Patents Examined by Luan V. Van
  • Patent number: 11150214
    Abstract: The capillary electrophoresis apparatus according to the present invention can maintain the temperature in the longitudinal direction of each of a plurality of capillaries uniformly, such that the separation performance of the capillary electrophoresis apparatus can be stabilized, and the analysis performance can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Sato, Motohiro Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11125720
    Abstract: A capillary electrophoresis apparatus is disclosed that does not discharge and achieves both compactness and performance even with a part configuration having insufficient spatial distance or creeping distance. This capillary electrophoresis apparatus is provided with a resistance heater for heating capillaries, an electrode holder that holds capillary electrodes and is connected to a high-voltage unit, and a conductive member that at least partially comprises metal and has been grounded to a low potential. The electrode holder and conductive member are in contact with heat-dissipating rubber disposed there between that composes a structure comprising an insulation member. As a result of this configuration, discharge risk is reduced through the reduction of the potential of parts near the high-voltage unit and the slow reduction of the high potential of the high-voltage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Taro Nakazawa, Motohiro Yamazaki, Kenko Uchida, Akira Fujii
  • Patent number: 11125719
    Abstract: A gas sensor is capable of measuring the concentrations of each of a plurality of target components in a gas being measured. The gas sensor has a sensor element, and one or more processors configured to control an oxygen concentration and to acquire a target component concentration. The oxygen concentration is controlled in a first chamber and a second chamber of a first sensor cell, and the oxygen concentration is also controlled in a second chamber of a second sensor cell. The concentration of a second target component is acquired on the basis of a difference ?Ip between a first pump current value and a second pump current value, and the concentration of a first target component is acquired by subtracting the concentration of the second target component from the second pump current value (total concentration).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Nakagaki
  • Patent number: 11116856
    Abstract: A hand dryer with a housing in which a cavity accessible from outside through a housing opening is formed for accommodating hands to be dried by means of an airflow, and with a device for generating the airflow, as well as a device for generating UV radiation comprising at least one lamp that emits light in the ultraviolet wavelength range, which is arranged in the housing in such a manner that it emits UV radiation into the cavity. The device for generating UV radiation is designed in such a manner that the UV radiation emitted into the cavity with a wavelength in the range from 228 to 380 nm has a maximum intensity of 20% of the intensity of the UV radiation emitted into the cavity with a wavelength in the range from 200 to 380 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: BLV LICHT- UND VAKUUMTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hishinuma, Yasuhiko Wakahata
  • Patent number: 11090660
    Abstract: The present technology relates to improved device and methods of use of insulator-based dielectrophoresis. This device provides a multi-length scale element that provides enhanced resolution and separation. The device provides improved particle streamlines, trapping efficiency, and induces laterally similar environments. Also provided are methods of using the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignees: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), U.S. DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS), U.S. GOVERNMENT
    Inventors: Mark Hayes, Claire Crowther, Paul Jones
  • Patent number: 11079355
    Abstract: A method for cancer diagnosis is disclosed. The method includes forming a plurality of cultured cells on an electrochemical biosensor placing the electrochemical biosensor in a medium solution comprising a cell culture solution of a plurality of biological cells, measuring a first electrochemical response from the electrochemical biosensor with the plurality of cultured cells, forming a plurality of stimulated cells on the electrochemical biosensor by ultrasonically stimulating of the plurality of cultured cells, measuring a second electrochemical response from the electrochemical biosensor with the plurality of stimulated cells, and detecting presence of cancer cells responsive to a difference between the first electrochemical response and the second electrochemical response being less than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: NANO HESGARSAZAN SALAMAT ARYA
    Inventors: Mohammad Abdolahad, Mohammad Ali Khayamian, Saeid Ansaryan, Majid Baniassadi
  • Patent number: 11067531
    Abstract: A method of operation of a gas sensor includes applying a control voltage that is repetitively set to on state and off state between the reference electrode and the measurement-object gas side electrode to pump in oxygen to the periphery of the reference electrode; and detecting the specific gas concentration in the measurement-object gas on the basis of a voltage between the reference electrode and the measurement electrode during a second period, from among a first period that is started upon setting of the control voltage to on state, during which a potential difference between the reference electrode and the measurement-object gas side electrode is large, and the second period that is started upon setting of the control voltage to off state after the potential difference falls from the first period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Watanabe, Takayuki Sekiya
  • Patent number: 11067528
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electro-chemical sensor and coating method, production method and corresponding uses. The coating method of an electro-chemical sensor comprises the following steps: coating a carbon-rich substrate, with a carbon content greater than or equal to 0 wt. % in relation to the total weight of the substrate, and with an organic polymer; and applying a cold plasma treatment to said coating. This method permits the production of electro-chemical sensors with a carbon-rich substrate, with a carbon content greater or equal to 50 wt. % in relation to the total weight of the substrate, and a modified organic polymer coating. These new sensors are suitable for the detection of, inter alia, dopamine, glucose, uric acid and ascorbic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNICA DE CATALUNYA
    Inventors: Elaine Armelin Diggroc, Georgina Fabregat Jové, Jordi Llorca Pique, Carlos Alemán Llansó
  • Patent number: 11067530
    Abstract: A method of operation of a gas sensor includes applying a control voltage that is set between the reference electrode and the measurement-object gas side electrode; and detecting the specific gas concentration in the measurement-object gas on the basis of a voltage between the reference electrode and the measurement electrode during a second period, from among a first period that is started upon setting of the control voltage to on state, during which a potential difference between the reference electrode and the measurement-object gas side electrode is large, and the second period that is started upon setting of the control voltage to off state after the potential difference falls from the first period. Tf, a fall time of the potential difference between the first period and the second period, and T2, a second time that is a length of the second period, satisfies Tf?T2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Watanabe, Takayuki Sekiya
  • Patent number: 11047037
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to thin conductive composites, such as biosensor electrodes, containing a polymeric film substrate a conductive layer disposed adjacent the substrate. The conductive layer includes Krypton and a conductive material. The conductive layer has an average thickness of no greater than about 150 nanometers. The conductive layer has a normalized thickness (t/?) of no greater than about 3.0. Further, the composite has a sheet resistance of no greater than about 97.077t?1.071 ohm/sq, where t represents the thickness of the conductive layer in nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wentao Xu, Fabien Lienhart
  • Patent number: 11041150
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to fluidic systems and devices for processing, extracting, or purifying one or more analytes. These systems and devices can be used for processing samples and extracting nucleic acids, for example by isotachophoresis. In particular, the systems and related methods can allow for extraction of nucleic acids, including non-crosslinked nucleic acids, from samples such as tissue or cells. The systems and devices can also be used for multiplex parallel sample processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Purigen Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis A. Marshall, Amy L. Hiddessen, Nathan P. Hoverter, Klint A. Rose, Juan G. Santiago, Matthew S. Munson, Janine Mok, Sean Arin, Yatian Qu, Andrew Lee, Michael Christopher DeRenzi
  • Patent number: 11029306
    Abstract: A liquid voltage is applied to a first side of a lipid bilayer. The liquid voltage comprises a tag-reading period with a tag-reading voltage that tends to capture a tag into a nanopore in the lipid bilayer and an open-channel period with an open-channel voltage that tends to repel the tag. A pre-charging voltage source is connected to an integrating capacitor and a working electrode on a second side of the lipid bilayer during a pre-charging time period, such that the integrating capacitor and the working electrode are charged to a pre-charging voltage. The pre-charging voltage source is disconnected from the integrating capacitor and the working electrode during an integrating time period, such that a voltage of the integrating capacitor and a voltage of the working electrode may vary as a current flows through the nanopore. The pre-charging time period overlaps with a beginning portion of the tag-reading period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger J. A. Chen, Hui Tian, J. William Maney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11029280
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for determining the alkalinity of an aqueous sample using an alkalinity sensor, including: monitoring the pH of an aqueous sample using a pH sensor in a sample cell, the pH sensor including a pH sensor electrode made of boron-doped diamond; generating hydronium ions, using a hydronium generator, in the aqueous sample in the sample cell, the hydronium generator including a hydronium-generating electrode; changing the pH of the aqueous sample by causing the hydronium generator to generate an amount of hydronium ions in the aqueous sample; quantifying and converting a current or charge to the number of hydronium ions produced to an end point of the electrochemical titration, the end point correlating to the alkalinity of a sample; and analyzing the alkalinity of the aqueous sample based on the generated amount of hydronium ions and the resulting change in pH monitored by the pH sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: HACH COMPANY
    Inventors: Dan Kroll, Corey Salzer
  • Patent number: 11022580
    Abstract: A PCB based electrochemical sensor includes a PCB having a first electrode on a first surface of the PCB, and a second electrode on a second surface. A sensing element, such as a conductive wire, is attached to the first electrode. The PCB includes one or more through holes, and the conductive wire is positioned proximate one or more of the one or more through holes. When the PCB based electrochemical sensor is positioned in a solution to be sensed, the solution fills the through holes. The ions within the solution provide a current pathway between the conductive wire and the second electrode through the through holes. A voltage potential between the two electrodes is measured. The measured voltage potential is used to determine a value associated with the solution, such as a pH value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Flex Ltd.
    Inventor: Marco De Angeli
  • Patent number: 11021731
    Abstract: Analyte sensors and methods for fabricating analyte sensors and analyte sensing layers are presented here. In accordance with certain embodiments, a method for fabricating an analyte sensor includes providing a base layer and forming a conductive layer over the base layer. Further, the method includes forming an analyte sensing layer disposed over the conductive layer. The analyte sensing layer includes glucose oxidase entrapped within a thermally-cured polymer matrix and within a UV-cured polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventor: Kelly Lu
  • Patent number: 11022579
    Abstract: A cap for use with devices, such as sensors. The cap includes protrusions on its underside, to restrict the movement of a liquid or a gel placed under cap. The protrusions may take the form of walls or pillars, depending on the application. As such, the cap retains the liquid or gel in a specified position on the device. For example, an electrochemical sensor may require a liquid electrolyte to remain in place over one or more electrodes. The protrusions may not extend far enough to touch the device, but rather leave a small gap. However, because of the surface tension of the liquid, the liquid generally stays within the protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Alfonso Berduque, Donal McAuliffe, Brendan Cawley, Raymond J. Speer, Youri Ponomarev
  • Patent number: 11022576
    Abstract: A gas sensor with a gas permeable region is disclosed. In an embodiment a gas sensor includes a dielectric membrane formed on a semiconductor substrate having a cavity portion, a heater located within or over the dielectric membrane, a material for sensing a gas, wherein the material is located on one side of the dielectric membrane, a support structure located near the material, a gas permeable membrane coupled to the support structure so as to protect the material, wherein the semiconductor substrate forms the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Sciosense B.V.
    Inventors: Syed Zeeshan Ali, Matthew Govett, Simon Jonathan Stacey
  • Patent number: 11009481
    Abstract: Provided is a gas sensor achieving improvement in detection accuracy for a specific gas component and responsiveness for detecting the specific gas component. A guide body is provided at a base end section of a first inner circulation hole in an inner cover of the gas sensor. The base end section is located between a base end position P1 2 mm away from a tip end of a sensor element in an axial direction L towards a base end side L1 and a tip end position P2 2 mm away from the tip end towards a tip end side L2. The tip end is on the base end side L1 relative to an imaginary line K passing through a base end and a tip end on a surface on the tip end side of the guide body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Araki, Mitsunobu Nakato
  • Patent number: 10996211
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to solve inhibition of biopolymer measurement in a nanopore, which involves three-dimensional conformation of a biopolymer containing a nucleic acid. The present invention provides a device for analyzing a biopolymer containing a nucleic acid, the device including: an array device including a plurality of thin film parts having a nanopore; a single common container and a plurality of individual containers capable of storing a measurement solution which is brought into contact with the thin films; and individual electrodes respectively provided in the plurality of individual containers, wherein: the measurement solution is introduced into each of the individual containers and the common container so as to be brought into contact with the thin films; and the measurement solution has a pH equal to or greater than pKa of a guanine base and contains cesium ions as electrolyte cations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Goto, Takahide Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10996193
    Abstract: A gas sensor element includes: an element main body including an oxygen concentration detection cell and an oxygen pump cell; and a protective layer that covers the element main body. The element main body includes a heater section. The heater section is a heating element that heats the oxygen concentration detection cell and the oxygen pump cell. The protective layer includes: a first protective layer including a carrier composed mainly of a white ceramic and a noble metal catalyst supported on the carrier; and a second protective layer that is a layer composed mainly of a white ceramic and supporting no noble metal catalyst. The second protective layer externally covers the first protective layer, and a surface of the second protective layer serves as the outermost surface of the protective layer. The thickness of the second protective layer is smaller than the thickness of the first protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Nakatsukasa, Masaki Mizutani