Patents Examined by Christopher Vandeusen
  • Patent number: 8435451
    Abstract: An incense burner and storage device includes a lower housing with a base and a storage compartment. The device also includes an upper housing and an upwardly extending column for supporting the upper housing. The upper housing includes a support for charcoal and incense and an ashtray for collecting ashes. The ashtray is also rotatable about a vertical axis between a loading position and a burning position. The ashtray also includes a perforated screen-like bottom that allows a flame to pass therethrough. A cigarette lighter is used for heating the charcoal and is pivotally mounted within the column for removal and replacement of the lighter. An adjustment mechanism is fixed to one side of the upper portion of the column and allows the charcoal and incense support to be raised or lowered with respect to the cigarette lighter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventor: Khaled Abdullah Al-Mahnna
  • Patent number: 8414842
    Abstract: A reactor for treating a material in a medium. It includes a body (2) in which is defined a reaction area (10) capable of containing a reaction medium, at least one inlet for introducing the reaction medium into the reaction area, one outlet for discharging effluents out of the reaction area. A protective casing (8) positioned inside the body (2) delimits the reaction area (10). It is spaced apart from the body in order to delimit a confinement area (12) isolating the reaction area of the body. The reaction area and the confinement area are sealably isolated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Hubert-Alexandre Turc, Christophe Joussot-Dubien
  • Patent number: 8398919
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for repairing exterior wall structures. According to the invention, the transfer of moisture through external cladding to the wall structure is prevented by treating the external cladding with facade protection, after which holes are formed in the external cladding at a distance from each other and, through the holes, an insulation space behind the external cladding is dried and disinfected with disinfectant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Microbe Control Finland Oy
    Inventor: Raimo Lajunen
  • Patent number: 8383037
    Abstract: A system and method for implementing embedded electronics in environments where radiation or extreme temperatures are used is disclosed. Embedded electronics are affixed to various components of a pharmaceutical system, thereby enabling the customer to download pertinent information about the component, such as lot number, date of manufacturer, test parameters, etc. Additionally, these electronics allow an array of functions and features to be implemented, such as integrity tests and diagnostics. The electronics in the pharmaceutical components utilize a technology that is not as susceptible to radiation and extreme temperatures as traditional electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventor: Aaron Burke
  • Patent number: 8376607
    Abstract: A process for continuously performing polymerization processes, wherein monomer(s), catalysts, and initiators are added continuously to a backmixed mixing kneader (1-1.3) with a length/diameter ratio of 0.5-3.5 and backmixed therein with already reacted product, and the reacted product is simultaneously drawn off continuously from the mixing kneader (1-1.3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: List Holding AG
    Inventors: Pierre-Alain Fleury, Thomas Isenschmid, Pierre Liechti
  • Patent number: 8318091
    Abstract: A sterile enclosure contains a transfer module defining a window. A port covers the window to maintain the inside of the enclosure as a sealed and sterile environment. A sliding, heated cutting element mounted on the port serves to sterilize and sever a portion of a sterile transfer bag assembly attached to the port. Preferably, the excised portion of the sterile transfer bag assembly is affixed to the port when the port opens. The sliding cutting element remains extended and heated to prevent contamination when the port is open. Further, a heating element is mounted about the window in order to sterilize around the opening when the port is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: Daniel Py
  • Patent number: 8292491
    Abstract: Flexible bag includes at least a first wall, a second wall facing the first wall when the flexible bag is folded and a functional part having at least a portion protruding from the first wall inside the bag. The second wall includes protective means intended to prevent damage to the flexible bag and/or to the functional part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Artelis S.A.
    Inventors: Jose Castillo, Florence Bosco
  • Patent number: 8241587
    Abstract: A collapsible single-use sterilization container for use in the sterilization of medical instruments is provided. The sterilization container includes a lid having central portion defined by a frangible region. Upon activation of the frangible region, the central portion may be removed rendering the sterilization container inoperable for future use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Scott Friderich, Denise E. O'Connor, Joseph A. Cesa
  • Patent number: 8226894
    Abstract: An ultrasonic treatment apparatus treats a part of the body without use of a medical agent. The ultrasonic treatment apparatus includes a treatment vessel, an ultrasonic element, an ultrasonic element driving circuit, and an operation section. The treatment vessel holds a medium and the ultrasonic element generates ultrasonic waves through the medium to decompose the water in the medium to thereby generate hydroxyl radicals. The ultrasonic element driving circuit drives the ultrasonic element. The operation section is used to set sterilization conditions determined by the amount of hydroxyl radicals generated by the ultrasonic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventors: Haru Miyake, Takamura Miyake
  • Patent number: 8221696
    Abstract: A detergent dispensing device for an automatic washing machine has a cartridge, a selecting mechanism, an operating mechanism, and a thermal element. The cartridge includes a plurality of chambers to accommodate a detergent composition. The selecting mechanism selectively exposes each chamber to wash liquor allowing the detergent, in use, to be washed out of the chamber. The operating mechanism is movable from a first position to a second position for loading mechanical energy into the device which provides a restoring force for the operating mechanism. The thermal element retains the operating means in the second position and is arranged to move when subjected to an elevated temperature prevailing in an interior of the washing machine during a wash cycle, thereby the thermal element moves or releases the operating mechanism. The operating mechanism is arranged to advance the selecting mechanism to an adjacent chamber as the cartridge remains stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser N.V.
    Inventors: Guido Brandt, Thomas Enkel, Karl-Ludwig Gibis, Michael Hahl, Chris Efstathios Housmekerides, Brendyn Rodgers
  • Patent number: 8216523
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a decontamination unit that employs a collapsible decontamination enclosure and a decontaminant air stream generator that uses catalytic discharge. The invention also relates to a decontamination process using the decontamination unit. The decontamination unit may be carried by an individual person, for example, in the form of a backpack. The decontamination unit may be ruggedized for use in hostile environments such as those that may be anticipated for military applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: STERIS Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Meilander, Paul A Wiget, Jain F. McVey, Mark E. Pasmore, Janusz K. Kozak, Michael A. Centanni
  • Patent number: 8211370
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer synthesizer having a high efficiency production rate. The synthesis of the polymers, and more particularly of DNA and RNA, is done very quickly. Furthermore, it is possible to synthesize a plurality of polymers in the same batch without significantly increasing the time and the complexity of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas Downing
  • Patent number: 8206668
    Abstract: The apparatus of the invention is essentially characterized by the fact that it includes a fluid-flow duct (10) having an inlet (11) and an outlet (12), and mounted in succession in series in the duct (10): a suction fan (20) for sucking in a carrier gas available at the inlet (11) and for discharging it towards the outlet (12); a bubbler (30) suitable for causing the carrier gas to pass through a volatile liquid (31) contained in the bubbler so as to obtain a stream of carrier gas (33) charged with vapor of the liquid; a device (40) for fractioning the charged stream to deliver a charged stream in fractioned form; and a member (50) for treating the fractioned charged stream to impart a determined quality thereto before it is ejected from the outlet (12) of the duct (10). The invention is applicable in particular to producing a gas charged with a volatile compound, in particular for inhalation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Holiste Laboratories et Developpment
    Inventors: Marie-Laure Delanef, Jean-Michel Collaudin
  • Patent number: 8197761
    Abstract: A vehicle air freshener includes an elongated, substantially cylindrical housing having an angled upper end, a lower end and an interior chamber. Within the interior chamber is an electric heater and a removable cartridge containing a fragrant or deodorizing material. The heater is powered by a conventional adapter on the lower end of the housing that mates with the vehicle's cigarette lighter. At the upper end of the housing is an adjustable fan assembly for dispersing the fragrant material into the vehicle passenger compartment. Accordingly, the adapter is properly inserted into the vehicle's cigarette lighter and a switch is engaged to activate the fan and heater; the fragrant material within the cartridge is slowly vaporized and dispersed to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: Shelia Miller-Larry
  • Patent number: 8163251
    Abstract: A sterile enclosure contains a transfer module defining a window. A port covers the window to maintain the inside of the enclosure as a sealed and sterile environment. A sliding, heated cutting element mounted on the port serves to sterilize and sever a portion of a sterile transfer bag assembly attached to the port. Preferably, the excised portion of the sterile transfer bag assembly is affixed to the port when the port opens. The sliding cutting element remains extended and heated to prevent contamination when the port is open. Further, a heating element is mounted about the window in order to sterilize around the opening when the port is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Daniel Py
  • Patent number: 8137615
    Abstract: An automated workstation or apparatus for disinfecting an object in a controlled environment is provided. A method for disinfecting an object in a controlled environment is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventor: James Preston Van Hooser
  • Patent number: 8137630
    Abstract: A light-emitting smell-altering aroma dispenser includes a casing having a bottom opening blocked by a base member, heater members supported on trays above a control circuit board in the casing, tubular aroma containers inserted through the top wall of the casing into the heater members at the trays and holding a respective aromatic substance for heating by the heater members to release a pleasant smell subject to the control of the control circuit board, and light emitting devices controlled by the control circuit board to emit light toward the aroma containers when the aroma substance in the aroma containers is being heated to release a pleasant smell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Carsten Jörgensen
  • Patent number: 8128275
    Abstract: A bone cement mixer includes one mixing space (5) for mixing powder and liquid components (2, 4) to make bone cement. The powder component (2) is placed in the mixing space (5) and the liquid component (4) in a liquid container (3). The liquid container (3) may be an aerosol container (15) and contains, in addition to the liquid component (4), a propellant gas for pushing the liquid component (4) out from the aerosol container (15) into the mixing space (5). The aerosol container (15) has a connecting element (16) for connecting it to the bone cement mixer (1), and it is closed and adapted to being opened when it is connected to a corresponding connecting element (17) on the bone cement mixer (1), so that the liquid component (4) is pushed out from the aerosol container (15) into the mixing space (5) by the propellant gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Biomet Cementing Technologies AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Axelsson, Ronny Bengtsson, Lars Wilander
  • Patent number: 8128276
    Abstract: A bone cement mixer (1) includes at least one mixing space (5) for mixing powder and liquid components (2, 4) to make bone cement. The powder component (2) is placed in the mixing space (5) and the liquid component (4) in a liquid container (3). The liquid component (4) is sucked out from the liquid container (3) to the mixing space (5) by means of a vacuum generated in the mixing space. The liquid container (3) is a tube (15) that has a connecting element (16) for connecting it to the bone cement mixer (1). The connecting element (16) is adapted to be opened when it is connected to a corresponding connecting element (17) on the bone cement mixer (1). The metal material of the tube has a thickness such that the volume of its liquid containing space (18) is brought to decrease when the vacuum in the mixing space (5) is brought to prevail therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Biomet Cementing Technologies AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Axelsson, Ronny Bengtsson, Lars Wilander
  • Patent number: 8119072
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a fragrance distribution device comprising an electrical resistor, a plug or other power source, and a fragrance in a polymer or thermoplastic carrier. The polymer or thermoplastic carrier may include, for example, metal inclusions, which may be powdered metal. These metal inclusions are believed to enhance heat distribution throughout the carrier, thus allowing a more uniform and reliable release of fragrance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Scent2Market Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel D'Amico