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• Nano- and micro-scale engineering of polymeric scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering; US2006085063, April 2006
  In one aspect, the invention relates to a synthetic conduit comprising a substantially tubular body comprising substantially circumferential polymer fibers; wherein the body has an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a lumen extending there through; and wherein the body has microscale features disposed at the interior surface. In a further aspect, cells can be optionally adhered to the exterior and/or interior surface of the substantially tubular body. In various aspects, the conduit can be used as a vascular prosthesis, a stent, or a nerve regeneration scaffold. Methods of preparing and implanting same are also provided. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
  

 

• Electrostatically driven carbon nanotube gripping device; US2006076790, April 2006
  An apparatus is provided for gripping nano-scale objects, wherein the apparatus includes a probe including a base portion and a terminal portion. First and second nanotubes are secured to the base portion of the probe, wherein each of the first and second nanotubes include a protruding portion which extends past the base portion and the terminal portion of the probe. First and second electrodes are formed on the base portion of the probe and electrically connected to the first and second nanotubes. A third electrode is disposed on the terminal portion of the probe. A control circuit applies a voltage to the first, second and third electrodes to close the protruding portions of the first and second nanotubes by charging the first and second nanotubes to a first polarity and charging the third electrode to a second polarity opposite to the first polarity.
  

 

• OPTICAL DATA CARRIER WITH A THERMOCHROMIC LAYER; WO2006027718 ; March 2006
  The invention relates to an optical data carrier (1, 10) comprising a thermochromic layer (4, 11, 20) including a dielectric transition material (21) and metal nano-particles (22) embedded in said transition material (21) for absorbing at least a part of an irradiation (3) applied to said optical data carrier (1, 10) for reading out data from said optical data carrier (1,10) and/or for recording data on said optical data carrier (1, 10). The invention further relates to an optical master (30) for manufacturing an optical data carrier, said optical master (30) comprising such a thermochromic layer (20, 32). In order to provide an optical data carrier (1, 10) or an optical master (30) with a thermochromic material which allows a choosing of the position of the absorption band and of the temperature at which a thermochromic effect takes place and which is further sufficiently fast and stable, it is proposed that said transition material (21) has a first value of a material characteristic being a specific volume and/or a thermal expansion coefficient of said transition material (21) below a transition temperature (T

 

• CONTROLLED TRANSPORT AND ASSEMBLY OF NANOSTRUCTURES; WO2006034398; March 2006
  Systems and methods for manipulating nanostructures, such as nanospheres, nanodisks, nanowires, and nanotubes. The systems and methods permit the construction of nano-scale contacts, scaffolds, and motors using electric fields that do not require the use of toxic nanostructure materials. The electric fields are imposed on the nanostructures using electrodes having specific shapes and driven with voltages having particular amplitudes, frequencies, and phase differences. The electrode shape and voltage characteristics influence the configuration of the electric fields, which in turn influences the ultimate configuration of the nanostructures. The nanostructures retain their configuration after the electric fields and any transport medium, such as deionized water, are removed.
  

 

• POLYMER FOAMS WITH TREATED FILLERS, FABRICATION METHOD AND PRODUCTS USING SAME; WO2006033981; March 2006
  The present invention provides for a polymer composite foam with a treated filler and methods for making the same. The polymer composite foam includes a polymer capable of being formed into a polymeric foam and a treated filler, wherein the polymer defines a plurality of cells dispersed therethrough and the treated filler is dispersed throughout the polymer. The filler is treated by techniques which exfoliate, delaminate or intercalate the filler particles into individual micro and/or nano size particulates and platelets. Ideally, the treated filler has a median particle size ranging from about 0.1nm-10 m. The treated filler enhances the rigidity, barrier properties, heat deflection temperature, nucleation characteristics, fire retardant characteristics and impact properties of the foam. The products fabricated from the polymer composite foam include containers, cups, sleeves, bags, plates, bowls, protective packaging, boards, sheets, void fillers, storageware, dinnerware and cookware. The present invention also provides for methods of fabricating the polymer composite foam.