Patents Examined by J. Christopher Ball
  • Patent number: 11255815
    Abstract: Electrophoresis is used to identify presence of a target compound in a patient sample based on a charge state of the compound and a label. The charge state of the compound correlates to a total net charge of a binder conjugated to the compound. The bound complex or “bound complex” with the label is then applied to the electrophoresis substrate. An electric potential is applied to the substrate for a time period and causes the labeled bound complex to migrate toward the electrode with opposite charge of the labeled bound complex at a migration velocity to form a migration pattern over the time period. At some time during or at the end of the time period, the labeled bound complex produces a bound complex band as a result of its migration across the substrate. The presence of the compound is identified based on the labeled bound complex band and one or both of the migration pattern and the migration velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Hemex Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Galen, Ariane Elizabeth Erickson, David Richard Bell, Matthew Christian Lind, Tyler Witte, Umut Atakan Gurkan
  • Patent number: 11255812
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gas sensor element having an electrode containing a first metal as a predominant component and a lead containing a second metal as a predominant component. The electrode and the lead are connected directly at a connection boundary thereof, or connected indirectly via a connection joint. The connection boundary or joint includes a component region where either one of the first and second metals lower in specific gravity than the other of the first and second metals is contained in an amount ranging between those in the electrode and the lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Furuta, Tetsuo Yamada, Yoshihiro Nakano
  • Patent number: 11258399
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module includes an encapsulated photovoltaic element and an infrared-transmissive decorative overlay simulating conventional roofing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: CertainTeed LLC
    Inventors: Husnu M. Kalkanoglu, Gregory F. Jacobs, Ming Liang Shiao
  • Patent number: 11255810
    Abstract: In vitro diagnostic sensors are disclosed that include membranes formed of a polymer matrix that has been modified to contain surface adhesion functional group(s) that enables attachment of the membrane to a substrate of the sensor. Also disclosed are membranes of these sensors as well as multi-sensor arrays that include multiple sensors. In addition, methods of producing and using these membranes, sensors, and arrays are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventor: John Benco
  • Patent number: 11255814
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for biomolecular detection, comprising a nanopipette, exemplified as a hollow inert, non-biological structure with a conical tip opening of nanoscale dimensions, suitable for holding an electrolyte solution which may contain an analyte such as a protein biomolecule to be detected as it is passed through the tip opening. Biomolecules are detected by specific reaction with peptide ligands chemically immobilized in the vicinity of the tip. Analytes which bind to the ligands cause a detectible change in ionic current. A sensitive detection circuit, using a feedback amplifier circuit, and alternating voltages is further disclosed. Detection of IL-10 at a concentration of 4 ng/ml is also disclosed, as is detection of VEGF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Miloslav Karhanek, Chris David Webb, Senkei Umehara, Nader Pourmand
  • Patent number: 11229908
    Abstract: A microfluidic device, particularly of the lab-on-chip type, for the detection of biological and/or medical targets of interest in biological samples, as well as for the operations of extraction of such targets from native or non-native biological samples, of purification, concentration, and injection in buffer solutions, all adapted to optimize the detection thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventors: Eugenio Iannone, Maurizio Moroni, Giacomo Germani
  • Patent number: 11224877
    Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing droplets are provided. A representative system includes: a substrate; a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines disposed on the substrate to define an array of pixels; a hydrophobic layer disposed on the array of pixels; reagent disposed on the hydrophobic layer; movement control circuitry configured to provide a control signal to a first of the scan lines to move the droplet along the array of pixels to selectively position the droplet in contact with the reagent; position sensing circuitry configured to provide a sensing signal corresponding to a position of the droplet on the array of pixels; and detecting circuitry configured to determine a characteristic of the droplet based on the position of the droplet and a response of the droplet to the reagent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: A.U. VISTA INC.
    Inventors: Yuan Mao, Tung-Tsun Lin
  • Patent number: 11213817
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems for diluting samples are disclosed. An example method includes depositing a first fluid droplet on a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes. The first electrode has a first area. The first fluid droplet has a first volume associated with the first area. The example method includes depositing a second fluid droplet on a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes. The second electrode has a second area. The second fluid droplet has a second volume associated with the second area. The second volume is different than the first volume. The example method includes forming a combined droplet by selectively activating at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode to cause one of the first fluid droplet or the second fluid droplet to merge with the other of the first fluid droplet or the second fluid droplet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventor: Andrew Fischer
  • Patent number: 11209381
    Abstract: A medical detection substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, a medical detection chip and a medical detection system are provided. The medical detection substrate includes: a substrate, and a detection unit on the substrate; the detection unit includes two groups of test electrodes, the substrate includes a plurality of recessed portions, and the at least two groups of test electrodes are located in the plurality of recessed portions and spaced apart by insulation bank portions. The two groups of test electrodes are insulated and spaced apart by the insulation bank portions, so as to effectively avoid a transverse interference electric field to be generated between the two groups of test electrodes, thereby effectively improving the detection accuracy and sensitivity of the medical detection substrate, and providing a reliable basis for disease diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignees: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhenyu Xie, Zhenyu Hao, Yuekai Gao, Lijun Mao, Tiansheng Li
  • Patent number: 11209387
    Abstract: A gas sensor element including a solid electrolyte body, a sensor electrode, and a reference electrode is provided. The solid electrolyte body has oxygen ion conductivity and includes a measurement gas surface to be exposed to a measurement gas introduced from the exterior and a reference gas surface to be exposed to a reference gas introduced from the exterior. The sensor electrode is provided on the measurement gas surface of the solid electrolyte body. The reference electrode is provided on the reference gas surface of the solid electrolyte body. The sensor electrode includes a porous body containing a solid electrolyte having oxygen ion conductivity and a precious metal, the peak pore size of the sensor electrode being 0.03 ?m to 0.3 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Todo, Mitsunobu Nakato, Hiroki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11198140
    Abstract: Provided is a concentration device suitable for dielectrophoresis. The concentration device comprises a first substrate, a second substrate provided so as to face the first substrate, a flow path formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first pillar electrode line disposed in the flow path and including a left-side first pillar electrode L (301L), a right-side first pillar electrode R (301R), and one second pillar electrode B (302B), and a second pillar electrode line disposed in the flow path and including one second pillar electrode A (302A). The value of L3 is not less than 5 micrometers, where L3 is equal to (A1?A2), A1 represents a distance between a second vertex Q2 of the second pillar electrode A and a center point O; and A2 represents a distance between the first vertex Q1 of the second pillar electrode B and the center point O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriko Shimba, Kazuaki Nishio
  • Patent number: 11185858
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems for diluting samples are disclosed. An example method includes depositing a first fluid droplet on a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes. The first electrode has a first area. The first fluid droplet has a first volume associated with the first area. The example method includes depositing a second fluid droplet on a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes. The second electrode has a second area. The second fluid droplet has a second volume associated with the second area. The second volume is different than the first volume. The example method includes forming a combined droplet by selectively activating at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode to cause one of the first fluid droplet or the second fluid droplet to merge with the other of the first fluid droplet or the second fluid droplet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventor: Andrew Fischer
  • Patent number: 11179720
    Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to microfluidic chips. The microfluidic chips can include an inflexible material having an elastic modulus of 0.1 gigapascals (GPa) to 450 GPa. A microfluidic channel can be formed within the inflexible material and can connect an inlet and an outlet. A working electrode can be associated with the microfluidic channel and can have a surface area of 1 ?m2 to 60,000 ?m2 within the microfluidic channel. A bubble support structure can also be formed within the microfluidic channel such that the working electrode is positioned to electrolytically generate a bubble that becomes associated with the bubble support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Manish Giri, Chantelle Domingue, Tod Woodford, Matthew David Smith, Rachel M. White, Joshua M. Yu, Hilary Ely, Jeremy Sells
  • Patent number: 11179079
    Abstract: Devices are provided for measurement of an analyte concentration, e.g., glucose in a host. The device can include a sensor configured to generate a signal associated with a concentration of an analyte; and a sensing membrane located over the sensor. The sensing membrane comprises a diffusion resistance domain configured to control a flux of the analyte therethrough. The diffusion resistance domain comprises one or more zwitterionic compounds and a base polymer comprising both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Boock, Chris W. Dring
  • Patent number: 11181500
    Abstract: An all-solution electrode fabrication process is provided. The process comprises the steps of: i) preparing and activating a shrinkable polymer substrate for deposition of a a) conductive film; ii) modifying the substrate to incorporate a linker; iii) immobilizing particles of a conductive material on the linkers of the substrate to form a conductive film on the substrate; and vi) heating the modified substrate to a temperature sufficient to cause contraction of the polymer substrate and to result in micro- and/or nano-texturing in the conductive film. The process advantageously yields a novel multi-scale electrode device comprising a polymer substrate; and a textured electro-conductive film linked to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: McMaster University
    Inventors: Christine Gabardo, Leyla Soleymani, Robert Chris Adams-McGavin
  • Patent number: 11169110
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to systems, devices, and methods for depositing an electrode and an electrolyte on a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) electrochemical sensor. A method may comprise providing a blade on a surface of a substrate; providing a ridge along the perimeter of the substrate; pressing the electrode and the electrolyte onto the blade and the ridge; cutting the electrode into multiple electrodes; positioning the electrolyte to contact the surface, the blade, and the ridge; and positioning the multiple electrodes to contact the surface, the blade, and the ridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Keith Francis Edwin Pratt, Cristian Vasile Diaconu, Yong-Fa Wang
  • Patent number: 11162064
    Abstract: An electrochemical measurement device for measuring a chemical substance generated or consumed in a biological sample in a solution includes electrode surfaces, a spacer, and at least one wall plate. The electrode surfaces, the spacer, and the wall plate are arranged on the same flat surface. Each of the electrode surfaces has a diameter del not more than 80 ?m. A height of the spacer has a predetermined value within a range given by h=21.8(del+0.8)/(del+9.7)±5 [?m]. The spacer has a structure in which an enclosed three-dimensional region is not formed by the biological sample, the flat surface, and the spacer while the biological sample is in contact with the spacer. The wall plate has a property of being impervious to a dissolved substance in the solution and has a height not less than the height of the spacer. Two of the electrode surfaces are separated by the wall plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignees: JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ryota Kunikata, Hiroyuki Hayashi, Atsushi Suda, Kosuke Ino, Kumi Inoue, Tomokazu Matsue
  • Patent number: 11148139
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices in which electrokinetic mechanisms move droplets of a liquid or particles in a liquid are described. The devices include at least one electrode that is optically transparent and/or flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Pei-Yu E. Chiou, Kuo-Wei Huang, Igor Y. Khandros, Ming C. Wu
  • Patent number: 11137366
    Abstract: A method is provided for verifying test element integrity includes providing a biosensor having an electrode-support substrate. A first electrode is provided on the substrate that includes a first body and a neck extending from the first body. A second electrode is provided on the substrate that includes a second body and an opposite pair of necks. Each of the necks extends from a respective end of the second body. A spacer is positioned on the substrate and has an edge defining a boundary of a capillary channel formed between a cover and the substrate. The method also includes applying a signal across the necks of the second electrode to verify continuity along the second electrode. The second body of the second electrode and the pair of connective necks surround the first electrode in the capillary channel forming a loop circuit around the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Harvey Buck, Walter Jernigan
  • Patent number: 11131646
    Abstract: A device to electrochemically sequence DNA that includes a redox species includes at least one edge electrode, at least one stack of insulator material, and a pair of DNA translocation electrodes including a DNA translocation working electrode and a DNA translocation counter electrode, where the thickness of the at least one edge electrode is about 0.5 nanometers, and the thickness of the at least one stack of insulator material is about 10 nanometers. Methods of electrochemically sequencing a strand of DNA are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Christopher Johnson, Habib Ahmad, Nadezda Fomina, Gary Yama, Franz Laermer, Jochen Hoffmann, Patrick Staley, Christoph Lang, Young Shik Shin