Patents by Inventor John C. Houge

John C. Houge 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: 20240066169
    Abstract: A biological indicator reader is provided for reading a plurality of biological indicators to determine the effectiveness of at least a sterilization process. Each biological indicator is configured to exhibit fluorescence when the sterilization process has failed. Each reader comprises a housing having a plurality of biological indicator holders, a heater coupled to the housing and configured to heat the plurality of biological indicator holders to a preselected temperature to incubate the biological indicators, a UV light emitter configured to emit UV light through a first aperture on the side of each holder and an optical detector positioned under a second aperture on the bottom of the biological indicator holder, the optical detector configured to detect fluorescence intensity indicating the effectiveness of the sterilization process. A method of using the biological indicator reader is provided. A biological indicator system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Keith Hamberg, John C. Houge, Greg Ingersoll, Michael Scheidnes, Jeanette Sterner, Thomas Strele
  • Publication number: 20240066170
    Abstract: A biological indicator reader is provided for reading a plurality of biological indicators to determine the effectiveness of at least a sterilization process. Each biological indicator is configured to exhibit fluorescence when the sterilization process has failed. Each reader comprises a housing having a plurality of biological indicator holders, a heater coupled to the housing and configured to heat the plurality of biological indicator holders to a preselected temperature to incubate the biological indicators, a UV light emitter configured to emit UV light through a first aperture on the side of each holder and an optical detector positioned under a second aperture on the bottom of the biological indicator holder, the optical detector configured to detect fluorescence intensity indicating the effectiveness of the sterilization process. A method of using the biological indicator reader is provided. A biological indicator system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Keith Hamberg, John C. Houge, Greg Ingersoll, Michael Scheidnes, Jeanette Sterner, Thomas Strele
  • Publication number: 20240058498
    Abstract: A biological indicator reader is provided for reading a plurality of biological indicators to determine the effectiveness of at least a sterilization process. Each biological indicator is configured to exhibit fluorescence when the sterilization process has failed. Each reader comprises a housing having a plurality of biological indicator holders, a heater coupled to the housing and configured to heat the plurality of biological indicator holders to a preselected temperature to incubate the biological indicators, a UV light emitter configured to emit UV light through a first aperture on the side of each holder and an optical detector positioned under a second aperture on the bottom of the biological indicator holder, the optical detector configured to detect fluorescence intensity indicating the effectiveness of the sterilization process. A method of using the biological indicator reader is provided. A biological indicator system and display are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Keith Hamberg, John C. Houge, Greg Ingersoll, Michael Scheidnes, Jeanette Sterner