Patents Represented by Attorney Stephen L. Crooks
  • Patent number: 8329776
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dental composition comprising a) a hardenable compound (A1), b) a filler (B1), c) an initiator (C1) being able to initiate curing of compound (A1), compound (A1) having the structure A-(-S1-U-S2-MA)n, with A being a connector element, S1 being a spacergroup comprised of units connected with each other and comprising at least 4 units, S2 being a spacergroup comprised of units connected with each other and comprising at least 4 units, U being an urethane, an amide or an urea group connecting spacergroups S1 and S2, MA being an acrylate or methacrylate group and n being 3 to 6. The invention also relates to a process of producing this dental composition and using the dental composition e.g. as a temporary and/or long term crown and bridge material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Reinhold Hecht, Uwe H. Hoheisel, Christoph Thalacker, William J. Schultz, Wendy L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8323360
    Abstract: A method of crystallization is provided. The method includes providing a solution comprising a solute dissolved in a first solvent. The method includes providing a dispersion comprising a plurality of nanoparticles in a second solvent. The first solvent and the second solvent are mutually miscible. The method includes combining the solution and the dispersion to form a mixture. The nanoparticles remain dispersed in the mixture and the solute remains dissolved in the mixture at or below a saturation concentration. The method includes cooling the mixture such that the solute exceeds the saturation concentration forming crystals in the presence of the dispersed nanoparticles. The method includes separating the crystals from the mixture, wherein the nanoparticles remain dispersed in the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jimmie R. Baran, Jr., William J. Hunt
  • Patent number: 8318831
    Abstract: The invention relates to hydrophilized curable silicone compositions which contain organopolysiloxanes, hydrophilizers and at least one stabilizing phosphorous compound. The compositions are particularly suitable as curable impression materials in dental applications, especially as wash impression materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joachim W. Zech, Rainer Guggenberger, Henning Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8282906
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing nanoparticles, comprising providing a precursor comprising a titanium alkoxide compound; forming a plasma from oxygen gas at a first location, wherein the plasma comprises plasma products that contain oxygen atoms; causing the plasma products to flow to a second location remote from the first location; contacting the precursor with the plasma products at the second location so as to oxidize the precursor and form nanoparticles; and collecting the nanoparticles with a collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rajesh K. Katare, Moses M. David
  • Patent number: 8062670
    Abstract: Powder compositions exhibiting improved flow properties. The compositions generally contain a bulk solid material in the form of a powder and surface-modified nanoparticles. Methods of improving the flow of powder compositions and devices and articles made using such compositions are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jimmie R. Baran, Jr., Stephen W. Stein, James S. Stefely, Madeline P. Shinbach
  • Patent number: 7888400
    Abstract: The invention features dental compositions comprising at least one hybrid monomer that comprises a cyclic allylic sulfide moiety attached to a (meth)acryloyl moiety. These two functional moieties are typically joined either directly to each via a chemical bond or through some chemical structure or spacer molecule. The composition may optionally contain additional polymerizable compounds, such as ethylenically unsaturated compounds, that are typically used in dental compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ahmed S. Abuelyaman, Sumita B. Mitra, Kevin M. Lewandowski, David J. Plaut
  • Patent number: 7871670
    Abstract: A method of selectively and electrolessly depositing a metal onto a substrate having a metallic patterned-nanostructure surface is disclosed. The method includes providing a tool having a patterned-nanostructure surface, the patterned-nanostructure surface having surface regions having a nanostructured surface, replicating the tool patterned-nanostructure surface onto a substrate to form a substrate patterned-nanostructure surface, disposing a metal layer on the substrate patterned-nanostructure surface to form a metallic patterned-nanostructure surface region, forming a self-assembled monolayer on the metallic patterned-nanostructure surface region, exposing the self-assembled monolayer to an electroless plating solution comprising a deposit metal, and depositing electrolessly the deposit metal selectively on the surface regions having a metallic nanostructured surface. Articles formed from this method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Khanh P. Nguyen, Matthew H. Frey, Haiyan Zhang, Jun-Ying Zhang
  • Patent number: 7815971
    Abstract: Methods of forming nanostructures with chromonic materials are disclosed. A method includes coating a substrate surface with a chromonic solution to form a chromonic layer, removing at least a portion of the water to form a dried chromonic layer, and exposing the dried chromonic layer to an organic solvent to form a pattern of channels within the dried chromonic layer. The chromonic solution includes a chromonic material and water. Materials can be deposited within the channels to form a pattern of nanostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Wayne S. Mahoney, Hassan Sahouani, Roxanne A. Boehmer
  • Patent number: 7777397
    Abstract: An article comprises first and second electrically responsive elements having a cutting plane which is perpendicular to an x-dimension for separating the elements. The conductive elements of the conductive layers are alternatingly exposed to one of the two opposing faces of the conductive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Vivek Bharti, Matthew J. Michel