Patents Represented by Attorney Andrews Kurth LLP
  • Patent number: 8349059
    Abstract: A number of pocketed apparatus for separating various materials are described. A pocketed cyclonic separator that includes a cyclone chamber, which includes interior chamber walls, an inlet connected to the cyclone chamber, and one or more pocket separators, located on the interior chamber walls, is described. A substance may be introduced through the inlet into the cyclone chamber so as to create a rotational force sufficient to generate a cyclone in the cyclone chamber. Forces generated by the cyclone will cause heavier material in the substance to move towards the interior chamber walls when in use. The one or more pocket separators define one or more pockets that trap heavier material in the substance when in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Peerless Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Dani Fadda
  • Patent number: 8347421
    Abstract: An impact reduction device including a pad having a first layer and a second layer. At least one of the first and second layers defines at least one impression. The impact reduction device is arranged and configured to at least partially collapse upon application of a force and to regain its shape after removal of the force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Body Armour Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Wesley W. O. Krueger
  • Patent number: 8351114
    Abstract: A system for combining multiple fiber amplifiers, or multiple fiber amplifiers. The system includes a fiber combiner with multiple cores for connecting with the multiple fiber amplifiers and for combining the beams of the fiber amplifiers into a single beam. The fiber amplifiers are aligned, tapered, and stretched. A method for combining fiber amplifiers includes emitting a beam from a tapered fiber combiner and transmitting and coupling a portion of the emitted beam back into the fiber combiner via a feedback fiber. The transmission and coupling of the feedback fiber includes mixing the feedback fiber with the output of an auxiliary laser and boosting the feedback fiber by a pre-amplifier. The feedback fiber is split into a plurality of beams by a fiber splitter. The beams are fed into an array of fiber amplifiers and combined with output of the individual fiber amplifiers to form the tapered fiber combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Burke E. Nelson, Sami A. Shakir, William R. Culver, Yuji S. Starcher, Jerry W. Hedrick, George M. Bates
  • Patent number: 8344871
    Abstract: A vehicular integrated light assembly comprises a first and second pluralities of LEDs arranged on a circuit board, and a controller electrically coupled to the first and second pluralities of LEDs. The light assembly further comprises a housing and at a lens hermetically sealing the circuit board and first and second pluralities of LEDs within the housing. The controller is operable to operate in a warning light mode in which the first plurality of LEDs emit a bright light in a first predetermined color and flash in a first predetermined sequence, and the second plurality of LEDs emit a bright light in a second predetermined color and flash in an alternating sequence from the first predetermined sequence. The controller is further operable to transition to a scene light mode in which the second plurality of LEDs emit a steady bright light in the second predetermined color to illuminate the surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: John E. McLoughlin, Neocles G. Athanasiades, Kiam Meng Toh
  • Patent number: 8342758
    Abstract: The invention concerns a camera head mount comprising: a strap for encircling the head and means for securing the strap around the head to prevent or hinder slippage of the camera head mount once secured in its mounted position; a camera holding pocket provided on the strap and situated such that when the camera head mount is secured in its mounted position the camera holding pocket is adapted to hold a camera in a forward-facing position against the forehead of the user, the lens of a mounted camera pointing forwards and through a lens aperture provided in the camera holding pocket at the front thereof, the camera holding pocket otherwise being adapted substantially to enclose a camera therein in a mounted and supported position on the forehead of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Bakhu Limited
    Inventor: Sarah Louise Braithwaite
  • Patent number: 8347145
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may provide a method and system for event notification, performance and/or risk assessment based on mission impact that may be due to actual and/or potential info-structure disruptions. In one embodiment of the present invention, one or more network event messages may be received from a source or multiple sources. An operational mission impacted by a network event may be identified based on a received network event message and mapping with an operational architecture task identifier associated with the impacted operational mission and an element identifier associated with a source element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Fitzgerald, Eric S. Jensen, Daniel P. Lindorf, Scott E. Sage
  • Patent number: 8342389
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible polymeric film for enveloping a container comprising: a tear path; and a tear tab extending from the outer surface of the film; wherein the tear path comprises at least one fault line arranged to facilitate tearing of the film in one direction when the tear tab is pulled in a direction generally perpendicular to the container; wherein the at least one fault line comprises an embossed pattern being positioned to enhance the sound generated by the tearing of the at least one fault line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Innovia Films, Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Mills, Steven Maude
  • Patent number: 8344122
    Abstract: Mainly provided is a technique for directly identifying the genotype at locus Rf17 based on the specific base sequence data thereof. Also provided is a technique for artificially constructing a fertility-restored line. A method of restoring the fertility of CW-type cytoplasmic male sterile rice by inhibiting or reducing the expression of a gene comprising the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2 in the above-described rice, and a method for determining the presence or absence of gene Rf17, which is a fertility restorer gene for CW-type cytoplasmic male sterility, comprising identifying a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the base at the 1812 position of the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 in the rice to be examined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Tohoku University
    Inventors: Kinya Toriyama, Sota Fujii
  • Patent number: 8334117
    Abstract: A device for controlling temperature in a reaction chamber is disclosed. The device comprises: a bladder assembly comprising a housing dimensioned to hold a reaction chamber disposed within an interior volume of the housing; and a first temperature-control bladder disposed within the housing, the first temperature-control bladder is configured to receive a temperature-control fluid and comprises a flexible, heat conductive surface that comes in contact with at least a portion of an exterior surface of the reaction chamber after receiving the temperature-control fluid. Also disclosed are a bladder thermal cycler, a temperature-control bladder assembly and methods for producing a thermal cycle in a reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Akonni Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Phil Belgrader, Christopher G. Cooney, Robert Doebler, Anna Hickerson, Bruce Irvine, Ali Nadim, James Sterling, Reza Miraghaie
  • Patent number: 8329389
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for storing platelets to preserve the function and freshness of the platelets. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of a preservative composition having an antiplatelet agent, an anticoagulant, and an oxygen carrier, for maintaining the freshness of platelets. Additionally, the composition may also contain an ultra-short acting broad spectrum anti-microbial agents. The preservative composition may be used to store platelets in a liquid state, a frozen state, or a freeze-dried state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Biovec Transfusion, LLC
    Inventor: Lakshman R. Sehgal
  • Patent number: 8329433
    Abstract: A method for performing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The method comprises the step of maintaining a reaction mixture in a PCR reaction chamber alternatively at a first temperature and a second temperature using a device comprising a first heater for heating a temperature-control substance to a first temperature, a second heater for heating said temperature-control substance to a second temperature, a pump located in between and connected in series with the first heater and the second heater; and a bladder unit connected to the first and second heaters via different ports. The pump introduces the temperature-control substance into the bladder unit at the first temperature and the second temperature alternatively with a regular interval to enable the PCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Akonni Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip Belgrader
  • Patent number: 8318692
    Abstract: Provided is a method of treating cancer in a subject by inhibiting expression of PAX2. An example of a cancer treated by the present method is prostate cancer. In the cancer treatment methods disclosed, the method of inhibiting expression of PAX2 can be by administration of a nucleic acid encoding an siRNA for PAX2. A method of treating cancer in a subject by administering DEFB1 is also provided. Similarly, provided is a method of treating cancer in a subject by increasing expression of DEFB1 in the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: Carlton D. Donald
  • Patent number: 8318170
    Abstract: It is possible to inhibit inflammatory processes by administration of antibodies to chemokines. Identification of chemokines which are over-produced makes it possible to block specific chemokine activity using antibodies to the over-expressed chemokines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Morehouse School of Medicine
    Inventors: James W. Lillard, Udai P. Singh, Shailesh Singh, Jonathan K. Stiles
  • Patent number: 8308804
    Abstract: A spinal fusion device is disclosed. The spinal fusion device includes a first endplate configured for fitting within a disc space and engaging with a first vertebra and a second endplate configured for fitting within the disc space and engaging with a second vertebra. The two endplates are separated by a single spacer that is positioned between the first endplate and the second endplate and maintains a pre-determined distance between the first endplate and the second endplate. The spacer contains an anterior end, a posterior end, a first lateral side, a second lateral side opposite to the first lateral side, a first surface that engages with the first endplate, a second surface that engages with the second endplate. Also disclosed are methods and instruments for implanting the spinal fusion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: David Krueger
  • Patent number: 8293120
    Abstract: A wet cyclone particle collector is disclosed. The wet cyclone particle collector includes a cyclone unit, a liquid delivery unit and a sample collection unit. The cyclone unit draws a gas sample into a cyclone chamber and creates a circular flow of the gas sample inside the cyclone chamber so that particles in the gas sample are separated from said gas sample by centrifugation force. The liquid delivery unit delivers a collection liquid into the cyclone in a non-continuous fashion. The sample collection unit harvests the collection liquid from the cyclone unit. The non-continuous delivery of the collection liquid significantly reduces consumption of collection liquid during operation of the particle collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Raymond M. Pierson, Matthew P. Szarek, Thomas G. Stroka, Andrew R. McFarland
  • Patent number: 8292626
    Abstract: An aptitude and interest assessment tool identifies one or more sectors for which a user may have a special interest, talent or aptitude. An interactive session is presented to a user. The interactive session provides a virtual world. A user interacts with the virtual world. Some or all of the user's interactions in the virtual world can be stored in a storage device. The user's aptitude or interest in a profession or activity is assessed by an assessment module that receives data from the storage device and processes the received data to make a user assessment. A report providing the user assessment is created by a report creator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventor: David Post
  • Patent number: 8287674
    Abstract: An improved tire provides an air-flow restrictor that may be installed inside a tire. The air-flow restrictor may restrict or prevent the flow of air in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the tire. Also, a method for saving fuel by inserting or retrofitting tires with air movement restricting inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Garry L. Rumbaugh
  • Patent number: 8286713
    Abstract: A completion system and method for completing a subsea well with angular alignment-free assembly The system includes a series of circumferential channels formed in a well completion device at a boundary between a tubing hanger and the completion device. The circumferential channels provide complete circular fluid paths with respect to the tubing hanger and the completion device. A supply bore and a drain bore are in communication with each circumferential channel and oriented to supply a fluid to and remove fluid from, respectively, the circumferential channel. A circumferential electrical connector couples the tubing hanger and the completion device. The circumferential channels and bores provide fluid services between the completion device and the tubing hanger and the electrical connector provides electrical services to the tubing hanger. The completion system allows the fluid and electrical services to be provided without requiring any angular alignment between the tubing hanger and the completion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Argus Subsea, Inc.
    Inventor: Earl Broussard
  • Patent number: 8281833
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire assembly is disclosed. The tire assembly includes a tire body having an interior surface covered with a low-friction material and a tire rim having an interior surface. The tire body is attached to the tire rim such that the interior surface of the tire body and the interior surface of the tire rim define an inner space of the pneumatic tire assembly. The inner space is filled with a gas and the covering of the low-friction material reduces friction between the gas and the interior surface of the tire body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Gary L. Rumbaugh
  • Patent number: 8283749
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices with multiple floating guard ring edge termination structures and methods of fabricating same are disclosed. A method for fabricating guard rings in a semiconductor device that includes forming a mesa structure on a semiconductor layer stack, the semiconductor stack including two or more layers of semiconductor materials including a first layer and a second layer, said second layer being on top of said first layer, forming trenches for guard rings in the first layer outside a periphery of said mesa, and forming guard rings in the trenches. The top surfaces of said guard rings have a lower elevation than a top surface of said first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventor: John V. Veliadis