Patents Examined by Alex T Devito
  • Patent number: 12622599
    Abstract: Provided herein are apparatuses, systems, kits, and methods, for detecting a virus contained within human breath or ambient air. The apparatus includes a housing comprising a base and a cover, the base having a sample collection surface, and the cover having a port and substantially enclosing the sample collection surface thereby defining a sample collection chamber. The apparatus includes a tube extending through the port and configured to receive a gaseous sample containing moisture and direct the gaseous sample to the sample collection surface. The apparatus includes a cooling device configured to cool the gaseous sample and thereby condense the moisture on the sample collection surface and a sample collection material disposed on the sample collection surface. The sample collection material is configured to absorb the condensed moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Ali Alshehri, Hossein Kavehpour
  • Patent number: 12618817
    Abstract: Gas detection devices comprise a dehydration unit a concentration unit, and a temperature control unit for controlling a temperature. The gas detection device includes a sampling mode in which sample gas flows into and out of the dehydration unit through a first port and a second port, respectively, wherein the volatile organic compounds in the sample gas are concentrated in the concentration unit. The temperature control unit may be configured such that the temperature of the sample gas after flowing out from the dehydration unit and before flowing into the concentration unit is not greater than a first preset temperature. Generation of condensed substances in the sample gas can be effectively avoided in a simple manner after the sample gas flows into the concentration unit, thereby further preventing ice blockage. Methods for detecting volatile organic compounds in a sample gas are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Instruments Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Te Yu Hung, Chien Kuo Chang, Colin Zou, Rong Hua Chen, Jun Fang
  • Patent number: 12618739
    Abstract: In a test leakage device (10) for testing the functionality and for calibrating a gas leak detection device having an evacuable test chamber (34) for receiving a test object and the test leakage device (10), wherein the test leakage device (10) has a base (12), a cover (16) and at least one side wall (14) connecting the base (12) to the cover (16), which surround an interior space (20) which can be filled with a test gas or a test liquid, provision is made for the base (12) to have a membrane (24) which is permeable to the test gas or constituents of the test liquid, and for mutually opposite sections of that inner side (18) of the side wall (14) which faces the interior space (20) to be at a greater distance from one another in the region of the cover than in the region of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: INFICON GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Wetzig, Maximilian Reismann, Josef Grenz, Hendrik Van Triest
  • Patent number: 12613232
    Abstract: Provided are a gas sensor system, a gas sensor control device, and a control method that enable high-accuracy measurement without causing a user to wait. The gas sensor system (1) includes: a reception section (30) that receives a startup signal from externally to the gas sensor system; a gas sensor (10) that performs concentration measurement of a measurement target gas in air; an air intake port (11) and an air discharge port (12) that are connected to the gas sensor; at least one fan (13); and a control device (20) that starts up the gas sensor through reception of the startup signal, that acquires temperature information for the gas sensor, and that, based on the temperature information for the gas sensor, performs cooling control of operating the fan so as to cool the gas sensor from startup of the gas sensor, before initiation of the concentration measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventors: Yuta Takagi, Naoya Ugomori
  • Patent number: 12607613
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, embodiments relate to a method that includes varying at least a concentration of one or more components of a multi-component sample gas across at least a concentration range while introducing the multi-component sample gas into a gas chromatograph that includes one or more chromatographic columns, measuring concentrations of the one or more components with the gas chromatograph at a first calibration setting, determining one or more non-linearities of the measured concentrations at the first calibration setting, forming a second calibration setting based at least in part on the one or more non-linearities, and measuring concentrations of one or more components of another sample gas with the gas chromatograph at the second calibration setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jhanvi Manishkumar Kevadiya, Mathew Dennis Rowe
  • Patent number: 12607609
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a ventless GC-MS interface are described herein. The system can include a gas chromatograph. The system can include a mass spectrometer connected to the gas chromatograph by a mass spectrometer flow path. The system can include a fitting. The fitting can include a sealing surface and one or more gas purge flow paths. The fitting can be fluidically connected to the mass spectrometer. The system can include a column disposed in a ferrule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Wolfe, Wesley Norman
  • Patent number: 12605575
    Abstract: A testing apparatus for respirators and a method of using the same. The testing apparatus comprises a piston assembly including a piston movably disposed in a chamber and a motor assembly including a motor operably connected to the piston. The motor configured to move the piston in an exhalation direction producing a simulated exhalation and in an opposite inhalation direction producing a simulated inhalation. An amount of gas in the chamber increases during the simulated inhalation and decreases during the simulated exhalation. The method of using the test apparatus comprises the steps of causing the simulated inhalation and the simulated exhalation to determine whether the respirator meets at least one predefined requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: ATOR LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Nickell Moran, Francisco Elias Hernandez, David E. Cowgill
  • Patent number: 12584893
    Abstract: Micro gas chromatographic devices are provided having a microfluidic separation column and a plurality of capillaries where the capillaries have been independently configured in terms of the capillary length, capillary width, the packing density and packing geometry of the capillary using one or more micro pillars, the tortuosity of the capillary path, and the presence and identity of the stationary phase for use in micro gas chromatographic separation of complex mixtures of compounds. Through the plurality of capillaries, the devices are capable of discriminating between complex samples even in instances where complete separation of the components is not possible. Methods of fabrication and methods of use of the devices are also provided. The devices can be readily fabricated using known techniques. The devices can be used for the analysis of complex mixtures of compounds containing tens or hundreds of compounds in which just a few differ in presence or concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventor: Masoud Agah
  • Patent number: 12582951
    Abstract: A microfluidic device and a method for mixing liquids by moving the liquids back-and-forth between a chamber of a piston pump and a cavity of a spectrophotometric measuring cell. The disclosure also relates to physicochemical analysis of a mixture directly within the microfluidic device wherein the mixture is obtained using the method described herein. The disclosure also relates to a device and a method for sampling liquids remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Sylvain Broussard
  • Patent number: 12580404
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are described for providing a sensor device. The system includes a control unit and a sensing unit. The sensing unit is coupleable to the control unit via a current loop and includes an input terminal coupleable to the current loop, at least one energy storage unit configured to be charged to a first voltage from the input terminal, a sensing element configured to sense an environmental parameter, wherein the sensing element receives power from the at least one energy storage unit at a second voltage, and wherein the second voltage is lower than the first voltage, a controller configured to receive a sensor signal from the sensing element and to generate an output signal, and an output terminal coupleable to the current loop and configured to transmit output corresponding to the output signal to the control unit via the current loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Buildings Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Wray Robert Price, Girish Thorat, Richard Nathan Dinsdale
  • Patent number: 12578220
    Abstract: Disclosed is a monitoring system for a conveyor belt weighing system, the monitoring system comprising: a status page displaying a plurality of calibration status displays for the conveyor belt weighting system, each of the calibration status displays including a reference calibration value and a comparison between the reference calibration value and a calibration value for the conveyor belt weighing system, wherein the reference calibration value is an ideal value for the calibration value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: Control Systems Technology Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Leonard Ian Burrell
  • Patent number: 12560518
    Abstract: A method is provided to measure viscosity of an analyte using a microfluidic piezoelectric sensor including a channel on an active area of a piezoelectric resonator substrate. The microfluidic piezoelectric sensor is driven so that the active area of the piezoelectric resonator substrate generates shear motion in a direction of shear motion displacement that is parallel with respect to a first surface of the piezoelectric resonator substrate. A high shear-rate viscosity of the analyte is determined based on a shift in resonance of the microfluidic piezoelectric sensor while driving the microfluidic piezoelectric sensor with the analyte in the channel. A low shear-rate viscosity of the analyte is determined by detecting flow of the analyte through the channel based on tracking shifts in resonance of the microfluidic piezoelectric sensor. Related sensors are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: QATCH TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: Zehra Parlak
  • Patent number: 12560519
    Abstract: Disclosed is a micro concentration monitoring apparatus. A micro concentration monitoring apparatus includes: a variable frequency driver circuit unit that is coupled to a MEMS sensor and supplies constant power to the MEMS sensor within a set bandwidth; and a reading circuit unit that measures a resonance frequency displacement value of the MEMS sensor according to a change in dielectric constant of a target based on power supplied from the variable frequency driver circuit, and measures the resonance frequency displacement value of the MEMS sensor through a plurality of measurement channels, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Hyung Min Lee, Seung Beom Ku
  • Patent number: 12535425
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to a sensor configuration system comprising at least one device configured to sense a first parameter; at least one device configured to sense a second parameter, and at least one interrogator device. The at least one device configured to sense the second parameter interfaces with the at least one device configured to sense the first parameter, and the at least one interrogator device interfaces both the at least one device configured to sense the first parameter and the at least one device configured to sense the second parameter where the at least one interrogator device spatially interrogates both the at least one device configured to sense the first parameter and the at least one device configured to sense the second parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2026
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Ruishu F. Wright, Nathan Diemler, Nageswara R. Lalam, Jagannath Devkota, Paul R. Ohodnicki, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12523637
    Abstract: A variety of methods and systems are disclosed, including, in one example, a method that includes extracting one or more dissolved gases from one or more fluid samples to form one or more extracted gases. The method also includes configuring a dilution rate with an information handling system, automatically diluting the one or more extracted gases with diluent at the dilution rate to form one or more diluted extracted gases and adding the one or more diluted extracted gases to a carrier gas to form sample gas. The method also includes separating one or more components of the sample gas with one or more gas chromatographs, measuring one or more analytes of the sample gas with one or more detectors, and calibrating the one or more gas chromatographs based at least in part on the measuring of the one or more analytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2026
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Mathew Dennis Rowe
  • Patent number: 12523514
    Abstract: The proposed technical solution relates to measuring technology and is intended for measuring levels of measured medium in various branches of industry. The technical problem solved by the claimed invention is the production of a capacitive level sensor which demonstrates high operational reliability and provides highly accurate measurements. The technical result achieved by using the claimed invention consists in overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art, increasing the reliability and manufacturability of the design and thus increasing the accuracy of interface level measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2026
    Inventors: Boris Valerevich Pankov, Aleksandr Borisovich Maksimenko, Yury Anatolevich Diakonov, Alexandr Grigorievich Krestinov
  • Patent number: 12517145
    Abstract: An operator can perform exchange work of a reagent container without including a mechanism for reagent exchange and interrupting an analysis operation. An automatic analyzer includes: an analysis unit including a plurality of operation units for performing analysis of a specimen; and a control unit for controlling the analysis unit. The control unit allows the analysis unit to set to at least (a) an analysis operation mode in which a first and a second operation unit are operated for the analysis of the specimen, (b) a partial operation mode in which only the first operation unit is continuously operated after the analysis of the specimen is completed in the analysis operation mode, and (c) a reagent exchange mode in which consumables containing a reagent are exchangeable in the analysis unit. The control unit allows the analysis unit to shift from the partial operation mode to the reagent exchange mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2026
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Sasaki, Kenta Imai, Masashi Akutsu, Osamu Watabe, Satoshi Shibuya
  • Patent number: 12504409
    Abstract: A microscale collector and injector device comprises a microscale passive pre-concentrator (?PP) and a microscale progressively-heated injector (?PHI). The ?PP devices comprises first and second substrate portions, a first collection material, a ?PP heater, and an outlet. The first substrate portion defines an array of microscale diffusion channels. The first and second substrate portions cooperate to define a first compartment in fluid communication with the diffusion channels. The first collection material is disposed within the first compartment, at least partially surrounding the outlet. The ?PP heater is disposed in thermal communication with the second substrate portion. The ?PHI device comprises third and fourth substrate portions, a second collection material, and a plurality of ?PHI heaters. The third and fourth substrate portions cooperate to define a second compartment. The second collection material is disposed within the second compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of Michigan
    Inventors: Edward T. Zellers, Changhua Zhan, Robert W. Hower, Joseph A. Potkay
  • Patent number: 12504436
    Abstract: A laboratory automated system includes a conveyor assembly, a dock that that is movable between first and second positions, a drive assembly for moving the dock between the first and second positions, and a diverter for diverting a sample receptacle carrier from the conveyor assembly to the dock. The dock includes a first carrier support portion having a planar surface for supporting the sample receptacle carrier as the dock moves between the first and second positions. The dock includes an upwardly extending second carrier support portion situated adjacent the first carrier support portion. The second carrier support portion has a contoured side surface. The dock includes one or more magnets fixedly contained within or disposed on the second carrier support portion to magnetically couple with a magnetic portion of the sample receptacle carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Gary Lair
  • Patent number: 12504308
    Abstract: A flowmeter apparatus is for determining a volumetric flowrate for a well flow out from a wellbore, by means of a mass flowmeter, which is configured for receiving well flow and for measuring a mass flow rate of the well flow. At least one mass density measuring apparatus, is fluidly connected to the mass flowmeter upstream of a first inlet or downstream of a first outlet, or both. The mass flow rate of the well flow can be measured using a measuring wheel rotatably arranged below a funnel second section arranged to receive at least a portion of the well flow. A system for determining a volumetric flowrate for a well flow out from a wellbore includes the flowmeter apparatus arranged on a platform, rig, vessel, or other topside location, and connected between a riser and downstream processing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Assignee: Norce Innovation AS
    Inventor: Eric Cayeux