Patents Examined by Timothy Meeks
  • Patent number: 8414959
    Abstract: A method of coating a microneedle array by applying a coating fluid using a flexible film in a brush-like manner. A method of coating a microneedle array comprising: providing a microneedle array having a substrate and a plurality of microneedles; providing a flexible film; providing a coating solution comprising a carrier fluid and a coating material; applying the coating solution onto a first major surface of the flexible film; performing a transfer step of bringing the first major surface of the flexible film into contact with the microneedles and removing the flexible film from contact with the microneedles; and allowing the carrier fluid to evaporate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Choi Hye-Ok, Gordon P. Knutson, Moses M. David
  • Patent number: 8414966
    Abstract: To provide a magnetic recording medium enabling excellent magnetic recording reproduction characteristics to be exhibited with the spacing loss reduced and a manufacturing method of the medium, a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium of the invention is to manufacture a magnetic recording medium having a magnetic recording layer of a granular structure having nonmagnetic boundary portions between pillar-shaped magnetic particles on a nonmagnetic substrate, and an exchange coupling layer provided on the magnetic recording layer to add an action of exchange coupling the magnetic particles, and is characterized by having an ion irradiation step of performing ion irradiation on the entire surface of the exchange coupling layer after layering the exchange coupling layer on the magnetic recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: WD Media (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Yasumori, Yoshiaki Sonobe
  • Patent number: 8409669
    Abstract: A method and system for the spray application of epoxy materials is provided. The system includes a dual walled tank structure as a reservoir for containing and preheating the epoxy materials in preparation for mixing and spray application. Each component of the epoxy material is preheated before the components are mixed. After preheating, the components are then mixed together and spray applied. The method and system of the present invention provides a high quality spray applied epoxy coating while reducing equipment down time and cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Inventors: Danny R. Warren, David Allan Smith
  • Patent number: 8409666
    Abstract: A process of manufacturing the main body of a bike helmet includes the following steps: (I.) coating with a base layer resin: that is, uniformly coating the entire shock absorbing liner with a base layer resin; (II.) coating with a protective layer resin: uniformly coating the base layer resin with a protective layer resin to form a shell; (III.) transferring pattern: transferring the pattern to print on the shell; and (IV.) clear coating: spraying clear coating on the pattern. By the aforesaid steps of the process, the shock absorbing liner and the shell are able to join tightly, which solidifies the helmet for better durability, to prolong the years of use, to substantially lower the production cost, and to boost the yield rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Long Huei Helmet Co.
    Inventor: Te Lung Lee
  • Patent number: 8409668
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing metal cutting tools with outstanding performance in terms of toughness, wear resistance and resistance to coating delamination. According to the method the inserts are subjected to a stream of water mixed with blasting media under method conditions that result in an Almén value between 0.5 and 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB
    Inventors: Peter Littecke, Per Martensson
  • Patent number: 8409667
    Abstract: The present application relates to a method for continuously annealing and preparing a strip of high-strength steel for the purpose of hot-dip coating it in a bath of liquid metal, in which said steel strip is treated in at least two sections, comprising in succession, when considering the direction of advance of the strip: a section called the heating and holding section, in which the strip is heated and then held at a given annealing temperature in an oxidizing atmosphere; and a section called the cooling and transfer section, in which the annealed strip at least is cooled and undergoes complete reduction, in a reducing atmosphere, of the iron oxide present in the oxide layer formed in the previous section, in such a way that the oxidizing atmosphere is separated from the reducing atmosphere, a controlled oxygen content is maintained in the heating and holding section between 50 and 1000 ppm, and a controlled hydrogen content is maintained in the cooling and transfer section at a value of less than 4% and p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Centre de Recherches Metallurgiques asbl
    Inventors: Michel Bordignon, Xavier Vanden Eynde
  • Patent number: 8404306
    Abstract: The invention concerns the use of the ruthenium containing precursor having the formula (Rn-chd)Ru(CO)3, wherein: (Rn-chd) represents a cyclohexadiene (chd) ligand substituted with n substituents R, any R being in any position on the chd ligand; n is an integer comprised between 1 and 8 (1?n?8) and represents the number of substituents on the chd ligand; R is selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 linear or branched alkyls, alkylamides, alkoxides, alkylsilylamides, amidinates, carbonyl and/or fluoroalkyl for R being located in any of the eight available position on the chd ligand, while R can also be oxygen O for substitution on the C positions in the chd cycle which are not involved in a double bond for the deposition of a Ru containing film on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés George Claude
    Inventors: Christian Dussarrat, Julien Gatineau
  • Patent number: 8404315
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a permeable dielectric film, includes the deposition on a substrate of a film constituted of a material comprising silicon, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and, possibly, nitrogen and/or fluorine, a majority of Si—C bonds and a proportion of Si—O bonds such that the oxygen present in said material represents less than 30 atom %; and the selective destruction with a chemical agent of the Si—O bonds present in the film. Applications include microelectronics and microtechnology, in any manufacturing process that involves the degradation of a sacrificial material by diffusion of a chemical agent through a film that is permeable to this agent, for the production of air gaps, in particular the manufacture of air-gap interconnects for integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Vincent Jousseaume
  • Patent number: 8402629
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a hollow microneedle structure. The method includes coating a hollow core having a predetermined section and being long in a lengthwise direction with a coating solution, and solidifying the coating solution to form a coating layer, depositing a metal seed layer on the coating layer, plating the seed metal layer with a metal to form a plated layer, cutting the hollow core having the plated layer at an inclination angle with respect to the lengthwise direction for form a surface inclination, and removing the hollow core and the coating layer to form a hollow microneedle structure. Thus, the hollow microneedle structure can be manufactured to have such diameter, length, hardness, and inclination angle as to minimize pain. By use of the hollow core, the microneedle structure can have vertical microneedles with a uniform inner diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Dae Sik Lee, Yong Sun Yoon, Moon Youn Jung, Seon Hee Park
  • Patent number: 8399064
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for improving the adhesion of carbon fibers by coating a surface of the carbon fibers with a polymer film containing functional groups capable of acting as chain transfer agents during a chain transfer polymerization of a resin curable by chain transfer polymerization to obtain coated carbon fibers. The coated carbon fibers are then contacted with the curable resin, and the chain transfer polymerization of the curable resin is induced to produce an organic matrix and forming a composite material. The functional groups of the polymer film act as chain transfer agents during the chain transfer polymerization of the curable resin and thereby improve adhesion of the carbon fibers to the organic matrix. Applications of this invention include aeronautical, aerospatial, shipbuilding, railway and motor vehicle industries, armaments industry, sports and leisure articles, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Astrium SAS
    Inventors: Jacques Schultz, Michel Nardin, Frédéric Vautard, Vincent Roucoules, Brigitte Defoort
  • Patent number: 8394448
    Abstract: A flexible laminate composition and methods for manufacturing same are provided. The flexible laminate composition includes one or more discrete and separate layers of a radiopaque material wherein the radiopaque layer is applied via a solvent to a layer that is composed of a plastic material. The laminate composition can be formed into a radiopaque marker band that can be used with a medical device, such as a catheter, for radiographic imaging. The laminate composition as an alternative can also be utilized to form the catheter or other suitable medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Lachner
  • Patent number: 8394447
    Abstract: The apparatus and method use an optical feedback system to align a brush assembly with a stent strut. Once alignment is achieved, a coating is dispensed onto the stent strut via the brush assembly and the brush assembly is moved along the stent strut to coat the stent strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Grayson Morris, Svava Maria Atladottir, Carla Pienknagura
  • Patent number: 8389062
    Abstract: A system and method for spray gun or nozzle control wherein the spray gun liquid discharge pattern is dynamically varied to correspond to the dimensions of a moving target object or a portion of the moving target. The spray gun includes inputs for fan air, atomizing air, and liquid, as well as cylinder air. Upon detection of a target object approaching, such as on a conveyor belt, the fan air pressure, atomizing air pressure, liquid pressure, and cylinder air pressure are varied according to predefined or contemporaneously generated curves to provide a spray pattern that corresponds to the shape of the target object or portion of the target object, thus minimizing waste and inefficiency due to overspray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Spraying Systems Co.
    Inventor: Lieven Wulteputte
  • Patent number: 8389063
    Abstract: A method for spray-creating a composite-material layer on the outside surface of a liquid container to defeat liquid leakage following a projectile penetration of the container. The method includes (a) defining a by-weight percentage blend of two penetration-reaction materials, where the contribution of one such material, an initially liquid and wet-sprayable, but subsequently curable-to-dry, high-elastomeric body-forming material, is larger than that of the other material, which takes the form of a population of dry, liquid-imbibing bead elements, (b) creating weight-percentage-differentiated, simultaneous sprays of these two materials for contact-blending, during spraying, into a composite spray en route in the air toward the region of a target liquid container, and (c) as a part of such creating, controlling the amount of en route, inter-material, contact blend time between the two materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: High Impact Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas S. Ohnstad, Russell A. Monk
  • Patent number: 8389071
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a carbon protective layer on a substrate using a plasma CVD method allows a more uniform in-plane distribution of the carbon protective layer thickness. The apparatus includes an annular anode that generates a plasma beam and a disk-shaped shield disposed between the anode and the substrate. The anode, the shield, and the substrate are concentrically arranged so that a straight line connecting the centers of the anode and the substrate is perpendicular to the deposition surface of the substrate where the carbon protective layer is to be formed. The center of the shield is also on the straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naruhisa Nagata
  • Patent number: 8389064
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for protecting bio-reactor housing from solar radiation, by applying UV-protective material to an outer surface of a plastic wall of the bio-reactor housing to protect from solar radiation. The housing includes a wall formed of plastic that defines the outer surface. In this manner, the effective life of the housing is extended and the overall cost of generation of photosynthetic biomass is decreased, improving system performance and cost-effectiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Combined Power, LLC
    Inventor: John D. H. King
  • Patent number: 8389043
    Abstract: The invention relates to a preparation for restenosis prevention. The preparations for restenosis prevention known as yet do not reach sufficient active agent concentrations in the affected sections of the vascular walls as higher doses cause undesirable side effects. The present invention is a preparation to which at least one antihyperplastic agent is added that has a distribution ratio between butanol and water .gtoreq.0.5. The lipophilic active agent is absorbed by the vascular wall fast and in sufficient quantity. The preparation may be a liquid that can pass through capillaries and may contain a contrast agent so that the active agent is transferred into the vascular wall without any additional effort while the usually required contrast radiograms are taken. The preparation may also be applied to a catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Bayer Pharma Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Speck, Bruno Scheller
  • Patent number: 8383188
    Abstract: A high strength surgical suture material with improved tie down characteristics and tissue compliance formed of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) yarns, the suture being coated with arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) peptide. The suture has exceptional strength, is ideally suited for most orthopedic procedures, and can be attached to a suture anchor or a curved needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Augustus D. Mazzocca, Mary Beth McCarthy
  • Patent number: 8383209
    Abstract: [Problems] To have a thin film suitably function even when the thickness of the thin film is reduced. [Means for Solving Problems] Provided is a method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium by forming a thin film on a substrate (12). The method is provided with a thin film forming step of forming the thin film by using a substance brought into the plasma state as a material. In the thin film forming step, the thin film is formed by using a material substance gathering means (30) for gathering the substance brought into the plasma state to the periphery of the substrate. The material substance gathering means (30) gathers the substance brought into the plasma state, for instance, to the periphery of the substrate (12) by generating a magnetic field at the periphery of the substrate (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: WD Media (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Ayama
  • Patent number: 8383196
    Abstract: In a method in which a cut line is formed on one surface of a planar glass material, and the cut line is allowed to extend in the thickness direction of the glass material, thereby cutting a glass substrate from the glass material, the cut line is selectively formed on a surface having relatively small surface waviness out of two opposing surfaces of the glass material. In the case of a glass material formed into a planar shape on a molten metal, the surface which has come into contact with the molten metal is selected as the surface having relatively small surface waviness. When a disk-shaped glass substrate is cut from the glass material, cutting is performed under conditions where either one of the thickness and the radius of the glass material and the maximum height of surface waviness of the glass material satisfy a predetermined relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignees: Hoya Corporation, Hoya Glass Disk Philippines, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Marquez, Elmer Mahia