Innovadyne Technologies, Inc.

Other

Alltech Associates, Inc.

Neil Robert Picha

James E Johnson

Bruce Christian Black

David A Martin

James M Anderson, Jr

Raaidah Saari-Nordhaus

Mitchel John Doktycz

Washington Mendoza

Josef Bystron

Craig M Storms

Carl Hermann Poppe

Jonathan Mark Thompson

Jon A Nichols

Sheldon J Nelson

Dirk Helgemo

Dennis K Mc Creary

Kristine Olsen

Joel McComb

Methods and apparatus for moving aliquot samples of fluid using a shuttle valve are disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for moving aliquot samples of fluid

A fluidic processor includes a first sealing member having a first sealing face, a first compressive face and at least one first sealing member fluid conduit; a second sealing member having a second sealing face, a second compressive face and at least one second sealing member fluid conduit; the second sealing face of the second sealing member being sealingly and slidingly engaged in a substantially fluid tight manner with the first sealing face of the first sealing member; and at least one actuator mechanically engaging at least one of the first sealing member and the second sealing member, or an XY stage, or mechanism that provides motion in two axes on one sealing member only.

Fluidic processor and method of use

A multi-mode injection valve includes a stator having an outer stator face and an inner stator face; a plurality of fluid ports in the outer stator face; a plurality of fluid orifices in the inner stator face, the fluid orifices disposed in fluid communication with the fluid ports, respectively; a rotor having a rotor surface engaging the inner stator face of the stator; a plurality of rotor grooves in the rotor surface of the rotor, each of the rotor grooves adapted for fluid communication with a pair of the fluid orifices depending upon a rotational or angular position of the rotor with respect to the stator; and an actuator unit engaging the rotor, the actuator unit adapted to rotate the rotor relative to the stator.

Multi-mode injection valve

Methods and apparatus for analyzing a sample using at least one detector are disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for analyzing samples and collecting sample fractions

A hybrid valve apparatus for use with an aspiration actuator and a dispensing actuator to transfer fluid from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface. The hybrid valve includes a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition, and a manifold device coupled to the valve assembly. The manifold device includes a fluid aspiration conduit having a first aspiration port in fluid communication with the aspiration actuator. On an opposite end of the aspiration conduit is a second aspiration port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate a liquid sample slug from the reservoir into a discrete sample path when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition. The manifold device further includes a fluid dispensing conduit having a first dispensing port in fluid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly. When the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition, the sample path is fluidly coupled to the dispensing actuator to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug therefrom, while simultaneously being out of fluid communication with the aspiration actuator. In contrast, in the aspiration condition, the sample path is in fluid communication with the aspiration actuator, while being out of fluid communication with the dispensing actuator.

Hybrid valve apparatus and method for fluid handling

An apparatus and method for delivering repetitive, precision, low volume liquid dispensing from a dispensing orifice of a non-contact liquid dispensing apparatus. An elongated communication passageway of the dispensing apparatus is defined by interior walls having one end in fluid communication with a system fluid reservoir and an opposite end terminating at the dispensing orifice. A system fluid is placed in the communication passageway extending substantially continuously from the system fluid reservoir to the dispensing orifice. A relatively small volume of gaseous fluid is aspirated through the dispensing orifice, and into the communication passageway in a manner such that the gaseous fluid extends substantially continuously across the transverse cross-sectional dimension of the communication passageway. Subsequently, a dispensing liquid is aspirated through the dispensing orifice and into the communication passageway in a manner such that the relatively small volume of aspirated gaseous fluid forms a minute, unitary air gap fully enclosed between the interior walls of the communication passageway and a liquid interface between the system fluid and the dispensing liquid contained in the communication passageway. This minute air gap substantially prevents dispersion and dilution therebetween at the liquid interface. To effect dispensing, a rapid pressure pulse with a predetermined pulse width is applied to the system fluid upstream from the minute air gap, causing the pressure pulse to traverse the minute air gap to the dispensing liquid without substantial fluid compression of the minute air gap. This enables substantially accurate, relatively small volume, non-contact liquid dispensing of the dispensing liquid from the dispensing orifice.

Method of purging trapped gas from a system fluid contained in an actuation valve

A removable secondary liquid dispensing module for use with an existing, automated liquid handling system that defines a work area having a plurality of discrete work stations. Each of the work stations of the automated liquid handling system includes a lab ware site and alignment structure enabling the removable securing standardized microtiter-plates at respective lab ware site. A plate positioning mechanism is configured to move and position the microtiter plates to and from the lab ware sites of the respective work stations thereof and into engagement with the respective carrier alignment structure thereof. Further, a primary liquid dispensing device is configured for selective contact-type dispensing of discrete quantities of fluid, in the range of about one (1) microliter to about ten (10) milliliters, into the test sites of the microtiter plates secured in the respective alignment structure of the respective work station. The removable secondary liquid dispensing module includes a base member dimensioned to fit substantially within a footprint of a work station, and mounting hardware adapted to removably secure the base member in the work station. A support platform is affixed to the base member, and is configured to support a microtiter-plate. An alignment mechanism is configured to removably receive and secure the a microtiter-plate therein by the plate positioning mechanism of the automated liquid handling system. The support platform and alignment mechanism cooperate to form and provide a lab ware site suitable for secured receipt of a microtiter-plate. The secondary liquid dispensing module further includes a secondary liquid dispensing device which is self-contained and operationally independent from the primary liquid dispensing device. The secondary dispensing device is further adapted for selective non-contact-type dispensing of discrete quantities of fluid, in the range of about one (1) nanoliter to about ten (10) microliters, into the test sites of the microtiter-plate.

Universal non-contact dispense peripheral apparatus and method for a primary liquid handling device

A universal calibration apparatus and method to estimate the dispense output from a low volume, non-contact, liquid dispensing systems that may be applied for every hardware configuration (e.g., tube length, orifice diameter, tip design, etc), reagent solution property and environmental condition. This same calibration technique is applied to calibrate or tune these non-contact liquid dispensing systems to dispense desired volumes (in the range of about 0.050 &#x3bc;L to 50 &#x3bc;L), irrespective of the hardware configuration or the solution properties. That is, the calibration technique is not dependent on any variables, but the result (the actual dispense volume) is dependant on the variable mentioned. By actuating selected pulse widths, and measuring the resulting volume, a Calibration Profile can be generated correlating the liquid volume dispensed from the orifice to the respective pulse width of the dispensing valve thereof through calibration points. In particular, one is selected to deliver a first volume of liquid that is less than a lower base pulse width correlating to the lowest volume of the selected range of volumes of liquid, while a second pulse width is selected to deliver a second volume of liquid dispensed that is greater than an upper ceiling pulse width correlating to the highest volume of the selected range of volumes of liquid. Intermediary pulse widths are also applied, each selected to deliver a different, spaced-apart, respective intermediary low volumes of liquid dispensed from the dispensing orifice between the first volume and the second volume. Thus, applying the Calibration Profile, the pulse widths correlating to the one or more targeted discrete volumes for liquid dispensing can be extrapolated.

Apparatus and method for assessing the liquid flow performances through a small dispensing orifice

A high pressure be seating assembly adapted for liquid sealing against a rigid surface having a connecting conduit. The tube sealing assembly includes a rigid, elongated, tube member having a spherical sector-shaped distal end portion with a radius substantially larger than the radius of the tube member. The tube member further includes a central conduit terminating at an apex of the spherical sector-shaped distal end portion to define an annular rim portion such that a fluid-tight seal can be formed between the central conduit of the tube member and the connecting conduit of the surface. This seal is formed at a contact interface between the rim portion and the surface when a relative axial force is applied therebetween.

Tube sealing assembly

A wash system for a fluid handling system that permits simultaneous washing of a plurality of parallel fluid channels is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, a specialized rotary wash valve is described. In another aspect of the invention a system which incorporates wash and selector valves is described which permits a plurality of separate fluid lines emerging from the selector valve to be washed simultaneously.

Growing community of inventors

Petaluma, CA, United States of America

Neil Robert Picha