Patents Examined by Kevin Joyner
  • Patent number: 11584196
    Abstract: A system that can selectively activate or deactivate one or more ultra-violet light sources to sanitize a portion of a vehicle. The system can include a vehicle that has a vehicle door. The system can include one or more sensors that can be configured to detect whether the vehicle door is open or closed. In response to detecting that the vehicle door is open, the system can cause the one or more ultra-violet light sources to be activated, whereby ultra-violet light is emitted by the one or more ultra-violet light sources with respect to at least a portion of the vehicle. In some instances, the ultra-violet light can be emitted across the door frame of an open door. In some instances, the ultra-violet light can be emitted within at least a portion of the vehicle cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Akira Kyle, Timothy Wang, Bryan E. Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11576990
    Abstract: The present invention provides a breathing assistance apparatus that has a convenient and effective method of cleaning internal conduits inside the apparatus. The breathing assistance apparatus is preferably a gases supply and humidification device. The cleaning method is a method of disinfection that is automated so minimal training is required to disinfect in particular an internal elbow conduit within the device. It is therefore not necessary to dismantle the gases supply and humidification device, therefore, inadvertent damage to the internal parts of the device is avoided. The present invention also provides a method of disinfecting a heated breathing conduit and a patient interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Kevin Peter O'Donnell, Matthew Jon Payton, Christopher Simon James Quill, Martin Paul Friedrich Kramer, Peter Geoffrey Hawkins, Reena Daken
  • Patent number: 11576994
    Abstract: A gas irradiation system has an irradiation chamber having a plurality of irradiation compartments disposed circumferentially about a central axis. One of the compartments is an inlet compartment. The inlet compartment has an aperture at the bottom through which gas flows from the compartment. A UV LED is disposed within or adjacent to the aperture, where the UVC LED is configured to irradiate the gas and neutralize pathogens. Circumferentially adjacent to one side of the inlet irradiation compartment is an outlet irradiation compartment. Circumferentially adjacent in the opposite circumferential direction on the other side of the inlet radiation compartment is the first of a plurality of intermediate irradiation compartments. These intermediate compartments extend circumferentially about the central axis between the inlet compartment and the outlet compartment. The gas flows sequentially through each of the irradiation compartments, being irradiated in each compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: Stanley W. Ellis, Mitchell Caughron
  • Patent number: 11577195
    Abstract: Ionization systems and methods include moving air into contact with one or more ion generators and then past an ozone removal assembly to remove at least some ozone from the air. The air may be moved by a fan and may be filtered before contacting the one or more ion generators. The amount of one or more of the following of the air may be measured: the amount of ions, particulates, temperature, humidity, and other relevant factors. The ionization amount may be adjusted based on one or more of the measured amounts. The one or more ion generators and ozone removal assembly may be constructed as part of a single unit so they can be removed and replaced easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: IONaer International Arizona, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy M. Bender, Perry Pauley, Brian K. Roper, Todd K. Roper
  • Patent number: 11572705
    Abstract: Described herein is a cover for mounting to a door handle (30) comprises two parts (10, 12) configured for mutual locking engagement such that when the parts are brought into mutual locking engagement around a door handle (30) at least a portion of the door handle is substantially enclosed within a cavity (16) formed between the two parts (10, 12). At least a portion of at least one of the parts (10, 12) is coated, impregnated, or otherwise provided with a self-cleaning material. Also described is a push plate device comprising a first plate (72) for fixing to a door; and a second plate (71) configured to releasably attach to said first plate in order to form a composite plate structure (70). The second plate (71) is at least partly coated, impregnated, or otherwise provided with a self-cleaning material so that the composite plate structure (70) presents a self-cleaning external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: PURE HOLD LIMITED
    Inventors: Matthew Roberts, David Burrell
  • Patent number: 11571500
    Abstract: A medical device having a time-controlled start function and a control unit, which enables user-friendly operation of the medical device, is described. The medical device has a control unit, which is equipped for automatic start-up of the medical device at a predetermined point in time and for checking on whether, after start-up of the medical device, a predetermined event has occurred, and has a display screen for display of information when the check reveals that the event has not occurred. Furthermore, a corresponding process for user-friendly operation is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: PRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Bardorz, Matthias Pfeuffer, Thomas Schmitt, Carsten Mueller
  • Patent number: 11559596
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly comprising includes a vehicle door panel, a vehicle door handle operably connected to the door panel so as to enable operation of a door latch by the door handle, and at least one sanitizer dispensing mechanism having at least a first nozzle coupled to the vehicle door panel and structured to discharge a sanitizing material onto an exterior surface of the door handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Ino.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott Louis Frederick
  • Patent number: 11559594
    Abstract: A solid-state lamp includes a first plurality of solid-state emitters that emit light at visible wavelengths and a second plurality of solid-state emitters that emit light at a safe ultraviolet wavelength, wherein the second plurality of solid-state emitters emit light at least when the first plurality of solid-state emitters emit light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Inventors: Ali Shambayati, Fatemeh Abnoosi
  • Patent number: 11563310
    Abstract: A bipolar ionizer comprising an electronic circuit, microprocessor, and step-up transformer providing high-voltage signals to carbon-fiber electrodes producing bipolar ion concentrations greater than +/?200 million ions per cubic centimeter. The bipolar ionizer monitors, reduces, and converts high-voltage signals to feedback signals used by the microprocessor to vary a frequency and a duty cycle of a digital signal to control an excitation signal for a step-up transformer output voltage to consistently maintain an unbalanced high-voltage output ratio less than 80 percent, balanced bipolar ion concentration ratio greater than 80 percent, and zero ozone concentration over a range of electrical signal inputs. The microprocessor calculates and reports bipolar ionizer concentrations based on feedback signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Inventors: John Walsh, Robert Mowris
  • Patent number: 11554193
    Abstract: An apparatus for inactivating bioaerosol, comprising an enclosure having lumen walls forming a lumen, said lumen having a lumen input opening and a lumen output opening; a ventilator arranged for forcing an air flow through said lumen; in a cleaning section of said lumen, a source of ultraviolet light arranged to irradiate with ultraviolet light all the air passing through said lumen along a length of said cleaning section; an output muffler arranged for reducing a noise of said air flow in output of said lumen output opening; and a downstream turn section of said lumen, downstream said cleaning section of said lumen, arranged for changing a direction of said air flow such that no ultraviolet light in said cleaning section of said lumen is detectable at said lumen output opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: LUMINYS SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventor: David A. Pringle
  • Patent number: 11547865
    Abstract: The present application relates to a cold plasma device (1) for treating skin (5). The cold plasma device (1) comprises a cold plasma generator (3) adapted to generate cold plasma that produces reactive species for treating said skin (5), and a manipulator (10) adapted to manipulate said skin (5) to increase exposure of bacteria on said skin to said reactive species during use of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Yannyk Parulian Julian Bourquin, Achim Hilgers, Roland Cornelis Martinus Vulders, Lili-Marjan Brockhuis, Frank Anton Van Abeelen, Eduard Gerard Marie Pelssers
  • Patent number: 11541145
    Abstract: A fluid treatment apparatus including a photocatalyst filter having a first surface and a second surface, a light source unit spaced apart from the photocatalyst filter to provide light to the first surface, a housing including an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path formed between the photocatalyst filter and the light source, and a guide member disposed at one side of the housing and including at least one slat to guide a movement direction of a fluid, in which the slat is inclined at least in a direction closer to the first surface of the photocatalyst filter along an advancing direction of the flow path when an air flow rate of the fluid has a first value, and in a direction away from the first surface of the photocatalyst filter along the advancing direction when the air flow rate of the fluid is greater than the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji Won Kim, Jae Hak Jeong, Jong Man Kim, Sang Chul Shin, Si Ho Yu
  • Patent number: 11541135
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multiple band visible light disinfection are disclosed. In some examples, a disinfecting light is generated by combining two different disinfecting wavelength ranges of light. A lighting device may comprise a first light source that generates light in a Soret band. The lighting device may further comprise a second light source that generates light in a Q band. The light in the Soret band and the light in the Q band may be combined to generate disinfecting light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Vyv, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Barron, James Peterson, Cori Winslow
  • Patent number: 11517019
    Abstract: The invention provides a system for sanitizing fluids such as water and air. In particular, the invention provides a combination of solid chlorhexidine and a polymer matrix, for which effluents are essentially free of leached chlorhexidine. The systems enable rapid disinfecting of fluids, including in line at the point of use, and can be employed for both high volume applications and disposable single-use applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: About Better Life Experiences, LLC
    Inventors: Henry M. Grage, Arthur S. Freeman
  • Patent number: 11522989
    Abstract: A UV-C emitting phone case is provided that includes a main body defining a receiving cavity and a perimeter configured to receive and hold a mobile phone, surround a perimeter and a back portion of the phone. The phone case includes at least one UV-C light emitting diode (LED) positioned in the main body of the phone case and exposed on a back side of the phone case. It further includes a window for exposing the UV-C LED and optionally having a color metric to indicate if the light is being emitted, a power source built into the phone case and connected to the UV-C LED; an on/off switch coupled to the power source configured to activate and deactivate the UV-C LED; and an optional distance sensor to indicate a distance from a target surface to the UV-C LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Crosby Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas A Crosby, Kevin Scott Beedon
  • Patent number: 11493183
    Abstract: A method of providing doses of light sufficient to deactivate bacteria throughout a volumetric space. The method includes: (1) receiving data associated with a desired illuminance level for the space, indicative of an estimated occupancy of the volumetric space over a pre-determined period of time, and indicative of dimensions of the space; (2) determining, based on the received data, an arrangement of one or more lighting fixtures in the volumetric space, the one or more lighting fixtures configured to at least partially emit disinfecting light having a wavelength of between 400 nm and 420 nm, and a total radiometric power to be applied via the one or more lighting fixtures to produce a desired power density at any exposed surface within the volumetric space during the period of time; and (3) installing the determined arrangement of one or more lighting fixtures in the volumetric space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: KENALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: James W. Hawkins, Clifford J. Yahnke
  • Patent number: 11484611
    Abstract: A method for sterilizing biological materials is disclosed. A dehydrated biological material is put into a closed container. The closed container is then decompressed under a vacuum. Subsequently, 0.01 g/m3 to 1000 g/m3 of a sterilizing gas, i.e., pure ozone, is introduced into the container for a period of time until the biological material is sterilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: FM&G Biomed Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lynn L. H. Huang
  • Patent number: 11484613
    Abstract: Technologies for sanitizing medical devices are described. In particular, sanitizing systems, components of sanitizing systems, and methods for sanitizing medical devices such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment are described. In embodiments, the sanitizing systems include a sanitizing gas generator and a base including at least one exhaust port and a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SOCLEAN INC.
    Inventors: Kurt Michael Maw, Ashley James Nye Legg, Robert Wilkins, Robert A. Charles, Alex Chaves
  • Patent number: 11484033
    Abstract: The invention provides a system for sanitizing fluids such as water and air. In particular, the invention provides a combination of solid chlorhexidine and a polymer matrix, for which effluents are essentially free of leached chlorhexidine. The systems enable rapid disinfecting of fluids, including in line at the point of use, and can be employed for both high volume applications and disposable single-use applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: About Better Life Experiences, LLC
    Inventors: Henry M. Grage, Arthur S. Freeman
  • Patent number: 11478726
    Abstract: Generally, an extraction system useful in separating an extract from a matrix using one or more extractants. Specifically, an extractor including one or more of: an extraction vessel having an extractor vessel internal surface which defines an extraction chamber which communicates between open extraction vessel first and second ends, a first piston configured to sealably engage the extractor vessel internal surface of the extraction vessel first end or a second piston adapted to sealably engage the extractor vessel internal surface of the extraction vessel second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Kiinja Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory A. Jackson