Patents by Inventor Timothy K. Essert

Timothy K. Essert 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: 8733015
    Abstract: A method and system for disinfecting and disinfesting a commodity, such as a perishable agricultural commodity, by treatment with an environment of low oxygen/high ballast gas with cycled pressure changes that overwhelm and damage the respiratory system of the insect without damaging the host commodity. The system and method may also include the introduction of disinfectants, antiseptics and other toxic chemicals or the exposure to radio frequencies with intense electric fields that may increase the metabolic activity of the pest or decrease the fitness of the pest within the low oxygen environment. Treatments according to the methods can also increase the shelf life of agricultural commodities by eradicating or delaying the growth of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and other microbial pests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Manuel C. Lagunas-Solar, Timothy K. Essert
  • Patent number: 8726564
    Abstract: A method and system for disinfecting and disinfesting a commodity, such as a perishable agricultural commodity, by treatment with an environment of low oxygen/high ballast gas with cycled pressure changes that overwhelm and damage the respiratory system of the insect without damaging the host commodity. The system and method may also include the introduction of disinfectants, antiseptics and other toxic chemicals or the exposure to radio frequencies with intense electric fields that may increase the metabolic activity of the pest or decrease the fitness of the pest within the low oxygen environment. Treatments according to the methods can also increase the shelf life of agricultural commodities by eradicating or delaying the growth of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and other microbial pests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Manuel C. Lagunas-Solar, Timothy K. Essert
  • Publication number: 20120023808
    Abstract: A method and system for disinfecting and disinfesting a commodity, such as a perishable agricultural commodity, by treatment with an environment of low oxygen/high ballast gas with cycled pressure changes that overwhelm and damage the respiratory system of the insect without damaging the host commodity. The system and method may also include the introduction of disinfectants, antiseptics and other toxic chemicals or the exposure to radio frequencies with intense electric fields that may increase the metabolic activity of the pest or decrease the fitness of the pest within the low oxygen environment. Treatments according to the methods can also increase the shelf life of agricultural commodities by eradicating or delaying the growth of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and other microbial pests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Manuel C. Lagunas-Solar, Timothy K. Essert
  • Publication number: 20120005948
    Abstract: A method and system for disinfecting and disinfesting a commodity, such as a perishable agricultural commodity, by treatment with an environment of low oxygen/high ballast gas with cycled pressure changes that overwhelm and damage the respiratory system of the insect without damaging the host commodity. The system and method may also include the introduction of disinfectants, antiseptics and other toxic chemicals or the exposure to radio frequencies with intense electric fields that may increase the metabolic activity of the pest or decrease the fitness of the pest within the low oxygen environment. Treatments according to the methods can also increase the shelf life of agricultural commodities by eradicating or delaying the growth of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and other microbial pests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Manuel C. Lagunas-Solar, Timothy K. Essert
  • Patent number: 7975427
    Abstract: A method and system for disinfecting and disinfesting a commodity, such as a perishable agricultural commodity, by treatment with an environment of low oxygen/high ballast gas with cycled pressure changes that overwhelm and damage the respiratory system of the insect without damaging the host commodity. The system and method may also include the introduction of disinfectants, antiseptics and other toxic chemicals or the exposure to radio frequencies with intense electric fields that may increase the metabolic activity of the pest or decrease the fitness of the pest within the low oxygen environment. Treatments according to the methods can also increase the shelf life of agricultural commodities by eradicating or delaying the growth of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and other microbial pests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Manuel C. Lagunas-Solar, Timothy K. Essert
  • Patent number: 6638475
    Abstract: A method and a system for the application of radio frequency energy to a host material in order to inhibit the presence of pathogenic or spoilage organisms, and the host material thereby treated. In general terms, a radio frequency field is introduced to a host material, where the radio frequency field is configured to resonantly introduce thermal energy to the host material at a frequency, where the thermal energy is sufficient to cause irreversible changes in infective organisms, and where the radio frequency field is configured at a power level such that the thermal energy causes only reversible changes in the host material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Manuel C. Lagunas-Solar, Nolan X. Zeng, Timothy K. Essert