Automatic Control Patents (Class 210/143)
  • Patent number: 11793959
    Abstract: A ventilator (100), includes a basic unit (1) with a cover plate (10). Patient ports (4) are arranged at the basic unit (1) and a user interface (2) is arranged at the cover plate (10). The cover plate (10) can be arranged at the basic unit (1) at different angles in relation to a vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: DRÄGERWERK AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Jochen Daske, Markus Hampe, Robert Lischinski, Andreas Nandzik, Eduard Engelsman, Thomas Eckermann-Brahe, Christof Paul, Volodymyr Savchuk
  • Patent number: 11766625
    Abstract: Processes and systems that control operation of a commercial refinery distillation column and/or splitter operable to separate hydrocarbons. An automated process controller (APC) receives signal from at least one analyzer that provides information about the concentration of at least a first chemical in a first fraction and a second chemical in a second fraction obtained from the distillation column. The APC comprises programming in the form of an algorithm that calculates real-time monetary values for the first chemical and the second chemical and alters the operation of the distillation column to change either the percentage of the first chemical in the second fraction or the percentage of the second chemical in the first fraction, thereby maximizing overall operational profit for the distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventor: Yangdong Pan
  • Patent number: 11608279
    Abstract: Ultraviolet irradiation of liquids for purposes of sterilization, disinfection, cleaning and/or treatment. A liquid collection reservoir can receive an inflow of a liquid. A filtering unit can filter the inflow of liquid received by the liquid collection reservoir. A liquid chamber stores the liquid. Ultraviolet light emitting sources located about the liquid chamber irradiate the liquid in the liquid chamber with ultraviolet light. A control unit, operatively coupled to the ultraviolet light emitting sources, controls the irradiation of the liquid in the liquid chamber with the ultraviolet light emitting sources. The control unit is configured to control an intensity and a duration of the irradiation as a function of time that the liquid is stored in the liquid chamber and the amount of the liquid that is in the liquid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Dobrinsky
  • Patent number: 11567044
    Abstract: An analysis device having a liquid chromatograph prevents a plurality of streams from being unusable at the same time Whether a usable stream is 0 or not among streams 1, 2, and 3 is determined. In a case where none of the streams is usable, the control unit skips a sample introduction in the cycle; and where there is one usable stream in the cycle, the stream is used. In a case where there are multiple streams that are usable in the cycle, and there are multiple streams of which the remaining number of uses of a separation column is the minimum, the stream having the smallest stream number is used; and where there is one stream of which the remaining number of uses of a separation column is the minimum, the stream to which the separation column having the minimum remaining number of uses is connected and used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Matsuoka, Takayuki Sugime, Daisuke Ebihara
  • Patent number: 11524103
    Abstract: A hemodiafiltration system with a disposable pumping unit is disclosed. An example system includes a medical fluid pump actuator, a medical fluid heater, a blood filter and a disposable unit. The example disposable unit includes a medical fluid cassette portion including a medical fluid cassette housing configured to be operatively connected to the medical fluid pump actuator to pump medical fluid through the medical fluid cassette portion when the medical fluid cassette portion is in fluid communication with a medical fluid source. The example medical fluid cassette portion is also configured to be placed in fluid communication with the blood filter and with an extracorporeal circuit communicating with the blood filter, the fluid communication enabling hemodiafiltration to be performed. The example disposable unit also includes a heater bag configured to be placed in operable communication with the medical fluid heater and in fluid communication with the medical fluid cassette portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignees: BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC., BAXTER HEALTHCARE SA
    Inventors: Ying-Cheng Lo, Robert W. Childers, Thomas D. Kelly, Justin Rohde
  • Patent number: 11501878
    Abstract: An apparatus, a process and a system for monitoring a plurality of patients (P) affected by kidney failure over a time frame (T) are disclosed. The system includes blood treatment units, laboratory storage units, at least one hub module, and client units. The system collects values (VM) of a plurality of session parameters, set values (VS) of a plurality of prescription parameters, values (VL) of a plurality of laboratory parameters and the hub module stores values (KPVi) of selected parameters (KPi) which are a subclass of the collected values (VM, VS, VL) and which are transferred to the client units. Each client unit may define, for each of said patients, a number of indicators (IDk) based on the values (KPVi,k) taken by a respective subclass (KPi,k) of said selected parameters (KPi) and to operate the respective display according to various display modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Bernard Bene, Achille Fouilleul, Lionel Buttin
  • Patent number: 11465098
    Abstract: A feed of at least one of (a) a source liquid including a solvent with a dissolved impurity and (b) a retentate of the source liquid is pumped in a substantially closed loop through a liquid-separation module. The liquid-separation module includes a membrane that passes at least partially purified solvent to a permeate side of the membrane while diverting the impurity in a retentate on the retentate side of the membrane. The purified solvent is extracted from the permeate side of the membrane; and the retentate from the liquid-separation module is pumped to or through a pressurized reservoir with a variable volume for the feed component and recirculated as a component of the feed. Over time, the volume for the feed is reduced and the pressure applied to the feed in the reservoir is increased to balance against an increasing difference in osmotic pressure across the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David Elan Martin Warsinger, John H. Lienhard, Emily Winona Tow, Ronan Killian McGovern, Gregory Parker Thiel
  • Patent number: 11452982
    Abstract: A system and method for performing plasma reactions creating a plasma area in a gas adjacent to a liquid. An embodiment of the plasma reactor includes a housing with an internal reaction chamber, first and second inlet paths to the reaction chamber, and electrodes for producing an electric field. The system may optionally further include a pre-ionization electrode and pre-ionization electric field for pre-ionizing a feed gas prior to entry into a reaction chamber. The reactor uses plasma to ionize gas adjacent with the liquid. The ionized gas reacts with the liquid to form an effluent. Exemplary uses of the plasma reactor include ionic injection, gas dissociation, liquid re-formation, and liquid dissociation. An alternative embodiment provides a system and method for infusion of gaseous particles into liquid by applying an electric field at power levels lower than the voltage required to form a plasma to gas adjacent to liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Milton Roy, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Riley Buchanan, Grant William Forsee
  • Patent number: 11402363
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for monitoring and managing fluid treatment or storage systems, such as HVAC hydronic water systems. Sensors located at a fluid system can detect various types of data, such as chemical amounts, pressures, temperatures, flow rates, and more. Servers in communication with the sensors can record the data and provide it to a user in a variety of graphical interfaces. One useful interface for display of the data includes a five-sided axis called the OPTI-GON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Jentek Water Treatment, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark J. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 11404155
    Abstract: Extracorporeal blood treatment systems and methods to use and modify/create treatment profiles for extracorporeal blood treatments. For example, treatment profiles may include one or more preset, or predefined, settings or values for an extracorporeal blood treatment such as, e.g., therapy type, therapy set (e.g., tubing set, filter set, etc.), anticoagulation type, and one or more flow rates, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: John O'Mahony, Andrew Wenger
  • Patent number: 11391717
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of altering chemical properties of an in-process resin used with a 3D printing apparatus. The method includes monitoring the in-process resin using an imaging spectrometer, comparing the in-process resin and a model using one or more spectrums from the imaging spectrometer, and diluting the in-process resin with a diluting resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephanie Lynn DePalma, Michael Joseph O'Brien, Brittany Nicole Potter
  • Patent number: 11351480
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, by a programmable logic controller coupled to a control unit associated with a vessel containing oil and water within a Gas-Oil-Separation Plant (GOSP), a first signal representing a first capacitance measurement detected by a first capacitance probe attached to the vessel at a first elevation. Determining whether an alarm condition is met by detecting whether the first capacitance measurement is higher than a first predetermined maximum limit, or a rate of change (ROC) of the first capacitance measurement is higher than a first predetermined ROC limit, or both. If the alarm condition is met, sending an alarm signal indicating that an upcoming process upset has been detected within the vessel. Subsequent alarms at higher elevations, if available, can alarm operators if the emulsion layer thickness continues to increase and further mitigation measures are required (such as higher demulsifier dosage, skimming of emulsion layer, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ramsey James White, Miguel Angel Lopez Andreu, Abdullah Abdulrahman Al-Hamoud, Leela Sankar B. Akurathi
  • Patent number: 11344825
    Abstract: A high-efficiency filter press includes a filter plate for solid-liquid separation, a material pool for storing materials and transporting the materials to the filter plate, and a filtrate pool for storing filtrate flowing out of the filter plate, wherein the filter plate is provided with a feed hole, a first drain hole and a second drain hole, the material pool is in communication with the feed hole through a feed pipe, the first drain hole is in communication with the filtrate pool through a first drain pipe, the second drain hole is in communication with the filtrate pool through a second drain pipe. The filter press further includes a washing device which is configured to inject washing water into the first drain hole to allow the washing water to flow out from the second drain hole into the filtrate pool after flowing through the filter plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: JINGJIN EQUIPMENT INC.
    Inventors: Guiting Jiang, Fengjiang Liu, Baochang Liu
  • Patent number: 11311658
    Abstract: An example peritoneal dialysis system is disclosed. The example peritoneal dialysis system includes an automated peritoneal dialysis (“APD”) machine configured to remove ultrafiltrate (“UF”) from a patient and record how much UF has been removed. The APD machine operates according to a prescription to remove the UF. The system also includes a server in communication with the APD machine. The server analyzes the UF data to determine if the prescription is to be modified to compensate for changes to the patient's renal function or renal transport characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventors: Alex A. Yu, James Grayson, Robert W. Childers
  • Patent number: 11299899
    Abstract: Swimming pool cleaners may operate autonomously within pools and spas. The cleaners need not include any external hoses or cords, and their bodies may be oriented at pool waterlines so as to make their on-board filters readily accessible for removal. The cleaners may dock at docking stations for various purposes, including (but not limited to) for charging any on-board battery and communicating electronically with the docking station or other external equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Arnaud Lancry, Simon Duffaut, Remi Deloche, Louis Favie, Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 11300705
    Abstract: A subsurface monitoring system and method is provided that includes a sensor array and a monitoring system in communication with the array. The sensor array may include several sensors, such as subsurface temperature sensors, water-level sensors, and oxidation reduction potential sensors may be disposed in a vertical and/or horizontal fence through the subsurface of the monitored site. The sensor array may measure, collect, and analyze the subsurface conditions and provide the measurements to a monitoring system. The monitoring system may provide access the measurements via a user interface for analysis of the measurements. In addition, the monitoring system may process the measurements to generate one or more graphs of information for better understanding of the conditions of the subsurface of the monitored site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignees: Colorado State University Research Foundation, S3NSE Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Sale, William Samuel Gallo, Kayvan Karimi Askarani, Scott Burge
  • Patent number: 11246972
    Abstract: Manifolds suitable for use in hemodialysis, hemofiltration, hemodiafiltration, and peritoneal dialysis are provided. One or more of the manifolds can include a manifold body and an external tube. The manifold body can include at least one conduit including a first conduit and at least one port including a first port in fluid communication with the first conduit. The external tube can be in fluid communication with the first port and can include a main segment, a first branch segment, and a second branch segment containing at least one bacterial filter. The first branch segment and/or second branch segment can include at least one flow restrictor. Dialysis machines, systems, and kits including one or more such manifold are also provided, as are methods of performing hemodiafiltration using such manifolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Palmer David Updyke, Barry Fulkerson, Amaury De Leon De Leon, Michelle Bayly
  • Patent number: 11235264
    Abstract: A filter device for cleaning particulate contaminants from a fluid flow, includes a plurality of filter elements (34, 60) accommodated in filter chambers (12, 14, 32) as components of a joint filter housing (10) and grouped around a backwash device (20) having a piston accumulator (56) for receiving a backwash fluid. In the storage housing (64) of the piston accumulator, a piston (57) is guided in a longitudinally movable manner, is controlled by a pressure medium, and passes on the backwash fluid stored in the storage housing (64) on to at least one filter element (60) to be backwashed for cleaning purposes via a backwash device (20). The backwash device also discharges the backwash fluid from the filter device. A specific filter element as a bypass filter element (34) is selected from the plurality of filter elements (34, 60), and exclusively removes particles after a changeover device (18) has been actuated, while the other filter elements (60) are excluded from this removal process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: HYDAC PROCESS TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Hrin, Hans-Jürgen Lingen
  • Patent number: 11104569
    Abstract: The present application provides a beverage dispensing system for providing a personalized sports drink with one or more additives based on biometric data. The beverage dispensing system may include an input section for the biometric data, an analytics section for analyzing the biometric data and providing a recipe for the personalized sports drink based upon the analysis, and a beverage dispenser for dispensing the personalized sports drink. The beverage dispenser may include a number of cartridges with the one or more additives therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Raymond Vanassche, Franchot Chang, Joshua Schwarber
  • Patent number: 11097237
    Abstract: An automated method includes providing a dry ingredient to be reconstituted into a liquid bioprocess solution and controlling, by a processing circuit, all automated system including at least one mixing chamber, an array of tubing for fluid flow within the system, and a plurality of valves provided within the tubing, to automatically prepare the liquid bioprocess solution from the dry ingredient. Controlling the auto system may include performing a series of sequential mixing steps, the series of sequential mixing steps causing the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution. The method mixing include taking one or more measurements during the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution, wherein each step is triggered by at least one of a measurement decreasing below, equaling, or exceeding a measurement threshold. Each step may also include opening or closing, by the processing circuit, at least one of the plurality of valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM IRVINE SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Reid Fletcher, David Neese, Wayne Mauro
  • Patent number: 11085058
    Abstract: This invention is about a process of increased Biogas (9) production, with high methane content, in anaerobic biodigestion plants, with production of electric (11) and thermal energy. The process is based upon biotechnologies, hardware and software specifically developed for this aim. One or more Devices for the Acceleration (4) of autochthon methanogenic bacteria multiplication, originally contained in the Organic Wastes (1), collect a portion of the biological material from the Anaerobic Biodigester (3) and, successively, gives it back at a higher rate, with its methanogenic bacteria population remarkably multiplied. The increase and stabilization of the reproduction and nutrition of these bacterial strains allows the increase of the biogas produced in the Anaerobic Biodigester (3) along with the percentage of methane contained in this very Biogas (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: G-META CONSULTORIA, PARTICIPAÇÕES E SERVIÇOS LTDA, BIO-TRONIC ENERGY CO. LLC
    Inventor: Luciano Pesce
  • Patent number: 11085118
    Abstract: A composition and method of inhibiting corrosion, white rust, and scale formation on components in a water system. The composition preferably comprises an amino-acid based polymer (most preferably a polyaspartic acid or a salt thereof), hydroxyphosphonoacetic acid, and a second phosphonic acid (preferably a phosphonocarboxylic acid), and does not require the use of regulated metals. The composition is effective even in the presence of biocides. A preferred method of inhibiting white rust comprises adding an amino-acid based polymer or hydroxyphosphonoacetic acid or both to the water system. A preferred method of inhibiting corrosion, white rust, and scale formation comprises adding an amino-acid based polymer, hydroxyphosphonoacetic acid, and a phosphonocarboxylic acid to the water system. Preferably the active concentrations are at least 3 ppm each of the amino-acid based polymer and hydroxyphosphonoacetic acid when added to a volume of water in the water system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: NCH Corporation
    Inventors: Marta Drewniak, Lyle H. Steimel
  • Patent number: 11058975
    Abstract: A filtering apparatus has filtering elements (11) in a filter housing (1), a filter inlet (7) and a filter outlet (9). During filtration, one of the filter elements (11) can be back-flushed by a back-flushing device (45, 49), having a pressure control device (19). The pressure control device has a hydraulic accumulator (19), with a fluid chamber (47) fillable during filtration with clean fluid and connectable for back-flushing via a back-flushing guide (45) to the clean side (29) of the filtering element (11) to be cleaned. For back-flushing, a further fluid chamber (48) of the hydraulic accumulator (19) is subjected to gas pressure. By resultant movement of a separator (59) of the hydraulic accumulator (19), the filling amount of the clean fluid is dispensed for the back-flushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: HYDAC PROCESS TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Wnuk, Jörg Hermann Gerstner, Thomas Böttcher, Thomas Morawietz
  • Patent number: 11064271
    Abstract: Examples of selective state change of a remote metering device are disclosed. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a connection between a mobile communication system and a remote metering device is established. A command to selectively change a delivery state of a valve of the remote metering device is then sent by the mobile communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Georgios Demosthenous, Jacqueline Duda Lemmerhirt, Christopher Paul LaCivita
  • Patent number: 11040891
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for dosing reagents in water disinfection plants, wherein said method comprises adding said reagents in said plants in amounts defined on the basis of a parameter established a priori as a function of the following parameters: plant volume and/or frequency of use of the plant and/or characteristics of the fresh water introduced therein, said amounts being corrected with a correction factor established following a comparison carried out between the levels of said reagents as actually measured in circulation and reference values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SANIPUR S.R.L.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Garusi, Francesco Garusi, Stefano Melada
  • Patent number: 10967298
    Abstract: An acoustic standing wave is utilized to separate components from a multi-component fluid, such as oil from an oil-water mixture, or cells entrained in a fluid, in a fluid flow scheme with an acoustophoresis device. For example, the flow scheme and device allows for trapping of the oil as the oil coalesces, agglomerates, and becomes more buoyant than the water. A driver and controller for the acoustophoretic device accommodate variable loading as the components are separated, thereby improving separation efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: FloDesign Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bart Lipkens, Ronald Musiak, Dane Mealey, John Artis, Ali Shajii
  • Patent number: 10955284
    Abstract: Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for measuring waste material weight within two or more waste collection bins The bins can be measured using one or more waste measurement devices, and the measurements can be collected and transmitted to networked data storage. Waste measurement data can be collected over time from multiple bin locations, and the stored data can be analyzed and processed to generate reports and ratings of waste collection, disposal, and diversion trends over time. Also provided are waste audit methods and platforms that simplify and streamline data measurement, recording, and analyzing. The audit methods can transfer data electronically to a computer or cloud platform, automatically plot and compare results, and generate reports to be shared with a user or client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: ZABBLE, INC.
    Inventors: Nikhil Balachandran, Orlando Talavera
  • Patent number: 10910749
    Abstract: A connector for providing both a fluidic and electrical connection is disclosed, said connector having a proximal end, a distal end and an elongated body in between, characterized in that the elongated body has an inner cavity spanning throughout its length, and the distal end comprises: a) an inner body portion comprising a first inner electrical contact and b) an outer body portion comprising a second outer electrical contact having a spring element. The connector is easily adaptable to many kind of fluidic actuators and particularly to pipette instruments usually found in laboratory practice and developed to adapt fluidic actuators and pipette instalments to work according to the Coulter principle in every working condition, in particular to adapt the electrical and fluidic connection between a sensing tip and an instrumented pipette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
    Inventors: David Vincent Bonzon, Jean-Pierre Bonzon, Georges Henri Muller, Jean-Baptiste Bureau, Yann Barrandon, Philippe Renaud, David Forchelet, Nicolas Uffer
  • Patent number: 10898905
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a motor driven, high velocity decanter, and more particularly to a decanter which incorporates a horizontal rotating bowl and a rotating scroll. The decanter is capable of separating particulate material or solids from a liquid. A motor is coupled to and drives the bowl. Rotational power is transferred from the bowl to the scroll through a gearbox. An adjustable speed brake is coupled to the scroll to affect the differential speed between the bowl and the scroll. In one example, the adjustable speed brake is a positive displacement pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: HUTCHISON HAYES SEPARATION INC.
    Inventor: Carl R. Palm
  • Patent number: 10901117
    Abstract: A subsurface monitoring system and method is provided that includes a sensor array and a monitoring system in communication with the array. The sensor array may include several sensors, such as subsurface temperature sensors, water-level sensors, and oxidation reduction potential sensors may be disposed in a vertical and/or horizontal fence through the subsurface of the monitored site. The sensor array may measure, collect, and analyze the subsurface conditions and provide the measurements to a monitoring system. The monitoring system may provide access the measurements via a user interface for analysis of the measurements. In addition, the monitoring system may process the measurements to generate one or more graphs of information for better understanding of the conditions of the subsurface of the monitored site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Colorado State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Thomas C. Sale, Jay M. Ham, William Samuel Gallo, Kayvan Karimi Askarani, Zachary Scott Ferrie, Joseph Scalia, IV
  • Patent number: 10828411
    Abstract: An apparatus for a tidal peritoneal dialysis treatment that includes a sequence of cycles each having a filling period, a dwell period, and a drain period, includes a cycler and a processor. The cycler fills a patient's abdominal cavity with a specific inflow volume of fresh dialysis solution up to a specific patient volume in the filling period, and empties consumed dialysis solution from the cavity up to a specific tidal outflow target in the drain period. The processor controls the cycler in an operating mode such that the drain period is ended before reaching the tidal outflow target, so that a permitted residual volume remains in the abdominal cavity. A switch is made to a filling period, with the filling period being carried out such that the filling volume of the patient lies at a permitted patient volume above the specific patient volume on completion of the filling period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Wolf, Erik Griessmann
  • Patent number: 10799615
    Abstract: An artificial tissue containing pancreatic islet cells, fibroblasts and/or cells capable of differentiating, extracellular matrix, and vascular endothelial cells, in which the fibroblasts and/or the cells capable of differentiating, the extracellular matrix, and the vascular endothelial cells constitute a three-dimensional tissue structure in which a vascular network structure has been formed, and in which the three-dimensional tissue structure contains pancreatic islets constituted by aggregating ten or more of the pancreatic islet cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignees: OSAKA UNIVERSITY, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mitsuru Akashi, Michiya Matsusaki, Michiaki Unno, Naoaki Sakata, Gumpei Yoshimatsu
  • Patent number: 10798887
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for treating irrigation water by introducing a propagating electromagnetic field into the irrigation water as it flows through an irrigation system. The treatments described herein may have a variety of beneficial effects on the water, including a significant increase in the percentage of the water that is maintained in the root zone of a given crop as plant-available water and the essential mineral, e.g. calcium and/or magnesium, uptake of that crop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: FLOW-TECH SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Meyer, George Rihovsky
  • Patent number: 10793849
    Abstract: A microfluidic device is disclosed having an enclosed chamber containing a filter for purifying biological or chemical analytes from a complex biological sample, said chamber housing a plurality of ports in addition to said filter, as follows: a first port enabling gas communication of the chamber with a vacuum generator, via a first flow path; a second port enabling liquid communication of the chamber with one or more reservoirs, via a second flow path; a third port enabling gas and liquid communication of the chamber with both one or more receiving containers and a vacuum generator, via a third flow path; and a filter located between the third port and both the first and second port, so that a fluid entering the chamber through the first and/or second port and exiting the chamber through the third port flows through the filter. The invention also relates to a method using the microfluidic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: STAT-DIAGNOSTICA & INNOVATION S.L.
    Inventors: Francesc Benitez Porras, Josep Pareja Gómez
  • Patent number: 10788507
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system and process for fluid delivery is provided that is useful in in flow-injection based sensing measurements, wherein samples from a sample rack are introduced into a flow cell where sensing measurements are taken. The system and process utilize at least two holding lines where each holding line can retain one of the samples prior to injection of the thus retained sample into a flow cell. The introduction of the samples from the sample racks to the holding lines is alternated and the injection of the samples from the holding lines to the flow cell are alternated so that one holding line is loaded with one of the samples simultaneously with another sample being injected from the another holding line to the flow cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Sartorius Bioanalytical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Iver Strande
  • Patent number: 10744518
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a screw centrifuge, such as a solid-bowl or a screen-type screw centrifuge. The screw centrifuge processes a product so that solids conveyed out of the drum with the screw are removed from the product. A current angular speed and an average angular speed of the transmission input shaft for the screw over time are determined. The current and average angular speeds are evaluated and a warning signal and/or changing one or more operating parameters of the screw centrifuge is changed if dynamic changes in the angular speed are detected during the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GEA MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Overberg
  • Patent number: 10744249
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cleaning and disinfecting a medical therapy device that delivers any one of hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration and hemofiltration. The system has a base module that has at least one segment of a controlled compliant flow path and at least one pair of jumpered ports configured on the base module. One or more components have connections connectable to the jumpered ports of the base module to provide for fluid communication between the segment of the controlled compliant flow path in the base module and a flow path defined by the one or more components. The base module is connected to the one or more components that define a flow path configurable for carrying out in part at least one function performed during any one of hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration or hemofiltration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Meyer, David B. Lura, Bryant J. Pudil, Martin T. Gerber, Mark F. Daniels
  • Patent number: 10705060
    Abstract: Methods for focusing analyte peaks in liquid chromatography using a spatial temperature gradient are provided. Also provided are methods for focusing analyte peaks and improving resolution using a trap column upstream of a separation column. Further, methods are provided in which the trap column placed upstream of the separation column is packed with a temperature-sensitive polymer/copolymer, and a spatial temperature gradient is applied along the trap column for obtaining improved retentivity by trap column stationary phase, and overall improved resolution of analyte peaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael O. Fogwill, Joseph D. Michienzi, Martin Gilar, Abhijit Tarafder
  • Patent number: 10676906
    Abstract: A control system for a pneumatically operated toilet includes a valve arrangement and a controller. The valve arrangement includes a plurality of solenoid operated valves. The controller includes a microprocessor in signal communication with the plurality of solenoid operated valves, the controller configured to operate the valve arrangement to independently control operation of a water valve for selectively introducing water into a toilet bowl of the pneumatically operated toilet, operation of a flapper valve operating cylinder for opening and closing a waste opening of the toilet bowl, and pressurized air supply to a waste transfer chamber of the pneumatically operated toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Inventors: Robert M. Herrin, Derrick W. Bradshaw
  • Patent number: 10668206
    Abstract: A core temperature measurement may be made by varying the heat transfer dynamics of a blood circuit and fitting parameters of a blood circuit heat transfer configuration to measurements under the varied conditions. Then the input temperature of the patient core can be extracted from the model and a current temperature measurement remote from the patient core and optionally other measurements such as blood flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Newell, Dennis M. Treu, Jerome James
  • Patent number: 10661205
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for self-cleaning filters without having to open the filter housing. Wash nozzles are integrated with the filter housings such that when the filters are clogged, both back-wash and regular washing can be performed with practically no down time. Moreover, without opening the filter housing, the hazardous components of the fluid to be filtered can be contained and dealt with before they escape the filter housing, thereby significantly reduces the environmental impact and harm to the working crew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Filtration Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John Hampton, Greg Wallace
  • Patent number: 10654000
    Abstract: A network of cell processing systems including a plurality of cell processing instruments and a server computer. Each cell processing instrument includes a control circuit configured to operate the cell processing instrument according to a modifiable process parameter, a component of the cell processing instrument and a sensor configured to measure a characteristic of the component. The server computer is disposed remotely from the cell processing instruments, and is configured to transmit a request message for a value measured by the sensor, receive a response message based on the request message, and generate a notification message based on the response message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Binninger, Bret M. Olson, Alaina Schlinker, Christopher J. Wegener
  • Patent number: 10648954
    Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to find a method in which a result of liquid chromatography can be predicted with high accuracy for a wide range of a mixing ratio of solvents by utilizing a result of thin-layer chromatography. A liquid chromatography method for separating a mixture of two or more kinds of compounds, comprising the following steps: (1) performing thin-layer chromatography or column chromatography in a mixed solvent of two or more kinds of solvents having a different mixing ratio from each other or a single solvent; (2) creating a relational expression between a mixing ratio and an elution degree of a solvent for each compound in a sample based on a result of the step (1); and (3) determining an optimum condition based on the relational expression, and performing liquid chromatography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAZEN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kihachiro Okura
  • Patent number: 10639580
    Abstract: A gas chromatograph in which the effect of the heat from a column oven on the detection sensitivity of a detector is reduced. The gas chromatograph includes a separation column, a column oven, a heat insulating material covering the outer surface of the column oven, a sheet metal covering the outside of the heat insulating material, a detector including a detection unit disposed outside the sheet metal, a flow path part of the detector communicating with the detection unit and being connected to the separation column through upper surfaces of the sheet metal, the heat insulating material, and the column oven, and an outside seal member interposed between the sheet metal and the heat insulating material on at least the upper surface side of the column oven and blocking an outward fluid movement from an inside of the sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Okada, Ryuta Shibutani
  • Patent number: 10633264
    Abstract: A purifying device including a container, at least one cover, a sensing assembly and an ultraviolet source is provided. The container has a containing space, wherein the containing space is adapted to contain a liquid. The cover is adapted to be connected to the container to cover the containing space. The sensing assembly is disposed on the cover, wherein the sensing assembly is adapted to sense a usage state of the cover. The ultraviolet source is disposed on the cover and is adapted to generate an ultraviolet emitted to outside of the cover, wherein the ultraviolet source is turned on or turned off according the usage state of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute, Changhua Christian Hospital
    Inventors: Chen-Peng Hsu, Cheng-Da Shaw, Chien-Chun Lu, Yi-Keng Fu, Hung-Ming Wu
  • Patent number: 10620029
    Abstract: A cassette module (19, 29, 319, 419, 59, 69) for a differential flowmeter is disclosed, wherein the cassette module (19, 29, 319, 419, 59, 69) forms a first fluid-carrying channel (16, 216, 316, 611, 615) and the second fluid-carrying channel (17, 217, 317, 610, 616) during operation of the differential flowmeter. The cassette module is specific in the regard that a geometric deformation of the channels due to a temperature difference between the channels (16, 216, 316, 611, 615, 17, 217, 317, 610, 616) is minimized or prevented. In addition a differential flowmeter containing the cassette module (19, 29, 319, 419, 59, 69) disclosed here is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Heide, Dejan Nikolic
  • Patent number: 10620172
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for performing liquid chromatography purification of one or more target molecules from a sample comprising: providing an eluent flow having one or more target molecules, measuring an output parameter indicative of the content of the one or more target molecules in the eluent flow, storing output parameter data, and dividing the eluent flow into consecutive eluent fractions, dividing the output parameter data into corresponding data fractions, in each data fraction obtaining a value indicative of characteristic behavior of the measured output parameter, identifying trends in the measured output parameter based upon the obtained value in consecutive data fractions, and identifying peak(s) in the measured output parameter correlated to eluent fractions based upon the identified trends, whereby information of identified peak(s) and correlated eluent fraction(s) can be presented and purified sample(s) from the eluent may be collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB
    Inventors: Lena Nyholm, Lotta Hedkvist, Johan Arthursson, Eva Cecilia Olsson, Henrik Larsson
  • Patent number: 10605710
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of liquid mixtures, and more particularly to the preparation of a liquid mixture, such as a buffer, wherein the conductivity of the liquid mixture is measured and the pH indirectly determined if the buffer concentration is known. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of preparing a liquid mixture with a predetermined pH value by using conductivity as feedback control parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB
    Inventors: Enrique Napoleon Carredano, Elenor Strandberg
  • Patent number: 10597308
    Abstract: A water treatment plant controlling method including: determining whether or not there is a correlation, in water to be treated, between a water quality index and a concentration of a pollution component having no causal relationship with the water quality index, from a result of sample analysis of the water to be treated performed periodically; and (a) under a condition that there is a correlation, statistically analyzing a distribution of measurement values of the water quality index in a previous certain period of the water to be treated, and based on a result of the statistical analysis and the correlation, estimating the concentration of the pollution component of the water to be treated; and determining an operating condition of a water treatment plant for treating the water to be treated, based on the estimated concentration of the pollution component of the water to be treated; or (b) on a condition that a correlation is absent, statistically analyzing a distribution of concentration of the pollution
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ohtsuki, Yuuya Sasaki, Hiroshi Iizuka, Yoshimasa Nakano
  • Patent number: 10549001
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for sanitizing person use items. The system is comprised essentially of a mechanism for emitting sanitizing electromagnetic radiation within an enclosed compartment. The apparatus may be light-tight such that the radiation is contained within the apparatus. It may be configured to emit a plurality of sanitizing wavelengths. The apparatus may include a series of reflective and/or refractive apparatuses to alter the reflection path of the emitted electromagnetic radiation, allowing the electromagnetic radiation to reflect in a plurality of directions. The enclosure may include a support member or personal item support that may be transparent to, or reflective of, the electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Clean Light Laboratories LLC
    Inventors: Carrie Martz, Brooke O'Connor