Flow International Corporation

Pressure Biosciences, Inc.

Avure Technologies Incorporated

Avure U.s., Inc.

Mohamed A. Hashish

Bruce M. Schuman

Caitra Technologies Incorporated

Chidambaram Raghavan

Edmund Y. Ting

Edmund Y Ting

Olivier L Tremoulet, Jr

Bruce M Schuman

Alexander Lazarev

Anton H Buchberger

Curtis L Anderson

Mohamed Ahmed Hashish

Glenn A Erichsen

David O Monserud

Jun Ma

Nils-Gunnar Lönneborg

Vera Gross

Richard T Schumacher

Thomas J Stefanik

Anders Träff

Anders Traff

Nils-Gunnar Lonneborg

A high pressure valve includes a lever and a variable force generator for facilitating control of opening and closing the valve at high pressures. The high pressure valve includes a housing having a chamber providing fluid communication between a first port and a second port, a pin movable within the chamber between an open position and a closed position. A first end of a lever is coupled to the pin and a second end of the lever is coupled to a variable force generator. The lever pivots about a pivot point. A controller coupled to the variable force generator is configured to adjust a force applied to the second end of the lever by the variable force generator to control the movement of the pin between the open position and the closed position.

Ultrahigh pressure compact valve with throttling capability

A method for high fluid shear processing of a fluid uses an isolator that has a first sub-chamber for containing a first fluid and a second sub-chamber for containing a second fluid defined by a separator positioned in the chamber and movable between a first end of the chamber and a second end of the chamber. The two sub-chambers are in pressure communication with each other but are not in fluid communication with each other. A first fluid is pumped at an ultrahigh pressure into the first-sub chamber, and the pressure in the first sub-chamber causes a second fluid to be processed to be discharged from the second sub-chamber into a processing valve. A system is also provided for performing the steps of this method.

System for high pressure, high shear processing of fluids

Devices and methods for sample preparation via pressure cycling technology are disclosed. The device for sample preparation comprises a tube having an inner surface, a top, and a bottom, the tube configured to contain a sample at the bottom and to be received into a pressure chamber for sample preparation, a cap detachably connected to the top of the tube, and a tapered elongate member extending from the cap into the tube, the tapered elongate member configured to contact the inner surface of the tube and the sample in the bottom of the tube, wherein the tube is deformable such that in operation under pressure the tube is deformed against the tapered elongate member to promote disruption of the sample.

Sample preparation devices and methods

A pressurizable sample system includes a microplate having a planar plate surface and several sample wells. Each sample well has a flange positioned circumferentially around an outer surface of the sample well and against the planar plate surface. The sample system further includes a capping plate with a planar cap surface and several caps projecting from the planar cap surface. Each cap has a geometrical configuration in complementary correspondence with the configuration of the sample well.

System and method for microplate pressurization

Described herein is a sample preparation device including a sample delivery source, an inline means of transferring the sample from the sample source into a deformable channel within a pressure vessel, and out of the channel into downstream analysis components, a deformable channel disposed within the pressure vessel, the deformable channel having an inlet end and an outlet end fluidly connectable to high pressure valves and a means to measure the fluid pressure within the deformable channel, an external source of a controlled pressurized fluid fluidly connectable to the pressure vessel and a controller system that monitors and controls the sample fluid pressure by control of the external pressure vessel fluid.

Flow-through high hydrostatic pressure microfluidic sample preparation device and related methods therefor

The present invention is related to systems and methods for chemical and biological analysis and, in particular, to systems, apparatus, and methods of sample conditioning and analysis.

High pressure sample containment system for electromagnetic measurements

A connector for a pressure vessel includes a connector assembly having a first plurality of contacts, and a receiver assembly configured to be positioned within a receiver aperture formed in a closure of the pressure vessel and having a second plurality of contacts. The receiver assembly is configured to receive the connector assembly and place each of the first plurality of contacts in electrical contact with a corresponding one of the second plurality of contacts. A seal is provided between the connector assembly and the wall of the pressure vessel, for substantially sealing the receiver aperture from pressure within the vessel. The connector assembly is configured to be coupled to a product carrier, and sensors positioned in the vessel are coupled via the connector assembly to a data acquisition unit. When the closure is lowered onto the vessel, the receiver assembly contacts the connector assembly coupled to the carrier, closing the electrical contacts connecting the sensors to the acquisition unit.

Thermal sensor connector for pressure vessel

Systems and methods for performing a stepwise depressurization of a high-pressure fluid (liquid) filled chamber are shown and described. At least two valves are controllably opened and closed in a sequence to release a predetermined amount of pressure from the high-pressure chamber. At least some of the pressurized fluid released from the high-pressure chamber is stored, at least temporarily, in a second pressure chamber. The second pressure chamber is located between the two controllable valves. A control system controls the valves in response to a signal from at least one pressure sensor coupled to the high-pressure chamber. Additional components can be included in the system such as a pressure intensifier and a high-pressure pump, both coupled to the high-pressure chamber, and at least one other pressure sensor to improve the accuracy of the measured pressure in the high-pressure chamber.

Systems and methods to slowly reduce the pressure in a pressure chamber over time

A product carrier for use in pressure processing substances is substantially fluidically closed, and is insulated, to prevent heat transfer from the product being treated to the cooler wall of the pressure vessel. The insulating material has compression heating properties, such that as the product is pressurized, the temperature of the insulation increases as does the temperature of the product and pressure media, thereby helping to prevent heat transfer from the product to the surrounding media and pressure vessel wall.

Method for high pressure treatment of substances under controlled temperature conditions

An assembly for changing the temperature of ultrahigh-pressure fluid as it flows through ultrahigh-pressure tubing includes several thermally conductive blocks. Each block has a first bore through which the ultrahigh-pressure tubing passes, and a second bore containing a source of heating or cooling. Alternatively, resistance heating is used to increase the temperature of the ultrahigh-pressure fluid, by coupling electrodes to the outer surface of the tubing. The ultrahigh-pressure fluid is heated or cooled after it is pressurized, and is then discharged from the ultrahigh-pressure tubing at a selected temperature for use. For example, the ultrahigh-pressure fluid at a selected temperature may be discharged through a nozzle to form an ultrahigh-pressure fluid jet to cut or clean any desired surface or object, or it may be discharged to a pressure vessel to pressure treat a substance.

Method and apparatus for changing the temperature of a pressurized fluid

Improved methods and apparatus for pressure processing of pumpable substances are shown and described. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an inlet valve, an outlet valve, and a pressure vessel. The inlet valve has an inlet port, and is coupled to a source of a pumpable substance and to the pressure vessel. The outlet valve has an outlet port and is coupled to the pressure vessel. When the inlet valve is opened and the outlet valve is closed, a volume of pumpable substance may flow into the pressure vessel. The inlet valve is then closed and the outlet valve remains closed, and the pumpable substance within the pressure vessel may be pressurized to a selected pressure for a selected period of time. The outlet valve is then opened, allowing the pumpable substance to be discharged. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus may include at least one aseptic valve assembly having elements which cooperate to apply cleansing solution to one or more surfaces, the surfaces having the potential of being contaminated. The cleansing solution may be applied to the surface by cleansing chambers or by nozzles.

Method and apparatus for aseptic pressure-processing of pumpable

A method and apparatus for diagnosing components in high-pressure pumps to indicate when a component of the pump head is malfunctioning and to identify the malfunctioning component. In one embodiment, a high-pressure pump head incorporating a diagnostic system in accordance with the invention has a pressurization chamber and a pressurizing member at least partially received in the pressurization chamber. The pressurizing member moves within the pressurization chamber along an intake action to draw fluid into the pressurization chamber and along a pressurizing action to compress fluid in the pressurization chamber. An inlet fluid control assembly is coupled to the pressurization chamber to allow fluid to enter the pressurization chamber during the intake action, and a pressurized fluid control assembly is coupled between the pressurization chamber and an outlet chamber to selectively allow pressurized fluid into the outlet chamber during the pressurizing action. The pump head may also include a diagnostic system to indicate the operational status of each of the inlet fluid control assembly, the pressurized fluid control assembly and other components of the pump head upstream from the inlet fluid control assembly with respect to a fluid flow through the pump head during the pressurizing action.

Apparatus and method for diagnosing the status of specific components in

A nozzle for producing an ultrahigh-pressure fluid fan jet is shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle has an inner surface defined by a conical bore extending from a first end to a second end, thereby creating an entrance orifice and an exit orifice in the first and second ends, respectively. A wedge-shaped notch extends inward from the second end towards the first end to a sufficient depth such that the shape of the exit orifice is defined by the intersection of the conical bore and the wedge-shaped notch. As pressurized fluid passes through the nozzle and out the exit orifice, the shape of the exit orifice causes the pressurized fluid to exit in the form of a fan jet having a substantially oval cross-section. This fan jet may be swept across a surface to be cleaned thereby selectively removing a layer of material from an underlying surface evenly and completely, without damaging the underlying surface. The fan jet may also be used to cut a fibrous or hard material.

Ultrahigh-pressure fan jet nozzle

An improved method and apparatus for pressure processing a pumpable substance are shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, a valve is coupled to a source of a pumpable food substance and a pressure vessel, the valve being movable to a first, second and third position. When the valve is in a first position, an inlet port in the valve is aligned with a passageway that is open to the pressure vessel. When the valve is in the second position, the valve body seals the passageway, and when the valve is in the third position, an outlet port provided in the valve is aligned with the passageway. The valve is therefore moved to a first position to allow a volume of pumpable substance to be forced into the pressure vessel, the valve is moved to a second position to seal the passageway while the pumpable substance is pressurized to a selected pressure for a selected period of time to achieve a desired result, and the valve is then moved to a third position to allow the treated, pumpable substance to be discharged from the pressure vessel. The inlet port and the outlet port are provided with low-pressure seals, and high-pressure seals are provided in the valve such that when the valve is in the second position, the passageway is sealed by the high-pressure seals. By separating the low-pressure and high-pressure regions and functions of the valve, high-pressure containment is simplified, and it is possible to use relatively large passageways, thereby increasing the flow rate and variety of substances that may be processed.

Apparatus for pressure processing a pumpable food substance

An improved method and apparatus for pressure processing a pumpable substance are shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, a valve is coupled to a source of a pumpable substance and a pressure vessel, the valve being movable to a first, second and third position. When the valve is in a first position, an inlet port in the valve is aligned with a passageway that is open to the pressure vessel. When the valve is in the second position, the valve body seals the passageway, and when the valve is in the third position, an outlet port provided in the valve is aligned with the passageway. The valve is therefore moved to a first position to allow a volume of pumpable substance to be forced into the pressure vessel, the valve is moved to a second position to seal the passageway while the pumpable substance is pressurized to a selected pressure for a selected period of time to achieve a desired result, and the valve is then moved to a third position to allow the treated, pumpable substance to be discharged from the pressure vessel. The inlet port and the outlet port are provided with low-pressure seals, and high-pressure seals are provided in the valve such that when the valve is in the second position, the passageway is sealed by the high-pressure seals. By separating the low-pressure and high-pressure regions and functions of the valve, high-pressure containment is simplified, and it is possible to use relatively large passageways, thereby increasing the flow rate and variety of substances that may be processed. In an alternative embodiment, the pumpable substance is pressurized and simultaneously discharged from the pressure vessel.

Growing community of inventors

Kent, WA, United States of America

Edmund Y Ting