Patents Examined by Allison Gionta
  • Patent number: 8815092
    Abstract: A microfiltration apparatus and method for separating cells, such as circulating tumor cells, from a sample using a microfiltration device having a top porous membrane and a bottom porous membrane. The porous membranes are formed from parylene and assembled using microfabrication techniques. The porous membranes are arranged so that the pores in the top membrane are offset from the pores in the bottom membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, University of Southern California
    Inventors: Siyang Zheng, Richard Cote, Henry Lin, Bo Lu, Yu-Chong Tai
  • Patent number: 8815606
    Abstract: A thin-layer chromatography method for detection and identification of common military and peroxide explosives in samples includes the steps of provide a reverse-phase thin-layer chromatography plate; prepare the plate by marking spots on which to deposit the samples by touching the plate with a marker; spot one micro liter of a first standard onto one of the spots, spot one micro liter of a second standard onto another of the spots, and spot samples onto other of spots producing a spotted plate; add eluent to a developing chamber; add the spotted plate to the developing chamber; remove the spotted plate from the developing chamber producing a developed plate; place the developed plate in an ultraviolet light box; add a visualization agent to a dip tank; dip the developed plate in the dip tank and remove the developed plate quickly; and detect explosives by viewing said developed plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
    Inventors: Philip F. Pagoria, Alexander R. Mitchell, Richard E. Whipple, M. Leslie Carman
  • Patent number: 8734642
    Abstract: An oil filtering and distributing device for supplying a first oil pump and a second oil pump of an aircraft engine, the pumps sucking up oil in a common housing, the device including a casing with a lower part and an upper part; a first sleeve coupling for supplying the first pump; a second sleeve coupling for supplying the second pump; the casing including a first compartment receiving oil via a first screen and supplying the first pump with oil via the first sleeve coupling, a second compartment receiving oil via a second screen and supplying the second pump with oil via the second sleeve coupling, an isolator arranged between the first compartment and the second compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Societe de Motorisations Aeronautiques
    Inventor: Christian Fauchet
  • Patent number: 8728649
    Abstract: A battery system with at least one cell having an adjacent temperature-equalizing structure that is provided alternately with the cells and is designed for a medium that carries heat and/or cold to pass through. The cells are individual cells (1, 1?, 1?), and the temperature-equalizing structures are conventional corrugated board (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2?a, 2?b, 2?c, 2?d, 2?e) having two cover layers and at least one corrugation arranged between them for the air to pass through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ralf Bauer
  • Patent number: 8708163
    Abstract: Provided are spunbond polyester mats using an improved curable composition. The curable composition comprises a reaction product of an amine and a reactant in the form of an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form the curable binder composition. The composition when used as a binder in the mat is cured to form a water-insoluble binder which exhibits good adhesion and thermodimensional stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventors: Kiarash Alavi Shooshtari, James Patrick Hamilton, Jawed Asrar
  • Patent number: 8662316
    Abstract: A filter medium for liquid filtration of fine texture exhibiting high strength when wetted with water, which filter medium is comprised of a wet-laid nonwoven fabric. There is provided a filter medium for liquid filtration comprised of a wet-laid nonwoven fabric, characterized in that through blending of 0.5 to 40 wt. % of unbeaten natural fibers, it exhibits a very fine texture, a lowering ratio, calculated from bursting strength in ordinary state and bursting strength when wetted with water, of 30% or below, and a bursting strength, had when wetted with water, of 300 kPa or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hokuetsu Paper Mills, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Sakadume, Eiko Meguro, Toshihiko Soyama
  • Patent number: 8002988
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to the removal of contaminants from water using sugar based surfactant enhanced ultrafiltration. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a process for removal of an at least slightly water-soluble organic compound from an organic-contaminated water solution to provide a purified water solution, including: adding a surfactant to the organic-contaminated water solution in sufficient quantity to achieve at least a critical micellar concentration of the surfactant in the organic-contaminated water solution, wherein the surfactant comprises an alkylglycoside, to provide a micellar water solution comprising micelles comprising the surfactant and the organic compound; contacting an ultrafiltration membrane with the micellar water solution under pressure and temperature conditions sufficient for liquid flow through the ultrafiltration membrane to take place; and collecting liquid permeating the ultrafiltration membrane to provide the purified water solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Ponisseril Somasundaran, Shaohua Lu
  • Patent number: 7977116
    Abstract: Provided are an analysis method and an analysis apparatus that can perform analysis of a substance and information obtainment with relatively high accuracy and reproducibility without previously allowing a carrier to carry a reagent for a color reaction. In the analysis method and the analysis apparatus, the information on an analyte is obtained by using an electromagnetic wave of a frequency including a frequency band which is at least a part of a frequency range of 30 GHz or more and 30 THz or less. A non-fibrous, isotropic porous material is allowed to hold the analyte, the analyte held by the porous material is irradiated with the electromagnetic wave, a change in the propagation state of the electromagnetic wave due to transmission through or reflection by the porous material is detected and information on the analyte is obtained based on the result of the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shintaro Kasai, Toshihiko Ouchi, Haruko Yoneyama, Masatsugu Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7976709
    Abstract: A system comprising a blood circuit including a membrane arranged in a blood filter (7) in which blood is in contact with a first side of said membrane; and a dialysis circuit in which a dialysis fluid is in contact with the other side of the membrane for exchange of substances and ions through the membrane as well as water. The dialysis fluid is circulated from a dialysis compartment and through a RO filter (9). The permeate fluid, i.e. water is returned to the dialysis compartment. The retentate fluid from the RO filter (9) passes through a separation filter (13). The retentate fluid is returned to the dialysis compartment and the permeate fluid is removed from the dialysis circuit as a waste fluid to a receptacle (19). The retentate fluid is concentrated in the RO filter in a ration of at least 3:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Triomed AB
    Inventors: Anders Wallenas, Lars Wramner
  • Patent number: 7972510
    Abstract: A filtration apparatus for performing solid-liquid separation by immersing a plurality of hollow fiber membranes in a to-be-treated liquid containing a suspended component includes the hollow fiber membranes folded double, a treated liquid collection means communicated with an open end of each of the hollow fiber membranes, a holding member for holding a bent portion of each of the hollow fiber membranes with a gap formed between the bent portion and the holding member, and a gas-jetting means for jetting a cleaning gas from the bent side of each of the hollow fiber membranes to a side of the open end. A gap for flowing the gas jetted by the gas-jetting means is formed between the hollow fiber membranes and the holding member or/and in at least one part of gaps between the hollow fiber membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Fine Polymer, Inc.
    Inventors: Tooru Morita, Shinsuke Kawabe
  • Patent number: 7971728
    Abstract: A filtration system for collecting bone fragments during surgery performed on a patient includes a cylinder having a rotating disk with circumferential arms extending radially in the cylinder to define pockets. The rotating disk includes a longitudinal hub that carries an outlet connected to a central passageway formed in the disk. A plurality of apertures on the disk permit the liquid to flow into the passageway and through the outlet while the pockets retain the bone fragments. The disk is rotated to align circumferential spaced pockets to align with the inlet and outlet ports. The disks includes bearing surfaces that permit the rotation thereof and the arms are spaced from the cylinder inner surface to allow the flow of fluid in the event the pockets fill and clog the apertures and prevent flow into the outlet passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: The Anspach Effort, Inc
    Inventors: Thomas D. Anspach, Stephen M. Bucina
  • Patent number: 7938967
    Abstract: A vent assembly is described for use in an extracorporeal fluid unit. A vent structure adjacent to a micro-porous membrane forms the assembly. The vent structure is porous, but expands when the vent structure becomes wet, thereby closing off the pores and inhibiting (e.g., preventing) fluid from flowing through the vent structure. The vent structure also protects the membrane from becoming wet, such as from condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Irvin Folden, Martin Joseph Crnkovich, Colin Weaver, Michael Emmanuel Kotsos, Melvin D. Jensen
  • Patent number: 7938971
    Abstract: Particular aspects of the inventive technology may, in embodiments, relate to a fluid filter apparatus that includes a filtered fluid conduit that has a length that is at least three times a characteristic diameter; and a plurality of holes, wherein at least one of said holes has a first shape and engages an end cap during fluid filter operation, and wherein at least one other of said holes has said first shape and passes filtered fluid from outside of said filtered fluid conduit to a conduit interior during fluid filter operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Harvard Corporation
    Inventors: Otto Knottnerus, Larry Langmeier, Mark Berger
  • Patent number: 7935250
    Abstract: The invention relates to blood processing apparatus comprising a cabinet (2) defining at least an interior housing (6) and presenting an aperture (6a) for allowing access from outside into said housing. The apparatus has a user interface (13) mounted in a movable manner on the cabinet between at least a first position, where the user interface is adjacent to the cabinet in correspondence of said aperture, and a second position, where the user interface is spaced apart from the aperture and opens the access to said housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Michele Castellano, Marco Zanini
  • Patent number: 7918997
    Abstract: A filter system for a fluid having a cup-shaped housing releasably connected to a connecting head and a filter element arranged in the housing, in which the releasable connection is formed by at least one connecting element formed on the connecting head which engages a connecting element formed by a part of the filter element in combination with a part of the cup-shaped housing such that the connection between the housing and the receiving head can only be produced if a proper filter element is installed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Mann+Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Klemens Dworatzek, Ralf Bauder, Karlheinz Muenkel, Duc Cuong Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7897407
    Abstract: A set of polymer particles stained with at least two fluorescent dyes is presented. At least 16 subsets of particles can be resolved on the basis of variable emission from the at least two fluorescent dyes where emission from at least one dye derives from a fluorescent dye covalently attached to the particle surface. All particles in the set of polymer particles can bind a uniform amount of a capture reagent. A method for the preparation of the set of polymer particles as well as a kit including the set of polymer particles is also presented as well as methods and uses of the set of polymer particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Rikshospitalet HF
    Inventor: Fridtjof Lund-Johansen
  • Patent number: 7892852
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the endogenous antioxidative potential (EAP) in a beverage sample, preferably beer, wine, juice or mixtures thereof, using ESR spectroscopy. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for measuring a secondary radical, preferably a hydroxyethyl radical, which is stabilized by a spin trap reagent, wherein the spin trap reagent is preferably, N-tert-butyl-?-(4-pyridyl)nitrone N-oxide (POBN). The invention also relates to the use of the method for assessing the oxidative stability of a beverage sample, to the use of a spin trap reagent, preferably POBN, for measuring the EAP, and to a kit for carrying out the method. The invention is characterized in that a method is provided which makes it possible to avoid the pH effect occurring in prior art methods and the associated influence on the generation of radicals in the beverage sample to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Technische Universitat Berlin
    Inventors: Thomas Kunz, Frank-Jurgen Methner, Jurgen Huttermann, Reinhard Kappl
  • Patent number: 7891798
    Abstract: A method for assembling a micro-fluidic device better preserves the integrity of a filter in a filter layer and simplifies the bonding of the filter layer to the channel layers on each side of the filter layer. The method includes aligning a polymer layer having a plurality of filter elements and a plurality of fluid passages arranged between the filter elements between two substrates of a micro-fluidic device, and bonding the polymer layer between the two substrates to seal an area between the filter elements and the fluid passages to enable fluid flow through the filter elements to be segregated from fluid flow through the fluid passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John Richard Andrews, Terrance Lee Stephens
  • Patent number: 7887700
    Abstract: An apparatus for skimming the top surface of a pool of fluid with a constant flow rate regardless of level changes of the fluid. A storage tank and a suction port are positioned at opposite ends of a conduit that connects the tank and the port. The conduit pivots about a pivot point such that the storage tank elevation follows the fluid level, which allows the suction port to be positioned at the surface of the fluid. In various embodiments, the pivot for the conduit is attached to a pump resting on the bottom of the tank, is formed by a pair of floats, is a pivot mechanism attached to a wall penetration of a tank, or is a flexible hose that allows the conduit to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Marlin Shelton
  • Patent number: 7883898
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for measuring pH of low alkalinity samples. The present invention provides a sensor array comprising a plurality of pH indicators, each indicator having a different indicator concentration. A calibration function is generated by applying the sensor array to a sample solution having a known pH such that pH responses from each indicator are simultaneously recorded versus indicator concentration for each indicator. Once calibrated, the sensor array is applied to low alkalinity samples having unknown pH. Results from each pH indicator are then compared to the calibration function, and fitting functions are extrapolated to obtain the actual pH of the low alkalinity sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bingzhi Chen, Weiyi Cui, Li Zhang, Caibin Xiao