Patents Examined by Sam P. Siefke
  • Patent number: 10203287
    Abstract: An aquatic environment water parameter testing system and related methods and chemical indicator elements. The aquatic environment water parameter testing system includes an electronics portion having an optical reader element and a sample chamber portion. Conductivity and/or temperature may be utilized to calibrate readings by the optical reader element. A system may optionally have a sample chamber portion having a chemical indicator element which may be removably connected. A chemical indicator element may include an information storage and communication element used, in part, to provide identification of a chemical indicator of the chemical indicator element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Step Ahead Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Patent number: 9841377
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to sample test cards having an increased sample well capacity for analyzing biological or other test samples. In one embodiment, the sample test cards of the present invention comprises a fluid channel network disposed in both the first surface and the second surface and connecting the fluid intake port to the sample wells, the fluid channel network comprising at least one distribution channels, a plurality of fill channels operatively connected to the at least one distribution channel, a plurality of through-channels operatively connected to one or more of the fill channels and a plurality of horizontally orientated fill ports operatively connecting the fill channels to the sample wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: bioMerieux, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond O'Bear, Brian Livingston, David Hertlein, Richard Scott Remes, Stanley M. Philipak
  • Patent number: 9835562
    Abstract: A liquid holding apparatus for insertion of a test device into a test liquid, the liquid holding apparatus having a) a liquid holding device for holding test liquid; and b) test liquid in the liquid holding device. The liquid holding device has a front wall and a rear wall. The upper section of the liquid holding device has an access section where the front wall can be detached from the rear wall to allow access for a test strip test device. At least a portion of the front wall is substantially transparent or translucent. The front wall is attached to the rear wall at the access section by a first lamination and the front wall is attached to the rear wail below the access section by a second lamination. The peel strength of the second lamination is greater than the peel strength of the first lamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Quantimetrix
    Inventors: Monty Scott Ban, Brian Robert Fernandez, Andrew Todd Schaeffer, Mina Ghadessi
  • Patent number: 9833182
    Abstract: A biological fluid separation device that is adapted to receive a multi-component blood sample is disclosed. After collecting the blood sample, the biological fluid separation device is able to separate a plasma portion from a cellular portion. After separation, the biological fluid separation device is able to transfer the plasma portion of the blood sample to a point-of-care testing device. The biological fluid separation device of the present disclosure also provides a closed separation and transfer system that reduces the exposure of a blood sample and provides fast mixing of a blood sample with a sample stabilizer. The biological fluid separation device is engageable with a blood testing device for closed transfer of a portion of the plasma portion from the biological fluid separation device to the blood testing device. The blood testing device is adapted to receive the plasma portion to analyze the blood sample and obtain test results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Marchiarullo, Bradley M. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 9826925
    Abstract: Described are methods and systems to allow users to select a basic mode or an advanced mode in which additional features can be customized for the user based on structured queries presented to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: LifeScan, Inc.
    Inventors: Sweta Chovanda, Shawn Berven
  • Patent number: 9821308
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for the directed capillary transport of liquids, comprising at least two capillaries (8, 9, 33, 54, 55), the at least two capillaries (8, 9, 33, 54, 55) being designed such that the liquid can be transported in at least some regions in a passive, directed and capillary manner, characterised in that at least two of the capillaries (8, 9, 33, 54, 55) are interconnected in the direction of transport of the liquid via at least one capillary passage conduit (20, 23, 28, 29, 34, 40, 41, 59, 63). The invention is intended for use in the separation of components from a fluidic substance and/or in oil/water separation. A production method is characterised in that at least one part of the capillary structure is generated by means of laser irradiation, by means of a moulding tool, in particular a sintering mould, by means of a milling process, in particular by means of a micro-milling process, or by means of EDM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.v.
    Inventors: Philipp Comanns, Werner Baumgartner, Frank Bernhardt, Kai Winands, Kristian Arntz
  • Patent number: 9816955
    Abstract: An liquid sample measuring system includes a measuring device including a measuring section which measures biological information from liquid sample of a living subject within a housing in which a biosensor, on which the liquid sample of the biological body is deposited, is detachably mounted and a movement measuring section which measures movement information of the housing within the housing, and an administrating device including a movement determining section which determines whether or not a degree of the movement of the housing is within an allowable range by analyzing the movement information received from the measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Terashima, Teppei Shinno, Masataka Nadaoka, Yoshimasa Oda
  • Patent number: 9810607
    Abstract: The present disclosure teaches an apparatus and a method for providing one or more substance liquids to a microfluidic channel network (30). The microfluidic apparatus includes valves for switching the one or more substance liquids to a microfluidic channel network (30). The apparatus can be used to generate a sequence of the one or more substance liquids as individual droplets in an immiscible separation liquid wherein individual ones of the sequence of droplets are located between the separation liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: EMBL
    Inventors: Christoph Merten, Ramesh Utharala
  • Patent number: 9803237
    Abstract: The present invention relates to fluidic devices for compartmentalizing samples. In particular, the devices and related systems and methods allow for compartmentalization by using one or more first chambers connect by a first channel (e.g., where the cross-sectional dimension of the first channel is less than the cross-sectional dimension of at least one first chamber).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, SlipChip Corporation
    Inventors: Rustem F. Ismagilov, Feng Shen
  • Patent number: 9797844
    Abstract: A chemical indicator element for use in an aquatic environment water parameter testing system. The chemical indicator element includes a chemical indicator and a thin film material having particular optical characteristics tied to the light from a light source, such as a light source of an optical reader element of a water parameter testing system. The chemical indicator element may also include at least one of a backing material that absorbs one or more wavelengths of the light of the light source and a holder including a material that absorbs one or more wavelengths of the light of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Step Ahead Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Patent number: 9791413
    Abstract: There are provided an analyte sensor and an analyte sensing method which provide measurements in a wide phase range, a reduction in size, and lowering of current consumption. That is, in an analyte sensor and an analyte sensing method, a detection element which outputs a detection signal in accordance with a change in mass in a detection portion and a reference element which outputs a reference signal in accordance with a change in mass in a reference portion are provided, a phase change value is determined from the detection signal and the reference signal by heterodyne system, and an amount of detection of a target is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Katta
  • Patent number: 9789483
    Abstract: This system takes in raw cellular material collected using a provided swab, blood collection device, urine collection device, or other sample collection device and transforms that biological material into a digital result, identifying the presence, absence and/or quantity of nucleic acids, proteins, and/or other molecules of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: CUE INC.
    Inventors: Ayub Khattak, Clinton Sever
  • Patent number: 9784738
    Abstract: A device includes multiple components that are independent from one another but are configured to be detachably coupled with one another so as to form a cartridge. One of the components is a clamp that is configured to hold the other components such that they are coupled together. The cartridge has one or more reservoirs, one or more functional chambers, and one or more channels configured to transport a liquid stored in at least one of the one or more reservoirs into the one or more functional chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: GeneFluidics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jen-Jr Gau
  • Patent number: 9759712
    Abstract: A glucometer is provided, comprising a reader configured to analyze a blood sample, a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit data, encoded within an audio signal, regarding results of the analysis, and a controller configured to facilitate the encoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: GLUCOME LTD.
    Inventors: Dov Moran, Roee Tuval, Yiftah Ben Aharon
  • Patent number: 9757723
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to sample test cards having an increased sample well capacity for analyzing biological or other test samples. In one embodiment, the sample test cards of the present invention comprise one or more fluid over-flow reservoirs, wherein the over-flow reservoirs are operatively connected to a distribution channel by a fluid over-flow channel. In another embodiment, the sample test cards may comprise a plurality of flow reservoirs operable to trap air thereby reducing and/or preventing well-to-well contamination. The test card of this invention may comprise from 80 to 140 individual sample wells, for example, in a test card sample test cards of the present invention have a generally rectangular shape sample test card having dimensions of from about 90 to about 95 mm in width, from about 55 to about 60 mm in height and from about 4 to about 5 mm in thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: bioMerieux, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Bruno, Raymond O'Bear, Cecile Paris
  • Patent number: 9759718
    Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising a microfluidic channel network sealed on one side by a membrane sheet, the sheet having PDMS defining at least the surface sealing the channel, the membrane sheet on its opposite side sealing one side of a pneumatic channel, the pneumatic channel arranged to enable pneumatic deflection of a deflectable portion of the membrane sheet into contact with an opposed surface to control flow in a channel of the network, the membrane sheet confining in a channel of the network at least one micro-particle, micro-length tube or glass nano reactor, functionalized with a capture agent, that has been inserted into that channel. A microfluidic device having a microfluidic channel containing at least two micro-particles, micro-length tubes or glass nano reactors, one functionalized with nucleic acid and another with antibody or antigen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: CyVek, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin A. Putnam, John H. Leamon, Jeffrey T. Branciforte, Charles O. Stanwood
  • Patent number: 9743873
    Abstract: A sample collection device for a fluid includes: a substantially disk-shaped body having a periphery; a capillary channel extending through the body and bounded by the periphery, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to draw the fluid into the channel by capillary action; a sample collection well located in the vicinity of the second end and in fluid communication with the capillary channel; and an axis of rotation extending through the center of the disk and which is substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the disk-shaped body. In a preferred embodiment, the sample collection device is adapted to rotate about the axis of rotation within a cartridge having a housing comprising an air vent in fluid communication with the capillary channel when the disk is rotated in a first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kory A. Gunnerson, Raymond F. Jakubowicz, Andrew M. Kirsch, James Ellis Robinson, Daniel P. Salotto, David A. Tomasso, Zhong Ding, William Franklin Gottermeier, Aaron Michael Swick
  • Patent number: 9737889
    Abstract: A microfluidic apparatus mounted on a rotation driving unit for inducing a fluid to flow due to a centrifugal force includes: a target chamber that houses a first fluid; a first chamber that houses a second fluid and is disposed closer to a rotation center of the microfluidic apparatus in a radius direction than the target chamber, the first chamber being connected to the target chamber by a first channel; a first valve that prevents a flow of the second fluid through the first channel; and a second chamber disposed closer to the rotation center in the radius direction than the target chamber and connected to the target chamber by a second channel, wherein the first fluid is transported to the second chamber by supplying the second fluid to the target chamber by the centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hui-sung Moon, Min-Seok S. Kim, Jong-myeon Park
  • Patent number: 9739717
    Abstract: According to an example, methods for forming three-dimensional (3-D) nano-particle assemblies include depositing SES elements onto respective tips of nano-fingers, in which the nano-fingers are arranged in sufficiently close proximities to each other to enable the tips of groups of adjacent ones of the nano-fingers to come into sufficiently close proximities to each other to enable the SES elements on the tips to be bonded together when the nano-fingers are partially collapsed. The methods also include causing the nano-fingers to partially collapse toward adjacent ones of the nano-fingers to cause a plurality of SES elements on respective groups of the nano-fingers to be in relatively close proximities to each other and form respective clusters of SES elements, introducing additional particles that are to attach onto the clusters of SES elements, and causing the clusters of SES elements to detach from the nano-fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven J. Barcelo, Zhiyong Li, Ansoon Kim, Zhang-Lin Zhou, Gary Gibson
  • Patent number: 9733160
    Abstract: The invention is directed to method for positioning and aligning a preferably biological sample in the detection area of the objective of a microscope arrangement. According to the invention, the method mentioned above has the following method steps: a sample is introduced into a transparent medium, preferably agarose gel, which is initially liquid; the medium is changed from the liquid state to the solid state, wherein the sample is fixated within the medium, but the transparency of the medium is retained; the solidified medium is positioned in the microscope arrangement in such a way that the sample enclosed therein is situated in the detection area of the objective. Further, a device is proposed for positioning and aligning a preferably biological sample in the detection area of the objective of a microscope arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Wibke Hellmich, Benno Radt, Helmut Lippert, Olaf Selchow, Uwe Wolf, Juergen Haese