Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Bruce S. Weintraub, Esq.
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Patent number: 6826949Abstract: A liquid sample sensing device comprises a set of stackable liquid sample base units that are adapted to be stacked together to form multiple sample volumes that are substantially sealed, each with an electroacoustic member disposed therein having a surface adapted for binding to a particular target molecule. Top and bottom units are preferably attached to a closed loop of flexible tubing and a peristaltic pump. Individual electroacoustic members in the stack can each be adapted to bind with different target molecules, allowing for a multiple target assay. Alternately, a plurality of electroacoustic members can be adapted to bind with the same type of target molecule, thereby increasing the sensitivity of the sensing device. The base units are adapted such that sample liquid is caused to flow over and be in close proximity to the sensing surface of each electroacoustic member as the sample liquid flows from one base unit to the next, thereby increasing the efficiency of binding.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2003Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventor: Klaus W. Berndt
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Patent number: 6819408Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for analyzing a blood or other biological fluid sample in a quiescent state without the need for additional diluting reagents or fluid streams passing through the apparatus during the analytic process, whereby particulate constituents of biological samples can be enumerated and inspected using an optical scanning instrument. Specifically, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for obtaining decreased cellular or particulate concentrations within the use of this system.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2000Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Brian G. Scrivens, Dwight Livingston, Robert S. Frank, Klaus W. Berndt
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Patent number: 6468803Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of quantitative microspectroscopy, and in particular to a method for calibrating a sample analyzer, which is preferably a disposable sample analyzer.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2001Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventor: Klaus W. Berndt
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Patent number: 6432663Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel container and process, and more specifically, to a rectilinear plastic container whose interior is divided into two or more channels (a multi-channel plate) which is filled with a microbial growth medium and is utilized in a process for enumeration of microorganisms found in clinical or industrial samples. Different microbial growth media may be placed in adjacent channels of the rectilinear plastic container for the process of the present invention. The process of the present invention demonstrates a more efficient and rapid means to identify and enumerate microorganisms in a sample.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2000Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: William Francis Seip, Donald Ray Callihan, Paul Ernest Goldenbaum
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Patent number: 6194220Abstract: The present invention is directed to non-instrumented assays giving quantitative and/or qualitative results. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a process and kit determining analyte in a sample wherein the solid support has a contact zone and binder distributed and immobilized throughout the solid support. A sample and a tracer are added to the contact zone and a visible zone is obtained. In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a process and test wherein the solid support has two contact zones and the binder is not immobilized on the solid support. In this embodiment, the binder is mobile and is added to the second contact zone. At the same time, sample and a tracer are added to the first contact zone. A visible zone is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1996Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Adrien Paul Malick, Edward Charles McFarland
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Patent number: 6162398Abstract: Devices for conducting an assay are disclosed which utilize shrink wrap as a casing material. The use of shrink wrap casings enables the preliminary fluid filtering step and the chemical detection step to be combined, provides improved control over the flow of fluids into and through the assay device and reduces the time, material, effort, expense and risk of contamination involved in conducting assays.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1998Date of Patent: December 19, 2000Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventor: John K. Shuler
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Patent number: 6153148Abstract: A shatter-proof fluid sample container adaptable for use with a centrifuge is provided. The fluid sample container is especially useful for expanding layers of a fluid sample, such as a blood sample, that form during centrifugation. The fluid sample container includes at least one fill well, a reagent pellet well including a reagent pellet containing reagents and dyes, a mixing channel, a distribution cavity which distributes the fluid to a plurality of expansion cavities, and a float cavity which includes a constant density precision molded float. As the fluid is centrifuged in the fluid sample container, the fluid contacts and dissolves the reagent pellet, and flows through the mixing channel where the material in the reagent pellet mixes with the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1998Date of Patent: November 28, 2000Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventor: Bradley S. Thomas
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Patent number: 6152868Abstract: An apparatus adaptable for use in a centrifuge apparatus to rotate a fluid tube about its longitudinal axis while the centrifuge apparatus is rotating the fluid tube in a rotational direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube. The apparatus comprises an engaging member configured to engage a gear which is mechanically coupled to the fluid tube, and a driver configured to apply a driving force to the engaging member to cause the engaging member to engage and rotate the gear, which rotates the fluid tube about its longitudinal axis. The centrifuge apparatus can therefore obtain readings of the centrifuged sample from different locations about the circumference of the fluid tube at different orientations of the fluid tube.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1998Date of Patent: November 28, 2000Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventor: Michael R. Walters
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Patent number: 6135940Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for use in a centrifuge apparatus to rotate a fluid tube about its longitudinal axis while the rotor of the centrifuge apparatus is rotating the fluid tube in a rotational direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube. The apparatus comprises a cam which is mechanically coupled to the fluid tube, and a cam follower configured to apply a driving force to the cam to cause the cam to rotate, which in turn rotates the fluid tube about its longitudinal axis. The cam follower applies the driving force to the cam in response to changes in the magnitude of centrifugal force applied to the cam follower caused by increases and decreases in the speed of rotation of the rotor. The centrifuge apparatus can therefore obtain optical readings of the centrifuged sample from different locations about the circumference of the fluid tube.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1998Date of Patent: October 24, 2000Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventor: Michael R. Walters
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Patent number: 6130057Abstract: Culture media for microorganisms containing blood or hemin, particularly Trypticase Soy Agar with blood, and chocolate agar, are combined with known chromogenic substrates to produce chromogenic media. Methods for preparing these chromogenic media include adding chromogenic substrates to the surface of previously prepared media, or incorporating the chromogenic substrate into the media as it is prepared. Methods for distinguishing microorganisms in a sample using these culture media are also described.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1999Date of Patent: October 10, 2000Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: C. Michael Gosnell, Carrie A. Hughes, Paul E. Goldenbaum
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Patent number: 6120429Abstract: A method for rotating a fluid tube about its longitudinal axis while a centrifuge apparatus is rotating the fluid tube in a rotational direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube by utilizing an apparatus comprising an engaging member configured to engage a gear which is mechanically coupled to the fluid tube, and a driver configured to apply a driving force to the engaging member to cause the engaging member to engage and rotate the gear, which rotates the fluid tube about its longitudinal axis. This method can therefore obtain readings of the centrifuged sample from different locations about the circumference of the fluid tube at different orientations of the fluid tube.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1998Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventor: Michael R. Walters
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Patent number: 6080574Abstract: A culture medium and blood specimen are introduced into a sealable glass vial having a headspace gas mixture such that a change in the gas mixture composition can be monitored by a chemically sensitive material in the vial comprising a mixture of a fluorophore and a chromophore. The fluorophore exhibits a long fluorescence decay time and a fluorescence intensity that depend on a first chemical parameter, such as oxygen concentration. The chromophore exhibits an optical transmission that depends on a second chemical parameter, such as carbon dioxide concentration, the optical transmission of the chromophore changing with the second chemical parameter either within the excitation or within the emission wavelength range of the fluorophore.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1999Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventor: Klaus W. Berndt
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Patent number: 5932473Abstract: A cell culture substrate is coated with a composition containing a cell adhesion promoter in a salt solution. A substrate such as plastic, glass or microporous fibers is coated with a composition containing about 5 .mu.g/ml to about 1000 .mu.g/ml of poly-D-lysine in an 0.005 M to about 0.5 M citrate or sulfate salt solution to provide about 50 .mu.l to about 500 .mu.l of the composition per cm.sup.2 of substrate, and the coated substrate is rinsed to remove extraneous materials and dried to obtain a coated substrate having increased shelf-life and/or stability. The coated substrate may be sterilized by rinsing with a sterilizing medium such as ethanol.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1997Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Mark S. Swiderek, Frank J. Mannuzza, Stephen R. Ilsley, Arthur Myles