Patents by Inventor Mark Keegan

Mark Keegan 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: 8679313
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously separating or concentrating molecules that includes flowing two fluids in laminar flow through an electrical field and capturing at one of three outputs a fluid stream having a different concentration of molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason O. Fiering, Mark Keegan
  • Publication number: 20100116657
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously separating or concentrating molecules that includes flowing two fluids in laminar flow through an electrical field and capturing at one of three outputs a fluid stream having a different concentration of molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Fiering, Mark Keegan
  • Publication number: 20080237044
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously separating or concentrating molecules that includes flowing two fluids in laminar flow through an electrical field and capturing at one of three outputs a fluid stream having a different concentration of molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Fiering, Mark Keegan
  • Patent number: 6962006
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making particles comprising: (a) spraying an emulsion, solution, or suspension, which comprises a solvent and a bulk material (e.g., a pharmaceutical agent), through an atomizer and into a primary drying chamber, having a drying gas flowing therethrough, to form droplets comprising the solvent and bulk material dispersed in the drying gas; (b) evaporating, in the primary drying chamber, at least a portion of the solvent into the drying gas to solidify the droplets and form particles dispersed in drying gas; and (c) flowing the particles and at least a portion of the drying gas through a jet mill to deagglomerate or grind the particles. By coupling spray drying with “in-line” jet milling, a single step process is created from two separate unit operations, and an additional collection step is advantageously eliminated. The one-step, in-line process has further advantages in time and cost of processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Acusphere, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Chickering, III, Sridhar Narasimhan, David Altreuter, Paul Kopesky, Mark Keegan, Julie A. Straub, Howard Bernstein
  • Publication number: 20050209099
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making particles comprising: (a) spraying an emulsion, solution, or suspension, which comprises a solvent and a bulk material (e.g., a pharmaceutical agent), through an atomizer and into a primary drying chamber, having a drying gas flowing therethrough, to form droplets comprising the solvent and bulk material dispersed in the drying gas; (b) evaporating, in the primary drying chamber, at least a portion of the solvent into the drying gas to solidify the droplets and form particles dispersed in drying gas; and (c) flowing the particles and at least a portion of the drying gas through a jet mill to deagglomerate or grind the particles. By coupling spray drying with “in-line” jet milling, a single step process is created from two separate unit operations, and an additional collection step is advantageously eliminated. The one-step, in-line process has further advantages in time and cost of processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Donald Chickering, Sridhar Narasimhan, David Altreuter, Paul Kopesky, Mark Keegan, Julie Straub, Howard Bernstein
  • Patent number: 6921458
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making particles comprising: (a) spraying an emulsion, solution, or suspension, which comprises a solvent and a bulk material (e.g., a pharmaceutical agent), through an atomizer and into a primary drying chamber, having a drying gas flowing therethrough, to form droplets comprising the solvent and bulk material dispersed in the drying gas; (b) evaporating, in the primary drying chamber, at least a portion of the solvent into the drying gas to solidify the droplets and form particles dispersed in drying gas; and (c) flowing the particles and at least a portion of the drying gas through a jet mill to deagglomerate or grind the particles. By coupling spray drying with “in-line” jet milling, a single step process is created from two separate unit operations, and an additional collection step is advantageously eliminated. The one-step, in-line process has further advantages in time and cost of processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Acusphere, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Chickering, III, Sridhar Narasimhan, David Altreuter, Paul Kopesky, Mark Keegan, Julie A. Straub, Howard Bernstein
  • Patent number: 6918991
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making particles comprising: (a) spraying an emulsion, solution, or suspension, which comprises a solvent and a bulk material (e.g., a pharmaceutical agent), through an atomizer and into a primary drying chamber, having a drying gas flowing therethrough, to form droplets comprising the solvent and bulk material dispersed in the drying gas; (b) evaporating, in the primary drying chamber, at least a portion of the solvent into the drying gas to solidify the droplets and form particles dispersed in drying gas; and (c) flowing the particles and at least a portion of the drying gas through a jet mill to deagglomerate or grind the particles. By coupling spray drying with “in-line” jet milling, a single step process is created from two separate unit operations, and an additional collection step is advantageously eliminated. The one-step, in-line process has further advantages in time and cost of processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Acusphere, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Chickering, III, Sridhar Narasimhan, David Altreuter, Paul Kopesky, Mark Keegan, Julie A. Straub, Howard Bernstein
  • Publication number: 20040139624
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making particles comprising: (a) spraying an emulsion, solution, or suspension, which comprises a solvent and a bulk material (e.g., a pharmaceutical agent), through an atomizer and into a primary drying chamber, having a drying gas flowing therethrough, to form droplets comprising the solvent and bulk material dispersed in the drying gas; (b) evaporating, in the primary drying chamber, at least a portion of the solvent into the drying gas to solidify the droplets and form particles dispersed in drying gas; and (c) flowing the particles and at least a portion of the drying gas through a jet mill to deagglomerate or grind the particles. By coupling spray drying with “in-line” jet milling, a single step process is created from two separate unit operations, and an additional collection step is advantageously eliminated. The one-step, in-line process has further advantages in time and cost of processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Donald E. Chickering, Sridhar Narasimhan, David Altreuter, Paul Kopesky, Mark Keegan, Julie A. Straub, Howard Bernstein
  • Publication number: 20040134091
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making particles comprising: (a) spraying an emulsion, solution, or suspension, which comprises a solvent and a bulk material (e.g., a pharmaceutical agent), through an atomizer and into a primary drying chamber, having a drying gas flowing therethrough, to form droplets comprising the solvent and bulk material dispersed in the drying gas; (b) evaporating, in the primary drying chamber, at least a portion of the solvent into the drying gas to solidify the droplets and form particles dispersed in drying gas; and (c) flowing the particles and at least a portion of the drying gas through a jet mill to deagglomerate or grind the particles. By coupling spray drying with “in-line” jet milling, a single step process is created from two separate unit operations, and an additional collection step is advantageously eliminated. The one-step, in-line process has further advantages in time and cost of processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Donald E. Chickering, Sridhar Narasimhan, David Altreuter, Paul Kopesky, Mark Keegan, Julie A. Straub, Howard Bernstein
  • Publication number: 20040118007
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making particles comprising: (a) spraying an emulsion, solution, or suspension, which comprises a solvent and a bulk material (e.g., a pharmaceutical agent), through an atomizer and into a primary drying chamber, having a drying gas flowing therethrough, to form droplets comprising the solvent and bulk material dispersed in the drying gas; (b) evaporating, in the primary drying chamber, at least a portion of the solvent into the drying gas to solidify the droplets and form particles dispersed in drying gas; and (c) flowing the particles and at least a portion of the drying gas through a jet mill to deagglomerate or grind the particles. By coupling spray drying with “in-line” jet milling, a single step process is created from two separate unit operations, and an additional collection step is advantageously eliminated. The one-step, in-line process has further advantages in time and cost of processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: ACUSPHERE, INC.
    Inventors: Donald E. Chickering, Sridhar Narasimhan, David Altreuter, Paul Kopesky, Mark Keegan, Julie A. Straub, Howard Bernstein
  • Patent number: 6223455
    Abstract: Improved spray drying apparati, and methods of use thereof, have been developed. The spray drying equipment includes a primary drying chamber and a secondary drying apparatus which includes tubing having a length sufficient to increase the contact time between the drying gas and the droplets/particles to dry the particles to the extent desired, at a drying rate and temperature which would be too low to provide adequate drying without the secondary drying apparatus. The secondary drying apparatus increases the drying efficiency of the spray dryer system without increasing the drying rate, while minimizing loss in yield The ratio of the length of tubing to the length of the primary drying chamber is at least 2:1. The tubing diameter is substantially smaller than the diameter of the primary drying chamber, such that the particles move at higher velocity through the tubing to minimize product losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Acusphere, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Chickering, III, Howard Bernstein, Mark Keegan, Greg Randall, Julie Straub