IMS recognizes that its microwave system awards, technological innovations, and applications knowledge are its most valuable assets. The ability to generate a uniform distribution of microwave energy and eliminate the uneven heating patterns (or “hot spots”) traditionally associated with microwaves makes IMS technology unique and patentable.
Unique design technology and extensive applications knowledge have little technical or commercial value if they are not beneficial to and recognized by the industries and processors that use them. IMS is fortunate to have been recognized for its contributions to the advancement of thermal process technology and its use for the production of new and improved products that were previous unobtainable. For further details, see below for product patents and third party awards.
Cylindrical Microwave Heating Patents
To date, US patents on IMS cylindrical and tubular heating microwave technology include:
📄 Tubular Choked Waveguide Applicator
U.S. Patent #9,642,194 B2 | Issued: May 2nd, 2017
📄 Tubular Waveguide Applicator
U.S. Patent #9,603,203 B2 | Issued: March 21, 2017
📄 Method and Apparatuses for Thermal Treatment of Foods and Other Biomaterials, and Products Obtained Thereby
U.S. Patent #8,742,305 B2 | Issued: June 3rd, 2014
📄 Multi-stage Cylindrical Waveguide Applicator Systems
U.S. Patent #8,426,784 B2 | Issued: April 23rd, 2013
📄 Thermal Gelation of Foodstuffs and Biomaterials Using Rapid Heating
U.S. Patent #7,270,842 B1 | Issued: September 18th, 2007
📄 A Cylindrical Reactor with an Extended Focal Region
U.S. Patent #6,797,929 B2 | Issued: September 28th, 2004
NOTE: Several of these patents have been filed separately in non-US jurisdictions.
Third Party Awards
IMS received the 2009 Food Technology Industrial Achievement Award following an extensive period of collaboration with USDA and Department of Food Science researchers at North Carolina State University. This is awarded annually by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit international society with 20,000 members working in food science, technology and related professions. It honors a company or organization for an outstanding development representing a significant advancement in the application of food science and technology to food production.
IMS received this award for the following reasons:
💡 The team was recognized for its development of a process for continuous flow microwave sterilization of low-acid foods and biomaterials using the IMS Cylindrical Heating System. This collaboration of university, government, and industry researchers resulted in an innovative processing technique to address the shortcomings of conventional methods of food preservation for low-acid, shelf-stable foods.
💡 Through the use of continuous-flow microwave sterilization, processors are able to provide high throughput of aseptically processed shelf-stable low-acid foods. These foods have minimal loss in quality and nutritional value when compared to product processed by conventional thermal methods.
💡 The first commercial process to adopt this innovative technology involved aseptic processing and packaging of sweet potato puree, and the process filing received a letter of no-objection from the FDA. IMS is the first designer and manufacturer of continuous microwave processing equipment to meet FDA validation requirements for such products.
💡 IFT recognized the accomplishment that the team made to advance the food science industry and to help ensure safe, affordable, and nutritious foods to the world.
IMS also received the 2009 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Services Technology Transfer Award. In addition to many of the above, IMS received this award for the following reasons:
💡 Use of IMS equipment and technology allowed farmers in North Carolina to process and add value to a crop previously ploughed back into the land or sold as animal food.
💡 As much as 45% of the annual harvest in the State of North Carolina would not meet the standard for retail sales of freshly harvested sweet potatoes and was effectively discarded. The IMS CHS enabled farmers to virtually eliminate this wastage, and turn a cost into a profit.
Microwave Heating and Drying Patents
To date, US patents on IMS planar microwave heating and drying technology include:
📄 Microwave T-Junction Applicator
U.S. Patent #9,657,991 B2 | Issued: May 23rd, 2017
📄 Wide Waveguide Applicator
U.S. Patent #8,324,539 B2 | Issued: December 4th, 2012
📄 Microwave Drying of Coal
U.S. Patent #7,666,235 B2 | Issued: February 23rd, 2010
📄 Waveguide Exposure Chamber for Heating and Drying Material
U.S. Patent #7,470,876 B2 | Issued: December 30, 2008
📄 Ridged Serpentine Waveguide Applicator
U.S. Patent #7,368,692 B1 | Issued: May 6, 2008
NOTE: Several of these patents have been filed separately in non-US jurisdictions.
To learn more about IMS microwave technology patents and awards, please contact our team.
