James Blair Richards

US Patent:

6503750, Jan 7, 2003

Filed:

Nov 25, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/200309

Inventors:

William J. Benett - Livermore CA
James B. Richards - Danville CA

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

C12M 134

US Classification:

4352872, 4353031, 422102, 422131, 422 8201, 935 88

Abstract:

A sleeve-type silicon polymerase chain reaction (PCR) chamber or thermocycler having improved thermal performance. The silicon sleeve reaction chamber is improved in thermal performance by etched features therein that reduce thermal mass and increase the surface area of the sleeve for cooling. This improved thermal performance of the thermocycler enables an increase in speed and efficiency of the reaction chamber. The improvement is accomplished by providing grooves in the faces of the sleeve and a series of grooves on the interior surfaces that connect with grooves on the faces of the sleeve. The grooves can be anisotropically etched in the silicon sleeve simultaneously with formation of the chamber.

US Patent:

6586233, Jul 1, 2003

Filed:

Mar 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/802549

Inventors:

William J. Benett - Livermore CA
James B. Richards - Danville CA
Fred P. Milanovich - Lafayette CA

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

C12M 136

US Classification:

4352865, 4352872, 4352887, 422110

Abstract:

A polymerase chain reaction system provides an upper temperature zone and a lower temperature zone in a fluid sample. Channels set up convection cells in the fluid sample and move the fluid sample repeatedly through the upper and lower temperature zone creating thermal cycling.

US Patent:

6699713, Mar 2, 2004

Filed:

Dec 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/752794

Inventors:

William J. Benett - Livermore CA
James B. Richards - Danville CA
Paul L. Stratton - Brentwood CA
Dean R. Hadley - Manteca CA
Fred P. Milanovich - Lafayette CA
Phil Belgrader - Manteca CA
Peter L. Meyer - Somerset CA

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

C12M 134

US Classification:

4352872, 4353031, 4352851, 356417

Abstract:

A portable polymerase chain reaction DNA amplification and detection system includes one or more chamber modules. Each module supports a duplex assay of a biological sample. Each module has two parallel interrogation ports with a linear optical system. The system is capable of being handheld.

US Patent:

6893863, May 17, 2005

Filed:

Sep 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/260120

Inventors:

William J. Benett - Livermore CA, US
James B. Richards - Danville CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

C12M001/34

US Classification:

4352872, 4352851, 935 88, 422102

Abstract:

A sleeve-type silicon polymerase chain reaction (PCR) chamber or thermocycler having improved thermal performance. The silicon sleeve reaction chamber is improved in thermal performance by etched features therein that reduce thermal mass and increase the surface area of the sleeve for cooling. This improved thermal performance of the thermocycler enables an increase in speed and efficiency of the reaction chamber. The improvement is accomplished by providing grooves in the faces of the sleeve and a series of grooves on the interior surfaces that connect with grooves on the faces of the sleeve. The grooves can be anisotropically etched in the silicon sleeve simultaneously with formation of the chamber.

US Patent:

7519263, Apr 14, 2009

Filed:

May 18, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/804512

Inventors:

James Richards - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

G02B 6/00

US Classification:

385147

Abstract:

A light-emitting funneling apparatus comprises a conduit with a pouring end and a discharge end, wherein the pouring end is wider than the discharge end. The light-emitting funneling apparatus also comprises one or more light sources positioned adjacent to a portion of the conduit and configured to illuminate in a direction of a flow of material through the conduit. In some embodiments, the one or more light sources are external to the conduit. Alternatively, the one or more light sources are internal to the conduit. The light-emitting funneling apparatus further comprises a means for selectively activating the light source. In some embodiments, the funnel comprises a battery for powering the one or more light sources.

US Patent:

20040072334, Apr 15, 2004

Filed:

Oct 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/272178

Inventors:

William Benett - Livermore CA, US
James Richards - Danville CA, US
Paul Stratton - Brentwood CA, US
Elizabeth Wheeler - Livermore CA, US
Peter Krulevitch - Pleasanton CA, US
Steve Visuri - Livermore CA, US
John Dzenitis - Danville CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California

International Classification:

C12M001/38

US Classification:

435/286100, 435/303100

Abstract:

A thermalcycler for processing a sample holder includes a first thermalcycler body with a first face and a second thermalcycler body with a second face. A cavity for receiving the sample holder is formed in at least one of the first face or the second face. A thermalcycling unit is operatively connected to the cavity.

US Patent:

20040210541, Oct 21, 2004

Filed:

May 1, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/429230

Inventors:

Jeremy Epstien - San Francisco CA, US
Louis Roehrs - Mountain View CA, US
James Richards - San Jose CA, US
William Clair - San Jose CA, US
Krishna Venkatraman - Palo Alto CA, US

International Classification:

G06F017/00

US Classification:

705/400000

Abstract:

The present invention provides an efficient and user friendly rules user interface with screen shots that can prompt and guide a relatively inexperienced user through the process of defining and inputting valid rules and rule attributes into a price optimization system. In one embodiment, the valid rules and associated rule attributes are stored in a composite map of the rules user interface. The screen shots present choices of valid rules and rule attributes in the form of pull down menus. Upon the selection of a rule type from a predetermined menu of valid rule types stored in a composite map, the user interface presents a set of at least one rule attribute from the composite map which is consistent with the selected rule type. State machines assure that only valid transitions are made for a given set of rule attributes and also automatically readjust the rule attribute choices displayed on screenshots of the user interface if a previous attribute or state becomes invalid due the selection of another attribute.

US Patent:

20090209030, Aug 20, 2009

Filed:

Mar 31, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/415623

Inventors:

William J. Benett - Livermore CA, US
James B. Richards - Danville CA, US
Paul L. Stratton - Brentwood CA, US
Elizabeth K. Wheeler - Livermore CA, US
Peter Krulevitch - Pleasanton CA, US
Steve Visuri - Livermore CA, US
John M. Dzenitis - Danville CA, US

International Classification:

C12M 1/02
H05K 3/00

US Classification:

4353031, 29829

Abstract:

A thermalcycler is constructing with a first thermalcycler body section of a flexible circuit material or a circuit board material. The first thermalcycler body section has a first face. A first cavity portion is formed in the first face. A second thermalcycler body section is constructed of a flexible circuit material or a circuit board material. The second thermalcycler body section has a second face. A second cavity portion is formed in the second face. When the first cavity portion and the second cavity portion are positioned together they form a cavity. A thermalcycler unit is positioned in the cavity. The first thermalcycler body section and the second thermalcycler body section are connected together with the first face and the face opposed to each other and the thermalcycler unit operatively connected to the first cavity portion and the second cavity portion.