Patents Issued in January 17, 2017
  • Patent number: 9546961
    Abstract: The method of rapid identification of natural and synthetic diamonds using a third-order Raman spectra is to make a diamond third order under large-scale comparative studies with synthetic diamond (CVD & HPHT) to distinguish natural and synthetic diamonds with their differences in Raman peaks. This analysis of the differences in characteristic peak phenomenon can form the basis of a rapid identification and analytical technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventor: Dong-Shyogn Pan
  • Patent number: 9546962
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for inspecting or measuring a specimen. A system comprises an illumination channel for generating and deflecting a plurality of incident beams to form a plurality of spots that scan across a segmented line comprised of a plurality of scan portions of the specimen. The system also includes one or more detection channels for sensing light emanating from a specimen in response to the incident beams directed towards such specimen and collecting a detected image for each scan portion as each incident beam's spot is scanned over its scan portion. The one or more detection channels include at least one longitudinal side channel for longitudinally collecting a detected image for each scan portion as each incident beam's spot is scanned over its scan portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Jamie M. Sullivan, Ralph Johnson, Evegeny Churin, Wenjian Cai, Yong Mo Moon
  • Patent number: 9546963
    Abstract: An inspection device for painted surface with a base layer and a clear layer painted on the base layer of a vehicle includes a frame mounted to an arm of a robot, a line scan camera, a first light source lighting up at a predetermined angle is provided thereto, which is mounted to the frame, and the line scan camera which acquires first vision data through the regular reflection light from the painted surface using the light of the first light source, and a controller which receives the first vision data from the line scan camera and detects surface defect of the painted surface according to the first vision data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Digital Imaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Ki Hwang, Jinho Seok
  • Patent number: 9546964
    Abstract: A defect detection system for an extreme ultraviolet lithography mask comprises an extreme ultraviolet light source (1), extreme ultraviolet light transmission parts (2, 3), an extreme ultraviolet lithography mask (4), a photon sieve (6) and a collection (7) and analysis (8) system. Point light source beams emitted by the extreme ultraviolet light source (1) are focused on the extreme ultraviolet lithography mask (4) through the extreme ultraviolet light transmission parts (2, 3); the extreme ultraviolet lithography mask (4) emits scattered light and illuminates the photon sieve (6); and the photon sieve (6) forms a dark field image and transmits the same to the collection (7) and analysis (8) system. The defect detection system for the extreme ultraviolet photolithographic mask uses the photon sieve to replace a Schwarzchild objective, thereby realizing lower cost, relatively small size and high resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: THE INSTITUTE OF MICROELECTRONICS OF CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Hailiang Li, Changqing Xie, Ming Liu, Dongmei Li, Jiebin Niu, Lina Shi, Xiaoli Zhu
  • Patent number: 9546965
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for identification of wood species based on one or more pitch characteristics. A workpiece may be exposed to a beam of radiation from a radiation source. The beam of radiation may cause pitch on or within the workpiece to emit visible light. The emitted light may be imaged and used to determine pitch content, pitch location. a pitch deposition pattern, pitch emission wavelength, and/or other characteristics of the workpiece. One or more of these characteristics may be used to identify a tree species or group of tree species from which the workpiece was cut or manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Ghislain Benoit, David Liebich, Harry Ogloff
  • Patent number: 9546966
    Abstract: A process for detecting oil or lubricant contamination in a manufactured product (C), preferably a cigarette (C), the process comprising adding a fluorescent taggant to oils or lubricants contained in processing machinery for said product (C), conveying (131) said product (C) past an infrared detection apparatus (140), irradiating said product (C) with infrared radiation from said detection apparatus (140) as it passes the detection apparatus (140), and detecting infrared radiation emitted from said irradiated product (C). The taggant can be in the form of a composition containing a Stokes-shifting taggant, which absorbs radiation at a first wavelength and emits radiation at a second wavelength, different from said first wavelength, dissolved or dispersed in an oil or lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERICES LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Jr., William James Faenza
  • Patent number: 9546967
    Abstract: An apparatus for identifying defects within the volume of a transparent sheet, such as a glass sheet, is provided. The apparatus includes an illumination device that directs incident light onto at least a portion of a surface of the sheet so as to illuminate the sheet, and an image detector onto which the light backscattered from the sheet is directed to image the sheet. The apparatus generates at least two interference images under different capturing conditions in order to perform identification of defects by evaluating the at least two interference images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Bruno Schrader, Frank Macherey, Holger Wegener, Michael Stelzl
  • Patent number: 9546968
    Abstract: A method for assessing the quality of a piece of meat may be described. The method may include creating a plurality of cross-sectional images through a piece of meat. The method may additionally include performing image analysis on at least one of the images to determine the arrangement of fat and lean meat within the piece of meat. The arrangement may be indicative of the quality of the piece of meat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Cameron Cooke
  • Patent number: 9546969
    Abstract: The analyzer mixes the material to be analyzed and the flux in sample holders supported by a moveable platform within the furnace. A tilt member is provided having multiple stations. Each station has an upstanding pin offset from the center point of the station in a different direction. The platform is indexed relative to the tilt member such that the sample holder aligns with each station, in sequence. As the sample holder aligns with each station, the platform is moved toward the tilt member such that the pin of the aligned station abuts and tilts the sample holder in a different direction. The repeated tilting of the sample holder in different directions mixes the material and flux. The contents of the sample holder may also be agitated by rapidly moving the platform back and forth with sudden stops. The analyzer can be used with a special sample holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventor: Jose Maria Las Navas Garcia
  • Patent number: 9546970
    Abstract: An instrument and method using electron spin resonance spectrometry for measuring the concentration of airborne soot particles, and the like, that includes continuously passing a sample of exhaust gas through a resonating RF microwave cavity resonator during the application therethrough of a uniform slowly varying uniform magnetic field that is rapidly modulated and measuring the resulting phase modulation or amplitude modulation thereof to derive an electron spin resonance signal that directly senses the concentration of carbon free radicals produced as a result of inefficient combustion of hydrocarbons during operation of the vehicle or boiler. A further invention is the use of this signal for feedback control of the engine or boiler operating parameters to minimize or substantially eliminate particulate matter emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Active Spectrum, Inc.
    Inventors: James Robert White, Christopher John White, Colin T. Elliott, Alexander H. Slocum
  • Patent number: 9546971
    Abstract: A diagnosis device for a temperature sensor provided to a power transmission device transmits driving force generated by a driving power source of a vehicle. The diagnosis device includes: an output voltage estimating unit to calculate an output voltage estimation value of the temperature sensor, based on the operating state of the vehicle; and an output voltage stuck malfunction determining unit to determine an output voltage stuck malfunction of the temperature sensor, in a case where the amount of change of the output voltage estimation value is equal to or above a first threshold value, and the amount of change of output voltage of the temperature sensor is equal to or below a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9546972
    Abstract: A thermal conductivity detector includes at least four detector components that are arranged in receptacles of a thermal conduction block in a circle around a center axis of the thermal conduction block. The thermal conduction block comprises a central portion along the axis, the cross-axial dimensions of the central portion being less than the diameter of the circle. There are at least four equal peripheral portions that are connected solely to the central portion and are separated from each other, each of the peripheral portions carrying one of the detector components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Udo Gellert
  • Patent number: 9546973
    Abstract: Measurement with a test strip having two working electrodes (12, 14), using the current transient (402, 404) for each working electrode measured at a predetermined durational offset (Tpred1, Tpred2) from a peak (408, 410) of the current transient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: LifeScan Scotland Limited
    Inventor: Joanne McIlrath
  • Patent number: 9546974
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved electrochemical biosensor strips and methods for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample. By selectively measuring a measurable species residing in a diffusion barrier layer, to the substantial exclusion of the measurable species residing exterior to the diffusion barrier layer, measurement errors introduced by sample constituents, such as red blood cells, and manufacturing variances may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG
    Inventor: Huan-Ping Wu
  • Patent number: 9546975
    Abstract: An examination method for detecting abnormal electrochemical testing strip includes the steps of: applying a trigger voltage to a testing strip; injecting a target sample to the testing strip; obtaining a trigger current which is generated by injecting the target sample to the testing strip; comparing the trigger current with a first threshold, and determining whether the trigger current is lager than or equal to the first threshold; and when the trigger current is less than the first threshold, displaying a message for abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Delbio, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung-Yun Liao, Chih-Wei Weng, Tsung-Hsuan Tsai, Miao-Ju Yen
  • Patent number: 9546976
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for measurement of the oxygen partial pressure or the oxygen content in a measurement gas in at least one measurement cycle using a solid electrolyte cell having at least one oxygen-conducting solid electrolyte, and having at least one reference electrode as well as at least one measurement electrode, wherein the at least one measurement electrode is in communication with the measurement gas and the at least one reference electrode is in communication with a reference gas or reference volume separated from the measurement gas, wherein a current is imposed via the electrodes on the solid electrolyte cell for pump operation and a measurement voltage (UM) is tapped at the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Seyr, Werner Reiter
  • Patent number: 9546977
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a biosensor comprises a semiconductor region having a doping polarity; a source region located at a first end of the semiconductor layer and a drain region located at a second end of the semiconductor layer; wherein the source region is in electrical communication with a source voltage; a current path from the source region, through the semiconductor layer, to the drain region; a sensing gate region in contact with a first surface of the semiconductor layer and having an opposite polarity as the semiconductor layer; a sensing surface in electrical communication with the sensing gate region; and a dual gate region in contact with a second surface of the semiconductor layer; wherein the dual gate region has a same polarity as the sensing gate region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John DiCarlo, Tak H. Ning, Sufi Zafar
  • Patent number: 9546978
    Abstract: An electrochemical polymerization based salt content analyzer configured to determine salt composition in a direct, fast, and serial manner. The salt content analyzer includes three electrodes: a working electrode, a counter electrode and a reference electrode. In operation, the current passing through the electrodes as a sweeping voltage is applied may be analyzed to determine the salt content of the analyte. The working electrode includes an access control mechanism to only expose a fraction of the working length of the working electrode to the outside environment at any given time. The access control mechanism is advanced between tests to expose a fresh portion of the working electrode. Thus, testing may be performed in a serial manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Rashed Mohammad Aleisa, Naim Akmal, Taher Ali Atef Alamri
  • Patent number: 9546979
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods for analyzing a metabolite level in a sample. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention may involve obtaining a sample, analyzing the sample using a mass spectrometry technique to determine a level of at least one metabolite in the sample, and correlating the metabolite level with an originating source of the sample, thereby analyzing the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Robert Graham Cooks, Kevin Scott Kerian, Alan Keith Jarmusch, Ahmed Mohamed Hamid, Livia Schiavinato Eberlin
  • Patent number: 9546980
    Abstract: The invention relates to the operation of ion mobility spectrometers based on gases pushing the ions over electrical field barriers, preferably in combination with mass spectrometers, and relates to trapped ion mobility spectrometers (“TIMS”). The invention proposes to accumulate and to scan the ions of a selected range of mobilities by using a long and flat electric field ramp created by additional voltages. By a voltage supplied at the beginning of the flat ramp, the lowest mobility of the mobility range of ions to be collected can be selected. By the difference of the voltages at the beginning and the end, the width of the mobility range is determined. The spatial zoom advantageously can collect considerable more ions of interest than a temporal zoom without severe losses by space charge effects, and more ions can be detected in the mass-mobility map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventors: Oliver Räther, Melvin Andrew Park
  • Patent number: 9546981
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor elastometry device (MSED) and a method to perform the whole blood thromboelastography assay. It contains key components, including sample cuvette, detecting head, rotating disc, optical motion detector, and etc; and measures viscoelasticity of whole blood samples. The device optically monitors the physical motion of the magnetically driven rotating disc immersed in the blood sample. The thromboelastograph is recorded by the optical motion detector reading high pulse counts through a gated time window passing through the rotating disc. The device also includes a microcontroller and its embedded firmware to perform the functions of driving the rotating magnetic disc, generating high-frequency pulses, controlling the data pulse time window, as well as handling the user's interface, data analysis, and maintaining communication with an external computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Neotek Biosciences Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jogin R. Wu, Mario Moreno
  • Patent number: 9546982
    Abstract: Testing methods and apparatus for testing the health of steel tubes used in reformers and other tubes and pipes used in other high temperature applications. The method includes the steps of transmitting two sinusoidal electromagnetic signals, each having a different frequency F1 and F2, into the reformer tube, receiving a response signal, and analyzing the received response signal's intermodulation frequencies to determine the state of the steel reformer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ArcelorMittal
    Inventors: Michael A. Masleid, Zofia E. Niemczura, George B. Tsvik
  • Patent number: 9546983
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bubble sensing device (1) for sensing gas bubbles in a liquid. In order to provide a reliable detection of inadmissible gas bubbles at minimum cost and required installation space, the invention provides that the gas bubble sensing device (1) comprises two ultrasonic emitters (2, 3), which are both connected to one ultrasonic signal generator (10) in a signal transmitting manner. A gas bubble sensing device senses gas bubbles in a liquid. The gas bubble sensing device comprises two ultrasonic emitters, which are both connected to one ultrasonic signal generator in a signal transmitting manner. Further, the gas bubble sensing device comprises two control devices that are each connected to one of the signal processing devices in a signal transmitting manner, wherein one of the control devices comprises an output port, at which it provides a synchronization signal during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Sonotec Ultraschallsensorik Halle GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Fritsche, Santer Zur Horst-Meyer, Hans-Joachim Münch
  • Patent number: 9546984
    Abstract: Methods and systems for cleaning an acoustical couplant and test article before and during ultrasonic testing using components which are used for precleaning the test article as well as cleaning the acoustical couplant during the ultrasonic testing is provided. The invention also provides additional functionality such as preserving the acoustical couplant before, during, and after the ultrasonic testing from loss such as, e.g., evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert E. Bradley, James Rumple, John Whitner
  • Patent number: 9546985
    Abstract: A fitting assembly having a nut, a ferrule, and a ferrule tip that may be assembled by an operator. The fitting assembly includes a nut with first and second ends, with the second end adapted to receive the first end of a ferrule, and a ferrule tip with a first end having an externally tapered portion adapted to abut the second end of the ferrule and a second end adapted to be received in a component or fitting of a liquid chromatography system. The nut, ferrule and ferrule tip of the fitting assembly have passageways therethrough for receiving and removably holding tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: IDEX Health & Science LLC
    Inventors: Scott J. Ellis, Eric Beemer, Nathaniel Nienhuis, Craig W. Graham, Troy N. Sanders
  • Patent number: 9546986
    Abstract: A thermal system for use in a column manager of a liquid chromatography system comprises a plurality of spatially separated individually controlled thermoelectric chips. A column module houses a plurality of thermally conductive troughs. Each trough resides in a separate thermal zone to be thermally conditioned individually by one of the individually controlled thermoelectric chips. Each trough is adapted to hold one or more liquid chromatography columns therein. A plurality of spatially separated thermal bridges includes a first thermal bridge thermally coupling one of the thermoelectric chips to a first one of the plurality of troughs and a second thermal bridge of the plurality of thermal bridges thermally coupling another of the thermoelectric chips to a second one of the plurality of troughs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua A. Shreve, John Maillet, Maria Maillet
  • Patent number: 9546987
    Abstract: A liquid chromatograph control system for controlling an operation of a liquid chromatograph which uses a mobile phase composed of a mixture of solvents and which has the function of performing a gradient analysis while temporally changing the mixture ratio of the solvents. The system initially requests a user to set a basic gradient profile (Step S12), and subsequently, to set the number of steps to change the mixture ratio of the mobile phase at the beginning and/or at the end of the gradient process as well as the amount of change in the mixture ratio per step (Step S13). After that, based on the possible combinations of the mixture ratios of the mobile phase at the beginning and at the end of the gradient process computed from the contents of information entered in the previous steps, a plurality of gradient profiles corresponding to those combinations are created (Step S14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ohashi, Tadayuki Yamaguchi, Hidetoshi Terada
  • Patent number: 9546988
    Abstract: A pulsed ion multifunctional detector used for both high performance liquid chromatograph and ion chromatograph, and experiment chromatograms attached also show that the detector has excellent multipurpose function in liquid chromatograph. The casing of the instrument is provided with a sample solution inlet, a sample solution outlet, a power supply socket, a liquid crystal display, an operation keyboard and a detection signal output interface. In the casing is provided a detection electromechanical member, which includes a central controller, a detection cell, a preposed subtracting module, a polarity transformation module, a noise processing module and an output amplifier module. The pulsed ion multifunctional detector can sensitively and accurately measure ion current of sample ionized directly in the detection cell, and subtract baseline background generated by various mobile phases and automatically eliminate dynamic noise and drift of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventors: Jiade Yu, Chingchuen Chan, Qing Lu
  • Patent number: 9546989
    Abstract: A method for measuring the concentration of a gas component in a measurement gas using a gas analyzer comprises varying the wavelength of the light of a wavelength-tunable light source within periodically consecutive scan intervals for wavelength-dependent scanning of a gas component absorption line of interest. The method also comprises modulating the wavelength of the light of the wavelength-tunable light source with a frequency, guiding the modulated light through the measurement gas onto a detector and demodulating a measurement signal generated by the detector in the event of a harmonic of the frequency. The method further comprises producing a measurement result by fitting a desired curve to the profile of the demodulated measurement signal. A function orthogonal to the desired curve is provided, and an orthogonal component of the measurement result is produced by fitting the orthogonal function to the profile of the demodulated measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Bitter, Thomas Hankiewicz, Christoph Wolfgang Marquardt, Jan Nygren, Kai-Uwe Pleban, Franz Steinbacher
  • Patent number: 9546990
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the detection of egg yolk in albumen, for example, but not exclusively, at least one yolk spot, comprising, —breaking an egg, —separating albumen and yolk, —collecting albumen and yolk separately in a yolk cup and in an albumen cup, —imaging of the albumen cup substantially from above with a camera, whereby an albumen image is obtained, and —imaging, substantially from above, of the yolk cup, having yolk area Ay, a preselected subarea Py, whereby a yolk image in a preselected color system Sy is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: MOBA GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Eddy Alfred Herre Van Der Goot, Rudolf Johan Veeneman
  • Patent number: 9546991
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices for assessing drug dissolution, absorption and permeation, the devices comprising a chamber, a permeability barrier, and a securing cap, each in fluid communication with each other. The chamber comprises a reservoir and an extension. The permeability barrier is configured to hold cells, tissues, or artificial membranes, and the securing cap is configured to reversibly attach to the permeability barrier or the extension of the chamber. Also provided are systems for assessing drug dissolution, absorption and permeation, the systems comprising at least one of the devices for assessing drug dissolution, absorption and permeation, a dissolution vessel configured to hold a dissolution medium, and a stirring apparatus within the dissolution vessel. Methods for concomitant measuring of dissolution, absorption and/or permeation of a drug are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Absorption Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Jibin Li, Ismael J. Hidalgo
  • Patent number: 9546992
    Abstract: A fuel injection system has a common rail storing fuel, a fuel injector injecting the fuel, a fuel-passage supplying the fuel to the fuel injector, and a fuel-pressure sensor detecting a fuel pressure. An ECU acquires a waveform of a fuel pressure representing a change of a fuel pressure based on the detected fuel pressure at the fuel injection. The ECU calculates a speed of a fuel pressure wave forming the waveform of the fuel pressure based on a period of a pulsation of the waveform of the fuel pressure and a fuel passage length, and a fuel density based on the speed of the fuel pressure wave. The ECU further calculates a fuel cetane number, and a kinematic viscosity of the fuel based on the fuel density and the fuel cetane number. The ECU judges fuel properties based on the kinematic viscosity of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoyuki Yamada, Naoki Mikami
  • Patent number: 9546993
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for detecting objects in samples. The sample is held in the transmission path of light source to a detector, whereby light from the light source interacts with objects in the sample. The patterns of light incident on the detector subsequent to its interaction with the objects are directly used to determine the presence of objects in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: OXFORD UNIVERSITY INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Borivoj Vojnovic, Paul R. Barber, Iestyn Pope, Paul James Smith, Rachel Jane Errington
  • Patent number: 9546994
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying a predisposition for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in a subject, said method comprising the step of assessing in a sample obtained from said subject the amount of one or more metabolite(s) selected from (a) a first group comprising the metabolites glycine, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C18:2, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C17:0, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C18:0, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C18:1, phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C34:2, phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C36:2, phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C36:3 and isobaric metabolites having the same molecular mass as glycine, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C18:2, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C17:0, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C18:0, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C18:1, phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C34:2, phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C36:2 or phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C36:3 but different chemical formula; and/or (b) a second group comprising the metabolite acetylcarnitine C2 and an isobaric m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignees: Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen-Deutsches Forschungszentrum fur Geseundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Deutsche Diabetes-Forschungsgesellschaft e.V.—Trager des Deutschen Diabetes-Zentrums Dusseldorf, Eberhard Karls Universitat Tubingen, Medizinische Fakultat
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rathmann, Christian Herder, Thomas Illig, Jerzy Adamski, Rui Wang-Sattler, Zhongao Yu, H.-Erich Wichmann, Hans-Ulrich Haring, Michael Roden, Annette Peters, Christine Meisinger, Martin Hrabe De Angelis, Thomas Meitinger
  • Patent number: 9546995
    Abstract: Provided are a nanopore device with resolution improved by graphene nanopores, and a method of manufacturing the same. The nanopore device includes: a first insulating layer; a graphene layer disposed on the first insulating layer and having a nanopore formed at a center portion of the graphene layer; and first and second electrode layers disposed respectively at both sides of the nanopore on a top surface of the graphene layer, wherein a center region of the first insulating layer is removed such that the center portion of the graphene layer is exposed to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae-han Jeon, Jeo-young Shim, Kun-sun Eom, Dong-ho Lee, Joo-ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9546996
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for analyzing the sequence of nucleotides in a nucleic acid sample, said apparatus comprising a substrate and a plurality of nanopores provided therein suitable for the passage of nucleic acid molecules therethrough; at least one sample holding chamber disposed upstream of the inlet of said nanopores, at least one detection window juxtaposed within or downstream of the outlet of each nanopore adapted to detect a property characteristic of one or more detectable elements associated with the nucleic acid as each nucleic acid molecule passes therethrough and a detector adapted to generate a data stream characteristic of the various detection events occurring in the detection window characterized in that the apparatus further comprises a means located within the sample holding chamber adapted to increase the local concentration of the nucleic acid sample adjacent the inlet of the nanopores relative to the bulk concentration thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: BASE4 INNOVATION LTD.
    Inventors: Bruno Flavio Nogueira de Sousa Soares, Cameron Alexander Frayling, Barnaby Balmforth, Michele Amasio
  • Patent number: 9546997
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a test strip handling device (100) that includes a housing (110) having an interior compartment (112) in which the test strips are received and stored. The device (100) facilitates sanitary handling and disposal of the test strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG
    Inventors: Robert S. Sams, Eugene Prais, Simin Yao
  • Patent number: 9546998
    Abstract: The current invention provides methods to identify ?9?2T-cell receptors (?9?2TCR) that mediate anti-tumor responses. Surprisingly, it was now found that the CDR3 regions of the ?9-T-cell receptor chain and the ?2-T-Cell receptor chain (?2TCR chain) are of importance. Based on these findings, combinatorial-??TCR-chain-exchange (CTE) is proposed as an efficient method for identifying ?9?2TCRs that mediate anti-tumor responses. Using the method of the invention, specific sequences of the respective ?9TCR and ?2TCR chains were identified that mediate anti-tumor responses. Hence, the invention further provides for specific ?9?2TCRs, or fragments thereof, that may be used e.g. in diagnostics or treatment of cancer. The invention further provides for nucleic acid sequences, genetic constructs and retroviral vectors that can be used to express the ?9?2TCRs according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Gadeta B.V.
    Inventors: Jürgen Herbert Ernst Kuball, Elsa-Cordula Gründer
  • Patent number: 9546999
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting and optionally quantifying at least one molecule comprising at least one protonated group such as an amine function immobilized at the surface of the solid substrate, said method being a reversible, direct and colorimetric method that uses a coloring agent. The present invention also relates to various uses of said method and the solutions used during said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: 1/ CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES
    Inventors: Gaëlle Coussot, Odile Vandenabeele-Trambouze, Isabelle Desvignes, Michel Dobrijevic, Aurélie Le Postollec, Pascale Chazalnoel
  • Patent number: 9547000
    Abstract: A chromogenic absorbent material and related chromogenic solution, use, process and application for an animal litter. The chromogenic absorbent material includes an absorptive material for absorbing an animal excretion; an oxidizing agent responsive to peroxidatic/pseudoperoxidatic activity in the animal excretion to provide oxidizing activity; and an inclusion complex including a host compound and a guest compound, the guest compound being a chromogenic indicator associated with the host compound and being chromogenically responsive to the oxidizing activity of the oxidizing agent. The chromogenic absorbent material may be prepared from the chromogenic solution including the oxidizing agent and the inclusion complex. The chromogenic absorbent material may be used as particles combined with animal litter for detection of peroxidatic/pseudoperoxidatic activity in the animal excretion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: 7905122 Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Marie-Cleo Gravel-Lacroix, Paul Jollez, Isabelle Bolduc
  • Patent number: 9547001
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting or measuring trans-Resveratrol (tRV) in a sample, comprising: contacting a sample to be tested with an antibody against tRV, or an antigen binding fragment of such an antibody; and detecting or measuring any tRV bound by the antibody or antibody fragment. The invention also provides an antibody against trans-Resveratrol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: IP Science Limited
    Inventors: Ivan Petyaev, Valery Tsybezov
  • Patent number: 9547002
    Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting a target particle that is a method for detecting a non-luminescent target particle dispersed and randomly moving in a sample solution using an optical system of a confocal microscope or multi-photon microscope, having: (a) preparing a sample solution containing target particles, and labeling particles of which the average outer diameter is less than 15% of the diameter of a photodetection region of the optical system, binding two or more molecules of the labeling particles per molecule of the target particles in the sample solution, and forming a non-luminescent complex of which the outer diameter is 15% or more of the diameter of the photodetection region; and, (b) calculating the number of molecules of the complex in the sample solution prepared in the (a) using an inverse scanning molecule counting method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazutaka Nishikawa, Takuya Hanashi
  • Patent number: 9547003
    Abstract: Described herein is a protein capable of spontaneously forming an isopeptide bond for the development of a peptide tag and binding partner pair wherein the peptide tag and binding partner are capable of covalently binding to each other via an isopeptide bond. Also provided is a method for developing a peptide tag and binding partner pair which are capable of covalently binding to each other based on a protein which is capable of spontaneously forming an isopeptide bond. Additionally provided are peptide tag and binding partner pairs which are obtainable from isopeptide proteins. Further, specifically developed peptide tags and binding partners are described, together with nucleic acid molecules and vectors which encode those peptides or proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: OXFORD UNIVERSITY INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventor: Mark Howarth
  • Patent number: 9547004
    Abstract: A method and device for the rapid quantification of biomolecules (320) present in a nanochannel (210) is claimed. In particular, the present invention relates to a novel concept of liquid actuation and selectively functionalized surfaces in a nanochannel that create a concentration gradient of transitory immobilized biomolecules (340) across the nanochannel. The present concept enables the quantification of biomolecular interactions of interest (320).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ABIONIC SA
    Inventors: Nicolas Durand, Iwan Märki, Stéphane Broillet, Annick Mayor, Theo Lasser
  • Patent number: 9547005
    Abstract: A test meter system for testing a characteristic of a fluid, the test meter system including a test meter having a housing with an opening adapted to accept a test strip, an interrogation coil within the housing, a pick-up coil within the housing, and a test strip including at least one magneto-elastic-resonance sensor. When the test strip is within the opening, the interrogation coil may utilize magneto-elastic-resonance technology to interrogate the magneto-elastic-resonance sensor and the pick-up coil may be used to sense a resultant oscillation frequency of the magneto-elastic-resonance sensor, the resultant oscillation frequency associated with the characteristic. The test strip may include a plurality of sensors. The sensors may be coated with a coating sensitive to a characteristic of the fluid, where the interrogation reveals information about the fluid characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ASCENSIA DIABETES CARE HOLDINGS AG
    Inventors: Swetha Chinnayelka, Jiangfeng Fei, Yuan Wang, Narasinha Parasnis, Hoi-Cheong Steve Sun, Raeann Gifford, Steven C. Charlton
  • Patent number: 9547006
    Abstract: A massive clonal expansion of activated CD8+ T-cells with increased frequency of HPV 16-specific CD8+ T-cells was discovered to be a characteristic of oral lichen planus (OLP), indicating a causal link between HPV infection and the dysimmune process. The invention relates to compositions and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of OLP patients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignees: INSTITUT PASTEUR, INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE (INSERM), UNIVERSITE PARIS DIDEROT—PARIS 7, ASSISTANCE PUBLIQUE—HOPITAUX DE PARIS
    Inventors: Marie-Lise Gougeon, Manuelle Viguier, Herve Bachelez, Nicolas Fazilleau
  • Patent number: 9547007
    Abstract: The invention includes compositions, methods and kits for the in vivo identification of an enzyme that binds to a substrate. The invention comprises, in part, a photoreactive moiety to aid in identification of such an enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennslyvania
    Inventors: James Eberwine, Ülo Langel, Emelia Eiriksdóttir, Anup Sharma
  • Patent number: 9547008
    Abstract: Described herein are methods, compositions and articles of manufacture involving neutral conjugated polymers including methods for synthesis of neutral conjugated water-soluble polymers with linkers along the polymer main chain structure and terminal end capping units. Such polymers may serve in the fabrication of novel optoelectronic devices and in the development of highly efficient biosensors. The invention further relates to the application of these polymers in assay methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Sirigen Inc.
    Inventors: Brent S. Gaylord, Glenn P. Bartholomew, Russell A. Baldocchi, Janice W. Hong, William H. Huisman, Yongchao Liang, Trung Nguyen, Lan T. Tran, Jean M. Wheeler, Adrian Charles Vernon Palmer, Frank Peter Uckert
  • Patent number: 9547009
    Abstract: Provided are benzocyclooctyne compounds of formula (I). These compounds undergo strain-promoted azide-alkyne cyclo additions (SPAAC) without presence of toxic metal catalysts. The provided compounds are useful for diagnosis and imaging of azide-containing molecules. Methods for detection and imaging biomolecules using compounds of the present disclosure are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Academia Sinica
    Inventors: Chi-Huey Wong, Jim-Min Fang, Jiun-Jie Shie
  • Patent number: 9547010
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an anti-idiotype antibody binding to the complementary determining region of an antibody against the amyloid ? peptide. In one embodiment said antibody binds to the same epitope or an overlapping epitope as the antibody obtainable from the cell line DSM ACC2939. Also reported is an immunoassay for the determination of an antibody against the amyloid ? peptide and for determination of an anti-idiotype antibody binding to an antibody against the amyloid ? peptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE INC.
    Inventors: Ulrich Essig, Wolfgang Hoesel, Kay-Gunnar Stubenrauch, Rudolf Vogel