Patents by Inventor Erika Smith

Erika Smith 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: 20240033426
    Abstract: A system for occlusion detection, including a cartridge containing an infusate, a plunger driven by a drive mechanism configured to be advanced within the cartridge to expel infusate from the cartridge, a force sensor configured to sense an actual force exerted by the plunger, and a control unit configured to determine an estimated force based on an expected decay in frictional force between the plunger and the cartridge for comparison to the actual force sensed by the force sensor, wherein a deviation between the estimated force and the actual force exceeding a threshold triggers an occlusion alarm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Sameer PAI, Paul Harrison COONS, Kevin KRAUTBAUER, Henry MADDEN, Erika SMITH, Sarah THOLE, Anushrut JIGNASU
  • Patent number: 11647766
    Abstract: Aseptic beverage products are prepared by mixing beverage ingredients together. The beverage ingredients include a protein source, such as a milk protein concentrate, and at least one buffering agent, with the at least one buffering agent including baking soda. Preferably, the at least one buffering agent further includes lemon juice concentrate. The pH of the beverage ingredients is adjusted to a level between 6.7 and 7.0 using the at least one buffering agent. The beverage ingredients are then heated to at least 139° C., and the at least one buffering agent prevents precipitation of the protein source during heating. Afterwards, the beverage ingredients are packaged as a plurality of aseptic beverage products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Wolf, Erika Smith, Jon Firebaugh
  • Publication number: 20200323244
    Abstract: Aseptic beverage products are prepared by mixing beverage ingredients together. The beverage ingredients include a protein source, such as a milk protein concentrate, and at least one buffering agent, with the at least one buffering agent including baking soda. Preferably, the at least one buffering agent further includes lemon juice concentrate. The pH of the beverage ingredients is adjusted to a level between 6.7 and 7.0 using the at least one buffering agent. The beverage ingredients are then heated to at least 139° C., and the at least one buffering agent prevents precipitation of the protein source during heating. Afterwards, the beverage ingredients are packaged as a plurality of aseptic beverage products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Wolf, Erika Smith, Jon Firebaugh
  • Patent number: 10736342
    Abstract: Aseptic beverage products are prepared by mixing beverage ingredients together. The beverage ingredients include a protein source, such as a milk protein concentrate, and at least one buffering agent, with the at least one buffering agent including baking soda. Preferably, the at least one buffering agent further includes lemon juice concentrate. The pH of the beverage ingredients is adjusted to a level between 6.7 and 7.0 using the at least one buffering agent. The beverage ingredients are then heated to at least 139° C., and the at least one buffering agent prevents precipitation of the protein source during heating. Afterwards, the beverage ingredients are packaged as a plurality of aseptic beverage products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Wolf, Erika Smith, Jon Firebaugh
  • Publication number: 20170251703
    Abstract: Aseptic beverage products are prepared by mixing beverage ingredients together. The beverage ingredients include a protein source, such as a milk protein concentrate, and at least one buffering agent, with the at least one buffering agent including baking soda. Preferably, the at least one buffering agent further includes lemon juice concentrate. The pH of the beverage ingredients is adjusted to a level between 6.7 and 7.0 using the at least one buffering agent. The beverage ingredients are then heated to at least 139° C., and the at least one buffering agent prevents precipitation of the protein source during heating. Afterwards, the beverage ingredients are packaged as a plurality of aseptic beverage products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Wolf, Erika Smith, Jon Firebaugh
  • Publication number: 20120290439
    Abstract: A method for online marketing may include the steps of collecting procurement data relating to items that are portrayed in entertainment media productions or in public images of a celebrity and electronically correlating the procurement data into a processor searchable data base. The correlated procurement data may be presented on a processor searchable website that is accessible to consumers. An operator of the website may accept online procurement orders from the consumers for any of the items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventor: ERIKA SMITH
  • Publication number: 20060159825
    Abstract: Cheese compositions and methods of making cheese compositions, including methods of formulating cheese compositions are provided. Cheese compositions of the invention include casein protein, non-casein protein, non-pregelatinized, modified starch, and a fat component having a low amount of trans-fat (e.g., about 5% or less of trans-fat by weight of the fat component) while at the same time substantially maintaining and/or improving properties (e.g., processing properties, organoleptic properties, combinations of these, and the like) of the cheese composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: Erika Smith, Larry Rasmussen, Melissa Haase, David Walsh
  • Publication number: 20050106303
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cheese compositions and methods of making cheese compositions, including methods of formulating cheese compositions. Cheese compositions of the present invention include casein protein, non-casein protein, and non-pregelatinized, modified starch. Methods of making cheese compositions according to the present invention relate to making cheese compositions that include casein protein, non-casein protein, and non-pregelatinized, modified starch. Methods of formulating cheese compositions of the present invention include reducing an amount casein protein by replacing it with an amount of non-pregelatinized, modified starch and an amount of non-casein protein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Victor Huang, Fern Panda, Erika Smith