Patents Examined by Sam P. Siefke
  • Patent number: 8821809
    Abstract: A test strip reader for reading a test result of a test strip plate or cassette is provided. The test strip plate or cassette includes a test strip and is configured for generating a control line or a test line in the test strip according to the test result. The test strip plate or cassette reader includes a light source, a driver configured for driving the light source to emit light to a section of the test strip corresponding to the control line or the test line, a photo detector configured for receiving light reflected from the section and generating a detecting signal corresponding to the test result, a signal processor configured for processing the detecting signal to obtain the test result and generating a corresponding result signal, and a display configured to display the test result based upon the result signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Yonglin Healthcare Foundation
    Inventor: Jiann-Hua Wang
  • Patent number: 8808640
    Abstract: A biological substrate, e.g., microfluidic chip. The substrate includes a rigid substrate material, which has a surface region capable of acting as a handle substrate. The substrate also has a deformable fluid layer coupled to the surface region. One or more well regions are formed in a first portion of the deformable fluid layer and are capable of holding a fluid therein. The one or more channel regions are formed in a second portion of the deformable fluid layer and are coupled to one or more of the well regions. An active region is formed in the deformable fluid layer. At least three fiducial markings are formed within the non-active region and disposed in a spatial manner associated with at least one of the well regions. A control layer is coupled to the fluid layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Fluidigm Corporation
    Inventors: Emerson Chueng Quan, Colin Jon Taylor, Michael Lee, Christopher Ceasar, Greg Harris, Gang Sun
  • Patent number: 8802036
    Abstract: A reaction cassette for biochemical assay, a biochemical assay device including a first space configured to accommodate liquid, having a first opening and rounding edges, a direction of the first opening being directed upward. A second space includes a second opening, a direction of the second opening being perpendicular to the direction of the first opening, wherein the first space and the second space are disposed such that when the reaction cassette is rotated allowing the liquid to drain into the second space. A third space is located below the first space and having a third opening, a direction of the third opening being upward such that when the reaction cassette is reversibly rotated allowing the liquid to drain into the third space, wherein an array of bumps is disposed in the third space to create turbulence of the liquid. An inner partition wall, connected with the second opening and the third opening, acts as a liquid flow channel between the second space and the third space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Apex Biotechnology Corp.
    Inventors: Sz-Hau Chen, Yueh-Hui Lin, Chun-Ju Chen
  • Patent number: 8796038
    Abstract: Tissue orientation devices include a perforated tissue support with at least one perforated channel for receiving a tissue sample, and a plurality of tabs configured to extend along and into the channel to retain the tissue sample during processing and embedding. Tissue orientation devices include elongated legs coupled together for holding one or more biopsy tissue samples therebetween. Associated methods include using the cassettes and orientation devices to hold and orient tissue samples for processing, embedding and microtome sectioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: Biopath Automation, L.L.C., Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Warren P. Williamson, IV, Stephen P. Whitlatch, Carlos A. Saez
  • Patent number: 8771607
    Abstract: A drug test device for bodily fluids, such as urine, includes a cup and a removable lid which houses one or more test strips. The lid is releasably locked onto the cup so as to align dipping ends of the test strips exposed through an underside of the lid with a position stabilizer, thereby causing the dipping ends to be located downwardly and submerged in fluid when the device is placed on its side in a reactive position. The position stabilizer may comprise a sidewall indentation that reduces the internal volume of the cup and keeps the cup from rolling when placed on its side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventors: Raphael Wong, Kerkong Tung, Wen Li
  • Patent number: 8772045
    Abstract: The present method and system may be used for detecting the presence of explosive elements. A sample element may be used to swipe an object for a test sample. The sample element may be positioned in a sample holder of a testing device having a heater. The heater may be programmed to heat the sample element and sample in a controlled manner through two temperature increases from approximately 35 degrees to 165 degrees centigrade in approximately 20 seconds. Prior to each temperature increase a first and second reagent fluid is applied to the sample holder, and during the temperature rise the sample holder is observed for the presence of various explosive elements by detecting colors as compared to a color chart. The color observations may be based on time and temperature variations using a testing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Haas
  • Patent number: 8765059
    Abstract: A measurement module for glucose testing includes a glucose testing measurement module housing, a test strip receptacle formed in the housing, and a connector portion formed in the housing and shaped to permit mechanical removable attachment of the housing to a hand-held computer. Electronics determine the amount of glucose present in a sample of body fluid, when the test strip is positioned in the receptacle and the body fluid is placed on a test strip, and communicate the glucose amount to the hand-held computer via the connector portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Drucker, Charles T. Liamos, Fredric C. Colman, Mark Lortz, Kelley Lipman, Feng Jiang, Henrik Bacho
  • Patent number: 8741229
    Abstract: The present invention is to present a sample analyzer, comprising: a reagent holder for holding a first and a second reagents; a display; a display controller for controlling the display so as to display a display screen including a first information displaying region for displaying one of a plurality of reagent information regarding the first reagent and a second information displaying region for displaying one of a plurality of reagent information regarding the second reagent; and a display switch receiver for receiving a display switch instruction of reagent information displayed in each of the first and second information displaying regions, wherein the display controller switches a first reagent information displayed in the first information displaying region to a second reagent information and switches a third reagent information displayed in the second information displaying region to a fourth reagent information, when the display switch receiver has received the display switch instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventor: Keitarou Kondou
  • Patent number: 8741218
    Abstract: An analytic method uses a labeled antigen, labeled antibody, tracer, etc. in which a radio isotope, fluorescent dye, luminescent dye, enzyme, etc. is bonded to an antibody or an antigen bonded to a protein as an object of analysis for performing an assay of a trace amount of a substance such as a hormone, tumor marker, infective pathogen marker, infective antibody, etc., for blood, serum, plasma, or body fluid as a sample or specimen. The analysis is enabled at high sensitivity, with less generation of noises and at low background. When an assay is performed based on the antigen-antibody reaction for a sample in an analytic method by fluorometry or luminometry, detection or measurement of non-specific fluorescence or luminescence such as interference light is eliminated or removed effectively irrespective of the property of the sample or the level of the concentration of substances contained in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michihiro Saito
  • Patent number: 8728407
    Abstract: A holding device disposed in a bio-detecting instrument for holding a test strip is provided, wherein the holding device comprises a first casing, a second casing, an ejecting member, and an elastic member. The second casing is assembled with the first casing to form an accommodating space, wherein the sensing terminals are extended into the accommodating space. The ejecting member comprises a push rod configured to be reciprocated in the accommodating space. The elastic member is configured to be compressed by driving the ejecting member to an ejecting position, where the push rod enters the accommodating space and is adapted to push the test strip outward without being contact with the sensing terminals, and the elastic member is configured to be released by drawing the push rod back from the accommodating space to an initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Apex Biotechnology Corp.
    Inventors: Ming-Chang Hsu, Ming-Hsin Chuang, Mon-Wen Yang, Thomas Y. S. Shen
  • Patent number: 8721989
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for measuring blood oxygen saturation, comprising a housing (1), a sensor (2), a connecting cable (3) and a plug (4), wherein the housing (1) has a cavity (5) for accepting a patient's tissue which is supplied with blood; the sensor (2) which is arranged on the housing and has at least one light source (21) for the emission of light which passes through the tissue which is supplied with blood and a detector (22) for receiving the light passing through the tissue which is supplied with blood; and the apparatus can be connected to an evaluation unit via the plug (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: EnviteC-Wismar GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Eckermann, Thomas Scholl
  • Patent number: 8721988
    Abstract: The invention provides a device including a chamber wherein the chamber including a rigid enclosure; a rigid lid for the enclosure; a gasket between the lid and the enclosure to allow for an airtight seal between the enclosure and the gasket upon closure of a latch connecting the enclosure and the lid; a port for airtight attachment of a syringe, and a port for airtight insertion of a gas sensor. The device can further include a gas sensor and one or more syringes for attachment to the device by a three-way stopcocks. The device is appropriately sized for use with the subject of interest. The invention also provides methods for use of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventor: Charles P. Venditti
  • Patent number: 8721967
    Abstract: Apparatus (2) for testing a liquid specimen, which apparatus (2) comprises a container (4) for the liquid specimen, a response chart (6) which is operable in response to contact with the liquid specimen, and a result chart (8) for use with the response chart (6), and the apparatus (2) being such that: (i) the container (4) comprises a body portion (10), a lid (12), a test chamber (14), and openable means (16) which is adapted to be broken in order to allow the liquid specimen to pass from the body portion (10) into the test chamber (14); (ii) the response chart (6) comprises response portions (18) which are contacted by the liquid specimen, which become differently colored to indicate different characteristics present in the liquid specimen, and which are read at predetermined time intervals; (iii) the result chart (8) comprises result sectors (22), each result sector (22) is for indicating the result of a different test for the liquid specimen, and each result sector (22) has a plurality of differently color
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Berger Blackwell Devices Limited
    Inventors: Oliver Blackwell, David William Berger
  • Patent number: 8721964
    Abstract: An animal blood cell measuring apparatus comprising: a specimen preparation section for preparing a measurement specimen from blood of an animal; a characteristic information obtaining section for obtaining characteristic information indicating a characteristic of the measurement specimen, from the measurement specimen prepared by the specimen preparation section; and a controller configured for performing operations comprising: (a) classifying aggregate reticulocytes contained in the blood from other blood cells, based on the characteristic information obtained by the characteristic information obtaining section; and (b) outputting information regarding a number of the classified aggregate reticulocytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Nakamura, Hideki Hirayama, Hideaki Matsumoto, Keiko Moriyama
  • Patent number: 8709346
    Abstract: An analysis device includes a separation chamber, a holding channel, a mixing chamber connected to the holding channel, an overflow channel connected between the holding channel and the separation chamber, a sample overflow chamber into which a sample solution remaining in the separation chamber is discharged, and a joint channel connecting the separation chamber and the sample overflow chamber. After the separated solution component fills the overflow channel with priority, a separated solid component is transferred to the holding channel via the overflow channel, and a predetermined amount of the solid component is measured. The solid component in the holding channel is transferred to the mixing chamber by a centrifugal force, and simultaneously, the sample solution remaining in the separation chamber is discharged to the sample overflow chamber by the siphon effect of the joint channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Saiki, Masanori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8703060
    Abstract: A catalyst-testing apparatus includes a heater, a U-shaped reactor, a gas flow controller, a liquid flow controller, two pressure gauges, a separator and a chromatograph. In use, under control of the gas flow controller, natural gas and air are directed to the U-shaped reactor. Under control of the liquid flow controller, pure water is directed to the U-shaped reactor. The pure water travels down the wall of the U-shaped reactor. The pure water is heated and turned into steam in a front section of the U-shaped reactor. Together with the natural gas and the air, the steam is directed to a catalyst zone in the U-shaped reactor for reaction. With the chromatograph, volumes and compositions of resultant gases are analyzed. Thus, the stability of the performance of the catalyst is tested, and the performance of the catalyst for producing hydrogen by is revealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Atomic Energy Council
    Inventors: Ning-Yih Hsu, Chun Ching Chien, Chao Yu
  • Patent number: 8685341
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for reducing the number of input/output connections required to connect a microfluidic substrate to an external controller for controlling the substrate. For example, provided herein is a device with three groups of independently controllable components, where the first group includes a first lead and a first heater configured to heat a valve; where the second group includes a second lead and a second heater configured to heat a reaction chamber; where the third group includes a third lead and the first and second heaters; and where the first heater is independently controllable via a combination of the first lead and the third lead, and the second heater is independently controllable via a combination of the second lead and the third lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: HandyLab, Inc.
    Inventor: Karthik Ganesan
  • Patent number: 8679405
    Abstract: Rotatable bomb device includes a housing with a hollow interior for receipt of a rotatable component to a vessel, and support for the component in the interior; and the component for such receipt and support in the housing. The device may be employed as a reactor or in test methods, for example, methods such as oxygen uptake tests analogous or equivalent to the ASTM-D-2272 and ASTM-D-4742 test methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Tannas Company
    Inventors: James F. Secrist, Robert J. Hite, Jr., Gregory C. Miiller, Theodore W. Selby, William A. Atkins
  • Patent number: 8673651
    Abstract: A package for holding and disguising a chromatographic test of food and drink is formed in the shape of a drinking straw or stirrer. The package encloses test patches which are sensitive to particular drugs and produce a color change upon contact with the drug. The package has a view port or slit to observe the condition of the test strip upon contact with food and drink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: GelTech Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Cordani, Anne Cordani
  • Patent number: 8659825
    Abstract: An apparatus adapted to a microscope includes a body, a revolvable structure, a stage and a driving device. The body has a slot for holding a liquid to form a horizontally level surface of the liquid. The revolvable structure partially accommodated within the slot and pivotally connected to the body is revolvable relative to the body about a horizontal axis and is for supporting a sample, which is immersed in the liquid. The revolvable structure penetrates through the body in a horizontal direction substantially parallel to the horizontal axis and is pivotally engaged to the body through a sealing ring, which makes the liquid be held in the slot and stops the liquid from leaking in the horizontal direction. The stage supports the body. The driving device is disposed on the stage and connected to the revolvable structure to revolve the revolvable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Chien-Chung Fu, Hsiu-Ming Chang, Ann-Shyn Chiang