US Patent 7220310 - Nanopropeller

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7220310.html

This patent claims yet another new type of nanostructure-a nanopropeller. The nanopropeller is taught to be useful in nanofluidic flow control and for improved AFM tips. Claim 1 reads:

1. A nanoscale junction array, comprising: a. an elongated nanowire; and b. a plurality of elongated nanobelts, each having a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the proximal end of each nanobelt being attached to a different location on the nanowire, each nanobelt extending radially away from the nanowire.