3m Innovative Properties Company

Banyan Biomarkers, Inc.

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated

Zhiqun Zhang

Andrew R Fox

Robert M Swinehart

Nicolas A Echeverri

Ronald L Hayes

Bryan L Gerhardt

Michael R Berrigan

Stephen M Sanocki

Glen O Gregerson

Liang Cheng

Lori-Ann S Prioleau

Kevin Ka-Wang Wang

Gary N Eastlund

Matthew T Scholz

Craig D Thompson

Leigh E Wood

Ronald Wayne Ausen

Kannan Seshadri

David James Prince

William J Kopecky

Michael R Gorman

John D Stelter

Janet A Venne

Tien T Wu

Philip D Eitzman

Dennis L Becker

Brian Edward Spiewak

Neelakandan Chandrasekaran

Ignatius A Kadoma

Jimmy Minh Le

Michelle L Legatt

Monika Oli

Daniel E Johnson

Timothy P Pariseau

Liming Song

Yuan-Ming Tang

Himanshu Jasuja

Ming-Cheng Liu

Gene B Portelli

Ka-Wang (Kevin) Wang

Edward Keith Willis

Ming Chen Liu

Tadato Oritani

Xiaoshuan Fu

Jitendra Ramanlal Dave

Danielle M Schreppel

John C Winters

Andrew K Ottens

Nhat Ha Thi Nguyen

Zackary J Becker

Amanda B Dauphinais

Uwe R Mueller

Jacob J Thelen

Shin Katoh

Firas H Kobaissy

Leonard M Martinez

Laura C Chesnut

Ming Cheng Liu

Uwe R Muller

Jitendra Dave

The present disclosure relates to multi-layer composite articles including at least two nonwoven web layers. Each or the layers may be a spunbonded web, and each may include biodegradable materials. The multi-layered composites of the present disclosure are particularly well suited for air filtration, as they can combine a high dust holding capacity with sufficient strength, dimensional stability, and a relatively low pressure drop.

Multi-layer, biodegradable composites for air filtration

A relofted, spunbonded nonwoven web exhibiting a solidity of from less than 8.0%, to at least 3.0%, and exhibiting a Quality Factor of at least 0.30. Methods of making a relofted web; and, methods of using a relofted web as an air-filtration web. e.g. as a filter media or a layer thereof.

Air-filter media including a relofted spunbonded web, and methods of making and using

A pleated air filter media is provided. The pleated air filter media comprises a plurality of upstream linear bridging filaments that are extrusion-bonded to at least some of a plurality of upstream pleat tips of a fibrous web, and a plurality of downstream continuous-contact filaments that are extrusion-bonded to a downstream face of the fibrous web. Methods of making and using the same are also provided.

Pleated air filter with bridging filaments and continuous-contact filaments

The subject invention provides a robust, quantitative, and reproducible process and assay for diagnosis of a neurological condition in a subject. The invention provides measurement of two or more biomarkers in a biological fluid such as CSF or serum resulting in a synergistic mechanism for determining the extent of neurological damage in a subject with an abnormal neurological condition and for discerning subtypes thereof or tissue types subjected to damage.

Biomarker detection process and assay of neurological condition

A relofted, spunbonded nonwoven web exhibiting a solidity of from less than 8.0%, to at least 3.0%, and exhibiting a Quality Factor of at least 0.30. Methods of making a relofted web; and, methods of using a relofted web as an air-filtration web, e.g. as a filter media or a layer thereof.

Air-filter media comprising a relofted spunbonded web, and methods of making and using

An air filter () comprises an air filter media () with a sorbent-free area () that provides a visual filter life indicator zone () and with a sorbent-loaded area () that provides a visual reference zone ().

Air filter with visual filter life indicator zone and sorbent-loaded visual reference zone

A frame assembly for releasably maintaining an air filter. In some embodiments, the frame assembly includes a thermoformed body integrally forming a base, opposing side walls, opposing end walls, and at least one closure sub-assembly. The frame assembly is configured to releasable retain an air filter relative to the base via the closure sub-assembly. In other embodiments, the frame assembly defines, in a flat state, foldable side and end panels at the perimeter edges of a central grid panel; the frame assembly can be transitioned to a final state for receiving an air filter by folding the panels. The frame assemblies of the present disclosure are re-usable, allowing a user to replace a 'used' air filter with a 'new' air filter.

Refillable air filter assembly

An expandable air filter. The air filter including a filter media assembly, an outer frame assembly, and at least one support member. The filter media assembly defines opposing, first and second major faces and a perimeter. The outer frame assembly is arranged about the perimeter. The support member is connected to the outer frame assembly and extends across the first major face. Further, the support member defines a line of separation at which the support member can be separated into first and second segment to permit expansion of the air filter. The filter media can form a plurality of pleats, with at least one pleat being free of bonding to the outer frame assembly. The unbonded pleat experiences expansion as the air filter transitions to an expanded state. The air filter can be configured for expansion in one or both of a length and width direction.

Expandable air filters

The present disclosure generally relates to air filters expandable from a collapsed arrangement to an expanded, end-use arrangement and to methods of making, using, and installing such air filters. Some embodiments relate to an air filter having an expanded state and a collapsed state. The air filter includes a filter media assembly including (1) filter media including a plurality of pleats, (2) first and second opposing sides, and (3) first and second opposing ends. The air filter also includes a shape retention structure capable of being connected to at least a portion of the filter media assembly and capable of retention the filter media assembly in the expanded state. A spacing distance between adjacent pleats in the filter media is greater in the expanded state of the air filter than in the collapsed state of the air filter. In some embodiments, the air filter is an HVAC air filter.

Collapsible air filter

A filtration medium including a polymeric netting of polymeric ribbons and polymeric strands. Each of the polymeric ribbons and strands has a length and width, with the length being the longest dimension and the width being the shortest dimension. The polymeric ribbons have a height-to-width aspect ratio of at least three to one or five to one a major surface that is intermittently bonded to a polymeric strand, and a height typically greater than the height of the one polymeric strand. A filter including the filtration medium and a method useful for making the polymeric netting are also disclosed.

Filtration medium including polymeric netting of ribbons and strands

A mechanical fastener is disclosed that includes a thermoplastic backing and multiple, upstanding fastening elements that have a post with a proximal end attached to the thermoplastic backing and a distal end comprising a cap larger in area than a cross-sectional area of the post. The basis weight of the mechanical fastener is in a range from 25 grams per square meter to 75 grams per square meter, and the height of the multiple, upstanding fastening elements is up to 300 micrometers. Fastening systems and disposable absorbent articles including the mechanical fastener are also disclosed.

Mechanical fastener, fastening system, and disposable absorbent article

Processes and materials are provided for the detection, diagnosis, or determination of the severity of a neurological injury or condition, including traumatic brain injury, multiple-organ injury, stroke, Alzeimer's disease, Parkinson disease and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The processes and materials include biomarkers detected or measured in a biological sample such as whole blood, serum, plasma, or CSF. Such biomarkers include Tau and GFAP proteins, their proteolytic breakdown products, brain specific or enriched micro-RNA, and brain specific or enriched protein directed autoantibodies. The processes and materials are operable to detect the presence of absence of acute, subacute or chronic brain injuries and predict outcome for the brain injury.

Micro-RNA, autoantibody and protein markers for diagnosis of neuronal injury

Collapsin response mediator proteins (CRMPs) decreased in tissue and increased in biological fluids after neural injury from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Significant decreases of CRMP1, CRMP2, CRMP4 and CRMP5 were accompanied by the appearance of distinct 58 kDa (CRMP-2) or 55 kDa (CRMP-4) breakdown products from proteolytic cleavage by calpain. Synaptotagmin breakdown products were also associated with TBI and could be detected along with intact protein in human cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Both biomarkers were detected in human biofluid and related to recovery from traumatic brain injury.

Synaptotagmin and collapsin response mediator protein as biomarkers for traumatic brain injury

There is provided a hook fastener comprising a base, where at least one surface has a multiplicity of engaging projections, which projections have a top surface and an attached end that are arranged in a region to form one or more shapes. There is also provided a method for forming the above fastener comprising dispersing onto a contact release surface polymer particles in at least one discrete area forming a predetermined shape and forming preform projections. The front surface of the base is fixed to the terminal ends of at least some of the preform projections and then removed from the contact release surface in the form of the predetermined shape. In an alternative method polymer particles are uniformly dispersed onto a contact release surface using electrostatic attraction and selectively transferred to the base in the predetermined shape by masks or selective adhesion or the like.

Methods for making fasteners

Growing community of inventors

Roseville, MN, United States of America

Zhiqun Zhang