Patents Assigned to Arkray
  • Light sensor, and detecting mechanism and light-measuring mechanism in analyzing device
    Patent number: 7382460
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an analyzing device provided with: a light-measuring mechanism (6) that includes a light-emitting unit for emitting light onto a test tool (7) to analyze a sample and a light-receiving unit for receiving reflection light from the test tool (7); and a detecting mechanism (4) for detecting whether or not the test tool exists in a target area, the mechanism including a light-emitting unit for emitting light onto the test tool (7) and a light-receiving unit for receiving reflection light from the test tool (7). In the light-measuring mechanism (6), the light-emitting unit and light-receiving unit are disposed such that the light emission axis of the light-emitting unit and the light reception axis of the light-receiving unit are parallel or substantially parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Arkray, Inc.
    Inventors: Yukio Higashiisogawa, Junichi Oka, Tetsuaki Saiji
  • Method of assay by oxidation-reduction reaction with formazan
    Patent number: 7381539
    Abstract: The present invention provides a highly reliable method of measuring an analyte in a sample using a redox reaction. In this method, a formazan compound is added to a sample prior to a redox reaction so as to eliminate the influence of any reducing substance in the sample. Thereafter, a reducing substance or an oxidizing substance derived from the analyte is formed, and the amount of the formed substance is measured by the redox reaction. The amount of the analyte is determined from the amount of the formed substance thus measured. As the formazan compound, for example, 1-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-5-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) formazan can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yonehara, Kaori Ishimaru
  • Method of Determining Level of Specified Component in Blood Sample and Apparatus for Level Determination
    Publication number: 20080118942
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for measuring the concentration of a particular component in a blood sample containing blood cells based on a variable correlated with the concentration of the particular component. In the present invention, a concentration (S) in blood plasma obtained by removing blood cell components from the blood sample, a concentration (DI) in the blood sample computed by a differential method and a concentration (EP) in the blood sample computed by an equilibrium point method are expressed by a relational expression which is unrelated to the proportion of the blood cell components in the blood sample, and the concentration of the particular component is computed by using the relational expression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: ARKRAY, INC.
    Inventors: Koji Sugiyama, Takeshi Takagi
  • Metabolic Syndrome-Improving Agent and Medicine, Supplement, Functional Food and Food Additive Containing the Same
    Publication number: 20080119417
    Abstract: A metabolic syndrome relieving agent that is free from a problem of side effects and can be taken for a long term is provided. Aurapten is used as an agent for relieving a metabolic syndrome. Since aurapten has functions of activating PPAR? and PPAR?, promoting the secretion of adiponectin in adipocytes and inhibiting the generation of VLDLs in hepatic cells, it is possible to prevent or treat diseases such as insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism, type 2 diabetes, obesity, visceral fat obesity, hypertension, hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis and the like and thus prevent or treat the metabolic syndrome. Also, as understood from the fact that citrus fruits such as a hassaku orange, a sweet summer orange or the like containing aurapten have been eaten for many years, they have no problems in terms of safety and have a low calorie content, and therefore, they can be taken for a long term.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: ARKRAY, Inc.
    Inventor: Takao Sasaki
  • Analysis Tool
    Publication number: 20080101991
    Abstract: The present invention provides an analysis tool that can achieve excellent stirring efficiency and can yield highly accurate and reliable analytical values. An analysis tool 1 for analyzing a component in a sample by reacting it with a reagent includes: the reagent, a magnetic material for stirring the sample and the reagent to mix them together; and a reagent arrangement portion 13. In the reagent arrangement portion 13, the reagent and the magnetic material are provided separately (the reagent parts 17 and the magnetic material part 18), and the magnetic material is fixed to the reagent arrangement portion 13 (the magnetic material part 18) with a water-soluble paste. As the water-soluble paste, it is possible to use carboxymethyl cellulose, for example. As the magnetic material, it is possible to use magnetic beads, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: ARKRAY, INC.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Nakamura, Daisuke Matsumoto, Yasunori Shiraki
  • DNA amplification method and kit therefor
    Patent number: 7365187
    Abstract: In a method for amplifying a DNA, comprising performing PCR using a sense primer and an antisense primer, PCR is performed in the presence of an additional sense primer comprising the sense primer and an oligodeoxyribonucleotide having a first additional sequence and ligated to the 5? end of the sense primer and an additional antisense primer comprising the antisense primer and an oligodeoxyribonucleotide having a second additional sequence complementary to the first additional sequence and ligated to the 5? end of the antisense primer; a Tm value of the additional sequences is lower than Tm values of the sense primer and the antisense primer; and annealing temperature in PCR is initially set to be a temperature at which the additional sequences do not anneal and changed in the course of PCR to a temperature at which the additional sequences anneal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Arkray, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Hashiguchi, Ken Inose
  • Liquid homogenizing unit and high speed liquid chromatograph equipped with the same
    Patent number: 7364701
    Abstract: A liquid homogenizing unit comprising a feed flow channel (56), a discharge flow channel (57), a first intermediate flow channel (58) communicating with the feed flow channel (56), and a second intermediate flow channel (55) communicating will the first intermediate flow channel (58) and discharge flow channel (57). The first intermediate flow channel (58) extends in a direction which crosses the second intermediate flow channel (55).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Arkray, Inc.
    Inventors: Takanori Kamada, Kazunori Hirose
  • Analyzer, Cartridge, and Analysis Kit
    Publication number: 20080089812
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an analyzer (3) for analyzing a sample by taking an analytical instrument (20) out of a cartridge accommodating a plurality of analytical instruments and using the analytical instrument. The analyzer (3) includes a housing (4), an operational member (5) which is reciprocally movable relative to the housing, and a movable member (60) which moves, in accordance with the reciprocal movement of the operational member (5), reciprocally between a wait position and a take-out position for taking an analytical instrument (20) out of the cartridge. The movable member (60) is designed to engage an analytical instrument accommodated in the cartridge and take the analytical instrument (20) out of the cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: ARKRAY, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Uehata, Hitoshi Hata, Hiroyuki Nakanishi
  • Method of assay with sulfonic acid compound and nitro compound
    Patent number: 7354732
    Abstract: A method for measuring an analyte in a sample by using a redox reaction is provided, which gives values with excellent reliability. Prior to the redox reaction, at least one of a sulfonic acid compound and a nitro compound is added to the sample to eliminate the influence of hemoglobin and any hemoglobin degradation products as reducing substances contained in the sample. Subsequently, a reducing or oxidizing substance derived from the analyte is caused to generate, and the amount thereof is measured by the redox reaction. The amount of the analyte is determined from the measurement value. The sulfonic acid compound may be sodium lauryl sulfate, and the nitro compound may be 4-nitrophenol, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yonehara, Kaori Ishimaru, Kaoru Hirai
  • Quantitative analyzing method and quantitative analyzer using sensor
    Patent number: 7351323
    Abstract: A quantitative analyzing method is provided for electrochemically measuring the concentration of a substance in a sample liquid using a sensor including a reagent layer (30) which contains a reagent for reacting with the substance and to which (30) the sample liquid is introduced, and a first electrode (22) and a second electrode (23) for applying a voltage to the reagent layer (30). The method includes a current measuring step for applying a voltage across the first electrode (22) and the second electrode (23) for measuring current flowing between the first and the second electrodes (22,23), a parameter calculating step for calculating a parameter based on the measured current, and a determining step for determining a state of the sample liquid introduced to the reagent layer (30) based on the parameter and at least one predetermined constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Arkray, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Iketaki, Yoichi Inoue
  • Implement and device for analysis
    Patent number: 7351375
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an analyzing implement (1) having a capillary for movement of a specimen liquid. The capillary has inner surfaces (21c, 32c) provided with a first and a second opposed electrodes opposed to each other. The implement (1) includes, for example, a substrate (20), a cover (40) and a spacer (30) between the substrate (20) and the cover (40). In this case, the capillary is provided by the substrate (20), the cover (40) and the spacer (30). Preferably, capillary forming surfaces (31c, 32c) of the spacer (30) are electrically conductive, in which case the surfaces (31c, 32c) provide the first and the second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Arkray, Inc.
    Inventors: Norimasa Noda, Koji Katsuki, Kotaro Kado
  • Liquid Crystal Display Device And Analysis Device Including The Same
    Publication number: 20080074136
    Abstract: In order to provide a liquid crystal display device which can detect a defective indication due to short circuit which occurs between a common electrode and a counter electrode by a conductive impurity enters into a liquid crystal display panel, and an analysis device including the same, a blood glucose meter includes a display section and a microcomputer. For performing an inspection for a defective indication on a liquid crystal display panel of the display section, the microcomputer uses ports as input/output ports for a defective indication inspection. The microcomputer detects whether an inspection signal sent from the port can be received at the other port or not to perform the inspection for a defective indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: ARKRAY, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasunori Shiraki, Takuji Kawai, Yoshimi Oura
  • Method and apparatus for measuring specific component
    Patent number: 7347926
    Abstract: A method for measuring a concentration of a specific component includes the steps of: supplying a sample fluid to a reaction field holding a reagent; obtaining a single or a plurality of leak currents for correction, through a measurement of electric current made once or a plurality of times without applying a voltage to the reaction field; obtaining a single or a plurality of electric currents for calculation, through a measurement of electric current made once or a plurality of times while applying a voltage to the reaction field; and calculating a concentration of a specific component in the sample fluid, based on the single or the plurality of values for correction and the single or the plurality of values for calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Arkray, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Morita, Yoshimi Oura
  • Method of measuring glucose concentration and glucose sensor with the use of glucose dehydrogenase
    Patent number: 7341846
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for measuring a glucose level by utilizing a reaction system containing an enzyme and an electron carrier. In accordance with the glucose level measuring method of the present invention, glucose dehydrogenase with cytochrome C attached thereto or glucose dehydrogenase derived from a microorganism belonging to a burkholderia genus is used as the enzyme, and a Ru compound is used as the electron carrier. The present invention further provides a glucose sensor in which glucose dehydrogenase with cytochrome C attached thereto or glucose dehydrogenase derived from derived from a microorganism belonging to a burkholderia genus is used as the enzyme, and a Ru compound is used as the electron carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Arkray, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideaki Yamaoka, Mitsuhiro Hoshijima, Tomomichi Tsujimoto
  • Method of detecting pancreatic islet amyloid protein mutant gene and nucleic acid probe and kit therefor
    Patent number: 7332306
    Abstract: A melting curve analysis is performed for a nucleic acid containing a mutation in a nucleotide sequence resulting in a mutation replacing serine at position 20 in an amino acid sequence of the pancreatic islet amyloid polypeptide with glycine (IAPP S20G), by using a nucleic acid probe of which end is labeled with a fluorescent dye, and in which fluorescence of the fluorescent dye decreases upon hybridization, wherein the nucleic acid probe has a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence ending at the nucleotide number 247 in the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and having a length of 13 to 30 nucleotides, and the 5? end of the probe is labeled with the fluorescent dye, and measuring fluorescence of the fluorescent dye, and the mutation is detected on the basis of the result of the melting curve analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Arkray, Inc.
    Inventor: Mitsuharu Hirai
  • Method Of Concentrating And Purifying Nucleic Acid And Apparatus Therefor
    Publication number: 20080035482
    Abstract: The conventional method of purifying and concentrating nucleic acids, because of dangerous chemicals, requires elaborate chemical equipment to result in restriction of environment available. Further, time-consuming operation is inevitable and high-speed centrifugation, etc. are needed to cause automation to be difficult and to cause high purification degree to be unattainable. Still further, in the purification method using a column/filter, application of dusty samples tends to invite clogging to lead to a drop of purification efficiency, and centrifugation or suction operation is needed to cause automation to be difficult. In this invention, surfactants (3,4) are adsorbed on impurity (2) contained in a sample, so that the impurity (2) conducts behavior different from that of nucleic acid (1) to thereby attain separation of the impurity (2) from the nucleic acid (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: Arkray Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Hashiguchi, Ken Inose
  • Testing Tool
    Publication number: 20080019871
    Abstract: A testing tool capable of reading out information recorded in an information recording section accurately by optical means is provided. The testing tool of the present invention is for testing a component in a liquid sample, and includes an information recording section in which information is recorded and the information is readable optically. The information recording section has water repellency. Since the information recording section has water repellency, adhesion of the liquid sample to the information recording section is suppressed, and the recorded information can be read out accurately, for example by optical means in an analyzer. The form of the testing tool is not limited particularly, and for example, it may be a container, a test strip and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: Arkray, Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Sakamoto, Shigeo Fujii
  • Analyzer
    Publication number: 20080019881
    Abstract: In an analyzer for analyzing a sample that reacts with a reagent 25, an analyzing tool 10, an infrared sensor 1 and a temperature controlling part 5 are provided. Inside the analyzing tool 10, a reaction cell 24 in which the sample and the reagent 25 react with each other and a heating element 33 that is heated by electrification are provided. The infrared sensor 1 is disposed outside the analyzing tool 10 so as to photoreceive an infrared ray 9 that is emitted from the reaction cell 24, and outputs a signal that is in accordance with an amount of the photoreceived infrared ray 9 to the temperature controlling part 5. The temperature controlling part 5 adjusts a heat value of the heating element 33 based on the signal from the infrared sensor 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: ARKRAY, INC.
    Inventor: Koji Fujimoto
  • Container for Nucleic Acid Extraction, Method of Cleaning Solid Matrix and Relevant Cleaning Mechanism, and Method of Purifying Nucleic Acid
    Publication number: 20080014610
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid extraction container (2) which includes a nucleic acid extraction element (20) for extracting a target nucleic acid from a sample and supporting the extracted nucleic acid, and a container main body formed as a separate member from the nucleic acid extraction element and having a having a housing vessel (27) for storing the nucleic acid extraction element (20). The nucleic acid extraction element (20) includes, for example, a solid matrix (23) for supporting the target nucleic acid, and a holding member (20) for holding the solid matrix (23). Preferably, the solid matrix (23) is held as tilted with respect to a vertical axis of the holding member (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: Arkray,Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Kamata, Shinichi Ohta, Kouji Egawa
  • Analyzer and Method of Manufacturing the Same
    Publication number: 20080011605
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an analytical tool (X1) including a first and a second plate elements (1, 3), a flow path (4) defined between the plate elements (1, 3) and an exhaust port (31) for discharging gas from the flow path (4). The exhaust port (31) is provided at the first plate element (3) and includes a portion which is offset in a thickness direction of the first plate element (3) from the main body (3A) of the first plate element (3). Preferably, the first plate element (3) includes a projection (51) integrally formed on the first plate element (3) and defining the exhaust port (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: ARKRAY, INC.
    Inventor: Yasuhide Kusaka