Means Is Conveyor And Rack Patents (Class 422/65)
  • Patent number: 12214962
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems comprising integrated motorized conveyor rollers are provided. The example integrated motorized conveyor roller comprises: a housing; a motor assembly and a drive assembly at least partially disposed within the housing that are configured to cause rotation of at least a portion of the integrated motorized conveyor roller; at least one sensing element operatively coupled to the integrated motorized conveyor roller; and a controller component in electronic communication with the at least one sensing element, the motor assembly and the drive assembly, wherein the controller component is configured to obtain operational data via the at least one sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC
    Inventors: Saravanan Sadasivan, Jeyaprakash Kandasamy, Rajesh Kaliyaperumal, Ravi Kumar Avupati
  • Patent number: 12216134
    Abstract: In a case where plural measurement items that require different incubation times are simultaneously measured in an automatic analyzer, deterioration of the turnaround time of the measurement is minimized. The automatic analyzer receives a request of a sample, obtains a ratio of a short measurement item among examination items of the received analysis request, and a determines an empty cycle based on the ratio of the short measurement item and the number of schedules. When an empty cycle is necessary, the empty cycle is scheduled in a schedule of a sample that is requested to be measured first, for example, an empty cycle in a short measurement for making an incubator empty. As a result, this position can be used for a measurement of a short measurement item such that the wait time of the start of the measurement can be short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Hagiwara, Teruhiro Yamano, Kazunori Yamazawa, Taku Sakazume
  • Patent number: 12216136
    Abstract: An automated laboratory system includes a work area with a plurality of predefined workstations. Each of the plurality of predefined workstations occupies a footprint of a standardized microtiter plate. At least one tool holder is structured to move tools above the work area and at least one transport tool is structured to be moved by the tool holder in order to relocate laboratory items within the work area. At least one pipetting tool is structured to be moved by the tool holder in order to pick up and release pipette tips. A holder for pipette tip carriers includes at least one carrying apparatus defining a rectangular through-opening, and a support apparatus connected to the carrying apparatus. An electronic control apparatus is connected to the tool holder and structured to control movements of the transport tool and at least one pipetting tool by the tool holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventor: Jens-Peter Kroog
  • Patent number: 12210030
    Abstract: A method of delivering a receptacle to an instrument includes the steps of supporting a receptacle containing a fluid on a carrier, transporting the carrier supporting the receptacle on a conveyor extending adjacent to each of a plurality of instruments, transferring the receptacle from the carrier to a puck supported on a carriage when the carriage is positioned at a first location, moving the carriage with the receptacle seated in the puck from the first location to a second location within an instrument of the plurality of instruments, and drawing at least a portion of the fluid from the receptacle seated in the puck into a tip associated with a fluid extraction device of the instrument when the carriage is positioned at the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rolf Silbert, HongRan Peng, David Aaron Buse, David H. Combs
  • Patent number: 12210031
    Abstract: A receptacle-supporting puck includes spring-biased fingers arranged about a vertical axis, each finger having a contact surface to contact a receptacle seated in the puck. A supporting disc of the puck includes a disc sidewall projecting from a base and defining a pocket for seating a receptacle, first cavities in the base extending toward the vertical axis, and a puck passageway extending through opposed portions of the disc sidewall transversely to and offset from the vertical axis. Each finger is rotatably coupled to the supporting disc at a corresponding first cavity. A synchronization disc is positioned in the pocket, and each of the fingers is coupled to the synchronization disc such that the contact surfaces of the fingers move synchronously toward and away from the vertical axis. A retaining ring couples the fingers, the supporting disc, and the synchronization disc together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rolf Silbert, HongRan Peng, David Aaron Buse, David H. Combs
  • Patent number: 12204233
    Abstract: An imaging device acquires images of a plate-like specimen container having a rectangular shape as seen in top view. The imaging device includes a table, a position reference member, and a holding mechanism. The position reference member includes a first extension and a second extension which intersect at right angles to each other. The holding mechanism includes a rotating plate extending horizontally in plate-like form, and a main body portion for pivoting the rotating plate forwardly in a circumferential direction by means of elastic force of a spring. The rotating plate includes a front wing portion, and a protruding portion protruding forwardly in the circumferential direction from the front wing portion. The specimen container is urged in a second direction to align along the first extension when the rotating plate is pivoted to bring the front wing portion into contact with the specimen container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Yabu
  • Patent number: 12181486
    Abstract: A plate changer is provided with a plate storage and a transport mechanism. The plate storage is provided with an installation window portion and a transport window portion arranged to face to each other. The plate storage is further provided with a plate stopper at the transport window portion. The plate stopper stops the sample plate by being arranged at an interfering position where the plate stopper comes into contact with a transport window portion-side end face of the sample plate when the sample plate inserted from the installation window portion has reached a predetermined position in the one direction. The the plate stopper is configured to be arranged at a non-interfering position where the plate stopper does not interfere with the transport mechanism and the sample plate when the sample plate on the plate installation stand is taken out from the transport window portion by the gripping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kodai Imaeda, Takuya Sawada
  • Patent number: 12183564
    Abstract: A mass spectrometry apparatus, including a mass spectrometer and a sample plate. The mass spectrometer includes: a sample plate holder configured to hold a sample plate in an engaged position. The mass spectrometer is configured to perform a mass spectrometric analysis of a sample only when the sample is located on a sample plate that is held in the engaged position by the sample plate holder. The mass spectrometer includes one or more engagement features configured to engage with a sample plate so as to prevent the sample plate from being held in the engaged position by the sample plate holder unless the sample plate includes one or more engagement features configured to limit use of the sample plate to a specific analytical technique or a range of analytical techniques to be performed using the mass spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: KRATOS ANALYTICAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Bowdler, Ian Brookhouse, Neil Edmunds
  • Patent number: 12158476
    Abstract: An automatic analysis apparatus and an operating method therefor. A temporary storage portion is introduced, a multi-component test project may be divided into new one-step test processes, or a multi-step test process may be divided into new one-step test processes, and test sequences and processes may be re-entered, so that each mechanism, unit and control time sequence may be designed according to one-step test processes in a standard and orderly manner, so as to solve the problem that multi-component test projects and multi-step test processes disturb normal processes, thereby effectively increasing the test speed and the test throughput of the whole machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO-MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wentao Ju, Ersheng Li, Yanwen Weng, Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 12146890
    Abstract: An automated analyzer includes two or more types of photometers to obtain suitable output of the measurement results of the plurality of photometers and suitable data alarm output even if there is an abnormality, or the like, at the time of measurement. The automated analyzer includes, for example, two types of photometers having different quantitative ranges and an analysis control unit for controlling analysis that includes measurement of a given sample using the two types of photometers. If two types of data alarms corresponding to abnormalities, or the like, during measurement have been added to the two types of measurement results from the two types of photometers, the analysis control unit selects measurement result and data alarm output corresponding to the combination of the two types of data alarms and outputs the same to a user as analysis results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Yuto Kazama, Masahiko Iijima, Chie Yabutani, Kenji Kogure
  • Patent number: 12130297
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for performing assays on a solid phase to measure the level of analyte in a sample. Such a system may perform immunoassays using electrochemiluminescence (ECL) including a counterbalanced orbital shaking apparatus for assay consumables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: MESO SCALE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventors: Eli N. Glezer, Carl Edens, Bandele Jeffrey-Coker, Sandor Kovacs, Christopher Frye
  • Patent number: 12123884
    Abstract: An automatic analyzer is capable of normally maintaining a device condition and exhibiting a stable performance by automatically monitoring a cleaning implementation situation using a wash rack. The automatic analyzer includes an analysis unit, a rack loading unit into which at least a sample rack that holds the sample and a wash rack that holds a cleaning liquid are loaded. A transportation mechanism transports the sample rack and the wash rack to the analysis unit. A management control unit causes the wash rack to be transported to an analysis unit, causes a cleaning operation of the analysis unit by the cleaning liquid held by the wash rack, and causes stopping of the sample analysis operation of the analysis unit to which the wash rack has been transported until a performance of the analysis unit is determined to be normal based on the cleaning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Yagi, Masafumi Miyake, Sayaka Asada
  • Patent number: 12115307
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a liquid storage portion configured to hold aerosol-forming substrate, a vaporizer, and a pump. The liquid storage portion includes a movable wall and an outlet. The vaporizer includes a heating element having a structure that at least partially defines an internal passage. The pump may deliver liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the outlet of the liquid storage portion to the internal passage of the heating element. The pump may include a micro stepper motor with a drive shaft that is configured to rotate a particular amount based on performing an individual step, a piston connected to the movable wall, and a lead screw connecting the drive shaft to the piston and configured to translate rotation of the drive shaft into axial movement of the piston and the movable wall. The vaporizer may at least partially vaporize the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Rui Nuno Batista, Ben Mazur
  • Patent number: 12117459
    Abstract: A rover-based integrated laboratory system including autonomous mobile robots is disclosed. Namely, a rover-based integrated laboratory system is disclosed comprising a workspace; a laboratory component within the workspace, the laboratory component being adapted to perform a laboratory technique; a labware component within the workspace that is adapted to be used in the laboratory technique; and a rover component within the workspace that is operatively connected to the laboratory and the labware components, the rover component being an autonomous mobile robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Formulatrix International Holding Ltd.
    Inventors: David Wikholm, Rasmus Lindblom
  • Patent number: 12111327
    Abstract: The automatic analyzer is capable of performing other operations concurrently with a maintenance operation and notifying a user when a user action is required in executing maintenance and displaying guidance. Automatic analyzer includes analysis modules and that analyze a sample, a display device that displays information related to maintenance in the analyzer including the analysis modules and, and an overall management computer that controls a constant display area to be displayed on a display screen of the display device, in which when there is a need to notify a user of a maintenance status at a timing when the maintenance in the analyzer is executed in a background and a screen other than a maintenance screen is displayed on the display device, the overall management computer displays notification information on the screen including global areas and of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Chida, Masashi Akutsu, Chikook Ha, Satoshi Yokotsuka
  • Patent number: 12105105
    Abstract: Systems and methods applicable, for instance, to pipette robots. A pipette robot can perform one or more operations regarding deck calibration, one or more operations regarding pipette tip/probe calibration, one or more operations regarding pipette tip pick up, and/or one or more operations regarding tip ejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Opentrons Labworks Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Sigler, Taylor Schlaff Goodman, Nicholas Pease Starno, Jonathan Preston Badal
  • Patent number: 12106588
    Abstract: Automatic substance preparation and evaluation systems and methods are provided for preparing and evaluating a fluidic substance, such as e.g. a sample with bodily fluid, in a container and/or in a dispense tip. The systems and methods can detect volumes, evaluate integrities, and check particle concentrations in the container and/or the dispense tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Takayuki Mizutani, Katsuhiro Seo, Shigeru Fujii, Kazuki Umebara, MArie Willette, Leila Nazemi
  • Patent number: 12103007
    Abstract: The present invention describes a base module (100) and a tray insert (200, 300, 400) of a multipurpose tray (100) for an automated processing system, such as an analytical, pre-analytical or post-analytical processing system, as well as to a multipurpose tray comprising such base module and such tray insert, wherein the tray insert can be particularly used for holding a plurality of reagent or sample tubes to be processed in the automated processing system. The present invention further relates to a method of simplified loading/unloading of such a multipurpose tray into/from the automated processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Chiu, Ion Iordanoaia, Reiner Hitt, Vijay Namasivayam, Eduard Nawrocki, Michael Neugebauer, Tim Moulton, Sam Palmer, Gerd Schmieta
  • Patent number: 12097491
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a method and a device for carrying out chemical, biochemical and/or immunochemical analyses of liquid samples, which are present in a sample store of an automatic analyzer, with the aid of liquid reagents, which are present in at least one reagent store of the analyzer. In one embodiment, a analyzer is disclosed including cuvettes for holding the liquid samples and reagents, the cuvettes are arranged in at least one stationary, linear cuvette array. The analyzer further has an optical measurement unit with a stationary light-supplying unit which has at least one light distributor device that feeds the light from a plurality of LED light sources emitting in a spectrally different manner in the UV/VIS/NIR wavelength range into the inlet windows of the individual cuvettes of the cuvette array. The optical measurement unit further includes a stationary detection unit assigned to outlet windows of the cuvettes and further includes a plurality of photodiodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Meon Medical Solutions GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Herfried Huemer, Arnold Bartel, Patrick Kraus-Füreder, Robert Scholz-Mareich, Wolfgang Sprengers, Michael Bergbaur, Reinhard Marik
  • Patent number: 12098358
    Abstract: A cell incubator system comprising a housing having an internal chamber having a controlled temperature and gas mixture therein appropriate for the growth of particular cells for incubation of the particular cells in one or more cell culture vessels in the internal chamber and a plurality of cell operation stations in the internal chamber. The stations receive plates having wells for holding cells and wherein the cell operations stations perform operations on cells in the wells. The system has a robotic transport for moving plates from one station to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Thrive Bioscience, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Blanchard
  • Patent number: 12095203
    Abstract: A system and method for self-aligning and connecting a device to a modular rack. The system includes a device comprising a connector receptacle configured to receive a connector plug, a connector seal and a bracket fixed to the device, a modular rack comprising the connector plug, a connector shell seal and a shelf configured to receive the bracket and guide the shelf in a plurality of directions. When the bracket of the device is inserted into the shelf of the modular rack, the shelf travels in the plurality of directions to self-align the connector plug of the modular rack to the connector receptacle of the device to ensure engagement of the connector plug to the connector receptacle. The connector seal is biased towards the connector shell seal to create a seal and ensure engagement of the connector plug relative to the connector receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignees: BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC., BAXTER HEALTHCARE SA
    Inventors: Greg Nielan, James Rowe, Vincent Khau, David Gorgi, Jiri Slaby
  • Patent number: 12078648
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sample measurement device comprising a first processing unit that performs a first measurement on a sample contained in a first container in a first cycle; a second processing unit that performs a second measurement on a sample contained in a second container in a second cycle different from the first cycle; and a relay section which is disposed between the first processing unit and the second processing unit and in which the second container is positioned, wherein the first processing unit performs a transferring operation of transferring the second container to the relay section, and the second processing unit performs a receiving operation of receiving the second container that has been transferred to the relay section from the relay section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Shiba, Hiroki Kotake, Akihito Kato
  • Patent number: 12064736
    Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for rotating a container (e.g., a capped tube containing a sample). The disclosure provides devices and methods of rotating a container using one motor, resulting in a less complex device. The device moves and rotates a container rotating member which in turn is used to rotate a container. The devices can be used in automated analytical instruments (e.g., automated blood analyzers) that automatically transport and detect the identity of sample containers. The devices can also be used in instruments that automatically spin sample containers to mix or homogenize the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Natasha Panattoni, Glenn Price
  • Patent number: 12061138
    Abstract: A biological sample processing apparatus having an enclosure. A plurality of sample processing modules are held by the enclosure. Each sample processing module is configured to hold a removable sample cartridge and to only perform sample processing on a sample within the corresponding removable sample cartridge. Each sample processing module is configured to perform at least one of a plurality of testing processes on the sample within the removable sample cartridge. At least one module in the apparatus is configured to perform nucleic acid amplification and detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Cepheid
    Inventor: John L. Bishop
  • Patent number: 12053874
    Abstract: A method for determining a position of a rack on a rack placement unit of a laboratory handling system is presented. The rack is configured to carry a number of laboratory sample containers. The method comprises measuring a height profile of the rack, determining at least one corner region of the rack based on the measured height profile of the rack, and determining the position of the rack based on the determined at least one corner region of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Raul Baltasar Badaya, Ricardo Cristino
  • Patent number: 12050230
    Abstract: Automatic device for the automated conduct of analyses, notably medical analyses, including: 43. a storage zone for bottles, 44. an automated sampling system for selectively sampling the content of a bottle among those present in the storage zone, 45. a loading zone for introducing a new bottle into the automatic device, 46. an unloading zone for collecting a bottle previously present in the storage zone, 47. a bottle conveyor and storage system, configured selectively and individually to transport a bottle from a location in the storage zone to the unloading zone or from the loading zone to a location in the storage zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Diagnostica Stago
    Inventors: Serge Andrade, Christophe Villain
  • Patent number: 12044690
    Abstract: An automatic analyzer for analyzing samples includes a lift, a part take-out station and a rack recovery station. The lift is configured to raise and lower a plurality of stacked part racks to the part take-out station and to the rack recovery station while keeping the part racks together. The part take-out station comprises a first rack separator configured to prevent the uppermost one of said stacked part racks from being lowered when the lift lowers, while allowing the other part racks to lower, so that the uppermost rack is separated from the other part racks so as to remain in the part take-out station. The rack recovery station comprises a second rack separator configured to prevent the uppermost one of said stacked part racks from being lowered when said lift lowers, while allowing the other part racks to lower, so as to remain in the rack recovery station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephan Sattler
  • Patent number: 12007401
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of automated analysis, and provides a sample analysis system and a control method for the same and a sample analysis method. The sample analysis system includes: a control device; a rail device for carrying cuvettes under control of the control device; at least one independent sample distribution node arranged on the rail device for distributing samples to the cuvettes, the independent sample distribution node being used for sample aspiration, transfer, and discharge; and at least two independent reagent distribution and measurement nodes arranged on the rail device for distributing test reagents to the cuvettes and measuring the mixture liquid in the cuvettes, the independent reagent distribution and measurement nodes being used for reagent aspiration, transfer, and discharge and reagent-sample mixture liquid measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN THISTORY BIO-MEDICAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Huali Zhang, Shaoyong Wu, Peng Xue, Huawei Zhang, Qiaobo Yin
  • Patent number: 11998921
    Abstract: A tissue processing system for processing a laboratory slide includes a slide holder for holding the slide, an outlet port positioned to direct a fluid stream onto the slide, and a device for moving the slide holder relative to the outlet port, or vice versa, to adjust a point on the slide at which the fluid stream is delivered onto the laboratory slide. The slide holder includes an absorbent pad configured to be positioned between one wall of the plurality of walls and a free edge of the slide for absorbing fluid travelling along the slide. A manifold of the system includes a first outlet port that directs a first fluid stream from a first fluid passageway onto the slide, and a second outlet port that directs a second fluid stream from a second fluid passageway onto a location of the slide that differs from the first fluid stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Rushabh Instruments, LLC
    Inventors: Preyas Shah, Sahil Shah
  • Patent number: 12000851
    Abstract: A laboratory sample distribution system comprising a plurality of sample container carriers, each adapted to carry one or more sample containers, each carrier comprising at least one magnetically active device and at least one electrically conductive member, a transport plane adapted to support the carriers, a plurality of electro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below the transport plane, the actuators being adapted to move the carriers on top of the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the carriers, a plurality of inductive sensors distributed over the transport plane, a control unit configured to control the movement of the carriers using an output signal provided by the inductive sensors by driving the actuators such that the carriers move along corresponding transport paths, and an evaluation unit configured to linearize the output signal from an inductive sensor by means of a linearization algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Pankaj Tanotra, Michele Andruszkiewicz
  • Patent number: 12000848
    Abstract: Incubation system and method for automated cell culture and/or testing. An exemplary incubation system may comprise a housing forming a chamber. A rack may define storage positions to support an array of sample holders inside the chamber. A detection robot may be configured to capture one or more images of cells contained by one or more wells of each sample holder while the sample holder remains at one of the storage positions of the rack. A fluid handling station may be configured to add fluid to, and/or remove fluid from, one or more wells of each of the sample holders inside the housing. At least one plate robot may be configured to move sample holders between the rack and the fluid handling station. A computer may control operation of the detection robot, the fluid handling station, and the at least one plate robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Molecular Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Verhoef, Josef J. Atzler, Andreas Kenda
  • Patent number: 11975328
    Abstract: The assembly includes a docking console and a manifold. The docking console includes a cartridge support surface having a first end and a second end. The manifold has one or more wells defined therein. The docking console further includes a manifold retention bracket to releasably hold the manifold against a fluid cartridge supported on the cartridge support surface at an interface position such that the one or more wells are in fluid communication with the fluid cartridge and a biased seal bar to press the fluid cartridge against the manifold held by the manifold retention bracket. A hydrophilic porous frit disposed within at least one of the wells and is to permit liquid to flow through the outlet aperture but prevent gas from passing through the outlet aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignees: ILLUMINA, INC., ILLUMINA CAMBRIDGE LIMITED
    Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Gudrun Stengel, James Christopher Blake, Mohammed Kafeel Ahamed, Michael Steven Becker, Michael Dangelo, Mark J. Nibbe, Daniel L. Fuller, Oliver Jon Miller
  • Patent number: 11969700
    Abstract: A mixing apparatus containing a drive unit having a drive and a shaft that is pivotable about a pivot axis and is operatively connected to the drive. A pivotable receptacle is arranged on the shaft, where the pivot axis is oriented essentially horizontally, and the pivotable receptacle has a base plate and at least one retainer spaced therefrom, and the pivotable receptacle is configured in such a way that holders for containers can be inserted between the base plate and the at least one retainer in the direction of the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Dominic Erb, Philipp Riedel, Christian Strebel, Gero Fehr, Klaus Lun, Christoph Karthaus
  • Patent number: 11953511
    Abstract: A sample measurement system and method of transporting of racks are provided that collectively supply the consumables to the sample measurement units. The sample measurement system includes: sample measurement units that perform measurement on samples by using consumables; a setting part in which a user sets consumable racks housing the consumables; a first transport path that supplies the consumable racks set in the setting part to one of the sample measurement units; a collector that is arranged adjacent to the setting part and that collects empty racks that are emptied after being transported to at least one of the sample measurement units; and a second transport path that transports the empty racks to the collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichi Masutani, Yuji Wakamiya
  • Patent number: 11954925
    Abstract: Automatic substance preparation and evaluation systems and methods are provided for preparing and evaluating a fluidic substance, such as e.g. a sample with bodily fluid, in a container and/or in a dispense tip. The systems and methods can detect volumes, evaluate integrities, and check particle concentrations in the container and/or the dispense tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Takayuki Mizutani, Katsuhiro Seo, Shigeru Fujii, Kazuki Umebara
  • Patent number: 11933800
    Abstract: The present invention provides: a drawer that is supported so as to be horizontally movable in the front-rear direction between an open position and a closed position through a front-face opening; a table that allows an expendable or a processing unit used for analysis to be mounted in the drawer; and a moving-direction transforming means that, while the drawer is moved toward the rear side from the open position to the closed position, moves horizontally until the expendable or the processing unit mounted on the table passes through the front-face opening from the front side to the rear side and moves the table toward the upper side in synchronization with the horizontal movement of the drawer toward the rear side after the expendable or the processing unit mounted on the table passes through the front-face opening. This makes it possible to easily and reliably perform the work of replacing a chip rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Taichiro Yamashita, Takenori Okusa
  • Patent number: 11927600
    Abstract: A fluidic bridge device for transport of a fluid sample between a first sample processing device and a second sample processing device. The fluidic bridge may include one or more fluid channels extending between fluid-tight couplings attachable to transfer ports of the first and second sample processing device. In one aspect the first device is a sample preparation device and the second device is an assay device. The fluidic bridge can include at least two fluid conduits, at least one for transport of the prepared sample, and at least one other to facilitate displacement of air to allow flow of the prepared sample through the other fluid conduit. The fluid channels can include one or more of an amplification chamber, a processing chamber, a gas-permeable vent, a bubble trap, a filter, and an external port. Methods of preparing and transporting a fluid sample between devices are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Cepheid
    Inventor: Douglas B. Dority
  • Patent number: 11927598
    Abstract: An analyzer system for in vitro diagnostics includes a sample handler module having a robot arm that delivers samples from drawers into carriers on a linear synchronous motor automation track. Samples are delivered via the automation track to individual track sections associated with individual analyzer modules. Analyzer modules aspirate sample portions directly from the sample carriers and perform analysis thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: David Stein, Roy Barr, Mark Edwards, Colin Mellars, Thomas J. Bao, Charles V. Cammarata, Benjamin S. Pollack, Baris Yagci, Beri Cohen
  • Patent number: 11926435
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assembling a structure. The systems and method including micro pulsing a structure along a track in a process direction by less than a length of the structure. The structure is indexed to one or more work stations by mating indexing features in a manufacturing excess of the structure to complementary features at the work stations. The work stations would the perform work on the structure at the work stations while the structure is indexed to the work stations. Iteratively repeating the micro pulsing and indexing and working upon the structure until it is ready to advance to the next assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. Smith, Darrell D. Jones, Frederick M. Swanstrom
  • Patent number: 11921043
    Abstract: A fluorescence observation device is a device for performing fluorescence observation of a sample piece cut out from a sample including: a tray on which the sample piece is placed; a light source unit which generates excitation light to irradiate the sample piece; a detection unit which detects fluorescence from the sample piece; and an image generation unit which generates a fluorescence image of the sample piece based on a detection signal from the detection unit and the tray includes a plurality of placement regions provided around a center region of the tray and also includes a marker portion indicating a cutting orientation of the sample piece with respect to the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Hirawake, Takahiro Murakoshi, Takahiro Shikayama, Takayuki Sato
  • Patent number: 11920976
    Abstract: A system for coupling photometers to an incubation ring for use in in vitro diagnostics comprises one or more light sources, and an incubation ring assembly, and two photometers. An incubation ring assembly comprises an internal trough and an external trough. Each trough comprises (a) an internal wall comprising an internal aperture and (b) an external wall comprising an external aperture. A first photometer comprises: a first optics housing directing light from the light sources through the external aperture of the internal trough, and a first detector positioned to receive the light through the internal aperture of the internal trough. A second photometer comprises a second optics housing directing the light from the light sources through the internal aperture of the external trough, and a second detector positioned to receive the light through the external aperture of the external trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Mizzer, Donald Wood
  • Patent number: 11906494
    Abstract: A device for moving a coupon comprising a coupon retainer for retaining a coupon on which a target solution is to be tested, a coupon manipulator for engaging the coupon retained in the coupon retainer with the target solution, and a first controller for controlling a movement of the coupon manipulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: CENTER FOR PHARMACEUTICAL CLEANING INNOVATION CORP
    Inventors: Andrew Walsh, Isaac Downey
  • Patent number: 11878826
    Abstract: A tube filling machine (1) adapted to fill different types of empty tubes (18) simultaneously, where the filling machine (1) comprises a grouping device (11), a transfer device (9), a conveyor (7) and a filling device (2) comprising a plurality of filling nozzles (3, 4, 5, 6), where the grouping device (11) comprises a first supply tray (13) with a first type of tubes, a second supply tray (14) with a second type of tubes, a receiving tray (17) and a pick-up head (12), where the transfer device (9) is adapted to transfer a grouped row of empty tubes (18) from the receiving tray (17) to the conveyor (7), where the grouping device (11) is adapted to place a plurality of groups (21) of empty tubes adjacent each other in the receiving tray (17), where a group (21) comprises a row of the first type of tubes and a row of the second type of tubes, that the transfer device (9) is adapted to transfer a row of grouped empty tubes from the receiving tray (17) to the conveyor (9), and where the filling nozzles (3, 4, 5,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Norden Machinery AB
    Inventor: Jan Nilsson
  • Patent number: 11879766
    Abstract: A droplet dispensing apparatus includes a crystal sensor, a resonance frequency measuring unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to obtain the resonance frequency of the crystal sensor before droplets are discharged from a liquid dropping device, control the liquid dropping device to discharge droplets on to the crystal sensor, and obtain the resonance frequency of the crystal sensor after droplets are discharged from the liquid dropping device. The controller estimates a volatilization amount for the droplets on the crystal sensor based on a temporal change trend in the resonance frequency of the crystal sensor and calculates the total weight of the droplets discharged from the liquid dropping device based on the difference in resonance frequency of the crystal sensor before and after the droplets are discharged and the estimated volatilization amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuhei Yokoyama, Atsushi Kubota, Ryutaro Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 11879902
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a test method capable of efficiently performing a step of evaluating a surface state of a dispensing probe provided in a dispensing apparatus. In the test method according to the present invention, a first solution in which a coloring matter is dissolved is dispensed to a first container in advance by a first dispensing probe, a second solution in which a coloring matter is not dissolved is dispensed to a second container in advance by the first dispensing probe and then the first solution and the second solution are respectively sucked and discharged by a second dispensing probe. After that, a surface state of the second dispensing probe is evaluated by acquiring an amount of the coloring matter collected by the second solution (see FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Nojima, Takamichi Mori, Isao Yamazaki, Tetsuji Kawahara, Youichi Aruga
  • Patent number: 11879880
    Abstract: Machines and methods are for performing fully-automated biological evaluation and chemical analysis. A pretreatment module is used in treatments of enriching, concentrating and purifying a sample to be analyzed. A component separation module is used for carrying out separation of multiple compounds in mother liquor to be analyzed. A monitoring and identifying module is for monitoring and collecting chromatographic signals of the separated liquid effluent in real time, as well as quantitative detection of suspicious compounds. A component collection module is used in operations of collecting, transferring and dissolving, redissolving, and pipetting the separated liquid effluent. A biological evaluation module is for cell culture and detection of cytotoxic effect and toxic targets. A data processing and automated control module is for acquisition, arrangement and analysis of the integrated data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Guangbo Qu, Qianchi Ma, Yanna Liu, Jianbo Shi, Guibin Jiang
  • Patent number: 11879836
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating a first light wave by an emitter of the sensor system and detecting a second light wave by a detector of the sensor system. The second light wave is detected in response to the first light wave being reflected from a target object. The sensor system includes a first converter that obtains a first temperature measurement from a temperature sensor of the sensor system at least when the first light wave is generated or when the second light wave is detected. A temperature controller computes temperature coefficients to regulate a temperature of the sensor system. Each of the temperature coefficients are computed based on a difference between the first temperature and a reference temperature. The temperature controller generates a control signal to regulate the temperature of the sensor system based on the computed temperature coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ams Sensors Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Dalibor Stojkovic, Predrag Micakovic
  • Patent number: 11869636
    Abstract: An analysis instrument comprises a sample receiving section for receiving samples provided by a plurality of users, an analysis section operable to receive an aliquot of each received sample, perform an analysis of each received aliquot, and generate an output based on the analysis, and a presentation section adapted to present the output in a human discernable format. The analysis instrument further includes an identification section adapted to autonomously generate an identifier unique to each user and each sample provided thereby and to supply each identifier for presentation by the presentation section in a human discernable format together with a portion of the output that corresponds with one or more samples provided by a user to which the identifier is unique. Each identifier consists of one or more graphic symbols, one or more colours, and/or one or more numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: FOSS Analytical A/S
    Inventors: Rasmus Lundgaard Christensen, Tamir Gil, Rasmus Vistisen, Malin Damm
  • Patent number: 11865713
    Abstract: A suspension cable robot is provided, its stability can be improved by using at least three groups of three cables arranged in a parallelogram manner. The ability to remain stable when subjected to forces acting on the robot platform or end effector is thereby significantly increased. The cable robot can be moved by cables to different working locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Frédéric Vachon
  • Patent number: 11867710
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method and/or a device for carrying out chemical, biochemical and/or immunochemical analyses of liquid samples, which are present in a sample store of an automatic analyzer, with the aid of liquid reagents which are present in at least one reagent store of the analyzer, with cuvettes for receiving the liquid samples and reagents, wherein a plurality of cuvettes is arranged as at least one stationary, linear cuvette array in the analyzer. The analyzer has movable and stationary automated components, wherein at least two automated components are designed so as to be movable in the x-direction independently of one another along or parallel to the line of movement defined by the linear cuvette array and each have access to different cuvettes or groups of cuvettes in a freely selectable sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Meon Medical Solutions GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Berthold Limbach, Arnold Bartel, Herfried Huemer, Reinhard Marik, Patrick Kraus-Füreder, Robert Scholz-Mareich, Wolfgang Sprengers