Patents by Inventor Stephen B. Kessler

Stephen B. Kessler 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: 12377423
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174). A stationary inlet feed tube (184), a centrate discharge tube (212) and a concentrate discharge tube (230) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. A controller (274) operates responsive to sensors (264, 270) in respective centrate and concentrate discharge lines (262, 268), to control flow rates of a concentrate pump (272) and a centrate pump (266) to produce output flows of cell concentrate and generally cell free centrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Patent number: 12350686
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174). A stationary inlet feed tube (184), a centrate discharge tube (212) and a concentrate discharge tube (230) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. A controller (274) operates responsive to sensors (264, 270) in respective centrate and concentrate discharge lines (262, 268), to control flow rates of a concentrate pump (272) and a centrate pump (266) to produce output flows of cell concentrate and generally cell free centrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Patent number: 12318710
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250, 370, 414) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174, 428). A stationary inlet feed tube (184, 430), a centrate discharge tube (212, 436) and a concentrate discharge tube (230,448) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208, 438) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216, 450) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. At least one concentrate channel (380, 454) and a concentrate centripetal pump chamber (376,452) have configurations in the structure that facilitate the flow of cell concentrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Publication number: 20240261708
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250, 370, 414) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174, 428). A stationary inlet feed tube (184, 430), a centrate discharge tube (212, 436) and a concentrate discharge tube (230,448) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208, 438) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216, 450) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. At least one concentrate channel (380, 454) and a concentrate centripetal pump chamber (376,452) have configurations in the structure that facilitate the flow of cell concentrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Publication number: 20240149280
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174). A stationary inlet feed tube (184), a centrate discharge tube (212) and a concentrate discharge tube (230) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. A controller (274) operates responsive to sensors (264, 270) in respective centrate and concentrate discharge lines (262, 268), to control flow rates of a concentrate pump (272) and a centrate pump (266) to produce output flows of cell concentrate and generally cell free centrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Publication number: 20240131529
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174). A stationary inlet feed tube (184), a centrate discharge tube (212) and a concentrate discharge tube (230) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. A controller (274) operates responsive to sensors (264, 270) in respective centrate and concentrate discharge lines (262, 268), to control flow rates of a concentrate pump (272) and a centrate pump (266) to produce output flows of cell concentrate and generally cell free centrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Patent number: 11957998
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250, 370, 414) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174, 428). A stationary inlet feed tube (184, 430), a centrate discharge tube (212, 436) and a concentrate discharge tube (230,448) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208, 438) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216, 450) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. At least one concentrate channel (380, 454) and a concentrate centripetal pump chamber (376,452) have configurations in the structure that facilitate the flow of cell concentrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Patent number: 11878312
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174). A stationary inlet feed tube (184), a centrate discharge tube (212) and a concentrate discharge tube (230) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. A controller (274) operates responsive to sensors (264, 270) in respective centrate and concentrate discharge lines (262, 268), to control flow rates of a concentrate pump (272) and a centrate pump (266) to produce output flows of cell concentrate and generally cell free centrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Patent number: 11878311
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174). A stationary inlet feed tube (184), a centrate discharge tube (212) and a concentrate discharge tube (230) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. A controller (274) operates responsive to sensors (264, 270) in respective centrate and concentrate discharge lines (262, 268), to control flow rates of a concentrate pump (272) and a centrate pump (266) to produce output flows of cell concentrate and generally cell free centrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Publication number: 20220212207
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174). A stationary inlet feed tube (184), a centrate discharge tube (212) and a concentrate discharge tube (230) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. A controller (274) operates responsive to sensors (264, 270) in respective centrate and concentrate discharge lines (262, 268), to control flow rates of a concentrate pump (272) and a centrate pump (266) to produce output flows of cell concentrate and generally cell free centrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Publication number: 20220152632
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174). A stationary inlet feed tube (184), a centrate discharge tube (212) and a concentrate discharge tube (230) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. A controller (274) operates responsive to sensors (264, 270) in respective centrate and concentrate discharge lines (262, 268), to control flow rates of a concentrate pump (272) and a centrate pump (266) to produce output flows of cell concentrate and generally cell free centrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Publication number: 20220143627
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174). A stationary inlet feed tube (184), a centrate discharge tube (212) and a concentrate discharge tube (230) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. A controller (274) operates responsive to sensors (264, 270) in respective centrate and concentrate discharge lines (262, 268), to control flow rates of a concentrate pump (272) and a centrate pump (266) to produce output flows of cell concentrate and generally cell free centrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Publication number: 20210268519
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174). A stationary inlet feed tube (184), a centrate discharge tube (212) and a concentrate discharge tube (230) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. A controller (274) operates responsive to sensors (264, 270) in respective centrate and concentrate discharge lines (262, 268), to control flow rates of a concentrate pump (272) and a centrate pump (266) to produce output flows of cell concentrate and generally cell free centrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Patent number: 11065629
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174). A stationary inlet feed tube (184), a centrate discharge tube (212) and a concentrate discharge tube (230) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. A controller (274) operates responsive to sensors (264, 270) in respective centrate and concentrate discharge lines (262, 268), to control flow rates of a concentrate pump (272) and a centrate pump (266) to produce output flows of cell concentrate and generally cell free centrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Publication number: 20210205734
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250, 370, 414) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174, 428). A stationary inlet feed tube (184, 430), a centrate discharge tube (212, 436) and a concentrate discharge tube (230,448) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208, 438) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216, 450) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. At least one concentrate channel (380, 454) and a concentrate centripetal pump chamber (376,452) have configurations in the structure that facilitate the flow of cell concentrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Patent number: 11033911
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating cell suspension into centrate and concentrate includes a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (82). A single use rotatable core (88) is positioned in the bowl and bounds a cavity (90) which serves as a separation chamber. The bowl rotates about an axis (84). An inlet tube (92) and an outlet tube (102) extend along the axis in the bowl cavity. The centripetal pump (98) in the cavity is in connection with the outlet tube. The centrate discharge pump (120) is in connection with the outlet tube. A pressure damping reservoir (122) is fluidly connected between the outlet tube and the discharge pump. At least one control circuit (142) is operative to control the apparatus to maintain a positive pressure above atmospheric pressure within the cavity, so as to maintain the cell suspension away from at least one seal (106) that bounds the interior of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen B Kessler, T David Marro
  • Publication number: 20190283045
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating cell suspension material into centrate and concentrate, includes a single use structure (178, 240, 250) releasably positioned in a cavity in a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (172). The bowl and portions of single use structure rotate about an axis (174). A stationary inlet feed tube (184), a centrate discharge tube (212) and a concentrate discharge tube (230) extend along the axis of the rotating single use structure. A centrate centripetal pump (208) is in fluid connection with the centrate discharge tube. A concentrate centripetal pump (216) is in fluid connection with the concentrate discharge tube. A controller (274) operates responsive to sensors (264, 270) in respective centrate and concentrate discharge lines (262, 268), to control flow rates of a concentrate pump (272) and a centrate pump (266) to produce output flows of cell concentrate and generally cell free centrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Publication number: 20190283042
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separation of cells from suspension using single use components that include a flexible membrane mounted on a rigid frame that is supported within a multiple use rigid centrifuge bowl. Such single use components include a rotatable core which is rotated at a sufficiently high angular velocity to separate cell concentrate and centrate. Cell centrate and/or cell concentrate is removed from the interior of the core by a centripetal pump having a pair of curved volute passages. The volute passages are curved toward the direction of rotation of the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T. David Marro
  • Publication number: 20190283044
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating cell suspension into centrate and concentrate includes a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (82). A single use rotatable core (88) is positioned in the bowl and bounds a cavity (90) which serves as a separation chamber. The bowl rotates about an axis (84). An inlet tube (92) and an outlet tube (102) extend along the axis in the bowl cavity. The centripetal pump (98) in the cavity is in connection with the outlet tube. The centrate discharge pump (120) is in connection with the outlet tube. A pressure damping reservoir (122) is fluidly connected between the outlet tube and the discharge pump. At least one control circuit (142) is operative to control the apparatus to maintain a positive pressure above atmospheric pressure within the cavity, so as to maintain the cell suspension away from at least one seal (106) that bounds the interior of the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, T David Marro
  • Patent number: 10384216
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating cell suspension into centrate and concentrate includes a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (82). A single use rotatable core (88) is positioned in the bowl and bounds a cavity (90) which serves as a separation chamber. The bowl rotates about an axis (84). An inlet tube (92) and an outlet tube (102) extend along the axis in the bowl cavity. The centripetal pump (98) in the cavity is in connection with the outlet tube. The centrate discharge pump (120) is in connection with the outlet tube. A pressure damping reservoir (122) is fluidly connected between the outlet tube and the discharge pump. At least one control circuit (142) is operative to control the apparatus to maintain a positive pressure above atmospheric pressure within the cavity, so as to maintain the cell suspension away from at least one seal (106) that bounds the interior of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel S. Sutton, Stephen B Kessler, T David Marro