Patents by Inventor Robert D. Collins

Robert D. Collins 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: 20190309997
    Abstract: A combined refrigeration and power plant. The power plant comprises an internal combustion engine an air cycle machine refrigerator driven by the internal combustion engine and configured to refrigerate atmospheric air to provide working fluid to combined refrigeration and power generation cycle, a refrigerated air storage unit configured to store working fluid produced by the air cycle machine refrigerator; and first and second heat exchangers. The first heat exchanger arrangement is configured to exchange heat between a device to be cooled and the working fluid, and the second heat exchanger arrangement is configured to exchange heat between the working fluid downstream of the first heat exchanger in the combined refrigeration and power generation cycle and waste heat from the internal combustion engine; and a generator turbine configured to receive heated working fluid from the second heat exchanger arrangement, and configured to power an electrical generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Paul FLETCHER, Parag VYAS, Robert D COLLINS, Chloe J PALMER, Stephen G BROWN
  • Patent number: 10272133
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with dyslipidemia, including hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, steatohepatitis, atherosclerosis, obesity, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, and related aspects of and conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. The compositions and methods disclosed herein are useful for regulating the lipid balance (lipid homeostasis) in a subject. Compositions and methods including a Nuclear Transport Modifier may be administered to a subject to modulate the transport of transcription factors, mediated by nuclear import adaptors, into the nucleus of a cell resulting in a decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and liver, a decrease in atherosclerotic lesion size, a decrease in body weight and in hyperglycemia, a reduction of fatty liver inflammation, and an improvement in liver function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Jack J. Hawiger, Ruth Ann Veach, Jozef Zienkiewicz, Yan Liu, Robert D. Collins, Amy S. Major
  • Publication number: 20180050083
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with dyslipidemia, including hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, steatohepatitis, atherosclerosis, obesity, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, and related aspects of and conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. The compositions and methods disclosed herein are useful for regulating the lipid balance (lipid homeostasis) in a subject. Compositions and methods including a Nuclear Transport Modifier may be administered to a subject to modulate the transport of transcription factors, mediated by nuclear import adaptors, into the nucleus of a cell resulting in a decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and liver, a decrease in atherosclerotic lesion size, a decrease in body weight and in hyperglycemia, a reduction of fatty liver inflammation, and an improvement in liver function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Jack J. Hawiger, Ruth Ann Veach, Jozef Zienkiewicz, Yan Liu, Robert D. Collins, Amy S. Major
  • Patent number: 9808501
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with dyslipidemia, including hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, steatohepatitis, atherosclerosis, obesity, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, and related aspects of and conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. The compositions and methods disclosed herein are useful for regulating the lipid balance (lipid homeostasis) in a subject. Compositions and methods including a Nuclear Transport Modifier may be administered to a subject to modulate the transport of transcription factors, mediated by nuclear import adaptors, into the nucleus of a cell resulting in a decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and liver, a decrease in atherosclerotic lesion size, a decrease in body weight and in hyperglycemia, a reduction of fatty liver inflammation, and an improvement in liver function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Jack J. Hawiger, Ruth Ann Veach, Jozef Zienkiewicz, Yan Liu, Robert D. Collins, Amy S. Major
  • Publication number: 20170042964
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with dyslipidemia, including hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, steatohepatitis, atherosclerosis, obesity, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, and related aspects of and conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. The compositions and methods disclosed herein are useful for regulating the lipid balance (lipid homeostasis) in a subject. Compositions and methods including a Nuclear Transport Modifier may be administered to a subject to modulate the transport of transcription factors, mediated by nuclear import adaptors, into the nucleus of a cell resulting in a decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and liver, a decrease in atherosclerotic lesion size, a decrease in body weight and in hyperglycemia, a reduction of fatty liver inflammation, and an improvement in liver function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Jack J. Hawiger, Ruth Ann Veach, Jozef Zienkiewicz, Yan Liu, Robert D. Collins, Amy S. Major
  • Patent number: 9370549
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with dyslipidemia, including hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, steatohepatitis, atherosclerosis, obesity, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, and related aspects of and conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. The compositions and methods disclosed herein are useful for regulating the lipid balance (lipid homeostasis) in a subject. Compositions and methods including a Nuclear Transport Modifier may be administered to a subject to modulate the transport of transcription factors, mediated by nuclear import adaptors, into the nucleus of a cell resulting in a decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and liver, a decrease in atherosclerotic lesion size, a decrease in body weight and in hyperglycemia, a reduction of fatty liver inflammation, and an improvement in liver function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Jack J. Hawiger, Ruth Ann Veach, Jozef Zienkiewicz, Yan Liu, Robert D. Collins, Amy S. Major
  • Publication number: 20150250850
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with dyslipidemia, including hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, steatohepatitis, atherosclerosis, obesity, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, and related aspects of and conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. The compositions and methods disclosed herein are useful for regulating the lipid balance (lipid homeostasis) in a subject. Compositions and methods including a Nuclear Transport Modifier may be administered to a subject to modulate the transport of transcription factors, mediated by nuclear import adaptors, into the nucleus of a cell resulting in a decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and liver, a decrease in atherosclerotic lesion size, a decrease in body weight and in hyperglycemia, a reduction of fatty liver inflammation, and an improvement in liver function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Jack J. Hawiger, Ruth Ann Veach, Jozef Zienkiewicz, Yan Liu, Robert D. Collins, Amy S. Major
  • Patent number: 9044433
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with dyslipidemia, including hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, steatohepatitis, atherosclerosis, obesity, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, and related aspects of and conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. The compositions and methods disclosed herein are useful for regulating the lipid balance (lipid homeostasis) in a subject. Compositions and methods including a Nuclear Transport Modifier may be administered to a subject to modulate the transport of transcription factors, mediated by nuclear import adaptors, into the nucleus of a cell resulting in a decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and liver, a decrease in atherosclerotic lesion size, a decrease in body weight and in hyperglycemia, a reduction of fatty liver inflammation, and an improvement in liver function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Jack J. Hawiger, Ruth Ann Veach, Jozef Zienkiewicz, Yan Liu, Robert D. Collins, Amy Major
  • Patent number: 8932559
    Abstract: Nuclear Transport Modifiers such as cSN50 and cSN50.1, afford in vivo islet protection following a 2-day course of intense treatment in autoimmune diabetes-prone, non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a widely used model of Type 1 diabetes (T1D), which resulted in a diabetes-free state for one year without apparent toxicity and the need to use insulin. cSN50 precipitously reduces the accumulation of islet-destructive autoreactive lymphocytes while enhancing activation-induced cell death of T and B lymphocytes derived from NOD mice. cSN50 attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production in immune cells in this model of human T1D. cSN50 also provides cytoprotection of beta cells, therefore preserving residual insulin-producing capacity. Because intracellular delivery of a Nuclear Transport Modifier peptide such as cSN50 and cSN50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Jack J. Hawiger, Robert D. Collins, Daniel J. Moore, Jozef Zienkiewicz, Ruth Ann Veach
  • Publication number: 20140336113
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with dyslipidemia, including hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, steatohepatitis, atherosclerosis, obesity, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, and related aspects of and conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. The compositions and methods disclosed herein are useful for regulating the lipid balance (lipid homeostasis) in a subject. Compositions and methods including a Nuclear Transport Modifier may be administered to a subject to modulate the transport of transcription factors, mediated by nuclear import adaptors, into the nucleus of a cell resulting in a decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and liver, a decrease in atherosclerotic lesion size, a decrease in body weight and in hyperglycemia, a reduction of fatty liver inflammation, and an improvement in liver function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Jack J. Hawiger, Ruth Ann Veach, Jozef Zienkiewicz, Yan Liu, Robert D. Collins, Amy Major
  • Patent number: 8324148
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the delivery of biologically active molecules, such as peptides, nucleic acids and therapeutic agents, into the interior of cells by administering to the cells a complex comprising the molecule linked to an importation competent signal peptide. Such delivery can be utilized for purposes such as peptide therapy, gene transfer, and antisense therapy to regulate and/or eradicate systemic inflammatory response syndromes such as endotoxic shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Jack J. Hawiger, Daniel Robinson, Ruth Ann Veach, Xue Yan Liu, Danya Liu, Sheila Downs, Robert D. Collins, Yao-Zhong Lin
  • Patent number: 8043576
    Abstract: A reformer module (10) comprises a hollow support member (12) having at least one passage (14) extending longitudinally therethrough. The hollow support member (14) has an external surface (20), a barrier layer (22) arranged on at least a portion of the external surface (20) of the hollow support member (12), a catalyst layer (24) arranged on the barrier layer (22) and a sealing layer (26) arranged on the catalyst layer (24) and the external surface (20) of the hollow support member (12) other than the at least a portion of the external surface of the hollow support member (12). By providing the barrier layer (22) and the catalyst layer (24) on the exterior surface (20) of the hollow support member (12), the distribution of the barrier layer (22) and/or the catalyst layer (24) may be more precisely controlled and thus a non-uniform distribution of barrier layer (22) and/or catalyst layer (24) may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Gerard D Agnew, Robert H Cunningham, Philip D Butler, Robert D Collins
  • Patent number: 7749465
    Abstract: A reformer module (10) comprises a hollow support member (12) having at least one passage (14) extending longitudinally therethrough. The hollow support member (14) has an external surface (20), a barrier layer (22) arranged on at least a portion of the external surface (20) of the hollow support member (12), a catalyst layer (24) arranged on the barrier layer (22) and a sealing layer (26) arranged on the catalyst layer (24) and the external surface (20) of the hollow support member (12) other than the at least a portion of the external surface of the hollow support member (12). By providing the barrier layer (22) and the catalyst layer (24) on the exterior surface (20) of the hollow support member (12), the distribution of the barrier layer (22) and/or the catalyst layer (24) may be more precisely controlled and thus a non-uniform distribution of barrier layer (22) and/or catalyst layer (24) may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Gerard D. Agnew, Robert H. Cunningham, Philip D. Butler, Robert D. Collins
  • Publication number: 20100135872
    Abstract: A reformer module (10) comprises a hollow support member (12) having at least one passage (14) extending longitudinally therethrough. The hollow support member (14) has an external surface (20), a barrier layer (22) arranged on at least a portion of the external surface (20) of the hollow support member (12), a catalyst layer (24) arranged on the barrier layer (22) and a sealing layer (26) arranged on the catalyst layer (24) and the external surface (20) of the hollow support member (12) other than the at least a portion of the external surface of the hollow support member (12). By providing the barrier layer (22) and the catalyst layer (24) on the exterior surface (20) of the hollow support member (12), the distribution of the barrier layer (22) and/or the catalyst layer (24) may be more precisely controlled and thus a non-uniform distribution of barrier layer (22) and/or catalyst layer (24) may be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Gerard D Agnew, Robert H Cunningham, Philip D Butler, Robert D Collins
  • Patent number: 7553929
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the delivery of biologically active molecules, such as peptides, into the interior of cells by administering to the cells a complex comprising the molecule linked to an importation competent signal peptide. Such delivery can be utilized, for example, to treat and/or prevent inflammatory conditions, e.g., but not limited to, systemic inflammatory reactions such as endotoxic shock, localized inflammatory reactions such as inflammatory skin diseases and conditions, and inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Jack J. Hawiger, Daniel Robinson, Ruth Ann Veach, Xue Yan Liu, Danya Liu, Sheila Downs, Robert D. Collins, Yao-Zhong Lin
  • Publication number: 20040235746
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the delivery of biologically active molecules, such as peptides, into the interior of cells by administering to the cells a complex comprising the molecule linked to an importation competent signal peptide. Such delivery can be utilized, for example, to treat and/or prevent inflammatory conditions, e.g., but not limited to, systemic inflammatory reactions such as endotoxic shock, localized inflammatory reactions such as inflammatory skin diseases and conditions, and inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune diseases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Jack J. Hawiger, Daniel Robinson, Ruth Ann Veach, Xue Yan Liu, Danya Liu, Sheila Downs, Robert D. Collins, Yao-Zhong Lin
  • Publication number: 20040147435
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the delivery of biologically active molecules, such as peptides, nucleic acids and therapeutic agents, into the interior of cells by administering to the cells a complex comprising the molecule linked to an importation competent signal peptide. Such delivery can be utilized for purposes such as peptide therapy, gene transfer, and antisense therapy to regulate and/or eradicate systemic inflammatory response syndromes such as endotoxic shock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Jack J. Hawiger, Daniel Robinson, Ruth Ann Veach, Xue Yan Liu, Danya Liu, Sheila Downs, Robert D. Collins, Yao-Zhong Lin
  • Patent number: 6495518
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the delivery of biologically active molecules, such as peptides, nucleic acids and therapeutic agents, into the interior of cells by administering to the cells a complex comprising the molecule linked to an importation competent signal peptide. Such delivery can be utilized for purposes such as peptide therapy, gene transfer, and antisense therapy to regulate and/or eradicate systemic inflammatory response syndromes such as endotoxic shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Jack J. Hawiger, Daniel Robinson, Ruth Ann Veach, Xue Yan Liu, Danya Liu, Sheila Timmons, Robert D. Collins
  • Patent number: 5458857
    Abstract: A combined reformer and shift reactor comprises a cylindrical reforming chamber arranged within and on the axis of a cylindrical vessel. An annular steam generator is arranged within, and coaxially with, the vessel. The steam generator is arranged around the reforming chamber. A plurality of shift reactors extend axially, with respect to the vessel, through the steam generator. Methane and steam are supplied via helically coiled pipe to the reforming chamber and air is supplied via helically coiled pipe. The methane and steam mixture and air flowing through the pipes are preheated by the reforming chamber product gases flowing in annular passage. The shift reactors convert carbon monoxide and water in the product gases to carbon dioxide and hydrogen and the heat produced is transferred to the water in the steam generator to produce steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, plc
    Inventors: Robert D. Collins, Michael J. Oakley