Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Fulbright & Jaworski
  • Patent number: 8182866
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a substrate which is coated with a mesoporous layer and to the use thereof in ophthalmic optics. The inventive method comprises the following steps comprising: preparing a precursor sol containing (i) a precursor agent that is selected from compounds having formula M(X)4 (I), in which X is a hydrolysable group and M represents silicon or a tetravalent metal and mixtures thereof, (ii) at least one organic solvent, (iii) at least one pore-forming agent and (iv) water; depositing a film of the precursor sol on a main surface of the substrate; optionally consolidating the mesoporous structure of the deposited film; eliminating the pore-forming agent; and recovering the substrate coated with the mesoporous layer. The method is characterized in that: (i) the pore-forming agent is eliminated at a temperature of less than or equal to 150° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Essilor International Compagnie Generale d'Optique
    Inventors: Muriel Matheron, John Biteau, Jean-Paul Cano, Jean-Pierre Boilot, Thierry Gacoin
  • Patent number: 8177243
    Abstract: A trailerable load-transferring assembly is removably attachable to the rear portion of a load-bearing vehicle. The load-transferring assembly includes a pivot connection, an auxiliary axle, an elongate abutment member that extends between a free end and an abutment end, and an actuator assembly disposed between the free end of the abutment member and the auxiliary axle. When the load-transferring assembly is connected to the vehicle by the pivot connection, the actuator assembly is actuated such that it applies a lifting force on the free end relative to the auxiliary axle. The lifting force causes the abutment member to pivot about the pivot connection, bringing the abutment end of the abutment member into an abutting engagement with an abutment surface attached to the frame of the load-bearing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Starcon International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas B. Boisture, Howard Lefler
  • Patent number: 8178106
    Abstract: Disclosed is a topical skin care composition comprising: (a) a combination of the following extracts: Malpighia punicifolia (acerola) extract; Argania spinosa (argan) extract; Myrciaria dubia (camu camu) extract; Punica granatum (pomegrannate) extract; Pinus sylvestris extract; Terminalia ferdinandiana (kakadu plum) extract; Linum usitatissimum (linseed) extract; Ribes nigrum (black current) extract; Secale cereale (rye) extract; algae extract; and yeast extract; and (b) a dermatologically acceptable vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Mary Kay Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle Hines, Tiffany Florence
  • Patent number: 8177904
    Abstract: The use of polymeric microparticles having a cavity in hydraulically setting building material mixtures is described, from 1 to 100% by volume of the cavity of these microparticles being filled with water. In this way, remarkable concrete resistance to the freezing and thawing cycle is achieved, these microparticles providing improved protection for the concrete from the effects of the freezing and thawing cycle, even at a diameter of from 0.1 to 1 ?m and in doses which are 1 to 2 orders of magnitude lower than those described in the prior art. Moreover, the compressive strength of the correspondingly hardened concrete is substantially improved, which was likewise not foreseeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignees: Construction Research & Technology GmbH, Evonik Rohm GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Einfeldt, Gerhard Albrecht, Gerd Löhden, Holger Kautz
  • Patent number: 8177852
    Abstract: A femoral implant for fitting to a resected femur comprises a section having a frustoconical external form, a stem part extending away from the section to a distal end of the implant, and a femoral head extending directly away from the section to the proximal end of the implant. The implant could have the femoral head integral with the section, or as a separate component secured thereto, with the stem being a separate one piece component incorporating the section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventor: Derek James Wallace Mcminn
  • Patent number: 8176983
    Abstract: A gas recovery component heating apparatus and method of use. The apparatus includes an insulating shell and at least one heating element positioned along the interior of the insulating shell. The apparatus further includes one or more apertures configured to allow a portion of the gas recovery component to pass through the aperture when the apparatus is secured about the gas recovery component. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for securing the apparatus about the gas recovery component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Accurate Pumping & Contracting, Inc., MMSOB Division
    Inventors: Patricia J. Foley, Stuart D. LeNoir, James M. Robison, Jerry A. Staggs
  • Patent number: 8178939
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure may include a semiconductor bulk region with a gate stack on the semiconductor bulk region. The source region and the drain region in the semiconductor bulk region may be located on opposing sides of a channel region below the gate stack. An interfacial layer coupled to the channel region may modify a workfunction of a metal-semiconductor contact. In a MOSFET, the metal-semiconductor contact may be between a metal contact and the source region and the drain region. In a Schottky barrier-MOSFET, the metal-semiconductor contact may be between a silicide region in the source region and/or the drain region and the channel region. The interfacial layer may use a dielectric-dipole mitigated scheme and may include a conducting layer and a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer may include lanthanum oxide or aluminum oxide used to tune the workfunction of the metal-semiconductor contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Sematech, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Yip Loh, Prashant Majhi, Brian Coss
  • Patent number: 8173923
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary switch assembly for an air conditioner in a vehicle, in which detent means is mounted on a holder joined to a front housing to mount a knob on the holder, so that a cable switch assembly for operating a cable to control the air conditioner can be used to various switches in common without regard to existence and nonexistence of a detent structure or positions of the detent structure and the rotary switch assembly can prevent a movement of the knob and effectively transfer a manipulation force of the knob to the cable switch assembly since the detent means is mounted on the holder adjacent to the knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Jeongyeop Lee, Yeongkil Kim
  • Patent number: 8172958
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of making an improved composition and medical implant made therefrom. The methods generally comprise forming a ceramic layer, diffusion hardening, and optionally, forming another ceramic layer. The present disclosure provides methods of making an improved composition having a thick diffusion hardened zone and orthopedic implants comprising the improved composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek Pawar, Shilesh C. Jani, Carolyn Weaver
  • Patent number: 8173180
    Abstract: The invention describes stabile anthocyanin compositions, methods to prepare such compositions and also methods of use of such compositions to treat various afflictions. The present invention describes unique compositions of an anthocyanin and a stabilizing compound such that the combination of the two components provides that the anthocyanin does not readily undergo degradation, such as oxidation, pH instability, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Omnica GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Eidenberger
  • Patent number: 8171777
    Abstract: Methods, storage mediums, and systems for correlating pulses generated from multiple interrogation regions in a flow cytometer to particular particles flowing through the flow cytometer are provided. Embodiments of the methods, storage mediums, and systems include configurations for calibrating a flow cytometer using a calibration particle having a unique signature to determine a time-of-flight for particles flowing through the flow cytometer. Based on the calculated time-of-flight and relative positions of interrogation regions corresponding to collectors of the flow cytometer, the methods, storage mediums, and systems may further include configurations for associating other signal pulses to particles of one or more different particle sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Inventor: Adam Richard Schilffarth
  • Patent number: 8172742
    Abstract: A magnetic stimulation apparatus for central nervous system and circuit thereof, and use of the apparatus and method of using the apparatus are shown. Controlling circuit design and outputting wave form signal to a drive power supply circuit enables the drive power supply circuit to output current of corresponding wave form to coils, and by means of the design of the shape, number of turns, size, interval of the coils, generates within a certain region inside the coils a desired time-variant magnetic field which is then applied to the brain of an animal or a human being so that the central nervous system can receive a wide area synergy magnetic stimulation with a precise wave form, high frequency or a combination of a plurality of frequency components, thus achieving the treatment of nervous and psychiatric diseases or brain function improvement in combination with behavior guidance, thought guidance, or psychological guidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Inventors: Yunfeng Zheng, Jiang Wang, Lin Xu
  • Patent number: 8175903
    Abstract: System and method for optimizing composition of a pool from which members are selected to serve on market research panels are described. In one embodiment, the system includes a database comprising a plurality of member profiles and survey data associated with the members and a datamart for periodically scanning the database to discover events and subsequently logging each of the discovered events in an event log. The system further includes an offense module for periodically evaluating the event log to determine whether one of the discovered events comprises an offense committed by one of the members and logging the offense in an offense log and an audit module for performing an audit of the one of the members and logging results of the audit in an audit log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: e-Rewards, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Milton Brierley, Stephen Allen Myers, Sean Warren Eidson, James Sterling Harter, James F. Morse, David Samuel Sink, Eric Steven Herfield, Richard Craig Stevens
  • Patent number: 8173611
    Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for introducing miRNA activity or function into cells using synthetic nucleic acid molecules. Moreover, the present invention concerns methods and compositions for identifying miRNAs with specific cellular functions that are relevant to therapeutic, diagnostic, and prognostic applications wherein synthetic miRNAs and/or miRNA inhibitors are used in library screening assays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Asuragen Inc.
    Inventors: David Brown, Lance Ford, Angie Cheng, Rich Jarvis, Mike Byrom, Dmitriy Ovcharenko, Eric Devroe, Kevin Kelnar
  • Patent number: 8173184
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and corresponding methods of their use that include Nymphaea gigantea, Syzygium moorei, Cupaniopsis anacardioides, Archidendron hendersonii, Tristaniopsis laurina, Brachychiton acerifolius, Stenocarpus sinuatus, Alphitonia excelsa, Eucalyptus coolabah, Plumeria alba, Cocos nucifera, or Tamarindus indica extract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Mary Kay Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany Florence, David Gan, Michelle Hines
  • Patent number: 8168801
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to structurally defined imidazolium-type ionic oligomers of the formula: wherein n is an integer ranging from 1 to 20; A is N or m is an integer ranging from 1 to 5; X is selected from the group consisting of Br, OTf, CF3CO2, CH3CO2, BF4, PF6, NTf2, F, Cl and I; and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-10 alkyl. The imidazolium-type ionic oligomers lend themselves as soluble/solid supports for biopolymer synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Inventors: Tak-Hang Chan, Xun He
  • Patent number: 8168848
    Abstract: A wound dressing member is provided for use in a vacuum bandage connected to a vacuum source and for use with a wound having a wound surface. The member may include a top surface and a bottom surface adapted to be in contact with and generally conform to the wound surface. The member may further include a plurality of discrete holes formed in the bottom surface and at least one discrete opening formed in the top surface. A port of the member may be provided to communicate with the vacuum source, each discrete hole, and the at least one discrete opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: KCI Medical Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Lockwood, Robert Petrosenko
  • Patent number: 8170717
    Abstract: A surgical robot that includes at least one robotic arm having multiple joints and at least six degrees of freedom, the robotic arm also including: a magnetic resonance (MR) compatible structural material; multiple MR-compatible joint motors; and multiple MR-compatible joint encoders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Neuroarm Surgical Ltd.
    Inventors: Garnette Roy Sutherland, Deon Francois Louw, Paul Bradley McBeth, Tim Fielding, Dennis John Gregoris
  • Patent number: 8170211
    Abstract: The invention relates to a node device (21) for a network (20) comprising quantum cryptographic connections (1) provided with quantum channels (4) and public channels (5), comprising quantum optics means (11) for connecting to the respective quantum channels, for generating secrets or keys by means of quantum cryptography, comprising means (13) for managing symmetrical secrets or keys, cryptography means (14) for generating cryptograms, and driver means (15) connected thereto for transmission via a public channel, wherein the means (15) for managing symmetrical secrets or keys and the cryptography and driver means (14; 15) are combined in a common node module (24) as central components (13, 14, 15) for a plurality of quantum channel connections, while the quantum optics means (11) are provided separately in decentral modules (23) for the plurality of quantum channel connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Austrian Research Centers GmbH-ARC
    Inventor: Thomas Langer
  • Patent number: 8168806
    Abstract: Boron chelate complexes of the general formula are described, where X is either —C(R1R2)— or —C(R1R2)—C(?O)—, in which R1, R2 independently of one another denote H, alkyl (with 1 to 5 C atoms), aryl, silyl or a polymer, and one of the alkyl radicals R1 or R2 may be bonded to a further chelatoborate radical, or X denotes 1,2-aryl with up to two substituents S in the positions 3 to 6 in which S1, S2 independently of one another denote alkyl (with 1 to 5 C atoms), fluorine or a polymer, as well as M+ denotes Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+ or [(R3R4R5R6)N]+ or H+, where R3, R4, R5, R6 independently of one another denote H or alkyl with preferably 1 to 4 C atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Chemetall GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Wietelmann, Uwe Lischka, Klaus Schade, Jan-Christoph Panitz