Patents by Inventor Duncan Westland
Duncan Westland has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7868260Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method which is capable of dispensing very small (typically less than 5 mg) quantities of particles to a high accuracy in a repeatable way and without undue wastage. Also, the need for advanced particle formulation is reduced. The apparatus comprises a closed loop control system which uses an electro-mechanical actuator to deliver impact energy to a supply of particles initially held on a sieve in a hopper. The impact energy causes a small number of particles to fall through the sieve and onto a weight measuring balance. The weight obtained is scrutinised by a processor to see if further actuations are required. In preferred embodiments, the energy of actuation is varied in accordance with the rate of dispensation calculated by the processor. Also, a correction amount can be obtained to take account of the fact that the balance can take a considerable amount of time to settle to its final value.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Powderject Research LimitedInventors: Bruce MacMichael, Duncan Westland
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Publication number: 20080142277Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method which is capable of dispensing very small (typically less than 5 mg) quantities of particles to a high accuracy in a repeatable way and without undue wastage. Also, the need for advanced particle formulation is reduced. The apparatus comprises a closed loop control system which uses an electro-mechanical actuator to deliver impact energy to a supply of particles initially held on a sieve in a hopper. The impact energy causes a small number of particles to fall through the sieve and onto a weight measuring balance. The weight obtained is scrutinised by a processor to see if further actuations are required. In preferred embodiments, the energy of actuation is varied in accordance with the rate of dispensation calculated by the processor. Also, a correction amount can be obtained to take account of the fact that the balance can take a considerable amount of time to settle to its final value.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2008Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventors: Bruce MacMichael, Duncan Westland
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Patent number: 7358451Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method which is capable of dispensing very small (typically less than 5 mg) quantities of particles to a high accuracy in a repeatable way and without undue wastage. Also, the need for advanced particle formulation is reduced. The apparatus comprises a closed loop control system which uses an electromechanical actuator to deliver impact energy to a supply of particles initially held on a sieve in a hopper. The impact energy causes a small number of particles to fall through the sieve and onto a weight measuring balance. The weight obtained is scrutinised by a processor to see if further actuations are required. In preferred embodiments, the energy of actuation is varied in accordance with the rate of dispensation calculated by the processor. Also, a correction amount can be obtained to take account of the fact that the balance can take a considerable amount of time to settle to its final value.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2005Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Powderject Research LimitedInventors: Bruce MacMichael, Duncan Westland
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Publication number: 20070270630Abstract: An ingestible device for delivering a substance to a chosen location in the GI tract of a mammal includes a receiver of electromagnetic radiation for powering an openable part of the device to an opened position for dispensing of the substance. The receiver includes a coiled wire that couples the energy field, the wire having an air or ferrite core. In a further embodiment the invention includes an apparatus for generating the electromagnetic radiation, the apparatus including one or more pairs of field coils supported in a housing. The device optionally includes a latch defined by a heating resistor and a fusible restraint. The device may also include a flexible member that may serve one or both the functions of activating a transmitter circuit to indicate dispensing of the substance; and restraining of a piston used for expelling the substance.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2007Publication date: November 22, 2007Inventors: Peter Houzego, Peter Morgan, Peter Hirst, Duncan Westland, Ian Wilding
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Patent number: 6987228Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method which is capable of dispensing very small (typically less than 5 mg) quantities of particles to a high accuracy in a repeatable way and without undue wastage. Also, the need for advanced particle formulation is reduced. The apparatus comprises a closed loop control system which uses an electro-mechanical actuator to deliver impact energy to a supply of particles initially held on a sieve in a hopper. The impact energy causes a small number of particles to fall through the sieve and onto a weight measuring balance. The weight obtained is scrutinized by a processor to see if further actuations are required. In preferred embodiments, the energy of actuation is varied in accordance with the rate of dispensation calculated by the processor. Also, a correction amount can be obtained to take account of the fact that the balance can take a considerable amount of time to settle to its final value.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2000Date of Patent: January 17, 2006Assignee: Powderject Research LimitedInventors: Bruce MacMichael, Duncan Westland
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Publication number: 20050189150Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method which is capable of dispensing very small (typically less than 5 mg) quantities of particles to a high accuracy in a repeatable way and without undue wastage. Also, the need for advanced particle formulation is reduced. The apparatus comprises a closed loop control system which uses an electromechanical actuator to deliver impact energy to a supply of particles initially held on a sieve in a hopper. The impact energy causes a small number of particles to fall through the sieve and onto a weight measuring balance. The weight obtained is scrutinised by a processor to see if further actuations are required. In preferred embodiments, the energy of actuation is varied in accordance with the rate of dispensation calculated by the processor. Also, a correction amount can be obtained to take account of the fact that the balance can take a considerable amount of time to settle to its final value.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2005Publication date: September 1, 2005Inventors: Bruce MacMichael, Duncan Westland
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Patent number: 6914247Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting under- or over-filling of lenses in packages where ultraviolet radiation is directed to the package.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2003Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: Bausch & Lomb IncorporatedInventors: Robert Duggan, Ted Foos, Liam Power, Paul A. Merritt, Duncan Westland, Peter Morgan
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Publication number: 20050075559Abstract: An ingestible device for delivering a substance to a chosen location in the GI tract of a mammal includes a receiver of electromagnetic radiation for powering an openable part of the device to an opened position for dispensing of the substance. The receiver includes a coiled wire that couples the energy field, the wire having an air or ferrite core. In a further embodiment the invention includes an apparatus for generating the electromagnetic radiation, the apparatus including one or more pairs of field coils supported in a housing. The device optionally includes a latch defined by a heating resistor and a fusible restraint. The device may also include a flexible member that may serve one or both the functions of activating a transmitter circuit to indicate dispensing of the substance; and restraining of a piston used for expelling the substance.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2003Publication date: April 7, 2005Inventors: Peter Houzego, Peter Morgan, Peter Hirst, Duncan Westland, Ian Wilding
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Publication number: 20030205672Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting under- or over-filling of lenses in packages where ultraviolet radiation is directed to the package.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2003Publication date: November 6, 2003Applicant: Bausch & Lomb IncorporatedInventors: Robert Duggan, Ted Foos, Liam Power, Paul A. Merritt, Duncan Westland, Peter Morgan
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Patent number: 6586740Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting under- or over-filling of lenses in packages where ultraviolet radiation is directed to the package.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1999Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Bausch & Lomb IncorporatedInventors: Robert Duggan, Ted Foos, Liam Power, Paul A. Merritt, Duncan Westland, Peter Morgan