IP Library Granted Patent US 10,254,279
Granted Patent B2
US 10,254,279 · App. 15/265,171 · Granted Apr 9, 2019

System and method for detection of target substances

Inventors: Scott Sundvor (San Francisco, CA); Steven Portela (San Francisco, CA); Jonathan Ward (San Francisco, CA); John Walton (San Francisco, CA); Jonathan William Kiel (San Francisco, CA); Jeffrey Mekler (San Francisco, CA); Shireen Yates (San Francisco, CA); Jacob Mooney (San Francisco, CA); Dane Weitmann (San Francisco, CA); Joseph Horrell (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Nima Labs, Inc.
G01N33/5308G01N33/02G01N33/54366
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,254,279
App. No.
15/265,171
Granted
Apr 9, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method includes a test container for detecting a target substance in a consumable sample, where the test container includes a test container body defining a test container top, a test container bottom opposing the test container top, a first chamber proximal the test container top, and a second chamber proximal the test container bottom, a magnetic diaphragm situated between the first chamber and the second chamber, the magnetic diaphragm obstructing flow of the consumable sample, and the magnetic diaphragm including a magnetic element embedded in the magnetic diaphragm, and a driving element geometrically complementary to the first chamber, the driving element including a consumable sample grinding feature protruding from a surface of the driving element.

Claims (26)

1. A system with a test container for detecting a target substance in a consumable sample, the test container comprising:

a test container body defining:

a first chamber defining a consumable reception opening, and the first chamber defining a second opening opposing the consumable reception opening, and

a second chamber defining a sample reception opening co-extensive with the second opening of the first chamber, wherein the second chamber is aligned with the first chamber along a longitudinal axis of the test container body;

a magnetic diaphragm situated between the first chamber and the second chamber, and the magnetic diaphragm comprising a magnetic element; and

a driving element geometrically complementary to the first chamber, and comprising a consumable sample grinding feature extending from a surface of the driving element.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic diaphragm defines:

a broad face proximal the first chamber; and

a grinding feature extending from the broad face towards the consumable reception opening.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber comprises a threaded interior, wherein the driving element comprises a shaft, the shaft comprising a threaded exterior, and wherein the consumable sample grinding feature extends parallel a longitudinal axis of the driving element.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the magnetic diaphragm defines a frangible region arranged radially inward from a perimeter of the magnetic diaphragm, wherein an end of the shaft defines a set of protrusions extending along a longitudinal axis of the shaft, and wherein a length of the shaft with the set of protrusions is greater than a length of the first chamber.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second chamber comprises an outlet port comprising a valve, and wherein the analysis device further comprises a valve motor that controls the valve of the outlet port to operate between:

a closed position wherein the outlet port is impermeable to flow of the consumable sample through the outlet port; and

an open position wherein the outlet port is permeable to the flow of the consumable sample through the outlet port, and impermeable to movement of the magnetic diaphragm through the outlet port.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the outlet port of the second chamber defines a sample fluid path extending along a lateral axis of the test container body.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an analysis device defining a base physically connected to a triangular face, wherein the analysis device comprises a receiving port defining a test container opening sized to receive the test container, and wherein the test container opening is proximal an apex of the triangular face.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a mixing module proximal the base of the analysis device, and wherein the mixing module comprises:

a complementary magnet coupleable to the magnetic element of the magnetic diaphragm; and

a spinning motor mounting the complementary magnet.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the receiving port is substantially parallel with a side of the triangular face of the analysis device, and wherein a lateral axis of the receiving port intersects the base of the analysis device.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the test container further comprises an analysis chamber comprising a detection window enabling detection of the target substance, and wherein the test container body defines:

a curved side proximal the first and the second chambers of the test container; and

a flat side opposing the curved side, wherein the flat side is proximal the analysis chamber.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the analysis chamber is adjacent the first and the second chambers along a lateral axis of the test container body, and wherein the system further comprises an analysis module comprising:

a receiving port comprising a first side geometrically complementary to the curved side of the test container body, and an optical analysis side opposing the first side and geometrically complementary to the flat side of the test container body; and

an optical sensing subsystem optically aligned with the optical analysis side of the receiving port.

Assignments (14)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 20, 2025
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071672/0100 →
PARTIAL TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS, RECORDED ON OCTOBER 21, 2021, AT REEL/FRAME 058040/0001 Recorded Jun 20, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP (F/K/A MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.); NIMA PARTNERS, INC. (AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO NIMA ACQUISITION, LLC)
Reel/Frame 071672/0198 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS, RECORDED ON APRIL 1, 2022, AT REEL/FRAME 059476/0640 Recorded Jun 20, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: NIMA PARTNERS, INC. (AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO NIMA ACQUISITION, LLC)
Reel/Frame 071672/0221 →
PARTIAL TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jun 20, 2025
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP (F/K/A MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.); NIMA PARTNERS, INC. (AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO NIMA ACQUISITION, LLC)
Reel/Frame 071675/0957 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 060382/0577) Recorded Jun 20, 2025
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: NIMA PARTNERS, INC. (AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO NIMA ACQUISITION, LLC)
Reel/Frame 071676/0468 →
PARTIAL TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 057927/0091) Recorded Jun 20, 2025
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP (F/K/A MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.); NIMA PARTNERS, INC. (AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO NIMA ACQUISITION, LLC)
Reel/Frame 071676/0571 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2025
From: NIMA ACQUISITION, LLC
To: NIMA PARTNERS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070142/0009 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2022
From: NIMA ACQUISITION, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 060382/0577 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2022
From: NIMA ACQUISITION, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 059476/0640 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2021
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057927/0091 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2021
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058040/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 14, 2021
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
Reel/Frame 057807/0297 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2020
From: NIMA LABS, INC.
To: NIMA ACQUISITION, LLC
Reel/Frame 054030/0036 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2017
From: SUNDVOR, SCOTT; PORTELA, STEVEN; WARD, JONATHAN; WALTON, JOHN; KIEL, JONATHAN WILLIAM; MEKLER, JEFFREY; YATES, SHIREEN; MOONEY, JACOB; WEITMANN, DANE; HORRELL, JOSEPH
To: NIMA LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 041987/0428 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation In Part 14498298 · Sep 26, 2014
Continuation In Part 14227543 · Mar 27, 2014
Provisional Application 61874590 · Sep 6, 2013
Provisional Application 61806425 · Mar 29, 2013
Provisional Application 62218196 · Sep 14, 2015
Provisional Application 62234748 · Sep 30, 2015
Related Publication 20170003285A1 · Jan 5, 2017