Patents by Inventor John A. Aiken

John A. Aiken 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: 20140242688
    Abstract: Provided herein is a transgenic bacteria engineered to accumulate carbohydrates, for example disaccharides. Also provided is a photobioreactor for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms comprising a non-gelatinous, solid cultivation support suitable for providing nutrients and moisture to photosynthetic microorganisms and a physical barrier covering at least a portion of the surface of the cultivation support. Devices for the large scale and continuous cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms incorporating photobioreactors and methods of use are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of producing fermentable sugar from photosynthetic microorganisms using a photobioreactor of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Proterro, Inc.
    Inventors: John Aikens, Robert J. Turner
  • Patent number: 8728821
    Abstract: Provided herein is a transgenic bacteria engineered to accumulate carbohydrates, for example disaccharides. Also provided is a photobioreactor for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms comprising a non-gelatinous, solid cultivation support suitable for providing nutrients and moisture to photosynthetic microorganisms and a physical barrier covering at least a portion of the surface of the cultivation support. Devices for the large scale and continuous cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms incorporating photobioreactors and methods of use are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of producing fermentable sugar from photosynthetic microorganisms using a photobioreactor of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Proterro, Inc.
    Inventors: John Aikens, Robert J. Turner
  • Patent number: 8728783
    Abstract: Provided herein is a transgenic bacteria engineered to accumulate carbohydrates, for example disaccharides. Also provided is a photobioreactor for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms comprising a non-gelatinous, solid cultivation support suitable for providing nutrients and moisture to photosynthetic microorganisms and a physical barrier covering at least a portion of the surface of the cultivation support. Devices for the large scale and continuous cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms incorporating photobioreactors and methods of use are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of producing fermentable sugar from photosynthetic microorganisms using a photobioreactor of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Proterro, Inc.
    Inventors: John Aikens, Robert J. Turner
  • Patent number: 8597951
    Abstract: Provided herein is a transgenic bacteria engineered to accumulate carbohydrates, for example disaccharides. Also provided is a photobioreactor for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms comprising a non-gelatinous, solid cultivation support suitable for providing nutrients and moisture to photosynthetic microorganisms and a physical barrier covering at least a portion of the surface of the cultivation support. Devices for the large scale and continuous cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms incorporating photobioreactors and methods of use are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of producing fermentable sugar from photosynthetic microorganisms using a photobioreactor of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Proterro, Inc.
    Inventors: John Aikens, Robert J. Turner
  • Patent number: 8597914
    Abstract: Provided herein is a transgenic bacteria engineered to accumulate carbohydrates, for example disaccharides. Also provided is a photobioreactor for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms comprising a non-gelatinous, solid cultivation support suitable for providing nutrients and moisture to photosynthetic microorganisms and a physical barrier covering at least a portion of the surface of the cultivation support. Devices for the large scale and continuous cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms incorporating photobioreactors and methods of use are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of producing fermentable sugar from photosynthetic microorganisms using a photobioreactor of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Proterro, Inc.
    Inventors: John Aikens, Robert J. Turner
  • Patent number: 8367379
    Abstract: Provided herein is a transgenic bacteria engineered to accumulate carbohydrates, for example disaccharides. Also provided is a photobioreactor for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms comprising a non-gelatinous, solid cultivation support suitable for providing nutrients and moisture to photosynthetic microorganisms and a physical barrier covering at least a portion of the surface of the cultivation support. Devices for the large scale and continuous cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms incorporating photobioreactors and methods of use are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of producing fermentable sugar from photosynthetic microorganisms using a photobioreactor of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Proterro, Inc.
    Inventors: John Aikens, Robert J. Turner
  • Publication number: 20120309090
    Abstract: A compressible bioreactor for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms, the bioreactor comprising a feeder trough, a collection trough, a growth fabric, and a barrier layer, where the bioreactor has a compressed mode and an extended mode, the growth fabric is coupled to the feeder trough and the collection trough, the growth fabric is substantially extended in the extended mode of the bioreactor, the growth fabric is substantially compressed in the compressed mode of the bioreactor and the barrier layer is coupled to the feeder base and the collection base that encases the growth fabric in a substantially airtight environment
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: PROTERRO, INC.
    Inventors: John Aikens, Robert J. Turner, Denise L. Holzle
  • Publication number: 20120301563
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing and processing a feedstock from a photosynthetic microorganism. Also provided are various transgenic photosynthetic microorganism and photobioreactors for use in the methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: PROTERRO, INC.
    Inventors: John Aikens, Robert J. Turner
  • Publication number: 20120244622
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for nitrogen sensitive regulation of expression of a transcribable nucleic acid molecule. One aspect provides a nitrogen-sensitive expression system that includes a transcription factor region comprising an NtcA binding site and a core promoter region comprising a RuBisCo promoter or a variant or a functional fragment thereof. Another aspect provides a method of transforming a host cell with an expression system. Also provided are expression cassettes, transformed host cells, and kits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: PROTERRO, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Turner, Valerie Sershon, John Aikens, Denise Holzle
  • Publication number: 20120142621
    Abstract: A microbial ethyl esther sophorolipid derivative with no acetylated groups produced by Candida species, for treating and preventing sepsis/septic shock. The method of producing sophorolipids is through microbial resting cells of Candida bombicola. The sophorolipids obtained from resting state cultures are isolated as a complex mixture of compounds and then decanted as a dense oil from the culture broth, subsequently washed to remove free fatty acids. Secondary chemical transformation via base catalyzed hydrolysis is used to reduce the 8 possible structural sophorolipid species to a single moiety, the 17-L-[(2?-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl-b-D-glucopyranosyl)-oxy]-cis-9-octadecenoate de-acetylated free acid. The compound acts primarily through decreasing inflammatory cytokines and eliciting other synergistic anti-inflammatory mechanisms by blocking TLR4-CD14 upstream of the inflammatory signaling cascade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Biomedica Management Corporation
    Inventors: George Falus, Maja Nowakowski, Martin Bluth, John Aikens
  • Publication number: 20090181434
    Abstract: Provided herein is a transgenic bacteria engineered to accumulate carbohydrates, for example disaccharides. Also provided is a photobioreactor for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms comprising a non-gelatinous, solid cultivation support suitable for providing nutrients and moisture to photosynthetic microorganisms and a physical barrier covering at least a portion of the surface of the cultivation support. Devices for the large scale and continuous cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms incorporating photobioreactors and methods of use are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of producing fermentable sugar from photosynthetic microorganisms using a photobioreactor of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: PROTERRO, INC.
    Inventors: John Aikens, Robert J. Turner
  • Patent number: 7552643
    Abstract: A device for monitoring gas effusing from a pipe, the device comprising a mounting assembly having an upper and lower bracket; a housing located on the upper bracket; the bottom of the housing is of a shape complementary to the pipe being monitored; a probe assembly; a bore in the housing for receiving the probe assembly; the probe assembly comprising: a probe insert; a chamber for collecting gas in the bottom of the probe insert formed by side walls and an upper wall; a compressible sealing means in the bottom of the side walls for sealingly engaging the outer surface of the pipe to be monitored; a passageway in the probe insert, extending from an outlet at the top surface of the probe insert to an inlet in the upper wall of the chamber, such that the passageway is in flow communication with the chamber; a tube receivable through the outlet of the passageway; a plate removably connected to the housing for, securing the probe assembly in place; the plate comprising a biasing means for compressing the sealing
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Centre For Nuclear Energy Research (CNER)
    Inventor: John Aikens
  • Publication number: 20080148862
    Abstract: A device for monitoring gas effusing from a pipe, the device comprising a mounting assembly having an upper and lower bracket; a housing located on the upper bracket; the bottom of the housing is of a shape complementary to the pipe being monitored; a probe assembly; a bore in the housing for receiving the probe assembly; the probe assembly comprising: a probe insert; a chamber for collecting gas in the bottom of the probe insert formed by side walls and an upper wall; a compressible sealing means in the bottom of the side walls for sealingly engaging the outer surface of the pipe to be monitored; a passageway in the probe insert, extending from an outlet at the top surface of the probe insert to an inlet in the upper wall of the chamber, such that the passageway is in flow communication with the chamber; a tube receivable through the outlet of the passageway; a plate removably connected to the housing for, securing the probe assembly in place; the plate comprising a biasing means for compressing the sealing
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventor: John Aikens
  • Publication number: 20080017224
    Abstract: Compositions or products containing ionic liquids and methods of using the same are also disclosed. Specifically, ionic liquids suitable for use in fabric, hard surface or air treating compositions are disclosed. Also disclosed are ionic liquid cocktails comprising three or more different and charged ionic liquid components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth Price, Richard Hartshorn, Robert Rohrbaugh, William Scheper, Michael Showell, Keith Baker, Mark Sivik, Jeffrey Schrible, Robb Gardner, Pramod Reddy, John Aiken, Michael Addison
  • Publication number: 20070261294
    Abstract: Biodiesel fuels are produced efficiently and at low cost from waste oil feeds containing high concentrations of fatty acids. By first producing an ester of a water immiscible alcohol, water of reaction from the esterification can be easily stripped out with and separated from the alcohol, which is recycled to the esterification reaction. Subsequent transesterification with glycerin produces a feed with a sufficiently low acid value to allow methanolysis using a basic catalyst to proceed rapidly without consumption of large quantities of catalyst or organic acid salt formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventor: John Aiken
  • Publication number: 20070149436
    Abstract: Water-soluble copolymers which comprise, in copolymerized form, (a) 60 to 99% by weight of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated polyalkylene oxide monomer of the formula I H2C?CR1—X—YR2—OnR3 ??I ?in which the variables have the following meanings: ?X is —CH2— or —C(O)—, if Y is —O—; is —C(O)—, if Y is —NH—; is —O— or —O—(CH2)4—, if Y is a chemical bond; ?Y is —O—, —NH— or a chemical bond; ?R1 is hydrogen or methyl; ?R2 is C2-C4-alkylene radicals, which may be identical or different and also linear or branched, but where at least 50% of the radicals R2 are ethylene; ?R3 is C1-C22-alkyl, phenyl, p-(C1-C12-alkyl)phenyl or hydrogen; ?n is an integer from 6 to 50, (b) 1 to 40% by weight of at least one nonquaternized dipolar monomer comprising at least one nitrogen atom, (c) 0 to 39% by weight of other nonionic monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and (d) 0 to 10% by weight of other anionic monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and have an average molecular weight Mw of from 2000 to 500 00
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dieter Boeckh, Thomas Pfeiffer, Stefan Becker, Marcus Guzmann, Pramod Reddy, John Aiken
  • Publication number: 20060240727
    Abstract: Compositions or products containing ionic liquids and methods of using the same are also disclosed. Specifically, ionic liquids suitable for use in fabric, hard surface or air treating compositions are disclosed. Also disclosed are ionic liquid cocktails comprising three or more different and charged ionic liquid components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Kenneth Price, Richard Hartshorn, Robert Rohrbaugh, William Scheper, Michael Showell, Keith Baker, Mark Sivik, Jeffrey Scheibel, Robb Gardner, Pramod Reddy, John Aiken, Michael Addison
  • Publication number: 20060240728
    Abstract: Compositions or products containing ionic liquids and methods of using the same are also disclosed. Specifically, ionic liquids suitable for use in fabric, hard surface or air treating compositions are disclosed. Also disclosed are ionic liquid cocktails comprising three or more different and charged ionic liquid components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Kenneth Price, Richard Hartshorn, Robert Rohrbaugh, William Scheper, Michael Showell, Keith Baker, Mark Sivik, Jeffrey Scheibel, Robb Gardner, Pramond Reddy, John Aiken, Michael Addison
  • Patent number: D707418
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: McCain Foods Limited
    Inventors: David M. Rogers, John Aikens
  • Patent number: D712618
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: McCain Foods Limited
    Inventors: David M. Rogers, John Aikens