I looked through every patent on online backups that M-CAM said "covered the exact same thing" in that episode [1], and found each one to claim something entirely different. Whatever their method of analysis is, it was completely useless then.
I also looked through the first few of the "just 70" out of the 5160 matches M-CAM found in this article, and found nothing really similar to Bobo's patent (or indeed, each other). Sure, there may be some really damaging prior art out there. I just highly doubt M-CAM found it.
But don't take my word for it, others have called these out as well [2, 3].
That said, if Huster can show that she indeed was an inventor, this patent is trivially invalid because she is not named on it. This is the same thing that killed the IV patent in "When Patents Attack Part 2" [4].
1. http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/441/t... 2. http://gametimeip.com/2012/04/13/q-why-was-mdb-capital-right... 3. http://www.iam-magazine.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=c5c2c5b5-ecf9... 4. http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/496/t...
This comes pretty close no? "Bread refreshing method" (US 6080436 A).
http://www.google.com/patents/US6080436
Abstract
A method of refreshening a bread product by heating the bread product to a temperature between 2500 are maintained at this temperature range for a period of 3 to 90 seconds.
"A toaster works by applying radiant heat directly to a bread slice. When the bread's surface temperature reaches about 310 degrees Farenheit, a chemical change known as the Maillard reaction begins. Sugars and starches start to caramelize - turn brown - and to take on intense flavors.
"That's toast.
"With more heating, the sugars and underlying grain fibers start turning into carbon.
"That's burnt toast."
- Quote from a Consumer Reports test on toasters, June 1990 (found at http://www.toaster.org/works.html)
I'm not sure what this patent gives you -- heck, maybe it does refresh stale bread -- but it certainly won't give you toast.
