Patents Examined by Neil N Turk
  • Analysis device driving apparatus
    Patent number: 9404912
    Abstract: A protective cap 2 is engaged with a latch 10 of a diluent container 5 so as to fix the diluent container 5 at a liquid holding position of a diluent container containing section 11. The engagement is released when the protective cap 2 is set to an open position against the engagement so as to expose an inlet 13. When the protective cap 2 is shifted from the open position to a closed position, the protective cap 2 pushes the diluent container 5 into a liquid discharge position. Thus, it is possible to preserve a diluent for a long period of time and to easily open the diluent container 5 without having to complicate the structure of an analysis apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Fujii, Kenji Okada
  • Apparatus, system and method for mixing and dispensing dental impression materials
    Patent number: 9399202
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for mixing and dispensing dental impression materials is described. A dental impression material mixing machine comprises a water dispenser fluidly coupled to a hollow mixing axle, the mixing axle extending through a pulley, wherein an inner circumference of the hollow mixing axle forms a water conduit and an outer circumference of the hollow mixing axle forms a hub connector, a closeable valve inserted at a water entrance to the water conduit and electronically coupled to a water pump, an electronically commutated motor rotateably coupled to the pulley, wherein the hub connector receives a tubular rotatable hub of a disposable mixing vessel comprising dry dental impression powder, and wherein water is dispensed from the water dispenser into the disposable mixing vessel through the water conduit and hub orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Inventor: Bradford D. Overton
  • Analysis device
    Patent number: 9366666
    Abstract: A protective cap 2 is engaged with a latch 10 of a diluent container 5 so as to fix the diluent container 5 at a liquid holding position of a diluent container containing section 11. The engagement is released when the protective cap 2 is set to an open position against the engagement so as to expose an inlet 13. When the protective cap 2 is shifted from the open position to a closed position, the protective cap 2 pushes the diluent container 5 into a liquid discharge position. Thus, it is possible to preserve a diluent for a long period of time and to easily open the diluent container 5 without having to complicate the structure of an analysis apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Higashi, Masaaki Kitoh, Hirofumi Sugimoto
  • Automated sample handling instrumentation, systems, processes, and methods
    Patent number: 9335336
    Abstract: The present invention provides a processing station for automatically processing a biological sample, a system for automated real-time inventory control of consumables within a biological sample handling or assay instrument, a high throughput random access automated instrument for processing biological samples, an automated instrument for processing or analysis of a sample, and processes for automated mucoid detection and elimination. Methods of using the disclosed instruments, mucoid detection processes, and systems to process and/or analyze samples are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rolf Silbert, David Opalsky, David Aaron Buse, Robert J. Rosati, Olev Tammer
  • Patient sample classification based upon low angle light scattering
    Patent number: 9310286
    Abstract: An apparatus for classifying a liquid patient sample includes at least one sample container having a quantity of a sample that is aggressively acted upon so as to create a flow field. A measurement mechanism includes at least one low angle light emitter aligned with a measurement window of the at least one sample container and a detector oppositely disposed relative to the measurement window. Measurement of the scattered light detects particle characteristics of a moving flow field from the sample to determine, for example, the amount of agglutination of the sample so as to perform blood typing or other classifications without spatial separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Merrit N. Jacobs, Michael W. Sundberg, Zhong Ding
  • Measuring system using optical waveguide, measuring device, measuring method, optical waveguide type sensor chip, and magnetic fine particle
    Patent number: 9274104
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a measuring system using an optical waveguide is provided. The measuring system has an optical waveguide, magnetic fine particles, a magnetic field applying unit, a light source and a light receiving element. The optical waveguide has a sensing area to which first substances having a property of specifically bonding to subject substances to be measured are fixed. Second substances having a property of specifically bonding to the subject substances are fixed to the magnetic fine particle. The magnetic field applying unit generates a magnetic field for moving the magnetic fine particles. The light source inputs a light into the optical waveguide. The light receiving element receives the light output from the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ichiro Tono, Shingo Kasai, Takaaki Wada, Isao Nawata, Masaaki Hirakawa, Tomohiro Takase, Kayoko Oomiya, Takeshi Yamauchi, Tadahiro Nakayama, Isamu Nitta
  • Surface plasmon-enhanced fluorescence measuring apparatus
    Patent number: 9255883
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus having a beam geometry changing device that changes the beam geometry of excitation light, and a control device that controls the beam geometry changing device, with favorable precision, which the apparatus performs a resonance angle scan and to detect a target material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Masataka Matsuo, Yukito Nakamura, Naoki Hikage
  • Envelope and procurement stand for placental transport and stem cell collection
    Patent number: 9168030
    Abstract: A device for the transport of a placenta and a stand for the collection of stem cells from the placenta. The placental transport device comprising a cylindrical top portion and a cylindrical bottom portion together defining a placental storage region, with a hinge coupling the portions such that the placenta is enclosed inside the placental storage region when the cylindrical top and bottom portions are in a closed configuration. The stand comprising a base with a recess adapted to hold a placenta during stem cell collection solution loading, an upright back support, and an upper platform with a recess adapted to hold the placenta during collection of stem cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventor: Robert A. Dracker
  • Sample rack handling unit
    Patent number: 9156630
    Abstract: A sample rack handling unit comprising an onload section for loading sample racks holding a sample container is presented. The onload section comprises an onload edge and a receiving area with an onload rail longitudinally on the receiving area parallel to the onload edge. The onload rail engages a recess on the rack bottom such that the rack longitudinally slides on the receiving area along the onload rail when the rack is engaged. The onload rail has a base portion and a protrusion extending from the base portion. The protrusion faces the onload edge and the base portion comprises an inclined onload rail side opposite the onload edge such that the recess engages the onload rail when the rack is loaded on the receiving area from the onload edge transversely to the onload rail and the recess disengages the onload rail by sliding the rack towards the onload edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Holger Behnk, Joerg Burmester
  • Surface plasmon-mediated energy transfer of electrically-pumped excitons
    Patent number: 9114981
    Abstract: An electrically pumped light emitting device emits a light when powered by a power source. The light emitting device includes a first electrode, a second electrode including an outer surface, and at least one active organic semiconductor disposed between the first and second electrodes. The device also includes a dye adjacent the outer surface of the second electrode such that the second electrode is disposed between the dye and the active organic semiconductor. A voltage applied by the power source across the first and second electrodes causes energy to couple from decaying dipoles into surface plasmon polariton modes, which then evanescently couple to the dye to cause the light to be emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of Michigan
    Inventors: Kwang Hyup An, Max Shtein, Kevin P. Pipe
  • Apparatus, system and method for mixing and dispensing dental impression materials
    Patent number: 9089381
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for mixing and dispensing dental impression materials is described. A dental impression material mixing machine comprises a water dispenser fluidly coupled to a hollow mixing axle, the mixing axle extending through a pulley, wherein an inner circumference of the hollow mixing axle forms a water conduit and an outer circumference of the hollow mixing axle forms a hub connector, a closeable valve inserted at a water entrance to the water conduit and electronically coupled to a water pump, an electronically commutated motor rotateably coupled to the pulley, wherein the hub connector receives a tubular rotatable hub of a disposable mixing vessel comprising dry dental impression powder, and wherein water is dispensed from the water dispenser into the disposable mixing vessel through the water conduit and hub orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Inventor: Bradford D. Overton
  • Compact wide-field fluorescent imaging on a mobile device
    Patent number: 9057702
    Abstract: Wide-field fluorescent imaging on a mobile device having a camera is accomplished with a compact, light-weight and inexpensive optical components that are mechanically secured to the mobile device in a removable housing. Battery powered light-emitting diodes (LEDs) contained in the housing pump the sample of interest from the side using butt-coupling, where the pump light is guided within the sample holder to uniformly excite the specimen. The fluorescent emission from the sample is then imaged using an additional lens that is positioned adjacent to the existing lens of the mobile device. A color filter is sufficient to create the dark-field background required for fluorescent imaging, without the need for expensive thin-film interference filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Aydogan Ozcan, Hongying Zhu
  • Chemical sensor using metal nano-particles and method for manufacturing chemical sensor using metal nano-particles
    Patent number: 9034275
    Abstract: A chemical sensor using metal nano-particles and a method for manufacturing a chemical sensor using metal nano-particles are provided. The chemical sensor includes: metal nano-particles; single-ligand organic molecules (or a single molecule) that binds to the metal nano-particles by using a metal bonding functional group; a substrate bonding functional group formed at the metal nano-particles and the single-ligand organic molecules as bound to each other; a substrate; electrodes formed on the substrate and having an interdigitate (IDT) structure; and a substrate functional group formed on the substrate and positioned between the electrodes, wherein the substrate bonding functional group and the substrate functional group are covalently bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Myung Lae Lee, Young Jun Kim, Sung Hae Jung, Ho Jun Ryu, Jong Moo Lee
  • Polyaniline nanofiber hydrogen sensors
    Patent number: 9034266
    Abstract: A method for sensing hydrogen includes the use of a transduction device with a sensing layer, and means for measuring a mass and/or conductivity change caused by an interaction of a gas with the sensing layer to provide a measure of an amount of hydrogen in the gas. The sensing layer includes polyaniline nanofiber material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: The Aerospace Corporation, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Shabnam Virji, Richard B. Kaner, Bruce H. Weiller
  • Cell made of polymers for spectra measurement and method for producing the same
    Patent number: 9028770
    Abstract: This invention provides a cell made of polymers for spectra measurement while inhibiting a decrease in a molecular weight of resin caused by discharge treatment and having a stable hydrophilic modified surface. The hydrophilic resin cell is prepared by providing a polymeric resin cell between the two opposing electrodes, applying an electric field to a region between the above opposing electrodes under a nitrogen atmosphere with a pressure close to the atmospheric pressure to generate an electric discharge, and exposing the cell subjected to discharge treatment with a gas including oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Taniguchi, Yukimune Takahashi, Takashi Inoue, Hiroaki Ishizawa
  • Adapter for hand-held electronic devices for use in detecting optical properties of samples
    Patent number: 9023295
    Abstract: An adapter for use with a hand-held electronic device for use in detecting the optical properties of a sample. The adapter includes a backing plate having an integral surface that secures the adapter to the electronic device. The adapter also includes a sample housing having a sample holder and a cap. The sample holder is configured to receive the placement of a sample and/or a sample vessel. The backing plate includes an orifice that allows the passage of light from the sample to the detector of the electronic device. The backing plate may also include another orifice that allows for light emitted from an emitter of the electronic device to enter into the sample holder. The sample holder may also include reflective surfaces that direct light to/from the sample as well as filters that filter the wavelength of light sent to sample and/or detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Promega Corporation
    Inventors: Rob Chumanov, Julia Krueger, Steve Krueger, Sydnor T. Withers, III
  • Apparatus, system and method for mixing and dispensing dental impression materials
    Patent number: 9010993
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for mixing and dispensing dental impression materials is described. A dental impression material mixing machine comprises a water dispenser fluidly coupled to a hollow mixing axle, the mixing axle extending through a pulley, wherein an inner circumference of the hollow mixing axle forms a water conduit and an outer circumference of the hollow mixing axle forms a hub connector, a closeable valve inserted at a water entrance to the water conduit and electronically coupled to a water pump, an electronically commutated motor rotatably coupled to the pulley, wherein the hub connector receives a tubular rotatable hub of a disposable mixing vessel comprising dry dental impression powder, and wherein water is dispensed from the water dispenser into the disposable mixing vessel through the water conduit and hub orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Bradford D. Overton
  • Method and apparatus for coding diagnostic meters
    Patent number: 8940246
    Abstract: A system for diagnostic testing may include a meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to a test media, the meter having a housing and an interface for receiving a signal representing coding information, and a container configured to contain test media compatible with the meter, the container having a coding element associated therewith. Additionally, the system may provide a mechanism for removing the meter from an interconnected test container and reattaching it to a new container using on-container coding methods that can recalibrate the meter for the new container of test strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Nipro Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary T. Neel, Brent E. Modzelewski, George R. Rounds, Carlos Oti, Allan Javier Caban, Jeffrey Akins
  • Optical sensor of bio-molecules using thin-film interferometer
    Patent number: 8940238
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an assembly for use in detecting an analyte in a sample based on thin-film spectral interference. The assembly comprises a waveguide, a monolithic substrate optically coupled to the waveguide, and a thin-film layer directly bonded to the sensing side of the monolithic substrate. The refractive index of the monolithic substrate is higher than the refractive index of the transparent material of the thin-film layer. A spectral interference between the light reflected into the waveguide from a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface varies as analyte molecules in a sample bind to the analyte binding molecules coated on the thin-film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Access Medical Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong Tan, Yushan Tan, Erhua Cao, Ming Xia, Robert F. Zuk
  • Sample analyzer and sample processing apparatus
    Patent number: 8936752
    Abstract: A sample analyzer is disclosed. The sample analyzer comprises: a reader for reading ID of a sample from a sample container; an aspirator that aspirates a sample in a sample container; an analyzing section that analyzes the aspirated sample; a manual input receiver for receiving a manual input of an ID of a sample; an start instruction receiver for receiving a start instruction to cause the aspirator to aspirate a sample; and a controller. When receiving the start instruction without receiving the manual input, the controller controls the reader to read an ID from a sample container and then controls the aspirator to aspirate the sample from the sample container. When receiving the start instruction after receiving the manual input, the controller controls the aspirator to aspirate a sample without reading of an ID of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventor: Keisuke Kuwano