Patents by Inventor Christopher F. Kelly

Christopher F. Kelly has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11219434
    Abstract: A method of surgical dissection of tissue with a dissector comprising: an elongate shaft comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion comprises a plurality of segments that articulate with respect to one another and the plurality of segments includes a distal segment having a distal end; and a handle attached to the proximal portion of the shaft, wherein the handle comprises controls for articulating the plurality of segments of the distal portion of the shaft with respect to one another, comprising the steps of: positioning the distal end of the dissector in a body; advancing the distal end through the body to dissect tissue; and simultaneously articulating the plurality of segments with respect to one another. A method of surgical dissection of tissue and guiding a second device to a desired physiological location with a first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Thompson, Darrin Dickerson, Brett S. Bowman, Christopher F. Kelly, William W. Malecki, David Francischelli, Mark Stewart, Thomas Daigle, Douglas Gubbin, David Kim, Paul Rothstein, Adam Podbelski, Christopher Plott, Benjamin K. Yaffe
  • Publication number: 20210031200
    Abstract: A system, including method and apparatus, for generating droplets suitable for droplet-based assays. The disclosed systems may include either one-piece or multi-piece droplet generation components configured to form sample-containing droplets by merging aqueous, sample-containing fluid with a background emulsion fluid such as oil, to form an emulsion of sample-containing droplets suspended in the background fluid. In some cases, the disclosed systems may include channels or other suitable mechanisms configured to transport the sample-containing droplets to an outlet region, so that subsequent assay steps may be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin D. NESS, Christopher F. KELLY, Donald A. MASQUELIER
  • Patent number: 10744506
    Abstract: A system, including method and apparatus, for generating droplets suitable for droplet-based assays. The disclosed systems may include either one-piece or multi-piece droplet generation components configured to form sample-containing droplets by merging aqueous, sample-containing fluid with a background emulsion fluid such as oil, to form an emulsion of sample-containing droplets suspended in the background fluid. In some cases, the disclosed systems may include channels or other suitable mechanisms configured to transport the sample-containing droplets to an outlet region, so that subsequent assay steps may be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin D. Ness, Christopher F. Kelly, Donald A. Masquelier
  • Publication number: 20190247856
    Abstract: A system, including method and apparatus, for generating droplets suitable for droplet-based assays. The disclosed systems may include either one-piece or multi-piece droplet generation components configured to form sample-containing droplets by merging aqueous, sample-containing fluid with a background emulsion fluid such as oil, to form an emulsion of sample-containing droplets suspended in the background fluid. In some cases, the disclosed systems may include channels or other suitable mechanisms configured to transport the sample-containing droplets to an outlet region, so that subsequent assay steps may be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin D. NESS, Christopher F. KELLY, Donald A. MASQUELIER
  • Patent number: 10272432
    Abstract: A system, including method and apparatus, for generating droplets suitable for droplet-based assays. The disclosed systems may include either one-piece or multi-piece droplet generation components configured to form sample-containing droplets by merging aqueous, sample-containing fluid with a background emulsion fluid such as oil, to form an emulsion of sample-containing droplets suspended in the background fluid. In some cases, the disclosed systems may include channels or other suitable mechanisms configured to transport the sample-containing droplets to an outlet region, so that subsequent assay steps may be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin D. Ness, Christopher F. Kelly, Donald A. Masquelier
  • Publication number: 20190046987
    Abstract: A system, including method and apparatus, for generating droplets suitable for droplet-based assays. The disclosed systems may include either one-piece or multi-piece droplet generation components configured to form sample-containing droplets by merging aqueous, sample-containing fluid with a background emulsion fluid such as oil, to form an emulsion of sample-containing droplets suspended in the background fluid. In some cases, the disclosed systems may include channels or other suitable mechanisms configured to transport the sample-containing droplets to an outlet region, so that subsequent assay steps may be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin D. NESS, Christopher F. KELLY, Donald A. MASQUELIER
  • Publication number: 20190038270
    Abstract: A method of surgical dissection of tissue with a dissector comprising: an elongate shaft comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion comprises a plurality of segments that articulate with respect to one another and the plurality of segments includes a distal segment having a distal end; and a handle attached to the proximal portion of the shaft, wherein the handle comprises controls for articulating the plurality of segments of the distal portion of the shaft with respect to one another, comprising the steps of: positioning the distal end of the dissector in a body; advancing the distal end through the body to dissect tissue; and simultaneously articulating the plurality of segments with respect to one another. A method of surgical dissection of tissue and guiding a second device to a desired physiological location with a first device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Thompson, Darrin Dickerson, Brett S. Bowman, Christopher F. Kelly, William W. Malecki, David Francischelli, Mark Stewart, Thomas Daigle, Douglas Gubbin, David Kim, Paul Rothstein, Adam Podbelski, Christopher Plott, Benjamin K. Yaffe
  • Patent number: 10099219
    Abstract: A system, including method and apparatus, for generating droplets suitable for droplet-based assays. The disclosed systems may include either one-piece or multi-piece droplet generation components configured to form sample-containing droplets by merging aqueous, sample-containing fluid with a background emulsion fluid such as oil, to form an emulsion of sample-containing droplets suspended in the background fluid. In some cases, the disclosed systems may include channels or other suitable mechanisms configured to transport the sample-containing droplets to an outlet region, so that subsequent assay steps may be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin D. Ness, Christopher F. Kelly, Donald A. Masquelier
  • Patent number: 10098618
    Abstract: A method of surgical dissection of tissue with a dissector comprising: an elongate shaft comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion comprises a plurality of segments that articulate with respect to one another and the plurality of segments includes a distal segment having a distal end; and a handle attached to the proximal portion of the shaft, wherein the handle comprises controls for articulating the plurality of segments of the distal portion of the shaft with respect to one another, comprising the steps of: positioning the distal end of the dissector in a body; advancing the distal end through the body to dissect tissue; and simultaneously articulating the plurality of segments with respect to one another. A method of surgical dissection of tissue and guiding a second device to a desired physiological location with a first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Thompson, Darrin Dickerson, Brett S. Bowman, Christopher F. Kelly, William W. Malecki, David Francischelli, Mark Stewart, Thomas Daigle, Douglas Gubbin, David Kim, Paul Rothstein, Adam Podbelski, Christopher Plott, Benjamin K. Yaffe
  • Publication number: 20170065979
    Abstract: A system, including method and apparatus, for generating droplets suitable for droplet-based assays. The disclosed systems may include either one-piece or multi-piece droplet generation components configured to form sample-containing droplets by merging aqueous, sample-containing fluid with a background emulsion fluid such as oil, to form an emulsion of sample-containing droplets suspended in the background fluid. In some cases, the disclosed systems may include channels or other suitable mechanisms configured to transport the sample-containing droplets to an outlet region, so that subsequent assay steps may be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin D. Ness, Christopher F. Kelly, Donald A. Masquelier
  • Patent number: 9500664
    Abstract: A system, including method and apparatus, for generating droplets suitable for droplet-based assays. The disclosed systems may include either one-piece or multi-piece droplet generation components configured to form sample-containing droplets by merging aqueous, sample-containing fluid with a background emulsion fluid such as oil, to form an emulsion of sample-containing droplets suspended in the background fluid. In some cases, the disclosed systems may include channels or other suitable mechanisms configured to transport the sample-containing droplets to an outlet region, so that subsequent assay steps may be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin D. Ness, Christopher F. Kelly, Donald A. Masquelier
  • Publication number: 20120190032
    Abstract: A system, including method and apparatus, for generating droplets suitable for droplet-based assays. The disclosed systems may include either one-piece or multi-piece droplet generation components configured to form sample-containing droplets by merging aqueous, sample-containing fluid with a background emulsion fluid such as oil, to form an emulsion of sample-containing droplets suspended in the background fluid. In some cases, the disclosed systems may include channels or other suitable mechanisms configured to transport the sample-containing droplets to an outlet region, so that subsequent assay steps may be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin D. Ness, Christopher F. Kelly, Donald A. Masquelier