Patents Examined by Kathryn Wright
  • Patent number: 11559800
    Abstract: A device for locking a volume adjustment screw for a pipetting system, comprising a control member which rotates as one with a position selector, the member cooperating with a locking wheel such that: when the selector is in the free adjustment position, the member ensures that the wheel is axially spaced from another wheel, such that the teeth of the wheels do not cooperate with each other; when the selector is in the fine adjustment position, the member allows the wheel to move away from and then to move axially towards the other wheel while transitioning from one tooth to another; when the selector is in the locking position, the member axially locks the wheel to prevent the teeth from being disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: GILSON SAS
    Inventor: Hervé Malvoisin
  • Patent number: 11555823
    Abstract: A medical analysis method uses a medical analysis machine provided with a poly-articulated robot (70) comprising joints defining at least six axes of rotation (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6) and adapted for spacing and/or orienting a terminal member (66) according to six degrees of freedom, the terminal member bearing a grasping member (78) adapted for grasping a container (16). The medical analysis method comprises at least the succession of steps consisting of providing a container (16) containing a sample to be treated stemming from a human being or an animal, transferring said container (16) towards at least one treatment station of the medical analysis machine (100) by means of the poly-articulated robot, treating the sample in a treatment station, transferring the container towards a station for capturing images, and displaying the treatment results through a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignees: BIO-RAD INNOVATIONS, DiaMed GmbH
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Brisebrat, Sébastien Bernay, Cédric Gagnepain, Daniel Seydoux
  • Patent number: 11554367
    Abstract: A pipette for use with a pipette tip includes a housing, a pin on the bottom end of the housing holding a pipette tip having first means for form-fit connection and a second means for form-fit connection which can be shoved onto the pin, constricting the pin, and/or expanding the tip before form-fit connection with the pin, a drive apparatus, at least one locking sleeve arranged concentric to the pin which is guided toward the pin in the housing, wherein the locking sleeve has a locked position having a pin in the inside constricted by shoving on a pipette tip, and/or is bordered on the outside by a tip shoved onto the pin, preventing a release from the pin, and the locking sleeve is upwardly displaceable out of the locked position so that the pin, and/or the tip is released, and the tip is removable from the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventors: Martin Seippel, Matthias Kunsch, Burkhardt Reichmuth, Tobias David, Frank Horstmann, Jens Wilmer, Marc Wilth
  • Patent number: 11536737
    Abstract: A flexible instrument control and data storage/management system and method for representing and processing assay plates having one or more predefined plate locations is disclosed. The system utilizes a graph data structure, layer objects and data objects. The layer objects map the graph data structure to the data objects. The graph data structure can comprise one node for each of the one or more predefined plate locations, wherein the nodes can be hierarchically defined according to a predefined plate location hierarchy. Each node can be given a unique node identifier, a node type and a node association that implements the predefined plate location hierarchy. The layer objects can include an index that maps the node identifiers to the data objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Inventors: Craig P. Lovell, Thomas Lucas Hampton, III
  • Patent number: 11524287
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and devices for automatically transferring samples and/or reagents from sample vessels and/or reagent vessels into at least one receiving vessel In one example embodiment, a pipetting device is disclosed including a pipettor that is movable along a first direction and has at least one first pipetting needle that is movable along an arm of the pipettor along a second direction, substantially normal to the first direction. The pipetting needle is lowerable along a third direction into the individual vessels. In some specific embodiments, the arm of the movable pipettor has at least one second pipetting needle which, regardless of the current position of the first pipetting needle, is movable past the first pipetting needle and is lowerable into the individual vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: MEON MEDICAL SOLUTIONS GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Berthold Limbach, Wolfgang Sprengers
  • Patent number: 11524301
    Abstract: Improved sub-assemblies and methods of control for use in a diagnostic assay system adapted to receive an assay cartridge are provided herein. Such sub-assemblies include: a brushless DC motor, a door opening/closing mechanism and cartridge loading mechanism, a syringe and valve drive mechanism assembly, a sonication horn, a thermal control device and optical detection/excitation device. Such systems can further include a communications unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device of a user so as to receive a user input relating to functionality of the system with respect to an assay cartridge received therein and relaying a diagnostic result relating to the assay cartridge to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cepheid
    Inventors: Douglas B Dority, Tien Phan, David Fromm, Richard J. Casler, Jr., Dustin Dickens, Stuart Morita, Matthew Piccini
  • Patent number: 11519926
    Abstract: A microplate processing device having at least one carriage with a first receptacle for microplates where the at least one carriage is movable in a first horizontal direction, and having at least one lift that is movable in a vertical direction, where the microplates can be removed from and supplied to the carriage, the carriage has a through-opening, the periphery, in the vertical projection, can at least in part be situated horizontally within the periphery of a microplate held in the carriage, and the lift has a second receptacle for microplates, the periphery, in the vertical projection, is situated within the periphery of the through-opening, where the second receptacle can be moved unhindered through the through-opening in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Johannes Posch, Harald Gebethsroither, Beat Bolli, Gerald Zerza
  • Patent number: 11517907
    Abstract: The system includes a pipette tip with a proximal end that has a rim. The rim defines a proximal opening adapted to receive a pipetter, and the rim includes a rim conical edge. The system also has a support card with a top surface, a pipette tip receiver opening within the top surface, the opening adapted to receive the pipette tip and having a receiver opening conical edge. The rim conical edge and the receiver opening conical edge are constructed such that when the pipette tip is disposed of in the pipette tip receiver opening, the rim conical edge abuts the receiver opening conical edge, and the top surface is flush with or nearly flush with the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: XCALIBER SCIENCES, INC.
    Inventor: Arta Motadel
  • Patent number: 11511280
    Abstract: Double bag having a first compartment containing a composition to be distributed and a second compartment for receiving a used fluid, a first bag connector communicating with the first compartment and serving to empty the latter, and a second bag connector communicating with the second compartment and serving to fill the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: DIAGNOSTICA STAGO
    Inventors: Eric Groussin, Vincent Moutier
  • Patent number: 11511282
    Abstract: A laboratory sample/specimen temperature control device, specifically a metal bead bath that has its metal bead temperature controlled by a continuous flow of air into the bed of beads that is heated or cooled by a Peltier device that the air flows over. This provides great thermal uniformity across the bed of beads and constantly monitors and regulates the heat or cooling input rather than utilizing an on/off modulation temperature input approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Inventors: Josiah Breen, Taylor Rassi
  • Patent number: 11491479
    Abstract: A laboratory flask for use in association with a laboratory heating block, having: a flask body, wherein the flask body includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a sidewall, wherein the sidewall of the flask body includes an inner surface, and an outer surface; a neck, wherein the neck includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a sidewall, wherein the sidewall of the neck includes an inner surface, and an outer surface, and wherein the neck emanates contiguously from the flask body; and a reservoir, wherein the reservoir includes an upper portion, a lower portion, a bottom wall, and a sidewall, wherein the sidewall of the reservoir includes an inner surface, and an outer surface, and wherein the reservoir is adapted for releasable securement within a laboratory heating block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Rolf Winter
  • Patent number: 11474120
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a separable cassette for measuring glycated hemoglobin. It is easy to use the separable cassette for measuring glycated hemoglobin of the present invention since a reagent is sequentially leaked during the rotation thereof. In addition, there is no need to shake the reagent beforehand, as the reagent without residual reagent is fully discharged by the rotation. Therefore, the measurement result is accurate because an error between the amount of the reagent used and the amount of sample blood is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: GREEN CROSS MEDICAL SCIENCE
    Inventors: Hyu Jeong Kim, Hyong Soo Kim, Dong Han Kim, Eun Myung Shin, Jung Sub Shin, Soon Min Hong, Su Hyun Lee, Dong Cheol Choi
  • Patent number: 11471877
    Abstract: Systems and methods for handling a variety of sample and preparatory fluids in a rack specifically configured for compatibility with predetermined liquid handlers such as automated pipettors or multi-channel manual pipettors and set up for magnetic based sample preparation. The rack can hold all of the necessary sample and reagent vials, and present them to the pipettor in some embodiments in a way that allows for parallel operation. The rack includes slidable magnets that in some embodiments are actuatable directly by the pipettor, eliminating a layer of complexity. Combined with a suitable pipettor the magnet enabled rack supports a multistep magnetic based sample preparation capability in a high throughput manner at one station that enhances sample purity throughout magnetic separation processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ZHUHAI SANMED BIOTECH LTD
    Inventors: Behrad Vahidi, William M. Strauss, Mike Trejo, Xin Ye, Dongwen Li
  • Patent number: 11433397
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and method to safely and efficiently store and transport process tubes in a carrier tray comprising prior to and during amplification of nucleotides in the process tubes. The process tube disclosed includes a securement region having an annular ledge, a neck, and a protrusion. The securement region of the process tube can secure the process tube in a port of the carrier tray, but still allows the process tube to adjust or float in order to align the process tube into a rigid heater well of a thermal cycler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Baum, Brent Pohl, Ed Belsinger
  • Patent number: 11433391
    Abstract: Provided herein are fluid handling tubes having a cap that includes a sealing member having interior grooves and panels. Also provided herein are fluid handling tubes having a cap that includes (i) a sealing member having a concave surface at a distal region, and (ii) a flat proximal surface. Provided also are fluid handling tubes having a cap that includes an engagement member at an edge of the cap, where the engagement member includes a surface having curvature and a taper. Also provided herein are fluid handling tubes that include a cap comprising a tube sealing member, an anterior engagement member, and one or more channels (e.g., one or more furrows or grooves) between the sealing member and the engagement member that function as a hinge or pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: BIOTIX, INC.
    Inventors: Arta Motadel, Peter Paul Blaszcak, Juan Martin Mendez Padilla
  • Patent number: 11422143
    Abstract: The sample measuring apparatus includes a suction unit that includes a nozzle and a drive unit that raises and lowers the nozzle, and suctions a first liquid and a second liquid that is different from the first liquid; a liquid surface detecting unit that detects liquid surfaces of the first liquid and the second liquid; a control unit that controls the suction unit, and a measuring unit that measures a measurement sample prepared from the suctioned first liquid; wherein the control unit controls the suction unit to suction the first liquid and the second liquid based on the respective liquid surface detection result of the first liquid and the second liquid detected while lowering the nozzle, and a second speed at which the nozzle descends when detecting the liquid surface of the second liquid is faster than a first speed at which the nozzle descends when detecting the liquid surface of the first liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Yamato, Jun Inagaki, Shunsuke Saito, Yoshinori Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11397190
    Abstract: Provided is a test system operable with a simplified structure. A test system includes a first test device and a second test device each of which transports and tests a sample. The test device includes a master control unit, which performs assignment of samples to the first test device and the second test device, and control of a transport operation of the sample assigned to the test device. The test device includes a slave control unit, which controls a transport operation of the sample assigned to the test device by the master control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Yamakawa, Hiroo Tatsutani, Yuichiro Ohmae
  • Patent number: 11397141
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for diluting a sample liquid taken from a sampling point for the subsequent determination of a parameter which depends on a concentration of at least one analyte in the sample liquid, including: supplying a first quantity of the sample liquid to a mixing device via a first sample liquid line; supplying a second quantity of the sample liquid to a separator via a second sample liquid line; separating the analyte from the second quantity of the sample liquid supplied to the separator by means of the separator to obtain a dilution liquid that no longer contains the analyte, and mixing at least one portion of the first quantity of the sample liquid supplied to the mixing device via the first sample liquid line with at least one portion of the dilution liquid by means of the mixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Kathe, Ulrich Rottensteiner, Daniel Schweitzer
  • Patent number: 11385206
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a preprocessing apparatus that makes it possible to highly efficiently analyze specimens held by solid media, such as dried blood spots to be used for newborn mass screening or the like. The preprocessing apparatus includes: a preprocessing container setting part in which a preprocessing container containing a solid sample including a specimen to be analyzed and a solid medium holding the specimen is to be set; a carrying mechanism that carries the preprocessing container set in the preprocessing container setting part; and a preprocessing part that has a port for setting the preprocessing container carried by the carrying mechanism and that is configured to perform preprocessing including extraction processing for extracting the specimen from the solid sample contained in the preprocessing container set in the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Hanafusa
  • Patent number: 11385249
    Abstract: An improved system and method for the selection and dispensing of reagents onto a target testing medium in an automated laboratory environment. The system utilizes multiple carousels rotatably-mounted upon a central turntable. The position of the central turntable, as well as the rotation of each carousel is controlled by a microprocessor-based control system. Multiple dispensers, each capable of storing and dispensing a particular reagent, are mounted about the circumference of each carousel. This configuration provides much higher reagent density than previously available. The testing medium is positioned at one or more loading stations. The control system directs the central turntable to a position from which a selected one of the carousels can be rotated so as to position a selected dispenser above the testing medium. The selected dispenser is then actuated to release a predetermined reagent onto the testing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: BD KIESTRA B.V.
    Inventors: Michael John Wilsher, Simon Jowett, Roy Norman Gladwin, Mark William Horobin, Kenneth Charles Smith, Duncan Stevenson, Timothy Roy Hansen, Johannes Wijnandus Thiecke