Patents by Inventor Susan Freers

Susan Freers 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: 9918942
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to substantially uniform, high density microspheres and methods of making the microspheres. The microspheres can be made to be small in size with a narrow range of particle size distribution and a high sphericity. In one aspect, the microspheres provided herein are provided in the form of spherical cores comprising maltodextrin or maltodextrin and starch and are prepared using a centrifugal tumbling-granulating-coating apparatus. In another aspect, the spherical cores can be powder-coated with one or more layers of small particles, such as starch particles. The microspheres provided herein can be used as cores for multi-particulate solid dosage delivery systems as well as other pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, personal care, and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventors: Susan Freers, Carrie Shipley, Brian Jensen, Shawn Engels
  • Patent number: 9605141
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cold-water soluble starch and a process for preparing same. Generally, the process comprises providing a hydroxyalkyl starch and applying a shearing force to the starch in an extruder in the presence of moisture, the force and the moisture each being sufficient to gelatinize at least substantially all of the granules of the starch to thereby form a sheared starch. The starch is heated to its gelatinization temperature after the starch has passed partially through the barrel of the extruder, with the moisture being maintained at a level sufficiently high to allow gelatinization but sufficiency low to protect the starch from becoming too sticky to extrude. The extruded starch product thus formed may be used in connection with a number of film-forming, coating, and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventors: Lin Wang, Peter Miller, Tonya Armstrong, Michael Kramer, Susan Freers, Roger McPherson, Daniel Hubbard, Terry Andren, Jeff Underwood
  • Patent number: 8951594
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cold-water soluble starch and a process for preparing same. Generally, the process comprises providing a hydroxyalkyl starch and applying a shearing force to the starch in an extruder in the presence of moisture, the force and the moisture each being sufficient to gelatinize at least substantially all of the granules of the starch to thereby form a sheared starch. The starch is heated to its gelatinization temperature after the starch has passed partially through the barrel of the extruder, with the moisture being maintained at a level sufficiently high to allow gelatinization but sufficiency low to protect the starch from becoming too sticky to extrude. The extruded starch product thus formed may be used in connection with a number of film-forming, coating, and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventors: Lin Wang, Pete Miller, Jeff Underwood, Tonya Armstrong, Michael Kramer, Susan Freers, Roger McPherson, E. Daniel Hubbard, Terry Andren
  • Publication number: 20150024113
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cold-water soluble starch and a process for preparing same. Generally, the process comprises providing a hydroxyalkyl starch and applying a shearing force to the starch in an extruder in the presence of moisture, the force and the moisture each being sufficient to gelatinize at least substantially all of the granules of the starch to thereby form a sheared starch. The starch is heated to its gelatinization temperature after the starch has passed partially through the barrel of the extruder, with the moisture being maintained at a level sufficiently high to allow gelatinization but sufficiency low to protect the starch from becoming too sticky to extrude. The extruded starch product thus formed may be used in connection with a number of film-forming, coating, and other applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Lin Wang, Peter Miller, Tonya Armstrong, Michael Kramer, Susan Freers, Roger McPherson, Daniel Hubbard, Terry Andren, Jeff Underwood
  • Publication number: 20140079786
    Abstract: The disclosure pertains generally to spheres made from a fiber source. These spheres may be used as cores for carrying other ingredients or may be used alone for applications in the food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, personal care, and industrial industries. In many embodiments the ingredients used in this invention are derived from a natural resource, and are safe to ingest. In some embodiments, the spheres are formed using a centrifugal tumbling-granulating-coating apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventors: Susan Freers, Carrie Shipley, Brian Jensen, Shawn Engels
  • Patent number: 8263163
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cold-water soluble starch and a process for preparing same. Generally, the process comprises providing a hydroxyalkyl starch and applying a shearing force to the starch in an extruder in the presence of moisture, the force and the moisture each being sufficient to gelatinize at least substantially all of the granules of the starch to thereby form a sheared starch. The starch is heated to its gelatinization temperature after the starch has passed partially through the barrel of the extruder, with the moisture being maintained at a level sufficiently high to allow gelatinization but sufficiency low to protect the starch from becoming too sticky to extrude. The extruded starch product thus formed may be used in connection with a number of film-forming, coating, and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventors: Lin Wang, Pete Miller, Tonya Armstrong, Michael Kramer, Susan Freers, Roger McPherson, Daniel E. Hubbard, Terry Andren, Jeff Underwood
  • Patent number: 8192660
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cold-water soluble starch and a process for preparing same. Generally, the process comprises providing a hydroxyalkyl starch and applying a shearing force to the starch in an extruder in the presence of moisture, the force and the moisture each being sufficient to gelatinize at least substantially all of the granules of the starch to thereby form a sheared starch. The starch is heated to its gelatinization temperature after the starch has passed partially through the barrel of the extruder, with the moisture being maintained at a level sufficiently high to allow gelatinization but sufficiency low to protect the starch from becoming too sticky to extrude. The extruded starch product thus formed may be used in connection with a number of film-forming, coating, and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventors: Lin Wang, Pete Miller, Jeff Underwood, Tonya Armstrong, Michael Kramer, Susan Freers, Roger McPherson, E. Daniel Hubbard, Terry Andren
  • Publication number: 20100221402
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cold-water soluble starch and a process for preparing same. Generally, the process comprises providing a hydroxyalkyl starch and applying a shearing force to the starch in an extruder in the presence of moisture, the force and the moisture each being sufficient to gelatinize at least substantially all of the granules of the starch to thereby form a sheared starch. The starch is heated to its gelatinization temperature after the starch has passed partially through the barrel of the extruder, with the moisture being maintained at a level sufficiently high to allow gelatinization but sufficiency low to protect the starch from becoming too sticky to extrude. The extruded starch product thus formed may be used in connection with a number of film-forming, coating, and other applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventors: Lin Wang, Pete Miller, Jeff Underwood, Tonya Armstrong, Michael Kramer, Susan Freers, Roger McPherson, E. Daniel Hubbard, Terry Andren
  • Patent number: 7727443
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cold-water soluble starch and a process for preparing same. Generally, the process comprises providing a hydroxyalkyl starch and applying a shearing force to the starch in an extruder in the presence of moisture, the force and the moisture each being sufficient to gelatinize at least substantially all of the granules of the starch to thereby form a sheared starch. The starch is heated to its gelatinization temperature after the starch has passed partially through the barrel of the extruder, with the moisture being maintained at a level sufficiently high to allow gelatinization but sufficiency low to protect the starch from becoming too sticky to extrude. The extruded starch product thus formed may be used in connection with a number of film-forming, coating, and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventors: Lin Wang, Pete Miller, Jeff Underwood, Tonya Armstrong, Michael Kramer, Susan Freers, Roger McPherson, E. Daniel Hubbard, Terry Andren
  • Patent number: 7595015
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cold-water soluble starch and a process for preparing same. Generally, the process comprises providing a hydroxyalkyl starch and applying a shearing force to the starch in an extruder in the presence of moisture, the force and the moisture each being sufficient to gelatinize at least substantially all of the granules of the starch to thereby form a sheared starch. The starch is heated to its gelatinization temperature after the starch has passed partially through the barrel of the extruder, with the moisture being maintained at a level sufficiently high to allow gelatinization but sufficiency low to protect the starch from becoming too sticky to extrude. The extruded starch product thus formed may be used in connection with a number of film-forming, coating, and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventors: Lin Wang, Pete Miller, Jeff Underwood, Tonya Armstrong, Michael Kramer, Susan Freers, Roger McPherson, E. Daniel Hubbard, Terry Andren
  • Publication number: 20060029671
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for coating a tablet with a coating composition. The tablet generally comprises a biologically active material, and generally one or more biologically acceptable excipients. The coating composition comprises hemicellulose, partially depolymerized hemicellulose, or a mixture thereof. In preferred embodiments, the coating composition includes a plasticizer, and a coating composition further may include coloring agents, opacifiers, and other ingredients. Also disclosed is a coated tablet, a method preparing a coating composition, a coating composition, and a coating composition precursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Applicant: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventors: Susan Freers, Roger McPherson
  • Publication number: 20050260316
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cold-water soluble starch and a process for preparing same. Generally, the process comprises providing a hydroxyalkyl starch and applying a shearing force to the starch in an extruder in the presence of moisture, the force and the moisture each being sufficient to gelatinize at least substantially all of the granules of the starch to thereby form a sheared starch. The starch is heated to its gelatinization temperature after the starch has passed partially through the barrel of the extruder, with the moisture being maintained at a level sufficiently high to allow gelatinization but sufficiency low to protect the starch from becoming too sticky to extrude. The extruded starch product thus formed may be used in connection with a number of film-forming, coating, and other applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Applicant: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventors: Lin Wang, Pete Miller, Jeff Underwood, Tonya Armstrong, Michael Kramer, Susan Freers, Roger McPherson, E. Hubbard, Terry Andren
  • Publication number: 20040140584
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cold-water soluble starch and a process for preparing same. Generally, the process comprises providing a hydroxyalkyl starch and applying a shearing force to the starch in an extruder in the presence of moisture, the force and the moisture each being sufficient to gelatinize at least substantially all of the granules of the starch to thereby form a sheared starch. The starch is heated to its gelatinization temperature after the starch has passed partially through the barrel of the extruder, with the moisture being maintained at a level sufficiently high to allow gelatinization but sufficiency low to protect the starch from becoming too sticky to extrude. The extruded starch product thus formed may be used in connection with a number of film-forming, coating, and other applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventors: Lin Wang, Pete Miller, Jeff Underwood, Tonya Armstrong, Michael Kramer, Susan Freers, Roger McPherson, E. Daniel Hubbard, Terry Andren