Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Brouns

Thomas M. Brouns 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: 4939087
    Abstract: Bioprocessing apparatus and method using centrifugal acceleration of cells to maintain a culture within a reaction zone. The reactor has an inflow at a relatively distance inlet and an outflow at an inwardly spaced point toward the rotational axis. The reaction chamber has an inwardly diverging zone with a velocity gradient which captures cells of varying sizes. A recycle system is preferably used to recycle medium containing nutrients for the culture microbes. Byproducts of the cells are removed by the circulated medium and can be extracted using a desired extraction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Washington State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Van Wie, Michael L. Elliott, Thomas M. Brouns