Patents Examined by Dirk Bass
  • Patent number: 8496817
    Abstract: A dechlorinator for dechlorinating a stream of water comprises a housing comprising an inlet and an outlet. The housing defines a flow path between the inlet and the outlet. A filter is operatively supported in the housing and located in the flow path. At least one dechlorinating tablet is operatively supported in the housing and located in the flow path downstream of the filter for dechlorinating water flowing from the filter to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Inventor: Erwin Just
  • Patent number: 8497107
    Abstract: A composition of enzyme, polymer, and crosslinker forms a network of covalently bound macromolecules. The covalently immobilized enzyme preparation has enzymatic activity, and retains stable activity when dried and stored at ambient conditions. Methods for preparing an immobilized enzyme and methods for using the enzyme are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen A. Merchant
  • Patent number: 8496120
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a filter unit for cleaning fluids, filter systems comprised of a plurality of said filter units, and the use of the filter unit or of the filter systems for filtering sludge and floating algae from water, or for purifying gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: IFE Innovative Forschungs-und Entwicklungs GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Willuweit
  • Patent number: 8496809
    Abstract: A kidney failure treatment system includes: (i) a dialysate supply; (ii) a weighing device; a control container coupled operably to the weighing device; (iii) a diffusion membrane; (iv) a drain; first and second pumps; (v) a first fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the dialysate supply and the diffusion membrane, the first fluid conduit coupled operably to the first pump; (vi) a second fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the control container and the drain, the second fluid conduit coupled operably to the first pump; and (vii) a third fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the diffusion membrane and the control conduit, the third fluid conduit coupled operably to the second pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Rodolfo G. Roger, Michael E. Hogard, Thomas D. Kelly
  • Patent number: 8496807
    Abstract: A hemodialysis apparatus includes a dialysis device, a detecting device, an evaluation device and a memory device. The dialysis device dialyzes and ultrafiltrates blood of a patient according to an ultrafiltration volume based on an estimated dry weight while performing hemodialysis treatment on the blood circulating extracorporeally. The detecting device obtains time series data by measuring a parameter related to concentration of the blood circulating extracorporeally at a plurality of points in time series in a process of the hemodialysis treatment by the dialysis device. The evaluation device evaluates appropriateness of the hemodialysis treatment by evaluating whether the estimated dry weight approximates to a dry weight after the hemodialysis treatment by the dialysis device. The memory device stores a plurality of time series data when the hemodialysis treatment is evaluated to be appropriate by the evaluation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Nikkiso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Mori, Masahiro Toyoda
  • Patent number: 8496816
    Abstract: A fuel heater module and a water-in-fuel sensor module are disclosed that are configured to be connected to an outside surface of a filter assembly. The fuel heater module includes an inlet port and an outlet port with a heating element positioned in the fluid path between the inlet and outlet. A thermostat is included for controlling operation of the heating element. The water-in-fuel sensor module is configured to detect water in the filter housing that it may be drained from the filter housing. Both modules are configured to be attached to an outside surface of the filter housing thereby being readily replaceable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Abby True-Dahl, Gerard Malgorn, Arnuad LeVen, Gildas LeMen, Mark Wieczorek, Zemin Jiang, Jeffrey A. Husband, Ismail C. Bagci, Charles W. Hawkins, Chad M. Thomas, Mark Johnson, Ted Loftis, Robert A. Bannister
  • Patent number: 8496888
    Abstract: A reducing agent container having a multi-function and having a container body thereof is provided with at least a heat exchanger which permits a heating medium using an engine as a heat source thereof to circulate therein for performing the heat exchange with a liquid reducing agent and a strainer which filtrates foreign substances from the liquid reducing agent, the heat exchanger and the strainer being attached to a top board of the container body. Further, a suction pipe capable of sucking the liquid reducing agent from the inside of the container body is connected to the strainer, and a supply port for the liquid reducing agent from which the foreign substances are filtrated is formed in the strainer. Thus, the whole of strainer is not exposed to the outside air, especially, the wind during traveling, and accordingly, the freezing of the urea aqueous solution in the strainer can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Osaku, Kiyoshi Fukuda, Toshio Kondou
  • Patent number: 8496118
    Abstract: A device for the tangential filtration of a fluid to be processed and intended to be divided into a filtrate and a retentate includes, in an outer case, a series of filtration elements of tubular form lying parallel to each other, at least one output for the filtrate, communicating with the filtrate collection receptacle, a first communication chamber in which are fitted the separation resources, communicating with respectively a first series and a second series of filtration elements forming the go and return circuits of a circulation loop for the fluid to be processed, where the separation resources include a turbine of a circulation pump. The input for the fluid to be processed opens into the first communication chamber of the outer case between the turbine of the circulation pump and the filtration elements of the series forming the return circuit of the circulation loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Societe Industrielle de la Vallee de l'Aigues—S.I.V.A.
    Inventor: Philippe Lescoche
  • Patent number: 8496808
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment apparatus (10) includes one or more treatment tanks (12, 14). Each treatment tank (12, 14) has an associated oxygenation treatment circuit (18) including a gas and liquid mixing chamber (20), a gas injector (22) upstream of the mixing chamber (20) and one of an oxygen generator (24) or an ozone generator (26) supplying gas to the gas injector (22), and a pump (28, 29) for pumping wastewater from the treatment tank (12, 14) through the mixing chamber (20) and back to the treatment tank (28, 29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Seair Inc
    Inventors: Harold Kinasewich, Chris Kinasewich
  • Patent number: 8496824
    Abstract: A method and a device for supply of a dialyser in a dialysis unit with dialysis fluid is disclosed. At least one dialysis fluid concentrate is mixed with water to produce the dialysis fluid. The dialysis fluid concentrate is prepared in a reservoir unit in a given amount. A control and arithmetic unit calculates the dialysis fluid rate (Qd) such that, after a given treatment time (TB) has passed, a given residual amount of dialysis fluid concentrate or no residual amount remains in the reservoir unit. It is preferable to empty the reservoir unit by the end of treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Gerard Remkes, Gerhard Wiesen
  • Patent number: 8497134
    Abstract: System and method for detecting and measuring chemical perturbations in a sample. The system and method are useful for non-invasive pH monitoring of blood or blood products sealed in storage bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Blood Cell Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Reed, Steven J. Geelhood, Paul C. Harris, Lynn M. Barker, Perry Hargrave, Oliver Nanassy
  • Patent number: 8496814
    Abstract: A system designed to control and filter runoff water in storm drains is presented. Drain water frequently carries trash, organic matter, suspended solids, hydrocarbons, metals, nutrients and bacteria collected from streets and parking lots into a storm drain inlet, which enters storm water drain pipe systems. The present invention supplies a series of baffle boxes inserted in the drain water stream with a final box possessing an upflow filter and a hydrocarbon absorbing boom. The system can also support a storm flow bypass that directs high-flow storm runoff water directly to the outlet to protect the filter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Inventor: Zachariha Kent
  • Patent number: 8496833
    Abstract: A method of removing leukocytes that through reducing of clogging of a leukocyte removing filter element by blood cell components and plasma proteins being a problem encountered at the time of removing leukocytes from blood, shortens the filtration time at refrigerated filtration and exhibits high leukocyte removing performance at room temperature filtration. There is provided a method of removing leukocytes including filtering blood containing leukocytes through a leukocyte removing filter apparatus having multiple fibrous filter elements with different average fiber diameters to thereby remove leukocytes from the blood, characterized in that use is made of a leukocyte removing filter apparatus wherein the multiple fibrous filter elements include at least leukocyte removing filter element (A) of 2.0 to <4.0 ?m average fiber diameter and leukocyte removing filter element (B) of 0.7 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8449439
    Abstract: A centrifuge for separating blood having a camera observing fluid flow, and a controller controlling the flow. The location of an interface is detected by image processing steps, which may comprise the steps of “spoiling” the image, “diffusing” the image, “edge detection”, “edge linking”, “region-based confirmation”, and “interface calculation”. “Spoiling” reduces the number of pixels to be examined preferentially on orthogonal axis oriented with respect to the expected location of the interface or phase boundary. “Diffusing” smoothes out small oscillations in the interface boundary, making to the location of the interface more distinct. “Edge detection” computes the rate of change in pixel intensity. “Edge linking” connects adjacent maxima. “Region-based confirmation” creates a pseudo image of the regions that qualify as distinct. “Final edge calculation” uses the points where the shade changes in the pseudo image, averages the radial displacement of these points for the interface position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Fletcher, William Sweat, Jeremy P. Kolenbrander, Aditya Dalvi, John R. Lindner
  • Patent number: 8409435
    Abstract: A pump in fluid communication with the outlet of a fluid purification apparatus. A pump may furthermore provide fluid to the inlet of the fluid purification apparatus. An embodiment includes a fluid driven rotating inlet device in fluid communication with the inlet of the fluid purification apparatus and an outlet impeller in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid purification apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Next Generation Filtration Systems, LP
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Geiger
  • Patent number: 8377308
    Abstract: A dialysate regeneration unit adapted for regenerating a dialysate containing carrier substances comprises a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path comprises a first supply unit adapted for adding an acidic fluid to the dialysate flowing in the first flow path, and a detoxification unit located downstream of the first supply unit. The detoxification unit is adapted for removing toxins from the acidified dialysate flowing in the first flow path. The second flow path extends in parallel to the first flow path. The second flow path comprises a second supply unit adapted for adding an alkaline fluid to the dialysate flowing in the second flow path, and a further detoxification unit located downstream of the second supply unit. The further detoxification unit is adapted for removing toxins from the alkalized dialysate flowing in the second flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hepa Wash GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Kreymann, Catherine Elisabeth Schreiber, Ahmed Nabeel Al-Chalabi
  • Patent number: 8354069
    Abstract: Devices and methods for extraction, identification, authentication, and quantification of one or more covert markers in a material are disclosed. An extraction system includes a first plug flow mixer for mixing a first fluid bearing a marker and transfer agent into a plug flow. The mixing and flowing of the immiscible liquids causes transfer of the marker from the fluid to the transfer agent. A splitter having filters of different surface energies separates the two immiscible liquids, the transfer agent bearing the marker. A second plug flow can be used to transfer the marker to a second transfer agent. The transferred marker is detected to authenticate the original fluid. The marker can be further isolated, activated, or reacted to perform detection, identification or authentication. With the device, a number of independent processing and analytic steps are combined onto a single, portable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Authentix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Eastwood, Erwin Dorland, Andrew Taylor
  • Patent number: 8337700
    Abstract: A biological fluid filtration device, system, and method, for filtering a biological fluid, the device comprising a housing having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, with a first fluid flow path defined between the inlet and the first outlet, with a second fluid flow path defined between the inlet and the second outlet, with a first biological fluid filtration media interposed between the inlet and the first outlet and across the first fluid flow path, with a second biological fluid filtration media interposed between the inlet and the second outlet and across the second fluid flow path, the housing essentially lacking a solid partition wall between the first biological fluid filtration media and the second biological fluid filtration media, a first flow restriction may be added downstream of the first biological fluid filtration media, and a second flow restriction may be added downstream of the second biological fluid filtration media, in another embodiment, the device comprises a housing having
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hemerus Medical, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Zuk, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8337379
    Abstract: A centrifuge for separating blood having a camera observing fluid flow, and a controller controlling the flow. The location of an interface is detected by image processing steps, which may comprise the steps of “spoiling” the image, “diffusing” the image, “edge detection”, “edge linking”, “region-based confirmation”, and “interface calculation”. “Spoiling” reduces the number of pixels to be examined preferentially on orthogonal axis oriented with respect to the expected location of the interface or phase boundary. “Diffusing” smoothes out small oscillations in the interface boundary, making the location of the interface more distinct. “Edge detection” computes the rate of change in pixel intensity, or. “Edge linking” connects adjacent maxima. “Region-based confirmation” creates a pseudo image of the regions that qualify as distinct. “Final edge calculation” uses the points where the shade changes in the pseudo image, averages the radial displacement of these points for the interface position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Fletcher, William Sweat, Jeremy Kolenbrander, Aditya Dalvi, John R. Linder
  • Patent number: 8330951
    Abstract: Packaged NERS-active structures are disclosed that include a NERS substrate having a NERS-active structure thereon, and a packaging substrate over the NERS substrate having an opening therethrough, the opening in alignment with the NERS-active structure. A membrane may cover the opening in the packaging substrate. In order to perform nanoenhanced Raman spectroscopy, the membrane may be removed, and an analyte placed on the NERS substrate adjacent the NERS-active structure. The membrane may be replaced with another membrane after the analyte has been placed on the substrate. The membrane may maintain the pristine state of the substrate before it is deployed, and the replacement membrane may preserve the substrate and analyte for archival purposes. Also disclosed are methods for performing NERS with packaged NERS-active structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Zhiyong Li, William M. Tong, R. Stanley Williams