Liberation Or Purification Of Sample Or Separation Of Material From A Sample (e.g., Filtering, Centrifuging, Etc.) Patents (Class 436/177)
  • Patent number: 8357543
    Abstract: A reaction vessel with a bottom drain opening supporting a selected unpressured head of fluid by the surface tension of the fluid. A device processing zone includes a support for spaced rows of reaction vessels, passages communicating with their drain openings of supported vessels, and a pressure source for selectively draining fluid through the drain openings. Generally horizontal bar magnets are supported for selected vertical movement between the vessel rows. A dispensing head has X discharge openings selectively positionable over X selected reaction vessels. A metering pump mechanism selectively meters X a selected quantity of fluid a bulk supply (where X is at least four), and selectively pumps the metered selected quantities through the drain openings to the selected reaction vessels. Methods of drawing fluid from the vessels using the pressure source, and moving the magnets to form a pellet of analyte are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Scott G. Safar, Stephen L. Herchenbach, Chadwick M. Dunn, Charles M. Galitz, Julius J. Toth, Ronald E. Kukla, Michael G. Lowery, Eric B. Shain
  • Publication number: 20130017620
    Abstract: Sample preparation device that allows for a complete bind, wash, elute, buffer-exchange and concentration process to be carried out without sample transfer between multiple devices. The device includes a reservoir, a column for holding chromatography media, a holder region for holding a filtration device, and an outlet. The filtration device plugs into the holder region of the centrifugal device, and the assembly can be placed in an optional holder. The assembly, with or without the optional holder, can be placed in a conventional centrifuge tube for centrifugation. The entire bind, wash, elute, buffer exchange and concentration steps can be carried out with the apparatus without any pipette transfers (and the associated sample losses. The sample preparation device also can be used for binding and washing steps, in which case the filtration device is not needed, and for buffer exchange and concentration steps, in which case the media is not needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: EMD MILLIPORE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher A. Scott, Timothy K. Nadler, Kurt Greenizen, Louis Bonhomme, Sara D. Gutierrez, Masaharu Mabuchi, David Briggs, Phillip Clark, Ralph T. Scaduto
  • Patent number: 8354069
    Abstract: Devices and methods for extraction, identification, authentication, and quantification of one or more covert markers in a material are disclosed. An extraction system includes a first plug flow mixer for mixing a first fluid bearing a marker and transfer agent into a plug flow. The mixing and flowing of the immiscible liquids causes transfer of the marker from the fluid to the transfer agent. A splitter having filters of different surface energies separates the two immiscible liquids, the transfer agent bearing the marker. A second plug flow can be used to transfer the marker to a second transfer agent. The transferred marker is detected to authenticate the original fluid. The marker can be further isolated, activated, or reacted to perform detection, identification or authentication. With the device, a number of independent processing and analytic steps are combined onto a single, portable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Authentix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Eastwood, Erwin Dorland, Andrew Taylor
  • Patent number: 8349277
    Abstract: A test module for concentrating pathogens in a biological sample, the test module having an outer casing with a receptacle for receiving the sample, a dialysis device in fluid communication with the receptacle and configured to separate the pathogens from other constituents in the sample, and, a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device being in fluid communication with the dialysis device and configured to analyze the pathogens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Geneasys Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Mehdi Azimi, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8348066
    Abstract: A floating separating element for use in centrifugal separation of components of a physiological fluid comprises a positioning part and a separating part, where the positioning part is designed to automatically assume a position in a supernatant and a separating part is positioned at a desired location with respect to the interface between the supernatant and heavier components. In preferred embodiments the physiological fluids are blood or bone marrow aspirate, and the heavier components comprise red blood cells. The positioning part comprises the majority of the mass of the separating element and is thin so that differences in the position of the separating element with respect to the interface are small compared to differences in the densities of the separated compoments, particularly the component comprising red blood cells. A method allows red blood cells to move the separating element during decanting to ensure complete decant of the supernatant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Harvest Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Ellsworth
  • Patent number: 8343356
    Abstract: Installation for treating a biological liquid, including a circulation pump (5), a filter element (9), a container for collecting treated liquid, a first circuit section connecting a source of said biological liquid to an inlet orifice of said filter element (9), including a circuit element adapted to cooperate with said circulation pump (5); a second circuit section, connecting an outlet orifice of said filter element (9) to said treated liquid collecting container; characterized in that said treated liquid collecting container, said first circuit section and said second circuit section are disposable and said installation further includes a first cart (1) carrying said pump (5) and a second cart (2) including a housing (14) for said collecting container, separable from the first cart (1) and adapted to be at least partly nested in said first cart (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Beulay, Virginie Buisson, Sebastien Cirou, Cecile Delbos, Marc Hlavacek, Frans Mels, Rene Reinbigler, Jean-Louis Weissenbach
  • Patent number: 8343440
    Abstract: A cancer cell separating apparatus includes: a flow channel including an antibody fixation area having antibodies which bind specifically to cancer cells fixed thereon, wherein the cancer cells and non-cancer cells are separated using a difference in velocity of movement between the cancer cells and the non-cancer cells in cell slurry introduced into the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satomi Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8342041
    Abstract: A method and tube for separating a sample. The tube is configured to separate agglomerated or clumped material or other sample components having over a particular size from other smaller size portions of the sample. For example, blood clots may be separated from serum of a blood sample. The tube includes a chamber with a closed bottom and a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom, and a sample inlet branch coupled to the chamber. A slit is positioned between the chamber and the sample inlet branch so that after a sample is placed into the sample inlet branch, a portion of the sample having a size smaller than the slit (e.g., liquid material) passes through the slit and into the chamber, and material in the sample having a size larger than the slit remains in the sample inlet branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Protedyne Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Massaro
  • Patent number: 8343526
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for conducting assays of samples, such as whole blood, that may contain cells or other particulate matter. Also disclosed are systems, devices, equipment, kits and reagents for use in such methods. One advantage of certain disclosed methods and systems is the ability to rapidly measure the concentration of an analyte of interest in blood plasma from a whole blood sample without blood separation and hematocrit correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Meso Scale Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Billadeau, Jeff D. Debad, Eli N. Glezer, Jonathan K. Leland, Charles A. Wijayawardhana
  • Patent number: 8336718
    Abstract: The present invention provides a centrifugal separation-use device capable of maintaining a centrifugal separation-use container in a clean state easily at low cost even when centrifugal separation treatment is carried out using a centrifugal separator in an unclean field. A centrifugal separation-use device 1 for collecting a target component by subjecting a solution containing multiple components to centrifugal separation treatment comprises an inner container 10 having a cylindrical section 12 for accommodating the solution and a plug 14 for hermetically sealing the cylindrical section and configured so as to accommodate the solution in a hermetically sealed state, and an outer container 20 having a support section 22 for removably accommodating the cylindrical section and a delivery section 24 for exposing part of the inner container so that the inner container can be removed, and configured so as to accommodate the inner container in a hermetically sealed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Shintani, Shuji Nosaka, Michihiro Yokokawa
  • Patent number: 8338184
    Abstract: The invention provides enzymatic methods for direct determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples without the need of a separated measurement of total hemoglobin content in blood samples. The methods utilizes one or two different types of oxidizing agents which selectively oxidize low-molecular weight reducing substances and high-molecular weight (mainly hemoglobin) reducing substances in blood samples, coupled with enzymatic reactions catalyzed by proteases, fructosyl amino acid oxidase. The amount of hydrogen peroxide generated in the reaction is measured for determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples. The invention provides kits for performing the methods of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Chong-Sheng Yuan, Abhijit Datta, Limin Liu
  • Patent number: 8334104
    Abstract: Methods and reagents are disclosed for pretreating a sample suspected of containing a hydrophobic drug for conducting an assay method for detecting the hydrophobic drug. A combination is provided in a medium that includes the sample, a releasing agent for releasing the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites from endogenous binding moieties, and a selective solubility agent that provides for substantially equal solubility of the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites in the medium. The selective solubility agent includes a water miscible, non-volatile organic solvent and is present in the medium in a concentration sufficient to provide for substantially equal solubility of the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites in the medium. The medium, which may further include a hemolytic agent, is incubated under conditions for releasing the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites from endogenous binding moieties. The pretreated sample may be subjected to an assay for determining the hydrophobic drug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Tie Q. Wei, Alan Craig, Amy Posey
  • Patent number: 8329475
    Abstract: A method for removing undesired component(s) from bound desired component(s) in an analysis including: (a) providing a container having a desired component bound thereto and an undesired component; (b) dispensing wash fluid in the container at a first level sufficient to contact a portion of the bound desired component; (c) oscillating wash fluid level in the container; and (d) removing a portion of the wash fluid from the container. A method for removing undesired components from bound desired components in an analysis including steps (a) and (b) above; (c) removing the wash fluid; (d) dispensing a wash fluid at a subsequent level lower than the first level and sufficient to wash the bound desired substrate; and (e) removing wash fluid. Preferably, the desired component is an analyte being measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Merrit N. Jacobs, Ann M. Skrobach, Andrew S. Foote, Anthony C. Machulskis
  • Patent number: 8329476
    Abstract: A sample port includes a body equipped with an internal cavity and two plungers arranged moveably in the internal cavity, whereby the plungers can be pressed against each other in the internal cavity, in order to compress a sample. At least one of the plungers can be moved into a reactor in order to collect a sample. The sample port also includes a sample chamber, which is formed by a space remaining between the internal cavity and the plungers. At least one sample-container connection is connected in connection with the internal cavity in order to collect the sample from sample chamber. In addition, the sample port has a filter which is provided to at least either plunger for separating a liquid component of the sample from a solid component and means for leading the liquid component of the sample out of the sample chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT
    Inventors: Juha-Pekka Pitkänen, Ari Hokkanen, Päivi Heimala, Jari Kauhaniemi, Kai Kolari, Pekka Savolahti, Jaana Uusitalo
  • Patent number: 8329473
    Abstract: Column which includes a first column with an upper layer of H2SO4 silica gel and a lower layer AgNO3 silica gel and a second column packed with alumina, connected detachably to a lower end of the first column. An oily liquid containing polychlorinated biphenyls, is added to the upper layer and heated. An aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent is supplied to the upper layer, whereby polychlorinated biphenyls captured by the first column are dissolved in the aliphatic hydrocarbon and then flow to the second column. The polychlorinated biphenyls are captured by the alumina which is located near the inlet of the second column, which is then detached from the first column. A hydrophobic solvent is passed through the second column in a direction opposite to the direction in which the aliphatic hydrocarbon was passed, providing an extract containing the polychlorinated biphenyls dissolved in a small amount of the hydrophobic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: Ehime University, Miura Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhisa Honda, Tomofumi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20120309096
    Abstract: This invention relates, inter alia, to detecting and/or measuring succinylacetone and one or more additional biological analytes using mass spectrometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Blas Cerda, Alex Cherkasskiy, Yijun Li
  • Patent number: 8323982
    Abstract: Fluid analyte sensors include a photoelectrocatalytic element that is configured to be exposed to the fluid, if present, and to respond to photoelectrocatalysis of at least one analyte in the fluid that occurs in response to impingement of optical radiation upon the photoelectrocatalytic element. A semiconductor light emitting source is also provided that is configured to impinge the optical radiation upon the photoelectrocatalytic element. Related solid state devices and sensing methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Valencell, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Francis LeBoeuf, Jesse Berkley Tucker, Michael Edward Aumer
  • Publication number: 20120301972
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a centrifuge apparatus (10) comprising: a support member (12) rotatable about a first axis (20); at least one holding means (22) mounted to said support member for rotation therewith about the first axis, wherein each holding means is adapted to rotate about a respective second axis (24) distal to said first axis and to receive a sample processing device (26) for rotation thereof also about the second axis; a first motor (28a) adapted to rotate said support member about said first axis; and a second motor (28b) coupled to said at least one holding means; wherein the two motors (28a, 28b) are placed off the support member on opposite sides of the support member. The invention also relates to use of such an apparatus, and to a centrifugation method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: STIFTELSEN SINTEF
    Inventors: Stig Morten Borch, Esben Beck
  • Publication number: 20120301360
    Abstract: Devices used in conjunction with detecting analytes and methods of their manufacture are disclosed. A pre-concentrator device includes a thermoelectric material and an aerogel which includes a nanostructured material disposed on, and in thermal communication with, the thermoelectric material. Such a pre-concentrator is part of a detection system including a sensor. The detection system is used in a method for detecting analytes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitchell W. MEINHOLD, Andrew A. GUZELIAN, Robert A. ROUFAIL, Brent M. SEGAL, James M. SPATCHER, Aaron G. SELL, Eric C. HOLIHAN, Jonathan A. NICHOLS
  • Patent number: 8318506
    Abstract: A dialysis adapter cell includes a housing comprising a plurality of pillars extending between and attached to a top plate and a bottom plate to form a hollow receptacle, wherein the top plate comprises an aperture configured to provide access to the hollow receptacle; a dialysis membrane disposed about the housing and sealingly engaged to the top plate and the bottom plate; and a platform in physical communication with the bottom plate and configured to position the dialysis adapter cell in a sample holder of a United States Pharmacopoeia dissolution apparatus 4 flow-through cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: The University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Diane J. Burgess, Upkar Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 8318501
    Abstract: The invention provides enzymatic methods for direct determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples without the need of a separated measurement of total hemoglobin content in blood samples. The methods utilizes one or two different types of oxidizing agents which selectively oxidize low-molecular weight reducing substances and high-molecular weight (mainly hemoglobin) reducing substances in blood samples, coupled with enzymatic reactions catalyzed by proteases, fructosyl amino acid oxidase, and peroxidase. The invention provides kits for performing the methods of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Chong-Sheng Yuan, Abhijit Datta, Limin Liu
  • Patent number: 8318507
    Abstract: A method for the separation of particles of different densities using a step-wise gradient density extraction method as described herein where a sample is suspended in a liquid volume of an extracting medium of specific density and the particles that have a density less than or equal to that of the extracting medium of specific density can be recovered from a horizonatally rotatable hollow disk or a removable receptacle within a horizontally rotatable hollow disk designed for such purposes while the particles that have a density greater than the extracting medium of specific density form a deposit which can be cycled through the extraction process in an iterative fashion by varying the density of the extracting medium allowing the recovery of discrete particles of differing densities from a test sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventors: Marcus Joseph Horn, Wenkui Lan
  • Patent number: 8318492
    Abstract: The present invention relates in one aspect to a method for determining the cell culture history of a cell unit labelled with more than one type of tag comprising the steps of: (a) measuring one or more parameters of each tag that is used to label the cell unit; (b) identifying each tag in the cell unit; and (c) correlating the identity of each tag to the identity of the cell unit and/or the specific cell culture conditions to which the cell unit has been exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Plasticell Limited
    Inventors: Yen Choo, Fraser Hornby, John Girdlestone
  • Patent number: 8318099
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a wireless sensor, such as an RFID tag, that includes a substrate, an antenna disposed on the substrate, and an environmentally sensitive sensor material disposed over at least a portion of said substrate. Other embodiments an RFID tag and at least one antibody coupled to the RFID tag. The RFID tag includes a substrate, circuitry disposed on the substrate, and an antenna coupled to the substrate. The at least one antibody is capable of affecting the signals emanating from the RFID tag. Further embodiments include a detection system that includes a reader. Yet other embodiments include a method for detecting specific analytes. The method includes providing an RFID tag which emanates a first signal having a first frequency, and enabling the REID tag to emanate a second signal having a second frequency upon attraction of a specific analyte to the RFID tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, William Guy Morris, Kenneth Brakeley Welles, II, Andrew Michael Leach, Andrew David Pris
  • Patent number: 8313954
    Abstract: A separation device including a first buoy, a second buoy, a first valve, and a second valve. The first buoy is mounted to a buoy guide post and slidably mounted within a separation chamber. The second buoy is slidably mounted to the guide post and movable between a first position and a second position. The second buoy closes the first valve and opens the second valve when in the first position. The second buoy opens the first valve and closes the second valve when in the second position. The second buoy has a density such that after spinning the device for a suitable period of time a first component of the composition is isolated between the first buoy and the second buoy and a second component of the composition is isolated between the second buoy and the end of the separation chamber that is opposite to a port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Biomet Biologics, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Leach, Jason Chavarria
  • Patent number: 8313956
    Abstract: An apparatus for the selective release of a bound species based on the presence of an analyte, the apparatus comprising: a first and second receptor species, the first receptor species linked with a bound species and configured to interact with an analyte to form a first intermediate complex, the bound species for causing increased porosity of a membrane of an in-contact analyte sensor apparatus to correspondingly increase exposure of a sensing element of the analyte sensor apparatus to allow for production of a detectable electrical signal which can be used to sense the presence of the analyte, the second receptor species for interacting with the first intermediate complex to form a second intermediate complex; and a cleaving species, the cleaving species configured to interact with the second intermediate complex to release the bound species for use in sensing the presence of the analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Marc James Ashton Bailey
  • Patent number: 8307988
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating components and a method of separating components using the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes: a main chamber which contains a sample that is separated into a plurality of layers by a centrifugal force; a component separating chamber which is connected to the main chamber, and receives a specific layer including specific components among the plurality of layers; a first channel which connects the component separating chamber to the main chamber; and a first channel valve which is disposed in the first channel to control a liquid flowing through the first channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-myeon Park, Byung-chul Kim
  • Publication number: 20120282707
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sample processing cartridge (10) for carrying out processing under centrifugal force acting in at least two directions as the orientation of cartridge relative to centrifugal force is changed, the cartridge comprising: a first cavity (18) adapted to contain a sample; and a second cavity (22) in fluid communication with the first cavity, wherein the first and second cavities are arranged such that the sample in the first cavity is moved therefrom to the second cavity as a centrifugal force acting on the cartridge is changed from a first direction (30) to a second direction (36), the first cavity is elongated perpendicular to the centrifugal force acting in the first direction, and the second cavity is more shallow than the first cavity and more extended in the direction of the centrifugal force acting in the second direction than the first cavity is extended in the direction of the centrifugal force acting in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventor: Stig Morten Borch
  • Patent number: 8304203
    Abstract: A method and kit for assaying a cell sample for the presence of at least a threshold number of cells of a given type are disclosed. The kit includes an assay device having a sample chamber for receiving the cell sample and an elongate collection chamber containing a selected-density and/or viscosity medium and having along its length, a plurality of cell-collection regions, and particles which are capable of specific attachment to cells of the selected cell type, and which are effective, when attached to the cells, to increase the density or magnetic susceptibility of the cells. In operation, particle-bound cells and particles in the cell sample are drawn through the elongate collection chamber under the influence of a gravitational or selected centrifugal or magnetic-field force until the particle-bound cells and particles completely fill successive cell-collection regions in the collection chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Zyomyx, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Zaugg, Renee Tobias, Silvia McManus-Munoz, Peter Kernen, Laurence Ruiz-Taylor, Peter Wagner
  • Patent number: 8304253
    Abstract: A refill droplet facilitates the extraction of a droplet laterally from a channel in a microfluidic apparatus. Such extraction allows a discrete band of separated particles or solute molecules to be excised from a fluid stream and processed and analyzed separately. An extraction point is located along the length of the channel and includes an EWOD surface or similar microfluidic technology to extract a droplet. An opening in the channel opposite the extraction means is equipped with microfluidic technology to transport a refill droplet to the opening. The refill droplet is moved into the channel or column to occupy the area previously occupied by the extracted droplet. This prevents distortion or mixing of the bands of particles or molecules within the channel and prevents the draining of any portion of the fluidic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic Inc
    Inventors: Uichong Brandon Yi, Peter Patrick De Guzman, Wayne Liu, Chang-Jin Kim
  • Publication number: 20120276654
    Abstract: A fluid aspirating/dispensing member includes a sample cavity for sample acquisition and a sealable cavity that, once sealed, permits the separation of particles from the remainder of a fluid sample within the sample cavity after centrifugation or other separation means. The fluid aspirating/dispensing members, either individually or as part of an array, increase the efficiency of sample processing before analysis by a clinical analyzer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Heavner
  • Patent number: 8298835
    Abstract: The present invention identifies biomarkers that are diagnostic of nerve cell injury, organ injury, and/or neuronal disorders. Detection of different biomarkers of the invention are also diagnostic of the degree of severity of nerve injury, the cell(s) involved in the injury, and the subcellular localization of the injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Ka-Wang (Kevin) Wang, Ming Chen Liu
  • Patent number: 8298497
    Abstract: A delivery apparatus for selectively delivering one or more liquid reagents into a reaction or test chamber (2), especially of an assay apparatus, the apparatus comprising: one or more respective storage chambers (5,6) for containing the one or more liquid reagents and arranged generally above the reaction or test chamber (2); and a plunger element (4) arranged and operable for insertion into the mouth of a selected storage chamber so as to displace a selected reagent from therewithin into the reaction or test chamber (2) generally therebelow by gravitational liquid overflow from the mouth of the chamber. The apparatus may conveniently be provided as a discrete delivery unit, with the storage chambers (5,6) prefilled with the selected reagents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence
    Inventor: David James Squirrell
  • Publication number: 20120270331
    Abstract: A microfluidic system for automatically depleting particles not of interest from a biological sample, comprising: a sampling module configured to receive the sample; and one or more microfluidic protein and nucleic acid depletion modules fluidically coupled to the sampling module and comprising binding agents configured to selectively bind to abundant plasma proteins or nucleic acids. A method for automatically depleting particles not of interest from a sample, comprising: receiving the sample; subjecting the sample to a force that separates at least a portion of the particles not of interest from the sample, thereby isolating at least a portion of the target component; passing the isolated target copmonent into a chamber; circulating the isolated target component in the chamber; and selectively capturing proteins or nucleic acids with binding agents within the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Achal Singh Achrol, Palaniappan Sethu, Richard S. Gaster
  • Publication number: 20120270333
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling application of a substance to a substrate involve the use of a functional agent that helps determine the association of a substance with the substrate. The apparatus and methods may utilize jet technology to apply the functional agent directly to the substrate or to an intermediate surface. The substance may be biological substance or a chemical in nature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Anthony B. DeJoseph, Theodore F. Cyman, JR., Kevin J. Hook, Anthony V. Moscato, Henderikus A. Haan, John E. Conour
  • Publication number: 20120270332
    Abstract: The invention relates to means for extracting magnetic particles (M) from a sample (S). The sample (S) is arranged adjacent to a liquid carrier (C), which is immiscible with it, in a configuration stable under the influence of gravity, and the magnetic particles (M) are moved by a magnetic field (B) from the sample (S) into the carrier (C). Preferably, the magnetic particles (M) are non-wetting with respect to the carrier (C) and will therefore form agglomerates in the carrier (C).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Reinhold Wimberger-Friedl, Remco Christiaan Den Dulk
  • Patent number: 8288169
    Abstract: Materials and methods for surface mediated self-assembly of nanoparticles for the isolation of biomolecules is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Argylla Technologies
    Inventors: Joseph G. Utermohlen, Michael E. Hogan, Paul E. Diggins
  • Patent number: 8288170
    Abstract: The invention provides parylene membrane filters, filter devices and methods of making them and using them in the mechanical separation of cells and particles by size. The provision of parylene membrane filters with high figures of merit and finely controlled hole sizes allows the separation of cells and particles in a variety of biological and other fluids according to sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, University of Southern California
    Inventors: Yu-Chong Tai, Siyang Zheng, Henry Lin, Ram Datar, Richard Cote
  • Patent number: 8282839
    Abstract: A floating separating element for use in centrifugal separation of components of a physiological fluid comprises a positioning part and a separating part, where the positioning part is designed to automatically assume a position in a supernatant and a separating part is positioned at a desired location with respect to the interface between the supernatant and heavier components. In preferred embodiments the physiological fluids are blood or bone marrow aspirate, and the heavier components comprise red blood cells. The positioning part comprises the majority of the mass of the separating element and is thin so that differences in the position of the separating element with respect to the interface are small compared to differences in the densities of the separated components, particularly the component comprising red blood cells. A method allows red blood cells to move the separating element during decanting to ensure complete decant of the supernatant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Harvest Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Ellsworth
  • Patent number: 8283177
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a fluidic system of a flow cytometer having a sheath pump to pump sheath fluid towards an interrogation zone and a waste pump to pump the sheath fluid and a sample fluid as waste fluid from the interrogation zone, wherein the sheath pump and/or the waste pump draw sample fluid into the flow cytometer through a drawtube towards the interrogation zone. The method includes controlling the sheath pump and the waste pump to cooperatively flush a fluid out through the drawtube, thereby cleaning the fluidic system of the flow cytometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Accuri Cytometers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack T. Ball, Aaron Kehrer, Nathaniel C. Bair, Collin A. Rich
  • Patent number: 8278118
    Abstract: A method for the separation of particles of different densities using a step-wise gradient density extraction method as described herein where a sample is suspended in a liquid volume of an extracting medium of specific density and the particles that have a density less than or equal to that of the extracting medium of specific density can be recovered from a horizonatally rotatable hollow disk or a removable receptacle within a horizontally rotatable hollow disk designed for such purposes while the particles that have a density greater than the extracting medium of specific density form a deposit which can be cycled through the extraction process in an iterative fashion by varying the density of the extracting medium allowing the recovery of discrete particles of differing densities from a test sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Prospect Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus Joseph Horn, Wenkui Lan
  • Patent number: 8278116
    Abstract: This invention relates, inter alia, to detecting and/or measuring succinylacetone and one or more additional biological analytes using mass spectrometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Blas Cerda, Alex Cherkasskiy, Yijun Li
  • Patent number: 8273312
    Abstract: A liquid testing assembly for testing a liquid, the assembly comprising a test vessel and a stopper adapted to fit into a free end of the vessel. The stopper substantially hermetically seals the test vessel from the ambient. Further, the assembly includes a support coated with one or more identifying materials for identifying one or more constituents of the liquid. The support is fixed in the stopper and/or the vessel and extends into its interior for a predetermined distance. The liquid testing assembly when assembled is pre-evacuated to a predetermined vacuum sufficient to draw a predetermined volume of liquid to be sampled into the test vessel. The predetermined volume is of such an amount that it wets the one or more identifying materials ensuring identification of one or more constituents present in the liquid. A kit employing the liquid testing assembly is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Association for Public Health
    Inventors: Gadi Porat, Joel Stern, Boaz Rimon, Yoram Cohen
  • Patent number: 8272255
    Abstract: A system and method for preparing samples for analyte testing. The sample preparation system can include a freestanding receptacle. The method can include providing a liquid composition comprising a source and a diluent, and positioning the liquid composition in a reservoir defined by the freestanding receptacle. The method can further include filtering the liquid composition to form a filtrate comprising an analyte of interest, removing at least a portion of the filtrate from the sample preparation system to form a sample, and analyzing the sample for the analyte of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kurt J. Halverson, Stephen C. P. Joseph, Matthew T. Scholz
  • Patent number: 8273566
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for conducting assays of samples, such as whole blood, that may contain cells or other particulate matter. Also disclosed are systems, devices, equipment, kits and reagents for use in such methods. One advantage of certain disclosed methods and systems is the ability to rapidly measure the concentration of an analyte of interest in blood plasma from a whole blood sample without blood separation and hematocrit correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Meso Scale Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Billadeau, Jeff D. Debad, Eli N. Glezer, Jonathan K. Leland, Charles A. Wijayawardhana
  • Patent number: 8268634
    Abstract: A spongy swab (16) is mounted against the distal face (15) of a piston (14) at the end of a push-rod (12). Once humected with a sample fluid, the swab and piston assembly is inserted into a tubular body (30) like the plunger of a syringe. As the swab is pushed and squeezed against the distal end (20) of the body up to a trippable stop, part of the fluid is excreted into a chromatographic immunoassay testing device (21) through a first aperture (19) in a distal section of the body. The remainder of the sample is kept in a sealed chamber (7) between the piston and the end wall of the tubular body until it is excreted through a second aperture (23) for a secondary test by pushing the piston beyond the trippable stop. That preserves the sample within the spongy swab that has been used to collect it; thus preventing the adsorption of the analytes on the surfaces of the sealed chamber, and to provide a convenient and rapid way to extract the remainder of the specimen in a syringe-like manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ameditech, Inc.
    Inventors: John Wu, Waiping Ng
  • Patent number: 8263355
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rapid, non-invasive and highly specific and sensitive diagnostic assay for the identification of individuals with autoimmune chronic urticaria, which makes use of CD203c, and in some embodiments, additional proteins, as a marker for the disease. Test kits for diagnosis of an individual suspected of having autoimmune chronic urticaria are also disclosed. Also disclosed are a method of identifying compounds useful for treating autoimmune chronic urticaria and a method of treating autoimmune chronic urticaria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventors: Ronald Joseph Harbeck, Karen Mary Andrews, Donald MacGlashan, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120225490
    Abstract: A single use filtering device comprises a filter body formed at least in part of a filter medium configured to hold a sample during filtration and a fastening element configured for releasably mounting the filtering device to a holder. The fastening element being adapted to undergo an irreversible structural alteration during the mounting or removal of the filtering device from the holder to prevent remounting of the filtering device to the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: FOSS ANALYTICAL AB
    Inventor: Thomas Palm
  • Patent number: 8258461
    Abstract: An apparatus of generating an optical tweezers with momentum and method thereof and an optical tweezers photo-image for guiding particles are provided. The apparatus generates at least one optical tweezers on an examined object that carries at least one particle. The apparatus includes a laser source, a diffractive optical element and a convergent lens. The laser beam from the laser source passes through the diffractive optical element to produce a diffractive pattern. The laser beam is then received by the convergent lens and then to be focused on a plane of the examined object. The optic axis of the convergent lens is substantially not perpendicular to the plane of the examined object, so that the laser beam is projected onto the plane of the examined object in a skewed manner for providing a lateral momentum to move the particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Raydium Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Long Hsu, Cheng-Hsien Liu, Sheng-Yang Tseng, William Wang, Chung-Cheng Chou, Fung-Hsu Wu, Chen Peng, Ta-Yuan Lee
  • Patent number: 8257974
    Abstract: In the case of passing a reagent in a reaction channel in a microchip, which carries a reactant capable of reacting with the reagent on the wall thereof, and bringing the reactant into contact with the reagent so as to carry out a reaction, the reagent is efficiently passed to the reactant to thereby promote the progress of the reaction. In carrying out the reaction as described above, the reagent (30a) is passed in such a manner that the periphery of the gas/liquid interface at the front end of the reagent moves forward and backward along the wall face of the reaction channel (10). After the completion of the reaction between the reagent (30a) and the reactant, another reagent (30b), which is to be reacted with the reactant capable of reacting with the reagent that is carried on the reaction channel, is passed into the reaction channel (10) while providing a gas in the front edge side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihisa Nakajima, Kusunoki Higashino, Yasuhiro Sando, Youichi Aoki, Kohsuke Tanimoto