Patents Assigned to The Science and Technology Facilities Council
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Patent number: 8692990Abstract: The invention provides a technique for increasing the illumination intensity of probe light in a diffusely scattering sample without increasing the power of the probe beam. Generally, an optical filter is used which permits a collimated probe beam of light to pass through to the sample, but which reflects back towards the sample much of the backscattered scattered probe light emerging at a wider range of angles. In particular embodiments a collimated laser beam is delivered to the sample through a multi-layer dielectric filter covering a portion of the sample. The filter is transmissive to the laser light at normal incidence, but reflective at shallower angles of incidence characteristic of the backscattered light.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2008Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities CouncilInventor: Pavel Matousek
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Patent number: 8664623Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring fluorescence, are described. The method includes measuring at least one profile of at least a portion of a surface of a sample, the surface extending substantially transverse an axis, and illuminating the portion of the sample surface with radiation for stimulating fluorescence. The intensity of the radiation varies with position along the axis. Values indicative of the spatial intensity distribution of fluorescence emitted from said portion of the sample surface are measured. The measured values of fluorescence are modified to take account of the spatial variation in intensity of radiation incident upon the surface by utilizing the measured profile.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2008Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities CouncilInventors: Stephen Edwin Dominic Webb, Marisa Martin-Fernandez
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Patent number: 8653453Abstract: An analysis device for mass discrimination is disclosed. The analysis device comprises: a sample chamber for holding a gaseous sample; an analysis chamber arranged to receive sample gas from the sample chamber; a mass discriminator arranged to discriminate in the analysis chamber between ion species generated from the sample gas; and a wall separating the sample chamber from the analysis chamber, the wall comprising a rupture zone controllable to rupture and thereby release sample gas from the sample chamber into the analysis chamber. In one embodiment the rupture zone is adapted to rupture on application of an electric current or mechanical force. The wall may be micromachined. A method of mass discrimination is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2009Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities Council, Harwell Innovation Campus, Rutherford Appleton LaboratoryInventors: Ejaz Huq, Austin Bradley, Barry Kent
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Publication number: 20130214457Abstract: A method of electrospinning fibres is disclosed. The fibres have an inner core surrounded by a porous outer shell. The method comprises co-electrospinning first and second liquids as core and shell respectively, the second liquid surrounding the first liquid in a jet issuing from a Taylor cone, wherein the first and second liquids are miscible or semi-miscible with each other, such that pore generation is driven in the shell of the fibre. The liquids may be solutions or melts. The electrical conductivity, viscosity, miscibility and other parameters of the liquids determine the structure of the produced fibres. As well as producing fibres having a porous shell there are described methods of co-electrospraying porous beads as well as core-shell vesicles having a porous shell. The methods may be used to produce hydrogen storage fibres, vesicles and beads. The methods may also be used for producing controlled drug-delivery fibres, vesicles and beads.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2011Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCILInventors: William Ian Fraser David, Martin Owen-Jones, Derek William Kenneth Jenkins, Stephen Bennington, Arthur Lovell, Zeynep Kurban
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Patent number: 8455804Abstract: An optical apparatus comprising a first mirror (12), a second mirror (14), and at least one support (30) for holding the second mirror in substantially a predetermined position relative to said first mirror (12), wherein said at least one support (30) comprises at least one actuator (32) arranged to adjust the position of the second mirror (14), and said optical apparatus further comprises at least one light source (40a-40-c) rigidly fixed to the first mirror (12) in a predetermined orientation for providing a beam of light (42a-42c) directed at said second mirror (14), at least one corresponding alignment sensor (46a-46c) for detecting the beam of light (44a-44c) reflected from said second mirror (14), and arranged to provide an output signal indicative of the position of the incident reflected beam, and a controller (50) arranged to receive said output signal, and to thereby control said actuator (32) to adjust the position of the second mirror (14).Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2008Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities CouncilInventors: Ruben Laurence Edeson, Nicholas Richard Waltham, Nigel Morris, Ian Allan James Tosh
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Publication number: 20120281223Abstract: An interferometer is disclosed, such as may be incorporated into a hand-held spectrometer. The interferometer comprises enclosed path optics and a detector, the enclosed path optics comprise at least two reflecting elements and a beamsplitter, the beamsplitter is arranged to divide an input beam into first and second beams. The enclosed path optics are arranged to direct the first and second beams in opposite directions around paths enclosing an area and to output the first and second beams towards the detector. The enclosed path optics also focus the first and second beams onto the detector. The detector is arranged to detect a pattern produced by interference of the first and second beams. In a preferred embodiment the two reflecting elements are a pair of concave mirrors, and the enclosed path optics enclose a triangular area. The use of concave mirrors for both reflection and focussing provides the interferometer with compactness.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2011Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCILInventor: Hugh Mortimer
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Publication number: 20120274929Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting a species in a dilute medium, the species having a spectral feature, the apparatus comprising: a beam source arranged to generate a first laser beam and a second laser beam coherent with each other, and having a matching chirp pattern. Beam guide arranged to pass at least the first laser beam through the dilute medium; a beam mixer arranged to mix the first and the second laser beams to form a mixed beam. Detector arranged to detect, during the chirp pattern, the mixed beam and to measure changes in the mixed beam caused by refractive index variations in the dilute medium across a spectral feature. Output providing a signal that changes in response to the measured changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2010Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicants: THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCILInventors: Damien Weidmann, Gerard Wysocki
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Publication number: 20120257703Abstract: The present invention relates to a charged particle beam generator comprising multiple charged particle beam generator units. In particular, the present invention is concerned with apparatus for generating a high-energy, high-current proton beam such as are used in accelerator driven subcritical reactors. The present invention provides a method of generating a composite proton beam using a proton beam generator comprising multiple proton beam generator units. A negative hydrogen ion source is used to generate a beam of negative hydrogen ions in each unit. The negative hydrogen ions are stripped to create a proton beam in each unit, that is accelerated beam and guided to a common point where the beams are merged to form the composite proton beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicant: THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCILInventors: Neil Bliss, Susan Smith, Bruno Muratori, Shinji Machida, Robert Cywinski, Christopher Prior
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Patent number: 8259902Abstract: Non invasive in-vivo measurement of composition of a tissue within a part of a human or animal subject is carried out by detecting a Raman spectral characteristic in light scattered through the part using a transmission, rather than a backscattering geometry. The technique is applied to the detection of calcifications in human breast tissues.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2007Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities CouncilInventors: Pavel Matousek, Anthony William Parker, Nicholas Stone
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Patent number: 8253945Abstract: An optical sensor having a sapphire body is disclosed. A hollow in the sapphire body defines a surface which is used as a surface of a Fabry-Perot cavity. Interferometry is used to detect changes in the length of the Fabry-Perot cavity, and hence changes in, for example, the temperature or pressure of an environment in which the sensor is placed.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2005Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities CouncilInventors: David Francis Gahan, Arnold Peter Roscoe Harpin, Robert Stevens
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Patent number: 8248600Abstract: Methods and apparatus for screening the unknown contents of containers using Raman spectroscopy are disclosed, especially for security screening applications such as in airports. A probe light beam is directed through the wall of a container to a sample region within the container contents. Light scattered out of the beam within the sample region is collected along a path which passes through a separate part of the container wall, for Raman spectral analysis.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2007Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities CouncilInventors: Pavel Matousek, Eva Charlotte Eliasson
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Patent number: 8243269Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining, in-vivo, characteristics of sub-surface tissues or fluids in the human or animal body are disclosed. Incident radiation is supplied at one or more entry regions on a surface, and light is collected from one or more collection regions spaced from the entry regions. Raman features are detected in the collected light and depth related information derived therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2005Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities CouncilInventors: Pavel Matousek, Anthony William Parker
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Patent number: 8183540Abstract: A technique for shaping droplets is disclosed. Multiple optical traps, or at least one variable geometry trap, are used to deform a droplet. The surface tension of the droplet is lowered to be comparable with the force which can be applied using the optical traps, for example by using a surfactant such as Aerosol OT, with heptane droplets in a solution of sodium chloride. Solidification of deformed droplets can be achieved using polymerization.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2007Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities CouncilInventors: Andrew David Ward, Colin David Bain, Christopher Daniel Mellor
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Patent number: 8168342Abstract: A method of producing NH2(R2), the method comprising reacting a metal hydride with a compound having the general formula: M1X(BH4)y(NH2(R2))n wherein M1 comprises one or more of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, La, Al, Ga and Sc; 0<n?4; R2 comprises —H, alkyl and an aromatic substituent; and x and y are selected so as to maintain electroneutrality.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2007Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities CouncilInventors: Martin Owen Jones, Simon R. Johnson, Peter P. Edwards, William I. f David
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Patent number: 8159664Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting Raman spectral features non destructively from sub-surface regions of a diffusely scattering sample are disclosed. Incident radiation is supplied at one or more sample surface entry regions, and light is collected from one or more collection regions spaced from the entry regions. Raman features are detected in the collected light, and depth information is derived according to the entry-collection spacings.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2009Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities CouncilInventors: Pavel Matousek, Anthony William Parker
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Publication number: 20120034461Abstract: Apparatus and methods for electrospinning, electrojetting and/or electrospraying are disclosed. The apparatus includes a nozzle for the formation of a fluid jet from a fluid cone, the nozzle having a plurality of ducts arranged for supplying a plurality of fluids for use in the formation of the fluid jet. The ducts may issue onto one or more openings, for example, concentric openings for the production of core-shell nanofibres and particles, or core- multishell nanofibres and particles. The apparatus may also include a manifold for supplying the fluids to the nozzle from one or more fluid reservoirs.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCILInventor: Robert Stevens
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Patent number: 8085396Abstract: Properties of turbid or scattering samples are determined using Raman spectroscopy with probe light delivered to and subsequently collected from the sample using a transmission geometry. The technique may be applied to pharmaceutical products such as tablets, diagnostic tests such as lateral flow diagnostic strips, and elsewhere.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2007Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities CouncilInventors: Pavel Matousek, Anthony William Parker
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Publication number: 20110262897Abstract: The present invention relates to microscopy and, in particular, Time-resolved Emission Imaging Microscopy (TREM). The Invention relates to the use of a transition metal complex having a tridentate ligand in an imaging technique. The transition metal is preferably platinum.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2009Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCILInventors: J. A. Gareth Williams, Julia A. Weinstein, Stanley W. Botchway, John Haycock
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Publication number: 20110198494Abstract: An analysis device for mass discrimination is disclosed. The analysis device comprises: a sample chamber for holding a gaseous sample; an analysis chamber arranged to receive sample gas from the sample chamber; a mass discriminator arranged to discriminate in the analysis chamber between ion species generated from the sample gas; and a wall separating the sample chamber from the analysis chamber, the wall comprising a rupture zone controllable to rupture and thereby release sample gas from the sample chamber into the analysis chamber. In one embodiment the rupture zone is adapted to rupture on application of an electric current or mechanical force. The wall may be micromachined. A method of mass discrimination is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2009Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: The Science and Technology Facilities CouncilInventors: Ejaz Huq, Austin Bradley, Barry Kent
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Publication number: 20110195522Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating a lipid profile for a sample solution. The method comprising: a first step of determining the concentration of total lipoprotein in a first aliquot of the sample using fluorescence analysis; a second step of determining the concentration of total cholesterol in a second aliquot of the sample using fluorescence analysis; and optionally a third step of determining the concentration of HDL in a third aliquot of the sample using fluorescence analysis. The concentrations of the total lipoprotein, and of total cholesterol may be used to calculate other lipid components and thereby generate a lipid profile. The invention also concerns apparatus that may be used to perform the method of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2011Publication date: August 11, 2011Applicant: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCILInventors: David Thomas Clarke, Gareth Royston Jones