Of A Liquid Patents (Class 436/150)
  • Patent number: 8728826
    Abstract: The present invention includes a magnetically susceptible polymer component, a method of making the same, and apparatuses and systems for mixing, separating or localizing a magnetically susceptible polymer compound in a reaction. The magnetically susceptible polymer component includes a polymer and a magnetically susceptible particle of a predetermined size, which yields a component having a much-improved magnetic reactivity due to the increase in magnetic material by mass percentage. The apparatuses and systems of the present invention employ controllable magnetic fields distributable in perpendicular directions in order to precisely control the orientation, position and relative motion of any magnetically susceptible components within a reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Paul A Bentley, Michael Davenport
  • Publication number: 20140134748
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a biological field effect transistor (BioFET) device testing and processing methods, system and apparatus. A wafer-level bio-sensor processing tool includes a wafer stage, an integrated electro-microfluidic probe card, and a fluid supply and return. The integrated electro-microfluidic probe card includes a fluidic mount that may be transparent, a microfluidic channels in the fluidic mount, at least one microfluidic probe and a number of electronic probe tips at the bottom of the fluidic mount, fluidic and electronic input and output ports on the sides of the fluidic mount, and at least one handle lug on the fluidic mount. The method includes aligning a wafer, mounting the integrated electro-microfluidic probe card, flowing a test fluid, and measuring electrical properties. The tool may also be used for stamping or printing a fluid in the device area on the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Shao LIU, Fei-Lung LAI, Chun-Ren CHENG, Chun-Wen CHENG
  • Patent number: 8717281
    Abstract: An electrofluidic device includes first structural layer and second structural layer. First structural layer includes first substrate; and first electrode and second electrode on the first substrate. The second electrode has an indent region surrounding and without contacting first electrode. First hydrophobic layer is at least over the second electrode. Second structural layer at one side of the first structural layer with a gap includes second substrate and groove structure layer. The groove structure layer includes an indent groove, corresponding to the indent region of the second electrode. Second hydrophobic layer is over the groove structure layer. Polar fluid is disposed in the indent groove and remains in contact with the first electrode. Non-polar fluid is disposed in the gap between the first and second structural layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yun-Sheng Ku, Wei-Yuan Cheng, Pei-Ju Su, Shu-Wei Kuo
  • Patent number: 8717045
    Abstract: A microorganism number-measuring apparatus includes: measurement container including measurement liquid; rotary driver; bacteria-collection signal generator; measurement signal generator; output amplifier for amplifying outputs of signal generators and; I/V amplifier; impedance measuring unit for measuring impedance of liquid; microorganism number-computing unit for computing the number of microorganisms present in liquid; solution conductivity-computing unit for computing conductivity of liquid; and warm-up section for warming up at least one of I/V amplifier and output amplifier. Warm-up section computes a warm-up signal based on the conductivity computed by conductivity-computing unit. Warm-up section computes the warm-up signal having a current the same in magnitude as that flowing through measurement electrode by using the measured solution conductivity, and applies the signal to at least one of I/V amplifier and output amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidenori Morita
  • Publication number: 20140121158
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and using the oxidation-reduction characteristics of a biological sample are provided. The system generally includes a test strip and a readout device. A fluid sample is placed in the test strip, and the test strip is in turn operatively connected to the readout device. The readout device provides a controlled current that is sent across the fluid in the sample chamber. In addition, the readout device identifies an inflection point or transition time at which the voltage between contacts of the test strip is changing at the highest rate. The oxidation-reduction capacity of the sample is taken as the integral of the current profile from the time at which current begins to be supplied to the sample to the identified transition time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Luoxis Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Raphael Bar-Or, David Bar-Or, Leonard T. Rael
  • Patent number: 8691152
    Abstract: A method of measuring an analyte in a biological fluid comprises applying an excitation signal having a DC component and an AC component. The AC and DC responses are measured; a corrected DC response is determined using the AC response; and a concentration of the analyte is determined based upon the corrected DC response. Other methods and devices are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: Roche Operations Ltd., Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Burke, Lance S. Kuhn, Terry A. Beaty, Vladimir Svetnik
  • Patent number: 8647490
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a micro wire, a sensor including the micro wire, and a method for manufacturing the sensor, having improved production efficiency. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a micro wire includes applying a three-dimensional electric field to a solution for forming a micro wire. The method for manufacturing the micro wire may further include providing an electrode assembly comprising a substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode formed on the substrate, and providing the solution to a space. The first electrode and the second electrode may form the space therebetween, and the space may have a first width and a second width that is smaller than the first width. The three-dimensional electric field is applied to the solution by applying a voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Postech Academy-Industry Foundation
    Inventors: WooSeok Choi, Guenbae Lim, Tae-Chang An
  • Patent number: 8647592
    Abstract: Method for transport of suspensions containing mechanically sensitive material with a sample-transporting device comprising transport conduits and at least one system for accelerating a sample or aliquot through the transport conduit from at least two burets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Bayer Technology Services GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Steigmiller, Hans Tups, Karsten Sommer, Sonja Danstedt, Martin Schiffhauer, Sebastian Schmidt, Jörg Kauling, Arndt Braun
  • Publication number: 20140038224
    Abstract: A microfluidic electrochemical device and process are detailed that provide chemical imaging and electrochemical analysis under vacuum at the surface of the electrode-sample or electrode-liquid interface in-situ. The electrochemical device allows investigation of various surface layers including diffuse layers at selected depths populated with, e.g., adsorbed molecules in which chemical transformation in electrolyte solutions occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Xiao-Ying Yu, Bingwen Liu, Li Yang, Zihua Zhu, Matthew J. Marshall
  • Patent number: 8637324
    Abstract: The present invention relates to bead incubating and washing on a droplet actuator. Methods for incubating magnetically responsive beads that are labeled with primary antibody, a sample (i.e., analyte), and secondary reporter antibodies on a magnet, on and off a magnet, and completely off a magnet are provided. Also provided are methods for washing magnetically responsive beads using shape-assisted merging of droplets. Also provided are methods for shape-mediated splitting, transporting, and dispensing of a sample droplet that contains magnetically responsive beads. The apparatuses and methods of the invention provide for rapid time to result and optimum detection of an analyte in an immunoassay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Ramakrishna Sista, Arjun Sudarsan
  • Patent number: 8637317
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of redistributing magnetically responsive beads in a droplet. The method may include providing a droplet including magnetically responsive beads. The droplet may be provided within a region of a magnetic field having sufficient strength to attract the magnetically responsive beads to an edge of the droplet or towards an edge of the droplet, or otherwise regionalize or aggregate beads within the droplet. The method may also include conducting on a droplet operations surface one or more droplet operations using the droplet without removing the magnetically responsive beads from the region of the magnetic field. The droplet operations may in some cases be electrode-mediated. The droplet operations may redistribute and/or circulate the magnetically responsive beads within the droplet. In some cases, the droplet may include a sample droplet may include a target analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Arjun Sudarsan, Ramakrishna Sista
  • Patent number: 8623663
    Abstract: A new reaction apparatus including a capillary having an inner surface to which a probe molecule that specifically binds to an analyte is immobilized, allowing a short throughput time for completing the binding reaction, and achieving a highly efficient reaction using a small amount of a sample and a process of the reaction are provided. The reaction apparatus includes a capillary having an inner surface to which a probe molecule that specifically binds to an analyte is immobilized; a columnar magnetic body that is disposed in a fluid containing the analyte in the state that the fluid is placed in the capillary; end-fixing means for fixing one end of the columnar magnetic body in the capillary by a DC magnetic field; and end-moving means for moving the other end of the columnar magnetic body by an AC magnetic field so as to transfer the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Adarsh Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8623660
    Abstract: A hand-held test meter for use with an analytical test strip in the determination of an analyte in a bodily fluid sample includes a housing; a microcontroller block disposed in the housing; and a phase-shift-based hematocrit measurement block. The phase-shift-based hematocrit measurement block includes a signal generation sub-block, a low pass filter sub-block, an analytical test strip sample cell interface sub-block, a transimpedance amplifier sub-block, and a phase detector sub-block. In addition, the phase-shift-based hematocrit measurement block and microcontroller block are configured to measure the phase shift of a bodily fluid sample in a sample cell of an analytical test strip inserted in the hand-held test meter and the microcontroller block is configured to compute the hematocrit of the bodily fluid sample based on the measured phase shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: LifeScan Scotland Limited
    Inventors: Ulrich Kraft, David Elder, Mahyar Kermani
  • Patent number: 8617899
    Abstract: A method and device for merging and mixing at least two separate and distinct fluid drops on a substrate, includes a drop merging area on the surface, where a first magnetic material is placed at a first location. A first drop of fluid is then placed at the first location on the surface, resulting in the first magnetic material being at least partially positioned within the first drop of fluid. A second drop of fluid is then placed at a second location on the surface of the drop merging area. A magnetic field is applied by a varying magnetic field generator to at least a portion of the drop merge area of the substrate, which includes at least the first location on the substrate. The varying magnetic field will act on the first magnetic material to move the first magnetic material within the first drop of fluid, causing a stirring of the fluid. A drop merging force from a drop merging mechanism is applied to at least one of the first drop of fluid and the second drop of fluid within the drop merge area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Dirk De Bruyker, Ali Asgar Saleem Bhagat, Alan G. Bell, Michael I. Recht, Francisco E. Torres
  • Patent number: 8617468
    Abstract: An assembly for testing platelet aggregation including an electrode subassembly that is mounted in a cuvette subassembly for use with relatively small samples containing platelets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Chrono-Log Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Roth, Nicholas J. Veriabo
  • Patent number: 8613889
    Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based washing. According to one embodiment, a method of providing a droplet in contact with a surface with a reduced concentration of a substance is provided, wherein the method includes: (a) providing a surface in contact with a droplet comprising a starting concentration and starting quantity of the substance and having a starting volume; (b) conducting one or more droplet operations to merge a wash droplet with the droplet provided in step (a) to yield a combined droplet; and (c) conducting one or more droplet operations to divide the combined droplet to yield a set of droplets comprising: (i) a droplet in contact with the surface having a decreased concentration of the substance relative to the starting concentration; and (ii) a droplet which is separated from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignees: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Vijay Srinivasan, Richard B. Fair
  • Patent number: 8609430
    Abstract: Sample processing units useful for mixing and purifying materials, such as fluidic materials are provided. A sample processing unit typically includes a container configured to contain a sample comprising magnetically responsive particles, and one or more magnets that are in substantially fixed positions relative to the container. A sample processing unit also generally includes a conveyance mechanism configured to convey the container to and from a position that is within magnetic communication with the magnet, e.g., such that magnetically responsive particles with captured analytes can be retained within the container when other materials are added to and/or removed from the container. Further, a sample processing unit also typically includes a rotational mechanism that is configured to rotate the container, e.g., to effect mixing of sample materials disposed within the container. Related carrier mechanisms, sample processing stations, systems, and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ibis Biosciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Hofstadler, Jared J. Drader, Jose R. Gutierrez, Paul J. Gleason, Rex O. Bare, Robert D. Miller, Jeffrey C. Smith
  • Patent number: 8591816
    Abstract: A cartridge device having a receiving portion for receiving a blood sample and a jack portion for receiving a plug; a stirring device for circulating the blood sample within the receiving portion; and an electrode holder having at least one incorporated electrode wire pair; wherein the electrode holder is attachable to the cell such that one end of the at least one electrode wire pair forms a sensor unit for measuring the electrical impedance between the two electrode wires of the at least one electrode wire pair within the blood sample and that the opposite end of the at least one electrode wire pair forms a plug portion being connectable directly to the plug for an electrical connection of the sensor unit to an analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG
    Inventors: Andreas Calatzis, Ben Krüger, Marc Wittwer
  • Patent number: 8586373
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to various methods for measuring the amount of an analyte present in a biological fluid using an electrochemical testing process. Various embodiments are disclosed, including the use of AC test signals and the performance of tests having a Total Test Time within about 3.0 seconds or less, and/or having a clinically low Total System Error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Diebold, Terry A. Beaty, Harvey B. Buck, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8586368
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for using actuated surface-attached posts for assessing biofluid rheology are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for testing properties of a biofluid specimen includes placing the specimen onto a micropost array having a plurality of microposts extending outwards from a substrate, wherein each micropost includes a proximal end attached to the substrate and a distal end opposite the proximal end, and generating an actuation force in proximity to the micropost array to actuate the microposts, thereby compelling at least some of the microposts to exhibit motion. The method further includes measuring the motion of at least one of the microposts in response to the actuation force and determining a property of the specimen based on the measured motion of the at least one micropost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Richard Superfine, Richard Chasen Spero, Adam Richard Shields, Benjamin Aaron Evans, Briana Lee Fiser
  • Patent number: 8557597
    Abstract: A total organic carbon measuring instrument including a measuring unit composed of, integrated together, organic substance oxidation part and carbon dioxide separation part and conductivity measuring part, control unit and data processing unit. In order to enhance the accuracy of conductivity measurement, the control unit is constructed so as to stop feeding of a sample water at the time of oxidation of organic substance and carry out feeding of the sample water at the time of sample water moving to the organic substance oxidation decomposition part and carbon dioxide separation part. The data processing unit is constructed so as to measure the total organic carbon concentration on the basis of conductivity at the time of arriving of sample water irradiated with ultraviolet rays of which relative intensity is a given value or higher at the carbon dioxide separation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Akechi, Hirohisa Abe, Yoichi Fujiyama
  • Patent number: 8545759
    Abstract: A pair or receptacles capable of housing an emitter probe and a detector probe are installed inside a bioreactor to monitor the properties of the nutrient media without contacting the nutrient media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Therapeutic Proteins International, LLC
    Inventor: Sarfaraz Niazi
  • Patent number: 8513024
    Abstract: Provided is a detection method for a target substance capable of enhancing detection sensitivity and quantitative property of a magnetic biosensor, while keeping monodispersity and dispersion stability of magnetic markers, including the steps of: reacting the target substance in a sample solution with a first target substance trapping member immobilized on a sensing element and with a second target substance trapping member immobilized on a gel particle to hold the gel particle on the sensing element; adjusting a magnetic marker precursor including the gel particle and a magnetic material precursor existing in the gel particle by bringing the magnetic material precursor into contact with the gel particle; synthesizing a magnetic material from the magnetic material precursor held on the gel particle, thereby adjusting the magnetic markers; and detecting the magnetic markers with the sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazumichi Nakahama
  • Patent number: 8507289
    Abstract: The present invention provides a test strip for measuring a concentration of an analyte of interest in a biological fluid, wherein the test strip may be encoded with information that can be read by a test meter into which the test strip is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Henning Groll, Michael J. Celentano
  • Patent number: 8507262
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bubble excluder device (2) adapted for use with, and attachment to, a probe (6) for continuous measurement of the cell density of a culture in a liquid medium; the bubble excluder device comprising an inlet and an outlet to allow flow of liquid through the device and bubble exclusion means (20) to reduce or prevent ingress of bubbles from the liquid medium outside the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Cytoprom Ltd
    Inventors: Edmund Kunji, Shane Palmer
  • Publication number: 20130196446
    Abstract: The present invention provides a test strip for measuring a concentration of an analyte of interest in a biological fluid, wherein the test strip may be encoded with information that can be read by a test meter into which the test strip is inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Henning Groll, Michael J. Celentano
  • Patent number: 8497130
    Abstract: The present invention provides a chemiresistor-based sensor for measuring the presence or amount of analyte in an electrolyte solution; said chemiresistor comprising (i) a chemiresistor film wherein the impedance of said nanoparticle film changes in the presence of an analyte; and (ii) two electrically conducting electrodes in electrical contact with said nanoparticle film; wherein said electrically conducting electrodes are adapted to be connected to a device for measuring the impedance of said chemiresistor film under a voltage signal and wherein the impedance of the double layer capacitor formed by the two electrically conducting electrodes in the presence of the electrolyte solution, is larger than the impedance of the chemiresistor film either before or after exposure of the chemiresistor film to the analyte. A method of using said chemiresistor-based sensor to measure the presence or amount of analyte is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Burkhard Raguse, Edith Chow
  • Publication number: 20130171738
    Abstract: A chemical sensor that works while being submerged in a highly conductive medium is described. The chemical sensor includes hydrophobic structures that are distributed on conductive electrodes and are separated by small air cavities while submerged in the conductive medium. The hydrophobic structures are arranged such that their hydrophobicity varies in response to exposure to a target analyte. The change in the level of hydrophobicity results in permeation of the conductive liquid on to the conductive electrodes, thereby reducing the resistance levels between the conductive electrodes. The sensor indicates presence of the target analyte in response to detection of a change in resistance between at least two of the conductive electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hyungryul Johnny Choi, Ayse Asatekin Alexiou, Se Young Yang, Christy D. Petruczok, Karen K. Gleason, Nicholas M. Patrikalakis, George Barbastathis
  • Patent number: 8470606
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of circulating magnetically responsive beads within a droplet in a droplet actuator. The invention also provides methods for splitting droplets. The invention, in one embodiment, makes use of a droplet actuator with top and bottom substrates, a plurality of magnetic fields respectively present proximate the top and bottom substrates, wherein at least one of the magnet fields is selectively alterable, and a plurality of droplet operations electrodes positioned along at least one of the top and bottom surfaces. A droplet is positioned between the top and bottom surfaces and at least one of the magnetic fields is selectively altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignees: Duke University, Advanced Liquid Logic Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay Srinivasan, Vamsee K. Pamula, Michael G. Pollack, Richard B. Fair
  • Patent number: 8465978
    Abstract: Methods and devices for conducting platelet aggregation analysis. A method for conducting platelet aggregation analysis by a cartridge device, including providing a blood sample in the cartridge device, stirring the blood sample within the cartridge device, measuring the electrical impedance between electrodes to obtain measured electrical impedance values, comparing measured electrical impedance values, discarding and repeating the measurements of the electrical impedance in case a variation of the measurements is outside a predetermined threshold range, or reporting the measured electrical impedance values in case the variation of the measurements is within the predetermined threshold range. Reported measured electrical impedance values indicate platelet aggregation in a blood sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: F. Hoffmann-la Roche AG
    Inventors: Andreas Calatzis, Ben Krüger, Marc Wittwer
  • Publication number: 20130143330
    Abstract: A reaction characteristic detector comprising a ladder assembly including a plurality of rungs, where each rung in the plurality of rungs comprises a reaction passage determiner spaced a distance from a point of an energetic material reaction initiation. Each reaction passage determiner has at least one characteristic that is configured to change in response to the reaction occurring proximate to the reaction passage determiner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Steven J. Apperson, Christopher J. Morris, Luke J. Currano, Collin R. Becker, Madan Dubey
  • Patent number: 8449824
    Abstract: A sensor instrument system for detecting and identifying analytes in fluids of a region contains a local sensor instrument and remote central station. The instrument includes a core technology employing a single sensor having two electrodes operated by an electrical frequency sweeping to generate two sets of patterned electrical information from a single measurement, a data transmission module and a GPS receiver module. The central station connects to a network means connected to a plurality of local receiving sites equipped with including the respective transceivers, so that the local analyte electrical information and geographic position information transmitted by the instrument can be wirelessly and remotely received and processed by the central station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventor: Yizhong Sun
  • Patent number: 8444937
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for near real-time in-situ soil solution measurements is presented. An outer sleeve is placed in soil where ionic concentrations of organic or inorganic species are to be measured. A porous section connects with the outer sleeve (the porous section initially loaded with distilled water) equilibrates with the solution present in soil pores to form a solution to be measured. The initial distilled water is displaced within the porous section by a removable plunger. After substantial equilibration of the solution to be measured within the apparatus, the plunger is removed and a removable probe replaced. The probe may be an Ion Selective Electrode, or a transflection dip probe. The probe then may be used under computer control for measurement of solution properties. The Ion Selective Electrode may measure nitrate (NO3?) concentrations. The transflection dip probe may be read with spectrometer with an input deuterium light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Atac Tuli, Jan W. Hopmans, Tamir Kamai, Benjamin D. Shaw
  • Patent number: 8445290
    Abstract: A biosensor system determines analyte concentration from an output signal generated by an oxidation/reduction reaction of the analyte. The biosensor system adjusts a correlation for determining analyte concentrations from output signals at one temperature to determining analyte concentrations from output signals at other temperatures. The temperature-adjusted correlation between analyte concentrations and output signals at a reference temperature may be used to determine analyte concentrations from output signals at a sample temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Bayer HealthCare LLC
    Inventors: Huan-Ping Wu, Christine D. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8440467
    Abstract: Electronic devices comprising a dielectric material, at least one carbon sheet, and two electrode terminals are described herein. The devices exhibit non-linear current-versus-voltage response over a voltage sweep range in various embodiments. Uses of the electronic devices as two-terminal memory devices, logic units, and sensors are disclosed. Processes for making the electronic devices are disclosed. Methods for using the electronic devices in analytical methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Yubao Li, Alexander Sinitskiy
  • Patent number: 8432171
    Abstract: An analyte concentration, in a sample fluid, is determined by differential measurement. Two or more capacitive field effect sensors have an identical basic structure and are arranged in a shared measuring cell. One of the sensors forms a measuring sensor with an active transductor layer. Another sensor forms a reference sensor without an active transductor layer. The sensors are contacted with the sample fluid and the sensors, have an associated reference electrode, or have a shared reference electrode. A bias voltage composed of an electric DC voltage and a superimposed AC voltage is applied between each sensor and associated reference electrode(s) Capacitance changes due to the analyte are eliminated by controlling the bias voltage applied to the measuring sensor in a closed control loop. A measuring signal is obtained by calculating a difference between voltage values representative of DC voltage potentials applied to the measuring sensor and reference sensor, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Buerkert Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Coppe, Jean-Luc Henry, Michael Schoening
  • Patent number: 8426214
    Abstract: System and method for capturing, concentrating, and detecting a diagnostic target in a liquid, comprising applying a magnetic field to a mixture comprising a co-aggregate in the liquid to provide a collected co-aggregate in the liquid, wherein the co-aggregate comprises a magnetic particle having a stimuli-responsive polymer attached thereto and a non-magnetic particle having a stimuli-responsive polymer and a diagnostic target attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Patrick S. Stayton, Michael Nash, Jriuan Lai
  • Patent number: 8420404
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to various methods for measuring the amount of an analyte present in a biological fluid using an electrochemical testing process. Various embodiments are disclosed, including the use of AC test signals and the performance of tests having a Total Test Time within about 3.0 seconds or less, and/or having a clinically low Total System Error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Diebold, Terry A. Beaty, Harvey B. Buck, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8420399
    Abstract: A method for analyzing hemoglobin in a sample by separation analysis while suppressing the denaturation of the hemoglobin includes separating hemoglobin in the presence of at least one of a sulfurous acid compound and a dithionous acid compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8409505
    Abstract: A sensor-dispensing instrument adapted to handle a sensor pack contains sensors and performs a test using one of the sensors. The instrument includes an outer housing and a mechanical mechanism for rotating the sensor pack and ejecting one of the sensors from the sensor pack and through a sensor slot on the housing. The instrument also includes a sensor actuator to engage with a sensor disposed in the sensor slot, and a sensor release that is movable to disengage the sensor actuator from the sensor disposed in the sensor slot and permit the discharge of the sensor. The sensor release activates a sensor release mechanism that has a sensor release aid arm, a mounting block, and a pivot pin. The sensor release aid arm contacts the sensor disposed in the sensor slot to assist removal of the sensor from the sensor slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Bayer HealthCare LLC
    Inventors: Bruce A. Flora, John P. Creaven, Russell J. Micinski
  • Patent number: 8398921
    Abstract: A chemical sensor using metal nano-particles and a method for manufacturing a chemical sensor using metal nano-particles are provided. The chemical sensor includes: metal nano-particles; single-ligand organic molecules (or a single molecule) that binds to the metal nano-particles by using a metal bonding functional group; a substrate bonding functional group formed at the metal nano-particles and the single-ligand organic molecules as bound to each other; a substrate; electrodes formed on the substrate and having an interdigitate (IDT) structure; and a substrate functional group formed on the substrate and positioned between the electrodes, wherein the substrate bonding functional group and the substrate functional group are covalently bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Myung Lae Lee, Young Jun Kim, Sung Hae Jung, Ho Jun Ryu, Jong Moo Lee
  • Patent number: 8394337
    Abstract: A system for diagnostic testing may include a meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to a test media and a container configured to contain test media compatible with the meter. The meter may include a closure portion for selectively closing the opening of the container. The system may further provide a sampling device, such as a lancet, operable connected to the container such that that a user may use the sampling device to obtain a sample without disconnecting the sampling device from the container. The system may also provide mechanisms for removing a meter from a test container and reattaching it to a new one using one of several coding methods that recalibrate the meter for the new container of test strips. In addition, the system may further provide mechanisms to reconfigure the meter to perform a new function when it has been determined that the triggering event has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nipro Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary T. Neel, Brent E. Modzelewski, Cameron Scott Casterline, George R. Rounds
  • Patent number: 8394328
    Abstract: A system for diagnostic testing may include a meter for performing a test on a sample applied to a test media and a selectively closable container configured to house test media compatible with the meter. The system may also provide mechanisms for removing a meter from a test container and reattaching it to a new one using one of several coding methods that recalibrate the meter for the new container of test strips. Alternatively, the system may include an auto-calibration system where data is provided individually on each individual test medium in a form readable by the test meter. The carried data may include an embedded code relating to data particular to that individual strip. The data is presented so as to be read by a meter associated with the diagnostic test strip in order to avoid manually inputting the information. In addition, the system may further provide mechanisms to reconfigure the meter to perform a new function when it has been determined that a triggering event has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nipro Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary T. Neel, Brent E. Modzelewski, Cameron Scott Casterline, George R. Rounds, Allan Javier Caban, Adam Mark Will, Carlos Oti
  • Patent number: 8377708
    Abstract: A new reaction apparatus including a capillary having an inner surface to which a probe molecule that specifically binds to an analyte is immobilized and achieving a highly efficient reaction using a small amount of a sample and a process of the reaction are provided. The reaction apparatus includes a capillary having an inner surface to which a probe molecule that specifically binds to an analyte is immobilized; a passage allowing a fluid discharged from one end of the capillary to flow to the other end of the capillary; a columnar magnetic body that is disposed in a fluid containing the analyte in the capillary and/or the passage in the state that the fluid fed in the capillary can circulate via the passage; end-fixing means for fixing one end of the columnar magnetic body in the capillary and/or the passage by a DC magnetic field; and end-moving means for moving the other end of the columnar magnetic body by an AC magnetic field such that the fluid circulates via the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Adarsh Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8377707
    Abstract: A method of measuring an analyte in a biological fluid comprises applying an excitation signal having a DC component and an AC component. The AC and DC responses are measured; a corrected DC response is determined using the AC response; and a concentration of the analyte is determined based upon the corrected DC response. Other methods and devices are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Burke, Lance S. Kuhn, James Maxwell
  • Patent number: 8377694
    Abstract: A method for the calibration of a device for measuring the total organic carbon content (TOC) of an aqueous solution by measuring resistivity. The method includes the following steps, in the presence of a reference TOC analyzer: (a) producing a calibration point by a measurement carried out on ultrapure water by the device and the analyzer; (b) producing a plurality of calibration points, each calibration point corresponding to a measurement of the resistivity of a solution having a given content of photo-oxidizable compound, by the device and the analyzer, in order to establish a correlation between the values measured by the device and the analyzer; and (c) calibrating the device by at least one algorithm, based on the measurements carried out in the previous step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Pascal Rajagopalan, Celine Le Ninivin-Glipa, Antony Vanheghe
  • Patent number: 8372658
    Abstract: A chemical analytic apparatus of the present invention is the one which proposes that a miniaturization, a making low-cost and portability are possible and also the operation of each process of separation, concentration and dilution of specimen is possible, and, which includes: an introduction means (S1) that introduces a droplet to which magnetic ultrafine particles are mixed into another liquid that differs from the droplet while maintaining a single droplet; a conveyance means by which the droplet that includes the magnetic particles is conveyed in another liquid of the introduction means by applying magnetic field externally to the magnetic ultrafine particles; and processing means (S2 to S6) by which operations for processing of chemical analysis are performed one by one in the process in which the droplet to which the magnetic ultrafine particles are mixed is conveyed by the conveyance means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Shikida, Kazuo Sato, Hiroyuki Honda, Kohta Inouchi
  • Patent number: 8372657
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a microfluidic system for detecting a biological entity in a sample volume is provided. The microfluidic system may include: a chamber configured to receive the sample volume, wherein the chamber includes a detection region for detecting the biological entity; a first port in fluid communication with the chamber; and a second port including a filter in fluid communication with the chamber; and wherein a fluid provided to the first port or the second port flows between the first port and the second port through the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Agency For Science, Technology, and Research
    Inventors: Julien Reboud, Linus Tzu-Hsiang Kao, Andre Yao-Kuang Chung, Shin Yun Ng, Yu Chen, Yan Ping Wang, Janice Hao Yuan Liaw, Kum Cheong Tang
  • Publication number: 20130029350
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a bi-stable oscillator circuit for detecting a load imparted to a surface. The bi-stable oscillator comprises an electrical amplifier, at least one resonator comprising an electrical transducer having a resonant frequency, a surface of the resonator forming the surface on which the load is to be detected and an impedance network having a resonant frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Matthew Cooper, Alexander Sleptsov, Richard John Hammond
  • Patent number: 8357957
    Abstract: Provided are a FET-based sensor for detecting an ionic material, an ionic material detecting device including the FET-based sensor, and a method of detecting an ionic material using the FET-based sensor. The FET-based sensor includes: a sensing chamber including a reference electrode and a plurality of sensing FETs; and a reference chamber including a reference electrode and a plurality of reference FETs. The method includes: flowing a first solution into and out of the sensing chamber and the reference chamber of the FET-based sensor; flowing a second solution expected to contain an ionic material into and out of the sensing chamber while continuously flowing the first solution into and out of the reference chamber; measuring a current in a channel region between the source and drain of each of the sensing and reference FETs; and correcting the current of the sensing FETs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyu-sang Lee, Kyu-tae Yoo, Jeo-young Shim, Jin-tae Kim, Yeon-ja Cho