Patents Assigned to British Technology Group Limited
  • Patent number: 5652255
    Abstract: A human or animal subject having a solid tumour is treated by administering to the subject therapeutically effective amounts of a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor and a compound which is an imidazole or 1,2,4-triazole derivative of formula (A) ##STR1## wherein X is selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## wherein R is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group; each of R'.sub.1 to R'.sub.5 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, hydroxy(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl), phenyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl)phenyl and phenyl(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl); m is 0 or 1; n is 1 or 2; and Z' represents a leaving group which has the potential for expulsion via an intramolecular cyclisation reaction and which is not negatively-charged; or a physiologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Gerald Edward Adams, Ian James Stratford, Pauline Joy Wood
  • Patent number: 5652474
    Abstract: A cold cathode is formed by providing a body of semiconductor having a surface including at least one projection and subjecting the surface to anodic etching to produce thereon a porous layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Peter Richard Wilshaw, Emily Boswell
  • Patent number: 5650114
    Abstract: Tubular workpieces of oriented polymers such as polyethylene polyester and PVC are formed by drawing a workpiece over an expanding former in the absence of any force perpendicular to the axis of the workpiece. The processes do not require the use of any liquid lubricant. They enable greater degrees of expansion and hence orientation in the direction perpendicular to the axis to be achieved and result in products of improved appearance and strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Ian MacMillan Ward, Gordon Craggs, Alan Selwood, Ajay Kumar Taraiya
  • Patent number: 5650488
    Abstract: A polypeptide which inhibits the replication of Herpes Simplex Virus. The polypeptide contains the amino acid sequence 360-367 of the Herpes Simplex Virus protein Vmw 65 as shown in Sequence ID No. 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventor: Peter Francis Joseph O'Hare
  • Patent number: 5645926
    Abstract: A flexible fire and heat resistant material comprising an intimate mixture of organic intumescent filler and organic fibres adapted to char intensely within the temperature range of 200.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. The added presence of inorganic fibre components enhances the structural integrity of this structure both during char formation up to 500.degree. C. and at higher temperatures up to 1200.degree. C. once char oxidation takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Arthur Richard Horrocks, Subhash Chander Anand, Barry Jakeman Hill
  • Patent number: 5644661
    Abstract: An apparatus for interpolating an image from a plural number of image values for a display having an array of display pixels more numerous than the number of images. The apparatus includes a generating device, a designating device, and first and second applying devices. The generating device generates image signals based on image data representing an image of a living body and for designating an array of pixels based on the image signals. The designating devices designates as primary image pixels a limited plurality of display pixels within the array of pixels. The first applying device applies the image values each to a respective one or more of the primary image pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Robert William MacLaughlin Smith, Alastair Miles Sinton, Francis Joseph McArdle
  • Patent number: 5641965
    Abstract: The invention provides a back-projection image reconstruction method or algorithm of the type B(FB).sup.-1 g=c, where c is the image data vector which is to be reconstructed, g is, arranged in suitable form, the measurement data vector from which the image data vector c is to be reconstructed, F is a matrix representing the forward operation from c to g and B is a matrix representing the corresponding direct back-projection operation, characterised in that for the matrix (FB).sup.-1 there is substituted the equivalent, computationally more amenable, matrix product WQ.sup.-1 W*, wherein W* is the complex conjugate of W, Q.sup.-1 is the inverse of a matrix Q obtainable from the matrix FB by the operation Q=W*(FB)W and W is a matrix related to the Fourier Transform and defined in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: David Charles Barber, Brian Hilton Brown
  • Patent number: 5639574
    Abstract: A bulk ionically conductive polymer gel is prepared by dissolving a salt such as lithium trifluoromethanesulphonate (which would provide lithium ion conductors) in an organic compound such as N-formylpiperidine. The organic compound dissolves the salt at 20.degree. C. but is not a solvent at 20.degree. C. (though it is at 215.degree. C.) for polyethylene terephthalate. The last-named is a crystallizable polymer which is added in a minor amount at a high temperature to the other components and provides the required mechanical rigidity for the product at lower temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Hugh Vyvyan St. Aubyn Hubbard, James Eric McIntyre, Victor Rogers, Ian MacMillan Ward
  • Patent number: 5639462
    Abstract: An attenuated poliovirus in which the 5' non-coding region of the genome is:(a) the 5' non-coding region of poliovirus type 3 Leon strain modified by the provision of the bases uracil and adenine at positions 472 and 537 thereof respectively, or(b) the 5' non-coding region of another poliovirus modified by the provision of the bases uracil and adenine at respective positions corresponding to position 472 and 537 of the 5' non-coding region of poliovirus type 3 Leon strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph MacAdam, Philip David Minor, David Michael Stone, Jeffrey William Almond
  • Patent number: 5634471
    Abstract: Peak expiratory flow meter for measuring the expiratory flow rate of a subject having a flow inhibitory device normally effective to inhibit expiratory flow through the peak expiratory flow meter, the flow inhibitory device being operable in response to attainment of a predetermined expiratory pressure to allow the expiratory flow. From the PEF measured, the airway passage resistance can be determined. Further lung characteristics can be determined from the shape of the decay portion or the expiratory flow curve. The meter has clinical application in the monitoring and diagnosis of asthma and other pulmonary diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Andrew J. Fairfax, David J. Hitchings
  • Patent number: 5633282
    Abstract: The use of a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor for the treatment of a subject against infection by a virus, in which the viral or proviral DNA integrates into the chromosome or chromosomes during its replication cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Mary K. L. Collins, Farzin Farzaneh, Sydney Shall, Manoochehr Tavassoli
  • Patent number: 5632962
    Abstract: A process vessel (2) is for achieving contact between at least one fluid passing through the vessel (2) and a packing material contained therein. The process vessel (2) has a peripheral wall (8) disposed around a longitudinal axis, an inlet for permitting entry of fluid into the vessel and an outlet for permitting the exit of fluid from the vessel. A redistributor (4) is located within the vessel (2) and the redistributor (4) follows a locus (3) which extends around the inside surface (10) of the peripheral wall (8). The locus (3) is neither perpendicular or parallel to the longitudinal axis and is preferably spiral or helical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Salah A. Baker, Brian Waldie
  • Patent number: 5630987
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the concentration of a contaminant in a fluid includes a measuring chamber in a fluid path, a first source of optical radiation of a predetermined wavelength adapted to direct the radiation through the measuring chamber, and a detector for detecting the radiation after passage through the measuring chamber. The fluid path also has a pump provided to urge a test fluid from a fluid source to the measuring chamber, the test fluid being subjected to containing the contaminant, a fluid processor to process the fluid to change an optical effect of the contaminant, an acid wash to inhibit the effect of precipitation of cations within the fluid path, a fluid bypass to bypass the fluid processor and a valve to alternately direct the fluid to the fluid processor and the bypass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Ronald Briggs, Kenneth T. V. Grattan, Zoheir Movaziz
  • Patent number: 5629168
    Abstract: Method of increasing the light output and/or signal:background ratio of light output from a chemiluminescent reaction of a dihydrophthalazinedione, a peroxidase enzyme catalyst and an oxidant, by carrying out the reaction in the presence of an enhancer which is an aromatic organo boron compound. Kits suitable for use in diagnositc assays comprising such enhancers are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventor: Larry J. Kricka
  • Patent number: 5628946
    Abstract: Process for the production of a homogenous polymeric monolith wherein an assembly of oriented thermoplastic polymer fibres is maintained under a contact pressure sufficient to ensure intimate contact at an elevated temperature high enough to melt a proportion of the polymer. The assembly is subsequently compressed at a compaction pressure higher than the contact pressure while still being maintained at the elevated temperature. The resulting polymeric products are useful, for example as orthodontic brackets, bone prostheses and in body armor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Ian M. Ward, Peter J. Hine, Keith Norris
  • Patent number: 5626146
    Abstract: To improve the reliability of the image or to selectively enhance parts of the image produced by way of a tomographic technique such as electrical impedance tomography (EIT), also known as applied potential tomography (APT), the method and apparatus of the invention provides that the electrical signal measurements be made over varying periods of time. The manner of variation can be related to the relative positions of drive and receive electrode pairs or to the output signal size, either as theoretically expected or as actually measured. The invention can be applied to serial or to parallel data collection techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: David C. Barber, Brian H. Brown
  • Patent number: 5623206
    Abstract: The invention describes an improved NMR imaging technique having particular application in imaging of solid objects using gradient echo techniques. By applying a so called 90.degree. rf pulse substantially at zero gradient crossing it is possible to obtain frequency encoded information about an object being imaged, using a so called gradient echo technique. However, profile degradation occurs as a result of the very large magnetic fields which are used which spoil the rf pulse. By shortening the length of pulses below 90.degree. it has been possible to improve gradient echo imaging. However, this has resulted in the reduction in the signal-to-noise ratio of the echo following each pulse. The present invention overcomes this problem by providing a rapidly oscillating magnetic field gradient and applying a radio frequency pulse away from a zero gradient crossing and by substantially phase rotating the resultant profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Peter J. McDonald, Timothy B. Benson
  • Patent number: 5620686
    Abstract: Diseases attribute to a predominantly cell-mediated immune response, notably autoimmune diseases, can be suppressed by administering a novel conjugate of an appropriate antigen, notably an autoantigen, with antibody to an appropriate B cell surface molecule, such as IgD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventor: Donald W. Mason
  • Patent number: 5618494
    Abstract: Capillary flow liquid transfer device having first and second flow channels, the first leading from a first channel end to a volume determination site and the second flow channel leading from a second channel end and crossing the first channel in fluid connection therewith in an interception area bordering the volume determination site directly upstream thereof relative to the flow in the first channel. The liquid flow in the second channel reaches the interception area before that in the first channel upon simultaneous application of liquid from the liquid supply to the first and second channel ends such that excess substance is received in a waste reception area separate from substance received in the volume determination site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Roger A. Bunce, Stephen J. Starsmore, Gary H. G. H. Thorpe
  • Patent number: 5618547
    Abstract: A series of 1,3-propanediones having a perfluoroalkyl group or a perfluorocycloalkyl group on one carbonyl, and a 3,5-disubstituted phenyl group on the other, are useful when administered to animals for the control of ectoparasites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Rudolph J. Boisvenue, Gary D. Crouse