Patents Assigned to Wallac Oy
  • Patent number: 11255861
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining risk of preterm birth (PTB) in a pregnant individual. The method comprises measuring in a biological sample obtained from the pregnant individual, levels of biomarkers AFP and free hCGbeta, and at least one biomarker selected from FSTL3, sTNFR1, PIGF2, Activin A, uE3 and sP-selectin and optionally cervical length; or levels of biomarkers AFP and free hCGbeta and cervical length, and determining a relative risk of the pregnant individual developing PTB. The invention relates also to a kit, apparatus and system for predicting risk of PTB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Wallac Oy
    Inventors: Pertti Hurskainen, Heikki Kouru, Mikko Sairanen, Tarja Ahola, Teemu Korpimäki
  • Patent number: 11162955
    Abstract: A method for predicting risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a pregnant individual includes measuring one or more biochemical markers in a blood sample obtained from the pregnant individual to determine one or more biomarker levels, where the one or more measured biochemical markers includes at least one of PAI-2 and sTNFR1, identifying, for each of the one or more measured biochemical markers, a difference between the measured biomarker level and a corresponding predetermined control level, and, responsive to the identifying, determining a prediction corresponding to a relative risk of the pregnant individual having or developing GDM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Wallac Oy
    Inventors: Pertti Hurskainen, Teemu Korpimäki, Heikki Kouru, Mikko Sairanen
  • Patent number: 10875205
    Abstract: A device for cutting off one or more sample regions from a sample carrier that contains impregnated sample material, e.g. blood, is described. The device includes: a cutting unit (103) for cutting off the one or more sample regions from the sample carrier, an optical imaging unit (101) for producing an electronic image of the sample carrier, and a processor (102) for controlling a display screen (108) to display the image (104) and one or more indicators (105, 105?) each expressing the location of one sample region to be cut off. Thus, an operator of the device is enabled to monitor, without direct visual communication to the sample carrier, what region or regions of the sample carrier is/are to be cut off. As no direct visual communication with the sample carrier is needed, the working ergonomics of the operator can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: WALLAC OY
    Inventors: Mika Olavi Routamaa, Jouni Henrik Reivolahti, Jarmo Sakari Korpi, Ilari Torsti, Kimmo Sakari Laine
  • Patent number: 10794800
    Abstract: A device for managing a sample to be analyzed comprises magnetizing equipment (302) for producing magnetic field capable of interacting, when the sample is moving to or located in a sample well, with magnetically amplifying material attached to the sample, where the magnetically amplifying material has relative magnetic permeability constant greater than one. With the aid of the magnetizing element the movement of the sample to the sample well and/or the position of the sample in the sample well can be monitored and/or controlled. The device can be, for example but not necessarily, an instrument for dispensing samples to sample wells or an optical measurement instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: WALLAC OY
    Inventor: Teemu Korpimaki
  • Patent number: 10792655
    Abstract: A dispenser device includes: a valve system, a dispensing head for dispensing liquid and connected with a transfer tube to the valve system, a dispensing pump connected to the valve system, a first inlet port for conducting rinse liquid to the valve system, and a second inlet port for conducting rinse gas to the valve system. The device includes control equipment for operating the valve system so that the flow via the transfer tube towards the dispensing head includes both the rinse liquid and the rinse gas. The rinse gas is capable of collecting gas bubbles formed on the inner walls of the transfer tube to larger amounts of gas. Thus, the rinse gas facilitates the removal of the gas bubbles with the aid of the rinse liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: WALLAC OY
    Inventors: Ville Virtanen, Timo Maki-Laurila
  • Patent number: 10794832
    Abstract: A measurement device includes mechanical support elements (101-104) for supporting a sample well, other mechanical support elements (105-109) for supporting a measurement head (112) suitable for optical measurements, and a control system (111) configured to control the measurement head to carry out at least two optical measurements from at least two different measurement locations inside the sample well, where each measurement location is a center point of a capture range from which radiation is captured in the respective optical measurement. The final measurement result is formed from the results of the at least two optical measurements in accordance with a pre-determined rule. The use of the at least two optical measurements from different measurement locations reduces measurement variation in situations where the sample well (153) contains a piece (158) of sample carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: WALLAC OY
    Inventor: Ville Laitala
  • Patent number: 10758901
    Abstract: An apparatus and a system for filtering a liquid sample in a sample well (310) by transferring the liquid out of the sample well (310) through a filter member (320) situated at a bottom part of the sample well (310). The apparatus and the system include a syringe (100), and a seal member (200) arranged around a nozzle (140) of the syringe (100) in such a way that the syringe (100) is adjustable in connection with an upper part of the sample well (310) in a substantially airtight manner. A method for filtering a liquid sample and use of the system for filtering eluted blood are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: WALLAC OY
    Inventors: Kauko Lehtinen, Jarmo Korpi
  • Patent number: 10656163
    Abstract: The present description relates to a method for determining the risk of a pregnant woman with chronic hypertension developing early or late onset pre-eclampsia. The present description provides methods useful for determining risk that a pregnant individual with chronic hypertension will develop an early pre-eclampsia or late pre-eclampsia. Useful combination of biochemical markers including PlGF and sP-Selectin and related clinical population studies are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Wallac Oy
    Inventors: Tarja Ahola, Heikki Kouru, Mikko Sairanen
  • Publication number: 20200033354
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining risk of preterm birth (PTB) in a pregnant individual. The method comprises measuring in a biological sample obtained from the pregnant individual, levels of biomarkers AFP and free hCGbeta, and at least one biomarker selected from FSTL3, sTNFR1, PIGF2, Activin A, uE3 and sP-selectin and optionally cervical length; or levels of biomarkers AFP and free hCGbeta and cervical length, and determining a relative risk of the pregnant individual developing PTB. The invention relates also to a kit, apparatus and system for predicting risk of PTB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: Wallac Oy
    Inventors: Pertti HURSKAINEN, Heikki KOURU, Mikko SAIRANEN, Tarja AHOLA, Teemu KORPIMÄKI
  • Patent number: 10444247
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining risk of preterm birth (PTB) in a pregnant individual. The method comprises measuring in a biological sample obtained from the pregnant individual, levels of biomarkers AFP and free hCGbeta, and at least one biomarker selected from FSTL3, sTNR1, P1GF2, Activin A, Ue3 and sP-selectin and optionally cervical length; or levels of biomarkers AFP and free hCGbeta and cervical length, and determining a relative risk of the pregnant individual developing PTB. The invention relates also to a kit, apparatus and system for predicting risk of PTB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Wallac Oy
    Inventors: Pertti Hurskainen, Heikki Kouru, Mikko Sairanen, Tarja Ahola, Teemu Korpimäki
  • Patent number: 10222330
    Abstract: A device for detecting whether a sample well (352) contains a sample is presented. The sample well contains one or more fluorescent substances needed for an optical analysis of the sample. The device includes a controller (312) configured to compute, on the basis of a luminescence, e.g. fluorescence, emission signal measured from the sample well, an indicator value indicative of a decay time of the measured fluorescence emission signal. The controller is configured to compare the indicator value to a reference value and to set, in accordance with the comparison, a detection result to express that the sample well contains the sample or that the sample well does not contain the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: WALLAC OY
    Inventor: Ville Petteri Laitala
  • Patent number: 10151672
    Abstract: A device for managing a sample to be analyzed comprises magnetizing equipment (302) for producing magnetic field capable of interacting, when the sample is moving to or located in a sample well, with magnetically amplifying material attached to the sample, where the magnetically amplifying material has relative magnetic permeability constant greater than one. With the aid of the magnetizing element the movement of the sample to the sample well and/or the position of the sample in the sample well can be monitored and/or controlled. The device can be, for example but not necessarily, an instrument for dispensing samples to sample wells or an optical measurement instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: WALLAC OY
    Inventor: Teemu Korpimaki
  • Patent number: 10119978
    Abstract: A method for predicting risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a pregnant individual includes measuring one or more biochemical markers in a blood sample obtained from the pregnant individual to determine one or more biomarker levels, where the one or more measured biochemical markers includes at least one of PAI-2 and sTNFR1, identifying, for each of the one or more measured biochemical markers, a difference between the measured biomarker level and a corresponding predetermined control level, and, responsive to the identifying, determining a prediction corresponding to a relative risk of the pregnant individual having or developing GDM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: WALLAC OY
    Inventors: Pertti Hurskainen, Teemu Korpimäki, Heikki Kouru, Mikko Sairanen
  • Patent number: 9985630
    Abstract: A switch device for producing one or more electrical signals in response to mechanical force includes a body-part (101) and one or more electric transducers (102-105) connected to the body-part and arranged to produce the one or more electrical signals in response to mechanical force directed to the body-part. The body-part includes a cavity (106), and a wall constituting the bottom of the cavity is capable of being bent by mechanical force directed to the wall from the opposite side with respect to the cavity. The one or more electric transducers are located in the cavity and arranged to produce the one or more electrical signals when the bottom of the cavity is bent. The switch device can be built, for example, into a working plane of an electrical instrument so that a plate constituting the working plane constitutes also the body-part of the switch device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: WALLAC OY
    Inventors: Mika Olavi Routamaa, Timo Salminen, Jussi Petteri Lehtonen
  • Patent number: 9885700
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting elution of a sample from a sample substrate to incubation buffer contained in a sample well while the sample substrate is still within the well. The method comprises measuring light absorption of the contents of the sample well at a predefined wavelength or wavelength range, and determining, based on the absorption measurement, the degree of elution of the sample. According to the invention, a wavelength or wavelength range is used which is absorbed by at least one elutable component of the sample but transmitted by the sample substrate. The invention provides a reliable way of determining the degree of elution of blood samples in neonatal screening, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Wallac Oy
    Inventors: Ida Erling, Raimo Harju
  • Patent number: 9851306
    Abstract: A measurement device includes mechanical support elements (101-104) for supporting a sample well, other mechanical support elements (105-109) for supporting a measurement head (112) suitable for optical measurements, and a control system (111) configured to control the measurement head to carry out at least two optical measurements from at least two different measurement locations inside the sample well, where each measurement location is a center point of a capture range from which radiation is captured in the respective optical measurement. The final measurement result is formed from the results of the at least two optical measurements in accordance with a pre-determined rule. The use of the at least two optical measurements from different measurement locations reduces measurement variation in situations where the sample well (153) contains a piece (158) of sample carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: WALLAC OY
    Inventor: Ville Laitala
  • Publication number: 20170285041
    Abstract: The present description relates to a method for determining the risk of a pregnant woman with chronic hypertension developing early or late onset pre-eclampsia. The present description provides methods useful for determining risk that a pregnant individual with chronic hypertension will develop an early pre-eclampsia or late pre-eclampsia. Useful combination of biochemical markers including PlGF and sP-Selectin and related clinical population studies are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: Wallac Oy
    Inventors: Tarja Ahola, Heikki Kouru, Mikko Sairanen
  • Publication number: 20170261511
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining risk of preterm birth (PTB) in a pregnant individual. The method comprises measuring in a biological sample obtained from the pregnant individual, levels of biomarkers AFP and free hCG-beta, and at least one biomarker selected from FSTL3, sTNR1, P1GF2, Activin A, Ue3 and sP-selectin and optionally cervical length; or levels of biomarkers AFP and free hCGbeta and cervical length, and determining a relative risk of the pregnant individual developing PTB. The invention relates also to a kit, apparatus and system for predicting risk of PTB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: Wallac Oy
    Inventors: Pertti HURSKAINEN, Heikki KOURU, Mikko SAIRANEN, Tarja AHOLA, Teemu KORPIMAKI
  • Patent number: 9736555
    Abstract: A method for cross-talk correction of intensities measured on mutually separate detection wavelength bands is presented. Each detection wavelength band relates to one of analyte-specific probe-populations contained by a sample to be analyzed. Each probe-population is capable of emitting a first signal component and a second signal component whose spectra have maxima at different wavelengths and at least the first signal component is dependent on presence of analyte detectable with that probe-population. Cross-talk corrected intensities are computed on the basis of a) the intensities measured on the detection wavelength bands, b) a value indicative of intensity occurring on an auxiliary wavelength band outside the detection wavelength bands and at least partially caused by the second signal components, and c) pre-determined cross-talk parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: WALLAC OY
    Inventors: Ville Petteri Laitala, Raimo Harju
  • Publication number: 20170205420
    Abstract: A method for predicting risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a pregnant individual includes measuring one or more biochemical markers in a blood sample obtained from the pregnant individual to determine one or more biomarker levels, where the one or more measured biochemical markers includes at least one of Amylin, 17?-Estradiol, and Lipocalin-2, identifying, for each of the one or more measured biochemical markers, a difference between the measured biomarker level and a corresponding predetermined control level, and, responsive to the identifying, determining a prediction corresponding to a relative risk of the pregnant individual having or developing GDM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: WALLAC OY
    Inventors: Mikko SUONPÄÄ, Heidi APPELBLOM