Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Otis Engineering Corporation

William D Rumbaugh

Larry W Moore

John M Clemens

Richard R Martin

B Jane Smith

William J Kanewske, Iii

David A Yost

James E Mitchell

Apparao Tayi

Peter A Lagocki

James A Vaught

Gilbert Clift

Kendall B Hendrick

Edna S Walker

Donny R Walker

Charles D Pennington

Kevin M Cloonan

Richard A Merriam

Douglas D McDowell

Richard L Vickstrom

Gary E Winter

David B Hills

William J Raymoure

Robert A Wohlford

Linda S Schmidt

William E Watkins, Iii

Robert B Hance

Carl M Oleksak

Adrian M Spronk

Paul R Schrier

Alyn K Stanton

Frederick L Clark

Frederic L Clark

Fleming A Waters

William J Iii Kanewske

William E Iii Watkins

Donny Ray Walker

Jane B Smith

A liquid heater assembly including a heater body having therein a coiled tube for passing liquids, a pair of heating elements, a thermistor, a thermostat, and a backup thermostat. Liquid enters the coiled liquid tube at an inlet end and exits the coiled liquid tube at an outlet end. The coiled liquid tube is positioned within the heater body between the pair of heating elements. The outlet end extends below a planar surface of the heater body. The thermistor detects the temperature changes of the heater body. The resistance of the thermistor is used to regulate the supply of power to the heating elements. The thermostat and the backup thermostat are connected in series between the power source and the heating elements to provide a safety shutoff when the heater body reaches a predetermined overheat temperature. The heater body is maintained at a predetermined temperature by regulating the electrical current to the heating elements. A receptacle can be placed in close proximity below the outlet end to minimize the air gap between the two parts. Liquid passing through the heater assembly can be delivered at a precise temperature to the receptacle below the heater assembly.

Liquid heater assembly with a pair temperature controlled electric

A sample container segment assembly for use in an automated, continuous, and random access analytical system is disclosed. The assembly includes a sample container which is received by a sample container segment, and the sample container segment is received on a carousel of the automated analytical instrument. The test sample container includes an upper skirt and a body having a reservoir for receipt of the test sample. The segment includes a base, a frame, and a handle. The frame has a shelf for which the upper skirt of the test sample container rests on, and has openings for receipt of the body of the sample container. The carousel has a carousel trough for receipt of the base of the sample container segment, and has a plurality of alignment pins disposed in the carousel trough. The base of the sample container segment has a circular slot and an elongated slot for receiving the alignment pins and positioning the sample container segment relative to the carousel. The sample container segment can include a liquid level sensing sleeve which is made of a conductive material and surrounds the reservoir of the test sample container inserted therein. Alternatively, the test sample container can have a conductive core which surrounds the reservoir and extends therebelow. The container sample segment can also include various sleeves, or springs and arms, for securing and positioning the test sample container within the sample container segment.

Sample container segment assembly

A method for verifying that an assay methodology is properly performed, that assay reagents employed possess the necessary potency for accurately performing such assay methodology, and whether or not test samples or assay reagents have been tampered with or are adulterated, is described. The method is performed by employing an assay verification sample, comprising a positive analyte component and the test sample under analysis, wherein the assay verification sample is analyzed employing the same assay reagents and essentially the same assay methodology employed to analyze the test sample. The method is particularly useful for performing heterogeneous immunoassays on an automated continuous and random access analytical system.

Assay verification control for an automated analytical system

A method and apparatus for washing clinical apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is a device for washing clinical apparatus, wherein the clinical apparatus is employed, at different times, to contain a first test substance during a first testing step and a second test substance during a second testing step subsequent to the first testing step. The apparatus comprises a device for supplying a wash solution to the apparatus, and for varying the quantity of the wash solution supplied to the apparatus. The apparatus further comprises a control unit for controlling the device for varying quantity to vary the quantity of the wash solution in proportion to the potential for contamination between the first test substance and the second test substance contained in the apparatus.

Apparatus and method for washing clinical apparatus

The present invention is a method for opening and closing a cap pivotally mounted on a container for storing reagents for use in an automated analytical instrument. The cap has one end for sealing the container and a tab extending from the other end for pivoting the cap. The method comprises the steps of positioning a closed container adjacent an actuating device mounted on the analytical system. The method further comprises the steps of projecting the actuating device against the top of the tab to pivotally open the cap to a position sufficiently vertical for aspirating reagent from the container, and retracting the actuating device from the cap to a position above the pivotal mounting thereof. The method comprises the final step of causing relative motion between the cap and the actuating device so that the actuating device drags along the top of the cap pivotally closing the cap to provide a sufficient seal on the container preventing evaporation of the reagent therefrom.

Cap actuator for opening and closing a container

A well test tool including a valve lowerable into a well on a flexible line and locked and sealed in a downhole landing receptacle, the valve being openable and closable to permit or prevent flow therethrough, well pressures below the test tool being sensed and recorded by a recording pressure gage both during periods of flow and during shut-in periods, the recording pressure gage being either carried by the test tool as a part thereof or being supported in the well independent of the test tool, the valve of the test tool being shiftable between open and closed positions by suitable tools lowered into the well on the flexible line, the flexible line and tools being not required in the well during either of the shut-in or flow periods, excepting only during the shifting operation, thus permitting the flexible line to be slacked during such flow or shut-in periods, or removed from the well altogether. In either case, the well test will be unaffected by movement (as by wind, wave, or similar forces) of super craft on which the flexible line reel and equipment, and personnel relating thereto, may be carried.

Well test tool

A system for cleaning perforations in a well bore by surging formation fluid through the perforations. A wireline retrievable well tool is installed in the well bore above the perforations to establish a fluid barrier which will divide the well bore into a first fluid pressure zone and a second fluid pressure zone. The well tool includes a flow path closure device which will suddenly open when the difference in pressure between the first zone and the second zone exceeds a preselected value. The sudden opening of the closure device results in a surge of fluid flow from the downhole formation which cleans the perforations.

Apparatus and methods for cleaning well perforations

A pilot valve system including an electrical connector assembly for a subsurface safety valve operated by control fluid pressure from the surface including a pilot valve connected with the control fluid line to the subsurface safety valve and into the well production string immediately above the safety valve to bypass the control fluid pressure directly into the tubing string and dump the control fluid pressure from the subsurface safety valve into the tubing string directly above the valve to minimize the time delay between control fluid pressure reduction and the safety valve closure. The electrical connector assembly includes a male plug assembly for connection on the pilot valve and a female plug assembly mounted in a side pocket mandrel for the pilot valve, such plug assemblies including annular spaced insulated connector rings in the side pocket mandrel and annular spaced insulated spring-type conductors on the male plug assembly for engaging the female plug assembly connector rings when the pilot valve is installed in the side pocket mandrel. Also disclosed is a minimum backlash latch assembly for releasably locking the pilot valve, or other well tools, along a well bore in a receptacle such as a side pocket mandrel.

Electrical connector assembly

A minimum backlash latch assembly for releasably locking a well tool such as a pilot valve in a bore such as in a side pocket mandrel of a well flow conductor. Also disclosed is a pilot valve system for a subsurface safety valve operated by control fluid pressure from the surface including a pilot valve connected with the control fluid line to the subsurface safety valve and into the well production string immediately above the safety valve to bypass the control fluid pressure directly into the tubing string and dump the control fluid pressure from the subsurface safety valve into the tubing string directly above the valve to minimize the time delay between control fluid pressure reduction and the safety valve closure. Three embodiments of the pilot valve are disclosed. One embodiment is operable by electrical energy from the surface. The other embodiments are operable by acoustic energy and radio waves, respectively.

Latch assembly for well tools

A test tool including a locking device and a sleeve valve with a recording instrument attached, for use in testing wells as for the purpose of gathering data for reservoir evaluation, the test tool is installed in a landing receptacle in a well and, preferably near the reservoir to be evaluated, the test tool being run into the well on a conventional wireline tool string and an operating tool and locked and sealed in the landing nipple. The sleeve valve of the test tool is left open during running and is generally left open for a period during which the well is flowed, after which the valve is then closed by a pull on the wire line attached to the operating tool and left closed to allow pressure to build up below the test tool. Slacking the wire line causes the test tool to open. The test tool can be cycled between open and closed positions as many times as desired. When the last cycle has been performed, the valve is closed and the operating tool is retrieved from the well. A second trip with the wireline tools is necessary to retrieve the test tool. Well test systems utilizing such test tools are also disclosed. After retrieving the test tool from the well, the recorded data are obtained from the instrument. A reverse acting valve for the test tool is also disclosed.

Well test tool and system

A pilot valve system for a subsurface safety valve operated by control fluid pressure from the surface including a pilot valve connected with the control fluid line to the subsurface safety valve and into the well production string immediately above the safety valve to bypass the control fluid pressure directly into the tubing string and dump the control fluid pressure from the subsurface safety valve into the tubing string directly above the valve to minimize the time delay between control fluid pressure reduction and the safety valve closure. Three embodiments of the pilot valve are disclosed. One embodiment is operable by electrical energy from the surface. The other embodiments are operable by acoustic energy and radio waves, respectively. Also disclosed is a minimum backlash latch assembly for releasably locking the pilot valve, or other well tools, along a well bore in a receptacle such as a side pocket mandrel.

Surface controlled subsurface safety valve

Growing community of inventors

Carrollton, TX, United States of America

William D Rumbaugh