Patents Examined by Nelson C Yang
  • Patent number: 8580559
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cartridge for analyzing a fluid sample. The cartridge provides for the efficient separation of cells or viruses in the sample from the remaining sample fluid, lysis of the cells or viruses to release the analyte (e.g., nucleic acid) therefrom, and optionally chemical reaction and/or detection of the analyte. The cartridge is useful in a variety of diagnostic, life science research, environmental, or forensic applications for determining the presence or absence of one or more analytes in a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Cepheid
    Inventors: Kurt E. Petersen, Michael T. Taylor, Farzad Pourahmadi, William A. McMillan, Ronald Chang, Stanley H. Sakai, Jesus Ching, Douglas B. Dority, Phillip Belgrader, M. Allen Northrup
  • Patent number: 8491493
    Abstract: A method and system for assessing the health status of a patient, such as the asthma status of a patient, provides an asthma status score and a confidence rating indicative of the score's reliability using continuous real-time data. In some embodiments, the assessment comprises a multidimensional analysis in which asthma status scores and respective confidence ratings are generated for multiple individual asthma health dimensions as well as a summary asthma health dimension indicative of overall asthma health. In some embodiments, the individual dimensions include an environmental trigger dimension based on sensor-based environmental data, a physiological burden dimension based on sensor-based physiological data, a medication adherence dimension based on patient diary data and a perceived symptom dimension based on patient diary data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nhedti Colquitt, Deepak Ayyagari
  • Patent number: 8486644
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for accurately imaging chemiluminescence and other luminescence are disclosed. A compact, flat-bed scanner having a light-tight enclosure, one or more detector bars of linear charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imaging chips, and high working numerical aperture (NA) optics scans closely over a sample in one direction and then the opposite direction. Averages or other combinations of intensity readings for each pixel location (x, y) between the two or more passes are averaged together in order to compensate for luminescence that varies over time. On-chip pixel binning and multiple clock frequencies can be used to maximize the signal to noise ratio in a CCD-based scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Li-Cor, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed Bouzid, Chris Lesiak, Daniel W. Konz, David L. Franzen, William Biggs, Jon P. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8361738
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for detection of a target in a sample and related devices and systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, University of Southern California
    Inventors: Emil P. Kartalov, Axel Scherer, Clive Taylor
  • Patent number: 8298606
    Abstract: The present invention provides materials and methods that can serve as a prosthetic and/or, for tissue engineer applications, as a supporting matrix in the stabilization of the myocardium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Kevin E. Healy, Samuel Thomas Wall, Mark Ratcliffe, Julius Guccione
  • Patent number: 8231541
    Abstract: A method and system for assessing the health status of a patient, such as the asthma status of a patient, provides an asthma status score and a confidence rating indicative of the score's reliability using continuous real-time data. In some embodiments, the assessment comprises a multidimensional analysis in which asthma status scores and respective confidence ratings are generated for multiple individual asthma health dimensions as well as a summary asthma health dimension indicative of overall asthma health. In some embodiments, the individual dimensions include an environmental trigger dimension based on sensor-based environmental data, a physiological burden dimension based on sensor-based physiological data, a medication adherence dimension based on patient diary data and a perceived symptom dimension based on patient diary data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nhedti Colquitt, Deepak Ayyagari
  • Patent number: 8183034
    Abstract: An apparatus for carbon dioxide-capture system has a cultivating vessel and at least one basking mechanism. The cultivating vessel has a reservoir for accommodating alga culture. The basking mechanism is mounted in the reservoir of the cultivating vessel and has multiple trays and a circulating mechanism. The trays are imbricately mounted on the basking mechanism with predetermined intervals and each has at least one spout formed at an overlap with an adjacent tray. The circulating mechanism is mounted between the trays and the reservoir. The alga culture is pumped into one tray by the circulating mechanism, flows through the spout into another tray, enhancing a rate of carbon fixation by alga.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Mei-Hua Huang
  • Patent number: 8021873
    Abstract: Methods and systems to perform point-of-care, user-initiated fluidic assays, using substantially self-contained, portable, user-initiated fluidic assay systems. Exemplary assays include diagnostic assays and chemical detection assays. Diagnostic assays may include, without limitation, enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assays (ELISA), and may include one or more sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnostic assays. An exemplary assay system includes a housing having one or more fluid chambers, a fluid controller system to dispense fluid from the one or more fluid chambers, and a user-initiated actuator to control the fluid controller system. The actuator may be configured to move fluid controllers from functionally closed positions to functionally open positions, to control fluid flow from the fluid chambers. The fluid controller system may be configured to dispense fluids serially, and may be configured to mix a plurality of fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Boston Microfluidics
    Inventors: Brandon T. Johnson, Tom Zappia, David A. Vogler
  • Patent number: 8012744
    Abstract: This invention is in the field of medical devices. Specifically, the present invention provides portable medical devices that allow real-time detection of analytes from a biological fluid. The methods and devices are particularly useful for providing point-of-care testing for a variety of medical applications. In particular, the medical device reduces interference with an optical signal which is indicative of the presence of an analyte in a bodily sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Theranos, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Gibbons, Michael O'Connell
  • Patent number: 8008067
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of imaging structures and features using plasmonic emissions from metallic surfaces caused by chemiluminescence based chemical and biological reactions wherein imaging of the reactions is enhanced by the use of microwave energy and further enhanced by using metallic geometric structures for spatially and temporally controlling the biological and chemical reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
    Inventors: Chris D. Geddes, Michael Previte
  • Patent number: 7879598
    Abstract: The invention relates to embodiments of an optical system for luminescence determination, comprising two or more excitation light sources, a sensor platform and an optical component with several discrete facets for beam deflection towards the sensor platform. Further subjects of the invention are methods for luminescence determination with an optical system according to the invention and analytical systems, as well as the use of these methods for quantitative affinity sensing and for various other applications. The aim of the present invention is to provide optical and analytical measuring devices for highly sensitive detection of one or more analytes, using a multitude of measurement areas on a common carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Bayer Technology Services GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Zesch, Martin Andreas Bopp, Michael Pawlak
  • Patent number: 7763453
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device comprising a pair of bellows pumps configured for efficient mixing at a microfluidic scale. By moving a fluid sample and particles in suspension through an aperture between the paired bellows pump mixing chambers, molecular collisions leading to binding between the particles and ligands in the sample are enhanced. Such devices provide an alternative for mixing that does not use a vent and can be used with a variety of particles in suspension such as magnetic beads to capture or purify useful cells and molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Micronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John Clemmens, C. Frederick Battrell, John Gerdes, Denise Maxine Hoekstra
  • Patent number: 7629181
    Abstract: Near-infrared molecular assays can be used to detect small quantities of a molecule of interest in vivo or in vitro using laser dyes. A hand-held portable device is provided which can rapidly read small quantities of selected molecular tags in tissues of fish or other animals in the field. The device is composed of four components: (1) a light source, such as a laser diode; (2) a sample holder; (3) an optical system; and (4) a detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Interior
    Inventors: John L. Sternick, William K. Krise
  • Patent number: 6673554
    Abstract: Intracellular translocation of proteins, particularly protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes, provides a surrogate test system for determining toxicity of candidate compounds. The profile of translocation with respect to at least one and preferably two or more signal transduction proteins can be correlated with that of known toxins. In addition, databases of such profiles with respect to toxins of various types provide a useful set of standards for evaluating toxicity of candidate compounds. Moreover, to the extent that a toxin's profile mimics that found in a diseased state, the toxin can be used to construct screens for compounds alleviating the disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Trellie Bioinformatics, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Kauvar