Patents Examined by Jill Warden
  • Patent number: 11680906
    Abstract: An example sensor includes a flow cell, a detection device, and a controller. The flow cell includes a passivation layer having opposed surfaces and a reaction site at a first of the opposed surfaces. The flow cell also includes a lid operatively connected to the passivation layer to partially define a flow channel between the lid and the reaction site. The detection device is in contact with a second of the opposed surfaces of the passivation layer, and includes an embedded metal layer that is electrically isolated from other detection circuitry of the detection device. The controller is to ground the embedded metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.
    Inventors: Tracy Helen Fung, Xiuyu Cai, Lisa Kwok, Hai Tran, Kevan Samiee, Liangliang Qiang, Boyan Boyanov
  • Patent number: 11680950
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus that can include (a) a scan actuator including a linear actuator and a mount for a removeable vessel, wherein the mount has a mechanical fastener that is configured to engage a complementary mechanical fastener on the removeable vessel, and wherein the linear actuator is configured to translate the mount while the mechanical fastener engages the complementary mechanical fastener on the removeable vessel; (b) a reference surface; and (c) a preload configured to urge the vessel to contact the reference surface, wherein the linear actuator is configured to slide the vessel along the reference surface while the preload urges the vessel to contact the reference surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Matias Negatu, Alex Nemiroski, Drew Ival Frerichs, Dale Buermann, Michael John Erickstad, Rebecca McGinley, Harry Scott Rapoport, Arnold Oliphant, Eugene Pogrebinsky
  • Patent number: 11668707
    Abstract: Analyzers and methods for making and using analyzers are described such as a method in which multiple absorption readings of a liquid assay are obtained by a photodetector using multiple light sources having at least three separate and independent wavelength ranges and with each of the absorption readings taken at a separate instant of time. Using at least one processor and calibration information of the liquid assay, an amount of at least two analytes within the liquid assay using the multiple absorption readings is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventor: Jacques Brunelle
  • Patent number: 11662356
    Abstract: A sample installation part in which a sample container accommodating a sample to be subjected to biochemical analysis is installed, and consumables installation parts in which consumables to be used for the biochemical analysis are installed are accommodated in an apparatus body of a biochemical analysis apparatus. The apparatus body is provided with an opening part that leads to a sample tray. An instruction receiving unit receives a movement instruction for moving the sample tray from a normal position where the sample installation part is disposed on the opening part side to a consumables replenishment position where the consumables installation parts are disposed on the opening part side. A driving control unit moves the sample tray from the normal position to the consumables replenishment position in a case where the movement instruction is received by the instruction receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Jumpei Shiraishi, Shigetoshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11654434
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are microinjection chips, devices, and systems for injection of unicellular or multicellular organisms. The microinjection chip and device disclosed herein include the microfluidic features, inlet port, pre-injection reservoir, injection channel and post injection channel in fluid communication with each other. The inlet port is adapted to sequentially move individual organisms into the injection channel, which is adapted to immobilize the individual organism in fluid. The injection channel features a side wall adapted to receive a microinjection pipette without a microinjection port and to reseal when the microinjection pipette is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: NemaMetrix Inc., University of Oregon
    Inventor: Shawn Lockery
  • Patent number: 11656238
    Abstract: The automatic analyzer includes a storage unit storing the reaction containers of cleaning target by day unit in such a manner that all the reaction containers mounted on a reaction disk are to be cleaning target within a plurality of days, and a control unit exerts a control in such a manner that during an operation state after the sample of analysis object is dispensed to the reaction containers, a sample of analysis object in each of the reaction containers is analyzed, and not the sample but a detergent is dispensed to the reaction containers of cleaning target of an appointed day, the reaction containers of cleaning target of the appointed day being stored in the storage unit, to soak and wash the reaction containers for a certain time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Nakasawa, Tetsuji Kawahara, Masaharu Nishida, Yoko Inoue, Kenichi Yagi, Osamu Matsumoto, Sayaka Asada
  • Patent number: 11648565
    Abstract: The equipment item for automatically managing a plurality of biological samples placed in a respective sample jar includes a storage container for sample jars having a plurality of housings, an apparatus with a reader of encoded identification data affixed on the sample jars placed in the container, a device for determining data representative of the position of each sample jar within the container, and a device for rotating the container, and a computer processor connected to the apparatus. The container includes, in the immediate vicinity of each housing, a shape appearing recessed or raised, while the device for determining data representative of the position of each sample jar is defined by a detector for the shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: DREAMPATH DIAGNOSTICS
    Inventors: Pablo Jordan Navas, Valerie Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 11647993
    Abstract: An oral fluid collection device is provided that includes a borosilicate glass collection tube that can be capped post-collection for containing a human donor's expectorated oral fluid. The collection tube has a lyophilized reagent disposed therein that is essentially free of surfactants and solvents and includes a bacteriostatic, a peptidoglycan cleaving enzyme, an esterase inhibitor, an antioxidant, and a buffer at a pH range of about 5.7 to about 6.5 for stabilizing drugs and drug metabolites that may be present in the donor oral fluid. Interaction between the collected oral fluid and the buffer-preservative is provided by gravity drawing the collected oral fluid downward into contact with the lyophilized buffer-preservative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Robert Merrifield White, Sr., John Malcolm Mitchell, Edwin Dale Hart
  • Patent number: 11642675
    Abstract: A microfluidic system for fluid transport is provided. The microfluidic system includes a microfluidic device. The microfluidic device includes an inlet body including an inlet. The microfluidic device includes a base supporting the inlet body. The base includes a channel in fluid communication with the inlet. The base includes one or more sensors formed on a surface of the channel, or one or more sensors formed in one or more wells formed in the surface of the channel. The channel is configured to facilitate flow of the fluid. The fluid includes a plurality of beads. The fluid includes a plurality of suspended cells. The inlet is configured to receive the fluid at an inlet port. The inlet is configured to output the fluid through an opening in fluid communication with the channel. The inlet is configured to provide substantially uniform flow of the fluid across a substantial portion of a horizontal dimension of the channel. The device is configured to compensate for edge effects otherwise present therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Plexium, Inc.
    Inventors: Edgar Gutierrez, Jesse Lu
  • Patent number: 11628436
    Abstract: An assay plate assembly comprising a plurality of microfluidic modules arranged in a rectilinear matrix of rows and columns microfluidic channels. Each microfluidic module has an inlet well leading to a serpentine microfluidic channel that is set at a cant angle. The well is laterally offset from the detection area to avoid optical interference. The geometric center of each detection area is positioned according to ANSI/SLAS standards for well-centers. A drain from each microfluidic channel is located so that it does not interfere with any detection areas. An array of micro-posts are disposed within each microfluidic channel. The micro-posts extend perpendicularly from the top surface of the top plate toward the underside and are equally distributed throughout the entire detection area. The plate assembly provides reduced assay time and sample volume, and increased sensitivity and specificity in biological and chemical assays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Maung Kyaw Khaing Oo, Xudong Fan
  • Patent number: 11630036
    Abstract: A sample collection and detection device includes a collection cavity. The device further includes a sample collector. The sample collector comprises a collection rod and an absorption element, and the absorption element has a hollow cavity. A part of the collection rod is received in the hollow cavity of the absorption element. A first lug for blocking and locating the absorption element is arranged on the collection rod. Also provided is a method for collecting and detecting sample using the sample collection and detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Assure Tech. (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Shi sheng Ling
  • Patent number: 11624752
    Abstract: When the automatic analyzer is installed in an environment with a high altitude and different external atmospheric pressures, there is a problem that an amount of vacuum suction decreases due to a decrease in suction performance of a vacuum pump and it is difficult to perform vacuum suction of an analyzed reaction liquid. In view of the above, by newly providing a pressure adjustment mechanism within a flow path connecting a vacuum tank to vacuum pump, it possible to control the pressure difference between a pressure in the vacuum tank and an external atmospheric pressure where the analyzer is installed to be constant regardless of the installation environment. Additionally, by providing a hole in communication with the outside in the vacuum tank or a vacuum bin, it possible to control the pressure difference between the pressure in the vacuum tank and the external atmospheric pressure where the analyzer is installed to be constant regardless of the installation environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Tooru Inaba, Takamichi Mori, Tetsuji Kawahara
  • Patent number: 11619644
    Abstract: An analysis device employs an analysis kit including a chip provided with a capillary through which a sample flows and a cartridge superimposed on the chip and provided with a liquid reservoir. The analysis device includes a guide-in section into which the analysis kit is guided, a placement section on which the analysis kit placed so as to be supported, a pusher member that pushes the analysis kit from one side face of the analysis kit, contact members that oppose another side face on an opposite side in the horizontal direction to the one side face of the analysis kit placed on the placement section, and contact the other side face of the analysis kit being pushed in by the pusher member so as to position the analysis kit in the horizontal direction, and a measurement member that measures a component present in the sample in the analysis kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiro Yamamoto, Shigeru Kitamura, Naoto Shichi
  • Patent number: 11619641
    Abstract: A container carrier for carrying a sample container along a track is presented. The container carrier comprises a holding portion for receiving and holding a sample container and a base portion. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag containing identifying information is provided with an antenna for wireless communication of the RFID tag with a reader device of the diagnostics system to read the identifying information. The RFID tag is on the holding portion. An arrangement for a diagnostics system is provided comprising container carriers and a track with a transport mechanism for moving the container carriers along a transportation lane. The transport mechanism defines a transport plane along which the container carriers move. A reader device reads the identifying information from the RFID tags. The reader device comprising a reader antenna above the transport plane to generate and emit a reader field for wireless communication with the RFID tag's antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Riccardo Leone Benedetti
  • Patent number: 11619635
    Abstract: Antibody-free processes are disclosed that provide accurate quantification of a wide variety of low-abundance target analytes in complex samples. The processes can employ high-pressure, high-resolution chromatographic separations for analyte enrichment. Intelligent selection of target fractions may be performed via on-line Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM) or off-line rapid screening of internal standards. Quantification may be performed on individual or multiplexed fractions. Applications include analyses of, e.g., very low abundance proteins or candidate biomarkers in plasma, cell, or tissue samples without the need for affinity-specific reagents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Tujin Shi, Weijun Qian, Thomas L. Fillmore, Xuefei Sun, Richard D. Smith
  • Patent number: 11619642
    Abstract: The invention discloses a reaction incubation device, an immunity analyzer and a reaction incubation method. The reaction incubation device comprises a reaction unit (10), which is used for bearing and incubating a reaction container; and a transfer unit (20), which is used for removing the reaction container in and out of the reaction unit (10). The reaction unit (10) comprises a rotating device (11). The rotating device (11) is provided with an incubation position which increases a predetermined angle ? at an interval of fixed time T along with the rotating device (11). The transfer unit (20) removes the reaction container out of the incubation position according to variable incubation time ti. With the device, flexible and variable incubation time can be achieved, and the problem of complicated control, low reliability and that high-speed automation is not easy to achieve in the prior art can be solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Shenzhen Increcare Biotech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhen Zhang
  • Patent number: 11607690
    Abstract: An applicator or applicator system used for handling samples in an analytical laboratory setting. In particular, the invention the applicator or applicator system is capable of capping an analytical sample tube by applying a capping material to an opening of an analytical sample vessel, the applicator or applicator system including g a dispenser configured to dispense a substantially continuous length of a capping material, such that a region of the substantially continuous length of capping material is located on or about an opening of an analytical sample vessel held in a predetermined orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: AIM LAB AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD
    Inventors: Damien Braun, Francis Harvey, David Muir-McCarey, Robert Fisher, Sandy Sherry, Zisui Yao, Rainer Novy, Matthew Grant, Peter Dalman, Thomas Knight
  • Patent number: 11604148
    Abstract: A device and a method of using the device for improving sensitivity, speed, and easy-to-use of a colorimetric assay of a liquid sample are provided. The device includes a first plate and a second plate, spacers, and a textured surface. The two plates each have a sample contact surface and are movable relative to each other into an open configuration or a closed configuration. The sample is deposited on one or both plates in the open configuration. Thereafter, the closed configuration is formed where the plates compress at least part of the deposited sample into a continuous layer. The textured surface is disposed on the sample contact surface of the second plate and has a textured structure that scatters light, from which an optical signal such as a colorimetric or fluorescent signal can be obtained for analyzing the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Essenlix Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Y. Chou, Wei Ding, Yufan Zhang, Ji Qi
  • Patent number: 11604201
    Abstract: Disclosed is a specimen analyzer configured to perform analysis on a specimen for a plurality of measurement items, the specimen analyzer including a measurement section configured to perform a specimen measurement for measuring a measurement sample prepared from a specimen and a reagent corresponding to a measurement item, and configured to perform a quality control measurement for measuring a measurement sample prepared from a quality control substance and a reagent corresponding to a measurement item; and a controller programmed to set a quality control for each measurement item, from a quality control group that includes at least two types of quality controls selected from a first quality control in which the quality control measurement is performed at a predetermined time, a second quality control in which the quality control measurement is performed every time the specimen measurement is performed a predetermined number of times of measurement, and a third quality control in which the quality control me
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kurono
  • Patent number: 11604203
    Abstract: A pretreatment device for performing pretreatment using a liquid sucked by a probe from an inside of a septum-attached container includes: a container holding unit which has a space for accommodating the septum-attached container and is provided with a hole into which the probe is inserted with respect to a septum of the septum-attached container to be stored; an installation unit in which the container holding unit is detachably installed; and a fixing unit which fixes the container holding unit to the installation unit in a state where the container holding unit is detachably installed in the installation unit, to solve the above-described problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Hanafusa