Patents Examined by Jan Ludlow
  • Patent number: 10071381
    Abstract: A holder rack has an array of tubular slots that cooperate with a holder to position an absorbent tip of the holder at a predetermined location. The racks fit over well plates to position each absorbent tip adjacent the bottom of a different well in the well plate to extract dried samples from the absorbent tips. The holders are transported in containers having a frame to receive the holders and a lid to keep them in the container. The absorbent tips can extend through a cap to dry, with the cap connected to the holder to enclose the absorbent tips for transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Neoteryx, LLC.
    Inventors: Emmet Welch, Gene Zamba, Allen Bischofberger, Stuart Kushon
  • Patent number: 10052567
    Abstract: The current invention is directed to a chromatography column separator which separates the chromatography column in an upper chromatography column chamber and a lower chromatography column chamber, and which has a variable position within the chromatography column, and which is embedded by the chromatography material. The separator allows the replacement of the chromatography material in the upper chromatography column chamber without the need to replace the chromatography column material in the lower chromatography column chamber and it allows also the combination of two different chromatography materials with different chromatographical functional groups in one chromatography column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE INC.
    Inventors: Andreas Blaschyk, Roberto Falkenstein
  • Patent number: 10029253
    Abstract: Micro droplets are accurately placed in a reaction well. The reaction well (5) is formed in one surface of a well base (3). A channel base (11) is placed on the well base (3). The channel base (11) has, in its surface joined to the well base (3), a liquid introduction channel (12a) and a reaction well air vent channel (18a). The channel base (11) also has a recess (27) formed opposite to the reaction well (5) and recessed upward from the upper surface of the liquid introduction channel (12a). When viewed from above, a shoulder part (26) of the recess (27) is placed near the connection part between the reaction well (5) and the liquid introduction channel (12a) and is closer to the center of the reaction well (5) than a shoulder part (16) of the reaction well (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Akechi, Masaki Kanai, Takahiro Nishimoto, Nobuhiro Hanafusa
  • Patent number: 10029261
    Abstract: Provided herein are pipette tip racks, and in particular, pipette tip rack plates that restrict lateral displacement of pipette tips loaded therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Biotix, Inc.
    Inventors: Arta Motadel, Peter Paul Blaszcak
  • Patent number: 10001494
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an automatic fecal occult blood detector for detecting a sample kit, comprising: a feed passage and a discharging passage which are provided in parallel and convey a sample kit separately; a transfer platform configured between the feed passage and the discharging passage; a push rod configured to push the sample kit on the feed passage onto the discharging passage through the transfer platform; and an image capturing device provided on one side of the discharging passage to acquire the color band information presented on a test strip. In the present invention, the parallel arrangement of the feed passage and the discharging passage shortens the whole length of the automatic detector, meeting the requirement that the color band information of the test strip is automatically acquired after the sample kit is left in the device a certain time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: W.H.P.M. BIORESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: John Wan, Yunfei Zhang, Jie Liu, Qinghai Xia
  • Patent number: 9939354
    Abstract: The present application discloses methods and apparatus for preparing blood film or smear samples on a fiber surface, staining the test sample, and generating digital cell images of the films or samples for classification and review. The techniques disclosed herein replace conventional microscope slides with fibers when preparing blood film test samples. Using fibers to prepare blood test samples facilitates automation and integration of the various processes involved in hematology analysis. The techniques disclosed herein can be used to improve the accuracy and efficiency of hematology analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Chen Yi
  • Patent number: 9897580
    Abstract: In a two-dimensional LC system configured to introduce components trapped in a trap column during a fractionation period T into a second-dimension column, separate components, and then detect the components using a mass spectrometer, a data collection unit receives a signal which indicates timing to delimit the fractionation period T, determines the first data item in the fractionation period T, adds measurement start point identification information to the first data item, and stores all the data in a data storage unit. A two-dimensional chromatogram creation unit recognizes the first data item in each fractionation period T from the read data, and create a two-dimensional chromatogram by aligning data so that the first data items will be aligned at the top along an abscissa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9869662
    Abstract: If multiple polyvalent ion peak candidates with different valences surmised to be derived from the target compound have been obtained, a mass chromatogram in the vicinity of the retention time of the target compound at the mass-charge ratio m/z of each polyvalent ion peak candidate is generated, and these are overlaid and displayed on the display screen. If the polyvalent ions are derived from the same compound, peaks of similar shape having a peak top near the retention time should appear in multiple mass chromatograms. Therefore, the user can check the displayed mass chromatograms and easily determine whether they reflect a combination of polyvalent ions derived from the target compound (a) or not (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuya Kageyama
  • Patent number: 9863944
    Abstract: Provided is an immunochromatographic diagnostic kit which renders prompt diagnosis possible, has high analysis sensitivity, and gives test results with excellent reproducibility. The immunochromatographic diagnostic kit includes: a conjugate pad that contains a conjugate containing chromogenic particles which have an average particle diameter of 100-1,000 nm and attain a color intensity of 1.0-10.0, 10-90 wt % of the particles being derived from cellulose and 90-10 wt % of the particles being derived from a colorant; and a sample pad for an in vitro diagnostic reagent, the sample pad being constituted of nonwoven fabric that has a basis weight of 10-150 g/m2 and a thickness of 0.07-1.00 mm and comprises regenerated cellulosic fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: ASAHI KASEI FIBERS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Horii, Yoshiyuki Shiomi, Takayuki Ogawa, Takeshi Matsuse, Maki Sugino
  • Patent number: 9851281
    Abstract: An in-vial microextraction (IVME) device is a vial with at least a portion of the inner surface having a sol-gel coating that absorbs at least one target analyte. The sol-gel coating is a metal oxide comprising coating that is formed from a tri- and/or tetra-functional metal comprising precursor that condenses to form a gel network. The IVME device can be used to prepare a sample by the contacting of the IVME device with a solution or suspension. An analytical method is enabled where the absorbed analyte from the IVME device is subsequently desorbed with a solvent or solution or thermally desorbed and analyzed using GC-MS or LC-MS or other analytical instrument for separation and detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: THE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
    Inventors: Abuzar Kabir, Kenneth G. Furton
  • Patent number: 9851360
    Abstract: A portable apparatus for measuring a glucose level of a user having: a card-like member; a processor within the card-like member; at least one glucose sensor comprising a reagent, the glucose sensor generating a signal indicative of a measured glucose level upon application of a blood sample to the glucose sensor, wherein the glucose sensor is fixed to the card-like member and operably coupled to the processor; and at least one cover alterable between a first position in which the glucose sensor is covered and a second position in which the glucose sensor is exposed for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: iMPak Health, LLC
    Inventors: Salvatore Richard Inciardi, Sandra D. Elliott, Jonas Sven-Erik Tiren, Per Nathanaelson, Jakob Ehrensvard
  • Patent number: 9845463
    Abstract: Provided are methods and columns employing a solid support comprising silica and silicon carbide for the isolation and purification of nucleic acids, and in particular, the isolation and purification of both high and low molecular weight RNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: NORGEN BIOTEK CORP.
    Inventor: Yousef Haj-Ahmad
  • Patent number: 9844777
    Abstract: Provided is a pipette tip having a visual indicator capable of confirming depth of liquid in contact with the pipette tip during a suction work. In the pipette tip, a marker-is formed on an outer surface of the pipette tip in a circumference direction in a tip end area in a tip end side for confirming the depth of liquid in contact with the pipette tip. Thereby, the depth of liquid in contact with the pipette tip is confirmed based on the marker directly or relatively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: A&D COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Naoto Izumo
  • Patent number: 9829123
    Abstract: A biocompatible tube and fitting system that can be used in a liquid chromatography system is described. The tube can have a polymer tip and can be used in conjunction with one or more fitting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: IDEX Health & Science LLC
    Inventors: Mark Hahn, Scott J. Ellis, Eric Beemer
  • Patent number: 9824876
    Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein are directed to injector inserts and injector assemblies. In some examples, an injector insert that includes an inlet comprising a substantially inert metal is described. In other examples, an injector that includes a major amount of a substantially inert metal in a fluid flow path is disclosed. Devices and systems using the injectors inserts and injectors are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Rosario Mannino, William Goodman
  • Patent number: 9821306
    Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to devices and methods for manipulating laboratory pipettes in a programmable manner. The present invention is directed to an apparatus and methods for allowing a user to instruct the device to perform a specific process; identifying the type, location and identity of the consumables to be used; manipulating a plurality of pipettes for performing the liquid handling; monitoring the process during and after its execution; generating a detailed report for the plurality of actions. Other aspects of this invention include optimization of the liquid dispensing performances of a pipette; monitoring and controlling individual actions by means of vision; virtualization of the protocol definition by means of a reality augmented software interface; integration of the system in a conventional laboratory environment workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Andrew Alliance S.A.
    Inventors: Piero Zucchelli, Giorgio Horak, Antoine Jordan
  • Patent number: 9821305
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pipetting device for automatic analysis instruments and a method for heating a volume of liquid in a heated pipetting needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE DIAGNOSTICS PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Michels, Ayhan Selvi, Alexander Wiedekind-Klein
  • Patent number: 9816901
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid sample preparation device such as a disposable, collapsible, flexible polymeric bag containing an adsorptive curtain of a functionalized shaped polymeric fiber bed for the direct capture of biomolecules from liquid samples. The functionalized shaped polymeric fiber bed includes fibrillated, ridged or winged-shaped fiber structures that significantly increases the surface area of the fiber resulting in enhanced separation, retention and/or purification of liquid samples containing biomolecules of interest as the liquid samples contact the adsorptive curtain of functionalized shaped fibers. Liquid samples include unclarified liquid feeds or other liquids containing one or more biomolecules of interest, including, but not limited to vaccines, recombinant proteins, cells, stem cells, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), proteins, antibody, peptides, oligopeptides, nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, RNA, DNA, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin Cacace
  • Patent number: 9759696
    Abstract: A channel bubble reduction device includes a liquid accommodation portion, that accommodates a liquid, a liquid supply apparatus that, with a pushing operation of a rod, discharges the liquid through an aperture portion of a tube portion, a first channel that connects the aperture portion of the liquid supply apparatus with the liquid accommodation portion, and an air layer formation apparatus that forms an air layer in at least one of the first channel or the tube portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Sezaki, Tokuo Kasai
  • Patent number: 9718055
    Abstract: A pipette tip having a first end arranged to be fitted to a pipette body (3) of a pipette (1) and having a second end with an opening (15) arranged to be inserted in a sample which is at least in part intended to be drawn up by the pipette, wherein the opening (15) has a sharp profile such that it can be used to cut through a cover (119) covering an enclosure containing the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY SYSTEMS B.V.
    Inventor: Gert De Vos