Patents by Inventor Francisco E. Torres

Francisco E. Torres 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).

  • Publication number: 20110039194
    Abstract: A printed mask derived from a composition comprised of at least one compound including at least one alkaline-hydrolyzable group, at least one compound including at least one ethylene oxide group and at least one ultraviolet radiation blocking agent, wherein the printed mask is removable using an alkaline solution in about 30 seconds or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Francisco E. Torres, Norine E. Chang, Eric J. Shrader, C. Wayne Jaeger
  • Patent number: 7851226
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the presence or absence of reaction between a first and second material of interest by measuring osmotic pressure changes in a reaction cell. The reaction cell is capable of measuring the small changes in pressure that occur due to osmotic pressure shifts during a catalytic or binding reaction at species concentrations down to approximately 10?7 M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Francisco E. Torres, Karl Littau, Eric Shrader
  • Patent number: 7838715
    Abstract: A drug deactivation system according to some embodiments includes at least one degradable capsule exposed to at least one drug-retaining region of a drug delivery device and an agent. The agent is configured to render a drug ineffective upon degradation of the at least one capsule. The at least one drug-retaining region is configured to retain one of the drug and the agent and the at least one capsule is configured to retain the other of the drug and the agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott Albert Uhland, Eric Peeters, Francisco E. Torres, Philipp Helmut Schmaelzle
  • Publication number: 20100290501
    Abstract: A nanocalorimeter includes a merging layer having, a drop placement area for holding drops to be merged and a thermal equilibration area. A measurement layer includes a substrate, and a temperature probe on the substrate, wherein the temperature probe extends out of the surface of the substrate to come into operative contact with the thermal equilibration area when the measurement layer is placed in operative association with the merging layer. The nanocalorimeter is configured to have the merging layer and the measurement layer non-integrated, making the measurement layer reusable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Dirk De Bruyker, Francisco E. Torres, Michal V. Wolkin, Gregory B. Anderson, Eugene M. Chow
  • Patent number: 7794662
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for measuring the presence or absence of reaction between a first and second material of interest by measuring osmotic pressure changes of reaction detector. The reaction detector is capable of measuring the small changes in pressure that occur due to osmotic pressure shifts during a catalytic or binding reaction at species concentrations down to approximately 10?7 M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Francisco E. Torres, Eric Shrader, Karl Littau
  • Patent number: 7790111
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the presence or absence of interaction between at least a first and second material of interest by measuring osmotic pressure changes in an osmotic cell. Changes in osmotic pressure are determined by measuring the amount of compression exhibited by a compressible, semi-permeable material positioned in the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Francisco E. Torres, Jonathan S. Daniels, Meng H. Lean
  • Publication number: 20100185037
    Abstract: A drug deactivation system according to some embodiments includes at least one drug-retaining region of a drug delivery device and at least one energy source coupled to the at least one drug-retaining region. The at least one drug-retaining region may be configured to retain a drug. The at least one energy source may be configured to transmit energy to the drug. The drug is capable of being rendered ineffective in the presence of the transmitted energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott Albert Uhland, Eric Peeters, Francisco E. Torres, Philipp Helmut Schmaelzle
  • Publication number: 20100185038
    Abstract: A drug deactivation system according to some embodiments includes at least one degradable capsule exposed to at least one drug-retaining region of a drug delivery device and an agent. The agent is configured to render a drug ineffective upon degradation of the at least one capsule. The at least one drug-retaining region is configured to retain one of the drug and the agent and the at least one capsule is configured to retain the other of the drug and the agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Scott Albert Uhland, Eric Peeters, Francisco E. Torres, Philipp Helmut Schmaelzle
  • Patent number: 7745161
    Abstract: Provided is a method of detecting characteristics of a reaction of interest, including instituting the reaction of interest, obtaining an amplified heat related to the reaction of interest, measuring the amplified heat, and determining the characteristics of the reaction of interest, using the signal obtained in the step of measuring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignees: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, The Scripps Research Institute
    Inventors: Francisco E. Torres, Richard H. Bruce, James R. Williamson, Peter Kuhn, Ray Stevens
  • Patent number: 7727768
    Abstract: A method for detecting chemical reactions uses a nanocalorimeter having a substrate including thermal isolation capability residing on the substrate, thermal equilibration regions residing within the thermal isolation capability, and thermal measurement capability residing within each of the thermal equilibration regions. The thermal measurement device is connected to detection electronics. The method includes depositing drops of potentially reactive chemical solutions within the thermal equilibration region. These potentially reactive solution drops are merged through the use of drop merging electrodes residing within the thermal isolation region. The thermal change occurring within the merged solution drops is then measured with the detection electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Alan G. Bell, Richard H. Bruce, Scott A. Elrod, Eric Peeters, Francisco E. Torres
  • Publication number: 20100059377
    Abstract: A system and method for recovery of CO2 includes an aqueous capture device having a capture solution. The aqueous capture device is arranged to receive gas and to capture components from the gas including at least CO2. An electrodialysis unit in operative connection with the capture device performs an electrodialysis operation on the capture solution including at least the CO2, wherein a CO2 rich process stream and a regenerated capture solution are generated from the capture solution including at least the CO2. The CO2 rich process stream is a pressurized process stream at a pressure which maintains the CO2 substantially within the CO2 rich process stream, while in the electrodialysis unit. In another alternative, at least the pH of the capture stream is controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Karl A. Littau, Francisco E. Torres
  • Publication number: 20100049015
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for detecting concentration of an analyte in a fluid. A first container includes (i) an optical cavity detection region, (ii) a reservoir for one or more modifiers of one or more optical properties of the optical cavity detection region, and (iii) a set of one or more bounding regions through which objects in the fluid can transfer into the container. The optical cavity detection region and the reservoir define separate areas of the first container. The movement of the one or more modifiers between the reservoir and the optical cavity detection region is responsive to changes in concentration of the analyte. A second container includes an optical cavity detection region, and a set of one or more bounding regions through which objects in the fluid can transfer into the container. Also provided are optical components for guiding light into the optical cavity detection regions of the first and second containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joerg Martini, Richard H. Bruce, Francisco E. Torres, Peter Kiesel, Michael I. Recht, Jeffrey N. Roe
  • Publication number: 20100045993
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for detecting concentration of an analyte in a fluid. The method comprises detecting an optical property of a first region of two or more regions in a system, the first region located in a container having a reservoir for one or more modifiers of one or more optical properties of the first region. The movement of the one or more modifiers is responsive to changes in concentration of the analyte. A next step detects an optical property of a second region of the two or more regions in the system, the second region located in a container having a reservoir for one or more modifiers of one or more optical properties of the second region. The movement of the one or more modifiers is responsive to changes in concentration of a compound, where the compound is something other than the analyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joerg Martini, Richard H. Bruce, Francisco E. Torres, Peter Kiesel, Michael I. Recht, Jeffrey N. Roe
  • Patent number: 7666680
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the presence or absence of interaction between at least a first and second material of interest by measuring osmotic pressure changes in an osmotic cell. Changes in osmotic pressure are determined by measuring the amount of compression exhibited by a compressible, semi-permeable material positioned in the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Francisco E. Torres, Jonathan S. Daniels, Meng H. Lean
  • Publication number: 20100005959
    Abstract: A layered structure can be formed having immobilized or segregated pH buffering groups that can be used to separate carbon dioxide or other gases. The pH buffering groups can be immobilized within a matrix, confined within a gel, or segregated by a semi-permeable membrane. The pH buffering groups can be configured to increase the efficiency of the system by maintaining a desirable pH profile within the cell and to permit the flow of the carbon-containing ions within the system while controlling diffusion of protons and/or hydroxyl ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Karl Anthony Littau, Francisco E. Torres
  • Publication number: 20090320573
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the presence or absence of reaction between a first and second material of interest by measuring osmotic pressure changes in a reaction cell. The reaction cell is capable of measuring the small changes in pressure that occur due to osmotic pressure shifts during a catalytic or binding reaction at species concentrations down to approximately 10?7 M.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Francisco E. Torres, Karl Littau, Eric Shrader
  • Patent number: 7632008
    Abstract: Test and reference groups of samples can be provided and concurrently combined and output signals can be provided. Each sample can have a volume not exceeding approximately 100 microliters, and each group can be provided in a region, such as in a cell of an array calorimeter. Each test group can include at least one fragment sample and one target sample, and its reference group can include similar samples. The output signals can include information about heat of reaction due to combining the fragment and target samples. For each target type, the output signals can be used to rank fragment types. For example, a subset of fragment types that react with the target type can be identified; an equilibrium constant or ligand efficiency can be obtained for each such fragment type; or a rank ordering can be obtained of such fragment types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael I. Recht, Francisco E. Torres, Richard H. Bruce, Alan G. Bell
  • Patent number: 7615375
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the presence or absence of reaction between a first and second material of interest by measuring osmotic pressure changes in a reaction cell. The reaction cell is capable of measuring the small changes in pressure that occur due to osmotic pressure shifts during a catalytic or binding reaction at species concentrations down to approximately 10?7 M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Francisco E. Torres, Karl Littau, Eric Shrader
  • Publication number: 20090260425
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for measuring the presence or absence of reaction between a first and second material of interest by measuring osmotic pressure changes of reaction detector. The reaction detector is capable of measuring the small changes in pressure that occur due to osmotic pressure shifts during a catalytic or binding reaction at species concentrations down to approximately 10?7 M.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Francisco E. Torres, Eric Shrader, Karl Littau
  • Patent number: 7553669
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the presence or absence of reaction between a first and second material of interest by measuring osmotic pressure changes of reaction detector. The reaction detector is capable of measuring the small changes in pressure that occur due to osmotic pressure shifts during a catalytic or binding reaction at species concentrations down to approximately 10?7 M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Palo Alto Resaerch Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Francisco E. Torres, Eric Shrader, Karl Littau