Patents Examined by Jan Ludlow
  • Patent number: 9714926
    Abstract: To heat a flowing liquid, an apparatus includes a heater block assembly having a heater block made of thermally conductive material. The heater block assembly has a tube inlet, a tube outlet, and a tube path between the tube inlet and tube outlet. Tubing extends through the tube path from the tube inlet to the tube outlet. The tubing is in thermal communication with the heater block. A heater cartridge, in thermal communication with the heater block, is configured to provide heat to the heater block for transfer to liquid flowing through the tubing between the tube inlet and the tube outlet of the heater block assembly. Circuitry is in electrical communication with the heater cartridge to control a temperature of the heater block by controlling operation of the heater cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Kirby, Tony A. Lin, Steven D. Trudeau
  • Patent number: 9682372
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods involving a spotter apparatus for depositing a substance from a carrier fluid onto a deposition surface in an ordered array, the spotter apparatus comprising a loading surface including a first well and a second well; and a different outlet surface, including a first opening and a second opening, where a first microconduit fluidly couples the first well with the first opening and a second microconduit fluidly couples the second well with the second opening. An overlay is sealed to the outlet surface and penetrated by a deposition channel that is situated to communicate carrier fluid among the first opening, the second opening, and the deposition surface when the overlay is pressed against the deposition surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: CARTERRA, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce K. Gale, Adam Miles, Joshua Wayne Eckman, Sriram Natarajan, Jim Smith, Mark Eddings
  • Patent number: 9671377
    Abstract: A TLC plate allows the separation and detection of target substances on one plate. The TLC plate is made up of a substrate, a separating medium layer stacked on the substrate, and a permeation layer discontinuously stacked on the separating medium layer and allows the permeation of a target substance separated in the separating medium layer, wherein the separating medium layer has a separating property for the target substance and an optical responsiveness for ultraviolet rays, and the permeation layer has an optical responsiveness different from that of the separating medium layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: DAICEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiharu Minoda, Isamu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9664655
    Abstract: Electrolytic eluent recycle systems for ion chromatography using a multi-channel electrolytic ion exchange device which integrates suppression, eluent generation, and eluent recycle. The systems recycle the eluent into the analytical system without passing the eluent through the electrode chambers. Also, such systems with a channel for electrolytic removal of ions from the suppression effluent before recycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Dionex Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Riviello
  • Patent number: 9664613
    Abstract: Luminescence test measurements are conducted using an assay module having integrated electrodes with a reader apparatus adapted to receive assay modules, induce luminescence, preferably electrode induced luminescence, in the wells or assay regions of the assay modules and measure the induced luminescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: MESO SCALE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventors: Jacob N. Wohlstadter, Eli Glezer, James Wilbur, George Sigal, Kent Johnson, Charles Clinton, Alan Kishbaugh, Bandele Jeffrey-Coker, Jeff D. Debad, Alan B. Fischer
  • Patent number: 9650626
    Abstract: A nucleic acid extractor reducing the possibility of cross contamination and a gene analysis apparatus having a nucleic acid amplification function and a detection function are provided. The nucleic acid extractor has a kit for nucleic acid extraction using silica-coated magnetic beads under the presence of a chaotropic agent, and includes a magnet cover 52 accommodating a magnet 42 in the inside and separating the magnet 42 and a reaction container 2, a wall part 53 covering the outside of the reaction container 2 in a state of accommodating at least a portion of the magnet cover 52 in the reaction container, and a upper portion 54 covering a space above the reaction container 2 in a state of accommodating at least a portion of the magnet cover 52 in the reaction container. Scattering of liquid and aerosol can be prevented and the possibility of cross contamination can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Makiko Takahashi, Kohshi Maeda, Yasunori Shoji, Muneo Maeshima
  • Patent number: 9645124
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating an acid or base, e.g. for chromatographic analysis of anions. For generating a base the method includes the steps of providing a cation source in a cation source reservoir, flowing an aqueous liquid stream through a base generation chamber separated from the cation source reservoir by a barrier (e.g. a charged membrane) substantially preventing liquid flow while providing a cation transport bridge, applying an electric potential between an anode cation source reservoir and a cathode in the base generation chamber to electrolytically generate hydroxide ions therein and to cause cations in the cation source reservoir to electromigrate and to be transported across the barrier toward the cathode to combine with the transported cations to form cation hydroxide, and removing the cation hydroxide in an aqueous liquid stream as an effluent from the first base generation chamber. Suitable cation sources include a salt solution, a cation hydroxide solution or cation exchange resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: DIONEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yan Liu, Hamish Small, Nebojsa Avdalovic
  • Patent number: 9631616
    Abstract: A device and a method for dosing an uptake or a release of a liquid. The device comprises a pump pumping a fluid, a pump drive driving the pump, and a fluid channel connected to the pump. A tip is connected to the fluid channel comprising an opening for the uptake or the release of the liquid. At least one flow sensor measures a flow rate of the fluid in the fluid channel. A controller monitors and adjusts the flow rate and/or pressure in the fluid channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: STRATEC Biomedical AG
    Inventors: Martin Trump, Tibor Horvath
  • Patent number: 9629989
    Abstract: Bioprinting station (1) comprising:—a Bioprinting device (4) adapted to deposit a pattern of biological material (2) onto an area of interest (3a) of a substrate (3),—an imaging system (15) adapted to acquire an image of the substrate (3) and to reveal on the acquired image the area of interest (3a) with respect to a remaining part (3b) of the substrate (3), the acquired image of the substrate (3) being processed so as to detect the revealed area of interest (3a) on the acquired image and to determine the pattern corresponding to the area of interest (3a) detected on the acquired image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM)
    Inventors: Fabien Guillemot, Sylvain Catros, Virginie Keriquel, Jean-Christophe Fricain
  • Patent number: 9630174
    Abstract: Mechanical pipette with adjustable volume value of aspirated liquid is built of a handle (1) and a nozzle (3) and coupled with them: an ejection mechanism of a pipette exchangeable tip (8), a drawing up and discharging mechanism with a plunger (33) mounted in said pipette nozzle (3), a plunger working stroke adjustment mechanism, a manually actuated lock mechanism of a drive assembly of an adjustment screw of the plunger working stroke, a mechanical counter, a drive mechanism of a mechanical counter and a calibration mechanism for correction of the pipette accuracy deviation. The calibration mechanism comprises, mounted in the mechanical counter, releasable coupling means for complete disengagement of a revolvers assembly from the mechanical counter drive mechanism in CALIBRATION MODE, further, engaged with them, changeover means for changing over the pipette into CALIBRATION MODE and resetting means of the indication of the liquid volume value on the counter in CALIBRATION MODE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Wojciech Sarna, Romuald Andrzej Rylski, Tomasz Strzelczyk, Jacek Grochowski, Jan Adam Bala
  • Patent number: 9624025
    Abstract: A pipette (110) includes an ejector member (140) with an ejector end (142) configured to be moved from the retracted position (147a) to the extended position (147b) to eject a gripped pipette tip (120) from an end portion (132) of the body (130) of the pipette (110). The pipette (110) further includes an adjustment device (160) configured to adjust the extended position (147b) of the ejector end (142) with respect to the body (130) and a lock device (200) configured to selectively inhibit operation of the adjustment device (160) to adjust the extended position (147b) of the ejector end (142).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Jan Bala, Tomasz Strzelczyk
  • Patent number: 9555394
    Abstract: Ionic liquid (IL)-mediated sol-gel hybrid organic-inorganic materials present enormous potential for effective use in analytical microextraction. One obstacle to materializing this prospect arises from high viscosity of ILs significantly slowing down sol-gel reactions. A method was developed which provides phosphonium-based, pyridinium-based, and imidazolium-based IL-mediated advanced sol-gel organic-inorganic hybrid materials for capillary microextraction. Scanning electron microscopy results demonstrate that ILs can serve as porogenic agents in sol-gel reactions. IL-mediated sol-gel coatings prepared with silanol-terminated polymers provided up to 28 times higher extractions compared to analogous sol-gel coatings prepared without any IL in the sol solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Abdul Malik, Anne M. Shearrow
  • Patent number: 9546985
    Abstract: A fitting assembly having a nut, a ferrule, and a ferrule tip that may be assembled by an operator. The fitting assembly includes a nut with first and second ends, with the second end adapted to receive the first end of a ferrule, and a ferrule tip with a first end having an externally tapered portion adapted to abut the second end of the ferrule and a second end adapted to be received in a component or fitting of a liquid chromatography system. The nut, ferrule and ferrule tip of the fitting assembly have passageways therethrough for receiving and removably holding tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: IDEX Health & Science LLC
    Inventors: Scott J. Ellis, Eric Beemer, Nathaniel Nienhuis, Craig W. Graham, Troy N. Sanders
  • Patent number: 9482651
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a miniaturized separation column for chromatographic purposes including a porous stationary phase anchored in the column, including the following steps: (a) preparing a flat substrate of silicon, glass, glass ceramic or ceramic; (b) etching at least one channel structure into the flat substrate; (c) introducing a non-porous precursor material for the porous stationary phase into at least one portion of the channel structure (s); (d) forming a porous, three-dimensional network from the precursor material; and (e) fluid-tight covering of the channel structure(s) on the top side of the flat substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Gundula Piechotta, Hans-Joachim Quenzer
  • Patent number: 9476814
    Abstract: Provided are a carrier-enclosed transformable container, a carrier-enclosed transformable container processing apparatus, and a carrier-enclosed transformable container processing method about which a carrier to which various substances such as biogenic substances are bonded or bondable is held in a transformable container as the container to be in a substantially stationary state, thereby making it possible to make the handling of the carrier, measurement, and other treatments effective, speedy, and easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL BIO RESEARCH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideji Tajima
  • Patent number: 9453824
    Abstract: To heat a flowing liquid, an apparatus includes a heater block assembly having a heater block made of thermally conductive material. The heater block assembly has a tube inlet, a tube outlet, and a tube path between the tube inlet and tube outlet. Tubing extends through the tube path from the tube inlet to the tube outlet. The tubing is in thermal communication with the heater block. A heater cartridge, in thermal communication with the heater block, is configured to provide heat to the heater block for transfer to liquid flowing through the tubing between the tube inlet and the tube outlet of the heater block assembly. Circuitry is in electrical communication with the heater cartridge to control a temperature of the heater block by controlling operation of the heater cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Kirby, Tony A. Lin, Steven D. Trudeau
  • Patent number: 9448219
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to an ultrathin micro-electromechanical chemical sensing device which uses swelling or straining of a reactive organic material for sensing. In certain embodiments, the device comprises a contact on-off switch chemical sensor. For example, the device can comprises a small gap separating two electrodes, wherein the gap can be closed as a result of the swelling or stressing of an organic polymer coating on one or both sides of the gap. In certain embodiments, the swelling or stressing is due to the organic polymer reacting with a target analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: William Jay Arora, Karen K. Gleason, George Barbastathis, Wyatt E. Tenhaeff
  • Patent number: 9417219
    Abstract: A sample separation device for separating a sample comprises a first fluid supply path for supplying a first fluid, a second fluid supply path for supplying a second fluid, a sample separation unit adapted for separating the sample, a sensor configured for determining a value of a parameter related to the fluid, and a valve configured for selectively coupling both of the first and second fluid supply paths to the sensor and to the sample separation unit, or coupling one of the first and second fluid supply paths to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Konstantin Choikhet
  • Patent number: 9354199
    Abstract: A biochip for the integration of all steps in a complex process from the insertion of a sample to the generation of a result, performed without operator intervention includes microfluidic and macrofluidic features that are acted on by instrument subsystems in a series of scripted processing steps. Methods for fabricating these complex biochips of high feature density by injection molding are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: NetBio, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard F. Selden, Eugene Tan
  • Patent number: 9346045
    Abstract: An electrically conductive pipette tip having an elongated tubular body that has a bottom opening at the bottom end for the passage of liquid, and a top opening at the top end for the passage of air, and a passageway between the bottom opening and the top opening, wherein the body has at least one electrically-conductive region extending from the bottom opening to the top opening, and at least one transparent region consisting of plastic that extends from the passageway to the outside of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: EPPENDORF AG
    Inventors: Michael Blumentritt, Nico Gülzow, Thomas Reimann, Christian Ziegmann, Matthias Haak