Patents by Inventor Merle Edwin Olson

Merle Edwin Olson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7041470
    Abstract: Biofilm forming organisms are incubated to form a biofilm on projections by providing a flow of liquid growth medium across projections, the direction of the flow of liquid being repeatedly changed, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Biofilm forming organisms are incubated to form a biofilm on projections arranged in rows, with several projections in each row, while providing a flow of liquid growth medium across each row of projections, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Sensitivity of the biofilm to antimicrobial reagent may be determined by treating the projections with antimicrobial reagent before carrying out the assay, by treating each row of projections with a different antimicrobial reagent, and each of the projections in a row with a different concentration of antimicrobial reagent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: University Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Ceri, Merle Edwin Olson, Douglas Walter Morck, Ronald Rae Read, Andre Gerald Buret
  • Patent number: 6599714
    Abstract: Bacteria are incubated to form a biofilm on projections by providing a flow of liquid growth medium across projections, the direction of the flow of liquid being repeatedly changed, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Bacteria are incubated to form a biofilm on projections arranged in rows, with several projections in each row, while providing a flow of liquid growth medium across each row of projections, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Sensitivity of the biofilm to antibacterial reagent may be determined by treating the projections with antibacterial reagent before carrying out the assay, by treating each row of projections with a different antibacterial reagent, and each of the projections in a row with a different concentration of antibacterial reagent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: University Technologies International Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Ceri, Merle Edwin Olson, Douglas Walter Morck, Ronald Rae Read, Andre Gerald Buret
  • Patent number: 6599696
    Abstract: A method for testing the performance of surface coatings on the formation of biofilm and encrustation on materials. The method includes, providing a plurality of material retaining sites, providing the material retaining sites with a material, wherein the material models a surface likely to be involved in biofilm formation and encrustation deposit. The method further includes the steps of providing a liquid growth medium, wherein the liquid growth medium includes at least one microorganism, the liquid growth medium arranged to cover at least a portion of the material, and incubating microorganism and encrustation on the material retaining sites in the presence of the liquid growth medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: University Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: Merle Edwin Olson, Howard Ceri
  • Patent number: 6596505
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for testing the formation of biofilms on various materials. The apparatus includes a lid and a vessel, wherein the lid may be configured to accept various materials for the testing of biofilm formation. For example, the lid may contain a plurality of projections onto which materials may be coated or disposed. The vessel is adapted to receive the lid in a fluid tight communication and to retain a liquid growth medium therein. After a material has been disposed upon the projections, the material is suspended within the vessel containing the liquid growth medium. The material is allowed to incubate for a period of time in which a biofilm forms upon the material. The material is then removed from the liquid growth medium and the biofilms formed thereupon are used to test the efficiency of various biocides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: University Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Ceri, Merle Edwin Olson
  • Publication number: 20030068667
    Abstract: A method for testing the performance of surface coatings on the formation of biofilm and encrustation on materials. The method includes, providing a plurality of material retaining sites, providing the material retaining sites with a material, wherein the material models a surface likely to be involved in biofilm formation and encrustation deposit. The method further includes the steps of providing a liquid growth medium, wherein the liquid growth medium includes at least one microorganism, the liquid growth medium arranged to cover at least a portion of the material, and incubating microorganism and encrustation on the material retaining sites in the presence of the liquid growth medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Merle Edwin Olson, Howard Ceri
  • Publication number: 20030032079
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for testing the formation of biofilms on various materials. The apparatus includes a lid and a vessel, wherein the lid may be configured to accept various materials for the testing of biofilm formation. For example, the lid may contain a plurality of projections onto which materials may be coated or disposed. The vessel is adapted to receive the lid in a fluid tight communication and to retain a liquid growth medium therein. After a material has been disposed upon the projections, the material is suspended within the vessel containing the liquid growth medium. The material is allowed to incubate for a period of time in which a biofilm forms upon the material. The material is then removed from the liquid growth medium and the biofilms formed thereupon are used to test the efficiency of various biocides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Howard Ceri, Merle Edwin Olson
  • Publication number: 20020146809
    Abstract: Blofilm forming organisms are incubated to form a biofilm on projections by providing a flow of liquid growth medium across projections, the direction of the flow of liquid being repeatedly changed, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Biofilm forming organisms are incubated to form a biofilm on projections arranged in rows, with several projections in each row, while providing a flow of liquid growth medium across each row of projections, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Sensitivity of the biofilm to antimicrobial reagent may be determined by treating the projections with antimicrobial reagent before carrying out the assay, by treating each row of projections with a different antimicrobial reagent, and each of the projections in a row with a different concentration of antibacterial reagent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Howard Ceri, Merle Edwin Olson, Douglas Walter Morck, Ronald Rae Read, Andre Gerald Buret
  • Patent number: 6410256
    Abstract: Biofilm forming organisms are incubated to form a biofilm on projections by providing a flow of liquid growth medium across projections, the direction of the flow of liquid being repeatedly changed, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Biofilm forming organisms are incubated to form a biofilm on projections arranged in rows, with several projections in each row, while providing a flow of liquid growth medium across each row of projections, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Sensitivity of the biofilm to antimicrobial reagent may be determined by treating the projections with antimicrobial reagent before carrying out the assay, by treating each row of projections with a different antimicrobial reagent, and each of the projections in a row with a different concentration of antimicrobial reagent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: University Technologies International Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Ceri, Merle Edwin Olson, Douglas Walter Morck, Ronald Rae Read, Andre Gerald Buret
  • Publication number: 20010049975
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for testing the formation of biofilms on various materials. The apparatus includes a lid and a vessel, wherein the lid may be configured to accept various materials for the testing of biofilm formation. For example, the lid may contain a plurality of projections onto which materials may be coated or disposed. The vessel is adapted to receive the lid in a fluid tight communication and to retain a liquid growth medium therein. After a material has been disposed upon the projections, the material is suspended within the vessel containing the liquid growth medium. The material is allowed to incubate for a period of time in which a biofilm forms upon the material. The material is then removed from the liquid growth medium and the biofilms formed thereupon are used to test the efficiency of various biocides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Inventors: Howard Ceri, Merle Edwin Olson
  • Patent number: 6326190
    Abstract: Bacteria are incubated to form a biofilm on projections by providing a flow of liquid growth medium across projections, the direction of the flow of liquid being repeatedly changed, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Bacteria are incubated to form a biofilm on projections arranged in rows, with several projections in each row, while providing a flow of liquid growth medium across each row of projections, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Sensitivity of the biofilm to antibacterial reagent may be determined by treating the projections with antibacterial reagent before carrying out the assay, by treating each row of projections with a different antibacterial reagent, and each of the projections in a row with a different concentration of antibacterial reagent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: University Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Ceri, Merle Edwin Olson, Douglas Walter Morck, Ronald Rae Read, Andre Gerald Buret
  • Patent number: 6051423
    Abstract: Bacteria are incubated to form a biofilm on projections by providing a flow of liquid growth medium across projections, the direction of the flow of liquid being repeatedly changed, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Bacteria are incubated to form a biofilm on projections arranged in rows, with several projections in each row, while providing a flow of liquid growth medium across each row of projections, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Sensitivity of the biofilm to antibacterial reagent may be determined by treating the projections with antibacterial reagent before carrying out the assay, by treating each row of projections with a different antibacterial reagent, and each of the projections in a row with a different concentration of antibacterial reagent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: University Technologies International Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Ceri, Merle Edwin Olson, Douglas Walter Morck, Ronald Rae Read, Andre Gerald Buret