Patents Examined by William H. Beisner
  • Patent number: 11785941
    Abstract: A vitrification device for gametes or embryos, wherein, the vitrification straw comprises: a loading rod, wherein the loading rod is a metal rod; a loading strip, wherein, the loading strip is connected with one end of the loading rod. According to the present invention, the loading rod is arranged as metal rod, which avoids embrittlement fracture caused by sudden temperature change when the loading rod is taken out of liquid nitrogen, moreover, the ice crystals that form on gametes or embryos when the loading rod floats out of the surface of liquid nitrogen, affecting the safety of gametes or embryos, the metal material used by this invention can increase the weight of the loading rod, preventing it from floating up in the liquid nitrogen, hence improve safety of gametes or embryos.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jinpeng Rao, Min Jin, Shen Tian, Chun Feng, Fan Jin, Ya Yu
  • Patent number: 11788049
    Abstract: Provided is a cell culture system capable of mixing a medium for culturing animal or plant cells. The cell culture system includes a body, a movable plate including an accommodation space accommodating a culture bag accommodating a medium to mix the medium, and being tiltable in multiple directions by a central joint mounted at a first location of the body, a first actuator mounted between the body and a second location of the movable plate to move the movable plate, a second actuator mounted between the body and a third location of the movable plate to move the movable plate, and a controller for applying a control signal to the first and second actuators, wherein a first angle between a first reference line extending from the first location to the second location, and a second reference line extending from the first location to the third location is 120°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: MICRO DIGITAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kyung Nam Kim, Yong Bok Lee, Chong Myung Kim, Sun Young Kim
  • Patent number: 11788046
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for growing cells—referred to as a cassette. The cell culturing device includes a housing that contains a lid having an optically clear window; a fluid distribution channel; a sample injection port fluidically connected to the fluid distribution channel; a base housing a porous media pad; and a media injection port fluidically connected to the media pad. The lid mates to the base to form a sterile seal; the fluid distribution channel is disposed over the media pad, which is viewable through the optical window; and sample fluid introduced into the fluid distribution channel is distributed evenly to the media pad, e.g., via a plurality of channels. The invention also provides kits that include cassettes of the invention and a tube set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Rapid Micro Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Aviles, Devin T. Michaud, Douglas J. Browne
  • Patent number: 11781100
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus of bioreactors for therapeutic cells manufacturing are provided herein. In some embodiments, a bioreactor includes: an upper bioreactor reservoir configured to perform multiple cell therapy manufacturing process steps including genetic modification and expansion to a plurality of cells disposed therein, wherein the upper bioreactor reservoir includes a plurality of ports for delivering fluids into and out of the upper bioreactor reservoir; a lower bioreactor compartment configured to hold a suspension comprising a molecular species; and a membrane disposed between the lower bioreactor compartment and the upper bioreactor reservoir, wherein the membrane includes a plurality of micro-straws extending through the membrane and into the upper bioreactor reservoir to transfect the plurality of cells with the molecular species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Samer Banna, Mukhles Sowwan, Gary E. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 11781105
    Abstract: A system for quickly determining antibiotic sensitivity of a microorganism comprising a triangular-shaped plate and cover for culturing, recovering, and re-suspending recovered microbial colonies and a second triangular-shaped plate comprising a non-liquid medium cut with concentric trenches over which the re-suspended microbial colonies are distributed by centrifugation and contacted with antimicrobial strips or disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: National Guard Health Affairs, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center
    Inventor: Ahmad Mohammed Shikan Aljefri
  • Patent number: 11773361
    Abstract: Miniature stirred tank bioreactor and system; the bioreactor configured for single use culturing providing unobstructed culturing volume with sensors, probes and ports using minimally invasive placement in-wall or across the wall methods; the bioreactor further capable of containing scaffolds and features for culturing cells and tissue, including structures providing surfaces for cell growth, and screens for retaining microparticles during media exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Jerry Shevitz
  • Patent number: 11773365
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides cassettes for use in automated cell engineering systems that include cell concentration filters for reducing fluid volume of a cell sample during or following automated processing. The disclosure also provides methods of concentrating a cell population, as well as automated cell engineering systems that can utilize the cassettes and carry out the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: LONZA WALKERSVILLE, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph O'Connor, Erika McAfee, Samatha Bandapalle, Yaling Shi, Eytan Abraham
  • Patent number: 11746375
    Abstract: A PCR vessel (1) is mainly constituted of a vessel body (11) having a reaction chamber (12) storing and reacting a specimen and a reagent at the time of PCR on a bottom portion (14) thereof, a lid body (6) fittable with the vessel body (11), and a reagent cassette (16) stored in a portion between a lower surface (7) of the lid body (5) and the reaction chamber (12) in the vessel body (11). The reagent cassette (16) has at least one reagent storing portion capable of sealing the reagent with sealing means such as paraffin solid before PCR and melted by heating in PCR. When structuring the PCR vessel in this manner, the sealing means is melted by heating in PCR and the reagent storing portion is opened when storing a specimen necessary for PCR in the vessel body and performing PCR in a state previously storing and sealing the reagent in the reagent storing portion. Then, the specimen and the reagent move to the lower reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: YAMATO-ESULON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Matsunaga, Yoshinori Yamaguchi, Tetsuji Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11732227
    Abstract: A cell culture vessel includes a vessel body, support columns, and a stabilizer device. The vessel body defines a cell culture chamber enclosed between a bottom wall and a top wall. The support column is within the cell culture chamber and extends between the top wall and the bottom wall. The stabilizer device covers a width and length of the cell culture chamber and has a column engaging structure that is sized to slidingly engage the support column such that the stabilizer device is movable along the support column as a liquid culture medium is received in the cell culture chamber. The support column guides the stabilizer device along a length of the support column as the stabilizer device rises with rising liquid level in the cell culture chamber during a liquid culture medium filling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: William Joseph Lacey, Gregory Roger Martin, Allison Jean Tanner
  • Patent number: 11732242
    Abstract: The invention provides an automated system for producing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from adult somatic cells. Further, the system is used for producing differentiated adult cells from stem cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: New York Stem Cell Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Noggle, Kevin C. Eggan, Stephen Chang, Susan L. Solomon
  • Patent number: 11725175
    Abstract: An electroporation system may include a well plate, a dispenser and a dispenser-well positioning system. The well plate may include wells, each of the wells including an interior, a first electrode adjacent the interior and a second electrode adjacent the interior and spaced from the first electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are to apply an electrostatic field across the well. The dispenser is to dispense a cell having a diameter into each of the wells. The dispenser-well positioning system is to align each well and the dispenser such that the dispenser dispenses the cell into each well at a location spaced from the first electrode and the second electrode by a distance of at least 5 times the diameter of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Viktor Shkolnikov, Diane R. Hammerstad, Michael W. Cumbie
  • Patent number: 11718818
    Abstract: A system includes a photobioreactor that provides a channel configured to contain an algae slurry, a duct positioned adjacent the channel and configured to convey a gas, and a barrier separating the duct from the channel and providing one or more apertures to allow a portion of the gas to be injected into the algae slurry from the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Everett J. O'Neal, Patrick L. Hanks, Kevin B. Daly
  • Patent number: 11718801
    Abstract: An apparatus to simulate biocide performance in crude oil pipeline conditions is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a reactor to simulate a two-phase crude oil pipeline which includes a crude oil phase above a water phase. The reactor has an agitator to control a flow of the water phase in the reactor in response to a motor that drives an agitation rate of the agitator. A crude oil inlet supplies crude oil to the reactor for the crude oil phase. A water inlet supplies water to the reactor for the water phase. A control circuit is configured by code to control a proportion of the water to the crude oil supplied to the reactor and to control the motor to drive a desired agitation rate of the agitator. A biocide inlet supplies biocide to the reactor. A water sample outlet enables sampling of the water phase of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Xiangyang Zhu, Mazen A. Al-Saleh, Qurban Ali
  • Patent number: 11713440
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a cell culture system includes: a cell culture container; a liquid storage part configured to store a liquid including a culture medium or a reagent to be supplied to the cell culture container; and a cell collection part configured to collect cells cultured in the cell culture container, wherein the cell culture container, the liquid storage part, and the cell collection part are connected by spatially closed-system lines at least during a period from feeding of the liquid to the cell culture container to removal of the cultured cells, and wherein the cell culture container is arranged in an incubator in a form of a multistage shelf including a liquid supply/discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Sinfonia Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daichi Horii, Kazuhiro Tsuji, Yoshihiko Nishikawa, Haruki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11708554
    Abstract: Described are embodiments for expanding cells in a bioreactor. In one embodiment, methods are provided that distribute cells throughout the bioreactor and attach cells to specific portions of a bioreactor to improve the expansion of the cells in the bioreactor. Embodiments may be implemented on a cell expansion system configured to load, distribute, attach and expand cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Nankervis, Mark E. Jones
  • Patent number: 11708555
    Abstract: An apparatus for draining a bioreactor vessel includes a tubular body portion having an interior passageway, and at least one aperture in the tubular body portion providing for fluid communication with the interior passageway, the tubular body portion being configured for positioning at a bottom of a vessel, and a suction tube having a first end configured for fluid coupling with the tubular body portion, and a second end configured for fluid coupling with a port in a sidewall of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: GLOBAL LIFE SCIENCES SOLUTIONS USA LLC
    Inventors: Richard Damren, Colin Tuohey, Ralph Stankowski
  • Patent number: 11700848
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for supporting and connecting an excised organ (such as a heart, a pair of lungs, a kidney, or a liver) during ex vivo perfusion. The device includes a resilient and flexible sheet having a first portion for contacting and supporting the organ thereon, and a second portion comprising an opening for forming a connection between the organ and a conduit to allow fluid communication between the conduit and the organ. The device also includes a magnetic material embedded in the second portion of the sheet for magnetically securing the connection between the conduit and the organ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TEVOSOL, INC.
    Inventor: Darren Freed
  • Patent number: 11684063
    Abstract: A stem cell manufacturing system for manufacturing stem cells from somatic cells includes: one or more closed production device(s) configured to produce stem cells from somatic cells; one or more drive device(s) configured to be connected with the production device(s) and drive the production device(s) in such a manner as to maintain the production device(s) in an environment suitable for producing stem cells; one or more cryopreservation device(s) configured to cryopreserve the produced stem cells; a first memory device configured to store whether or not somatic cells have been introduced to the production device(s), as a first state; a second memory device configured to store whether or not the production device(s) is/are connected with the drive device(s), as a second state; and a third memory device configured to store whether or not the produced stem cells can be placed in the cryopreservation device(s), as a third state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignees: FANUC CORPORATION, I PEACE, INC.
    Inventors: Koji Tanabe, Kiyonori Inaba, Masaru Oda
  • Patent number: 11685887
    Abstract: Technologies and implementations for a system and method for determining a force applied to a cell or tissue culture is disclosed. The system and method may include an elastic element mounted in or suitable for mounting in a culture chamber. The elastic element may be adapted to be coupled with the cell or the tissue culture such that a force applied to the cell or the tissue culture leads to a deflection of the elastic element against a restoring force. A magnetic field sensor may be mounted outside said culture chamber. The magnetic field sensor may be adapted to detect a change of magnetic field attributable to a corresponding movement of a magnetic element upon deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Andreas Dendorfer
  • Patent number: 11680236
    Abstract: A Petri dish (100) base (300) and lid (200) each having a substantially circular, substantially flat region from which sidewalls extend perpendicular to the flat region (312) forming a corner (326), (230). The base may have a base stacking ring (325) extending from the base (300) at the corner (326), and an internal channel (330) around the inside of the base (300) at the corner (326). The base (300) may have a uniform cross-sectional thickness (350) and may also have vents (322) in the base stacking ring (325). The lid (200) may have a uniform cross-sectional thickness (250). The lid (200) may have a lid stacking ring (225) at the corner (230), which forms a groove (240) in the interior (212) of the lid (200) at the corner (230). The lid may also have ribs (295) and vents (222) to enable multiple dishes to be stacked without forming a vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Christophe Roland René Briche