Patents Assigned to Massachusetts Institute Technology
  • Method for converting Si-H containing polycarbosilanes to new and useful preceramic polymers and ceramic materials
    Patent number: 4650837
    Abstract: A method of forming preceramic polymers using a polycarbosilane having repeat units of the formula [RSi(H)--(CH.sub.2).sub.q ] (where R is H, a lower alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having from 3 to about 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted lower aryl group having from 6 to about 10 carbons atoms, q is an integer 1 or greater), by reacting it with alkali metal silylamides in a weight ratio of polycarbosilane:silylamide of 10:1 or less is disclosed. Preferably, the alkali metal silylamide is a polymeric alkali metal silylamide of the formula [(R.sup.1 SiHNH).sub.a (R.sup.1 SiN).sub.b (R.sup.1 SiHNM).sub.c ].sub.m where a+b+c=1; R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Dietmar Seyferth, Yuan-Fu Yu
  • Prosthetic device for implantation in bone
    Patent number: 4650489
    Abstract: The invention resides in a prosthesis device for implantation in a human or animal bone and includes a nonperforated sheath (4) having an open end (8) and a closed end (10). A rigid core (6) extends within the sheath. A member (22) divides the cavity into two portions (14 and 16), one being filled with elastomeric material and the second portion (16), adjacent the closed end of the sheath, is a pocket of compressible fluid defined by the interior of the closed end of the sheath and the member 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Amy Thompson
  • Cloning systems for corynebacterium
    Patent number: 4649119
    Abstract: The invention is a method for obtaining a chimeric plasmid which can serve as a vector for inserting one or more foreign or native genes into Corynebacterium and a second species of bacteria. The plasmid is the ligation product of plasmid DNA from Corynebacterium as well as plasmid DNA from a non-Corynebacterium species of bacteria. Also disclosed is a method for forming protoplasts from Corynebacterium organisms and transforming the protoplasts with vectors, e.g., the chimeric plasmids of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Anthony J. Sinskey, Graham C. Walker, Kanji Higashio, Eswara A. Rao, William G. Shanabruch, Makoto Yoshihama
  • Method for treating depression with d-fenfluramine
    Patent number: 4649161
    Abstract: D-fenfluramine is administered to a human patient having seasonal depression or other forms of bipolar depression in order to alleviate or cure the depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Richard J. Wurtman, Judith J. Wurtman, Dermot O'Rourke
  • Apparatus and method for coherently adding laser beams
    Patent number: 4649351
    Abstract: The disclosed apparatus includes a diffraction grating illuminated by a plurality of lasers. Apparatus is provided for summing the plurality of lasers coherently by, (a) phase locking the plurality of lasers and by, (b) diffracting the plurality of beams into a single beam. The diffraction grating has a configuration to generate upon illumination substantially equal intensities of diffraction orders corresponding to the number of lasers while suppressing higher unwanted orders. The phase locking can be accomplished by a single master laser, or by a cavity mirror to generate reference beams. Then, the output beams of the plurality of lasers propagating in the reverse direction are coherently superimposed by that grating. It is preferred that the diffraction grating be binary. Both one and two-dimensional diffraction grating arrays are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Wilfrid B. Veldkamp, James R. Leger, Gary J. Swanson
  • Method for making optical shield for a laser catheter
    Patent number: 4648892
    Abstract: A method of forming an optical shield for a laser catheter is disclosed in which a rod of light transmissive material is optically polished and inserted into a tube of similar material and fused and the distal end of the rod is cut and the assembly is optically polished at the distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Carter Kittrell, Gary B. Hayes, Michael S. Feld
  • Radiolabelled lipoproteins and method for making same
    Patent number: 4647445
    Abstract: Lipoproteins radiolabelled with an isotope of technetium substantially retain their native structure and biological function. The lipoproteins can be radiolabelled by simultaneous reduction of pertechnetate and lipoprotein with sodium dithionite at pH 8-9. The resulting radiolabelled lipoproteins can be used as probes for extracorporeal imaging to analyze lipoprotein metabolism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Robert S. Lees
  • Integrated fuel-cell/steam plant for electrical generation
    Patent number: 4644751
    Abstract: An electrical generating plant of high efficiency utilizes a conventional steam plant powered by a fossil fuel such as coal, gas or oil, in internal integration with a high temperature solid-oxide fuel-cell. In one embodiment, the spent fuel and the wast heat from the fuel-cell of electrochemical action is made directly available to the combustion furnace of the steam plant for thermodynamic extraction. The system can achieve efficiencies up to 65% compared to ordinary steam plants which have an efficiency of about 35%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Michael S. Hsu
  • Method for forming new preceramic polymers for SiC and Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 /SiC systems
    Patent number: 4645807
    Abstract: A method of forming preceramic polymers using a organopolysilane of the formula [(RSiH).sub.x (RSi).sub.y ].sub.n, where R is a lower alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, a lower alkenyl group having from 2 to about 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted lower aryl group having from 6 to about 10 carbons atoms, a tri(lower)alkyl- or di(lower)alkylsilyl group and n is an integer greater than 1, and reacting it with alkali metal amides or silylamides in catalytic quantities is disclosed. Preferably, the alkali metal amide is a polymeric alkali metal silylamide of the formula [(R.sup.1 SiHNH).sub.a (R.sup.1 SiN).sub.b (R.sup.1 SiHNM).sub.c ].sub.m where a+b+c=1; R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Dietmar Seyferth, Timothy G. Wood, Yuan-Fu Yu
  • Chiral borane reagents
    Patent number: 4644075
    Abstract: Chiral borane reagents and their organosilicon derivatives are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Satoru Masamune
  • Process for determining metabolism and growth of cells under various conditions
    Patent number: 4643968
    Abstract: The metabolism and growth of cells is measured by suspending the cells in a liquid medium capable of forming a gel. The resultant suspension is formed into small droplets which droplets are caused to gel. Samples of the gel microdroplets (GMDs) are treated to alter the metabolism or growth of the cells, and the amount of metabolites, or other cellular products or external reaction products within each GMD is measured. The process can be utilized to determine essentially simultaneously the enumeration or count and the antibiotic susceptibility, or susceptibility to other compounds, factors, biological agents or other cells, of the cells which are representative of a larger sample of said cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: James C. Weaver
  • Electrocatalytic energy conversion and chemicals production
    Patent number: 4643806
    Abstract: Oxidation reactions and unsaturation producing reactions are disclosed to be carried out in a solid-state electrocatalytic reactor for electrolytic energy conversion and chemicals production. Additional reactions are disclosed to be carried out in a solid-state electrocatalytic cross flow monolith which has a high ion transport surface area per reactor volume. The additional reactions include selected oxidation reactions, selected addition reactions, electrolysis of steam to hydrogen, decomposition of nitric oxide to nitrogen and oxygen and the manufacture of aluminum from Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 in a eutectic solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignees: W. R. Grace & Co., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Louis Hegedus, Costas G. Vayenas, James N. Michaels
  • Process for making mercury cadmium telluride
    Patent number: 4642142
    Abstract: Mercury cadmium telluride (Hg.sub.1-x Cd.sub.x Te) is formed from an atmosphere of mercury vapor maintained at a temperature of within about 1.degree. C. of a desired temperature which contacts a liquid cadmium-tellurium solution with or without mercury maintained at a temperature within about 1.degree. C. of a desired temperature. The resultant mercury-cadmium-tellurium solution then is cooled to solidification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Theodore C. Harman
  • Method for forming new preceramic polymers containing silicon
    Patent number: 4639501
    Abstract: A method of forming preceramic polymers by mixing (A) a methylpolysilane of the formula [(RSiH).sub.x (RSi).sub.y ].sub.n, (where R is a lower alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having from 3 about to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted lower aryl group having from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a tri(lower)alkyl- or di(lower)alkylsilyl group x+y=1, (x and y are each >0 and also x=l, y=o), and n is an integer greater than 1 with (B) an organic or organisilicon compound having at least two alkenyl groups and allowing the mixture to react is disclosed. Preferably, the alkenyl group is a vinyl group. The reaction is preferably initiated by the generation of reactive free radicals. Novel preceramic polymers formed by this method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Dietmar Seyferth, Yuan-Fu Yu
  • Quantum tunneling cantilever accelerometer
    Patent number: 4638669
    Abstract: A highly sensitive accelerometer is disclosed in which the current is measured across a pair of electrodes resulting from voltage pulses from a pulse generator. The electrodes are located within a vacuum chamber. One of the electrodes is cantilevered and has its free end suspended over the other fixed electrode. The amount of current through the vacuum gap between the electrodes is determinative of acceleration since the current is an exponential function of the distance between the electrodes and the distance between the electrodes changes linearly with acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Stephen Y. Chou
  • Non-peptide polyamino acid bioerodible polymers
    Patent number: 4638045
    Abstract: A novel bioerodible polymeric composition is provided comprising a plurality of monomer units of two or three amino acids which are polymerized via hydrolytically labile bonds at their respective side chains rather than at the amino or carboxylic acid terminals by amide bonds. Such polymers are useful for controlled release applications in vivo and in vitro for delivery of a wide variety of biologically and pharmacologically active ligands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Joachim Kohn, Robert S. Langer
  • Apparatus and method for closed-loop control of reactor power
    Patent number: 4637911
    Abstract: Closed-loop controller for altering the power level of nuclear reactors in a safe manner and without overshoot. Apparatus is provided for moving a control element such as a control rod or for adjusting the concentration of a soluble neutron absorber (chemical shim) for altering the nuclear reactor power level. A computer computes at short time intervals the two functions [.rho.-.vertline..rho..vertline./.lambda..sub.e ]/.vertline..rho..vertline. and .tau..sub.i 1n(P.sub.F /P.sub.i). The direction of motion of the control element is altered when these two functions become equal thereby resulting in the attainment of a new power level without overshoot. In a preferred embodiment, these two functions are computed at intervals of approximately one second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: John A. Bernard, Jr.
  • Methods and apparatus for measuring relative gain and phase of voltage input signals versus voltage output signals
    Patent number: 4638248
    Abstract: A system for accurately measuring frequency response (phase and gain) in either a wireless or in a wired mode of operation is described. When used in either mode, a multiplexing method is employed which allows the use of a narrow channel bandwidth, with a simultaneous improvement in overall accuracy. Cancellation of all linear and time invariant errors, including those of the analog to digital conversion process, is thus accomplished. As a result, the system error only depends on the differential nonlinearity of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Robert K. Schweickert
  • Process and composition for treating disorders by administering amphetamine and choline
    Patent number: 4636494
    Abstract: Choline or a natural or synthetic compound that dissociates to form choline is administered to a patient concomitantly with a drug in order to potentiate the effect of the drug by increasing acetylcholine levels in the brain or other tissues, and/or to suppress, or block the development of, unwanted side effects of the drug, by increasing acetylcholine levels in the brain or other tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: John H. Growdon, Richard J. Wurtman
  • Force sensing apparatus
    Patent number: 4635479
    Abstract: Force sensing apparatus for determining the location, magnitude and direction of a force on a three dimensional surface in which there is a convex surface (10-12) of known configuration mounted on a pedestal 22. A cruciform load cell (16) equipped with strain gauges (60-62) measures forces applied to the convex surface through the medium of a flexible force transmitter member (64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: John K. Salisbury, Jr., David L. Brock