Patents Assigned to 3M
  • Patent number: 8858807
    Abstract: A process for making a microneedle array master comprises: (a) providing a photoreactive composition, the photoreactive composition comprising: (1) at least one reactive species that is capable of undergoing an acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction, and (2) at least one multiphoton photoinitiator system; and (b) imagewise exposing at least a portion of the composition to light sufficient to cause simultaneous absorption of at least two photons, thereby inducing at least one acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction where the composition is exposed to the light, the imagewise exposing being carried out in a pattern that is effective to define at least the surface of a plurality of microneedles. The microneedles may be solid and the outer surface of the microneedles may be characterized by at least one concave area. The master may be used to fabricate a tool for replication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert J. DeVoe, Dennis E. Ferguson, Franklyn L. Frederickson, Mitchell A. F. Johnson, Mikhail L. Pekurovsky, Craig R. Sykora, Jeremy K. Larsen
  • Patent number: 8858692
    Abstract: A filter system includes a housing, a filter medium disposed within the housing, an optical analyte sensor, and an optical reader. The optical analyte sensor is characterized by a first region that exhibit a first response to an analyte of interest and a second region that exhibit a second, different, response to an analyte of interest. The optical analyte sensor includes a detection medium and is disposed within the housing such that the detection medium is in fluid communication with the filter medium. The optical reader includes at least one light source and at least one detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Dwyer, Thomas W. Holmquist-Brown, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Neal A. Rakow
  • Patent number: 8859901
    Abstract: A shielded electrical cable (2202) includes a plurality of conductor sets (2204a, 2204b) that extend along the length of the cable and are spaced apart from each other along the width of the cable. Each conductor set (2204a, 2204b) includes one or more insulated conductors (2206a, 2206b), and first and second shielding films (2208) that are disposed on opposite first and second sides of the cable. The first and second films (2208) include cover portions (2207) and pinched portions (2209). The cable (2202) also includes an EMI absorbine layer (2250). The maximum separation between the first cover portions of the first and second shielding films is D. The minimum separation between the first pinched portions (2209) of the first and second shielding films (2208) is d1. d1/D is less then 0.25. The minimum separation between the first cover portion (2207) of the first and second shielding films (2208) in a region between the first and second insulated conductors (2206a, 2206b) is d2. d2/D is greater than 0.33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Douglas B. Gundel
  • Patent number: 8860296
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to illumination devices, and methods for making the same. The device, in particular, includes a first conductor layer, a first insulator layer disposed on the first conductor layer and having at least one first aperture defined therein through the first insulator layer, a second conductor layer disposed on the first insulator layer and having at least one second aperture defined therein through the second conductor layer and positioned to align with the at least one first aperture, and a light manipulation layer disposed on the second conductor layer and having at least one pair of apertures defined therein through the light manipulation layer including a third aperture and a fourth aperture, where the third aperture is positioned to align with the at least one second and first apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ellen O. Aeling, John R. David, Michael A. Meis, Ronald S. Steelman
  • Patent number: 8858921
    Abstract: The invention relates to a water-soluble composition comprising a water miscible liquid and water-soluble particles, the water-soluble composition being essentially free of water. The composition can be used e.g. as dental composition, cleaning agent, polishing agent, tongue surface cleaning agent or peeling agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Brenda Schmid, Ingo R. Haeberlein, Bernd Anich
  • Patent number: 8858986
    Abstract: Durable hydrophilic compositions comprising aliphatic polyester, an anionic surfactant, and in some embodiments, a carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Matthew T. Scholz, Francis E. Porbeni
  • Patent number: 8857028
    Abstract: A virtual image (VI) device displays an image that appears to lie above or below the plane of the device. A method of manufacturing a VI display device includes calculating an initial VI flux pattern based on an object and then fabricating a substrate having a VI array pattern based on the initial VI flux pattern. A plurality of lenses may then be applied over the VI array pattern. The VI substrate may be static or dynamic, and may show grey scale information. A photomask may be used as an intermediate element in the manufacture of the VI substrate, or may act as the VI substrate itself. A method of producing the initial VI flux pattern includes virtually tracing rays generated by different points of the object to an image plane and ii) summing the rays from the different points. The rays may be traced through a lens array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Brian J. Gates, Charles A. Marttila, Travis L. Potts, Serge Wetzels
  • Patent number: 8858813
    Abstract: A patterning process comprises (a) providing at least one substrate having at least one major surface; (b) providing at least one patterning composition comprising at least one functionalizing molecule that is a perfluoropolyether organosulfur compound; (c) applying the patterning composition to the major surface of the substrate in a manner so as to form at least one functionalized region and at least one unfunctionalized region of the major surface; and (d) etching at least a portion of the unfunctionalized region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lijun Zu, Matthew H. Frey, Suresh S. Iyer
  • Publication number: 20140302397
    Abstract: A method of forming an electrode for a lithium-ion battery. The method includes providing a metallic substrate and coating the metallic substrate with a substantially solvent free electroactive coating composition. Coating the metallic substrate includes buffing the electroactive coating composition onto a major surface of the metallic substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew T. J. van Bommel, Ranjith Divigalpitiya
  • Publication number: 20140299193
    Abstract: Hydrophilic articles and methods of using such articles are described. The hydrophilic articles include a hydrophilic layer comprising sintered, acidified silica nanoparticles attached to a substrate. A spacer layer attached to a first portion of the hydrophilic layer defines at least one fluid transport channel bounded on one side by a second portion of the hydrophilic layer. The nano-particles may include one or both of spherical and elongated nanoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Raymond J. Kenney, Theresa J. Gerten, Daniel P. Decabooter, Naiyong Jing, Garry W. Lachmansingh
  • Publication number: 20140302313
    Abstract: To provide a radiation curable pressure sensitive adhesive sheet capable of yielding both a pressure sensitive adhesive sheet with good initial adhesion to an adherend before irradiation and a pressure sensitive adhesive sheet with good rigidity after irradiation. A radiation curable pressure sensitive adhesive sheet includes a (meth)acrylic copolymer having a radiation reactive site and a plasticizer capable of bonding with the (meth)acrylic copolymer upon being irradiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Toshihiro Suwa, Yasuhiro Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20140299365
    Abstract: An article includes a multilayer structure, such as, e.g., a touch sensor, having two opposing sides and comprising a central polymeric UV transparent substrate, a transparent conductive layer on each of the two major opposing surfaces of the polymeric substrate, a metallic conductive layer on each transparent conductive layer, and a patterned photoimaging mask on each metallic conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Muthu Sebastian, Dominic M. Travasso, Nancy S. Lennhoff, Steven T. Swartz
  • Publication number: 20140299128
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making medicinal aerosol canisters (10), in particular metered dose canisters (10), comprising aerosol formulation comprising medicament particles suspended in liquid propellant, for example for delivery by pulmonary or nasal inhalation as well as medicinal dispensers (100) including such canisters (10), such as metered dose medicinal dispenser in particular pressurized metered dose inhalers, wherein the liquid propellant in some embodiments contains HFA 134a and/or HFA 227, and the propellant component is subjected to one or more ultrasonic probes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Philip A. Jinks, Christopher G. Blatchford
  • Publication number: 20140299645
    Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a device to cleave an optical fiber is provided. The device includes a base and a cover that is rotatably connected to the base. The base has a work surface and a mandrel disposed in the base and extending above the work surface. An optical fiber can be bent over a radiused surface of the mandrel and tensioned prior to cleaving. A shuttle is disposed in the cover over the mandrel, wherein the shuttle includes a flexible abrasive material that is configured to contact the optical fiber and create a flaw on a top surface of the optical fiber to initiate a crack in the optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Edward B. LURIE, William G. ALLEN, Zachary M. THOMPSON, Daniel H. HENDERSON, Ronald P. PEPIN, David GONZALEZ, Viktor HEINZ
  • Publication number: 20140303594
    Abstract: An adhesive composite dressing useful for applying an active ingredient to a treated skin site, as well as methods of manufacture and use of such dressings. In one embodiment, an adhesive composite dressing comprising an anchor member, a target member, and a folding member, where the anchor member comprises a first skin-contact adhesive, the target member comprises an opening adapted to enable skin treatment, the folding member comprises a drug reservoir, and where the folding member is attached to the anchor portion through a hinge defined by a line of attachment that is not contiguous with an edge of the anchor member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Andrew J. Stockholm
  • Publication number: 20140299624
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a dental material comprises first compartment and the second compartment formed between interconnected sheet-like layers. The compartments encapsulate a first flowable component and a second flowable component of the dental material. The device has a first seal and a second seal for sealing the first compartment and the second compartment in the device. Each seal is adapted to automatically open in consequence of forcing a component of the dental material toward the seal. The capacity of the first compartment and the second compartment relative to each other is dimensioned such that squeezing out the first component from the first compartment by compressing the first compartment causes the first seal and the second seal to open. The device preferably allows easy and quick activation for use of the stored components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Marc Peuker, Alexander Walter, Dieter Poschmann
  • Patent number: 8852502
    Abstract: A method of sterilizing an article is provided. The method includes providing sterilization wrap system with which to wrap the article to be sterilized. The sterilization wrap system comprises a plurality of wrap units configured in a stack, at least one wrap unit in the stack being detachably attached to at least one other wrap unit in the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kevin D. Landgrebe, Susan K. Reed, Heather M. Webb
  • Patent number: D715133
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Angela L. Pan
  • Patent number: D715373
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig D. Thompson, Angela L. Pan
  • Patent number: D715374
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig D. Thompson, Angela L. Pan