Thomas Alan Gray

US Patent:

20160199800, Jul 14, 2016

Filed:

Jan 12, 2016

Appl. No.:

14/993912

Inventors:

- Kennesaw GA, US
Thomas GRAY - Canton GA, US
John HANCOCK - Atlanta GA, US
Spencer SMITH - Marietta GA, US
Alan VAUGHN - Dallas GA, US

Assignee:

OMNI INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Kennesaw GA

International Classification:

B01F 9/00
B01L 9/06

Abstract:

A processing plate assembly for mounting to a homogenizer and for holding tubes containing samples to be homogenized. The processing plate assembly includes a mounting structure and one or plural tube holders. The mounting structure removably or permanently mounts to the homogenizer and can be provided by for example a flat plate-like mounting structure. The tube holders are attached to the mounting structure and hold the tubes in generally tangential use positions with a centroid of each tube positioned along a longitudinal axis of the tube and axially offset from a radius line of the processing plate that is perpendicular to the tube axis. In this way, the homogenizer imparts sinusoidal swashing forces on the tubes that urge the tubes forward into securement in their tube holders and that produces improved homogenization in the tubes.

US Patent:

20160121278, May 5, 2016

Filed:

Oct 29, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/926731

Inventors:

- Kennesaw GA, US
Thomas GRAY - Canton GA, US
Spencer SMITH - Marietta GA, US
Voya VIDAKOVIC - Marietta GA, US
Alan VIDAKOVIC - Dallas TX, US

Assignee:

OMNI INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Kennesaw GA

International Classification:

B01F 11/00

Abstract:

Agitation mechanisms for homogenization devices for processing sample materials in tubes that are secured by tube holders to the agitation mechanisms. Each agitation mechanism includes a first rotary member having a first fixed rotational axis, a second rotary member having a second fixed rotational axis, and a connecting member that extends between them, is rotationally mounted to them at third and fourth non-fixed rotational axes, and to which the tube holder is mounted, with the first and third rotational axes defining a first offset, and with the second and fourth rotational axes defining a second offset. When the first rotary member is driven through rotation, the sample in the tube in the tube holder on the connecting member is driven through a nonlinearly reciprocating motion profile to produce a grinding shear action to better homogenize the samples. Other disclosed embodiments produce linearly reciprocating motion profiles.

US Patent:

20150367351, Dec 24, 2015

Filed:

Aug 31, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/840533

Inventors:

- Kennesaw GA, US
Voya VIDAKOVIC - Marietta, RS
John HANCOCK - Atlanta GA, US
Thomas GRAY - Canton GA, US

Assignee:

OMNI INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Kennesaw GA

International Classification:

B02C 17/06
B01L 9/06

Abstract:

A flow disrupter in a tube chamber of a tube assembly for homogenizing sample materials includes a flow-disrupting body that extends generally transversely into the tube chamber and divides the tube chamber into two sub-chambers. The flow-disrupting body includes at least one narrowed flow passageway through which the sample flows back and forth in both axially reciprocating directions as the tube assembly is vigorously shaken at high speeds faster and more reliably than what can be accomplished by hand shaking. And the flow-disrupting body includes at least two flow-interrupting surfaces facing generally in opposite axial directions and against which the sample impacts in each respective axially reciprocating direction as the tube assembly is vigorously shaken. In this way, the vigorous high-speed shaking of the tube assembly including the flow disrupter results in significant particle-size reduction of the sample by mechanical shear, fluid shear, cavitation, and/or pressure differentials.

US Patent:

20150224459, Aug 13, 2015

Filed:

Jan 6, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/590656

Inventors:

- Kennesaw GA, US
Voya VIDAKOVIC - Marietta GA, US
John HANCOCK - Atlanta GA, US
Thomas GRAY - Canton GA, US

Assignee:

OMNI INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Kennesaw GA

International Classification:

B01F 11/00
B02C 17/06
B01L 3/00
B02C 17/14

Abstract:

A flow disrupter in a tube chamber of a tube assembly for homogenizing sample materials includes a flow-disrupting body that extends generally transversely into the tube chamber and divides the tube chamber into two sub-chambers. The flow-disrupting body includes at least one narrowed flow passageway through which the sample flows back and forth in both axially reciprocating directions as the tube assembly is vigorously shaken at high speeds faster and more reliably than what can be accomplished by hand shaking. And the flow-disrupting body includes at least two flow-interrupting surfaces facing generally in opposite axial directions and against which the sample impacts in each respective axially reciprocating direction as the tube assembly is vigorously shaken. In this way, the vigorous high-speed shaking of the tube assembly including the flow disrupter results in significant particle-size reduction of the sample by mechanical shear, fluid shear, cavitation, and/or pressure differentials.