Removing A Liquid To Form A Cellular Product Patents (Class 521/64)
  • Patent number: 6822010
    Abstract: A method for producing a porous material excelling in stability of preservation is produced. A method for the production of a porous material comprising a step for obtaining a porous polymer by polymerizing an HIPE containing a polymerizable monomer is disclosed, which method comprises a step for adding a compound capable of reacting with a polymerization initiator and/or a compound capable of reacting with an unsaturated double bond to said emulsion, said porous polymer and/or said porous material having a conversion of not less than 70%. According to this invention, it is made possible to produce a porous material excelling in stability in storage and to decrease the polymerization initiator and the residual monomer very simply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotama Fujimaru, Hiroki Inoue, Kenji Kadonaga, Kinya Nagasuna
  • Patent number: 6808672
    Abstract: A process for the continuous coagulation and drying of rubber latex includes feeding the latex onto an endless conveyor belt which feeds the latex through a coagulator. A combination of microwave energy and hot air raises the temperature of the latex causing it to coagulate in a coagulation time of less than five minutes. The coagulated rubber from the coagulator is fed into a conveyor belt of a stretch unit which stretches the rubber by increasing its speed of travel. The stretched rubber is then conveyed onto the upper belt of a drying unit. The drying rubber is passed from the upper belt onto an intermediate belt and then on to a lower belt before leaving the drying unit. A combination of microwave energy and hot air in the drying unit is used to dry the rubber to a moisture content of less than 1.5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Linatex Rubber Products SDN BHD
    Inventors: Robert Michael Stewart, Chan Pak Kuen, Ralph Nicholas Spearman, Norhisham MD Sanusi, David William Fountain
  • Publication number: 20040209338
    Abstract: This disclosure describes the first viable non-enzyme protein encapsulated within an aerogel. In this, a large excess of cyt. c is added to a commercial buffered Au sol solution ( ) which results in the formation of a gold˜protein-protein superstructure in the absence of separation techniques which destroy the superstructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Debra R. Rolison, Jean M. Wallace, Jeremy J. Pietron, Jane K. Rice, Rhonda M. Stroud
  • Patent number: 6806299
    Abstract: Synthetic methods for the preparation of hydrophobic organics aerogels. One method involves the sol-gel polymerization of 1,3-dimethoxybenzene or 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene with formaldehyde in non-aqueous solvents. Using a procedure analogous to the preparation of resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) aerogels, this approach generates wet gels that can be dried using either supercritical solvent extraction to generate the new organic aerogels or air dried to produce an xerogel. Other methods involve the sol-gel polymerization of 1,3,5 trihydroxy benzene (phloroglucinol) or 1,3 dihydroxy benzene (resorcinol) and various aldehydes in non-aqueous solvents. These methods use a procedure analogous to the one-step base and two-step base/acid catalyzed polycondensation of phloroglucinol and formaldehyde, but the base catalyst used is triethylamine. These methods can be applied to a variety of other sol-gel precursors and solvent systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Theodore F. Baumann, Joe H. Satcher, Jr., Alexander E. Gash
  • Patent number: 6800666
    Abstract: Hydrophilic open-celled resilient foams containing melamine-formaldehyde resins, characterized by a droplet absorption rate of less than 5 seconds and an EU standard EN ISO 14184-1 formaldehyde emission of less than 100 mg of formaldehyde/kg of foam, and obtainable by (a) heating an aqueous solution or dispersion each containing at least a melamine-formaldehyde precondensate, an emulsifier, a blowing agent and a curing agent to form a foam and crosslink the precondensate, (b) then conditioning the foam at from 120 to 300° C. for from 1 to 180 minutes to remove volatiles, and (c) treating the foam during the conditioning or thereafter with at least one hydrophilicizer and/or with ozone, a corona discharge or a plasma, are useful in hygiene articles to acquire, distribute and immobilize body fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Hähnle, Horst Baumgartl, Martin Beck, Norbert Herfert, Bernhard Mohr, Jürgen Huff
  • Patent number: 6797735
    Abstract: A method of production is provided which is capable of efficiently producing in a very short period of time a porous polymer possessing a uniform foam structure and truly excelling in absorption properties and physical properties. It is a method for the production of a porous polymer, characterized by comprising (a) an emulsifying step for forming a water-in-oil type high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) by mixing and stirring an oil phase containing a polymerizing monomer component and a surfactant as essential components, (b) a shaping step for shaping the HIPE in a specific form, and (c) a polymerizing step for polymerizing the shaped HIPE and controlling the temperatures of the emulsion at the component steps (a)-(c) so that they may not produce a change exceeding 10° C. or controlling all the component steps so that they may proceed at temperatures of not lower than 80° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinya Nagasuna, Kenji Kadonaga, Hirotama Fujimaru, Kozo Nogi, Kenji Minami
  • Patent number: 6774151
    Abstract: A method of producing a porous, liquid absorbent, open-cell polymeric foam material having properties which makes it suitable for use as an absorbent structure in absorbent articles such as diapers, pant diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinence guards, wound dressings, bed protections etc, comprising dissolving a polymer in a solvent, adding a surfactant and causing foaming, after which the polymer is crosslinked in the foamed mixture by means of a crosslinking agent. The temperature of the foam thus formed is lowered to a temperature below the freezing point of the solvent and the crosslinking reaction is continued during the freezing step, and after the main part of the solvent is removed from the formed foam material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Kent Malmgren, Bengt Widberg
  • Patent number: 6765030
    Abstract: Methods of forming a polymeric structure having a plurality of cells therein that include contacting a polymeric material that includes a first phase and a second phase with a composition comprising carbon dioxide to form the polymeric structure having a plurality of cells therein are described. Polymeric materials and microelectronic devices formed by such methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Sara Naomi Paisner
  • Patent number: 6765029
    Abstract: A method for dehydrating a porous cross-linked polymer conveniently to a low final water content is provided. A porous cross-linked polymer sheet is produced by a method which comprises causing a porous cross-linked polymer obtained by forming and polymerizing a water-in-oil type higher internal phase emulsion to be dehydrated by the use of non-woven fabric rolls furnished with an aspiration mechanism. Properly in this case, the porous cross-linked polymer is subjected to preliminary squeezing. In accordance with the present invention, a porous cross-linked polymer abounding in a water absorbing property to be dehydrated to a low final water content with a small number of rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignees: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd., The Proctor & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Masazumi Sasabe, Katsuhiko Sakamoto, Kozo Nogi, Motohiro Arakawa
  • Patent number: 6759445
    Abstract: The present invention relates to form materials comprising polymeric material wherein the structure of the polymeric material contains elastic amorphous areas of nano-scale-size reinforced with self arranged crystalline domains of nano-crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Valery Alexandrovich Dyatlov, Bernhard Hanke, Bernhard Rieger, Judith Preuschen
  • Patent number: 6759080
    Abstract: The invention discloses methods for making foams by photopolymerizing emulsions comprising a reactive phase and a phase immiscible with the reactive phase components. Foams made from water-in-oil emulsions, including high internal phase emulsion are disclosed. Articles and uses for the foams are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kristin La Velle Thunhorst, Mark David Gehlsen, Robin Edgar Wright, Eric Wayne Nelson, Steven Dean Koecher, Douglas Gold
  • Patent number: 6756413
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an O/W type aqueous dispersion which comprises mixing a radical polymerization type thermosetting resin and water together to uniformly disperse particles of the resin in the aqueous phase; the aqueous dispersion is stable and thixotropic and has excellent workability; moreover, as with a normal radical polymerization type thermosetting resin, the aqueous dispersion can be cured at ambient temperature or with heating in the presence of a curing agent and if necessary an accelerator, and the cured material obtained is a porous cured material having fine particles bound together and fine interconnected pores between the bound particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Japan U-PICA Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keizo Masawaki
  • Patent number: 6750263
    Abstract: This invention provides a method of producing a porous cross-linked polymer by horizontal continuous polymerization of a water-in-oil higher internal phase emulsion (HIPE), which includes using a weir at the opposite end parts in the width direction of an emulsion supporting member for use in the polymerization. This invention also provides a method of producing a porous cross-linked polymer by horizontal continuous polymerization of an HIPE, which includes using a supporting member of the lower side of the emulsion and a sheet material on the upper side of the emulsion, and performing the polymerization by exerting a tensile force in the width direction and/or the travel direction of the sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masazumi Sasabe, Katsuhiko Sakamoto, Kozo Nogi
  • Patent number: 6750262
    Abstract: Water-absorbing, expanded, crosslinked polymers obtainable by (I) foaming a polymerizable aqueous mixture which comprises (a) monoethylenically unsaturated monomers which contain acidic groups and are optionally neutralized, (b) optionally other monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, (c) crosslinkers, (d) initiators, (e) 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Hähnle, Ulrich Schröder, Wolfgang Heider, Gunnar Schornick, Thomas Anstock
  • Patent number: 6750261
    Abstract: This invention relates to foams made by polymerizing high internal phase emulsions (HIPE) containing polyelectrolytes. The emulsions comprise a continuous oil phase and a co- or discontinuous aqueous phase. The resulting foams are useful as a separations medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Susannah C. Clear, Ranjani V. Parthasarathy, Ravi K. Sura, Philip P. Soo
  • Patent number: 6730711
    Abstract: A method for the production of a porous cross-linked polymer material by the polymerization of an HIPE containing a cross-linking agent, characterized by the fact at least one species of the cross-linking agent is a compound having a double bond equivalent f not less than 120 g/mol. The cross-linking agent is preferred to be a compound possessed of an alkylene oxide moiety or a vinyl polymer containing not less than two polymerizing double bonds in the molecular unit. Thus, it is made possible to produce a porous cross-linked polymer material excellent in absorbency and flexibility, permit the HIPE to be polymerized in a short time, and therefore improve the efficiency of production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignees: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd., The Proctor & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Masazumi Sasabe, Kenji Kadonaga, Hiroki Inoue, Akiko Mitsuhashi, Hirotama Fujimaru, Masatoshi Yoshida, Masuji Izubayashi, Kazutomo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6730712
    Abstract: A method for producing a porous cross-linked polymer sheet capable of slicing quickly is provided. This method comprises a step for obtaining a porous cross-linked polymer by forming and polymerizing an HIPE, a step for dehydrating the porous cross-linked polymer, and a step for subsequently slicing the dehydrated porous cross-linked polymer. According to this invention, by performing the step of dehydration prior to the conventional step of slicing, it is made possible to prevent the porous cross-linked polymer from adhering to the blade and the guides provided for a slicer, and allow the slicing to be attained quickly. By removing the salt from the polymer, it is further made possible to prevent a production device from gathering rust and the porous cross-linked polymer from permitting adhesion of rust thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masazumi Sasabe, Katsuhiko Sakamoto, Kozo Nogi, Motohiro Arakawa
  • Patent number: 6689465
    Abstract: Disclosed is substantially spherical porous beads of an aromatic polyether ketone resin, which have an average particle diameter of 50 to 5,000 &mgr;m and a porosity of 40 to 99%. Also disclosed is a method for producing porous beads, which comprises: mixing, while heating, an aromatic polyether ketone resin with a sol vent capable of dissolving the resin to thereby obtain a resin solution; dispersing the resin solution in a liquid dispersion medium which is incapable of dissolving the resin and is non-miscible with the solvent, to thereby obtain a dispersion having the resin solution dispersed therein in the form of globules; cooling the dispersion while maintaining the dispersed form of the resin solution in the liquid dispersion medium, to thereby solidify the resin in the resin solution; and separating the solidified resin from a mixture of the solvent and the liquid dispersion medium, thereby obtaining substantially spherical porous beads of the aromatic polyether ketone resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Omori, Yohsuke Koizumi
  • Patent number: 6664305
    Abstract: A process of manufacturing of a chromatography material comprising the steps of (i) reacting a polymerizable at least bifunctional monomer A with a ligand also having a functional group which binds covalently with one of the functional groups of said polymerizable bifunctional monomer A, (ii) to form a compound B comprising at least one polymerizable functional moiety (iii) polymerizing the compound B essentially alone or with the polymerizable monomers in presence of porogenes to obtain a block of porous polymerizate which is self-supporting or (iv) reacting the ligand and a spacer via a covalent bond which is cleavable to form a ligand-spacer conjugate and binding the ligand-spacer conjugate to the surface of a chromatographic support or reacting the ligand-spacer conjugate via a covalent bond to the at least bi-functional monomer A and polymerizing it essentially alone or with the polymerizable monomers in presence of porogenes to obtain a block of porous polymerizate which is self-supporting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: BIA Separations d.o.o.
    Inventors: Alois Jungbauer, Rainer Hahn, Ales Podgornik, Milos Barut, Ales Strancar
  • Patent number: 6649665
    Abstract: In producing a porous cross-linked polymer by forming a water-in-oil type high internal phase emulsion and subsequently polymerizing the emulsion, a method for the production of a porous cross-linked polymer material which comprises a step of polymerizing a water-in-oil type high internal phase emulsion obtained in the presence of a polyglycerine fatty acid ester. This invention permits an HIPE to be polymerized at a high temperature for the purpose of stabilizing the HIPE and consequently warrants quick production of a porous cross-linked polymer material possessed of an excellent water absorbing property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignees: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd., The Proctor & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kenji Kadonaga, Akiko Mitsuhashi, Kazutomo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6632849
    Abstract: A porous carbonized film with fine continuous pores, obtained by carbonization of a highly heat-resistant resin porous film in an anaerobic atmosphere, and a process for its production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: UBE Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Yao, Shyusei Ohya, Yukihiko Asano
  • Patent number: 6632361
    Abstract: The invention describes hydrophilically acting shaped objects, in particular semipermeable membranes for pyrogen retention, comprising a synthetic polymer component and an additive made from a copolymer made from vinylpyrrolidone and a vinylimidazole compound, and furthermore processes for manufacturing the shaped objects. The shaped objects of the invention exhibit such a high pyrogen retention capacity that the pyrogen concentrations present in the filtrates are in part below the detection limit of the gel clot LAL test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Membrana GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Niklas, Friedbert Wechs, Annekatrin Nothdurft
  • Patent number: 6630519
    Abstract: This invention concerns a method for the production of a porous polymer from a water-in-oil type high internal phase emulsion (HIPE). By using an oil-soluble polymerization initiator as the polymerization initiator, the method for producing a porous polymer with outstanding characteristics in a very short period even when the porous polymer is produced from an HIPE exhibiting a viscosity of not more than 500 mPa second at the emulsion formation temperature or when the porous polymer to be produced possesses a number-average pore diameter of not less than 80 &mgr;m is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotama Fujimaru, Kenji Kadonaga, Kinya Nagasuna, Kenji Minami
  • Patent number: 6627670
    Abstract: A durable, conformable, absorbent, hydrophilic, polymeric latex foam composition having a free absorbent capacity of at least 5 grams of a 0.9 weight percent aqueous saline solution per gram of foam and capable of vertically wicking said aqueous saline solution to a height of greater than about 5 cm. In a preferred embodiment, after compression, the latex foam composition remains thin until wet, whereupon it expands and exhibits a high free absorbent capacity and high vertical wicking height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Mork, Andrew T. Graham
  • Patent number: 6627669
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, compositions and methods are provided in which the mechanical strength and durability of a precursor material having a plurality of pores is increased by a) providing a precursor material; b) treating the precursor material to form a nanoporous aerogel, preferably by using a supercritical drying process; c) providing a blending material having a reinforcing component and a volatile component; d) combining the nanoporous aerogel and the blending material to form an amalgamation layer; and e) treating the amalgamation layer to increase the mechanical strength of the layer by a substantial amount, and to ultimately form a low dielectric material that can be utilized in various applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Shyama Mukherjee, Roger Leung, Kreisler Lau
  • Patent number: 6620356
    Abstract: Methods for producing open-pore polymeric matrices prepared via gas induced phase inversion are provided. Matrices produced by these methods for various uses including medical implant devices, filtration/separation aids, and porous supports are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Integra LifeSciences Corp.
    Inventors: Betty Wong, John E. Kemnitzer
  • Publication number: 20030162853
    Abstract: The invention is directed to fluorinated particles having adsorbent properties for superior performance as the stationary phase for use in chromatographic separations. In particular, the fluorinated surface of such particles of the invention presents unusual and unexpected polarity that is beneficial in performing chromatographic separations such as that used for DNA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventor: Leonard H. Smiley
  • Patent number: 6608117
    Abstract: What is disclosed herein are physically cross-linked, cellular hydrogels and methods for their preparation. The cellular materials are highly resilient, hydrophilic materials having broad uses. The cellular materials are prepared by the physical crosslinking of frothed polymers and providing materials that have cellular pores provided by the use of removable materials during the formation of the cellular materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Nanosystems Research Inc.
    Inventor: Nedeljko Vladimira Gvozdic
  • Patent number: 6605229
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an element comprising a substrate and at least one anti-reflection coating with pores. The dimensions of the anti-reflection coating are below the wavelength of visible light or the neighboring spectral ranges. The invention also relates to an element produced according to this method with at least one anti-reflection coating, for example optical lenses, mirrors or other optical components. The optical anti-reflection coating of these elements is essentially improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Universitat Konstanz
    Inventors: Ullrich Steiner, Stefan Walheim, Erik Schäffer, Stefan Eggert, Jürgen Mlynek
  • Patent number: 6605648
    Abstract: A method of producing an open, porous structure having an outer surface defining a shape having a bulk volume and having interconnecting openings extending throughout said volume and opening through said surface, and products resulting from the method. The method comprises preparing a viscous mixture comprising a sinterable powder dispersed in a sol of a polymer in a primary solvent, replacing the primary solvent with a secondary liquid in which the polymer is insoluble to produce a gel comprising an open polymeric network having the sinterable powder arranged therein, removing the secondary liquid from the gel; removing the polymer network, and sintering the sinterable powder to form the open, porous structure. Also disclosed are shaped, porous products resulting from methods of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Phillips Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Johnson, Michael Edward Frencl
  • Publication number: 20030146548
    Abstract: The invention provides micro- and nano-porous materials made from crosslinked polymers crystallized from supercritical fluids. The resulting products show an open cell porous network, and can be used for a variety of applications in medical fields, textiles, separation science and others. The invention also provides methods for obtaining such products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: University of Massachusetts a Massachusetts corporation
    Inventors: H. Henning Winter, Griffin Gappert
  • Patent number: 6599951
    Abstract: Disclosed are organo polysilica dielectric materials having low dielectric constants useful in electronic component manufacture are disclosed along with methods of preparing the porous organo polysilica dielectric materials. Also disclosed are methods of forming electronic devices containing such porous organo polysilica dielectric materials without the use of antireflective coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Shipley Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Anthony Zampini, Michael K. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 6576713
    Abstract: The present invention provides a production process for a water-absorbent resin powder which is excellent in particle diameter distribution and properties, wherein the production process not only inhibits adhesion and aggregation in the production steps, but also is excellent in energy efficiency, drying efficiency, and productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Ishizaki, Teruyuki Kanto, Nobuyuki Harada, Takumi Hatsuda, Shinichi Fujino
  • Patent number: 6573307
    Abstract: A process to make particles by anaerobic reaction of a water-insoluble solution of organic compounds comprising (a) a monomer selected from C2-4 alkylene glycol esters of a C3-6 acrylic acid and a divinyl benzene; (b) a polyfluorinated vinyl monomer; (c) a monomer selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and esters thereof; (d) a free radical initiator; and (e) a water-insoluble, organic solvent-soluble porogenic material, the weight ratio of comonomers (a) plus (b) plus (c) to the porogenic material being from 0.5:1 to 2:1. The adsorbent particles produced by the process are useful in carrying out chromatographic separations, or in the production of medical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Prometic Biosciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard H. Smiley, Christopher Lowe, Julie Tucker
  • Publication number: 20030096933
    Abstract: In forming pressure sensitive adhesive microspheres by copolymerizing a non-ionic monomer of an alkyl acrylate or alkyl methacrylate ester of a non-tertiary alcohol and an acid monomer copolymerizable with said non-ionic monomer, an electrolyte is present during the polymerization to promote formation of solid rather than hollow microspheres.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Jong-Shing Guo, Augustin T. Chen, Sharon D. Trembley
  • Patent number: 6565962
    Abstract: A polyimide porous film obtained by drying and imidizing a polyimide precursor porous film which is substantially homogeneous on both sides, the polyimide porous film having pores on both sides wherein the pores all satisfy the conditions: 1) the difference in the mean pore size of both sides is less than 200% based on the smaller average value of the mean pore size, 2) the coefficient of variation for the pore size on each side is smaller than 70%, 3) the coefficient of variation for the pore centroid distance on each side is smaller than 50%, and 4) the mean pore size on each side is 0.05-5 &mgr;m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shyusei Ohya, Yuuichi Fujii, Shigeru Yao, Yukihiko Asano, Kimio Nakayama, Kenji Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 6559192
    Abstract: Semipermeable porous membranes having an average pore diameter in the range 0.01-3 &mgr;m, and porosity in the range 30%-90%, based on semi-crystalline fluoropolymers and the respective preparation process, wherein the semi-crystalline fluoropolymers comprise: (a) from 10 to 70% by moles of ethylene, (b) from 30 to 90% by moles of a fluorinated monomer selected from tetrafluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, or mixtures thereof, (c) from 0.1 to 30% by moles, with respect to the total amount of monomers (a) and (b), of a hydrogenated monomer of formula: CH2═CH—(CH2)n—R1  (I) wherein R1=—OR2, or —(O)tC(O)pR2 wherein t and p are integers equal to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Ausimont S.p.A.
    Inventors: Patrizia Maccone, Paolo Fossati
  • Patent number: 6525106
    Abstract: This application relates to flexible, microporous, open-celled polymeric foam materials with physical characteristics that make them suitable for a variety of uses. This application particularly relates to methods particularly suitable for continuously curing high internal phase emulsions to form such foams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Thomas Allen DesMarais, Thomas Michael Shiveley, John Collins Dyer, Stephen Thomas Dick, Bryn Hird
  • Patent number: 6503958
    Abstract: The present invention relates to porous polymers incorporating dihydroperfluoroalkyl acrylates and methacrylates and the like and their production. The invention also relates to the use of polymers derived from dihydroperfluoroalkyl acrylates and methacrylates and like compounds, in both porous and non-porous forms, as substrates for the attachment and growth of mammalian cells and tissue. The invention also relates to the use of polymers derived from dihydroperfluoroalkyl acrylates and methacrylates as components of medical devices and prostheses, including implanted devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Timothy Charles Hughes, Gordon Francis Meijs, Hassan Chaouk, John Gerard Steele, Graham Johnson
  • Patent number: 6503655
    Abstract: A thin, flat, and porous carbon gas diffusion electrode having a side in contact with a supply of gas and a side in contact with an electrolyte, comprises a pyrolysis product of a composite of an organic aerogel or xerogel and a reinforcing skeleton consisting at least in part of organic material. The porosity of the carbon gas diffusion electrode according to the invention can be regulated at will while the surface of the electrode is smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Raino Petricevic, Jochen Fricke, Rainer Leuschner, Matthias Lipinski
  • Patent number: 6500401
    Abstract: A method of making carbon foam is described which involves pyrolizing a mixture containing at least one pyrolizable substance and at least one unpyrolizable material and then removing the unpyrolizable material to obtain the carbon foam. Carbon foam made by this process is also described. Incorporating the carbon foam in a variety of end use applications including electrodes, thermal insulation material, polymers, and the like is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R. Reznek, Robert K. Massey
  • Patent number: 6486285
    Abstract: A water-swellable polymer gel prepared by reacting an ester of a carboxyl group-containing polysaccharide with a compound having at least two &agr;-amino groups, which is derived from a natural amino acid, and a foamed article thereof. The water-swellable polymer gel can be used in the fields such as industry, agriculture, food and medicine. The applications of the water-swellable gel in the medical field include wound dressings, adhesion-preventing materials, dialysis membranes, hemostatic materials, adhesive materials, sealants, contact lenses, materials for tissue regeneration, microcapsule materials and drug delivery systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Fujita
  • Patent number: 6486240
    Abstract: An asymmetric support membrane can be prepared by using a phase separation method. The method includes immersing a polymer solvent solution into water. The polymer solution is made by dissolving 15 to 35% by weight of the polymer into a solvent that lets the polymer solution become a gel at a temperature of 0 to 50° C. The solution is then allowed to gel and brought into a final membrane form in water for phase separation and formation of the asymmetric support membrane. The polymer may be poly(vinyl chloride), polyethersulfone, polyetherimide and polyamic(methylester). The solvent is &ggr;-butyrolactone alone as a major solvent or is a mixed solvent with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone as a cosolvent. The asymmetric support membrane is a porous support membrane of a sponge form having open pores that are connected to one another with a narrow pore size distribution. Thus, the asymmetric support membrane has an improved permeance and mechanical strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jong Ok Won, Yong Soo Kang, Hyun Chae Park, Un Young Kim, Seong Hyun Yoo
  • Publication number: 20020169225
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, compositions and methods are provided in which the mechanical strength and durability of a precursor material having a plurality of pores is increased by a) providing a precursor material; b) treating the precursor material to form a nanoporous aerogel, preferably by using a supercritical drying process; c) providing a blending material having a reinforcing component and a volatile component; d) combining the nanoporous aerogel and the blending material to form an amalgamation layer; and e) treating the amalgamation layer to increase the mechanical strength of the layer by a substantial amount, and to ultimately form a low dielectric material that can be utilized in various applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Shyama Mukherjee, Roger Leung, Kreisler Lau
  • Patent number: 6479065
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sustained release composition and methods of forming and using said composition for the sustained release of biologically active agent. The sustained release compositions of the invention comprise a biocompatible polymer and a biologically active agent characterized by a porous center and a less porous outer layer wherein the center and outer layer consist of essentially the same materials. The sustained release compositions can be prepared by annealing at least a substantial portion of the exterior surface of a polymer/active agent matrix. The compositions which have been annealed exhibit a decrease in the release of agent over the first 24 hours following administration (i.e., reduced burst) and as a result can show an increase in the duration of sustained release thereby providing increased therapeutic benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Alkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren E. Jaworowicz, James I. Wright
  • Patent number: 6472443
    Abstract: Highly crosslinked monolithic porous polymer materials for chromatographic applications. By using solvent compositions that provide not only for polymerization of acrylate monomers in such a fashion that a porous polymer network is formed prior to phase separation but also for exchanging the polymerization solvent for a running buffer using electroosmotic flow, the need for high pressure purging is eliminated. The polymer materials have been shown to be an effective capillary electrochromatographic separations medium at lower field strengths than conventional polymer media. Further, because of their highly crosslinked nature these polymer materials are structurally stable in a wide range of organic and aqueous solvents and over a pH range of 2-12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Sandia National Laboratories
    Inventor: Timothy J. Shepodd
  • Patent number: 6465532
    Abstract: The present invention includes a composition having a co-continuous interconnecting channel morphology for controlled gas transmission rate. These co-continuous interconnecting channels are predominately occupied with a polymer and particles that control the percolation through the composition. The polymer composition may be used to form a desired shaped article such as plug type inserts and liners for closed containers, or it may be formed into a film, sheet, bead or pellet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: CSP Tecnologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ihab M. Hekal
  • Patent number: 6462100
    Abstract: The invention discloses methods for making foams comprising functionalized metal oxide nanoparticles by photopolymerizing or thermally polymerizing emulsions comprising a reactive phase and a phase immiscible with the reactive phase components. Foams made from water-in-oil emulsions, including high internal phase emulsion are also disclosed. Articles and uses for the foams are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kristin LaVelle Thunhorst, Douglas Alan Hanggi
  • Patent number: 6455600
    Abstract: A water-absorbing, expanded, crosslinked polymer obtainable by (I) foaming a polymerizable aqueous mixture which comprises (a) monoethylenically unsaturated monomers which contain acidic groups and are optionally neutralized, (b) optionally other monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, (c) crosslinkers, (d) initiators, (e) 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Hähnle, Ulrich Schröder, Martin Beck, Wolfgang Heider, Gunnar Schornick, Thomas Anstock
  • Publication number: 20020132869
    Abstract: The present invention includes a composition having a co-continuous interconnecting channel morphology for controlled gas transmission rate. These co-continuous interconnecting channels are predominately occupied with a polymer and particles that control the percolation through the composition. The polymer composition may be used to form a desired shaped article such as plug type inserts and liners for closed containers, or it may be formed into a film, sheet, bead or pellet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventor: Ihab M. Hekal