Cetus Corporation

Great Circle Associates

Fred G Williams, Jr

Steven B Mullerheim

Judith I Blakemore

Mark S Hanamoto

An improved sample carrier and pipette tips for use in an automated sample handling device are disclosed. This carrier mounts on and is removable from a carousel and has spaced about the circumference of its body a plurality of apertures for receiving the sample containers. Each aperture has on its interior side, that is its axis side, an intruding resilient finger which is deflected when a sample container is inserted into the aperture and which applies pressure on the sample container forcing it against the outside edge of the aperture and preventing inadvertent rotation of the sample container within the aperture. In the most common embodiment the apertures are substantially parallel to the axis of the circular body of the carrier so that they can be accessed by sample-handling equipment moving perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the carousel. In another embodiment the apertures are angled in a posture where they can undergo angled centrifugation, if desired. The sample carrier is also adapted to carry a plurality of pipette tips for sequential pick up by an automated pipette. Pipette tips particularly adapted for automatic pick up are also disclosed.

Carousel and tip

Pipette tip

An apparatus and process for storing beads in a liquid medium and for draining and dispensing said beads essentially in the absence of said liquid medium is described. In one embodiment, the apparatus is designed so that the liquid medium in which the beads are stored can be captured in a separate compartment from the bead-containing compartment and the beads can be delivered without the liquid medium when the apparatus in inverted. This apparatus is designed so that the liquid medium will join with the beads for storage in the bead-containing compartment when the apparatus is upright. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a bottle with a removable, threaded inner container which is used to drain the liquid medium from the beads prior to attachment to a separate bead dispenser.

Dispensing apparatus for storing, draining and dispensing beads

A method and an apparatus for treating wastewater such as sewage are disclosed. Designed principally for complete on-site wastewater treatment and disposal, the system separates wastewater into liquid wastes and solid wastes by filtration, treats the liquid wastes with ultraviolet radiation and disperses them into unsaturated ground. The solid wastes are periodically removed, along with used portions of the paper filter medium and delivered, in the case of sewage, to a composting area where the solids can be composted. A preferred embodiment includes the use of ultraviolet radiation having wavelengths effective both to destroy pathogens directly and to produce ozone from entrained air in the liquid filtrate, to react with pathogens to form stable compounds. An alternate embodiment of a wastewater delivery and filtration suction subsystem is disclosed, whereby filtration is made continuous and capacity is approximately doubled.

Wastewater treatment with ultraviolet disinfection and increased capacity

A method and apparatus for treating wastewater such as sewage are disclosed. Designed principally for complete on-site wastewater treatment and disposal, the system separates wastewater into liquid wastes and solid wastes by filtration, treats the liquid wastes with a mild oxydizing agent and disperses them into unsaturated ground. The solid wastes are periodically removed, along with used portions of the paper filter medium and delivered, in the case of sewage, to a composting area where the still-fresh solids can be aerobically composted. Preferred and particularly advantageous embodiments of a filtering system, a sewage delivery system, a vacuum generating system, and a liquid level sensor, each of which may be used with the invention, are disclosed.

Sewage delivery and filtration system

Filtration system for household sewage

A method and apparatus for treating wastewater such as sewage are disclosed. Designed principally for complete on-site wastewater treatment and disposal, the system separates wastewater into liquid wastes and solid wastes by filtration, treats the liquid wastes with a mild oxidizing agent and disperses them into unsaturated ground. The solid wastes are periodically removed, along with used portions of the paper filter medium and delivered, in the case of sewage, to a composting area where the still-fresh solids can be aerobically composted. Preferred and particularly advantageous embodiments of a filtering system, a sewage delivery system, a vacuum generating system, and a liquid level sensor, each of which may be used with the invention, are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

San Anselmo, CA, United States of America

Fred G Williams, Jr