FORT WAYNE – Patently Speaking highlights the technological achievements of area residents.
Compositions and methods of use of standardized mixtures for determining an amount of nucleic acid
•U.S. Patent No. 7,527,930
•Invented by Brad Austermiller, Defiance, Ohio; James C. Willey, Toledo; Erin L. Crawford, Rossford, Ohio; Charles Knight, Toledo; Terry Osborn, Lake Bluff, Ill.; and Robert Zahorchak, Madison, Ala.
•Assigned to Gene Express Inc., Toledo and Medical University of Ohio, Toledo
Understanding the science of human beings has taken a huge leap forward with the sequencing of the human genome. Genes are small linear sequences of nucleotides that make up the building blocks of our DNA. These genes hold the instructions that make us who we are. They hold the codes for our physical makeup, such as hair and eye colors, but also our predisposition to diseases or illnesses.
A gene expression takes this information and converts it into proteins. Understanding a gene expression in DNA can be helpful in creating new and more affective drugs to treat all sorts of inflictions.
This patent describes a method for determining an amount of a particular nucleic acid to help evaluate gene activity. The method combines samples of the nucleic acid with a standardized formulation of known concentrations which amplifies the nucleic acid. Then the original nucleic acid is compared to this amplified product to determine whether there is an identifiable relationship. This can be repeated with other known concentrations to determine even more relationships.
Crankshaft oil seal installation device
•U.S. Patent No. 7,526,847
•Invented by Ryan M. Johnson, Paulding, Ohio; Randall J. Arthur, Wapakoneta, Ohio; David H. Hook, Wapakoneta, Ohio; and Bart L. Anthony, Wapakoneta, Ohio
•Assigned to Honda Motor Co., Tokyo
The internal combustion engine is the heart of most vehicles. Although there are many types of engines, they all generally work on the same principle. A mixture of air and gasoline is ignited to move a piston or pistons that rotate a crankshaft extending out of the engine. The rotating shaft can do anything from turn a wheel to spin a propeller blade.
Extending the crankshaft out of the engine is problematic because, as we all know, engines require a substantial amount of oil to keep all the rotating and moving parts lubricated, and extending a shaft out of the engine provides an opening for oil to leak. That is why one of the most critical components to any engine is the seal between the engine and the rotating crankshaft.
Originally, this seal was made out of a special rope but is now made from a polymer and metal. These seals were also first installed using a hammer and board where the board was placed against the seal, which was then hammered into place. Obviously, other tools have been developed since then, but according to this patent, they are not optimum for high volume repeat use.
This patent describes a device for an automated crankshaft seal installation device that includes mounting plates that attach to the engine block. A hydraulic cylinder attached to the plates holds the seal in place and automatically pushes it into the seal opening.
The preceding are lay descriptions of patents obtained from the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s public records and are provided for general information purposes only. Nothing contained herein is a legal description of any claimed invention, identification of novelty, or offer of legal advice. Because issued patents are based on applications often filed years earlier, the subject matter of some patents may have been available on the market for some time prior to the issuance of the patent. Additional information on these patents is available at www.uspto.gov.
