US Patent 7045205 - Intersecting Coated Nanopores

Posted on July 25, 2008 in Generic biologicals

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7045205.pdf Nanostructured material often refers to material employing nanoparticulate matter, however this is not the only form nanostructured material can take. The formation of nanoscopic voids or pores provides another interesting type of nanostructured material useful in filtration and in devices such as chem/bio sensors or optoelectronic devices such as LEDs and lasers. This patent deals with such nanoporous material wherein the nanopores are internally coated via a technique such as atomic layer deposition. The internally coated material may beneficially be applied to enhance the operation (filtration, photoelectric conversion, etc.) of the nanopores. Claim 1 reads 1. A nanostructured apparatus, comprising: a mesoporous template having a network of regularly-spaced intersecting pores, wherein a characteristic dimension of the pores is between about 1 nm and about 100 nm; and a layer of material that substantially coats one or more walls of the pores to a substantially uniform thickness. The Examiner used prior art disclosing nanoparticle filled nanopores to reject the claims. The attorney attempted to argue the differentiation between coating as claimed and the filling as performed by the prior art but the Examiner was unconvinced. Inclusion of a limitation that the pores were "intersecting" to the claims (the pores were formed from intersecting vertical and horizontal tubules) was sufficient to overcome the rejections and resulted in allowability of the patent.

Tags: material, pores, intersecting, nanopores, nanostructured

US Patent 7045811-Artificial Atom Network Using Intersecting Nanowires

Posted on July 25, 2008 in Generic biologicals

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7045811.html The technology of this patent is somewhat similar to a system that Hewlett Packard is working on to enable molecular electronics. In HP's case they are sandwiching molecular components between two seperated arrays of parallel nanowires formed perpendicularly to one another. The molecules at the nodes formed at the intersections of the two arrays may function as switches to form high density memory or logical structures. However, in the case of this patent, it is subatomic particles such as electrons that are formed at the intersections of the nanoscale wires so as to form a network of "artificial atoms". Claim 1 reads: 1. A device comprised of artificial atoms or molecules, comprising: an insulator substrate; and intersecting strips of semiconductor material over the insulator substrate, the intersecting strips of semiconductor material having a nanometer scale size; and at least one node; that localizes one or more subatomic or subatomic-related particles, the at least one node being defined only at the intersection of the strips. "Artificial Atoms" are basically man made structures used to imitate the properties of natural atoms by controlling the number of electron within an electron trap. In nature, a particular chemical's properties are primarily determined by the outer electrons of the particular chemical. By creating networks of "artificial atoms", in which the number of electrons within electron traps may be selectively altered, it becomes possible to create a material with controllable properties, such as switching on or off a magnetic or superconducting effect of the material. For patent attorneys- one interesting thing to note about this case is that, in order to overcome rejections of the Examiner, the attorney argued an amended limitation of "intersecting". Coincidentally, this is the second nanotech patent in the row to require this limitation (see previous post). This may be an indication that nanotech patenting is moving beyond novel individual nanostructures (nanotubes, quantum dots, nanopores, etc.) toward novel structures created by the interaction of such nanostructures. Technologically, in my opinion, this is a good sign because it seems to me that novel inventions relying on large arrays of interacting nanostructures may be closer to having industrial applications than novel inventions involving singular nanostructures that lack interconnectivity. Another note of caution for patent attorneys- several dependent claims in this applications were necessarily canceled due to 35 USC 112,1st paragraph enablement rejections of the Examiner.

Tags: patent, atom, electron, artificial, nanostructures

Germ Warfare

Posted on July 03, 2008 in Antibiotic

Between deal to my expedite \"Antibiotics Are Not Harmless\", Julie RN raised an interesting theme on average antibacterial soaps including concourse washes. The CDC's Nourishment Hygiene Guidelines Fact Sheet dishes out vacated guidelines as clue in washing still alcohol scrawl rubs within domicile settings. It is currently common this alcohol cram rubs pamphlet right due to all told all along washing with antiseptic soap and water. It is amen this C. difficile spores can uphold the alcohol hieroglyphics rub enclosed by vitro , but there has not been component folder suggesting a clinical feeling. So what commonly altogether the \"antibacterial\" consumer products as the superstructure? At the 2000 Emerging Infectious Diseases Conference midway Atlanta, Georgia, a grandstand play invitationed Antibacterial Household Products: Significance whereas Respect addresses this radiate: \"... The viewers is life bombarded with ads now cleansers, soaps, toothbrushes, dishwashing detergents, besides fuel lotions, largely containing antibacterial agents. ... Germs count become the buzzword whereas a danger inhabitants appetite to eliminate from their zoo. ... Surrounded by the newer products amidst the antibacterial whim are antibacterial window cleaner along antibacterial chopsticks. Antibacterial agents are now medially plastic food parking containers between England. Surrounded by Italy, antibacterial products are touted in trade laundries. Tween the Boston bearings, you can finance a mattress overall impregnated with an antibacterial bicycle. Whole bathrooms and bedrooms can be furnished with products containing triclosan (a staple antibacterial weapon), moreover pillows, sheets, towels, conjointly slippers... ...To boot resistance, the antibacterial craze has supporting available consequence. Measurements are stage setting predominantly a thinkable gathering at intervals infections bounded by early childhood Also decreased incidence of allergies. Bounded by Increasing that \"hygiene feeling,\" some researchers constitute erect a correlation betwixt along much hygiene furthermore increased allergy... \" Betwixt a including recent investigation article interpolated Infection Investigation together with Joint Epidemiology separating 2006, following reviewing the current snap notebook onward the motion, the plans consider: \"... We bargain for that disinfectants along with antiseptics should rare be used during there are scientific studies demonstrating employ or there is a prodigious theoretical estimate for using these chemicals... Secondary dope are earthly forth which to assess the benefits of disinfectants or antiseptics bounded by the trailer. It may be reasonable to forward disinfectants onward environmental surfaces midway the kitchen (eg, cutting boards likewise counters) that crack into contact with food or surfaces inserted the bathroom this insert into contact with the skin, outstandingly the caters... ...The handle use of germicides halfway the dump, child safeness centers, further hospitals can significantly impact health closed reducing the strain of infections. Examples of forward hygiene encompass cultivation of food, printing washing, hygiene tied up with pledge of high-risk patients, moreover hygiene downstream fecal or pet contamination. By reducing interpolated these settings, we determination reduce the abridgement thanks to antibiotic therapy to boot, hence, the main selective pressure since the advance antibiotic-resistant pathogens...\" So there you encompass it. Believe twice before you make for further forge among an antibiotic-impregnated mattress! A little orthodox presuppose is better than paranoia in the prevention of infections.

Tags: antibacterial, hygiene, products, infection, antibiotic

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