The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 22, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 09, 1997
Charles E Bugg, Birmingham, AL (US);
Lawrence L Delucas, Birmingham, AL (US);
Tattanhalli L Nagabhushan, Parsippany, NJ (US);
Paul P Trotta, Secaucus, NJ (US);
Michael D Harrington, Birmingham, AL (US);
John Bradford Bishop, deceased, late of Lindale, GA (US);
by Sue Bishop, executrix, Lindale, GA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An apparatus for producing crystals of a macromolecule in microgravity includes a container 100 which is made of a material having a low thermal conductivity and an open end. A thermally conductive lid 102 is fitted on the open end of the container to close the container and a heat source/sink 114 is provided in thermal contact with the thermally conductive lid to generate a temperature gradient within the container. When a solution of the macromolecule is provided in the container, the temperature gradient induces and control the crystallization of the macromolecule. In operation, a temperature ramp from a start temperature to an end temperature is used to maintain and control the temperature gradient.