The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 11, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 25, 2001
Robert J. Witonsky, Princeton, NJ (US);
John W. Scarantino, Mercerville, NJ (US);
John C. Estill, Carlsbad, CA (US);
Ronald M. Benincasa, Olivenhan, CA (US);
Robert A. Barish, Mercerville, NJ (US);
Medical Indicators, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and method for facilitating microwave heating of a liquid includes the use of a generally cylindrical holder for receiving the liquid to be heated. A shielding sleeve at least partially composed of high microwave reflectivity material, blocks microwave energy from entering a selected interior portion only of the holder to prevent direct microwave heating of the liquid in the selected portion. As a result, there are shielded and unshielded portions of the liquid being heated to cause the liquid to be heated to a substantially uniform temperature throughout the liquid being heated. A mechanism enables the sleeve to be positioned such that the blocking portion of the sleeve is positioned at or above the level of the liquid disposed within the interior of the holder so that the top layer of the liquid is shielded from direct microwave heating to prevent unwanted super heating of a portion of the liquid and thus causing hot spots.