Patents Examined by Ana M. Fortuna
  • Aromatic polyamide porous film, process for producing the same and secondary battery
    Patent number: 7866487
    Abstract: The problem addressed by this invention is to provide an aromatic polyamide porous film excellent in the capability of being thinned and capable of easily exhibiting stable porosity properties even if it is used for a long period of time at high temperature. This invention can be achieved by an aromatic polyamide porous film that contains an aromatic polyamide as a main component and is such that when an atomic force microscope is used to measure a range of S ?m2 at least on one surface, the sectional area S(10) ?m2 obtained at a depth of 10 nm from the surface and the sectional area S(20) ?m2 obtained at a depth of 20 nm from the surface satisfy the following formulae simultaneously. 0.01?S(10)/S?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Masanori Sueoka, Kenta Nishihara, Akimitsu Tsukuda
  • Membrane post treatment
    Patent number: 7867417
    Abstract: Hydrophilic porous polymeric membranes with high permeabilities, and processes for the preparation thereof are disclosed. Membranes may be prepared by including a preferably hydrophilic cross-linkable component such as PVP (either by inclusion into the polymer dope prior to casting, or coating or quenching cast membranes); and treating the polymeric microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane with a crosslinking agent to cross-link said cross-linkable component. Preferred cross-linking agents include Fenton's reagent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Daniel Mullette
  • Reinforced capillary membranes and process for manufacturing thereof
    Patent number: 7861869
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing asymmetric braid reinforced capillary ultra- or micro-filtration membranes (1), including the subsequent steps of pulling a tubular braid (5) through a spinneret (7) and coating the braid with a dope. Prior to the coating step, the braid is impregnated with a non-coagulation liquid, being a liquid which does not cause coagulation of the dope, when brought in contact with the dope. The result is a membrane with an outer skin, i.e. smaller pores near the outside diameter than near the inside diameter, and a coating which is closely arranged around the outside diameter of the braid, without any substantial penetration of the coating into the braid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO)
    Inventors: Herman Beckers, Willy Doyen, Chris Dotremont
  • Reverse osmosis system
    Patent number: 7862723
    Abstract: An apparatus for purifying water according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a feed line fluidically connected to a reverse osmosis module containing a semipermeable membrane. The semipermeable membrane produces purified water and a concentrate. A drain line is also connected to the reverse osmosis module configured to transport concentrate. A product line is connected to the reverse osmosis module for transporting purified water. Operatively associated with the product line and drain line is a shut-off mechanism containing a pressure sensor or gasket operatively associated with an appliance configured to activate the shut-off mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: The Good Water Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Cartwright
  • Apparatus and method for self-heating and self-hydrating foods and beverages
    Patent number: 7846332
    Abstract: A method and components for heating and hydrating foods and beverages using an exothermic and pressure generating chemical reaction are described. The exothermic reaction can be initiated by water, spark, electrical impulse, squib, friction, or shock to heat non-potable water and force the water through a membrane filter, thereby producing heated, potable water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Mainstream Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Dwight D. Back, Lawrence R. Grzyll, Deborah Stewart, legal representative, Robert P. Scaringe, R. Paul Roth
  • Polymer membrane for separating aromatic and aliphatic compounds
    Patent number: 7842124
    Abstract: This invention relates to a polymeric membrane composition comprising an associating polymer. The polymer coating is characterized as having hard and soft segments where the hard segment comprises TMPA, combined with HDPA. The membrane may utilize a porous substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Randall D. Partridge, Dennis G. Peiffer, David C. Dalrymple, Walter Weissman
  • Method for removal of guanidine compound from aqueous media
    Patent number: 7842188
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing a neutral or an ionic guanidine compound from aqueous media optionally comprising an alkali metal halide, wherein the method is selected from the group consisting of (a) adsorption onto a carbonaceous adsorbent, (b) adsorption onto a clay adsorbent, (c) filtration through a nanofiltration membrane, and (d) removal of water and calcination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
    Inventors: David Bruce Hall, Thomas Link Guggenheim, James Manio Silva, Farid Fouad Khouri, Matthew Hal Littlejohn, Balakrishnan Ganesan, Ashok Shankrappa Shyadligeri, Pradeep Jeevaji Nadkarni
  • Process for forming microporous membranes
    Patent number: 7842214
    Abstract: A method for forming a microporous membrane having a microstructure is described. Dope and coagulant formulations are simultaneously cast, where the coagulant formulation diffuses into the dope formulation through an interface effecting a phase inversion forming a microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ilyess H. Romdhane, Scott L. Ciliske
  • Process for separating components of a multi-component feed stream
    Patent number: 7837877
    Abstract: Provided is a process and apparatus for separating a multi-component feed stream wherein a porous separator is used to effectively create, via permeation and phase change, at least three fractions of differing compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Cao, Vladimir Yliy Gershtein
  • High aspect ratio template and method for producing same
    Patent number: 7837913
    Abstract: Millimeter to nano-scale structures manufactured using a multi-component polymer fiber matrix are disclosed. The use of dissimilar polymers allows the selective dissolution of the polymers at various stages of the manufacturing process. In one application, biocompatible matrixes may be formed with long pore length and small pore size. The manufacturing process begins with a first polymer fiber arranged in a matrix formed by a second polymer fiber. End caps may be attached to provide structural support and the polymer fiber matrix selectively dissolved away leaving only the long polymer fibers. These may be exposed to another product, such as a biocompatible gel to form a biocompatible matrix. The polymer fibers may then be selectively dissolved leaving only a biocompatible gel scaffold with the pores formed by the dissolved polymer fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jeff S. Sakamoto, James R. Weiss, Jean-Pierre Fleurial, Adam Kisor, Mark Tuszynski, Shula Stokols, Todd Edward Holt, David James Welker, Christopher David Breckon
  • Apparatus and method for isolating and/or eliminating at least one solute from a solution
    Patent number: 7828977
    Abstract: This relates to an apparatus and method for removing solutes from a solution using nano-filtration to provide a treated wine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventor: Bryan R. Tudhope
  • Plastic encapsulated tangential flow filter device and methods for making same
    Patent number: 7828973
    Abstract: Filtration devices that include filtration cassettes that feature a plurality of stacked subassemblies, wherein at least one of the subassemblies includes a porous membrane having a front side and a back side and a perimeter; and an overmolded frame that encapsulates the membrane around the perimeter of the front side and the back side of the membrane; wherein the overmolded frame forms at least one retentate port, at least one feed port, at least one filtrate port, and a flow channel proximate a perimeter of the frame; and an overmolded plastic jacket that penetrates the flow channels of the subassemblies to seal the stacked subassemblies; and methods for making the filtration device and cassettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Tangenx Technology Corporation
    Inventor: John F. Connors, Jr.
  • Connector apparatus and system including connector apparatus
    Patent number: 7815805
    Abstract: A connector apparatus is provided which is configured to replace a separation module in a system for dispensing a fluid. When it is desired to purge the system of a dispensed fluid, the connector apparatus, having the same configuration of an inlet and an outlet as the separation module, replaces the separation module and a purging fluid is passed through the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Karl Niermeyer, Gastón de los Reyes
  • Chlorine resistant polyamides and membranes made from the same
    Patent number: 7806275
    Abstract: A chlorine resistant polyamide is formed from the reaction product of an amine and an acid chloride monomer wherein the acid chloride monomer is modified with electron-withdrawing groups that exhibit sufficient activity to (i) minimize any chlorination on both the amine and acid chloride side and (ii) minimize N-chlorination. A membrane is made from the polyamide and, in one application, the membrane is used in a desalination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior, The Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado Seminary, Separation Systems Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Patrick Murphy, Balasingam Murugaverl, Robert Lee Riley
  • Membrane separation process using mixed vapor-liquid feed
    Patent number: 7803275
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for the separation of aromatics from a feed stream, including aromatics and non-aromatics by selectively permeating the aromatics through a membrane comprising feeding a mixed phase vapor-liquid feed to a membrane wherein said liquid phase preferentially wets the surface of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Randall D. Partridge, Walter Weissman, Bal K. Kaul, Craig Y. Sabottke, Sanjay K. Bhatia
  • Membrane contactor assisted water extraction system for separating hydrogen peroxide from a working solution, and method thereof
    Patent number: 7799225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane contactor assisted extraction system and method for extracting a single phase species from multi-phase working solutions. More specifically one preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a method and system for membrane contactor assisted water (MCAWE) extraction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from a working solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Seth W. Snyder, Yupo J. Lin, Jamie A. Hestekin, Michael P. Henry, Peter Pujado, Anil Oroskar, Santi Kulprathipanja, Sarabjit Randhava
  • Tangential flow filtration devices and methods for stem cell enrichment
    Patent number: 7790039
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for enriching a heterogenous mixture of bone marrow or blood constituents for stem cells by removal of non-stem cell constituents comprising separation of the non-stem cell constituents using a tangential flow filtration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Marnix L. Bosch, Patricia A. Lodge, Julie Anna McEarchern, Alton L. Boynton, Paul G. Hugenholtz
  • Membrane filtered pipette tip
    Patent number: 7785466
    Abstract: An injection molded assembly forming a Membrane Pipette Tip having at least one bottom portion including a apex end for receiving a calibrated first volume of fluid, a cavity for holding said volume of fluid and a opening with shoulder for receiving the filter membrane. The pipette tip includes at least one upper body having a first opening for communication to a pipetter and a second opening for receiving the shoulder of the bottom portion. The bottom portion fused at the shoulder to the second opening of the upper body with the membrane therebetween to permanently attach the membrane filter to the pipette tip. The 2 part Membrane Pipette Tip can be constructed as a single tip or a plurality of upper and bottom portions with optional tubular members that can include overflow wells for containing fluid in excess of the first volume of fluid drawn into the Membrane Pipette Tip cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Inventor: James C. Smith
  • Porous water filtration membrane of vinylidene fluoride resin hollow fiber and process for production thereof
    Patent number: 7780014
    Abstract: A composition is formed by blending a vinylidene fluoride resin having a relatively high molecular weight and an improved crystallinity represented by a difference Tm2?Tc of at most 32° C. between an inherent melting point Tm2 and a crystallization temperature Tc of the resin with a plasticizer and a good solvent for vinylidene fluoride resin, and the composition is melt-extruded into a hollow fiber-form. The hollow fiber-form extrudate is then cooled to be solidified from an outside thereof by introduction into cooling medium and subjected to extraction of the plasticizer and stretching, thereby forming a hollow fiber porous membrane of vinylidene fluoride resin characterized by co-presence of crystal oriented portion and crystal non-oriented portion recognizable by X-ray diffraction method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Kureha Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tada, Takeo Takahashi, Masayuki Hino, Shingo Taniguchi, Kenichi Suzuki, Toshiya Mizuno
  • Membrane element
    Patent number: 7776214
    Abstract: A membrane element in which, after membrane breakage or deterioration, the filtration plate made of a thermoplastic resin can be reused to replace the membrane with a fresh one. The membrane element comprises a filtration plate made of a thermoplastic resin and, bonded to a peripheral smooth surface thereof, a microporous filter membrane which has fine pores formed therein and employs a nonwoven fabric comprising synthetic resin fibers as a support. A hot plate having a shape corresponding to the peripheral shape of the resinous filtration plate is brought into contact with a peripheral smooth surface of the plate so as to form a recessed part in the surface. The temperature of the hot plate is regulated so as to be not higher than the melting point of the nonwoven fabric serving as the support and not lower than the Vicat softening temperature of the filtration plate made of a thermoplastic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: GS Yuasa Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Saito, Shiro Tanso