university of illinois - UIHistories Project

1212 BOARD OF TRUSTEES [April 17
Biological Chemistry, College of Medicine, inventor. This invention is a method
of disintegrating the cell walls of Group A B hemolytic streptococci for immunizing
and serologic purposes. On November 28, 1956, the Board of Trustees
authorized the release of this invention to the University of Illinois Foundation
for further investigation and for filing of an application for a patent if such
action appeared warranted. The Foundation has reported that a thorough study
of this invention has been made, including studies by the Medical Research
Committee of the Upjohn Company and the following facts have been developed:
a. The efficacy of such a preparation is questioned. Such a preparation
would also be extremely difficult to test or evaluate.
b. It is felt that a good possibility of undesirable antigenic reactions would
exist.
c. The preparation would be quite difficult to prepare.
d. The probable market for such a preparation would be small due to the
success of antibiotics in this area of medicine.
For these reasons the Foundation is of the opinion that further development
work by the University and the filing of an application for a patent are
not warranted and, accordingly, recommends that the discovery be released to
the inventor. The University Patent Committee and the Vice-President in charge
of the Chicago Professional Colleges concur in this recommendation.
2. Method for destroying hardwood tree stumps — Charles S. Walters, Professor
of Forestry, and Kenneth R. Peterson, Research Associate in Forestry,
inventors. This invention consists of a mixture of chemicals developed by certain
staff members of the Department of Forestry, which is applied to tree
stumps to facilitate their destruction by burning.
The Committee is not certain how well a patent, if issued, can be defended,
but because of public interest in this invention the Committee recommends
transfer of the rights of the University to the University of Illinois Foundation
with the request that the latter file a patent application if this appears
desirable after further investigation.
3. Antioxidants which prevent oxidation and remove prooxidative metallic
ions — Fred A. Kummerow, Associate Professor of Food Chemistry, Department
of Food Technology, and Taketami Sakuragi, Research Associate in Food
Technology, inventors. It is the opinion of the Head of the Department of
Food Technology and the Associate Director of the Agricultural Experiment
Station that this invention has little or no commercial value. The Patent Committee
concurs and recommends that this invention be released to the inventors.
4. Autoclaves with windows — Walter D. Rose, Professor of Petroleum
Engineering, inventor. The purpose of this invention is to make possible observations
of the contents of a vessel constructed to withstand conditions of high
temperature and pressure, and deals with the design of a glass, or other transparent
material, window and the closure thereof as part of a metallic pressure
vessel.
The Patent Committee is of the opinion that there are several other satisfactory
commercial developments similar to this and, accordingly, concurs in
the recommendation of the Head of the Department of Mining and Metallurgical
Engineering that the invention be released to the inventor.
5. High-density, counter-flow fixed type heat exchanger — John C. Miles,
Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Norman A. Parker, Professor and
Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, inventors. This is a new
principle for the construction of a heat exchanger for use on a gas turbine and
is closely related to two previous inventions by Mr. Miles and Mr. Parker
relating to "Combustion System for Regenerative Gas Turbine" and "Regenerative
Heat Exchanger" which were transferred to the University of Illinois
Foundation and on which patent applications have been filed.
The Patent Committee has referred this third invention to the Foundation
for study, and the latter reports it has potential value. The Patent Committee
recommends that the rights of the University in this invention be transferred
to the University of Illinois Foundation and that the Foundation be authorized
to file a patent application.
6. Ultrasonic irradiator — William J. Fry, Professor of Electrical Engineering,
inventor. This is a machine which produces very high frequency sound