458 results about "Light activated" patented technology

A novel system for gathering, analyzing and storing information for the purpose of motor vehicle theft and vandalism investigations. An on board secure vehicle mounted surveillance system, that can monitor the vehicle for brief or extended periods of time that can operate whether the vehicle is on or off, having a video camera for generating video signals of an incident proximate the vehicle, having an audio device for monitoring events proximate the vehicle, motion sensor to activate the system and lights activated by the system to illuminate the area viewed by the camera. The video signals are digitized into a synchronized data file, carrying a unique vehicle identification and a time indicator with other input data occurring on or about the vehicle such as audio recordings and the like. The file is encrypted and stored on a large capacity, code accessible device or transmitted, via a transceiver, real time to authorities and / or an off vehicle storage site. Once written, the encrypted file cannot be altered or corrupted, decrypted without the encryption key, or accessed without the access authorization code. The stored data file can be down loaded to be used as evidence.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for light-activated cation channel proteins and their uses within cell membranes and subcellular regions. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-activated cation channels to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides millisecond-timescale temporal control of cation channels using moderate light intensities in cells, cell lines, transgenic animals, and humans. The invention provides for optically generating electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells useful for driving neuronal networks, drug screening, and therapy.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for light-activated cation channel proteins and their uses within cell membranes and subcellular regions. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-activated cation channels to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides millisecond-timescale temporal control of cation channels using moderate light intensities in cells, cell lines, transgenic animals, and humans. The invention provides for optically generating electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells useful for driving neuronal networks, drug screening, and therapy.

Apparatus and method for cleaning air. An air cleaner includes a housing that defines an airflow pathway and a catalytic reactor having a catalyst secured on a porous substrate that is disposed transverse to the airflow pathway. Preferably, the catalyst includes a light activated oxidizing photocatalyst or a thermally activated oxidizing catalyst. A photocatalytic reactor will include a light source directed at a light activated oxidizing photocatalyst, such as TiO2 particles or a binary oxide particle species, which is disposed on the porous substrate. Most preferably, a metal catalyst is disposed on the photocatalyst particles at a concentration or loading between about 0.01 wt % and about 5 wt %. The air cleaner may further comprise an adsorption matrix upstream of the catalytic reactor, optionally in combination with a heater. A particulate filter and / or an electrostatic precipitator may also be disposed upstream of the adsorption matrix and the catalytic reactor.

A vehicle warning system for use in conjunction with road signs proximate a roadway and that are visible by passing motorists. The system has two assemblies, one on each side of a roadway and associated with a road sign. Each assembly has a power source, one or more lights that when lit project light that is visible to a passing motorist, a controller, a light activation device, and a wireless transceiver. Operation of the light activation device of a first of the assemblies causes the wireless transceiver of the first assembly to send a signal to the wireless transceiver of the second assembly, and both controllers to temporarily connect one or more lights of each assembly to the power source for the assembly, to light the one or more lights and thus project light that is visible to the motorist from both sides of the roadway.

A device for disrupting hair growth includes an applicator sized and configured to be held in a hand of a user for shaving, and a source of electromagnetic energy constructed to emit electromagnetic energy having an energy density of between about 0.1 J / cm2 and about 15 J / cm2 and, more preferably, between about 0.1 J / cm2 and 1 J / cm2. The device further includes a blade affixed to the applicator, the blade being constructed to fit smoothly against and to be swept over a skin surface that has been subjected to the emitted electromagnetic energy from the source of electromagnetic energy, to thereby mechanically remove hair from the skin surface.

A combination placement tool and light device (10, 50) is disclosed which allows the dentist or surgeon to hold a dental appliance with a vacuum supplied to a flexible skirt (18, 90), position the dental appliance, and then tack the dental appliance in place with a light source (28, 60, 62) using light activated adhesive. The device (10, 50) can also be used to provide a full cure. The device (10, 50) can also have a source of drying air to aid the procedure. The device (50) can be used with a disposable molded acrylic collimator (76).

A light transmission system to provide photodynamic treatment to a patient includes a single use integrated control module and catheter assembly having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to transmit light toward target cells within a patient. The integrated light catheter and control module are used in combination with a light activated drug. Selected operating parameters may be programmed into the control module, or it may be wirelessly programmable in situ prior to use to allow user flexibility to tailor treatment for a particular patient or condition. Among the features that prevent reuse are that the control module lacks access to recharge the power source, and it may include a deactivation module that destroys circuitry or software when triggered. To prevent patient interference when in use, the control module may also be configured to selectively deactivate.

Disclosed are polynucleotides and methods for expressing light activated proteins in animal cells and altering an action potential of the cells by optical stimulation. The disclosure also provides animal cells and non-human animals comprising cells expressing the light-activated proteins.

One or more reading devices are disposed within a hollow case sized and shaped to be held in a user's hand. A supplemental switch is also disposed in the case and is manually activatable by a user, such as by the user's thumb. Logic disposed in the case is connected to a reading device and the supplemental switch for taking a first action when the switch is activated and taking a second action when it is not. The first and second actions may comprise first and second modes of operation of the reading device. When two or more reading devices are provided, the first and second actions may include reading operations of the first and second devices, respectively. Types of reading devices that may be incorporated into embodiments of the invention include bar code scanners, RF ID interrogators, and smart card scanners.

Stimulation of target cells using light, e.g., in vivo or in vitro, is implemented using a variety of methods and devices. One example involves a vector for delivering a light-activated molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence that codes for light-activated molecule. The light-activated molecule includes a modification to a location near the all-trans retinal Schiff base, e.g., to extends the duration time of the open state. Other aspects and embodiments are directed to systems, methods, kits, compositions of matter and molecules for ion channels or pumps or for controlling currents in a cell (e.g., in in vivo and in vitro environments).

The invention is based on the use of polyisobutylmethacrylate instead of PMMA as an adhesive or spinal fill material for treating diseases of the spine. Polyisobutylmethacrylate has several advantages over PMMA, mainly less heat is developed during the in situ polymerization process. When using any spinal adhesive of fill material that is light activated, a tube can be used to transmit activating light to the light-activated adhesive or spinal polymerizable fill material at the surgical site. In addition, a mesh bag comprising optical fibers or similar light transmitting material can be employed to receive the injected light-activated fill, with the mesh bag, irradiated externally, for directing the light via the bag to the polymerizable fill.

The invention, in some aspects relates to compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function and the use of light-activated ion pumps (LAIPs).

The present discovery uses monomers which contain reversible photo-crosslinkable groups in addition to primary polymerizable groups. The mechanical properties of these materials and the reversibility of the photo-activated shape memory effect demonstrate the effectiveness of using photo-irradiation to effect change in modulus and shape memory effect. In the preferred embodiment the reaction mixture includes a photo-reactive monomer comprising a photo reactive group and a polymerizable group; a second monomer, which is more preferably a mixture of monomers, which are acrylate based; a multi-functional crosslinking agent, preferably 1,6 hexanediol diacrylate (HDODA); an initiator, preferably a free radical initiator; and a fifth, optional, component which is a modifying polymer. The mixture of the second monomer, crosslinking agent, and initiator comprise the base polymer matrix into which the photo-reactive monomer is incorporated. The polymeriziable group of the photo reactive monomer allows the photo reactive monomer to polymerize with the base polymer matrix.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) device is arranged for use with a remote interrogator unit. The RFID device comprises an integrated circuit configured to send, in response to a signal received from the remote interrogator unit or automatically, a responsive signal which includes identification information. A communication antenna is electrically coupled to the integrated circuit and is provided for wireless communication with the remote interrogator unit. At least one photovoltaic cell is provided for converting radiation into electrical energy and providing power to the integrated circuit. The photocell may be designed to form all or part of the RF antenna of the RFID device.

A curing light system useful for curing light activated composite materials is disclosed. Various configurations of light emitting semiconductor chips and heat sinks are disclosed, as well as various structures and methods for driving, controlling and using them.

A tooth whitening apparatus and method using an intra-oral light generating device, whereas the light generating device is placed inside a patient's mouth and bucally to the jaws to produce a light source, comprises the steps of applying inside a means for depositing and applying, adapted for the upper and lower jaws, a tooth whitening agent comprising an optical chemical agent. Said means for depositing and applying are made of suitable material comprising plastic, and adapted inside the patient's mouth and adjacent to the inner surface of the patient's lips. The method further includes the steps of placing the means for depositing and applying filled with a light-activated, tooth whitening agent into the patient's mouth, onto the corresponding jaws and positioning the light generating device, inside the patient's mouth, bucally to the jaws, whereas the intra-oral light is located adjacent to surface of the means for depositing-and-applying, and on the inner surface of the cheeks and lips of the mouth of said patient. Therein the intra-oral light activates the tooth whitening agent for a period of time.

A curing light system useful for curing light activated composite materials is disclosed. Various configurations of light emitting semiconductor chips and heat sinks are disclosed, as well as various structures and methods for driving, controlling and using them.

A broad class of photosensitive compounds having enhanced in vivo target tissue selectivity and versatility in photodynamic therapy. Many furocoumarin compounds, such as psoralens, exhibit cytostatic activity when photoactivated but exhibit little in vivo specificity for selectively accumulating in any particular target tissue such as atheromatous plaques. Reactive Oxygen Producing Photosensitizers ("ROPPs") are photoactivatable compounds having an affinity for hyperproliferating cells (such as atheromatous plaque cells), which when photoactivated, produce cytotoxic reaction products. The photoactivity of a ROPP, such as a porphyrin, may be reduced by metalating the porphyrin while the selective affinity of the metalized ROPP for hyperproliferating tissue remains substantially unchanged. By linking a furocoumarin compound to a ROPP to form a F-ROPP, the cytostatic properties of the furocoumarin portion of the F-ROPP can be exploited while the selective affinity of the ROPP portion of the compound for hyperproliferating cells such as atheromatous plaque provides enhanced tissue selectivity without cytotoxicity. In vivo, certain F-ROPPs may be forced to selectively accumulate in a target tissue by illuminating only the target tissue with light having a wavelength operable for photoactivating the F portion of the F-ROPP thereby causing the F-ROPP to either form a monoadduct with or crosslink the cellular DNA in the target tissue. Light of a second wavelength can then be delivered to the target tissue to photoactivate the ROPP portion causing further interference with cellular activity.

Pre-treatment using a xanthin carotenoid (preferably 3R,3′R-zeaxanthin) can improve the benefits and efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT), which uses a light-activated drug (such as verteporfin) in patients who suffer from unwanted retinal blood vessel growth, including the “wet” (exudative) form of macular degeneration. Before a PDT treatment, patients are given a regimen of orally-ingested zeaxanthin for a period of at least 1 and preferably at least 2 to 3 weeks, at dosages of at least 3 and preferably at least 10 milligrams per day. Since zeaxanthin imparts a yellowish color to the macula, a preferred dosage should increase a patient's macular pigment density before the PDT treatment is performed.

A curing light system useful for curing light activated composite materials is disclosed. Various configurations of light emitting semiconductor chips and heat sinks are disclosed, as well as various structures and methods for driving, controlling and using them.

Optically-activated particles for use in cosmetic preparations. The optically-activated particles include a plurality of substrate particles selected from the group consisting of nylons, acrylics, polyesters, other plastic polymers, natural materials, regenerated cellulose, metals and minerals; an optical brightener chemically bonded to each of the plurality of substrate particles to form integral units in the form of optically-activated particles for diffusing light to reduce the visual perception of skin imperfections, including cellulite, shadows, skin discolorations, and wrinkles; and each of the optically-activated particles are encapsulated with a UV transparent coating to increase the diffusion light to further reduce the visual perception of the skin imperfections. The encapsulated optically-activated particles are able to absorb ultraviolet radiation and emit visible light; and the encapsulated optically-activated particles are able to both scatter and absorb light in a diffuse manner in order to reduce the visual perception of skin imperfections, including cellulite, wrinkles, shadows, and skin discolorations, when the optically-activated particles are applied to the skin surface. The encapsulated optically-activated particles are used in the making of cosmetic preparations such as skin lotions, creams, shampoos, body and skin rinses, bath gels, soaps, hair conditioners, color conditioners and rinses, hair color solutions, foundation powders (compressed or loose), tooth pastes, oral rinses, and any acceptable cosmetic vehicle or medium.

A curing light system useful for curing light activated composite materials is disclosed. Various configurations of light emitting semiconductor chips and heat sinks are disclosed, as well as various structures and methods for driving, controlling and using them.

The invention provides a photochromic device which changes color along with variation of solar ray intensity. An external electric field which controls color change is provided through an organic solar battery which is integrated in the same device. The photochromic device comprises a transparent non-conductive substrate, a transparent conducting layer, an organic solar battery material layer, an electrochromic material layer and an electrolyte layer, wherein the organic solar battery material layer at least comprises a positive layer, a negative layer and an organic photovoltaic conversion material layer. According to the photochromic device, electric power generated through photoelectric effects of the organic solar battery can provide electric power for the electrochromic layer and change of device color is automatically controlled through a light activated switch according to intensity of solar light. The photochromic device has the advantages of operating without additional power supply, being more energy saving and greatly reducing manufacturing costs due to the fact that external circuits are greatly simplified.