Patents by Inventor Caleb T. Nelson

Caleb T. Nelson 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: 10378813
    Abstract: A fluid control film is provided that includes fluid control channels extending along a channel longitudinal axis. Each of the fluid control channels has a surface and is configured to allow capillary movement of liquid in the channels. The fluid control film further includes a hydrophilic surface treatment covalently bonded to at least a portion of the surface of the fluid control channels. The fluid control film exhibits a capillary rise percent recovery of at least ten percent. Typically, the hydrophilic surface treatment includes functional groups selected from a non-zwitterionic sulfonate, a non-zwitterionic carboxylate, a zwitterionic sulfonate, a zwitterionic carboxylate, a zwitterionic phosphate, a zwitterionic phosphonic acid, and/or a zwitterionic phosphonate. A process for forming a fluid control film is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Adam J. Meuler, Susannah C. Clear, Steven P. Swanson, Kurt J. Halverson, Justin A. Riddle, Paul B. Armstrong, Caleb T. Nelson, Chetan P. Jariwala
  • Publication number: 20190134243
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Caleb T. Nelson, Assumpta A.G. Bennaars-Eiden, Matthew T. Scholz, Petra L. Kohler Riedi, Steven P. Swanson, Nardine S. Abadeer
  • Publication number: 20170045284
    Abstract: A fluid control film is provided that includes fluid control channels extending along a channel longitudinal axis. Each of the fluid control channels has a surface and is configured to allow capillary movement of liquid in the channels. The fluid control film further includes a hydrophilic surface treatment covalently bonded to at least a portion of the surface of the fluid control channels. The fluid control film exhibits a capillary rise percent recovery of at least ten percent. Typically, the hydrophilic surface treatment includes functional groups selected from a non-zwitterionic sulfonate, a non-zwitterionic carboxylate, a zwitterionic sulfonate, a zwitterionic carboxylate, a zwitterionic phosphate, a zwitterionic phosphonic acid, and/or a zwitterionic phosphonate. A process for forming a fluid control film is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Adam J. Meuler, Susannah C. Clear, Steven P. Swanson, Kurt J. Halverson, Justin A. Riddle, Paul B. Armstrong, Caleb T. Nelson, Chetan P. Jariwala
  • Publication number: 20170045285
    Abstract: An article comprises a structure having an outer surface extending along a longitudinal axis. At least a portion of a cross section of the outer surface is convex. Fluid control channels extend along a channel longitudinal axis along at least a portion the convex surface. The channel longitudinal axis makes an angle between 0 and 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the outer surface. The fluid control channels are configured to allow capillary movement of liquid in the channels and across the convex surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Kurt J. HALVERSON, Raymond P. JOHNSTON, Caleb T. NELSON, Steven P. SWANSON
  • Patent number: 9527336
    Abstract: Cleanable articles having overcoats with hydrophilic front surfaces and which are siloxane-bonded to an underlying body member. Also, methods of making and using such articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David M. Mahli, Robert A. Yapel, Justin A. Riddle, Mitchell A. F. Johnson, Moses M. David, Frederick J. Gustafson, Lan H. Liu, Yu Yang, Naiyong Jing, Caleb T. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20140329012
    Abstract: Cleanable articles having overcoats with hydrophilic front surfaces and which are siloxane-bonded to an underlying body member. Also, methods of making and using such articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: David M. Mahli, Robert A. Yapel, Justin A. Riddle, Mitchell A.F. Johnson, Moses M. David, Frederick J. Gustafson, Lan H. Liu, Yu Yang, Naiyong Jing, Caleb T. Nelson