Patents Examined by Dirk R Bass
  • Patent number: 11311655
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for extracorporeal treatment of blood comprising a treatment unit, a blood withdrawal line, a blood return line, a preparation line and a spent dialysate line. A control unit is configured to calculate values of a parameter relating to treatment effectiveness based on measures of lactate or citrate or acetate concentration in the spent dialysate line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: GAMBRO LUNDIA AB
    Inventors: Dominique Pouchoulin, Bernard Bene
  • Patent number: 11305213
    Abstract: A filtration assembly is provided that comprises a filter cartridge and a filter head, that has particular application for liquid filtration, such as engine fuel filtration in an embodiment. The filter cartridge can include a thread and a torsion lock detent to provide twist and lock mounting to the filter head. Separately, the filter cartridge can include a slidable piston that can become pressurized by application of liquid pressure during operation that can apply an axial force to the filter head to load the thread and increase threaded attachment rigidity and/or the natural frequency of the filter cartridge to a more desirable level, and thereby limit vibrational impacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin B. Downs
  • Patent number: 11305042
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for supplying dialysate. The invention also relates to a dialysis apparatus comprising an apparatus for supplying dialysate. The apparatus for supplying dialysate has a balancing device 8, which comprises at least one balancing chamber 9, 10 for balancing fresh and used dialysate, and a metering device 28 for filling the at least one balancing chamber with permeate and concentrates in a specified mixing ratio for producing dialysate. The metering device 28 is designed such that specified volumes of concentrates are conveyed into the at least one balancing chamber 9, 10 in successive working cycles. Given that the specified volumes of concentrates are not added simultaneously, the concentrates can be conveyed using just one single metering pump. This is advantageous in that the metering pump is a relatively expensive component of the mixer circuit. In practice, the design is simpler and compact and the maintenance costs are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Benedict Glaser
  • Patent number: 11285250
    Abstract: Blood separation systems and methods are provided for separating blood under conditions of reduced plasma clarity. The system may assess plasma clarity by monitoring light transmissivity of plasma or comparing an actual plasma flow rate to an ideal plasma flow rate, with a low flow rate indicating decreased clarity, which may be addressed by increasing the plasma flow rate. For extracorporeal photopheresis, plasma clarity may be a factor in determining the dosage of irradiating light to apply to mononuclear cells. A fluid processing assembly for mononuclear cell collection may include visual indicium, which an operator may use to determine when to end mononuclear cell collection. The system may detect red blood cells flowing toward a mononuclear cell collection container and reverse the direction of flow to prevent red blood cells from entering the container. An operator may also be enabled to selectively begin and/or end harvesting of mononuclear cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Lan T. Nguyen, Jonathan W. Prendergast, Zahra R. Ali, Tanima J. Abedin, Molly Erickson, Korri Hershenhouse
  • Patent number: 11286182
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatuses and systems for the remediation of contaminated soils, groundwater, water, and/or waste using a combination of reagents. The disclosed methods may be used to treat various recalcitrant halogenated substances, such as perfluoroalkyls and polyfluoroalkyls. Particular combinations of reagents that may be used in the disclosed methods include but are not limited to: (1) persulfate, oxygen and ozone; (2) persulfate, salt, oxygen and ozone; (3) persulfate, phosphate, and/or oxygen; (4) persulfate, phosphate, oxygen and ozone; (5) persulfate, phosphate, salt and oxygen (6) persulfate, phosphate, salt, oxygen and ozone; (7) oxygen and salt; and (8) air and salt. The disclosed methods may enhance destruction of organic contaminants in the liquid phase and may also control the rate of aerosol or foam formation relative to the rate of chemical oxidation and/or reduction/transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: OXYTEC LLC
    Inventor: Raymond G. Ball
  • Patent number: 11285457
    Abstract: A method for absorbing liquids, such as liquid hydrocarbons, includes applying recycled carpet material to the liquid. The recycled carpet material is prepared by shredding carpet and removing fibers from the shredded carpet to obtain carpet backing material. The carpet backing material may be further treated to remove fibers. The carpet backing material is then applied to the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventor: Timothy J. VanderHeiden
  • Patent number: 11278862
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for scrubbing low levels of urea from aqueous solutions such as a dialysate from dialysis, and including blood and blood products, and devices capable of employing these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignees: Drexel University, University of Brighton
    Inventors: Yury Gogotsi, Sergey Mikhalovsky, Susan R. Sandeman, Babak Anasori, Fayan Meng
  • Patent number: 11278880
    Abstract: A water softening device includes a filter configured to remove hardness from a first stream of raw water to produce a second stream of softened water. The filter includes an ion exchange material which is loaded with a first cationic ion species deriving from a tracer salt and with a second cationic ion species deriving from a regenerant salt. The IEX material shows a lower affinity to the first cationic ion species than to the hardness. At the same time the IEX material shows a higher affinity to the first cationic ion species than to the second cationic species. An electrical property of the second stream is monitored by a sensor. A change in the monitored electrical property can be used as an indicator for the exhaustion state of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: BWT Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Pierre Balidas, Christian Brand, Jürgen Johann
  • Patent number: 11273415
    Abstract: A device and a method for detecting deposits in a membrane module which produces a permeate and which comprises at least one permeable or semipermeable membrane layer. At least one polymer optical fiber for detecting deposits on the membrane layer is integrated in the membrane module such that the polymer optical fiber is in contact with at least one membrane layer. A method of detecting deposits in a membrane module producing a permeate and to a membrane module for producing a permeate from a feed stream of a fluid, in particular an aqueous solution, with the membrane module comprising a plurality of adjacently disposed or stacked sheets of a permeable or semipermeable membrane layer and with at least one polymer optical fiber being embedded or integrated in the membrane module, which polymer optical fiber is in contact with at least one sheet of the membrane layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT MÜNCHEN
    Inventors: Simon Hager, Karl Glas, Martin Meinardus, Matthias Albert
  • Patent number: 11253800
    Abstract: A plate for a filter press, a filter press, the use of such a filter press as well as a method of cleaning and sterilization of such a filter press. The plate for a filter press has a base body, consisting of a first material with a hardness H1 and having an outer circumferential surface, and a frame arranged on the outer circumferential surface, consisting of a second material with a hardness H2, where H2<H1, and wherein the frame has on at least one side surface at least one encircling seal protruding relative to the side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: STRASSBURGER FILTER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Jürgen Sebastian
  • Patent number: 11253849
    Abstract: Methods, sorbent cartridges and cleaning devices are disclosed for refurbishing sorbent materials. In one implementation among multiple implementations, a medical fluid delivery method includes: providing a sorbent cartridge including H+ZP within a casing for a treatment; and after the treatment, refurbishing the H+ZP while maintained within the casing via (i) regenerating the non-disinfected H+ZP by flowing an acid solution through the casing, (ii) rinsing the regenerated H+ZP while maintained within the casing, (iii) disinfecting the regenerated and rinsed H+ZP by flowing a disinfecting agent through the casing, and (iv) rinsing the regenerated and disinfected H+ZP while maintained within the casing. Multiple batch sorbent refurbishing implementations are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventors: Yuanpang Samuel Ding, Rosa Hung-Chen Yeh, Cristian Adolfo Menzel Bueno, Ieng Kin Lao
  • Patent number: 11247148
    Abstract: A water treatment filter backwash process control system, comprising a control system that receives filter level data and filter backwash turbidity data. The control system having a filter level set point, wherein the filter level set point corresponds to a desired filter media bed expansion. The control system having a filter backwash turbidity set point, wherein the control system controls the filter backwash process by, while monitoring the filter backwash turbidity, sending one or more output signals that are used to control a backwash inlet liquid flow in order to maintain a desired media bed expansion, and stop the backwash inlet liquid flow when the filter backwash turbidity set point is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventor: Mark W. Romers
  • Patent number: 11241640
    Abstract: A solvent reservoir filter for a liquid chromatograph system includes a first screen extending in a first plane, the first screen configured to filter solvent received through the first screen, a second screen extending in a second plane that is parallel to the first plane, the second screen configured to filter solvent received through the second screen, a main body extending between and connecting the first screen and the second screen, and a fluid outlet configured to expel solvent filtered by the first and second screens from the solvent reservoir filter. Methods of use and assembly of the solvent reservoir filter for a liquid chromatograph system are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark W. Moeller, William B. Clark
  • Patent number: 11229862
    Abstract: A water treatment filter backwash process control system, comprising a control system that receives filter level data and filter backwash turbidity data. The control system having a filter level set point, wherein the filter level set point corresponds to a desired filter media bed expansion. The control system having a filter backwash turbidity set point, wherein the control system controls the filter backwash process by, while monitoring the filter backwash turbidity, sending one or more output signals that are used to control a backwash inlet liquid flow in order to maintain a desired media bed expansion, and stop the backwash inlet liquid flow when the filter backwash turbidity set point is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Mark W. Romers
  • Patent number: 11230481
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an installation for the preparation of an aqueous solution comprising at least one earth alkali hydrogen carbonate, the use of the installation for the preparation of an aqueous solution comprising at least one earth alkali hydrogen carbonate as well as the use of the installation for the mineralization and/or stabilization of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: OMYA INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Nicholas Charles Nelson, Herbert Riepl, Wolfgang Kreuger
  • Patent number: 11229857
    Abstract: A separation apparatus includes: a partitioning member inside a separation tank, includes erect and transverse portions, and partitions the tank into inflow and outflow regions of a liquid; an inlet of which a lower level is set to be lower than an upper end of the erect portion and an upper level is set to be higher; a screen in the erect portion along a flow direction of the liquid; a swirling inducing member in the erect portion intersecting with the flow direction of the liquid; a screen in the transverse portion; a dividing member dividing the liquid flowing in from the inlet into flows along side walls of the separation tank; a retaining member at a downstream side in the flow direction and retains the substance having the specific gravity less than that of the liquid; and an outlet through which the liquid flows out from the outflow region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: HANEDA ZENITH CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ohtake, Yasuto Kawamoto, Yuki Kurosawa, Kohei Kanazawa, Kotaro Ishida, Haruka Ueki
  • Patent number: 11220447
    Abstract: A combined sedimentation tank including a flocculation tank, a transition zone and a sedimentation tank which are sequentially connected along a direction that water flows. The sedimentation tank includes a sloping plate zone and a horizontal flow zone. The length of the sloping plate zone is a quarter of the total length of the sedimentation tank. A return pipe is arranged at the bottom of the sloping plate zone. Some of sludge in the sloping plate zone is returned to the flocculation tank through the return pipe to increase the concentration of the suspended solids in the flocculation tank, thereby forming the sediments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Central & Southern China Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Caigao Chen, Xue Gao
  • Patent number: 11213776
    Abstract: There is disclosed a leukocyte removal filter material comprising a nonwoven fabric having polybutylene terephthalate fiber. The average fiber diameter of the nonwoven fabric is 0.9 to 1.5 ?m, the formation index corresponding to a thickness of 0.3 mm of the nonwoven fabric is 15 to 70, and when the average fiber diameter of the nonwoven fabric is X and the specific surface area of the nonwoven fabric is Y, X and Y satisfy the following relational expression (1): Y??0.65×X+1.75??(1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: ASAHI KASEI MEDICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Uchimura, Nobukazu Shimada
  • Patent number: 11198096
    Abstract: The inventive system and method comprises one or more batch closed circuit desalination (CCD) unit(s) linked by conducting lines and valves means to a pressure exchange (PE) means, such that each said CCD can be engaged periodically with said PE means for brine replacement by fresh pressurized feed, thereby, enable a continuous consecutive sequential batch desalination under fixed flow and variable pressure conditions of low energy and high recovery of unchanged flux. The inventive system and method opens the door to large scale CCD systems operated by predetermined fixed set points of pressurized feed low, cross-flow or module recovery, and system recovery, independent of each other, of infinite operational combinations and high flexibility for effective process optimization. The inventive system and method overcome former volume requirement limitations of large scale SWRO CCD installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: DESALITECH LTD
    Inventor: Avi Efraty
  • Patent number: 11198098
    Abstract: A spiral wound module assembly including: a plurality of spiral wound modules aligned within a pressure vessel with a first module located adjacent the first end and a second module located adjacent the second end, a flow plate including opposing first and second sides positioned within the pressure vessel between the first spiral wound module and the first end of the pressure vessel with the first side facing the first spiral wound module and the second side facing the first end, and wherein the flow plate includes a plurality of holes passing from the first side to the second side which create a pressure drop in fluid passing from the first spiral wound module and the closer of the feed inlet port and concentrate outlet port; and a differential pressure sensor adapted to measure differences in pressure between fluid located on the opposing sides of the flow plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: DDP SPECIALTY ELECTRONIC MATERIALS US, LLC
    Inventors: Steven D. Jons, Luke Franklin