| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080213135 | Wireless enabled device - The invention described herein provides an embedded wireless device such as a RFID tag molded into separate housing formed of any thermoplastic material compatible to that of the plastic material as the device to which the housing is to be attached. Subsequently, the housed tag assembly can be thermally bonded onto the device through many means which are well known and accepted in the industry. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20090243395 | Antenna gasket for process housing - A method and apparatus for providing wireless communication and optionally power to the interior of a housing assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, an antenna is molded within a gasket material, such as silicon, so as to be completely encapsulated. The gasket preferably includes at least one support arm, which holds the antenna toward the middle of the housing, so as to minimize interference from the metal housing. In further embodiments, an inductive coil is encapsulated in the gasket. An alternating current is passed through this coil to create a changing magnetic field, which can then be used to create electrical power in physically separate components, such as filtering elements. In certain embodiments, multiple loops are molded to correspond to multiple filtering elements within the housing. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090246090 | Contactless power solution for low power sensors in bioprocess environments - A method and apparatus for providing more reliable wireless communication and power to sensors in electrically challenging bioprocess environments is disclosed. An unconnected antenna is located within the bioprocess environment, preferably in the same plane as the primary powered antenna. This unconnected antenna, also referred to as reflective antenna, enhances and confines the electromagnetic field created by the powered antenna. This reflective antenna is incorporated in or proximate to the devices containing a sensor or communication device. In one embodiment, the reflective antenna is incorporated into the filter housing. In another embodiment, it is incorporated into the filtering element itself. In another embodiment, it is incorporated into or affixed on the disposable bioprocess components, such as bags and tubes. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090247989 | System and method for interfacing sensors to a sterile flow stream - A system and method for interfacing non-sterile sensors to a sterile flow stream is disclosed. Typically, sensors cannot be sterilized in the same manner as other components of the flow stream. This results in complex processes to incorporate a sterilized sensor into a sterilized flow stream. By introducing a separation membrane, the desired sensor can be interfaced to the sterile flow stream. By doing so, the sensor need not be sterile, only sufficiently clean. The membrane separates the sterile environment within the flow stream from the sensor, while still permitting the sensor to function. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20100006204 | Wireless enabled bags and containers - The present invention provides a process for incorporating a wireless device into a plastic container as part of the steps of manufacturing the container. The plastic container can be a flexible plastic bag and are formed of one or more sheets, generally two or more sheets of plastic film or a rigid plastic container such as a tub or tote. The bags are formed by sealing together adjacent edge portions of each film layer. One embodiment of the present invention is to incorporate a wireless device between the edge portions of the film(s) before or during sealing so that the wireless device becomes permanently sealed into the film material but is isolated from both the bag interior and the outside environment. Another embodiment is to incorporate the wireless device onto or into a plastic component that is sealed to the container, such as a nipple or port, so that the wireless device becomes permanently sealed to the container but is isolated from both the container interior and the outside environment. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100017159 | GAMMA AND TEMPERATURE HARDENED PHARMACEUTICAL DEVICES - A system and method for implementing embedded electronics in environments where radiation or extreme temperatures are used is disclosed. Embedded electronics are affixed to various components of a pharmaceutical system, thereby enabling the customer to download pertinent information about the component, such as lot number, date of manufacturer, test parameters, etc. Additionally, these electronics allow an array of functions and features to be implemented, such as integrity tests and diagnostics. The electronics in the pharmaceutical components utilize a technology that is not as susceptible to radiation and extreme temperatures as traditional electronics. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100170833 | POWERED CARTRIDGES AND OTHER DEVICES WITHIN HOUSINGS - The present invention describes a system and method for supplying electrical power to a device, such as a filter element, located within a housing. In one embodiment, a conductive coil is embedded into the housing base, and a second coil is embedded into the filter element. Current is then passed through the coil in the housing base. Through induction, a current is created in the second coil in the filter element, in much the same way as a transformer functions. This inductive field may interfere with the operation of the various electronic functions, such as communications, sensing or other activities. To overcome this issue, an energy storage component, such as a capacitor, is included in the filter electronics. In this way, the power generated by the inductive field can be stored, and used when the inductive field is no longer present. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100175393 | Biomaterial Freezing - The biocontainer of the present invention provides a low cost, simple solution of many of the problems encountered during shipping, freezing and thawing of biopharmaceutical materials. The present invention enables a user to monitor the temperature profile of each biopharmaceutical container during the cryogenic process, so as to ensure the integrity of materials within each biocontainer by using a pre-installed and pre-sterilized temperature sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor assembly includes a wireless transmitter and is capable of transmitting information regarding the measured reading. In other embodiments, the sensor assembly includes a processing unit, which determines whether the temperature profile is acceptable. In a further embodiment, an indicator is included, such that the processing unit may indicate whether the biopharmaceutical material has been properly frozen. In other embodiments, the sensor assembly also includes a storage element, which is capable of storing various parameters during the freezing process. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100201521 | SAMPLING SYSTEM - The present invention uses a wireless memory/communication device at least on the one or more sample storage devices, preferably on both the one or more sample storage devices and the sampling holder, optionally the port on the equipment as well. Data such as that relating to the vessel, the location of the port on the vessel, the device, its manufacture date or lot number, the date of the installation, sterilization and/or taking of a sample along with the person who installed the device and/or took the sample can be read and preferably added to the wireless device when a read/write type of device as these events occur through a scanner/reader/writer device (fixed or hand held). The sample storage device in the laboratory can also then be read and recorded to track the sample storage device's life. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100223980 | Rapid integrity testing of porous materials - The invention relates to a rapid recirculation based integrity testing of porous material and to an apparatus and system for performing the same. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100237013 | AUTONOMOUS FILTER ELEMENT - An autonomous filter device and a method for improving the filter life and performance is disclosed. The filter element is equipped with one or more sensors, adapted to measure one or more characteristics or parameters of the fluid, such as temperature, pressure, or flow rate. In response to the measured characteristic or parameter, the control logic within the filter element is able to determine an appropriate response. For example, the control logic may determine that a sudden, but temporary, blockage has occurred in the filter membrane. In response to this, the control logic may initiate a specific response designed to alleviate the blockage. This response may be a temperature change, a vibration, a change in fluid flow path, or some other action. The control logic will then determine the success of the response, based monitoring any change in the fluid characteristics. Based thereon, the control logic may alert the operator that the filter element must be replaced. Alternatively, if the response was successful in correcting the blockage, the control logic need not notify the operator, as the filter element is back to normal operating operation. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100328865 | WIRELESS RECEPTOR FOR COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN HOUSINGS - The present invention provides a system and method for transmitting information between a device within a housing to a second device, preferably a test or monitoring unit, outside of the housing. There are numerous issues associated with transferring information from within a sealed housing to an external device. In some cases, the use of wires inside the housing may be impractical, due to internal conditions, such as fluid flow, pressure or temperature. In one embodiment, the antenna of the external RF reading device is electrically connected to the dome of the housing. In another embodiment, the device within the housing is electrically connected to a housing component. In another embodiment, the gasket is used to pass information from within the housing to an external device. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110031178 | WIRELESS ENABLED DEVICE - The invention described herein provides an embedded wireless device such as a RFID tag molded into separate housing formed of any thermoplastic material compatible to that of the plastic material as the device to which the housing is to be attached. Subsequently, the housed tag assembly can be thermally bonded onto the device through many means which are well known and accepted in the industry. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110043164 | POWERED CARTRIDGES AND OTHER DEVICES WITHIN HOUSINGS - The present invention describes a system and method for supplying electrical power to a device, such as a filter element, located within a housing. In one embodiment, a conductive coil is embedded into the housing base, and a second coil is embedded into the filter element. Current is then passed through the coil in the housing base. Through induction, a current is created in the second coil in the filter element, in much the same way as a transformer functions. This inductive field may interfere with the operation of the various electronic functions, such as communications, sensing or other activities. To overcome this issue, an energy storage component, such as a capacitor, is included in the filter electronics. In this way, the power generated by the inductive field can be stored, and used when the inductive field is no longer present. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110121946 | ANTENNA GASKET FOR PROCESS HOUSINGS - A method and apparatus for providing wireless communication and optionally power to the interior of a housing assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, an antenna is molded within a gasket material, such as silicon, so as to be completely encapsulated. The gasket preferably includes at least one support arm, which holds the antenna toward the middle of the housing, so as to minimize interference from the metal housing. In further embodiments, an inductive coil is encapsulated in the gasket. An alternating current is passed through this coil to create a changing magnetic field, which can then be used to create electrical power in physically separate components, such as filtering elements. In certain embodiments, multiple loops are molded to correspond to multiple filtering elements within the housing. | 05-26-2011 |
