Patents Assigned to University of Ulster
  • Publication number: 20230193364
    Abstract: This invention relates to predicting a subjects responsiveness to biologic therapy of rheumatoid arthritis. The invention provides a method for predicting responsiveness to anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy of rheumatoid arthritis in a subject, the method comprising the steps of: (a) Providing a biological sample; (b) detecting the presence, absence, or quantitative level of a first marker or an expression product thereof, wherein the first marker is at the HLA DRB1 gene; (c) detecting the presence, absence, or quantitative level of a second marker, or an expression product thereof, wherein the second marker is at the CD226 gene; (d) correlating the presence, absence, or quantitative level of the first marker and the presence, absence, or quantitative level of the second marker; to the predicted responsiveness to anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy of rheumatoid arthritis in the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: University of Ulster
    Inventors: David Gibson, Tony Bjourson, Cathy McGough, Martin Crockard, John Lamont
  • Patent number: 11559839
    Abstract: A method of producing nanoscale materials comprising the steps of entraining liquid droplets containing at least one nanoparticle precursor within a gaseous stream, and passing said gaseous stream containing said liquid droplets through a non-thermal equilibrium plasma whereby said plasma interacts with said at least one nanoparticle precursor to produce nanoparticles within said droplets without substantial evaporation of the droplets and conveying the thus produced nanoparticles within said gaseous stream downstream of said plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: University of Ulster
    Inventors: Davide Mariotti, Paul Maguire
  • Patent number: 11541019
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions for use in the treatment of diabetes, for example type-2 diabetes; obesity; and/or metabolic syndrome. Specifically, the invention relates to a composition for use in the treatment of diabetes, the composition comprising at least one of diindolylmethane; indole-3-carbinol; embelin; [6]-gingerol; and [6]-shogaol, or combinations each thereof. Also disclosed is use in the treatment of obesity and use in the treatment of metabolic syndrome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: University of Ulster
    Inventors: Aine Maire McKillop, Peter Raymond Flatt
  • Patent number: 11382987
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods of sonodynamic therapy comprising the co-administration of a microbubble-chemotherapeutic agent complex together with a microbubble-sonosensitiser complex. It further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these complexes and their use in methods of sonodynamic therapy and/or sonodynamic diagnosis. Such methods find particular use in the treatment of cancer, e.g. pancreatic cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: University of Ulster
    Inventors: John Callan, Anthony McHale, Eleanor Stride
  • Publication number: 20220041739
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns modulators of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, in particular an NLRP3 inflammasome modulator which is capable of binding to both of IL-1R1 and NLRP3, for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of inflammatory eye diseases such as glaucoma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: University of Ulster
    Inventor: Victoria McGILLIGAN
  • Publication number: 20220033507
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns modulators of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, in particular an NLRP3 inflammasome modulator which is capable of binding to both of IL-IR1 and NLRP3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: University of Ulster
    Inventor: Victoria McGILLIGAN
  • Patent number: 11191973
    Abstract: An external transmitter apparatus for a transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) system for supplying power for use in energising an implantable medical device is disclosed, the apparatus comprising an external transmitter apparatus comprising a plurality of transmitter coils for delivering power transcutaneously to one of a plurality of receiver coils of an implantable receiver apparatus of the TET system when located in proximity thereto. The external transmitter apparatus is provided with power by a pulsed power supply. The coils of the external transmitter apparatus and the implantable receiver apparatus may be printed on flexible substrates. Also disclosed are methods of operating such a system, an external transmitter apparatus for use in such a system, an external transmitter apparatus and an implantable receiver apparatus including flexible coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: University of Ulster
    Inventors: Omar Jacinto Escalona, David John McEneaney, James McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20210228679
    Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides for use in the treatment of metabolic disorders. In particular, the present invention relates to peptides for use in the treatment of diabetes. According to the present invention, there is provided a peptide for use in the treatment of a metabolic disorder; wherein the peptide is a piscine-derived PYY or fragment or analogue thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: University of Ulster
    Inventors: Nigel Irwin, Peter Raymond Flatt
  • Patent number: 10603710
    Abstract: A reconfigurable stretch forming apparatus includes an array of pins adapted to be individually adjustable in height to define a reconfigurable forming surface, a pair of counter-rotating workpiece gripping devices being provided on opposite sides of the array of pins, each gripping device having an arcuate support surface for supporting a workpiece and a clamp member for clamping a work piece against the arcuate support surface, a driver being provided for rotating the counter-rotating gripping devices in opposing directions to stretch the work piece over the forming surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: University of Ulster
    Inventor: Alan Leacock
  • Patent number: 10550352
    Abstract: A method of extracting oil from oilseed comprising pressing seeds within a screw press including a screw auger rotatably mounted within a cylindrical expeller body, wherein the expeller body comprises a feed section, a compression section, and a discharge section, wherein at least one outlet is provided in the expeller body, preferably in or adjacent the feed section of the expeller, said method comprising the step of controlling the temperature of at least the compression section of the expeller by means such that the temperature of the material within the compression section does not exceed the glass transition temperature of the seeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: University of Ulster
    Inventors: Neil James Hewitt, Marcio Fernandes Novaes
  • Patent number: 9463082
    Abstract: A process of forming a tissue scaffold is described, the process comprising electrospinning polymer fibers from a spinneret onto a tissue scaffold template. In embodiments, the fibers are plasma-treated between the spinneret and the template. The scaffold may be constructed of alternating layers of aligned and randomly oriented fibers. The scaffold may be heat treated to control the mechanical properties of the scaffold, such as density, pore size and pore interconnectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: University of Ulster
    Inventors: Peter O'Hare, George Burke, Brian Meenan, Patrick Porter, Chris Rea
  • Patent number: 9021848
    Abstract: Forming a sector for a nacelle lip skin from a sheet metal blank via punch by placing the blank against an outer surface of the punch and clamping a trailing edge of the blank in a clamping member that grips a trailing edge of the blank without slippage; gripping a leading edge of the blank, opposite the trailing edge, in a gripping device at a location axially spaced from the punch with sufficient force to permit the blank to flow therethrough in a controlled manner; displacing the gripping device in a first direction, radially with respect to the punch while drawing the blank through the gripper; displacing the gripping device in a second direction, axially with respect to the punch, to draw the blank over the leading edge of the punch and through the gripping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: University of Ulster
    Inventors: Alan Leacock, Michael Ludlow, Desmond Brown, Robert Joseph McMurray
  • Patent number: 8871657
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite concrete article comprising forming a textile structure, removing material from regions of the textile structure to create voids in the textile structure and incorporating the textile structure into a body of wet uncured concrete such that the concrete flows into the voids created in the textile structure, embedding the textile structure into the concrete, whereby the textile structure defines at least a portion of a surface of the cured concrete article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: University of Ulster
    Inventors: Patricia Clare Belford, Ruth Ellen Morrow
  • Patent number: 8771526
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite concrete article comprising affixing at least one layer of textile to a base layer and incorporating the base layer into a body of wet uncured concrete such that the base layer becomes embedded in the concrete, whereby at least a portion of the at least one textile layer defines at least a portion of a surface of the cured concrete article with the base layer embedded within the concrete to anchor the textile layer to the concrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: University of Ulster
    Inventors: Patricia Clare Belford, Ruth Ellen Morrow
  • Patent number: 8682442
    Abstract: A wound healing system comprising an array of electrodes incorporated in a device for applying an electrical signal to a wound. The electrodes are configurable to form at least one composite electrode and the electrical signal is applied to the wound via the composite electrode(s). The system preferably includes means for determining the state of the wound, the electrode composition of the composite electrode(s) depending on the determined state of the wound. Advantageously, the electrode composition of the composite electrode(s) is adjustable in response to changes in the determined state of the wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: University of Ulster, Institut National des Sciences Appliquees de Lyon
    Inventor: Eric Thomas McAdams
  • Patent number: 8670560
    Abstract: There is described a method of encrypting a set of 2D input data, preferably image data. The method comprises obtaining the hash value of a password and re-sizing the hash value to fit the size of the 2D input data. The re-sized data is transformed using an irreversible transform, and the output of the transform is then used to encode the 2D data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: University of Ulster
    Inventors: Abbas Cheddad, Joan Condell, Kevin Curran, Paul McKevitt
  • Patent number: 8627814
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solar water heating apparatus which includes concentric inner and outer vessels defining an annular cavity therebetween, within which cavity a phase change material is located, and which is vaporised when solar radiation is incident on the outer vessel, in order to transfer heat to a water store contained in the inner vessel, this water store being fed fresh unheated water while the heated water is extracted therefrom for domestic or other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: University of Ulster
    Inventor: Mervyn Smyth
  • Patent number: 8620405
    Abstract: A skin marker for providing a reference point for a plurality of different medical imaging procedures, said marker incorporating one or more substances having one or more of radiance and/or hydration and/or radiopaque and/or radio luminescent and/or radioactive properties for detection by X-ray and/or Computer Tomography (CT) and/or MRI and/or Ultrasonic scanning processes and/or Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and one or more markings recognizable by an optical imaging process such as 3D surface scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: University of Ulster
    Inventors: Brian McClelland, Robert John Winder, Justin Dominic Martin Magee, Paul McCarron
  • Patent number: 8582875
    Abstract: There is described a method for detecting the presence of skin tone in an image. A gray scale representation of a pixel within the image is provided. Next, a red chrominance independent representation for is provided for the pixel. Then, the two representations are analysed to determine whether a difference in value between the representations corresponds with a the presence of a skin tone value. The present invention provides a rapid skin tone detection classifier particularly useful for real time applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: University of Ulster
    Inventors: Abbas Cheddad, Joan Condell, Kevin Curran, Paul McKevitt
  • Publication number: 20110277746
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solar water heating apparatus which includes concentric inner and outer vessels defining an annular cavity therebetween, within which cavity a phase change material is located, and which is vaporised when solar radiation is incident on the outer vessel, in order to transfer heat to a water store contained in the inner vessel, this water store being fed fresh unheated water while the heated water is extracted therefrom for domestic or other purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: University of Ulster
    Inventor: Mervyn Smyth