Brian John Mcgraw

US Patent:

6416713, Jul 9, 2002

Filed:

Jan 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/483218

Inventors:

Anthony Ford - Tucson AZ
Darin McDaniel - Tucson AZ
Stephen Mead - Tucson AZ
William Richards - Tucson AZ
Wayne Showalter - Tucson AZ
Bronwen Heilman - Tucson AZ
Brian McGraw - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

C01H 3510

US Classification:

422 63, 422103, 422 64, 422100, 436 46, 2223217, 1375195

Abstract:

A method of assembly of a fluid dispenser of an apparatus for an automated biological reaction system is provided. In the processing of a biological reaction system, there is a need for consistently placing an amount of fluid on a slide. In order to accomplish this, several methods are used including a consistency pulse and a volume adjust means. Moreover, in order to reliably operate an automated biological reaction system, the dispenser must be reliable, easy to assemble and accurate. Among other things, in order to accomplish this, the dispense chamber is substantially in line with the reservoir chamber, the reservoir chamber piston is removed, and the flow of fluid through the dispenser is simplified. Further, in order to operate the automated biological reaction system more reliably, the system is designed in modular pieces with higher functions performed by a host device and the execution of the staining operations performed by remote devices. Also, to reliably catalog data which is used by the automated biological reaction system, data is loaded to a memory device, which in turn is used by the operator to update the operators databases.

US Patent:

6945128, Sep 20, 2005

Filed:

Jun 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/896649

Inventors:

Anthony Ford - Tucson AZ, US
Darin McDaniel - Tucson AZ, US
Stephen Mead - Tucson AZ, US
William Richards - Tucson AZ, US
Wayne Showalter - Tucson AZ, US
Bronwen Heilman - Tucson AZ, US
Brian McGraw - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

B01L003/02

US Classification:

7386416, 7386332, 7386401, 7386413

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for an automated biological reaction system is provided. In the processing of a biological reaction system, there is a need for consistently placing an amount of fluid on a slide. In order to accomplish this, several methods are used including a consistency pulse and a volume adjust means. Moreover, in order to reliably operate an automated biological reaction system, the dispenser must be reliable, easy to assemble and accurate. Among other things, in order to accomplish this, the dispense chamber is substantially in line with the reservoir chamber, the reservoir chamber piston is removed, and the flow of fluid through the dispenser is simplified. Further, in order to operate the automated biological reaction system more reliably, the system is designed in modular pieces with higher functions performed by a host device and the execution of the staining operations performed by remote devices. Also, to reliably catalog data which is used by the automated biological reaction system, data is loaded to a memory device, which in turn is used by the operator to update the operator's databases. The generation of the sequence of steps for the automated biological reaction device based on data loaded by the operator, including checks to determine the ability to complete the run, is provided.

US Patent:

7516749, Apr 14, 2009

Filed:

Apr 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/408108

Inventors:

Stephen Felder - Tucson AZ, US
Richard Kris - Tucson AZ, US
Brian McGraw - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Neogen, LLC - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

B08B 6/00

US Classification:

134198, 436 49, 436 43

Abstract:

Methods of and apparatus for washing an array of sites in high-density microplates or similar assay plates wherein the microplates or assay plates are washed in an inverted or nearly inverted position, rather than in an upright position. Preferably, the wash liquid is dispensed upwardly in the form of a sheet from a nozzle mounted on a spray bar as the spray bar moves relative to the microplate or assay plate. After washing, the microplate or assay plate is dried with a stream of gas such as air, also preferably blown upwardly in the form of a sheet.

US Patent:

8147773, Apr 3, 2012

Filed:

Mar 17, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/050707

Inventors:

Charles D. Lemme - Tucson AZ, US
Anthony Ford - Tucson AZ, US
Bronwen Heilman - Tucson AZ, US
Darin McDaniel - Tucson AZ, US
Brian McGraw - Tucson AZ, US
Stephen Mead - Bradenton FL, US
William Richards - Tucson AZ, US
Wayne Showalter - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

B01L 3/02

US Classification:

422501, 422521, 422527, 422537, 422538, 7386332, 73864, 7386401, 7386403, 7386411, 7386413, 7386415, 7386416

Abstract:

A fluid dispenser useful in automated biological reaction systems comprising a barrel having a reservoir chamber, the barrel having an upper portion and a lower portion, a cap located on top of the upper portion of the barrel and connected to the reservoir chamber, the cap having an external surface with at least one hole therethrough, a valve comprising a biasing member and a hole sealer, the valve being located in the hole in the cap at the point where a downward force is applied against the cap, a coupler having a dispense chamber, the coupler being coaxial with the barrel and wherein the barrel lower portion moves into the dispense chamber during dispensing of fluid, and a vent located between the cap and the reservoir chamber, the vent including a vent opening and a vent material composed of oliophobic material.

US Patent:

8609023, Dec 17, 2013

Filed:

May 16, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/571989

Inventors:

Anthony Ford - Tucson AZ, US
Bronwen Heilman - Tucson AZ, US
Darin McDaniel - Tucson AZ, US
Brian McGraw - Tucson AZ, US
Stephen Mead - Tucson AZ, US
William Richards - Tucson AZ, US
Wayne Showalter - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

G01N 21/00

US Classification:

422 63, 422 64, 422 67, 422 681, 436 43, 436 50, 436180

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for an automated biological reaction system is provided. In the processing of a biological reaction system, there is a need for consistently placing an amount of liquid on a slide. In order to accomplish this, several methods are used including a consistency pulse and a volume adjust means. Moreover, in order to reliably operate an automated biological reaction system, the dispenser must be reliable, easy to assemble and accurate. Among other things, in order to accomplish this, the dispense chamber is substantially in line with the reservoir chamber, the reservoir chamber piston is removed, and the flow of liquid through the dispenser is simplified. Further, in order to operate the automated biological reaction system more reliably, the system is designed in modular pieces with higher functions performed by a host device and the execution of the staining operations performed by remote devices. Also, to reliably catalog data which is used by the automated biological reaction system, data is loaded to a memory device, which in turn is used by the operator to update the operator's databases. The generation of the sequence of steps for the automated biological reaction device based on data loaded by the operator, including checks to determine the ability to complete the run, is provided.

US Patent:

20050135972, Jun 23, 2005

Filed:

Aug 6, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/913932

Inventors:

Charles Lemme - Tucson AZ, US
Vincent Rizzo - Tucson AZ, US
Anthony Ford - Tucson AZ, US
Bronwen Heilman - Tucson AZ, US
Darin McDaniel - Tucson AZ, US
Brian McGraw - Tucson AZ, US
Stephen Mead - Bendenton FL, US
William Richards - Tucson AZ, US
Wayne Showalter - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

B01L003/00

US Classification:

422100000

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for an automated biological reaction system is provided. In the processing of a biological reaction system, there is a need for consistently placing an amount of fluid on a slide. In order to accomplish this, several methods are used including a consistency pulse and a volume adjust means. Moreover, in order to reliably operate an automated biological reaction system, the dispenser must be reliable, easy to assemble and accurate. Among other things, in order to accomplish this, the dispense chamber is substantially in line with the reservoir chamber, the reservoir chamber piston is removed, and the flow of fluid through the dispenser is simplified. Further, in order to operate the automated biological reaction system more reliably, the system is designed in modular pieces with higher functions performed by a host device and the execution of the staining operations performed by remote devices. Also, to reliably catalog data which is used by the automated biological reaction system, data is loaded to a memory device, which in turn is used by the operator to update the operator's databases. The generation of the sequence of steps for the automated biological reaction device based on data loaded by the operator, including checks to determine the ability to complete the run, is provided.

US Patent:

6192945, Feb 27, 2001

Filed:

Jan 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/483606

Inventors:

Anthony Ford - Tucson AZ
Darin McDaniel - Tucson AZ
Stephen Mead - Tucson AZ
William Richards - Tucson AZ
Wayne Showalter - Tucson AZ
Bronwen Heilman - Tucson AZ
Brian McGraw - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

B67D 506

US Classification:

141 2

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for an automated biological reaction system is provided. In the processing of a biological reaction system, there is a need for consistently placing an amount of fluid on a slide. In order to accomplish this, several methods are used including a consistency pulse and a volume adjust means. Moreover, in order to reliably operate an automated biological reaction system, the dispenser must be reliable, easy to assemble and accurate. Among other things, in order to accomplish this, the dispense chamber is substantially in line with the reservoir chamber, the reservoir chamber piston is removed, and the flow of fluid through the dispenser is simplified. Further, in order to operate the automated biological reaction system more reliably, the system is designed in modular pieces with higher functions performed by a host device and the execution of the staining operations performed by remote devices. Also, to reliably catalog data which is used by the automated biological reaction system, data is loaded to a memory device, which in turn is used by the operator to update the operator's databases. The generation of the sequence of steps for the automated biological reaction device based on data loaded by the operator, including checks to determine the ability to complete the run, is provided.

US Patent:

6093574, Jul 25, 2000

Filed:

Aug 11, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/909335

Inventors:

Anthony Ford - Tucson AZ
Bronwen Heilman - Tucson AZ
Darin McDaniel - Tucson AZ
Brian McGraw - Tucson AZ
Stephen Mead - Tucson AZ
William Richards - Tucson AZ
Wayne Showalter - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Ventana Medical Systems - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

G01N 130

US Classification:

436180

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for an automated biological reaction system is provided. In the processing of a biological reaction system, there is a need for consistently placing an amount of liquid on a slide. In order to accomplish this, several methods are used including a consistency pulse and a volume adjust means. Moreover, in order to reliably operate an automated biological reaction system, the dispenser must be reliable, easy to assemble and accurate. Among other things, in order to accomplish this, the dispense chamber is substantially in line with the reservoir chamber, the reservoir chamber piston is removed, and the flow of liquid through the dispenser is simplified. Further, in order to operate the automated biological reaction system more reliably, the system is designed in modular pieces with higher functions performed by a host device and the execution of the staining operations performed by remote devices. Also, to reliably catalog data which is used by the automated biological reaction system, data is loaded to a memory device, which in turn is used by the operator to update the operator's databases. The generation of the sequence of steps for the automated biological reaction device based on data loaded by the operator, including checks to determine the ability to complete the run, is provided.