Patents Examined by William H. Beisner
  • Patent number: 11371009
    Abstract: An automatic in vitro cell culture platform includes a fluid storage device, a channel control panel, a cell culture chip and a fluid drive unit. The fluid storage device is for storing a cell culture medium and a waste liquid. The channel control panel is pipe-connected to the fluid storage device. The cell culture chip is disposed on the channel control panel and is for culturing a cell. The fluid drive unit is pipe-connected to the channel control panel and is for driving the cell culture medium and the waste liquid to flow between the fluid storage device and the cell culture chip through the channel control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hsin-Lin Hsieh, Jen-Huang Huang
  • Patent number: 11365433
    Abstract: An anaerobic digestion system for producing biogas from biomass, particularly biomass that is lignocellulosic, and includes two separate and interacting anaerobic reactor environments to solubilize lignocellulosic materials and make them available for conversion to biogas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Inventors: Jaron C. Hansen, Lee D. Hansen, Zachary T. Aanderud, Conly L. Hansen
  • Patent number: 11357227
    Abstract: A frame includes a ring-shaped body part locatable to surround the periphery of an organ, and at least one tube clamp part mounted on the body part. Each tube clamp part includes a tube holder that holds a tube. The tube clamp part is mounted so as to be movable in the circumferential direction of the body part. Thus, a tube connected to the organ can be fixed at an appropriate position to the tube clamp part. This stabilizes the relative positions of the organ and the tube. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the probability of the organ becoming damaged due to a strain on the organ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Torai, Syuhei Yoshimoto, Katsuhide Konishi
  • Patent number: 11351583
    Abstract: A method of treating a heavy metal contaminated soil including contacting the contaminated soil with a bioremediation mixture for a predetermined time such that the contaminated soil is anaerobically digested, wherein the contaminated soil contains one or more heavy metals, and wherein the anaerobically digested soil contains a lesser amount of the one or more heavy metals than the contaminated soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Inventor: Walter A. Bretz
  • Patent number: 11338296
    Abstract: There is described a variable-temperature reactor for hosting a predetermined reaction therein. The reactor comprises a reaction cell, a heater, and a heat sink. The reaction cell has a reaction volume with thickness Hv and width Wv where Wv>4Hv and is defined by faces with one of the larger area faces of the reaction volume being bounded by an outer wall with thickness Hw. The heater is in contact with the said outer wall. The heater comprises a heat-generating heater element located on the face closer to the reaction volume and a heater support on the opposite face. The heater support is in contact with a heat sink, such that the heater support provides a thermal resistance RT between the heater element and the heat sink. The reactor, when filled with reagents having thermal diffusion coefficient Dv has a diffusion time tv, in the thickness direction, tv=Hv2/Dv. tv is less than the reaction time constant tR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Lex Diagnostics Ltd.
    Inventors: Justin Buckland, Tom Jellicoe, Alex Stokoe, Amaru Araya-Williams
  • Patent number: 11326139
    Abstract: A system for aerobic fermentation includes a vessel, an aeration system including a gas sparger fluidly coupled to the vessel to introduce a compressed gas to an internal volume of the vessel, and a recirculation loop fluidly coupled to an outlet of the vessel. The recirculation loop includes an eductor fluidly coupled to an oxygen-containing gas source, a static mixer downstream of the eductor, a heat exchanger downstream of the eductor, and a distributor downstream of the heat exchanger. The distributor is fluidly coupled to the vessel. The aeration system provides mixing and oxygen mass transfer to the fermentation composition in the vessel. The fermentation composition passes through the eductor, static mixer, heat exchanger, and distributor of the recirculation loop, and back into the vessel. Oxygen is transferred from an oxygen containing gas to the fermentation composition and heat is removed from the fermentation composition in the recirculation loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kishore K. Kar, Suraj S. Deshpande, James J. Pressler, Bianca Fernandes Martins, Iris Raquel Maia Tebeka, Devon C. Rosenfeld, John Richard Biggs
  • Patent number: 11312934
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a piezoelectric ultrasonic microinjection device based on a flexible hinge mechanism. The device includes: a cover, a flexible hinge mechanism, a base, a screw cap and an end cap fixedly assembled together, the base being provided with a pump interface; and a micropipette fixedly mounted in the base, the screw cap and the end cap and extending outward, the micropipette being in communication with the pump interface; wherein the flexible hinge mechanism comprises a housing, a piezoelectric ceramic package module encapsulated in the housing, a central shaft fixedly mounted with the piezoelectric ceramic package module and the base, and a vibration output shaft extending from the piezoelectric ceramic package module into the central shaft, a plurality of flexible hinge beams being disposed between the central shaft and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Haibo Huang, Xiwei Gao, Liguo Chen, Fei Zhou, Hao Guo, Lingfeng Chang, Jizhu Liu, Yangjun Wang, Lining Sun
  • Patent number: 11312931
    Abstract: A belt for an algal growth system includes a flexible sheet material configured to facilitate growth of a biofilm. The flexible sheet material is mounted on a first frame in a first mounted geometry, the flexible sheet material having a substantially vertical orientation when mounted on the first frame such that a first height of the first mounted geometry is greater than a first width of the first mounted geometry, the flexible sheet material being in contact with a contacting liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignees: Gross-Wen Technologies, Inc., Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Anthony Gross, Zhiyou Wen
  • Patent number: 11306281
    Abstract: A culture device and a culture method by which a substance to be cultured can be three-dimensionally cultured, and the substance thus cultured can be removed as an integrated product with multiple tubes; and a cultured organ produced by the culture method. The culture device comprises a sealed container (2) which contains the substance to be cultured (A) and is disassembled after the culture is completed; multiple ducts (3, 4, 5) arranged in the sealed container (2) and having a plurality of micropores formed on the outer peripheral surface; a culture medium-feeding device (6, 7) for feeding/circulating the culture medium (B) to at least one duct (3 or 5); an excretory device (8) connected to at least one duct (4) for excreting the waste product (C)permeating into the duct (4) through the micropores of the duct (4) from the substance to be cultured to the outside of the sealed container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventor: Koji Saito
  • Patent number: 11293002
    Abstract: Cell culture apparatus for emulating gastrointestinal tract conditions and comprising at least two adjacent, microfluidic, cell cultivation channels separated by a permeable or semipermeable membrane, a first channel carrying gastrointestinal tract epithelial cells or tissues and a second channel carrying luminal and preferably mucosal microbiota, and wherein said second channel comprises one or more dwell chambers capable of providing a location for unattached luminal flora to reside away from any direct flow in said second channel, permits modelling of multiple sections of the gastrointestinal tract and control of retention times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: Frederic Zenhausern, Paul Wilmes, Pranjul Shah
  • Patent number: 11293000
    Abstract: A sterile bioreactor is formed of a combination of a bag and a bubble diffuser retained in the bag. The bubble diffuser is formed of a microporous sheet material that produces substantially uniform micro gas bubbles for enhancing plant organism growth within the bag. The bag is made in a cost-effective manner and with desired sterility by sealing coupling devices and/or ports, the tube ends sealed and gamma irradiated. The coupling devices/ports are established in one side wall of the bag. Contents may be inserted into and removed from the bag through the coupling devices/ports, which may be surface mounted portals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Field Energy LLC
    Inventor: Hiroaki Hara
  • Patent number: 11285471
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to an adaptable microenvironment for cellular and biological processing in a traceable, transportable unit. In an illustrative example, an apparatus consists of one or more portable cell tissue containment modules that may be removably interconnected to perform a processing step and/or transfer the stored medium to another module. Associated apparatus and methods are proposed to ensure non-contaminating mechanical or fluid communication between a plurality of modules or between a module and peripheral equipment, to limit process errors such as steps performed out of order, and to intrinsically manage identification of tissue samples with accompanying process data in a manner that decreases risk of mislabeling or otherwise mishandling a sample at all stages of the production and treatment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Nextern Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Douglas, Richard Farrell, David Bontrager
  • Patent number: 11279911
    Abstract: A bottle includes a body, a cap mounted to a cap neck of the body. The cap has an outer peripheral portion which is provided with a protrusion. Around the cap, there is provided a position indicator indicating whether the cap is at a correctly closed position, based on the positional relationship between the protrusion and the position indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignees: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED, ANIMAL STEM CELL
    Inventors: Koji Kamiya, Wataru Saito, Kazuhiro Nagaike
  • Patent number: 11279909
    Abstract: 2D and 3D cell culture containers formed from blends of poly-L-lactide and poly-D-lactide provide growth surfaces for adherent cells and do not require surface treatment or coating to support mammalian cell growth. The cell culture containers are transparent, heat tolerant, and are environmentally degradable and suitable for composting in landfills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Diversified Biotech, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Perlman
  • Patent number: 11274274
    Abstract: The invention discloses a bioreactor apparatus (1;101;201;301) for cultivation of cells comprising: a) a disposable bioreactor vessel (2) with one or more walls (3,4,5) defining an inner volume (6), at least one port (10) in a wall, wherein the disposable bioreactor vessel is positioned in a rigid support structure (8;108); and b) a heater (9;109;209;309), capable of heating an amount of culture medium to a target temperature in the range of 55-95° C., while the amount of culture medium is being confined in or conveyed to the inner volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: GLOBAL LIFE SCIENCES SOLUTIONS USA LLC
    Inventors: Colin R. Tuohey, Richard Lee Damren, Thomas John Erdenberger, Parish M. Galliher, Patrick M. Guertin
  • Patent number: 11259520
    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: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignees: FANUC CORPORATION, I PEACE, INC.
    Inventors: Koji Tanabe, Kiyonori Inaba, Masaru Oda
  • Patent number: 11261413
    Abstract: A bioreactor is provided that permits engineering of multiple different tissues. The bioreactor has a series of flow paths that permit application of tissue-specific media while simultaneously innervating the various different tissues with a common media. The flow paths for the various medias are designed to prevent mixing of the various media as they simultaneously innervate the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, Keith Yeager, Kacey Ronaldson, Stephen Ma, Timothy Chen
  • Patent number: 11261415
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to equipment utilized to manufacture chemical agents, particularly biopharmaceuticals. In some embodiments, reactor systems comprising a mobile carriage assembly; a disposable reaction container removably attached to the carriage assembly; and, a carriage holder into which the mobile carriage assembly may be removably inserted are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ABEC, INC.
    Inventors: Cameron Knight, Todd Jones, Brady Cole, Paul Kubera, Cindy L. Donovan
  • Patent number: 11254621
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vertical gas distribution device for aerobic compost and a gas distribution method. Current gas distribution pipelines are easily blocked by organic materials, resulting in poor ventilation due to non-uniform local ventilation and cleaning difficulties. The inventive device comprises a compost chamber, a compost bin, a compost heap, a percolate tank, and a plurality of gas distribution branch pipes at the bottom of the compost chamber, the pipes being vertically movable in the chamber; the percolate tank is positioned at the bottom of the chamber and under the pipes; an air inlet is provided on the side wall of the tank, and an outlet is provided on the side wall of the chamber; the compost bin is inside the compost chamber, and the compost heap is in the compost bin; each pipe is top sealed, with a plurality of vent holes on the side wall, and its bottom connected to the tank. The present invention is usable for compost ventilation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Northeast Agricultural University
    Inventors: Zimin Wei, Beidou Xi, Baiyan Cai, Xu Zhang, Dan Wei, Liming Jia, Xinyu Zhao, Mingxiao Li, Tianxue Yang, Yue Zhao
  • Patent number: 11247211
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for the thermal treatment of samples, including: a base unit with a receiving region; a cover for closing the receiving region, the cover movable from a first, open position into a second, closed position; at least one connecting element connected to the cover; and a cover drive disposed in the base unit and coupled to the at least one connecting element as to drive a movement of the cover such that, during the movement from an open into a closed position, the cover is initially brought from the open position into a third position, in which the cover extends parallel to and spaced from the receiving region, and such that the cover is further moved from the third position in a direction of a shared normal until the cover has reached the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Biometra GmbH
    Inventors: Eggert Appel, Janek Junghans, Konstantin Missal