Patents by Inventor Kecia L. Courtney

Kecia L. Courtney 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).

  • Non-destructive detection of spoilage using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
    Patent number: 5270650
    Abstract: A non-destructive spoilage detection method of detecting spoilage of a nutritional product having a water activity of at least 0.9 has the steps of: subjecting a nutritional product in a non-metallic sealed container to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy followed by recording the peak free induction decay value associated with an initial nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the nutritional product. Subsequently the nutritional product is subjected to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and at least one other peak free induction decay value associated with the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the nutritional product is recorded. Over time, at least two of the peak free induction decay values are compared from which a determination is made whether spoilage of the nutritional product is indicated. Preferably subjection of the nutritional product to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy occurs on a regular basis and at approximately the same temperature of the nutritional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Timothy W. Schenz, Kecia L. Courtney, Braden R. Israel, Lisa A. Reaves