Patents by Inventor Rodney Sparks

Rodney Sparks 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: 11759777
    Abstract: Multi-component separation devices configured to separate components of a liquid sample by centrifugation are provided. Aspects of the separation devices include a container having a distal end and a proximal end and a buoy configured to be displaced along a longitudinal axis within the container where the buoy includes one or more sealed chambers. Also provided are methods of using the subject devices to separate components of a multi-component liquid sample such as whole blood, bone marrow aspirate or stromal vascular fraction as well as systems suitable for practicing the subject methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventors: Rodney Sparks, John Raymond Chapman
  • Publication number: 20220241776
    Abstract: Multi-component separation devices configured to separate components of a liquid sample by centrifugation are provided. Aspects of the separation devices include a container having a distal end and a proximal end and a buoy configured to be displaced along a longitudinal axis within the container where the buoy includes one or more sealed chambers. Also provided are methods of using the subject devices to separate components of a multi-component liquid sample such as whole blood, bone marrow aspirate or stromal vascular fraction as well as systems suitable for practicing the subject methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Rodney Sparks, John Raymond Chapman
  • Patent number: 11292014
    Abstract: Centrifuge counterbalances having an adjustable center of gravity are provided. Aspects of the centrifuge counterbalances include an elongated body having a distal end and a proximal end, a weight configured to be reversibly immobilized at a position along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body and a base configured to operably couple the centrifuge counterbalance to a centrifuge. Also provided are methods for balancing a centrifuge rotor when separating components of a liquid sample by centrifugation as well as systems suitable for practicing the subject methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Arteriocyte Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Welborn, Rodney Sparks
  • Patent number: 11278884
    Abstract: Multi-component separation devices configured to separate components of a liquid sample by centrifugation are provided. Aspects of the separation devices include a container having a distal end and a proximal end and a buoy configured to be displaced along a longitudinal axis within the container where the buoy includes one or more sealed chambers. Also provided are methods of using the subject devices to separate components of a multi-component liquid sample such as whole blood, bone marrow aspirate or stromal vascular fraction as well as systems suitable for practicing the subject methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Arteriocyte Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney Sparks, John Raymond Chapman
  • Patent number: 10856071
    Abstract: A system and method for improving hearing is disclosed. The system includes a microphone array that includes an enclosure, a plurality of beamformer microphones and an electronic processing circuitry to provide enhanced audio signals to a user by using information obtained on the position and orientation of the user. The system is preferably in the form of a smartphone having a retractable piece having the beamformer microphones mounted thereon. The system may also include a corresponding method for improving hearing and a non-transitory computer storage media having instructions stored thereon which, when executed, execute the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Noopl, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Verdooner, Rodney Sparks, Kevin Snow
  • Patent number: 10665884
    Abstract: A flexible fuel cell power system comprising one or more fuel cell cartridges (which contain fuel cell modules) connected to a fuel cell system is provided. The components of the flexible fuel cell power system may be placed on a shared backbone with flexible joints, and may be made of flexible materials so that the entire system can be worn by a human being.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Wallace, Glenn Rambach, Linna Peng, Rodney Sparks, John Melack
  • Publication number: 20190181484
    Abstract: A flexible fuel cell power system comprising one or more fuel cell cartridges (which contain fuel cell modules) connected to a fuel cell system is provided. The components of the flexible fuel cell power system may be placed on a shared backbone with flexible joints, and may be made of flexible materials so that the entire system can be worn by a human being.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Wallace, Glenn Rambach, Linna Peng, Rodney Sparks, John Melack
  • Patent number: 10218026
    Abstract: A flexible fuel cell power system comprising one or more fuel cell cartridges (which contain fuel cell modules) connected to a fuel cell system is provided. The components of the flexible fuel cell power system may be placed on a shared backbone with flexible joints, and may be made of flexible materials so that the entire system can be worn by a human being.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Wallace, Glenn Rambach, Linna Peng, Rodney Sparks, John Melack
  • Publication number: 20170319063
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sensing, recording and analyzing data representative events of memory lapses and function uses a wearable device (e.g., wrist, armband, pendant) having sensors to detect user gestures and vital signs for transmission and analysis by a computation unit to predict the onset of cognitive impairment related diseases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Verdooner, Rodney Sparks
  • Publication number: 20170304823
    Abstract: Multi-component separation devices configured to separate components of a liquid sample by centrifugation are provided. Aspects of the separation devices include a container having a distal end and a proximal end and a buoy configured to be displaced along a longitudinal axis within the container where the buoy includes one or more sealed chambers. Also provided are methods of using the subject devices to separate components of a multi-component liquid sample such as whole blood, bone marrow aspirate or stromal vascular fraction as well as systems suitable for practicing the subject methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, LLC
    Inventors: Rodney Sparks, John Raymond Chapman
  • Publication number: 20170054175
    Abstract: A flexible fuel cell power system comprising one or more fuel cell cartridges (which contain fuel cell modules) connected to a fuel cell system is provided. The components of the flexible fuel cell power system may be placed on a shared backbone with flexible joints, and may be made of flexible materials so that the entire system can be worn by a human being.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Wallace, Glenn Rambach, Linna Peng, Rodney Sparks, John Melack
  • Publication number: 20160296947
    Abstract: Centrifuge counterbalances having an adjustable center of gravity are provided. Aspects of the centrifuge counterbalances include an elongated body having a distal end and a proximal end, a weight configured to be reversibly immobilized at a position along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body and a base configured to operably couple the centrifuge counterbalance to a centrifuge. Also provided are methods for balancing a centrifuge rotor when separating components of a liquid sample by centrifugation as well as systems suitable for practicing the subject methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Kenneth Welborn, Rodney Sparks
  • Patent number: 9440243
    Abstract: A centrifuge vessel is configured to have at least two chambers therein separated by a divider, and with a spillway around a lip at an end of the divider to join the chambers. After centrifugation differing density phases of an original sample remain on opposite sides of the divider. Separate extraction ports are provided for removal of differing density phases of the original sample from opposite sides of the divider. A method of use of the centrifuge vessel includes centrifugation and extraction at differing orientations of the vessel for convenient and reliable extraction of differing density fractions from the original sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, LLC
    Inventors: John R. Chapman, Rodney Sparks
  • Publication number: 20160249141
    Abstract: A system and method for improving hearing is disclosed. The system includes a microphone array that includes an enclosure, a plurality of beamformer microphones and an electronic processing circuitry to provide enhanced audio signals to a user by using information obtained on the position and orientation of the user. The system is preferably in the form of a smartphone having a retractable piece having the beamformer microphones mounted thereon. The system may also include a corresponding method for improving hearing and a non-transitory computer storage media having instructions stored thereon which, when executed, execute the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Steven VERDOONER, Rodney SPARKS, Kevin SNOW
  • Patent number: 9101926
    Abstract: The centrifugation vessel includes an outer wall containing an interior space. A dam defines a barrier which divides the interior space into at least two regions including a catch basin defining a higher gee region and a reservoir defining a lower gee region. These regions are joined together over the dam. The dam includes a face which is preferably tapered to enable optimization of speed of separation of a sample placed within the vessel. The vessel is usable in a biological sample processing method by having the higher gee region of the vessel configured to have an elongate form and the volume optimized for collection of a higher density fraction of the sample. Supply and withdrawal tubes extend into the regions for reliable extraction and separate collection of differing density fractions after separation by centrifugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, LLC
    Inventors: John R. Chapman, Rodney Sparks, Philip H. Coelho
  • Patent number: 9101925
    Abstract: The centrifugation vessel includes an outer wall containing an interior space. A dam defines a barrier which divides the interior space into at least two regions including a catch basin defining a higher gee region and a reservoir defining a lower gee region. These regions are joined together over the dam. The dam includes a face which is preferably tapered to enable optimization of speed of separation of a sample placed within the vessel. The vessel is usable in a biological sample processing method by having the higher gee region of the vessel configured to have an elongate form and the volume optimized for collection of a higher density fraction of the sample. Supply and withdrawal tubes extend into the regions for reliable extraction and separate collection of differing density fractions after separation by centrifugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, LLC
    Inventors: John R. Chapman, Rodney Sparks, Philip H. Coelho
  • Patent number: 9095798
    Abstract: The centrifugation vessel includes an outer wall containing an interior space. A dam defines a barrier which divides the interior space into at least two regions including a catch basin defining a higher gee region and a reservoir defining a lower gee region. These regions are joined together over the dam. The dam includes a face which is preferably tapered to enable optimization of speed of separation of a sample placed within the vessel. The vessel is usable in a biological sample processing method by having the higher gee region of the vessel configured to have an elongate form and the volume optimized for collection of a higher density fraction of the sample. Supply and withdrawal tubes extend into the regions for reliable extraction and separate collection of differing density fractions after separation by centrifugation. A medium density fluid is used within the vessel to further isolate constituents of differing densities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, LLC
    Inventors: John R. Chapman, Rodney Sparks
  • Publication number: 20130045852
    Abstract: The centrifugation vessel includes an outer wall containing an interior space. A dam defines a barrier which divides the interior space into at least two regions including a catch basin defining a higher gee region and a reservoir defining a lower gee region. These regions are joined together over the dam. The dam includes a face which is preferably tapered to enable optimization of speed of separation of a sample placed within the vessel. The vessel is usable in a biological sample processing method by having the higher gee region of the vessel configured to have an elongate form and the volume optimized for collection of a higher density fraction of the sample. Supply and withdrawal tubes extend into the regions for reliable extraction and separate collection of differing density fractions after separation by centrifugation. A medium density fluid is used within the vessel to further isolate constituents of differing densities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: John R. Chapman, Rodney Sparks
  • Publication number: 20120065047
    Abstract: The centrifugation vessel includes an outer wall containing an interior space. A dam defines a barrier which divides the interior space into at least two regions including a catch basin defining a higher gee region and a reservoir defining a lower gee region. These regions are joined together over the dam. The dam includes a face which is preferably tapered to enable optimization of speed of separation of a sample placed within the vessel. The vessel is usable in a biological sample processing method by having the higher gee region of the vessel configured to have an elongate form and the volume optimized for collection of a higher density fraction of the sample. Supply and withdrawal tubes extend into the regions for reliable extraction and separate collection of differing density fractions after separation by centrifugation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: John R. Chapman, Rodney Sparks, Philip H. Coelho
  • Publication number: 20120065048
    Abstract: The centrifugation vessel includes an outer wall containing an interior space. A dam defines a barrier which divides the interior space into at least two regions including a catch basin defining a higher gee region and a reservoir defining a lower gee region. These regions are joined together over the dam. The dam includes a face which is preferably tapered to enable optimization of speed of separation of a sample placed within the vessel. The vessel is usable in a biological sample processing method by having the higher gee region of the vessel configured to have an elongate form and the volume optimized for collection of a higher density fraction of the sample. Supply and withdrawal tubes extend into the regions for reliable extraction and separate collection of differing density fractions after separation by centrifugation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: John R. Chapman, Rodney Sparks, Philip H. Coelho