Patents Examined by K. Mayekar
  • Patent number: 6277337
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for inactivation of microorganisms in fluids or on surfaces. Preferably the fluids contain blood or blood products and comprise biologically active proteins. Preferred methods include the steps of adding an effective, non-toxic amount of an endogenous photosensitizer to a fluid and exposing the fluid to photoradiation sufficient to activate the endogenous photosensitizer whereby microorganisms are inactivated. Other fluids, including juices, water and the like, may also be decontaminated by these methods as may surfaces of foods, animal carcasses, wounds, food preparation surfaces and bathing and washing vessel surfaces. Alloxazines and K- and L-vitamins are among the preferred photosensitizers. Systems and apparatuses for flow-through and batch processes are also provided for decontamination of such fluids using photosensitizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Gambro, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Paul Goodrich, Jr., Dennis Hlavinka, Frank Corbin, III, Edward C. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6267871
    Abstract: A system and process for removing metal from a directed flow of an aqueous solution by exposing the directed flow to a high voltage electrical field in the direction of the directed flow. In one embodiment, seven electrode chambers are provided, each connected in fluid communication end-to-end, and each having an electrode encapsulated by a layer of an electrically insulating material. Either DC or AC (preferably 60 Hertz) current may be used. Each electrode is surrounded by a grounded stainless steel lined PVC hollow tube, and a flow passageway is formed between the inner wall of the hollow tube and the outer layer of insulating material. The aqueous solution flows through the flow passageway, thereby being exposed to the high voltage electrical field adjacent to the electrode. The flow is directed into two tubular secondary grounds. Each ground is connected in flow communication end-to-end and has a quantity of stainless steel wool through which the flow is directed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Inventors: Edward C. Weakly, Henry L. DiCamillo
  • Patent number: 6268025
    Abstract: Patterned dies made of non-conductive resins may be equipped with integrated electrodes in different manners. It is proved to be difficult to produce high-quality electrodes especially in microstructured dies. A patterned plastic die arranged on a carrier plate is filled with a solution of a metal compound. This solution is irradiated through the carrier plate from the back side of the carrier plate using laser light, ultraviolet light or X-rays. The metal compound is transformed in the immediate vicinity of the base of the structure and a metal layer is deposited on the base of the structure forming the electrodes. The method is suitable for a base of the structure forming a coherent or a non-coherent area. Plastic dies containing integrated electrodes are used for electroless or electrophoretic deposition of materials and for electroplating, in all cases starting from the integrated electrodes, and for analytical methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: MicroParts Gesellschaft für Mikrostrukturtechnik mbH
    Inventors: Holger Reinecke, Friedolin Franz Nöker
  • Patent number: 6248225
    Abstract: A process for applying two electrodeposited coatings, one on top of the other, to an electrically conductive substrate is provided. An electrically conductive first coating is applied to provide for corrosion resistance and a second polyurethane-based coating is applied to the first coating to provide chip resistance. Also, aqueous dispersions of the polyurethane coating compositions are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Palaika, Ellor J. Van Buskirk, Victor G. Corrigan, Venkatachalam Eswarakrishnan, Gregory J. McCollum, Robert R. Zwack, Philippe Faucher, Craig A. Wilson, Chester J. Szymanski, James E. Poole, Keith S. Ritter, Richard F. Syput
  • Patent number: 6099713
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tin-silver alloy electroplating bath containing: (A) stannous salt; (B) silver salt; (C) one kind or two or more kinds of acids selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, phosphonic acid, hydroxycarboxylic acid, alkanesulfonic acid, and alkanolsulfonic acid; (D) thiourea; (E) nonionic surface active agent; and (F) one kind or two or more kinds of additives selected from the group consisting of a mercapto group containing aromatic compound, dioxyaromatic compound, and unsaturated carboxylic acid. The electroplating using the above electroplating bath is allowed to form a homogeneous tin-silver alloy plated film having a good external appearance by eliminating preferential deposition of silver and substitutional deposition of silver on an anode and the plated film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: C. Uyemura & Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isamu Yanada, Masanobu Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 5972177
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing protein hydrolyzates from animal and/or vegetable starting materials by comminuting the starting materials, mashing the comminuted starting materials into a pumpable mass, decomposing the mashed starting materials in an electric discharge gap and separating the aqueous phase of the decomposition from solid and water-unmixable residues, wherein the starting material is decomposed at a pH value between 10.0 and 14.0 and the decomposed starting material is subjected to a secondary reaction over at least 1 h at a pH value of 10.0 to 14.0, the temperature being at least 70.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventors: Josef Brehm, Claus Berndt, Klaus-Peter Stengele, Winfried Kolbeck
  • Patent number: 5965002
    Abstract: A method of codepositing iron and manganese having a high proportion of manganese incorporates use of a new electrochemical cell. The deposit comprises up to 38% manganese from a solution of wide ranging pH from an aqueous bath of sulfate, phosphate salt or any other type of bath, The deposits may subsequently be nitrided, phosphatized or carburized to produced an amorphous surface comparable to Hadfield steel. The manganese alloy deposit exhibits a bright, shiny surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Inventor: Bassey J. Udofot
  • Patent number: 5961802
    Abstract: A cationic resin having latent primary amine functionality is described. The latent amine functionality is obtained by reacting a cyclic anhydride with an amine compound having two primary amine groups and one secondary amine group. The cationic resin is combined with a curing agent having a plurality of cyclic carbonate groups in an electrocoat bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy S. December, Paul J Harris
  • Patent number: 5956562
    Abstract: An electrode plate for use in an ozone generator containing a plurality of air vents. It includes: (a) a cathode electrode connected to a low voltage terminal and having a plurality of discharge portions at one side; (b) an anode electrode connected to a high voltage terminal for acting with the cathode electrode; and (c) an insulative layer sandwiched between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode, keeping the discharge portions to be spaced from the anode electrode within hundred micrometers. The cathode electrode and the anode electrode each comprises a plurality of air vents arranged in a staggered manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Shih-Che Lo, Ming-Jye Tsai, Ray-Ten Chen, Tung-Chuan Wu
  • Patent number: 5951840
    Abstract: The solid electrolytic capacitor comprises a sealed capacitor element having, as a solid electrolyte layer, a heat resistant conductive layer formed on a dielectric oxide film. The heat resistant conducting polymer layer contains water, and the capacitor element inside is substantially oxygen-free. A cathode conductive layer is provided on the capacitor element and then both an external cathode lead and an external anode lead are mounted on the capacitor element. Water is supplied to the conducting polymer layer of the capacitor element such that the conducting polymer layer inside contains water. The capacitor element is then sealed such that water is held within the heat resistant conducting polymer layer and that the capacitor element inside is substantially oxygen-free. The step of supplying water is carried out by dipping the heat resistant conducting polymer layer in water or heavy water or exposed to water-containing inert gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Fukaumi, Toshihiko Nishiyama, Atsushi Kobayashi, Masashi Ohi, Eishun Tsuchida, Kumihisa Yamamoto, Shinji Takeoka, Yoshitaka Fujishima
  • Patent number: 5950065
    Abstract: Ozone is produced in that oxygen is subjected to a high frequency alternating current with high voltage over a dielectricum. Oxygen is admitted to a narrow space between two plates (2) of aluminum oxide, and the current is applied to an electrode net (3) in the space, whereas the opposite sides of the plates are earthed and cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Jan Arlemark
  • Patent number: 5938910
    Abstract: Electrolytic manganese dioxide having a BET specific surface area of less than 30 m.sup.2 /g and a suspensiveness of less than 50 mg/liter is used for alkaline manganese batteries and manganese batteries to make them excellent both in initial performance and storability. The electrolytic manganese dioxide may be made by a suspension method or a clarification method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Japan Metals & Chemicals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Takehara, Yoshihiro Nakayama, Ryoichi Shimizugawa, Tsutomu Kishikawa, Takumi Murai, Fumiya Takahashi, Koh Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5935403
    Abstract: A magnetic thin film manufacturing method in which an object of treatment is electroplated in a plating bath so that a magnetic thin film is formed on the surface of the object of treatment. The plating bath contains two or more types of ions selected from a set consisting of Fe.sup.2+ ions, Ni.sup.2+ ions and Co.sup.2+ ions, and fine particles of an insulating material are dispersed in the plating bath. In a more particular embodiment of the invention, a magnetic thin film manufacturing method is characterized by the fact that ?a! the aforementioned two or more types of ions selected from a set consisting of Fe.sup.2+ ions, Ni.sup.2+ ions and Co.sup.2+ ions are supplied by means of sulfates and/or chlorides, ?b! the plating bath is an acidic bath, and ?c! the fine particles of an insulating material that are dispersed in the plating bath are colloidal particles of SiO.sub.2 and/or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Read-Rite SMI Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Suzuki, Kenji Komaki
  • Patent number: 5914015
    Abstract: The present invention is placing a catalyst coating upon surfaces surrounding a volume containing corona discharge. In addition, the electrodes are coated with a robust dielectric material. Further, the electrodes are arranged so that at least a surface portion of each electrode extends into a flow path of the exhaust gas to be treated and there is only exhaust gas in the volume between each pair of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Stephan E. Barlow, Thomas M. Orlando, Russell G. Tonkyn
  • Patent number: 5906715
    Abstract: A corona discharge pollutant destruction system has two or more corona discharge reactors in series, with each stage optimized for either oxidation of hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) or reduction of nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x). The reactors may be arranged with initial oxidation stages followed by reduction stages. Alternatively, the oxidation and reduction reactors may be arranged in alternate stages, with each oxidation reactor followed by a reduction reactor. The treatment of different pollutants by different reactors is achieved by supplying the different reactors with different power levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Weldon S. Williamson, Franklin A. Dolezal, David B. Cohn, John H. S. Wang
  • Patent number: 5855855
    Abstract: A pollutant destruction system connects a capacitive corona discharge chamber in a self-resonant circuit with an inductive element. Intermittent energizing signals are furnished from a power supply to induce corona discharges within the chamber, with the resonant circuit responding to the energizing signals by initiating additional corona discharges between energizing signals in a highly energy efficient operation. One or more discharge chambers can be provided in the resonant circuit, with each discharge chamber comprising a dielectric enclosure with a distributed electrode outside and an elongate electrode inside the enclosure. The inner electrode can extend either along the chamber axis, or along the inner chamber wall for better support and heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Weldon S. Williamson, Eun-Hee Cirlin, Frank A. Dolezal, Robin J. Harvey
  • Patent number: 5015346
    Abstract: An electrochemical method for defect delineation in thin-film SOI or SOS wafers in which a surface of a silicon wafer is electrically connected so as to control the voltage of the surface within a specified range, the silicon wafer is then contacted with an electrolyte, and, after removing the electrolyte, defects and metal contamination in the silicon wafer are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Terry R. Guilinger, Howland D. T. Jones, Michael J. Kelly, John W. Medernach, Joel O. Stevenson, Sylvia S. Tsao
  • Patent number: 4994507
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are cathodic electrodepositable coating baths containing lead cyanamide as a supplementary catalyst. It has been found that using lead cyanamide in conjunction with a primary metal catalyst (e.g. dibutyltin oxide) results in an electrocoat system with superior underbake cure without sacrificing chipping characteristics during overbake cure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Tapan K. Debroy, Ding Y. Chung, Craig R. Deschner, Sioe-Heng A. Tjoe