Abstract: This invention relates to a process for purification of nanotube soot in a non-destructive and efficient method using a polymer having a coiling structure to extract nanotubes from their accompanying material without damage to their structure and with a high mass yield. Nanotube soot is added to a solvent which including a coiling polymer to form a solution. The solution is mixed with a nanotube composite suspension is formed with extraneous solid material such as amorphous carbon settling at the bottom of the solution. The nanotube composite suspension is decanted from the settled solid.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 9, 1999
Date of Patent:
June 10, 2003
Assignees:
Horcom Limited, Materials Ireland, a division of Forbairt, The Provost Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy
and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near Dublin of College
Green
Inventors:
Andrew Davey, Seamus Curran, Werner Blau
Abstract: A device (1) for acquiring cell samples by aspiration into an evacuated container (3) comprising:
a front hollow needle portion (7) to be inserted into the body from which a sample is to be taken;
a rear hollow needle portion (5) for communication with the evacuated container;
a conduit (11) connecting the front needle portion (7) to the rear needle portion (5);
and a normally closed pinch valve mechanism (6) to open and close the conduit;
The valve mechanism (6) is manually operable by one hand and controls the application of negative pressure in the front needle portion (7). The conduit may comprise a flexible tube and the valve mechanism (6) may comprise releasable means (8) to pinch the flexible tube in a pressure-tight manner. The valve mechanism (6) may comprise a spring-biased push-button (8) operable by one digit of a user's hand.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 25, 2000
Date of Patent:
January 14, 2003
Assignee:
The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy
and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin
Abstract: A structuring device (SD) for processing a surface of a substrate (SB), comprising a substrate chamber (VC) for mounting the substrate (SB) and a reaction chamber (GC) enabling a gas reaction at a given operating pressure. The reaction chamber (GC) has at least one gas inlet (GL) for a reaction gas and at least one injection outlet (JL) leading into the substrate chamber, while the substrate chamber (VC) is provided with a pumping system (PP) for maintaining a vacuum within the substrate chamber at a pressure not above the operating pressure of the gas reaction in the reaction chamber (GC). The injection outlet (JL) is provided with at least one injection pipe ending into an injection opening of given width, the injection pipe having a length not smaller than the width of the injection opening, the injection pipe forming the gas particles originating from the gas reaction into a gas jet streaming out of the injection opening.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 17, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 16, 2002
Assignees:
The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy
and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, Universitate Gesamthochshule Kassel, IMS-Ionen Mikrofabrikations Systeme GmbH
Inventors:
Igor V. Shvets, Ivajlo W. Rangelow, Peter Güthner, Jens Voight, Guido Mariotto, Hans Löschner
Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method for the quantitative determination of human acute phase serum amyloid A protein (A-SAA) comprising contacting a sample of a biological fluid with antibody specific for A-SAA, the sample being reacted with an organic solvent prior to or simultaneous with antibody contact. The organic solvent is suitably a C1 or C4 alcohol and the antibody can be used on the solid phase and as a component of the detection system of an enzyme linked immunosorbant assay. The method provides a sensitive and reliable measure of A-SAA and inflammatory status which can be used for the diagnosis and clinical management of both acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 23, 1998
Date of Patent:
February 27, 2001
Assignee:
The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy
and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near Dublin
Inventors:
John Martin Doyle, Hazel Audrey Hobson, Alexander Steven Whitehead
Abstract: The isolation of the S. aureus fibrinogen binding protein gene is described and a minimal fibrinogen binding protein is identified. The protein finds use as a vaccine or a pharmaceutical composition for application to prevent infection, promotion of wound healing, blocking adherence to indwelling medical devices, or diagnosis of infection.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 19, 1999
Date of Patent:
January 23, 2001
Assignee:
The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of The College of the Holy
and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near Dublin
Inventors:
Timothy James Foster, Damien Leo McDevitt
Abstract: The isolation of the S. aureus fibrinogen binding protein gene is described and a minimal fibrinogen binding protein is identified. The protein finds use as a vaccine or a pharmaceutical composition for application to prevent infection, promotion of wound healing, blocking adherence to indwelling medical devices, or diagnosis of infection.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 22, 1994
Date of Patent:
December 28, 1999
Assignee:
The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near Dublin
Inventors:
Timothy James Foster, Damien Leo McDevitt
Abstract: A process is provided for modifying the magnetic properties of an intermetallic compound comprising at least iron, or a combination of iron with at least one transition metal, and at least one rare earth element. The process comprises heating the intermetallic compound in a reaction gas containing at least one element of groups IIIA, IVA or VIA of the Periodic Table in the gaseous phase to interstitially incorporate the element or elements of these groups into the crystal lattice of the intermetallic compound. Novel magnetic materials showing easy uniaxial anisotropy, increased spontaneous magnetization and Curie temperatures are produced by the process.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 16, 1994
Date of Patent:
December 26, 1995
Assignee:
Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near Dublin
Inventors:
John M. D. Coey, Hong Sun, David P. Hurley
Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermal analysis of a solid or liquid sample which evolves or absorbs gas on heating or cooling, wherein the sample is heated or cooled in an enclosed space, the temperature of the sample and the pressure of the gas are continuously monitored by temperature and pressure sensors respectively, and measurements of sample temperature and gas pressure are input to a data processor which also controls the temperature change of the sample. The value of gas pressure as a function of sample temperature and the rate of change of this value with respect to sample temperature are calculated; these functions are characteristic of the sample or of a component of the sample under analysis.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 19, 1987
Date of Patent:
June 13, 1989
Assignee:
The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near Dublin
Abstract: An NMR test method is provided for determining the homogeneity of dispersion of a filler substance such as carbon black in an elastomer composition such as a rubber, either on an arbitrary scale or by reference to a standard dispersion of optimum homogeneity which is given the value 1.0 on a linear scale. The method involves measuring the intensity of the short component and the total intensity of the proton free induction decay, of a sample of the dispersion deriving the ratio P.sub.t of said intensities, and optionally deriving a second similar ratio P.sub.s from the standard dispersion to permit a value P.sub.t /P.sub.s on said linear scale to be derived.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 31, 1980
Date of Patent:
November 17, 1981
Assignee:
The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth
Inventors:
Gerald E. Wardell, Vincent J. McBrierty