Patents by Inventor Neil A. McDonald

Neil A. McDonald 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).

  • Patent number: 10709858
    Abstract: The present invention is a multipurpose airway device adapted for insertion into the mouth of a patient. The airway device has an elongate, tubular airway body of substantially elliptical or substantially circular cross-section with a substantially straight section, the proximal end of which is adapted to function as an integral bite block; a curved distal section with a distal tip; and a central channel for accepting an intubation device. The airway device further includes a substantially oval-shaped detachable intraoral seal and a connector for facilitating attachment of breathing or anaesthesia equipment thereto. The invention also relates to an ETT locking device for attachment to the multipurpose airway device and a multipurpose airway pack including the multipurpose airway device and the ETT locking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: AIRWAY MEDICAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Neil McDonald
  • Patent number: 10434191
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of visualising cells especially although not exclusively in vivo using a dye, such as a dendrimer-dye molecule or polybranched-dye molecule which is internalised by the cells and thus permits subsequent visualisation by confocal fluorescence endomicroscopy or other optical detectors. There is also provided internally quenched probes for use in visualising cells especially although not exclusively in vivo by confocal fluorescence endomicroscopy and the use of internally quenched probes in combination with confocal fluorescence endomicroscopy, for visualising cells by virtue of internalisation and dequenching of a probe by the cells. In a particular embodiment the cells are activated neutrophils, such as within the lung of a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
    Inventors: Tashfeen Walton, Mark Bradley, Kev Dhaliwal, Nikolaos Avlonitis, Chris Haslett, Neil McDonald, Manuelle Debunne
  • Publication number: 20190232008
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multipurpose airway device adapted for insertion into the mouth of a patient. The airway device comprises an elongate, tubular airway body of substantially elliptical or substantially circular cross-section and has a substantially straight section, the proximal end of which is adapted to function as an integral bite block; a curved distal section with a distal tip; and a central channel for accepting an intubation device. The airway device further comprises a substantially oval-shaped detachable intraoral seal and a connector for facilitating attachment of breathing or anaesthesia equipment thereto. The invention also relates to an ETT locking device for attachment to the multipurpose airway device and a multipurpose airway pack comprising the multipurpose airway device and ETT locking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: AIRWAY MEDICAL LIMITED
    Inventor: NEIL McDONALD
  • Publication number: 20170196995
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of visualising cells especially although not exclusively in vivo using a dye, such as a dendrimer-dye molecule or polybranched-dye molecule which is internalised by the cells and thus permits subsequent visualisation by confocal fluorescence endomicroscopy or other optical detectors. There is also provided internally quenched probes for use in visualising cells especially although not exclusively in vivo by confocal fluorescence endomicroscopy and the use of internally quenched probes in combination with confocal fluorescence endomicroscopy, for visualising cells by virtue of internalisation and dequenching of a probe by the cells. In a particular embodiment the cells are activated neutrophils, such as within the lung of a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
    Inventors: Tashfeen WALTON, Mark BRADLEY, Kev DHALIWAL, Nikolaos AVLONITIS, Chris HASLETT, Neil MCDONALD, Manuelle DEBUNNE
  • Patent number: 9549997
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of visualizing cells especially although not exclusively in vivo using a dye, such as a dendrimer-dye molecule or polybranched-dye molecule which is internalized by the cells and thus permits subsequent visualization by confocal fluorescence endomicroscopy or other optical detectors. There is also provided internally quenched probes for use in visualizing cells especially although not exclusively in vivo by confocal fluorescence endomicroscopy and the use of internally quenched probes in combination with confocal fluorescence endomicroscopy, for visualizing cells by virtue of internalization and dequenching of a probe by the cells. In a particular embodiment the cells are activated neutrophils, such as within the lung of a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
    Inventors: Tashfeen Walton, Mark Bradley, Kev Dhaliwal, Nikolaos Avlonitis, Chris Haslett, Neil McDonald, Manuelle Debunne
  • Publication number: 20140358415
    Abstract: A method of predicting the trajectory of an aircraft is disclosed in this specification. The method involves predicting corrective adjustments that an aircraft flight management system is expected to make to follow a reference trajectory. A ground based system receives a reference trajectory that the aircraft flight management system intends to fly and predicts an actual trajectory using the predicted corrective adjustments. The actual trajectory predicted by the system differs from the reference trajectory in a free dimension that is not restrained in the reference trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Airservices Australia
    Inventors: Gregory Neil McDonald, Jesper Bronsvoort
  • Publication number: 20140134110
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of visualising cells especially although not exclusively in vivo using a dye, such as a dendrimer-dye molecule or polybranched-dye molecule which is internalised by the cells and thus permits subsequent visualisation by confocal fluorescence endomicroscopy or other optical detectors. There is also provided internally quenched probes for use in visualising cells especially although not exclusively in vivo by confocal fluorescence endomicroscopy and the use of internally quenched probes in combination with confocal fluorescence endomicroscopy, for visualising cells by virtue of internalisation and dequenching of a probe by the cells. In a particular embodiment the cells are activated neutrophils, such as within the lung of a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: Tashfeen Walton, Mark Bradley, Kev Dhaliwal, Nikolaos Avlonitis, Chris Haslett, Neil McDonald, Manuelle Debunne
  • Patent number: 8540118
    Abstract: A water dispenser is fluidly connectable to a water source. The water dispenser includes a water tank; a faucet fluidly connected to the water tank and configured to generate an activation signal after being activated; a valve fluidly connectable to the water source and fluidly connected to the water tank; a first float switch movably disposed in the water tank and configured to generate an open signal after moving away from a predetermined position; and a controller operatively connected to the faucet and the first float switch. The controller is configured to open the valve to refill the water tank with water from the water source after the controller receives both the activation signal from the faucet and the open signal from the first float switch. A method of operating the water dispenser is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Neil McDonald, Daniel Capelle, Daniel Brosnan
  • Patent number: 8511181
    Abstract: In a variable torque rate test joint, screw-threaded first and second elements are rotated relative to one another by a tool under test. At least one spring beam is cantilevered over a pivot point to exert an axial force between the first and second elements and the torque rate of the test joint can be varied by moving the pivot point to change the axial force. The first element may be a shaft that is fixed during testing and the second element is a nut rotatably mounted on the shaft, whereby the element rotated by the tool has a minimal moment of inertia. Whichever of the first and second elements is held stationary during the test may be mounted in a hub that is locked during the test but can be rotated at the end of the test to reset the test joint. Measurements may be made of the torque and the rotation angle to derive an actual torque rate of the joint, which allows correction of errors by moving the pivot point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Crane Electronics Limited
    Inventors: Adrian James Duffin, John Edward Burton, Peter William Everitt, Neil McDonald, Andrew Wilkins
  • Publication number: 20130125666
    Abstract: In a variable torque rate test joint, screw-threaded first and second elements are rotated relative to one another by a tool under test. At least one spring beam is cantilevered over a pivot point to exert an axial force between the first and second elements and the torque rate of the test joint can be varied by moving the pivot point to change the axial force. The first element may be a shaft that is fixed during testing and the second element is a nut rotatably mounted on the shaft, whereby the element rotated by the tool has a minimal moment of inertia. Whichever of the first and second elements is held stationary during the test may be mounted in a hub that is locked during the test but can be rotated at the end of the test to reset the test joint. Measurements may be made of the torque and the rotation angle to derive an actual torque rate of the joint, which allows correction of errors by moving the pivot point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Adrian James Duffin, John Edward Burton, Peter William Everitt, Neil McDonald, Andrew Wilkins
  • Publication number: 20120104031
    Abstract: A water dispenser is fluidly connectable to a water source. The water dispenser includes a water tank; a faucet fluidly connected to the water tank and configured to generate an activation signal after being activated; a valve fluidly connectable to the water source and fluidly connected to the water tank; a first float switch movably disposed in the water tank and configured to generate an open signal after moving away from a predetermined position; and a controller operatively connected to the faucet and the first float switch. The controller is configured to open the valve to refill the water tank with water from the water source after the controller receives both the activation signal from the faucet and the open signal from the first float switch. A method of operating the water dispenser is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Neil McDonald, Daniel Capelle, Daniel Brosnan
  • Publication number: 20070169844
    Abstract: An inverted-bottle fluid dispensing system providing efficient fluid dispensation. Various aspects of the present invention provide a stem comprising an outer surface and an inner surface defining an inner fluid flow cavity. A slot may, for example, provide a flow path between the outer surface and the inner cavity. The slot may, for example, be substantially longitudinally aligned on the stem. The stem may, for example, include a cylindrically shaped portion and a flat portion, at least a portion of which may be longitudinally coextensive with the cylindrically shaped portion. Further for example, the stem may include a plurality of faces culminating in a vertex at a tip, where at least one of the faces may comprise an aperture extending between the outer surface and the inner cavity. Also for example, the stem may comprise a base portion, where the base portion includes at least one aperture extending therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Fangzhen Zheng, Neil McDonald, Mark Copelli
  • Publication number: 20050176060
    Abstract: Structural coordinates obtainable by subjecting a crystal comprising a dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) or a fragment thereof or an argininc deliminase (DI) or a fragment thercof to X-ray diffraction measurements and deducing the structural coordinales from the diffraction measurements arc used to identify, screen, characteristic, design or modify a chemical entity. The chemical entities so generated may be used in methods of Therapy or to identify the presence or absence of a DDAH or DI substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Neil McDonald, Judith Murray-Rust, James Leiper, Mark McAlister, Patrick John Vallance
  • Publication number: 20040165331
    Abstract: A surge arrestor cap can be manufactured with a cavity that is designed to mate with gas tubes directly, without use of a separate holder or spring clip. One end of the gas tube fits inside the surge arrestor cap cavity, and is held in place inside the surge arrestor cap cavity. Thus, access to the gas tube is provided by removing the surge arrestor cap, for example, by unscrewing the surge arrestor cap from the remainder of the surge arrestor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: James Neil McDonald
  • Patent number: 6731484
    Abstract: An integrated transient voltage surge suppression system and automatic power transfer switch which includes a framework, an automatic transfer switch mounted to the framework, the automatic transfer switch being configured for electrical connection to a primary source of electrical power, a secondary source of electrical power, and a recipient electrical power load, the automatic transfer switch being configured to normally route primary electrical power from the primary source of electrical power to the recipient electrical power load, the automatic transfer switch being further configured to switch upon the occurrence of a predetermined switch condition such that the automatic power switch alternately routes secondary electrical power from the secondary source of electrical power to the recipient power load; and a transient voltage surge suppression device mounted to the framework and electrically positioned between the automatic transfer switch and the recipient electrical power load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Northern Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marlis Jean Pebles, James Neil McDonald, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030117761
    Abstract: An integrated transient voltage surge suppression system and automatic power transfer switch which includes a framework, an automatic transfer switch mounted to the framework, the automatic transfer switch being configured for electrical connection to a primary source of electrical power, a secondary source of electrical power, and a recipient electrical power load, the automatic transfer switch being configured to normally route primary electrical power from the primary source of electrical power to the recipient electrical power load, the automatic transfer switch being further configured to switch upon the occurrence of a predetermined switch condition such that the automatic power switch alternately routes secondary electrical power from the secondary source of electrical power to the recipient power load; and a transient voltage surge suppression device mounted to the framework and electrically positioned between the automatic transfer switch and the recipient electrical power load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Marlis Jean Pebles, James Neil McDonald
  • Patent number: 5438710
    Abstract: A thermal nose protector for use in subfreezing climates, e.g. by an alpine skier with ski goggles. The thermal nose protector consists of a flexible shield sheet material sized to conformingly fit over the skier's nose and having at least a first and a second layer. The first layer is made from a soft, thermally insulating material for direct engagement with the skin of the skier's nose. The second layer is of the multiple-hook type for separable gripping engagement with a corresponding portion of the foam-like, peripheral, interior strip of the ski goggles. The flexible shield sheet extends beyond the tip of the skier's nose whereby a substantially open air pocket is defined by the nose-covering the shield sheet beneath the skier's nose and ahead of the skier's mouth, wherein an air breathing channel is formed coextensively of the open air pocket for promoting air breathing from the nose of the skier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Kathleen McDonald
    Inventors: Neil McDonald, Kathleen McDonald, Sharon McDonald
  • Patent number: 4965827
    Abstract: An authenticator for digital data is derived by generating a numerical array, using a secret key to controllably shift the relative positions of the elements of the array, and applying the scrambled array to a message to create an authenticator for that message. The method allows a high level of security and minimizes the risk of a system, such as an intelligent portable token and reader system, being compromised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: The General Electric Company, p.l.c.
    Inventor: Neil A. McDonald
  • Patent number: 4514036
    Abstract: Considerable problems are experienced with cables when inserting them in conduit. Only a limited length can be inserted in the conduit so that there must be frequent joints in the cable and the outer sheath is often damaged. The present invention provides a laminate which is particularly applicable as the outer sheath on a cable and which includes a first inner layer of plastics and an outer layer of different harder plastics and incompatible with the first layer and bonded to the inner layer by a bonding layer which is a mixture of the plastics of the two layers. The laminate has applications in addition to cable sheaths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Assignee: Raydex International Limited
    Inventor: Neil McDonald