E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

Dpc Cirrus, Inc.

Teradyne, Inc.

Intermetro Industries Corporation

Sp Industries Limited Partnership

Racal-redac, Inc.

Anthony P Montalbano

Christopher P Montalbano

Douglas J Hohlbein

John G Van Remoortel

Joel L Vanover

Jon F Boyer

Eric C Fleischer

Greg A Montalbano

Chris P Montalbano

Lee C Fischer

Arthur L Babson

Thomas Palmieri

John H Welsch

David T Sutherland

Dean B Wise

Edward J Lhotak, Jr

John P Herz

Gregory A Montalbano

Douglas Hohlbein

Lee C Fisher

Douglas G Wernerspach

Siegfried G Bart, Jr

Christopher T Montalbano

An improved automated immunoassay analyzer including a high throughput automated immunoassay system which can perform high volume testing on a broad range of analytes while selecting from among a diverse set of immunoassays for any given sample. The immunoanalyzer has the capacity to perform a wide range of different types of immunoassays by facile storage and automated combination aboard the instrument among a wide variety of different types of reagents and heterogenous immunoassay beads stored on-board the instrument. The automated design allows reduced user interface (e.g., tests are performed automatically from computer input) including the ability to order, perform and reassay tests reflexively based on test results without operator intervention. Further, the inventive analyzer is not sample tube specific; that is, an instrument that can accept sample tube sizes within a broad size range. The inventive automated immunoassay analyzer also provides a re-useable sample dilution well, and a high speed bead washing station that eliminates the need for assay tubes having integral, waste fluid collection chambers.

Automated immunoassay analyzer

A bead dispenser device, and a system comprising a plurality of same, useful for supplying, one at a time, beads for heterogenous immunoassay, including a track capable of storing and feeding a plurality of substantially spherical beads by effect of gravity to a lower track end, where the track is sealingly housed within an enclosure having a base including upper and lower sections defining a plunger chamber, and a bead chamber defined in the upper section communicating with the lower track end and the bead chamber being offset along the plunger chamber relative to a bead exit opening in the lower section, with a plunger sealingly provided in the plunger chamber capable of horizontal reciprocal movement within the plunger chamber, the plunger having a throughhole defining another bead chamber normally aligned with the first-mentioned bead chamber at the lower track end and with a plunger portion concurrently blocking the exit opening via a horizontal biasing device acting on the plunger, wherein when opposing horizontal force is exerted adequate to overcome the normal bias force the plunger moves horizontally to align the other bead chamber with the exit opening and allow a bead to be dispensed.

Bead dispenser and bead dispenser system for immunoassay analysis

A manipulator for holding and positioning a test head which is used with automatic test equipment. The manipulator includes a horizontal telescoping member attached to a vertical column. The test head is attached to an assembly suspended from this member. Six planes of free motion of the test head are provided. The column can pivot around a vertical axis. The telescoping member can move up and down along the column and can telescope in and out. The test head assembly can pivot about a vertical axis. Within the assembly, the test head can rotate around two orthogonal vertical axes. This arrangement allows the test head to be positioned into a wide variety of positions. The manipulator includes a set of cable support rings which reduces the forces a cable places on the test head when it is moved. This arrangement allows a prober to be positioned beneath the test head so that the manipulator occupies very little floor space.

Manipulator for automatic test equipment test head

The present invention provides a high speed homogenizer which has an adjustable gripping means to grip and hold containers of varying size. This gripping and holding means can be centered or decentered under the homogenizing tool. Decentering a container held by the gripping and holding means tends to minimize or even eliminate vortexing problems. The homogenizer also has electronic means for controlling the speed and time of operation of the homogenizing tool. The electronic control means of the homogenizer can also monitor the temperature of the sample being homogenized and respond to changes in temperature when necessary. The homogenizer can be easily adjusted up and down a vertical support post by a counter weighting mechanism such as a constant force spring.

Temperature-controlled homogenizer with sample gripper

A status display for a hardware modeler includes an LCD panel which is divided into regions corresponding to cartridge banks and each region is further divided into sections corresponding to individual cartridges. The sections display relevant identifying information for its associated cartridge. If the cartridge is currently active, that information is shown in reverse video to indicate that the cartridge is active. The modeler can be paused by pressing a pause switch. The modeler's processor then inhibits activity of inactive cartridges and, at the next opportunity, inhibits activity of active cartridges so that the cartridges can be rearranged, etc. The status of the modeler as a whole is also displayed.

Active cartridge display for hardware modeler

Developer solution cartridge

Fixer cartridge

Wash cartridge

Apparatus for processing photosensitive material

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing photosensitive material and, in particular, to a compact table top apparatus for developing silver halide photosensitive materials, such as a sheet or web of photographic film or paper or plate, and its use.

Method and apparatus for processing photosensitive material

A shelving apparatus includes a vertically extending first leg having a first end with a frusto-conical outer surface. A horizontal shelf has a frusto-conical hole. A vertically extending second leg has a first end with (a) a frusto-conical inner surface having a taper shaped to engage the frusto-conical outer surface of the first leg, and (b) a frusto-conical outer surface having a taper shaped to engage the frusto-conical inner surface of the shelf hole. Preferably, all engaging frusto-conical surfaces and holes are coaxial and cofrustal. Alternative tapered structures for the first and second legs and shelf hole may be provided.

Shelving system having two sets of locking tapers

Growing community of inventors

Bayville, NY, United States of America

Anthony P Montalbano