Patents by Inventor Alfonso M. Ganan-Calvo
Alfonso M. Ganan-Calvo 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).
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Patent number: 11180868Abstract: A method of molecular self-assembly is disclosed using two interacting streams that are allowed to interact and are subsequently forced through an orifice. A first stream of a dope solution of polymer molecules is extruded out of a capillary. The dope stream is surrounded by a focusing fluid which is miscible with the dope solution. The interaction between the jet of dope solution and surrounding focusing fluid creates hydrodynamic stretching and allows for extracting solvent from the dope solution. Concentrated polymers within the solution at stretched regions of the jet interact, and finally self-assembly takes place after the fluids are forced through the outlet of a converging nozzle. The formation of the structure can be optionally completed in a coagulating space. The structures thus obtained such as fibers or threads can be wound onto a mandrel.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignees: UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE MADRID, UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLAInventors: Jose Perez Rigueiro, Gustavo Victor Guinea Tortuero, Manuel Elices Calafat, Gustavo Ramon Plaza Baonza, Rodrigo Madurga Lacalle, Alfonso M. Ganan Calvo
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Publication number: 20180298523Abstract: A method of molecular self-assembly is disclosed using two interacting streams that are allowed to interact and are subsequently forced through an orifice. A first stream of a dope solution of polymer molecules is extruded out of a capillary. The dope stream is surrounded by a focusing fluid which is miscible with the dope solution. The interaction between the jet of dope solution and surrounding focusing fluid creates hydrodynamic stretching and allows for extracting solvent from the dope solution. Concentrated polymers within the solution at stretched regions of the jet interact, and finally self-assembly takes place after the fluids are forced through the outlet of a converging nozzle. The formation of the structure can be optionally completed in a coagulating space. The structures thus obtained such as fibers or threads can be wound onto a mandrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2016Publication date: October 18, 2018Applicants: UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID, UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLAInventors: Jose PEREZ RIGUEIRO, Gustavo Victor GUINEA TORTUERO, Manuel ELICES CALAFAT, Gustavo Ramon PLAZA BAONZA, Rodrigo MADURGA LACALLE, Alfonso M. GANAN CALVO
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Patent number: 9120109Abstract: A dispensing head for emitting an atomized spray of liquid droplets includes an actuator and a nozzle insert. The actuator includes a gas duct and a liquid duct and may be attached to a container housing a propellant gas and a liquid product. The nozzle insert includes at least one modular structure that can be installed in an actuator socket on the actuator. The nozzle insert includes a pressure cap defining a pressure chamber having an exit orifice. A liquid conduit is disposed in the pressure chamber and defines a liquid supply channel having a liquid supply channel exit opening. The nozzle insert is configured to form a reflux cell in the liquid supply channel upstream of the liquid supply channel exit opening to achieve flow blurring interaction between the liquid product and the gas propellant.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2012Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Universidad de SevillaInventors: Alfonso M. Gañan-Calvo, Miguel A. Asensio-Caño, Alvaro Fito-Planas, Jorge Lopez-Serrano, Javier Perez-Vaquero, Jeffrey Badovick
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Patent number: 8881956Abstract: A device for dispensing a liquid product as an atomized spray includes a container, a depressible dispensing head for initiating emission of the spray from the device and for terminating emission of the spray from the device, and a sequential delivery valve attached to the dispensing head. The dispensing device is configured to initiate flow of gas only into the dispensing head first when the dispensing head is depressed from a first axial position to a second axial position. When the dispensing head is depressed further toward the container to a third axial position, the dispensing device allows both liquid and gas to travel from the container into the dispensing head. When the dispensing head is released from the third axial position back to the first axial position, the dispensing device first stops flow of liquid into the dispensing head before stopping flow of gas into the dispensing head.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Universidad de SevillaInventors: Alfonso M. Gañan-Calvo, Miguel A. Asensio-Caño, Alvaro Fito-Planas, Jorge Lopez-Serrano, Javier Perez-Vaquero, Jeffrey Badovick
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Patent number: 8800824Abstract: A sequential delivery valve provides sequential delivery of gas propellant and liquid product from a container to a dispensing head for ejecting an atomized spray from the dispensing head. When the dispensing head is depressed, a pusher in the valve passes from a closed position wherein no liquid and no gas is allowed to travel through the valve to a partially open position where only gas is allowed to travel through the valve and eventually to a fully open position wherein both gas and liquid are allowed to travel through the valve into the dispensing head. When the dispensing head is released, the pusher passes from the fully open position back to a partially open position allowing only gas to travel through the valve and eventually to the closed position wherein no gas and no liquid are allowed to travel through the valve into the dispensing head.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2012Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Inventors: Alfonso M. Gañan-Calvo, Miguel A. Asensio-Caño, Alvaro Fito-Planas, Jorge Lopez-Serrano, Javier Perez-Vaquero, Jeffrey Badovick
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Patent number: 8733343Abstract: A drug delivery device is disclosed which produces aerosolized particles of pharmaceutically active drug for delivery to a patient by inhalation. The device includes a liquid feeding source such as a channel to which formulation is added at one end and expelled through an exit opening. The feeding channel is surrounded by a pressurized chamber into which gas is fed and out of which gas is expelled from an opening. The opening from which the gas is expelled is positioned directly in front of the flow path of liquid expelled from the feeding channel. Various parameters are adjusted so that pressurized gas surrounds liquid flowing out of the feeding channel in a manner so as to maintain a stable capillary microjet of liquid until the liquid exits the pressure chamber opening and is aerosolized into particles having a uniform diameter in the range of about 1 to 5 microns.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Universidad de SevillaInventor: Alfonso M. Ganan-Calvo
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Publication number: 20130221036Abstract: A device for dispensing a liquid product as an atomized spray includes a container, a depressible dispensing head for initiating emission of the spray from the device and for terminating emission of the spray from the device, and a sequential delivery valve attached to the dispensing head. The dispensing device is configured to initiate flow of gas only into the dispensing head first when the dispensing head is depressed from a first axial position to a second axial position. When the dispensing head is depressed further toward the container to a third axial position, the dispensing device allows both liquid and gas to travel from the container into the dispensing head. When the dispensing head is released from the third axial position back to the first axial position, the dispensing device first stops flow of liquid into the dispensing head before stopping flow of gas into the dispensing head.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Inventors: Alfonso M. Ganan-Calvo, Miguel A. Asensio-Cano, Alvaro Fito-Planas, Jorge Lopez-Serrano, Javier Perez-Vaquero, Jeffrey Badovick
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Publication number: 20130221121Abstract: A sequential delivery valve provides sequential delivery of gas propellant and liquid product from a container to a dispensing head for ejecting an atomized spray from the dispensing head. When the dispensing head is depressed, a pusher in the valve passes from a closed position wherein no liquid and no gas is allowed to travel through the valve to a partially open position where only gas is allowed to travel through the valve and eventually to a fully open position wherein both gas and liquid are allowed to travel through the valve into the dispensing head. When the dispensing head is released, the pusher passes from the fully open position back to a partially open position allowing only gas to travel through the valve and eventually to the closed position wherein no gas and no liquid are allowed to travel through the valve into the dispensing head.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Inventors: Alfonso M. Ganan-Calvo, Miguel A. Asensio-Caño, Alvaro Fito-Planas, Jorge Lopez-Serrano, Javier Perez-Vaquero, Jeffrey Badovick
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Publication number: 20130221122Abstract: A dispensing head for emitting an atomized spray of liquid droplets includes an actuator and a nozzle insert. The actuator includes a gas duct and a liquid duct and may be attached to a container housing a propellant gas and a liquid product. The nozzle insert includes at least one modular structure that can be installed in an actuator socket on the actuator. The nozzle insert includes a pressure cap defining a pressure chamber having an exit orifice. A liquid conduit is disposed in the pressure chamber and defines a liquid supply channel having a liquid supply channel exit opening. The nozzle insert is configured to form a reflux cell in the liquid supply channel upstream of the liquid supply channel exit opening to achieve flow blurring interaction between the liquid product and the gas propellant.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Inventors: Alfonso M. Ganan-Calvo, Miguel A. Asensio-Cano, Alvaro Fito-Planas, Jorge Lopez-Serrano, Javier Perez-Vaquero, Jeffrey Badovick
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Publication number: 20120292406Abstract: Procedure and device for the micro-mixing of miscible or immiscible fluids through reflux cell, produced by the invasion of one of the fluids going upstream into the feeding tube of the other fluid. This tube is closed and has a tube exit which is placed opposite an area of confluence where the exiting flow of the intercepted fluid meets an approximately perpendicular current of invading fluid, which is radially and centripetally directed to the axis of this exiting flow. The product is released outside through an exit orifice. The edges of the tube exit and the exit orifice are opposite each other and separated by an axial gap; and the penetration of this reflux cell into the feeding tube is regulated by controlling the velocity of the fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Inventor: Alfonso M. Gañan-Calvo
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Patent number: 7341211Abstract: The invention relates to a method and devices for the production of capillary microjets and microparticles that can have a size of between hundreds of micrometers and several nanometers. The inventive method makes use of the combined effects of electrohydrodynamic forces, fluid-dynamic forces and a specific geometry in order to produce micro- and nano-capsules or fluid jets, single- or multi-component, which, upon disintegrating or splitting, form a significantly monodispersed spray of drops which have a controlled micro- or nanometric size and which can also comprise a specific internal structure, such as, for example, a nucleus which is surrounded by a cortex of a different substance or several concentric or non-concentric nuclei or vesicles which are surrounded by a cortex.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2003Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: Universidad De SevillaInventors: Alfonso M. Ganan Calvo, Jose M. Lopez-Herrera Sanchez
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Patent number: 6989169Abstract: The present invention is related to the production of capsules or particles of micro and nanometric size, for introduction into food, using stable electrified coaxial jets of two immiscible liquids with diameters in the micro and nanometric range. An aerosol of charged structured droplets forms when the jets dissociate by capillary instabilities. The structured droplets, which are mano-dispersed in size, contain a first liquid (generally the material desired to be added) that is surrounded by a second liquid. Generally the second liquid provides a barrier or protective coating which allows the addition of the first liquid to a food product without adversely affecting the organoleptic or other properties of the food product.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2003Date of Patent: January 24, 2006Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Antonio Barrero Ripoll, Alfonso M. Ganan-Calvo, Ignacio Gonzalez Loscertales, Raul Cortijo Bon, Manuel Marquez
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Publication number: 20040216492Abstract: The invention is directed to the production of optical fibers from optical fiber preforms using flow physics. The present methods provide for the “drawing” of an optical fiber preform using focusing of the preform by a surrounding fluid, e.g. a heated gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2004Publication date: November 4, 2004Applicant: Universidad de Sevilla and Flow Focusing, Inc.Inventors: Alfonso M. Ganan-Calvo, Dianna L. DeVore
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Publication number: 20040161498Abstract: The present invention is related to the production of capsules or particles of micro and nanometric size, for introduction into food, using stable electrified coaxial jets of two immiscible liquids with diameters in the micro and nanometric range. An aerosol of charged structured droplets forms when the jets dissociate by capillary instabilities. The structured droplets, which are mano-dispersed in size, contain a first liquid (generally the material desired to be added) that is surrounded by a second liquid. Generally the second liquid provides a barrier or protective coating which allows the addition of the first liquid to a food product without adversely affecting the organoleptic or other properties of the food product.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2003Publication date: August 19, 2004Applicant: Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Antonio Barrero Ripoll, Alfonso M. Ganan-Calvo, Ignacio Gonzalez Loscertales, Raul Cortijo Bon, Manuel Marquez
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Patent number: 6758067Abstract: The invention is directed to the production of optical fibers from optical fiber preforms using flow physics. The present methods provide for the “drawing” of an optical fiber preform using focusing of the preform by a surrounding fluid, e.g. a heated gas.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2001Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignees: Universidad de Sevilla, Flow Focusing, Inc.Inventors: Alfonso M. Gañán-Calvo, Dianna L. DeVore
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Publication number: 20020033422Abstract: Atomized particles within a desired size range (e.g., 1 micron to about 5 microns) are produced from two immiscible fluids, the first a fuel source containing the formulation to be atomized, and a second fluid source which is contained in a pressure chamber surrounding at least the area where the first liquid is to be provided. The invention provides a method for the formation of small, relatively uniform fuel particles for use in internal combustion engines and a nozzle-type apparatus for providing the particles to a combustion chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2001Publication date: March 21, 2002Inventor: Alfonso M. Ganan-Calvo
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Publication number: 20020003312Abstract: The present invention provides aeration methods using spherical gas bubbles having a size on the order of 0.1 to 100 microns in size. A device of the invention for producing a monodispersion of bubbles includes a source of a stream of gas which is forced through a liquid held under pressure in a pressure chamber with an exit opening therein. The stream of gas surrounded by the liquid in the pressure chamber flows out of an exit orifice of the chamber into a liquid thereby creating a monodispersion of bubbles with substantially uniform diameter. The bubbles are small in size and produced with a relatively small amount of energy relative to comparable systems. Applications of the aeration technology range from oxygenating sewage with monodispersions of bubbles to oxygenation of water for fish maintenance.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2001Publication date: January 10, 2002Inventor: Alfonso M. Ganan-Calvo
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Publication number: 20010037663Abstract: The invention is directed to the production of optical fibers from optical fiber preforms using flow physics. The present methods provide for the “drawing” of an optical fiber preform using focusing of the preform by a surrounding fluid, e.g. a heated gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2001Publication date: November 8, 2001Inventors: Alfonso M. Ganan-Calvo, Dianna L. DeVore
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Patent number: RE44508Abstract: The present invention is related to the production of capsules or particles of micro and nanometric size, for introduction into food, using stable electrified coaxial jets of two immiscible liquids with diameters in the micro and nanometric range. An aerosol of charged structured droplets forms when the jets dissociate by capillary instabilities. The structured droplets, which are mano-dispersed in size, contain a first liquid (generally the material desired to be added) that is surrounded by a second liquid. Generally the second liquid provides a barrier or protective coating which allows the addition of the first liquid to a food product without adversely affecting the organoleptic or other properties of the food product.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLCInventors: Antonio Barrero Ripoll, Alfonso M Ganan-Calvo, Ignacio Gonzalez Loscertales, Raul Cortijo Bon, Manuel Marquez