The University Of Western Ontario patents

   Functionalized copolymers of isoolefins and diolefins and their use as compatibilizers

Functionalized copolymers of isoolefins and conjugated diolefins, methods of preparing the copolymers, and their use as compatibilizers are disclosed. The diolefin monomer units of the co-polymer are modified at the c—c double bond along the backbone of the copolymer to include an oxygen containing functional group such as epoxide, ester or alcohol. ... The University Of Western Ontario

Method and system for registering ultrasound and computed tomography images

A method for registering ultrasound (us) and computed tomography (ct) images, comprising: receiving us and ct images representative of a body portion comprising blood vessels and an initial approximate transform; enhancing the blood vessels in the us and ct images, thereby obtaining an enhanced us and ct images; creating a point-set for a given one of the enhanced us and ct images; determining a final transform between the point-set and the other one of the enhanced us and ct images using the initial transform; applying the final transform to a given one of the us and ct images to align together a coordinate system of the us image and a coordinate system of the ct image, thereby obtaining a transformed image; and outputting the transformed image.. . ... The University Of Western Ontario

Self-locking braking system and method

A self-locking brake mechanism, which utilises a cantilever to engage a brake drum to prevent the brake drum from rotating, thereby resulting in braking behaviour. Further, locking mechanisms are provided that are useful for applications involving multiple brakes. ... The University Of Western Ontario

A counterbalancing apparatus for gimbal joints and/or a method for counterbalancing a load on a gimbal joint

Disclosed is a counterbalance apparatus, and a method for counterbalancing using an apparatus, having a center of motion that is internal or external to the apparatus. The apparatus and method are adapted to support a payload, having a load vector applied in a direction of the vector or gravity, that is positioned distal to the center of motion. ... The University Of Western Ontario

3d ultrasound image stitching

A computer-implemented method for combining two 3-dimensional ultrasound images of a patient's body part containing blood vessels into a single 3-dimensional ultrasound image of that body part with a greater field of view. Blood vessels within the body part are used for registration. ... The University Of Western Ontario

A counterbalance apparatus and/or method for supporting a load

A counterbalance apparatus for supporting a load includes a base, a load bearing arm, a toggle linkage, and first and second resilient members for applying a force to the load bearing arm. The load bearing arm has pivot points forming a parallelogram linkage, and is adapted to support the load at a distal end. ... The University Of Western Ontario

Navigation by bending forces

The present disclosure provides a navigation method and system which does not require a remotely located tracking system, or additional targets or other devices to be installed on the patient or object being tracked. The system uses one flexible component in physical contact with the patient/object and measures relative position as a function of forces that are generated by the flexing component as it is bent. ... The University Of Western Ontario

Reactor and multifunctional riser and downer simulator incorporating the same

A reactor comprises a reactor vessel defining a confined reactor volume, a support assembly extending about a periphery of the confined reactor volume, a basket positioned within the reactor vessel and supported by the support assembly, the basket having an interior surface and an exterior surface, a downflow zone being defined between the exterior surface of the basket and an interior surface of the confined reactor volume, an inlet screen positioned adjacent to one end of the interior surface and an outlet screen positioned adjacent to an opposite end of the interior surface, an upflow zone defined between the inlet screen and outlet screen, the inlet screen and the outlet screen containing a quantity of particulate catalyst, and a circulating device positioned above said upflow zone and configured to continuously circulate fluid upwardly though said upflow zone and downwardly through said downflow zone, the support assembly and the basket configured to promote the formation of a fluid vortex within a portion of the downflow zone.. . ... The University Of Western Ontario

Statherin peptides

A novel statherin-based fusion peptide is provided. The fusion peptide comprises the statherin peptide, dsseekflr, or a functionally equivalent variant thereof, fused to an acquired enamel pellicle protein or peptide. ... The University Of Western Ontario

Polymer-drug conjugate based on a polyisoolefin-based copolymer

A polymer-drug conjugate, which can be used in medical applications such as stents, has at least one active agent conjugated through a carboxylic acid moiety to a copolymer derived from at least one isoolefin monomer and at least one copolymerizable monomer, where the copolymerizable monomer is at least one multiolefin monomer, a β-pinene monomer or a mixture thereof. Such conjugates show improved adhesion to stainless steel and a substantial decrease in burst release of paclitaxel form a drug eluting stent (des).. ... The University Of Western Ontario

Oral appliance for administration of electrical stimulation and method for the use thereof

An oral appliance for use with a subject in his/her mouth includes a flexible tube having an input end and an output end and an electrode coupled to the flexible tube adjacent the output end. The flexible tube is adapted to be positioned in the subject's oral cavity with the output end positioned in a posterior region of the oral cavity. ... The University Of Western Ontario

Vesicular stomatitis virus for prime boost vaccine

The present invention relates to vesicular stomatitis virus (vsv) matrix (m) protein mutants. One mutant m protein includes a glycine changed to a glutamic acid at position 21, a leucine changed to a phenylalanine at position 111 and a methionine changed to an arginine at position 51. ... The University Of Western Ontario

Vesicular stomatitis virus for prime boost vaccine

The present invention relates to vesicular stomatitis virus (vsv) matrix (m) protein mutants. One mutant m protein includes a glycine changed to a glutamic acid at position 21, a leucine changed to a phenylalanine at position 111 and a methionine changed to an arginine at position 51. ... The University Of Western Ontario

System and method for processing images

A method of processing a plurality of time separated images comprises selecting a plurality of imaging units in each image; measuring a temporal difference in each imaging unit; and selecting temporal differences above a threshold limit.. . ... The University Of Western Ontario