Patents by Inventor Molly Erickson

Molly Erickson 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: 20230301327
    Abstract: Meat substitutes include at least a dried milk product, a carbohydrate, and a liquid such as water. The dried milk product includes one or both of non-fat dry milk and buttermilk powder. The carbohydrate includes one or both of syrup solids, such as corn syrup solids, and a starch, such as modified corn starch. The meat substitutes include amino acids and sugars that undergo a Maillard reaction during preparation of the meat substitutes, yielding flavor compounds in, and non-enzymatic browning of, the meat substitutes. The meat substitutes can be used in the production of food products such as dairy-based jerky.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Orlando Maldonado, Molly Erickson, Susan Reed
  • Patent number: 11700865
    Abstract: Meat substitutes include at least a dried milk product, a carbohydrate, and a liquid such as water. The dried milk product includes one or both of non-fat dry milk and buttermilk powder. The carbohydrate includes one or both of syrup solids, such as corn syrup solids, and a starch, such as modified corn starch. The meat substitutes include amino acids and sugars that undergo a Maillard reaction during preparation of the meat substitutes, yielding flavor compounds in, and non-enzymatic browning of, the meat substitutes. The meat substitutes can be used in the production of food products such as dairy-based jerky.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Land O'Lakes, Inc.
    Inventors: Orlando Maldonado, Molly Erickson, Susan Reed
  • Patent number: 11666926
    Abstract: Mid-procedure termination of a mononuclear cell collection procedure may prevent collection of an amount of red blood cells that is required to harvest a complete mononuclear cell product. Blood separation systems and methods are provided for minimizing the impact of or recovering from mid-procedure termination of such a mononuclear cell collection procedure. According to one approach, blood or separated red blood cells are conveyed into a red blood cell collection container relatively early in the procedure to minimize the impact of a later termination of the procedure. According to another approach, blood and/or separated red blood cells within a fluid processing assembly are redirected through the fluid processing assembly following mid-procedure termination to allow for at least partial mononuclear cell collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Lan T. Nguyen, Zahra R. Ali, Angela N. Carlson, Korri Hershenhouse, Molly Erickson
  • Publication number: 20220168485
    Abstract: Fluid processing assemblies and methods are provided for mononuclear cell collection. Mononuclear cells are separated from red blood cells in a blood separation chamber, with the mononuclear cells and then the red blood cells exiting the chamber via an outlet port. The mononuclear cells and then the red blood cells enter an outlet flow path that is in fluid communication with a mononuclear cell collection container. The outlet flow path includes a visual indicium, which an operator may use to determine the position of the red blood cells within the outlet flow path and when to end mononuclear cell collection by preventing fluid communication between the outlet flow path and the mononuclear cell collection container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Lan T. Nguyen, Jonathan W. Prendergast, Zahra R. Ali, Tanima J. Abedin, Molly Erickson, Korri Hershenhouse
  • Patent number: 11285250
    Abstract: Blood separation systems and methods are provided for separating blood under conditions of reduced plasma clarity. The system may assess plasma clarity by monitoring light transmissivity of plasma or comparing an actual plasma flow rate to an ideal plasma flow rate, with a low flow rate indicating decreased clarity, which may be addressed by increasing the plasma flow rate. For extracorporeal photopheresis, plasma clarity may be a factor in determining the dosage of irradiating light to apply to mononuclear cells. A fluid processing assembly for mononuclear cell collection may include visual indicium, which an operator may use to determine when to end mononuclear cell collection. The system may detect red blood cells flowing toward a mononuclear cell collection container and reverse the direction of flow to prevent red blood cells from entering the container. An operator may also be enabled to selectively begin and/or end harvesting of mononuclear cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Lan T. Nguyen, Jonathan W. Prendergast, Zahra R. Ali, Tanima J. Abedin, Molly Erickson, Korri Hershenhouse
  • Publication number: 20210129159
    Abstract: Mid-procedure termination of a mononuclear cell collection procedure may prevent collection of an amount of red blood cells that is required to harvest a complete mononuclear cell product. Blood separation systems and methods are provided for minimizing the impact of or recovering from mid-procedure termination of such a mononuclear cell collection procedure. According to one approach, blood or separated red blood cells are conveyed into a red blood cell collection container relatively early in the procedure to minimize the impact of a later termination of the procedure. According to another approach, blood and/or separated red blood cells within a fluid processing assembly are redirected through the fluid processing assembly following mid-procedure termination to allow for at least partial mononuclear cell collection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Lan T. Nguyen, Zahra R. Ali, Angela N. Carlson, Korri Hershenhouse, Molly Erickson
  • Patent number: 10919049
    Abstract: Mid-procedure termination of a mononuclear cell collection procedure may prevent collection of an amount of red blood cells that is required to harvest a complete mononuclear cell product. Blood separation systems and methods are provided for minimizing the impact of or recovering from mid-procedure termination of such a mononuclear cell collection procedure. According to one approach, blood or separated red blood cells are conveyed into a red blood cell collection container relatively early in the procedure to minimize the impact of a later termination of the procedure. According to another approach, blood and/or separated red blood cells within a fluid processing assembly are redirected through the fluid processing assembly following mid-procedure termination to allow for at least partial mononuclear cell collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Lan T. Nguyen, Zahra R. Ali, Angela N. Carlson, Korri Hershenhouse, Molly Erickson
  • Publication number: 20190254309
    Abstract: Meat substitutes include at least a dried milk product, a carbohydrate, and a liquid such as water. The dried milk product includes one or both of non-fat dry milk and buttermilk powder. The carbohydrate includes one or both of syrup solids, such as corn syrup solids, and a starch, such as modified corn starch. The meat substitutes include amino acids and sugars that undergo a Maillard reaction during preparation of the meat substitutes, yielding flavor compounds in, and non-enzymatic browning of, the meat substitutes. The meat substitutes can be used in the production of food products such as dairy-based jerky.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Orlando Maldonado, Molly Erickson, Susan Reed
  • Publication number: 20190193091
    Abstract: Mid-procedure termination of a mononuclear cell collection procedure may prevent collection of an amount of red blood cells that is required to harvest a complete mononuclear cell product. Blood separation systems and methods are provided for minimizing the impact of or recovering from mid-procedure termination of such a mononuclear cell collection procedure. According to one approach, blood or separated red blood cells are conveyed into a red blood cell collection container relatively early in the procedure to minimize the impact of a later termination of the procedure. According to another approach, blood and/or separated red blood cells within a fluid processing assembly are redirected through the fluid processing assembly following mid-procedure termination to allow for at least partial mononuclear cell collection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Lan T. Nguyen, Zahra R. Ali, Angela N. Carlson, Korri Hershenhouse, Molly Erickson
  • Publication number: 20180256805
    Abstract: Blood separation systems and methods are provided for separating blood under conditions of reduced plasma clarity. The system may assess plasma clarity by monitoring light transmissivity of plasma or comparing an actual plasma flow rate to an ideal plasma flow rate, with a low flow rate indicating decreased clarity, which may be addressed by increasing the plasma flow rate. For extracorporeal photopheresis, plasma clarity may be a factor in determining the dosage of irradiating light to apply to mononuclear cells. A fluid processing assembly for mononuclear cell collection may include visual indicium, which an operator may use to determine when to end mononuclear cell collection. The system may detect red blood cells flowing toward a mononuclear cell collection container and reverse the direction of flow to prevent red blood cells from entering the container. An operator may also be enabled to selectively begin and/or end harvesting of mononuclear cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Lan T. Nguyen, Jonathan W. Prendergast, Zahra R. Ali, Tanima J. Abedin, Molly Erickson, Korri Hershenhouse