Patents Examined by John McGuirk
  • Patent number: 12019085
    Abstract: An automatic analysis device and an automatic analysis system capable of executing separate operations by respective analysis units even in a device configuration where a same control part controls two or more analysis units, the automatic analysis device including a biochemistry analysis unit; an electrolyte analysis unit; one analysis unit control CPU for controlling operations of the biochemistry analysis unit and the electrolyte analysis unit; and a storage part for storing time charts of operations having different purposes for the biochemistry analysis unit and the electrolyte analysis units. Two or more of the biochemistry analysis units and the electrolyte analysis units operate independently to each other based on the time charts stored in the storage part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunio Enta, Masashi Akutsu
  • Patent number: 12000847
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a diagnostic system includes an instrument coupled to a client device and having at least one sample processing bay. The diagnostic system has a software architecture including instrument software (ISW) associated with the instrument. The ISW receives an assay definition file (ADF) that has a control file and an assay analysis module (AAM) file. The processing bay prepares and senses the sample according to parameters in the OPUS file and then generates sensor scan data. The diagnostic system then analyzes the sensor scan data and prepares a report according to the AAM file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: ROCHE MOLECULAR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Nguyen, Sean Ford, Nikolas James Hansen
  • Patent number: 11998920
    Abstract: A configurable device for the flexible provision of connections and/or functions in a biopharmaceutical process includes a body in which predefined pipe sections and plug-in locations are formed by recesses in the material of the body. The configurable device further includes a plurality of functional elements which are adapted to be inserted into the plug-in locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: SARTORIUS STEDIM BIOTECH GMBH
    Inventor: Jan Schaefer
  • Patent number: 12000850
    Abstract: A laboratory sample distribution system with a number of sample container carriers, each comprising at least one magnetically active device and adapted to carry a sample container; a transport plane adapted to support the carriers; a number of electro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below the transport plane and adapted to move a corresponding carrier located on top of the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the carrier; a touch panel arranged below the transport plane adapted to generate position signals (PS) depending on positions of the carriers located on top of the transport plane; a position determination unit adapted to determine the positions of the carriers located on top of the transport plane in response to the position signals (PS); and a control unit adapted to control the operation of the laboratory sample distribution system in response to the determined positions of the carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Norbert Schmitt
  • Patent number: 11994527
    Abstract: A sample measuring apparatus and a method of circulating air in a reagent storage are provided. The sample measuring apparatus includes: a measuring unit that measures a sample by using a reagent stored in a reagent container; a reagent storage that stores the reagent container; a reagent container holder arranged in the reagent storage and that holds the reagent container; a fin that circulates air in the reagent storage; and a driving unit that drives the reagent container holder and the fin to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Kawamoto, Tomohiro Kuroiwa, Shingo Kaida
  • Patent number: 11994528
    Abstract: Purifying target biomolecules, such as nucleic acids or proteins, from a biological source is a time intensive process and is typically performed by a skilled technician or scientist owing to the highly technical nature of the work. Systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein enable the automated bioprocessing and purification of target biomolecules from a biological source. For example, an instrument and disposable cartridge are provided for automatedly isolating and purifying nucleic acids (such as plasmid DNA from a bacterial culture) or for isolating protein from any biological sample. Such an exemplary instrument and cartridge can work in concert to timely release, mix, and move the target biomolecule and various reagents and buffers through a target biomolecule purification process, resulting in a purified target biomolecule with less manual oversight than traditional approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexandre Vlassov, Timothy Barta, Justin Inslee, Ethan Gentert, Robert Smith, Sara Thiele, Carolyn Adams, Kraig Kruger, Robert Schneider, Wade Lukianow, Jay Greco, Jason Jones, David Cerrone, Sumonto Ghosh, Brian Vajda, Andrew Basta, Allan Evans, Christopher Crowley, Robert Setterquist, Anne Cox, Mark Mayernick
  • Patent number: 11988683
    Abstract: A moving mechanism and a spray mechanism are controlled to spray a reagent from a nozzle to a sample plate while relatively moving the sample plate and the nozzle. The reagent is applied to an entire application area by moving a spray spot of the reagent sprayed from the nozzle, on the sample plate from a start point to an end point. At this time, the spray spot is moved in a sample placement area after a spray amount of the reagent from the nozzle and a moving speed of the spray spot become constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mio Tsukahara, Kenta Terashima, Yoshitake Yamamoto, Daisuke Oda
  • Patent number: 11988682
    Abstract: A transfer system (1) is a transfer system (1) that transfers a sample container (S) containing a sample from a transfer source device (100) to a transfer destination device (200) disposed adjacent to the transfer source device (100), and the transfer system (1) includes an arm (2) having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end portion facing the transfer destination device (200), and a first catcher (4) for detachably holding the sample container (S) at the distal end, a drive mechanism (14) provided in the transfer source device (100) and configured to drive the arm (2) to move the first catcher (4) between a first position in the transfer source device (100) and a second position in the transfer destination device (200), and a second catcher (16) provided in the transfer destination device (200) and provided so that the sample container (S) is delivered and received between the first catcher (4) and the second catcher (16) when the first catcher (4) reaches the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Seki, Hikaru Shibata, Hiroyuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11977088
    Abstract: A method of reducing quality problems associated with patient sample collection and delivery is provided. It is possible that the method can provide a chain of custody process to better track a sample from the initial point of sample collection to the final point of sample testing. Such a method can also include providing an alert to indicate a potential problem with the quality of the diagnostic test result when a measured parameter exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Wido Menhardt, Matthew Hanson, Anthony Camisa
  • Patent number: 11971421
    Abstract: A sample analysis system is available that can include a remote sampling system, at least one analyzer, and a controller. The remote sampling system can include a plurality of sample sources for providing a corresponding sample therefrom; and a plurality of sample collection devices selectively coupled to any of the plurality of sample sources for receiving at least one of the samples therefrom. The at least one analyzer can be coupled to the plurality of the sample collection devices for receiving at least one of the samples therefrom. The controller can be coupled with the remote sampling system and the at least one analyzer, the controller configured to control which of the sample sources is actively coupled to a given sample collection device at a given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Elemental Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Yost, Jonathan Hein, Jae Seok Lee, Dong Cherl Park
  • Patent number: 11940403
    Abstract: A device for the detection of a food allergen includes a sensor having a printed circuit board and a chip comprising a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and a non-imprinted polymer (NIP); a reservoir comprising a liquid; and a chamber for mixing the liquid with a food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Amulet, Inc.
    Inventors: Srikanth Rao Agnihotra, Madanodaya Sundhoro, Brent Amberger, Abigail Barnes, Joseph Belbruno, Seung Hyuk Noh, Jeanette Numbers, Elizabeth Soucy
  • Patent number: 11940455
    Abstract: A consumable management system comprising a consumable storage cluster with a plurality of storage compartments is presented. Each storage compartment is configured to receive one or more consumables. The consumable management system further comprises storage compartment indicators to provide guidance to a user and a detection unit for validating user action(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Urs Suter, Riccardo Leone Benedetti, Gregor Hotz, Oliver Rusterholz, Robert Theiler
  • Patent number: 11933797
    Abstract: Disclosed is a calibration curve creation method performed by an analyzer, the calibration curve creation method including: preparing a plurality of calibrators at different dilution rates by dispensing a calibrator in a container into one or more different containers; obtaining a plurality of measurement values by measuring each of the prepared plurality of calibrators; creating a calibration curve by use of the plurality of measurement values; selecting a first measurement value to be re-measured, among the plurality of measurement values used for the calibration curve; preparing another calibrator at a dilution rate corresponding to a calibrator from which the selected first measurement value is obtained; obtaining a second measurement value by measuring the prepared another calibrator; and creating a new calibration curve by replacing the first measurement value, among the plurality of measurement values, with the second measurement value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuma Moriura, Hiroshi Kurono
  • Patent number: 11933799
    Abstract: An automatic sample injection device includes: an; and a management device. The injector includes: a turret; and a vial sensor. The management device includes: a condition setting unit configured to set a condition relating to a type of a vial to be used in the sample injection operation, based on information input by a user; and a vial determination unit configured to determine, before the injector initiates the sample injection operation, whether or not there is a missing vial on the turret out of the vials of the plurality of types set to be used in the sample injection operation under a condition set by the condition setting unit, by using a detection result of the vial sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daiki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 11931735
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a microfluidic arrangement are disclosed. In one arrangement, a continuous body of a first liquid is provided in direct contact with a first substrate. A second liquid covers the first liquid. A separation fluid, immiscible with the first liquid, is propelled through at least the first liquid and into contact with the first substrate along all of a selected path on the surface of the first substrate. First liquid that was initially in contact with all of the selected path is displaced away from the selected path. The first liquid is divided to form sub-bodies of first liquid that are separated from each other. For each of one or more of the sub-bodies, a sub-body footprint represents an area of contact between the sub-body and the first substrate, and all of a boundary of the sub-body footprint is in contact with a closed loop of the selected path surrounding the sub-body footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Oxford University Innovation Limited
    Inventors: Edmond Walsh, Alexander Feuerborn, Peter Richard Cook, Cristian Soitu
  • Patent number: 11931738
    Abstract: An example method includes providing fluid to a chamber. The chamber feeds a first channel terminating at a first droplet ejector and a second channel terminating at a second droplet ejector. The method further includes sequencing ejection of droplets at the first droplet ejector and the second droplet ejector to induce negative pressure to provide a sequenced output flow of the fluid through the first channel to a first target microfluidic network and through the second channel to a second target microfluidic network, and controlling the first and second target microfluidic networks to perform an analytical process with the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John Lahmann, Pavel Kornilovich, Silam J Choy
  • Patent number: 11892461
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices, systems, methods for processing and/or analyzing a biological sample. An analytic device for processing and/or analyzing a biological sample may comprise a moving carriage. The analytic device may be portable. The analytic device may receive instructions for performing an assay from a mobile electronic device external to a housing of the analytic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BIOMEME, INC.
    Inventors: Marc DeJohn, Christopher Cox, Thomas Welsh, Luke Gary, Alexia Quinn
  • Patent number: 11885826
    Abstract: A biochemical analysis apparatus includes a piercer for piercing a cover member, a nozzle that passes through the piercer which has pierced the cover member and suctions a specimen, a liquid surface sensor that detects contact of the nozzle with the specimen, and a controller that drives the nozzle and the piercer, in which the controller provides an error notification upon detection of contact of the nozzle with the accommodation object inside the piercer, and upon detection of a collision of the nozzle with the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori Onoki, Kiyohiro Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11846580
    Abstract: A flow cell package includes first and second surface-modified patterned wafers and a spacer layer. The first surface-modified patterned wafer includes first depressions separated by first interstitial regions, a first functionalized molecule bound to a first silane or silane derivative in at least some of the first depressions, and a first primer grafted to the first functionalized molecule in the at least some of the first depressions. The second surface-modified patterned wafer includes second depressions separated by second interstitial regions, a second functionalized molecule bound to a second silane or silane derivative in at least some of the second depressions, and a second primer grafted to the second functionalized molecule in the at least some of the second depressions. The spacer layer bonds at least some first interstitial regions to at least some second interstitial regions, and at least partially defines respective fluidic chambers of the flow cell package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: Illumina, Inc., Illumina Cambridge Limited
    Inventors: James Tsay, Anmiv Prabhu, David Heiner, Edwin Li, Alexandre Richez, John M. Beierle, Kevan Samiee, Kristina Munoz, Leonid Malevanchik, Ludovic Vincent, Naiqian Zhan, Peyton Shieh, Robert Yang, Samantha Schmitt, Sang Park, Scott Bailey, Sean M. Ramirez, Sunmin Ahn, Valerie Uzzell, Wei Wei, Yuxiang Huang, Tyler Jamison Dill
  • Patent number: 11821906
    Abstract: A sample feeding apparatus, a sample analyzing device, and a control method for a sample feeding apparatus are disclosed. At least two of a feeding unit, a temporary storage unit, and a recovery unit together form a vertical stack structure, and a dispatching manipulator transfers a sample vessel among the feeding unit, the temporary storage unit, the recovery unit, and a sample aspiration region. The space in a vertical direction can be reasonably utilized, superposition is performed in space to simplify the dispatching process, and the occupation of a horizontal space is reduced. As a result, the floor space is reduced, and the apparatus is further miniaturized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO-MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: JuanJuan Sun, Yanwen Weng, Chuanfen Xie, Yang Zhou