Patents Examined by Michael Hobbs
  • Patent number: 9556413
    Abstract: The invention described below relates to an enclosed cell sorting device and methods of using the device. The device is constructed so that the entire process of cell sorting can be conducted under fully anaerobic conditions to retain viability of anaerobic cells before, during, and after cell sorting. This is accomplished by creating an anaerobic atmosphere for the high speed cell sorter and all its components and by the use of airlocks that allow the introduction of anaerobic containers into the chamber containing the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Synthetic Genomics, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Craig Venter, Eric J. Mathur, Gerardo Vicente Toledo, Hwai Wen Chang, Wayne A. Green
  • Patent number: 9550969
    Abstract: An inflatable bioreactor bag for cell cultivation, which comprising a top and a bottom sheet of flexible material, joined together to form two end edges and two side edges, wherein one baffle or a plurality of baffles extend from the bottom sheet in a region where the shortest distance to any one of the two end edges is higher than about one fourth of the shortest distance between the two end edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB
    Inventors: Veronique Chotteau, Rafael Diana, Christian Kaisermayer, Eva Lindskog, Craig Robinson, Jimmie L. Rucker, Kieron D. Walsh
  • Patent number: 9545633
    Abstract: This disclosure describes an improved heat transfer system for use in reaction vessels used in chemical and biological processes. In one embodiment, a heat transfer baffle comprising two sub-assemblies adjoined to one another is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ABEC, Inc.
    Inventor: Cameron Knight
  • Patent number: 9540606
    Abstract: A method of mixing a fluid includes positioning a flexible bag into the chamber of a support housing, the support housing having a plurality of baffles positioned so that the bag folds around the baffles. A fluid is delivered into a compartment of the flexible bag. A mixing element, such as an impeller, is moved within the compartment of the flexible bag so as to mix the fluid therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignees: Life Technologies Corporation, Baxalta Incorporated, Baxalta GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt T. Kunas, Robert V. Oakley, Fauad F. Hasan, Michael E. Goodwin, Jeremy K. Larsen, Nephi D. Jones
  • Patent number: 9534194
    Abstract: An algae production reactor system comprising a reactor vessel which is disclosed. The system comprises (a) one or more liquid inlets and one or more liquid outlets; (b) one or more gas inlets at the bottom, the gas inlets being connected with a source of carbon dioxide, and one or more gas outlets at the top of the vessel; and (c) vertically interspaced and joined pairs of double glass plates which are at least partially submerged in the reactor liquid, the double glass plates having a layer of light-scattering particles in between and having a flat side being exposed to a light source, wherein part of the spaces between the double glass plates is arranged above the gas inlets for vertically circulating reactor liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Micro Resources LTD.
    Inventor: Sjoerd Hubertus Jozef Vellinga
  • Patent number: 9534245
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling a fermenting process, wherein the method comprises collecting samples of biological cells from a fermenting tank, obtaining the state information of the current biological cells based on the collected samples, comparing the state information of the current biological cells with preset target status information to obtain the difference between the state information of the current biological cells and preset target state information, and controlling the feed rate of nutritional solution into the fermenting tank. Real time control of biological fermenting process is thus accomplished based on the state information of the biological cells during fermentation, and the consistency during fermentation is improved. Complicated mathematical modeling and man-made data analysis are not required for the method and device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Kurt Dirk Bettenhausen, Shun Jie Fan, Herbert Grieb, Jun Feng Jiang, Hongwei Yang, Yue Zhuo
  • Patent number: 9534800
    Abstract: Techniques described herein are generally related to a biofilter for living spaces. The biofilter may include an organic biofilter medium to serve as a growth base for both plants and one or more microbial colonies. Example embodiments include systems, articles, methods and apparatus, as well as other embodiments that are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Ezekiel Kruglick
  • Patent number: 9521840
    Abstract: A film-shaped tissue storage transport container and storage transport method. The storage transport container includes: an external container; a coupling mechanism which couples a container main body and a lid member of the external container; an internal container which is positioned within the external container; an interposed unit having elasticity and which is sandwiched between the internal container and the lid member; and a storage fluid with which the internal container is filled. A film-shaped tissue is present in a floating state in the storage fluid with which the internal container is filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Manami Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 9512391
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for producing tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabichromenic acid (CBCA) and cannabichromenic acid (CBCA) in different ratios. The apparatus comprises:(i) a bioreactor comprising (a) an automated supply system configured to deliver a first automated supply of cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), a cannabinoid acid synthase, and a reaction mixture; and (b) a second automated system to cease the reaction; (ii) a controller configured to modify a property of the reaction mixture to produce the desired products; and (iii) an extractor configured to recover the tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabichromenic acid (CBCA) or cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and cannabichromenic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Full Spectrum Laboratories Limited
    Inventors: Richard Peet, Mingyang Sun, Robert Winnicki, Marc Donsky
  • Patent number: 9512421
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an acoustic lysis system including a disposable cartridge that can be reversibly coupled to a platform having a small, high-frequency piezoelectric transducer array. In particular, the system releases viable DNA, RNA, and proteins from human or bacterial cells, without chemicals or additional processing, to enable high-speed sample preparation for clinical point-of-care medical diagnostics and use with nano/microfluidic cartridges. Also described herein are methods of making and using the system of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Darren W. Branch, Erika Cooley Vreeland, Gennifer Tanabe Smith
  • Patent number: 9512439
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for expressing proteins of interest, particularly pharmaceutically valuable proteins, transiently in plants. In particular, the invention provides an improved method for introducing Agrobacterium cells into a whole plant or a plant organ. The methods of the invention provides efficient agroinfiltration of many plants singly or simultaneously resulting in a yield of recombinant proteins that is higher than that obtained by other methods. The methods can be readily scaled and automated to meet changing demands of the recombinant protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Carraro, John Faulkner, Yorick Klipfel, Oleg Mironov, Karen Oishi, Sandrine Roesti
  • Patent number: 9506024
    Abstract: A self-contained circulation system, which supports the formation of capillaries in capillary growth sections and allows the formation of micro organoids and/or micro tissue sections for monitoring the effect of one or more test compounds and determining efficacy, side-effects, biosafety, metabolites, mode of action or organ regeneration as well as methods of establishing such micro organoids and/or micro tissue in the self-contained circulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: TISSUSE GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Marx, Gerd Lindner, Reyk Horland, Silke Hoffmann, Roland Lauster
  • Patent number: 9505003
    Abstract: A portable real-time heating and detection device includes a body, a cover and a detection unit. The body has an opening, and a base. The cover has a control unit and a fix unit. The detection unit is disposed on the base of the body and has a thermostat, an optical excitation, an optical detection, and a circuit board. The thermostat is disposed close to the opening and has at least one thermostat zone. The optical exciter is disposed between the thermostat and the base. The optical detector is disposed between the thermostat and the opening. The circuit board is electrical coupled to the control unit, the thermostat, the optical excitation, and the optical detector, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chih-Hsiang Sung, Tseng-Huang Liu, Ruey-Shyan Hong, Ting-Hsuan Chen, Ping-Jung Wu, Kuo-Hsing Wen, Wan-Chi Chang
  • Patent number: 9493733
    Abstract: A container assembly such as a petri dish or a contact plate for use as a sampling device for microorganisms includes a base member, a lid and a locking mechanism that provides a secure locking engagement between the lid and the base member. The locking mechanism is designed such that does not lock except upon application of a specific intentionally applied compressive force, and which may be readily disengaged from locking engagement without the need for a rotational movement or torsional force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: William Giles
  • Patent number: 9492797
    Abstract: Method of detection for droplet-based assays. In an exemplary method, an open end of a channel network may be placed into an emulsion. Droplets of the emulsion may be driven along a flow path from the open end, through a confluence region where a dilution fluid is introduced into the flow path from at least one dilution inlet channel to increase an average distance between droplets, and through an examination region disposed downstream of the confluence region. Light may be detected from the examination region as droplets pass through. The channel network may include a droplet inlet channel that meets the at least one dilution inlet channel at the confluence region. The droplet inlet channel may form a tapered region that is sized such that droplets leave the tapered region in single file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Makarewicz, Amy L. Hiddessen
  • Patent number: 9476808
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an object-capturing device which accurately detects objects such as microorganisms captured at a test site. The object-capturing device of the present invention includes a capturing dish holding a carrier, which captures objects (microorganisms), on a first side of the capturing dish. The capturing dish has a through hole extending from the first side to a second side of the capturing dish. The object-capturing device is used in a way such that, after the objects are captured with the carrier directed upward, the carrier is directed downward and reagents for detecting the objects are contacted with the objects captured on the carrier through the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI PLANT SERVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noe Miyashita, Koji Seo, Matsuo Kamitani
  • Patent number: 9474214
    Abstract: A planter in the form of a tower planter having an internal vertical composting capability is provided. The planter has a hollow, vertical, outer cylindrical barrel with a plurality of openings formed about its cylindrical side. A hollow inner cylindrical composting tube having a plurality of perforations formed in its cylindrical wall is provided. The space formed between the inner tube and barrel wall is filled with growing medium. The inner tube is filled with compost material. A removable container is placed at the bottom of the tube and barrel, said container adapted to capture water draining out from the tube and barrel, as well as periodically receiving compost from the compost tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Colin Cudmore
  • Patent number: 9475051
    Abstract: A nucleic acid amplifier for carrying out a nucleic acid amplification reaction is disclosed. The amplifier includes a plurality of wells configured to carry out the nucleic acid amplification reaction. The amplifier also include a heating unit provided for every well. The amplifier further includes a light source for irradiating excitation light of a specified wavelength to all of the wells. A fluorescence detection unit is provided for every well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Segawa, Tasuku Yotoriyama, Akio Yasuda, Noriyuki Kishii, Mayumi Shiono, Takuro Yamamoto, Tomoteru Abe
  • Patent number: 9468927
    Abstract: A device for amplifying a nucleic acid sample may include a sample holder configured to receive a nucleic acid sample, a heating system configured to raise the temperature of the sample, a cooling system configured to lower the temperature of the sample, and a controller configured to operably control the heating system and the cooling system to cycle the device through a desired time-temperature profile. The cooling system may include at least one heat pipe and a heat sink and the at least one heat pipe may include a first portion disposed proximate to the sample holder and a second portion disposed proximate to the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Dromaretsky, Thomas C. Au
  • Patent number: 9464266
    Abstract: In order to enable the inside of a constant-temperature device to be sterilized using sterilization gas and prevent contamination during incubation, even when provided with an atmosphere measuring means having a CO2 sensor and an oxygen concentration sensor, a sensor unit (100) is arranged inside or close to an incubation chamber, and the internal atmosphere is measured by sucking-in the atmosphere of the incubation chamber (2) by means of an air-flow generation means (20). Furthermore, high-precision filters (23, 24) are arranged in the flow channel through which the atmosphere within the incubation chamber (2) is taken-in/discharged, preventing bacteria and/or cells from flowing in, and also preventing the diffusion of sterilization gas to the inside of a sensor unit (100) during sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: RORZE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seishi Yamashita, Tomonori Miwada