Patents Examined by Michelle Adams
  • Patent number: 9410942
    Abstract: A test apparatus in which detectors and objects to be detected are rotated at the same speed, and a control method thereof are provided. The test apparatus includes a rotation driving unit that includes a rotary shaft; a microfluidic device that is loaded on the rotary shaft and includes at least one object to be detected; a rotating member that is mounted on the rotary shaft and includes at least one detector to detect the objects of the microfluidic device; and a controller configured to operate the rotation driving unit such that the microfluidic device and the rotating member are rotated at the same speed on the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Young Kim, Jin Beom Hong
  • Patent number: 9409935
    Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (“glyphosate”) from N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid (“PMIDA”), and more particularly to methods for control of the conversion of PMIDA, for the identification of reaction end points relating to PMIDA conversion and the preparation of glyphosate products having controlled PMIDA content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventor: Eric A. Haupfear
  • Patent number: 9395380
    Abstract: A specimen processing apparatus comprising: a specimen processing section which includes a movable section and processes a specimen by moving the movable section; and a controller for determining whether the movable section was moved while a specimen processing operation by the specimen processing section was stopped, and controlling the specimen processing section to perform a preparing operation for starting the specimen processing operation based on the determination result, is disclosed. A control method for a specimen processing apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Yamato, Hiroshi Kurono
  • Patent number: 9388462
    Abstract: Polymer sequencing is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a polymer sequencing approach is implemented using a multitude of polymer specimens for a particular polymer type is implemented. For each step in a polymer sequencing test, non-idealities are categorized using data obtained from the polymer sequencing test, and in response to the categorized non-idealities, a polymer sequence is identified for a corresponding step of the polymer sequencing test. With this approach, read lengths achieved with a particular polymer sequencing method can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventor: Helmy Eltoukhy
  • Patent number: 9346053
    Abstract: A mixing vial is provided for an automated biological reaction apparatus typically used for staining tissue samples in Immuno-histological and in-situ hybridisation reactions. The mixing vial allows reagents placed on the apparatus to be mixed together to form additional or blended reagents. A reagent dispenser mounted on a robotic arm withdraws reagent from the reagent containers and deposits it into one of the mixing vials. Several reagents can be deposited into each vial. Mixing is undertaken by withdrawing the reagents in a vial and re-dispensing the reagent back into the vial. Mixing may take place between the operation of other tasks performed by the apparatus, and a scheduler is used to ensure blended reagent is provided before it is required in one of the processes undertaken on the apparatus. The apparatus is able to automatically identify which blended reagents are required and when they must be applied to provide an appropriate schedule that minimises time taken to stain samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS MELBOURNE PTY LTD
    Inventors: Frank Samuhel, Adam Donath, Krzysztof Zawadzki, Anthony Cecil White
  • Patent number: 9347966
    Abstract: In the field of automatic analyzers, as items to be analyzed are increase, various reagents differing in such properties as liquid viscosity and contact angle are being used more frequently, and this trend is expected to continue. Also, reagents now take various forms (e.g., a concentrated reagent to be diluted by the water of an automatic analyzer), and so does dilution water. Such being the case, the invention provides an automatic analyzer capable of sufficient stirring regardless of items to be analyzed. To sufficiently stir a substance to which a reagent has been added, the automatic analyzer is designed to alter stirring conditions after a given amount of time has passed since the addition of that reagent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chie Sugiyama, Shigeki Matsubara
  • Patent number: 9329164
    Abstract: The present invention concerns storage containers for storing diagnostic elements having a hydrophilic or hydrophilically coated surface. Furthermore, the invention concerns analytical measuring devices which comprise storage containers of this type, and the use of an absorption material for selectively absorbing hydrophobic, volatile substances in such storage containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Bransilav Babic, Wilhelm Leichner
  • Patent number: 9322830
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for studying transport of an agent across a membrane comprising the steps a) providing at least one surface with a bilayer structure tethered to the surface, said bilayer structure comprising a detection volume, b) contacting the bilayer with at least one agent to be analyzed, and c) detecting a change in refractive index in the detection volume resulting from transportation of the agent across the membrane. Further there is provided a device comprising a) at least one surface, b) at least one bilayer structure tethered to the surface, and c) at least one sensor capable of detecting a change in refractive index in a detection volume, wherein the bilayer structure encloses a first volume of the detection volume and wherein the volume not enclosed by the bilayer structure but within the detection volume is a second volume and wherein the ratio between the first volume and second volume is above about 0.001.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Fredrik Hook, Magnus Branden, Seyed Tabaei
  • Patent number: 9322893
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of distinguishing between glutamine formed by cataplerosis or proteolysis. Sample from a subject may be assayed for deuteriated glutamine (following administration of deuteriated water (2H2O) and an agent that promotes excretion of glutamine from the subject). The methods are useful in clinical settings (e.g. to test whether or not patients are suffering from proteolysis or whether athletes are abusing anabolic drugs); and may be adapted for screening test compounds for cataplerotic or proteolytic activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: BIOCANT-ASSOCIAÇÃO DE TRANSFERÊNCIA DE TECNOLOGIA
    Inventor: John Griffith Jones
  • Patent number: 9316658
    Abstract: A sample processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of testing units arranged along a transport path and each configured to perform at least one type of test; a plurality of transport units configured to collectively constitute the transport path and collectively function to deliver samples to the plurality of testing units for testing; and at least one processor of a computer system and at least one memory that stores programs executable by the at least one processor to: (a) determine a type of test required to be performed on a sample; (b) if a trouble of a transport unit is reported, determine whether there is an available testing unit performable of the required type of test to which the sample is deliverable; (c) if there is the available testing unit, instruct to transport the sample to the available testing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroo Tatsutani
  • Patent number: 9310389
    Abstract: A sample processing apparatus including: a preprocessing unit for performing predetermined preprocessing on a sample container; a transporting unit for transporting the sample container on which the preprocessing unit has performed the predetermined preprocessing; a sample processing unit for processing a sample contained in the sample container transported by the transporting unit; a plurality of container collection units for collecting respective sample containers transported by the transporting unit; and a collection controller for controlling, according to a result of the predetermined preprocessing by the preprocessing unit, at least one of the transporting unit and the plurality of container collection units such that the sample container transported by the transporting unit is collected in one of the plurality of container collection units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Koichi Okubo
  • Patent number: 9284592
    Abstract: Kits and methods for the detection of toxins produced by cyanobacteria are disclosed. The methods include preparing a sample that potentially includes cyanobacterial toxins on a solid phase extraction device. In some embodiments, the sample extract can be formed using a weak cationic exchange process and a weak anionic exchange process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Stuart A. Oehrle
  • Patent number: 9285379
    Abstract: A sample testing apparatus comprising: a receiving section which receives identification information inputted by an operator; a testing section which tests a sample to obtain a test result; a memory which stores the test result, which is obtained by the testing section, so as to be associated with the identification information received by the receiving section; and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to: make a display section display only the test result associated with the identification information corresponding to a first attribute in the test results stored in the memory when the identification information received by the receiving section corresponds to the first attribute; and make the display section display test results which are stored in the memory when the identification information received by the receiving section corresponds to the second attribute is disclosed. An information management apparatus and sample testing method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Hamada, Masaharu Shibata, Daigo Fukuma
  • Patent number: 9274126
    Abstract: Biomarkers and methods are disclosed for diagnosing the risk of a myocardial infarction in an individual by measuring the levels of a set of biomarkers in a sample from an individual. A risk score is calculated for the individual by weighting the measured levels of the biomarkers. The risk score then is used to identify whether the individual is likely to experience a myocardial infarction. In addition, kits are disclosed that include a set of reagents for specifically measuring biomarker levels in a sample from an individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: BG Medicine, Inc.
    Inventors: Aram S. Adourian, Yu Guo, Xiaohong Li, Pieter Muntendam
  • Patent number: 9260763
    Abstract: An automated process for converting samples includes: receiving tube strips having a number of sample tubes and samples therein, transferring multiple tube strips to a tube strip holder, dispensing sample conversion buffer into each tube, shaking the tube strip holder a first time, centrifuging the tube strip holder, removing a liquid supernatant from each tube, simultaneously inspecting the contents of each tube, dispensing a specimen transport medium and a denaturation reagent into each tube, shaking the tube strip holder a second time, heating the tube strip holder for a first length of time, shaking the tube strip holder a third time, heating the tube strip holder for a second length of time, shaking the tube strip holder a fourth time, and transferring at least a portion of each sample to a respective well on an output plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Qiagen Gaithersburg, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Scott Thomas, Suganthi Ramachandran, Jason Troxell, Bowen Cui, Carl Theodore Edens, Andrew Leonard, Bert Jungheim
  • Patent number: 9228986
    Abstract: A method using a multi-purpose reagent composition to simultaneously determine concentrations of at least two analytes in a water sample. In one embodiment, the multi-purpose reagent composition used is for simultaneously determining free chlorine concentration and pH and comprises a free chlorine sensitive dye and a pH indicator. In another embodiment, the reagent composition used is for simultaneously determining of free chlorine and anionic polymer and includes a free chlorine sensitive dye, a pH buffer, a cationic dye, and an organic co-solvent. Thus, the pairs of free chlorine and pH or free chlorine and anionic polymer are determined using a single reagent composition. The reagent composition can also be the main reagent for one analyte analysis when it is used alone and also function as an ancillary reagent when it is combined with a second reagent composition for the determination of another analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Caibin Xiao, Bingzhi Chen, Chunbo Yu, Hong Xu
  • Patent number: 9200031
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring and/or controlling protein separation, purification, extraction, and/or fractionation processes are provided. The impedance of a protein mixture undergoing a protein process is measured and compared to a target reference impedance value or range of reference impedance values. If the measured impedance is not within an acceptable deviation of the target reference impedance value, a parameter of the protein mixture or process is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignees: Baxalta GmbH, Baxalta Incorporated
    Inventors: Cary N. Wauters, Alexander Zaydenberg
  • Patent number: 9201075
    Abstract: Colorimetric and fluorometric methods are disclosed for the rapid, accurate, selective, and inexpensive detection of homocysteine, or of homocysteine and cysteine, or of cysteine. The methods may be employed with materials that are readily available commercially. The novel methods are selective for homocysteine, for cysteine, or for total homocysteine and cysteine, and do not cross-react substantially with chemically-related species such as glutathione. The homocysteine-selective method does not have substantial cross-reactivity to the very closely related species cysteine. The cysteine-selective method does not have substantial cross-reactivity to the very closely related species homocysteine. The methods may be used, for example, in a direct assay of human blood plasma for homocysteine levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University And Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventors: Robert M. Strongin, Weihua Wang, Oleksandr Rusin, Nadia N. St. Luce, Jorge O. Escobedo Cordova
  • Patent number: 9187348
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrode for capacitive deionization device including an active material, a waterborne polyurethane, and a conducting agent. Disclosed herein too is a method of manufacturing the electrode and a capacitive deionization device employing the electrode. The waterborne polyurethane is a product of reaction of a polyurethane prepolymer prepared by reacting a polyol, a diisocyanate-based compound, and a dispersing agent, with a neutralizing agent and a chain extending agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., JEONBUK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Ho-jung Yang, Hyo-rang Kang, Dai-soo Lee
  • Patent number: 9180451
    Abstract: A fluidic cartridge for detecting chemicals, formed by a casing, hermetically housing an integrated device having a plurality of detecting regions to bind with target chemicals; part of a supporting element, bearing the integrated device; a reaction chamber, facing the detecting regions; a sample feeding hole and a washing feeding hole, self-sealingly closed; fluidic paths, which connect the sample feeding and washing feeding holes to the reaction chamber; and a waste reservoir, which may be fluidically connected to the reaction chamber by valve elements that may be controlled from outside. The integrated device is moreover connected to an interface unit carried by the supporting element, electrically connected to the integrated device and including at least one signal processing stage and external contact regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Federico Giovanni Ziglioli, Amedeo Maierna, Ubaldo Mastromatteo, Gabriele Barlocchi, Flavio Francesco Villa