Patents Assigned to The University of Nottingham
  • Patent number: 8839615
    Abstract: A wind energy converter 10 comprises a horizontal axis wind turbine 12 including a plurality of blade members 14 rotatable about a generally horizontal axis. A mass member 16 is movable along the or each blade member 14 under the action of radial forces induced by rotation of the blade members 14 and under the action of gravitational force, and movement of the or each mass member 16 is arranged to provide for conversion of the wind energy. Also described is a power generating system 200, 240 including a heat recovery arrangement 216, comprising a heat exchanger arrangement 218 and an expander 222.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Nottingham
    Inventor: Seamus Dominic Garvey
  • Publication number: 20140243622
    Abstract: A photoplethysmograph device includes a light source for illuminating a target object. A modulator drives the light source such that the output intensity varies as a function of a modulation signal at a modulation frequency. A detector receives light from the target object and generates an electrical output as a function of the intensity of received light. A demodulator with a local oscillator receives the detector output and produces a demodulated output, insensitive to any phase difference between the modulation signal and the oscillator, indicative of blood volume as a function of time and/or blood composition. A number of demodulators may be provided to derive signals from multiple light sources of different wavelengths, or from an array of detectors. The plethysmograph may operate in a transmission mode or a reflectance mode. When in a reflectance mode, the device may use the green part of the optical spectrum and may use polarising filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: The University of Nottingham
    Inventors: John CROWE, Mark GRUBB, Barrie HAYES-GILL, Nicolas MILES
  • Patent number: 8789583
    Abstract: A method for separating hydrocarbon content from a hydrocarbon contaminated matrix. The method includes controlling water content of a feed material having the hydrocarbon contaminated matrix; continuously conveying the feed material into a treatment cavity; exposing the feed material in a treatment area of the treatment cavity to microwave radiation arranged to cause rapid heating of at least a portion of the water content to form steam, wherein the rapid steam formation results in thermal desorption of at least a portion of the hydrocarbon content from the matrix; and continuously removing the treated matrix from the treatment cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Nottingham
    Inventors: John Robinson, Sam Kingman, Colin Snape, Michael Bradley, Steven Bradshaw
  • Patent number: 8768424
    Abstract: A photoplethysmograph device includes a light source for illuminating a target object. A modulator drives the light source such that the output intensity varies as a function of a modulation signal at a modulation frequency. A detector receives light from the target object and generates an electrical output as a function of the intensity of received light. A demodulator with a local oscillator receives the detector output and produces a demodulated output, insensitive to any phase difference between the modulation signal and the oscillator, indicative of blood volume as a function of time and/or blood composition. A number of demodulators may be provided to derive signals from multiple light sources of different wavelengths, or from an array of detectors. The plethysmograph may operate in a transmission mode or a reflectance mode. When in a reflectance mode, the device may use the green part of the optical spectrum and may use polarizing filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Nottingham
    Inventors: John Crowe, Mark Grubb, Barrie Hayes-Gill, Nicholas Miles
  • Patent number: 8753846
    Abstract: A method of double crossover homologous recombination in a host cell comprising: a first homologous recombination event between a donor DNA molecule comprising a first element of a selectable allele and an acceptor DNA molecule comprising a second element of the selectable allele in the host cell, thereby to form a product of the first homologous recombination event in the host cell; and a second homologous recombination event within the product of the first homologous recombination event, thereby to form a product of the second homologous recombination event in the host cell which confers a selectable phenotype on the host cell, wherein the selectable phenotype arises following and in dependency on the formation of a selectable allele from the first and second elements of the selectable allele.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Nottingham
    Inventors: John Timothy Heap, Nigel Peter Minton
  • Patent number: 8728348
    Abstract: Ways of applying microwaves to feedstock to be processed are disclosed. One embodiment relates to heating inter-layer water in vermiculite to expand the vermiculite. Another embodiment relates to heating water in oil-contaminated materials and waste products, such as drilling cuttings, contaminated soils and certain types of animal by-products, to drive out oil. In some embodiments a microwave tunnel applicator has the microwaves applied from beneath the feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Nottingham
    Inventors: Christopher Dodds, Georgios Dimitrakis, Sam Kingman
  • Patent number: 8621930
    Abstract: A generator structure has alternating linear regions which are respectively relatively absorbing and relatively non-absorbing. When the structure is illuminated, the spatial contrast in the absorption created by the characteristics of the regions gives rise to mechanical effects within the workpiece, such as localized heating. This results in ultrasound being created to propagate through the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Nottingham
    Inventor: Matthew Clark
  • Patent number: 8578784
    Abstract: A method for testing the mechanical properties of a specimen. The specimen is generally characterized by a first contact surface and a second contact surface spaced apart from and opposing the first contact surface. The method involves applying forces to the contact surfaces of the specimen to deform the specimen over a period of time. The response of the specimen to the forces is then measured over time. A spatial distance between the contact surfaces is defined such that the equivalent gauge length of the specimen is greater than the distance between the contact surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: The University of Nottingham
    Inventors: Thomas Horace Hyde, Wei Sun
  • Publication number: 20130243818
    Abstract: The present invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising one or more Streptococcus uberis proteins, or an immunogenic part thereof, wherein the composition is capable of eliciting an immune response, when administered to a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: The University of Nottingham
    Inventor: James Leigh
  • Publication number: 20130185828
    Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for improving the growth characteristics of plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicants: The Regents of the University of California, The University of Sheffield, The University of Nottingham
    Inventors: The Regents of the University of California, The University of Nottingham, The University of Sheffield
  • Patent number: 8475809
    Abstract: The present invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising one or more Streptococcus uberis sortase-anchored surface proteins, or an immunogenic part thereof, wherein the composition is capable of eliciting an immune response, when administered to a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The University of Nottingham
    Inventor: James Leigh
  • Patent number: 8404223
    Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising a polyamidoamine (PAA) polymer comprising a pendant disulphide, sulphydryl, or activated sulphydryl moiety, and methods for their manufacture. The invention extends to the use of such polyamidoamine polymers to form cross-linked compositions, and hydrogels comprising the same, and the use of such compositions in various biological and non-biological applications, such as the delivery of biomolecules to target sites, and for tracking fluid flows. The invention also provides carrier particles, which may be used to deliver biomolecules, and to methods of treatment. The invention also provides a fluid tracking system for monitoring fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignees: The University of Nottingham, The University of Milan
    Inventors: Martin Garnett, Paolo Ferruti, Elisabetta Ranucci
  • Patent number: 8282962
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a readily water-dispersible particulate composition comprising by weight of dry matter at least 10% of xanthan gum and not more than 60% of starch, said composition being characterized in that the xanthan gum present in the composition can be dispersed completely within 2 minutes in distilled water of 25° C. at a concentration of 0.7% based on the dry weight of xanthan. The particulate xanthan gum compositions of the present invention exhibit unique viscosity enhancing properties that are dependent on the electrolyte levels of the aqueous environment in which they are applied. The favorable properties of the xanthan compositions according to the invention can be realized without resorting to chemical modification of the xanthan gum. The xanthan compositions according to the present invention can be applied advantageously in e.g. food products and oil drilling fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignees: CSM Nederland B.V., The University of Nottingham
    Inventors: Imad Akil Farhat, Sandra Elizabeth Hill, John Richard Mitchell, Udo Scharf, Nuno Miguel Fernandes Diogo Sereno, Peter Stolz
  • Patent number: 8137665
    Abstract: Non-leguminous crops, e.g. wheat, maize and rice, do not form nodules and are dependant for their nutrition on fixed nitrogen from the soil, or from chemical/nitrogenous fertilizers. The present invention provides non-leguminous plants and leguminous plants, including legumes that fail to nodulate with Rhizobia, with bacteria that enable them to fix nitrogen endophytically. Therefore, the plants contain nitrogen fixing bacteria the bacteria being located intracellularly in living plant cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: The University of Nottingham
    Inventor: Edward Charles Daniel Cocking
  • Publication number: 20120052285
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solid-liquid composite material, a manufacturing method and an application of the same. Liquid-phase material, solid-phase material, and solvent are distributed to form a distributed system. The solid-phase material and liquid-phase material in the solvent can be suspensions, emulsions, microemulsions, colloids, or solutions. A portion or all of the solvent is removed to produce the solid-liquid composite material. The liquid-phase material is approximately equal to 1%˜80% of the total mass of the solid-liquid composite material. The porosity of the solid-phase material is approximately equal to 10%˜80% in the solid-liquid composite material. The specific surface area of the porous material is approximately equal to 50˜2000 cm2/cm3. The field-chromatic material is added to the solid-liquid composite material to form a field-chromatic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicants: The University of Nottingham, Wuhan University
    Inventors: George Z. Chen, Xianjun Wei, Xianbo Jin, Linpo Yu, Dihua Wang
  • Publication number: 20120016475
    Abstract: The invention relates to degradable composites and their use in biomedical implants, in particular the repair of damaged bones and/or cartilage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: The University of Nottingham
    Inventors: Andrew James Parsons, John Derek Irvine
  • Publication number: 20110311488
    Abstract: We describe modified bacterial cells that are defective in gene expression and their use in the treatment of bacterial infections of animals and plants and the inhibition of bacterial biofilm formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicants: The University of Nottingham, Texas Tech University System Office of Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property, University Court of the University of Edingburgh
    Inventors: Stephen Diggle, Shanika Crusz, Stuart West, Ashleigh Griffin, Kendra Rumbaugh
  • Patent number: 8030793
    Abstract: A power generating system 10 includes a drive arrangement 12 and a compressor 18 arranged to be driven by the drive arrangement 12 to compress gas, in particular air. The system 10 also includes an underwater storage arrangement 20 for storing compressed gas provided by the compressor 18 and an expander 22 for expanding compressed gas from the underwater storage arrangement 20 and/or the compressor 18 to thereby drive a generator 16 to generate electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: The University of Nottingham
    Inventor: Seamus Dominic Garvey
  • Publication number: 20110237677
    Abstract: The invention relates to inhibitors of tissue transglutaminase II activity and their use as a tocolytic agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: The University of Nottingham
    Inventors: Joelle Alcock, Joanne Lymn, Raheela Khan
  • Patent number: 8006558
    Abstract: A sample 10 is measured by generating ultrasound at 12, for example by using a laser 22 and spatial light modulator 26. The ultrasound is detected at 16, for example by optical beam deflection techniques. A characteristic of the generation at 12 is swept across a range of values to vary the efficiency of generation of ultrasound. The value of the characteristic, which corresponds with the peak amplitude detected at 16, is identified to provide a measure of the acoustic velocity at the region 12. The method is executed at a plurality of sites 12, 20 to provide a set of spatially resolved measurements of the sample 10. This allows an image of the sample to be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: The University of Nottingham
    Inventors: Matthew Clark, Stephen Sharples