Patents Examined by Krisanne Thornton
  • Patent number: 5904897
    Abstract: A system to deliver gas/vapor from solid materials. Specifically, the delivery system for the use of gas or vapor released from a solid material, such as a non-aqueous/solid hydrogen peroxide complex. The system is comprised of a delivery system that is configured to receive a plurality of disks containing the solid material and provide these disks into an injector. The injector heats the disks to produce a gas or vapor that is then provided into a chamber. The sterilization process can be done by gas or vapor alone, or in combination with plasma or ultra violet radiation. In particular, a control system automatically induces the delivery system to provide the injector with a disk and then remove the disk once the injection sequence is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Jed Kendall, Xiaolan Chen, Michael Hahs, Paul Taylor Jacobs, Szu-Min Lin
  • Patent number: 5902552
    Abstract: An ultraviolet air sterilization device includes a housing and one or more mounts which connect to germicidal lamp units which protrude into the air stream of an air handling duct. Each lamp has an integral receptacle with an electrical connection for attachment to a source of power from within the housing. The receptacle/lamp combination provides stiffening reinforcement to the lamp. The receptacles connect to their corresponding mounts by means of a threaded connection which enables the lamp units to be easily removed from within the air handling duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Inventor: James Lawrence Brickley
  • Patent number: 5902457
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a liquid spray from two jets of fluid which issue from a pair of opposing nozzles and interact, wherein the fluid is supplied to the nozzles under fully turbulent conditions such that random variations in the momentum of the fluid as it leaves the nozzles occur which results in random variations in the orientation of the resultant spray of liquid drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: AEA Technology PLC
    Inventors: Lionel Houston Ford, John William Stairmand
  • Patent number: 5895625
    Abstract: A funeral deodorant comprising an active deodorant component obtained from pyroligneous liquid is applied to a dead body for preventing and masking odors therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Inventor: Ituko Kawase
  • Patent number: 5891391
    Abstract: A clothing deodorizer for deer hunters. The deodorizer includes a bag in which is placed the clothing to be deodorized of human odor. Within the bag a perforated container holds a granular material which can adsorb the human odor from the clothing. An object which can pulverize the granular material is placed in the container, so that as the bag is tumbled e.g. in a clothes dryer the object grinds the granular material into a powder which comes out through the perforations, contacts the clothing, and adsorbs the human odor exuded by the clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: John C. Fore
  • Patent number: 5891401
    Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus having a gas distribution plate containing a plurality of tuyeres, which tuyeres provide a uniform gas flow from the gas chamber of the apparatus to the reactor chamber of the apparatus and prevents particulate matter of the fluidized bed from backsifting from the fluid bed chamber through the gas distribution plate to the gas chamber. The tuyeres are secured in openings in the gas distribution plate and comprise a porous plate and preferably a perforated plate superposed within a flanged two-component structure which two components are screwed together or otherwise secured together to form the tuyere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Kinetics Technology International Corporation
    Inventors: John P. D'Acierno, Alfredo E. Basas
  • Patent number: 5891392
    Abstract: Aqueous acidic ready-to-use aqueous cleaning and disinfectant compositions include hydrogen peroxide as an active disinfecting constituent further include a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 monohydric alcohol, a glycol ether or butoxypropanol or, propoxypropanol, a nonionic surfactant, and citric acid. Methods of cleaning and disinfecting surfaces are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Reckitt & Colman Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Vincent Monticello, George Robert Mayerhauser
  • Patent number: 5891400
    Abstract: A volatile substance dispenser including an inner open-top container for receiving and holding a heat source, such as a candle, and an outer open-top container for receiving and holding a gel containing a vaporizable or diffusable substance that passes from the gel into the surrounding atmosphere after exposure to the thermal energy from the lighted heat source, e.g. candle. The inner container can be glass, ceramic, earthenware or metal, preferably glass with a roughened outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Quest International B.V.
    Inventors: H. Rahman Ansari, Barbara Potts, Janet Finnerty
  • Patent number: 5888453
    Abstract: A continuous flow sludge pasteurization system including a heat exchanger, a source of heat for introducing into the heat exchanger, an inlet for introducing a liquid slurry of sludge into the heat exchanger for heating the sludge to a predetermined minimum temperature, a circulating circuit for maintaining the slurry in circulation at the predetermined temperature for a minimum period of about thirty minutes, sufficient to kill all pathogens in the slurry prior to dewatering, and a dewatering unit for removing water from the sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Riverside County Eastern Municipal Water District
    Inventor: Michael A. Luker
  • Patent number: 5888831
    Abstract: In a plastic "miniprep" device for separating liquid samples including (i) a first, sample, cylindrical container having an inlet and an outlet opening between which a separation layer is arranged, the outlet opening typically being connected to and enclosed by an outlet spout, fitting within a cylindrical bore of (ii) a second, collecting, container receiving the separated liquid discharged from the outlet spout, the cylindrical first container is (a) of lesser diameter than is the bore, and (b) possessed of longitudinal exterior rib hat hold it eccentric within the bore. According to the (a) lessor diameter and (b) eccentric mounting, access may be had by hypodermic syringe or thin pipette down the side of the first container to separated liquid present at the bottom of the second container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Inventor: James W. Gautsch
  • Patent number: 5885532
    Abstract: There is provided a burette apparatus having a delivery tube connecting a fluid bag to a burette assembly, via a fluid entry spigot formed in an end cap assembly of the burette assembly, the end cap assembly having a bypass spigot connected to the delivery tube and usually closed by clip, to allow an override for adding liquid to the burette. The end cap assembly closes the upper end of the transparent, cylindrical burette body, into which extends a stainless steel tube extension of the fluid entry spigot, the lower end of the burette body being closed by a lower closure assembly having a check valve and a drip chamber. An outlet tube passes from the drip chamber to the patient via regulating clamp. A float assembly is located in the burette body including an extension rod provided with a resilient cup adapted to engage the open end of the stainless steel tube extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Noonbeach Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Angelo John Maltabes, Godried Ferdinand Belser
  • Patent number: 5885433
    Abstract: The heat sink plate of an electrophoresis unit is mounted to a fixed support with studs on the heat sink plate received in sleeves secured to the fixed frame. Compression springs encircle the sleeves and interpose between the heat sink plate and the fixed frame so that when clamping of a gel slab sandwich to the electrophoresis unit is made, a flat face of the heat sink plate orients in substantially full planar face-to-face contact with a flat face of a gel slab sandwich plate and can have following movement with the sandwich plate that is a pivoting thereof about at least two orthogonally disposed axes passing through the heat sink plate so that with said following movement, face-to-face contact is uniform across the plates and hence, heat transfer from the gel slab maintained uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Savant Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Moisey Zilman, Finbarr A. Daly, Vincent R. Prezioso
  • Patent number: 5882588
    Abstract: In the process for the ozone treatment of hot water in the hot water supply system of a building for the purpose of disinfection of the water, the hot water is led into a treatment tank (3). Here the pressure is reduced to a level below that in the pipes of the hot water supply system, an ozone-containing gas being continually introduced into the water, which gas passes through the water in the form of bubbles, the ozone being given up to the water. The remaining gas subsequently undergoes transition to a gaseous state in the upper part of the tank, from which the gas is drawn off. The treated water is then fed into the hot water supply system of the building, the pressure being restored by means of at least one pump to the level of the operating pressure within the hot water supply system. The method can be used to remove harmful micro-organisms such as legionella pneumophila from hot water systems without raising the temperature to around 70.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Carbagas
    Inventor: Fabrice Laberge
  • Patent number: 5882612
    Abstract: A sterilization tray is constructed primarily of a single stamped metal part which forms the bottom wall and at least two opposite side walls of the tray. The side walls of the tray are joined by end closures which form the end walls of the tray. In one tray embodiment, the end closures are plastic end walls which are hooked to the ends of the side walls. In a second embodiment, the end closures are formed by a bottom wall extension of the metal part which are folded up to form the tray end walls and plastic corner pieces which are hooked to the adjacent ends of the side and end walls. The tray is highly thermally conductive yet relatively inexpensive to make in quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Riley Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward D. Riley
  • Patent number: 5882613
    Abstract: A toothbrush sterilizing container for holding and sterilizing the bristles and handle of a toothbrush includes a storage canister for receiving and holding the bristles of a toothbrush immersed in a sterilizing solution while the toothbrush handle extends through the open top end of the canister. A reservoir of sterilizing solution supplies fresh solution to the canister and a spout allows used solution to be drained from the canister. A lid has a slot for receiving the toothbrush handle and a supply of disinfectant in the lid maintains the handle in a sterile environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventor: Lovelace Preston Gipson, II
  • Patent number: 5882611
    Abstract: A method for delivering liquids is disclosed wherein a quantity of the liquid is provided within a cell within a cassette. The cassette is received within a sleeve having an open end. A flap at the open end of the sleeve extends inwardly through the open end between the sleeve and cassette to abut a lip on the cassette and hold the cassette therein. Impingement of the flap pushes the flap away from the lip to allow the cassette to move out of the sleeve. A label mounted within the sleeve rotates between a viewable position where it is visible through a window in the sleeve and a retracted position away from the window. Extraction and reinsertion of the cassette into the sleeve moves the label from the viewable to the non-viewable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Hal Williams, Robert Spencer, Alfredo M. Choperena, Jed Kendall
  • Patent number: 5882592
    Abstract: A method for processing water-bound wastes and for adjusting quantities and for combining ingredients to achieve a desired mechanical property of the mixture. The process includes the establishment of at least one input parameter for the ingredients. The ingredients include heated granular solids and contaminated water-bound wastes. The mixing process causes the water-bound waste to be heated to a temperature which assures neutralization or purification of any waste borne contamination and which simultaneously cools the granular solid. The method includes testing the mixture for satisfaction of at least one of the established mixture physical property limits and, if necessary, adjusting at least one input parameter to achieve the desired physical property value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventor: Paul E. Bracegirdle
  • Patent number: 5879621
    Abstract: The presence of a drape on a thermal treatment system for ensuring sterility of a sterile medium contained within a thermal treatment system basin is determined by the use of a drape identifier and corresponding detector. When a drape containing the identifier is placed on the corresponding thermal treatment system, a detector senses and verifies the drape identifier to determine the presence of the drape on the thermal treatment system. A controller receives a signal from the detector indicating whether or not a drape is present on the thermal treatment system. If a drape is not present on the thermal treatment system, the controller prevents thermal treatment system operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: O.R. Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Durward I. Faries, Jr., Bruce R. Heymann
  • Patent number: 5879620
    Abstract: A sterilization device which includes an inner sterilization wrap and a re-usable outer sterilization bag. The re-usable outer sterilization bag has an outside surface and an inside surface defining a pouch with an opening for receiving the inner sterilization wrap and a sterilizable object. The material is preferably a spunbonded or meltblown polyolefin fiber non-woven breathable web. Also provided are methods of sterilizing an object, and methods of using a sterilizable bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard Cohen
  • Patent number: 5879648
    Abstract: An apparatus for disinfecting containers comprises a disinfection chamber 12 surrounding a required section of a container transport path, partition means for dividing the interior of the disinfection chamber 12 into a preheating zone 35, an exposure zone 36 and a drying zone 37 as arranged downstream from an upstream side of the transport path, antiseptic supply means for supplying hydrogen peroxide gas or mist to the exposure zone 36, and means for supplying hot air to the preheating zone 35 and the drying zone 37.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Hada, Tadao Akai, Kazuo Abe, Hiroshi Kitajima, Michio Ueda