Patents Examined by Cedric A Chan
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Patent number: 7829024Abstract: A urea concentration identification device comprising a concentration identification sensor unit (2) and a support unit (4) attached at the bottom end thereof with this sensor unit and provided at the top end thereof with a mounting unit (4a) to a urea solution tank opening. The concentration identification sensor unit (2) has an indirectly-heated concentration detector and liquid temperature detector provided with metal fins (21c),(22c), respectively, for heat-exchanging with urea solution. The concentration identification sensor unit (2) is provided with a cover member (2d) that forms an opposite-ends-opened urea solution induction passage so as to surround the metal fins (21c),(22c), and an enclosure (2e) that forms communication holes (26),(27) in the top and bottom end plate thereof (2e1),(2e2).Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2004Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenjiro Izutani, Takayuki Takahata
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Patent number: 7824618Abstract: Provided is a sensor structure comprising a heater and a temperature sensor at the center of a membrane having a well structure, allowing a temperature to be rapidly controlled with low power, and the object is analyzed using a conductivity change measured at two or more substrate temperatures with a pair of detecting electrode and a detecting layer implemented on the heater, wherein the sensing layer can include a conductive particle and a non-conductive organic composite.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2004Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Yong Shin Kim, Yun Tae Kim, Hae Sik Yang, Young Jun Kim, Seung Chul Ha, Yoon Seok Yang
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Patent number: 7776264Abstract: An automatic analyzer capable of replenishing a reagent even during an analysis and minimizing a suspension of the analysis. The automatic analyzer includes a plurality of reaction cells and a unit for holding reagents used in analyses. A plurality of reagents are dispensed to a sample in each reaction cell with a time difference to develop a reaction, and a liquid after the reaction is measured. After temporarily stopping the operation of dispensing the sample for a preset time during the analysis, the sample dispensing operation is restarted. Then, the sample dispensing operation is temporarily stopped again for the preset time at the timing in the dispensing of the reagent corresponding to the timing at which the sample dispensing operation was temporarily stopped. In the automatic analyzer, therefore, an analysis suspension due to registration and replacement of reagents during the analysis can be minimized, a larger number of reagents can be loaded, and a throughput per unit time can be increased.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2005Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Masaki Shiba, Hideyuki Yanami, Masaharu Nishida, Hitoshi Ohtake
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Patent number: 7771658Abstract: A disposable cartridge for characterizing particles suspended in a liquid, especially a self-contained disposable cartridge for single-use analysis, such as for single-use analysis of a small quantity of whole blood. The self-contained disposable cartridge facilitates a straightforward testing procedure, which can be performed by most people without any particular education. Furthermore, the apparatus used to perform the test on the cartridge is simple, maintenance free, and portable.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2003Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Chempaq A/SInventor: Ulrik Darling Larsen
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Patent number: 7731916Abstract: A method of charging catalyst tubes of a bundle of catalyst tubes in a structured fashion, in which uniformly predispensed portions of formulations of shaped catalyst bodies are used for producing a section of charge.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2005Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: BASF AktiengesellschaftInventors: Martin Dieterle, Knut Eger, Klaus Joachim Mueller-Engel, Ulrich Hammon, Volker Schliephake
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Patent number: 7704467Abstract: A composition for the treatment of a liquid, particularly a body of water, such as a swimming pool, spa, or the like. The composition includes calcium hypochlorite, a water soluble zinc salt for controlling algae, and sodium aluminate as an agglomerating agent that may safely be combined with said calcium hypochlorite and said zinc salt. A floating chemical dispenser for containing and dispensing chemicals to treat a body of water. The dispenser includes an upper end float, a container adapted to contain chemicals, the container removably joined with the upper end float, and a free end float joined with the container. The free end float is configured so that a central axis of the container and upper end float is not substantially orthogonal to a surface of the water.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Arch Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Peter Kenneth Hodgetts, Richard M. Mullins
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Patent number: 7687028Abstract: A sequential, time-integrated collector having an electronic controller that actuates either of two electrically-actuated valves, each connected to a water reservoir. At a preset time interval (e.g., every 30 minutes), time-integrated water samples are transferred into sample vials in a multi-sample carousel. Evaporation that could change the isotopic composition of a precipitation sample is minimized by sealing the opening of each sample vial by pressing each vial against a flat, low-friction surface, such as a Teflon® sheet, from the time each sample vial is filled until it is removed from the collector.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2006Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the InteriorInventor: Tyler Benjamin Coplen, II
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Patent number: 7687034Abstract: The valve sealing system for a reagent package includes an annular cylindrical gasket seated in a channel formed in the package. A rocker valve on the package pivots relative to the annular cylindrical gasket which surrounds an opening to the chamber of the reagent package. The annular channel includes a radially inner peripheral channel sidewall, a radially outer peripheral channel sidewall, and a bottom portion. An inclined peripheral wall portion of the channel intersects one of the channel sidewalls at an obtuse angle and the bottom portion of the channel. When the rocker valve is in a valve closed position it engages the annular cylindrical gasket to provide a substantially leak-tight seal.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2005Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.Inventors: Nicolae Dumitrescu, Joseph Carlucci
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Patent number: 7674432Abstract: Pipetting device with an upper part of the casing, a driving element, arranged in the upper part of the casing, with a movable drive element, a spigot receiver, arranged in the upper part of the casing, at least one claw receiver inside the spigot receiver, a lower part of the casing, at least one displacement equipment, arranged in the lower part of the casing, with a displacement chamber, at least one seat for detachably holding a pipette point, arranged on the lower part of the casing and being connected with the displacement chamber via a channel, a spigot, arranged on the lower part of the casing, to be inserted into the spigot receiver, at least one snap hook, arranged on the spigot, with a claw for engaging into the claw receiver when the spigot is inserted into the spigot receiver, and a springy shaft, which is deflectable transversely to the axis of the spigot in order to lift off the claw out of the claw receiver, a lock release ring, movable on the spigot, a wedge gear on the shaft and the lock relType: GrantFiled: August 22, 2006Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Eppendorf AGInventor: Jens Wilmer
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Patent number: 7670554Abstract: An automated analyzer for analyzing patient samples. The analyzer includes a plurality of cuvettes, which allow the samples to be mixed with various reagents. The analyzer includes one or more detectors, including a detector adapted to detect luminescence of the reaction mixture in the cuvettes. The analyzer allows for various diagnostic assays to be performed on a single system, and provides for high-sensitivity analysis at faster speeds.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2005Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.Inventors: Allan Tit-Shing Chow, William Jackson Devlin, Sr., Timothy Patrick Evers, David Russell Thompson
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Patent number: 7662339Abstract: An assembly suitable for use in a laboratory instrument is set forth. The assembly comprises a plurality of guide rods that are disposed generally parallel with one another and a plurality of carriage assemblies connected for movement along the plurality of guide rods. A sub-carriage assembly is disposed on at least one of the carriage assemblies and is connected to the carriage assembly for movement in a direction transverse to the plurality of guide rods. A plurality of carriage drive mechanisms are employed to move the plurality of carriage assemblies independently along said plurality of guide rods and a sub-carriage drive mechanism is provided to move the sub-carriage assembly in a direction transverse to said plurality of guide rods.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2004Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Mattila, Brian D. Wilson
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Patent number: 7618586Abstract: An automatic analyzer for performing qualitative and quantitative analyses of living samples, such as blood and urine, which effectively utilizes the sample and enables requested tests to be performed as many as possible, when sample deficiency is predicted as a result of measuring a sample volume in advance. The analyzer includes a unit for measuring a sample volume, and has a function of, when sample deficiency is predicted, automatically changing an analysis mode to a decrease sample assay for a part of tests, thereby reducing a sample volume required depending on the measured sample volume.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2005Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Yoshiaki Saito, Kazuhiro Nakamura
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Patent number: 7575556Abstract: A biopsy device includes a tissue sample holder and a cutter defining a cutter lumen. In one example, the tissue sample holder has a manifold, a plurality of chambers that are configured to separately hold tissue samples, and a cup configured to cover the manifold and chambers. The tissue sample holder is rotatable to successively align the chambers with the cutter lumen. A longitudinal passage extends along the manifold, and is positioned between two of the chambers. The manifold may be rotated to align the passage with the cutter lumen and with an opening in the cup. The passage of the manifold and the opening in the cup are configured to permit a portion of an instrument to be inserted through the opening and passage and into the cutter lumen. The instrument may be used to introduce one or more markers or medicine, etc., to a biopsy site.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2007Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Trevor W. V. Speeg, Michael J. Andreyko, John A. Hibner, Edward A. Rhad, Shailendra K. Parihar, Kenneth E. Hogue
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Patent number: 7559234Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling the combustion process in a combustion system to determine the amplitude and/or frequencies of dynamic pressure oscillations during combustion. An electrode in communication with the combustion system senses hydrocarbon ions and/or electrons produced by the combustion process and calibration apparatus calibrates the relationship between the standard deviation of the current in the electrode and the amplitudes of the dynamic pressure oscillations by applying a substantially constant voltage between the electrode and ground resulting in a current in the electrode and by varying one or more of (1) the flow rate of the fuel, (2) the flow rate of the oxidant, (3) the equivalence ratio, (4) the acoustic tuning of the combustion system, and (5) the fuel distribution in the combustion chamber such that the amplitudes of the dynamic pressure oscillations in the combustion chamber are calculated as a function of the standard deviation of the electrode current.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2004Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Benjamin T. Chorpening, Jimmy Thornton, E. David Huckaby, George A. Richards
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Patent number: 7537732Abstract: Paper pulp is added to a stain solution. The stain solution and pulp fibers are mixed to form a slurry. Samples are removed from the slurry and are admixed with dilution water and a bleach. Then, the fibers are moved into a flow cell where they are subjected to a light source adapted to stimulate fluorescence from the stained pulp fiber. Before the fiber slurry enters the flow cell it is mixed with a dilution water of bleach to reduce background fluorescence. The fluorescent light is collimated and directed through a dichroic filter onto a fluorescence splitting dichroic filter.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2004Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Richard Gustafson, James B. Callis, Jeffrey D. Mathews, John Robinson, Carsten A. Bruckner, Kuntinee Suvamakich
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Patent number: 7527977Abstract: The present embodiment describes a miniature, microfluidic, absorption-based sensor to detect proteins at sensitivities comparable to LIF but without the need for tagging. This instrument utilizes fiber-based evanescent-field cavity-ringdown spectroscopy, in combination with faceted prism microchannels. The combination of these techniques will increase the effective absorption path length by a factor of 103 to 104 (to ˜1-m), thereby providing unprecedented sensitivity using direct absorption. The coupling of high-sensitivity absorption with high-performance microfluidic separation will enable real-time sensing of biological agents in aqueous samples (including aerosol collector fluids) and will provide a general method with spectral fingerprint capability for detecting specific bio-agents.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2005Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Julie A. Fruetel, Gregory J. Fiechtner, Dahv A. V. Kliner, Andrew McIlroy
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Patent number: 7524461Abstract: A motorized pipette is described for pipetting and titration of especially small amounts with an especially slow rate. An interruptable dispensing cycle allows extremely accurate titration and pipetting in which a take-up cycle is continued with an additional volume of a limited amount. Additionally, a certain minimum dispensing rate, which is preferably preset at the factory, for certain operating modes can be provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2004Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Brand GmbH + Co. KGInventor: Antonio Romaguera
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Patent number: 7490723Abstract: A glass ampoule for packaging and containing solid matter under sterile conditions, the glass ampoule comprising an integral glass body having a breaking section, the breaking section being breakable to define an opening large enough to easily remove the matter.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2004Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Inventor: Ricardo Levisman
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Patent number: 7470402Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic precision pipetting device. The inventive device comprises at least two cylinder/piston-type pumping units (1, 2), the rods of which are rotated by means of a common motor unit (MP). Moreover, the pumping chamber of each of the pumping units (1, 2) is connected to a circuit comprising, successively, a conduit that opens into a container of rinsing liquid (RL), three successive solenoid valves (EV1, EV2, EV3) and a portion of circuit which connects the second solenoid valve (EV2) with the pipetting means (AP). The larger pumping chamber is connected in the part of the circuit that provides the connection between the two solenoid valves (EV1, EV2) while the second pumping chamber is connected to the above-mentioned portion of circuit by means of a connector, said portion of circuit comprising a solenoid valve (EV3) which is disposed between said connector and the aforementioned pipetting means.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2003Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Stago InstrumentInventors: Khaled Abou Saleh, Alain Rousseau
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Patent number: 7469799Abstract: A measuring instrument (A) includes a pressurizing mechanism (C) which moves at least one of a measuring article (S) and a connector (4) toward and into pressing contact with the other when the measuring article (S) is placed at a measuring position (P). This prevents improper connection between the connector (4) and the measuring article (S) caused by wear of the connector (4).Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2003Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Arkray, Inc.Inventor: Daisuke Matsumoto