Patents Assigned to Université Laval
  • Publication number: 20050251885
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for enhancing the yield of recombinant protein produced in genetically transformed plants. The invention most particularly relates to a method for preventing the undesirable proteolysis of recombinant proteins after harvest of the plant, during processing of the products from the plants. Especially, this invention focuses on introducing protease inhibitors in plants to prevent undesirable proteolysis of recombinant proteins at the time of cell disruption during the extraction process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE LAVAL
    Inventors: Dominique Michaud, Daniel Rivard, Raphael Anguenot, Sonia Trepanier, Louis-Philippe Vezina, France Brunelle
  • Publication number: 20050245443
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an isolated bacteriocin, Divergicin M35, derived form Carnobacterium divergens M35. It also concerns a composition comprising an effective amount of Divergicin M35 and the use of that bacteriocin to kill or limit the proliferation of a microorganism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Applicants: UNIVERSITE LAVAL, MINISTERE DE L'AGRICULTURE, DES PECHERIES ET DE L'ALIMENTATION
    Inventors: Ismail Fliss, Michel Desbiens, Christophe Lacroix, Imane Tahiri, Regis-Olivier Benech, Ehab Kheadr
  • Patent number: 6959270
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computational tool that allows to evaluate the degradation of cement-based materials under various types of chemical attacks such as sulfates, chlorides, and plain water. It is based on the physical principles of ionic mass conservation and chemical equilibrium between a solution and different solid phases. The effect of the dissolution or the precipitation of solid phases on the transport coefficients is considered. A method for determining an ion concentration in solution of at least two ions capable of undergoing transport in a cement-based material under a chemical attack and a solid phase profile for at least one component of said cement-based material is provided. A method for determining a diffusion coefficient for each of at least two ions capable of undergoing transport in a cement-based material is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignees: Université Laval, SIMCO Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jacques Marchand, Eric Samson, Yannick Maltais
  • Patent number: 6951398
    Abstract: The invention relates to a new type of reflective optical element made of a reflective metallic layer comprising reflecting nanoparticles deposited on a liquid surface. Metallic or non-metallic nanometer-sized particles are coated with a ligand. The coated particles are concentrated and deposited on the surface of a liquid where they self-assemble to give optical-quality high-reflectivity optical surfaces. Coating liquid surfaces with reflective layers allows one to make inexpensive and versatile high-quality mirrors. The surfaces of liquids can be shaped by a variety of techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Université Laval
    Inventors: Ermanno Borra, Anna Ritcey, Hélene Yockel-Lelièvre
  • Patent number: 6945658
    Abstract: This invention relates to a new type of reflective optical element made of a fluid that responds to a force if subjected to a magnetic field. As a consequence, one can impose any shape one wants to the reflecting surface by generating an appropriate magnetic field geometry with permanent magnets, electromagnets or a combination of permanent magnets and electromagnets, or the like. A preferred embodiment uses a ferromagnetic fluid made of water containing ferromagnetic nanoparticles. Liquid ferromagnetic surfaces thus obtained were successfully shaped using magnetic fields. In another preferred embodiment, to modify the reflectivity of the optical element, a reflective layer, such as a nano-engineered silver reflecting surface, is deposited on the surface of the magnetically sensitive fluid. The surface of the reflecting layer can therefore be warped by applying a magnetic field to the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Université Laval
    Inventors: Ermanno Borra, Anna Ritcey, Philip R. Laird
  • Publication number: 20050196798
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new ectohydroxynucleotidase, namely the NTPDasse8, which allows to regulate platelet aggregation or activation involved in the formation of thrombosis and related diseases. The nucleic acid sequence and the corresponding amino acid sequence and uses thereof are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE LAVAL
    Inventor: Jean Sevigny
  • Publication number: 20050178177
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an organo phosphatic fertilizer and to method for preparing the same. The method comprises treating, and optionally dehydrating, mixing it to a mineral fertilizer in a proportion of 40% to 90% of pig manure for 10 to 60% of mineral fertilizer and pelletizing the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE LAVAL
    Inventors: Leon-Etienne Parent, Suzanne Allaire, Lotfi Khiari, Antoine Karam
  • Publication number: 20050176939
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for specifically and sequentially purifying catechins from a plant product. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for purifying EGC and EGCG from green tea leaves by sequential brewing at different brewing temperature and for specific infusion times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE LAVAL
    Inventors: Laurent Bazinet, David Labbe, Angelo Tremblay
  • Publication number: 20050132431
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for colonizing a root-organ from a plant with a mycorrhizal fungus that is representative of the naturally process of colonization of plant roots by mycorrhizal fungi. The present invention also relates to the use of this method for studying in vitro the colonization of plant roots with a mycorrhizal fungus and to an in vitro model for studying the colonization of plant roots with a mycorrhizal fungus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE LAVAL
    Inventors: Andrew Coughlan, Yves Piche
  • Publication number: 20050130990
    Abstract: This invention relates to the use of nicotine receptor agonists or analogues or derivatives thereof for treating inflammatory pulmonary diseases. Such agonists have fewer side effects than other anti-inflammatory drugs, such as steroids. Moreover, these agonists can be used alone or in combination with other anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate pulmonary diseases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE LAVAL
    Inventors: Yvon Cormier, Evelyne Israel-Assayag, Marie-Renee Blanchet, Rene Gaudreault, Philippe Labrie
  • Patent number: 6907272
    Abstract: An array antenna system comprising an array of antenna elements and a receiver which uses a subset of the signals from the antenna elements, the selection of the subset of signals which should be used for a particular user is made on the basis of measurements of potential performance of the receiver with each subset of signals, combined, rather than of each individual signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Université Laval
    Inventor: Sebastien Joseph Armand Roy
  • Publication number: 20050124062
    Abstract: A biofilm for preparing laminated tissue constructs comprising at least one milk protein forming a sheet like structure can be used to support at least one layer of cells adhered to that. The biofilm allows for a easy handling of cultured cell sheets that can be used as tissue graft. The biofilm, comprising milk proteins and at least one plasticizer, when adhered by a cell layer can form a laminated tissue construct for body tissue replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Applicant: Université Laval
    Inventors: Muriel Subirade, Mahmoud Rouabhia
  • Publication number: 20050018127
    Abstract: A variable focus liquid crystal lens includes a nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture having a spatially inhomogenous polymer network structure, and an electrode for applying a substantially uniform voltage to the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture. The lens is created within a cell by applying a substantially uniform electric field to the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture within the cell, while simultaneously irradiating the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture using a laser beam having a shaped intensity distribution, so as to induce formation of a spatially inhomogenous polymer network structure within the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE LAVAL
    Inventors: Tigran Galstian, Vladimir Presniakov, Karen Asatryan, Amir Tork
  • Publication number: 20040265286
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, nucleic acid and amino acid sequences to sensitizing human or animal cells to be killed by chemical entities or irradiation. Particularly, the present invention describes nucleic acid and amino acid sequences pertaining to the group of PME factors, that are target to sensitizing the cells before treatment with killing elemenst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE LAVAL
    Inventor: Serge Desnoyers
  • Publication number: 20040208852
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for colonizing a plant with a mycorrhizal fungus that comprise placing at least one layer of a culture medium that comprises a fungal inoculum adjacently to at least one layer of a soil. The fungal inoculum is allowed to grow through the soil layer and the plant is inserted into the culture medium and soil layers to permit its contact with the fungus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE LAVAL
    Inventors: Andrew P. Coughlan, Yves Piche
  • Publication number: 20040208624
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for optical and radio frequency implementation of a fast frequency hopping spread spectrum communication for code division multiple access systems is disclosed. The method avoids the frequency hopping synthesizer requirements in the transmitter as well as in the receiver. In a system where a pool of CDMA users share a channel characterized by a number of F available frequencies (or frequency bands), each user is assigned a subset of M (M less than or equal to F) frequencies from the F available frequencies, selected and ordered in time as prescribed by his own code (or address). In the transmitter, the information bit sequence modulates a broadband source so that the energy assigned to a data bit is concentrated on just a short interval of the bit period which is less than or equal to the so-called chip interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE LAVAL
    Inventors: Habib Fathallah, Leslie Ann Rusch, Sophie La Rochelle
  • Patent number: 6729202
    Abstract: A manipulator having three support legs each extending between the platform and a ground. The support legs are connected to the ground by a first joint member and to the platform by a second joint member, and these joint members are interconnected by a third joint member. The support legs each have a rotational degree of freedom and have constraints in the joint members operable to restrict the platform to translational motion and to constrain a relationship between linear displacement of the first joint members and output of the platform to be linear. With three actuators each controlling exclusively one of three translational degrees of freedom of the platform, the manipulator is said to be decoupled. With the relationship being equal for a linear displacement of any one of the first joint members and a displacement output of the platform, the decoupled manipulator is said to be isotropic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Université Laval
    Inventors: Clément Gosselin, Xianwen Kong
  • Publication number: 20040081990
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying essential genes in a genome, based on an insertional mutagenesis of a population of cells or of DNA molecules and subjecting this population of cells or DNA molecules to an amplification process, whereby this total population of cells or DNA molecules which statistically represents at least one full insertionally mutated genome is amplified with at least two primer pairs and the extension products analysed, in order to distinguish essential genes from dispensable genes. The present invention is especially suited to the functional analysis of microbial genomes, and especially to haploid genomes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE LAVAL
    Inventors: Roger C. Levesque, Francois Sanschagrin, Guy Cardinal
  • Publication number: 20040067249
    Abstract: The present invention relates to connective tissue substitute implant and method of preparation thereof. The implant is essentially composed of two bone anchors joined at the proximal ends by matrix layers and/or filaments coated by supplementary biocompatible matrix coating layer which can contain living stem cells isolated from injured connective tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE LAVAL
    Inventors: Francine Goulet, Denis Rancourt, Rejean Cloutier, Julie Tremblay, Francois A. Auger, Albert Normand, Constance Guillemette, Lucie German, Jean Lamontagne, Marc Bouchard, Eve Langelier, Daniel Dupuis, Stephane Bouchard, Nazrul Islam, Louis-Mathieu Stevens, Sheila Laverty, Bertrand Lussier, Anne-Marie Belzil, Pierrot Tremblay
  • Patent number: 6669257
    Abstract: A power switching mechanism for selectively connecting a robotic system having two-degrees-of-freedom power input to a robot tool having a plurality of actuators. The two-degrees-of-freedom power input comprises a translation power input and a power shaft rotation input. The switching mechanism comprises an axially displaceable connector mounted to the power shaft rotation input for rotating therewith. An indexing mechanism is connected to the power shaft rotation input and is axially movable sequentially between a neutral position and an actuator engaging position for each actuator. The axially displaceable connector engages any one of the actuators in response to movement of the axial translation of the two-degrees-of-freedom power input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Université Laval
    Inventors: Thierry Laliberté, Clément Gosselin