Bayer Corporation

Chiron Diagnostics Corporation

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Gmbh

Bellus Medical, LLC

David J Lapeus

Mary Beth Whitesel

James P Polaniec

Frank Klingshirn

Jim Polaniec

Tim Greszler

Chris Sturges

Matt Schmidt

Michael Ballash

Glen A Carey

James Matthew Mullner

William R Downing

Joseph Proctor

Tanzeel Ur Rahman

Ronald J Hegler

Randi L Richey

Device for safely and precisely causing micro-injuries to the dermis to stimulate collagen production a skim remodeling. Specifically, needles on the device pierce the epidermis and basal cell layer into the dermis. The device incorporates safety features for the operator to be able to operate the device with one hand while keeping the other had free during procedures. Additionally, the device incorporates single use safety controls to help prevent cross contamination between patients.

Collagen stimulation device and methods

Devices and systems for active thermal control of sample holding devices for bDNA testing, polymerase chain reaction testing, chemiluminescent immuno-assay testing, and so forth. The thermal control subsystem includes a fluidic circuit, first and second heater assemblies, a centrifugal pump, and a heat exchange device. The first and second heater assemblies include a heat removal device and a controllable thermo-electric device. One or both of the heater assemblies can include a heat spreader. A controller actively controls the pump, the heat removal device, and the thermo-electric devices, to thermally-control sample-containing vessels retained in the holding device.

Active, micro-well thermal control subsystem

A precision pumping device for aspirating and dispensing different volumes of fluid is presented. The precision pumping device comprises a housing with integral anti-rotation guides, a stepper motor which drives a fine pitch lead screw, a coupling for linking the piston to the leadscrew, an anti-backlash leadscrew follower, a split hub clamp nut, and a nut for securing the chamber to the housing. A seal is provided which seals around the piston and against the chamber, as is an o-ring that is set into a groove in the chamber and seals against a flange of the seal. The precision pumping device further includes a piston and a chamber for receiving at least a portion of the piston therein. The piston and chamber are of different sizes for aspirating and dispensing different volumes of fluid. The chamber can include a single port or multiple ports. Due to the self-aligning features and the reduced number of parts, the pump can be easily changed from aspirating and dispensing a first volume of fluid to aspirating and dispensing a second volume of fluid.

Precision pumping device

Test tube sample rack

A magnetic conveyor system for transporting test samples in tubes disposed in a sample rack having a magnetic or magnetically attractive region is described. The magnetic conveyor system includes a drive system, a magnet coupled to the drive system and movable in response to the drive system and a tray having a first surface adapted to receive the sample rack. The magnet is spaced a predetermined distance from the first surface of the tray such that the magnet provides a magnetic force at the surface of the tray. The magnetic force engages the magnetically attractive region of the sample rack disposed on the tray to thereby move the sample rack along the first surface of the tray in response to movement of the drive system. When the tray reaches the end of the rack it is moved onto a processing queue tray where it is available for test purposes. A barcode reader reads a bar code on each test sample as it is placed on the process queue to identify one or more tests to perform. When all samples have received the individual tests the rack exits to an output queue for disposal. When a test must be made on an immediate basis out of normal processing order a sample rack can be inserted into the process queue via a priority rack feed. In the indicated manner, testing can continue without interruption as new racks are added and completed racks removed.

Specimen rack handling system

Magnetic conveyor system

In a system for installing, from a supply of disposable probe tips, one such probe tip on a probe for each sample by an automated fluid analyzer system and for removing the tip after each use to allow a fresh tip to be installed, a mechanism for making a fresh supply of tips available in a carrier tray and for receiving and disposing of empty carrier trays. Multiple probe tip trays, each having a base, a lid, and holding an array of tips are stacked within a chute of the mechanism. A pair of arms are swung up from a substantially vertical position to a horizontal position beneath the chute. An associated latch engages the lid of the lowermost tray within the chute while tray guides, which hold the trays within the chute, separate to release the lowermost tray onto the pair of arms. A delivery rack associated with the analyzer system receives the lowermost tray base from the pair of arms by engaging the tray base with a pair of clips. The rack then removes the base, and the probes thereon, to the analyzer system. The pair of arms meanwhile lower and dump the lid into a waste receptacle or disposal chute. The delivery rack thereafter returns an empty base to the parallel arms, which similarly dump empty base into the waste receptacle or disposal chute. The cycle is repeated by removing the next tray from the chute.

Loading mechanism for probe tip tray

Growing community of inventors

Medina, OH, United States of America

David J Lapeus