Patents by Inventor Leroy J. Longworth

Leroy J. Longworth 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).

  • Patent number: 11925576
    Abstract: An air hose includes a corrugated flexible hose. The air hose also includes a first hose end section mechanically coupled to the corrugated flexible hose. The first hose end section includes a pressure sensor communicatively coupled to a warming unit. The first hose end section is configured to releasably couple to a pneumatic convective device. The air hose also includes a second hose end section mechanically coupled to the corrugated flexible hose. The second hose end section is configured to couple to the warming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John R. Stark, Jared J. Balthazor, Philip G. Dion, Jay R. Goetz, Leroy J. Longworth, Melissa T. Nelson, Tyler J. Sandback, Michele A Waldner, Michael J. Woodson
  • Publication number: 20220015940
    Abstract: An air hose includes a corrugated flexible hose. The air hose also includes a first hose end section mechanically coupled to the corrugated flexible hose. The first hose end section includes a pressure sensor communicatively coupled to a warming unit. The first hose end section is configured to releasably couple to a pneumatic convective device. The air hose also includes a second hose end section mechanically coupled to the corrugated flexible hose. The second hose end section is configured to couple to the warming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: John R. Stark, Jared J. Balthazor, Philip G. Dion, Jay R. Goetz, Leroy J. Longworth, Melissa T. Nelson, Tyler J. Sandback, Michele A. Waldner, Michael J. Woodson
  • Publication number: 20210402033
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a reading apparatus that a well formed from a portion of a housing. The well dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a sterilization indicator having spores. The reading apparatus can also have a heating element thermally coupled to a portion of the well and an excitation source to excite the substance in the sterilization indicator. The reading apparatus can have a sterilization indicator activation circuit for detecting activation of the sterilization indicator. The excitation source is positioned such that light from the excitation source is directed into the well. A color sensor can be positioned adjacent the well to receive reflected light from the sterilization indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Peter D. Ludowise, Anthony J. Jennen, Barry W. Robole, Leroy J. Longworth
  • Publication number: 20190117810
    Abstract: Process monitoring systems include a reader having a read sensor, an optional reference sensor, and a light source. The reader optionally includes an optical block defining an interior volume and an aperture aligned with the read sensor to allow diffuse light to be received by the read sensor. One or more percent reflectance values may be calculated in response to a dark measurement, a correction function, and normalization. The one or more percent reflectance values may be compared to a threshold to determine whether a disinfection cycle was effective. The reader may indicate the determination to a user and provide the determination to a tracking system for diagnostics, inventory management, or compliance monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: PETER D. LUDOWISE, ANTHONY J. JENNEN, BARRY W. ROBOLE, PHILIP G. DION, LEROY J. LONGWORTH, JAY R. GOETZ
  • Patent number: 9428786
    Abstract: A biological sterilization indicator (BI) system and method. The system can include a BI and a reading apparatus comprising a well. The BI can include a housing, which can include a first portion, and a second portion movable between a first “unactivated” position and a second “activated” position. The BI can further include a frangible container containing a liquid and dimensioned to be positioned in the housing. The reading apparatus can be configured to detect activation of the biological sterilization indicator, for example, by detecting that the second portion is in the second position, and/or by detecting that the liquid from the frangible container is present in a specific chamber of the biological sterilization indicator. The method can include positioning the BI in the well of the reading apparatus and detecting activation, for example, by detecting one or more of the above conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Pederson, Sailaja Chandrapati, Bryan S. Behun, Barry W. Robole, Leroy J. Longworth
  • Patent number: 9410180
    Abstract: A biological sterilization indicator (BI) system and method. The system can include a BI and a reading apparatus comprising a well. The BI can include a housing, which can include a first portion, and a second portion movable between a first “unactivated” position and a second “activated” position. The reading apparatus can detect at least one of (i) when the well is empty; (ii) when the biological sterilization indicator is positioned in the well with the second portion of the housing in the first position, and (iii) when the biological sterilization indicator is positioned in the well with the second portion of the housing in the second position. The method can include detecting at least one of the above conditions, which can be used to detect an activation status of the biological sterilization indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Pederson, Sailaja Chandrapati, Bryan S. Behun, Barry W. Robole, Leroy J. Longworth, Kaileen Chen
  • Publication number: 20150353984
    Abstract: A biological sterilization indicator (BI) system and method. The system can include a BI and a reading apparatus comprising a well. The BI can include a housing, which can include a first portion, and a second portion movable between a first “unactivated” position and a second “activated” position. The BI can further include a frangible container containing a liquid and dimensioned to be positioned in the housing. The reading apparatus can be configured to detect activation of the biological sterilization indicator, for example, by detecting that the second portion is in the second position, and/or by detecting that the liquid from the frangible container is present in a specific chamber of the biological sterilization indicator. The method can include positioning the BI in the well of the reading apparatus and detecting activation, for example, by detecting one or more of the above conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Pederson, Sailaja Chandrapati, Bryan S. Behun, Barry W. Robole, Leroy J. Longworth
  • Patent number: 9145573
    Abstract: A biological sterilization indicator (BI) system and method. The system can include a BI and a reading apparatus comprising a well. The BI can include a housing, which can include a first portion, and a second portion movable between a first “unactivated” position and a second “activated” position. The BI can further include a frangible container containing a liquid and dimensioned to be positioned in the housing. The reading apparatus can be configured to detect activation of the biological sterilization indicator, for example, by detecting that the second portion is in the second position, and/or by detecting that the liquid from the frangible container is present in a specific chamber of the biological sterilization indicator. The method can include positioning the BI in the well of the reading apparatus and detecting activation, for example, by detecting one or more of the above conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Pederson, Sailaja Chandrapati, Bryan S. Behun, Barry W. Robole, Leroy J. Longworth
  • Publication number: 20130217107
    Abstract: A biological sterilization indicator (BI) system and method. The system can include a BI and a reading apparatus comprising a well. The BI can include a housing, which can include a first portion, and a second portion movable between a first “unactivated” position and a second “activated” position. The reading apparatus can detect at least one of (i) when the well is empty; (ii) when the biological sterilization indicator is positioned in the well with the second portion of the housing in the first position, and (iii) when the biological sterilization indicator is positioned in the well with the second portion of the housing in the second position. The method can include detecting at least one of the above conditions, which can be used to detect an activation status of the biological sterilization indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Pederson, Sailaja Chandrapati, Bryan S. Behun, Barry W. Robole, Leroy J. Longworth, Kaileen Chen
  • Publication number: 20130210069
    Abstract: A biological sterilization indicator (BI) system and method. The system can include a BI and a reading apparatus comprising a well. The BI can include a housing, which can include a first portion, and a second portion movable between a first “unactivated” position and a second “activated” position. The BI can further include a frangible container containing a liquid and dimensioned to be positioned in the housing. The reading apparatus can be configured to detect activation of the biological sterilization indicator, for example, by detecting that the second portion is in the second position, and/or by detecting that the liquid from the frangible container is present in a specific chamber of the biological sterilization indicator. The method can include positioning the BI in the well of the reading apparatus and detecting activation, for example, by detecting one or more of the above conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Pederson, Sailaja Chandrapati, Bryan S. Behun, Barry W. Robole, Leroy J. Longworth
  • Patent number: 6839833
    Abstract: A programmable pipeline depth controller is provided to control the number of instructions that begins execution within an instruction pipeline of an instruction processor within a predetermined period of time. The pipeline depth controller of the present invention includes a logic sequencer responsive to a programmable count value. Upon being enabled, the logic sequencer generates a pipeline control signal to selectively delay the entry of some instructions into the instruction pipeline so that the number of instructions that begins execution within the instruction pipeline during the predetermined period of time following the enabling of the logic sequencer is equal to the count value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas D. Hartnett, John S. Kuslak, Leroy J. Longworth