Patents Examined by Ronald E. Serwin
  • Patent number: 4382910
    Abstract: A cyclical and automatable process and apparatus for continuously removing undesired components from solid particles by means of a solvent, the process including maintaining an expanded bed of solid particles in a vertical column, supplying a suitable solvent to the bed to flow through the bed either upwardly or downwardly in a selectably alternating manner, supplying solid particles to the top of the column while the solvent flows upwardly therethrough and interrupting the supply of solid particles and removing a bottom portion of the bed by the solvent when it flows downwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: Gesellschaft zur Forderund der Forschung an der Eidgenossischen Technischen Hochschule
    Inventor: Bernard Stofer
  • Patent number: 4360360
    Abstract: A centrifugal analyzer and method for performing chemical reaction measurements. A cuvette ring (60) is positioned on a rotor (36) encircling a shaft (40). A carrier member (62) defining a central aperture (92) is positioned within the central opening of the cuvette ring (60). The carrier member (62) defines a plurality of slots (100), each of which receives a disposable container-like insert (130). The inserts (130) may carry a precoating of an agent for use in an in vitro diagnostic test. Each insert has a slot (136) for enabling centrifugal transfer of the liquid in the insert through the slot, through the aperture (122) defined by the peripheral wall of the carrier member (62), and into a respective cuvette cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven G. Chiknas
  • Patent number: 4357301
    Abstract: The reaction cuvette adapted to receive a liquid dispensing probe and having at least one surface of hydrophilic material which is treated or formed to have inwardly extending projections against which the liquid is dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Assignee: Technicon Instruments Corp.
    Inventors: Michael M. Cassaday, Herman G. Diebler, Dario Svenjak, Kenneth F. Uffenheimer
  • Patent number: 4356150
    Abstract: A conductivity type thin film humidity sensor on a silicon chip which sensor includes structure which electrically shields the sensing area from highly dissociative contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1982
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Johnson, Thomas E. Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 4355113
    Abstract: An over the counter swab kit for self detection of gonorrhea in the male using saline ampul. A method wherein a pledget in the form of fibrous material is impregnated with a compound which reacts with Neisseria gonorrhea to produce a color change. The pledget, before the test, is in a dry condition and is activated by a wetting agent such as saline, when placed in contact with the pledget. The chemical compound used and incorporated into the pledget is selected from a group consisting of phenylenediamines. A sufficient amount of saline is held within a frangible ampul to wet the pledget and then to be drawn by capillary action through the swab on which a sample of exudate as a specimen is placed. The chemical compound is in the form of a mineral acid salt which dissolves in the saline and is transported by capillary action through the pledget into the swab. A purple color is created on the tip of the swab at the site of the bacteria and is a positive test for gonorrhea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Inventor: Frederick C. Mennen
  • Patent number: 4353867
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the determination of the concentration of certain chemical substances such as glucose, urea, enzymes, etc. in biological solutions such as blood, serum, urine, using a technique of differential pH measurement using two pH electrodes, and measuring pH changes in the solutions after the addition of specific reagents, the concentration being determined according to the formula[sample]=FCAL.times.(.DELTA.pH.sub.c -.DELTA.pH.sub.b -.DELTA.pH.sub.o)wherein [sample] is the concentration of the substance in the sample, FCAL is a calibration factor, .DELTA.pH.sub.c is the measured pH of the reacted sample, .DELTA.pH.sub.b is a pH correction for the reaction initiating compound, and .DELTA.pH.sub.o is a correction for background pH changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Inventor: Massimo Luzzana
  • Patent number: 4351798
    Abstract: An analyzing apparatus for measuring samples of a liquid has feeding means for feeding the samples contained in sample containers to a subsequent sample conduit, the feeding means having a substantially funnel shaped filling mouth serving for fastening sample containers of very different shapes, such as syringes, pipettes or capillary tubes, and the dimensions of the outlet opening thereof varying within wide limits. A cleaning device can be used, which has a washing body which during the cleaning operation, together with the funnel shaped filling mouth, defines an annular gap adapted to match the form of the filling mouth and is providable with a cleaning medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1982
    Assignee: Hans List
    Inventors: Hermann Marsoner, Helmut List, Erich Kleinhappl
  • Patent number: 4351801
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combustion apparatus for elementary analysis. Solid material samples contained in small tubes are introduced into the combustion apparatus by means of an automatic inserting device. The automatic inserting device is provided with an automatic loading device for the small tubes. In order to keep the dimensions of the combustion apparatus within reasonable limits and nevertheless to permit the largest possible quantities of sample material which are representative for the material to be investigated, the quartz tube serving to burn the sample material and extending through a main combustion zone is of circuitous shape, preferably in the form of a coil. For the purpose of burning liquid samples, use is made of a plug having a through bore, said plug serving to close the receiving aperture of the quartz tube. Said through bore is closed by means of a plastic material which is adapted to be penetrated by an injection needle serving to inject the liquid sample material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1982
    Assignee: Antek Instruments GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Bartke
  • Patent number: 4351800
    Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for rapidly transferring samples for analysis by thin layer chromatography from a sample container to the chromatography plate and in which a chromatography plate is supported in a housing through which drying air, preferably heated, passes over the working surface of the chromatography plate. A plurality of sample applicators are precisely positioned above the plate by means of a transverse mounting plate having a transverse array of holes through which the applicators are passed to engage the working surface of the plate, the applicators taking the form of an imperforate sleeve surrounding a porous core projecting from the end of the sleeve and sharpened to a point to minimize exposure, with the other end of the sleeve projecting beyond the inner end of the porous core to define a solvent reservoir which if desired can be packed with fiber wadding to control fluid flow and with the reservoir adapted to be closed by a sealing cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1982
    Assignee: Biochemical Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Reiner H. Kopp, Allen I. Panetz
  • Patent number: 4351799
    Abstract: A micrometering liquid sample dispenser for dispensing several sample liquids into a test tube comprises syringe samplers arranged on a stand and equal in number to the number of sample liquids, the syringe samplers being provided with pipes or hoses for conveying the metered sample liquids to the test tube, the stand being kinematically linked with a sample volume regulator. The apparatus is further provided with a control unit incorporating a sample volume and timing setter the outputs of which are connected to the sample volume regulator, to a drive for step-by-step rotation of the test tube tray and to a drive for reciprocating the ends of the sample liquid dispensing pipes. Each of the syringe samplers is provided with means for locking the piston rod thereof to effect a programmable liquid sample metering, the lock means being electrically connected with a corresponding output of the sample volume and timing setter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1982
    Inventors: Valery N. Gross, Evgeny V. Kozhanov, Vyacheslav D. Stupnik, Vladimir V. Valov
  • Patent number: 4350495
    Abstract: A chemiluminescence apparatus and method for determining polymer stability by measuring the intensity of the light emitted during thermal oxidation. The apparatus described in the invention measures the light intensity vs. time from polymers in an oxidative atmosphere. On the basis of this information, important parameters such as induction time and oxidation rate can be obtained. The apparatus has the advantage of simultaneous multi-sample analysis and the mathematical approach enables data computerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Broutman, Boris Rozhansky, Lev Zlatkevich
  • Patent number: 4349350
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the determination of uranium (VI) or dialkyl dithiophosphoric acid present in an organic solvent.In this process, a dialkyl dithiophosphoric acid or a uranium (VI) salt is added to the organic solvent so as to convert all the uranium or dialkyl dithiophosphoric acid present in said solvent into a mixed uranium (VI) - dialkyl dithiophosphoric acid-organophosphorus compound complex. The optical density of the solvent containing the complex in solution is measured so as to determine the concentration of this solvent in the complex, together with its uranium dialkyl dithiophosphoric acid content.Application to the determination of traces of uranium in tributylphosphate obtained from the reprocessing of irradiated fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1982
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Richard Fitoussi, Sylvie Lours, Claude Musikas
  • Patent number: 4349353
    Abstract: A method and composition for a determination of alkaline materials such as soap in fat are disclosed. In the disclosed method, a predetermined amount of a test solution containing a solvent and a dye is mixed with fat; the fat and test solution are allowed to separate into two phases; and the color developed in one of the phases is compared with a known standard to determine the amount of alkaline materials in the fat. A test solution and test kit for performing the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1982
    Assignee: Oil Process Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael M. Blumenthal, Jerry R. Stockler
  • Patent number: 4347215
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for coordinating the position of an injection syringe needle in a gas chromatographic apparatus with at least one other operation of the gas chromatographic apparatus downstream of the device. The device comprises a first channel for introducing the injection syringe. The first channel is substantially aligned with the injection channel of a gas chromatographic injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1982
    Assignee: Carlo Erba Strumentazione S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giorgio Sisti, Bruno Tosi, Sorin Trestianu
  • Patent number: 4346057
    Abstract: This invention is a device for increasing the rate of evaporation from tubes, usually test tubes, by the introduction of a partial vacuum or by using a stream of gas through needles which extend into the tubes. This invention is an improvement on U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,713. The improvement is to divide the device into two separate units which may either be used together or independently of each other. This allows the operator to run two different samples at one time or he may run one smaller sample without waste resulting from unused needles. Furthermore, the improvement provides for variations in the height of the needles above the substance to be evaporated. This increases the speed and efficiency of the evaporation. Finally the improvement allows the operator to use the device as a drying rack for small glassware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Inventor: Everett N. Bowser
  • Patent number: 4346056
    Abstract: An automatic analyzing apparatus comprising a plurality of reagent vessels adapted to be inserted into a reagent vessel holder and a detector for photoelectrically discriminating the reagent vessel holder in response to an analysis item necessary for examining an organic ability and the reagent vessels corresponding to different analysis items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Limited
    Inventor: Masahiko Sakurada
  • Patent number: 4344768
    Abstract: Pipettor apparatus for automatically and rapidly transferring accurate and precise multiple quantities of samples (e.g., blood serum) and reagent to the rotatable transfer disc of a centrifugal analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1982
    Assignee: Baker Instruments Corp.
    Inventors: Bernard Parker, Brian Parsonnet
  • Patent number: RE31108
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring progressively the absorbance changes of a large number of aliquots from a plurality of different samples. The sample introduction, testing instructions, aliquot preparation, reagent dispensing, absorbance measuring and data recording all can be accomplished in a continuous mode of processing. Stat and batch operation also can be accomplished. The aliquots are in an array of cuvettes which is advanced slowly along a circular path. Photometer means, preferably having several photometric detectors, are mounted in fixed orientation on a common support that advances rapidly along a similar circular path, such that radiation passing through each of the cuvettes is monitored many times by a specific photometric detector by the time that that cuvette completes one circuit of its path. The photometric detectors can operate at several different wavelengths. Many different chemical reactions can be monitored at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Assignee: Coulter Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Guenter Ginsberg, Thomas Horne, Robert L. Kreiselman
  • Patent number: RE31149
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring progressively the absorbance changes of a large number of aliquots from a plurality of different samples. The sample introduction, testing instructions, aliquot preparation, reagent dispensing, absorbance measuring and data recording all can be accomplished in a continuous mode of processing. Stat and batch operation also can be accomplished. The aliquots are in an array of cuvettes which is advanced slowly along a circular path. Photometer means, preferably having several photometric detectors, are mounted in fixed orientation on a common support that advances rapidly along a similar circular path, such that radiation passing through each of the cuvettes is monitored many times by a specific photometric detector by the time that that cuvette completes one circuit of its path. The photometric detectors can operate at several different wavelengths. Many different chemical reactions can be monitored at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Coulter Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Guenter Ginsberg, Thomas Horne, Robert L. Kreiselman
  • Patent number: RE31150
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring progressively the absorbance changes of a large number of aliquots from a plurality of different samples. The sample introduction, testing instructions, aliquot preparation, reagent dispensing, absorbance measuring and data recording all can be accomplished in a continuous mode of processing. Stat and batch operation also can be accomplished. The aliquots are in an array of cuvettes which is advanced slowly along a circular path. Photometer means, preferably having several photometric detectors, are mounted in fixed orientation on a common support that advances rapidly along a similar circular path, such that radiation passing through each of the cuvettes is monitored many times by a specific photometric detector by the time that cuvette completes one circuit of its path. The photometric detectors can operate at several different wavelengths. Many different chemical reactions can be monitored at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Coulter Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Guenter Ginsberg, Thomas Horne, Robert L. Kreiselman