Patents Examined by Kevin Joyner
  • Patent number: 10603394
    Abstract: Provided herein are portable ultraviolet (UV) devices, systems, and methods of use and manufacturing same. Methods of use include methods for UV disinfection and sterilization, more specifically, methods for UV disinfection and sterilization of a container, a room, a space or a defined environment. The portable UV devices, systems and methods are particularly useful for the UV disinfection and sterilization of a container, a room, a space or defined environment used in the food, beverage and dairy industry and in the process of fermentation for an alcoholic beverage. Provided are also portable UV devices, systems, and methods for inhibiting the growth of one or more species of microorganisms present in a container, a room, a space or a defined environment, preferably for inhibiting the growth of one or more species of microorganisms present on an interior surface of a container, a room, a space or a defined environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: BlueMorph, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Farren, Noah Bareket, Thomas Edgar Beard
  • Patent number: 10596279
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to neutralize or destroy pathogens in red blood cell concentrate (RBCC). The apparatus may include a lamp to provide ultra-violet (UV) light having a predetermined wavelength, a focusing member to focus the UV light from the lamp, a chamber assembly to receive the RBCC at a predetermined flow rate and to cause the received RBCC to be exposed to the focused UV light, and a controller. The chamber assembly may include a window and a bladder assembly. The bladder assembly may have a movable bladder portion. The controller may control movement of the bladder portion such that a space provided between the window and a surface of the bladder assembly, wherein the RBCC is caused to flow, enables the focused UV light to neutralize or destroy at least some of the pathogens in the RBCC during flow through the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas R. Petrie
  • Patent number: 10596284
    Abstract: A scalable, portable and modular chlorine dioxide fumigant decontamination system having an activating area and a neutralizing area which may be housed separately or as a single operationally connected unit, and which may be configured as a closed loop system connected to a decontamination chamber for decontamination of articles, or as an open loop system for decontamination of interiors and large confined spaces, and employing a specialized activating cup that is permeable to air yet substantially impermeable to water and chlorine dioxide reaction by-products such that directing air through the activation cup releases nearly pure chlorine dioxide fumigant. Methods and articles relating to the system are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Controlled Performance with Gases, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence F. Bender, James F. Knoer
  • Patent number: 10596198
    Abstract: An apparatus for sequestering and releasing compounds into the air is provided. The apparatus includes a card with a first side and a second side, and a plurality of compound-sequestering structures affixed to the first side. Each of the plurality of compound-sequestering structures is configured to release a compound into the air when heated to a first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Vium, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Noble Betts-Lacroix, Daniel Ford, Laura Schaevitz
  • Patent number: 10588991
    Abstract: A disinfectant device including a pouch, the pouch including a first layer of material coupled to a second layer of material and defining a compartment therebetween. At least one dry reactant is retained within the compartment, the at least one dry reactant producing chlorine dioxide gas when exposed to water. A wick is at least partially disposed within the compartment. At least one from the group consisting of the first layer of material and the second layer of material define an array of ports along a periphery of the pouch and an array of fluid conduits, the array of fluid conduits being proximal to the array of ports, offset from the array of ports, in fluid communication with the wick, the compartment, and the array of ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Odorstar Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Dornau
  • Patent number: 10588989
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for sanitization or sterilization of, or reduction or elimination of microbes from, PFR material, in particular material for use as an animal bedding. In another aspect, the invention provides sanitized or sterilized material, and especially animal bedding material, prepared using the described compositions and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Green Products Company
    Inventors: Mathew Schryver, Aubrey F. Mendonca
  • Patent number: 10590377
    Abstract: A multi-function cooling and thermo-sensitive rack includes horizontal bars, a base, positioning holes, connectors, a lateral frame, connecting holes, a temperature-displaying prompter, and N temperature sensors. The lateral frame and the base are connected through the connectors. The lateral frame and the base have their surfaces facing each other symmetrically provided with plural connecting holes thereon. The horizontal bars have two ends thereof received in the corresponding symmetrical connecting holes. The positioning holes are distributed over the surface of the base. The N temperature sensors have output ends thereof for outputting sensing signals connected with input ends of the temperature-displaying prompter for inputting the N temperature-sensing signals. The present invention is applied to apparatuses used in microbiology experiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: HEBEI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Xiaohui Zhou, Le Xu, Jun Liu, Hao Liu
  • Patent number: 10561753
    Abstract: A biological indicator analyzer includes a plurality of wells, a plurality of organism detector features, and a user input feature such as a touch screen. Each well is configured to receive a respective biological indicator. Each organism detector feature is configured to detect whether a biological indicator disposed in a corresponding well of the plurality of wells contains a living organism. The touch screen is configured to receive user input and provide information to the user indicating a status of biological indicator analysis. The biological indicator analyzer may be used to analyze a biological indicator that was positioned in a sterilization chamber of a sterilizing cabinet along with at least one medical device that is to be sterilized. The analysis may indicate whether the sterilization cycle in the sterilization chamber as successful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ASP GLOBAL MANUFACTURING GMBH
    Inventors: Brian J. Thompson, Jacob S. Childs, Chunhui Xie, Marco A. Mangiaterra, Darius D. Eghbal, Margaret D. Shaffer, Jeremy M. Yarwood, Benjamin M. Fryer, Howell B. Schwartz, Philippe Kanh Dang, Yaeer Lev, Venkata Danam
  • Patent number: 10556035
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing switchable dispensing and/or delivery of scented substances. In one aspect, a device includes a cartridge structured to include one or more chambers containing one or more scented substances contained in a corresponding chamber, a housing structured to include a compartment to hold the cartridge, an opening to allow the scented substances to dispense to an outer environment from the device, and one or more transporting channels formed between the compartment and the opening, in which each of the one or more transporting channels is configured to accelerate a scented substance from the corresponding chamber to the opening, and an actuator switch arranged in a corresponding transporting channel and operable to move between an open position and a closed position based on an applied signal to selectively allow passage of the scented substance from the corresponding transporting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Sensable Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Sungho Jin, Calvin Gardner, Stewart Matthew
  • Patent number: 10557111
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a cell culture vessel having a plurality of microwells, which allows to identify the position of a microwell by observing it under a microscope without moving a viewing position, which has identifiers to be easily disposed to the microwells. The present invention is directed to a cell culture vessel comprising a bottom and a sidewall, in which the bottom has a cell containing section in which a plurality of microwells for containing cells are disposed, identifiers are disposed in the vicinities of the plurality of microwells so as to make pairs in individual microwells, and the relative position of each of the identifiers to a partner microwell varies in every pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomonori Akai, Masanori Kagota, Takuma Baba
  • Patent number: 10550361
    Abstract: A biogas plant is provided comprising a fermentation container for receiving fermentation material to be fermented. The fermentation container comprises a lower wall part and an upper wall part where the upper wall part is positioned above the lower wall part. Further, the biogas plant comprises a support and a hinge wherein the hinge hingedly connects the fermentation container to the support and wherein the hinge defines a pivot axis about which the upper wall part and the lower wall part are pivotable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: THÖNI INDUSTRIEBETRIEBE GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Köll
  • Patent number: 10548999
    Abstract: A preform is easily and speedily sterilized. A number of preforms (1), each having a bottomed tubular shape, are laid on a conveyer (4) in a scraggly overturned manner, these preforms passes inside a chamber (5) together with the conveyer, and hydrogen peroxide water mist is sprayed from both sides of the conveyer in a direction crossing the conveyer in the chamber, thereby adhering the sprayed hydrogen peroxide water to inner and outer surfaces of the preforms (1) on the conveyer (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Sai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Miyahara, Hirotaka Tsuchiya, Yoshio Nishida
  • Patent number: 10550382
    Abstract: Devices for separating materials from a host fluid are disclosed. The devices include a flow chamber, an ultrasonic transducer, and a reflector. The ultrasonic transducer and reflector create an angled acoustic standing wave oriented at an angle relative to the direction of mean flow through the flow chamber. The angled acoustic standing wave results in an acoustic radiation force having an axial force component that deflects the materials, so that the materials and the host fluid can thus be separated. The angled acoustic standing wave can be oriented at an angle of about 20° to about 70° relative to the direction of mean flow through the flow chamber to deflect, collect, differentiate, or fractionate the materials from the fluid flowing through the device at flow rates of about 400 mL/min up to about 700 mL/min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: FloDesign Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bart Lipkens, Walter M. Presz, Jr., Kedar Chitale, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Ben Ross-Johnsrud
  • Patent number: 10543292
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for vapor dispensing apparatus is described. The vapor dispensing apparatus includes: a housing defining a chamber having an inner contact surface, wherein the housing further comprises an aperture providing fluid communication between the chamber and an external environment; an evaporable material receptacle movably disposed within the chamber such that a dispensing portion of the receptacle is disposed in contact with at least a portion of the surface; and a motor coupled to the apparatus, configured to move the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Inventors: Ravi G. Lal, Amit Lal
  • Patent number: 10542740
    Abstract: Provided is a chemical agent vaporizing/discharging device which can efficiently vaporize and discharge a chemical agent from a chemical agent retainer, and sufficiently diffuse the chemical agent, even when the device is used in a relatively large space or outdoors. A chemical agent vaporizing/discharging device 100 comprises: a chemical agent retainer 50 having a chemical agent retention layer 10 including interstices 11 for allowing retention of a volatile chemical agent, and a gas permeable layer 20 including voids 21 having a size larger than a size of the interstices 11; and a rotational drive part 60 for driving the chemical agent retainer 50. A shape and a size of the chemical agent retainer 50, and a rotational speed of the rotational drive part 60, are set so that a centrifugal effect of 10 to 150 (G) is obtained during rotation of the chemical agent retainer 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: DAINIHON JOCHUGIKU Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Kashima, Ryoko Ukita, Yumi Kawajiri, Koji Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10532118
    Abstract: A fill assembly sterilization method and system for a blow/fill/seal machine utilizes a closed loop circulation of sterilant containing gas. A typical sterilant is nitrogen dioxide in humidified air. The closed loop includes a shroud that defines a plenum and encloses the fill system. Optionally, at least one high efficiency particulate absorption (HEPA) filter is provided in the closed loop. Sterility assurance level of 10?6 can be achieved by subjecting the fill system to the sterilizing gas for at least 20 minutes at a temperature in the range of about 18° C. to about 30° C. Preferred sterilant gas is humidified air containing about 10 to about 20 milligrams of nitrogen dioxide per liter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Weiler Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles H. Reed, Andrew W. Goll, Jeffrey D. Stanley
  • Patent number: 10524648
    Abstract: A reprocessing system includes a decontamination basin, a lid, a cleaning assembly, an exterior body, and an actuating panel assembly. The lid is configured to enclose the interior surface of the decontamination basin in a closed configuration. The lid and an interior surface of the decontamination basin are configured to cooperate to house a medical device when in the lid is in the closed configuration. The cleaning assembly is operable to clean a medical device housed in the decontamination basin. The actuating panel assembly is configured to transition between a withdrawn position and an extended position. The actuating panel assembly is configured to be enclosed by the lid and the interior surface of the decontamination basin in the withdrawn position. The actuating panel assembly is configured to extend above a portion of the exterior body while the actuating panel assembly is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: ASP GLOBAL MANUFACTURING GMBH
    Inventor: Nick N. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10517971
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sterilizing a column assembly including a column having an interior containing a retaining media and a parent radionuclide retained by the retaining media, an inlet port in fluid communication with the interior of the column, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the interior of the column. The method includes sealing at least one of the inlet port and the outlet port to form a sealed column assembly such that fluid communication with the column interior though both the inlet port and the outlet port is prevented, and sterilizing the sealed column assembly to form a terminally-sterilized column assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Curium US LLC
    Inventors: Andrew D. Speth, Mark A. Spinelli, Sr., Gregory P. Wehmer, Bryan S. Petrofsky
  • Patent number: 10518918
    Abstract: A sterilization apparatus for sterilizing receptacle closures, comprising: a treatment chamber having an inlet station and an outlet station; a feeding device configured to feed a succession of receptacle closures to the inlet station; a conveyor configured to convey the receptacle closures through the treatment chamber from the inlet station to the outlet station; a sterilization agent injection device configured to inject a sterilization agent into the treatment chamber, wherein: the conveyor includes a plurality of adjacent guide rails; the feeding device is configured to feed the receptacle closures to at least one active guide rail of the plurality of guide rails; and the sterilization agent injection device includes a plurality of injection devices, each injection device being associated with one of the guide rails; and a controller configured to selectively actuate the injection devices according to a first and second operative mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS
    Inventors: Enrico Lucani, Rossana Borgese, Alessandro Mameli, Fabrice Euzen
  • Patent number: 10517977
    Abstract: A device and method for decontaminating the interior of a biosafety cabinet using a drug considered to be safe for humans is provided. A device for decontaminating the interior of a biosafety cabinet includes an ultrasonic atomizer for atomizing a peracetic acid disinfectant using ultrasound and releasing droplets; a diffusion fan; a circulation fan; a temperature-humidity sensor; and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: NITTA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akio Sakaki