Patents Assigned to The University of Birmingham
  • Patent number: 5521163
    Abstract: 1'-Deoxy-5-ethyl-4'-thio-.beta.-uridine as a compound including its physiologically functional derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing it and methods of treating herpes virus infections are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Richard Walker, Paul Coe
  • Patent number: 5358544
    Abstract: Zinc is recovered from zinc sulphide material by introducing such material at a feed station into a molten copper sulphide matte which is circulated in a closed loop path through said feed station, a zinc recovery station and an oxidizing station. The matte is heated electrically directly by resistive heating. Oxygen in the absence of other gases is introduced at the oxidizing station. Sulphur dioxide is removed in a sulphuric acid plant. The method is operated to keep the activity of copper in the total matte at less than unit activity. Virtually zero gas emission is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventor: Noel A. Warner
  • Patent number: 5356882
    Abstract: Pyrimidine 4'-thionucleosides of the formula I ##STR1## wherein Y is hydroxy or amino, and X is chloro, bromo, iodo, trifluoromethyl, C.sub.2-6 alkyl, C.sub.2-6 alkenyl, C.sub.2-6 haloalkenyl or C.sub.2-6 alkynyl and physiologically functional derivatives thereof. These compounds have utility as anti-vital agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Richard Walker, Paul L. Coe
  • Patent number: 5219567
    Abstract: A vaccine against a herpes virus is prepared by infecting cells with virus, separating the nuclei of the infected cells from their cytoplasmic fraction, discarding the nuclei, fixing the polypeptide chains of the virus antigens in the cytoplasmic fraction, and precipitating those antigens, the precipitated antigens providing the active constituent of the vaccine. A characteristic strain of the virus may be used, so that vaccinated subjects can be distinguished from infected subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Gordon R. Skinner, Alexander Buchan
  • Patent number: 5069713
    Abstract: A non-sintered permanent magnet is formed by a cold compacting technique or by resin bonding using particles of a stoichiometric alloy (e.g. R.sub.2 Fe.sub.14 B where R is at least one rare earth and/or yttrium, particularly La, Ce, Pr, ND or Y or a mixture thereof) which have been coated with a reaction product of the alloy or a non-magnetic metal such as Sn, Ga, Zn, Al, or Cu. The use of a stoichiometric alloy avoids the presence of a reactive grain boundary phase normally present in non-stoichiometric alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Ivor R. Harris, Syed H. Safi
  • Patent number: 5066492
    Abstract: A method of treating or preventing infection of a human subject is provided which includes inoculation of the subject with bovine mammilitis virus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Gordon R. B. Skinner, Alexander Buchan
  • Patent number: 4816250
    Abstract: A vaccine against a DNA virus, for exmaple, Herpes simplex virus, is prepared by incubating a cell sample which has been infected with the virus, releasing the nuclei in the infected cell material from the cytoplasmic fraction of that material, chemically fixing the polypeptide chains in the cytoplasmic fraction, and forming a precipitate which includes the virus antigens in the cytoplasmic fraction, the precipitate providing the active constituent of the vaccine. A characteristic strain of the virus is preferred, and transfers its characteristics to the vaccine so that vaccinated subjects may subsequently be distinguished from infected subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Gordon R. B. Skinner, Alexander Buchan
  • Patent number: 4752881
    Abstract: A resistivity surveying apparatus comprises a base station (9) and 30 reels (RL1 to RL30). The base station (9) comprises a computer (10) and a resistivity meter (11) having four output terminals. Each reel has a multi-line cable (CB1 to CB30) which includes four resistivity measuring lines for connection to the output terminals of meter (11) and further lines for connection to the output terminals of computer (10). An electrode (EL1 to EL30) which may be driven into the ground is mounted on each reel. In the hub of each reel (RL1 to RL30), there is provided a circuit (CKT1 to CKT30) for connecting the electrode (EL1 to EL30) to one of the resistivity measuring lines under the control of the computer (10). In operation, the electrodes are driven into the ground at spaced intervals. The free end of one (CB1) of the cables is connected to the base station (9) and the remaining cables are connected in series. The computer (10) then drives the apparatus through a measurement sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham of Chancellor's Court
    Inventors: Donald H. Griffiths, John Turnbull
  • Patent number: 4701217
    Abstract: Smelting reduction of metallic oxide material, e.g. pelletized iron oxide ore or iron oxide ore fines is effected by contacting such material with a circulating molten carrier material, e.g. molten iron in the case of iron oxide smelting, in a furnace, and by introducing a carbonaceous reductant e.g. coal into the carrier material. The reductant converts the metal oxide to metal in a smelting reduction zone. Carbon monoxide thereby produced is combusted in a heating zone through which the carrier material passes to effect heat recovery. Slag is removed from the carrier material surface before entering the heating zone. A protective layer of molten material, e.g. lead, which is substantially stationary is maintained below the circulating carrier material to inhibit erosion of the furnace hearth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: University of Birmingham
    Inventor: Noel A. Warner
  • Patent number: 4618589
    Abstract: An antigen/antibody precipitate is obtained, using monoclonal antibodies, the monoclonal antibodies (samples I or II or III or IV) being selected so as to be specific to two distinct antigenic binding sites (L or C 2 or C 3) on a protein (IgG) in a sample under test. The proportions of sub-populations of immunoglobulins (IgG kappa, IgG lambda) in a sample is determined by reacting the sample with a combination of antibodies (II and IV) both of which are specific to the heavy chains (H) of both sub-populations (IgG kappa, IgG lambda) and reacting the sample with an antibody combination (I and II) specific to said heavy chain (H) and to an antigenic determinant expressed by only one (IgG kappa) of the sub-populations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Royston Jefferis, Jens Steensgaard
  • Patent number: 4463600
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the hardness of a test piece supported in a predetermined position, by illuminating the test piece with an electromagnetic medium, receiving reflected medium in a television camera which provides a signal which varies in accordance with variations in intensity of the reflected medium, and electrically processing the signal to provide an output dependent upon the size of indentation which can be interpreted to determine the hardness of the test piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Donald A. Hobbs, Geoffrey W. Rowe
  • Patent number: 4424211
    Abstract: The novel substance E-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine and its corresponding iodovinyl derivative are gifted with specific antiviral activities towards herpes simplex virus. They may be synthesized by a condensation reaction followed by separation of anomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Assignees: Rega Instituut VZW, University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Albert S. Jones, Richard T. Walker, Erik D. A. de Clercq, Philip J. Barr
  • Patent number: 4382925
    Abstract: The invention relates to E-5-(2-halogenovinyl)-2'-deoxycytidines, e.g. E-5-(bromovinyl)-2'-deoxycytidine and E-5-(2-iodovinyl)-2'-deoxycytidine. These substances are endowed with specific antiviral activities towards herpes simplex virus and with an extremely low toxicity which makes them useful in antiviral medicines and for treatment of virus diseases in man and animal. They may be synthesized by introduction of an E-5-(2-halogenovinyl) sidechain into 2'-deoxycytidine, or by condensation of a trialkylsilyl derivative of E-5-(2-halogenovinyl)-cytosine with a hydroxyl-protected reactive derivative of 2'-deoxy-D-erythro-pentofuranose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignees: The University of Birmingham, Stichting Rega V.Z.W.
    Inventors: Erik de Clercq, Gabriel A. Verhelst, Albert S. Jones, Richard T. Walker
  • Patent number: 4279884
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of a high titre antiserum of a desired specificity includes the steps of, a first immunological reaction between a serum sample which includes a protein to which the required antiserum is specific and an antiserum sample known to include the required antiserum, injecting into an animal a first selected antigen/antibody comples from the aforesaid first reaction, withdrawal of serum from the animal, performing a second immunological reaction between the withdrawn serum and a serum sample which includes the protein to which the required antiserum is specific, and selecting a second antigen/antibody comples from the second reaction, the first and second selected complexes including the required antiserum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Arthur R. Bradwell, David Burnett