ic Display device, display system, display control method for same, electronic device, program, computer-readable recording medium, and light guide element By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An interface (303) between adjacent ones of light guide sections (310) is inclined with respect to an incident surface (301) and an emission surface (302) of the light guide element (300A) so that an incident surface (311) of at least a part of the light guide sections (310) overlaps a part of a display region (202) in a liquid crystal panel (200A) and an emission surface (312) of said at least a part of the light guide sections (310) overlaps at least a part of a frame region (203) above which an image on the display region (202) is to be displayed. Furthermore, a relation 5° Full Article
ic Device for displaying a text message By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for displaying a text message, comprising a display (10) having a plurality of characters, each of said characters being arranged at a fixed position, not overlapping with any other of said characters, and being adapted to be switched on and off, and a controller being connected to said plurality of characters and being adapted to switch on and off selected characters so that at a given time, a selected sub-group of said characters is switched on, the selected sub-group displaying a text message. Full Article
ic Automated pointing and control of high resolution cameras using video analytics By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An automated method for cueing a high resolution video camera to a mobile object involves first detecting the presence of an object by a wide-area surveillance asset such as a radar and using the radar's positional information to cue the video camera iteratively, while updating the positional information each time. Then, a video analytics algorithm detects the object and generates more accurate positional and rate information on the object, which is then used to cue the video camera into a higher resolution setting for classifying/identifying the object. Once the object is identified, the positional and rate information is updated and the updated information is used to further cue the video camera into a higher resolution setting for recording a video clip of the moving object while the video camera is dynamically steered. Full Article
ic Image processing device and image processing method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image processing device configured to be installed in a vehicle includes an image acquirer, an image selector, a first luminance adjuster, a synthetic image generator, and an image provider. The image acquirer acquires camera images captured by cameras provided on the vehicle. The image selector selects one of the camera images as a representative image based on luminances of the camera images. The first luminance adjuster adjusts a luminance of at least one of the other camera images based on a luminance of the representative image. The synthetic image generator generates a synthetic image showing a periphery of the vehicle, based on the representative image and the other camera images the luminance of at least one of which has been adjusted by the first adjuster. The image provider outputs, to a display device installed in the vehicle, information corresponding to the synthetic image. Full Article
ic Input device, image reading device, and image forming apparatus to authenticate the user based on a result received by input section By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An input device includes a display section, an input section, and an authentication section. The display section has a display area and displays a plurality of symbols in respective first regions of the display area. The input section receives an input indicating which of the plurality of symbols displayed on the display section is selected by a user by specifying a position in the display area. The authentication section authenticates the user based a result received by the input section. The input section receives an input indicating which of the plurality of symbols is selected, by receiving an input indicating which of a plurality of second regions allocated to each first region is selected. The authentication section authenticates the user based on the first region corresponding to the selected symbol from among the plurality of first regions and the second region selected from among the plurality of second regions. Full Article
ic Method and apparatus for initializing an RFID tag via an optical display By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for initializing a radio frequency identification tag are disclosed. For example, the method receives an optical signal having a unique identifier and an encryption key from a display by a radio frequency identification repeater associated with the radio frequency identification tag, wherein the radio frequency identification repeater comprises an optical reader. The method then transmits a communication comprising radio frequency identification information associated with the radio frequency identification tag and the unique identifier via the radio frequency identification repeater to a wireless access point, wherein the communication is encrypted using the encryption key. Full Article
ic Vehicle detection apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vehicle detection apparatus comprises an other-vehicle detection module configured to detect points of light in an image captured by a vehicle to which the vehicle detection module is mounted and to detect other vehicles based on the points of light, a vehicle lane-line detection module configured to detect an vehicle lane-line in the captured image, and a region sectioning module configured to section the captured image based on the detected vehicle lane-line into an own vehicle lane region, an oncoming vehicle lane region, and a vehicle lane exterior region. Other vehicles are detected by the other-vehicle detection module by detecting points of light based on respective detection conditions set for each of the sectioned regions. Full Article
ic Method and system to automatically establish NFC link between NFC enabled electronic devices based on proximate distance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Presented is a near field communication system and method to automatically establish an interconnection between two electronic devices. The system includes a first electronic device including an NFC chip communicatively coupled to a passive NFC tag, where the NFC tag having an integrated circuit with a predefined information content, a second device including an active NFC reader configured to read the predefined information content from the NFC tag based on an identification of a proximate distance therebetween, and where the NFC tag is capable of transmitting an activation signal to the NFC chip to enable transition of the NFC chip from a first state to a second state such as to establish a near field wireless communication link between the two devices to enable exchange of digital content therebetween. Full Article
ic Method, system, and apparatus having near field communication (NFC) chip with configurable memory that is updatable via a host processor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A wireless media player and a related system and methodology are disclosed. One aspect of the wireless media player system pertains to a virtual connector system, apparatus, and method for the automatic establishment of wireless connectivity with other electronic devices. In one embodiment, the media player device employs the use of integrated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to exchange communication settings, media capability, and other parameters with an external device that also has integrated RFID technology. The automatic exchange of settings and other information via a proximity-based RFID data exchange allows a media player to quickly establish a secure communication link with another device via a commonly supported wireless protocol such as Ultra Wideband (UWB) or Bluetooth. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of using the captured media capability of the connecting device to customize certain menu options and software parameters in the media player. Full Article
ic Context adaptive content interaction platform for use with a nomadic device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vehicle computer system comprising a transceiver in a vehicle configured to wirelessly connect with a nomadic device, wherein the nomadic device is capable of running a contextual application which operates at least in part based on vehicle environment data. The vehicle computer system further comprises one or more vehicle modules configured to receive environment data and capable of causing the transceiver to provide the vehicle environment data to the nomadic device for processing by the contextual application. Full Article
ic Identifying a geographically nearby mobile computing device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for identifying proximity of a mobile computing device to another mobile computing device. A computing system determines that a set of mobile computing devices are geographically proximate to a first mobile computing device based on identifying that each of the mobile computing devices received a first type of signal from an emitting device for which the first mobile computing device also received the first type of signal. The computing system determines a subset of the mobile computing devices that share a physical space with the first mobile computing device based on identifying that each of the mobile computing devices emitted a second type of signal that was detected by the first mobile computing device, or detected the second type of signal that was emitted by the first mobile computing device. Full Article
ic Method and system for locating a wireless access device in a wireless network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A wireless access device in a wireless network, whether a known or unknown entity, can be located using a geolocation system according to the present invention. A signal strength is determined by a wireless intrusion detection system (WIDS) node in a wireless network for each wireless access device that it detects. Based on the signal strength, an approximate distance from the node is determined, which, in one embodiment corresponds to a radius of a circle around the node. To account for error, an approximation band of the circle is calculated that will allow a user to determine the approximate location of the device within the wireless network. Full Article
ic Location of cooperative tags with personal electronic device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure relates to location and communication systems that can be utilized for locating people, pets and other objects with a software defined radio set. A personal electronic device (PED) such as a cellular telephone, personal data assistant (PDA) or other device that include a software defined radio set can be configured for operation as a locator device. The PED transmits a signal A transponder or micro-transponder (MT) that is tagged to an object is arranged to reply to a transmission received from the PED. The PED based locator is arranged to calculate a distance between the PED and the MT using the time-of-flight (TOF) between the transmission and the receipt of a reply. The absolute geographic position of the PED can be determined using satellite navigation information, while the position of the MT relative to the PED can be determined from the TOF information. Full Article
ic Underwater communication device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An underwater communication device (100) is provided with a voice interface (4), a transceiving unit, a voice quality converting unit and a body (1), etcetera. A bone conduction/throat microphone unit, assembled in the voice interface (4), converts the vocal cord vibrations of a diver to voice signals. The voice quality converting unit converts the voice signals to voice signals based on a clearer voice. A transmitting unit, assembled in the transceiving unit, transmits the converted voice signals to the outside. A receiving unit, assembled in the transceiving unit, receives voice data which is transmitted from the outside. A bone-conduction speaker unit, assembled in the voice interface (4), outputs vibrations corresponding to the voice data received by the receiving unit. Attachment equipment (1, 2, 3) are put on a diver in a state where the bone-conduction speaker unit is in attached to the diver. The receiving unit and the bone-conduction speaker unit are integrally attached to the body (1). Full Article
ic Display device of electric vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a display device of an electric vehicle that enables an occupant of an electric vehicle to more easily realize an effect of regeneration of braking energy. This display device of the electric vehicle calculates integrated cumulative value of the actual driving distance of the electric vehicle as a first distance, calculates, upon detecting regeneration of braking energy, integrated cumulative value of a drivable distance extended by the regeneration of the braking energy as a second distance, and displays both the first distance and the second distance on a display section. Full Article
ic On board vehicle diagnostic module By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure describes a microprocessor executable diagnostic module operable to receive, from a vehicle component, a signal regarding a warning and/or error and select a destination for the signal from a plurality of destinations, the plurality of destinations comprising one or more of a vehicle input/output system to present the warning and/or error to a vehicle occupant, an emergency service provider, an emergency responder, a manufacturer of the vehicle, a service facility located in proximity to a current vehicle location, and a remotely located diagnostic service to diagnose a cause of the warning and/or error signal. Full Article
ic Automating predictive maintenance for automobiles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An approach is provided to automate predictive vehicle maintenance. In the approach, a vehicle's information handling system receives vehicle data transmissions from a number of other vehicles in geographic proximity to the vehicle. Both the vehicle and the other vehicles correspond to various vehicle types that are used to identify those other vehicles that are similar to the vehicle. The sets of received vehicle data transmissions that are received to similar vehicles are analyzed with respect to a plurality of vehicle maintenance data corresponding to the vehicle. The analysis of the vehicle data transmissions resulting in predictive vehicle maintenance recommendations pertaining to the first vehicle. Full Article
ic Method and device for activating and deactivating a valet parking function By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and device for activating and deactivating a valet parking function for a motor vehicle is provided. An activated valet parking function prevents access to one or more lockable areas in the motor vehicle. The method including the steps of checking whether a freely operable control element has been actuated. If the actuation of a control element has been detected, the valet parking function is activated to prevent exclusively the access to the lockable area in the motor vehicle, particularly to a trunk. Full Article
ic User programmable motor vehicle driving parameter control system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A user programmable motor vehicle driving parameter control system includes a motor vehicle including at least one active aerodynamic control element, and a user/vehicle interface member, and a controller including a memory having stored therein a user defined deployment schedule and a processor configured and disposed to selectively deploy the at least one aerodynamic control element based on the user defined deployment schedule. Full Article
ic Driving support apparatus for vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is provided a driving support apparatus for a vehicle. When a height of a three-dimensional object extracted as a control subject is less than a set height, and as the height of the control subject becomes lower, a driving control unit increases the range of the braking control that is sequentially inhibited in the stepwise manner from the highest braking level to the lowest braking level. Full Article
ic Collision avoidance system for rail line vehicles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A collision avoidance system (CAS) is described that includes one or more sensor technologies, including, for example, an Ultra Wideband (UWB) sensing technology. The collision avoidance system is designed to reliably track the location and speed of vehicles and the distance between vehicles over a wide variety of track and terrain. The collision avoidance system may utilize information from a variety of sensor technologies to determine whether one or more vehicles violate speed and/or separation criteria, and may generate a warning. Full Article
ic Method and apparatus for performing quick search of path display terminal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for performing a quick search of a path display terminal are provided. The quick search device of a path display terminal comprises: a vehicle position display unit for displaying a position of a vehicle on a map generated based on map data; a quick search display unit for displaying a quick search area for inputting a search word in a portion of the map; a search unit for searching for a destination corresponding to the search word; and a path display unit for generating and displaying a path from the vehicle position to the destination. Full Article
ic Physiological trend monitor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT A physiological trend monitor has a sensor signal responsive to multiple wavelengths of light transmitted into a tissue site. The transmitted light is detected after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site. A processor has an input responsive to the sensor signal and a physiological parameter output. Features are extracted from the physiological parameter output. Criteria are applied to the features. An alarm output is generated when the criteria are satisfied. Full Article
ic Defining a radio frequency identification read area By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT Defining a radio frequency identification read area includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader operable to read RFID tags within a specified read area. An RFID transmitter is coupled with the RFID reader and is operable to radiating a modulated carrier in an area adjacent to the specified read area. The RFID reader controls the RFID transmitter to transmit the modulated carrier during a preamble transmission of the RFID reader to prevent any RFID tags in the adjacent area from recognizing an interrogation signal from the RFID reader. Full Article
ic Communication process for elements composing a home or industrial electrical energy distribution network and devices for implementing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT A communication process between two constitutive elements of the network of electricity distribution in a domestic or industrial premise including circuit breakers, electrical modules, switches, electrical plugs and light connection devices. The process including the following steps: assignment by a protocol such as DHCP, BootP or RARP of a first IP address to a first element of the power distribution network, assignment of a second IP address to a second element, and establishment of a communication between the first and second elements of the power distribution network. Full Article
ic Universal wireless trainable transceiver unit with integrated bidirectional wireless interface for vehicles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Feb 2016 08:00:00 EST The invention relates to a universal wireless trainable transceiver unit with integrated bidirectional wireless interface functionality, and a method for same. Using a scan, push button or untrained channel mode, a user may enter into a wireless bidirectional interface mode of a trainable transceiver. The interface mode allows a user to select a sub-set of modes that include diagnostics, flash and vehicle interface. Each mode provides the trainable transceiver to communicate wirelessly in a bidirectional manner with another remote device. Full Article
ic Error detection and rejection for a diagnostic testing system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for measuring a property of a sample is provided. The system comprises a diagnostic measuring device having a memory and a diagnostic test strip for collecting the sample. The strip has embedded thereon a pattern representative of at least first data and second data, the first data being data representing at least one of parameters related to measuring the property, codes usable for calibration of the diagnostic measuring device, or parameters indicating proper connection between the measuring device and the test strip and the second data usable for detecting and rejecting potential errors affecting the proper measurement of the property. Full Article
ic Microfluidic device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Described herein are particular embodiments relating to a microfluidic device that may be utilized for cell sensing, counting, and/or sorting. Particular aspects relate to a microfabricated device that is capable of differentiating single cell types from dense cell populations. One particular embodiment relates a device and methods of using the same for sensing, counting, and/or sorting leukocytes from whole, undiluted blood samples. Full Article
ic Analytical methods for analyzing and determining impurities in dianhydrogalactitol By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An improved analytical method for analysis of dianhydrogalactitol preparations provides a method for determining the purity of dianhydrogalactitol and detecting impurities in preparations of dianhydrogalactitol, as well as identifying any such impurities. The method employs high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), in particular, HPLC with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD); the HPLC can be followed by tandem mass spectroscopy. The method can further comprise the step of performing preparative HPLC collection of at least one specific substance peak present in a preparation of dianhydrogalactitol. Full Article
ic System and method for the analysis of DNA sequences in biological fluids By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for detecting electromagnetic waves derived from bacterial DNA, comprising extracting and purifying nucleic acids from a sample; diluting the extracted purified nucleic acids in an aqueous solvent; measuring a low frequency electromagnetic emission over time from the diluted extracted purified nucleic acids in an aqueous solvent; performing a signal analysis of the low frequency electromagnetic emission over time; and producing an output, based on the signal analysis, in dependence on the DNA in the sample. The DNA may be extracted from at least one of blood, feces, urine, saliva, tears, seminal fluid, sweat, seminal and vaginal fluids of a patient, or water to determine, e.g., potability. The samples may be frozen. The extracting and purifying may comprise diluting the sample with an aqueous buffer and mixing; degrading proteins in the diluted sample; precipitating DNA from the buffer solution; and resuspending the precipitated DNA in an aqueous solution. Full Article
ic Preparation of an optical PH sensor based on fluorescein and 1-heptanesulfonic acid sodium Co-intercalated layered double hydroxide By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This invention relates to the field of preparation technology of optical pH sensor by co-intercalated fluorescein and 1-heptanesulfonic acid sodium into layered double hydroxide. The sensor is composed by conductive materials and the surface LDH films by co-interacted FLU and HES. The synthesis method is: first: synthesis of LDH colloid suspension, subsequently, the FLU and HES co-intercalated LDH colloid solution was prepared following the ion-exchange method, then the thin film of FLU-HES/LDH was spreaded on the surface of the conductive material by electrophoretic deposition, and the oriental pH sensor was synthesized. The advantages of the present invention is: first, the LDH matrix provides chromophore molecules with a confined and stable environment; the novel electrophoretic deposition strategy in this work provides a method for precise control of thickness (ranging from nanometers to micrometers), and the oriental pH sensor show good pH responsive. Full Article
ic Use and making of biosensors utilizing antimicrobial peptides for highly sensitive biological monitoring By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A biosensor and method of making are disclosed. The biosensor is configured to detect a target and may include a peptide immobilized on a sensing component, the sensing component having an anode and a cathode. The immobilized peptide may comprise an antimicrobial peptide binding motif for the target. The sensing component has an electrical conductivity that changes in response to binding of the immobilized peptide to the target. The immobilized peptide may bind one or more targets selected from the list consisting of: bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, pathogens, protozoa, fungi, viruses, and cancerous cells. The biosensor may have a display with a readout that is responsive to changes in electrical conductivity of the sensing component. The display unit may be wirelessly coupled to the sensing component. A resonant circuit with an inductive coil may be electrically coupled to the sensing component. A planar coil antenna may be disposed in proximity to the resonant circuit, the planar coil antenna being configured to provide power to the sensing component. Full Article
ic Protein renaturation microfluidic devices and methods of making and using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Microfluidic devices having a protein renaturation component and methods for using the same are provided. Aspects of the present disclosure include microfluidic devices that include a separation medium with a first flow path and a protein renaturation component in fluid communication with the separation medium and having a second flow path. Also provided are methods of using the devices as well as systems and kits that include the devices. The devices, systems and methods find use in a variety of different applications, including diagnostic and validation assays. Full Article
ic Method of detecting pancreatic disease and pancreas testing kit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A pancreatic disease is tested for with high sensitivity even with simple equipment and a simple procedure. Provided is a method of detecting pancreatic disease including detecting a concentration of S100P in at least one of a pancreatic juice and a body fluid containing pancreatic juice collected from a test subject by immunochromatography. Additionally provided is a pancreas testing kit including an immunochromatography device that holds an anti-S100P antibody and a collection vessel that retains a protease inhibitor that inhibits an activity of a protease contained in the pancreatic juice. Full Article
ic Method for analyzing the liquefied petroleum gas and device thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for analyzing the liquefied petroleum gas includes the following steps. Provide a sample of the liquefied petroleum gas, and one main component group of the liquefied petroleum gas includes at least one sub component group. Analyze the sample of the liquefied petroleum gas so as to obtain a first measured THC corresponding to the main component group and a second measured THC corresponding to the sub component group. Obtain a regressed THC according to the second measured THC and a predetermined relationship of THC. Obtain a result of THC according to the first measured THC, the regressed THC, and a predetermined range of THC. The predetermined range of THC corresponds to the main component group. The device for analyzing the liquefied petroleum gas includes an inlet, a multiposition valve, a first column, a second column, an analyzing apparatus, and a computing unit. Full Article
ic Highly water-soluble, cationic luminescent labels By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Luminescent labels based on aromatic and heterocyclic compounds, including reactive intermediates used to synthesize these compounds, and methods of synthesizing and using these reporter compounds. These labels combine high photostabilities, large Stokes' shifts and contain a pyrimidinium moiety as a water-soluble group. These luminescent compounds relate generally to the following structure: The methods relate generally to the synthesis and/or use of reporter compounds for fluorescence lifetime or fluorescence polarization based applications. Full Article
ic Signal amplification in lateral flow and related immunoassays By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides methods, devices, compositions (e.g., capture complexes), and kits useful for enhancing the detection of antibodies in a test sample. The methods, devices, and compositions utilize detectable Fc-binding molecules such as Protein A, Protein G, and/or an Fc-specific antibody to amplify the signal of a detected antibody in immunoassays, such as lateral flow assays. Full Article
ic Two step lateral flow assay methods and devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A two step lateral flow assay method for identifying IgE antibodies in a sample comprises applying a sample to a sample port of a device, wherein the device is adapted to deliver the sample to a lateral flow matrix having a plurality of IgE antigen species immobilized at respective positions at a first location; allowing the sample to travel along the lateral flow matrix through the immobilized plurality of IgE antigen species to a second location downstream of the first location; and, after a predetermined period of time, applying liquid buffer to the lateral flow matrix to mobilize labeled reagent which is adapted to bind anti-IgE antibody and which is dried on the lateral flow matrix at a location upstream of the sample port delivery of the sample to the lateral flow matrix, and allowing labeled reagent mobilized by the liquid buffer to travel along the lateral flow matrix through the immobilized plurality of IgE antigen species and bind with any IgE antibody bound to the immobilized IgE antigen species, and to travel to a second location downstream of the first location where the mobilized labeled reagent causes a visible change to occur at the second location. Full Article
ic Microfluidic devices for the capture of biological sample components By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods and systems for selectively capturing analytes, such as cells, e.g., circulating tumor cells (CTCs), from fluid samples are disclosed. The methods include contacting the sample with an analyte binding moiety that selectively binds to the analytes; optionally separating first components of the sample including a majority of the analytes bound to the binding moieties from second components of the sample using size-based separation, e.g., in a microfluidic channel; adding to the first components of the sample a plurality of binding agents under conditions that enable a plurality of the binding agents to be linked to the analyte binding moieties to form multivalent tagging agents bound to the analyte; passing the first components of the sample past a surface to which is attached a plurality of capture agents that selectively bind to the binding agents; and capturing the analytes by providing conditions that enable the multivalent tagging agents bound to the analytes to bind to one or more of the capture agents. Full Article
ic Detection of analytes via nanoparticle-labeled substances with electromagnetic read-write heads By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A first set of antibodies are bonded to a substrate, and are exposed to and bonded with target antigens. A second set of antibodies are bonded to nanoparticles, and the nanoparticle labeled antibodies are exposed to the targeted antigens. An electromagnetic write-head magnetizes the nanoparticles, and then a read-sensor detects the freshly magnetized nanoparticles. The substrate comprises a flexible film or a Peltier material to allow selective heating and cooling of the antigens and antibodies. Nanoparticles of different magnetic properties may be selectively paired with antibodies associated with different antigens to allow different antigens to be detected upon a single scan by the read-sensor. Full Article
ic Self-metering system and testing device with casing and sliding member to cut-off and set sample volume By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A testing cartridge for metering of a sample to be tested. The testing cartridge includes a casing defining a casing opening and a sliding member defining a sliding member opening. The casing opening or the sliding member opening can define a specified volume, wherein the casing opening and the sliding member opening collectively define a sample application region dimensioned to accommodate receiving an amount of sample exceeding the specified volume. The sliding member is movable transversely to the casing opening by having the sliding member and the casing traverse across each other's respective openings to remove excess sample from the received amount of sample and retain the specified volume from the received amount of sample. Full Article
ic Use of diazolidinyl urea for anti-clumping of biological samples By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides methods for preventing clumping of cells in microfluidic devices by addition of diazolidinyl urea (DU). DU can be added to samples at the time of collection or can be added to samples post-collection. DU can also be pre-added to sample collection devices. Full Article
ic Method of analysis for determining a specific protein in blood samples using fluorescence spectrometry By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention encompasses analyzers and analyzer systems that include a single particle analyzer, methods of using the analyzers and analyzers systems to analyze samples, either for single particles, e.g., protein molecules, or for multiple particles (multiplexing), methods of doing business based on the use of the analyzers or analyzer systems of the system, and electronic media for storing parameters useful in the analyzers and analyzer systems of the invention. Full Article
ic High-temperature furnace, use of a spinel ceramic and method for carrying out T(O)C measurements of samples By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a high-temperature furnace for T(O)C measurement of a sample, which has a furnace housing which bounds a vaporization space and has a sample opening for the dropwise introduction of the sample and at least one flushing opening for introduction of a flushing liquid. According to the invention, the furnace housing is lined with a spinel ceramic on an inner side facing the vaporization space. By means of the spinel ceramic, the vaporization space is lined with a material which allows particularly high temperatures within the vaporization space and thus very complete combustion and is at the same time very resistant to temperature changes. This allows cleaning with a flushing liquid at essentially the operating temperature of the vaporization space and removal of deposited salts, in particular recrystallized organic salts, from the vaporization space in the flushing liquid in dissolved or undissolved form. Aging of the high-temperature furnace by deposited salts can thereby be avoided or at least significantly retarded. Full Article
ic Antibody-nanoparticle conjugates and methods for making and using such conjugates By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein are antibody-nanoparticle conjugates that include two or more nanoparticles (such as gold, palladium, platinum, silver, copper, nickel, cobalt, iridium, or an alloy of two or more thereof) directly linked to an antibody or fragment thereof through a metal-thiol bond. Methods of making the antibody-nanoparticle conjugates disclosed herein include reacting an arylphosphine-nanoparticle composite with a reduced antibody to produce an antibody-nanoparticle conjugate. Also disclosed herein are methods for detecting a target molecule in a sample that include using an antibody-nanoparticle conjugate (such as the antibody-nanoparticle conjugates described herein) and kits for detecting target molecules utilizing the methods disclosed herein. Full Article
ic Method for liberating and detecting nitric oxide from nitrosothiols and iron nitrosyls in blood By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT Amount of combined nitric oxide or nitric oxide present as iron nitrosyls in a blood sample is determined by directing a low power electromagnetic radiation beam at a blood sample to liberate nitric oxide gas, dissolving the liberated nitric oxide gas and electrochemically detecting amount of dissolved nitric oxide gas. Full Article
ic Detachable motor powered surgical instrument By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A detachable motor-powered surgical instrument is disclosed. The instrument may include a housing that includes at least one engagement member for removably attaching the housing to an actuator arrangement. A motor is supported within the housing for supplying actuation motions to various portions of a surgical end effector coupled to the housing. The housing may include a contact arrangement that is configured to permit power to be supplied to the motor only when the housing is operably attached to the actuator arrangement. Full Article
ic Surgical instrument with stowing knife blade By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A surgical instrument with a stowing knife blade includes an elongated shaft, an end effector coupled to the shaft and including two opposed jaws, a housing included in one of the jaws, a first member mounted in the housing and movable distally, a knife pivotally coupled with the first member, and a second member. The knife is configured to cut when advanced distally. The first and second members are moved distally at the same rate during a cutting motion of the knife and the second member blocks a rotation of the knife relative to the first member during the cutting motion of the knife. After moving through the first distance, relative movement between the first and second members occurs so as to permit or induce the previously blocked rotation of the knife so that the knife can be stowed. Full Article
ic Detachable motor powered surgical instrument By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A detachable motor-powered surgical instrument is disclosed. The instrument may include a housing that includes at least one engagement member for removably attaching the housing to an actuator arrangement. A motor is supported within the housing for supplying actuation motions to various portions of a surgical end effector coupled to the housing. The housing may include a contact arrangement that is configured to permit power to be supplied to the motor only when the housing is operably attached to the actuator arrangement. Full Article
ic Adjunct therapy device having driver with cavity for hemostatic agent By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An instrument is configured to receive a staple cartridge to staple tissue and expel a fluid from within a container in the staple cartridge. The staple cartridge has an upper deck including staple apertures and orifices formed therein. The orifices are in fluid communication with the containers. The staple cartridge includes staple drivers having a driver body to translate a staple and a container protrusion to expel the fluid out the orifices. The fluid may be expelled while driving the staples out through the staple apertures. The container may be vertically compressible container or, in one alternative, may be a container having a channel and a sealant that is configured to be pierced as the fluid is expelled. Some configurations for the fluid include a hemostatic agent, thrombin, a gel, or a medicament. The containers may also be formed as reservoirs defined within the upper deck and/or cartridge body. Full Article