Patents Examined by Jan Ludlow
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Patent number: 9079178Abstract: Pipette tips of different sizes may be coupled to a pipettor without needing to modify the pipettor. The same pipettor may thus be utilized to exchange different pipette tips, which may be done in an automated manner. Pipette tips may be coupled to adaptors that include proximal ends for interfacing with the pipettor and distal ends for interfacing with pipette tips. The proximal ends may all have the same geometry, matched with the same pipettor. The distal ends may have different geometries matched with different pipette tips. A pipettor may be part of a liquid handling apparatus and movable in an automated manner to different deck positions. The pipettor may include a locking mechanism for locking adaptors to the pipettor or locking pipette tips directly to the pipettors, and an ejection mechanism for ejecting pipette tips from corresponding adaptors.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Brian M. Sheldon
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Patent number: 9073970Abstract: A chromatographic process for the enrichment of at least one compound of interest from a mixture is proposed, using chromatographic columns, wherein said process involves a sequence of the following steps: (i) a cyclic accumulation phase, in which the chromatographic columns are alternatingly operated in an interconnected phase, followed by a disconnected phase, wherein subsequently columns exchange places and wherein the phases are carried out sequentially; (ii) a cyclic separation phase, in which the chromatographic columns are alternatingly operated in an interconnected phase, followed by a disconnected phase, wherein after these phases columns exchange places to undergo the next interconnected and disconnected phases; and (iii) an elution phase, in which from the column, which at the end of phase (i) or at the end of phase (ii) contains the compound of interest, is extracted via the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2014Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: ChromaCon AGInventors: Thomas Müller-Späth, Guido Ströhlein, Lars Aumann, Michael Bavand, Nicole Ulmer
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Patent number: 9063101Abstract: An analyzing system, including: a plurality of inspection lines, each including a reagent supplying apparatus, and a plurality of hematology analyzers, each analyzing a measurement sample prepared from a blood sample and a reagent supplied from the reagent supplying apparatus; and a computer connected to the reagent supplying apparatuses, wherein each reagent supplying apparatus includes a storing part adapted to store a concentrated reagent, a detector adapted to detect a weight of or liquid level in the storing part, a first controller adapted to calculate a remaining amount of the concentrated reagent from an output of the detector and to transmit the calculated amount to the computer, and wherein the computer includes a display, and a second controller adapted to receive the amount data transmitted from the reagent supplying apparatuses, to generate display data integrating the plurality of received amount data and to show the display data on the display.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2011Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Sysmex CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Nishio
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Patent number: 9056264Abstract: A biocompatible tube that can be used in a liquid chromatography system is described. The tube can have flanged or straight ends, and can be used in conjunction with one or more fitting, assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: IDEX Health & Science LLCInventors: Mark Hahn, Scott J. Ellis, Eric Beemer
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Patent number: 9039998Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 4, 2011Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medical (INSERM)Inventors: Fabien Guillemot, Sylvain Catros, Virginie Keriquel, Jean-Christophe Fricain
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Patent number: 9028780Abstract: Described is a compound sample needle for a liquid chromatography system. In one embodiment, the compound sample needle includes a rigid needle having a coupling end with a face and a counterbore. The compound sample needle also includes a flexible tubing having an outer surface and a coupling end disposed in the counterbore of the rigid needle. The coupling end of the flexible tubing has a face adjacent to a base of the counterbore. The coupling ends of the rigid needle and flexible tubing are secured to each other by a weld formed along a circumference of the outer surface and the face of the rigid needle. A rigid sleeve protects the welded joint. The compound sample needle is suitable for injection into the high pressure mobile phase of ultra performance liquid chromatography systems.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Waters Technologies CorporationInventors: John Auclair, James E. Usowicz, Tony A. Lin, Marc Lemelin, Robert A. Jencks, Kenneth R. Plant
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Patent number: 9028776Abstract: The invention provides structures and methods that allow polymers of any length, including nucleic acids, to be stretched into a long, linear conformation for further analysis.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2013Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Toxic Report LLCInventors: Robert H. Meltzer, Joshua W. Griffis
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Patent number: 8974750Abstract: A nozzle device which can perform accurate quantitative suction without being affected by a pressure when, for example, a nozzle (2) is inserted into a closed container (T). The nozzle device has the nozzle (2) that is inserted into the closed container (T) and that sucks a liquid in the closed container (T), an exposure to atmosphere mechanism (3) that opens the closed container (T) to the atmospheric air, and an opening/closing structure (4) that is arranged at a proximal end of the nozzle (2) and that has an internal flow channel (411) communicated with a flow channel in the nozzle (2) and an opening/closing mechanism for opening and closing the internal flow channel (411), and an opening/closing control section (5) that controls the opening/closing mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2008Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Horiba, Ltd.Inventors: Soichi Oue, Yoshihiro Yano, Narihiro Oku
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Patent number: 8932862Abstract: A method of determining the solubility of a compound in a selected solvent is provided that does not require determination of, or use of, standards having known concentrations of the compound. In one aspect, the method can include preparation of a mixture where not all of a compound is dissolved in the provided solvent, separating undissolved compound from the solvent, and direct determination of the amount of the compound dissolved in the solvent. Methods adapted for use include those where a multiplicity of compounds or solvents are tested in parallel. Devices adapted for these methods are also provided by the present disclosure.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2004Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Analiza, Inc.Inventors: Arnon Chait, Boris Y. Zaslavsky
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Patent number: 8900530Abstract: The present invention relates to a micro-volume liquid ejection system, including an air pressure module, a micro-ejection unit which is connected with the air pressure module by a conduit, and a control circuit which is connected with the air pressure module and the micro-ejection unit respectively. The air is used as the pressure medium, resulting in improved cleaning process and reduced sample waste. The present invention includes an electric control circuit to pick up sample, eject sample and clean the conduits automatically, and enables handling of a multiplicity of samples. The present invention can be used for transferring or dispensing micro volume liquid including biological liquid on a nL and ?L scale.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2004Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignees: CapitalBio Corporation, Tsinghua UniversityInventors: Dong Wang, Kun Zou, Jianxing Ye, Yelei Sun, Hui Zhu, Xianhua Wang, Jing Cheng
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Patent number: 8895311Abstract: The present invention provides control methods, control systems, and control software for microfluidic devices that operate by moving discrete micro-droplets through a sequence of determined configurations. Such microfluidic devices are preferably constructed in a hierarchical and modular fashion which is reflected in the preferred structure of the provided methods and systems. In particular, the methods are structured into low-level device component control functions, middle-level actuator control functions, and high-level micro-droplet control functions. Advantageously, a microfluidic device may thereby be instructed to perform an intended reaction or analysis by invoking micro-droplet control function that perform intuitive tasks like measuring, mixing, heating, and so forth. The systems are preferably programmable and capable of accommodating microfluidic devices controlled by low voltages and constructed in standardized configurations.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2002Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: HandyLab, Inc.Inventors: Kalyan Handique, Karthik Ganesan, Sundaresh N. Brahmasandra
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Patent number: 8858885Abstract: The disclosure relates to a pixel-type biological analysis device comprising a photosensitive layer, a capture mixture for the capture of targeted proteins, the capture mixture being placed on an external surface of the photosensitive layer and comprising a protein probe grafted to a hydrogel, collection means for collecting photoelectrons in the photosensitive layer, and reading and treatment means of an electrical quantity supplied by the collection means, for the supply of a characteristic value of a luminous intensity detected by the photosensitive layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2010Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignees: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Limited, Universite Paul Cezanne Aix Marseille IIIInventors: Jeffrey M. Raynor, Michael Maurin, Mitchell O'Neal Perley, Pierre-Francois Lenne, Hervé Rigneault, Renaud Vincentelli
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Patent number: 8858898Abstract: The present invention provides a pipette tip member with improved seal.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Inventor: Weiming Yu
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Patent number: 8852508Abstract: The present invention discloses a microinjection apparatus (100) for microinjection of substances into individual substances comprising at least one carrier (120, 130) on which at least one sample is immobilizable. In embodiments, the apparatus comprises at drivable support (110) on which at least one carrier is positioned, wherein the support drives the at least one carrier in a closed loop to a respective plurality of stations along the loop. The plurality of stations constitutes at least one sample-substance-providing station (141), at least one sample-substance microinjection station (142) and at least one sample-extraction station (143).Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2009Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA—Recherche et DeveloppementInventors: Siegfried Graf, Helmut Knapp
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Patent number: 8828318Abstract: A high pressure extraction apparatus and extracting method therefor are adapted to maintain a medium at the supercritical state to extract substance-to-be-extracted. The apparatus includes an extraction tank, a piston and a control unit. The control unit controls the piston to reciprocate in the extraction tank as well as controls the pressure of the extract space of the tank, feeding of the substance, discharge of extract, and discharge of leftover. Accordingly, the apparatus performs a continuous supercritical extraction.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Tz-Bang Du, Chyuan Juang, Long-Shuenn Jean, Chen-Hsi Cheng, Hom-Ti Lee, Hsien-Chueh Pi
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Patent number: 8821794Abstract: A sensor chip (100) for detecting particles, the sensor chip (100) comprising a substrate (102), an electric connection structure (104) arranged in a surface portion of the substrate (102) and adapted for an electric connection to an electric connection element (106), a sensor active region (108) arranged in another surface portion of the substrate (102) and being sensitive to the presence of the particles to be detected, and a continuous dielectric layer (110) covering the substrate (102) including covering the electric connection structure (104) and the sensor active region (108).Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2009Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: NXP, B.V.Inventors: Evelyne Gridelet, Franciscus Widdershoven, Pablo Garcia Tello, Magali Lambert
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Patent number: 8808629Abstract: The invention relates to a transfer unit for analysis devices, containing a tube-shaped assembly which can be heated by an electric heater in a programmed manner, a tube (6) which is arranged in the sample chamber (18) and into which the end of a gas chromatographic separating column can be inserted at the end of said tube, and means for introducing carrier gas into the tube (6), said transfer unit being characterized in that a temperature sensor (8) is arranged in the ring chamber (5) between the inner wall of the assembly and the evaporator tube (6). The transfer unit can be a sample introduction device for a gas chromatograph having a sample introduction head (18), and the assembly can be a sample introduction chamber in which an evaporator tube is provided, wherein the end of a gas chromatographic separating column can be inserted into the end facing away from the sample introduction head (18).Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2009Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Joint Analytical Systems GmbHInventor: Joachim Gerstel
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Patent number: 8802030Abstract: A capillary dispenser includes at least one plunger-cylinder unit having a cylinder module and a plunger module disposed together on an axis. The cylinder module has an inner cylinder that is pneumatically connected to at least one capillary. The plunger module includes a hollow plunger that is closable on one side and is movable in the inner cylinder along the axis between an upper end position and a lower end position of the plunger module.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2012Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Cybio AGInventor: Adrian Siemers
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Patent number: 8758705Abstract: The dispenser includes a dispensing head extending downward from a cylinder body section with a cylindrical inner space and having a dispensing cylinder with the diameter smaller than that of the inner space of the cylinder body section; a piston capable of being inserted from the inner space of the cylinder body section into the dispensing cylinder section and moving up and down between a dispensing start position located in an upper portion of the dispensing cylinder section and a dispensing end position in a lower portion of the dispensing cylinder section; and a sucking mechanism sucking a liquid from a dripping port at a tip of the dispensing cylinder section up to a position above the dispensing start position inside the inner space of the cylinder body section. The piston is always at the dispensing start position under a liquid surface whenever the dispensing operation is started.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Medicatec Kabushiki-KaishaInventor: Hiroyasu Tsukioka
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Patent number: 8728408Abstract: The nozzle (3) is in its lower part formed respectively for receiving a pipette exchangeable tip (19) and is in its upper part releasably connected with the holder (2). In the holder (2) a pressure sleeve (6) is placed as being slidably borne in the holder (2). The pressure sleeve (6) is via a pressure sub-assembly seated in the holder (2) pressed to the sealing means placed between the pressure sleeve (6) and the nozzle (3). The plunger (1) is slidably borne in the pressure sleeve (6) and in the pressure sub-assembly. Due to this, leakproofness of the plunger (1) in the nozzle (3), which is indispensable for a correct and reliable pipette operation, is provided in PIPETTING, ADJUSTMENT or CALIBRATION MODES of the pipette. Simultaneously, in MAINTENANCE MODE of the pipette the sealing means automatically slide out from an abutting surface (2c) of the holder (2).Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2010Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: PZ HTL SPOLKA AKCYJNAInventor: Tomasz Strzelczyk