose isomerase confers to the host cell the ability to convert xylose to xylulose which may be further metabolized by the host cell. Thus, the host cell is capable of growth on xylose as carbon source. The host cell preferably is a eukaryotic microorganism such as a yeast or a filamentous fungus. The invention further relates to processes for the production of fermentation products such as ethanol, in which a host cell of the invention uses xylose for growth and for the production of the fermentation product. The invention further relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding eukaryotic xylose isomerases and xylulose kinases as obtainable from anaerobic fungi.
US08367395B2 Production of sterols in oleaginous yeast and fungi
The present invention provides methods for production of one or more sterol compounds. Further provided are methods and systems for producing engineered oleaginous yeast or fungi that are capable of production of one or more sterol compounds, and compositions which utilize the produced sterol compound(s).
US08367389B2 Methods, compositions and devices utilizing structurally stable cyanuric acid hydrolase
The present invention relates to stable cyanuric acid hydrolase enzymes, compositions, and devices for use in the treatment of a liquid, such as water. The present invention also relates to methods of using these enzymes, compositions and devices for the treatment of a liquid, such as water.
US08367388B2 Cross-linked compositions
Improved compositions comprising a cross-linkable protein or polypeptide, and a non-toxic material which induces cross-linking of the cross-linkable protein. The compositions are optionally and preferably prepared in a non-phosphate buffer solvent. Optionally and preferably, the cross-linkable protein includes gelatin and any gelatin variant or variant protein as described herein. Optionally and preferably, the non-toxic material comprises transglutaminase (TG), which may optionally comprise any type of calcium dependent or independent transglutaminase, which may for example optionally be a microbial transglutaminase (mTG).
US08367385B2 Glucose dehydrogenase and method for producing the dehydrogenase
A DNA encoding a glucose dehydrogenase enzyme having high substrate specificity, can be produced at a low cost, is not affected by oxygen dissolved in a measurement sample and, in particular, has superior thermal stability is described. Cells transformed with the DNA encoding the glucose dehydrogenase enzyme may be used to produce the glucose dehydrogenase by culturing the transformants to produce glucose dehydrogenase as an expression product of the DNA, and collecting the product.
US08367384B2 Bone semi-permeable device
Bone cages are disclosed including devices for biocompatible implantation. The structures of bone are useful for providing living cells and tissues as well as biologically active molecules to subjects.
US08367382B2 Method for producing 4-hydroxy-L-isoleucine
A highly active L-isoleucine dioxygenase from Bacillus thuringiensis is provided. A method for manufacturing (2S,3R,4S)-4-hydroxy-L-isoleucine or a salt thereof by reacting L-isoleucine in an aqueous solvent in the presence of L-isoleucine dioxygenase and isolating (2S,3R,4S)-4-hydroxy-L-isoleucine is also provided.
US08367381B2 Method for producing 4-hydroxy-L-isoleucine
A highly active L-isoleucine dioxygenase from Bacillus thuringiensis is provided. A method for manufacturing (2S,3R,4S)-4-hydroxy-L-isoleucine or a salt thereof by reacting L-isoleucine in an aqueous solvent in the presence of L-isoleucine dioxygenase and isolating (2S,3R,4S)-4-hydroxy-L-isoleucine is also provided.
US08367378B2 Process for producing sugars and ethanol using corn stillage
A process for producing sugars from lignocellulosic materials such as corn stover by the addition of corn stillage as a carbon source is disclosed. The sugars are formed by treating the combination of the corn stillage and the lignocellulosic materials with hydrolytic enzymes. The sugars can be fermented to ethanol, and the process improves ethanol production economies with an increased sugar yield from the lignocellulosic materials.
US08367374B2 Fusion constructs and use of same to produce antibodies with increased Fc receptor binding affinity and effector function
The present invention relates to the field of glycosylation engineering of proteins. More particularly, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules, including fusion constructs, having catalytic activity and the use of same in glycosylation engineering of host cells to generate polypeptides with improved therapeutic properties, including antibodies with increased Fc receptor binding and increased effector function.
US08367371B2 Method for production of L-amino acid
A bacterium which belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family and has an ability to produce an L-amino acid such as L-lysine, L-threonine and L-tryptophan and is modified to enhance glutamic acid decarboxylase activity is cultured in a medium to produce and accumulate the L-amino acid in the medium or cells of the bacterium. Then, the L-amino acid is collected from the medium or the cells.
US08367370B2 Droplet-based cell culture and cell assays using digital microfluidics
We introduce a method for implementing cell-based assays and long-term cell culture. The method is based on digital microfluidics (DMF) which is used to actuate nanoliter droplets of reagents and cells on a planar array of electrodes. DMF method is sutable for assaying and culturing both cells in suspension and cells grown on surface (adherent cells). This method is advantageous for cell culture and assays due to the automated manipulation of multiple reagents in addition to reduced reagent use and analysis time. No adverse effects of actuation by DMF were observed in assays for cell viability, proliferation, and biochemistry. These results suggest that DMF has great potential as a simple yet versatile analytical tool for implementing cell-based assays and cell culture on the microscale.
US08367365B2 Method for determining carbohydrate and kit for determining carbohydrate
It is intended to provide a method for determining a carbohydrate which enables more accurate determination of a carbohydrate. The invention for achieving this object is directed to a method for determining a carbohydrate using a digestive enzyme, characterized in that as the digestive enzyme, an animal-derived low-molecular-weight carbohydrate digestive enzyme is used. More specifically, the invention is directed to a method for determining a carbohydrate using a digestive enzyme, characterized by comprising a first reaction step using thermostable α-amylase; a second reaction step using protease and amyloglucosidase; and a third reaction step using an animal-derived low-molecular-weight carbohydrate digestive enzyme.
US08367358B2 Reagent, kit and method for differentiating and counting leukocytes
The present disclosure discloses a reagent for differentiating and counting leukocytes which includes: (1) cationic cyanine compounds selected from those having the following general formulae I and II; (2) cationic surfactants selected from those having the following general formulae III, IV and/or V; (3) at least one nonionic surfactant; and (4) optionally, at least one anionic compound selected from those having one or more carboxyl or sulphonyl groups; and optionally includes alcohol compounds. Also disclosed is a kit comprising the reagent for differentiating and counting leukocytes. Further disclosed is a method for differentiating and counting leukocytes using the reagent and kit. Use of the reagent, kit and method disclosed enables the identification of leukocytes in blood samples into five subtypes in a very short time, or at least achieves the differentiation and counting of four leukocyte groupings. Moreover, immature and abnormal cells can be identified.
US08367356B2 Gelsolin binding agent compositions and uses of same
The invention relates generally to gelsolin binding agents (e.g., antibodies) which can bind to gelsolin polypeptides. Gelsolin binding agents of the invention are useful, alone or in combination, to detect a gelsolin polypeptide (a.k.a., the target polypeptide) in a test sample as well as to purify native gelsolin proteins. Gelsolin binding agents are also useful to diagnose, a gelsolin related medical condition in subjects in need thereof. Kits to detect gelsolin in biological samples are provided by the present invention.
US08367348B2 Upregulation of RACK-1 in melanoma and its use as a marker
The present invention concerns a method for diagnosing a melanoma in a mammal comprising the detection of the overexpression of RACK-1 protein in a melanocyte cell of said mammal, and the deduction of the presence of a melanoma from the overexpression of RACK-1 protein. The invention is also directed to a method for determining the tumoral status of a melanocyte cell of a mammal, comprising the detection of overexpression of RACK-1 protein in the melanocyte cell, and the deduction of the tumoral state of said cell from the overexpression of RACK-1 protein.
US08367347B2 Methods for the diagnosis and the prognosis of a brain tumor
The present invention relates to methods for the diagnosis of a brain tumor and for the estimation of a prognosis for patients having a brain tumor using the presence/absence of a particular IDH1 mutation as a marker.
US08367343B2 High-throughput cell transfection device and methods of using thereof
Transfecting biology cells with nucleic acid molecules (DNA, siRNA) is an essential prerequisite in elucidating how genes function in complex cellular context and how their activities could be modulated for therapeutic intervention. Traditionally studies are carried out on a low throughput gene-by-gene scale, which has created a huge bottleneck in functional genomic study and drug discovery. Development of high-throughput cell transfection technology will permit functional analysis of massive number of genes and how their activities could be modulated by chemical or biological entities inside cells. This invention describes design, construction of device and apparatus for high throughput effective cell transfection. Procedures and protocols for using the device and apparatus are also described in the application. Novel methods of using the device in cell-based assays are also disclosed.
US08367342B2 Cardiac hypertrophy
The invention provides means and methods for at least in part inducing, counteracting, preventing and/or investigating cardiac hypertrophy.
US08367336B2 Association of the DNA methylation profile of the CYP1B1 gene with response to adjuvant therapy in breast cancer
Particular embodiments provide novel and clinically useful DNA methylation predictors of hormone receptor status, and predictors of response to endocrine (e.g., hormonal) and non-endocrine breast cancer therapy. The ESR1 gene, encoding the estrogen receptor (ER) alpha proved to be the preferred predictor of progesterone receptor (PR) status, while methylation of the PGR gene, encoding PR, was the preferred predictor of ER status. ESR1 methylation outperformed hormone receptor status as a predictor of clinical response in patients treated with antiestroges (e.g., tamoxifen), while promoter methylation of the CYP1B1 gene, encoding a tamoxifen and estradiol metabolizing cytochrome P450, predicted response differentially in tamoxifen-treated and non-treated patients. High levels of promoter methylation of the ARH1 gene, encoding a RAS-related small G-protein, were shown to be preferred predictors of better survival in patients who had not received tamoxifen therapy.
US08367334B2 Methods, systems and kits for detecting protein-nucleic acid interactions
Methods, systems and kits for detecting protein-nucleic acid interactions, in particular, detecting the genomic location to near-base pair resolution at which a particular protein (e.g., transcription factor) binds includes combining steps of a conventional chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay with use of an exonuclease that digests nucleic acid strands in the 5′-3′ or 3′-5′ direction until it reaches a bound protein including a protein crosslinked to the nucleic acid. Proteins that inefficiently crosslink to a nucleic acid and thus are very difficult to detect, are expected to be significantly detected by the kits and methods described herein.
US08367333B2 Genetic variants as markers for use in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of eosinophilia, asthma, and myocardial infarction
Polymorphic variants (e.g., certain alleles of polymorphic markers) that have been found to be associated with high blood eosinophil counts, conditions causative of eosinophilia (e.g., asthma, myocardial infarction), and/or hypertension are provided herein. Such polymorphic markers are useful for diagnostic purposes, such as in methods of determining a susceptibility, and for prognostic purposes, including methods of predicting prognosis and methods of assessing an individual for probability of a response to a therapeutic agent, as further described herein. Further applications utilize the polymorphic markers of the invention include, screening methods and genotyping methods. The invention furthermore provides related kits, computer-readable medium, and apparatus.
US08367326B2 In vitro sorting method
The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising of the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; (b) expressing the genetic elements to produce their respective gene products within the microcapsules; (c) sorting the genetic elements which produce the gene product having a desired activity. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.
US08367321B2 Method for detection of pathogenic organisms
A method for detection of pathogenic organisms wherein the method includes differentiation between species. The method is especially suitable to detect and to diagnose infection by pathogenic organisms which are hard and/or laborious to detect with conventional methods. The method relies upon analysis of specific variable regions of the RNase P RNA gene, namely the P3 and/or P19 region(s).
US08367320B2 Apoptosis inducing positive control for expression modulation experiments
The invention pertains to a method for performing an expression modulating analysis or assay, wherein an apoptosis inducing expression modulating compound targeting a repetitive element present in the untranslated region, in particular the 3′ UTRs of protein coding gene transcripts is introduced into cells to induce apoptosis in the cells as a positive control. Also provided are suitable kits and compositions.
US08367315B2 Inactivation of reverse transcriptases by azido-diarylpyrimidines
Azido-diarylpyrimidine (azido-DAPY) compounds, and compositions containing such compounds, are provided. In addition, methods of using azido-diarylpyrimidines to inactivate reverse transcriptases, prepare inactivated viruses, and treat or prevent viral infections are also provided.
US08367314B2 Non-fouling polymeric surface modification and signal amplification method for biomolecular detection
An article such as a biosensor having a nonfouling surface thereon is described. The article comprises: (a) a substrate having a surface portion; (b) a linking layer on the surface portion; (c) a polymer layer comprising brush molecules formed on the linking layer; and (d) optionally but preferably, a first member of a specific binding pair (e.g., a protein, peptide, antibody, nucleic acid, etc.) coupled to the brush molecules. The polymer layer is preferably formed by the process of surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) of monomeric units thereon. Preferably, each of the monomeric units comprises a monomer (for example, a vinyl monomer) core group having at least one protein-resistant head group coupled thereto, to thereby form the brush molecule on the surface portion. Methods of using the articles are also described.
US08367311B2 Method for producing hollow structure
Provided is a fabrication method with which a laminate having a hollow structure can be produced more easily, while enabling to produce a multilayer structure as well. That is, a method for producing a hollow structure, a fabrication method by stacking-up a structural material among fabrication methods of a hollow structure on a substrate, the method including; a step of forming a structural material layer on a substrate, a step of forming a pattern on the structural material layer, a step of forming a sacrificial material layer by burying between the patterns with a water-soluble or an alkaline-soluble polymer as the sacrificial material to be buried between the patterns, a step of further laminating a structural material layer and forming a pattern on the structural material layer laminated, and a step of finally removing the sacrificial material after all of lamination is completed.
US08367309B2 Pattern formation method using levenson-type mask and method of manufacturing levenson-type mask
A method of forming a pattern including a first pattern portion having a first minimum dimension and a second pattern portion having a second minimum dimension includes a first exposure step of performing exposure using a Levenson-type mask and a second exposure step of performing exposure using a half tone-type mask. When second minimum dimension is 1.3 time or more than the first minimum dimension, the exposure amount of the second exposure step is set to be equal to or smaller than the exposure amount of the first exposure step.
US08367306B1 Method of continuous or batch fabrication of large area polymer micro-truss structured materials
A system for forming a plurality of polymer waveguides includes at least one collimated light source adapted to produce a plurality of collimated light beams; a channel having an exposure area for the collimated light beams to pass through and for holding a photo-monomer adapted to polymerize when exposed to the collimated light beams, the photo-monomer moving with respect to the plurality of collimated light beams; and a mask disposed between the at least one collimated light source and the photo-monomer. A method for forming a plurality of polymer waveguides includes moving a mask across an exposure area of a channel containing a photo-monomer; exposing the photo-monomer to collimated light through the exposure area of the channel; growing the plurality of polymer waveguides from the exposure area into the photo-monomer to form an interconnected ordered three-dimensional polymer micro-truss structure; and removing the ordered 3D polymer micro-truss structure from the channel.
US08367305B1 Method for fabricating a microelectromechanical resonator
A method is disclosed which calculates dimensions for a MEM resonator in terms of integer multiples of a grid width G for reticles used to fabricate the resonator, including an actual sub-width La=NG and an effective electrode width We=MG where N and M are integers which minimize a frequency error fe=fd−fa between a desired resonant frequency fd and an actual resonant frequency fa. The method can also be used to calculate an overall width Wo for the MEM resonator, and an effective electrode length Le which provides a desired motional impedance for the MEM resonator. The MEM resonator can then be fabricated using these values for La, We, Wo and Le. The method can also be applied to a number j of MEM resonators formed on a common substrate.
US08367303B2 Semiconductor device fabrication and dry develop process suitable for critical dimension tunability and profile control
The critical dimension (CD) of features formed during the fabrication of a semiconductor device may be controlled through the use of a dry develop chemistry comprising O2, SO2 and a hydrogen halide. For example, a dry develop chemistry comprising a gas comprising O2 and a gas comprising SO2 and a gas comprising HBr may be used to remove exposed areas of a carbon-based mask. The addition of HBr to the conventional O2 and SO2 dry develop chemistry enables a user to tune the critical dimension by growing, trimming and/or sloping the sidewalls and to enhance sidewall passivation and reduce sidewall bowing.
US08367300B2 Resin composition for laser engraving, image forming material, relief printing plate precursor for laser engraving, relief printing plate, and method of producing relief printing plate
A resin composition for laser engraving, including: a binder polymer; and a metal compound containing a metal selected from the group consisting of metals in Group 1 to Group 15 in the periodic table.
US08367296B2 Positive resist composition, method of forming resist pattern, and polymeric compound
A positive resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the base component (A) including a polymeric compound (A1′) containing an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group within the structure thereof and including a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0-1) (R2 represents a divalent linking group, and A″ represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or an alkylene group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms which may contain an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom) and a structural unit (a2) derived from an acrylate ester containing a lactone-containing cyclic group; or a polymeric compound (A1) including the structural unit (a0) and a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester containing an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group.
US08367295B2 Preparation process of chemically amplified resist composition
Provided are a preparation method of a resist composition which enables stabilization of a dissolution performance of a resist film obtained from the resist composition thus prepared; and a resist composition obtained by the preparation process and showing small lot-to-lot variations in degradation over time. The process of the present invention is for preparing a chemically amplified resist composition containing a binder, an acid generator, a nitrogenous basic substance and a solvent and it has steps of selecting, as the solvent, a solvent having a peroxide content not greater than an acceptable level, and mixing constituent materials of the resist composition in the selected solvent.
US08367293B2 Method for producing carrier for electrophotographic developer, carrier for electrophotographic developer, electrophotographic developer, and image forming method
A method for producing a carrier, including a step of periodically forming and discharging liquid droplets of a carrier core composition liquid from a plurality of nozzles formed in a thin film, using a liquid droplet forming unit having the thin film and a ring-shaped vibration generating unit disposed in a deformable area of the thin film so as to be along a circumference of the area and to vibrate the thin film, a step of forming carrier core particles by solidifying the discharged liquid droplets, and a step of coating the carrier core particles with a resin layer.
US08367291B2 Toner for non-contact fusing
A toner for non-contacting fusing containing toner matrix particles containing a resin binder and an external additive having an average particle size of from 10 to 100 nm, wherein the external additive is externally added to the toner matrix particles, wherein the resin binder contains one or more polyesters, wherein a carboxylic acid component of the polyester contains one or more isophthalic acid compounds and one or more fumaric acid/maleic acid compounds, wherein the isophthalic acid compound is contained in an amount of from 10 to 35% by weight, the fumaric acid/maleic acid compound is contained in an amount of from 1 to 15% by weight, and the isophthalic acid compound and the fumaric acid/maleic acid compound are contained in a total amount of from 20 to 36% by weight, of a total amount of the entire raw material monomers of the polyester in the resin binder, and wherein the toner has a softening point of from 90° to 120° C. The toner is suitably used in developing latent images formed in, for example, electrophotography, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.
US08367285B2 Light shock resistant overcoat layer
Embodiments pertain to a novel imaging member, namely, an imaging member or photoreceptor comprising an overcoat layer which comprises light-absorbing material that improves print quality. The light-absorbing material reduces the intrinsic light shock suffered by conventional overcoat layers without negatively impacting electrical properties of the overcoat layer.
US08367281B2 Method of exposing substrate, apparatus for performing the same, and method of manufacturing display substrate using the same
A photoresist layer exposed through first slits of a mask is exposed using first light. The photoresist layer exposed through second slits of the mask is exposed by using second light. The first light passes thorough a transflective shutter to generate the second light.
US08367280B2 Color filter and photomask to be employed for the manufacture of color filter
A color filter including a first photo-spacer, and a second photo-spacer having a smaller film thickness than that of the first photo-spacer, wherein the second photo-spacer has a cross-sectional configuration whose longitudinal width is made greater than the lateral width. These photo-spacers are formed by making use of a photomask which includes a first aperture pattern for forming the first photo-spacer, a second aperture pattern for forming the second photo-spacer which has a smaller film thickness than that of the first photo-spacer, wherein an aperture of the second aperture pattern has a lateral width in the range 2.0-10.0 μm and the ratio of lateral width to longitudinal width is confined to 11.25 or more.
US08367278B2 Halftone mask and manufacturing method thereof and method for forming film using the same
Embodiments relate to halftone masks that can uniformly form the height of an underlying layer in two regions that are spaced apart from each other, a manufacturing method thereof, and a method for forming a film using the same. The halftone mask includes a first light blocking unit and a second light blocking unit, and a semi-transmitting unit that is disposed adjacent to the side of the second light blocking unit. The first and second light blocking units block light and are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval. The semi-transmitting unit is positioned at a side far from the first light blocking unit and reduces intensity of light. Sum of the second length of the second light blocking unit and the third length of the semi-transmitting unit is larger than the first length of the first blocking unit.
US08367276B2 Mask blank and method of manufacturing mask
A mask blank is formed on a transparent substrate with a light-shielding film of a material mainly containing chromium and is used for obtaining a photomask by forming the light-shielding film into a transfer pattern by lithography using an electron beam writing resist. The mask blank includes a mask layer formed on the light-shielding film for serving as an etching mask in etching that forms the light-shielding film into the transfer pattern. The mask layer is made of a material containing silicon. The mask blank further includes a chromium nitride-based film formed on the mask layer and containing at least chromium and nitrogen.
US08367275B2 Lengthy volume hologram layer transfer foil, method of producing volume hologram laminate using the same and volume hologram laminate
The present invention provides a lengthy volume hologram layer transfer foil capable of transferring a volume hologram layer continuously to a specified position of a transfer-receiving member. The above problem can be solved by a lengthy volume hologram layer transfer foil according to the present invention, the transfer foil is formed lengthwise and comprises: a substrate, a volume hologram layer which is formed on the substrate and in which a volume hologram is recorded, and a heat seal layer which is formed on the volume hologram layer and which contains a thermoplastic resin, the transfer foil being characterized in that it is provided with a cut portion formed so as to penetrate through the heat seal layer and to cut at least a part of the volume hologram layer, on at least a part of the full width in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof.
US08367273B2 Method for preparation of the solid oxide fuel cell single cell
There are disclosed a method for preparation of the solid oxide fuel cell single cell and a single cell with nano (micro) meso porous cathode electrode that are operational from 723 to 1073 K. The cathode electrode of the single cell possesses very large surface area (10-500 m2 g−1) with the hierarchical nano (micro) mesoporous structure, very high catalytic activity and very low oxygen electroreduction activation energy varying from 0.3-0.8 eV at −0.2 . . . 0 V cathode electrode potential versus porous Pt/O2 reference electrode in air.
US08367268B2 Sealing joint and fuel cell plate, cells obtained and resulting fuel cells comprising a stack of such cells
The invention concerns an elastomer seal (3) arranged in a generally rectangular groove of a bipolar plate (1), comprising in at least two opposite corners one first loop (6) urged to be attached on a corner pin (7) of the plate (1) and at least a second loop (8) designed to be urged to be attached, when the two plates are assembled enclosing between them an exchanging membrane, to a corner pin of the other polar plate. The seal further comprises studs (10) received in recesses of the plate and forms projecting lugs (11) for crimping the terminals of electronic components. The invention is applicable to the production of fuel cells.
US08367267B2 High durability fuel cell components with cerium oxide additives
A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly is provided comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane which comprises a highly fluorinated polymer electrolyte and at least one cerium oxide compound dispersed therein. In addition, a method of making a fuel cell polymer electrolyte membrane is provided comprising the steps of: a) providing a highly fluorinated polymer electrolyte comprising acidic functional groups; b) dispersing therein at least one cerium oxide in an amount so as to provide between 0.01 and 5 percent of the total weight of the polymer electrolyte membrane; and c) thereafter forming a polymer electrolyte membrane comprising said polymer electrolyte.
US08367263B2 Fuel cell, fuel cell apparatus, vehicle and co-generation system including the same and fuel cell operation method
A fuel cell apparatus is capable of quickly heating a solid electrolyte to a proper temperature in order to perform effective electric power generation. The apparatus includes a fuel cell (1) for generating electric power by cell reacting a fuel gas on an anode-(3) side with oxygen on a cathode-(4) side. The fuel cell (1) includes a solid electrolyte (2) formed of a porous mass and uses a differential pressure to cause the fuel gas on the anode-(3) side to permeate through the solid electrolyte to the cathode-(4) side. The solid electrolyte (2) is heated by combustion reaction of the fuel gas permeated through the solid electrolyte (2) and mixed with the oxygen.
US08367261B2 Fuel cell device and method of operating the same
Fuel cell device comprising a fuel cell assembly with at least one polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell and a fuel delivery means for providing a fuel flow. The device is provided with means for pre burning adapted to burn fuel entering the fuel cell assembly during the start up phase until the fuel flow is increased to a predetermined level and/or the oxygen concentration is decreased to a predetermined level. A method of operating the assembly comprises the steps of initiating the start up phase by causing the fuel delivery means to deliver a fuel flow, whereby a means for pre burning burns off fuel entering the fuel cell assembly, monitoring the fuel flow and/or the oxygen concentration and when the fuel flow is increased to a predetermined level and/or the oxygen concentration is decreased to a predetermined.
US08367249B2 Anode material for lithium-ion chemical power sources and method of obtaining thereof
Field of use: the electrotechnical industry, in particular, anode materials for lithium-ion ECCs. Essence of the invention: Anode material based on lithium-titanium spinel that contains doping components, chromium and vanadium, in equivalent quantities, of the chemical formula Li4Ti5-2y(CryVy)O12-x, where x is the deviation from stoichiometry within the limits 0.02
US08367248B2 Negative active material for rechargeable lithium battery, method of preparing thereof, and rechargeable lithium battery including the same
A negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery of the present invention includes a lithium-vanadium oxide core material being capable of performing reversible electrochemical oxidation and reduction, and an inorganic oxide coating layer disposed on the surface of the core material. The negative active material can improve stability at the interface between a negative electrode and an electrolyte, charge and discharge efficiency, and cycle-life, and can be applied along with all kinds of aqueous and non-aqueous binders.
US08367247B2 Cathode active material for lithium secondary batteries with high safety, method of preparing the same and lithium secondary batteries comprising the same
A cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery includes a lithium metal oxide secondary particle core formed by agglomerating lithium metal oxide primary particles; and a shell formed by coating the secondary particle core with barium titanate and metal oxide. This cathode active material allows making a lithium secondary battery having improved safety, particularly in thermal stability and overcharging characteristics.
US08367243B2 Lithium secondary battery
In a lithium secondary battery, the electrode assembly includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode which are assembled together with a separator interposing between said both electrodes. Each of the electrodes includes an active material mixture layer portion and an active material mixture layer free-portion which are arranged on a surface of said metal foil. A relationship of B1
US08367239B2 Cell separator for minimizing thermal runaway propagation within a battery pack
A spacer assembly for use with a cell mounting bracket in a battery pack is provided. The spacer assembly, comprised of one or more spacers, maintains the positions of the batteries within the battery pack during a thermal event and after the cell mounting bracket loses structural integrity due to the increased temperature associated with the thermal event. By keeping the battery undergoing thermal runaway in its predetermined location within the battery pack, the minimum spacing between cells is maintained, thereby helping to minimize the thermal effects on adjacent cells while ensuring that the cooling system, if employed, is not compromised. As a result, the risk of thermal runaway propagation is reduced.
US08367237B2 Electronic device with battery ejection mechanism
An electronic device comprises a housing, a battery retainer arranged in the housing, a battery, a movable member and at least one resilient member. The battery retainer defines a battery cavity and a spring tab. The battery retained in the battery cavity defines a recessed portion and a protrusion protruding from the bottom of the recessed portion. The recessed portion defines a plurality of sloped surfaces and vertical walls surrounding the protrusion. The protrusion defines a side wall. The movable member comprises a first end rotatably connected to the battery retainer and a second end connecting the sloped surfaces. After the battery is pushed into the battery cavity, one of the sloped surfaces engages the second end of the movable member to move until the second end disengages from the side wall of the protrusion.
US08367236B2 Fixing mechanism for battery and electronic device using the same
A fixing mechanism to fix a battery to a main body of an electronic device includes a channel defined in the main body, the channel comprising two opposite openings at two ends thereof, a first fixing member fixed to one end of the channel, an electrically conductive second fixing member fixed to the other end of the channel, an insulated protector slidably positioned in the channel between the battery and the first fixing member; an electrical conductive member partially received in the insulated protector, and a resilient member. One end of the resilient member is fixed to the first fixing member, and the other end of the resilient member resists the electrical conductive member with the insulated protector toward the battery so that the electrical conductive member is electrically connected to an electrode of the battery.
US08367231B2 Polymer electrolyte membrane with functionalized nanoparticles
The present invention relates to a polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cells, comprising a polymer matrix of at least one basic polymer and one or more doping agents, wherein particles containing ionogenic groups and having a mean particle diameter in the nanometer range are embedded in the polymer matrix and the particles containing ionogenic groups are distributed homogeneously in the polymer matrix in a concentration of less than 50% relative to the weight of the polymer matrix, as well as to the production and use of same, especially in high-temperature fuel cells.
US08367227B2 Plasma-resistant ceramics with controlled electrical resistivity
Specialty ceramic materials which resist corrosion/erosion under semiconductor processing conditions which employ a corrosive/erosive plasma. The corrosive plasma may be a halogen-containing plasma. The specialty ceramic materials have been modified to provide a controlled electrical resistivity which suppresses plasma arcing potential.
US08367222B2 Organic electroluminescent device
Provided is an organic electroluminescence device, including: an anode; a cathode; and organic thin film layers provided between the anode and the cathode, in which: the organic thin film layers have a light emitting layer, and have a hole injecting layer and a hole transporting layer, or a hole injecting/transporting layer on a side which is closer to the anode than the light emitting layer is; the hole injecting layer or the hole injecting/transporting layer contains an aromatic amine derivative having a specific substituent, and the hole transporting layer or the hole injecting/transporting layer contains an aromatic amine derivative having a specific substituent.
US08367219B2 Anthracene-based compound and organic light emitting device employing the same
Provided are an anthracene-based compound represented by Formula 1 or 2 and an organic light emitting device employing the same: where R is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C3-C20 cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C5-C30 heterocycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20 alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C30 aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C30 aralkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C30 heteroaryl group, L is a bivalent linking group and a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C30 arylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C30 heteroarylene group, and m is an integer of 0 to 3.
US08367215B2 Radio-frequency microelectromechanical systems and method of manufacturing such systems
An RF MEMS device comprising one or more free-standing thin films configured for motion in response to actuation or stimulation, the one or more thin films comprising an alloy of aluminum and magnesium, and optionally one or more further materials. The resultant thin film has improved hardness and reduced creep relative to conventional thin films.
US08367214B2 Superhydrophobic poly(dimethylsiloxane) and methods for making the same
A hydrophobic coating having a contact angle of at least about 150 degrees is disclosed herein, which coating comprises: a polymer substrate comprising a first linker incorporated therein at a specified surface density of from about 3×10−4 to about 9×10−8 units per nm2; a first polymer layer in contact with said first linker; a second linker in contact with said first polymer layer; and a second polymer layer in contact with said second linker. Also disclosed herein are methods for producing the hydrophobic coating. This hydrophobic coating is useful for making microfluidic devices having a hydrophobic coating on the microfluidic channels, as well as other uses in the field of microfluidics.
US08367210B2 Composite article of aluminum alloy with resin and method for production thereof
The invention provides the advantages of a metallic housing and those of a synthetic resin structure for electronic devices, home electrical devices, etc., achieves high productivity and mass productivity, and enables a desired configuration and structure to be designed freely. As a pretreatment, a shaped aluminum alloy material is dipped in an aqueous solution of at least one selected from the group consisting of ammonia, hydrazine, and a water-soluble amine compound. A thermoplastic resin composition containing polyphenylene sulfide as a component is integrally bonded to the surface of the treated shaped aluminum alloy material by injection molding or other method. The molded article is a product made of the shaped aluminum alloy material and the thermoplastic resin composition containing PPS. Thus, the characteristic features of metal can be utilized in terms of mechanical strength and external appearance design. Moreover, a complicated configuration and structure can be formed inside the housing.
US08367208B2 Damage resistant chemically-toughened protective cover glass
The invention is directed to a high strength, chemically toughened protective glass article, the glass article having a high damage tolerance threshold of at least 1500 g as measured by the lack of radial cracks when the load is applied to the glass using a Vickers indenter; preferably greater than 2000 g s measured by the lack of initiation of radial cracks when the load is applied to the glass using a Vickers indenter.
US08367201B2 Chromium-free rust-inhibitive surface treatment agent for metal parts with zinc surfaces and metal parts with zinc surfaces coated with rust-inhibitive surface coated film
Disclosed is a chromium-free rust-inhibitive surface treatment agent to form a siliceous film that rarely cracks or peels off and yields an excellent rust-inhibitive performance on zinc surfaces of a metal part. The chromium-free rust-inhibitive surface treatment agent is an alcoholic solution of alkoxysilane oligomer having weight-averaged molecular weight of 1,000 to 10,000, and 2.5 to 15% of silicon in molecules of the alkoxysilane oligomer has been replaced with titanium. To prepare partly titanium-replaced alkoxysilane oligomer, titanium compound, in which about a half of alkoxy groups in titanium tetraalkoxide has been chelated, is reacted with tetraalkoxysilane monomer or alkoxysilane oligomer in the alcoholic solution.
US08367194B2 Round fiber-reinforced plastic strand, manufacturing method thereof, and fiber-reinforced sheet
It is an object of the present invention to provide round fiber-reinforced plastic strand, a manufacturing method thereof, and a fiber-reinforced sheet which eliminate limitation in forming speed and limit on number of products capable of being manufactured at a time, do not require use of a release agent, eliminate the necessity of operations such as roughing after forming, and thus permit a considerable reduction of the manufacturing cost and a remarkable increase in the product quality. The manufacturing method of the round fiber-reinforced plastic strand of the present invention comprises (a) a step of continuously feeding reinforcing fiber bundles f1 each comprising a plurality of reinforcing fibers arranged in a direction while twisting the reinforcing fiber bundles f1; (b) a step of impregnating the reinforcing fiber bundles f1 fed continuously with a matrix resin R; and (c) a step of heating the resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber bundles f2 while tensioning to a prescribed intensity, thereby forming the reinforcing fiber bundle into a circular cross-section and hardening the resin, and manufactures a fiber-reinforced plastic strand 2 having a circular cross-section.
US08367190B2 At low temperature, fast hardening composition for preparing protecting film, protecting film prepared therefrom, and substrate comprising the same
The present invention relates to a composition for preparing an excellent protecting film with high strength, wear resistance, and excellent barrier property by low temperature hardening, a protecting film prepared therefrom, a substrate comprising the same, and a component or device comprising the same. The composition comprises an organosiloxane polymer a), a photobase generator b), and an organic solvent c).
US08367186B2 Luminance enhancement optical substrates with optical defect masking structures
An optical substrate possesses a structured surface that enhances luminance or brightness and reduces the effects of structural defects on perceived image quality. User perceivable image cosmetic defects caused by manufacturing or handling, can be masked by introducing structural irregularities in the optical substrate, which may be non-facet flat sections or in-kind to the defects. Optical defects caused by non-facet flat sections in the prism structure of the optical substrate (e.g., flat-bottom valleys with a certain valley bottom thickness above the base layer, and/or flat-top peaks, and/or openings in the optical substrates that expose flat sections of underlying base layer) can be masked by providing distributed in-kind non-facet flat sections (e.g., flat-bottom valleys, and/or flat-top peaks, and/or openings exposing sections of underlying base layer), to diffuse the prominence of the original defects with the introduced irregularities.
US08367179B2 Recordable optical recording media
A recordable optical recording media is provided with an inorganic recording layer prepared by magnetic sputtering. The recording layer is a combination film including a primary component selected from cupper (Cu), silicon (Si), chromium (Cr) or the combination thereof. The purpose of recording data can be achieved by way of altering micro-structure of the recording layer after irradiating the recordable optical recording media by a laser beam.
US08367177B2 Release liner and pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet
Disclosed is a release liner having a multilayer structure of at least three layers including two surface layers and an intermediate layer, in which one of the two surface layers contains a high-density polyethylene, the other contains a low-density polyethylene, and the intermediate layer contains a low-density polyethylene alone as its resin component. Also disclosed is a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet including the release liner and at least one pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, in which a release force X (N/mm) between the release liner and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a rigidity Y of the release liner [(Young's modulus of the release liner)×(thickness)3] (N·mm) satisfy the following conditions: 0
US08367175B2 Coating compositions for fusers and methods of use thereof
There is disclosed a fuser member comprising a substrate; and an outer layer thereover comprising (a) a polymer and (b) an organometallic species, wherein said polymer and said organometallic species forms an interpenetrating network upon curing; and wherein the outer layer comprises an increased number of uniform organometallic binding sites, as compared to an outer layer devoid of the interpenetrating network. An image forming apparatus comprising the disclosed fuser member is also disclosed. Moreover, a method of forming a polymer system suitable for use in color fusing applications is disclosed.
US08367170B2 Vehicular electrical and electronic housings
Metal plated organic polymer compositions are useful as vehicular electronic and electrical housings. Such housings may have lighter weight, better strength and/or stiffer and may be more easily made than conventional housings.
US08367161B2 Method of preparation of a MWCNT/polymer composite having electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness
A method of preparing carbon nanotube/polymer composite having electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness is disclosed, which includes: dispersing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in an organic solvent such as N,N-Dimethylacetamide (DMAc); dissolving monomers such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) and an initiator such as 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) in the MWCNT dispersion; and polymerizing the monomers in the resulting mixture at an elevated temperature such as 120° C. to form a MWCNT/PMMA composite. The composite is coated onto a PET film, and the coated PET film alone or a stack of multiple coated PET films can be applied as an EMI shielding material.
US08367149B2 Method of coating a stent having variable drug release rate
A method of coating a stent may comprise applying a composition including a drug and a polymer to the stent to form a coating. The release rate of the drug from the coating gradually increases along a length of the stent which extends axially from opposite ends of the stent. The variable drug release rate can be accomplished by varying the coating thickness, by applying a barrier region over the drug-containing composition, and/or by having different polymers in the coating, the polymers having different drug permeabilities.
US08367147B2 Use of gelatin particles in powdered coating processes
In order to provide an improved powder coating process using gelatin particles for the production of coatings or shaped bodies based on gelatin, it is proposed that the gelatin particles are produced by drying an aqueous gelatin solution, wherein the gelatin does not pass through a gel state before or during the drying.
US08367144B2 Pet's chew
The invention relates to a pet's chew prepared from natural materials of renewable sources. The chew is both edible and biodegradable, and furthermore has excellent mechanical properties giving it a long lasting time, even if used for strong animals such as large dogs.
US08367135B2 Method of producing ice-candy
An ice-candy forming container is provided which produces ice-candies having a complicated shape copying the face of a cartoon character or the like with higher quality and without a loss in shape. A forming container includes a first mold having a pattern portion formed in one face thereof, and a second mold configured to slide over and along the one face of the first mold, in a close contact relation, in directions designated by arrows A1-A2, so as to contain the first mold therein. In such a containing position, the second mold contacts externally and closely substantially an entire surface of the outer periphery of the pattern portion.
US08367131B2 Method of monitoring the breaking of eggs, an egg receiving device for holding the contents of an egg, and an egg breaking apparatus comprising such an egg receiving device
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for monitoring the breaking of eggs. The eggs are fed to a plurality of egg breaking devices by means of a feeder, each egg breaking device receiving one egg at a time, whereupon the shell of each egg are broken by means of the respective egg breaking device and the contents of each egg are collected in an egg receiving device, each egg receiving device receiving the contents of only one egg in each process cycle. The remains held by each egg breaking device after the breaking of the eggshell are discharged to a waste receptacle, and the contents of the egg receiving device are discharged into one or more product receptacles. The monitoring consists in that the presence of at least one of the conditions (a) the egg is dropped, (b) eggshell is unbroken or (c) yolk membrane is broken is registered automatically, and that the presence of an abnormality in the egg-breaking is presented to an operator. The presence of an unbroken egg may be detected as the lack of contents in the egg receiving device, whereas the presence of an egg with a broken yolk membrane may be detected by the presence of yolk in the albumen.
US08367130B1 Edible pet treat packaging
A pet treat is manufactured of mostly or entirely of a compressed food material or similar substance. The treat has a semi-rigid or flexible outer shell, skin, film or membrane formed of an edible paper products such as a food paper or rice paper of a type capable of being made from white rice flour, tapioca flour, salt, and water, or from a planar sheet of edible material made from, for example, ground yellow corn, or, with any material, may be used separately or together with poultry by-products, fish meal, catnip or fish oil. Catnip, alfalfa, or any other olfactory or gustative attractive material may be provided in a liquid or flake form, and may be applied integrally in the manufacture of the edible sheet, or included in a central core that is encased by the outer sheets. A method and means of packaging is also provided.
US08367129B2 Moulding
The invention provides methods and molding devices for molding three-dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff which is suitable for human consumption, in particular from a mass of meat. A mold provided with at least one mold cavity is used. In some embodiments, the base of the mold cavity is adjustable so as to vary the volume of the mold cavity.
US08367128B2 Method for making a food or biotechnological product using redox potential regulation
The invention concerns a method for producing a food or biotechnological product including one or more steps, said one or more steps being implemented in a medium, said one or more steps implemented in a medium being a fermentation step, which consists in: during at least one of the steps of the method in controlling the redox potential of the medium of the step concerned. Said method is characterized in that it consists in carrying out the process as follows: regulating at a predetermined setpoint level the redox potential of the medium of the step whereof the redox potential is controlled by controlled additions of a process gas into the medium concerned; and proceeding to the step following the step concerned in the process when said setpoint value is reached so as to carry out at least one of said steps of the process in reducing condition and at least one of said steps of the process in oxidizing condition.
US08367120B1 Method and apparatus for producing a stablized antimicrobial non-toxic electrolyzed saline solution exhibiting potential as a therapeutic
An improved method and apparatus for producing a stable, non-toxic, antimicrobial electrolyzed saline solution with a broad range of anti-infective and therapeutic applications. The resulting electrolyzed saline solution exhibits a marked lack of toxicity upon intravenous, aspired, oral or topical application in mammals for therapeutic applications providing a broad platform, including topical disinfection, antimicrobial application, wound treatment, oxidative stress reduction and enhancement of immune function to better detect malfunctioning cells.
US08367118B2 Solid pharmaceutical dispersions with enhanced bioavailability
Spray dried solid dispersions comprising a sparingly soluble drug and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) provide increased aqueous solubility and/or biavailability in a use environment.
US08367117B2 Nanocomposite hyaluronic acid-clay based hydrogels
Hydrogels formed from hyaluronic acid, a nanoclay and gelatin-type A. The hyaluronic acid is preferably dissolved in a cell culture medium containing amino acids, salts, glucose, vitamins and an antibiotic to form a hyaluronic acid solution. The gelatin-type A has a weight/volume of from about 0.02% to 0.08%. The nanoclay is exfoliated in deionized water and preferably includes SiO2, MgO, Na2O and Li2O.
US08367109B2 Microbes encapsulated within crosslinkable polymers
The invention relates to porous films comprising crosslinked electrospun hydrogel fibers. Viable microbes are encapsulated within the crosslinked electrospun hydrogel fibers. The crosslinked electrospun hydrogel fibers are water insoluble and permeable. The invention also relates to methods of making and using such porous films.
US08367107B2 Solid pharmaceutical preparation
It is intended to provide a long-acting solid pharmaceutical preparation which has an immediate release part and a sustained release part containing tramadol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is fast-acting and stably has an excellent release property showing little pH dependency in the initial elution. The invention relates to a long-acting solid pharmaceutical preparation characterized by having an immediate release part and a sustained release part, containing tramadol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient in both parts and containing partially pregelatinized starch and an excipient as additives in the immediate release part. The preparation of the invention is a long-acting preparation in which an effective blood concentration is reached rapidly after taking it for rapid pain-relief and a drug action can be sustained for a long time thereafter and is practical as a preparation showing a stable, pH-independent and rapid initial elution behavior and, further, having a sufficient hardness enough to meet the need for avoidance of defacement, cracking, chipping, etc. during tablet coating.
US08367105B2 Compressed solid dosage form manufacturing process well-suited for use with drugs of low aqueous solubility and compressed solid dosage forms made thereby
A pharmaceutical formulation of compounds with low aqueous solubility and method of manufacture thereof. The formulation may include a pharmacologically active compound having low aqueous solubility and starch in the amount of greater than about 25 weight percent. A manufacturing method may include blending the active compound and starch, compressing the blend into a solid, comminuting the solid into granules, wetting the granules, drying the granules, and tabletting the dried granules to make a solid pharmaceutical formulation.
US08367104B2 Fast dissolving/disintegrating coating compositions
A pharmaceutical composition for oral administration comprising a core and a film coating on the core that exhibits enhanced disintegration characteristics is disclosed. The film coating comprises a film forming polymer, an organic solvent, a super-disintegrant and, optionally, an acid labile material.
US08367102B2 Pharmaceutical semi-solid composition of isotretinoin
An oral pharmaceutical composition of isotretinoin containing at least two lipidic excipients, one of them being hydrophilic (i.e. having an HLB value superior or equal to 10), the other being an oily vehicle.
US08367099B2 Perforated fatty acid films
A bio-absorbable stand-alone film is derived at least in part from fatty acids. The bio-absorbable stand-alone film can have anti-adhesive, anti-inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and wound healing properties, and can additionally include one or more therapeutic agents incorporated therein. The stand-alone film has one or more perforations or depressions formed therein. Corresponding methods of making the bio-absorbable stand-alone film with one or more perforations or depressions include molding, cutting, carving, puncturing or otherwise suitable methods to create the perforations or depressions in the bio-absorbable stand-alone film. The resulting stand-alone film is bioabsorbable.
US08367096B2 Polymers having covalently bound therapeutic agents
Therapeutic polymers are described, which contain at least one polymeric portion and at least one therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent and the polymeric portion are covalently linked via one or more linkages which hydrolyze in an aqueous environment, for example, one or more linkages selected from an Si—N linkage, an Si—O linkage, and a combination of the same. Other aspects the invention are directed to methods of making the above therapeutic polymers.
US08367089B2 Nanosilver coated bacterial cellulose
Nanosilver coated bacterial cellulose nanofiber and a method of producing the nanosilver coated bacterial cellulose nanofiber. The nanosilver coated bacterial cellulose nanofiber is produced by preparing a suspension of bacterial cellulose fibers, oxidizing bacterial cellulose fibers; adding the thio-group to the polymer backbone; reacting the resulting product with silver proteinate and enhancing the nanosilver particle size. The nanosilver coated bacterial cellulose nanofibers exhibit antimicrobial properties.
US08367085B2 Cosmetic composition with anti-free radical activity
Cosmetic compositions with anti-free radical activity have been developed. Such compositions preferably contain an association of at least the following three substances with anti-free radical activity: idebenone; N-acetylcysteine, and alpha-tocotrienol or an ester thereof with a C2-C4 organic acid.
US08367084B2 Oily base for a cosmetic and cosmetic comprising the same
The present invention provides an oily base for a cosmetic comprising an ester compound made from a multivalent alcohol and a fatty acid, characterized in that the ester compound is made from pentaerythritol and isononanoic acid and a molar ratio of a pentaerythritol residue and an isononanoic acid residue in the ester compound is 1.0:2.3 to 1.0:4.0. The oily base for a cosmetic of the present invention has proper oily feeling with moistness, no sticky feeling, excellent adhesion to the skin and safety to the skin, and excellent compatibility with oil agents, among others, silicone oil. Furthermore, upon blending the present oily base in a cosmetic, besides having proper emollient property and moisturizing property, the cosmetic exhibits smooth feeling on use, excellent adhesion to the skin and safety to the skin, excellent cosmetic effect-holding ability, and storage stability.
US08367079B2 Liquid preservative compositions
A liquid preservative composition comprises (a) an alkanol fatty monoester; and (b) an aqueous isothiazolinone solution, an alkanol-substituted aromatic compound, or a combination thereof; and is free from formaldehyde, formaldehyde-releasing compounds, and paraben compounds. Preferred compositions comprise glyceryl caprylate, together with either phenethyl alcohol or an aqueous 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one solution.
US08367076B2 Glyceroglycolipid antigen of Mycoplasma pneumoniae
The present invention provides a novel glyceroglycolipid produced by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The glyceroglycolipid can be used as a diagnostic marker for a disease caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
US08367073B2 Chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT)-defective somatostatin fusion protein and uses thereof
Chimeric somatostatin-based polypeptides, polynucleotides used to encode the polypeptides, the methods for isolating and producing the polypeptides and the uses thereof are provided. In addition, low cost adjuvants for enhanced immunogenic response are provided. Vaccinations that include both chimeric somatostatin-based polypeptides and novel adjuvants are included, useful in facilitating farm animal productivity.
US08367069B2 Cytotoxic T cell defined EGFR peptide and an optimized derivative peptide
The invention provides a polypeptide having a sequence of amino acids consisting of IXDFGLAKL (SEQ ID NO: 1), as well as a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide, vector comprising the nucleic acid, cell comprising the vector, and compositions thereof. The invention also provides a method of inducing a T-cell response in a patient with epithelial cancer, and a method inhibiting epithelial cancer, wherein the methods comprise administering the composition of the invention. The invention further provides a method of stimulating a cell with the inventive polypeptide and a cell so stimulated.
US08367067B2 Immunogenic lipopeptides comprising T-helper and B-cell epitopes
The present invention provides synthetic immunogenic lipopeptide molecules comprising co-linear T-helper and B cell epitopes, and methods for their production and use in the generation of primary and secondary immune responses, and for the vaccination of animal subjects against particular antigens. More particularly, the present invention provides highly soluble lipopeptides wherein the lipid moiety is attached to the terminal side-chain group of an internal lysine or lysine analog, preferably to the terminal side-chain group of an internal diamino acid residue. Preferably the internal lysine or lysine analog is positioned between the T-helper epitope and the B cell epitope or within the T-helper epitope.
US08367057B2 Stem cells suitable for transplantation, their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them
The present invention relates to stem cells suitable for transplantation and to methods for their preparation.
US08367055B2 Immunogenic compositions against tuberculosis
Methods of preparing mutants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with one or more disrupted genes are presented, where the disrupted genes include ctpV, rv0990c, rv0971c, and/or rv0348. Compositions containing mutants with attenuated virulence and pathogenesis, which are capable of stimulation of an immune response against tuberculosis, are described. Compositions and methods relating to immunogenic compositions, which include an attenuated M. tb strain in which the M. tb genome includes a disruption of at least one of the ctpV gene, the rv0990c gene, the rv0971c gene, and the rv0348 gene, are also provided.
US08367054B2 Formulations of PEG-interferon alpha conjugates
Lyophilized and stabilized formulations of PEG-Interferon alpha conjugates and the process for their preparation that reduces lyophilization cycle time and are more cost competitive.
US08367049B2 Method and composition for reducing malodor in permanently waved hair
By formulating permanent wave compositions with chlorophyll derivatives of water soluble alkaline divalent cations selected from the group consisting of magnesium, manganese, calcium, copper, and zinc, an easily employed malodor reducing composition is achieved for use with conventional reducing agents employed for permanently waving hair. In accordance with the present invention, chlorophyll derivative compositions soluble in propylene glycol and glycerol are employed in pre-treatments, waving lotions, or as additives to the waving lotions using various different reducing agents salts and esters of TGA, TLA, Cysteine, Cysteamine, and Bisulfite.
US08367047B2 Hair compositions
The present invention relates to hair compositions comprising at least one lecithin, at least one amphoteric surfactant, at least one nonionic surfactant, at least one film forming polymer, and at least one cationic polymer. The compositions are preferably used to maintain hair's natural shape and/or its curl definition.
US08367043B2 Biologically active nanoparticles a carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, process for their preparation and compositions incorporating the same
The invention relates to biologically active nanoparticles of a carbonate-substituted non-stoichiometric hydroxyapatite, having: a) a crystallinity degree CD lower than 40%, the crystallinity degree being defined as CD=(1−X/Y)·100 wherein: Y=height of the diffraction maximum at 2θ=33°, X=height of the diffraction background at 2θ=33° of the nanoparticles X-ray diffraction pattern; b) a length L ranging from 20 to 200 nm and a width W ranging from 5 to 30 nm; and c) an aspect ratio AR comprised between 2 and 40, the aspect ratio being defined as AR=L/W. The biologically active nanoparticles of the invention find a preferred use in oral or dental hygiene applications and may be formulated as compositions for oral or dental hygiene such as, for example, solutions, suspensions, oils, gels or other solid products. Other aspects of the invention include a process for preparing a suspension for oral or dental hygiene including the aforementioned biologically active nanoparticles, a process for manufacturing a toothpaste comprising the nanoparticles, as well as a method of locally remineralizing the teeth comprising contacting the teeth with the nanoparticles.
US08367041B2 Radiographic contrast agent for postmortem, experimental and diagnostic angiography
A contrast agent for angiography is disclosed, in particular, for examining animal or human bodies or components thereof such as members or organs thereof, comprising an essentially oil-based apolar contrast component for X-ray examinations, the contrast component having a contrast component viscosity in the range of 30-100 mPas. The contrast agent is characterised in that the contrast component is present in a mixture with at least one further apolar component, the viscosity of which is less than or at most equal to the contrast component viscosity. Methods for angiography examination are also disclosed, in which such a contrast agent or also a polar contrast agent are used at least periodically and applications of such contrast agents.
US08367040B2 Contrast agents and methods for preparing contrast agents
Contrast agents comprising a scaffold protein having at least one operative integrated metal ion binding site.
US08367038B2 Therameutin modulators
This invention relates to agents that are inhibitors or activators of variant forms of endogenous proteins and novel methods of identifying such variants. Of particular interest arc inhibitors and activators of endogenous protein variants, encoded by genes which have mutated, which variants often arise or are at least first identified as having arisen following exposure to a chemical agent which is known to be an inhibitor or activator of the corresponding unmutated endogenous protein.
US08367037B2 Anti-CD74 immunoconjugates and methods of use
Disclosed are compositions that include anti-CD74 immunoconjugates and optionally a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent. In preferred embodiments, the immunoconjugates comprise one or more anti-CD74 antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof, conjugated to a liposome or micelle. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the immunoconjugates and using the immunoconjugates in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In certain preferred embodiments, the therapeutic methods comprise administering to a subject with a CD74-expressing disease an anti-CD74 immunoconjugate and thereby inducing apoptosis of CD74-expressing cells. In more preferred embodiments, the CD74 immunoconjugate is capable of inducing cell death in the absence of any other therapeutic agent, although such agents may be optionally administered prior to, together with or subsequent to administration of the anti-CD74 immunoconjugate. The compositions may be part of a kit for administering the anti-CD74 immunoconjugates or compositions.
US08367036B2 Alkali/transition metal halo-and hydroxy-phosphates and related electrode active materials
The invention provides a novel polyanion-based electrode active material for use in a secondary or rechargeable electrochemical cell, wherein the electrode active material is represented by the general formula AaMb(SO4)2Zd.
US08367034B2 Methods for preparing single-walled carbon nanotubes
The present invention relates to cobalt and molybdenum doped mesoporous silica catalysts and methods for using the catalysts to making Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. The methods offer increased control over the orientation, length and diameter of the nanotubes produced.
US08367030B2 Thin film of metal-silicon compound and process for producing the thin film of the metal-silicon compound
The present invention relates to a thin film of a metal-silicon compound and a process for producing the thin film of the metal-silicon compound. The metal-silicon compound is a compound of a transition metal and silicon, and has a transition metal-containing silicon cluster as a unit structure, the transition metal-containing silicon cluster having a structure in which a transition metal atom is surrounded by seven to sixteen silicon atoms, two of which are first and second neighbor atoms to the transition metal atom.
US08367026B2 Method of producing sulfur tetrafluoride from uranium tetrafluoride
A method for converting depleted uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) to triuranium octaoxide (U3O8), and producing sulfur tetrafluoride, using a two step process. The first step uses heat and a mixture of the uranium tetrafluoride and an alkaline compound, either an alkaline oxide or an alkaline hydroxide, to produce U3O8 and a water-soluble metal halide. The second step uses heat, sulfur and a halogen to produce sulfur tetrafluoride and triuranium octaoxide.
US08367020B2 Hydroxyl group-containing solid inks
A microfluidic device includes a first substrate, and a phase change ink deposited on a surface of the first substrate. The phase change ink includes an ink vehicle including a polymeric material having one or more hydroxyl groups, and an optional colorant, wherein the phase change ink is solid at room temperature but is liquid at a jetting temperature of from about 60 to about 150° C., and a hydroxyl group mass percentage, measured as a total mass of hydroxyl groups to an entire weight of the ink, is from about 1% to about 35%.
US08367015B2 Analytical strip and the manufacturing method thereof
An analytical strip including a substrate and a channel structure is disclosed. A substrate has a flat surface and the channel is formed on the flat surface according to a predetermined pattern. The surface of channel structure is not lower than the surface of the substrate. The channel has a hollow-matrix conformation and the channel is more hydrophilic than the flat surface of the substrate is. The strip also contains a reaction material formed in the hollow-matrix.
US08367012B2 Container for holding biologic fluid for analysis
A container for holding a biologic fluid sample for analysis is provided which includes a chamber and a label. The chamber includes a first wall, a transparent second wall, and a plurality of features including features spatially located within the chamber. The transparent second wall permits a fluid sample quiescently residing within the chamber to be imaged through the second wall. The plurality of features, including those spatially located within the chamber, are operable to enable the analysis of the biologic fluid. The label directly or indirectly contains information regarding the features and the spatial location of the features within the chamber. The sample is analyzed by an analytical device that utilizes the information communicated through the label.
US08367005B2 Gas processing apparatus, gas processing system, and gas processing method, and exhaust gas processing system and internal combustion engine using the same
A gas processing apparatus for processing a gas using plasma is highly versatile and capable of rapidly processing a large quantity of gas that includes particularly an aromatic compound or other component that is difficult to process. The gas processing apparatus comprises a plasma equipment series comprising a plurality of gas processing units arranged in series on a gas flow channel; and a control section for controlling the operation of each unit of plasma equipment of the plasma equipment series. Each of the units of plasma equipment comprises a cavity composed of an electrical conductor and communicated with the gas flow channel; a plasma generator for generating plasma within the cavity; and microwave radiator for radiating microwaves to the plasma generated by the plasma starting section. The control section selects the number of units of plasma equipment to operate according to a component of the introduced gas.
US08367004B2 Apparatus and methods for nanoparticle generation and process intensification of transport and reaction systems
Apparatus, systems and methods are provided that utilize microreactor technology to achieve desired mixing and interaction at a micro and/or molecular level between and among feed stream constituents. Feed streams are fed to an intensifier pump at individually controlled rates, e.g., based on operation of individually controlled feed pumps. The time during which first and second feed streams are combined/mixed prior to introduction to the microreactor is generally minimized, thereby avoiding potential reactions and other constituent interactions prior to micro- and/or nano-scale interactions within the microreactor. Various microreactor designs/geometries may be employed, e.g., “Z” type single or multi-slot geometries and “Y” type single or multi-slot geometries. Various applications benefit from the disclosure, including emulsion, crystallization, encapsulation and reaction processes.
US08367001B2 Emissive sensors and devices incorporating these sensors
The present invention generally relates to luminescent and/or optically absorbing compositions and/or precursors to those compositions, including solid films incorporating these compositions/precursors, exhibiting increased luminescent lifetimes, quantum yields, enhanced stabilities and/or amplified emissions. The present invention also relates to sensors and methods for sensing analytes through luminescent and/or optically absorbing properties of these compositions and/or precursors. Examples of analytes detectable by the invention include electrophiles, alkylating agents, thionyl halides, and phosphate ester groups including phosphoryl halides, cyanides and thioates such as those found in certain chemical warfare agents. The present invention additionally relates to devices and methods for amplifying emissions, such as those produced using the above-described compositions and/or precursors, by incorporating the composition and/or precursor within a polymer having an energy migration pathway. In some cases, the compositions and/or precursors thereof include a compound capable of undergoing a cyclization reaction.
US08366999B2 Nanotube fabric-based sensor systems and methods of making same
Under one aspect, a system (100) for sensing the presense of an analyte in a fluid includes a nanotube sensor element including a plurality of nanotubes and positioned for exposure to a fluid; an optical source capable of generating optical radiation (102), the radiation having a source frequency and a fluence selected to generate a nonlinear optical response by the nanotube sensor element; an optical detector (110) capable of measuring the nonlinear optical response by the nanotube sensor element; and logic in electrical communications with the optical detector to sense the presense of an analyte in the fluid based on the nonlinear optical response measured by the optical detector.
US08366995B2 Apparatus and method for drying and then sterilizing objects in a load using a chemical sterilant
The removal of moisture from an object to be sterilized is provided through at least the steps of placing the load in the chamber, reducing the pressure within the chamber to increase the rate of evaporation of moisture from the load, monitoring over a predetermined period of time the increase in the quantity of vapor within the chamber resulting from evaporation of moisture from the load, admitting gas into the chamber and repeating the steps following placing the load into the chamber.
US08366991B2 Apparatus for recovering platinum group elements
An apparatus for recovering platinum group elements comprises a furnace body having an interior space substantially shot off from external air, a material charging port and an exhaust port provided in an upper half of the furnace body, at least two fluid discharge ports provided in a lower half of the furnace body at different height levels. a material charging chute connected to the material charging port. an exhaust unit connected to the exhaust port; and electrodes for passing electric current through and heating material charged into the furnace. The material charging chute is equipped with a vertical two stage shutter so as to maintain airtightness when material is charged into the interior space of the furnace.
US08366990B2 Repairable slide shutter plate and/or bottom nozzle brick and methods for the manufacture and repair of a repairable slide shutter plate and/or bottom nozzle brick
The invention relates to a recyclable slide shutter plate (1) and/or bottom nozzle brick (2). The invention comprises the slide shutter plate (1) and/or bottom nozzle brick (2), the outer part (6) and inner part (7) of which are connected to each other in a detachable manner. In addition, the invention comprises methods for the manufacture and repair of a repairable slide shutter plate (1) and/or bottom nozzle brick (2).
US08366986B2 Fine fiber electro-spinning equipment, filter media systems and methods
Electrostatic fine fiber generation equipment such as for forming nano-fibers from polymer solution is provided. The fine fiber generation equipment includes a strand that may take the form of a stainless steel beaded chain. The beaded chain can be an endless chain entrained upon two guide wheels and driven about an endless path perpendicularly relative to the collection media.
US08366984B2 Press system and method for forming a composite article
A method of forming a composite article from a work piece at elevated temperatures and pressures. The method steps include disposing within a pressure chamber the work piece in contact with a mold, disposing a substantially incompressible medium in the chamber so that the medium is capable of transferring a substantially uniform predetermined pressure to the surface of the work piece, disposing within the substantially incompressible medium a fluid filled elastomeric vessel in fluid communication with a source of high pressure fluid so that the vessel is capable of causing a substantially uniform predetermined fluid pressure to the substantially incompressible medium, and causing the vessel to produce a pressure in the range of 400 to 20000 psi (2.8 to 138 MPa) to be applied to the substantially incompressible medium.
US08366983B2 Method of manufacturing a thermal insulation article
A method of manufacturing a thermal insulation article may include positioning, between opposing mold walls, a first layer comprising a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material and a second layer comprising a plurality of tiles. The method may further include moving the opposing mold walls together to compress together the first and second layers, and curing the compressed together first and second layers to produce the thermal insulation article.
US08366976B2 Method for fabricating flat panel display device
A method and apparatus for fabricating a flat panel display device is disclosed. A thin film is patterned in a patterning process using a soft mold without using a photo process. A thin film layer and a resist are sequentially formed on a substrate. A designated resist pattern is formed by applying pressure to the resist using a soft mold. The resist has a dipole moment μ value equal to or higher than 2 (D), or has a solubility parameter value lower than 6 (cal/cm3)1/2 or higher than 11 (cal/cm3)1/2.
US08366975B2 Atypical kesterite compositions
This invention relates to processes for making kesterite compositions with atypical Cu:Zn:Sn:S ratios and/or kesterite compositions with unusually small coherent domain sizes. This invention also relates to these kesterite compositions and their use in preparing CZTS films.
US08366974B2 Nanoscale lamellar photoconductor hybrids and methods of making same
An article of manufacture and methods of making same. In one embodiment, the article of manufacture has a plurality of zinc oxide layers substantially in parallel, wherein each zinc oxide layer has a thickness d1, and a plurality of organic molecule layers substantially in parallel, wherein each organic molecule layer has a thickness d2 and a plurality of molecules with a functional group that is bindable to zinc ions, wherein for every pair of neighboring zinc oxide layers, one of the plurality of organic molecule layers is positioned in between the pair of neighboring zinc oxide layers to allow the functional groups of the plurality of organic molecules to bind to zinc ions in the neighboring zinc oxide layers to form a lamellar hybrid structure with a geometric periodicity d1+d2, and wherein d1 and d2 satisfy the relationship of d1≦d2≦3d1.
US08366973B2 Solution-based fabrication of photovoltaic cell
An ink for forming CIGS photovoltaic cell active layers is disclosed along with methods for making the ink, methods for making the active layers and a solar cell made with the active layer. The ink contains a mixture of nanoparticles of elements of groups IB, IIIA and (optionally) VIA. The particles are in a desired particle size range of between about 1 nm and about 500 nm in diameter, where a majority of the mass of the particles comprises particles ranging in size from no more than about 40% above or below an average particle size or, if the average particle size is less than about 5 nanometers, from no more than about 2 nanometers above or below the average particle size. The use of such ink avoids the need to expose the material to an H2Se gas during the construction of a photovoltaic cell and allows more uniform melting during film annealing, more uniform intermixing of nanoparticles, and allows higher quality absorber films to be formed.
US08366971B2 Additive for robust metal ink formulations
A composition that may be an electronic circuit element includes a metal nanoparticle, a silicone modified polyacrylate compound and a solvent. The silicone modified polyacrylate compound may be a silicone modified polyacrylate compound with at least one organic functional moiety. A method of forming conductive features on a substrate includes depositing a composition containing metal nanoparticles, a silicone modified polyacrylate compound and a solvent onto a substrate, and heating the deposited composition to a temperature from about 100° C. to about 200° C.
US08366970B2 Method for treating a carbon allotrope
A method for treating a carbon allotrope including providing a carbon allotrope selected from the group consisting of carbon black, amorphous carbon, glassy carbon, graphite, graphene, fullerenes, or a mixture thereof; surface treating the carbon allotrope by coupling the carbon allotrope with a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. Also described is a surface treated carbon allotrope having a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane coupled to the surface of the carbon allotrope. Also described is a coating composite for imaging components including a film forming resin; and a plurality of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane surface treated carbon allotrope particles substantially uniformly dispersed in the film forming resin, and imaging components including the coating composite.
US08366968B2 Methods of manufacturing active material and electrode, active material, and electrode
An active material, an electrode, and a battery which exhibit high safety in overcharging tests, and methods of manufacturing them are provided. The active material comprises a first metal oxide particle 1 and a second metal oxide particle group 2 attached to a surface of the first metal oxide particle 1. The second metal oxide is at least one selected from the group consisting of zirconia, silica, and tin oxide. The first metal oxide particle 1 contains fluorine atoms from its surface to deepest part.
US08366964B2 Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device
The invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a large elastic constant, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding at least two of the characteristics; and is to provide an AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The invention provides a liquid crystal composition that has a nematic phase and includes a specific three-ring compound having a large dielectric anisotropy as a first component and a specific four-ring compound having a high maximum temperature and a large dielectric anisotropy as a second component, and a liquid crystal display device containing the composition.
US08366960B2 Peroxide composition
The invention pertains to a peroxide composition comprising, based on the total weight of the composition: a) 10-90 wt % of an organic peroxide; b) 90-10 wt % of an organic solvent in which the organic peroxide does not dissolve; and c) optionally additives; wherein the water content is less than 20 wt %.
US08366959B2 Abrasive compositions for chemical mechanical polishing and methods for using same
A colloidal dispersion for chemical mechanical polishing comprising: (a) an abrasive component; and (b) from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of the abrasive component, a water-soluble amphoteric polymer comprising at least one macromolecular chain B and a part A bonded to a single end of the at least one macromolecular chain B, wherein the macromolecular chain B is derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers having quaternary ammonium groups or inium groups, and wherein the part A is a polymeric or nonpolymeric group comprising at least one anionic group; wherein the dispersion has a pH of between about 1.5 and about 6. The colloidal dispersion is capable of polishing a substrate comprising silicon nitride and silicon oxide with a reverse selectivity ratio of at least about 27, typically at least 50 the reverse selectivity ratio being the ratio of the rate of removal of the silicon nitride to the rate of removal of the silicon oxide.
US08366957B2 Environmentally friendly chlorine-free deicing composition
The present application relates to a deicing composition, specifically to a chlorine-free deicing composition, comprising at least two active ingredients selected from glycerol, a glycol-type compound and a salt of an organic acid. The deicing compositions of the present invention contain no chlorine-containing material, are relatively less corrosive to concrete and carbon steels, and have no toxic effect on plants. Moreover, the deicing compositions of the present invention have high deicing efficiency, which is, according to the Chinese national standard GB/T23851-2009, up to 200% of the efficiency of sodium chloride or more. In addition, the deicing compositions of the present invention maintain a long-lasting deicing effect (e.g., a deicing effect for up to 3 hours).
US08366956B2 Quaternary ammonium salt and composition, and electrochemical device
A quaternary ammonium salt of the formula (1), a composition containing the quaternary ammonium salt and an organic solvent, and an electrochemical device using the salt wherein R1 and R2 are both methyl and X− is BF4− or N(CF3SO2)2−.
US08366954B2 Solution for increasing wafer sheet resistance and/or photovoltaic cell power density level
Treating thin film amorphous or mono- or multi-crystalline silicon wafer substrate for use in a photovoltaic cell, the wafer substrate having at least one of a pn- or np junction and a partial phosphosilicate or borosilicate glass layer on a top surface of the wafer substrate, to increase at least one of (a) the sheet resistance of he wafer and (b) the power density level of the photovoltaic cell made from said wafer. The treatment solution being an acidic treatment solution of a buffered oxide etch (BOE) solution of at least one tetraalkylammonium hydroxide, acetic acid, at least one non-ionic surfactant, at least one metal chelating agent, a metal free source of ammonia, a metal free source, of fluoride ions, and water, mixed with an oxidizer solution and optionally water.
US08366952B2 Low ejection energy micro-fluid ejection heads
A micro-fluid ejection device structure and method therefor having improved low energy design. The devices include a semiconductor substrate and an insulating layer deposited on the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of heater resistors are formed on the insulating layer from a resistive layer selected from the group consisting of TaAl, Ta2N, TaAl(O,N), TaAlSi, Ti(N,O), WSi(O,N), TaAlN, and TaAl/TaAlN. A sacrificial layer selected from an oxidizable metal and having a thickness ranging from about 500 to about 5000 Angstroms is deposited on the plurality of heater resistors. Electrodes are formed on the sacrificial layer from a first metal conductive layer to provide anode and cathode connections to the plurality of heater resistors. The sacrificial layer is oxidized in a plasma oxidation process to provide a fluid contact layer on the plurality of heater resistors.
US08366951B2 Liquid discharge head and method of manufacturing a substrate for the liquid discharge head
A liquid discharge head includes an Si substrate which is provided with an element for generating energy used in discharging a liquid and a liquid supply port which is provided to pass through the Si substrate from a first surface to a rear surface so as to supply a liquid to the element. A method of manufacturing the substrate includes: forming a plurality of concave portions on the rear surface of the Si substrate of which a plane orientation is {100}, the concave portions facing the first surface and aligned in rows along a <100> direction of the Si substrate; and forming a plurality of the liquid supply ports by carrying out a crystal axis anisotropic etching on the Si substrate through the concave portions using an etching liquid of which an etching rate of the {100} plane of the Si substrate is slower than that of the {110} plane of the Si substrate.
US08366944B2 Image drum and fabricating method thereof
A method of fabricating an image drum includes preparing a hollow drum body having a slot extending in a longitudinal direction, preparing a printed circuit board (PCB) having a plurality of board terminals, mounting the PCB inside the hollow drum body with a fixing member such that the board terminals of the PCB are placed in the slot of the hollow drum body, coating a first insulating layer on an outer circumference of the hollow drum body, forming a plurality of ring electrodes on the first insulating layer corresponding to the board terminals of the PCB, in which a portion of ring electrodes which corresponds to the board terminals of the PCB is non-continuous, exposing the board terminals below non-continuous area of the ring electrodes by etching the first insulating layer with the ring electrodes as an etching mask, and forming a connecting electrode to electrically connect the board terminals to the ring electrodes.
US08366928B2 Filter plate assembly for filter
A filter (20) configured to separate the solid components and the liquid components from a slurry. The filter (20) includes a plurality of filter plate assemblies (46) that cooperate to define a plurality of filter chambers (70), each defining a perimeter (96) having an open section (98) when the filter plates (68) are in a closed position relative to one another. Each filter plate assembly (46) includes a closure (104) configured to close the open section (*). Preferably, the closures (104) are movable to an open position to permit a particulate cake to be removed from the filter chambers (70) without separating the filter plates (68).
US08366926B2 Method for wastewater treatment
The present disclosure is directed towards systems and methods for the treatment of wastewater. A system in accordance with one particular embodiment may include a vacuum filter band system configured to receive a saturated resin tank from a front end system, the vacuum filter band system configured to generate a slurry from the saturated resin tank and to provide a cascading resin rinse to the slurry. The system may further include a repetitive stripping system configured to receive a metal-filled purification unit from a metal specific purification system. The repetitive stripping system may be further configured to sequentially apply the contents of a plurality of acid tanks to the metal-filled purification unit to generate a metal salt. Numerous other embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
US08366924B2 Two stage nanofiltration seawater desalination system
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for desalinating seawater utilizing a two stage seawater desalination system, a first stage including at least one high performance nanofiltration membrane to receive seawater feed pressurized by a first stage pump sufficiently and to produce a first permeate, and a second stage including at least one high performance nanofiltration membrane to receive the first permeate pressurized by a second stage pump to between about 200 psi and about 300 psi to produce potable water.
US08366921B2 Dialysis systems and related methods
A dialysis machine that includes a valve body defining a pressure passage and a sealing cap disposed at a first end of the valve body such that the sealing cap closes off the pressure passage at the first end of the valve body. The sealing cap has a deformable area configured to deform outwardly away from the valve body when pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body. The sealing cap is configured so that, when a dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in a cassette compartment of the dialysis machine and pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body, the deformable area obstructs a fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette to control dialysis fluid flow therethrough.
US08366920B2 Method and apparatus for programably treating water in a water cooler
An apparatus for a programmable self sanitizing water dispenser apparatus with a digital controller as well as a programmable method for generating ozone for cleaning the reservoir and the water contained within it. The apparatus includes an anti-spill receiver that houses the controller and that can contain a ozone generator.
US08366918B2 Vapor collection and barrier systems for encapsulated control infrastructures
A method of preventing egress of a vapor from an encapsulated volume can include forming a substantially impermeable vapor barrier along an inner surface of the encapsulated volume. The encapsulated volume includes a permeable body of comminuted hydro carbonaceous material. Further, the vapor barrier can include an insulating layer capable of maintaining a temperature gradient of at least 400° F. across the insulating layer. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to liberate hydrocarbons therefrom and the hydrocarbons can be collected from the permeable body. The vapor barrier layer can be a single or multiple layer construction, depending on the specific materials chosen.
US08366917B2 Methods of recovering minerals from hydrocarbonaceous material using a constructed infrastructure and associated systems
A method of recovering minerals from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be contacted with an agent sufficient to remove minerals therefrom. The agent is typically a solution containing a solvent, leachant, chelating agent and the like via which minerals can be removed having value, toxic minerals, radioactive minerals and the like.
US08366916B2 Magnetic nanoparticle complex
A magnetic nanoparticle complex includes a magnetic nanoparticle; and a ligand associated with the magnetic nanoparticle, the ligand including a functional group capable of combining with an acid component or a conjugate base of the acid component, in an oil. A method for preparing a magnetic nanoparticle complex, includes preparing a pre-ligand having at least one amino group and at least one carbamate group or dithiocarbamate group; associating the pre-ligand with a magnetic nanoparticle to form a magnetic nanoparticle-ligand complex; and modifying the ligand to form a modified ligand having a functional group capable of combining with an acid component in an oil or a conjugate base of the acid component.
US08366910B2 Process for hydroconversion of a mixture of organic oils of different origins
A process is described for hydroconversion of a mixture of organic oils of different origins in a conventional hydrotreatment unit, constituted by at least two catalyst beds, under moderately severe process conditions to obtain diesel fuel oil. The process includes injection of a stream of oil of animal or plant origin, with independently adjusted flow rates, from the second catalyst bed of the hydrotreatment unit onwards, in accordance with the variations in temperature observed in each of the catalyst beds after the first bed. The process is applicable to conventional hydrotreatment units, and makes it possible to overcome the effects of the highly exothermic nature of hydroconversion reactions in oils of animal and/or plant origin in hydrotreatment process for obtaining specified diesel fuel oil.
US08366909B2 Reforming process at low pressure
Processes for reforming of naphtha feedstocks are described. Briefly, a two stage naphtha reforming process is described. The first stage uses a low acidity beta zeolite catalyst under relatively mild reforming conditions to form an effluent. This effluent is passed to a subsequent stage where further reforming occurs using a catalyst containing ZSM-5 zeolite. The second stage is run under mild reforming conditions. The low pressures employed in the reforming process described maximize liquid product yield by avoiding unwanted cracking reactions and production of light products.
US08366906B2 Measuring method for monitoring residual oxygen in an exhaust gas
A lambda probe in which a measuring point for oxygen in a sensor is connected via a diffusion gap with a reaction chamber. The reaction chamber drives oxygen along the diffusion gap. A desired oxygen partial pressure is set in the reaction chamber. The pump current, which is proportional to the strength of the stream of oxygen driven along the diffusion gap, can be used as a measurement for the partial pressure of the residual oxygen in the exhaust gas during a normal operating phase. The lambda probe can be operated for test purposes intermittently in a high or low phase, in which the oxygen partial pressure in the reaction chamber is a minimum or maximum value. While changing between the operating phases, by comparing the pump currents with empirical values, conclusions with regard to the ability of the probe to function can be derived.
US08366902B2 Methods and systems for producing syngas
Methods and systems are provided for producing syngas utilizing heat from thermochemical conversion of a carbonaceous fuel to support decomposition of at least one of water and carbon dioxide using one or more solid-oxide electrolysis cells. Simultaneous decomposition of carbon dioxide and water or steam by one or more solid-oxide electrolysis cells may be employed to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide. A portion of oxygen produced from at least one of water and carbon dioxide using one or more solid-oxide electrolysis cells is fed at a controlled flow rate in a gasifier or combustor to oxidize the carbonaceous fuel to control the carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide ratio produced.
US08366899B2 Isoelectric focusing systems and methods
The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for the separation of species, including biological species. Some embodiments involve the use of free flow isoelectric focusing (FF-IEF) devices in the separation of a mixture of species. Various device configurations and/or features may enhance the performance of the devices, providing faster and more efficient devices and methods for separating mixtures of species with high resolution. In some embodiments, separation of a mixture of species may be achieved with high resolution and with short sample residence times. Such devices may provide simplified, inexpensive, and optionally disposable devices for the separation of chemical and biological species and may optionally be integrated with orthogonal separation techniques, such as SDS-PAGE or capillary electrophoresis.
US08366897B2 Gradient elution electrophoresis and detectorless electrophoresis apparatus
A microfluidic apparatus and method for performing electrophoretic separation of compounds. The method comprises the steps of: a) providing a separation buffer; b) providing a sample solution in fluid contact with the separation buffer; c) applying an electric field to the separation buffer; and d) producing a variable bulk flow of the separation buffer in a direction substantially aligned with said electric field. Fluid contact between the separation buffer and the sample solution is made through a separation column having a length in the range of from approximately 0.01 mm to approximately 5 mm. By the foregoing, compounds can be sequentially detected and quantified.
US08366893B2 Pumping electrode of gas sensor, method of manufacturing conductive paste, and gas sensor
A gas sensor including a pump electrode and a method for manufacturing a conductive paste for forming the pump electrode. When the pump electrode constituting an electrochemical pump cell for adjusting an oxygen partial pressure inside a gas sensor to measure a concentration of a gas component in a measurement gas by a current-limiting method is formed of a cermet of a noble metal and an oxide having oxygen ion conductivity, the noble metal contains a first noble metal having a catalytic activity, and a second noble metal having a catalytic activity suppressing ability to suppress the catalytic activity of the first noble metal with respect to an oxide gas except for oxygen, and an abundance ratio of the second noble metal with respect to the first noble metal in a particle surface of the first noble metal existing in the pump electrode is to be 0.01 to 0.3.
US08366891B2 Metallic oxygen evolving anode operating at high current density for aluminum reduction cells
A metallic oxygen evolving anode for electrowinning aluminum by decomposition of alumina dissolved in a cryolite-based molten electrolyte, and operable at anode current densities of 1.1 to 1.3 A/cm2, comprises an alloy of nickel, iron, manganese, optionally copper, and silicon. Preferably, the alloy is composed of 64-66 w % Ni; Iron; 25-27 w % Fe; 7-9 w % Mn; 0-0.7 w % Cu; and 0.4-0.6 w % Si. The weight ratio Ni/Fe is in the range 2.1 to 2.89, preferably 2.3 to 2.6, the weight ratio Ni/(Ni+Cu) is greater than 0.98, the weight ratio Cu/Ni is less than 0.01, and the weight ratio Mn/Ni is from 0.09 to 0.15. The alloy surface can comprise nickel ferrite produced by pre-oxidation of the alloy. The alloy, optionally with a pre-oxidized surface, can be coated with an external coating comprising cobalt oxide CoO.
US08366889B2 Anode for electrolysis and manufacturing method thereof
SubjectThe present invention aims to provide an anode for electrolysis by an ion exchange membrane process and the manufacturing method thereof which can show a lower concentration of by-product oxygen gas in chlorine gas and a lower overvoltage stably for a long time, compared with conventional anodes.Solution to ProblemThe present invention is to prepare an anode for electrolysis, comprising a substrate comprising titanium or titanium alloy and a plurality of coating layers provided by the thermal decomposition baking method on the surface of the substrate, wherein the coating layer comprises the first coating layer comprising a mixture of iridium oxide, ruthenium oxide and titanium oxide, provided on the surface of the substrate, the second coating layer comprising a mixture of platinum and iridium oxide, provided on the first coating layer, a unit layer comprising the first coating layer and the second coating layer, provided on the surface of the second coating layer by a single or a plurality of layer, and the second coating layer, provided on the outermost layer of the unit layer; the plurality of layer is provided on the surface of the substrate by means of the thermal decomposition baking method and the coating layer is followed by post-baking at a higher baking temperature than the formerly applied in the thermal decomposition baking method.
US08366882B2 Process for treating agglomerating coal by removing volatile components
A process for treating agglomerating coal includes providing dried, pulverized, agglomerating coal, and treating the coal in a vessel with a gas stream having an oxygen content sufficient to form at least some oxides on surface of coal particles, wherein the oxides are sufficient to convert coal into substantially non-agglomerating coal. The treated coal is transferred into a pyrolyzing chamber and passed into contact with an oxygen deficient sweep gas, the sweep gas being at a higher temperature than the temperature of the coal so that heat is supplied to the coal. The process further includes providing additional heat to coal indirectly by heating the chamber, wherein the heating of coal by the sweep gas and by the indirect heating from the chamber causes condensable volatile components to be released into the sweep gas. The sweep gas is removed from the chamber and treated to remove condensable components of coal.
US08366876B2 Method and arrangement for improving a washing step after completed cooking in a continuous digester
The method and an arrangement are for the improvement of a wash after completed digestion in a continuous digester for the production of cellulose pulp. The softened chips are exposed to a radially directed displacement wash after they have passed the rotating bottom scraper. The displacement wash has been established in the flow of digested softened chips through the outlet tap before the softened chips are defibrated by the fall in pressure across the blow-valve that is arranged after the digester.
US08366874B2 Removing and segregating components from printed circuit boards
Implementations and techniques for removing and segregating components from printed circuit boards are generally disclosed.
US08366861B2 Anode bonding method and producing method of liquid droplet discharging head
Provided is an anode bonding method by which a silicon substrate and a glass substrate are well anodically bonded without generating positional shift, even when an electrode cannot be arranged on a surface on the opposite side to a bonding surface of a glass substrate and the bonding surface is large. The method for anodically bonding the glass substrate and the silicon substrate is provided with a step of placing on the glass substrate the silicon substrate whereupon a through hole is arranged; a step of bringing the anode electrode into contact with the surface of the overlapped silicon substrate opposite to the surface facing the glass substrate, and bringing an cathode electrode into contact with the glass substrate through the through hole arranged on the silicon substrate; and a step of applying a direct current voltage to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode in a state where the glass substrate and the silicon substrate are heated.
US08366858B2 Manufacturing system and manufacturing method for optical display device
Provided are a manufacturing system and a manufacturing method for an optical display device, which are enabled to adhere upper and lower optical films to an optical display device by using two rolls having optical anisotropies such as absorption axes in the same direction, so that the optical anisotropies may be orthogonal to each other. In the manufacturing system for the optical display device, the optical films are adhered to an optical display unit (W). The manufacturing system comprises a feeding device (M2) for a first optical film (F11) to be fed after cut to a predetermined length, and a feeding device (M5) for a second optical film (F21) to be fed after cut to a predetermined length. The feeding device (M2) of the first optical film (F11) and the feeding device (M5) of the second optical system (F21) are so constituted in a manner to correspond to the longer side and the shorter side of the optical display unit (W), that one feeding device may cut the optical film having a width corresponding to the shorter side may be cut to a length corresponding to the longer side whereas the other feeding device may cut the optical film having a width corresponding to the longer side may be cut to a length corresponding to the shorter side.
US08366857B2 Methods, apparatus and systems for production, collection, handling, and imaging of tissue sections
Methods, apparatus and systems for collecting thin tissue samples for imaging. Thin tissue sections may be cut from tissue samples using a microtome-quality knife. In one example, tissue samples are mounted to a substrate that is rotated such that thin tissue sections are acquired via lathing. Collection of thin tissue sections may be facilitated by a conveyor belt. Thin tissue sections may be mounted to a thin substrate (e.g., by adhering thin tissue sections to a thin substrate via a roller mechanism) that may be imaged, for example, by an electron beam (e.g., in an electron microscope). This tissue sections may be strengthened before cutting via a blockface thinfilm deposition technique and/or a blockface taping technique. An automated reel-to-reel imaging technique may be employed for collected/mounted tissue sections to facilitate random-access imaging of tissue sections and maintaining a comprehensive library including a large volume of samples.
US08366855B2 Automated machine and method for mounting a fitment to a flexible pouch
A machine for forming a flexible pouch having a spout fitment includes a frame, a transport device adjacent the frame for transporting a flexible material therealong, and a feeder device for supplying a roll of tape material having a plurality of fitments secured thereto. A fitment insertion station receives the roll of tape material with pre-applied fitments, and removes the fitment, and seals the fitment to a fitment receiving portion of the flexible material. A pouch body forming station operatively forms a body of the pouch from the flexible material, and an upper edge, a lower edge and a side edge extending therebetween.
US08366851B2 Method for manufacturing tire
This invention provides a method for manufacturing a tire in which the time necessary for the manufacture can be reduced without deteriorating uniformity in manufacturing the tire by a strip-build process. The method for manufacturing the tire comprises discharging a strip rubber (S) having a predetermined sectional shape by rubber discharging devices (A1, A2) while rotating a molding drum (B), and successively winding the discharged strip rubber (S) around the molding drum (B) to mold the rubber into a tire shape. The method comprises the step of disposing, around the radial direction of the molding drum (B), at least two rubber discharging devices of a first rubber discharging device (A1) and a second rubber discharging device (A2) in such a state that the phase is shifted in the circumferential direction, and conducting winding in such a state that a first strip rubber (S1) discharged by the first rubber discharging device (A1) and a second strip rubber (S2) discharged by the second discharging device (A2) are overlapped with each other by a predetermined degree in the widthwise direction of the molding drum (B).
US08366850B1 Fastener retention tape
A fastener retention tape comprising a transparent tape substrate; the substrate being fabricated of a material capable of plastic deformation. A pair of adhesive strips is applied to an attachment side of the tape substrate, wherein each strip runs parallel to an adjacent edge of the tape. The tap is placed over one or more fasteners to retain the fasteners in proper location upon removal. The service person engages a removal tool with a fastener head sandwiching the tape therebetween. The pliancy of the tape substrate enables removal of the fastener without breaching the ability of the tape to retain the fastener. The fastener is disengaged from the assembly and retained by the tape until reassembly is completed.
US08366849B2 Method for lining a container and lining of a container
The invention relates to a method for lining a container, especially a reservoir, a tank or a basin in a water-tight manner. In order to avoid possible leakages and/or contaminations, the walls of the large container are provided with hook-and-loop-type fastening elements. Sealing webs are attached to these fastening elements by means of fastening elements.
US08366847B2 Perchlorate-free yellow signal flare composition
Perchlorate-free flare compositions are disclosed which, when burned, produce yellow smoke and flames. Methods of producing the compositions are also disclosed.
US08366840B2 Leadless brass alloy excellent in stress corrosion cracking resistance
By enhancing a stress corrosion cracking resistance in a leadless brass alloy, specifically by suppressing a velocity of propagation of corrosion cracks in the brass alloy, a straight line crack peculiar to the leadless brass alloy is suppressed, a probability of cracks coming into contact with γ phases is heightened and local corrosion on the brass surface is prevented to suppress induction of cracks by the local corrosion, thereby providing a leadless brass alloy contributable to enhancement of the stress corrosion cracking resistance. The present invention is directed to an Sn-containing Bi-based, Sn-containing Bi+Sb-based or Sn-containing Bi+Se+Sb-based leadless brass alloy excellent in stress corrosion cracking resistance, having an α+γ structure or α+β+γ structure and having γ phases distributed uniformly therein at a predetermined proportion to suppress local corrosion and induction of stress corrosion cracks.
US08366836B2 Manufacturing method of grain-oriented electrical steel sheet
A silicon steel material is heated in a predetermined temperature range according to contents of B, N, Mn, S, and Se (step S1), and is subjected to hot rolling (step S2). Further, a finish temperature Tf of finish rolling in the hot rolling is performed in a predetermined temperature range according to the content of B. Through these treatments, a certain amount of BN is made to precipitate compositely on MnS and/or MnSe.
US08366834B2 Endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus
An endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus according to the present invention includes a chemical bottle, an insertion portion, a chemical receiving portion, a blade portion, a first limit switch and a second limit switch. When the chemical bottle is moved to a first position, the first limit switch changes from off to on to detect the first position, when the chemical bottle is inserted to a second position at which an inner face of the chemical receiving portion and a spout portion are aligned to each other, the second limit switch changes from off to on to detect the second position, and when the chemical bottle is inserted to a third position at which a stopper portion is opened, the first limit switch is released by a stepped portion from pressing by the chemical bottle, and thereby changes from on to off to detect the third position.
US08366833B2 Plasma processing apparatus and plasma processing method
Provided is a plasma processing apparatus including: an electrostatic chuck configured to hold a substrate inside a vacuum container, a pulse power source configured to apply a pulse having positive and negative polarities as a bias voltage and a controller configured to control the positive and negative polarities of the pulse.
US08366831B2 Evaporation source
The present invention relates to an evaporation source used in a vacuum deposition apparatus for forming an organic film or a metal film. The present invention provides an evaporation source including: a crucible accommodating a deposition material and having an opening portion through which the deposition material passes; a mesh member installed in the opening portion of the crucible and having a plurality of holes; and thermally conductive balls coated on the mesh member. Here, the thermally conductive balls are provided to cover the deposition material having a predetermined interval with the deposition material, not being mixed with the deposition material filling the crucible.
US08366828B2 Shower head and substrate processing apparatus
A shower head is provided in a processing chamber for processing a substrate therein to face a mounting table for mounting thereon the substrate and formed of a laminated body in which a plurality of plate-shaped members are laminated. The shower head serves to supply one or more gases in a shower shape toward the substrate. The shower head includes a first gas supply unit for supplying a first gas toward the substrate through first gas injection openings provided in the laminated body, a second gas supply unit for supplying a second gas through second gas injection openings provided in the laminated body and a plurality of gas exhaust holes, formed through the laminated body, for exhausting a gas through a portion of the laminated body, the portion facing the mounting table.
US08366825B2 Rapid binder compositions containing a calcium salt for concrete components and structures
The invention concerns a fast binder comprising; cement; at least one superplasticizer; calcium nitrite; and at least one formic derivative. The invention also concerns concrete mixtures obtained from said binder and methods for making same.
US08366823B2 Fly ash based lightweight cementitious composition with high compressive strength and fast set
A method of making a rapid setting lightweight cementitious composition with improved compressive strength for products such as boards is disclosed. The method mixes fly ash, alkali metal salt of citric acid and lightweight aggregate with water. Compositions which include fly ash, alkali metal salts of citric acid and lightweight aggregate are also disclosed.
US08366822B2 Cementitious tile adhesives and method of applying the same to a tile substrate
Cement tile adhesives and methods for using them, the adhesives comprising a dry mix of a water-redispersible polymer powder made from a low carboxylation, large particle size water-soluble film-forming vinyl aromatic-diene copolymer latex and a reduced amount of cellulose ether exhibit superior water immersion shear strength and freeze/thaw shear strength.
US08366818B2 Photocurable composition
A photocurable composition is provided that includes a compound represented by Formula (I) below, in Formula (I), X denotes O, S, or NRa, n1 denotes 0 or 1, and R1 to R14 and Ra independently denote a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a monovalent substituent, at least one of R1 to R14 and Ra not being a hydrogen atom). There is also provided an inkjet recording method that includes (a1) a step of discharging the photocurable composition onto a recording medium and (b1) a step of curing the photocurable composition by irradiating the discharged photocurable composition with light.
US08366810B1 Pneumatic particulates and/or rock processing
A method for separating mixed granular material based upon dissimilar specific gravities, (such as in firearm range cleaning) thereby separating lead from backstop material. Lead falling from an airstream is airwashed by an upwardly directed second airstream. The preferred method is performed under negative pressure to control lead dust. Application to pick up and clean or recover fouled ballast rock (such as used in the rail industry). Processes and apparatus are disclosed that pick up and clean or enrich precious metal bearing ore.
US08366807B2 Method for removing heavy metals from gases
In the removal of heavy metals such as mercury from fluid streams, especially coal-derived syn-gas streams, a sulphided palladium-containing absorber gives improved results by way of mercury-absorption capacity if the absorber is sulphided.
US08366806B2 Pre-purification unit of cryogenic air separation unit, hydrocarbon adsorbent, and method of pre-treating feed air
A hydrocarbon adsorbent that includes a zeolite with either a H-FER structure or a MOR structure in which the pore diameter has been adjusted by ion exchange. A propane adsorbent that includes a zeolite with a MFI structure having a Si/Al ratio of no more than 20. A hydrocarbon removal unit that includes a TSA pre-purification unit having a column packed with sequential layers of activated alumina, a NaX zeolite, and the hydrocarbon adsorbent. A method of reducing the hydrocarbon content within liquid oxygen inside a cryogenic air separation unit that includes purifying feed air with the above pre-purification unit.
US08366805B2 Composite structures with porous anodic oxide layers and methods of fabrication
Composite structures are described that have a porous anodic oxide layer such as, for example, a porous anodic aluminum oxide layer. In one aspect, the present invention includes a composite gas separation module having a porous metal substrate; a porous anodic aluminum oxide layer, wherein the porous anodic aluminum oxide layer overlies the porous metal substrate; and a dense gas-selective membrane, wherein the dense gas-selective membrane overlies the porous anodic aluminum oxide layer. A composite filter is described having a porous non-aluminum metal substrate; and a porous anodic aluminum oxide layer, wherein the porous anodic aluminum oxide layer defines pores extending through the porous anodic aluminum oxide layer. Methods for fabricating composite gas separation modules and composite filters and methods for selectively separating hydrogen gas from a hydrogen gas-containing gaseous stream are also described.
US08366804B2 High permeance polyimide membranes for air separation
The present invention discloses a new type of polyimide membranes including hollow fiber and flat sheet membranes with high permeances for air separations and a method of making these membranes. The new polyimide hollow fiber membranes have O2 permeance higher than 300 GPU and O2/N2 selectivity higher than 3 at 60° C. under 308 kPa for O2/N2 separation. The new polyimide hollow fiber membranes also have CO2 permeance higher than 1000 GPU and single-gas selectivity for CO2/CH4 higher than 20 at 50° C. under 791 kPa for CO2/CH4 separation.
US08366802B2 Cyclone with improved separation of gas from gas laden liquid streams also at reduced flow volumes
The cyclone is for separating gas from a gas laden liquid stream by pressure reduction of the liquid stream. The cyclone has a cylindrical casing, having a tangentially directed inlet arrangement for the gas laden liquid stream, a lower outlet line for liquid and an upper outlet line for vapor and gas. The inlet arrangement is connected to a common supply source (BLPR), and has at least two insertion pipes. The flow in at least one of these insertion pipes is controlled by at least one valve that depends upon an order of flow from the common supply source to maintain a flow velocity above a critical value.
US08366801B2 Atmospheric acid leach process for laterites
An atmospheric leach process for the recovery of nickel and cobalt from lateritic ores includes providing limonitic and saprolitic ore fractions of a laterite ore; separately slurrying the limonitic and saprolitic ore fractions to produce a limonitic ore slurry and a saprolitic ore slurry; separating any limonitic type minerals from the saprolitic ore slurry to produce a saprolitic feed slurry; milling or wet grinding the saprolitic feed slurry; leaching the limonitic ore slurry with concentrated sulfuric acid in a primary leach step; introducing the saprolitic feed slurry to the leach process in a secondary leach step by combining the saprolitic feed slurry with the leached limonite slurry following substantial completion of the primary leach step, and releasing sulfuric acid to assist in leaching the saprolite feed slurry.
US08366798B2 Filter and method of making
A filter is disclosed herein, the filter having: a plurality of sheets of filter media, each sheet of filter media having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein each of the plurality of sheets of filter media has a first layer of filtration media thermoformed to have a plurality of channels, the first layer having an upper surface and a lower surface; a second layer of filtration media sonically welded to a portion of to the first layer of filtration media after the first layer is formed with the plurality of channels, wherein at least one edge of the first layer is not sonically welded to at least one edge of the second layer, and wherein the sheet of filtration media has a plurality of fluid channels each having an inlet opening at the at least one edge of the first layer and the second layer and a sealed end at another end of the sheet; wherein each of the plurality of sheets of filter media are secured together by a strip of adhesive located between each upper surface of each first layer facing the second layer of another sheet of filter media stacked upon the upper surface of the first layer of the filtration media; and wherein each of the plurality of fluid channels are also in fluid communication with at least one other of the plurality of fluid channels through an opening located between the at least one edge of the first layer and the second layer and the sealed end.
US08366797B2 Fine fiber media layer
Disclosed are improved polymer materials. Also disclosed are fine fiber materials that can be made from the improved polymeric materials in the form of microfiber and nanofiber structures. The microfiber and nanofiber structures can be used in a variety of useful applications including the formation of filter materials.
US08366791B1 Formulation and method for hair dyeing
Disclosed and claimed herein are a natural coloring formulation for coloring hair, and methods of its use. The coloring formulation includes a catechol-based precursor and an oxidizing agent. Additionally an alkalizing agent may be present. The formulation is substantially free of organic solvents, co-solvents and diluents.
US08366786B2 Artificial bone capable of being absorbed and replaced by autogenous bone and its production method
An artificial bone capable of being absorbed and replaced by an autogenous bone, which comprises a cylindrical body obtained by rolling a sheet-shaped apatite/collagen composite, a hollow center portion of the cylindrical body penetrating from one end surface to the other end surface having a diameter of 100-1000 μm.
US08366780B2 Shoulder joint implant
A prosthetic implant comprising a head having a spherical pyrocarbon shell (13,73) that is attached to a metal substructure (17,77) via an intermediate element (15,45,75). A subassembly of the intermediate element and the pyrocarbon shell may be connected to the metal substructure via a metal split ring (19) that resides partially in each of two facing grooves (33,35) or via interengaging elements (85,87,91) that are provided in two juxtaposed cylindrical surfaces. The design is such that compressive forces applied to the implant at its spherical articulating surface are transferred via compression through the pyrocarbon shell to the metal substructure.
US08366779B2 Expandable implant, instrument, and method
Embodiments of the invention include expandable, implantable devices and methods. Devices expand linearly to provide secure fixation between or among anatomical structures. In some embodiments, an implant replaces one or more vertebral bodies of the spine.
US08366776B2 Vertebral implants having predetermined angular correction and method of use
A vertebral implant for use in establishing desired spinal curvatures includes separate implant bodies. Each body may include an associated angle between inferior and superior surfaces of the body. Further, the implant bodies may be stacked so that the associated angles are oriented in different anatomical planes. The implant bodies may be secured to one another with a connector. The implant bodies may be used either independently or in conjunction with one another to achieve a desired spinal curvature. Each implant body may include bone engagement features that extend outward from the superior and inferior surfaces of the implant body. The implant bodies may include recesses that are positioned to correspond to the bone engagement protrusions in other implant bodies to allow contact between the inferior and superior surfaces of the respective implant bodies.
US08366773B2 Apparatus and method for treating bone
A bone tamp for creating channels within bone tissue. The bone tamp includes an elongated member that is deformable from a first generally non-linear configuration to a second generally linear configuration for insertion into bone tissue. As the elongated member is deployed into bone tissue, it transitions from the linear configuration into the non-linear configuration within the bone tissue. The elongated member is capable of being deformed back into the generally linear configuration for withdrawal from the bone tissue.
US08366769B2 Low-profile, pivotable heart valve sewing ring
A sewing ring for prosthetic heart valves that is connected and configured to pivot outward. A biocompatible fabric covering surrounds at least a portion of the sewing ring, and the ring may be exclusively connected to a stent with the fabric. The sewing ring may be generally planar and of uniform thickness, or may be of varying thickness. The fabric may be used to encompass both the stent and the sewing ring, and may be a single piece. A seam may be provided in the fabric as a discrete pivoting line. The sewing ring may be convertible between bi-stable positions. The ring may extend outward in a frusto-conical shape so as to enable inversion between a position facing the inflow end of the valve and a position facing the outflow end of the valve. The sewing ring may have a compliant insert having a celled construction defined by outer walls and inner ribs. A method of implantation, and a method of assembly of the heart valve is also provided.
US08366768B2 Methods for delivery of a sutureless pulmonary or mitral valve
Methods for delivering a sutureless pulmonary or mitral valve prosthesis using a transcatheter approach are provided. The implantation devices utilize movable claspers for both positioning and anchoring the valve prostheses within the native cardiac valve, minimizing the extent of imaging necessary.
US08366764B2 Stent for positioning in a body conduit or method for producing this stent
By a contrast means contained in an inventive stent which has a greater permeability for x-radiation features than the body tissue surrounding the stent in a relevant body conduit, this stent can be clearly detected in its position on an x-ray image of the relevant body conduit while at the same time exhibiting good biological compatibility; a gas, especially one contained in cavities of the stent is provided as a contrast means. The inventive production method for this stent with the aid of a catheter embodied specially for the purpose enables the production of the stent from a malleable polymer mass in the relevant body conduit so that the stent is adapted especially precisely to the shape of the relevant body conduit.
US08366763B2 Ostium support for treating vascular bifurcations
A prosthesis is disclosed for placement across an ostium opening from a main body lumen to a branch body lumen. The prosthesis comprises a radially expansible support at one end, a circumferentially extending link at the other end and at least one frond extending axially therebetween.
US08366757B2 Foam pad with far-infrared and/or ion generating properties and method for producing it
The present invention relates to a foam pad containing far-infrared and/or ion generating particles and method for producing such foam material. The method for producing the foam pad consists of mixing fine particles of a far-infrared and/or ion emitting stone into the base material prior to further processing such as forming, molding or extruding the material. Alternatively, the fine particles of far-infrared and/or ion generating stone may be mixed with an adhesive and used as a coating on the foam pad. The stone generating far-infrared radiation and/or ions is preferably from the group consisting of tourmaline, granite porphyry, quartz porphyry, zeolite, perlite, serpentine, or mixture thereof.
US08366751B2 Bone plate having elevations permitting countersinking of bone screws
A bone plate has at least one plate hole whose hole axis runs obliquely in relation to the underside of the plate. The hole axis has an elevation angle (ε) in relation to the plane of the underside of the plate which is different from 90°, and in which plate the upper face of the plate runs at least partially not parallel to the underside of the plate, at least in the area around the plate hole, but instead runs at a right angle to the hole axis. The plate hole is designed such that a bone screw, which is screwed into the plate hole, can be blocked in the plate hole at an angle selected from a predefined angle range around the elevation angle (ε) of the hole axis of the plate hole only by cooperation of the plate hole with the bone screw, without other additional auxiliary means.
US08366750B2 Method for stabilizing the spine
Spine stabilization systems and integrated rods are disclosed. One spine stabilization system disclosed has at least four bone anchors and a stabilization member attached to the bone anchors. The stabilization member has first and second elongate portions interconnected by a connector portion. The first and second elongate members extend longitudinally and generally parallel to a central longitudinal axis and connector portion extends transverse to the central longitudinal axis from a first lateral end to a second lateral end. The connector portion is integrally connected to the first and second elongate portions such that there is no relative movement between the lateral ends and the respective elongate portion to which each end is attached.
US08366749B2 Method for interconnecting longitudinal members extending along a spinal column
A method of interconnecting first and second longitudinal members extending along a spinal column of a patient includes inserting an access port into the body of the patient. A transverse connector is moved through the access port. A first end of the transverse connector is connected to the first longitudinal member. A second end of the transverse connector is connected to the second longitudinal member.
US08366747B2 Apparatus for connecting a longitudinal member to a bone portion
A device for provides access to a surgical location within a patient. The device has an elongate body that has a proximal portion, a distal portion, a first slot segment, and a second slot segment that is angled relative to said first slot segment. The elongate body defines a passage for accessing the surgical location with surgical instruments. The elongate body has a contracted configuration for insertion into the patient and an expanded configuration for providing access to the surgical location. The cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location of the elongate body is greater than the cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location of the elongate body. A movable tab is configured to extend into the second slot segment when the elongate body is in the expanded configuration to retain the elongate body in the expanded configuration.
US08366746B2 Spine reconstruction rod extender
A spine reconstruction rod extender may be used to extend an existing spine reconstruction rod without skipping a pedicle screw in the new construct, exposing the entire old construct, or adding a significant amount of size to the junction between the old and new construct. The resulting extended rod is a strong, durable inline spine reconstruction rod extender.
US08366739B2 Motion control devices
Disclosed is a device for exsanguinating a portion of an extremity. The device comprises an elastic torus configured to ensanguine a limb when surrounding an extremity and pulled at a first linear rate in a first direction; and at least one elongate attachment element mechanically coupled to the torus to convey pulling force from the handle to the torus, wherein the a length of the elongate attachment element between the handle and the torus elongates at a different rate than the first rate, during the pulling.
US08366738B2 Tethered coil for treatment of body lumens
Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for removable of undesired material from body lumens. The apparatus may be used for fragmenting or removing a thrombus or occlusion from a blood vessel. The apparatus includes first shape segments and second shape segments connected to form a coiled member. A longitudinally extending tether is positioned inside the first shape segments and outside the second shape segments along the length of the coil. Applying a proximal force on the tether produces a change in the shape of at least a portion of the coil from a first generally linear configuration to a second complex three dimensional shape. A method of using the apparatus to engage and remove, or fragment, the thrombus or occlusion is disclosed.
US08366735B2 System and method for treating ischemic stroke
A thromboembolic removal system for treating ischemic stroke includes an aspiration catheter and an elongate member having a separator on a distal portion of the elongate member. During use of the thromboembolic removal system, the aspiration catheter and elongate member are positioned in a blood vessel, with the elongate member extending through the lumen of the aspiration catheter. Vacuum is applied through the aspiration catheter and the separator is deployed distal to the aspiration catheter into contact with thromboembolic material within a blood vessel. Manipulation of the separator during aspiration can facilitate aspiration by loosening, separating, or softening pieces of thromboembolic material, by removing any clogs or flow restrictions within the lumen of the aspiration catheter, and/or by pushing or plunging loosened material towards and/or into the distal end of the aspiration catheter for subsequent aspiration out of the body.
US08366733B2 Applicator instruments for controlling bleeding at surgical sites and methods therefor
An instrument for controlling bleeding includes an outer shaft having a central lumen extending between proximal and distal ends thereof, and an inner shaft disposed within the central lumen of the outer shaft, the inner shaft having a central lumen extending between proximal and distal ends thereof. The instrument has an inflatable balloon with a proximal end secured to the outer shaft and a distal end that is inverted and secured to the inner shaft. In one embodiment, the balloon has a spherical shape when the outer and inner shafts are in a first position and a toroidal shape when the outer and inner shafts are in a second position. The instrument includes an actuator for discharging a flowable material from the central lumen. In one embodiment, the instrument includes a stylet having barb-like features to attach a hemostat to the distal end of the instrument.
US08366726B2 Vessel occlusion clip and application thereof
An occlusion clip for permanently occluding a bodily vessel, such as the vas deferens. The occlusion clip has a first leg, a second leg, joined on their proximal ends by a spring coil. The spring coil provides a biased torsional force to the first leg and the second leg, to force them into a closed position. The first leg and the second leg have on their distal ends a vessel occlusion portion that occludes the targeted vessel when the clip is in a closed position.
US08366725B2 Placing sutures
A suturing instrument including multiple needle and suture assemblies that are at least partially disposed within the suturing instrument allows a surgeon to place multiple sutures intercorporally without having to remove the instrument from a surgical site and reload the instrument between placing each suture. The suturing instrument includes an elongate body member that includes a distal portion defining an opening. The suturing instrument further includes a first needle disposed within the opening, a second needle disposed within the opening, and a needle deployment mechanism disposed at least partially within the elongate body member and connectable sequentially to the first needle and the second needle.
US08366715B2 Magnetic targeting system for facilitating navigation
The present invention describes a magnetic targeting system suitable for guiding a biocompatible device to a target area within the body (in vivo) and method of using the same. The system includes a targeting member having a steering material and is attached to the biocompatible device. The system also includes at least one anchoring member constructed and arranged for the inclusion of a magnetic material effective for influencing the traversal of the steering material, in vivo. The magnetic material is configured and sized so as to positionable external of the anchoring member, in vivo. The magnetically influenced anchoring member interacts with the targeting member such that the biocompatible device is positionable relative to the target area. An extender and connector have threads indexed to a securing set screw to facilitate positioning and affixation of the biocompatible material.
US08366714B2 Rod insertion instrument and method of use
An insertion tool for inserting a spinal rod into a patient is provided. The insertion tool includes an upper body portion defining a first longitudinal axis, a handle assembly extending from the upper body portion, an elbow member connected to a distal end of the body portion, a lower body portion defining a second longitudinal axis, and a drive mechanism extending between the handle assembly and the lower body portion for controlling the selective engagement of the spinal rod. The lower body portion extends from the elbow and is configured to selectively engage a spinal rod.
US08366712B2 Multiple pathways for spinal nerve root decompression from a single access point
A method of accessing target tissue adjacent to a spinal nerve of a patient includes the steps of accessing a spine location of the patient by entering the patient through the skin at an access location, inserting a flexible tissue modification device through the access location to the spine location, advancing a distal portion of the first flexible tissue modification device from the spine location to a first exit location, passing through the first exit location and out of the patient, advancing the first or a second flexible tissue modification device through the same access location to the spine location and to a second exit location, and passing through the second exit location and out of the patient.
US08366701B2 System and method for correcting higher order aberrations with changes in intrastromal biomechanical stress distributions
A method for correcting higher order aberrations in an eye requires Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) of stromal tissue. In detail, the method identifies at least one volume of stromal tissue in the eye, with each volume defining a central axis parallel to the visual axis of the eye. Thereafter, a pulsed laser beam is focused to a focal spot in each volume of stromal tissue to cause LIOB of stromal tissue at the focal spot. Further, the focal spot is moved through the volume of stromal tissue to create a plurality of incisions centered about the respective central axis of the volume. As a result, a predetermined selective weakening of the stroma is caused for correction of the higher order aberration.
US08366700B2 Liposuction of visceral fat using tissue liquefaction
Visceral fat may be removed from a subject using a cannula that has an interior cavity and an orifice configured to permit material to enter the cavity. This is accomplished by generating a negative pressure in the cavity so that a portion of the tissue is drawn into the orifice. Fluid is then delivered in pulses, via a conduit, so that the fluid exits the conduit within the cavity and impinges against the portion of the tissue that was drawn into the orifice. The fluid is delivered at a pressure and temperature that causes the visceral fat to soften, liquefy, or gellify, without damaging the subject's internal organs that are in the vicinity of the visceral fat. The visceral fat that has been softened, liquefied, or gellified is then suctioned away.
US08366699B2 Double helix reinforced catheter
The intravascular catheter has two segments; a proximal segment with high stiffness and a distal segment with lower stiffness. The catheter can also have an intermediate segment of lower stiffness than the proximal segment and higher stiffness than the distal segment. The catheter comprises a polymeric inner tube, a reinforcing inner jacket which is spirally wound over the inner tube and which becomes progressively softer from a proximal end to a distal end, and a polymeric outer sheath extruded over the inner jacket according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,624. The reinforcing jacket comprises helical coiled wires or fibers of various materials and layers wound over the inner tube in order to provide improved multi-axial mechanical properties, such as torque, compression, tension and anti-kinking characteristics. Stainless steel, carbon, glass, platinum, platinum/tungsten or palladium wire in either oval, round or flat geometry are used together with single or dual layers to achieve a graduated stiffness with the reinforcing jacket being stiffer at a proximal end and softer at a distal end. Methods for making the catheter and for annealing ends of the wound wire are also disclosed.
US08366696B2 Absorbent article
An absorbent article comprises an absorbent interposed between a liquid-permeable surface sheet and a back sheet. The absorbent is constituted of a set of left and right absorbent elements arranged substantially along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article. The absorbent element of one side is formed as a dogleg to the right in a top plan view whereas the absorbent element of the other side is formed as a dogleg to the left in a top plan view, so that the absorbent elements have an intersecting portion intersecting in at least the region containing the portion corresponding to the blood discharge opening of the wearer.
US08366695B2 Adaptor for ostomy coupling
An adapter is disclosed for an ostomy coupling. The adapter provides a floatable coupling characteristic to an ostomy body fitment that has a non-floatable coupling part. The adapter comprises a first coupling part for attaching to the non-floating coupling part of the body fitment, a second coupling part for releasably attaching to an ostomy appliance, and a flexible collar between the first and second coupling parts. The flexible collar permits the second coupling part to be displaced away from the first coupling part, thereby creating a space for an ostomate to manually brace the second coupling part against an attachment force when an appliance is fitted.
US08366694B1 Tissue refining device
A device for use in a system or method of collecting and processing aspirated tissue received from a harvesting device is provided by a canister body having a vacuum port and an evacuation port operable to be placed in communication with a vacuum source, a tissue harvesting port for directing tissue into the canister body received from the harvesting device under suction, a pressure equalization passage, and a separator element dividing the canister body into an upper vacuum chamber in communication with the vacuum port and the tissue harvesting port and a lower vacuum chamber in communication with the evacuation port, the separator element including a plurality of apertures enabling fluid to pass between the chambers while restricting tissue from doing the same and a depression with a channel leading to a tissue retrieval port to facilitate processed tissue collection.
US08366693B2 Methods and devices for applying closed incision negative pressure wound therapy
A surgical tissue therapy device includes a sealant layer and a collection chamber. The sealant layer functions so as to create a sealed enclosure, or space between it and the surface of a patient, by forming an airtight seal around a surgical area of skin trauma. The closed incision tissue therapy device also comprises a collection chamber, which may comprise an elongate tubular chamber with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings. The collection chamber may be configured to be in fluid communication with the sealant layer and the area of skin trauma and functions as to distribute the negative pressure applied to a surgically closed area of skin trauma. Preferably, the pressure under the sealant layer is reduced by expanding the volume of the enclosure space and thereby decreasing the density of air molecules under the sealant layer. The collection material may comprise a material and/or a configuration that permits length changes based upon the length of the corresponding surgical wound or incision.
US08366690B2 System and method for determining a fill status of a canister of fluid in a reduced pressure treatment system
A reduced pressure treatment system is provided that includes a canister that is fluidly connected to a tissue site and is configured to receive fluid drawn from the tissue site under the influence of a reduced pressure. A reduced pressure source provides the reduced pressure and is fluidly connected to the tissue site by a fluid communication path, which may include a source conduit, the canister, and a target conduit. A sensing device communicates with the source conduit and is configured to sense a pressure in the source conduit. A valve communicates with the source conduit and is configured to vent the reduced pressure. A processing unit communicates with the sensing device and the valve and is configured to open the valve for a selected amount of time, determine a decay of reduced pressure, and determine a fill status of the canister based on the decay of reduced pressure.
US08366688B2 Non-discoloring sterilized wipe
A sterilized non-discolored eyelid cleansing pad, which has been sterilized by exposure to γ-radiation in a dose level of 2 Mrad.
US08366685B2 Systems and methods for phlebotomy through a peripheral IV catheter
An apparatus for performing phlebotomy through a peripheral intravenous line is described herein. The apparatus includes an introducer and a cannula and is configured to advance the cannula through a peripheral intravenous line. A y-adapter with a port of larger diameter is configured to receive the cannula to place the cannula in fluid communication with the peripheral intravenous line. When advanced, the cannula is configured to transport a bodily fluid to a volume outside of the body.
US08366683B2 Infusion devices
The disclosures made herein relate to an infusion device specifically adapted for syringe injections. In one embodiment of the disclosures made herein, an infusion device comprises a body including an accessible surface having a single inlet port therein, an engagement surface having a single outlet port therein, a medication delivery channel extending between the single inlet port and the single outlet port, and an identification feature on the accessible surface of the body adjacent to the single inlet port. The single inlet port of the medication delivery channel is tapered thereby forming a funnel-shaped entry into the medication delivery channel. A cannula is coupled to the body at the single outlet port and is adapted for receiving medication from the single outlet port and transmitting the medication therethrough.
US08366679B2 Self filling injection device
Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and systems associated with injection devices are disclosed.
US08366677B2 Microneedle arrays formed from polymer films
The present invention provides for transdermal delivery devices having microneedle arrays, as well as methods for their manufacture and use. In one embodiment, a transdermal delivery device is provided. The transdermal delivery device includes a polymer layer which has microneedles projecting from one of its surfaces. The microneedles are compositionally homogenous with the polymer base layer.
US08366676B2 Vascular access device gas displacement
A vascular access device may include a gas chamber housed between a body and a septum, and a receptacle in communication with the gas chamber. A method of displacing gas in a medical device may include transferring gas between a gas chamber of a vascular access device and a receptacle housed within the vascular access device.
US08366674B2 Rotate-to-advance catheterization system
Apparatus for accessing a bodily passageway, the apparatus comprising: a flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end, a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, and a lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end, the lumen being sized to receive matter to be transported through the bodily passageway; and an external thread disposed over the distal end of the tube, the external thread having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in a bodily passageway, rotation of the tube about the longitudinal axis will result in longitudinal motion of the tube along said bodily passageway.
US08366670B2 Powerhead of a power injection system
A contrast media injection system detects the absolute position of the syringe ram using a non-contact sensor. A series of magnets and Hall-Effect sensors may be used or an opto-reflective system. Illuminated knobs that are connected to the drive mechanism for the syringe ram rotate with the drive and provide visual feedback on operation through the illumination. Analog Hall-Effect sensors are used to determine the presence or absence of magnets that identify the type of faceplate being used. The faceplates include control electronics, connected to the powerhead through connectors, which may be interchangeably used by the two faceplates. The faceplate electronics include detectors for automatically detecting the capacity of pre-filled syringes. Additional features include using historical data to provide optimum pressure limit values during an injection protocol, a removable memory device for storing and transferring information such as injection protocols and injector statistics, and password protection of such protocols.
US08366665B2 Stretch resistant therapeutic device
A vasoocclusive coil is reinforced with a stretch resistant member to improve safety during retraction of the coil. The stretch resistant member is fixedly attached at one end to the vasoocclusive coil, and the other end of the stretch resistant member is detachably mounted to an elongated pusher member to allow for placement and release of the vasoocclusive coil within the patient's vasculature.
US08366656B2 Syringe having a resilient part in order to facilitate an initial aspiration
A syringe comprises a barrel with a plunger in slidable and sealing engagement therein, and a needle attached to one end of the barrel. The barrel has an aspiration device in the form of manually-operable resilient portions, which can be operated to cause a pressure differential in the barrel, the pressure differential then being used to perform aspiration. The resilient portions are preferably formed by localized reductions of wall thickness in the external surface of the barrel.
US08366653B2 Intraocular pressure regulating device
Systems and methods are described for implanting a device in a mammalian eye to raise intraocular pressure. In some embodiments, the device (54) includes an arcuate body that, when implanted, obstructs aqueous humor outflow from the anterior chamber (38) of the eye.
US08366652B2 Systems, devices, and methods including infection-fighting and monitoring shunts
Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an actively controllable shunt configured to, for example, monitor, treat, or prevent an infection.
US08366645B1 Method and apparatus for improved cardio-pulmonary resuscitation
A cardio pulmonary CPR device and method that provides enhanced circulation by an optimal combination and sequencing of maximal positive and maximal negative intrathoracic pressures, while maintaining a degree of passive ventilation to the patient. Namely, the embodiments of the invention provide for an optimal positive thoracic pressure compression state, with passively or actively filled lungs, achieved by either passive chest recoil with an open airway, or an active inflation mechanism. Said embodiments also provide for an optimal negative pressure decompression state, combined with actively emptied lungs (by chest compression).
US08366644B2 System and method for reduced pressure charging
A reduced pressure treatment system includes a compressible chamber positionable beneath a foot of a user and being movable between an expanded position and a compressed position. The compressible chamber includes an inlet and an outlet. An inlet valve is in fluid communication with the inlet to prevent fluid within the compressible chamber from exiting the inlet, and an outlet valve is in fluid communication with the outlet to prevent fluid from entering the compressible chamber through the outlet. A biasing member is disposed within the compressible chamber to bias the compressible chamber toward the expanded position, and a manifold is positionable at a tissue site and in fluid communication with the inlet of the compressible chamber.
US08366636B2 Firing system for biopsy device
A biopsy device for harvesting tissue samples from a suspect tissue mass in a body of a living being, e.g. in percutaneous aspiration biopsy, includes a hollow needle and a sample-receiving device, which is movable in the hollow needle. A first user-operable firing mechanism is provided for causing the hollow needle and the sample-receiving device to be substantially simultaneously displaced in a distal direction, so as to penetrate body tissue at or near the suspect tissue mass. A second user-operable firing mechanism may cause the hollow needle solely to be longitudinally displaced in a distal direction from a position, in which the sample-receiving device projects from the distal end of the hollow needle, to a position, in which the hollow needle essentially accommodates the sample-receiving device, so as to sever the tissue sample from remaining body tissue at the harvesting site.
US08366634B2 Biopsy targeting cube with elastomeric body
A biopsy system comprises a control module, a localization assembly, a biopsy device, and a targeting cube. The biopsy device comprises a holster portion and a probe. The probe and/or other associated components are configured to selectively couple with a targeting cube that is configured to selectively couple with a grid plate having apertures for receiving the targeting cube. The targeting cube comprises a body defined by faces. The targeting cube further comprises guide holes that originate and terminate at the faces and pass through the body of the targeting cube to provide a passageway through the targeting cube. The body of the targeting cube is at least partially comprised of elastomeric material to allow for compression of the body. The elastomeric material may thus provide a secure fit with a wide range of grid plates having openings of various shapes and sizes.
US08366629B2 System and method for diagnosing and monitoring congestive heart failure
A system for diagnosing and monitoring congestive heart failure for automated remote patient care is presented. A database stores a plurality of monitoring sets relating to patient information recorded on a substantially continuous basis. A server retrieving and processing the monitoring sets includes a comparison module determining patient status changes by comparing at least one recorded measure from one of the monitoring sets to at least one other recorded measure from another of the monitoring sets with both recorded measures relating to a type of patient information, and an analysis module testing each patient status change for one of an absence, an onset, a progression, a regression, and a status quo of congestive heart failure against a predetermined indicator threshold corresponding to a type of patient information as the recorded measures. The indicator threshold corresponds to a quantifiable physiological measure of a pathophysiology indicative of congestive heart failure. Hysteresis parameters may be used as a temporally-defined threshold for changes in pathophysiology.
US08366628B2 Signal sensing in an implanted apparatus with an internal reference
An implantable apparatus for sensing biological signals from an animal includes at least two electrodes disposed at locations to sense the biological signals. The electrode locations may be internal or external to the animal. Insulated conductors couple the electrodes via a passive network of filters to an instrumentation amplifier that has an internal voltage reference. Thus a sensed biological signal is filtered and amplified to provide an amplified differential signal. A signal analysis module processes amplified differential signal to determine at least one physiological parameter of the animal. The signal analysis module may include a first derivative zero detector for signal transition detection and feature detection and analysis. The apparatus may also comprise a signal presentation module to display amplified signals and physiological parameters associated with those signals.
US08366626B2 Simplified fronto-sagittal and two-dimensional ultrasound apparatus exclusively intended for temporo-mandibular articulations (ATM)
The invention relates to a simplified fronto-sagittal and two-dimensional ultrasound apparatus exclusively intended for the exploration of the two right and left temporo-mandibular articulations (ATM) at rest or during mandibular movement, in the case of stomatology and traumatology exams. The calculation and the adjustment of the parameters for obtaining a displayed image of the region of the temporo-mandibular articulations is already done during the design step. Accordingly, the invention provides an apparatus with small dimensions and a lower cost relative to traditional ultrasound apparatuses, which will promote its use in medical practices both from a logistic and financial point of view. This exploration method has a low cost, does not require any particular preparation or hospitalisation for the patient, does not include any risks due to X-rays, and has no known side effects. The apparatus includes a quadruple hinged ultrasound probe (right and left) (FIG. 3, no1 et no3), two of which are connected to a flexible and telescopic extra-oral and semi-circular bearing (FIG. 3, no2) and are placed around the head of a patient, while two other ones are connected to a flexible and telescopic intra-oral and semi-circular bearing (FIG. 3, no4) adapted to the upper jaw. The bearings are connected to a screen (FIG. 3, no5) for simultaneously displaying the right and left ATM and for comparing them both in the sagittal and frontal planes. A printer (FIG. 3, no6) can be used for reproducing the selected images on paper. The device of the invention is particularly intended for use in medical practices and in hospital stomatology and traumatology wards for instantaneously displaying the temporo-mandibular articulations.
US08366622B2 Treatment of sub-dermal regions for cosmetic effects
A method and system for noninvasive face lifts and deep tissue tightening are disclosed. An exemplary method and treatment system are configured for the imaging, monitoring, and thermal injury to treat the SMAS region. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the exemplary method and system are configured for treating the SMAS region by first, imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area and surrounding structures, second, delivery of ultrasound energy at a depth, distribution, timing, and energy level to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, and third to monitor the treatment area before, during, and after therapy to plan and assess the results and/or provide feedback.
US08366613B2 LED drive circuit for pulse oximetry and method for using same
In various embodiments, there is provided an LED drive circuit and a method for using the same. Specifically, the present disclosure is directed to an LED drive circuit for pulse oximeters. In an embodiment, the LED drive circuit includes a current mirror configured to provide drive current to an LED of a sensor. Additionally, the method includes providing current to first and second current mirrors, wherein the first and second current mirrors are configured to control first and second light sources.
US08366611B2 Endoscope with sealing ring
An endoscope having an endoscope shaft is provided, which has an observation opening on its distal end, which is hermetically sealed using a transparent cover, and having an imaging optic, comprising multiple optic elements, which is situated inside the endoscope shaft in the area of its distal end spaced apart from the cover, a sealing ring being provided, which seals an area between the cover and the optic element of the imaging optic closest to the cover in relation to the remaining inner chamber of the endoscope shaft.
US08366610B2 Endoscope apparatus
An endoscope apparatus includes: an optical adapter provided with a discrimination capacitor; and an endoscope configured to be detachably provided with the optical adapter at a distal end portion of the endoscope, and configured to include a reference capacitor which is arranged to be connected in series to the discrimination capacitor in a state where the optical adapter is mounted, a DC power supply which is connected in series to the reference capacitor, and a control circuit which calculates a capacitance of the discrimination capacitor on the basis of a voltage value at a connection point between the discrimination capacitor and the reference capacitor, so as to discriminate the kind of the optical adapter.
US08366608B2 In-vivo information acquiring system and body-insertable apparatus
An in-vivo information acquiring system includes a body-insertable apparatus that transmits a wireless signal containing an in-vivo image, and a receiving apparatus that receives the wireless signal. The body-insertable apparatus includes an imaging unit, a selecting unit, and a transmitting unit. The imaging unit captures in-vivo images. The selecting unit selects an in-vivo image to be added with unique information from the in-vivo images. The transmitting unit additionally arranges an identification signal, which is written according to a signal sequence rule of synchronization signals added to scanning line information about the in-vivo image selected by the selecting unit, in a position corresponding to positions in which the synchronization signals are arranged, adds unique information corresponding to the identification information after the identification information, and transmits the in-vivo image added with the unique information.
US08366606B2 Endoscope and method for inserting endoscope into colon
A first bendable section which can be bent in an arbitrary direction and a second bendable section which can be bent in the bending direction of this first bendable section are provided at the tip end side of an insertion portion. A balloon which is inflated/contracted by feed/discharge of a fluid is provided in this second bendable section so that hardness of this second bendable section can be varied and insertion work into a curved portion is facilitated.
US08366601B2 Simplified implantable hearing aid transducer apparatus
An implantable hearing aid transducer apparatus provides a simplified approach for interface with a middle ear component. The transducer includes a transducer housing, an actuator for middle ear coupling, and a driver having a magnet or coil interconnected to the actuator to induce movement in response to driver signals. In one feature, the actuator may be advanceable through an aperture of the housing independent from operation of the driver. In another feature, a portion of the transducer may be rotatable. In another feature, a retention apparatus may function to selectively secure a rotatable portion of the housing in a selected position. In an additional feature, a seal may be disposed around a driver component and connected to the actuator.
US08366599B2 Axial flow blood pump
An axial flow rotary blood pump including an impeller adapted to be magnetically rotated within a housing by the interaction of magnets disposed on or in the impeller and stators disposed on or in the housing. The impeller includes at least one support ring supporting a plurality of blades, and a hydrodynamic bearing that operates at least axially and radially in respect of an axis of rotation of the impeller.
US08366598B2 Implants for use in brachytherapy and other radiation therapy that resist migration and rotation
A therapeutic strand implant, for use in brachytherapy and deliverable to an implant site by way of a needle, includes a plurality of radioactive sources, and a polymeric material molded to encapsulate the radioactive sources. A space is defined by the polymeric material between each adjacent pair of the radioactive sources. A plurality of protrusions is defined by an outer surface of the encapsulating polymeric material.
US08366597B2 Device and system for assembling chain components to a chain containing radiation sources
A device is proposed for assembling chain components to a chain, wherein at least two chain components include radioactive radiation sources. The device includes a housing, a working channel which extends along a first axis of the housing, a loading unit connected to the working channel and having at least two receiving devices for chain component magazines, wherein at least one receiving device is configured to receive a radiation source magazine, as well as at least one means for ejecting the chain components received from the magazines, and an joining unit for joining chain components. The at least two receiving devices are positioned so that the magazines for chain components received therein are spaced along the first axis and positioned vertically above the working channel.
US08366594B2 Air packaging device product and method for forming the product
An air packaging device includes two layers of thermoplastic films, which form a sealable space where air is filled after first and second steps of heat-sealing process. The sealable space includes a number of independent sealed air chambers and a main air passage channel. The main channel has an air inlet. Each sealed air chamber is connected with the main channel by at least one one-way valve each including at least two layers of plastic films. At least two one-way valves are installed inside of the air chambers. This air packaging device increases the cushioning protection where the protection is most needed, but can reduce air chamber dimension at less important locations in order to reduce the volumetric size and, hence, reduce the shipping cost.
US08366592B2 Quick change spindle
An automated tool includes a quick change spindle assembly. In another aspect of the present invention, the quick change spindle includes an attachment assembly for interchangeable fastener drivers. A further aspect of the present invention employs release member to actuate a drive member in the spindle assembly causing a retainer to uncouple a fastener driver with the spindle.
US08366588B2 Method and device for controlling a motor vehicle drive train
A method for controlling a drivetrain including an automatically shifted starting clutch and gear-shift clutch and a transmission, with a non self-locking clutch actuator, a gear actuator for engaging and disengaging transmission gears and a control unit which generates control commands for the clutch actuator and gear actuator and transmits such commands to the actuators such that, when the vehicle is at rest and a gear is engaged and if the clutch actuator fails, the clutch does not inadvertently engage. When a transmission gear is engaged, a control command is generated and sent for the clutch actuator to disengage the clutch. Thereafter, the vehicle speed is determined and if the speed is essentially zero and the clutch begins to engage, a control command is sent to the gear actuator to shift the transmission to its neutral position.
US08366585B2 Synchronous state determination method for automatic dual clutch transmission
A method for determination of the synchronization point of an automatic double clutch transmission comprising two component transmissions each with one input shaft that connects via a friction clutch to the drive shaft of a motor and several gears, each shifted via a friction-synchronized gear clutch. The method includes the steps of selecting the gear clutch of a gear of a momentarily load-free component transmission; moving the associated gear setter to the neutral position as needed; successive movement of the associated gear setter in the direction of the shifting position of the selected gear until synchronous running is attained on the gear clutch within an applicable threshold; determination of the current synchronization point of the gear clutch from the current adjustment parameter of the associated gear setter; and adaptation of the valid synchronization point of the gear clutch to the current synchronization point.
US08366581B2 Multi-speed transmission having stacked planetary gear sets
A transmission has an input member, an output member, two stacked planetary gear sets, a third planetary gear set, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The stacked planetary gear sets have a first, second, third, fourth and fifth member and the third planetary gear set has a first, second and third member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
US08366577B2 Power transmission device
A vehicle power transmission device including an accumulation portion which accumulates lubricating oil, a pressure pump driven to pump the lubricating oil accumulated in the accumulation portion to the transmission as hydraulic oil, a scooping gear which scoops up the lubricating oil accumulated in the accumulation portion while rotating, a reception and guide portion receiving the lubricating oil scooped up by the scooping gear and guiding it to a predetermined lubrication target, and a leaked hydraulic oil guide portion guiding leaked hydraulic oil, leaked when the hydraulic oil is pumped from the pressure pump, to the reception and guide portion.
US08366572B1 Throwing arrow
A projectile arrow apparatus not requiring a bow comprising a grip member, a notch opening formed within the shaft and a string tether comprising a knot formed in a first end. The tether is retained taut between the knotted end tightly wound within the notch opening and a second end wrapped around a palm of a user's hand while the user's hand grips the grip member. The apparatus is aimed and thrown forward mimicking a typical throwing action to render the apparatus air-borne as the knotted end of the tether unwinds and releases from the notch. Forward projectile forces pull on the tether as the user's arm moves in a throwing arc, directing the arrow in a desired trajectory toward a preferred target and sending the arrow significantly further and with significantly more force than if thrown by hand.
US08366569B2 Low lift golf ball
A golf ball having a plurality of dimples formed on its outer surface, the outer surface of the golf ball being divided into plural areas comprising at least two groups of areas, a first group of areas containing a plurality of first dimples and a second group of areas containing a plurality of second dimples, the first and second groups of areas being of the same shape and being arranged to form a Platonic solid, the first and second groups of areas and dimple shapes and dimensions being configured such that the golf ball is spherically symmetrical as defined by the United States Golf Association (USGA) Symmetry Rules and such that the first and second groups of areas produce different aerodynamic effects, and the first dimples being of different dimensions from the second dimples.
US08366568B2 Golf ball
A golf ball 2 includes a spherical core 4, a mid layer 6 positioned outside the core 4, and a cover 8 positioned outside the mid layer 6. The core 4 includes a spherical center 10 and an envelope layer 12 positioned outside the center 10. The center 10 has a diameter of 1 mm or greater and 15 mm or less. The center 10 has a JIS-C hardness H1, at its central point, of 20 or greater and 50 or less. The difference (H4−H3) between the JIS-C hardness H4 of the core 4 at its surface and the JIS-C hardness H3 of the envelope layer 12 at its innermost portion is equal to or greater than 10. The cover 8 has a flexural modulus of 300 MPa or greater and 1000 MPa or less, and has a tensile modulus of 400 MPa or greater and 1500 MPa or less.
US08366563B2 Golf alignment device and method
A portable, expandable golf training device that can be placed on the ground to provide alignment. The present invention can supply a plurality of light beams produced by lasers or other light sources or a plurality of extendable tapes or tubes or rods to provide alignment both in the direction of play and perpendicular to it. The device can be used by placing it on the ground in front of the golfer (between the golfer's feet and the ball. Two lines can project outward perpendicular to the direction of play, and two or four lines can project into and away from the direction of play. These lines provide alignment for the golfer. The tapes can be a flat, elongated flexible tape similar to a measuring tape. The rods or tubes can be extendable and/or telescoping.
US08366554B1 Customizable, adaptable, multiuser computer-based role-playing method and apparatus therefor
Game client, game server, Web application server, and database server including database with data representative of a virtual world. Game client or server, or both, includes motifs, motif manager, character manager, scenes-a-faire manager, and display manager coupled to display, all in communication with game manager, and pseudorandomizer, which can instigate changing of a motif. Motifs are representative of a game character or environment. A user interface has mass sensor, accelerometer, haptic device, first device for visual input, output, or both, second device for audio input, output, or both, and tactile sensor, effector or both. Included may be automatic translator, or TTS/STT module. The online game can be virtual world representative of at least two of a northern continent, a western continent, a southern continent, a central continent, and an eastern continent. Methods provide game client, game server, and a database that manipulate character or environment motifs and scenes-a-faire.
US08366543B2 Methods and apparatus for a distributed bonus scheme using simulated scatter reactions
Methods and apparatus for a distributed bonus scheme using simulated scatter reactions are disclosed. An example method of operating a gaming device in a gaming system includes receiving a trigger that initiates a first bonus decision in a first gaming device. Further, the example method includes calculating, using a programmed processor, an accumulated value that defines a range. Further, the example method includes generating a random number. Further, the example method includes, when the random number falls within the range, granting a bonus to the first gaming device. Further, the example method includes determining whether the first bonus decision is to initiate a second bonus decision in a second gaming device of the gaming system.
US08366541B2 Gaming machine with virtual user interface
Methods for receiving and processing input on a gaming machine using a virtual user interface are disclosed herein. Gaming machines having a virtual user interface are also disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a game display for presenting a game. The gaming machine also includes a virtual interface controller for generating and presenting a virtual user interface on a surface of the gaming machine where the virtual user interface receives user input for gaming or non-gaming functions. The gaming machine also includes a game controller in communication with the game display and the virtual interface controller.
US08366538B1 Gaming system, gaming device and method for providing a multiple dimension cascading symbols game
A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.
US08366535B2 Method, apparatus, and program product for conducting a game using both unisymbol and multisymbol reel effects
A novel game is provided that transforms at least a part of the graphic symbol matrix shown on a video-based reel-type gaming machine to change the game operation from multi-symbol reels to single-symbol reels. Methods, apparatus and program products for implementing the game are provided. A preferred game operates in a first display matrix state displaying a symbol matrix. The symbol matrix provides a game play result by displaying two or more reel representations that combine to form the symbol matrix. In response to a trigger event in game play, the game switches to a second display matrix state where it is modified to show single-symbol reel representations with separating elements between at least one pair of adjacent symbols of a respective reel representation. Multiple sets of data structures are provided for operation in each display state.
US08366528B2 Computer readable storage medium having game program stored thereon, game apparatus, and game control method
Manual operation means controls a motion of an operation target character in accordance with operation data outputted from an input device. Automatic motion control means controls the motion of the operation target character in accordance with a series of pieces of operation data which are prepared in advance. Game control means performs a first process when a first condition is satisfied as a result of control of the motion of the operation target character by the manual operation means only in a predetermined interval in a game in progress, performs a second process which is different from the first process when a second condition is satisfied, and executes the first when the control of the motion is performed by the automatic motion control means in at least a part of the interval regardless of whichever condition is satisfied.
US08366525B2 Combat simulation gaming system
The present invention is a system for conducting a combat simulation game in which each player is outfitted with equipment enabling data concerning the game play ability of the player to be transmitted to a local server for use in computing a player performance data for individual players in comparison with all other players having data stored within the system. The equipment transmits various data to the server which is utilized by the server to update the player performance data in a real-time manner that can be accessed and viewed by other players from remote locations.
US08366524B2 Cabin for a work vehicle
A cabin for a work vehicle comprises: a driver's seat positioned within the cabin; cabin frames including at least a transverse frame located in a rear region of the cabin; a roof supported by at least some of the cabin frames; at least one air-conditioning duct located within the roof an air conditioning unit located rearwardly with respect to a rearward end of a seat portion of the driver's seat and adjacent the transverse frame for conditioning air and for feeding air-conditioned air into the at least one air-conditioning duct.
US08366522B2 System and method for weighing products
A system for producing sausage-shaped products that includes a filling machine for filling a tubular casing with viscous or granular stuff, a clipping machine for dividing the filled tubular casing into sausage-shaped products and closing the sausage-shaped products by closing means; and a transportation device for discharging the sausage-shaped products out of the clipping machine and transporting the sausage-shaped products along a transport path for storing them on rod-like elements, being positioned in an automatic hanging line for accommodating the rod-like elements; wherein the transport path extends from the clipping machine to the distal end of said smoking rod.
US08366518B2 Orbital smoothing device
Disclosed are an orbital smoothing device for smoothing a surface of a substrate and a method of smoothing a surface of a substrate using the orbital smoothing device. The orbital smoothing device includes a rotatable plate that is drivable by a motor in at least one of a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction and a plurality of smoothing pad assemblies coupled to said plate. Each of the plurality of smoothing pad assemblies is capable of independent rotation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions and includes a shaft for coupling each of said smoothing pad assemblies to the rotatable plate, means for providing independent rotation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions mounted on the shaft and securable in a pad holder and a pad holder for receiving and securing the means for independent rotation. The pad holder has removably mounted thereon a smoothing pad capable of smoothing the surface of the substrate when the rotatable plate is driven by the motor.
US08366515B2 Form transfer grinding method
A method of form transfer grinding a three-dimensional shape utilizes a form transfer tool over which a belt is driven. The form transfer tool includes a shape that is desired in the finished part and guides a belt that grinds an area of a part to a finished or nearly finished condition.
US08366512B2 Eyeglass lens processing apparatus for processing periphery of eyeglass lens and eyeglass lens processing method
An eyeglass lens processing apparatus including a lens edge position detecting unit for obtaining edge positions, an edge corner processing tool for processing an edge corner of the lens, a correction data input unit for inputting correction data to avoid interference between an edge and a nose pad arm, wherein the correction data includes data on a position of interference between the nose pad arm and the edge, data necessary for setting an amount of processing at an interference position, and an edge processing range, a processing data computing unit for determining a path of processing the edge corner, based on edge position data and the correction data, to obtain data on correction processing and a processing controller for processing the edge corner of the lens by the edge corner processing tool in accordance with the correction processing data.
US08366509B2 Method for operating a digital control system for a plurality of objects to be controlled
The control of a plurality of toy vehicles (10, 12) using a plurality of operating devices (14, 15) is effected in such a manner that the speed of the toy vehicles (10, 12) is controlled by means of a tappet (26). Each operating device (14, 16) is uniquely assigned to a toy vehicle (10, 12). The operating devices (14, 16) are connected to a control center (18). The latter converts the positions of the actuating elements (26, 28) of each operating device (14, 16) into digitally coded signals and adds a digital address, which identifies a particular operating device (14, 16), to each digitally coded signal or data packet. The control center (18) sends the data packets via the bus bars of the motor racing track, as symbolized with arrows (30), with the result that said data packets are picked up in each toy vehicle (10, 12) using the current collectors 922) and are forwarded to the respective digital decoder (24). A digital address is stored in each digital decoder (24) and the digital decoder (24) compares the digital address of each data packet received with the stored digital address. If the two addresses match, the digital decoder (24) identifies the corresponding data packet as belonging to this toy vehicle (10, 12) and evaluates the digitally encoded data contained in the data packet.
US08366508B2 Toy vehicle booster and track set
A booster for accelerating toy vehicles. The booster includes a rotation source and first and second wheels operatively coupled to the rotation source. Each wheel includes a thin-walled member configured to engage toy vehicles passing between the wheels as the rotation source rotates the wheels in opposite directions. The thin walled member is characterized by an S-shape that allows the relative distance between the wheels to change, thereby accommodating differently sized vehicles.
US08366507B2 Building toy block set
A building toy block set consisting of base blocks and connection blocks is disclosed. Each base block has a connection notch located on each of multiple peripheral sides thereof and extending in direction toward the center thereof, and two pivot holes arranged at two opposite lateral sides of each connection notch. Each connection block has two pivot pins respectively located on two first opposing sides thereof and respectively pivotally connectable to the pivot holes at two opposite lateral sides of one connection notch of one base block, and a plug rod and a plughole respectively located on two second opposing sides thereof in such a manner that the plug rod of one connection block can be press-fitted into the plughole of another connection block.
US08366506B2 Remote-controlled fluttering object capable of flying forward in upright position
The present invention provides a remote-controlled ornithopter capable of flying forward in the upright position, which includes X-shaped main wings? having opposite phases to offset moments applied to a fuselage of the ornithopter. The ornithopter includes the fuselage (100), the X-shaped main wings (200), which are provided on the front end of the fuselage, tail wings (300), which are provided on the medial portion or the rear end of the fuselage, and a tail rotor (400), which controls a direction in which the fuselage flies. The ornithopter further includes a drive unit (500), which operates the main wings, and a flight control unit (600), which has a receiver to receive a signal for controlling the drive unit and the tail rotor. The ornithopter further includes a remote controller (700), which transmits the signal for controlling the drive unit and the tail rotor to the receiver.
US08366505B2 Apparatus of organic light emitting diode and packaging method of the same
A packaging method of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) is described. First, a substrate is provided, and the substrate has the OLED device formed thereon. Thereafter, at least one protection layer is formed on the substrate, so as to cover the peripheral sidewall of the OLED device entirely. The step of forming the protection layer includes forming an organic layer on the substrate, and then forming a metal layer on the organic layer, wherein the metal layer at least covers a sidewall of the OLED device. Afterwards, an oxidation treatment is performed, so as to oxidize a portion of the metal layer.
US08366501B2 Outboard motor
An outboard motor includes an engine, a housing, a catalyst, and an engine cover. The housing includes a partitioning wall that is arranged to partition an interior of the housing into a first exhaust space connected to exhaust ports of the engine, and a second exhaust space connected to the first exhaust space. The housing is arranged such that the second exhaust space is positioned at the same side as the first exhaust space with respect to a plane that includes central axes of the plurality of the cylinders. The catalyst is positioned at a height such that at least a portion of the catalyst overlaps with the first exhaust space when viewed from a horizontal direction. The catalyst is disposed in the second exhaust space so as to guide the exhaust guided from the first exhaust space to the second exhaust space.
US08366492B2 Terminal reversing block
A terminal reversing block mounts to a standard electrical disconnect device such as a circuit breaker or a pullout switch. The disconnect device has a housing which defines a cavity that faces in one direction for receiving a cable. Front and rear contacts are in the housing, one of which extends into the cavity for engagement with a cable. A terminal reversing block has a housing with at least one pocket which faces in a direction other than the opposite of the direction in which the disconnect device's cavity faces. A terminal collar disposed in the terminal reversing block pocket is engageable with a cable inserted into the pocket. A terminal in the reversing block has a mating portion and a connecting portion. The connecting portion engages the terminal collar. The mating portion engages one of the front and rear contacts of the electrical disconnect device. The arrangement of the directions in which the cavity and pocket face permits routing of the cables to minimize space requirements in a confined area, such as an enclosure or a cabinet.
US08366487B2 Electronic device having adapter
An exemplary server includes a housing, a printed circuit board disposed in the housing, a power supply received in the housing, a hard disk drive assembly fixed in the housing and a connection device connected to the hard disk drive. The connection device includes a connector connected to the hard disk drive, an adapter connected to the hard disk drive, a power transferring line connecting the adapter to the power supply, and a data transferring line connecting the connector to the printed circuit board. The adapter has output pins and input pins for transferring power from the power supply to the hard disk drive. Capacitors and resistors are connected between the input pins and the output pins.
US08366484B2 Device for electric connection, a method for producing such a device, and an electric installation
A device for electric connection to an energy supply conductor for medium and/or high voltage having a voltage-carrying element with an outer periphery, and a tubular outer shell with an inner periphery, the outer shell being formed by a polymer, and along at least a part of the axial extension of the element the outer shell extends axially with a space between its inner periphery and the outer periphery of the element, at least along a section of said part of the axial extension of the element the space is filled with a filler of an electrically insulating material other than that of the outer shell. An electric installation including the device, and a method for producing the device.
US08366483B2 Radio frequency connector assembly
A connector assembly includes a center contact configured to be terminated to a center conductor of a cable. A dielectric holds the center contact. A stamped and formed outer contact surrounds the dielectric and the center contact. The outer contact is configured to be terminated to a braid of the cable. A stamped and formed outer ferrule surrounds at least a portion of the outer contact such that the braid is sandwiched between the outer ferrule and the outer contact.
US08366480B2 Electronic accessories for digital music players and related methods
Embodiments of electronic accessories for digital music players are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US08366479B2 Feeder clamp
The invention relates to an electrical connecting terminal with an insulating connecting terminal housing and one or more clip-on contacts for the conduction of electrical current.
US08366477B2 Electrical connecting apparatus and contacts used therefor
An electrical connecting apparatus 10 comprises: a base plate 16 provided on its underside 14 with a plurality of pedestals 12 at intervals in a front-back direction; and multiple contact groups, each of which has a first contact 18 and a second contact 19. Each first contact 18 includes a needle body portion 24 having a rear end portion 20 supported on the pedestal 12 and a front end portion 22 which is a free end and extending leftward. Each second contact 19 includes a needle body portion 25 having a rear end portion 21 supported on the pedestal 12 and a front end portion 23 which is a free end and extending rightward. When the first contact 18 is broken, the second contacts 19 can be used.
US08366476B2 Electrical connector with improved alignment structure
An electrical connector includes a rectangular insulative housing having a number of passageways and a number of electrical contacts retained in the passageways, respectively. The insulative housing defines a first alignment hole and a second alignment hole on a diagonal line thereof. The first alignment hole has a pair of flat surfaces extending along the diagonal line and a pair of curved surfaces connected with the flat surfaces for engaging with a mating post to position the electrical connector on a printed circuit board.
US08366471B2 Connection and junction box for a solar module
A connection and junction box for a photovoltaic solar module having flexible flat conductor bands protruding from the surface of the solar module, wherein the connection and junction box has an insertion mouth at its side in mounting state facing the solar module, for at least one of the flexible flat conductor bands of the solar module, as well as comprising a housing for attaching to the solar module, and a connection device for the flexible flat conductor band, positioned in the housing, the connection device has a deflection arm and an electrical contact clamp, which is actuated when attaching the box to the solar module for bending and contacting the flat conductor band.
US08366465B2 Plug apparatus
A plug apparatus includes a main body, and a plurality of plugs. The plugs have different plug tips of different recognized standards. The plugs are capable of electrically and detachably sleeving on each other. Each plug is also capable of electrically and detachably sleeving on the main body. When one of the plugs (a first plug) sleeves on the other plug (a second plug), the plug tip of the second plug is hidden by the first plug.
US08366462B2 Retractable power plug
A retractable power plug applied for an electronic apparatus or an extension outlet is disclosed. The retractable power plug includes a housing, a base, a movable unit and a plurality of prongs. The housing has a space for enclosing the base. The prongs are pluggably disposed on the base. The base is rotatably and movably located in the space. The movable unit is configured to prompt the base to move in the space. The direction of movement of the base is generally parallel with the connection direction of the prongs. So that, the prongs associated with the base is capable of moving up and down in the space.
US08366460B2 Withdrawable circuit breaker shutter systems
An apparatus includes a first shutter, a first pivot arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is disposed in mechanical communication with the first shutter, a second shutter, and a second pivot arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is disposed in mechanical communication with the second shutter and the first end is disposed in mechanical communication with the first end of the first pivot arm. Linear movement of the first ends of the first and second pivot arms results in linear movement of the first shutter and the second shutter.