Patents Assigned to University of British Columbia (UBC)
  • Patent number: 4940990
    Abstract: An intrabuilding wireless communication system is disclosed wherein a work space is divided into a radiation zone seldom entered or occupied by workers and into which the signal carrying radiation is directed and contained i.e. the space adjacent to the ceiling and extending down about 1 meter and a substantially radiation free zone that is mormally occupied by workers. A master node antennae and each of the subscriber antennae (one for each work station in the work space) are located within the radiation space.The master antennae will preferably be an omni-directional antennae formed by a pair of substantially mirror image frusta-conical disks, axially aligned along their conical axes and with their minimum radius end faces in spaced parallel facing relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Mostafa Z. Kharadly, Fredrick W. C. Siu
  • Patent number: 4920143
    Abstract: A group of hydro-monobenzoporphyrins "green porphyrins" (Gp) having absorption maxima in the range of 670-780 nanometers is useful in treating disorders or conditions which are subject to hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) treatment in the presence of light, or in treating virus, cells and tissues generally to destroy unwanted targets. The use of the Gp of the invention permits the irradiation to use wavelengths other than those absorbed by blood. The Gp of the invention may also be conjugated to ligands specific for receptor or to specific immunoglobulins or fragments thereof to target specific tissues or cells for the radiation treatment. Use of these materials permits lower levels of drug to be used, thus preventing side reactions which might destroy normal tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Julia G. Levy, David Dolphin, Jack K. Chow, Ethan Sternberg
  • Patent number: 4900547
    Abstract: A general enhancement of the immune system of an animal can be obtained by administration of a T-cell suppressor factor which is idiotypic with regard to any specific antigen when such administration is made in the presence of an effective amount of adjuvant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Julia G. Levy, J. Kevin Steele, Anthea T. Stammers
  • Patent number: 4898730
    Abstract: Factors secreted in the suppressor cascade are effective in contravening the suppression of the immune system in response to a particular antigen when properly administred. TsF2 factors may administered prior to or contemporaneously with the antigen; TsF1 factors, in order to exhibit this desired effect, must be administered prior to administration of antigen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Julia G. Levy, J. Kevin Steele, Anthea T. Stammers
  • Patent number: 4895729
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a novel method of preparing and preserving fresh ripe fruit pieces so that the fruit may be stored for long periods of time without appreciable loss of natural flavour, colour and texture. A method of preparing and preserving fresh fruit for storage comprised of: (a) separating edible parenchyma tissue from inedible tissue of the fruit; (b) cutting and/or segmenting the edible parenchyma tissue of the fruit into pieces; (c) packing the fruit pieces in a high gas-barrier or gas impermeable container; (d) flushing the container with an oxygen-containing gas mixture; (e) sealing the container from ambient outer atmosphere; (f) regrigerating the container with the fruit pieces or segments at a temperature between about -1.degree. C. to about 6.degree. C. to cold shock the fruit pieces in the container; and (g) storing the fruit pieces in the container at a refrigerated temperature between -1.degree. and 10.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: University of British Columbia
    Inventors: William D. Powrie, Chiu R. Hui Wu, Brenton J. Skura
  • Patent number: 4893254
    Abstract: A method of controlling the movement of an articulated arm to permit the arm to move an end point thereof more freely and more directly to a preselected target. This smoother operation is obtained by a computer calculating the change in joint angle using an iterative pseudo inverse Jacobian having a damping factor. The damping factor is adjusted for each iteration based on the distance necessary to reach said preselected target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: University of British Columbia
    Inventors: STephen K. C. Chan, Peter D. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 4885783
    Abstract: A transducer having opposed first and second conductive plates for application of an electrical potential difference therebetween. An elastomeric dielectric material such as neoprene rubber is disposed between the plates and in contact therewith. The dielectric material has a plurality of pockets of approximate average depth "d" such that, for a given gas maintained within the pockets at a pressure "P", the product Pd is significantly less than the value required to achieve the minimum breakdown voltage for the gas in the pockets. Alternatively, the elastomeric dielectric material disposed between the plates may take the form of a plurality of strips or nodules which separate the plates by a distance "d" as above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Robert L. Clark, Francis L. Curzon
  • Patent number: 4883790
    Abstract: A group of hydro-monobenzoporphyrins "green porphyrins" (Gp) having absorption maxima in the range of 670-720 nanometers is useful in treating disorders which are subject to hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) treatment in the presence of light. The use of the Gp of the invention permits the irradiation to comprise wavelengths other than those absorbed by blood. The Gp of the invention may also be conjugated to receptor ligands or to specific immunoglobulins or fragments thereof to target specific tissues or cells for the radiation treatment. Use of these materials permits lower levels of drug to be used, thus preventing side reactions which might destroy normal tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Julia G. Levy, David Dolphin, Jack K. Chow
  • Patent number: 4849241
    Abstract: A process for lowering the concentration of .beta.-lactoglobulin in cheese whey while retaining the immunoglobulins in said cheese whey which comprises treating said cheese whey with a polyphosphate, such as sodium hexametaphosphate, within a pH range of from about 3.8 to about 4.7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Shalan A. Al-Mashiki, Shuryo Nakai
  • Patent number: 4843147
    Abstract: An improvement in a method to conjugate a protein which must resist denaturation with a variable component using a carbodiimide condensing agent utilizes a polar aprotic solvent as the medium for condensation. This improvement results in shorter reaction times and improved coupling efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Julia G. Levy, Daniel Liu
  • Patent number: 4835517
    Abstract: A modem which may operate as a transmitter or receiver, is provided for use on a line carrying an A.C. signal. The modem comprises a pseudorandom code generator which produces a pseudorandom code signal of a frequency an integral multiple of the A.C. signal frequency. Synchronization means synchronizes the code signal with the A.C. signal. Preferably a coherent system is provided in which a data signal involved has a bit rate an integral multiple of the A.C. signal frequency and in which a carrier generator is additionally provided to produce a carrier signal of a frequency an integral multiple of the A.C. signal frequency. In such case, the synchronization means also synchronizes the data bit and carrier signals with the A.C. signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Peter K. van der Gracht, Robert W. Donaldson
  • Patent number: 4826391
    Abstract: An apparatus determining relative positions of arm elements of a manipulator having at least two relatively moveable arm segments uses image analysis and a model of the manipulator to analyze an image of the two arms to determine the joint angles between adjacent arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Peter D. Lawrence, Alan K. Mackworth, Isobel J. Mulligen
  • Patent number: 4820340
    Abstract: The slag fuming process for the recovery of metal values from a slag from the smelting of non-ferrous metal concentrates is carried out more efficiently with lower quantities of fuel-reductant by injecting a portion of the fuel/reductant through one or more high-velocity tuyeres which replace or are in addition to a number of the standard tuyeres in the fuming furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignees: Cominco Ltd, University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Gregory G. Richards, Steven L. Cockcroft, James K. Brimacombe, Gerald W. Toop
  • Patent number: 4807952
    Abstract: A voltage-induced optical waveguide modulator is disclosed in which the inter-electrode gap is significantly reduced to a width on the order of 4 microns. The use of a dielectric layer between the electrodes and the electro-optic substrate is disclosed. A ridge of the electro-optic substrate between the electrodes is also disclosed. The dimensions of the device and operating voltage may consequently be signficantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Nicolas A. F. Jaeger, Lawrence Young
  • Patent number: 4764475
    Abstract: A correlation has been demonstrated between the ability of an antibody to block the inhibitory action of somatostatin on the gastric inhibitory peptide(GIP)-stimulated release of insulin from the pancreas in vitro and the ability to stimulate growth in vivo. Antibodies which are identified in the GIP-stimulated insulin release assay are also capable of elevating the levels of growth hormone in vivo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventor: John C. Brown
  • Patent number: 4758060
    Abstract: A high voltage sensor using an integrated optical Mach-Zehnder device is disclosed. A capacitive divider for sensing the electric field is connected to an electrode adjacent one of the parallel waveguide sections, while a second electrode adjacent the other section is grounded. The capacitive divider may be fabricated on the same substrate as the Mach-Zehnder device. Two similar devices which can be immersed in the electric field are also disclosed. In one case the device uses a Mach-Zehnder device having waveguides of the slab type. In this variation materials having two different refractive indices, both of which are low relative to the high index slab form the superstrates of the parallel waveguide sections. In the second variation, a Mach-Zehnder device having waveguides of the diffusion type is used. Thin films of high refractive index material are deposited over the two parallel waveguide sections, with the thickness and/or refractive index of the two film sections being different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Nicolas A. F. Jaeger, Lawrence Young
  • Patent number: 4744760
    Abstract: Colloidal sized particles comprising metal particle coated with a water soluble polysaccharide derivative. The derivative is such that when it is not coating the metal, it has at least one, and preferably a number, of pendant functional groups each of which has a positive charge in aqueous solution. The metal is preferably selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, and silver, whereas the polysaccharide may usefully be selected from the group consisting of dextran and mannan. The particles can be used as markers for biologically active molecules, or for separating different types of such molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: University of British Columbia
    Inventor: Robert S. Molday
  • Patent number: 4717450
    Abstract: A method of removing chloride ions in preference to oxidized sulfur ions, in particular sulfate or thiosulphate ions from a process solution containing either or both, or sulfide ions which are first oxidized to sulfate or thiosulphate ions. The method utilizes an electrochemical reactor having an anode and a cathode, disposed in respective anode and cathode compartments, separated by an ion selective separator, typically an anion exchange membrane. The process solution acts as the catholyte and is placed or flowed through the cathode chamber while simultaneously, an electrically conducting anolyte is placed or flowed through the anode chamber. A sufficient current density is maintained between the anode and the cathode, which at any time is not substantially greater than, and is preferably equal to, that which corresponds to the maximum chloride flux through the reactor membrane at the time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: University of British Columbia
    Inventors: John M. Shaw, Colin W. Oloman
  • Patent number: 4703270
    Abstract: Zero-quantum nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy in an inhomogeneous or low homogeneity magnetic field are disclosed. Specific pulse sequences have been developed which produce zero-quantum coherence resolved images and spectra. Unlike conventional NMR resolved images and spectra the zero-quantum coherence resolved images and spectra are unaffected by magnetic field inhomogeneity, thereby allowing the images and spectra of substances to be obtained where magnetic field inhomogeneity would previously have made it impossible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Laurance D. Hall, Timothy J. Norwood
  • Patent number: 4572123
    Abstract: A squish jet arrangement for an internal combustion engine is positioned on a piston member or cylinder head member thereof. A substantially cylindrical bowl opens onto the face of the member. At least one pair, and preferably a plurality of pairs, of squish jet passages are arranged to direct flows of gasses tangentially into the bowl. As first ones of the pairs of squish jet passages lie in a lower transverse plane than second ones of the pairs, a counter-rotating, bi-level swirl can be produced by the squish jet outlets. A squish jet arrangement is also provided with outlets of squish jet passages spaced above a lower surface of a bowl, and directed to eject coplanar flows of gasses therefrom, which intercept one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventor: Robert L. Evans