Patents by Inventor William Bryan Smith

William Bryan Smith 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: 12076450
    Abstract: An air handling system for a hot air sterilizer apparatus includes a sterilization chamber having an air exhaust portal, an air handling pathway traversing above the sterilization chamber through an upper supply air plenum and traversing below the sterilization chamber through a lower supply air plenum, a circulation fan configured to direct supply air from the air exhaust portal over an upper heating element through the upper supply air plenum and over a lower heating element through the lower supply air plenum, a first temperature sensor in the upper supply air plenum and configured to measure temperature of air downstream from the upper heating element, a second temperature sensor in the lower supply air plenum and configured to measure temperature of air downstream from the lower heating element, and a third temperature sensor at the air exhaust portal and configured to monitor temperature of air exiting the sterilization chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Integrated Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Bryan Smith, Michael Howard Linse, Nelson Sigman Slavik, Gary Jay Oliver
  • Publication number: 20220370655
    Abstract: An air handling system for a hot air sterilizer apparatus includes a sterilization chamber having an air exhaust portal, an air handling pathway traversing above the sterilization chamber through an upper supply air plenum and traversing below the sterilization chamber through a lower supply air plenum, a circulation fan configured to direct supply air from the air exhaust portal over an upper heating element through the upper supply air plenum and over a lower heating element through the lower supply air plenum, a first temperature sensor in the upper supply air plenum and configured to measure temperature of air downstream from the upper heating element, a second temperature sensor in the lower supply air plenum and configured to measure temperature of air downstream from the lower heating element, and a third temperature sensor at the air exhaust portal and configured to monitor temperature of air exiting the sterilization chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: William Bryan Smith, Michael Howard Linse, Nelson Sigman Slavik, Gary Jay Oliver
  • Patent number: 11406725
    Abstract: A device and system for sterilizing objects, commonly dental, medical, or veterinary instruments, having a double door configuration that can provide entry of contaminated instruments into a sterilizer from a contaminated area and subsequently, post-sterilization, their pass-through directly into a sterile area through an exit door from said sterilizer. More specifically, the invention is a countertop, high velocity, dry heat sterilization device that is readily adaptable for those clinical areas requiring separation of contaminated and sterile areas for the processing of medical, dental, or veterinary instruments. The sterilization device utilizes a dual airflow pathway and a controlled heat delivery system to deliver to the sterilization chamber the supply air having temperature uniformity and air velocity required of the high velocity dry heat sterilization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Integrated Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Bryan Smith, Michael Howard Linse, Nelson Sigman Slavik
  • Publication number: 20190255202
    Abstract: A device and system for sterilizing objects, commonly dental, medical, or veterinary instruments, having a double door configuration that can provide entry of contaminated instruments into a sterilizer from a contaminated area and subsequently, post-sterilization, their pass-through directly into a sterile area through an exit door from said sterilizer. More specifically, the invention is a countertop, high velocity, dry heat sterilization device that is readily adaptable for those clinical areas requiring separation of contaminated and sterile areas for the processing of medical, dental, or veterinary instruments. The sterilization device utilizes a dual airflow pathway and a controlled heat delivery system to deliver to the sterilization chamber the supply air having temperature uniformity and air velocity required of the high velocity dry heat sterilization process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: William Bryan Smith, Michael Howard Linse, Nelson Sigman Slavik
  • Patent number: 9339566
    Abstract: A device and system is disclosed for sterilizing objects, commonly dental, medical, or veterinary instruments, by directing high velocity hot air into a container having pre-constructed plenums to direct, diffuse, and re-circulate the sterilizing agent uniformly throughout the chamber to effect sterilization of contained medical objects. More specifically, the invention employs high velocity hot dry air as the sterilizing agent, generating the heat and rapid airflow by means of a base unit. The high velocity heated air is forced into the medical instrument container where a removable air supply/return plenum directs the heated, rapidly flowing air uniformly throughout the container. During the sterilization process heated air temperature is maintained in the container by a continual re-circulating of exhaust air back to the base unit for re-heating and return to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Integrated Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Bryan Smith, Nelson Sigman Slavik, John Howland Hinman, Jeffrey S. Crane
  • Publication number: 20150217007
    Abstract: A device and system is disclosed for sterilizing objects, commonly dental, medical, or veterinary instruments, by directing high velocity hot air into a container having pre-constructed plenums to direct, diffuse, and re-circulate the sterilizing agent uniformly throughout the chamber to effect sterilization of contained medical objects. More specifically, the invention employs high velocity hot dry air as the sterilizing agent, generating the heat and rapid airflow by means of a base unit. The high velocity heated air is forced into the medical instrument container where a removable air supply/return plenum directs the heated, rapidly flowing air uniformly throughout the container. During the sterilization process heated air temperature is maintained in the container by a continual re-circulating of exhaust air back to the base unit for re-heating and return to the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: William Bryan Smith, Nelson Sigman Slavik, John Howland Hinman, Jeffrey S. Crane
  • Publication number: 20150088535
    Abstract: A multivariate computational system and method for optimal healthcare service pricing are disclosed. The system and method may use a computational process that integrates arbitrary sources of healthcare service price and quality information into a model. The model adapts over time such that it determines the optimal price for individual or aggregate healthcare service queries based on regional and temporal adjustments, as well as any of a number of service quality metrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: William Bryan Smith, Theodore C. Tanner, JR.
  • Publication number: 20130078161
    Abstract: A device and system is disclosed for sterilizing objects, commonly dental, medical, or veterinary instruments, by enhancing rapid hot air diffusion into an instrument container by means of a sliding cover overlaying an opening in the bottom of the instrument container when in the closed position and sliding horizontally to reveal the opening in the open position, allowing rapidly flowing hot air into the container for medical article sterilization. The sliding cover is moved to the open position just prior to the sterilization process by a mechanical means incorporated into the sterilizer with the sliding cover remaining in the open position through the completion of the sterilization process. Once the sterilization cycle is complete, the mechanical means is reversed, closing, sealing, and locking the sliding cover in place over the opening before the instrument container is removed from the sterilizer, ensuring continued medical instrumentation sterility inside the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: William Bryan Smith, Nelson S. Slavik