Patents Assigned to McMaster University
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Patent number: 6513390Abstract: The present invention provides a simple design for a temperature-insensitive extrinsic polarimetric strain sensor. The sensing element is a thin sheet of photoelastic material that is bonded to the test object. It is illuminated with linearly polarized light with the polarization direction at 45 degrees relative to the strain-induced fast and slow axes in the photoelastic material. The sensor measures the difference between the strains along these two orthogonal directions. The reduced sensitivity of the sensor to temperature results from the fact that the illumination is perpendicular to the surface of the test object. All polarization components that are parallel to the surface will experience identical refractive index changes due to thermal effects. Consequently, a measurement of the difference in strains along two directions in the surface plane is insensitive to temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2000Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventors: Gonzalo De La Puente, Paul E. Jessop
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Patent number: 6509032Abstract: A cationic lipid useful in transfection of cells with DNA is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1995Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventors: Leaf Huang, Richard M. Epand, Remo Bottega
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Patent number: 6461404Abstract: A ladle is equipped with properly positioned side and bottom injectors for enhanced steel decarburization in a vacuum tank degasser. To facilitate the circulation of liquid steel in the tank the bottom injectors are positioned in a common segment in order to create a single loop of liquid flow. To enlarge the surface area exposed to vacuum, and to increase the active surface area, supplementary gas flow is provided by side injectors located at the upper sidewall. The active surface area is enhanced by breaking bubbles released from side injectors.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2000Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventors: Gordon Irons, Diancai Guo
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Method of increasing corrosion resistance of metals and alloys by treatment with rare earth elements
Patent number: 6406562Abstract: There is provided a method for treating the surface of metals such as nickel based or high alloy steels, austenitic and ferritic stainless steels, copper and aluminum alloys to increase their corrosion resistance by modification of the metal surfaces to inhibit cathodic corrosion processes. In a single step treatment process the metals are immersed into a heated aqueous composition containing a rare earth salt substantially free of any halide compound. Increased corrosion resistance is obtained using nitrates of yttrium, gadolinium, cerium, europium, terbium, samarium, neodymium, praseodymium, lanthanum, holmium, ytterbium, dysprosium, and erbium nitrates. The rare earth salt is present in the range from about 2% by weight to saturation of the solution. The composition includes a pH-modifying substance such as nitric acid to adjust the pH in the range 0.5 to about 6.5 to attack the surface to remove oxides facilitating deposition of the rare earth.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2000Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventors: Yucheng Lu, Michael Brian Ives -
Patent number: 6386217Abstract: An assistive device for persons with an injured or disabled leg includes a main body comprising a crutch to which is pivotally attached a supporting structure. To assist the person in walking, the device can be used as crutch in the known manner, and the supporting structure is maintained in the same plane as the crutch. When the person wishes to be seated, one end of the device is placed on the seat adjacent the person and the supporting structure of the device is pivoted out of the plane of the crutch to provide a support for the opposite end.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2000Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventors: Barbara Cooper, Derek Clark, John Campa, Antonio Bellusci
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Patent number: 6319516Abstract: A stable aqueous dispersion which comprises a cationic lipid which is a molecule which comprises a cholesterol-derived lipophilic group, a linker bond which is hydrolyzable by cellular enzymes and relatively resistant to base-catalyzed hydrolysis, a spacer arm and a cationic amino group, and an appropriate co-lipid. The invention also includes the cationic lipids and mammalian plasmid DNA or other cells in admixture with the aqueous dispersion.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1999Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignees: The University of Tennessee Research Corporation, McMaster UniversityInventors: Leaf Huang, Richard M. Epand, Remo Bottega
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Patent number: 6287969Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming a superconductor, comprising the steps of: providing a substrate and exposing the substrate to a first atmosphere, including precursors to form a first epitaxial layer segment. The first layer segment is then exposed to a second atmosphere, including precursors to form a second epitaxial layer segment, and the second layer segment is exposed to a third atmosphere including precursors to form a third epitaxial layer segment. Each of the first and third layer segments are each formed from a superconductor material and the second layer segment is formed from a material different from the first and third layer segments and the first, second and third layer segments have a collective thickness, the third layer segment having an outer surface with a roughness which is less than that of a single layer of the superconductor material with a thickness equal to the collective thickness.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1999Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventors: Robert A. Hughes, Patrick J. Turner, John S Preston
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Patent number: 6273483Abstract: A robotic gripper for fixturing and manipulating a sheet of substantially rigid material, e.g. a sheet metal part, has three fingers with circumferential grooves thereon. Each of the fingers has three degrees of movement. The sheet metal part has at least one opening of a size suited to accommodate one of the fingers. The other fingers can engage the edges of other openings in the sheet metal part or the outside edge of the part. The fingers can be moved away from each other or towards each other respectively depending on the positioning of the fingers, whereby the sheet metal part is fixtured by means of the grooves of the fingers. By using three fingers each having three degrees of movement, and having grooves thereon, an object can be held and kinematically locked without the application of force.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1998Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventor: Gary M. Bone
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Patent number: 6258276Abstract: Charged membranes comprise a porous substrate and a cross-linked polyelectrolyte or hydrogel located in the pores of the substrate and are useful in a variety of membrane separation processes, including pressure driven membrane separation, diffusion dialysis, Donnan dialysis, electrodialysis, electrochemical synthesis and prevaporation. Certain of the membranes are novel.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1996Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventors: Alicja M. Mika, Ronald F. Childs, James M. Dickson
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Method of increasing corrosion resistance of metals and alloys by treatment with rare earth elements
Patent number: 6068711Abstract: There is provided a method for treating the surface of metals such as nickel based or high alloy steels, austenitic and ferritic stainless steels, copper and aluminum alloys to increase their corrosion resistance by modification of the metal surfaces to inhibit cathodic corrosion processes. In a single step treatment process the metals are immersed into a heated aqueous composition containing a rare earth salt substantially free of any halide compound. Increased corrosion resistance is obtained using nitrates of yttrium, gadolinium, cerium, europium, terbium, samarium, neodymium, praseodymium, lanthanum, holmium, ytterbium, dysprosium, and erbium nitrates. The rare earth salt is present in the range from about 2% by weight to saturation of the solution. The composition includes a pH-modifying substance such as nitric acid to adjust the pH in the range 0.5 to about 6.5 to attack the surface to remove oxides facilitating deposition of the rare earth. For aluminum alloys the pH is maintained between 4.5 to 6.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1997Date of Patent: May 30, 2000Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventors: Yucheng Lu, Michael Brian Ives -
Patent number: 6056929Abstract: Iodine-125 is produced by neutron irradiation of .sup.124 Xe gas to form .sup.125 Xe and permitting decay of .sup.125 Xe to form .sup.125 I. Irradiation of the xenon-124 is effected in a first chamber within an enclosure and decay is effected in a second chamber within the enclosure and free from neutron flux. The apparatus is submersible in a nuclear reactor pool so as to absorb any radiation escaping the apparatus during the process. Xenon can be caused to move between the chambers remotely, underwater. The second chamber is removable from said enclosure and is transported to a suitable location to recover the .sup.125 I from its interior. Such recovery is effected by admitting an aqueous wash solution into the second chamber, whereupon it is heated, causing water from the wash solution to reflux and cleanse the interior surfaces of the second chamber, thus creating an aqueous solution of .sup.125 I, which then is caused to drain into a suitable container.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1997Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventor: Scott Bradley Hassal
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Patent number: 6030592Abstract: The process of invention provides a simplified conversion of sulfur dioxide gas into hydrogen sulfide gas. First, sulfur dioxide gas is absorbed into an aqueous sulfide solution to form sulfite and bisulfide ions. Second, additional sulfur dioxide gas is absorbed into the aqueous solution to form hydrogen sulfide. Third, another portion of the sulfur dioxide is absorbed and reacts in the aqueous solution to form bisulfite. Most advantageously, the bisulfite is decomposed into sulfur dioxide and sulfite. The sulfite is then reduced to sulfide and returned for use in the absorption process. The hydrogen sulfide may then be reacted with SO.sub.2 via the Claus reaction to form elemental sulfur.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1994Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignees: Inco Limited, McMaster UniversityInventors: Wei-Kao Lu, Charles Qiang Jia, Vishwaprakash Satyanarayan Hegde, Steven Hoi-Chiu Ng
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Patent number: 5994276Abstract: A composite high Tc superconductor film is applied to a substrate, said film as applied having a thickness of at least 5000 Angstrom and an outer surface having an average roughness not exceeding 250 Angstrom.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 1997Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventors: Robert A. Hughes, Patrick J. Turner, John S Preston
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Patent number: 5840490Abstract: Methods for detecting hematologic and colorectal malignancies are provided comprising: (a) collecting a sample suspected of containing cancer cells; (b) analyzing the sample for telomerase activity; (c) correlating the presence of telomerase activity with the presence of cancer cells. A method for staging leukemia is also provided comprising analyzing a blood or bone marrow sample for telomerase activity, correlating the activity with a standard level of telomerase activity, and correlating a low telomerase activity with early stage leukemia.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: November 24, 1998Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventors: Silvia Bacchetti, Christopher M. Counter, Brian Leber, Calvin Bruce Harley
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Patent number: 5824497Abstract: An increased level of translation of a selected mRNA molecule is effected by coupling specific nucleotide sequences at the 5'- and 3'-ends of a nucleic acid molecule transcribable to or which itself is the mRNA molecule. The nucleotide sequence at the 5'-end is effective to increase the rate of translation initiation of the mRNA molecule in a cell while the nucleotide sequence at the 3'-end is effective to increase the period of translation of the mRNA molecule in a cell.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1995Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventors: David W. Andrews, Martin John Glenton Hughes, Akaterini Vassilakos
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Patent number: 5807707Abstract: An increased level of translation of a selected mRNA molecule is effected by coupling specific nucleotide sequences at the 5'- and 3' -ends of a nucleic acid molecule transcribable to or which itself is the mRNA molecule. The nucleotide sequence at the 5'-end is effective to increase the rate of translation initiation of the mRNA molecule in a cell while the nucleotide sequence at the 3'-end is effective to increase the period of translation of the mRNA molecule in a cell. The nucleotide sequence of the 3'-end is provided by a 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of a gene, particularly that of .beta.-prolactin, or an effective fragment thereof. A polyadenylation sequence preferably is provided at the 3'-end of the 3'-UTR sequence. The 3'-UTR sequence provides mRNA stabilization independent of the poly A tail.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1996Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventors: David W. Andrews, Martin John Glenton Hughes, Akaterini Vassilakos
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Patent number: 5744442Abstract: A method for decreasing metalloproteinase activity in a patient that comprises the step of administering to said patient a therapeutic composition comprising the cytokine oncostatin-M, or a biologically active fragment, mutant, analog or fusion construct thereof. Also, a method for increasing TIMP activity in a patient that comprises the step of administering to said patient a therapeutic composition comprising the cytokine oncostatin-M, or a biologically active fragment, mutant, analog or fusion construct thereof. In addition a method for inhibiting or treating progression of a tumor in a patient that comprises the step of administering to said patient a therapeutic composition comprising oncostatin-M, or a biologically active fragment, mutant, analog, or fusion construct thereof, said method being effective to inhibit invasion by a tumor cell through an extracellular space, extracellular matrix, basement membrane, interstitial tissue or connective tissue.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1992Date of Patent: April 28, 1998Assignees: Bristol Meyers Squibb Company, McMaster UniversityInventors: Carl D. Richards, Mohammed Shoyab, Jack Gauldie, Thomas Joseph Brown
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Patent number: 5693098Abstract: Methods for coating a prosthetic surface with anti-thrombogenic, or anti-coagulant, proteins are disclosed. The methods involve contacting a surface of a prosthetic material with a composition containing multimers of fibrin degradation products. These multimers, preferably D-dimers, have cross-linked D-domains. The methods of the invention are useful for providing an anti-thrombogenic coating on prosthetic implants which are exposed to a patient's blood after implantation, for example vascular grafts and artificial heart valves.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 1996Date of Patent: December 2, 1997Assignees: McMaster University, ZymoGenetics, Inc.Inventors: Fraser D. Rubens, Paul D. Bishop
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Patent number: 5571531Abstract: A particulate carrier for an agent comprising a solid core of a polysaccharide and a proteinaceous material and an organometallic polymer bonded to the core is provided. The agent has a biological activity, such as immunogenicity, and may comprise the proteinaceous material or be a separate component of the core. Polysaccharide cores include dextran, starch, cellulose and derivatives thereof and the organometallic polymer includes silicones including substituted silicones. The particulate carriers are useful for delivering agents to the immune system of a subject by mucosal or parenteral administration to produce immune responses, including antibody responses.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1994Date of Patent: November 5, 1996Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventors: Mark R. McDermott, Michael A. Brook, Philippa L. Heritage, Brian J. Underdown, Lesley M. Loomes, Jianxiong Jiang
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Patent number: 5452178Abstract: A capacitor structure for a memory element of an integrated circuit is provided. The capacitor is formed within a via hole defined through a first dielectric layer, and comprises a bottom electrode defined by an underlying conductive layer, and a capacitor dielectric filling the via with a dielectric barrier layer lining the via and separating the capacitor dielectric from the first dielectric layer. The capacitor dielectric is characterized by a material with high dielectric strength, preferably a ferroelectric material. An overlying conductive layer defines a top electrode contacting the capacitor dielectric. The barrier layer may comprise dielectric sidewall spacer formed within the via, or alternatively may comprise a region of mixed composition formed by interdiffusion of the first dielectric layer and the capacitor dielectric. The resulting capacitor structure is simple and compact, and may be fabricated with known CMOS, Bipolar or Bipolar-CMOS processes for submicron VLSI and ULSI integrated circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1994Date of Patent: September 19, 1995Assignees: Northern Telecom Limited, McMaster UniversityInventors: Ismail T. Emesh, Iain D. Calder, Vu Q. Ho, Gurvinder Jolly, Lynnette D. Madsen