Patents Assigned to Alere Switzerland GmbH
  • Patent number: 11185864
    Abstract: A manually actuated chromatography device comprising a chamber for receiving a liquid sample, a pump with a metering valve, and a chromatography element, wherein the pump moves a predetermined volume of liquid from the sample chamber to the chromatography element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: ALERE SAN DIEGO, INC., ALERE SWITZERLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Nicholas Haworth, John Paul Palmer-Felgate
  • Patent number: 10509032
    Abstract: An assay method and device can perform at least one (e.g., at least two) assays on a single aliquot of a sample liquid. The device can mix a sample liquid with assay reagents including magnetically susceptible particles. The device is configured to create a sample liquid-air interface with the sample liquid. The magnetically susceptible particles can be located (via an applied magnetic field) at the liquid-air interface when a second liquid contacts the interface to form a liquid-liquid interface. The magnetic particles travel across the liquid-liquid interface to the second liquid. The magnetically susceptible particles are configured to trans-port an analyte across the interface into the second liquid. An assay for the analyte is performed in the second liquid. An assay for another analyte can also be performed in the sample liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: ALERE SWITZERLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Phillip Lowe, Steven Alexander Keatch, Steven Howell, Claus Marquordt, Ruth Polwart, Alan Kenneth Thomson
  • Patent number: 10309899
    Abstract: A device for determining an assay result may include a test strip, a light source system, a light detection system, and a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Stephen P. Sharrock, Andrew P. Phelan
  • Patent number: 10107720
    Abstract: A detection device (100) comprises a detecting chamber (32) containing a detecting element for analyzing whether a specimen containing an analyte, and an indicating element (8) displaying whether the detection is activated. The method for using the detection device (100) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Tarpey, Mary Catherine Parsons, Lijian Gou, Haipeng Hu, Fei Gao, Yinfei Wu
  • Patent number: 10040061
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, and methods for liquid transfer and performing reactions. In one aspect, a system includes a liquid transfer device having a housing having a pipette tip and a plunger assembly; and a reaction chamber, wherein the housing of the liquid transfer device is configured to sealably engage with the reaction chamber. In another aspect, a liquid transfer device including a housing having a pipette tip; and a plunger assembly disposed within the housing and the pipette tip, wherein a portion of the plunger assembly is configured to engage a fluid reservoir such that the plunger assembly remains stationary relative to the fluid reservoir and the housing moves relative to the plunger assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GMBH
    Inventors: Simon Roderick Grover, Paul Graham Wilkins, Nick David Rollings, Peter Laurence Mayne, Wai Ting Chan, Natalie Frances Scott, Olivier Fernand Flick, Henry Charles Innes, Martyn Gray Darnbrough Beedham, Nicholas David Long, Richard John Hammond
  • Patent number: 9933362
    Abstract: A device for determining an assay result may include a test strip, a light source system, a light detection system, and a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Stephen P. Sharrock, Andrew P. Phelan
  • Patent number: 9851364
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a quantitative estimate of the length of time since conception in a female mammalian subject, the method comprising: a) providing a liquid sample suspected of containing hCG; b) measuring, by means of an assay or assay device, an analyte measurement signal, whose value is dependent upon the level of hCG; c) comparing the measured signal value to an analyte threshold, wherein said analyte threshold corresponds to a time since conception; d) providing an quantitative estimate of the length of time since conception based upon the comparison in step (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ALERE SWITZERLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Jayne Ellis, Jayne Marshall, Stephen P. Sharrock
  • Patent number: 9719934
    Abstract: Disclosed is an assay result reading apparatus for use with an assay in which a detectable substance tends to accumulate within a detection zone of the assay, the reading apparatus comprising: a housing or baffle, having a window therein; a light source which emits light through the window so as to illuminate the detection zone of the assay; and a light detector to detect the amount of light reflected and/or transmitted by the detection zone, which amount is at least partly dependent on the amount of detectable substance accumulated in the detection zone; wherein the shape of the window is adapted to render the reading apparatus less sensitive, preferably insensitive, to minor mis-positioning of the detection zone relative to one or more of the window, the light source and the light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ALERE SWITZERLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Andrew Peter Phelan
  • Patent number: 9372191
    Abstract: Provided are methods and devices for detecting methicillin-resistant Staphylcoccus aureus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Dorothy Joanis, Myron Whipkey, Erin Hayes, Steven Muszynski, Alan H. Davis, Kristin Gordon, Roger N. Piasio, Norman James Moore
  • Patent number: 9352312
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, and methods for liquid transfer and performing reactions. In one aspect, a system includes a liquid transfer device having a housing having a pipette tip and a plunger assembly; and a reaction chamber, wherein the housing of the liquid transfer device is configured to sealably engage with the reaction chamber. In another aspect, a liquid transfer device including a housing having a pipette tip; and a plunger assembly disposed within the housing and the pipette tip, wherein a portion of the plunger assembly is configured to engage a fluid reservoir such that the plunger assembly remains stationary relative to the fluid reservoir and the housing moves relative to the plunger assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GMBH
    Inventors: Simon Roderick Grover, Paul Graham Wilkins, Nick David Rollings, Peter Laurence Mayne, Wai Ting Chan, Natalie Frances Scott, Olivier Fernand Flick, Henry Charles Innes, Martyn Gray Darnbrough Beedham, Nicholas David Long, Richard John Hammond
  • Patent number: 9327283
    Abstract: A device and a method for analyzing an analyte in a liquid sample are provided. The device comprises a detecting chamber included in a detection device for containing a detecting element; a liquid sample transferring chamber; and a film with small pores disposed between the detecting chamber and liquid sample transferring chamber. When the detection device is inserted into a liquid sample collecting chamber, the liquid sample in the collecting chamber enters the liquid sample transferring chamber but can not enter the detecting chamber via the film with small pores. When a piston is inserted into the liquid sample transferring chamber, the piston forces a part of liquid sample in the liquid sample transferring chamber to enter the detecting chamber via the film with small pores. Using the device and the method can determine an analyte in a sample quantitatively and can complete the detection in one step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Andrew P. Phelan, Zhong-Qi Jin, Ying-An Zhan, Shuang Yu, Fu-Qiang Huang, Li Wang, Yin-Fei Wu, Jian Zou
  • Patent number: 9312811
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a bi-stable oscillator circuit for detecting a load imparted to a surface. The bi-stable oscillator comprises an electrical amplifier, at least one resonator comprising an electrical transducer having a resonant frequency, a surface of the resonator forming the surface on which the load is to be detected and an impedance network having a resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Matthew Cooper, Alexander Sleptsov, Richard John Hammond
  • Patent number: 9151749
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining the presence and/or amount Oran analyte of interest in a liquid sample comprising the steps of: contacting the liquid sample suspected of containing analyte with a gas generating means (eg. catalase and peracid or peroxygen compound), which gas generating means forms a gas dependent upon the presence, absence or amount of analyte, which gas creates one or more bubbles in the liquid sample which act to alter the flow of liquid along a flow path; and determining an alteration of flow in the liquid wherein the alteration of flow of liquid along the flow path is indicative of the presence and/or amount of analyte in the liquid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignees: Alere Switzerland GMBH, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GMBH
    Inventor: Balbir Raj
  • Patent number: 9052311
    Abstract: Disclosed is an assay device to determine the presence of at least one analyte of interest in a liquid sample, the device comprising means for generating a first signal (the ‘test’ signal) which indicates the presence and/or amount of analyte of interest in the sample; and means for generating a second signal, the generation of which second signal indicates both (a) the test has been successfully conducted, and that (b) sufficient time has elapsed following contact of the assay device with the liquid sample for the test to be read and the first signal to have been properly generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Natalie E. Fallon, Barry S. Brewster, Susan C. Day, Adrian L. Walker
  • Patent number: 9011770
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for detecting the presence of an analyte in a liquid sample. The device has an opening for introducing the liquid sample into a first chamber for collecting the liquid sample, and a second chamber connected to the first chamber by a passageway and containing a test element. The device also has a third chamber connected to the second chamber by a channel and containing a movable member having first and second positions. The third chamber is divided by the movable member into first and second zones, and the first zone has a vent hole. The movable member is in contact with at least one wall of the third chamber to prevent gas communication between the first and second zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Yuzhang Wu, Haipeng Hu, Jielin Dai, Lijian Gou
  • Patent number: 8992854
    Abstract: Disclosed is an assay device comprising liquid transport means adapted to take up a liquid sample and conduct the liquid to an analyte detection region operable to provide a test signal indicative of the presence and/or amount of an analyte in the liquid sample; the assay device further comprising a sample presence signal generation means, which is not generated by means of an immunoreaction. This sample presence signal generation means can comprise a colored portion, which is overlaid by a material (e.g. nitrocellulose) that is opaque, when dry, and translucent or transparent, when wet, to allow the colored portion to become visible to the user. In another embodiment the signal generation means comprises a color changing material which under-goes a change in its visible properties upon wetting (e.g. pH indication). A third embodiment uses a mobilizable detectable which, when wetted by the sample, is carried along resulting in a streaked line parallel with the flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Barry Sinclair Brewster, Adrian Leslie Walker, Robert John Davies
  • Patent number: D753311
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventor: Nicholas D. Long
  • Patent number: D753312
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventor: Nicholas D. Long
  • Patent number: D809143
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Long, Robin Brown
  • Patent number: D854160
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Nicholas David Long, Robin Brown