Patents by Inventor Aldo M. Pitt

Aldo M. Pitt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7546779
    Abstract: Sample preparation device and method particularly useful for large volume capture and small volume elution. The device comprising a manifold, a sample holder or reservoir, and a filter unit containing chromatography media such that a filtration path is established between the sample holder, the filter unit and the manifold. Upon subjecting the sample in the sample holder to a driving force such as vacuum, the sample flows through the chromatography media in the filter unit. Molecules of interest bind to the media and any unwanted molecules can be washed under vacuum mode. Elution can then be carried out by removing the filter unit and subjecting the media to a driving force such as vacuum or centrifugation. In another embodiment, molecules of interest can be eluted into a low volume centrifugal spinner directly in the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Aldo M. Pitt, Gary LaBombard, Phillip Clark
  • Patent number: 7240572
    Abstract: Sample preparation device and method particularly useful for large volume capture and small volume elution. The device comprising a manifold, a sample holder or reservoir, and a filter unit containing chromatography media such that a filtration path is established between the sample holder, the filter unit and the manifold. Upon subjecting the sample in the sample holder to a driving force such as vacuum, the sample flows through the chromatography media in the filter unit. Molecules of interest bind to the media and any unwanted molecules can be washed under vacuum mode. Elution can then be carried out by removing the filter unit and subjecting the media to a driving force such as vacuum or centrifugation. In another embodiment, molecules of interest can be eluted into a low volume centrifugal spinner directly in the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Aldo M. Pitt, Gary LaBombard, Phillip Clark
  • Patent number: 7166225
    Abstract: A fluid filtering device includes a plurality of filtering wells and an angling mechanism which adjusts the angle of the membranes within the filtering wells relative to a line of a centrifuge where the line is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of a centrifuge and passes through the center of a major plane of the filtering device. The angling mechanism can include a wedge located between the center of rotation of a centrifuge and a swinging bucket of the centrifuge. The angling mechanism can also be located within each filtering well and can provide individually specified angles for each membrane, relative to the line of the centrifuge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Aldo M. Pitt, Sara D. Gutierrez, Thomas G. Zermani, Jeffrey Busnach, Joseph J. Raneri, James C. Groves
  • Patent number: 6899810
    Abstract: A fluid filtering device includes a plurality of filtering wells and an angling mechanism which adjusts the angle of the membranes within the filtering wells relative to a line of a centrifuge where the line is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of a centrifuge and passes through the center of a major plane of the filtering device. The angling mechanism can include a wedge located between the center of rotation of a centrifuge and a swinging bucket of the centrifuge. The angling mechanism can also be located within each filtering well and can provide individually specified angles for each membrane, relative to the line of the centrifuge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Aldo M. Pitt, Sara D. Gutierrez, Thomas G. Zermani, Jeffrey Busnach, Joseph J. Raneri, James C. Groves
  • Publication number: 20030199001
    Abstract: A system, kit and process for the separation, recovery, purification and identification of biomarkers such as peptides and the like from serum or plasma. The process is to filter the sample through a UF filtration device optionally having a vertical or substantial vertical ultrafilter membrane, especially when in a single well configuration device. The filtrate is recovered and if desired desalted using various chromatography media such as reverse phase and ion exchange media. The sample is then applied to a MALDI/TOF target or HPLC column and analyzed in a mass spectrometer the presence, absence or variation of the biomarkers. Higher recovery and concentration of these biomarkers is achieved with the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Aldo M. Pitt, Sara D. Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 5873967
    Abstract: A vacuum filter device is disclosed which includes a filter body which is adapted to receive in fluid-tight, sealed relationship a pair of closed containers for solutions to be filtered by a membrane filter positioned within the filter body. A vacuum port in the filter body communicates with the downstream side of the membrane and a venting passageway also located in the filter body communicates with the closed sample container to serve as a vent to atmospheric pressure. The venting passageway is made of an air permeable hydrophobic filter or preferably a small enough opening to prevent the sample solutions from leaking out of the device during normal use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip Clark, Brian D. Foley, Aldo M. Pitt
  • Patent number: 5792425
    Abstract: A vacuum filter device is disclosed which includes a filter body which is adapted to receive in fluid-tight, sealed relationship a pair of closed containers for solutions to be filtered by a membrane filter positioned within the filter body. A vacuum port in the filter body communicates with the downstream side of the membrane and a venting passageway also located in the filter body communicates with the closed sample container to serve as a vent to atmospheric pressure. The venting passageway is made of an air permeable hydrophobic filter or preferably a small enough opening to prevent the sample solutions from leaking out of the device during normal use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Millipore Coporation
    Inventors: Phillip Clark, Brian D. Foley, Aldo M. Pitt
  • Patent number: 5603900
    Abstract: A vacuum filter device is disclosed which includes a filter body which is adapted to receive in fluid-fight, sealed relationship a pair of closed containers for solutions to be filtered by a membrane filter positioned within the filter body. A vacuum port in the filter body communicates with the downstream side of the membrane and a venting passageway also located in the filter body communicates with the closed sample container to serve as a vent to atmospheric pressure. The venting passageway is made of an air permeable hydrophobic filter or preferably a small enough opening to prevent the sample solutions from leaking out of the device during normal use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Millipore Investment Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Phillip Clark, Brian D. Foley, Aldo M. Pitt
  • Patent number: 5223133
    Abstract: A filtration member transfer apparatus is provided for transferring one or a plurality of discrete reaction or isolation zones such as filtration membranes from a sample isolation step to an analytical apparatus. The transfer apparatus includes a template, preferably which is electrically conductive, having holes or depressions of a size, shape and position corresponding to the reaction or isolation zones. An electrically conductive adhesive is exposed in the holes or depressions of the template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip Clark, Frederick G. Bargoot, Yolanda Nieuwkerk, Aldo M. Pitt
  • Patent number: 5037656
    Abstract: A composite, porous membrane is formed from a porous polymer membrane having desired bulk properties on which is directly coated a cell attachment and/or growth promoting composition and a cross-linked polymer having desired surface properties. The composite membrane retains the porosity of the porous polymeric membrane. In one embodiment, when the substrate is polytetrafluoroethylene the composite is microscopically transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Aldo M. Pitt, Michael J. Steuck
  • Patent number: 4917793
    Abstract: A composite, microscopically transparent, porous membrane is formed from a porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having desired bulk properties on which is directly coated a cross-linked polymer having desired surface properties. The composite membrane retains the porosity of the porous polymeric membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Inventors: Aldo M. Pitt, Michael J. Steuck
  • Patent number: 4908236
    Abstract: A composite, microscopically transparent, porous membrane is formed from a porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having desired bulk properties on which is directly coated a cross-linked polymer having desired surface properties. The composite membrane retains the porosity of the porous polymeric membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Aldo M. Pitt, Michael J. Steuck