Including Liquid Level Sensor Patents (Class 422/517)
  • Patent number: 9999881
    Abstract: An electrical pipette that includes an adjustment wheel, which comprises a primary spring defining a first adjustment area and a secondary spring defining a second adjustment area after the first adjustment area in a turning direction of the adjustment wheel. The force required for turning the adjustment wheel within the first adjustment area is smaller than within the second adjustment area, and the springs are arranged to return the adjustment wheel to its original position when the adjustment wheel is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SARTORIUS BIOHIT LIQUID HANDLING OY
    Inventor: Ville Hintikka
  • Patent number: 9962707
    Abstract: Pipette assembly comprising a pipette device, a pipette tip, and an expanding mandrel collet coupling device coupling the tip to the pipette device, the coupling device comprising: circumferentially spaced apart segments, an annular base disposed below the segments and comprising a distal portion, an elastomeric element circumscribing the distal portion, and upwardly extending circumferentially spaced apart arms attached at first ends to the annular base and having upper free ends each supporting a different one of the segments configured to expand between a first and a second greater circumference for engaging a first interior working surface of the tip in concurrence with the elastomeric element sealing against a second interior working surface below the first surface and in concurrence with an abutment between a disk exteriorly disposed about a medial portion of the arms and a stepped interior shoulder of the tip disposed between the first and second working surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Company
    Inventors: Jose Eduardo Guzman, Thomas Barresi, Dana A. Belton
  • Patent number: 9943842
    Abstract: Pipette tip coupler and a disposable pipette tip for a pipette device comprises a stepped coupler shoulder complementary to an axially stepped pipette tip shoulder; a plurality of circumferentially disposed elements or segments carried by the coupler at a location superior to the coupler shoulder; and a distal elastomeric element carried by the coupler at a location distal to the coupler shoulder wherein the plurality of elements or segments have a circumferential, radially translated state that provides an abutment with a first working surface formed in the interior surface of the tip while compressing the distal elastomeric element into sealing abutment with a second working surface formed in the interior surface of the tip and while abutting the proximally facing axial stop surface of the tip with the distally facing axial stop surface of the coupler to define an axial coupling position of the pipette tip on the pipette device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Company
    Inventors: Jose Eduardo Guzman, Thomas Barresi, Dana A. Belton
  • Patent number: 9901920
    Abstract: Pipette tip coupler and a disposable pipette tip for a pipette device comprises a stepped coupler shoulder complementary to an axially stepped pipette tip shoulder; a plurality of circumferentially disposed elements or segments carried by the coupler at a location superior to the coupler shoulder; and a distal elastomeric element carried by the coupler at a location distal to the coupler shoulder wherein the plurality of elements or segments have a circumferential, radially translated state that provides an abutment with a first working surface formed in the interior surface of the tip while compressing the distal elastomeric element into sealing abutment with a second working surface formed in the interior surface of the tip and while abutting the proximally facing axial stop surface of the tip with the distally facing axial stop surface of the coupler to define an axial coupling position of the pipette tip on the pipette device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Company
    Inventors: Jose Eduardo Guzman, Thomas Barresi, Dana A. Belton
  • Patent number: 9352311
    Abstract: A dosing device comprises a housing. The housing has a slot-shaped opening in the axial direction. The respective region of a setting cylinder located inside the housing can be seen from the exterior through the opening. The setting cylinder can be radially rotated or set by way of a setting wheel. Quantitative indications of the discharge volumes for various syringe types at various settings are arranged in columns on the setting cylinder in the form of a table. The cylinder is oriented relative to the window in the housing such that at a given angular setting of the cylinder the correct discharge volume is visible in the window for every syringe type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Ritter GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Ritter, Frank Ritter
  • Patent number: 8936765
    Abstract: An automatic analyzer having a reaction vessel in which an analyte is caused to react with a reagent; a probe for suctioning the reacted analyte from the reaction vessel; an analyzer unit for analyzing the reacted analyte; a transfer channel for transferring the reacted analyte suctioned by the probe to the analyzer unit 6; and a liquid-surface detector, connected to the reaction vessel and the probe via signal lines 1a and a pair of signal lines 4a and 4b, respectively, for detecting the electrical characteristics between the probe and the reaction vessel. A switch is located between the signal lines 4a and 4b that connect the liquid-surface detector to the probe, so that the switch can connect or disconnect the signal line 4a to/from the signal line 4b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Shahed Sarwar, Kazuhiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8911685
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automated analyzer intended for qualitative/quantitative analysis of blood, urine, and other biological samples, and including a reagent disk for mounting a plurality of reagent containers thereon, wherein any errors in liquid-level measurement due to oscillation of a reagent liquid surface during rotation of the reagent disk are minimized, even when reagent containers of a large capacity are mounted. If a predetermined constant cycle time is defined as one unit, the reagent disk with reagent containers mounted thereon is transported to a liquid-level detection position using at least two units when a liquid level of a reagent is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Shigeki Matsubara, Teruhiro Yamano
  • Patent number: 8858718
    Abstract: An automated method of cleaning the pipes of a plate washing system is provided. The plate washing system includes at least one manifold having a plurality of pipes configured to be provided within wells of a plate in order to wash the wells, an ultrasonic transducer mounted to a tank, and a control system. The plate washing system also includes sensors to sense the position of the pipes relative to plate and the tank, and the fluid level within the wells of the plate. The method includes dispensing fluid to the tank, submerging the tips of the pipes within the fluid, activating the ultrasonic transducer in order to vibrate the fluid, and aspirating the fluid from the tank. The control system may initiate a cleaning operation at the request of the user, at a scheduled interval, or when the level sensing system detects a decrease in instrument function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: BTI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Gifford, Lenore Buehrer, Thomas A. Cleveland
  • Patent number: 8852530
    Abstract: An automated analyzer according to an embodiment includes a probe. The probe has a step part configured to be provided between a lower shaft and an upper shaft, and to be formed such that the outer diameter changes. A descending controller lowers the probe from a predefined position that positions the step part above the liquid surface to an operating position that positions the step part below the liquid surface. A ascending controller raises the probe at a high speed from the operating position until immediately before the step part reaches the position of the liquid surface, subsequently raises the probe at a low speed until the step part passes through the liquid surface, and raises the probe at a higher speed than the low speed from immediately after the step part passes through the position of the liquid surface up to the predefined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Takehiko Oonuma, Tomohiro Sugimura
  • Patent number: 8831783
    Abstract: A biochemical processing apparatus is provided having a stage receiving a biochemical reaction cartridge which includes chambers and flow paths communicating therebetween, a moving system for moving liquid via the flow paths, and a detector for detecting the presence of the liquid in a chamber and/or the amount of the liquid. In addition, a determining device determines a result of the movement of the liquid from the information of the liquid in the chamber detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Numajiri
  • Patent number: 8758702
    Abstract: A clinical diagnostic sample analyzer for analyzing a sample of a patient is disclosed. The analyzer includes a telescoping closed-tube sampling assembly with a sample probe concentrically housed within a piercing probe and a venting mechanism. The closed-tube sampling assembly is used for aspirating a sample from a sample tube for analysis by a clinical diagnostic sample analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Instrumentation Laboratory Company
    Inventors: Matthew Blouin, Gregory Murphy, Diana Mackenzie, Alan Weeks, Daniel Kobrenski
  • Patent number: 8691148
    Abstract: The invention provides a small-sized automatic analyzer being compact, enabling a large number of analysis items to be carried out, and having a high processing speed. The automatic analyzer is particularly suitably applied to a medical analyzer used for qualitative/quantitative analysis of living body samples, such as urine and blood. A plurality of sample dispensing mechanism s capable of being operated independently of each other are provided to suck a sample from any one of a plurality of sample suction positions and to discharge the sucked sample to any one of a plurality of positions on a reaction disk. The automatic analyzer having a high processing capability can be thus realized without increasing the system size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yanami, Isao Yamazaki, Masaaki Hanawa, Hitoshi Otake
  • Patent number: 8632735
    Abstract: A system for titrating liquids, with a syringe or tip, comprising a holding device and at least one tag and a metering equipment, comprising an additional holding device for holding the syringe or tip on the holding device, a reading device for reading the tag of the syringe or tip held by the additional holding device, a driving device having a motor, which is detachably coupled with a plunger of the syringe when the same is held by the additional holding device, or which is coupled with a plunger which is arranged in a cylinder which is coupled with the tip via a fluid conduit, when the same is held by the additional holding device, an operating device for operating the metering equipment and a control device, connected with the operating device, the reading device and the driving device, which controls the movement of the plunger depending of the tag of the inserted syringe or tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventors: Heinz-Gerhard Kohn, Karl-Friedrich Andres
  • Patent number: 8574514
    Abstract: The invention relates to a test element for detecting at least one analyte in a sample, in particular for detecting at least one metabolite in a bodily fluid. The test element comprises at least one test field with a test field surface. The test field comprises at least one detection reagent that is adapted to undergo a detectable reaction in the presence of the analyte. The test element further comprises at least one distribution element that has at least one distribution surface facing the test field surface. Between the distribution surface and the test field surface is at least one capillary gap, wherein the capillary gap is adapted to allow a layer of the sample with a layer thickness of no more than 50 ?m to form within the capillary gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Petrich, Luis David Bedon-Gomez
  • Patent number: 8545757
    Abstract: A sample treatment apparatus is designed to directly monitor a pressure signal from a pressure sensor to examine pressure fluctuations resulting from a sample's sway before a discharge of the sample, so that the discharge is performed after the confirmation of the absence of pressure changes. The apparatus has a detection function that allows a discharge to be started even before a pressure fluctuation vanishes completely, by allowing the operator to set a desired number of pressure monitorings, monitoring time, or pressure amplitude. The detection function also allows an alarm to be raised when a pressure fluctuation has not fallen within a given range. The sample treatment apparatus therefore allows discharge of more accurate amounts of samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Utsugi, Kuniaki Onizawa, Ken Takakura, Yoshio Kiyonari, Isao Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8470260
    Abstract: A light beam guided liquid delivery device for tracking the placement of a sample by a liquid delivery device into a receptacle like a milliliter or microliter scale tube, or a microtiter plate, includes a liquid delivery device and a light beam generator. The light beam generator may be positioned on the outside or inside of the liquid delivery device. The light beam generator may be adapted to shoot a light beam below the tip of the liquid delivery device, whereby, a user may track the placement of the tip of the liquid delivery device via the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: David Andrew Carr, Jennifer W. Weller
  • Patent number: 8337779
    Abstract: A reagent open mechanism of the luminescence measurement system comprises a triaxial actuator and a reagent dispensing nozzle which is driven by the triaxial actuator. A reagent cartridge where a reagent to be divided by the reagent dispensing nozzle is filled in a concave and the opening of the concave is sealed by an aluminum sheet can be set in. This reagent open mechanism comprises an open needle which is driven by the triaxial actuator and makes a hole in the aluminum sheet and a fixation block between the reagent dispensing nozzle and the open needle which arranges the reagent dispensing nozzle and the open needle in such location that the reagent dispensing nozzle or the open needle does not contact with a structure including the reagent cartridge in a Z-axis operation during opening time or reagent dividing and dispensing time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Noe Miyashita
  • Patent number: 8197754
    Abstract: The invention provides a small-sized automatic analyzer being compact, enabling a large number of analysis items to be carried out, and having a high processing speed. The automatic analyzer is particularly suitably applied to a medical analyzer used for qualitative/quantitative analysis of living body samples, such as urine and blood. A plurality of sample dispensing mechanism s capable of being operated independently of each other are provided to suck a sample from any one of a plurality of sample suction positions and to discharge the sucked sample to any one of a plurality of positions on a reaction disk. The automatic analyzer having a high processing capability can be thus realized without increasing the system size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yanami, Isao Yamazaki, Masaaki Hanawa, Hitoshi Otake
  • Patent number: 8025853
    Abstract: A biochemical processing apparatus is provided having a stage receiving a biochemical reaction cartridge which includes chambers and flow paths communicating therebetween, a moving system for moving liquid via the flow paths, and a detector for detecting the presence of the liquid in a chamber and/or the amount of the liquid. In addition, a determining device determines a result of the movement of the liquid from the information of the liquid in the chamber detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Numajiri
  • Patent number: 7910073
    Abstract: The microfluidic system is constituted of modules that comprise one microfluidic unit and one corresponding electric control unit each and that are retained on a rear panel unit next to each other in a row. To prevent the formation of accumulation of ignitable or toxic gas mixtures a fluid conduit for a rinsing fluid extends through the rear panel unit. Branches lead from said fluid conduit to the modules, and said branches flowing into respective distributor compartments that extend vertically across the module height in the modules. Said distributor compartments are delimited in relation to the interior of the respective module by a distributor panel that is provide with openings. The interior of the respective module comprises, on its lower or rear surface, an exit opening for the rinsing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Astrid Lohf, Reinhold Schneeberger, Waldemar Wenzel
  • Patent number: 6560441
    Abstract: A solution for providing an improved fading margin environment for in-building wireless coverage. An optical fiber or other available broadband signal distribution network is used to distribute signals between centrally located base transceiver station (BTS) equipment and remotely located transceiver equipment referred to herein as a cable microcell integrator (CMI). The CMIs are deployed in a configuration to provide radio frequency coverage in a desired microcell area such as a building floor. In a preferred embodiment, a leaky coaxial cable is used as a radiating element within the microcell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Transcept, Inc.
    Inventors: John Sabat, Jr., John H. Oates, Thomas J. Johnson