Michael James Hofer

US Patent:

8518339, Aug 27, 2013

Filed:

Nov 19, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/681131

Inventors:

Peter Jude - Maple Lake MN, US
Stephen Pellegrene - Plymouth MN, US
Michael Hofer - Fargo ND, US

International Classification:

A61L 2/20

US Classification:

422292, 241 60, 241606, 210173

Abstract:

To improve throughput of biomedical waste treatment, the present inventors devised an exemplary ozone-based system including a shredder, a roll-off treatment bin with ozone injectors, an ozone source, and a controller. The controller monitors electric current drawn by the shredder as shredded waste enters the ozone-enriched treatment bin. In response to current falling below a predetermined low level, indicating that a batch of waste has been shredded and loaded into the treatment bin, the controller starts a treatment timer. The timer measures elapsed ozone treatment or exposure time. If additional waste is added to the shredder and a subsequent low-current condition is detected, the controller restarts the treatment timer. Expiration of the timer indicates that the waste in the roll-off bin is sterilized and ready for transport to landfills. The exemplary system provides continuous waste processing and promises to boost throughput by 50% over some conventional ozone-based waste-treatment systems.

US Patent:

20130341444, Dec 26, 2013

Filed:

Aug 20, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/970830

Inventors:

Peter Jude - Maple Lake MN, US
Stephen Pellegrene - Plymouth MN, US
Michael Hofer - Fargo ND, US

International Classification:

A61L 2/20

US Classification:

241 60, 422292, 422119

Abstract:

To improve throughput of biomedical waste treatment, the present inventors devised an exemplary ozone-based system including a shredder, a roll-off treatment bin with ozone injectors, an ozone source, and a controller. The controller monitors electric current drawn by the shredder as shredded waste enters the ozone-enriched treatment bin. In response to current falling below a predetermined low level, indicating that a batch of waste has been shredded and loaded into the treatment bin, the controller starts a treatment timer. The timer measures elapsed ozone treatment or exposure time. If additional waste is added to the shredder and a subsequent low-current condition is detected, the controller restarts the treatment timer. Expiration of the timer indicates that the waste in the roll-off bin is sterilized and ready for transport to landfills. The exemplary system provides continuous waste processing and promises to boost throughput by 50% over some conventional ozone-based waste-treatment systems.

US Patent:

20140008471, Jan 9, 2014

Filed:

Aug 20, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/971133

Inventors:

Peter Jude - Maple Lake MN, US
Stephen Pellegrene - Plymouth MN, US
Michael Hofer - Fargo ND, US

International Classification:

A61L 2/20

US Classification:

241 30, 422 28

Abstract:

To improve throughput of biomedical waste treatment, the present inventors devised an exemplary ozone-based system including a shredder, a roll-off treatment bin with ozone injectors, an ozone source, and a controller. The controller monitors electric current drawn by the shredder as shredded waste enters the ozone-enriched treatment bin. In response to current falling below a predetermined low level, indicating that a batch of waste has been shredded and loaded into the treatment bin, the controller starts a treatment timer. The timer measures elapsed ozone treatment or exposure time. If additional waste is added to the shredder and a subsequent low-current condition is detected, the controller restarts the treatment timer. Expiration of the timer indicates that the waste in the roll-off bin is sterilized and ready for transport to landfills. The exemplary system provides continuous waste processing and promises to boost throughput by 50% over some conventional ozone-based waste-treatment systems.

US Patent:

D4191072, Jan 18, 2000

Filed:

Aug 6, 1998

Appl. No.:

D/091797

Inventors:

Michael J. Hofer - Fargo ND
Neil Doty - Fargo ND

Assignee:

Global Electric Motorcars L.L.C. - Fargo ND

International Classification:

1208

US Classification:

D12 86

US Patent:

D419490, Jan 25, 2000

Filed:

Aug 6, 1998

Appl. No.:

D/091832

Inventors:

Michael J. Hofer - Fargo ND
Neil Doty - Fargo ND

Assignee:

Global Electric Motorcars, LLC - Fargo ND

International Classification:

1208

US Classification:

D12 98

US Patent:

20200316660, Oct 8, 2020

Filed:

Mar 15, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/922806

Inventors:

Peter A. Jude - Maple Lake MN, US
Stephen E. Pellegrene - Plymouth MN, US
Michael J. Hofer - Fargo ND, US

International Classification:

B09B 3/00
B02C 23/20

Abstract:

Many hospitals and medical facilities have a need to safely dispose of their biomedical waste. Onsite processing, particularly with ozone, is often less expensive and safer than off site handling, but many facilities lack the room for conventional ozone equipment with appropriate capacity to meet their needs. Accordingly, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary system that includes, among other features, an shredder, an upwardly inclined auger chamber, and a waste receptacle. The shredder shreds unsterilized waste and feeds into the lower end of the inclined auger chamber. The chamber includes ozone injectors to treat waste as the auger conveys it upward toward an outlet that drops the sterilized waste into the waste receptacle. The incline of the chamber allows for a smaller system footprint with sufficient processing capacity to satisfy the needs of smaller hospitals and clinics.

US Patent:

20150139854, May 21, 2015

Filed:

Jul 21, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/336228

Inventors:

Peter A. Jude - Maple Lake MN, US
Stephen E. Pellegrene - Plymouth MN, US
Michael J. Hofer - Fargo ND, US

International Classification:

A61L 2/20

US Classification:

422 28, 422292

Abstract:

To improve throughput of biomedical waste treatment, the present inventors devised an exemplary ozone-based system including a shredder, a roll-off treatment bin with ozone injectors, an ozone source, and a controller. The controller monitors electric current drawn by the shredder as shredded waste enters the ozone-enriched treatment bin. In response to current falling below a predetermined low level, indicating that a batch of waste has been shredded and loaded into the treatment bin, the controller starts a treatment timer. The timer measures elapsed ozone treatment or exposure time. If additional waste is added to the shredder and a subsequent low-current condition is detected, the controller restarts the treatment timer. Expiration of the timer indicates that the waste in the roll-off bin is sterilized and ready for transport to landfills. The exemplary system provides continuous waste processing and promises to boost throughput by 50% over some conventional ozone-based waste-treatment systems.