Methods and apparatus to facilitate gravitational cell extraction
Granted: August 3, 2021
Patent Number:
11077440
The invention relates generally to methods and apparatus that gravitationally transfer cells from a first medium to a second medium. More specifically, the invention relates to a novel microfluidic device. The microfluidic device includes a cell transfer region, a cell settling channel, a waste channel, a cell output channel, and an input medium channel. The cell settling channel, the waste channel, and the cell output channel extend from, are in fluid communication with, and are smaller…
Automated detection of nanoparticles using single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS)
Granted: July 27, 2021
Patent Number:
11075066
Particles such as nanoparticles in a sample are analyzed by single-particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (spICP-MS). The sample is processed in an ICP-MS system to acquire time scan data corresponding to ion signal intensity versus time. A signal distribution, corresponding to ion signal intensity and the frequency at which the ion signal intensity was measured, is determined from the time scan data. A particle detection threshold is determined as an intersection point of…
Apparatus and methods for transferring a tissue section
Granted: July 27, 2021
Patent Number:
11073447
This invention is based, at least in part, on use of a tissue collector that reduces or eliminates manual steps in collecting and transferring tissue sections from a microtome to a slide. This invention relates to apparatus and methods for automated tissue sectioning, including slicing and transferring a tissue section from a microtome. The invention also relates to automated systems and methods for slicing and transferring a tissue section onto a slide.
Methods for non-invasive detection of transplant health or rejection
Granted: July 27, 2021
Patent Number:
11072829
The present invention relates to the technical field of organ and tissue transplantation and specifically to methods allowing rejection of transplanted organs and tissues by a transplant patient. The present invention provides methods for non-invasive and ex vivo or in vitro detection of the presence or absence of transplant rejection, i.e. transplant health or rejection. The present methods allow for effective and continuous monitoring of transplant status with a minimal or absent…
Capillary electrophoresis system
Granted: July 20, 2021
Patent Number:
11067536
The invention is an improved multiplex capillary electrophoresis instrument or module with at least four and preferably six user-accessible vertically stacked drawers. An x-z stage moves samples from the user accessible drawers to the capillary array for analysis. A computer program allows users to add capillary electrophoresis jobs to a queue corresponding to the analysis of rows or plates of samples without stopping or interrupting runs in progress.
Calibration system for attenuated total reflection spectrometry
Granted: July 13, 2021
Patent Number:
11060914
An ATR scanner and method for calibrating the same are disclosed. The scanner includes an ATR objective having a reflecting face and an optical port adapted to receive a first light beam, and to focus the first light beam to a point, at a location on the reflecting face such that the first light beam is reflected by the reflecting face and no portion of the first light beam strikes the reflecting face at an angle greater than the critical angle. A detector measures an intensity of light…
Method and system for estimating whether a female is pregnant based on a blood sample
Granted: July 6, 2021
Patent Number:
11053546
A method for estimating whether a female is pregnant, said method comprising measuring allele presences (D) for a plurality of genetic markers of at least one chromosome, different from the X and Y chromosome, in a sample of cell-free DNA from a potentially pregnant female; each allele presence representing the presence at a genetic marker of at least one of: a reference allele of maternal or foetal origin, and an alternative allele of maternal or foetal origin; based on said measured…
Composition for stabilization of antibody formulations containing PerCP
Granted: June 29, 2021
Patent Number:
11047850
The present disclosure is directed to formulations and methods that can be used for flow cytometry analysis. The present formulations and methods involve the use of PerCP to stabilize fluorochromes used in flow cytometry, allowing for use and storage of formulations at elevated temperatures and/or over long periods of time.
Stacked layer-type member with integrated functional component
Granted: June 15, 2021
Patent Number:
11035833
A fluidic valve for a sample separation apparatus for separating a fluid, wherein the fluidic valve comprises a stack of connected layer structures, a first conduit within the stack, a second conduit within the stack, a movable body within the stack, and an actuator configured for actuating the movable body to selectively bring the movable body into a flow enabling configuration in which flow of fluid between the first conduit and the second conduit is enabled, or into a flow disabling…
Use of mild electrophiles to reduce artifacts in analyzing glycans released from glycoproteins or glycopeptides
Granted: June 15, 2021
Patent Number:
11035862
The presence of mild electrophiles, such as aldehydes, during the denaturation of glycoproteins or glycopeptides and subsequent enzymatic deglycosylation reduces artifacts in subsequent analyses of the glycans released from the glycoproteins or glycopeptides.
Synchronization of supply flow paths
Granted: June 15, 2021
Patent Number:
11035350
A solvent supply system for supplying a composite solvent is described. The solvent supply system comprises a first supply flow path with a first pump unit, the first supply flow path being adapted for supplying a flow of a first solvent to a mixing unit, the first pump unit operating periodically, and a second supply flow path with a second pump unit, the second supply flow path being adapted for supplying a flow of a second solvent to the mixing unit, the second pump unit operating…
Piston assembly interlocked with piston actuator being unlockable upon disassembly of pump
Granted: June 1, 2021
Patent Number:
11022111
A pump for pumping fluid, wherein the pump comprises a pump head comprising a working chamber, a piston assembly configured for reciprocating within the working chamber to thereby displace fluid, a pump base accommodating a piston actuator being mechanically lockable to the piston assembly in a working mode of the pump to thereby transmit drive energy to the piston assembly to reciprocate, and a locking/unlocking mechanism configured to, upon unfastening the pump head from the pump base,…
AC-coupled system for particle detection
Granted: May 25, 2021
Patent Number:
11017992
A system and method for detecting energetic particles include a detector onto which the particles are impinged. An output signal from the detector, indicative of the energy of the particles, is directed by an AC-coupler to a measurement device to determine particle characteristics such as mass and/or abundance. The detector is selectively couplable to positive or negative bias voltages, and in one embodiment is differentially biased to eliminate ringing due common-mode excitation. The…
Pulse-field multiplex capillary electrophoresis system
Granted: May 25, 2021
Patent Number:
11016057
The invention is a multiplex, pulsed-field capillary electrophoresis instrument with the ability to analyze DNA fragments with sizes greater than 150,000 base pairs. The parallel capillary electrophoresis system allows for the simultaneous analysis of at least 12 samples while applying a pulse or varying electric field for separation. Sequences of pulse-field electric fields are iterated to achieve accurate separation of DNA smears.
Method and system for reducing the effects of column bleed carryover
Granted: May 18, 2021
Patent Number:
11009489
In gas chromatography (GC), a sample is introduced into a flow of carrier gas and the mixture is driven through a heated GC column to acquire chromatographic data from the sample. During this time, the column is heated from an initial temperature to a final temperature. Subsequently, the column is cooled according to a cooling program. The cooling program may include a first cooling ramp, a subsequent isothermal hold, and a subsequent second cooling ramp. Alternatively, while the column…
Compound for labeling amine-containing compounds, and its use
Granted: May 11, 2021
Patent Number:
11002742
The invention relates to an activated form of procaine, and the use of the activated procaine, or salts or solvates thereof, to label amine-containing compounds, such as N-glycans, amine-containing amino acids, amine-containing peptides, amine-containing proteins, or other amine-containing compounds in a sample. Use of activated procaine as a label allows for sensitive detection of compounds labeled with it both by fluorescence and by mass spectrometry.
Chemiluminescent detector having coating to reduce excited species adsorption
Granted: May 11, 2021
Patent Number:
11002684
An apparatus for receiving a chemical species is disclosed. The apparatus includes an emission block configured to receive a vapor phase chemical species that is excited by chemical reaction in the emission block to provide an excited species that emits light. The emission block has an interior portion having a surface. A coating is disposed over the surface and the coating reduces adsorption of the excited species onto the surface.
3?-OH unblocked, fast photocleavable terminating nucleotides and methods for nucleic acid sequencing
Granted: May 11, 2021
Patent Number:
11001886
The present invention relates generally to 3?-OH unblocked nucleotides and nucleosides labeled and unlabeled with 5-methoxy-substituted nitrobenzyl-based photocleavable terminating groups for use in methods and systems related to DNA and RNA sequencing and analysis. These compounds may be used as reversible terminators as they exhibit fast nucleotide incorporation kinetics, single-base termination, high nucleotide selectivity, and rapid terminating group cleavage that results in a…
Pre-heater assembly with moderately thermally conductive capillary surrounding
Granted: May 4, 2021
Patent Number:
10994222
A pre-heater assembly for pre-heating a fluid, in particular in a fluid separation apparatus, wherein the pre-heater assembly comprises a capillary having a lumen and being configured for conducting the fluid, and a thermal coupling body contacting at least part of the capillary, having a value of thermal conductivity in a range between 8 W/(m K) and 100 W/(m K) and being arrangable so that heat generated by a heat source is supplied to the capillary via at least part of the thermal…
Tissue processing apparatus
Granted: May 4, 2021
Patent Number:
10996145
An apparatus (100) for processing a biological sample (101). The biological sample being arranged on a first planar surface (102) of a carrier (103). The apparatus comprises a second planar surface (104) arranged substantially parallel to said first planar surface and at a first distance from said first planar surface, said first planar surface and said second planar surface are arranged at an angle (A) greater than zero degree from the horizontal plane (HP); supply mean (126, 131, 220)…
