Patents Examined by John Kim
  • Patent number: 11266955
    Abstract: A nanobiocatalytic membrane for a filtration system is provided which includes a filtration membrane and a plurality of nanobiocatalyst nanoparticles associated with the membrane, each of the nanobiocatalyst nanoparticles including a core, a coating at least partially surrounding the core, and a plurality of nanobiocatalysts coupled to the coating. Each of the plurality of nanobiocatalysts includes an antibacterial nanoparticle comprising bismuth, and a quorum quenching agent coupled to the antibacterial nanoparticle. A nanobiocatalyst nanoparticle for use with a water purification system is also provided. A method of forming a nanobiocatalytic membrane for a filtration system and a method of using a nanobiocatalytic membrane in a filtration system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: University of Vermont and State Agricultural College
    Inventors: Appala Raju Badireddy, Huijie Lu
  • Patent number: 11260155
    Abstract: A portable hemodialysis system is provided including a dialyzer, a closed loop blood flow path which transports blood from a patient to the dialyzer and back to the patient, and a closed loop dialysate flow path which transports dialysate through the dialyzer. In addition, the hemodialysis system includes two reservoirs which can be alternately placed in the dialysis flow path using various controllable fluid valves. The hemodialysis system may include a sorbent filter in the dialysate flow path which filters used dialysate. Alternatively, the filter may be positioned within a separate closed loop filter flow path which is isolated from the blood flow path and dialysate flow path. For this embodiment, the hemodialysis system includes additional controllable fluid valves which selectively connect the filter flow path to the reservoir which is not currently providing dialysis treatment to a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: DIALITY INC.
    Inventors: Osman Khawar, Clayton Poppe
  • Patent number: 11242738
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon production apparatus that removes debris from a hydrocarbon fluid is described. The apparatus includes a first conduit, a second conduit, a valve, and at least one baffle. The first conduit includes an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path that extends between the inlet and the outlet. The flow path can receive a flow of a hydrocarbon fluid, which includes debris, from the inlet and direct the hydrocarbon fluid from the inlet to the outlet. The second conduit includes a debris receptacle. The valve is fluidly coupled to the second conduit and can isolate the debris receptacle from the flow path of the first conduit and at least a portion of the second conduit. The at least one baffle is oriented to direct at least a portion of the debris from the flow path of the first conduit to the second conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Aslan Bulekbay, Mustafa Al-Zaid, Manaf Al-Aithan, Khalid I. Alhamed
  • Patent number: 11229883
    Abstract: A filtration system includes at least one spiral wound first filter section in fluid communication with at least one spiral wound second filter section. The first and second filter sections include: (i) a filtration membrane; (ii) a feed spacer located adjacent the filtration membrane and defining a feed flow channel; and (iii) a permeate spacer located adjacent the filtration membrane and defining a permeate flow channel. A thickness of the feed flow channel in the first filter section is different than a thickness of the feed flow channel in the second filter section, and/or an effective volume of the first filter section is different than an effective volume of the second filter section. A method of filtering a feed flow is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Qunhui Guo, James C. Peters, Scott P. Yaeger
  • Patent number: 11224858
    Abstract: A column for removal of a component from a fluid is disclosed. The column has a compartment with a cross sectional area. The compartment contains beads having a diameter. A ligand selected to bind to the component is coupled to the beads. The cross-sectional area and bead diameter are selected to maintain a flow velocity of the fluid within the compartment below a first threshold, thereby reducing leaching of the ligand into the fluid. Also described herein is an adsorbent comprising a ligand that is attached to a substrate by an amine bond, wherein the ligand is resistant to dissociation from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: IMMUNICOM, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Josephs, Amir Jafri, Mark Raptis
  • Patent number: 11224683
    Abstract: A method of performing dialysis includes: recirculating a dialysis fluid from a patient or a dialyzer for at least two cycles, each cycle contacting the dialysis fluid first with a zirconium phosphate layer followed by at least one of a urease layer, a zirconium oxide layer, or a carbon layer; storing the recirculated dialysis fluid in a storage container; and transferring the dialysis fluid from the storage container to the patient or the dialyzer. In one example, the zirconium phosphate layer and the at least one of the urease layer, the zirconium oxide layer, or the carbon layer is provided by a sorbent cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventor: Sujatha Karoor
  • Patent number: 11207623
    Abstract: A substrate for use in a filter media including, for example, in a hydrocarbon fluid-water separation filter; methods of identifying the substrate; methods of making the substrate; methods of using the substrate; and methods of improving the roll off angle of the substrate. In some embodiments, the substrate includes a hydrophilic group-containing polymer or a hydrophilic group-containing polymer coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradly G. Hauser, Stephen K. Sontag, Davis B. Moravec, Stuti S. Rajgarhia, Andrew J. Dallas, Vijay K. Kapoor, Aflal Rahmathullah, Charles S. Christ, Joseph M. Block
  • Patent number: 11185621
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out an extracorporeal blood treatment in which a substitution fluid is administered to the patient, wherein the apparatus comprises an extracorporeal blood circuit and a substitution line opening into the extracorporeal blood circuit, wherein the substitution line has at least one heating container, and wherein a pump is arranged in the substitution line downstream of the heating container or containers for the conveying of substitution fluid into the extracorporeal blood circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Lars Breuel, Gerhard Mager, Georg Verch, Juergen Klewinghaus
  • Patent number: 11173455
    Abstract: Provided is a water treatment membrane including: a porous support; and a polyamide active layer provided on the porous support, in which the polyamide active layer includes one or more units selected from among a unit of Chemical Formula 1: a unit of Chemical Formula 2; a unit of Chemical Formula 3; and a unit of Chemical Formula 4; and a manufacturing method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Eunkyoung Byun, Chong Kyu Shin, Youngju Lee, Hyungjoon Jeon
  • Patent number: 11167250
    Abstract: A membrane assembly is provided. The membrane assembly includes a non-metallic, porous substrate. A graphene oxide membrane is formed over the non-metallic, porous substrate. A chemical linker interface covalently binds the graphene oxide membrane to the non-metallic, porous substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hibbs, Laura Biedermann, Kevin R. Zavadil, David R. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 11166875
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for separating a sample of whole blood or bone marrow aspirate into a fraction rich in at least one of platelets and pluripotent cells are provided. A sample of whole blood can be centrifuged in a collection tube comprising a separator substance formulated to settle between the PRP fraction and the at least one other fraction. Preferably, centrifugation is completed without substantial activation of platelets. Optionally, the separator substance could be hardened to form a solid barrier that allows removal of all or substantially all of the platelets in the PRP fraction without remixing of the PRP fraction with the at least one other fraction. Transfer devices and methods are also provided in which a sterile sample can be transferred from a separation/preparation container (e.g., vacutainer) to a consumer or other container (e.g., dropper) while maintaining sterility of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of California
    Inventor: Jane F. Emerson
  • Patent number: 11154646
    Abstract: Hemodialysis systems are described. A hemodialysis system may include a dialysate flow path through which dialysate is passed from a dialysate reservoir, which includes a valved vent to atmosphere, to an ultrafilter. The dialysate flow path includes a pneumatically actuated diaphragm-based dialysate pump for pumping fluid from the dialysate reservoir to the ultrafilter. The hemodialysis system may include a controller for controlling pneumatic actuation pressure delivered to the dialysate pump and at least one valve connecting the dialysate reservoir vent to the atmosphere. The hemodialysis system may be configured to actuate the dialysate pump and the at least one valve to introduce air into the dialysate flow path and expel liquid from the dialysate flow path to a drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilt, Jason A. Demers, Kevin L. Grant, Brian D. Tracey, James D. Dale
  • Patent number: 11154822
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes membrane compositions and methods for preparing membrane compositions. In particular, the methods employ a layer-by-layer approach to membrane preparation. The membrane compositions provide significantly enhanced membrane performance over existing commercial membranes, particularly in terms of permeability and selectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Manish Kumar, Yue-Xiao Shen, Woochul Song, Tingwei Ren
  • Patent number: 11154823
    Abstract: A membrane comprising a crystalline material deposited on a porous support. The crystalline material is made of tectosilicate with a portion of the Si atoms substituted with metal atoms. The membrane is useful in the separation of oil and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: The Board of Regents for Oklahoma State University
    Inventors: Seokjhin Kim, Dave Lampert
  • Patent number: 11135554
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multilayer article. The multilayer article includes a) a microfiltration membrane substrate, the microfiltration membrane substrate having a first major surface; and b) a first layer having a first major surface and a second major surface disposed opposite the first major surface. The first major surface of the first layer is directly attached to the first major surface of the microfiltration membrane substrate. The first layer includes a first polymeric binder and a plurality of acid-sintered interconnected first silica nanoparticles arranged to form a continuous three-dimensional porous network. The multilayer article further includes c) a second layer attached to the second major surface of the first layer. The second layer includes i) a metal coating or ii) a composite coating comprising a second polymeric binder and at least one of metal nanoparticles or metal nanowires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Chunjie Zhang, Ta-Hua Yu, Hongying Jiang, Xuan Jiang, Kevin M. Casey
  • Patent number: 11135580
    Abstract: A device for extracting plasma from a fluid collection tube comprising: a tubular barrel having sidewall surrounding a lumen which extends between proximal and distal ends thereof, the tubular barrel forming a tip at a distal end; a barrel seal movingly seated within the lumen of the tubular barrel, the barrel seal closing and sealing the proximal end of the tubular barrel; a tube seal having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween, the proximal end having a frustoconical or chamfered face, the tube seal having an outer diameter sized to sealingly engage with an inner surface of the fluid collection tube, and an inner diameter sized to sealingly engage with an outer surface of the tip of the tubular barrel, the tube seal mounted on the tubular barrel such that the tip of the tubular barrel extends into the tube seal lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: PRP TECHNOLOGIES INC
    Inventor: Ryszard Kowalewski
  • Patent number: 11116883
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for removing blood and/or blood mixture from an extracorporeal blood circuit with a blood filter used for the blood treatment of a patient, after completing the blood treatment session. The blood filter includes a blood chamber and a spent dialysate chamber, between which a membrane is arranged. The blood chamber is connected to an arterial blood line, a venous blood line, a dialysis inlet line, and a dialysate outlet line. The venous blood line is fluidly connected to the dialysis inlet. The method includes displacing the blood and/or the blood mixture from the blood chamber by introducing substituate into the arterial blood line, and generating a pressure difference in the blood filter with a lower pressure in the spent dialysate chamber and a higher pressure in the blood chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Thys
  • Patent number: 11117817
    Abstract: A process for removing metal ions from aqueous systems is disclosed comprising the treatment of the aqueous system with a membrane M, wherein the membrane M has a molecular weight cut-off above 3,000 Da and comprises A.) a carrier membrane CM, wherein said carrier membrane CM has a porous structure wherein the average pore diameter on one surface is smaller than in the rest of the membrane, thus forming rejection layers R on one side of carrier membrane CM, and B.) an active layer A comprising at least one polymer P comprising a plurality of functional groups G capable of forming stable complexes with metal ions selected from Ca, Mg, Al, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Sb, Co, Cr, Cd, Hg and/or Ag, wherein said active layer A is located on the surfaces of the rejection layers R of carrier membrane CM and throughout the porous structure of carrier membrane CM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: DUPONT SAFETY & CONSTRUCTION, INC.
    Inventors: Claudia Staudt, Peter Berg, Martin Heijnen, Natalia Widjojo, Jia Le Low, Marc Rudolf Jung
  • Patent number: 11110373
    Abstract: The invention concerns an installation for treating biological liquid by chromatography, extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising a supply valve (20b), a supply pump (30) downstream of the valve, instrument members downstream of the pump among which are at least one distribution valve (81a-c, 82a-c, 83a-c) and at least one device (78a-c, 85a-c, 86a-c) for measuring a physico-chemical parameter of the liquid, at least one chromatography column (99a-c) downstream of the instrument members and of the pipes connecting the valve, the pump, the instrument members and the column, instrument members being associated with the chromatography column and each mounted on at least one dedicated control and actuation platform (80a-c), which extends in a vertical direction relative to the generally longitudinal direction of extension of said installation, and which are disposed substantially above each other on said dedicated control and actuation platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastien Cirou, Christine Abouayad El Idrissi
  • Patent number: 11110212
    Abstract: A blood circuit assembly for a dialysis unit may include an organizing tray, a pair of pneumatic pumps mounted to the organizing tray for circulating blood received from a patient through a circuit including a dialyzer unit and returned to the patient, an air trap mounted to the organizing tray arranged to remove air from blood circulating in the circuit, a pair of dialyzer connections arranged to connect to the inlet and outlet of a dialyzer unit, and a pair of blood line connectors, one inlet blood line connector for receiving blood from the patient and providing blood to the pneumatic pumps and the other outlet blood line connector for returning blood to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Kevin L. Grant, James D. Dale, Michael J. Wilt, Jason A. Demers, David E. Collins, Brian D. Tracey