Patents by Inventor Michael P. Allen

Michael P. Allen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5416000
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for carrying out assays with minimal technical training where quantitative visual determinations may be made. The devices provide for a flow-path where a sample receiving element is moved from a sample receiving position to a position where it serves to bridge a transport element and a measurement element, so that the sample may be transported from the sample element to the measurement region. Labelled conjugates are provided which migrate a distance into the measurement region related to the amount of analyte in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Chemtrak, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Allen, Prithipal Singh
  • Patent number: 5409664
    Abstract: A laminated assay device for use in determining the presence or amount of an analyte in a sample involving a bibulous assay strip having a sample application zone, a reagent zone and a pair of liquid impervious barriers defining a measurement zone extending from and in fluid communication with the application zone. The measurement zone has a volume measuring the amount of sample required for the assay. A substantially nonabsorbent first supporting film extends across and is laminated to the front surface of the assay strip, while a substantially nonabsorbent second supporting film extends across and is laminated to the back surface of the assay strip. The assay strip is impregnated with the members of a signal producing system which, upon reaction with a component in the sample, produce a detectable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Chemtrak, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Allen
  • Patent number: 5392521
    Abstract: A surveyor's retro-reflective device, such as a corner cube prism, is striped along the reflective surfaces to provide an internal visual center target. The precise center of the prism is identified by the visual target which allows the prism to be used both for distance measuring purposes as well as visual alignment for the one step setting of surveying points or locations. The corner cube prism has the ridges of the intersecting reflective surfaces on the back of the prism striped or lined either with a stripe having equal thickness or tapered towards the center apex of the prism. The stripes are formed with a highly visible paint, ink, tape, or sheet material. This arrangement produces a highly visible visual center target. The prism target can be mounted in an enclosed case and the case can be rigidly mounted or tiltably mounted on a horizontal axis to tilt the prism in a vertical direction for use in mountainous terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventor: Michael P. Allen
  • Patent number: 5340539
    Abstract: An assay for determining the cholesterol level in a sample involving a bibulous strip comprising a transfer region for transporting a transport medium from a transport medium source, a sample receiving region in fluid communication with the transfer region, and a measurement region in fluid communication with the sample receiving region, and a detectable signal reagent system comprising a catalytic agent or enzyme, unbound conversion reagent and bound reagent wherein the conversion reagent reacts with cholesterol to form an intermediate product and wherein the bound reagent reacts with the intermediate product in the presence of the catalytic agent or enzyme to produce a detectable border, in which the conversion reagent is placed in the transfer region of the strip or in a region of the strip between the sample receiving and measurement regions and the signal reagent is non-diffusively bound to the strip in the measurement region, and which upon contact with the sample and the transport medium results in the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: ChemTrak, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Allen, Henry J. Jeong
  • Patent number: 5264180
    Abstract: Non-instrumented assays are providing employing a flow-path with a moveable sample receiving pad, which moves from a sample receiving site to a bridging site between a transport element and a measurement region. A reagent transport solution is employed which comprises enzymes capable of reacting with the analyte to produce hydrogen peroxide, where horseradish peroxidase may catalyze a reaction resulting in the formation of a detectable boundary in the measurement region. The distance of the boundary is indicative of the amount of analyte in a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: ChemTrak, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Allen, Henry J. Jeong
  • Patent number: 5260221
    Abstract: A self-contained assay device is provided, where an analyte may be detected or be quantitated by measuring the distance of a detectable signal from a predetermined site. The device employs two strips separated by a gap, where a flow path is completed by movement of a sample receiving pad into the gap. The movement of the sample receiving pad also results in release of a reagent solution which is then transported through the pad into the quantitation area where the amount of analyte may be determined. Various chemistries may be employed for providing a detectable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Inventors: Urs A. Ramel, Michael P. Allen, Prithipal Singh
  • Patent number: 5215886
    Abstract: High density lipoprotein-cholesterol determination is made employing a device which allows for removal of red blood cells, measurement of sample volume, removal of LDL and VLDL, and quantitation of HDL-cholesterol on a quantitation strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Inventors: P. Jivan Patel, Michael P. Allen, Prithipal Singh
  • Patent number: 5204063
    Abstract: Improved self-contained automated assay devices are provided which allow for reliable release of eluent solution upon opening of a pouch with scoring teeth, so that the solution is transferred to a well for carrying out the assay. The improvements comprise using a bibulous member which is moved into the pouch to initiate eluent solution transport or providing for a sudden shock to the solution to initiate flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Chemtrak, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Allen
  • Patent number: 5155025
    Abstract: Hydrogen peroxide stabilized in the presence of blood components by the addition of a metal oxide oxidant, an anionic chelating agent, particularly hydroxylic carboxylate and nitroprusside, and a catalase inhibitor. The composition finds particular application for stabilizing hydrogen peroxide in a diagnostic assay on a bibulous support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: ChemTrak
    Inventors: Michael P. Allen, Sheng-Fen Li
  • Patent number: 5132086
    Abstract: An assay for determining the cholesterol level in a sample involving a bibulous strip comprising a transfer region for transporting a transport medium from a transport medium source, a sample receiving region in fluid communication with said transfer region, and a measurement region in fluid communication with said sample receiving region, and a detectable signal reagent system comprising unbound conversion reagent and bound reagent wherein said conversion reagent reacts with cholesterol to form an intermediate product and wherein said bound reagent reacts with said intermediate product to produce a detectable border, in which the conversion reagent is placed in the transfer region of the strip or in a region of the strip between the sample receiving and measurement regions and the signal reagent is non-diffusively bound to the strip in the measurement region, and which upon contact with the sample and the transport medium results in the production of a detectable border in the measurement region which is rel
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: ChemTrak Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Allen, Henry J. Jeong
  • Patent number: 4999287
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for measuring an analyte without instrumentation. The device employs a stripstick which may include as its components, a discontinuous flow path, which is made continuous after transfer of the sample, means for automatically metering the volume of a sample, and means for providing a sharply delineated color front. The method finds particular use where a limited amount of substrate is provided for an enzyme on a sample pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Chemtrak Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Allen, Robert B. Shibuya
  • Patent number: 4987085
    Abstract: Constructions are provided for removing interfering red blood cells from a blood sample and providing a measured amount of serum or plasma to a pad. The pad serves as a bridge for the transfer of reagent between two bibulous strips, resulting in transfer of reagent solution through the pad and transport of a material to be measured to the measuring region of the strips. Particularly, glass fiber membranes are used in conjunction with cellulosic membranes to minimize red blood cell lysis, remove red blood cells and provide a measured amount of sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Chemtrak Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Allen, Urs A. Ramel, Anthony J. DeLizza
  • Patent number: 4959324
    Abstract: A self-contained assay device is provided, where an analyte may be detected or be quantitated by measuring the distance of a detectable signal from a predetermined site. The device employs two strips separated by a gap, where a flow path is completed by movement of a sample receiving pad into the gap. The movement of the sample receiving pad also results in release of a reagent solution which is then transported through the pad into the quantitation area where the amount of analyte may be determined. Various chemistries may be employed for providing a detectable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: ChemTrak, Inc.
    Inventors: Urs A. Ramel, Michael P. Allen, Prithipal Singh
  • Patent number: D356503
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Aladdin Synergetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan H. Mueller, Michael P. Allen