Patents by Inventor R. Malcolm Brown
R. Malcolm Brown 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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Publication number: 20210028324Abstract: Described are flexible electronics incorporating a bacterial cellulose paper substrate and methods of making and using the flexible electronics. Example devices disclosed include photovoltaic cells constructed over bacterial cellulose paper substrates.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: Brian A. Korgel, Vikas Reddy Voggu, James Sham, R. Malcolm Brown, Taylor B. Harvey
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Publication number: 20190305158Abstract: Described are flexible electronics incorporating a bacterial cellulose paper substrate and methods of making and using the flexible electronics. Example devices disclosed include photovoltaic cells constructed over bacterial cellulose paper substrates.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2017Publication date: October 3, 2019Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: Brian A. Korgel, Vikas Reddy Voggu, James Sham, R. Malcolm Brown, Taylor B. Harvey
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Publication number: 20180216148Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of making composite cellulose hydrogels, the methods comprising providing a cellulose synthesizing microbe; and culturing the cellulose synthesizing microbe in a composition comprising greater than 1% of a cellulose derivative, thereby forming the composite cellulose hydrogel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2018Publication date: August 2, 2018Inventors: R. Malcolm Brown, JR., Sarah J. Pfeffer, Chelsea Elisabeth Casper
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Publication number: 20180148890Abstract: Disclosed herein are synthetic leather materials and methods of making and use thereof. The methods of making the synthetic leather materials comprise: synthesizing a piece of cellulose from a microbe, thereby forming a piece of microbial cellulose; partially drying the piece of microbial cellulose; treating the partially dried piece of microbial cellulose with a conditioning agent, thereby forming a piece of conditioned microbial cellulose; drying the piece of conditioned microbial cellulose; and treating the dried piece of conditioned microbial cellulose with a hydrophobic agent, thereby forming the synthetic leather material.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2017Publication date: May 31, 2018Inventors: R. Malcolm Brown, JR., Mandy Hegemeyer, Emilie Perez, Chelsea Elisabeth Casper, Sarah Pfeffer
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Patent number: 8951551Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for the integration of a non-allergenic nanocellulose into a wound bed. The composition may be formed into a wide variety of implants, e.g., a suture, a sheet, a compress, a bandage, a band, a prosthesis, a fiber, a woven fiber, a bead, a strip, a clasp, a prosthesis, a catheter, a screw, a bone plate, a pin, a bandage or combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2006Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: R. Malcolm Brown, Jr., Wojciech Czaja, Marc Jeschke, David J. Young
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Publication number: 20110003345Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for making and using an isolated cyanobacterium that includes a portion of an exogenous bacterial cellulose operon sufficient to express bacterial cellulose, whereby the cyanobacterium produces extracellular glucose. The compositions and methods of the present invention may be used as a new global crop for the manufacture of cellulose, CO2 fixation, for the production of alternative sources of conventional cellulose as well as a biofuel and precursors thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2010Publication date: January 6, 2011Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: David R. Nobles, JR., R. Malcolm Brown, JR.
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Patent number: 7803601Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for making and using an isolated cyanobacterium that includes a portion of an exogenous bacterial cellulose operon sufficient to express bacterial cellulose, whereby the cyanobacterium produces extracellular glucose. The compositions and methods of the present invention may be used as a new global crop for the manufacture of cellulose, CO2 fixation, for the production of alternative sources of conventional cellulose as well as a biofuel and precursors thereof.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2007Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of TexasInventors: David R. Nobles, Jr., R. Malcolm Brown, Jr.
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Publication number: 20080297878Abstract: The present invention is a device, method and system for making a display and displaying information that includes a fibrous organic substrate, e.g., multiribbon cellulose or cellulose substrate, and a variable reflectivity dye disposed in the fibrous substrate, wherein the reflectivity of the dye is modulated in situ. The display device may use a dye selected from an electrochromic, a thermochromic, a magnetochromic, an ionochromic, a light sensitive, a fluorescent, a fluorescent effect energy transfer dye or combinations thereof and may be used as high storage, high contrast and/or high definition paper.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2006Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: Board Of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: R. Malcolm Brown, Yuyu Sun, Robert Wenz
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Publication number: 20080124767Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for making and producing sucrose from cyanobacteria, by growing a cyanobacterium in a growth medium; incubating the cyanobacteria in a salt containing medium under conditions that promote sucrose production; and exposing the cyanobacteria to acidic conditions, wherein the acidic conditions trigger sucrose secretion into the medium. The compositions and methods of the present invention may be used as a new global crop for the manufacture of sucrose, glucose, or fructose, CO2 fixation, for the production of alternative sources of conventional cellulose as well as a biofuel and precursors thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2007Publication date: May 29, 2008Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas at AustinInventors: David R. Nobles, R. Malcolm Brown
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Publication number: 20080113413Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for making and using cyanobacteria that include a portion of an exogenous cellulose operon sufficient to express cellulose. The compositions and methods of the present invention may be used as a new global crop for the manufacture of cellulose, CO2 fixation, for the production of alternative sources of conventional cellulose as well as a biofuel and precursors thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2007Publication date: May 15, 2008Applicant: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEMInventors: David R. Nobles, R. Malcolm Brown
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Publication number: 20080061249Abstract: The present invention includes a method, apparatus and system for nanofabrication in which one or more target molecules are identified for manipulation with an electron beam and the one or more target molecules are manipulated with the electron beam to produce new useful materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2005Publication date: March 13, 2008Applicant: Board Of Regents, The University Of Texas SystemInventors: R. Malcolm Brown, Zack Barnes, Chie Sawatari, Tetsuo Kondo
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Patent number: 7335882Abstract: The present invention includes a method, apparatus and system for nanofabrication in which one or more target molecules are identified for manipulation with an electron beam and the one or more target molecules are manipulated with the electron beam to produce new useful materials.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2005Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: R. Malcolm Brown, Jr., Zack Barnes, Chie Sawatari, Tetsuo Kondo
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Patent number: 5472859Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of synthesizing a novel form of cellulose I as well as methods of synthesizing a novel form of cellulose I in vitro. One method comprises contacting an activated saccharide substrate with an endoglucanase in an appropriate organic solvent/buffer ratio. The invention also encompasses a partially purified endoglucanase and a method of synthesizing cellooligosaccharides. A second method comprises contacting a nucleotide sugar with a purified glycosyl transferase in an appropriate buffer medium to insure polymerization and crystallization of parallel glucan chains from the enzyme/micelle complex to form cellulose I.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 1993Date of Patent: December 5, 1995Inventors: R. Malcolm Brown, Jr., Shiro Kobayashi, Krystyna Kudlicka, Shigenori Kuga, Jong Lee, Likun Li, Kazuo Okuda, Shin-Ichiro Shoda
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Patent number: 4967825Abstract: Disclosed are improved methods for preparing high resolution replicas for electron microscopic analysis. Replicas are prepared having a resolution capability less than ten angstroms, with structures of even less than five angstroms being readily discernible. Particular aspects of the invention concern the use of a platinum/carbon evaporant to prepare extremely thin replica surfaces which allow the visualization of structures heretofore unresolvable. The replication is performed at high vacuum, on the order of 10.sup.-5 Torr or better, with continuous rotation of the sample to allow for an even distribution of the evaporant. The resultant replica surfaces are on the order of no more than 5 to 10 angstroms thick. The replica technology disclosed herein is applicable to both biological as well as non-biological samples, including tissues, biochemicals, metals and polymers and even computer chips and superconductor surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1988Date of Patent: November 6, 1990Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: R. Malcolm Brown, Jr., Shun Mizuta
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Patent number: 4954439Abstract: The present invention comprises a biologically pure culture of a cellulose-producing microorganism, preferably a prokaryote. This cellulose-producing microorganism is capable, during fermentation in an aqueous nutrient medium containing assimilable sources of carbon, nitrogen and inorganic substances, of reversal of direction of cellulose ribbon extrusion. This reversal of direction of cellulose ribbon extrusion results on the cellulose-producing microorganism shuttling, at least periodically, first in one direction and then in the other direction along a length of an earlier-deposited cellulose ribbon to add another cellulose ribbon thereto and produce a cellulose ribbon-bundle having a width of at least two cellulose ribbons.The cellulose-producing microorganism of the present invention may be of the genus Acetobacter, Agrobacterium, Rhizobium, Pseudomonas or Alcaligenes, preferably of the genus Acetobacter and more preferably of the species Acetobacter xylinum or Acetobacter pasteurianus.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1987Date of Patent: September 4, 1990Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: R. Malcolm Brown, Jr., Fong C. Lin
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Patent number: 4950597Abstract: The present invention involves a process for screening for and isolating spontaneously occurring or induced cellulose II-producing microorganisms. The process comprises a series of steps in various embodiments. Initially, cellulose-producing microorganisms from a first culture are plated out on a nutrient agar plate. The nutrient agar plate is then incubated to facilitate formation of colonies from single microorganisms. Samples of liquid nutrient medium are then inoculated with microorganisms from colonies having a smooth configuration, as compared to the usual rough colony configuration. The inoculated samples are then aerobically incubated to facilitate microorganism proliferation and pellicle formation. From these incubated samples are selected microorganisms, which, after a cultivation period, have proliferated but not formed a pellicle. Said selected microorganisms produce cellulose II instead of the cellulose I produced by pellicle-forming organisms.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1988Date of Patent: August 21, 1990Assignee: The University of Texas Board of RegentsInventors: Inder M. Saxena, Eric M. Roberts, R. Malcolm Brown, Jr.
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Patent number: 4942128Abstract: The present invention involves a method of producing cellulose. This method comprises inoculating a quantity of nutrient medium comprising a polysaccharide derivative such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) with a cellulose-producing microorganism. The inoculated medium is then aerobically incubated to facilitate the production of cellulose. The step of substantially drying the cellulose may be added for certain products. Substantially dried cellulose resulting from this procedure is highly absorbent, tending to retain its absorbent properties during repeated wetting and drying, and is usable where such absorbency is desired.A subject of the present invention is a composition of matter consisting essentially of such cellulose in a native or substantially dried form. Microbial cellulose produced in the presence of carboxymethyl cellulose may be substantially dried by many means known to those skilled in the art. This drying may be, for example, by washing with a non-aqueous hydrophilic solvent or by air-drying.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1987Date of Patent: July 17, 1990Assignee: Board of Regents, the University of Texas SystemInventor: R. Malcolm Brown, Jr.
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Patent number: 4891317Abstract: A method of producing cellulose of amorphous character by subjecting cellulose-producing organisms to a magnetic field substantially greater than 0.5 gauss and preferably at least about 500 gauss. The cellulose produced in the presence of a magnetic field is of an amorphous nature with increased water absorptivity and decreased crystallinity.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1985Date of Patent: January 2, 1990Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: R. Malcolm Brown, Jr., Debra S. Brown, Michael R. Gretz