Patents Issued in March 13, 2018
  • Patent number: 9915598
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising a hydrogel particle with optical properties substantially similar to the optical properties of a target cell, and methods for their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SLINGSHOT BIOSCIENCES
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kim, Oliver Liu, Jeremy Agresti, Anh Tuan Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9915599
    Abstract: There is provided a microparticle analysis apparatus including a sample channel configured to receive liquid containing a plurality of microparticles, a first pair of electrodes configured to form an alternating electric field in at least a part of the sample channel, a measuring part configured to measure impedance between the first pair of electrodes, an analyzing part configured to calculate property values of the microparticles from the impedance measured in the measuring part, and a determining part configured to determine whether data of the impedance measured in the measuring part is derived from the microparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Marcaurele Brun, Kazumasa Sato, Shinji Omori, Yoichi Katsumoto
  • Patent number: 9915600
    Abstract: A particle detector includes a housing, a light source, and a photo-responsive material. The housing includes a sample inlet and a sample outlet, and encloses a detection cavity. The light source directs irradiating light to particles of a sample fluid flowing in the detection cavity. The photo-responsive material faces the detection cavity, and receives measurement light propagating from the particles in a plurality of measurement light paths angled relative to a longitudinal axis. The particle detector may be utilized to measure scattered light and/or light emitted due to autofluorescence. Fluids sampled may include aerosols, bio-aerosols, and liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Howard Jerome Walls, Anthony Clint Clayton, Randall J. Newsome, Paul G. Hoertz
  • Patent number: 9915601
    Abstract: An examination apparatus 1 for microorganisms for measuring an amount of microorganisms in a sample solution, the apparatus including stirring and mixing means 7 for stirring and mixing the sample solution into which a sample and a fluorescent staining reagent are added, in a sample container 5 formed of a material allowing light to pass through, an excitation light source 10 including a light source that irradiates an irradiation target surface of the sample container 5 with excitation light while the sample solution is being stirred by the stirring and mixing means 7, light receiving means 14 for detecting light and converting the light resulting from a fluorescent emission caused by excitation light from the excitation light source 10, into an electric signal, and control means 23 for detecting the number of emissions based on the electric signal from the light receiving means 14 and calculating the amount of the microorganisms contained in the sample in the sample container 5 based on the number of emissi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SATAKE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiko Nakata, Shinya Fushida, Akira Eto, Masanori Matsuda, Yukio Hosaka
  • Patent number: 9915602
    Abstract: A calibration tool and method of using the tool to calibrate a fiber optic needle oxygen sensor. The tool includes at least a vial sealingly covered by a septa and containing a supply of particulate oxygen getter within the chamber of the vial. The vial has an open top and is constructed from an oxygen impermeable material. The septa is resealing, needle-penetrable and oxygen impermeable. The supply of particulate oxygen getter is retained within an oxygen permeable sachet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: MOCON, INC.
    Inventor: John Eastman
  • Patent number: 9915603
    Abstract: Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus are disclosed which employ deep ultraviolet (e.g. in the 200 nm to 300 nm spectral range) electron beam pumped wide bandgap semiconductor lasers, incoherent wide bandgap semiconductor light emitting devices, and hollow cathode metal ion lasers to perform non-contact, non-invasive detection of unknown chemical analytes. These deep ultraviolet sources enable dramatic size, weight and power consumption reductions of chemical analysis instruments. In some embodiments, Raman spectroscopic detection methods and apparatus use ultra-narrow-band angle tuning filters, acousto-optic tuning filters, and temperature tuned filters to enable ultra-miniature analyzers for chemical identification. In some embodiments Raman analysis is conducted along with photoluminescence spectroscopy (i.e. fluorescence and/or phosphorescence spectroscopy) to provide high levels of sensitivity and specificity in the same instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Photon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Hug, Ray D. Reid, Rohit Bhartia, Arthur L. Lane
  • Patent number: 9915604
    Abstract: A gas concentration measurement device includes a waveguide including an entrance and an exit, a rotating member, first and second band pass filters on the rotating member and on a pair of planes that intersect each other, and a rotational driver. The rotating member is rotated by the rotational driver so that the first and second band pass filters are selectively located at a transmitting position. When a portion of the rotating member, the first band pass filter, or the second band pass filter, the portion having a maximum radius of gyration around a rotating shaft, is defined as a maximum radius portion, and when a rotation locus obtained by imaginarily rotating the maximum radius portion around the rotating shaft in a view along the rotating shaft is defined as a reference circle, the exit is located in the reference circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Yasuda
  • Patent number: 9915605
    Abstract: An in-situ gas-measuring system (1) includes an IR photon source (10) and an IR photon detector (11). The in-situ gas-measuring system (1) has an expansion chamber (12), at which an optical element (16, 16?, 16?) is arranged. A connection element (13) provides a detachable fluid-communicating connection of the expansion chamber (12) to a gas reaction chamber (2). The IR-photon source (10), the optical element (16, 16?, 16?) and the IR photon detector (11) define an optical measuring path, which extends through the expansion chamber (12). The installation and maintenance of the in-situ gas-measuring system (1) are reduced by the features of the in-situ gas-measuring system (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Patrick Schmidt-Kaeding
  • Patent number: 9915606
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for characterizing a sample-product X by spectral analysis by means of a novel spectrometer II using information acquired by means of a first spectrometer I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Topnir Systems SAS
    Inventors: Didier Lambert, Claude Saint Martin, Sanchez Miguel, Bernard Ribero
  • Patent number: 9915607
    Abstract: An optical sensor system includes an optical sensor head having a light-emitting device and a detector which detects light emitted from the light-emitting device, and a calculator circuit. The light-emitting device includes a resonator which includes a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface facing the first reflective surface, and a waveguide provided between the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface. At least one metal microparticle capable of exciting surface plasmon is formed on the first reflective surface. The calculator circuit calculates an environment parameter at the first reflective surface on the basis of a detected value from the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tazuko Kitazawa, Noboru Iwata, Takanobu Sato
  • Patent number: 9915608
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively determining a concentration of glucose in a subject using optical excitation and detection is provided. The method includes emitting an exciter beam (B1) to irradiate a portion (130) of tissue of the subject, causing physical and chemical changes in the surface, and causing an initial back scattering (D1) of light. The method further includes periodically emitting a probe beam (B2) which irradiates the portion of tissue and causes periodic back scatterings (D2) of light. The initial and periodic back scatterings are detected and converted into electrical signals of at least the amplitude, frequency or decay time of the physical and chemical changes, the back scatterings being modulated by the physical and chemical changes. By differentiating over time at least one of the amplitude, frequency or decay time of the physical and chemical changes, the concentration of glucose may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: BioSensor, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Schultz, Arkady Amosov, Natalia Izvarina, Sergey Kravetz
  • Patent number: 9915609
    Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, detection of a fire event via detection of scattered light of at least two wavelengths is based on rates of change between measurements of the scattered light of the different wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: VALOR FIRE SAFETY, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Erdtmann
  • Patent number: 9915610
    Abstract: In a sensor device for determining ambient conditions of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising at least one transmitter for emitting electromagnetic radiation, in particular infrared radiation, comprising at least three receivers for receiving electromagnetic radiation, in particular infrared radiation, wherein at least one transmitter is assigned to at least one receiver for determining precipitation on at least one glass surface, in particular the windscreen of the motor vehicle, and wherein at least three receivers are aligned for receiving electromagnetic radiation from different angular regions, it is provided as essential to the invention that the spatial receiving regions of at least one first and at least one second receiver are aligned substantially horizontally, that the spatial receiving region of at least one third receiver is aligned substantially upwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hella KGAA Hueck & Co.
    Inventors: Alexander Gohmann, Bastian Kanning
  • Patent number: 9915611
    Abstract: An optical computing device adapted to compensate for the effects of light intensity fluctuation through the use of optical elements that generate a normalization optical channel (or B Channel) having a light intensity that is substantially equal to the light intensity of the characteristic optical channel (or A Channel). As a result, highly accurate normalizations are obtained which give rise to the most accurate results from the optical computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Freese, David L. Perkins, William J. Soltmann
  • Patent number: 9915612
    Abstract: Arrays of integrated analytical devices and their methods for production are provided. The arrays are useful in the analysis of highly multiplexed optical reactions in large numbers at high densities, including biochemical reactions, such as nucleic acid sequencing reactions. The devices allow the highly sensitive discrimination of optical signals using features such as spectra, amplitude, and time resolution, or combinations thereof. The devices include an integrated diffractive beam shaping element that provides for the spatial separation of light emitted from the optical reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Annette Grot, Ravi Saxena, Paul Lundquist
  • Patent number: 9915613
    Abstract: Systems and method for detecting optical signals, and for discriminating optical signals emitted by an emission moiety that is excited by an associated excitation signal from background signals and other optical noise, employing digital techniques for determining the portion of a detected optical signal having a modulation frequency corresponding to a modulation of the associated excitation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert E. Heinz, Dennis Newell, David Opalsky, Jason Rhubottom
  • Patent number: 9915614
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for molecular capture, manipulation, and analysis. In one aspect, a device to aggregate and characterize particles in a fluid includes an electrically insulative substrate including a channel to carry an electrically conducting fluid containing particles, electrodes located in the channel forming a nanoscale opening and including an insulating layer over their surface at the opening, a first circuit to apply a non-uniform ac electric field and a dc bias signal across the electrodes, in which the applied non-uniform ac electric field produces a positive dielectrophoretic force to aggregate the particles in a trapping region including the opening and adjacent region, a second circuit to detect changes in a dc current caused by at least some of the particles in the trapping region, and an optical device that directs a coherent light beam on the opening to determine Raman spectra of the particles in the trapping region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: ACADEMIA SINICA, MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FUR EISENFORSCHUNG GMBH
    Inventors: Chia-Fu Chou, Lesser-Rojas Leonardo, Ming-Lee Chu, Andreas Erbe
  • Patent number: 9915615
    Abstract: A method of testing an organic sample to provide an indication of the level of bacteria and/or number of somatic cells present in the sample, the method including collecting the sample and contacting the sample with a reagent which reacts with ATP to produce light emissions, and subsequently, at the beginning (O) of a measurement period (A, B), contacting the sample with an extractant in the presence of the reagent, the extractant rupturing cells present in the sample to release cell-bound ATP to react with the reagent to produce light emissions, and immediately after contacting the sample with the extractant, detecting the light emissions with a light detecting device (18), and the method includes during an initial measurement period (A) immediately after contacting the sample with the extractant, detecting the level of light emissions, and in a subsequent measurement period (B), detecting the level of light emissions, statistically analyzing the detected values to determine a rate of change of light emissio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: KRYSIUM TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Maurice William Thompson, Andrew Prail, David Kent Wright
  • Patent number: 9915616
    Abstract: A method to identify a compound of interest includes the step of subjecting a sample to a plurality of colorimetric spot tests to yield a plurality of resultant test colors. The resultant test colors are compared with reference colors to define a set of sample reference colors. Indexed reference color sets indexed for the compound of interest are provided. The indexed reference color sets are searched with one or more of the sample reference colors for a match with the set of sample reference colors. The identity of the sample as the compound of interest is then determined. A device and a system to identify compounds of interest are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: FGROUPIP1, LLC
    Inventor: Eugene T. Smith
  • Patent number: 9915617
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a portable electronic assay device, a portable assay device and a kit thereof. The portable electronic assay device is used for determining a result of an assay performed using a test strip comprises a casing, an optical module, a light detector, and a processor. The casing comprises a transmissive part. The optical module emits a detecting light signal and display light signal. The detecting light signal is illuminated to the test strip and the display light signal is illuminated to the transmissive part. The light detector detects light from the test strip so as to obtain a detecting signal. The processor receives the detecting signal compared with a default value so as to obtain an assay result. The assay result is displayed on the transmissive part. Therefore, it provides simple structure of the assay device for displaying the assay result rapidly and correctly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: TAIDOC TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chia-Chi Wu, Tien-Jung Tsai, Chih-Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 9915618
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for measuring the gloss of grains, in particular rice grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Buhler (India) Pvt. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyoti Prakash Mishra, Bismillah Kani, Manit Kumar, Gopalakrishnan Trikkur
  • Patent number: 9915619
    Abstract: A portable small-object holding device, comprising: a housing, movable gripper jaws configured to grip and hold a small object; at least one hinge and at least one cog-wheel configured to enable rotating said at least one hinge around its longitudinal axis; and wherein the portable small-object holding device is adapted to enable illuminating the small object when being held within said portable small-object holding device, by a beam of light at least one wavelength. The inspection of the small-object is carried out after inserting the portable small-object holding device via an aperture comprised in a portable apparatus for inspecting small objects, and preferably engaging the portable small-object holding device with the portable apparatus for inspecting small objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: ARIEL ROSENBERG
  • Patent number: 9915620
    Abstract: An abnormality detection system includes an optical fiber, a Raman scattered light detection unit, and a data processing unit. The detection unit is configured to detect Stokes light and anti-Stokes light which are generated in the optical fiber and to output data on the intensity distribution of the Stokes light in the optical fiber in the length direction thereof and data on the intensity distribution of the anti-Stokes light in the optical fiber in the length direction. The processing unit is configured to calculate the product of a value obtained by applying an FIR filter to the intensity distribution of the Stokes light, and a value obtained by applying the FIR filter to the intensity distribution of the anti-Stokes light for each of locations on the optical fiber in the length direction, and to determine whether or not abnormality is present based on the result of the calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazushi Uno, Fumio Takei, Takeo Kasajima, Kyoko Tadaki, Minoru Ishinabe
  • Patent number: 9915621
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) substrate inspection system and method of manufacturing thereof, includes: an EUV source directing EUV illumination through an aperture; a light detector detecting mask illumination with reduced off axis rays reflected off from a substrate; and a computing device processing image data detected by the light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Majeed A. Foad, Christopher Dennis Bencher, Christopher G. Talbot, John Christopher Moran
  • Patent number: 9915622
    Abstract: Systems configured to inspect a wafer are provided. One system includes an illumination subsystem configured to direct pulses of light to an area on a wafer; a scanning subsystem configured to scan the pulses of light across the wafer; a collection subsystem configured to image pulses of light scattered from the area on the wafer to a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to integrate a number of the pulses of scattered light that is fewer than a number of the pulses of scattered light that can be imaged on the entire area of the sensor, and wherein the sensor is configured to generate output responsive to the integrated pulses of scattered light; and a computer subsystem configured to detect defects on the wafer using the output generated by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corp.
    Inventors: Anatoly Romanovsky, Ivan Maleev, Daniel Kavaldjiev, Yury Yuditsky, Dirk Woll, Stephen Biellak, Mehdi Vaez-Iravani, Guoheng Zhao
  • Patent number: 9915623
    Abstract: An optical inspection apparatus includes an inspection target unit on which an inspection target is loaded, an illumination optical unit configured to irradiate incident light to the inspection target, an objective lens unit disposed between the illumination optical unit and the inspection target unit, a detection optical unit configured to receive reflective light reflected from the inspection target to thereby detect a presence or absence of a defect on the inspection target, and a control unit configured to control the illumination optical unit and the detection optical unit. The illumination optical unit includes a light source part configured to irradiate the incident light, and a spatial filter array configured to modify a transmission region of the incident light irradiated from the light source part. The spatial filter array includes a spatial filter part, and a filter movement part configured to move the spatial filter part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang Soo Kim, Taejoong Kim, Byeonghwan Jeon, Yongsuk Choi, Youngduk Kim, Taeseok Oh, SangYun Lee, Yong-Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 9915624
    Abstract: A method and system are presented for use in controlling a process applied to a patterned structure having regions of different layered stacks. The method comprises: sequentially receiving measured data indicative of optical response of the structure being processed during a predetermined processing time, and generating a corresponding sequence of data pieces measured over time; and analyzing and processing the sequence of the data pieces and determining at least one main parameter of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS, LTD.
    Inventors: Igor Turovets, Cornel Bozdog, Dario Elyasi
  • Patent number: 9915625
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting defects on a wafer are provided. One system includes one or more computer subsystems configured for generating a rendered image based on information for a design printed on the wafer. The rendered image is a simulation of an image generated by an optical inspection subsystem for the design printed on the wafer. Generating the rendered image includes one or more steps, and the computer subsystem(s) are configured for performing at least one of the one or more steps by executing a generative model. The computer subsystem(s)) are also configured for comparing the rendered image to an optical image of the wafer generated by the optical inspection subsystem. The design is printed on the wafer using a reticle. In addition, the computer subsystem(s) are configured for detecting defects on the wafer based on results of the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corp.
    Inventors: Lisheng Gao, Tao Luo, Keith Wells, Xiaochun Li
  • Patent number: 9915626
    Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for constructing a scattering and stopping relationship of cosmic-ray charged particles (including cosmic-ray electrons and/or cosmic-ray muons) over a range of low-atomic-mass materials, and to detect and identify content of a volume of interest (VOI) exposed to cosmic-ray charged particles based on the constructed scattering and stopping relationship. In one aspect, a process for constructing a scattering-stopping relationship for a range of low-density materials exposed to cosmic-ray charged particles is disclosed. This technique first determines a scattering parameter and a stopping parameter for each material within the range of low-density materials exposed to charged particles from cosmic ray. The technique then establishes a scattering-stopping relationship of cosmic ray charged particles for the range of low-density materials based on the determined pairs of scattering and stopping parameters associated with the range of low-density materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Decision Sciences International Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Blanpied, Sankaran Kumar, Dustin Dorroh, Craig Morgan, Michael James Sossong
  • Patent number: 9915627
    Abstract: The present invention provides deterioration analysis method which allows a detailed analysis of deterioration, especially deterioration of surface conditions, of a polymer material. The present invention relates to a deterioration analysis method, including irradiating a polymer material with high intensity X-rays, and measuring X-ray absorption while varying the energy of the X-rays, to analyze deterioration of the polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Fusae Kaneko, Hiroyuki Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 9915628
    Abstract: Methods and systems for tracing circuitry on integrated circuits using focused ion beam based imaging techniques. A first component or node on an integrated circuit is coupled to a second component or node on the same integrated circuit. After an external bias is applied to the first component or node, a focused ion beam is applied to the integrated circuit and an image is taken using an electron detector. The features or components on the integrated circuit which are coupled to the second component or node will show up in high contrast on the resulting image. The method may also involve applying a bias to a node or component and then using focused ion beam imaging techniques (through an electron detector) to arrive at an image of the integrated circuit. Components coupled to the node will appear in high contrast in the resulting image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: TECHINSIGHTS INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Pawlowicz, Alexander Sorkin, Michael W. Phaneuf, Alexander Krechmer, Ken G. Lagarec
  • Patent number: 9915629
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to measure pH of a sample with high accuracy in a pH sensor array, without the use of a glass reference electrode. Each time that a sample is measured, the potential Vrm of the sample is identified, and the identified potential Vrm is used to calculate the pH. The outputs Voi1 and Voi2 of a first element and a second element located near one another in a sensor array are represented as follows. Voi1=Si1×pHi1+Gi1×Vrm+Ci1, Voi2=Si2×pHi2+Gi2×Vrm+Ci2. Voi is the output of the element, Si and Gi are sensitivity coefficients, and Ci is a constant, these values having been derived in advance. Here, where the potential Vrm is constant, and the elements located near one another are presumed to be at equal pH (pHi1=pHi2), the potential Vrm is identified by solving a linear equation with two unknowns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: National University Corporation Toyohashi University of Technology
    Inventors: Fumihiro Dasai, Kazuaki Sawada, Masato Futagawa
  • Patent number: 9915630
    Abstract: A biochip includes a substrate, where the substrate includes at least one hole extending from a first surface of the substrate to a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface, and where the substrate comprises a microfluidic channel pattern. The biochip further includes a surface modification layer over the substrate. Additionally, the biochip includes a sensing wafer bonded to the substrate, where the sensing wafer has one or more modified surface patterns having different surface properties from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Shao Liu, Chun-Wen Cheng, Chun-Ren Cheng
  • Patent number: 9915631
    Abstract: A digital microfluidics system for manipulating samples in liquid droplets within a gap between a first hydrophobic surface of a bottom layer and a second hydrophobic surface of at least one disposable cartridge. Disposable cartridges comprise a body and/or a rigid cover plate. The bottom layer of each disposable cartridge is a flexible film that is sealingly attached to the body or plate. The cartridge has no spacer between the first and second hydrophobic surfaces. When using these cartridges, the bottom layers configured as a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets thereon, is placed on an electrode array of a digital microfluidics system. The array has individual electrodes. The digital microfluidics system also comprises a central control unit for controlling the selection of the individual electrodes of the electrode array and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Daniel Hoffmeyer, Tiffany Lay, Travis Lee
  • Patent number: 9915632
    Abstract: A system for non-destructive inspection of a structure includes a magnetostrictive pulser coil and a ferromagnetic strip. The ferromagnetic strip is coupled to the structure adjacent to the pulser coil. A scanner receiver probe is located adjacent to the ferromagnetic strip. The probe includes a probe body, a position encoder, and a magnetostrictive partial loading receiver coil. A magnet applies a biasing magnetic field to the ferromagnetic strip. A pulser system generates a time-varying current in the pulser coil to induce a time-varying magnetization in the ferromagnetic strip to generate guided wave energy in the structure. The probe detects reflected guided wave energy as the probe is moved around the circumference of the structure. A processor controls the pulser system, records guided wave reflections, and process the guided wave and probe position data to generate a one-dimensional image or a two-dimensional image of anomalies in said structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: FBS, INC.
    Inventors: Steven E. Owens, Cody J. Borigo, Li Zhang, Joseph L. Rose, Russell G. Love
  • Patent number: 9915633
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for non-destructive evaluation of depressions on a surface of an object are provided. One example system includes a measurement apparatus having a two-dimensional ultrasonic transducer array, a delay line material, a sealing member position such that the sealing member forms a cavity between the delay line material and a surface of the object, and a liquid inlet for injecting a liquid into the cavity. The example system also includes a processor configured to determine, using ultrasonic signals received from the two-dimensional ultrasonic transducer array, at least one property of a depression such as a dent on the surface of an object. The example system may also be configured to provide an output that is indicative of whether the at least one property of the depression satisfies a predetermined criterion. Another example system includes a compressible elastomeric delay line material that conforms to a surface of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Tyler M. Holmes, Jeffrey R. Kollgaard
  • Patent number: 9915634
    Abstract: A pressurization passage that divides a constant pressure from a pressure source with passage resistances so as to have a predetermined constant pressure is disposed on a downstream side of a sample loop in order to maintain a back pressure of the sample loop constant when a sample gas is collected to the sample loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Aono
  • Patent number: 9915635
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer program, an apparatus and a method for correcting light absorption values measured for an eluate in connection with performing chromatography on a chemical sample, the sample being eluted with an eluent having an eluent profile with changing solvent composition during the elution of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: BIOTAGE AB
    Inventor: Anders Warngren
  • Patent number: 9915636
    Abstract: A reaction carrier (14), a measuring device (12) and a measuring method measure a concentration of gaseous and/or aerosol components of a gas mixture. A flow channel (42), extends between two connecting elements (44) and defines a reaction chamber (46) with an optically detectable reaction material (48) that reacts a component of the gas mixture or with a reaction product of the component. The reaction carrier (14) includes a temperature-measuring element (88). The measuring device (12) includes a temperature-measuring element (90) which records a temperature of the measuring device (12) and/or of the reaction carrier (14), and a temperature-determining unit (92) which determines the temperature of the gas mixture as a function of the measurement result of the at least one temperature-measuring element (90). The measuring method includes determining a concentration of the component on the basis of an optically detectable reaction and the determined temperature of the gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Hans-Ullrich Hansmann, Philipp Rostalski
  • Patent number: 9915637
    Abstract: First inner gas holes 134a and first outer gas holes 144a of a gas sensor are formed so that the following conditions are satisfied: a first-inner-hole count Nin?3, 0<an inner/outer hole count ratio Nr?0.5, and 0<an inner/outer hole-area ratio Ar?0.25, where the first-inner-hole count Nin represents the number of first inner gas holes 134a, a first-inner-hole average area Ain [mm2] represents (the total opening area of the first inner gas holes 134a)/(the first-inner-hole count Nin), a first-outer-hole count Nout represents the number of the first outer gas holes 144a, a first-outer-hole average area Aout represents (the total opening area of the first outer gas holes 144a)/(the first-outer-hole count Nout), the inner/outer hole count ratio Nr represents the first-inner-hole count Nin/the first-outer-hole count Nout, and the inner/outer hole-area ratio Ar represents the first-inner-hole average area Ain/the first-outer-hole average area Aout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Sekiya, Mika Murakami, Shingo Sokawa, Yosuke Okabe
  • Patent number: 9915638
    Abstract: A food expiry label includes a layer of material (such as a water-swollen mammalian gelatine) that undergoes a phase transition (such as from solid to liquid) upon exposure to bacteria or fungi that result in food spoilage. The label may incorporate a tactile surface that the user can feel underneath the layer of gelatine once the gelatine has changed from solid to liquid. Thus a user can detect when a foodstuff is likely to have spoiled or been on the shelf for a predetermined period simply by feeling the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mimica Lab Ltd
    Inventor: Solveiga Pakstaite
  • Patent number: 9915639
    Abstract: This agricultural device introduces an innovative approach to soil treatment that restores the fertility of depleted soils, which currently depend on chemical fertilizers to keep up with global food production needs. The new technology is based upon the concept of bioenergetics, whereby soil is conceived as the main factor that needs to be balanced in order to increase natural soil fertility, crop production, and food quality. This scientifically-based farming technology utilizes horizontal tillage—as opposed to conventional tillage—to reduce the entropy of the soil-plant-atmosphere system, helping regenerate biological memory and natural soil fertility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Heriberto Bouza Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 9915640
    Abstract: A system and a process for detecting early stage electrical components problems with an analysis system is disclosed. The system process includes determining an oil quality of the oil of an electrical component using the analysis system. The system the process further including determining dissolved gases in the oil of the electrical component using the analysis system, processing and analyzing the oil quality and the dissolved gases using the analysis system, and determining whether there are problems in the electrical component using the analysis system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SPX TRANSFORMER SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: John Pruente, Nuwan Rodrigo
  • Patent number: 9915641
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for sensing biological functions are disclosed. Sensors can be implanted in an organ, such as the brain, and a magnetic field gradient applied to the biological tissue. The field causes the sensors to have different resonant frequencies allowing their spatial localization. The sensors can harvest power from the external coils to be able to retransmit data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Mikhail Shapiro, Azita Emami, Manuel Alejandro Monge Osorio
  • Patent number: 9915642
    Abstract: A method of assessing a tissue sample includes the steps of: 1) splitting source electromagnetic radiation into: a) sample arm radiation directed in a Z direction toward a sample thereby illuminating the sample at a first selected XY coordinate pair of the sample, and b) reflector arm radiation directed toward a reflector so that the reflector arm radiation travels a path length; 2) interfering sample-scattered electromagnetic radiation with reflector-reflected electromagnetic radiation thereby establishing an interference pattern associated with the sample; 3) comparing the sample interference pattern to a reference interference pattern; and 4) reaching a conclusion about the sample based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc
    Inventor: David Ribble
  • Patent number: 9915643
    Abstract: The present invention covers the integration and utility of accelerometer features into a clinical analysis system. For example, measurement of dynamic acceleration and orientation of a blood-testing instrument with respect to Earth's gravitational field may be used to determine reliability of a test procedure and optionally to provide corrective elements thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Abbott Point of Care Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Vandersleen, Pierre Emeric, Paul Wasserman, Narendra Soman, Graham Davis
  • Patent number: 9915644
    Abstract: A method and system for remotely monitoring intoxication of a user, comprising: prompting the user to provide a breath sample at a time point; at a breath sample acquisition device, generating a breath sample signal upon reception of the breath sample from the user, and broadcasting a unique signature proximal in time to the time point; using a sensor of a mobile computing device, generating an authentication signal derived from detection of the unique signature; at a processing system in communication with the mobile computing device and the sample acquisition device, receiving the breath sample signal and the authentication signal; generating a verification assessment that validates provision of the breath sample by the user; determining a value of an intoxication metric for the user based upon the breath sample signal; and transforming the verification assessment and the value of the intoxication metric into an analysis of intoxication of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: KHN Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Harry Nothacker, Pauline Anne Basaran, Stacey Ilene Rettus, Zachary Michael Saul
  • Patent number: 9915645
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for detecting the presence of or likelihood of a patient of developing occult pancreatic beta cell dysfunction, and a method for detecting the presence of or likelihood of a patient of developing clinically significant post-prandial hyperglycemia. The methods involve (a) measuring a level of alpha-hydroxybutyrate (AHB) in a single fasting baseline biological sample of the patient; (b) comparing the level of AHB in the single fasting baseline biological sample to a reference AHB level; and (c) determining the presence of or likelihood of developing the disorder in the patient based on the comparison in step (b). An increased AHB level at fasting baseline indicates that a normoglycemic, normo-insulinemic and/or non-dyslipidemic patient has developed or has an increased likelihood of developing occult pancreatic beta cell dysfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: True Health IP LLC
    Inventors: Steve Varvel, Rebecca E. Caffrey, James V. Pottala
  • Patent number: 9915646
    Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to assessing immunity to folate receptors. For example, methods and materials for assessing FR? immunity in a mammal are provided. This document also provides methods and materials related to stimulating immunity to folate receptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Keith L. Knutson, Lynn C. Hartmann, Kimberly R. Kalli, Christopher J. Krco
  • Patent number: 9915647
    Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions, devices, and kits relating to the use of cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (e.g., PFOs) for measuring intracellular mitochondrial activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: BAYSTATE MEDICAL CENTER, INC., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
    Inventors: Nagendra Yadava, Alejandro Pablo Heuck, Chul Kim