Patents by Inventor Steven Mullens

Steven Mullens 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: 11896968
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for producing lanthanide doped layered double hydroxides (Ln-doped LDHs). The method includes the steps of preparing a carbonate free alkaline solution; preparing a solution of metal salts comprising a salt of a lanthanide; co-precipitating the alkaline solution and the solution of metal salts to form a mixture and Ln-doped LDH precipitate wherein the pH of the mixture is maintained at a constant value; aging the precipitate; and separating the precipitate from the solution. The alkaline solution is an aqueous ammonia solution. The present disclosure is also related to lanthanide-doped layered double hydroxides (La-doped LDHs) obtainable by such a method, as well as to the use of the lanthanide-doped layered double hydroxides obtainable by such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignees: VITO NV, UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN
    Inventors: Elena Mihaela Seftel, Bart Michielsen, Steven Mullens, Pegie Cool, Vera Meynen
  • Patent number: 11547988
    Abstract: Methods use a catalytic composition built up from a ceramic material including a catalytic material and a first inorganic binder and a second inorganic binder and a catalytic structure made thereof. Preferably, the structure is made by a colloidal ceramic shaping technique. The structure is used for catalytic or ion exchange applications. The catalytic structures have excellent mechanical, physicochemical and catalytic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: VITO NV (VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK NV), UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN
    Inventors: Steven Mullens, Lidia Protasova, Jasper Lefevere
  • Patent number: 11192095
    Abstract: A catalytic composition is built up from a ceramic material including a catalytic material and a first inorganic binder and a second inorganic binder and a catalytic structure made thereof. Preferably, the structure is made by a colloidal ceramic shaping technique. The structure is usable for catalytic or ion exchange applications as well. It is demonstrated that the catalytic structures have excellent mechanical, physicochemical and catalytic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignees: Vito NV (Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek NV), Universiteit Antwerpen
    Inventors: Steven Mullens, Lidia Protasova, Jasper Lefevere
  • Patent number: 11141278
    Abstract: A surgical implant may include a porous structure with interconnected pores for ingrowth of bone into the porous structure. The porous structure has an arrangement of fibres which are attached to one another, the fibres being arranged in stacked layers. The porous structure has a surface including different regions having different porosities. A method of making the above surgical implant is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: VITO NV
    Inventors: Steven Mullens, Lidia Protasova, Simge Danaci, Dirk Vangeneugden, Jasper Lefevere
  • Patent number: 9464342
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a high ductility Ti-, Ti-alloy or NiTi-foam, meaning a compression strain higher than 10%, includes: preparing a powder suspension of a Ti-, NiTi- or Ti-alloy powder, bringing the said powder suspension into a desired form by gelcasting to form a green artifact. The method also includes a calcination step wherein the green artifact is calcined, and sintering the artifact. The calcination step includes a slow heating step wherein said green artifact is heated at a rate lower or equal to 20° C./hour to a temperature between 400° C. and 600° C. and the Ti-, NiTi- or Ti-alloy powder has a particle size less than 100 ?m. A high ductility Ti-, Ti-alloy or NiTi foam, with a compression higher than 10%, with a theoretical density less than 30%, pore size (cell size) between 50 to 1000 ?m can be obtained with such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK (VITO)
    Inventors: Steven Mullens, Ivo Thijs, Jozef Cooymans, Jan Luyten
  • Patent number: 8992828
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a high ductility Ti-, Ti-alloy or NiTi-foam, meaning a compression strain higher than 10%, includes: preparing a powder suspension of a Ti-, NiTi- or Ti-alloy powder, bringing the said powder suspension into a desired form by gelcasting to form a green artifact. The method also includes a calcination step wherein the green artifact is calcined, and sintering the artifact. The calcination step includes a slow heating step wherein said green artifact is heated at a rate lower or equal to 20° C./hour to a temperature between 400° C. and 600° C. and the Ti-, NiTi- or Ti-alloy powder has a particle size less than 100 ?m. A high ductility Ti-, Ti-alloy or NiTi foam, with a compression higher than 10%, with a theoretical density less than 30%, pore size (cell size) between 50 to 1000 ?m can be obtained with such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO)
    Inventors: Steven Mullens, Ivo Thijs, Jozef Cooymans, Jan Luyten
  • Patent number: 8557022
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a filled polymeric membrane includes a first step of preparing a filler suspension having a solvent for a glassy polymer and nanometer-sized particles. The nanometer-sized particles in the filler suspension are aggregated in aggregates having an average aggregate size in the range between 50 nm and smaller than 200 nm. In a following step, the glassy polymer is added to the filler suspension to obtain a polymer suspension. Next, the glassy polymer is dissolved in the polymer suspension. In a next step, the polymer suspension is cast on a substrate, followed by a step of removing the solvent. A filled polymeric membrane includes aggregates of nanometer-sized filler particles. The membrane is used in pervaporation and nanofiltration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek N.V. (VITO)
    Inventors: Kristien De Sitter, Steven Mullens, Lieven Gevers
  • Publication number: 20110089110
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a filled polymeric membrane includes a first step of preparing a filler suspension having a solvent for a glassy polymer and nanometre-sized particles. The nanometre-sized particles in the filler suspension are aggregated in aggregates having an average aggregate size in the range between 50 nm and smaller than 200 nm. In a following step, the glassy polymer is added to the filler suspension to obtain a polymer suspension. Next, the glassy polymer is dissolved in the polymer suspension. In a next step, the polymer suspension is cast on a substrate, followed by a step of removing the solvent. A filled polymeric membrane includes aggregates of nanometre-sized filler particles. The membrane is used in pervaporation and nanofiltration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek N.V. (VITO)
    Inventors: Kristien De Sitter, Steven Mullens, Lieven Gevers
  • Publication number: 20100256773
    Abstract: A surgical implant (10) includes a porous core part (11) made of a porous biocompatible material and a dense shell (12) made of a biocompatible material provided on a part of the surface of the porous core part which forms an interface with biological soft tissue. The dense shell shields the porous core from in-growth of soft tissue. The porous core part has open interconnected pores. A method of manufacturing a surgical implant includes the steps of: producing a porous core part, applying a viscous suspension on a part of the surface of the porous core part and applying a thermal treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek N.V. (VITO)
    Inventors: Ivo Thijs, Wim Bouwen, Steven Mullens, Jan Luyten, Norbert Dejonghe
  • Publication number: 20090280022
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a high ductility Ti-, Ti-alloy or NiTi-foam, meaning a compression strain higher than 10%, includes: preparing a powder suspension of a Ti-, NiTi- or Ti-alloy powder, bringing the said powder suspension into a desired form by gelcasting to form a green artefact. The method also includes a calcination step wherein the green artefact is calcined, and sintering the artifact. The calcination step includes a slow heating step wherein said green artefact is heated at a rate lower or equal to 20° C./hour to a temperature between 400° C. and 600° C. and the Ti-, NiTi- or Ti-alloy powder has a particle size less than 100 ?m. A high ductility Ti-, Ti-alloy or NiTi foam, with a compression higher than 10%, with a theoretical density less than 30%, pore size (cell size) between 50 to 1000 ?m can be obtained with such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Steven Mullens, Ivo Thijs, Jozef Cooymans, Jan Luyten
  • Patent number: 7044031
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved tool for driving a threaded fastener, such as a hex-headed sheet metal screw. The driving socket is adapted with an counter-bore in the region of the face of driving end of the socket, sufficient to receive therein the shoulder on the fastener head. In the preferred embodiment the counter-bore is countersunk into the face of the socket, coaxially with the driving recess, and terminates in a boss which receives the shoulder of the fastener when placed in the socket for driving. An alternative embodiment of the invention includes an counter-bore in the driving end of the socket wherein the bore is a conical section, the major diameter of which is larger enough to receive the shoulder of the fastener head while being of limited depth so as to enable the majority of the fastener head to engage the driving sides of the hexagonal socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Inventor: Steven Mullen