Patents Examined by Jill Warden
  • Patent number: 10837977
    Abstract: A rack includes a container holder that is fixed to a stage and holds a container that contains a liquid to be dispensed and a camera that is fixed to the stage and located in a position where the camera is capable of capturing an image of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Noriko Abe, Yukio Hashiguchi, Makoto Umeno, Hiroshi Kumagai, Yukiko Sawada, Motohisa Kamei
  • Patent number: 10821434
    Abstract: A pipetting system is disclosed that includes a pipette head including a multichannel air displacement system for aspirating and dispensing liquids, a pipetting system base that includes a linear guide system along which the pipette head may be moved vertically with respect to the pipetting system base, and counterbalance means for counterbalancing at least a portion of a weight of the pipette head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: AVIDIEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Richard Cote
  • Patent number: 10823673
    Abstract: A dual function fluorometer-absorbance sensor features an absorbance-based sensor configured to receive one part of an optical signal transmitted through a body of water of interest along an optical beam transmission path, and determine absorbance-based sensor signaling containing information about an absorbance of the optical signal by one or more absorbance species of interest present in the body of water; and a fluorescence-based sensor configured to receive another part of the optical signal transmitted through the body of water of interest along a corresponding optical beam transmission path that is perpendicular to the optical beam transmission path, and determine fluorescence-based sensor signaling containing information about a fluorescence transmitted by one or more fluorophore species of interest present in the body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: YSI, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin Riley Flanagan
  • Patent number: 10823746
    Abstract: A reader for a lateral flow test device includes a tray or drawer, extendable from the reader, which receives the test device. The tray includes a calibration test pattern affixed or printed thereon placed proximate to the test device and in alignment with the axis of the test device. As the tray is closed and the test device is inserted to the reader, the calibration test pattern is first read by an optics unit including a photodiode. The resulting photodiode output provides a calibration curve S that the reader then uses to correct for any non-linear response of the reader's optical or electronic systems, thus insuring that every reader will yield the same readout for a given test cartridge, despite reader-to-reader variations or reader degradation with time. One use of the reader is for detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Thermogenesis Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: William Busa, Phillip H. Coelho, Paul Getchel
  • Patent number: 10809275
    Abstract: Manually operated pipettors, widely used in clinical, forensics, pharmaceutical research, hospital and biotech laboratories to transfer small volumes of liquid, may be subject to positional errors, operator use errors and hidden performance degradation. Manual pipette performance cannot be accepted without monitoring and reporting. This invention concerns a computer controlled vision tracking and lighting system working in conjunction with a sensor controlled fluid dispensing device and controller to confirm pipette tip positional locations during aspiration and dispensing operations with automatic monitoring of liquids entering and leaving a pipette apparatus to digitally track a manual pipetting operation with a digital output file of validated liquid transfer results. The invention may also monitor possible error conditions and prevent improper liquid transfers during the manual process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Kobra Biosolutions, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Hurwitz, Lloyd Andrew Corkan
  • Patent number: 10807117
    Abstract: Provided is a method of limiting exposure of a dispense chemical to air and meet dispense objectives in a dispense nozzle system, the method comprising: providing a sample requiring a dispense process of a dispense chemical using a dispense nozzle system; performing an opening cycle of dispense process steps to get the dispense nozzle system ready; dispensing a dispense chemical onto the sample; and performing a closing cycle of dispense process steps to prepare the nozzle system for non-use; repeating the operations of performing the opening cycle of dispense process steps, dispensing the chemical, and performing the closing cycle of dispense process steps a prescribed number of times depending on an application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ronald Nasman, Bruce Altemus
  • Patent number: 10809185
    Abstract: An object is the provision of an optical measuring device that can be carried readily due to its reduced size and that can suppress the incidence of light other than detection light upon a light receiving unit and thus can obtain a measurement result with high accuracy. The optical measuring device includes a first light guiding path forming body having therein a first light guiding path formed by a through hole extending linearly for allowing measurement light from a light source to be incident on a measuring position in which a measurement sample is disposed, and a second light guiding path forming body having therein a second light guiding path formed by a through hole extending linearly for guiding detection light having exited from the measuring position to a light receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Taniguchi, Kyosuke Yamane, Kenichi Sabatake, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 10809274
    Abstract: There are prepared a first container which stores a liquid containing a cellular aggregate, a second container which receives a cellular aggregate, and a third container which stores a preliminary treatment solution, and a cylinder tip. The cylinder tip is formed with a syringe including a tubular passage having a front end opening which sucks the cellular aggregate, and a plunger which reciprocates in a tubular passage. Before sucking the cellular aggregate from the first container and discharging the same to the third container, the preliminary treatment solution is retained in a space between the tubular passage and the plunger by dipping the front end opening of the cylinder tip into the preliminary treatment solution in the third container and causing the plunger to reciprocate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Saburo Ito
  • Patent number: 10801007
    Abstract: A cell detection device and a cell detection method is provided with which it is possible to efficiently acquire images of cells to be measured. Cell detection device comprises flow cell through which a measurement specimen that contains particles is caused to flow, particle detector for detecting the particles in the measurement specimen supplied to flow cell, particle sorter for sorting particles that satisfy a detection condition and other particles on the basis of the result of detection performed by particle detector, specimen supply part for supplying, to flow cell, an image-capture specimen that includes detection-condition-satisfying particles that have been sorted by particle sorter, and particle-image-capture part for capturing images of the particles in the sorted image-capture specimen supplied to flow cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiichiro Tabata, Masatoshi Yanagida
  • Patent number: 10799859
    Abstract: A control button (12) for a manually actuated sampling pipette, the button including lower and upper parts (24a, 24b), one of which is equipped with a force sensor (31) and the other with an actuating member (30). In the vertical position of the button, in a state not subjected to a force, not only does the member (30) ensure that the upper part is retained axially on the lower part (24a), but these parts also define a circular axially retaining connection (42) therebetween, the circular connection exhibiting an axial clearance (47) configured such that, when a pressure is exerted on an off-centre action zone (102a) by the thumb of an operator, the axial clearance (47) is taken up in this zone (102a), while the connection (42) retains a reaction zone (102b), arranged diametrically opposite the action zone (102a), axially and locally relative to the lower part (24a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: GILSON SAS
    Inventors: Bruno Dudek, Sanjay Ramsamy
  • Patent number: 10792655
    Abstract: A dispenser device includes: a valve system, a dispensing head for dispensing liquid and connected with a transfer tube to the valve system, a dispensing pump connected to the valve system, a first inlet port for conducting rinse liquid to the valve system, and a second inlet port for conducting rinse gas to the valve system. The device includes control equipment for operating the valve system so that the flow via the transfer tube towards the dispensing head includes both the rinse liquid and the rinse gas. The rinse gas is capable of collecting gas bubbles formed on the inner walls of the transfer tube to larger amounts of gas. Thus, the rinse gas facilitates the removal of the gas bubbles with the aid of the rinse liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: WALLAC OY
    Inventors: Ville Virtanen, Timo Maki-Laurila
  • Patent number: 10792640
    Abstract: A sorbent material is disclosed for the one-step separation of bio-macromolecules in a single pass extraction of DNA from complex mixtures of molecules and chemicals. In one embodiment, the sorbent material comprises a silanized material at least partially coated or formed with a polymer selected from the group consisting of a poly(aryl methacrylate), a poly(aryl acrylate), a poly(heteroaryl methacrylate, a poly(heteroaryl acrylate) and a copolymer thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: QUANTUMDX GROUP LIMITED
    Inventors: Jonathan James O'Halloran, Joseph H. Hedley, Sam Whitehouse, Marc Flanagan, John Tyson, Rachael Dixon, Sam Bhatt, Emily Crozier, Chris Howell
  • Patent number: 10794827
    Abstract: Embodiments are generally related to differentiating and/or separating portions of a sample that are of interest from the remainder of the sample. Embodiments may be directed towards separating cells of interest from a cell sample. In some embodiments, acoustic impedances of the cells of interest may be modified. For example, the acoustic properties of the cells of interest may be modified by attaching bubbles to the cells of interest. The cell sample may then be subjected to an acoustic wave. The cells of interest may be differentiated and/or separated from the remainder of the sample based on relative displacements and/or volumetric changes experienced by the cells of interest in response thereto. The cells of interest may be separated using a standing wave and sorted into separate channels of a flow cell. Optionally, the cells may be interrogated by a light source and differentiated by signals generated in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: Thomas Matula, Andrew A. Brayman, Oleg A. Sapozhnikov, Brian MacConaghy, Jarred Egan Swalwell, Camilo Perez
  • Patent number: 10788485
    Abstract: A tag for detecting an analyte can include a radio frequency identification tag including a sensor portion, the sensor portion configured to change resistivity when the radio frequency identification tag contacts or interacts with an analyte, whereby the resistivity change alters an output of the radio frequency identification tag, wherein the sensor portion includes a circuit, and wherein the sensor portion is configured to activate the circuit or deactivate the circuit when contacted or having interacted with the analyte, where the sensor portion includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes associated with a chemically-degradable polymer. In certain embodiments, the chemically degradable polymer can be a metallo-supramolecular polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Timothy Manning Swager, Joseph Michael Azzarelli, Shinsuke Ishihara
  • Patent number: 10786791
    Abstract: A syringe system for harvesting, mixing and emulsifying lipoaspirate and for further harvesting stromal vascular faction of adipose tissue. Stromal vascular faction contains mesenchymal stem cells, which have medically therapeutic uses. A mixing and/or emulsifying apparatus can be reciprocated in a syringe and combined with the stopper of the syringe, so that the syringe can be multi-purpose for harvesting, mixing, emulsifying, centrifuging, and transferring. This system minimizes transfers between syringes, allowing the system to remain closed and sterile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Black Tie Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: John Crombie, Mary Pilkington, Mariano Riego de Dios
  • Patent number: 10782223
    Abstract: A device for separating a sample of cells suspended in a bio-compatible ferrofluid is described. The device includes a microfluidic channel having a sample inlet, at least one output, and a length between the sample inlet and the at least one output, wherein a sample can be added to the sample inlet and flow along the length to the at least one outlet. The device includes a plurality of electrodes, wherein the microfluidic channel length transverses the plurality of electrodes, and further includes a power source for applying a current to the plurality of electrodes to create a magnetic field pattern along the length of the microfluidic channel. The present invention also includes a method for separating at least one cell type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: YALE UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Hur Koser
  • Patent number: 10773849
    Abstract: A system (10) for removing a pipettable substance from a pre-filled container (20), which is closed off by a lid (30) having at least one opening area (40), comprises an opening tool (100) having a tube (110), which has a cross-section corresponding substantially to the shape of the opening area and which comprises at a distal end (120) an endpiece (140) extending substantially obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis of the tube, which moves a part of the lid (30) located inside the opening area (40) towards the container when the opening tool is applied, so as to form an opening in the lid, and a point of attack (150) for a transporting tool (200). The opening tool (100) is designed to remain on the container (20) after use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Qiagen GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Voit, Andrea Wildhaber
  • Patent number: 10767154
    Abstract: A heat exchange module for use in a chemical, pharmaceutical or biological reactor system includes a generally hollow body having an interior space for receiving a replaceable or single use reactant container, and at least one thermally conductive surface adapted to contact the replaceable reactant container to facilitate heat transfer, a fluid circulation path formed within the body between an outer wall of the body and an inner wall of the body through which a heat exchange fluid can be circulated, and at least one baffle protruding from the inner wall of the body into the interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: GLOBAL LIFE SCIENCES SOLUTIONS USA LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Damren, Thomas Erdenberger, Colin R. Tuohey, Joseph D. Crowell, Parrish M. Galliher, Kenneth P Clapp, Peter A. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10767146
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated methods of use for a controlled combination of reagents is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vessel 400, a vessel insert 220, and a cap element 200. The vessel 400 has a body portion 410 for receiving a biological sample. The vessel insert 220 receives at least one reagent therein. Preferably, the vessel insert 220 is received in a portion 420 of the vessel 400. The cap element 200 is attached to the vessel 400 to secure the vessel insert 220 in the vessel 400. During use, the vessel insert 220 is adapted to release its contents when the biological sample is introduced into the body portion 410 of the vessel 400 upon application of an intermixing force to the vessel insert 220. A variety of intermixing forces may be applied, depending upon the embodiment of the present invention and its associated methods of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Mei Yang-Woytowitz, Brent Pohl, Gary F. Hershner, Eric Ursprung, Michael A. Brasch, Ming-hsiung Yeh, Patrick Shawn Beaty, Charles C. Yu, Timothy M. Wiles, Liping Feng, Ben Turng, Xiaofei Chang, Patrick R. Murray
  • Patent number: 10758169
    Abstract: A urine collecting and analyzing apparatus that mounts on a toilet. The apparatus has a housing that mounts to or is integrated into the rim of the toilet bowl and has an opening for access to the bowl. The housing has a collector compartment and a controller compartment. A collector cup fits under the collector compartment extends over the bowl in a retracted position and in a collecting position. When in the collecting position, the cup captures urine released by a user. The cup is connected to a measurement chamber by a transfer tube. The urine moves through the transfer tube from the cup to the measurement chamber to a predetermined threshold volume and level. A controller in the controller compartment reads sensors and transmits sensor data to a device for storage and display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Inventors: Cheng Yang, Long Di, Longze Chen, Cao Dong