Automatic Control Patents (Class 210/143)
  • Patent number: 8882997
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for separating particles and dissolved matter from a produced water fluid stream. Specifically, the present invention includes a first pressure source which transports untreated produced water or contaminated aqueous fluid into a separator annulus with a filter element disposed therein. The untreated fluid is placed under appropriate pressure sufficient to produce turbulent flow, increased particle kinetics and/or cavitation allowing the desired fluid to penetrate and pass into and through the, filter media. The treated fluid is then transported to a collection tank. The contaminant matter retained by the filter media may be removed by the nearly instantaneous reverse pressurization of the separator annulus by a second pressure source thereby removing the contaminant particles away from contact with the filter media, and which may then be transported to a waste collection tank or a separator for further treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Tervita Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond Ford Johnson
  • Patent number: 8883000
    Abstract: A water purification apparatus comprising at least: (a) one or more water purification components to provide a purified water stream, preferably having a conductivity of less than 1 ?S/cm; and (b) a stepper motor (35) to control the dispense of the purified water stream (28) from the water purification apparatus. Stepper motors can provide very fine and accurate control of the dispense of the purified water stream from the water purification apparatus, which control is unaffected by the flow or flow rate of the purified water stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: VWS (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Lee Underwood, Matthew Dobson
  • Patent number: 8875899
    Abstract: A pumpbox, the pumpbox being in fluid communication with one or more vessels, wherein the pumpbox comprises a classification portion and level control means adapted to control the level of fluid within the one or more vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Xstrata Technology Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Francis Young
  • Patent number: 8877051
    Abstract: A system and process for chromatography that uses a chromatography column to separate components from a sample received into the column in a mobile phase flowstream and places a second chromatography column between a detector and a collection system that compensates the timing of fraction collection for a delay caused by processing the collection signals generated by the detector. The device and process of the preferred and alternative embodiments add a delay into the flowstream of a chromatographic system, such as LC, HPLC, and SFC. Sample fractions are collected from sample component concentration peaks based upon the chromatographic elution of the sample components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kimber D. Fogelman, Edwin E. Wikfors, Rui Chen
  • Patent number: 8877063
    Abstract: A blood circuit capable of automatically performing priming for safe treatments. The blood circuit includes: a hemofilter (56) purifying blood; a blood removal line that has an end connected to an inlet of the hemofilter (56) and that includes a first blood removal line (84), a second blood removal line (88), and a third blood removal line (89); a blood return line that has an end connected to an outlet of the hemofilter (56) and that includes the first blood return line (92) and the second blood return line (94); and an anticoagulant (bypass) line (90) reducing a difference between (a) a pressure of a priming fluid flowing in the blood removal line and (b) a pressure of the priming fluid flowing in the blood return line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: JMS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Kawarabata, Noriaki Nakagawa, Junya Fujii, Shogo Kamito
  • Publication number: 20140319035
    Abstract: Features for protecting against leaks in a fluid circuit are disclosed. In a first embodiment, a fluid circuit is housed by another fluid circuit that is configured to capture and convey leaks to leak detector. In a second embodiment, a first indicator of a leak is used to trigger confirmation by blood flow reversal and air detection in the blood circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: NXSTAGE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Burbank, Dennis M. Treu, James M. Brugger, Daniel Joseph Rubery, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140311970
    Abstract: A rotating screen has one or more panels arranged into a cylinder, or drum. The panels have openings in a micro-screening range, for example 100 microns or less. Wastewater to be screened is fed to the interior of the drum. The drum rotates constantly but the rotation may be discontinuous and the speed of rotation may be variable. The drum may be cleaned by an air knife. If the wastewater contains oil and grease, a short hot water spray may be provided before cleaning with the air knife. Optionally, an internal auger conveys solids down the length of the drum to an outlet. The rotating screen may be used for primary treatment of wastewater. The rotating screen may be used produce screenings with a dried solids concentration of 5% or more, for example 6-7%. The primary sludge may be treated in an anaerobic digester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Michael David Theodoulou, Juan Carlos Josse
  • Patent number: 8864949
    Abstract: A system and method for decontaminating water and generating water vapor includes introducing contaminated water in to a vessel. The water is moved through a series of rotating trays alternately separated by stationary baffles so as to swirl and heat the water to effect the vaporization thereof to produce a vapor having at least some of the contaminants separated therefrom. The vapor is removed from the vessel for condensing apart from the separated contaminants and the remaining water. The vapor may be passed through a turbine connected to an electric generator. Sensors in a controller may be employed to adjust the speed of rotation of the trays or water input into the vessel in response to the sensed conditions. The treated water may be recirculated and reprocessed through the vessel to increase the purification thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Verno Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John D. Riley, Dana L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8858805
    Abstract: A sono-molecular-conversion device and method for effecting nitrification of ammonia in water, the method including feeding the water containing ammonia through a sono-molecular conversion device including a plurality of ultrasound transducers; and applying ultrasonic energy to the water containing ammonia by the sono-molecular conversion device to ultrasonically collapse microsized bubbles with transient cavitation in the water containing ammonia to effect nitrification of ammonia therein by sono-molecular-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Edward Vago
  • Publication number: 20140299552
    Abstract: A process for disinfecting a treatment fluid is disclosed, including the step of admixing an aqueous solution comprising two or more oxidants generated via electrolysis of a salt solution with a treatment fluid. The mixed oxidants may be generated on site, using a containerized system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Colin Stewart, Mukesh Kapila, James R. Fajt, Perry Lomond, Daniel Gallo, Richard Bingham, Alan McKee
  • Patent number: 8852140
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically adjusting the operational parameters of a blood separation procedure. A blood separation device has an inlet for passing fluid thereinto and an outlet for removing fluid therefrom. A pump system is provided for moving fluid into and out of the device. In use, blood is conveyed into the device, where platelets are separated from at least a portion of the blood. A controller determines the amount of platelets in the device. Based at least in part on the amount of platelets in the device, corrective action is taken to avoid platelet aggregation in the device. The corrective action may be conveying an elevated amount of anticoagulant into the blood and/or the device and may be initiated when the determined amount of platelets approaches, meets, or exceeds a threshold predicted likelihood of platelet aggregation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Barry, Jr., Brian C. Case, Lan T. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20140291219
    Abstract: An evaporator system for evaporating wastewater comprises an evaporation chamber; a heat exchanger disposed within a hollow interior of the evaporation chamber; a spray pump and at least one spray nozzle for spraying the wastewater onto the exterior surface of the heat exchanger; a control apparatus configured to control the operation of the heat exchanger, the spray pump and the evaporation chamber; a housing; and a power source. The heat exchanger may comprise at least one hollow body that has a wall with an exterior surface and an interior surface, a first opening at a first end of the at least one hollow body, a second opening at a second end of the at least one hollow body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: CHRISTOPHER M. EGER
  • Publication number: 20140291220
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning an immersed surface, comprising a hollow body, guiding and driving members, a filtration chamber which is provided in the hollow body and which has at least one liquid inlet, at least one liquid outlet and a hydraulic circuit for circulation of liquid through a filtering device. An accelerometer device is fixedly joined to the hollow body and which is adapted to provide instantaneous measurements of at least one acceleration component of the terrestrial gravity in at least one fixed direction which is fixed relative to the hollow body, and a processing unit for processing the acceleration measurements supplied by the accelerometer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Emmanuel Mastio, Thierry Michelon, E. Keith Mc Queen, Tawny Jean Cothran
  • Patent number: 8845888
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a water treatment system includes: a membrane separation device and a water softening device including a valve unit switching between a softening process in which soft water is obtained by passing raw water through a cation exchange resin bed downward and a regeneration process in which a whole of the cation exchange resin bed is regenerated by generating an opposite flow of a regenerant by supplying the regenerant from both sides of a top portion and a bottom portion of the cation exchange resin bed and collecting a liquid at an intermediate portion of the cation exchange resin bed, and a regenerant supply supplying the regenerant in a volume which gives a regeneration level of 1 to 6 eq/L-R, to a hardness leakage prevention region set in a predetermined depth on the bottom portion of the cation exchange resin bed, in the regeneration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Miura Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuyuki Manabe, Hayato Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8845887
    Abstract: A water purifier determining an appropriate discarded water quantity includes: a purified water supply; an integrated flow quantity measuring part; and a control and calculation part. The control and calculation part is configured to determine whether purified water is unsuitable for use based upon the integrated flow quantity measured for a period of time from when the supply is started. A value of water quantity Qti at the Nth time is determined based on a length of time from when the purified water supply stops the supply at the (N?1)th time up to when the purified water supply starts the supply at the the Nth time; and a difference between a quantity of water measured for a period of time from when the supply at the (N?1)th time is started to when the supply at the (N?1)th time is stopped and a value of Qti at the (N?1)th time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Morisue
  • Patent number: 8845898
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit includes a gearbox housing portion and a filter housing portion providing an integral housing. A filter cavity is provided in the filter housing portion. A surface circumscribes the filter cavity. A scupper includes a passage extending from the surface to an opening on an exterior surface of the integral housing. A sealing region between the scupper and the filter cavity is configured to fluidly isolate the scupper and the fuel filter cavity from one another. In one example, the filter cavity receives a fuel filter cartridge. A cap is secured to the filter housing portion and encloses the filter cavity when in a secured position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Brian C. DeDe, Michael J. Rollins, Melissa A. Bell, David Lau
  • Publication number: 20140263102
    Abstract: A filtration system is provided. The filtration system includes a filter media including a plurality of apertures defined therein, and an array of micropillars. Each micropillar is substantially aligned with one of the plurality of apertures and is configured to be repelled by particles of a predetermined substance entrained in a flow channeled through the filtration system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: The Boeing Company
  • Publication number: 20140271432
    Abstract: A decontamination system for decontaminating at least one contaminant in a process stream. Decontaminant liquid is dispersed into the process stream using atomization. A controller detects contaminant levels in the process stream and adjusts the flow of decontaminant fluid into the process stream in response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Lance Witt
  • Publication number: 20140263044
    Abstract: A solid dissolver system for the treatment of waste material in a waste water collection system. The solid dissolver system includes a housing. The housing includes a cover and a platform portion for receiving the cover. A cartridge containing agents for the treatment of waste material is disposed within the cover, the cover substantially surrounding and enveloping the cartridge, the cover including an opening. A water inlet is provided into the housing, the water inlet terminating at a spray means disposed proximate to or inside the cover opening, the spray means being capable of directing water at an exposed surface of the cartridge, the platform portion being capable of collecting any effluent from the water directed at the exposed surface of the cartridge by the spray means. A water outlet for channeling the effluent into a waste water collection system is included in the platform portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventor: Eric D. Frazier
  • Publication number: 20140262998
    Abstract: A water distribution system for the distribution of water may include a collection and filtering device to collect and filter water for the water distribution system, a Hydro turbine generator to generate power from the collected water and a storage tank to store water from the Hydro generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Chris Wagner, Dusty Williams
  • Publication number: 20140263087
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to swimming pool cleaners, systems and methods that generally include a swimming pool cleaner and a docking station. Embodiments of the swimming pool cleaner can include a battery and a debris container. The docking station generally includes an opening configured and dimensioned to at least partially receive the swimming pool cleaner. Upon receipt of the swimming pool cleaner in the opening of the housing, the docking station can automatically recharge the battery of the swimming pool cleaner and/or automatically clean the debris container of the swimming pool cleaner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Benoit Joseph Renaud, David John Hardy, Jason Wayne Parcell
  • Patent number: 8828318
    Abstract: A high pressure extraction apparatus and extracting method therefor are adapted to maintain a medium at the supercritical state to extract substance-to-be-extracted. The apparatus includes an extraction tank, a piston and a control unit. The control unit controls the piston to reciprocate in the extraction tank as well as controls the pressure of the extract space of the tank, feeding of the substance, discharge of extract, and discharge of leftover. Accordingly, the apparatus performs a continuous supercritical extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Tz-Bang Du, Chyuan Juang, Long-Shuenn Jean, Chen-Hsi Cheng, Hom-Ti Lee, Hsien-Chueh Pi
  • Publication number: 20140246364
    Abstract: A system for performing ozone water treatment comprises a voltage supply circuit and a plasma eductor reactor. The voltage supply circuit includes an H-bridge controller and driver, a transformer, and an output port. The H-bridge controller and driver are configured to switch the electrical polarity of a pair of terminals. A primary of the transformer is connected to the H-bridge driver and controller. A secondary of the transformer connects in parallel with a first capacitor and in series with an inductor and a second capacitor. The output port connects in parallel with the second capacitor. The plasma eductor reactor includes an electric field generator, a flow spreader, and a diffuser. The electric field generator includes a pair of electrodes that generate an electric field. The flow spreader supplies a stream of oxygen. The diffuser supplies a stream of water. The streams of water and oxygen pass through the electric field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Eon Labs LLC
    Inventors: Chris Hruska, Walter Buchanan, David Forsee
  • Patent number: 8821727
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes one or more aeration tanks for receiving wastewater, a controller for controlling the amount of air delivered to each of the one or more aeration tanks by a blower assembly, and a sensor assembly for periodically measuring values corresponding to the amount of dissolved oxygen in at least one of the one or more aeration tanks. When the sensor assembly measures values that are less than a low setpoint value, the controller causes the blower assembly to incrementally deliver more air until the sensor assembly measures values that are not less than the low setpoint value. When the sensor assembly measures values that exceed the low setpoint value, the controller causes the blower assembly to incrementally deliver less air until either the sensor assembly measures values that are not greater than the low setpoint value, or the blower assembly reaches a preselected low operating threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Aero-Mod Incorporated
    Inventors: John Maurice McNellis, Brian Scott Thiemann, Robin Dale Mahan, Jeri Louis Meyer, Todd Lee Steinbach
  • Patent number: 8815095
    Abstract: An artificial kidney that regenerates dialysate includes: a catheter having an inflow lumen and an outflow lumen for communication with a peritoneal cavity of a patient; a fluid circuit in fluid communication with the catheter for circulating dialysate into, through and out of the peritoneal cavity; a pump configured to circulate the dialysate; a cleaning cartridge coupled to the fluid circuit for removing solutes from the dialysate, including a therapeutically effective amount of urea from the dialysate as the dialysate circulates along the fluid circuit; and wherein the fluid circuit is configured to receive a volume of ultrafilterate removed from the patient, such that the pump can mix the ultrafiltrate volume with the dialysate to an increase an overall therapy fluid volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventor: Brian R. Micheli
  • Publication number: 20140231322
    Abstract: Soil treatment device for treating a contaminated soil and/or groundwater contained therein, comprising measuring means for measuring contamination of the soil, injecting means for injecting soil decontamination agents in the soil and a longitudinal soil penetration rod provided with a rod tip at an end of the soil penetration rod for moving the soil penetration rod into the soil, the outer surface of the soil penetration rod comprising a measuring section comprising at least one sensor of the measuring means for measuring contamination of the soil adjacent to the measuring section when moved into the soil and an injection section comprising at least one injection nozzle of the injecting means for injecting decontamination agent in the soil adjacent to the injection section, wherein the measuring section and the injection section are provided at longitudinally distinct locations of the soil penetration rod and in that the measuring section is closer to the rod tip than the injection section, characterized in
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicants: EJLSKOV A/S, VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK
    Inventors: Leen Bastiaens, Ole Pilgaard Stubdrup
  • Publication number: 20140231358
    Abstract: A magnetic separator separates magnetic and/or magnetisable particles from a fluid with a rotatable drum, at least one magnet arrangement arranged in an interior of the drum and a separation zone through which the fluid can be conducted. The separation zone is formed by an interspace between the drum and a fluid conduction arrangement. It is possible to modify at least locally a distance between the drum and the fluid conduction arrangement and/or a width of the separation zone during the operation of the magnetic separator. A measuring apparatus captures at least one fluid parameter of the fluid. The distance and/or the width can be modified dependent on the at least one fluid parameter. A method operates such a magnetic separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Argun Gökpekin, Ralph Oliver Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8808217
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting plasma reduced platelets potentially suspended in a synthetic solution from a donor. Whole blood is drawn from the donor and introduced into a separation chamber. Platelets are extracted from the separation chamber into a container, using, for example, surge (with anticoagulated plasma or a synthetic solution) or push methodologies. The remaining blood components in the separation chamber are returned back to the donor. The steps of drawing whole blood and introducing the whole blood into the separation chamber, extracting platelets from the separation chamber into the container, and returning the remaining components in the chamber back to the donor are repeated. The sequestered platelets in the container are reintroduced into the separation chamber, whereupon a plasma reduced platelet product is extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Haemonetics Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Ohashi, Etienne Pagès, Dominique Uhlmann, Pascal Maillard, Michael Ragusa
  • Publication number: 20140224736
    Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for controlling or regulating an ultrafiltration in a dialysis treatment in which blood to be ultrafiltered flows in an extracorporeal blood circulation (109) through a blood chamber (110) of a dialyzer (113), which is divided by a semipermeable membrane (111) into the blood chamber (110) and a dialysis fluid chamber (108), and dialysis fluid in a dialysis fluid circulation (109) flows through the dialysis fluid chamber (108) of the dialyzer (113). The device has a blood pump (115) for creating a blood flow in the extracorporeal blood circulation (112), a dialysis fluid pump (107) for creating a dialysis fluid flow in the dialysis fluid circulation (109), a balancing device (104) for setting up a fluid balance in the dialysis fluid circulation between an inflow (106) and an outflow (105) of the dialysis fluid chamber (113) as a measure of the ultrafiltration, and a regulating unit (101) for regulating the blood pump (115) and/or the dialysis fluid pump (107).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander HEIDE, Dejan NIKOLIC, Arne PETERS, Christoph WIKTOR
  • Publication number: 20140224716
    Abstract: Separation processes using osmotically driven membrane systems are disclosed generally involving the extraction of solvent from a first solution to concentrate solute by using a second concentrated solution to draw the solvent from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Nathan Hancock, Marek S. Nowosielski-Slepowron, Christopher Drover
  • Patent number: 8801930
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for the solid wastes automatic collection pipeline transportation and comprehensive utilization contemplated to reach a easily dropping, automatically collecting, discharging, transporting of all kinds of the solid wastes, getting the plastic package free renewable waste for recycle. The disclosed method and apparatus comprise going toward and near the multiple waste fluidizing collectors set indoor and outdoor, automatically opening the lid of the collector, putting the wastes into the specified containers according to the requirement of the waste recycle program, respectively fluidizing all kinds of the solid wastes into flowable particle and jam to satisfy the pipeline transportation, the multiple waste fluidizing collector in the invention is designed to receive, deposit the wastes and change the solid waste from solid into liquid, that leads to the solid waste automatic collection, transportation and getting the plastic package free, renewable uniform waste for recycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Zeguo Qiu
  • Publication number: 20140217015
    Abstract: A method and system of treating wastewater using primary sludge is disclosed. The treatment system includes a primary separator that separates a carbon source comprising non-solubilized suspended carbon from a source of wastewater. The non-solubilized suspended carbon is solubilized and used as a source of carbon in an aerated anoxic treatment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Larsen, Michael L. Doyle
  • Publication number: 20140217030
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using a sodium chloride source and a buffer source such as sodium bicarbonate in a controlled compliant flow path to generate from water a physiologically compatible fluid having a suitable level of a sodium ion and/or a buffer for use in hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration and hemofiltration. The system has a conditioning flow path that has at least a salination valve or salination pump, and at least one container has at least one solute in excess of the solubility of that solute. At least one of the solutes is a buffer source or sodium chloride. The conditioning flow path is in fluid communication with a controlled compliant flow path. The conditioning flow path can selectively meter fluid into and out of the controlled compliant flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Meyer, David B. Lura, Bryant J. Pudil, Martin T. Gerber
  • Publication number: 20140217020
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cleaning and disinfecting a medical therapy device that delivers any one of hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration and hemofiltration. The system has a base module that has at least one segment of a controlled compliant flow path and at least one pair of jumpered ports configured on the base module. One or more components have connections connectable to the jumpered ports of the base module to provide for fluid communication between the segment of the controlled compliant flow path in the base module and a flow path defined by the one or more components. The base module is connected to the one or more components that define a flow path configurable for carrying out in part at least one function performed during any one of hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration or hemofiltration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Meyer, David B. Lura, Bryant J. Pudil, Martin T. Gerber, Mark F. Daniels
  • Publication number: 20140217029
    Abstract: A flow loop for hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration and hemofiltration for the treatment of pathological conditions such as End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) that has a controlled compliant flow path for preparing fluids required for a hemodialysis therapy session from water. The controlled compliant flow path modifies water into any one of a solution for priming a hemodialysis system, a physiologically compatible solution for contacting blood, a physiologically compatible solution for infusion to a subject, and a solution for blood rinse back to a subject. The controlled compliant flow path has a means for selectively metering in and metering out fluid from the flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Meyer, David B. Lura, Bryant J. Pudil, Martin T. Gerber
  • Publication number: 20140216995
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a liquid containing impurities may comprise: a filtering chamber for receiving liquid containing impurities, the filtering chamber containing granular media and configured to permit the granular media to interact with the liquid containing impurities, thereby removing impurities from the liquid to produce filtrate; a filtrate section in communication with the filtering chamber for receiving the filtrate, the filtrate section being in communication with a first outlet for outflow of the filtrate; a gas supplying system for delivering gas to the granular media in the filtering chamber for transport of a portion of the granular media to a granular media washer; and a reject section in communication with the granular media washer for receiving a reject mixture comprising liquid and impurities from the granular media washer. The reject section may be in communication with a second outlet for outflow of a portion of the reject mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Parkson Corporation
    Inventors: Brett H. BOYD, Russell L. COOK, Adrian STRENG
  • Patent number: 8795517
    Abstract: A machine-readable medium with instructions for pumping blood from a patient's blood stream into an access line, introducing an anticoagulant solution into the pumped blood, filtering the pumped blood and delivering it to a return line, introducing a substitution fluid into the pumped blood, introducing a calcium and magnesium solution into the blood traveling through the return line, and returning the blood back to the patient's blood stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Nikkiso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Lannoy
  • Patent number: 8790517
    Abstract: A mobile station and methods are disclosed for diagnosing and modeling site specific effluent treatment facility requirements to arrive at a treatment regimen and/or proposed commercial plant model idealized for the particular water/site requirements. The station includes a mobile platform having power intake, effluent intake and fluid outflow facilities and first and second suites of selectably actuatable effluent pre-treatment apparatus. An effluent polishing treatment array is housed at the station and includes at least one of nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and ion-exchange stages. A suite of selectively actuatable post-treatment apparatus is housed at the station. Controls are connected at the station for process control, monitoring and data accumulation. A plurality of improved water treatment technologies is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwater Resource, LLC
    Inventors: Reginald A. Wiemers, Robert Kohlheb, Bardia B. Khalili, Gyorgy Lipovszki, Peter H. Zahn
  • Patent number: 8790513
    Abstract: Convenience stores are provided a beverage water processor for coffee and beverages. The “ideal” total dissolved solids (TDS) of perhaps 110 parts per million is achieved without a blendback process. The R/O water is remineralized with a flow through calcite bath. A potassium chloride source is used to inject the exact amount of potassium chloride needed to reach the ideal TDS on the fly before the water reaches the storage reservoir. Alarms trigger a bypass loop to keep the store in business during shutdown. All output water passes through a UV sterilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventor: Roger Boulter
  • Patent number: 8784668
    Abstract: In a regenerative dialysis system, in a method for controlling a regenerative dialysis system, and in a controller for a regenerative dialysis system, an embodiment of the system comprises an input pump that pumps fresh dialysate fluid into a dialyzer at an input rate. An output pump pumps used dialysate fluid from the dialyzer at an output rate. An ultrafiltration rate of the system is related to the output rate relative to the input rate. A sorbent cartridge filters the used dialysate fluid to generate the fresh dialysate fluid. A controller controls the ultrafiltration rate of the system in response to a flow rate of the dialysate fluid through the sorbent cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J Beiriger
  • Patent number: 8771504
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning an immersed surface, comprising a hollow body, guiding and driving members, a filtration chamber which is provided in the hollow body and which has at least one liquid inlet, at least one liquid outlet and a hydraulic circuit for circulation of liquid through a filtering device. An accelerometer device is fixedly joined to the hollow body and which is adapted to provide instantaneous measurements of at least one acceleration component of the terrestrial gravity in at least one fixed direction which is fixed relative to the hollow body, and a processing unit for processing the acceleration measurements supplied by the accelerometer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Emmanuel Mastio, Thierry Michelon
  • Patent number: 8771753
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for generating germicidal compositions for use in a wide variety of settings, including agricultural settings, food production settings, hospitality settings, health care settings, health club settings, exercise facility settings, research based settings, veterinarian settings, medical settings, hydraulic fracturing settings, and/or any setting requiring disinfection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Zurex Pharmagra, LLC
    Inventors: Carmine J. Durham, R. Andrew Morgan, Michael C. Pawlak
  • Publication number: 20140183109
    Abstract: In a system for generating potable water by water desalination using a reverse osmosis filter having a product outlet and a reject outlet, a system for re-mineralization of the potable water comprising means for collecting lime or calcium carbonate from a stream out of the reject outlet, and means for adding lime or calcium carbonate to a stream out of the product outlet. The means for collecting lime or calcium carbonate can subsequently be used for adding lime or calcium carbonate to the stream out of the product outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventor: David Sherzer
  • Patent number: 8764987
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for the determination and regulation of the concentration of at least one dissolved substance in a fluid circuit, in which the fluid circuit includes at least two partial circuits separated by a filter in a semi-permeable manner, includes a detection unit for determining a concentration difference of at least one first dissolved substance, a determination unit for determining the influence of at least one second dissolved substance which is not identical to the at least one first dissolved substance, and a regulation unit for regulating the concentration of the at least one dissolved substance in the fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Malte Gross, Andreas Maierhofer
  • Publication number: 20140175016
    Abstract: Embodiments of a water treatment system, a method of regenerating a water treatment system, a use of a water softener valve and an ozone kit for a water filtration system are provided. The water treatment system includes a water tank containing iron filtration media; an ozone gas source having an outlet; and a water softener valve having a venturi nozzle that is associated with the water tank and in fluid communication with the outlet of the ozone gas source, the water softener valve configured to invoke a regeneration mode during which the water softener valve controls backwashing of the iron filtration media and then permits ozone gas from the ozone gas source to be drawn through the venturi nozzle and into the water tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventor: Peter Strain
  • Patent number: 8758630
    Abstract: A method for reducing fecal coliforms in waste water wherein the flow of water is directed through a reactor having removable cover, inlet and outlet, two UV lamps, six irradiating chambers, each interconnected by apertures, a UV lamp control box, and a heat a conducting pipe to transfer heat from the control box into the flowing water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Britenstine Incorporated
    Inventor: Eric Britenstine
  • Publication number: 20140158628
    Abstract: A clinical analyser wastewater treatment apparatus is disclosed including a carbonator section. Preferably there is also an anodic oxidation section and a UV oxidation section, as well as a heavy metal removal section. The anodic oxidation section may include a conductive diamond anode. The apparatus may include a measurement device downstream of the carbonator section and a control system to control the operation of the carbonator. The measurement device is preferably a pH sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Lee Underwood, Paul Whitehead, Alan Denton Mortimer, Jean-Pierre Spanu, James Keary
  • Publication number: 20140158591
    Abstract: An aqua-robotic pollutant removing device includes a buoyant body, an electromechanical housing coupled to the buoyant body, and a pollutant absorbing belt coupled to the electromechanical housing and extending outward from the buoyant body. The electromechanical housing is constructed and arranged to rotate the pollutant absorbing belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Carlo F. RATTI, Assaf BIDERMAN
  • Patent number: 8747664
    Abstract: The present invention provides a water filtration and sterilization device comprising a container having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, a closure valve at said inlet conduit, a filter means upstream of said inlet conduit, a flow prevention means in said outlet conduit and an ultra violet radiation source within said container. The valve is adapted to be opened for a first time period to admit water into the container via the filter means. The ultra violet radiation source is operable for a second time period to sterilize water in said chamber. The first time period is shorter than said second time period. The flow prevention means is operable to deliver sterilized water on demand from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Applica Cosumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Dier
  • Patent number: 8747662
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing blood therapy having a plurality of pumps for engaging blood and fluid tubing is characterized by a plurality of manually mounted and disengagable panels installed on the sides of the apparatus housing, the panels having pump engaging tubing mounted on the inside of the respective panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: B. Braun Avitum AG
    Inventors: J. Michael Delmage, Harold Peters, Tommy Cooper