Robert E Burr

US Patent:

6941005, Sep 6, 2005

Filed:

Nov 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/286499

Inventors:

Todd P. Lary - Homestead FL, US
Christopher W. Snow - Homestead FL, US
John S. Riley - Miami FL, US
Robert C. Burr - Miami FL, US

Assignee:

Coulter International Corp. - Miami FL

International Classification:

G06K009/00
G01N035/02
G01J003/30

US Classification:

382133, 382170, 436 50, 356317

Abstract:

Methods, systems and apparatus are provided for sorting particles in a stream of a sample in a flow cytometer by producing from a stable sort having desirable sort characteristics multiple images of a portion of the stream; generating from the multiple images an averaged numerical reference standard representative of the stable sort; continuously collecting during the sorting multiple running images of the portion of the stream; generating from the multiple running images at least one numerical sample average representative of the sample sort of each collection of the multiple running images; and comparing each numerical sample average to the numerical reference standard and determining whether a sample average exhibits a deviation from the reference standard that requires an adjustment of the sort. The sort may then be adjusted to eliminate or reduce the deviation and maintain the stable sort of the reference histogram. A novel imaging apparatus may be employed in a flow cytometer performing this method.

US Patent:

7232687, Jun 19, 2007

Filed:

Apr 7, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/819745

Inventors:

Todd P. Lary - Homestead FL, US
Robert C. Burr - Miami FL, US
Christopher W. Snow - Homestead FL, US

Assignee:

Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Fullerton CA

International Classification:

G01N 33/48
G01N 21/64
B07C 5/342

US Classification:

436 63, 209 31, 209 32, 209 33, 209 4, 2091274, 209552, 209571, 209576, 209577, 209578, 209579, 209906, 2504612, 422 73, 422 8205, 422 8208, 422 8209, 422 8211, 436164, 436172

Abstract:

An optical illumination and monitoring subsystem controls the operation of a flow cytometer having a carrier fluid that flows along a channel coupled to a droplet generator, which controls a point at which droplets break off from the carrier fluid, and a droplet sorter that is operative to cause selected droplets to be sorted along one or more droplet travel paths. The subsystem is operative to illuminate a respective droplet monitoring location along each of one or more droplet travel paths with a respective beam of light, such as that sourced from a common laser. In response to backscatter reflection from a droplet passing through the respective beam of light at a respective droplet monitoring location, the amplitude of the beam of light is increased. Then the droplet is monitored for the presence of a particle therein exhibiting detectable fluorescence as a result of the increase in the amplitude of the respective beam of light.

US Patent:

58382151, Nov 17, 1998

Filed:

Feb 5, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/598830

Inventors:

Wang-Chang Albert Gu - Coral Springs FL
E. S. Ramakrishnan - Coral Springs FL
Robert A. Burr - Albuquerque NM
Adam D. Moya - Peralta NM

Assignee:

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H01F 2724

US Classification:

333181

Abstract:

A radio frequency (RF) choke inductor (102, 500, 600) includes a magnetic core (502, 602) which substantially dissipates RF and microwave signals. The magnetic core (502, 602) is sufficiently lossy to provide a substantially resistive impedance at RF and microwave frequencies. The magnetic core is formed by providing a homogeneous ferrite composition characterized by a mixture of ferrous ions and ferric ions (404), and then sintering the homogeneous ferrite composition in an inert gas atmosphere (412) to provide a rapid electron exchange reaction. A conductive wire is then wound about the magnetic core (414) to complete the choke inductor.

US Patent:

6079836, Jun 27, 2000

Filed:

Jul 20, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/119368

Inventors:

Robert Burr - Miami FL
Todd Lary - Homestead FL
Erich Frazier - Weston FL
Osvaldo E. Miranda - Miami FL

Assignee:

Coulter International Corp. - Miami FL

International Classification:

G01N 3328

US Classification:

357 70

Abstract:

A droplet travel path monitoring mechanism for a flow cytometer is operative to adjust the droplet break-off point back to an initially calibrated spatial location, in the event of the departure from calibrated timing of gaps in the unsorted fluid droplet stream that have been created by the deflection of charged droplets. In addition, the flow cytometer is operative to monitor prescribed characteristics of deflected droplet streams, and to controllably adjust drop-sorting deflection parameters, so as to maintain the deflected travel path of sorted droplets coincident with the opening into a sorted droplet collection container, thereby maximizing collection of all sorted droplets.