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Difrancesco, US

Albert Gary Difrancesco, Rochester, NY US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100242342CERIUM-CONTAINING NANOPARTICLES - A process for making cerium-containing oxide nanoparticles includes providing an aqueous reaction mixture containing a source of cerous ion, optionally a source of one or more metal ions (M) other than cerium, a source of hydroxide ion, at least one monoether carboxylic acid nanoparticle stabilizer wherein the molar ratio of said monoether carboxylic acid nanoparticle stabilizers to total metal ions is greater than 0.2, and an oxidant at an initial temperature in the range of about 20° C. to about 95° C. Temperature conditions are provided effective to enable oxidation of cerous ion to ceric ion, thereby forming a product dispersion of cerium-containing oxide nanoparticles, optionally containing one or more metal ions (M), Ce09-30-2010
20110056123METHOD OF PREPARING CERIUM DIOXIDE NANOPARTICLES - A method of making cerium dioxide nanoparticles includes: a) providing an aqueous reaction mixture having a source of cerous ion, a source of hydroxide ion, a nanoparticle stabilizer, and an oxidant at an initial temperature no higher than about 20° C.; b) mechanically shearing the mixture and causing it to pass through a perforated screen, thereby forming a suspension of cerium hydroxide nanoparticles; and c) raising the initial temperature to achieve oxidation of cerous ion to eerie ion and thereby form cerium dioxide nanoparticles having a mean diameter in the range of about 1 nm to about 15 nm. The cerium dioxide nanoparticles may be formed in a continuous process.03-10-2011

Chris E. Difrancesco, Durham, NC US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100192552EXHAUST GAS TREATMENT CATALYST, EXHAUST GAS TREATMENT METHOD, AND EXHAUST GAS TREATMENT APPARATUS - An exhaust gas treatment catalyst for removal of one or more pollutants in an exhaust gas, the catalyst comprising: a SO08-05-2010
20100284877CATALYST SYSTEMS - The present invention provides monolithic structural catalysts. The catalysts have a thin wall structure and are advantageous for catalyzing reactions of gaseous fluid or liquid fluid molecules, such as the denitration or selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides (NO11-11-2010
20110172090COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR TREATING EXHAUST GASES - The present invention provides compositions, systems, and methods for achieving high efficiencies of nitrogen oxide (NOx) removal from exhaust gases while minimizing ammonia slip and sulfur dioxide oxidation. In one embodiment, a method of removing nitrogen oxides from an exhaust gas comprises providing a first catalyst layer, adding an ammonia-containing compound to the exhaust gas upstream of the first catalyst layer in excess of the stoichiometric equivalent of the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas, flowing the exhaust gas through the first catalyst layer, selectively catalytically decomposing ammonia in excess of the stoichiometric reaction equivalent of the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas, and catalytically reducing the nitrogen oxides by reaction with ammonia not selectively catalytically decomposed.07-14-2011

Patent applications by Chris E. Difrancesco, Durham, NC US

Daniel J. Difrancesco, North Tonawanda, NY US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100064767Atom-Interferometric, Stepped Gravity Gradient Measuring System - A full-tensor, gravity gradient measuring system is disclosed that is based on atom interferometry. Each axis in the three-axis measuring system is served by a different gravity gradiometer, where each gradiometer comprises three pairs of atom interferometric (AI) accelerometers. The accelerometers in each pair are mounted on opposite sides of the gradiometer's rotation axis from each other. The three AI accelerometer pairs are step-rotated, instead of being continuously rotated, thereby providing enhanced signal-to-noise performance. The three gradiometers in the overall measuring system are mounted orthogonally with respect to one another on a local-level platform, in order to achieve a full-tensor measuring system. The measuring system can be step-rotated as an overall unit around an axis perpendicular to a local level reference. The multiple levels of stepped rotation, as enabled by the atom interferometry being utilized, yields improved results with lower costs than what is achievable with some prior-art techniques.03-18-2010

David Difrancesco, Point Richmond, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110169994SUPER LIGHT-FIELD LENS - Light field imaging systems, and in particular light field lenses that can be mated with a variety of conventional cameras (e.g., digital or photographic/film, image and video/movie cameras) to create light field imaging systems. Light field data collected by these light field imaging systems can then be used to produce 2D images, right eye/left eye 3D images, to refocus foreground images and/or background images together or separately (depth of field adjustments), and to move the camera angle, as well as to render and manipulate images using a computer graphics rendering engine and compositing tools.07-14-2011

Francis J. Difrancesco, Foxboro, MA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080234725END EFFECTOR MECHANISM FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT - Improved end effector mechanisms for a surgical instrument used in minimally invasive surgical instruments as well as instruments for general surgery or as part of robotically controlled end effectors. These end effector mechanisms include multiple grasping elements paired with drive links. Each grasping element also serves as a stabilizing link for the next most distal grasping element, forcing it to maintain its relative angle with respect to the opposing grasping elements.09-25-2008
20080255590Apparatus and method for minimally invasive suturing - An apparatus and method for minimally invasive suturing is disclosed. A suturing device for minimally invasive suturing includes an elongated barrel having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween; a suture head assembly extending from the distal end of the elongated barrel; a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated barrel, wherein the pointed end of the suturing needle is positioned within the suture head assembly prior to and after rotation of the suturing needle; and an actuator extending from the proximal end of the elongated barrel to actuate a drive mechanism having a needle driver for engaging and rotating the suturing needle.10-16-2008
20090157104SURGICAL ROTARY CAPTURE INSTRUMENT FOR GASTRIC BAND CLOSING - An endoscopic surgical rotary capture instrument is used in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery for closing a gastric band having a buckle end a free end. The rotary capture instrument includes a pusher end that has a stationary jaw and a movable jaw. The movable jaw is actuated by rotary motion of an inner shaft. The jaws are used to gasp securely and push the tube end of the gastric band after it has been threaded through the buckle end of the band. A hook instrument is used to hold the buckle end securely while the rotary capture instrument is used to push the free end of the gastric band.06-18-2009
20100152751Apparatus and method for minimally invasive suturing - An apparatus and method for minimally invasive suturing is disclosed. A suturing device for minimally invasive suturing includes proximal section having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween; a suture head assembly extending from the distal end of the proximal section; a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the proximal section, wherein the pointed end of the suturing needle is positioned within the suture head assembly prior to and after rotation of the suturing needle; and an actuator extending from the proximal end of the proximal section to actuate a drive mechanism having a needle driver for engaging and rotating the suturing needle.06-17-2010

Patent applications by Francis J. Difrancesco, Foxboro, MA US

Lawrence Difrancesco, Colorado Springs, CO US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110037542Miniature Magnetic Switch Structures - A switching device structure comprising a top magnet, a bottom magnet, and a movable member disposed between the top and bottom magnets, the movable member having an electromagnet positioned thereon, the electromagnet comprising a plurality of laminated layers, the layers including a layer bearing an iron core and a number of armature layers which establish electrical conductor windings around the iron core.02-17-2011

Robert A. Difrancesco, Waunakee, WI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080268498Thermostable Viral Polymerases and Methods of Use - Thermostable viral polymerases exhibiting a combination of activities selected from, proofreading (3′-5′) exonuclease activity, nick translating (5′-3′) nuclease activity, synthetic primer-initiated polymerase activity, nick-initiated polymerase activity, reverse transcriptase activity, strand displacement activity, and/or decreased discrimination against incorporation of nucleotide analogs. Also provided are compositions including the polymerases, polynucleotides encoding the polymerases and methods of using the polymerases.10-30-2008