Patents by Inventor ASSUMPTA A.G. BENNAARS-EIDEN
ASSUMPTA A.G. BENNAARS-EIDEN 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: 11629371Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Assumpta A. G. Bennaars-Eiden, Tonya D. Bonilla, Jodi L. Connell, John J. Schmidt, Andrew W. Vail, Federica Sgolastra
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Patent number: 11582548Abstract: A ring-shaped cushion for a hearing protector or audio headset. The cushion has a circumferential contact pad for sealing on a wearer's head and an attachment for sealing with an earmuff. The cushion further has a sound insulation tube that inwardly defines an inner space. The sound insulation tube extends between the contact pad and the attachment. The cushion has a ventilation passage that extends entirely through the cushion between an inlet opening in the contact pad and an area outside of the inner space. The cushion may further include one or more physiological sensors to monitor the health of a wearer.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2018Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Van Cuong Bui, Caroline M. Ylitalo, Caitlin E. Meree, Patrick Hjort, William Bedingham, Assumpta A. G. Bennaars-Eiden, Daniel B. Taylor, Jonas A. Nilsson, Richard C. Webb, Andrew W. Long, Henning T. Urban
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Patent number: 11260140Abstract: A microbial indicator device for liquid disinfection comprises a first cavity, a source of biological activity fluidically coupled to the first cavity via a portion of a first fluidic path, a filter membrane positioned in a second fluidic path for a disinfectant, and a first coupling portion fluidically coupled to the source of biologically activity via the second fluidic path. The filter membrane has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is in fluid communication with the first fluidic path. The filter membrane has a pore size sufficient to retain at least a portion of the source of biological activity on the first side. The device further comprises a frangible container contained in the first cavity, wherein a liquid in the container is in fluid communication with the first cavity when the container is fractured.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2017Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: G. Marco Bommarito, Timothy J. Nies, Barry W. Robole, Assumpta A. G. Bennaars-Eiden, Jodi L. Connell, Tonya D. Bonilla, Timothy A. Kohman, Ruthann R. Duda
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Publication number: 20220047752Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2017Publication date: February 17, 2022Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: ASSUMPTA A.G. BENNAARS-EIDEN, G. MARCO BOMMARITO, TONYA D. BONILLA, JODI L. CONNELL, RUTHANN R. DUDA, FEDERICA SGOLASTRA, ANDREW W. VAIL
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Patent number: 11065355Abstract: A device for monitoring the effectiveness of a decontamination process, the device including a bacteria cell as the indicator test organism and optionally a substrate, where the indicator test organism may include a Mycobacteria terrae cell, and methods of using the monitoring device to evaluate the efficacy of a decontamination process.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2018Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Francois Ahimou, Assumpta A. G. Bennaars-Eiden
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Publication number: 20210093739Abstract: A disinfection system including an enclosed chamber and a source of a disinfecting vapor connected to the enclosed chamber, wherein the disinfecting vapor includes nitric acid. Methods of disinfecting a contaminated article are also described, the methods including placing the contaminated article within an enclosed chamber of a disinfection system and exposing the contaminated article within the enclosed chamber to a source of a disinfecting vapor including nitric acid for an exposure time sufficient to disinfect the contaminated article by achieving a reduction in colony forming units of the disinfected contaminated article relative to the contaminated article. Exposing the contaminated article within the enclosed chamber to the source of the disinfecting vapor may include alternately exposing the contaminated article to the disinfecting vapor for a first time interval, and exposing the contaminated article to a water vapor for a second time interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2018Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Caleb T. Nelson, Drew M. Williamson, Assumpta A.G. Bennaars-Eiden
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Patent number: 10933151Abstract: A system and methods for sterilizing or disinfecting articles, particularly the hollow internal areas of medical instruments are disclosed. The system includes a plasma generator having an electrode, a shield, and a dielectric gap between the electrode and the shield. A source of electrical power is connected to the plasma generator for applying an electron energy density between the electrode and the shield. A source of gas comprising water vapor, oxygen and nitrogen provides a flow of gas between the electrode and the shield, to form a plasma containing acidic and/or oxidizing species. In the exemplary system, the temperature at the shield's surface is <150° C. when the electron energy density is >0.05 eV/molecule of the gas. Also disclosed is a method for disinfecting an article contaminated with a bio-film or spores, by exposing the contaminated article to the plasma for an exposure time sufficient to achieve at least 2-log10 reduction in colony forming units.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Caleb T. Nelson, Assumpta A. G. Bennaars-Eiden, Matthew T. Scholz, Petra L. Kohler Riedi, Steven P. Swanson, Nardine S. Abadeer
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Publication number: 20210038753Abstract: A self-contained biological sterilization indicator is provided. The self-contained biological sterilization indicator includes an outer container having at least one liquid-impermeable wall and an interior volume; a sealed, openable, liquid-impermeable inner container enclosing a predetermined volume of an aqueous medium; a dry coating that comprises i) a plurality of viable test microorganisms useful to detect exposure to an oxidative sterilant and ii) an effective amount of a sterilant-resistance modulator; and a pathway that permits vapor communication between the interior volume and an atmosphere outside the outer container. The inner container and the dry coating are disposed in the interior volume. The modulator comprises an amino acid. The effective amount causes an increase in sensitivity of the test microorganisms to the oxidative sterilant relative to an otherwise-identical dry coating that lacks the effective amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: SWARNALATHA SWAMINATHAN, ASSUMPTA A. G. BENNAARS-EIDEN, FRANCOIS AHIMOU, WILLIAM E. FOLTZ
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Publication number: 20200396532Abstract: A ring-shaped cushion for a hearing protector or audio headset. The cushion has a circumferential contact pad for sealing on a wearer's head and an attachment for sealing with an earmuff. The cushion further has a sound insulation tube that inwardly defines an inner space. The sound insulation tube extends between the contact pad and the attachment. The cushion has a ventilation passage that extends entirely through the cushion between an inlet opening in the contact pad and an area outside of the inner space. The cushion may further include one or more physiological sensors to monitor the health of a wearer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2018Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: Van Cuong Bui, Caroline M. Ylitalo, Caitlin E. Meree, Patrick Hjort, William Bedingham, Assumpta A.G. Bennaars-Eiden, Daniel B. Taylor, Jonas A. Nilsson, Richard C. Webb, Andrew W. Long, Henning T. Urban
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Publication number: 20190338335Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2017Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Assumpta A. G. Bennaars-Eiden, Tonya D. Bonilla, Jodi L. Connell, John J. Schmidt, Andrew W. Vail, Federica Sgolastra
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Publication number: 20190255208Abstract: A microbial indicator device for liquid disinfection comprises a first cavity, a source of biological activity fluidically coupled to the first cavity via a portion of a first fluidic path, a filter membrane positioned in a second fluidic path for a disinfectant, and a first coupling portion fluidically coupled to the source of biologically activity via the second fluidic path. The filter membrane has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is in fluid communication with the first fluidic path. The filter membrane has a pore size sufficient to retain at least a portion of the source of biological activity on the first side. The device further comprises a frangible container contained in the first cavity, wherein a liquid in the container is in fluid communication with the first cavity when the container is fractured.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2017Publication date: August 22, 2019Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: G. MORCO BOMMARITO, TIMOTHY J. NIES, BARRY W. ROBOLE, ASSUMPTA A. G. BENNAARS-EIDEN, JODI L. CONNELL, TONYA D. BONILLA, TOMOTHY A. KOHMAN, RUTHANN R. DUDA
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Publication number: 20190192714Abstract: A device for monitoring the effectiveness of a decontamination process, the device including a bacteria cell as the indicator test organism and optionally a substrate, where the indicator test organism may include a Mycobacteria terrae cell, and methods of using the monitoring device to evaluate the efficacy of a decontamination process.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2018Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: FRANCOIS AHIMOU, ASSUMPTA A.G. BENNAARS-EIDEN
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Publication number: 20190134243Abstract: A system and methods for sterilizing or disinfecting articles, particularly the hollow internal areas of medical instruments are disclosed. The system includes a plasma generator having an electrode, a shield, and a dielectric gap between the electrode and the shield. A source of electrical power is connected to the plasma generator for applying an electron energy density between the electrode and the shield. A source of gas comprising water vapor, oxygen and nitrogen provides a flow of gas between the electrode and the shield, to form a plasma containing acidic and/or oxidizing species. In the exemplary system, the temperature at the shield's surface is <150° C. when the electron energy density is >0.05 eV/molecule of the gas. Also disclosed is a method for disinfecting an article contaminated with a bio-film or spores, by exposing the contaminated article to the plasma for an exposure time sufficient to achieve at least 2-log10 reduction in colony forming units.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2017Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: Caleb T. Nelson, Assumpta A.G. Bennaars-Eiden, Matthew T. Scholz, Petra L. Kohler Riedi, Steven P. Swanson, Nardine S. Abadeer
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Publication number: 20180015193Abstract: A self-contained biological sterilization indicator is provided. The self-contained biological sterilization indicator includes an outer container having at least one liquid-impermeable wall and an interior volume; a sealed, openable, liquid-impermeable inner container enclosing a predetermined volume of an aqueous medium; a dry coating that comprises i) a plurality of viable test microorganisms useful to detect exposure to an oxidative sterilant and ii) an effective amount of a sterilant-resistance modulator; and a pathway that permits vapor communication between the interior volume and an atmosphere outside the outer container. The inner container and the dry coating are disposed in the interior volume. The modulator comprises an amino acid. The effective amount causes an increase in sensitivity of the test microorganisms to the oxidative sterilant relative to an otherwise-identical dry coating that lacks the effective amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2015Publication date: January 18, 2018Inventors: SWARNALATHA SWAMINATHAN, ASSUMPTA A.G. BENNAARS-EIDEN, FRANCOIS AHIMOU, WILLIAM E. FOLTZ