3M Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Richard J Poirier

Neal A Rakow

Mark Kevitt Debe

Moses Mekala David

Michael S Wendland

John E Trend

Thomas W Holmquist-Brown

Dora M Paolucci

Raymond Patrick Johnston

Rolf W Biernath

James Gregory Bentsen

Raymond J Ziegler

Gregory Yuschak

Lowell R Miller

Edward E Parsonage

Michael K Wackerfuss

Duane Douglas Fansler

Michael C Palazzotto

Jun-Ying Zhang

Stefan H Gryska

Donald J McClure

Brian L Linzie

Vivek Bharti

James P Mathers

John C Hulteen

Kam K Kam

A sensorthat detects a chemical such as an organic vapor. The sensorincludes a film that has a film bodythat includes a detection layerand that is responsive to the presence of a chemical by providing a color change. The film also includes an occluding layerthat has a first major surfaceand that is bound to the film bodybut is inert to the detection layerto preclude the occluding layerand the chemical from causing a color change in the film bodyin an areanormal to the first major surfaceof the occluding layer. A sensor having this construction can provide a distinctly visible image on the sensor, which may be helpful in evaluating the remaining life of a filter cartridge.

Patterned chemical sensor having inert occluding layer

A filter cartridgethat includes a filter material, an end-of-service-life-indicator, a cartridge housing, and a window. The filter materialand ESLIare disposed in the housing, and the ESLImay be viewed through the window. The windowis configured such that the ESLIcan only be seen within a cone defined by an angle &#x3b8; of 20 to 70 degrees. The limited viewing range precludes reader error when examining the ESLI for color change.

Filter cartridge having cone of visibility for end-of-service-life-indicator (ESLI)

A filter cartridgethat includes a filter material, an end-of-service-life-indicator (ESLI), a housing, a cover, and a window. The filter materialhas first and second major surfacesand is disposed in the housing such that the second major surfaceof the filter material is located downstream to the first major surface. The housing has a sidewallthrough which the ESLIcan be seen. The coveris secured to the housingand has an opaque extensionthat masks at least a portion of the housing sidewall. The windowis positioned on the extensionat a registration position where the ESLIcan be seen through the windowsuch that a change in a certain color of the ESLIindicates that the cartridgeneeds to be replaced. The use of the cartridge cover to provide the ESLI registration position allows the filter cartridges to be mass assembled without risk of error in achieving proper window registration.

Filter cartridge having location-registered view window for end-of-service-life-indicator (ESLI)

A sorbent media protective device includes an enclosure having a gas inlet, gas outlet and a thin-film multilayer indicator. The thin-film multilayer indicator is proximate sorbent media that can sorb a vapor of interest flowing from the gas inlet towards the gas outlet. The indicator includes a porous detection layer whose optical thickness changes in the presence of the vapor, located between a semireflective layer and a reflective layer permeable to the vapor. With equilibration at the applied vapor concentration between at least a portion of the media and the vapor, the vapor can pass through the reflective layer into the detection layer and change the detection layer optical thickness sufficiently to cause a visibly discernible change in the indicator appearance if viewed through the semireflective layer.

Organic vapor sorbent protective device with thin-film indicator

An optically-responsive multilayer reflective article is formed by applying a dilute solution or suspension of metallic nanoparticles to an optically-responsive detection layer. The solution or suspension is allowed to dry to form a semicontinuous liquid- or vapor-permeable light-reflective layer that will permit a liquid or vapor analyte to pass through the light-reflective layer to cause an optically-responsive change in the detection layer in the presence of the analyte.

Permeable nanoparticle reflector

A method of making an optochemical sensor, the method comprising: providing a reflective substrate having a major surface; affixing a detection layer comprising at least one intrinsically microporous polymer to at least a portion of the major surface; depositing a substantially continuous semi-reflective metallic layer on at least a portion of the detection layer, the semi-reflective metallic layer comprising palladium and having a network of fine irregular cracks therein; and heating the detection layer and semi-reflective metallic layer in the presence of molecular oxygen at a temperature sufficient to cause the cracks to widen. Sensors prepared according to method are also disclosed.

Optochemical sensor and method of making the same

The present invention provides various microfluid processing architecture-bearing, polymeric articles. The articles may include microelectronic, microoptical or microchemical elements. The article also may include inorganic thin film coatings.

Microfluidic articles

A process for preparing a molded article that includes: (a) bringing a moldable material and an open molding tool comprising a molding surface into line contact with each other to imprint a microfluid processing architecture pattern onto the moldable material and thereby form a molded article; and (b) separating the molded article from said molding surface. The invention also features various microfluid processing architecture-bearing, polymeric articles.

Methods of manufacturing microfluidic articles

A membrane electrode assembly is provided comprising an ion conducting membrane and one or more electrode layers that comprise nanostructured elements, wherein the nanostructured elements are in incomplete contact with the ion conducting membrane. This invention also provides methods to make the membrane electrode assembly of the invention. The membrane electrode assembly of this invention is suitable for use in electrochemical devices, including proton exchange membrane fuel cells, electrolyzers, chlor-alkali separation membranes, and the like.

Membrane electrode assembly

An exposure indicating apparatus and indicating method includes a sensor having a property responsive to a concentration of a target species. A processing device generates a concentration signal as a function of the property and an indicator is activated as a function of the concentration signal. The indicator is activated at a signaling rate indicative of an exposure indicating apparatus operating within predefined design parameters and at an exposure signaling rate indicative of the concentration attaining a predetermined threshold concentration. The indicator may also be activated at a signaling rate indicative of an exposure indicating apparatus operating outside of the predefined design parameters, and after the predetermined threshold concentration is attained, the indicator may be activated at an exposure signaling rate which varies as a function of the concentration signal.

Exposure indicator with continuous alarm signal indicating multiple

An exposure indicating apparatus for monitoring air flowing along a flow-through path extending from the external environment through an air purifying respirator cartridge and into a face mask. A processor housing is releasably attached to the flow-through path so that it can be removed allowing ambient air to enter the flow-through path at the attachment location. A reversible sensor with at least one property responsive to a concentration of a target species within an environment is in fluid communication with the flow-through path. A processing device in the processor housing generates a concentration signal as a function of the at least one property of the reversible sensor. An indicator provides an active indication in response to the concentration signal. A flow-through housing may form a portion of the flow-through path. The flow-through housing may be interposed between the air purifying cartridge and the face mask. The reversible sensor may be located in the processor housing, the air purifying respirator cartridge or the flow-through housing. The sensor is coupled to the processing device by a coupler.

Exposure indicating apparatus

A reusable nanostructured donor medium is provided comprising an image forming material containing polymeric film having a nanostructured surface region, at at least one major surface of the film, such that the nanostructured surface region is bifunctional. This bifunctionality being an efficient radiation to heat conversion element, as well as serving as a capillary pump to replenish the nanostructured surface region with an image forming material after an imaging event has occurred.

Growing community of inventors

White Bear Lake, MN, United States of America

Richard J Poirier