Patents by Inventor Daniel Terence McMullan

Daniel Terence McMullan 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: 20040157322
    Abstract: A fermentation apparatus is constructed to produce a known and repeatable amount of untainted fermentation product using multiple fermentation vessels. To facilitate further processing compatible with other product processing steps, the fermentation apparatus has an array of sample vessels arranged in a container frame. The container frame is configured to hold the sample vessels during fermentation and to transport the vessel array to or from another processing station. Corresponding to the number of sample vessels in the sample vessel array, a cannula array is configured such that each cannula may be placed inside a sample vessel. The cannula array is attached to a gas distributor that delivers oxygen and/or one or more other gases from a gas source through the cannula into the sample vessel. Because the fermentation volume for each individual sample vessel is smaller than a bulk fermentation apparatus, the fermentation product yields are predictable and cell growth rates can be effectively optimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: IRM, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Charles Downs, Scott Allan Lesley, James Kevin Mainquist, Daniel Terence McMullan, Andrew J. Meyer, Marc Nasoff
  • Patent number: 6723555
    Abstract: A fermentation apparatus is constructed to produce a known and repeatable amount of untainted fermentation product using multiple fermentation vessels. To facilitate further processing compatible with other product processing steps, the fermentation apparatus has an array of sample vessels arranged in a container frame. The container frame is configured to hold the sample vessels during fermentation and to transport the vessel array to or from another processing station. Corresponding to the number of sample vessels in the sample vessel array, a cannula array is configured such that each cannula may be placed inside a sample vessel. The cannula array is attached to a gas distributor that delivers oxygen and/or one or more other gases from a gas source through the cannula into the sample vessel. Because the fermentation volume for each individual sample vessel is smaller than a bulk fermentation apparatus, the fermentation product yields are predictable and cell growth rates can be effectively optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: IRM, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Charles Downs, Scott Allan Lesley, James Kevin Mainquist, Daniel Terence McMullan, Andrew J. Meyer, Marc Nasoff
  • Publication number: 20020146818
    Abstract: A fermentation apparatus is constructed to produce a known and repeatable amount of untainted fermentation product using multiple fermentation vessels. To facilitate further processing compatible with other product processing steps, the fermentation apparatus has an array of sample vessels arranged in a container frame. The container frame is configured to hold the sample vessels during fermentation and to transport the vessel array to or from another processing station. Corresponding to the number of sample vessels in the sample vessel array, a cannula array is configured such that each cannula may be placed inside a sample vessel. The cannula array is attached to a gas distributor that delivers oxygen and/or one or more other gases from a gas source through the cannula into the sample vessel. Because the fermentation volume for each individual sample vessel is smaller than a bulk fermentation apparatus, the fermentation product yields are predictable and cell growth rates can be effectively optimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: IRM, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Charles Downs, Scott Allan Lesley, James Kevin Mainquist, Daniel Terence McMullan, Andrew J. Meyer, Marc Nasoff