Incubator Patents (Class 119/311)
  • Patent number: 11168297
    Abstract: In some aspects, the invention relates to automated cell culture incubators and their methods of use. In one aspect, the disclosure provides cell culture incubators having an airlock chamber, a storage chamber and/or an internal chamber. In some aspects, the disclosure provides methods for producing autologous mammalian cell cultures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Thrive Bioscience, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Blanchard
  • Patent number: 10265233
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an incubator capable of enabling a user to easily and sufficiently perform a required operation inside an infant accommodation space of the incubator, since substantially the entire area of a hand insertion opening is actually opened when the user opens a service door and inserts their hand into the hand insertion opening. In the incubator, the hand insertion opening is configured so as to be capable of being opened and closed by the service door in a first state in which a first support frame member is attached to a peripheral wall section of the infant accommodation space, and the hand insertion opening is configured so as to be capable of functioning as an aperture window in a second state in which a second support frame member, a third support frame member, and an aperture window forming member are respectively attached to the peripheral wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: ATOM MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Wakabayashi, Kenji Kobayashi, Masaaki Oohashi, Ichiro Matsubara, Terumi Matsubara
  • Patent number: 9913560
    Abstract: A protective guard, which can prevent injuries from the perimeter of items which have been exposed to extreme and/or high temperatures, can include a one-piece body having an inside groove. The one piece body is configured to continuously contact an item and the one-piece body comprising of an elastomeric pliable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Rosalind Ong
  • Patent number: 9597355
    Abstract: The invention relates to cassettes for culturing cells. The invention also relates to analytical and preparative incubators for housing the cassettes. The invention also relates to methods of using the cassettes, for example, to culture cells wherein the processes of feeding and passaging cells are automated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SAGE SCIENCE, INC.
    Inventor: Gary Paul Magnant
  • Patent number: 8904964
    Abstract: A method and a compartment within an incubator, capable of allowing chicks to feed during the hatching process without reducing hatchability or livability. Thanks to immediate post hatch nutrition, the development during the chicks first days is significantly improved, resulting in a significant improvement in their weight as well. Furthermore, the accessibility of feed for the chicks is enabled and improved immediately after their hatching thanks to suitable lighting and the use of feeding troughs with transparent walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hatchtech Group B.V.
    Inventor: Eliezer Hendel
  • Publication number: 20140338609
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a cyclone separator for separating keratin particles originating from poultry out of a gas, in particular air. The separated particles comprise down particles. The invention furthermore relates to a climate chamber for hatching eggs and/or keeping poultry. Said climate chamber comprises a substantially closed compartment having two opposite side walls provided with one or more passages; as well as a substantially closed duct which extends outside the compartment and connects one of said side walls to the other of said side walls so as to form a substantially closed circuit together with the compartment. Said climate chamber furthermore comprises a cyclone separator, the inlet of which ends in the substantially closed duct and the outlet of which ends outside the closed duct for discharging into the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: HATCHTECH GROUP B.V.
    Inventor: Tjitze METER
  • Patent number: 8800497
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a cyclone separator for separating keratin particles originating from poultry out of a gas, in particular air. The separated particles comprise down particles. The invention furthermore relates to a climate chamber for hatching eggs and/or keeping poultry. Said climate chamber comprises a substantially closed compartment having two opposite side walls provided with one or more passages; as well as a substantially closed duct which extends outside the compartment and connects one of said side walls to the other of said side walls so as to form a substantially closed circuit together with the compartment. Said climate chamber furthermore comprises a cyclone separator, the inlet of which ends in the substantially closed duct and the outlet of which ends outside the closed duct for discharging into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: HatchTech Group B.V.
    Inventor: Tjitze Meter
  • Patent number: 8795151
    Abstract: An infant care system and apparatus includes a horizontal surface to support an infant. A microenvironment region is defined around the horizontal surface by at least one wall. A graphical display is disposed within the microenvironment region. A diagnostic imaging device is at least partially disposed within the microenvironment region to obtain diagnostic images of an infant disposed within the microenvironment region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Mitchell Falk, David M. Mills, Lawrence G. Ten Eyck, Marjorie McCue
  • Patent number: 8585574
    Abstract: An infant warmer includes an infant enclosure defining an infant compartment, and a heating system pneumatically coupled with the infant compartment. The heating system includes a heater configured to selectively transfer heat to the infant compartment, and a thermal storage device configured to store heat from the heater and to selectively transfer said stored heat to the infant compartment. The infant warmer also includes a controller operatively connected to the heating system. The controller is configured to regulate the transfer of heat from the thermal storage device such that a target temperature is maintained within the infant compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lawrence Guy Ten Eyck, Steven Mitchell Falk
  • Patent number: 8377683
    Abstract: A dynamic and noninvasive method of monitoring the adhesion and proliferation of biological cells through multimode operation (acoustic and optical) using a ZnO nanostructure-modified quartz crystal microbalance (ZnOnano-QCM) biosensor is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventors: Yicheng Lu, Pavel Ivanoff Reyes, Nada N. Boustany
  • Publication number: 20120255498
    Abstract: A multistage livestock house system may include an outer frame, and a plurality of adjacent stages within the outer frame. Each one of the stages may be configured to hold livestock of a predetermined age range for a predetermined time interval. The system may also include a wash system disposed in each stage, wherein at least one of the stages is configured to be washed by a respective wash system after each time interval. The system may also include an effluent tank that is configured to collect effluent that is washed from each stage by the wash systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: Andrew Kerner Pitzer
  • Patent number: 8272352
    Abstract: A method and a compartment within an incubator, capable of allowing chicks to feed during the hatching process without reducing hatchability or livability. Thanks to immediate post hatch nutrition, the development during the chicks first days is significantly improved, resulting in a significant improvement in their weight as well. Furthermore, the accessibility of feed for the chicks is enabled and improved immediately after their hatching thanks to suitable lighting and the use of feeding troughs with transparent walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Milouot Corporation for the Development of Haifa Bay Settlements Ltd
    Inventor: Eliezer Hendel
  • Patent number: 8196548
    Abstract: A method and a compartment within an incubator, capable of allowing chicks to feed during the hatching process without reducing hatchability or livability. Thanks to immediate post hatch nutrition, the development during the chicks first days is significantly improved, resulting in a significant improvement in their weight as well. Furthermore, the accessibility of feed for the chicks is enabled and improved immediately after their hatching thanks to suitable lighting and the use of feeding troughs with transparent walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Milouot Corporation for the Development of Haifa Bay Settlements Ltd.
    Inventor: Eliezer Hendel
  • Patent number: 8069819
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide for incubating a plurality of eggs at least partially at a primary incubation location and then incubating the plurality of eggs (e.g., a plurality of single sex eggs sorted from the plurality of eggs) at least partially during transport to a secondary location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Life-Science Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Richard D. Huisinga, Paul R. Wreede
  • Patent number: 7966973
    Abstract: An incubation container, for stabilizing reptile eggs during incubation, having a main part and a lid. The main part has side walls, a bottom, and an open top which together define an interior volume, and a lid for selectively closing the open top and making the interior volume air-tight. A ledge extending around the side walls substantially parallel to the bottom and supports a support surface having a plurality of openings arranged in a grid. Reptile eggs rest upon the support surface during incubation. Stabilizing rods are secured to the support surface to hold the eggs in a consistent position using plugs which extend downwardly from a lower surface of the rods. Moisture absorbing material is located on the bottom of the container to maintain humidity during incubation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventors: John Adragna, Jr., Gregg Madden
  • Publication number: 20110094452
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide for incubating a plurality of eggs at least partially at a primary incubation location and then incubating the plurality of eggs (e.g., a plurality of single sex eggs sorted from the plurality of eggs) at least partially during transport to a secondary location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Life-Science Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Richard D. Huisinga, Paul R. Wreede
  • Publication number: 20110000437
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a cyclone separator for separating keratin particles originating from poultry out of a gas, in particular air. The separated particles comprise down particles. The invention furthermore relates to a climate chamber for hatching eggs and/or keeping poultry. Said climate chamber comprises a substantially closed compartment having two opposite side walls provided with one or more passages; as well as a substantially closed duct which extends outside the compartment and connects one of said side walls to the other of said side walls so as to form a substantially closed circuit together with the compartment. Said climate chamber furthermore comprises a cyclone separator, the inlet of which ends in the substantially closed duct and the outlet of which ends outside the closed duct for discharging into the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: Tjitze Meter
  • Patent number: 7861673
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide for incubating a plurality of eggs at least partially at a primary incubation location and then incubating the plurality of eggs (e.g., a plurality of single sex eggs sorted from the plurality of eggs) at least partially during transport to a secondary location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Life-Science Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Richard D. Huisinga, Paul R. Wreede
  • Publication number: 20090199780
    Abstract: A method and a compartment within an incubator, capable of allowing chicks to feed during the hatching process without reducing hatchability or livability. Thanks to immediate post hatch nutrition, the development during the chicks first days is significantly improved, resulting in a significant improvement in their weight as well. Furthermore, the accessibility of feed for the chicks is enabled and improved immediately after their hatching thanks to suitable lighting and the use of feeding troughs with transparent walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Milouot Corporation for the Development of Haifa Bay Settlements Ltd.
    Inventor: Eliezer Hendel
  • Patent number: 7261860
    Abstract: A device for centrifugation and robotic manipulation of specimen samples, including incubating eggs, and uses thereof are provided. The device may advantageously be used for the incubation of avian, reptilian or any type of vertebrate eggs. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for holding samples individually, rotating them individually, rotating them on a centrifuge collectively, injecting them individually with a fixative or other chemical reagent, and maintaining them at controlled temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric composition. The device is applicable to experiments involving entities other than eggs, such as invertebrate specimens, plants, microorganisms and molecular systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Space Hardware Optimization Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Vellinger, Rachel A. Ormsby, David J. Kennedy, Nathan A. Thomas, Leo A. Shulthise, Michael A. Kurk, George W. Metz
  • Patent number: 7241616
    Abstract: Disclosed is a human cell/tissue culturing system including a plurality of incubators, each incubator capable of aseptically storing/culturing cell(s) or tissue(s) derived from a (human) individual and identifying the cell(s) or the tissue(s) during incubation, wherein each incubator comprises a detector corresponding to an individual key, the response of the detector permitting opening/closing of a door of each incubator, the response of the detector of one incubator triggering the interception of the function of the detector(s) of other incubator(s) to consequently inhibit opening/closing of the door(s) of the other incubator(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignees: Jikei University School of Medicine, Hirasawa Works
    Inventors: Tsuneya Ohno, Kikuo Hirasawa, Masanobu Hattori
  • Patent number: 7152664
    Abstract: An incubation and storage device, in particular for specimens of organic material, is provided. Specifically, boundary surfaces of the inner space of the incubation and storage device are thermally connected to heat transfer elements that are attached on the outside of the device. The heat transfer elements have a liquid heat carrier circulating through them, where the heating and/or cooling of the inner space takes indirectly via the liquid heat carrier. Here a heater for heating and an evaporator for cooling the heat carrier are provided. The heat transfer elements can for example, be box shaped or designed as tubular coils. Through the use of a liquid heat carrier, the necessary temperature constancy inside the device is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Kendro Laboratory Products
    Inventors: Marion Kauschke, Dieter Bidlingmaier
  • Publication number: 20040083982
    Abstract: A pet shelter/incubator includes a hollow housing having an interior sufficiently large to comfortably receive at least one dog, a floor, a roof and at least one side wall extending between the floor and the roof and only partially surrounding the interior. It also includes at least one heat generator positioned within the housing to radiate into the interior and a sensor that is responsive to the presence and absence of an animal in the interior of the housing turn the heat generator on in the presence of the animal and off in its absence. The roof is removably mounted to the side wall and floor to convert the shelter into an incubator for newborn and young animals with a rigid closure to cover a door opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventor: Debra Bach
  • Patent number: 6725805
    Abstract: A pet shelter/incubator includes a hollow housing having an interior sufficiently large to comfortably receive at least one dog, a floor, a roof and at least one side wall extending between the floor and the roof and only partially surrounding the interior. It also includes at least one heat generator positioned within the housing to radiate into the interior and a sensor that is responsive to the presence and absence of an animal in the interior of the housing turn the heat generator on in the presence of the animal and off in its absence. The roof is removably mounted to the side wall and floor to convert the shelter into an incubator for newborn and young animals with a rigid closure to cover a door opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Debra Bach
  • Patent number: 6484670
    Abstract: In this incubator, when the angle of a door to a nursing window of a hood is smaller than a rotation restricting angle, door rotation restricting means restrains the rotation of the door in an opening direction. Because of this reason, when the angle of the door is smaller than the rotation restricting angle, the door is not rotated in the opening direction beyond the rotation restricting angle and the angle of the door does not exceed the rotation restricting angle, even if the door is pushed by an accommodated baby from the inside of the hood under the state wherein the door is not fixed in the closing state by a door fixing device. Therefore, even if opening and closing operation for the nursing window is not securely performed, the environment inside the hood hardly deviates from the physiological environment appropriate for the accommodated baby to say the least.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Atom Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Honma, Yoichi Takahashi, Tatsuhiko Seki, Kazuo Matubara
  • Patent number: 6465244
    Abstract: Controlled atmosphere entry/exit lock unit (10) for association with a controlled atmosphere cabinet (80), the lock unit (10) having two controlled access means (13; 30) both usually operable alternatively for sealing and communicating, one (30) relative to said cabinet (80) and the other (13) relative to outside, the lock unit further having atmosphere control means (70-78) operable for achieving internal atmosphere conditions compatible with what may be prescribed for said cabinet (80), the one access means having movable door means (30) and related powered actuation means (50; 30A, B) including for sealing relative to access with said cabinet (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Don Whitley Scientific Limited
    Inventors: Michael John Annable, Evan Jonathan Kitsell, Julian Stuart Walton
  • Publication number: 20020017248
    Abstract: In this incubator, when the angle of a door to a nursing window of a hood is smaller than a rotation restricting angle, door rotation restricting means restrains the rotation of the door in an opening direction. Because of this reason, when the angle of the door is smaller than the rotation restricting angle, the door is not rotated in the opening direction beyond the rotation restricting angle and the angle of the door does not exceed the rotation restricting angle, even if the door is pushed by an accommodated baby from the inside of the hood under the state wherein the door is not fixed in the closing state by a door fixing device. Therefore, even if opening and closing operation of the nursing window is not securely performed, the environment inside the hood hardly deviates from the physiological environment appropriate for the accommodated baby to say the least.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: ATOM MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Honma, Yoichi Takahashi, Tatsuhiko Seki, Kazuo Matubara
  • Patent number: 5575237
    Abstract: A method of hatching eggs of avian species, especially chickens, which comprises carrying out at least one cycle of steps (a) and (c) as follows: (a) incubating the eggs in a first, baseline ambient environment which is normal for hatchery incubation of the eggs of the avian species in the prevailing climatic conditions and then during a sex-sensitive time window of embryonic development, (b) altering the ambient environment to shifted conditions for a period of time effective to bias the normal phenotypic sex ratio of the embryos, without significant adverse effect on the average mortality rate, and (c) thereafter restoring the incubation conditions to or towards normal and allowing the eggs to hatch. Preferably the ambient environment comprises a temperature of 37.5.degree.-38.degree. C. and the shifted conditions comprise reduced temperature, especially a temperature maintained at about 22.degree. C. for a period of from 18 to 42 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: The Victoria University of Manchester
    Inventor: Mark W. J. Ferguson