Patents Assigned to Associated Universities, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5434022
    Abstract: An electrode has a substrate and a finely divided active material on the substrate. The active material is ANi.sub.x-y-z Co.sub.y Sn.sub.z, wherein A is a mischmetal or La.sub.1-w M.sub.w, M is Ce, Nd, or Zr, w is from about 0.05 to about 1.0, x is from about 4.5 to about 5.5, y is from 0 to about 3.0, and z is from about 0.05 to about 0.5. An electrochemical storage cell utilizes such an electrode as the anode. The storage cell further has a cathode, a separator between the cathode and the anode, and an electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignees: Hughes Aircraft Company, The Texas A&M University System, The Regents of the University of California, Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Anaba Anani, John Johnson, Hong S. Lim, James Reilly, Ricardo Schwarz, Supramaniam Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 5428156
    Abstract: A simple method for the synthesis of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane N,N'N",N'"-tetraacetic acid and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane N,N',N",N'"-tetraacetic acid involves cyanomethylating 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane or 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane to form a tetranitrile and hydrolyzing the tetranitrile. These macrocyclic compounds are functionalized through one of the carboxylates and then conjugated to various biological molecules including monoclonal antibodies. The resulting conjugated molecules are labeled with radiometals for SPECT and PET imaging and for radiotherapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronnie C. Mease, Leonard F. Mausner, Suresh C. Srivastava
  • Patent number: 5426306
    Abstract: A fast repetition rate fluorometer device and method for measuring in vivo fluorescence of phytoplankton or higher plants chlorophyll and photosynthetic parameters of phytoplankton or higher plants by illuminating the phytoplankton or higher plants with a series of fast repetition rate excitation flashes effective to bring about and measure resultant changes in fluorescence yield of their Photosystem II. The series of fast repetition rate excitation flashes has a predetermined energy per flash and a rate greater than 10,000 Hz. Also, disclosed is a flasher circuit for producing the series of fast repetition rate flashes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Zbigniew Kolber, Paul Falkowski
  • Patent number: 5425063
    Abstract: A process for simultaneously producing PET-usable quantities of [.sup.13 N]NH.sub.3 and [.sup.18 F]F.sup.- for radiotracer synthesis is disclosed. The process includes producing [.sup.13 N]NO.sub.2.sup.- /NO.sub.3.sup.- and [.sup.18 F]F.sup.- simultaneously by exposing a low-enriched (20%-30%) [.sup.18 O]H.sub.2 O target to proton irradiation, sequentially isolating the [.sup.13 N]NO.sub.2.sup.- /NO.sub.3.sup.- and [.sup.18 F]F.sup.- from the [.sup.18 O]H.sub.2 O target, and reducing the [.sup.13 N]NO.sub.2.sup.- /NO.sub.3.sup.- to [.sup.13 N]NH.sub.3. The [.sup.13 N]NH.sub.3 and [.sup.18 F]F.sup.- products are then conveyed to a laboratory for radiotracer applications. The process employs an anion exchange resin for isolation of the isotopes from the [.sup.18 O]H.sub.2 O, and sequential elution of [.sup.13 N]NO.sub.2.sup.- /NO.sub.3.sup.- and [ .sup.18 F]F.sup.- fractions. Also the apparatus is disclosed for simultaneously producing PET-usable quantities of [.sup.13 N]NH.sub.3 and [.sup.18 F]F.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Ferrieri, David J. Schlyer, Colleen Shea
  • Patent number: 5414509
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for rapidly and accurately determining the pressure of a fluid medium in either a static or dynamic state. The pressure is determined by making a measurement of the velocity of a light beam that is directed through the fluid medium along a pathway that enables an integrated pressure measurement to be made along the pathway, rather than making such a measurement only at a single point in the medium. A HeNe laser is configured to emit a beam of two frequencies separated by about 2 MHz. One of these beam frequencies is directed through the fluid medium and is reflected back through the medium to a non-linear diode detector. The other beam frequency is passed directly to a diode detector without traversing said medium. The diode detector is operated to determine the frequency shift or beat frequency between the two beam frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventor: James T. Veligdan
  • Patent number: 5407799
    Abstract: Random and directed priming methods for determining nucleotide sequences by enzymatic sequencing techniques, using libraries of primers of lengths 8, 9 or 10 bases, are disclosed. These methods permit direct sequencing of nucleic acids as large as 45,000 base pairs or larger without the necessity for subcloning. Individual primers are used repeatedly to prime sequence reactions in many different nucleic acid molecules. Libraries containing as few as 10,000 octamers, 14,200 nonamers, or 44,000 decamers would have the capacity to determine the sequence of almost any cosmid DNA.Random priming with a fixed set of primers from a smaller library can also be used to initiate the sequencing of individual nucleic acid molecules, with the sequence being completed by directed priming with primers from the library. In contrast to random cloning techniques, a combined random and directed priming strategy is far more efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventor: F. William Studier
  • Patent number: 5384699
    Abstract: A system including a method and apparatus for preventive maintenance of PET scanner photomultiplier detector blocks is disclosed. The quantitive comparisons used in the method of the present invention to provide an indication in the form of a display or printout advising the user that the photomultiplier block is stable, intermittently unstable, or drifting unstable, and also advising of the expected date of failure of a photomultiplier block in the PET scanner. The system alerts the user to replace the defective photomultiplier block prior to catastrophic failure in a scheduled preventative maintenance program, thus eliminating expensive and unscheduled downtime of the PET scanner due to photomultiplier failure. The apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention preferably resides in the host computer controlling a PET scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Alejandro V. Levy, Donald Warner
  • Patent number: 5381502
    Abstract: An optical panel 10 includes a plurality of waveguides 12 stacked together, with each waveguide 12 having a first end 12a and an opposite second end 12b. The first ends 12a collectively define a first face 16, and the second ends 12b collectively define a second face 18 of the panel 10. The second face 18 is disposed at an acute face angle relative to the waveguides 12 to provide a panel 10 which is relatively thin compared to the height of the second face. In an exemplary embodiment for use in a projection TV, the first face 16 is substantially smaller in height than the second face 18 and receives a TV image, with the second face 18 defining a screen for viewing the image enlarged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventor: James T. Veligdan
  • Patent number: 5366891
    Abstract: A method of solubilizing metal salts such as metal sulfides in a geothermal sludge using mutant Thiobacilli selected for their ability to metabolize metal salts at high temperature is disclosed, The method includes the introduction of mutated Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Thiobacillus thiooxidans to a geothermal sludge or brine. The microorganisms catalyze the solubilization of metal salts, For instance, in the case of metal sulfides, the microorganisms catalyze the solubilization to form soluble metal sulfates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene T. Premuzic, Mow S. Lin
  • Patent number: 5362568
    Abstract: A composition and method for detecting thermal overheating of an apparatus or system and for quickly and accurately locating the portions of the apparatus or system that experience a predetermined degree of such overheating. A composition made according to the invention includes perfluorocarbon tracers (PFTs) mixed with certain non-reactive carrier compounds that are effective to trap or block the PFTs within the composition at normal room temperature or at normal operating temperature of the coated apparatus or system. When a predetermined degree of overheating occurs in any of the coated components of the apparatus or system, PFTs are emitted from the compositions at a rate corresponding to the degree of overheating of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell N. Dietz, Gunnar I. Senum
  • Patent number: 5362493
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the manufacture of thin film solid state electrochemical devices using composite cathodes comprising a redox polymer capable of undergoing oxidation and reduction, a polymer solid electrolyte and conducting carbon. The polymeric cathode material is formed as a composite of radiation crosslinked polymer electrolytes and radiation crosslinked redox polymers based on polysiloxane backbones with attached organosulfur side groups capable of forming sulfur-sulfur bonds during electrochemical oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Terje A. Skotheim, Hung S. Lee, Yoshiyuki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 5360895
    Abstract: Antibody- or antibody fragment-gold cluster conjugates are shown wherein the conjugate size can be as small as 5.0 nm. Methods and reagents are disclosed in which antibodies, Fab' or F(ab').sub.2 fragments thereof are covalently bound to a stable cluster of gold atoms. The gold clusters may contain 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 55 or 67 gold atoms in their inner core. The clusters may also contain radioactive gold. The antibody-cluster conjugates are useful in electron microscopy applications as well as in clinical applications that include imaging, diagnosis and therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Hainfeld, Frederic R. Furuya
  • Patent number: 5354688
    Abstract: A process is provided for solubilizing coprecipitated metals. Metals in wastestreams are concentrated by treatment with an iron oxide coprecipitating agent. The coprecipitated metals are solubilized by contacting the coprecipitate with a bacterial culture of a Clostridium species ATCC 53464. The remobilized metals can then be recovered and recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Arokiasamy J. Francis, Cleveland J. Dodge
  • Patent number: 5347231
    Abstract: The invention is a novel charge sensitive preamplifier (CSP) which has no resistor in parallel with the feedback capacitor. No resetting circuit is required to discharge the feedback capacitor. The DC stabilization of the preamplifier is obtained by means of a second feedback loop between the preamplifier output and the common base transistor of the input cascode. The input transistor of the preamplifier is a Junction Field Transistor (JFET) with the gate-source junction forward biased. The detector leakage current flows into this junction. This invention is concerned with a new circuit configuration for a charge sensitive preamplifier and a novel use of the input Field Effect Transistor of the CSP itself. In particular this invention, in addition to eliminating the feedback resistor, eliminates the need for external devices between the detector and the preamplifier, and it eliminates the need for external circuitry to sense the output voltage and reset the CSP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Bertuccio, Pavel Rehak, Deming Xi
  • Patent number: 5334729
    Abstract: The present invention relates to new rigid chelating structures, to methods for preparing these materials, and to their use in preparing radiometal labeled immunoconjugates. These new chelates include cyclohexyl EDTA monohydride, the trans forms of cyclohexyl DTPA and TTHA, and derivatives of these cyclohexyl polyaminocarboxylate materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronnie C. Mease, Suresh C. Srivastava, Jean-Francois Gestin
  • Patent number: 5306530
    Abstract: A method for producing high quality, thin layer films of inorganic compounds upon the surface of a substrate is disclosed. The method involves condensing a mixture of preselected molecular precursors on the surface of a substrate and subsequently inducing the formation of reactive species using high energy photon or charged particle irradiation. The reactive species react with one another to produce a film of the desired compound upon the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Myron Strongin, Mark Ruckman, Daniel Strongin
  • Patent number: 5300468
    Abstract: This invention describes a process for regeneration of halocarbon bearing carbonaceous adsorbents through which a carbonaceous adsorbent is contacted with hydrocarbon gases, preferably propane, butane and pentane at near room temperatures and at atmospheric pressure. As the hydrocarbon gases come in contact with the adsorbent, the hydrocarbons displace the halocarbons by physical adsorption. As a result of using this process, the halocarbon concentration and the hydrocarbon eluant is increased thereby allowing for an easier recovery of pure halocarbons. By using the process of this invention, carbonaceous adsorbents can be regenerated by an inexpensive process which also allows for subsequent re-use of the recovered halocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Gunnar I. Senum, Russell N. Dietz
  • Patent number: 5297625
    Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of new, modified organisms, through challenge growth processes, that are viable in the extreme temperature, pressure and pH conditions and salt concentrations of an oil reservoir and that are suitable for use in microbial enhanced oil recovery. The modified microorganisms of the present invention are used to enhance oil recovery and remove sulfur compounds and metals from the crude oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene T. Premuzic, Mow Lin
  • Patent number: 5292456
    Abstract: A method for decontaminating radionuclides and other toxic metal-contaminateThe U.S. government has certain rights in this invention pursuant to Contract Number DE-AC02-76CH00016 between the U.S. Department of Energy and Associated Universities, Inc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Arokiasamy J. Francis, Cleveland J. Dodge
  • Patent number: 5292938
    Abstract: Cyclo agents useful in forming antibody-metal conjugates useful for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. New compounds and processes of forming these compounds are disclosed including 4-haloacetamido-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexyl polyaminocarboxylate and 4-isothiocyanato-trans-1,2-diamino cyclohexane-N,N,N',N'-tetra acetic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronnie C. Mease, Leonard F. Mausner, Suresh C. Srivastava