Patents Examined by Kathryn Wright
  • Patent number: 10416065
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a device for the analysis of a particle comprising an analysis chamber adapted to contain a positioning fluid. A parameter of the particle suspended in the positioning fluid is detected by means of a detection and control unit. A positioning unit, during a particle analysis operation, is activated and deactivated on the basis of the detected parameter of the particle. The detection and control unit can activate the at least one positioning unit so as to generate a temporary positioning flow in the positioning fluid, such that said temporary positioning flow acts directly on the particle and drives the position of the particle so as to move it into a predefined position in the analysis chamber. The detection and control unit can also deactivate the at least one positioning unit when the particle to be analyzed is in the predefined position, such that the positioning fluid is at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: CELLDYNAMICS I.S.R.L.
    Inventors: Daniele Gazzola, Simone Pasqua, Emanuele Centurioni
  • Patent number: 10399099
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for automatically adjusting the composition of a spray chamber matrix gas flow coordinated with an analysis of a particular chemical element or groups of elements. A system can include a spray chamber configured to be coupled to an analytical system, the spray chamber having a nebulizer gas port configured to receive a nebulizer gas; and an inlet for receiving a gas from at least one gas source. The system also includes a controller operably coupled to the spray chamber, the controller configured to adjust a gas flow rate of the gas from the at least one gas source in coordination with analysis of a particular chemical element by the analytical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: ELEMENTAL SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Wiederin, Kevin Wiederin
  • Patent number: 10391489
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a fluid module, including a collapsible vessel supported on a planar substrate, comprises a first actuator component configured to be movable in a first direction is generally parallel to the plane of the substrate, a second actuator component configured to be movable in a second direction having a component that is normal to the plane of the substrate, and a motion conversion mechanism coupling the first actuator component with the second actuator component and configured to convert movement of the first actuator component in the first direction into movement of the second actuator component in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: GenMark Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: David Walter Wright, Dominic Aiello, Robert Clark
  • Patent number: 10377579
    Abstract: An automated positive pressure solid phase extraction apparatus and method comprising two tiered lifts devices each individually controllable to individually vertically translate within an elevator framework between a base on which the elevator framework is mounted and a manifold plate supported by the framework in a substantially horizontal plane parallel with and vertically above the two tiered lifts devices and a rectilinearly translating shuttle assembly comprising a shuttle supporting labware for rectilinear travel into and out of the elevator framework to handoff the labware to one of the two tiered elevator lifts or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Company
    Inventors: Garrett Voss, Harrison Elings
  • Patent number: 10379130
    Abstract: A diagnostic analyzer includes a first sample process path, a second sample processing path, and a reaction vessel exchanger device. The first sample process path includes an incubation track operable to move reaction vessels along the first sample process path. The second sample process path includes a processing track, disposed below the first sample process path, which is operable to move reaction vessels along the second sample process path. The reaction vessel exchanger device is configured to transfer the reaction vessels from the first sample processing path to the second sample processing path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: ABBOTT LABORATORIES
    Inventor: Robert Luoma
  • Patent number: 10377981
    Abstract: A beer making system may modify a beer ingredient/process recipe to adjust sensory characteristics of a desired beer. With a given ingredient list and starting recipe, a performance model of a brewing system may be used to generate an updated recipe when given a set of desired sensory characteristics of a desired beer. A user interface may permit a user to adjust characteristics such as thin/thick mouthfeel, dryness/maltiness, hops bitterness, hops flavor, hops aroma, and other characteristics. An updated recipe may change mashing schedules, boiling schedules, or other programmatically controlled aspects of a brewing system. The performance model may include heuristics as well as performance metrics derived from observing previous brewing sessions on one or multiple devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: PicoBrew, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10371709
    Abstract: A modular automatic analyzer using a circular type cartridge enabling centrifugation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a main body frame; an X-axis conveying unit which reciprocally moves in an X-axis direction with respect to the main body frame; a circular type cartridge accommodating housing which is installed with respect to the X-axis conveying unit so as to be reciprocally movable in the X-axis direction by the X-axis conveying unit, a single rotation drive unit which is installed in the circular type cartridge accommodating housing and is rotated step by step at a predetermined interval or rotated at a high speed for centrifugation, a circular type cartridge which is installed at an upper surface of the circular type cartridge accommodating housing so as to be rotatably connected to the rotation drive unit and has wells disposed to be spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of a disc-shaped main body, a tip lifting uni
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: I-SENS, INC.
    Inventors: Kyungho Kim, Jae Phil Do, Jaewon Jung, Jung Uk Ha, Sang Taek Shin, Seok-Won Lee, Yungjoon Jin, Yusung Kim
  • Patent number: 10363556
    Abstract: The present invention provides an automated experiment apparatus and an automated experiment method using the same for putting a sample into a pressure vessel and automatically performing a chemical and/or physical reaction of the sample under a predetermined temperature and pressure. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to automatically perform an experiment from the beginning to the end without intervention of an user. As a result, it is possible to prevent a risk of gas leakage and human exposure to a harmful gas due to a manual operation. The apparatus comprises a controller which is configured to automatically perform a reaction process under a predetermined temperature and pressure in a state in which a sample holding member is air-tightly fixed to a pressure vessel and the sample is accommodated in a sample receiving chamber of the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Inventor: Do Won Kang
  • Patent number: 10351843
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automated analytical system and an automated method for separating and detecting an analyte, as well as an automated analytical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Renato Belz, Andreas Gisler, Robert Huesler, Rolf Knobel, Christian Thalmann
  • Patent number: 10352953
    Abstract: A method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system is disclosed. The laboratory sample distribution system comprises a plurality of sample container carriers. The sample container carriers carry one or more sample containers. The sample containers comprise samples to be analyzed by a plurality of laboratory stations. The system also comprises a transport plane. The transport plane supports the sample container carriers. The transport plane comprises a plurality of transfer locations. The transfer locations are assigned to corresponding laboratory stations. The system also comprises a drive. The drive moves the sample container carriers on the transport plane. The method comprises, during an initialization of the laboratory sample distribution system, pre-calculating routes depending on the transfer locations and, after the initialization of the laboratory sample distribution system, controlling the drive such that the sample container carriers move along the pre-calculated routes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobias Huber, Achim Sinz, Namitha Mallikarjunaiah, Oliver Denninger, Mohammadreza Mahmudimanesh, Timo Fleischmann, Domenic Jenz
  • Patent number: 10352895
    Abstract: A system and method for testing and ejecting a test strip of a fluid testing medical device. The system includes parallel first and second guide rails defining a rail cavity between the guide rails. A sled includes a sled post and opposed first and second side leg sets each having at least one deflectable leg. Each of the deflectable legs is externally slidably engaged to one of the guide rails limiting the sled to only sliding motion in either a loading direction or an opposite ejection direction. An actuator arm is rotatably connected to a mechanism assembly. The sled post is received in an actuator arm slot. Actuator arm rotation in a loading rotational direction displaces the sled in the loading direction in a sliding motion. Subsequent opposite rotation of the actuator arm in an ejection rotational direction displaces the sled in the ejection direction and ejects the test strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Hanson, Derek C. Lotarski, Matthew C. Sauers, Anthony J. Uberta, III
  • Patent number: 10345321
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes an automatic analyzer and a method for the determination of a measurand dependent upon the concentration of one or more ingredients of a measuring fluid. The analyzer includes a measuring cell includes a cuvette and a sensing element, the sensing element including at least one radiation source and at least one detector configured to generate measurement signals, a control and evaluation unit that is connected to the sensing element to receive and process measurement signals of the sensing element, and a delivery and metering unit that can be controlled by the control and evaluation unit, where the control and evaluation unit is configured to control the delivery and metering unit to transport measuring fluid into the cuvette and to monitor the transport of the measuring fluid into the cuvette by means of the sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Anja Gerlinger, Matthias Knopp, Tilman Benkert
  • Patent number: 10338064
    Abstract: A fully-automatic immunofluorescence quantitative analyzing apparatus and detection method belong to the field of quantitative immunofluorescence analysis and detection. The immunity quantitative analyzing apparatus includes a support baseplate, a reagent strip storage and automatic loading module, a cuvette ring module, a detection module, a sample module, a sample dispensing module, a washing module and a control system, the reagent strip storage and automatic loading module, the cuvette ring module, the detection module, the sample module, the sample dispensing module, the washing module being sequentially arranged on the support baseplate. The reagent strip storage and automatic loading module provides a reagent strip for the cuvette ring module, and the sample dispensing module dispenses the sample on the sample module to the cuvette ring module and performs a reaction, and the sample enters the detection module to complete the detection after the reaction is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: GETEIN BIOTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Enben Su, Weisen Chen, Lingzhi Yin, Lin Wang, Jing Li, Jing Jin
  • Patent number: 10309979
    Abstract: The invention provides a small-sized automatic analyzer being compact, enabling a large number of analysis items to be carried out, and having a high processing speed. The automatic analyzer is particularly suitably applied to a medical analyzer used for qualitative/quantitative analysis of living body samples, such as urine and blood. A plurality of sample dispensing mechanism s capable of being operated independently of each other are provided to suck a sample from any one of a plurality of sample suction positions and to discharge the sucked sample to any one of a plurality of positions on a reaction disk. The automatic analyzer having a high processing capability can be thus realized without increasing the system size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yanami, Isao Yamazaki, Masaaki Hanawa, Hitoshi Otake
  • Patent number: 10302638
    Abstract: An automatic analyzing apparatus 10 includes a chip rack 11 that stores a pipette chip, a pipette 12 into which a specimen is injected, a conveyance unit that conveys the pipette 12 by parallel translation, a reagent rack 14, a reaction unit 15, a detection unit 16, and a detection block unit 17. The pipette chip stored by the chip rack 11 has a planar structure to directly and optically detect the specimen. The chip rack 11 includes, in a hole that receives the pipette chip, a guide corresponding to the structure of the pipette chip. The pipette 12 sucks or discharges the specimen via the pipette chip mounted onto the tip thereof by a drive of a pump. In the detection unit 16, a measurement is carried out with the pipette chip arranged so that the plane that receives light is vertical to an optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: SYSTEM INSTRUMENTS CO., LTD., HIROSAKI UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION KOBE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hamada, Takeshi Akiba, Chikara Ohyama, Tohru Yoneyama, Yuki Tobisawa, Toshifumi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10302666
    Abstract: A sample analyzing method of a sample analyzer for measuring samples, using a reagent container which comprises a writable and readable storage medium, the sample analyzing method including: storing information regarding a remaining amount of a reagent in the reagent container to a memory of the analyzer read from the storage medium; updating the information in the memory in response to an aspiration of the reagent; and writing updated information in the memory to the storage medium when an aspiration of the reagent in a plurality of measurements is completed. The writing of the updated information is postponed until the aspiration of the reagent in the plurality of measurements is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Wakamiya, Kazutoshi Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 10295532
    Abstract: A sensor is provided with a sensor element which outputs a signal in accordance with a detected object contained in a specimen positioned on a detection part in an element surface and with a package which accommodates the sensor element inside it and has a passage including a space positioned on the element surface. A lower surface of the passage has the element surface and a lower surface of an inflow passage extending toward the space, and a gap is positioned between the lower surface of the inflow passage and the element surface. The element surface is positioned above the lower surface of the inflow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignees: KYOCERA CORPORATION, OSAKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Tanaka, Hideharu Kurioka, Eiichi Tamiya, Masato Saito
  • Patent number: 10295444
    Abstract: An apparatus including a reagent cartridge and a reaction chamber, the reagent cartridge having a reagent capsule removably positioned therein for dispensing of a reagent onto the reaction chamber. A system including a linearly translatable mounting assembly having a plurality of mounting stations dimensioned to receive at least one fluid dispensing cartridge, a linearly translatable bulk reagent dispensing assembly having a plurality of bulk reagent dispensing nozzles coupled thereto and a receiving assembly positioned beneath the mounting assembly and the bulk reagent dispensing assembly, the receiving assembly including a plurality of reaction stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Xuan S. Bui, Anthony L. Hartman, Toshiyuki Fujimaki, Shinji Tokudaiji, Yoshitake Okabe, Yoshitada Mizusawa
  • Patent number: 10294522
    Abstract: A sample handling system and a process for the handling of chemical or biological samples is provided. The system includes a dosing device with a receiving plate configured in an essentially horizontal position in a plane defined by a first and a second axis. The dosing device has at least one working arm that is movable. The pipetting mechanism includes at least one pipetting channel that is movable and has a pipette tip mounted or mountable thereon. The system further includes at least one thermal cycler provided in the area of the receiving plate. The thermal cycler is configured on the receiving plate in such a way that the pipetting mechanism is movable in a position above the sample vessels in the thermal cycler, in a setting that allows a pipetting step to be carried out into the sample vessels in the thermal cycler by the pipetting mechanism in the position above the sample vessels in the thermal cycler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON BONADUZ AG
    Inventors: Martin Gajewski, Mario Arangio
  • Patent number: 10293336
    Abstract: A non-displasive pipette is provided. The non-displasive pipette is configured for connection to a tip having a fluid therein. The tip includes an orifice to allow for the discharge of the fluid therefrom. The non-displasive pipette includes a body defining a chamber therethrough and having first and second opposite ends. The second end of the body is configured for connection to the tip. A plunger is slidably received in the chamber at the first end of the body. The plunger is moveable in the chamber between an extended position and a discharge position wherein the fluid is urged from tip through the orifice. An air discharge arrangement is configured to allow air from the chamber to escape therefrom and to maintain the fluid in the tip in response to connection of the second end of the body to the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: David J. Beebe, David J. Guckenberger, Jr.