Patents Examined by Caitlyn Mingyun Sun
  • Patent number: 11779927
    Abstract: A method of moving a solvent without electrowetting properties on an electro-wetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) microfluidic device comprises disposing a first droplet of a first fluid having electrowetting properties on a surface of the EWOD microfluidic device; disposing a second droplet of a second fluid without electrowetting properties on the surface; applying a voltage to the surface to move the first droplet towards the second droplet; contacting the first droplet with the second droplet to form a encapsulated droplet, where the second droplet encapsulates the first droplet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Hyejin Moon, Matin Torabinia
  • Patent number: 11768175
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides electrophoretic systems, methods and compositions for spatial analysis, which can serve to magnify or demagnify spatial resolution of analytes of interest that are captured using electrophoresis. Some implementations can use a diverging or converging electric field in an electrophoretic capture system. Such a divergent or convergent electric field, as opposed to a parallel electric field, can be generated by, for example, utilizing different sizes of electrodes associated with or imbedded in substrates. Also provided herein are electrophoretic systems, methods and compositions for spatial analysis, which can serve to selectively migrate one or more analytes from a region of interest in the biological sample for capture using electrophoresis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: 10x Genomics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hanyoup Kim, Augusto Manuel Tentori, Rajiv Bharadwaj
  • Patent number: 11662332
    Abstract: In a method for producing transparent biological preparations for examination by light microscopy biological tissue is electrophoretically clarified in that the tissue is immersed in an aqueous alkaline electrophoresis solution and is exposed to an electric field in the electrophoresis solution. The electrophoresis solution contains a buffer base, the cations of which have a molecular weight of at least 50 Da, at a concentration of 5 to 100 mol/m3 and a non-ionic detergent at a concentration of 0.1 to 10% (w/v).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: GEORG-AUGUST-UNIVERSITAET GOETTINGEN STIFTUNG OEFFENTLICHEN RECHTS, UNIVERSITAETSMEDIZIN
    Inventors: Robert Ventzki, Fred S. Wouters-Bunt
  • Patent number: 11629368
    Abstract: The present application discloses a planar enzyme sensor for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a solution comprising a substrate of an electrically insulating material supporting an electrode layer of an electrically conductive material. The substrate and electrode layer have a plurality of layers disposed thereon which include an enzyme layer and a microporous outer layer covering the enzyme layer, wherein the outer layer comprises a continuous phase of a water-resistant polymer (e.g. a polyvinylacetate or an acrylate copolymer), a protein (e.g. an enzyme) embedded in the continuous phase, and possibly polytetrafluoroethylene particles. The enzyme and the polytetrafluoroethylene particles provide a controlled porosity to the outer membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: RADIOMETER MEDICAL APS
    Inventors: Thomas Kjaer, Thomas Steen Hansen, Lydia Dahl Clausen
  • Patent number: 11598747
    Abstract: A blood pH measurement device comprises a tube through which blood or other ion-containing fluid flows, at least one dry reference electrode, a proton diffusion differentiator, an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor, and a pH meter. The tube can comprise an annular wall with an entry, an exit, and a sensor floor. The dry reference electrode is preferably located within the tube between the entry and the exit and opposite the sensor floor. It is also contemplated that the dry reference electrode is surrounded by a membrane and is, at least partially, associated with the interior surface of the annular wall. The contemplated invention can also include a proton diffusion differentiator, such as an electrolyte separation layer, connecting the external surface of the sensor floor to an ion-selective field effect transistor (ISFET), wherein the ISFET measures the ion concentration of the blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Sentient Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Mark Bain, Fredrick Quincy Johnson, Henry Roskos
  • Patent number: 11592421
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for performing capillary electrophoresis on two or more nucleic acid samples. The methods employ a forward voltage to move a first sample forward from an inlet to an interrogation region in the capillary, then a backward voltage to move the first sample backward, and then a forward voltage again to move the first sample and a second sample forward. Systems and apparatuses for performing capillary electrophoresis are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: INTEGENX, INC.
    Inventors: Mattias Vangbo, David King, Arnaldo Barican
  • Patent number: 11585803
    Abstract: An analysis method using a microchip which is provided with a capillary flow path, and a sample reservoir connected to the capillary flow path, in which the capillary flow path is filled with a first liquid for electrophoresis, and a second liquid containing a sample is stored in the sample reservoir, and including a pressurization process in which the first liquid is pressurized into the capillary flow path from a side of the capillary flow path that is opposite from the side connected to the sample reservoir, and a separation process in which a voltage is applied between the sample reservoir storing the second liquid and the capillary flow path filled with the first liquid, such that components in the sample contained in the second liquid move in the capillary flow path and the components are separated in the capillary flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: ARKRAY, INC.
    Inventor: Naotsugu Onuma
  • Patent number: 11585784
    Abstract: Techniques described herein can apply AC signals with different phases to different groups of nanopore cells in a nanopore sensor chip. When a first group of nanopore cells is in a dark period and is not sampled or minimally sampled by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to capture useful data, a second group of nanopore cells is in a bright period during which output signals from the second group of nanopore cells are sampled by the analog-to-digital converter. The reference level setting of the ADC is dynamically changed based on the applied AC signals to fully utilize the dynamic range of the ADC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: J. William Maney, Jr., Santiago Fernandez-Gomez
  • Patent number: 11585780
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a potentiometric probe for measuring a measured variable that represents an ion concentration in a measuring medium, including a probe base including a sensor circuit, and two electrochemical half-cells arranged such that one of the half-cells surrounds at least one portion of the other half-cell, wherein at least one of the half-cells is configured as a module which is connected to the probe base via a mechanical and electrical interface. In another embodiment, one of the half-cells is a measuring half-cell including an ion-selective membrane and a terminal lead which electrically contacts the ion-selective membrane. The other half-cell is a reference half-cell, wherein the measuring half-cell and/or the reference half-cell are each configured as a module which is connected to the probe base via a mechanical and electrical interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Hanko, Thomas Wilhelm, Matthäus Speck, Detlev Wittmer, Manfred Jagiella
  • Patent number: 11567031
    Abstract: In an example of a selective, real-time gas sensing method, a gas sample, potentially including a specific gas molecule to be sensed, is supplied to an interface between a working electrode and an ionic liquid electrolyte. Based on at least one unique electrochemical reaction of the specific gas molecule to be sensed, a driving force is implemented to initiate a series of reactions involving the specific gas molecule. In response to the implementation of the driving force, a signal indicative of the specific gas molecule is monitored for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Oakland University
    Inventors: Xiangqun Zeng, Yongan Tang
  • Patent number: 11561194
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gas sensor element having: a solid electrolyte body containing oxygen-ion conductive ZrO2; a detection electrode disposed on the solid electrolyte body to be exposed to a gas under measurement; and a reference electrode disposed on the solid electrolyte body to be exposed to a reference gas. In the gas sensor element, the detection electrode contains Pt and ZrO2; the detection electrode has a thickness of 3 to 10 ?m; the amount of ZrO2 contained relative to Pt in the detection electrode is 12 to 18 wt %; the detection electrode has a porosity of 5% or lower; and, in a particle size distribution graph of ZrO2 particles in the detection electrode, a cumulative value of peaks appearing in a range of 0.025 ?m to 0.200 ?m is 60 to 75%, and a cumulative value of peaks appearing in a range of 1.000 ?m to 3.162 ?m is 2 to 7%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Midori Matsumura, Hiroshi Isomura, Kazuki Yoshioka, Ryosuke Ota
  • Patent number: 11549905
    Abstract: A fluid analyzer for analyzing fluid samples comprising one or more analytes and a method of calibrating such. The fluid analyzer includes a control system to control at least one automated valve to pass at least three calibration reagents through a fluid channel to a secondary ion selective electrode, a primary ion selective electrode, and a reference electrode, and determine calibration information using calibration logic from signals generated by a meter, control the at least one automated valve to selectively pass different subsets of the at least three calibration reagents through the fluid channel to the secondary ion selective electrode, the primary ion selective electrode, and the reference electrode, and determine re-calibration information using the signals generated by the meter and at least one of the calibration information and re-calibration logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Zhang, Brian Holman, Kevin Horan
  • Patent number: 11534757
    Abstract: An electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) microfluidic device comprises at least one integrated electrochemical sensor, the electrochemical sensor comprising: a reference electrode; a sensing electrode; and an analyte-selective layer positioned over the sensing electrode. In some embodiments, the electrochemical sensor measures a concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample exposed to the electrochemical sensor based on a potential difference between the reference electrode and the sensing electrode. The first analyte and the second analyte can be selected from a group consisting of K+, Na+, Ca2+, Cl?, HCO3?, Mg2+, H+, Ba2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, I?, NH4+, (SO4)2?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Hyejin Moon, Ali Farzbod
  • Patent number: 11506626
    Abstract: An electrode composed of a substrate including a graphene layer coated on a first metal; and a complex including a second metal deposited on the substrate and a hydroxide of the first metal, where the complex is in the form of core-shell in which the second metal is a core and the hydroxide of the first metal is a shell, and the second metal has a higher standard reduction potential than the first metal. The graphene-coated metal foam of the present invention is the first case that proves not only theoretically but also by experiment that the remarkable catalytic ability reducing other metals (Au, Pt, Ag, and Cu, etc.) with a higher reduction potential than the metal by graphene coated on the metal surface it electroless deposition without additional reductant or electrical reduction conditions is due to the electrical double layer or interfacial dipole induced between the graphene and the metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: DAEGU GYEONGBUK INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, GLOBAL FRONTIER CENTER FOR MULTISCALE ENERGY SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Jong Sung Yu, Chunfei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11493477
    Abstract: An electrophoresis method, system, and gel recover biological substances from the gel with high efficiency. The method uses an electrophoresis gel having an injection hole into which biological substances are injected and a recovery hole from which the biological substances are recovered. The electrophoresis method includes injecting the biological substances into the injection hole, and applying an electric field penetrating the injection and recovery holes. A vertical axis in a downward direction as a positive direction is set as an X-axis, an axis which is perpendicular to the X-axis is set as a Y-axis, and coordinates of a bottom of the recovery hole are set as (XC, YC). The X coordinate XC of the bottom of the recovery hole satisfies XC>X1 when the biological substance is electrophoresed to coordinates (X1, YC) in the recovery hole from a bottom of the injection hole in the applying the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Mima Ogawa, Takahide Yokoi, Chihiro Uematsu
  • Patent number: 11486851
    Abstract: A gas sensor comprises an electrochemical film, a plurality of electrodes coupled with the electrochemical film and a semiconductor wafer coupled with the plurality of electrodes. A passivation layer is formed between the electrochemical firm and the semiconductor wafer and a dielectric layer is coupled between the electrochemical film and the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Filip Frederix, Erik Jan Lous
  • Patent number: 11486855
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrochemical sensor for determining a measurand correlating with a concentration of an analyte in a measuring fluid, comprising: a sensor membrane designed to be in contact with the measuring fluid for detecting measured values of the measurand; a probe housing which has at least one immersion region designed for immersion into the measuring fluid, wherein the sensor membrane is arranged in the immersion region of the probe housing; and a measurement circuit which is at least partially contained in the probe housing and is designed to generate and output a measurement signal dependent on the measurand, wherein the sensor membrane contains an optically detectable substance for marking the sensor membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER CONDUCTA GMBH+CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Löbbert, Michael Hanko
  • Patent number: 11474071
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for compensating for inteferants in measurement of alkalinity in a reagent-less system, including: introducing an aqueous sample into a measurement device comprising one or more series of electrodes; applying an electrical signal to the aqueous sample using the one or more series of electrodes, wherein the electrical signal is selected from the group consisting of: current and voltage; identifying, during application of the electrical signal, that the electrical signal reaches an oxidation threshold and measuring, prior to reaching the oxidation threshold, a first electrical response to the electrical signal, the first electrical response attributable to interferants in the aqueous sample; identifying, during application of the electrical signal, that the electrical signal reaches an endpoint and measuring, from the oxidation threshold to the endpoint, a second electrical response to the electrical signal; and measuring an alkalinity of the aqueous sample based upon a differenc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: HACH COMPANY
    Inventors: Vishnu Vardhanan Rajasekharan, Corey Alan Salzer
  • Patent number: 11467124
    Abstract: Methods for in situ measurement of an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) and pH of a solution comprising iron are provided. The methods comprise measuring a kinetic parameter at an electrode surface of an electrode system comprising a working electrode, a counter electrode and a pseudo-reference electrode, wherein the kinetic parameter is associated with ferric reduction or both ferric reduction and ferrous oxidation and comparing the kinetic parameter to calibration data for the electrode system to determine the ORP and pH of the solution. Also provided are apparatus and systems for in situ measurement of an ORP and pH of a solution comprising iron. The apparatus and systems comprise an electrode system comprising a working electrode, a counter electrode and a pseudo-reference electrode and a detector for measuring a kinetic parameter at an electrode surface of the electrode system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
    Inventors: Edouard Asselin, Hamidreza Zebardast, Jing Liu
  • Patent number: 11467120
    Abstract: A gas sensor includes a gas sensor element for detecting a specific gas concentration in measured gas. The gas sensor element includes a solid electrolyte, a measured gas side electrode into which measured gas is introduced through a porous diffusion resistance layer, a reference gas side electrode facing a reference gas chamber, and a diffusion space portion between the porous diffusion resistance layer and the measured gas side electrode. The porous diffusion resistance layer has a measured gas inlet opened to an element outer surface and a measured gas outlet opened to the diffusion space portion. A relationship between a distance between the inlet and the outlet and a distance between the outlet and the measured gas side electrode is expressed by 0<L1/(L1+L2)<0.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasutaka Kamiya, Tatsuki Ujiyama