Patents by Inventor Neil LITTEN
Neil LITTEN 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).
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Publication number: 20250099332Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a connector including a housing, a hollow needle, an actuating mechanism, and a locking mechanism. The housing including a first end and a second end. The hollow needle mounted, at least partially, within the housing. A first end of the hollow needle being connected or connectable to a first receptacle and a second end of the hollow needle facing a pierceable seal. The actuating mechanism configured to cause relative movement between the hollow needle and the pierceable seal to enable the hollow needle to pierce the pierceable seal. The locking mechanism, in a first configuration, prevents the actuating mechanism from causing relative movement between the hollow needle and the pierceable seal, and in a second configuration, permits the actuating mechanism to cause relative movement between the hollow needle and the pierceable seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2023Publication date: March 27, 2025Inventors: Farlan Veraitch, William Raimes, Stephen Shapka, Arman Amini, Richard Smith, Neil Litten, Julian Brandon-Jones
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Patent number: 12225927Abstract: A cartridge is provided for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. The cartridge has a housing defining a chamber and a pouch containing smokable material. The pouch is located within the chamber. At least part of the pouch is made of porous material for permitting aerosol or volatilized material generated within the pouch to pass out of the pouch from within the pouch. There is also provided a pouch having a first wall and a second wall. The pouch contains smokable material between the first wall and the second wall. A method of manufacturing a pouch is also disclosed in which the first wall is attached to the second wall with smokable material between the first wall and second wall.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2023Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITEDInventors: Joseph Sutton, Dominic Woodcock, Darren Seymour, Hitesh Vallabh, Neil Litten, Harpal Singh, Ahmad Bitar, David Russell
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Patent number: 12134094Abstract: An interface for a microfluidic device such as a microfluidic cassette has a seal portion moveable from a first position to a second position within a reservoir in response to an applied force. Movement of the seal portion within the reservoir causes the volume of the reservoir to increase. The interface also has a hollow needle with a first end and a second end, the first end locatable in fluid communication with the reservoir and the second end located outside of the reservoir and arranged for piercing. The seal portion and the needle are arranged such that when the seal portion moves from the first position to the second position, a predetermined volume of fluid is drawn through the needle into the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2020Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: QUANTUMDX GROUP LIMITEDInventors: James Bennett, Neil Litten, Richard Smith, Julian Brandon-Jones
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Patent number: 12128412Abstract: A specimen container has a vessel having a reservoir and a specimen collection region. The specimen container also has a sleeve located within the vessel and moveable in the direction of the reservoir. Movement of the sleeve in the direction of the reservoir results in the specimen collection region and reservoir being brought into fluid communication with each other.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2020Date of Patent: October 29, 2024Assignee: QUANTUMDX GROUP LIMITEDInventors: James Bennett, Neil Litten, Richard Smith, Julian Brandon-Jones
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Publication number: 20240307674Abstract: A connector comprising a housing extending between a distal end and a proximal end, the housing comprising, at least at one end, a pierceable seal; a hollow needle mounted, at least partially, within the housing between the distal end and the proximal end of the housing, a first end of the hollow needle being connected or connectable to a first corresponding receptacle, and a second end of the hollow needle facing the pierceable seal at an end of the housing; and an actuating mechanism to enable the hollow needle to pierce the pierceable seal, thereby forming a communication through the pierceable seal, such that material is able to transfer through the connector. The pierceable seal includes a distal and a proximal end, the second end of the hollow needle facing the distal end, and the proximal end comprising an engagement element engaging a portion of the hollow needle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2022Publication date: September 19, 2024Inventors: Farlan Veraitch, WILLIAM RAIMES, NEIL LITTEN, RICHARD SMITH, ARMAN AMINI, STEPHEN SHAPKA
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Patent number: 12082604Abstract: An article is provided for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article has a carrier and smokable material arranged on the carrier. The smokable material has a first layer of smokable material and a second layer of smokable material. The first layer of smokable material is located between the carrier and the second layer of smokable material. The smokable material of the first layer of smokable material has a form or chemical composition that differs from the form or chemical composition, respectively, of the smokable material of the second layer of smokable material.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2022Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITEDInventors: Joseph Sutton, Dominic Woodcock, Darren Seymour, Hitesh Vallabh, Neil Litten, Harpal Singh, David Russell, Ahmad Bitar
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Patent number: 11723396Abstract: A cartridge is provided for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. The cartridge has a housing defining a chamber and a pouch containing smokable material. The pouch is located within the chamber. At least part of the pouch is made of porous material for permitting aerosol or volatilized material generated within the pouch to pass out of the pouch from within the pouch. There is also provided a pouch having a first wall and a second wall. The pouch contains smokable material between the first wall and the second wall. A method of manufacturing a pouch is also disclosed in which the first wall is attached to the second wall with smokable material between the first wall and second wall.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Nicoventures Trading LimitedInventors: Joseph Sutton, Dominic Woodcock, Darren Seymour, Hitesh Vallabh, Neil Litten, Harpal Singh, David Russell, Ahmad Bitar
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Publication number: 20230123559Abstract: An assembly for handling biological material, including a planar interface having at least one port, and a component retaining element, spaced apart from the planar interface, configured to retain a component for handling biological material, in which at least one component chosen from the planar interface and the component retaining element is moveable to bring the port and the component retaining element into registration with one another. The registration between the at least one port and the component retaining element adapted to form a fluid communication pathway may be provided between a component retained by the component retaining element and a container associated with the planar interface through the port.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2021Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: Farlan Veraitch, William Raimes, Vincent Gowler, Jason Palmer, Neil Litten, Michael Sawford
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Publication number: 20230120216Abstract: Described herein is apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The apparatus comprises a first casing portion comprising a first connector and a recess for receiving a cartridge, and a second casing portion comprising a second connector for engagement with the first connector. When engaged, the first and second connectors define an inlet between the first and second connectors for admitting air into the recess from an exterior of the smoking article.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventor: Neil LITTEN
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Publication number: 20230115386Abstract: The present disclosure provides a delivery consumable for delivering a fluid to a bioreactor. The delivery consumable comprises a container including a collapsible portion comprising a collapsible wall, and an intermediate portion connected to the collapsible portion and being adapted to hold a fluid. The deliver consumable also comprises a connector adapted to connect the intermediate portion to the bioreactor. The collapsible portion is adapted to collapse and urge the fluid through the connector and into the bioreactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2021Publication date: April 13, 2023Inventors: Farlan Veraitch, Richard Smith, Neil Litten, William Raimes
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Publication number: 20230108218Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fluid delivery consumable for delivering a fluid dose to a bioreactor. The fluid delivery consumable comprising a vial for holding the fluid dose, the vial having an outlet and an open end opposite to the outlet, a plunger engaged with the open end and operable to urge the fluid dose toward the outlet, and a connector proximal to the outlet, the connector being attachable to the bioreactor and adapted to move the fluid dose from the vial to the bioreactor based on operation of the plunger.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2021Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: Neil Litten, Richard Smith, Fartan Veraitch, William Raimes
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Publication number: 20230019545Abstract: An apparatus suitable for handling biological material, for directly introducing or removing material to, or from, a container, comprising a body comprising at least one resealable port; a cover comprising an aperture and wherein the cover is disposed over an upper side of the body, and wherein the cover is moveable such that an aperture of the cover is configured to expose at least part of the resealable port.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2020Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Farlan Veraitch, William Raimes, Richard Smith, Neil Litten, Michael Sawford
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Patent number: 11497253Abstract: Described herein is apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The apparatus comprises a first casing portion comprising a first connector and a recess for receiving a cartridge, and a second casing portion comprising a second connector for engagement with the first connector. When engaged, the first and second connectors define an inlet between the first and second connectors for admitting air into the recess from an exterior of the smoking article.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Nicoventures Trading LimitedInventor: Neil Litten
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Publication number: 20220312828Abstract: An article is provided for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article has a carrier and smokable material arranged on the carrier. The smokable material has a first layer of smokable material and a second layer of smokable material. The first layer of smokable material is located between the carrier and the second layer of smokable material. The smokable material of the first layer of smokable material has a form or chemical composition that differs from the form or chemical composition, respectively, of the smokable material of the second layer of smokable material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Joseph SUTTON, Dominic WOODCOCK, Darren SEYMOUR, Hitesh VALLABH, Neil LITTEN, Harpal SINGH, David RUSSELL, Ahmad BITAR
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Publication number: 20220184608Abstract: A specimen container has a vessel having a reservoir and a specimen collection region. The specimen container also has a sleeve located within the vessel and moveable in the direction of the reservoir. Movement of the sleeve in the direction of the reservoir results in the specimen collection region and reservoir being brought into fluid communication with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2020Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: James BENNETT, Neil LITTEN, Richard SMITH, Julian BRANDON-JONES
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Publication number: 20220184616Abstract: An interface for a microfluidic device such as a microfluidic cassette has a seal portion moveable from a first position to a second position within a reservoir in response to an applied force. Movement of the seal portion within the reservoir causes the volume of the reservoir to increase. The interface also has a hollow needle with a first end and a second end, the first end locatable in fluid communication with the reservoir and the second end located outside of the reservoir and arranged for piercing. The seal portion and the needle are arranged such that when the seal portion moves from the first position to the second position, a predetermined volume of fluid is drawn through the needle into the reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2020Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: James BENNETT, Neil LITTEN, Richard SMITH, Julian BRANDON-JONES
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Publication number: 20220022542Abstract: Described herein is a heating device for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The heating device includes a heating element, and smokable material bonded to the heating element. The heating element includes a layer of electrically-conductive material, a first layer of polyimide, and a second layer of polyimide. The layer of electrically-conductive material is located between the first and second layers of polyimide. Also described are cartridges including the heating device, apparatus including the heating device, and methods of manufacturing the heating device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: Joe ROBINSON, Neil LITTEN, Harpal SINGH
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Patent number: 11166492Abstract: Described herein is a heating device for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The heating device includes a heating element, and smokable material bonded to the heating element. The heating element includes a layer of electrically-conductive material, a first layer of polyimide, and a second layer of polyimide. The layer of electrically-conductive material is located between the first and second layers of polyimide. Also described are cartridges including the heating device, apparatus including the heating device, and methods of manufacturing the heating device.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) LimitedInventors: Joe Robinson, Neil Litten, Harpal Singh
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Patent number: 10863766Abstract: An article is provided for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. The article has a body of porous aerosol containment material. An annular first body of smokable material is located around the body of porous aerosol containment material. There is also provided apparatus for heating smokable material having a first heater extending along an axis and a second heater spaced from and at least partially surrounding the first heater. A method of manufacturing an article for use with an apparatus is also disclosed in which an assembly having porous aerosol containment material on a first layer of smokable material is provided and rolled so the first layer of smokable material becomes an annular body of smokable material located around the porous aerosol containment material.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Inventors: Joseph Sutton, Dominic Woodcock, Hitesh Vallabh, Neil Litten, Harpal Singh, Darren Seymour, David Russell, Ahmad Bitar
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Patent number: D1061931Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2022Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignee: Oribiotech LtdInventors: William Raimes, Vincent Gowler, Neil Litten, Michael Sawford, Lee Unroe, Julian Brandon-Jones, Jason Palmer, Jason Foster, Farlan Veraitch, Eric Michael Bergman, Darren Seymour, Arman Amini, Richard Smith