Patents by Inventor Allan J. Cassell

Allan J. Cassell 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: 7032396
    Abstract: A cooling method for controlled high speed chilling or freezing is disclosed. Cooling fluid is circulated by a submersed circulator, such as a motor, at a substantially constant velocity past a substance to be cooled . The velocity of fluid flow is maintained despite changes in the viscosity of the cooling fluid, by either increasing or decreasing the amount of torque supplied by the motor. The cooling fluid is cooled to a desired temperature by circulating the fluid past a multi-path heat exchanging coil connected to a refrigeration system. An optimal cooling fluid temperature for a variety of applications is in the range of about ?24° C. to ?26° C., resulting in significant efficiency gains over conventional cooling processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Supachill Technologies Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian Wood, Allan J. Cassell
  • Publication number: 20040221587
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose methods for producing pre-conditioned solutes that exhibit no temperature spike during super-cooling in a cryogenic process. In addition, the solutes demonstrate utile capabilities and characteristics such as more efficient heat absorption rates and eutectic material properties which make the pre-conditioned solutes an efficient heat exchange medium. The methods involve super-cooling a solute to induce a long-duration phase change capability. The pre-conditioned solute may be thawed and will retain long-duration phase change capabilities for subsequent freezing cycles if the freezing protocols disclosed herein are followed. Material to be frozen may be directly immersed into pre-conditioned, super-cooled solutes for freezing. The solute may be propylene glycol, glycerol, or other suitable solutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Allan J. Cassell, Brian Wood
  • Patent number: 6803227
    Abstract: An organ preservation system according to one embodiment of the disclosures herein includes a perfusion liquid delivery apparatus, a perfusion liquid pumping apparatus and a thermal mass. The perfusion liquid pumping apparatus is connected to the perfusion liquid delivery apparatus and is capable of delivering a perfusion liquid to the perfusion liquid delivery apparatus. The thermal mass includes a thermal mass cooling core body having a core cavity therein. A cooling member is disposed in the core cavity of the thermal mass cooling core body. A super-coolable composition is disposed within the core cavity of the thermal mass cooling core body encapsulating at least a portion of the cooling member. The cooling member is coupled between the perfusion liquid delivery apparatus and the perfusion liquid pumping apparatus and is capable of having the perfusion liquid routed therethrough for enabling the perfusion liquid to be cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Supachill Technologies Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian Wood, Allan J. Cassell
  • Publication number: 20040083741
    Abstract: Viable biological material is cryogenically preserved (cryopreservation) by immersing the material in a tank of cooling fluid, and circulating the cooling fluid past the material at a substantially constant predetermined velocity and temperature to freeze the material. The material may either be directly plunged into the cooling fluid without preparation, or chemically prepared prior to freezing. A method according to the present invention freezes the biologic material quickly enough to avoid the formation of ice crystals within cell structures (vitrification) and allows the samples to maintain anatomical structure and remain biochemically active after thaw. The temperature of the cooling fluid is preferably between −20 degrees centigrade and −30 degrees centigrade, which is warm enough to minimize the formation of stress fractures and other artefacts in cell membranes due to thermal changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Samuel D. Prien, John Blanton, Brian Wood, Allan J. Cassell
  • Publication number: 20040045313
    Abstract: A cooling method for controlled high speed chilling or freezing is disclosed. Cooling fluid is circulated by a submersed circulator, such as a motor, at a substantially constant velocity past a substance to be cooled . The velocity of fluid flow is maintained despite changes in the viscosity of the cooling fluid, by either increasing or decreasing the amount of torque supplied by the motor. The cooling fluid is cooled to a desired temperature by circulating the fluid past a multi-path heat exchanging coil connected to a refrigeration system. An optimal cooling fluid temperature for a variety of applications is in the range of about −24° C. to −26° C., resulting in significant efficiency gains over conventional cooling processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Brian Wood, Allan J Cassell
  • Patent number: 6681581
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose methods for producing pre-conditioned solutes that exhibit no temperature spike during super-cooling in a cryogenic process. In addition, the solutes demonstrate utile capabilities and characteristics such as more efficient heat absorption rates and eutectic material properties which make the preconditioned solutes an efficient heat exchange medium. The methods involve super-cooling a solute to induce a long-duration phase change capability. The pre-conditioned solute may be thawed and will retain long-duration phase change capabilities for subsequent freezing cycles if the freezing protocols disclosed herein are followed. Material to be frozen may be directly immersed into pre-conditioned, super-cooled solutes for freezing. The solute may be propylene glycol, glycerol, or other suitable solutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Supachill Technologies Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Allan J. Cassell, Brian Wood
  • Patent number: 6656380
    Abstract: An article according to one embodiment of the disclosures herein includes a cooling core body, a cooling member and a super-coolable composition. The cooling core body has a core cavity therein. The cooling member disposed in the core cavity. A super-coolable composition is disposed within the core cavity encapsulating at least a portion of the cooling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Supachill Technologies Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian Wood, Allan J. Cassell
  • Patent number: 6615592
    Abstract: Viable biological material is cryogenically preserved (cryopreservation) by immersing the material in a tank of cooling fluid, and circulating the cooling fluid past the material at a substantially constant predetermined velocity and temperature to freeze the material. The material may either be directly plunged into the cooling fluid without preparation, or chemically prepared prior to freezing. A method according to the present invention freezes the biologic material quickly enough to avoid the formation of ice crystals within cell structures (vitrification) and allows the samples to maintain anatomical structure and remain biochemically active after thaw. The temperature of the cooling fluid is preferably between −20 degrees centigrade and −30 degrees centigrade, which is warm enough to minimize the formation of stress fractures and other artefacts in cell membranes due to thermal changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Supachill Technologies Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Prien, John Blanton, Brian Wood, Allan J. Cassell
  • Publication number: 20030154729
    Abstract: Viable biological material is cryogenically preserved (cryopreservation) by chemically preparing the material for freezing, immersing the material in a tank of cooling fluid, and circulating the cooling fluid past the material at a substantially constant predetermined velocity and temperature to freeze the material. A method according to the present invention freezes the biologic material quickly enough to avoid the formation of ice crystals within cell structures (vitrification). The temperature of the cooling fluid is preferably between −20° C. and −30° C., which is warm enough to minimize the formation of stress fractures in cell membranes due to thermal changes. Cells frozen using a method according to the present invention have been shown to have approximately an 80 percent survival rate, which is significantly higher than other cryopreservation methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Samuel D. Prien, John Blanton, Kevin R. Pond, Markus F. Miller, Brian Wood, Allan J. Cassell
  • Publication number: 20030094003
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose methods for producing pre-conditioned solutes that exhibit no temperature spike during super-cooling in a cryogenic process. In addition, the solutes demonstrate utile capabilities and characteristics such as more efficient heat absorption rates and eutectic material properties which make the preconditioned solutes an efficient heat exchange medium. The methods involve super-cooling a solute to induce a long-duration phase change capability. The pre-conditioned solute may be thawed and will retain long-duration phase change capabilities for subsequent freezing cycles if the freezing protocols disclosed herein are followed. Material to be frozen may be directly immersed into pre-conditioned, super-cooled solutes for freezing. The solute may be propylene glycol, glycerol, or other suitable solutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Allan J. Cassell, Brian Wood
  • Publication number: 20030096412
    Abstract: A method of preparing biological materials for cryopreservation is presented. The method lessens the amount of heat released by a cryoprotectant during a latent heat phase by freezing the protectant, thawing the protectant, and treating biologically active materials with the thawed protectant. First, the protectant is frozen to induce an irreversible phase change, along with an irreversible release of energy. After this phase change has occurred, the protectant is thawed and used to treat viable cells or other biologically active material about to undergo freezing. The thawed protectant within the biologically active cells has a reduced endothermic reaction upon subsequent freezing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Allan J. Cassell, Brian Wood, Samuel D. Prien
  • Publication number: 20030073226
    Abstract: An organ preservation system according to one embodiment of the disclosures herein includes a perfusion liquid delivery apparatus, a perfusion liquid pumping apparatus and a thermal mass. The perfusion liquid pumping apparatus is connected to the perfusion liquid delivery apparatus and is capable of delivering a perfusion liquid to the perfusion liquid delivery apparatus. The thermal mass includes a thermal mass cooling core body having a core cavity therein. A cooling member is disposed in the core cavity of the thermal mass cooling core body. A super-coolable composition is disposed within the core cavity of the thermal mass cooling core body encapsulating at least a portion of the cooling member. The cooling member is coupled between the perfusion liquid delivery apparatus and the perfusion liquid pumping apparatus and is capable of having the perfusion liquid routed therethrough for enabling the perfusion liquid to be cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Brain Wood, Allan J. Cassell
  • Publication number: 20030070436
    Abstract: An article according to one embodiment of the disclosures herein includes a cooling core body, a cooling member and a super-coolable composition. The cooling core body has a core cavity therein. The cooling member disposed in the core cavity. A super-coolable composition is disposed within the core cavity encapsulating at least a portion of the cooling member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Brian Wood, Allan J. Cassell
  • Patent number: 6519954
    Abstract: Viable biological material is cryogenically preserved (cryopreservation) by preparing the material for freezing, immersing the material in a tank of cooling fluid, and circulating the cooling fluid past the material at a substantially constant predetermined velocity and temperature to freeze the material. A method according to the present invention freezes the biologic material quickly enough to avoid the formation of ice crystals within cell structures (vitrification). The temperature of the cooling fluid is preferably between −20° C. and −30° C., which is warm enough to minimize the formation of stress fractures in cell membranes due to thermal changes. Cells frozen using a method according to the present invention have been shown to have approximately an 80 percent survival rate, which is significantly higher than other cryopreservation methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Supachill International Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Prien, John Blanton, Kevin R. Pond, Markus F. Miller, Brian Wood, Allan J. Cassell
  • Publication number: 20020100284
    Abstract: Viable biological material is cryogenically preserved (cryopreservation) by immersing the material in a tank of cooling fluid, and circulating the cooling fluid past the material at a substantially constant predetermined velocity and temperature to freeze the material. The material may either be directly plunged into the cooling fluid without preparation, or chemically prepared prior to freezing. A method according to the present invention freezes the biologic material quickly enough to avoid the formation of ice crystals within cell structures (vitrification) and allows the samples to maintain anatomical structure and remain biochemically active after thaw. The temperature of the cooling fluid is preferably between −20 degrees centigrade and−30 degrees centigrade, which is warm enough to minimize the formation of stress fractures and other artefacts in cell membranes due to thermal changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Samuel D. Prien, John Blanton, Brian Wood, Allan J. Cassell
  • Patent number: 5191773
    Abstract: Apparatus for rapid chilling of bottles and cans having a main bowl (46) and an inner bowl (48) in the main bowl. A basket (90) is mounted in the inner bowl and is adapted to receive bottles (92) to be chilled. The inner bowl has an opening (66) at its lower end. An agitator (88) driven by a submerged motor (86) assists in the circulation of cooling fluid in the main bowl and the inner bowl. The inner bowl has openings (76) near its upper end. Cooling fluid passes through these openings and into the gap between the inner bowl and the main bowl. Refrigeration coils (80) cool the cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Inventor: Allan J. Cassell