John E Berry

US Patent:

52132323, May 25, 1993

Filed:

Mar 11, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/849513

Inventors:

Thomas L. Kraft - Houston TX
James W. Meador - Houston TX
John F. Berry - Houston TX
Lisa W. Rogers - Houston TX

Assignee:

Owen Healthcare, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B65G 5900

US Classification:

221277

Abstract:

An apparatus for dispensing single homogeneous units upon rotation of the apparatus comprising a generally circular walled container having a bottom for holding the singular homogeneous units. A discharge area located distally from the bottom for receiving the single homogeneous units and for discharging them upon rotation of the apparatus. A helical spiraled rib member located on the generally circular walled container extending from the bottom of the container and along the circular walls of the container for creating during rotation a continuously variable inclined surface along the helical spiraled rib member and the circular walls of the container for advancing single homogeneous units along said helical spiralled rib member and the generally circular walls of the container until a single homogeneous unit reaches the discharge area for discharge from the container. The helical spiraled rib member has a helix depth from the circular wall of the container sufficient for advancing only a single homogeneous unit along the helical spiraled rib member and the generally circular wall of the container until a single homogeneous unit reaches the discharge area. The helical spiralled rib member has a helix angle sufficient relative to the length of the generally circular walled container from the bottom to the discharge area for creating during rotation a sufficient inclined surface for advancing single homogeneous units to the discharge area.

US Patent:

39648672, Jun 22, 1976

Filed:

Feb 25, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/553008

Inventors:

John Franklin Berry - Houston TX

Assignee:

Hycel, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01N 3316
G01N 2124
B65D 7902

US Classification:

23253R

Abstract:

A mold formed reaction container includes a lower portion having four sides forming an open top parallelepiped structure and an upper portion in the shape of a threaded hollow cylinder over which a cap may be screwed. The lower portion is inserted in a square opening of an automatic chemical analyzer so that two of the sides thereof are in a radiant energy path. The opening of the analyzer has two slot indentions removed from two opposite sides thereof and the lower portion of the container has two corresponding key extensions therefrom to insure the proper two sides of the container are placed in the energy path. Further, one of the sides of the container not having a key extension has a label on a portion thereof and that portion intersects and blocks a second radiant energy path through the opening in such a manner that the insertion of the container can be detected.

US Patent:

54800625, Jan 2, 1996

Filed:

Jan 30, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/380124

Inventors:

Lisa W. Rogers - Houston TX
Thomas L. Kraft - Houston TX
John F. Berry - Houston TX
Scott A. Kelley - Houston TX
John A. Thompson - Houston TX
Clifford D. Ober - Missouri City TX
Michael C. Kuchar - Houston TX
Robert R. Mayer - Sugar Land TX
Van W. Hoskins - Friendswood TX
Vincent C. Weido - Houston TX
Mark G. Henckel - Katy TX

Assignee:

KVM Technologies, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B65G 5904
B65H 308
G07F 1116

US Classification:

221174

Abstract:

A vacuum operated system for individually dispensing items of oral solid medicine from bulk storage to a user, where the medicine is dispensed under computer control, and the quantity and type of medicine is selected in advance by the user. The invention includes medicine dispensing equipment and a computer that provides a user interface. A plurality of storage containers arranged in a rotatable carousel or a rectilinear array may contain various pharmaceutical articles, or various types, dosages, ages, and lot numbers of medicines. The storage containers may be easily refilled by inserting modular refill cartridges into the storage containers. After a user enters certain data into the computer, the invention aligns a universal vacuum probe with the storage container that contains the desired items. The universal vacuum probe is lowered to the desired storage container and engaged with a container probe that is exclusive to that storage container. After a vacuum source creates suction within the universal vacuum probe and the container probe, the universal vacuum probe and the container probe are operated to individually extract items from the storage container.

US Patent:

57850445, Jul 28, 1998

Filed:

Apr 18, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/634521

Inventors:

James W. Meador - Houston TX
Thomas L. Kraft - Houston TX
David O'Bryan - Kennett Square PA
John F. Berry - Houston TX
Thomas G. Miller - Houston TX
Norman Hugh Smith - Bothell WA
William S. Schnorr - Pittsburgh PA
Christopher T. Nikirk - Houston TX
Louis A. Waters - Bellaire TX
Sean M. Donnelly - Houston TX

Assignee:

KVM Technologies, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

A61B 1900

US Classification:

128760

Abstract:

A fluid sample receptacle provides a means of assuring uncontaminated, multiple samples of a fluid specimen. An upper or isolated sample chamber and a lower or primary sample chamber provide redundant test samples. A cover or lid with a downwardly extending column includes a stopper with a removable plug attached to automatically seal the lower sample chamber when the cover is sealed across the top of the upper chamber. This feature guarantees that the sample chambers are sealed or isolated simultaneously and that the test samples are therefore identical when taken. Tamper evident seals prove that either sample has not been contaminated. A preferred embodiment provides a bellows assembly to accommodate variations in ambient pressure and to provide a positive means of expelling a precise quantity of fluid from the receptacle for testing.

US Patent:

54050480, Apr 11, 1995

Filed:

Dec 6, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/162810

Inventors:

Lisa W. Rogers - Houston TX
Thomas L. Kraft - Houston TX
John F. Berry - Houston TX
Scott A. Kelley - Houston TX
John A. Thompson - Houston TX
Clifford D. Ober - Missouri City TX
Michael C. Kuchar - Houston TX
Robert R. Mayer - Sugar Land TX
Van W. Hoskins - Friendswood TX
Vincent C. Weido - Houston TX
Mark G. Henckel - Katy TX

Assignee:

KVM Technologies, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B65G 5904
B65H 308

US Classification:

221211

Abstract:

A vacuum operated system for individually dispensing items of oral solid medicine from bulk storage to a user, where the medicine is dispensed under computer control, and the quantity and type of medicine is selected in advance by the user. The invention includes medicine dispensing equipment and a computer that provides a user interface. A plurality of storage containers arranged in a rotatable carousel or a rectilinear array may contain various pharmaceutical articles, or various types, dosages, ages, and lot numbers of medicines. The storage containers may be easily refilled by inserting modular refill cartridges into the storage containers. After a user enters certain data into the computer, the invention aligns a universal vacuum probe with the storage container that contains the desired items. The universal vacuum probe is lowered to the desired storage container and engaged with a container probe that is exclusive to that storage container. After a vacuum source creates suction within the universal vacuum probe and the container probe, the universal vacuum probe and the container probe are operated to individually extract items from the storage container.