Patents Examined by Ana Fortuna
  • Patent number: 9975091
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices related to removing fluids from a patient are provided. In one instance, fluid is removed from the patient and delivered to a canister using reduced pressure. Reduced pressure is supplied to the canister via a reduced-pressure delivery conduit that includes a moisture processing device and a hydrophobic filter. The moisture processing device condenses moisture from the air to prevent condensation from occluding the hydrophobic filter. The moisture processing devices includes an expanded volume and one or more liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membranes. The liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane allows vapor to egress the moisture processing device. Other systems, methods, and devices are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Timothy Mark Robinson, Aidan Marcus Tout
  • Patent number: 9968122
    Abstract: An aseptic method of preparing coconut water to improve flavor profiles and retain organoleptic properties of the coconut water is provided, as well as the coconut water obtained through this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: HARMLESS HARVEST, INC.
    Inventors: David Bauer, Mathieu Lostie
  • Patent number: 9944547
    Abstract: A composition, and its method of manufacture, is provided for the settling of solids suspended in liquids passing through a reactor housing containing the composition whereupon the composition can dissolve and enter into the liquid and then contact the suspended solids in the liquid. A system and method of for treating water or sewage is further provided. The system can include a screening tank, a septic tank, a flocculant and mixing reactor, a primary clarifier, a secondary clarifier, a sludge dewatering tank, a surge tank, one or more filter tanks and a disinfection tank. The method can include the steps of receiving water or sewage to be treated and passing it through a screening tank and septic tank, a flocculant reactor, a primary clarifier, a secondary clarifier, a sludge dewatering tank, a surge tank, one or more filter tanks and a disinfection tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Clearflow Group Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Hanna, Alberto Valdes
  • Patent number: 9944539
    Abstract: Strong fabrics are provided that can be used for items that can be moved or gathered while maintaining their integrity. The added strength of the fabric and the performance of the fabric make these fabrics and these items more effective in responding to oil spills. These fabrics and items will remove oil sheen from the surface of water and can absorb more than their dry weight in oil from water. Non-linting socks (e.g., sediment socks or absorbent socks) are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Cerex Advanced Fabrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert E. Ortega, Erin Sutton Carter, Daniel Baillie
  • Patent number: 9932256
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system for communities not connected to sewer infrastructure. The wastewater treatment system comprises a control unit electrically coupled to an ecologic cleaning system (i.e. phytoremediation), activated sludges and disinfection process (i.e. ultra violet light) in a re-circulation and continuous flow arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventors: Javier Rivera-Gerena, Fred James Fletcher-Purcell
  • Patent number: 9925481
    Abstract: A filter cartridge endplate (12) is described herein that has an integrated flow structure. For example, the integrated flow structure has concentric flow portions disposed at a center of the endplate (12), where a separator (10) is built into the endplate (12) that separates fluid flow. The endplate (12) includes a plate with a major surface, a separator (10) that protrudes axially away from the major surface. The separator (10) includes a first flow portion (14) and a second flow portion (16), where the first flow portion (14) is disposed radially inward relative to the second flow portion (16). The first flow portion (14) includes a channel (22) and the second flow portion includes a channel (24). The respective channels (22,24) are configured to allow axial fluid flow relative to the plate, and configured to allow fluid flow that is localized toward the center of the plate (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP Inc.
    Inventors: Penghua Hou, Yiyun Zhang, Ping Shen, Kevin C. South, Ismail Bagci, Charles W. Hawkins, Gerard Malgorn, Zemin Jiang
  • Patent number: 9926210
    Abstract: The invention concerns a treated water purification system (18) comprising a closed water flow loop (107) said loop comprising at least one treated water supply point (A), at least one point of use (U) of purified water, a pump means (101), a sterilization means (106) and a filtration means (103), characterized in that the zone (106) comprises the supply point (A) and a water extraction point (P), situated upstream of the supply point (A), and in that the extraction point (P) and the supply point (A) are both situated in a sector (106B) of the sterilization zone (106) that is isolated from the two connection points (RM, RV) of the loop (107) to the zone (106) by two other sectors (106A, 106C) of the zone (106). Method for use of such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Yves Gaignet, Didier Meyer, Julien Bole
  • Patent number: 9922742
    Abstract: A method of using hydrogen- or lithium-containing manganese oxide having a spinel crystal structure as a tritium adsorbent to trap tritium from tritium-containing water makes it possible to inexpensively separate tritium from water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Hideki Koyanaka
  • Patent number: 9919275
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a multilayer mixed matrix membrane which includes providing a support layer, casting a hydrophilic layer on a surface of the support layer, casting a hydrophobic layer on the hydrophilic layer, and allowing the layers to form a multilayer mixed matrix membrane. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a hollow fiber composite matrix membrane which includes providing a first solution having a hydrophilic polymer, providing a second solution having a hydrophobic polymer, and extruding the first and second solutions to form a multilayer hollow fiber composite matrix membrane. Additionally, a plate-and-frame membrane module for direct contact membrane distillation using a multilayer mixed matrix membrane is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: MEMBRANE DISTILLATION DESALINATION LTD. CO.
    Inventors: Mohammed Rasool Qtaishat, Saad Almuttiri
  • Patent number: 9901881
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for altering the characteristics of a membrane comprising a dielectric material. The method comprises heating the membrane and applying an electric field in a direction out of the plane of the membrane to at least a portion of the dielectric material. At least a portion of the dielectric material becomes aligned with the applied electric field. In some embodiments, the membrane is piezoelectric and application of an electric signal to the membrane causes out of plane movement of the membrane. Also disclosed are membranes and systems and apparatuses comprising such membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: CMS INNOVATIONS PTY LTD
    Inventors: Hans Gerard Leonard Coster, Tahereh Darestani Farahani, Terry Calvin Chilcott
  • Patent number: 9901879
    Abstract: Two-dimensional material based filters, their method of manufacture, and their use are disclosed. In one embodiment, a membrane may include an active layer including a plurality of defects and a deposited material associated with the plurality of defects may reduce flow therethrough. Additionally, a majority of the active layer may be free from the material. In another embodiment, a membrane may include a porous substrate and an atomic layer deposited material disposed on a surface of the porous substrate. The atomic layer deposited material may be less hydrophilic than the porous substrate and an atomically thin active layer may be disposed on the atomic layer deposited material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
    Inventors: Rohit N. Karnik, Suman Bose, Michael S. H. Boutilier, Nicolas G. Hadjiconstantinou, Tarun Kumar Jain, Sean C. O'Hern, Tahar Laoui, Muataz A. Atieh, Doojoon Jang
  • Patent number: 9901883
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a porous hollow-fiber membrane having high strength while maintaining high pure-water permeation performance. A porous hollow-fiber membrane of the present invention is a porous hollow-fiber membrane including a fluororesin-based polymer, in which the porous hollow-fiber membrane has a columnar texture oriented in a longitudinal direction of the porous hollow-fiber membrane, and a molecular chain of the fluororesin-based polymer is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the porous hollow-fiber membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hanakawa, Kenta Iwai, Toshiyuki Ishizaki, Tamotsu Kitade, Masahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 9901669
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the treatment of blood are disclosed allowing for the determination of an internal convection in a blood purification device e.g. in the form of a dialyzer. The internal convection in the purification device can be determined on the basis of pressure differences in the purification device. The blood purification may be, for instance, a hemodialysis or a hemodiafiltration. Pressure sensors serve for measuring the pressures of the blood at the input and/or output of the purification device as well as optionally for detecting the pressure of a cleaning fluid or dialysis fluid at the input and/or output of the purification device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: B. BRAUN AVITUM AG
    Inventors: Henrik Wolff, Christof Strohhoefer, Roland Napierala
  • Patent number: 9896353
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of treating a hydrocarbon-containing waste stream to form a hydrocarbon-containing retentate and an aqueous permeate which is substantially free of hydrocarbon. The method includes passing the hydrocarbon-containing waste stream through a microporous membrane to yield the hydrocarbon-containing retentate and the aqueous permeate. The membrane comprises a substantially hydrophobic, polymeric matrix and substantially hydrophilic, finely divided, particulate filler distributed throughout the matrix. The polymeric matrix has pores with a volume average diameter less than 1.0 micron, and at least 50 percent of the pores have a mean diameter of less than 0.35 micron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Qunhui Guo, James C. Peters
  • Patent number: 9889244
    Abstract: The present specification discloses a portable dialysis system comprising a mechanism that allows the user to accurately position an air bubble in a venous line, so that it can be safely removed. When an air bubble is detected, the system automatically runs the blood pump in a direction such that the air bubble is placed close to the extraction point on the venous line, from where it can safely be removed using a needleless syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John Arrizza, John Erik Michael Palmroos, Ernesto Trillanes de la Fuente, Jr., Nhan Viet Pham, Barry Neil Fulkerson
  • Patent number: 9890060
    Abstract: A process for treating water containing dissolved organic compounds, including naphthenic acids, for example, oil sands process water, using petroleum coke is provided, comprising: removing petroleum coke from a coking operation; forming a petroleum coke/water slurry by adding the water containing dissolved organic compounds to the petroleum coke; adding a pH-lowering agent to the petroleum coke/water slurry either during slurry formation or after slurry formation to form a treated petroleum coke/water slurry; and allowing the treated petroleum coke/water slurry to mix for a sufficient time in a carbon adsorption reactor to allow the petroleum coke to adsorb a substantial portion of the dissolved organic compounds from the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SYNCRUD CANADA LTD.
    Inventors: Warren Zubot, Gail Buchanan
  • Patent number: 9884296
    Abstract: A composite membrane includes a hydrophobic porous membrane and a high water content hydrogel layer disposed on the surface of the hydrophobic porous membrane facing the hot end. The surface active agents contained in the wastewater at the hot end are blocked by the high water content hydrogel layer, thus the problem of pore wetting of the hydrophobic porous membrane can be prevented. Therefore, the membrane distillation technique can be utilized for processing wastewater containing surface active agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN TEXTILE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Po-Ju Lin, Jun-Hong Chen, Yu-Ling Li
  • Patent number: 9868650
    Abstract: A method for removing glyphosate from a solution by contacting the solution with a polymeric particle including a moiety selected from the group consisting of ammonium, amine and combinations thereof, wherein the moiety is positively charged in the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Allen, Geraud J. Dubois, Young-Hye Na, Lianna C. Samuel, Joseph Sly, Ran Wang
  • Patent number: 9862630
    Abstract: An under-sink waste processing unit may generally include a housing defining an inlet and an outlet. The inlet may be configured to receive water and waste discharged from a waste disposal. The housing may also define a separation chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and a processing chamber separate from the separation chamber. The waste processing unit may also include a rotatable drive shaft extending within the separation chamber and a screw thread associated with the drive shaft. The screw thread may be configured to be rotated with the drive shaft within the separation chamber so as to at least partially separate the water from the waste received within the inlet. The separated waste may be configured to be dispersed from the separation chamber into the processing chamber for further processing thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Lauren Nicole Platts, Joseph Emil Gormley, Rebecca Ann Alvord
  • Patent number: 9861915
    Abstract: Screening apparatus includes a driving a shaft (12) into a screen housing (13) having a removable closure (14) and dividing wall (15) forming an underflow chamber (16) and an overflow chamber (17). The shaft (12) supports and drives an screen (21) comprising a plate steel basket carrier portion (22) axially spaced from intermediate ring frames (23) and an outer frame ring and flange (24), all interconnected by circumferentially spaced stringers (25) to form an all-welded, integral, generally truncated-conical screen (21) cage. The cage supports a wedge wire screening surface (26). The closure (14) and housing (13) mutually support an inlet assembly (27) comprising a chute (32) feeding the water and coarse coal to the inner end of the screen assembly (21). The integral, all welded screen (21) may be replaced as a unit without refurbishment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Weir Minerals Australia Limited
    Inventor: Michael Trench