Patents Examined by Sam Siefke
  • Patent number: 7914735
    Abstract: A detection system includes a detection device and an anti-evaporation device. The detection device comprises a region configured to merge at least two small drops and to detect a potential transient signal generated by the merger of the drops. The an anti-evaporation is configured to enclose the region and limit evaporation from the region. A method for detecting a signal includes the following steps: depositing drops of potentially reactive chemical solutions on a detection device within a drop-merging region; placing an anti-evaporation device over the drop-merging region to form a seal around the drop-merging region; merging the drops of potentially reactive chemical solutions; and measuring a signal occurring within the merged solution drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Francisco E. Torres, Michael Chabinyc, Scott Elrod, Eric Peeters, Gregory B. Anderson, Alan G. Bell, Richard H. Bruce
  • Patent number: 7871574
    Abstract: A flask for preparing a fixer-based cytological suspension is equipped with a filtering element (4) at least partly immersed in the suspension. The filtering element is in the form of a basket-forming filtering material web, whereof the periphery (5) is fixed on the flask and whereof the center (6) is connected to a tube (7), extending towards the opening (2) of the flask, associated with a position-maintaining element (8) in the flask and adapted to allow through a pipette for drawing the suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Maclip
    Inventor: Eric Peltier
  • Patent number: 7867445
    Abstract: An explosives tester that can be used anywhere as a screening tool by non-technical personnel to determine whether a surface contains explosives. First and second explosives detecting reagent holders and dispensers are provided. A heater is provided for receiving the first and second explosives detecting reagent holders and dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Haas, Douglas E. Howard, Joel D. Eckels, Peter J. Nunes
  • Patent number: 7858035
    Abstract: A cleaning system and method for in-process sensors wherein a scouring jet discharges process fluid as the cleaning agent to remove solids and other contaminants from the surface of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: James Timothy Cronin, Thomas Shields Elkins, Lisa Edith Helberg, Angela Ruth Strzelecki
  • Patent number: 7850909
    Abstract: An analyzing tool (Y) has a liquid-introducing opening (61), one or more flow passages (51) through which a sample liquid introduced from the liquid-introducing opening (61) is moved, and a separation film (8) for filtrating the sample liquid supplied to the liquid-introducing opening (61) and then introducing the liquid filtrated to the one or more flow passages (51). The analyzing tool (Y) is structured such that a liquid sample is filtrated by being advanced in the thickness direction of the separation film (8). The flow passage (51) is structured such that the sample liquid is moved by, for example, a capillary phenomenon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc.
    Inventors: Takayuki Taguchi, Shigeru Kitamura, Yuichiro Noda
  • Patent number: 7842511
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the a new protecting group, 4-(O-nitrophthalimido)butyric acid (NPB) that may be attached to a monomer unit during oligosaccharide synthesis such that upon cleavage of this molecule, the solution turns orange. The orange color allows the simple colorimetric monitoring of the completion of the cleavage reaction and, upon collection of the colored fraction, quantification of the amount of the monomer unit that was successfully coupled to the solid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicola Lucia Pohl, Kwang-Seuk Ko
  • Patent number: 7833801
    Abstract: A sensor device and method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid solution are disclosed. The sensor device system can comprise a substrate and an array of free-standing nanowires attached to the substrate. The array can include individual free-standing nanowires wherein each of the individual free-standing nanowires have a first end and a second end. The first end can, in some embodiments, be attached to the substrate and the second end unattached to the substrate. Such individual free-standing nanowires are configured for electrical communication with other individual free-standing nanowires through the first end. A chip or computer can be electrically coupled to the array of free-standing nanowires for receiving electrical information from the array of free-standing nanowires. In some embodiments a power source can be used to send current through the nanowire array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: James Stasiak, Paul H. McClelland, David E. Hackleman, Grant Pease, R. Stanley Williams, Kevin Peters
  • Patent number: 6827902
    Abstract: A biochemical analyzer for automatically analyzing components of a specimen, in which a specimen rack conveying part, a specimen introducing part, and a specimen storage part are arranged, independent from one another. The specimen introducing part, the analyzing part and the specimen storage part are coupled to one another along the longitudinal direction of the specimen conveying part. The heights of these three parts measured from the floor are from 850 to 950 mm, their depths are from 750 to 800 mm and their widths are multiples of the dimension of the specimen rack. A uniform appearance is achieved by having standardized dimensions. Also a low height provides better viewing and a lighter environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kuriyama, Atsushi Katayama, Hiroshi Mitsumaki, Peter Hohmann
  • Patent number: 6818112
    Abstract: The present method provides methods and apparatus for separating proteins using a series of electrophoretic methods that utilize controlled fractionation and labeling techniques to resolve mixtures of proteins. The samples for each electrophoretic method other than the initial method, contain only a subset of proteins resolved in the preceding method. The methods can be used in a variety of different applications including, creating proteomic databases, comparative expression studies, diagnostics, structure activity relationships and metabolic engineering investigations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Target Discovery, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke V. Schneider, Michael P. Hall, Robert Petesch
  • Patent number: 6579498
    Abstract: An implanted sensing device (1) for monitoring an analyte (e.g. blood-glucose) includes a non-toxic macromolecular material (2) encapsulated within an envelope (3) of bio-compatible semi-permeable membrane. A sensor (4) responds to change of a physical property (e.g. viscosity) of the material (2) when the analyte contacts the material (2), to signal the change to a measurement circuit (5) that together with the sensor (4) and a transponder (6) are included within the envelope (3). The transponder (6) is interrogated externally of the implanted sensor (1) by an interrogation unit (7) to transmit measurement data for processing and storage. The interrogation signal is utilized within the device (1) to power the circuit (5) and transponder (6) and conveys data to the device for re-calibration or resetting of signal-datum values to compensate for aging or drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventor: David Eglise
  • Patent number: 6485981
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for imaging and documenting fingerprints. A fluorescent dye brought in intimate proximity with the lipid residues of a latent fingerprint is caused to fluoresce on exposure to light energy. The resulting fluorescing image may be recorded photographically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Ciencia, Inc.
    Inventor: Salvador M. Fernandez
  • Patent number: 6464938
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring the concentration of hydrogen in a gaseous mixture and in particular in the air constituting, for example, the atmosphere inside a closed premises. This device comprises a sensor in contact with a gaseous mixture, the sensor being linked to calculating and display function. The sensor comprises a catalyst capable of provoking an exothermic reaction with the hydrogen contained in the gaseous mixture, a conducting function fixed to the catalyst for transferring essentially by conduction the thermal energy release by the reaction from the catalyst to a cold point, a function for measuring the temperature T1 of the catalyst and the temperature T2 of the cold point being linked to the function for calculating the value of the molar concentration of hydrogen in a gaseous mixture from the temperature gradient measured T1-T2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Pierre Rongier, Thierry Bonhomme, Christian Perez
  • Patent number: 6464939
    Abstract: A saliva testing and confirmation device generally includes an expresser cup adapted to receive and compress a foam collection swab capable of absorbing a fluid specimen such as saliva. The device also includes a testing and confirmation platform integral with the expresser cup. A channel or groove in the cup is provided for directing a flow of expressed fluid from the expresser into both a test well and a confirmation well. A lateral flow reagent test strip, in fluid communication with the test well may be encased in the platform and partially revealed for analysis of test results. The confirmation well includes a fluid tight cap having a tamper evident seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Varian, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven S. Bachand, Geoffrey R. Anderson, Lawrence C. McPhee, Stephen K. Schultheis, Dennis D. Blevins, John A. Faux
  • Patent number: 6455003
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting chemicals in a fluid includes a preconcentrator tube connected to a bi-directional pump and to a detector. The preconcentrator tube contains a sorbent material in thermal contact with a heating element. The bi-directional pump pumps fluid in a first direction through the sorbent material, thereby causing some of the chemicals to accumulate on one side of the sorbent material. The bi-directional pump is reversed so as to pump fluid in a second opposite direction, thereby causing the accumulated chemicals to be carried to the detector. The sorbent material is heated while the bi-directional pump is reversed. Preferably, the detector is equipped with a separate pump that draws fluid to the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Femtometrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Fredrick Anvia, John A. Elton