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Show moreBackground of the invention: The epithelium is the first line of defense of the airways against invading pathogens. Many of the non-specific defenses against such invaders arise from respiratory epithelial cells. Epithelial cells produce low molecular weight antimicrobial peptides, antibacterial enzymes, and antiproteases. In addition, secretory immunoglobulin A, a non-specific immunoglobulin defense, is trafficked into the airway via a specialized receptor, the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR), that is expressed only on epithelial cells. These epithelial defenses are breached early in the life of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Once live bacteria reach their surface, the epithelial cells direct the initial inflammatory response by releasing interleukin-8 (IL-8) and interleukin-6 (IL6) as well as reducing expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10). The chemoattractants, combined with increased expression of adhesin molecules for neutrophils, enhance inflammatory cell migration into the airways. Once there, the neutrophils, in an attempt to clear the bacteria, release lytic enzymes in the process. If the neutrophils remain adherent to the epithelium, these enzymes are released right at the epithelial surface. Both mechanical disruption of cells and even low concentrations of neutrophil elastase (NE) result in the greater release of pro-inflammatory mediators from the respiratory epithelium. Thus, the inflammatory response is further enhanced. Several strategies to interrupt this cycle have been proposed. Augmenting the antibacterial defenses of the airway at the epithelial surface may be useful. Prevention of the escalation of the inflammatory responses engendered by the neutrophils migrating into the airway could be accomplished by preventing the action of elastase at the airway cell surface. Both antibiotics and antiproteases are available for clinical use. Unfortunately, the results of clinical studies examining the use of the antiprotease in patients with CF have been disappointing. The systemic administration of alpha.sub.1 -antitrypsin (A.sub.1 AT) is inefficient, and the levels achieved by the intravenous administration of the antiprotease are insufficient to inhibit the overwhelming amount NE in the lung of patients with CF. Aerosolized A.sub.1 AT should permit the direct delivery to the airways, but the antiprotease delivered by nebulization has been uneven and deposits the drug atop the mucus blanket rather than the critical site at the surface of the cell. Thus there is a need in the art for methods to circumvent these difficulties and protect the respiratory epithelial cell surface. Summary of the invention: It is an object of the invention to provide a fusion protein useful for protein delivery. It is another object of the invention to provide a method of delivering a therapeutic protein to an epithelial cell.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6072041
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Show moreBackground of the invention: The epithelium is the first line of defense of the airways against invading pathogens. Many of the non-specific defenses against such invaders arise from respiratory epithelial cells. Epithelial cells produce low molecular weight antimicrobial peptides, antibacterial enzymes, and antiproteases. In addition, secretory immunoglobulin A, a non-specific immunoglobulin defense, is trafficked into the airway via a specialized receptor, the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR), that is expressed only on epithelial cells. These epithelial defenses are breached early in the life of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Once live bacteria reach their surface, the epithelial cells direct the initial inflammatory response by releasing interleukin-8 (IL-8) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as reducing expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10). The chemoattractants, combined with increased expression of adhesin molecules for neutrophils, enhance inflammatory cell migration into the airways. Once there, the neutrophils, in an attempt to clear the bacteria, release lytic enzymes in the process. If the neutrophils remain adherent to the epithelium, these enzymes are released right at the epithelial surface. Both mechanical disruption of cells and even low concentrations of neutrophil elastase (NE) result in the greater release of pro-inflammatory mediators from the respiratory epithelium. Thus, the inflammatory response is further enhanced. Several strategies to interrupt this cycle have been proposed. Augmenting the antibacterial defenses of the airway at the epithelial surface may be useful. Prevention of the escalation of the inflammatory responses engendered by the neutrophils migrating into the airway could be accomplished by preventing the action of elastase at the airway cell surface. Both antibiotics and antiproteases are available for clinical use. Unfortunately, the results of clinical studies examining the use of the antiprotease in patients with CF have been disappointing. The systemic administration of alpha.sub.1 -antitrypsin (A.sub.1 AT) is inefficient, and the levels achieved by the intravenous administration of the antiprotease are insufficient to inhibit the overwhelming amount NE in the lung of patients with CF. Aerosolized A.sub.1 AT should permit the direct delivery to the airways, but the antiprotease delivered by nebulization has been uneven and deposits the drug atop the mucus blanket rather than the critical site at the surface of the cell. Thus there is a need in the art for methods to circumvent these difficulties and protect the respiratory epithelial cell surface. Summary of the invention: It is an object of the invention to provide a fusion-protein useful for protein delivery. It is another object of the invention to provide a method of delivering a therapeutic protein to an epithelial cell.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6287817
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Show moreField of invention: The field is the preparation of nanocomposite compositions from matrix polymers and platelike silicate or silicone fillers to form intercalates and/or exfoliated fillers. The general approach is applicable to a wide variety of polymers. They can typically form both intercalates and exfoliates of the fillers through the use of a small amount of a swelling agent which can enter into the spaces between the platelets of the filler and compatibilize the filler with most matrix polymers. Swelling agents are generally small mobile molecules, oligomer, and/or polymers with good compatibility toward the silicate filler or silicone filler with or without cation exchange. Backgrounf of the invention: There is strong interest in nanocomposites due to the opportunity to prepare compositions with improved properties over those of the starting polymers through controlling the size and dispersion of fillers therein. Silicate fillers (many of which are mined and require only minimal processing before use) are available that include within each particle a multitude of platelike layers. During most conventional polymer processing steps the individual plates do not separate but rather the aggregates of many platelike layers are dispersed as a single particle. Some authors have found ways to pretreat silaceous fillers (often using the monomeric form of the matrix polymer) to cause intercalation and exfoliation with specific polymers. Nanocomposites from nylon in the prior art exhibited substantial improvement in mechanical, thermal and Theological properties. Nanocomposites from epoxies exhibited improved tensile modulus and strength. Suspension of a sheet silicate in solvents such as water, acetonitrile, dimethyl acetamide (DMAC) has resulted in intercalated hybrids of poly(ethylene oxide). Melt methods have lead to the intercalation of polystyrene and exfoliated nanocomposites of epoxy via melt interlayer polymerization. Interlayer polymerization has also produced intercalated polystyrene, intercalated poly(.epsilon.-caprolactone), and poly-6-amide by intercalation of .epsilon.-caprolactam. Other approaches such as sol-gel process and monomer/polymer grafting to clay layers have also resulted in polymer clay hybrids. Using an oligomeric form of the matrix polymer as an additive, allows the additive to swell the clay. For example Okada et al. have reported using a polyolefin oligomer with polar telechelic hydroxyl groups to prepare a polypropylene clay hybrid. Summary of the invention: A process for preparing nanocomposites from fillers having platelike structure and a variety polymers is disclosed. The process often uses a surface modifying agent or surfactant exchanged for cations on the filler and uses a swelling agent that enters between the platelets of the inorganic filler facilitating both intercalation with a polymer and/or exfoliation of the platelets.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6271297
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Show moreTechnival field:The present invention relates generally to the field of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of geometric distortion correction in MRI. Background Articles: Neurosurgical stereotaxis refers to a collection of techniques used to superimpose radiological volume images intra-operatively to the patient's skull, brain, and cerebrovasculature. Typical stereotactic procedures begin with the collection of a three dimensional (3D) computer tomography (CT) image containing fiducial markers. The resulting 3D image space may then be used to determine an optimal craniotomy or skull opening site and to model virtually the potential intra-operative orientation of a surgical tool, such as a biopsy needle for example. Using such images helps reduce the size of the craniotomy and intracranial traverse of surgical tools. For a typical procedure, a stereotactic frame or frameless fiducial imaging markers are mounted on the patient's head, often by screwing either into the skull. These fiducial markers are then used by a three dimensional (3D) digitizer to register the image-based surgical plan to the patient. Using the fiducials, the region of interest can be mapped to the coordinate system in the pre-operative image. The digitizer can be used to guide the craniotomy and initial insertion of surgical tools virtually from the pre-operative image. Typical stereotactic surgical procedures emphasize accurate location of anatomical structures within pre-operative images. The accuracy of a neurosurgical navigational system depends on, for example, the mechanical accuracy of the 3D digitizing probe, the image registration algorithm, geometrical distortion of the pre-operative images, movement of the patient during scanning, movement of the patient with respect to the patient space determined with the 3D digitizing system, and movement of the brain between scanning and surgery. Using CT for stereotactic pre-operative imaging helps ensure relatively high spatial fidelity is obtained between the patient's images and the patient's anatomy in the operative stereotactic guidance device. CT techniques use a beam of high-energy X-ray photons to probe the patient and display an image based on the internal influences on the passage of photons through the patient. CT may be used to generate a series of images containing a distribution of the X-ray attenuation co-efficient, which relates to the electron density of the atoms, of a 3D volume. Such image reconstruction is based on the principles of line-of-sight ray optics. CT therefore provides images of relatively high positional accuracy. CT is useful in imaging bony structures yet has limited ability to differentiate between components of inhomogeneous soft tissue structures, such as the brain for example. CT is capable of differentiating tissues only insofar as the region of interest's X-ray attenuation coefficient differs from its surroundings.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6445182
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Show moreBackground of the invention: The leading cause of death in the United States and in most developed countries, is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a disease affecting the large and medium size muscular arteries such as the coronary or carotid arteries and the large elastic arteries such as the aorta, iliac, and femoral arteries. This disease causes narrowing and calcification of arteries. The narrowing results from deposits of substances in the blood in combination with proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells. The deposits known as atherosclerotic plaques are comprised of lipoproteins, mainly cholesterol, proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells and fibrous tissue, and extracellular matrix components, which are secreted by vascular smooth muscle cells. As the plaques grow, they narrow the lumen of the vessel decreasing arterial blood flow and weakening the effected arteries. The resulting complications potentially include a complete blockage of the lumen of the artery, with ischemia and necrosis of the organ supplied by the artery, ulceration and thrombus formation with associated embolism, calcification, and aneurysmal dilation. When atherosclerosis causes occlusion of the coronary arteries, it leads to myocardial disfunction, ischemia and infarction and often death. Indeed, 20-25% of deaths in the United States are attributable to atherosclerotic heart disease. Atherosclerosis also leads to lower extremity gangrene, strokes, mesenteric occlusion, ischemic encephalopathy, and renal failure, depending on the specific vasculature involved. Approximately 50% of all deaths in the United States can be attributed to atherosclerosis and its complications. Present treatments for atherosclerosis include drugs and surgery, including ballon angioplasty. As a result of angioplasty, vascular smooth muscle cells de-differentiate and proliferate and leading to leading to reocclusion of the vessel. These de-differentiated vascular smooth muscle cells deposit collagen and other matrix substances, that contribute to the narrowing of vessel. Vascular cells secrete growth factors such as platelet derived growth factor, which induces both chemotaxis and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Many of the present drug therapies treat a predisposing condition such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, in an attempt to slow or halt the progression of the disease. Other drug therapies are aimed at preventing platelet aggregation or the coagulation cascade. Unfortunately, the drug treatments do not reverse existing conditions. Surgical treatments include coronary artery bypass grafting, balloon angioplasty, or vessel endarterectomy which, when successful, bypass or unblock occluded arteries thereby restoring blood flow through the artery. The surgical treatments do not halt or reverse the progression of the disease because they do not affect smooth muscle cell proliferation and secretion of extracellular matrix components.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPATRE39219
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Show moreBackground of the invention: The leading cause of death in the United States and in most developed countries, is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a disease affecting the large and medium size muscular arteries such as the coronary or carotid arteries and the large elastic arteries such as the aorta, iliac, and femoral arteries. This disease causes narrowing and calcification of arteries. The narrowing results from deposits of substances in the blood in combination with proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells. The deposits known as atherosclerotic plaques are comprised of lipoproteins, mainly cholesterol, proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells and fibrous tissue, and extracellular matrix components, which are secreted by vascular smooth muscle cells. As the plaques grow, they narrow the lumen of the vessel decreasing arterial blood flow and weakening the effected arteries. The resulting complications potentially include a complete blockage of the lumen of the artery, with ischemia and necrosis of the organ supplied by the artery, ulceration and thrombus formation with associated embolism, calcification, and aneurysmal dilation. When atherosclerosis causes occlusion of the coronary arteries, it leads to myocardial disfunction, ischemia and infarction and often death. Indeed, 20-25% of deaths in the United States are attributable to atherosclerotic heart disease. Atherosclerosis also leads to lower extremity gangrene, strokes, mesenteric occlusion, ischemic encephalopathy, and renal failure, depending on the specific vasculature involved. Approximately 50% of all deaths in the United States can be attributed to atherosclerosis and its complications.Present treatments for atherosclerosis include drugs and surgery, including ballon angioplasty. As a result of angioplasty, vascular smooth muscle cells de-differentiate and proliferate and leading to leading to reocclusion of the vessel. These de-differentiated vascular smooth muscle cells deposit collagen and other matrix substances, that contribute to the narrowing of vessel. Vascular cells secrete growth factors such as platelet derived growth factor, which induces both chemotaxis and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Many of the present drug therapies treat a predisposing condition such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, in an attempt to slow or halt the progression of the disease. Other drug therapies are aimed at preventing platelet aggregation or the coagulation cascade. Unfortunately, the drug treatments do not reverse existing conditions. Surgical treatments include coronary artery bypass grafting, balloon angioplasty, or vessel endarterectomy which, when successful, bypass or unblock occluded arteries thereby restoring blood flow through the artery. The surgical treatments do not halt or reverse the progression of the disease because they do not affect smooth muscle cell proliferation and secretion of extracellular matrix components.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT5856121
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Show moreBackground of the invention: The leading cause of death in the United States and in most developed countries, is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a disease affecting the large and medium size muscular arteries such as the coronary or carotid arteries and the large elastic arteries such as the aorta, iliac, and femoral arteries. This disease causes narrowing and calcification of arteries. The narrowing results from deposits of substances in the blood in combination with proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells. The deposits known as atherosclerotic plagues are comprised of lipoproteins, mainly cholesterol, proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells and fibrous tissue, and extracellular matrix components, which are secreted by vascular smooth muscle cells. As the plagues grow, they narrow the lumen of the vessel decreasing arterial blood flow and weakening the effected arteries. The resulting complications potentially include a complete blockage of the lumen of the artery, with ischemia and necrosis of the organ supplied by the artery, ulceration and thrombus formation with associated embolism, calcification, and aneurysmal dilation. When atherosclerosis causes occlusion of the coronary arteries, it leads to myocardial disfunction, ischemia and infarction and often death. Indeed, 20-25% of deaths in the United States are attributable to atherosclerotic heart disease. Atherosclerosis also leads to lower extremity gangrene, strokes, mesenteric occlusion, ischemic encephalopathy, and renal failure, depending on the specific vasculature involved. Approximately 50% of all deaths in the United States can be attributed to atherosclerosis and its complications. Present treatments for atherosclerosis include drugs and surgery, including ballon angioplasty. As a result of angioplasty, vascular smooth muscle cells de-differentiate and proliferate and leading to leading to reocclusion of the vessel. These de-differentiated vascular smooth muscle cells deposit collagen and other matrix substances, that contribute to the narrowing of vessel. Vascular cells secrete growth factors such as platelet derived growth factor, which induces both chemotaxis and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells.Many of the present drug therapies treat a predisposing condition such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, in an attempt to slow or halt the progression of the disease. Other drug therapies are aimed at preventing platelet aggregation or the coagulation cascade. Unfortunately, the drug treatments do not reverse existing conditions. Surgical treatments include coronary artery bypass grafting, balloon angioplasty, or vessel endarterectomy which, when successful, bypass or unblock occluded arteries thereby restoring blood flow through the artery. The surgical treatments do not halt or reverse the progression of the disease because they do not affect smooth muscle cell proliferation and secretion of extracellular matrix components.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6897293
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Show moreBackground of the invention: The leading cause of death in the United States and in most developed countries, is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a disease affecting the large and medium size muscular arteries such as the coronary or carotid arteries and the large elastic arteries such as the aorta, iliac, and femoral arteries. This disease causes narrowing and calcification of arteries. The narrowing results from deposits of substances in the blood in combination with proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells. The deposits known as atherosclerotic plaques are comprised of lipoproteins, mainly cholesterol, proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells and fibrous tissue, and extracellular matrix components, which are secreted by vascular smooth muscle cells. As the plaques grow, they narrow the lumen of the vessel decreasing arterial blood flow and weakening the effected arteries. The resulting complications potentially include a complete blockage of the lumen of the artery, with ischemia and necrosis of the organ supplied by the artery, ulceration and thrombus formation with associated embolism, calcification, and aneurysmal dilation. When atherosclerosis causes occlusion of the coronary arteries, it leads to myocardial disfunction, ischemia and infarction and often death. Indeed, 20-25% of deaths in the United States are attributable to atherosclerotic heart disease. Atherosclerosis also leads to lower extremity gangrene, strokes, mesenteric occlusion, ischemic encephalopathy, and renal failure, depending on the specific vasculature involved. Approximately 50% of all deaths in the United States can be attributed to atherosclerosis and its complications. Present treatments for atherosclerosis include drugs and surgery, including ballon angioplasty. As a result of angioplasty, vascular smooth muscle cells de-differentiate and proliferate and leading to leading to reocclusion of the vessel. These de-differentiated vascular smooth muscle cells deposit collagen and other matrix substances, that contribute to the narrowing of vessel. Vascular cells secrete growth factors such as platelet derived growth factor, which induces both chemotaxis and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Many of the present drug therapies treat a predisposing condition such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, in an attempt to slow or halt the progression of the disease. Other drug therapies are aimed at preventing platelet aggregation or the coagulation cascade. Unfortunately, the drug treatments do not reverse existing conditions. Surgical treatments include coronary artery bypass grafting, balloon angioplasty, or vessel endarterectomy which, when successful, bypass or unblock occluded arteries thereby restoring blood flow through the artery. The surgical treatments do not halt or reverse the progression of the disease because they do not affect smooth muscle cell proliferation and secretion of extracellular matrix components.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6280969
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Show moreThe present invention relates to an apparatus for holding and restraining a patient's head during medical treatment. Background of the invention: In the medical field there exists a need for an improved device for gently and yet firmly holding and restraining a patient's head in one of a number of fixed angular positions during medical treatment.One example of medical treatment wherein such a head holding and restraining device is required is in the delivery of continuous positive airway pressure to a patient (often an infant) suffering from a respiratory disease. Continuous positive airway pressure is typcially delivered to the patient through a nasal cannula which must be inserted and held within the patient's nose. A head holding and restraining apparatus is required to prevent the infant or other patient from turning his head and partially or fully removing the nasal cannula from his nose. One requirement of such a head holding and restraining device is that it be adapted to permit a doctor or nurse to move the patient's head, from time-to-time, to one of a number of angular positions. While there have been attempts to design head holding and restraining apparatus prior to the advent of the present invention, none has proven to be entirely satisfactory or efficient in use. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a head holding and restraining apparatus for gently and yet firmly holding a patient's head in any one of a number of fixed angular positions during medical treatment. Summary of the preferred embodiment: The foregoing and other objects of the present invention have been realized by providing a generally arcuate or U-shaped cradle member mounted for arcuate or angular movement on a base member. An adjustable clamp is provided for locking the cradle member in a desired angular position. The clamp, when loosened, permits the generally arcuate cradle to be rotated to any desired position. When the desired angular position of the cradle has been reached, the clamp is tightened to lock the cradle in such angular position. A pair of opposed, generally flexible, generally arcuate head restraining plates are mounted within the generally arcuate cradle member on either side thereof by means which permit the upper portions of the generally flexible restraining plates to pivot inwardly, toward one another, to accommodate, conform to and restrain the patient's head in place. Adjustment means are provided for selectively moving the generally flexible head restraining plates toward one another to hold the patient's head.A suitable padding, such as lamb's wool, for example, lines the interior exposed surfaces of the restraining plates and the cradle to cushion the patient's head.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT4019727
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Show moreBackground of the invention: The present invention relates to the capacitor arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with titanium, aluminum, tantalum and other metal sponges or particles in the form of thin layers for providing capacitor anodes and cathodes of high surface area, and will be described with particular reference thereto. The invention is also applicable to a variety of applications in which a high accessible surface area to volume ratio is desired. Electrical devices, such as power supplies, switching regulators, motor control-regulators, computer electronics, audio amplifiers, surge protectors, and resistance spot welders often require substantial bursts of energy in their operation. Capacitors are energy storage devices that are commonly used to supply these energy bursts by storing energy in a circuit and delivering the energy upon timed demand. Typically, capacitors consist of two electrically conducting plates, referred to as the anode and the cathode, which are separated by a dielectric film. In order to obtain a high capacitance, a large dielectric surface area is used, across which the electrical charge is stored. The capacitance, C of a capacitor is determined by the formula: C [ Farads ] = Q [ coulombs ] V [ volts ] ( 1 )where Q is the electrical charge and V is the voltage between the plates. Capacitance is proportional to the charge-carrying area of the facing plates, A, and is inversely proportional to the gap width, X, so that C [ Farads ] = ( ɛ · ɛ 0 [ F / m ] ) A [ m 2 ] X [ m ] ( 2 )
where (∈·∈0) is a proportionality constant, ∈0 is the permittivity of vacuum (value=8.85 · 10−12 Farad/m), and ∈ is the relative permittivity or dielectric constant for a dielectric substance. High capacitance capacitors should have a large area, A, and a thin dielectric film with a high dielectric constant. Commercial capacitors attain large surface areas by one of two methods. The first method uses a large area of thin foil as the anode and cathode. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,410,766. The foil is either rolled or stacked in layers. In the second method, a fine powder is sintered to form a single slug with many open pores, giving the structure a large surface area. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,359. Both these methods require considerable processing to obtain the desired large surface area. In addition, the sintering method results in many of the pores being fully enclosed and thus inaccessible to the dielectric. To be effective as an energy storage device, a capacitor should have a high energy density.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6914769
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Show moreThis invention relates to hydrogenated carbon compositions. Hard carbon compositions are known to be obtainable from depositions in radio frequency (RF) plasma reactors, in direct current (DC) discharge, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) apparatus, or through sputter deposition in secondary ion chambers, or by direct excitation of carbon in primary ion devices. These materials hold the potential for varied and significant utility due to the expectation that such compositions will exhibit properties similar to those of diamond, such as extreme hardness. It is known, for example, to use a hard carbon film composition in combination with a silicon adhesion layer to provide a hard coating to protect magnetic recording media. Summary of the invention: The present invention relates to a composition of matter and a method for selecting properties such as hardness, atomic density, mass density, lubricity, wearability, electrical conductivity, adhesion, stress, permeability or crystallinity of the composition Formed, for example, in the form of a film on a substrate. An aspect of the invention is a method for controlling any of the properties of hardness, lubricity, wearability, atomic density, mass density, permeability, electrical conductivity, stress, adhesion or crystallinity of a composition. The method includes placing a substrate in a chamber. A formation gas is controllably introduced in the chamber which includes the elements carbon and hydrogen and an optional element chosen from fluorine, silicon, boron, oxygen, argon or helium. The gas is controllably energized to have an energy on the substrate in a range from between about 30-200 eV. As a result, a composition is formed on the substrate having an density between that of pure diamond and at least 0.18 moles per cubic centimeter. The composition has the following basic formula:C.sub.1-z-w Si.sub.z A.sub.w [H.sub.1-x F.sub.x ].sub.ywhere: 0.ltoreq.z+w.ltoreq.0.15, 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.05, 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.10, 0
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Show moreThis invention relates to hydrogenated carbon compositions. Hard carbon compositions are known to be obtainable from depositions in radio frequency (RF) plasma reactors, in direct current (DC) discharge, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) apparatus, or through sputter deposition in secondary ion chambers, or by direct excitation of carbon in primary ion devices. These materials hold the potential for varied and significant utility due to the expectation that such compositions will exhibit properties similar to those of diamond, such as extreme hardness. It is known, for example, to use a hard carbon film composition in combination with a silicon adhesion layer to provide a hard coating to protect magnetic recording media. Summary of the invention: The present invention relates to a composition of matter and a method for selecting properties such as hardness, atomic density, mass density, lubricity, wearability, electrical conductivity, adhesion, stress, permeability or crystallinity of the composition formed, for example, in the form of a film on a substrate. An aspect of the invention is a method for controlling any of the properties of hardness, lubricity, wearability, atomic density, mass density, permeability, electrical conductivity, stress, adhesion or crystallinity of a composition. The method includes placing a substrate in a chamber. A formation gas is controllably introduced in the chamber which includes the elements carbon and hydrogen and a optional element chosen from fluorine, silicon, boron, oxygen, argon or helium. The gas is controllably energized to have an energy on the substrate in a range from between about 30-200 eV. As a result, a composition is formed on the substrate having an atomic density between that of pure diamond and at least 0.18 g-atoms per cubic centimeter. The composition has the following basic formula:C.sub.1-z-w Si.sub.z A.sub.w [H.sub.1-x F.sub.x ].sub.ywhere: 0.ltoreq.z+w.ltoreq.0.15, 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.05, 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.10, 0
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Show moreFIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is in the field of photobleaches, especially photobleaches which are hydrophobically substituted metal or metalloid phthalocyanine compounds useful for treating fabrics, e.g., in consumer products such as laundry detergents.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHistorically, photobleaches in consumer products have been ionic, usually as a result of sulfonation. Salt forms are typically used. This improves water-solubility and decreases interaction with common anionic surfactants used in detergents, but increases melting-point of the photobleach relative to a non-charged or non-salt material. Making a photobleach hydrophilic and giving it anionic charge also reduces its ability to partition into, and, upon exposure to light, to bleach oily soils and stains.Recently, certain non-charged (nonionic) photobleaches have been developed. These include non-charged photobleaches among those disclosed in WO 98/32832 A, WO 98/32829 A, WO 98/32828 A, WO 98/32827 A, WO 98/32826 A, WO 98/32825 A, and WO 98/32824 A all published Jul. 30, 1998; and WO 97/05203 A and WO 97/05202 published Feb. 13, 1997. These materials can be quite hydrophobic and are useful in laundry detergents. They have an improved ability to treat oily soils.While nonionic photobleaches generally have lower melting-points than ionic photobleaches, it is believed that the nonionic photobleaches thusfar disclosed, at least in pure form, are solids at ambient temperature. Recent advances in such photobleaches indeed appear to have focused on improving the photophysics without sufficient regard to certain design characteristics, including melting-point, which may be very important to the formulator of consumer products.Chromophores such as phthalocyanines are typically of relatively high symmetry, thus nonionic photobleaches comprising such chromophores tend to have higher melting-points than many common nonionic organic compounds.Thus, despite the recent advances, there remains a need for further improvements in photobleaches for use in consumer products. Specifically, there is an ongoing need for photobleaches which are more hydrophobic, more useful for treating synthetic or lipid-soiled fabrics, and are capable of being uniformly dispersed without milling the crystals. Uniform dispersion is very important to avoid a patchy effect in photobleaching of fabrics. Yet, in particular, there is no known consumer product composition having a hydrophobic, liquid photobleaching compound. Such a photobleach compound would offer new possibilities to the formulator of consumer products, could be deposited more uniformly, and would offer economic advantages such as low energy input and the ability to avoid solvents when compounding or formulating the photobleach.It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide further improvements in photobleach compounds, especially with respect to types wherein the photobleach is hydrophobic. Indeed it is an object herein to
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6645928
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Show moreThe present invention relates to a novel system for controlling the accuracy of the wavelength of the output of He-Ne lasers operating in the visible 6328 A wavelength region to at least one part in 10.sup.11. More particularly it relates to the control of the wavelength by referencing the frequency of the laser output to the center frequencies of the hyperfine components or Inverted Lamb Dips of an absorption line of the vapor of iodine isotope I.sub.2.sup.129. Background of the invention: In modern optics technology the highly monochromatic, highly directional and spatially coherent radiation available from stable gas lasers play an important role. In particular, such coherent radiation is used in interferometry to measure distances and changes in dimensions and in holography to record and display two or three dimensional images. In both these and other applications, it is important that the laser be operating at moderate power levels, in single mode i.e. at a single frequency, in a stable manner, and also preferably that the frequency be accurately resettable. Actually, precision and accuracy are quite different things. Theory predicts and, experiment confirms, that the instantaneous intrinsic line width of the oscillating mode should be of the order of one Hertz or less for essentially all gas lasers. The work of Jaseja et al (see Physical Review Letters, Vol. 10, 1963, p. 165) shows that with some care lasers can be sufficiently stable so that oscillating bandwidths of a few tens of Hertz can in fact be obtained. However there is a problem in that, although the spectral width corresponds to an uncertainty in the instantaneous frequency of less than one part in 10.sup.13 (i.e., precision is very high), the resettability or accuracy of a given frequency in the visible region is generally on the order of one part in 10.sup.8 or at best five parts in 10.sup.9. This means that we known the nominally 6328 A wavelength radiation from a He-Ne laser is very monochromatic, but we do not know exactly what the frequency is, at least not to the desired accuracy. There is, therefore, a large gap between precision and accuracy. In the literature two interesting methods have been proposed for improving the resettability or accuracy of the operating frequency of He-Ne lasers. One of them is based on the Lamb Dip and the other is based on the Inverted Lamb Dip. The Lamb Dip method is not really satisfactory because the absolute position of the center of the Lamb Dip shifts with the operating conditions of the laser. As the discharge current or pressure changes, the center of the Lamb Dip changes also (see A.L. Bloom and D.L. Wright, Applied Optics, Vol. 5, p. 1528 (1966); A.D. White, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 10 (1967); and T. P. Sosnowski and W. B. Johnson, IEEE J. Quantum Electronics, QE5, p. 151 (1969)), and the accuracy of the operating frequency is impaired.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT3718868
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Show moreBackground of the invention: The present invention relates to a process for isolating and identifying a novel imidazo [4,5b] pyridinium molecule, referred to by the inventors as "pentosidine", from the extracellular matrix of humans and other mammals. The recently isolated imidazo [4,5b] pyridinium molecule, or pentosidine, is believed to be produced according to the non-enzymatic reaction of sugars with various amino acid or protein residues during the aging and/or degradation of proteins. In this regard, the pentosidine molecule has been structurally characterized by the inventors to consist essentially of a lysine and an arginine residue crosslinked by a pentose. Furthermore, the novel imidazo [4,5b] pyridinium or pentosidine molecule of the invention has been chemically synthesized by a number of processes. Of particular interest is an improved process for synthesizing pentosidine based on the direct reaction of .alpha.-t-boc-L-deoxy ribosyl-lysine (i.e. ribated lysine) prepared from .alpha.-amino protected L-lysine and D-ribose with .alpha.-amino protected L-arginine, such as .alpha.-t-boc arginine, at a slightly alkaline pH (i.e. pH about 9) under bubbling oxygen. Under these conditions the yield of pentosidine is about 12% instead of the 0.1% previous described by the inventors. The present invention is further directed to the use of the recently isolated, characterized, and chemically synthesized pentosidine molecule in various processes and/or compositions for studying the aging and/or degradation of proteins in humans and other mammals. The extracellular matrix of humans and other mammals undergoes progressive changes during aging that are characterized by decreased solubility (Schnider, S. L., and Kohn, R. R., J. Clin. Invest. 67, pp. 1630-1635, 1981), decreased proteolytic digestibility (Hamlin, C. R., Luschin, J. H., and Kohn, R. R., Exp, Gerontol. 13, pp. 415-523, 1978), increased heat denaturation time (Snowden, J. M., Eyre, D. R., and Swarm, D. H., Biochem, Biophys. Acta, 706, pp. 153-157, 1982) and accumulation of yellow and fluorescent material (LaBella, F. S., and Paul, G., J. Gerontol., 20, pp. 54-59, 1964). These changes, which affect particularly collagen-rich tissues and appear to be accelerated in diabetes, are thought to result from the formation of age-related intermolecular crosslinks. Elucidation of the structure of these age-related intermolecular crosslinks has been for many years of major interest to gerontologists and collagen chemists for two principal reasons. First, there appears to exist an inverse relationship between mammalian longevity and aging rate of collagen (Kohn, R. R. in Testing the Theories of Aging (Adelman, R. C., and Roth, G. S., eds.) pp. 221-231, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Fla.) suggesting that the process which governs longevity may express itself at least partially in the aging rate of collagen.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT5374712
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Show moreBackground of the invention: The present invention relates to a process for isolating and identifying a novel imidazo [4,5b] pyridinium molecule, referred to by the inventors as "pentosidine", from the extracellular matrix of humans and other mammals. The recently isolated imidazo [4,5b] pyridinium molecule, or pentosidine, is believed to be produced according to the non-enzymatic reaction of sugars with various amino acid or protein residues during the aging and/or degradation of proteins. In this regard, the pentosidine the molecule has been structurally characterized to consist essentially of a lysine and an arginine residue crosslinked by a pentose. Furthermore, the novel imidazo [4,5b] pyridinium or pentosidine molecule of the invention has been chemically synthesized in order to confirm the structural arrangement of the isolated molecule. The present invention is further directed to the use of the recently isolated, characterized, and chemically synthesized pentosidine molecule in various processes and/or compositions for studying the aging and/or degradation of proteins in humans and other mammals. The extracellular matrix of humans and other mammals undergoes progressive changes during aging that are characterized by decreased solubility (Schnider, S. L., and Kohn, R. R., J. Clin. Invest. 67, pp. 1630-1635, 1981), decreased proteolytic digestibility (Hamlin, C. R., Luschin, J. H., and Kohn, R. R., Exp. Gerontol. 13, pp. 415-523, 1978), increased heat denaturation time (Snowden, J. M., Eyre, D. R., and Swann, D. H., Biochem. Biophys. Acta. 706, pp. 153-157, 1982) and accumulation of yellow and fluorescent material (LaBella, F. S., and Paul, G., J. Gerontol. 20, pp. 54-59, 1964). These changes, which affect particularly collagen-rich tissues and appear to be accelerated in diabetes, are thought to result from the formation of age-related intermolecular crosslinks. Elucidation of the structure of these age-related intermolecular crosslinks has been for many years of major interest to gerontologists and collagen chemists for two principal reasons. First, there appears to exist an inverse relationship between mammalian longevity and aging rate of collagen (Kohn, R. R. in Testing the Theories of Aging (Adelman, R. C., and Roth, G. S., eds.) pp. 221-231, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Fla.) suggesting that the process which governs longevity may express itself at least partially in the aging rate of collagen. Second, the progressive increase in stiffness of collagen-rich tissues like arteries, lungs, joints and the extracellular matrix has been associated with age-related diseases such as hypertension, emphysema, decreased joint mobility and ability to fight infections. Thus, elucidation of the nature of extracellular matrix crosslinking in aging is of both practical and theoretical interest.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT5214138
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Show moreField of the invention: The present invention is directed to a method for identifying prion protein which is involved in various transmissible neurological disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) in both humans and animals. Specifically, the method is based on the use of hybridomas or monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) and/or epitope binding fragments thereof prepared against prion protein in order to detect the presence of prion diseases. These antibodies or fragments thereof are suitable for use in highly sensitive immuno-assays for demonstrating the presence of prion protein. Additionally, the invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions containing the antibodies or fragments thereof. Background of the invention: A prion is a small infectious protein. It is believed to be the cause of a number of degenerative neurological diseases. These prion caused diseases are collectively hereinafter referred to as "prion diseases".Prions were formerly called "slow viruses" but are now known to be devoid of nucleic acids and are, therefore, neither viruses nor viroids. The name prion is a contraction of the terms protein and infection. Prions are resistant to inactivation by procedures that modify nucleic acids. The membrane glycoprotein, now called prion protein (PrP), is involved in the pathogenesis of prion diseases. However, the normal function of PrP and its precise role in disease is not fully understood. It is believed that prion diseases are associated with alterations in PrP. The PrP gene is generally expressed at high levels in neuronal cells of the brain and at lower levels in other tissue such as the heart, lung and spleen. Furthermore, studies indicate that prion diseases are associated with a build up of PrP in and around cells of the brain. Normal cellular prion protein is encoded by one single gene which can exist in multiple glycoforms with molecular masses existing between 27-40 K. Daltons. The glycoprotein is attached to the cell membrane of mammalian cells by a glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol (GPI) anchor. Prion caused diseases, or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), are neurodegenerative disorders that affect both humans and animals. Prion diseases are referred to as sponiform encephalopathies due to the characteristic of forming holes or pores in cranial tissue. Development of prion disease may be the result of mutations in the PrP gene. Inherited prion diseases include; Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), fatal familial insomnia (FFI) and Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome or disease (GSS) in humans. Prion diseases can also be contracted by an infectious mechanism. This group of diseases includes iatrogenic CJD and a new variant of CJD, which may be the result of transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also referred to as "Mad Cow" disease) from cattle to humans. The majority of the prion diseases are sporadic disorders.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6528269
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Show moreThe present invention relates to the production of a new composition of matter of high immunosuppressive activity. Niridazole, i.e. 1-(5-nitro-2-thiazolyl)-2-imidazolidinone has been employed widely as an anti-parasitic drug. An article by Mahmoud et al in Journal of Immunology Vol. 114 (1975) pages 279 ff reports on the discovery by the instant applicants that in patients undergoing prolonged treatment with niridazole there have been observed suppressed inflammations. Pursuing this, in tests on experimental animals niridazole administration has resulted in suppression of inflammation related to delayed hypersensitivity including retardation of allograft rejection. Human studies by Webster et al then corroborated the suppression of delayed hypersensitivity-type reactions by niridazole. It was speculated in both articles that the active material might have been a metabolite of niridazole rather than niridazole per se.The instant applicants have since carried these researches further and have established that the active immunosuppressive agent is either a metabolite or is synthesized in the body in response to niridazole administration and they have provided processes whereby this active agent can be recovered, purified and concentrated, and compounded in a form suitable form administration. They have also provided a process for its chemical synthesis in the laboratory. Specifically, they have found that the urine of mammals to which niridazole has been administered exhibit the desired immunosuppressive activity even long after the niridazole per se has been metabolized. They have therefore obtained the active material from the urine of mammals which have received niridazole by mixing the urine with an aqueous lower alkanol, separating solids from the liquid, drying said liquid, extracting said dried material with a lower alkyl ketone, drying the extract, subjecting the dried extract to chromatography, and collecting a fraction high in immunosuppressive activity. Desirably the aqueous lower alkanol has a concentration of lower alkanol of about 30 to 70% by volume and is employed in about 50 to 200% by volume of the initial urine. Advantageously the lower alkyl ketone contains up to about 25% by volume of a lower alkanol, and/or other hydrophilic solvents, the dried material is subjected to a plurality of extractions with the lower ketone until substantially all the colored material is extracted from the dried material, and the extracts are combined and then dried. The dried extracts are then dissolved, preferably in water, the solution passed over a chromatographic absorbent and eluted with an aqueous acid, e.g. butanol: acetic acid: water. The eluate includes fractions of high immunosuppressive activity, e.g. at least about 2. DELTA. Log [Antigen] units as measured by the direct MIF assay, which fractions are suited for intravenous administration.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT4168316
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Show moreThe invention relates to mechanical energy storage devices and in particular pertains to a device having an elastic buckling column as an energy storage medium. Field of the invention: Energy absorbers protect a system or component from structural damage by minimizing the potential forces produced during a collision between rigid bodies. In a collision between two objects, the kinetic energy of the objects is normally transformed into strain energy as the objects are deformed elastically and/or plastically. In most instances, it is desirable to maintain the collision forces below a value which would cause permanent damage to a colliding object or element. Often, it is also important or necessary to limit the amount of strain or deflection taken by a member during a collision. With limitations on force and deflection, an energy absorbing system will be of maximum efficiency when it develops a uniform or constant resisting force equal to the allowable maximum through the allowable deflection. In more technical terms, the relative efficiency of an energy absorbing system may be determined by comparison with the 100 percent efficiency of a square wave in which the force level is exactly constant throughout a given deflection. The present invention is particularly suited for use in a bumper system for automobiles and other vehicles. An automobile bumper having proper deflection characteristics should be capable of sustaining minor impacts without damage to itself and sustaining moderate speed collisions without damage to adjacent body sheet metal. An upper limit on the effective bumper stiffness is usually imposed by the strength of the vehicle frame. Since normally there are practical limits on the amplitude of bumper retraction set by the arrangement of adjacent sheet metal, the associated weight and bulk of guiding apparatus for the bumper, and various other considerations, it is important that the deflection characteristics of the bumper approach square wave efficiency. The bumper system, then, will absorb as much energy as is possible before the limits of force and/or deflection are exceeded in a collision.PRIOR ARTVarious energy absorbing arrangements have been proposed for use in vehicle bumper systems. Among these are arrangements which include spring members, usually metallic, effectively mounted between a rigid vehicle frame and a rigid bumper. In general, such spring arrangements produce a force which increases linearly with deflection according to Hooke's law. The energy absorbing efficiency of such systems is generally 50 percent of that of square wave performance. Rubber pads or cushions used as substitutes for or in combination with metallic springs are usually characterized by a constantly increasing or non-linear deflection force and have an associated efficiency of about 30 percent.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT3814470
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Show moreBackground of the invention: The present invention relates to the biomedical arts, particularly implantable cuffs. The present invention finds application in electrodes disposed around nerve trunks and other small tissue strands and will be described with reference thereto. It is to be appreciated that the invention is also applicable to medicinal infusers and other implanted biomedical devices for introducing, monitoring, or removing matter or energy. Functional electrical stimulation of the nervous system has been shown in recent years to offer great hope in restoring some degree of lost sensory and motor function in stroke victims and individuals with spinal cord lesions. Ways in which functional electrical stimulation can be utilized to restore a particular function include: (1) the use of surface electrodes to activate the nerves in the general region of interest; (2) the use of intramuscular electrodes, also to activate the nerves in a general region; and (3) the use of nerve cuff electrodes placed around specific nerves of interest and used to activate them specifically. The third alternative offers advantages over the first two in that it requires the least amount of stimulating current and hence charge injected into the tissue. In addition, it allows easy excitation of entire muscles rather than parts of muscles, a common situation for the first two categories. Because the use of nerve cuff electrodes requires delicate surgery, they are usually contemplated only when: (1) excitation of specific, isolated muscles is desired; or (2) the generation of unidirectional action potentials is required. The prior art cuff electrodes included a cylinder of dielectric material defining a bore therethrough of sufficient diameter to receive the nerve trunk to be electrically stimulated. The cylinder had a longitudinal split or opening for receiving a nerve. During installation, the longitudinal split was sutured or otherwise held closed. Although suturing held the cuff in place, an electric current path was defined through the split which permitted current leakage. Two or three annular electrodes were positioned on the inner surface of the bore for use in applying the electrical stimuli. The electric stimuli, for example, may provide functional electrical stimulation, may block natural nerve pulses traveling along the nerve trunk, or the like. The present invention contemplates a new and improved cuff which is readily installed and removed without damaging the nerve trunk or other tissue. Summary of the invention: In accordance with the present invention, a cuff is provided for encircling a nerve trunk or other body tissue with at least one medication or electrical energy conductive member and a non-conductive sleeve extending to either side of the conductive member. The cuff includes a self-curling sheet of non-conductive material which is self-biased to curl into a tight spiral or roll.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT4602624
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