Patents by Inventor Andrew W. Vail

Andrew W. Vail 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).

  • Publication number: 20240131450
    Abstract: A charged depth filter for removing cells and/or cellular debris from a biopharma feedstock having a first functionalized nonwoven layer having a first calculated pore size and a first dynamic charge capacity; a second functionalized nonwoven layer having a second calculated pore size and a second dynamic charge capacity positioned after the first functionalized nonwoven layer in the direction of the biopharma feedstock flow, and wherein the first calculated pore size is greater than the second calculated pore size, and the first dynamic charge capacity is less than the second dynamic charge capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Kuan-Yin LIN, Andrew W. VAIL, Daniel J. O'NEAL, Masayuki NAKAMURA, Jonathan F. HESTER, Kannan DASHARATHI, Alexei M. VOLOSHIN
  • Publication number: 20240066162
    Abstract: Described herein is a nonwoven wipe comprising a plurality of polyolefin fibers, wherein the plurality of polyolefin fibers have an average fiber diameter of at least 200 nm and at most 3.5 micrometers, and wherein the plurality of polyolefin fibers have a basis weight of at least 20 and no more than 100 grams per square meter. Such nonwoven wipes can be used with an aqueous solution, optionally comprising an active ingredient, to decontaminate a surface. Also disclosed herein in a decontamination kit providing the same and a method of decontaminating a surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew W. Vail, Saurabh Batra, Jodi L. Connell, Robert A. Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20240059731
    Abstract: Described herein is a method of purifying a target molecule from an aqueous biological composition, the method comprising: (a) contacting a cationic polymer and the aqueous biological composition to form a mixture comprising a bio-polymer complex and the target molecule in a liquid, wherein the bio-polymer complex has an average particle diameter of at least 45 micrometers, (b) adding the mixture to a filtering volume of a vessel, wherein the vessel comprises loosely packed staple fibers; (c) allowing the mixture to separate through the loosely packed staple fiber; and (d) collecting a filtrate comprising the target molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Kristopher E. Richardson, Daniel J. O'Neal, Jerald K. Rasmussen, Andrew W. Vail
  • Publication number: 20240010674
    Abstract: Described herein is a method of purifying a target molecule from an aqueous biological composition, the method comprising: (a) contacting a cationic polymer and the aqueous biological composition to form a mixture, the mixture comprising a bio-polymer complex and the target non-binding molecule in a liquid, wherein the bio-polymer complex has an average particle diameter of at least 50 micrometers; (b) providing a filtering unit comprising (i) a housing having an inlet and an outlet, (ii) a porous, continuous filter medium which is fluidly connected to the inlet and the outlet, and (iii) a collection region upstream from the porous, continuous filter medium; (c) adding the mixture to the inlet; and (d) allowing the mixture to separate in the filtering unit, whereby the bio-polymer complex collects in the collection region and the target non-binding molecule passes through the filter medium, and wherein the majority of flow of the liquid through the porous, continuous filter medium is not substantially paralle
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Kristopher E. Richardson, Daniel J. O'Neal, Jerald K. Rasmussen, Andrew W. Vail, Alexei M. Voloshin
  • Publication number: 20240003077
    Abstract: A fibrous web comprising multiple fibers, wherein the fibrous web has a major web surface; wherein the fibers near the major web surface comprise an outer surface; wherein the outer surface of the fibers compromises a recrystallized skin layer; wherein the recrystallized skin layer has a plurality of textures; and wherein at least another part of the outer surface is smooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Michelle M. Mok, Michael R. Berrigan, Aniruddha A. Upadhye, Andrew W. Vail
  • Patent number: 11827864
    Abstract: A wipe article includes a substrate, a cationic coating disposed on a surface of the substrate, distributed throughout the substrate, or both. The cationic coating contains a guanidinyl-containing polymer that is crosslinked and bound to the substrate. The substrate includes sponge, nonwoven fabric, or woven fabric. The wipes are useful for removing microorganisms from a microorganism-contaminated surface and also for reducing re-contamination of the cleaned surface or transfer to another surface of the removed microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Swanson, Jerald K. Rasumssen, George W. Griesgraber, Andrew W. Vail, Andrew S. Waller
  • Publication number: 20230302178
    Abstract: A method of removing pathogens from a surface is described. In particular, a method including providing a wipe including guanidinyl-containing polymer coating, providing a liquid disinfectant having an associated disinfection time t for at least one pathogen is described. The method may help provide safe levels of disinfection even with a significant associated error in dwell time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew W. Vail, Robert A. Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20230227496
    Abstract: Flow-through processes for purifying a target molecule (e.g., antibodies, enzymes, and hormones, particularly a monoclonal antibody) from a biological solution (e.g., a neutralized viral inactivation pool) in a sample that includes the target molecule, and devices for carrying out such processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew W. VAIL, Semra COLAK ATAN, Jerald K. RASMUSSEN, Alexei M. VOLOSHIN, Jonathan F. HESTER
  • Patent number: 11629371
    Abstract: An article is provided. The article comprises a nonwoven substrate having a copolymer grafted thereto, and a dried coating adhered to the substrate. The copolymer comprises interpolymerized monomer units of a quaternary ammonium-containing ligand monomer, an amide monomer, and an oxy monomer. The coating comprises a plurality of test microorganisms. Optionally, the coating further comprises a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymeric binding agent. A process challenge device comprising a body having a hollow channel with said article fixed disposed therein is also provided. Methods of using the article or the process challenge device for determining the efficacy of a disinfection process are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Assumpta A. G. Bennaars-Eiden, Tonya D. Bonilla, Jodi L. Connell, John J. Schmidt, Andrew W. Vail, Federica Sgolastra
  • Publication number: 20230100885
    Abstract: A wipe article includes a substrate, a cationic coating disposed on a surface of the substrate, distributed throughout the substrate, or both. The cationic coating contains a guanidinyl-containing polymer that is crosslinked and bound to the substrate. The substrate includes sponge, nonwoven fabric, or woven fabric. The wipes are useful for removing microorganisms from a microorganism-contaminated surface and also for reducing re-contamination of the cleaned surface or transfer to another surface of the removed microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Steven P. Swanson, Jerald K. Rasumssen, George W. Griesgraber, Andrew W. Vail, Andrew S. Waller
  • Patent number: 11576845
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods that include contacting a skin surface with a first liquid composition; and then contacting in the skin surface with a cationic coated article loaded with a second liquid composition, while at least some portion of the first liquid composition remains on the skin surface, wherein one or both of the first liquid composition or the second liquid composition includes acrylate copolymer particles dispersed therein, the acrylate copolymer particles including the reaction product of a reaction mixture, the reaction mixture including monomers, the monomers including from about 5 wt % to about 50 wt % of at least one high Tg monomer where the wt % of the high Tg monomer is with respect to the total weight of the monomers in the reaction mixture; and from about 20 wt % to about 80 wt % of at least one low Tg monomer where the wt % of the low Tg monomer is with respect to the total weight of the monomers in the reaction mixture, wherein the particles have a number average diameter of at lea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ranjani V. Parthasarathy, Ramesh C. Kumar, Matthew T. Scholz, Steven P. Swanson, Andrew W. Vail, Jerald K. Rasmussen, George W. Griesgraber, Catherine D. Heapy
  • Patent number: 11505769
    Abstract: A wipe article includes a substrate, a cationic coating disposed on a surface of the substrate, distributed throughout the substrate, or both. The cationic coating contains a guanidinyl-containing polymer that is crosslinked and bound to the substrate. The substrate includes sponge, nonwoven fabric, or woven fabric. The wipes are useful for removing microorganisms from a microorganism-contaminated surface and also for reducing re-contamination of the cleaned surface or transfer to another surface of the removed microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Swanson, Jerald K. Rasmussen, George W. Griesgraber, Andrew W. Vail, Andrew S. Waller
  • Patent number: 11446613
    Abstract: An article that includes a functionalized copolymer and the use thereof, particularly in a process for binding biomaterials, such as in a process for separating aggregated proteins from monomeric proteins in a biological solution; wherein the article includes: a) a porous substrate; and b) a copolymer covalently attached to the porous substrate, the copolymer comprising a hydrocarbon backbone and a plurality of pendant groups attached to the hydrocarbon backbone, wherein 1) each of a first plurality of pendant groups comprises: (a) at least one acidic group or salt thereof; and (b) a spacer group that directly links the at least one acidic group or salt thereof to the hydrocarbon backbone by a chain of at least 6 catenated atoms; and 2) each of a second plurality of pendant groups comprises: (a) at least one acidic group or salt thereof; and (b) a spacer group that directly links the at least one acidic group or salt thereof to the hydrocarbon backbone by a chain of at least 6 catenated atoms; and wherein the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew W. Vail, Semra Colak Atan, Jerald K. Rasmussen, George W. Griesgraber, Catherine A. Bothof
  • Publication number: 20220279791
    Abstract: An article, and method of use, wherein the article includes: a substrate; a cationic coating bound to the substrate, wherein the cationic coating includes a guanidinyl-containing polymer that is crosslinked on the substrate; wherein the guanidinyl-containing polymer is of the following Formula (I), wherein: R3 is a H, C1-C12(hetero)alkyl, C5-C12(hetero)aryl, or Polymer; each R4 is independently H, C1-C12(hetero)alkyl, or C5-C12(hetero)aryl; each R5 is H, C1-C12(hetero)alkyl, C5-C12(hetero)aryl, or N(R4)2; Polymer is a residue of an aminopolymer chain; m is 1 or 2; and x is an integer of at least 1; and wherein the guanidinyl-containing polymer is crosslinked with an amine-reactive polyepoxy compound having pendant —OH groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew W. Vail, Jerald K. Rasmussen, Robert A. Schmitz
  • Patent number: 11421261
    Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes providing an article, the article including a nonwoven substrate having a copolymer grafted thereto, the copolymer including interpolymerized monomer units of a quaternary ammonium-containing ligand monomers; an amide monomer; an oxy monomer; and a coating on the nonwoven substrate, the coating including a plurality of test microorganisms, an enzyme or a second substrate; and contacting the article with a detection medium for a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kelvin J. Witcher, Francois Ahimou, Naiyong Jing, Tonya D. Bonilla, Joshua D. Erickson, Hsi-Chou Liu, Andrew W. Vail
  • Publication number: 20220047752
    Abstract: A method of verifying the efficacy of a disinfection process is provided. The method includes flowing a liquid disinfectant into an indicator device that has a plurality of indicator microorganisms disposed therein, the indicator microorganisms comprising or capable of producing a detectable enzyme activity; contacting the indicator microorganisms with the liquid disinfectant for a predetermined minimum first period of time at a first temperature; after contacting the indicator microorganisms with the liquid disinfectant for the first period of time at the first temperature, contacting the indicator microorganisms for a second period of time with a detection medium comprising a detection reagent; and during or after the second period of time, detecting a quantity of the detectable enzyme activity that was not inactivated by the contact with the disinfectant. The indicator device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: ASSUMPTA A.G. BENNAARS-EIDEN, G. MARCO BOMMARITO, TONYA D. BONILLA, JODI L. CONNELL, RUTHANN R. DUDA, FEDERICA SGOLASTRA, ANDREW W. VAIL
  • Publication number: 20210396725
    Abstract: Described herein is method for testing an ion exchange chromatography device. The method includes monitoring both a binding and a non-binding species and determining their breakthrough point to determine a net breakthrough value. The method can be used to determine the integrity of the chromatography device, ensure that the chromatography device possesses the expected adsorbent capacity, and/or determine viral clearance of the chromatography device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Jonathan F. Hester, Eric J. Olson, Francis E. Porbeni, Andrew W. Vail, Alexei M. Voloshin
  • Publication number: 20210322227
    Abstract: An article. The article includes a polymer foam having a first major surface and a second major surface; and discrete domains of a therapeutic composition at least partially surrounded by the polymer foam; wherein an exterior surface of each discrete domain substantially conforms to a portion of the first major surface of the polymer foam; wherein the article comprises a first major surface and a second major surface; and wherein a portion of the first major surface of the polymer foam and the exterior surfaces of discrete domains form the first major surface of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Petra L. Kohler Riedi, Joseph D. Rule, Naimul Karim, Semra Colak Atan, Wei Zhang, Andrew W. Vail
  • Publication number: 20210032578
    Abstract: A wipe article includes a substrate, a cationic coating disposed on a surface of the substrate, distributed throughout the substrate, or both. The cationic coating contains a guanidinyl-containing polymer that is crosslinked and bound to the substrate. The substrate includes sponge, nonwoven fabric, or woven fabric. The wipes are useful for removing microorganisms from a microorganism-contaminated surface and also for reducing re-contamination of the cleaned surface or transfer to another surface of the removed microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Steven P. Swanson, Jerald K. Rasmussen, George W. Griesgraber, Andrew W. Vail, Andrew S. Waller
  • Publication number: 20210031152
    Abstract: An article that includes a functionalized copolymer and the use thereof, particularly in a process for binding biomaterials, such as in a process for separating aggregated proteins from monomeric proteins in a biological solution; wherein the article includes: a) a porous substrate; and b) a copolymer covalently attached to the porous substrate, the copolymer comprising a hydrocarbon backbone and a plurality of pendant groups attached to the hydrocarbon backbone, wherein 1) each of a first plurality of pendant groups comprises: (a) at least one acidic group or salt thereof; and (b) a spacer group that directly links the at least one acidic group or salt thereof to the hydrocarbon backbone by a chain of at least 6 catenated atoms; and 2) each of a second plurality of pendant groups comprises: (a) at least one acidic group or salt thereof; and (b) a spacer group that directly links the at least one acidic group or salt thereof to the hydrocarbon backbone by a chain of at least 6 catenated atoms; and wherein the
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew W. Vail, Semra Colak Atan, Jerald K. Rasmussen, George W. Griesgraber, Catherine A. Bothof