By Particle Count Patents (Class 702/26)
  • Patent number: 11733184
    Abstract: A system for predicting rare earth elements (REEs) in a feedstock sample includes a measurement instrument that records a measurement for a sample, a processor communicatively coupled to the measuring instrument, and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and containing machine readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to correlate the measurement series using a model; and predict a presence of one or more rare earth element based at least in part on the correlation. A method for predicting rare earth elements includes measuring feedstock samples via XRF or PGNAA, to generate a measurements of elements of interest with a lower atomic weight than REEs; correlating the measurements with a model; and predicting a presence of one or more rare earth elements based at least in part on the correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: MICROBEAM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Fuka, Eric Kolb, Alexander Benson, Steven Benson
  • Patent number: 11497420
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media manage low blood glucose levels. The system receives blood glucose readings, where each reading includes a blood glucose value and a respective timestamp. The system compares each blood glucose reading to a predefined hypoglycemic event threshold, and identifies hypoglycemic events when a respective blood glucose reading is below the predefined hypoglycemic event threshold. For at least a subset of the identified hypoglycemic events, the system prompts a user for information associated with each hypoglycemic event. The information requested includes one or more of: symptoms associated with the respective hypoglycemic event; perceived causes of the respective hypoglycemic event; and treatment for the respective hypoglycemic event. In response to the prompting, the system obtains feedback about the identified hypoglycemic events and provides a report that includes at least a subset of the obtained feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: GLOOKO INC.
    Inventors: Samuel Wynbrandt, Rita Sharma, Daniel Todorov
  • Patent number: 11232935
    Abstract: The compound list stored in identification information memory is populated with theoretical masses associated with a variety of compounds, as well as information such as the type of matrix capable of detecting said compound, potential neutral loss, etc. The adduct ion list, meanwhile, is populated with theoretical masses associated with a variety of adduct ions, as well as other information such as types of matrices capable of producing adducts, etc. When a user specifies a peak on the mass spectrum for a compound search, compound candidate search portion extracts combination candidates based on how well the measured m/z value of the specified peak matches the m/z value for combinations of compounds in the compound list and adduct ions in the adduct ion list, while the type of matrix used during measurement serves as a condition to narrow down the combinations. Display processing portion displays a list of the search results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Ikegami, Koretsugu Ogata
  • Patent number: 10920606
    Abstract: Methods and systems for diagnosing a condition of an engine based on lubrication fluid analysis are disclosed. One embodiment of the methods comprises: receiving input data representative of a respective geometric parameter and a respective chemical composition for a plurality of particles filtered from a sample of fluid obtained from the engine; generating data representative of a mass of material of a chemical composition category in one or more of the particles; comparing the mass of material of the chemical composition category with reference data; and generating output data representative of a diagnosis of the condition of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Maurice Jean, Daniel Meilleur
  • Patent number: 10519800
    Abstract: Methods and systems for diagnosing a condition of an engine based on lubrication fluid analysis are disclosed. One embodiment of the methods comprises: receiving input data representative of a respective geometric parameter and a respective chemical composition for a plurality of particles filtered from a sample of fluid obtained from the engine; generating data representative of a mass of material of a chemical composition category in one or more of the particles; comparing the mass of material of the chemical composition category with reference data; and generating output data representative of a diagnosis of the condition of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Maurice Jean, Daniel Meilleur
  • Patent number: 10371631
    Abstract: There is provided an optical analysis technique of detecting light of a light-emitting particle in a sample solution in the scanning molecule counting method using the light measurement with a confocal or multiphoton microscope, for suppressing the scattering in detected results of signals of light of light-emitting particles smaller and achieving the improvement of accuracy. The inventive technique comprises moving the position of a light detection region along a predetermined route for multiple circulation times by changing the optical path of the optical system; detecting light from the light detection region and generating time series light intensity data during the moving of the light detection region and detecting individually a signal indicating light from each light-emitting particle existing in the predetermined route using the time series light intensity data obtained in the circulating movements of the light detection region of multiple times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tanabe, Mitsushiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9984039
    Abstract: Efficient prediction of trajectories of pollutants in a fluid is accomplished by automatic activation and deactivation of sub-domains within the mesh representing the body of fluid in question. Activation and deactivation are triggered by the transport characteristics of the pollutant, that is, the sub-domains are activated as the pollutant enters a sub-domain and deactivated as the pollutant exits a sub-domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Emanuele Ragnoli, Sergiy Zhuk
  • Patent number: 9863806
    Abstract: In the scanning molecule counting method using the light measurement with a confocal microscope or a multiphoton microscope, a measuring time is optimized with suppressing the scattering in a result small irrespective of light-emitting particle concentrations. In the inventive technique of detecting and analyzing the light from an light-emitting particle, there are repeated processes of detecting the light intensity from a light detection region with moving the position of the light detection region of an optical system in a sample solution by changing the optical path of the optical system of the microscope, and detecting the signals of the light of light-emitting particles individually, and based on the time taken for the number of the signals from the light-emitting particles to reach a predetermined number, the light-emitting particle concentration in the sample solution is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuya Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9644230
    Abstract: A method for detecting bacteria and determining the concentration thereof in a liquid sample includes the steps of taking an optical section through a container holding a volume of the liquid sample at a predetermined field of view and at a predetermined focal plane depth or angle and after a period of time has elapsed to allow non-bacteria in the sample to settle to the bottom of the container. Since bacteria auto arranges in the liquid sample, forming a lattice-like grid pattern, an optical section through the volume of auto-arranged bacteria may be used to measure the quantity of bacteria residing in that section. A container for holding the liquid sample has particular structure which aids in separating the non-bacteria from the bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Hammond, James Russell
  • Patent number: 9528923
    Abstract: There is provided optical analysis techniques in the scanning molecule counting method using the light measurement with a confocal or multiphoton microscope in which the measuring unit time in the light measurement is set to an appropriate value in order to surely detect an approximately bell shape profile of the signal of a light-emitting particle and avoid excessive increase data volume of time series light intensity data. The inventive optical analysis technique of detecting light of a light-emitting particle in a sample solution generates time series light intensity data of light from a light detection region detected during moving the position of the light detection region of a microscope in the sample solution and detects in the data a signal indicating light from each light-emitting particle individually. The measuring unit time is determined based on the size and the moving speed of the light detection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidetaka Nakata, Tetsuya Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9488578
    Abstract: There is provided a single particle detection technique based on a scanning molecule counting method, enabling individual detection of a single particle using light measurement with a confocal or multiphoton microscope, and quantitative observation of conditions or characteristics of the particle. The inventive technique of detecting a single particle in a sample solution detects light containing substantially constant background light from a light detection region with moving the position of the light detection region of the microscope in a sample solution to generate time series light intensity data; and detects individually a light intensity reduction occurred when a single particle which does not emit light (or a particle whose emitting light intensity in a detected wavelength band is lower than the background light) enters in the light detection region in the time series light intensity data as a signal indicating the existence of each single particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Hanashi, Tetsuya Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9354171
    Abstract: There is provided a single particle detection technique based on a scanning molecule counting method, enabling individual detection of a single particle using light measurement with a confocal or multiphoton microscope, and quantitative observation of conditions or characteristics of the particle. The inventive technique of detecting a single particle in a sample solution detects light containing substantially constant background light from a light detection region with moving the position of the light detection region of the microscope in a sample solution to generate time series light intensity data; and detects individually a light intensity reduction occurred when a single particle which does not emit light (or a particle whose emitting light intensity in a detected wavelength band is lower than the background light) enters in the light detection region in the time series light intensity data as a signal indicating the existence of each single particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Hanashi, Tetsuya Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9023651
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device (100) for determining the amount of a target component (2) in a sample, wherein magnetic particles (2) can bind to a contact surface (4) with kinetics that depend on the sample-amount of the target component. The method comprises at least two washing steps during which magnetic particles (2) are magnetically moved away from the contact surface (4) and corresponding measurements of the remaining amount of magnetic particles (2) at the contact surface (4). The amount of target component in the sample is estimated from at least one of such measurement results. The measurement allows to determine also high concentrations of target component for which the sensor surface (4) is saturated in a steady-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Toon Hendrik Evers, Wendy Uyen Dittmer
  • Publication number: 20150118708
    Abstract: A method for detecting bacteria and determining the concentration thereof in a liquid sample includes the steps of taking an optical section through a container holding a volume of the liquid sample at a predetermined field of view and at a predetermined focal plane depth or angle and after a period of time has elapsed to allow non-bacteria in the sample to settle to the bottom of the container. Since bacteria auto arranges in the liquid sample, forming a lattice-like grid pattern, an optical section through the volume of auto-arranged bacteria may be used to measure the quantity of bacteria residing in that section. A container for holding the liquid sample has particular structure which aids in separating the non-bacteria from the bacteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Jeremy Hammond, James Russell
  • Patent number: 8941056
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed wherein an ion signal is split into a first and second signal. The first and second signals are multiplied by different gains and are digitized. Arrival time and intensity pairs are calculated for both digitized signals and the resulting time and intensity pairs are combined to form a high dynamic range spectrum. The spectrum is then combined with other corresponding spectra to form a summed spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Martin Raymond Green, Steven Derek Pringle, Jason Lee Wildgoose
  • Patent number: 8889072
    Abstract: Disclosed are computer-implemented methods of sorting particles from a particle stream in a flow cytometer. The methods include: calculating sort decision making parameters using the raw event data values from a flow cytometer and a sort logic; performing sort logic computations using the sort logic definition and the sort decision making parameters to generate sort decisions; converting the sort decisions into sort commands; and sending the one or more sort commands to the flow cytometer. Sort logic computations may include algorithmically using conditional branching logic, and may include sort logic equations having mathematical functions characterizing one or more regions of interest in multidimensional data space. Such mathematical functions may be determined based on one or more parameters provided by a user. Also disclosed are corresponding systems having a flow cytometer and a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Degeal, Charles S. Bay, Edward A. Stanton, Paul Barclay Purcell, George C. Malachowski
  • Patent number: 8805586
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for optimizing and controlling the particle size distribution and scale-up of production of nanoparticle in an aerosol flame reactor. The method provides nanoparticles with desired, optimized and controlled particle size and the specific surface area in aerosol reactors using a simulation tool with programmed instructions. The simulation tool couples flame dynamics model and particle population balance model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Venkataramana Runkana, Venkata Sudheendra Buddhiraju, Nagaravi Kumar Varma Nadimpalli
  • Patent number: 8781755
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a fugitive emission flux measurement of airborne matter is provided. The method involves measuring the airborne matter along one or more than one measurement surface that spans the fugitive emission using two or more than two measurement beam paths where each of the two or more than two measurement beam paths are parallel to each other, or substantially parallel to each other, and determining a mass per unit length measurement for the measurement surface, determining a representative wind velocity at or near the one or more than one measurement surface, and calculating the fugitive emission flux of the airborne matter in mass per unit time using the mass per unit length determination and representative wind velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Golder Associates Ltd.
    Inventor: Colin Irvin Wong
  • Patent number: 8754364
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed wherein an ion signal is split into a first and second signal. The first and second signals are multiplied by different gains and are digitised. Arrival time and intensity pairs are calculated for both digitised signals and the resulting time and intensity pairs are combined to form a high dynamic range spectrum. The spectrum is then combined with other corresponding spectra to form a summed spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Martin Raymond Green, Steven Derek Pringle, Jason Lee Wildgoose
  • Patent number: 8674554
    Abstract: A power off delay circuit includes a switch connected between an external power input terminal and an internal power supply terminal, a capacitor connected to the internal power supply terminal, and a hysteresis comparator to switch the switch according to the voltages of the external power input terminal and the internal power supply terminal. During on-time of the switch, the external power input terminal is connected to the internal power supply terminal and the capacitor can be charged by the external power source. When the switch is off, the capacitor provides electric power for an internal circuit. Application of the power off delay circuit to an audio system may eliminate the turn-off pops of the audio system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chi-Hua Lin, Chien-Fu Tang, Isaac Y Chen, An-Tung Chen
  • Patent number: 8571812
    Abstract: A method for determining the oxygen concentration of a sample made of a semiconductor material includes a heat treatment step of the sample to form thermal donors, the measurement of the resistivity in an area of the sample, the determination of the thermal donor concentration from a relation expressing the charge carrier mobility according to an ionized dopant impurity concentration, by adding to the dopant impurity concentration four times the thermal donor concentration, and from the measured resistivity value. The method finally includes determining the oxygen concentration from the thermal donor concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Jordi Veirman, Sebastien Dubois, Nicolas Enjalbert
  • Publication number: 20130275054
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for photon, ion or particle counting described that provides seven orders of magnitude of linear dynamic range (LDR) for a single detector. By explicitly considering the log-normal probability distribution in voltage transients as a function of the number of photons, ions or particles present, the binomial distribution of observed counts for a given threshold, the mean number of photons, ions or particles can be determined well beyond the conventional limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Garth J. Simpson, David Joseph Klsslck, Ryan Muir
  • Patent number: 8557587
    Abstract: Disclosed is a self-tuning flow cytometer that uses a mathematical model to perform sort decisions that is based upon the biological response of the particular types of cells that are being sorted. In one embodiment, statistical calculations of the likelihood of an event belonging to a certain population are used to make the sort decisions. Automated self-tuning processes are used to optimize the operating parameters of the flow cytometer to achieve a selected purity with higher yield at optimal sorting speeds. The fully automated processes minimize user input and allows the user to select a desired purity while maximizing yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: XY, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel N. Fox, George C. Malachowski, Matthias J. G. Ottenberg, Tidhar Sadeh
  • Patent number: 8505276
    Abstract: Disclosed is a particulate matter measurement device that continuously measures changes in a mass of particulate matters contained in an exhaust gas under dynamic operating conditions. The device dilutes and separates the flow of exhaust gas while an engine is operating. The particulate matters contained in one of the exhaust gas streams are collected by a collection filter to measure the mass and the remainder is measured by a mass-related value measurement. Then, time series change data for the mass of the particulate matter are found based on correlations of the individual measured data. With this arrangement, the flow volume of the dilute exhaust gas that passes through the collection filter and the flow volume of the dilute exhaust gas that is introduced into the mass-related value measurement device are ensured by adjusting the flow volume of the diluting gas that dilutes the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Horiba, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8395398
    Abstract: Mixtures containing homogeneously-sized particles with a minimum concentration of agglomerates or larger particles are desired in various manufacturing processes such as, for example, in the manufacture and use of chemical mechanical polishing slurries, food emulsions, pharmaceutical products, paints, and print toner. The method disclosed herein provides these industries with an accurate and efficient method of screening such mixtures for such agglomerates and large particles. The method generally includes preparing a suspension of the mixture in an electrolyte, wherein the suspension includes a specified concentration of small particles per unit of electrolyte. The method further includes passing the prepared suspension, and a plurality of the particles therein, through an aperture of a device capable of characterizing particles according to the Coulter principle to obtain data on the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Renliang Xu, Yiming Yang
  • Publication number: 20130035871
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and reporting patterns in analyte concentration data are provided. According to some implementations, an implantable device for continuous measurement of an analyte concentration is disclosed. The implantable device includes a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a concentration of an analyte in a host, a memory configured to store data corresponding at least one of the generated signal and user information, a processor configured to receive data from at least one of the memory and the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to generate pattern data based on the received information, and an output module configured to output the generated pattern data. The pattern data can be based on detecting frequency and severity of analyte data in clinically risky ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Phil Mayou, Hari Hampapuram, David Price, Keri Weindel, Kostyantyn Snisarenko, Michael Robert Mensinger, Leif N. Bowman, Robert J. Boock, Apurv Ullas Kamath, Eli Reihman, Peter C. Simpson
  • Patent number: 8364422
    Abstract: A method of presuming interior situation of process chamber that makes it possible to accurately presume the interior situation of a process chamber using the number of particles discharged from the interior of the process chamber. Characteristic values associated with respective particle removing modes of a particle removing sequence are extracted from time-series data on the number of particles discharged from the interior of the process chamber in which a substrate is accommodated and subjected to predetermined processing and to which the particle removing sequence is applied, and the relationship between the extracted characteristic values and the interior situation of the process chamber is calculated. The interior situation of the process chamber is presumed based on the calculated relationship and the characteristic values in new time-series data on the number of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8354634
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed wherein an ion signal is split into a first and second signal. The first and second signals are multiplied by different gains and are digitised. Arrival time and intensity pairs are calculated for both digitised signals and the resulting time and intensity pairs are combined to form a high dynamic range spectrum. The spectrum is then combined with other corresponding spectra to form a summed spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Martin Green, Steven Derek Pringle, Jason Lee Wildgoose
  • Publication number: 20120303291
    Abstract: A method of absolute nuclear material assay of an unknown source comprising counting neutrons from the unknown source and providing an absolute nuclear material assay utilizing a model to optimally compare to the measured count distributions. In one embodiment, the step of providing an absolute nuclear material assay comprises utilizing a random sampling of analytically computed fission chain distributions to generate a continuous time-evolving sequence of event-counts by spreading the fission chain distribution in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Manoj K. Prasad, Neal J. Snyderman, Mark S. Rowland
  • Patent number: 8265110
    Abstract: A laser and monitoring system is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, the system includes a laser, pulse shaper and detection device. A further aspect of the present invention employs a femtosecond laser and binary pulse shaping (BPS). Still another aspect of the present invention uses a laser beam pulse, a pulse shaper and a SHG crystal. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan (hereinafter “MIIPS”) method is used to characterize the spectral phase of femtosecond laser pulses and to correct them. A further aspect of the system of the present invention is employed to monitor environmental chemicals and biological agents, including toxins, explosives, and diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Board of Trustees Operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Marcos Dantus, Vadim V. Lozovoy, Matthew Comstock
  • Patent number: 8265882
    Abstract: A method and a device for the automatic determination of selected physical and colloidal chemistry parameters by determining the attenuation of radiated waves through monodisperse or polydisperse dispersion samples subjected to gravitation or centrifugation, wherein during the segregation by means of centrifugation or gravitation, the instantaneous transmission IT(t, r) characterizing the current segregation status of the waves radiated with the intensity Io(t, r) and/or the instantaneous scattering IS(t, r) as a function of the position within the samples is repeatedly determined and recorded at high resolution at any arbitrary time for one or more wavelengths over the entire length of the sample or in selected partial sections of it, simultaneously for multiple and even concentrated samples with known and/or unknown physical and colloidal chemistry properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: L.U.M. Gesellschaft fur Labor-Umweltdiagnostic & Medizintechnik mbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Lerche, Titus Sobisch, Torsten Detloff, Frank Babick, Michael Stintz
  • Publication number: 20120046883
    Abstract: A pipette instrument 100 carrying interrogation circuitry 132 adapted to interrogate a data signal received from a removable instrumented pipette tip 114. The pipette 100 includes a microprocessor and memory 130 that can be programmed to perform data collection procedures. User controls typically include a start button 108, and a track wheel 1 10. A display device 1 12 can present device options through one or more menu, and show data resulting from one or more test result. The pipette can interrogate particles carried by a fluid flowing through a tip 1 14 by detecting either of or both of Coulter principle phenomena, and Stokes-shift phenomena.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Harold E. Ayliffe, Michael E. McGinnis, Curts S. King
  • Patent number: 8082112
    Abstract: The concentration of air or other agents in a fluid delivery line is determined by monitoring agent signals and processing those agent signals along with information regarding the age of each agent signal. The processor determines a primary agent concentration value based on the received agent signal values, with the primary agent concentration value determined by giving greater weight to more recent agent signal values. Where the primary agent concentration value exceeds a primary threshold value, an alarm signal may be activated. The processor also may determine a secondary agent concentration value, which may be determined from the actual agent signal values instead of the weighted agent signal values. Where the secondary agent concentration value exceeds a secondary threshold value, an alarm signal may be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: CareFusion 303, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Butterfield, Allen B. Farquhar
  • Patent number: 8059264
    Abstract: Method for monitoring the velocity of growing polymer particles flowing in a two-phase stream during a polymerization process, said method comprising measuring the degree of attenuation in the propagation of light in said two-phase stream by means of a photometric instrument, said photometric instrument comprising: one or more transmitting optical waveguides connecting one or more light sources to said two-phase stream, one or more receiving optical waveguides connecting said two-phase stream to a light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia, s.r.l.
    Inventors: Christian Ulrich Schmidt, Stefan Ziegler, Gabriele Mei, Stefano Bertolini, Gerben Meier
  • Patent number: 8055471
    Abstract: A method for discriminating particle groups comprises generating, by a particle analyzer, a particle characteristic distribution histogram in which the abscissa indicates respective channels for representing the characteristics of the particles, and the ordinate indicates the particle count; setting a valid area selection height in the particle characteristics distribution histogram; and generating an equivalent negative histogram based on the set height and the particle characteristic distribution histogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huan Qi, Wenjun Tong
  • Patent number: 8032321
    Abstract: A biosensor system determines the presence and/or concentration of an analyte in a sample using one or more calibrated correlation equations. The analysis may be electrochemical, optical, or a combination thereof. The biosensor system may be implemented using a measurement device and a sensor strip. The measurement device applies test signals to a multi-layered encoding area of the sensor strip. Calibration information is determined from the patterns generated by the interaction of the test signals with the multi-layered encoding area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC
    Inventor: Weiping Zhong
  • Patent number: 7982181
    Abstract: A method of analyzing data from a mass spectrometer provides data-dependent acquisition. An extracted ion chromatogram (XIC) is created for each m/z data point of mass spectral scans and the XIC for each m/z data point are correlated to a model function to obtain a XIC correlation value. A weighting function is applied to the XIC correlation value to obtain a current weighted intensity for each m/z point, which is used to reconstruct a weighted mass spectrum. The value or range of intensities of interest of the weighted intensity data or raw data is transformed from the time domain into the frequency domain, and the transformed data is used to make a real-time decision for the data-dependent acquisition. The data-dependent acquisition can be the performance of tandem mass spectrometry. A sample processing apparatus receives the sample and a computer readable medium provides instructions to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLC
    Inventor: Michael W. Senko
  • Patent number: 7943383
    Abstract: A blood analyzer configured to prevent an abnormal number of white blood cells caused by lipid particles or red blood cells of poor hemolysis from being output. The blood analyzer includes a system for obtaining a first white blood cell number and a system for obtaining a second white blood cell number. The analyzer also includes an output device for outputting the second white blood cell number, and a system for determining whether the second white blood cell number is abnormal. The output device is configured to output the first white blood cell number when the second white blood cell number has been determined to be abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventors: Kinya Uchihashi, Yoshiro Ikeuchi, Noriyuki Narisada
  • Patent number: 7895000
    Abstract: An environmental sensor including an inlet and an outlet such that a flow of fluid moves from the inlet to the outlet, a particle detection portion to detect particles in the fluid, and a controller connected to the particle detection portion. The environmental sensor can be in communication with a data acquisition system (e.g., via a wireless access point) to form a particle counting system. Also disclosed are methods of operating the environmental sensor and methods of operating the particle detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Venturedyne, Ltd.
    Inventors: David L. Chandler, Daniel Edward Cain, Glenn Y. Kozuma, Joe Somoza
  • Patent number: 7880483
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a quality inspection method for obtaining a specifying factor which can more reliably indicate powder characteristics of a core material for an electrophotographic ferrite carrier. The method includes measuring an impedance of the core material for the electrophotographic ferrite carrier to obtain a Cole-Cole plot in which a real number impedance is arranged in an X-axis and an imaginary number impedance is arranged in a Y-axis, and evaluating characteristics of particles of the core material for the electrophotographic ferrite carrier using the Cole-Cole plot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Powdertech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Aga, Hiromichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7871237
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a gas turbine engine (20) to predict maintenance requirements. Particles suspended in a gas flow (24, 32) of the engine (20) are monitored and quantified to predict a particle accumulation rate. Monitoring may be done using particle flow sensors (61-63) in a diverted portion (33) of the working gas flow (24), such as in the cooling gas flow (32). Particle sampling (S1-S3) may be done to determine particle size and composition distributions. Particle mass flow rates may then be continuously monitored per engine operating condition, and compared to predetermined values such as a normal upper limit per engine operating condition. An integrated particle mass flow may be used in conjunction with an instantaneous mass flow rate to predict a maintenance requirement. Multiple locations (L1-L3) may be monitored to recognize a maintenance requirement by flow section or component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Bunce, Francisco Dovali-Solis
  • Patent number: 7825373
    Abstract: A data acquisition system and method are described that may be used with various spectrometers. The data acquisition system may include an ion detector, an initial processing module, and a spectra processing module. The initial processing module is provided for receiving, sampling, and processing ion detection signals received from the ion detector, and for supplying processed signals to the spectra processing module. The initial processing module includes a horizontal accumulation circuit that combines a fractional number of adjacent samples of the ion detection signals into bins. The number of adjacent samples to combine into bins may vary as a function of: (1) the time of arrival at the ion detector corresponding to that sample; (2) the mass corresponding to that sample; (3) the resolution corresponding to that sample; and/or (4) an operational mode of the spectrometer. The spectra processing module receives the processed signals and generates spectra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Leco Corporation
    Inventors: Peter M. Willis, Michael C. Mason, Mark R. Wheeler, Viatcheslav B. Artaev, Julie R. Pitz
  • Patent number: 7791482
    Abstract: A material is laced with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags at a known concentration of RFID tags per unit of material. Subsequently, if an interrogation of the RFID tags reveals a reduced concentration of RFID tags in the material, then a conclusion is drawn that the material has been diluted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Angell, James R. Kraemer
  • Patent number: 7724150
    Abstract: An environmental sensor including an inlet and an outlet such that a flow of fluid moves from the inlet to the outlet, a particle detection portion to detect particles in the fluid, and a controller connected to the particle detection portion. The environmental sensor can be in communication with a data acquisition system (e.g., via a wireless access point) to form a particle counting system. Also disclosed are methods of operating the environmental sensor and methods of operating the particle detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Venturedyne, Ltd.
    Inventors: David L. Chandler, Daniel Edward Cain, Glenn Y. Kozuma, Joe Somoza
  • Publication number: 20100045982
    Abstract: A particle counting device 11 for detecting and counting particles in a fluid to be measured comprises a measuring section 13 for detecting particles and a control section 12 for processing the output signal from the measuring section 13. When an abnormality occurs, a signal to issue a warning is generated. With this, a constant monitoring or observation is possible. Also, a particle counting system comprising a plurality of particle counting devices 11 and an information processing device 17 for processing the results of the counting by the particle processing devices 11 is also provided. The plurality of particle counting devices 11 are electrically connected to the information processing device 17 in multiple and in parallel. Alternately, a particle counting system comprising a plurality of particle counting devices 11 for detecting and counting particles in a fluid to be measured is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruhiro Tsuneta, Eiichi Sugioka, Hiroshi Tonouchi, Junichi Shiozawa, Kenichi Hayashi, Tetsuo Momose, Hiroaki Furihata
  • Patent number: 7657384
    Abstract: Method for managing a response to a triggering event in connection with a fugitive emissions monitor of a component. In one implementation, the method may include determining whether an input is a triggering event. If the input is a triggering event, then a message regarding the triggering event and one or more actions to remedy the triggering event may be displayed. The method may further include displaying one or more queries to confirm that the actions have been completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Environmental Analytics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rex Moses
  • Publication number: 20090315533
    Abstract: An apparatus for characterizing particles suspended in a liquid sample containing electrolyte including a sample chamber to hold the liquid sample and a collection chamber to hold an electrolyte solution. A wall separates the chambers and includes an aperture to allow passage of particles between the chambers; and a pair of electrodes are disposed on opposite sides of the aperture to induce a current through the aperture. A pressure source forces the sample to pass from the sample chamber into the collection chamber; and a processor measures a signal representative of electric resistance variation between the electrodes to enable determination of the size of the particle within the liquid passing through the aperture, wherein the processor is adapted to monitor two or more parameters characterizing the flow of particles through the aperture, and to detect a potential blockage of the aperture by detecting a change in any one of the parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: BECKMAN COULTER, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Atchley, Scott D'Amron
  • Publication number: 20090299652
    Abstract: A method of presuming interior situation of process chamber that makes it possible to accurately presume the interior situation of a process chamber using the number of particles discharged from the interior of the process chamber. Characteristic values associated with respective particle removing modes of a particle removing sequence are extracted from time-series data on the number of particles discharged from the interior of the process chamber in which a substrate is accommodated and subjected to predetermined processing and to which the particle removing sequence is applied, and the relationship between the extracted characteristic values and the interior situation of the process chamber is calculated. The interior situation of the process chamber is presumed based on the calculated relationship and the characteristic values in new time-series data on the number of particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Hiroyuki NAKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 7583710
    Abstract: A laser and monitoring system is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, the system includes a laser, pulse shaper and detection device. A further aspect of the present invention employs a femtosecond laser and binary pulse shaping (BPS). Still another aspect of the present invention uses a laser beam pulse, a pulse shaper and a SHG crystal. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan (hereinafter “MIIPS”) method is used to characterize the spectral phase of femtosecond laser pulses and to correct them. A further aspect of the system of the present invention is employed to monitor environmental chemicals and biological agents, including toxins, explosives, and diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Marcos Dantus, Vadim V Lozovoy, Matthew Comstock
  • Publication number: 20090210170
    Abstract: A method for discriminating particle groups comprises generating, by a particle analyzer, a particle characteristic distribution histogram in which the abscissa indicates respective channels for representing the characteristics of the particles, and the ordinate indicates the particle count; setting a valid area selection height in the particle characteristics distribution histogram; and generating an equivalent negative histogram based on the set height and the particle characteristic distribution histogram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO-MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huan QI, Wenjun TONG