Patents by Inventor Richard A. Robb

Richard A. Robb 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: 20090186870
    Abstract: A compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in which R1, R2, R3, R4 and m are as described in the specification for use in the treatment of obesity and/or diabetes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Jack McQueen ALLEN, Roger John Butlin, Clive Green, William McCoull, Graeme Richard Robb, James Matthew Wood
  • Publication number: 20090105263
    Abstract: Compounds of Formula (I): wherein R1 to R11, A and X1 to X3 are as described in the specification, and their salts, are activators of glucokinase (GLK) and are thereby useful in the treatment of, for example, type 2 diabetes. Processes for preparing compounds of Formula (I) are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Peter William Rodney Caulkett, Darren McKerrecher, Nicholas John Newcombe, Kurt Gordon Pike, Graeme Richard Robb, Michael James Waring
  • Publication number: 20080208733
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved system and method for auctioning services, which overcomes some of the drawbacks in the prior art systems and methods. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, buyers request and specify at the start of the auction the number of lowest bids the buyers would like to see. By requesting to see more bids, the buyers would have greater opportunity to evaluate service providers based on factors other than price, thereby encouraging less price competition among providers. By requesting to see fewer bids, the buyers would have less opportunity to evaluate service providers based on factors other than price, thereby encouraging fierce price competition. The number of bids requested by the Buyer is made known to the bidders. The net effect is that the buyers can control the price/quality tradeoff at the onset of the auction process, and encourage the bidders to provide their lowest bids when pricing is important.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Richard Robb, Thomas Riemer
  • Patent number: 7330833
    Abstract: A system and method for auctioning services. A rating system is employed to rate the buyer's transaction history, with respect to their frequency of following through with the bids for jobs that they submitted for auction. This rating system deters those buyers that casually shop for pricing with little chance of following through with the auction. A low rating discourages service providers from bidding, thereby decreasing the competitiveness of an auction and increasing the cost of obtaining the service. The buyer follow-through ratings give the bidders a better sense of the buyer's commitment prior to deciding on allocating resources to participate in bidding at the auction. In one embodiment, the system and method for auctioning services are implemented over an information exchange network. In a further aspect, buyers request and specify at the start of the auction the number of lowest bids the buyers would like to see.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Printvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Robb, Thomas Riemer
  • Patent number: 7190163
    Abstract: A training module is used to produce a database that stores histogram landmarks for MR images acquired with different scan parameters such as TR, TE flip angle and inversion recovery time. This database is used by a transformation module which enables an MR image acquired at one prescribed set of scan parameters to be transformed into MR images that simulate MR images acquired with different scan parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Srinivasan Rajagopalan, Richard A. Robb
  • Publication number: 20060249875
    Abstract: Techniques for generating tissue support structure are presented. A curved minimal surface shape is determined as a template for generating a tissue support structure. The determined curved minimal surface shape is numerically or functionally defined to create data representing the shape. The data is exported to a rapid prototyping system to generate a plurality of tissue support structures having a curved minimal surface. The tissue support structure can have a pore sub-section and a non-pore sub-section divided by a non-intersecting two-sided surface. A number of characteristics of the tissue support structure can be modulated including porosity and mechanical strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Robb, Srinivasan Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 7070167
    Abstract: A lifting apparatus comprising: one of a mobile/or and stationary base; a lift platform having a geometric first center, the lift platform movable relative to the base from a lowered position to an upper position; a linkage or linkage mechanism interconnecting the base and the lift platform for guiding the base and the lift platform to stay in a generally mutually parallel relationship as the lift platform moves relative to the base; the base, lift platform and linkage configured so that when the lift platform in its lowered position the first center intersects the base at a first point and with the lift platform in its upper position the first center intersects the base at a longitudinally off-set second point; and a fluid (fluid/pneumatic) control spring operatively mounted between the lift platform and the base, for controllably lifting and lowering the lift platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Herkules Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Todd J. Bacon, Richard A. Robb
  • Publication number: 20050231199
    Abstract: A training module is used to produce a database that stores histogram landmarks for MR images acquired with different scan parameters such as TR, TE flip angle and inversion recovery time. This database is used by a transformation module which enables an MR image acquired at one prescribed set of scan parameters to be transformed into MR images that simulate MR images acquired with different scan parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Srinivasan Rajagopalan, Richard Robb
  • Patent number: 6556695
    Abstract: Images of a heart are acquired with a high resolution medical imaging system used to construct a dynamic high resolution 4D model. During a medical procedure such as endocardial physiology mapping and ablation, real-time images are produced by an ultrasonic transducer inserted into the heart. The high resolution heart model is registered with the acquired real-time images and used to produce dynamic, high resolution images for display during the medical procedure. An electrical activation map which depicts the spatial distribution of heart wall electrical activation is merged with the anatomic images to facilitate cardiac ablation therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Douglas L. Packer, Richard A. Robb
  • Patent number: 6049622
    Abstract: Image data is acquired and a spatial coordinate system is attached to the image data set. A navigational guide employs the attached coordinate system to indicate to the viewer the orientation of the imaged object and the location of the viewer with respect to the imaged object. This indication is made in a number of ways, including the display of an icon which depicts the orientation of the object being viewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Richard A. Robb, Bruce M. Cameron, James B. Seward
  • Patent number: 5862822
    Abstract: A device for cleaning a buffing pad comprising: a housing; a turbine wheel means, in the housing for supporting the pad and for rotating the pad in fluid to remove debris therefrom and in air to dry same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Herkules Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip Borders, Craig A. Achenbach, Richard A. Robb
  • Patent number: 5658744
    Abstract: Methods of identifying a patient having an altered immune status involve determining an immune status index for the patient and comparing it to the immune status index in healthy individuals. In general, an immune status index is the ratio of the amount of a protein that varies significantly in a patient with an altered immune status to the amount of another protein that is substantially invariant in both healthy and immune-altered individuals. Variable proteins can be TCR subunit proteins, T lymphocyte signal transduction pathway proteins, polynucleotide binding proteins or biological response modifiers (BRM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Biomira USA Inc.
    Inventors: Augusto C. Ochoa, Howard A. Young, Dan L. Longo, Paritosh Ghosh, Richard Robb, Mary Neville
  • Patent number: 5568384
    Abstract: A method for synthesizing three dimensional multimodality image sets into a single composite image with accurate registration and congruence. Surfaces are initially extracted from two or more different images to be matched using semi-automatic segmentation techniques. These surfaces are represented as contours with common features to be matched. A distance transformation is performed for one surface image, and a cost function for the matching process is developed using the distance image. The geometric transformation includes three-dimensional translation, rotation and scaling to accommodate images of different position, orientation and size. The matching process involves efficiently searching this multi-parameter space and adjusting a surface or surfaces to find the best fit among them which minimizes the cost function. The local minima problem is addressed by using a large number of starting points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Richard A. Robb, Hong-Jian Jiang
  • Patent number: 5485860
    Abstract: A system for cleaning paint from objects such as spray guns, associated cups and paint cans comprising: an enclosed housing divided into a work chamber and a fluid storage reservoir containing paint solvent and a fluid, having a specific gravity greater than that of the solvent; spray nozzles attached to a first and a second outlet adapted to receive and spray pressurized solvent therefrom; the first outlet includes a tube for receiving and supporting a spray gun and for directing solvent to flow through an inlet of the gun; a foraminous layer definesg a surface for supporting articles to be cleaned in a preferred orientation relative to the second outlet. The system includes additions spray nozzles for spraying the exterior of the articles being cleaned. In addition the system includes a bracket for orienting a paint can in a relatively rotational manner relative to a spray nozzle interior to the paint can for enhancing the cleaning thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Herkules Equiptment Corp.
    Inventors: Richard A. Robb, Michael J. Grubb, John J. Grubb, James T. Asanger
  • Patent number: 5193561
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a work chamber (14) in which may be placed an object to be cleaned, and a cover (32) to enclose the work chamber; a fluid delivery system (52, 54) for delivering cleaning solvent to the work chamber (14) including a pump (40) for pressurizing the solvent; a first and second switch (204,210) for activiating and deactivating the operation of the pump means; and a fluid timer (220), in communication with the fluid delivery system, for causing at least one switch to be activated and thereafter after a predetermined time deactived terminating operation of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Herkules Equipment Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Robb, Lee S. Garretson, Michael J. Grubb
  • Patent number: 5174317
    Abstract: A system for cleaning paint from objects such as spray guns, associated cups and paint cans comprising: an enclosed housing divided into a work chamber and a fluid storage reservoir containing paint solvent and a fluid, having a specific gravity greater than that of the solvent; spray nozzles attached to a first and a second outlet adapted to receive and spray pressurized solvent therefrom; the first outlet includes a tube for receiving and supporting a spray gun and for directing solvent to flow through an inlet of the gun; a foraminous layer definesg a surface for supporting articles to be cleaned in a preferred orientation relative to the second outlet. The system includes additions spray nozzles for spraying the exterior of the articles being cleaned. In addition the system includes a bracket for orienting a paint can in a relatively rotational manner relative to a spray nozzle interior to the paint can for enhancing the cleaning thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignees: Herkules Equipment Corporation, A.B.T. Equipment Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard A. Robb, Michael J. Grubb, John J. Grubb, James T. Asanger
  • Patent number: 4960142
    Abstract: A system for cleaning paint from objects such as spray gun cups, paint cans and lids comprising: an enclosed housing divided into a work chamber and a fluid storage reservoir containing paint solvent; a manifold for distributing solvent, spray nozzles attached to the manifold and adapted to receive and spray pressurized solvent therefrom; a rotable bracket having ribs or legs for supporting a hollow object such as a paint can and a conduit in communication with the manifold which supports spray nozzles which direct a spray pattern upon the hollow object to cause it to turn, another rotary bracket is provided to support a flat object such as a lid of a paint can an includes another conduit with a nozzle for cleaning a surface of the flat object and for causing same to turn in relation to the spray pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Herrules Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Robb, Michael J. Grubb
  • Patent number: 4793369
    Abstract: A system for cleaning paint from objects such as spray guns, associated cups and paint cans comprising: an enclosed housing divided into a work chamber and a fluid storage reservoir containing paint solvent and a fluid, having a specific gravity greater than that of the solvent; spray nozzles attached to a first and a second outlet adapted to receive and spray pressurized solvent therefrom; the first outlet includes a tube for receiving and supporting a spray gun and for directing solvent to flow through an inlet of the spray gun; a foraminous layer defines a surface for supporting articles to be cleaned in a preferred orientation relative to the second outlet. The system includes additional spray nozzles for spraying the exterior of the articles being cleaned. In addition, the system includes a bracket for orienting a paint can in a relatively rotational manner relative to a spray nozzle interior to the paint can for enhancing the cleaning thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignees: Herkules Equipment Corporation, ABT Equipment and Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard A. Robb, Michael J. Grubb, John J. Grubb, James T. Asanger
  • Patent number: D400196
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Bruce M. Cameron, Richard A. Robb