Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100136544 | ASSAYS AND OTHER REACTIONS INVOLVING DROPLETS - The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer. After the PCR reaction, unbound DNA may be removed from the gel, e.g., via diffusion or washing. Thus, a gel particle having bound DNA may be formed in one embodiment of the invention. | 06-03-2010 |
20140199730 | ASSAYS AND OTHER REACTIONS INVOLVING DROPLETS - The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer. After the PCR reaction, unbound DNA may be removed from the gel, e.g., via diffusion or washing. Thus, a gel particle having bound DNA may be formed in one embodiment of the invention. | 07-17-2014 |
20140199731 | ASSAY AND OTHER REACTIONS INVOLVING DROPLETS - The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer. After the PCR reaction, unbound DNA may be removed from the gel, e.g., via diffusion or washing. Thus, a gel particle having bound DNA may be formed in one embodiment of the invention. | 07-17-2014 |
20150353999 | ASSAY AND OTHER REACTIONS INVOLVING DROPLETS - The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer. After the PCR reaction, unbound DNA may be removed from the gel, e.g., via diffusion or washing. Thus, a gel particle having bound DNA may be formed in one embodiment of the invention. | 12-10-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090094971 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS TO SYNCHRONIZE A PLURALITY OF HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED COMPONENTS - Applicants' teachings relate to a system and apparatus to synchronize a plurality of hydraulically actuated components. In various embodiments of applicants' teachings, for example, but not limited to, in an automotive vehicle lift rack, a system and apparatus are disclosed to synchronize the platforms of the lift so that they are coplanar, and in some embodiments, maintained in a generally level configuration. The system comprises a hydraulic fluid reservoir, and at least two hydraulically actuated components in fluid communication by a first fluid flow path with the hydraulic fluid reservoir. Moreover, in accordance with various embodiments of applicants' teachings, a discharge valve is provided, the discharge valve in selective fluid communication by a second fluid flow path with a hydraulic fluid reservoir and the hydraulically actuated components. Moreover, in accordance with various embodiments of applicants' teachings, the system further comprises a control unit responsive to relative displacement of the at least two hydraulically actuated components. The control unit to selectively control the discharge valve, so that in response to the relative displacement of the at least two hydraulically actuated components the control unit activates the discharge valve to allow at least a portion of the hydraulic fluid to flow away by the second fluid flow path from at least one of the hydraulically actuated components and to synchronize the hydraulically actuated components. | 04-16-2009 |
20110062303 | APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A WHEEL OF A VEHICLE - A first apparatus for supporting a wheel of a vehicle includes a support structure and a support movably mounted on the support structure. At least one locating member and clamping mechanism are mounted to the support structure and the support. The clamping mechanism engages the locating member so that the support is held in a predetermined position relative to the support structure. A second apparatus for supporting a wheel of a vehicle includes a bearing surface and a support movably mounted on the bearing surface. A first locating member is positioned underneath the bearing surface, and a shaft is mounted to the underside of the support and extends through the bearing surface and the locating member. When an actuator is retracted, the first locating member bears against the bearing surface so that the support is held in a predetermined position relative to the bearing surface. | 03-17-2011 |
20110063859 | VEHICLE LIFT SYSTEMS WITH LIGHTING - A vehicle lift system includes a support structure having a top surface for supporting a vehicle supported by the vehicle lift system, and at least one lighting module. The lighting module is mounted to the top surface of the support structure. The lighting module is configured to illuminate a region of the vehicle, for example, but not limited to, the underside of the vehicle. The lighting module can be mounted generally flush relative to the top surface of the support structure. In a vehicle wheel alignment lift system, the lighting module can be disposed adjacent a movable support surface of the wheel runway apparatus to provide illumination during wheel alignment procedures. | 03-17-2011 |
20130020542 | VEHICLE LIFT SYSTEMS WITH LIGHTING - A vehicle lift system includes a support structure having a top surface for supporting a vehicle supported by the vehicle lift system, and at least one lighting module. The lighting module is mounted to the top surface of the support structure. The lighting module is configured to illuminate a region of the vehicle, for example, but not limited to, the underside of the vehicle. The lighting module can be mounted generally flush relative to the top surface of the support structure. In a vehicle wheel alignment lift system, the lighting module can be disposed adjacent a movable support surface of the wheel runway apparatus to provide illumination during wheel alignment procedures. | 01-24-2013 |
20140048356 | APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A WHEEL OF A VEHICLE - A first apparatus for supporting a wheel of a vehicle includes a support structure and a support movably mounted on the support structure. At least one locating member and clamping mechanism are mounted to the support structure and the support. The clamping mechanism engages the locating member so that the support is held in a predetermined position relative to the support structure. A second apparatus for supporting a wheel of a vehicle includes a bearing surface and a support movably mounted on the bearing surface. A first locating member is positioned underneath the bearing surface, and a shaft is mounted to the underside of the support and extends through the bearing surface and the locating member. When an actuator is retracted, the first locating member bears against the bearing surface so that the support is held in a predetermined position relative to the bearing surface. | 02-20-2014 |