Patents by Inventor Gregory E. Gardner
Gregory E. Gardner 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).
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Publication number: 20160320422Abstract: A laboratory automation system that is capable of carrying out clinical chemistry assays, immunoassays, amplification of nucleic acid assays, and any combination of the foregoing, said laboratory automation system employing at least one of micro-well plates and deep multi-well plates as reaction vessels. The use of micro-well plates as reaction vessels enables the laboratory automation system to assume a variety of arrangements, i.e., the laboratory automation system can comprise a variety of functional modules that can be arranged in various ways. In order to effectively carry out immunoassays by means of micro-well plates, a technique known as inverse magnetic particle processing can be used to transfer the product(s) of immunoassays from one micro-well of a micro-well plate to another.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner, Richard W. Mahoney
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Patent number: 9375714Abstract: A device and method for extending the useful life of a liquid in a container used in an automated clinical analyzer. The liquid comprises a material subject to deterioration, the subject material capable of deteriorating as the result of reaction with a contaminant in a gas present in the atmospheric air surrounding the container. Atmospheric air surrounding the container that displaces the liquid consumed from a container is routed through a gas scrubber insert in order to remove or at least reduce the quantity of at least one contaminant present in that air. The gas scrubber insert is positioned between the liquid in the container and the atmospheric air surrounding the container.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2009Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Abbott LaboratoriesInventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner
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Patent number: 9329194Abstract: A laboratory automation system that is capable of carrying out clinical chemistry assays, immunoassays, amplification of nucleic acid assays, and any combination of the foregoing, said laboratory automation system employing at least one of micro-well plates and deep multi-well plates as reaction vessels. The use of micro-well plates as reaction vessels enables the laboratory automation system to assume a variety of arrangements, i.e., the laboratory automation system can comprise a variety of functional modules that can be arranged in various ways. In order to effectively carry out immunoassays by means of micro-well plates, a technique known as inverse magnetic particle processing can be used to transfer the product(s) of immunoassays from one micro-well of a micro-well plate to another.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: ABBOTT LABORATORIESInventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner, Richard W. Mahoney
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Publication number: 20150147820Abstract: A system for managing bulk liquids for an automated clinical analyzer. The system comprises (a) at least one local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use, (b) at least one container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir, and (c) a controller for monitoring the level of a bulk liquid in a local reservoir. The local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use can be a trough. The use of troughs for storing a reagent, a diluent, or some other treating agent for impending use enables an aspirating/dispensing device having a plurality of pipettes to aspirate and dispense the reagent,diluent, or other treating agent at a high rate of throughput. The controller can monitor the level of a liquid in (a) a local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for imminent use and the level of liquid in a (b) container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2015Publication date: May 28, 2015Inventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner, Richard W. Mahoney
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Patent number: 8951805Abstract: A system for managing bulk liquids for an automated clinical analyzer. The system comprises (a) at least one local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use, (b) at least one container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir, and (c) a controller for monitoring the level of a bulk liquid in a local reservoir. The local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use can be a trough. The use of troughs for storing a reagent, a diluent, or some other treating agent for impending use enables an aspirating/dispensing device having a plurality of pipettes to aspirate and dispense the reagent, diluent, or other treating agent at a high rate of throughput. The controller can monitor the level of a liquid in (a) a local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for imminent use and the level of liquid in a (b) container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2014Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Abbott LaboratoriesInventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner, Richard W. Mahoney
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Publication number: 20140234181Abstract: A system for managing bulk liquids for an automated clinical analyzer. The system comprises (a) at least one local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use, (b) at least one container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir, and (c) a controller for monitoring the level of a bulk liquid in a local reservoir. The local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use can be a trough. The use of troughs for storing a reagent, a diluent, or some other treating agent for impending use enables an aspirating/dispensing device having a plurality of pipettes to aspirate and dispense the reagent, diluent, or other treating agent at a high rate of throughput. The controller can monitor the level of a liquid in (a) a local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for imminent use and the level of liquid in a (b) container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2014Publication date: August 21, 2014Inventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner, Richard W. Mahoney
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Patent number: 8784734Abstract: An assembly that utilizes reusable sheaths for covering magnetic rods for collecting particles in an inverse magnetic particle process. The magnetic rod is removed from the reusable sheath to release particles at the same or a different location. The reusable sheaths can be assembled in a cylindrical plate, which can be rotated to position a clean sheath for each step of the inverse magnetic particle process. When not being used for particle separation, the sheaths can be washed of potentially contaminating solution in wash receptacles.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2010Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Abbott LaboratoriesInventors: Douglas M. Campbell, Gregory E. Gardner
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Patent number: 8715574Abstract: A system for managing bulk liquids for an automated clinical analyzer. The system comprises (a) at least one local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use, (b) at least one container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir, and (c) a controller for monitoring the level of a bulk liquid in a local reservoir. The local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use can be a trough. The use of troughs for storing a reagent, a diluent, or some other treating agent for impending use enables an aspirating/dispensing device having a plurality of pipettes to aspirate and dispense the reagent, diluent, or other treating agent at a high rate of throughput. The controller can monitor the level of a liquid in (a) a local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for imminent use and the level of liquid in a (b) container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2009Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Abbott LaboratoriesInventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner, Richard W. Mahoney
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Patent number: 8691149Abstract: A component of a laboratory automation system that integrates (a) separating a solid magnetic substrate from the liquid contents of a reaction vessel, (b) management of the thermal characteristics of the component of the laboratory automation system, (c) automated loading of multi-well plates and tip combs into the component of the laboratory automation system, (d) automated unloading of multi-well plates and tip combs from the component of the laboratory automation system, and (e) reading of radio frequency identification tags attached to multi-well plates.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Abbott LaboratoriesInventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner, Richard W. Mahoney
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Publication number: 20120282684Abstract: A laboratory automation system that is capable of carrying out clinical chemistry assays, immunoassays, amplification of nucleic acid assays, and any combination of the foregoing, said laboratory automation system employing at least one of micro-well plates and deep multi-well plates as reaction vessels. The use of micro-well plates as reaction vessels enables the laboratory automation system to assume a variety of arrangements, i.e., the laboratory automation system can comprise a variety of functional modules that can be arranged in various ways. In order to effectively carry out immunoassays by means of micro-well plates, a technique known as inverse magnetic particle processing can be used to transfer the product(s) of immunoassays from one micro-well of a micro-well plate to another.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Inventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner, Richard W. Mahoney
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Patent number: 8222048Abstract: A laboratory automation system that is capable of carrying out clinical chemistry assays, immunoassays, amplification of nucleic acid assays, and any combination of the foregoing, said laboratory automation system employing at least one of micro-well plates and deep multi-well plates as reaction vessels. The use of micro-well plates as reaction vessels enables the laboratory automation system to assume a variety of arrangements, i.e., the laboratory automation system can comprise a variety of functional modules that can be arranged in various ways. In order to effectively carry out immunoassays by means of micro-well plates, a technique known as inverse magnetic particle processing can be used to transfer the product(s) of immunoassays from one micro-well of a micro-well plate to another.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Abbott LaboratoriesInventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner, Richard W. Mahoney
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Patent number: 8211313Abstract: A system for separating a solid magnetic substrate from liquid contents of a reaction vessel, the system comprising at least one micro-well plate having a plurality of rows and a plurality of magnets arranged in at least two rows. In one embodiment, the at least two rows of the plurality of magnets are controlled so as to cause the magnets in the at least two rows of magnets to move in unison. In another embodiment, one row of the at least two rows of the plurality of magnets is controlled so as to cause the magnets in said one row to move at a first velocity in the vertical direction and another row of the at least two rows of the plurality of magnets is controlled so as to cause the magnets in that other row to move at a second velocity in the vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2009Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Abbott LaboratoriesInventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner
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Publication number: 20110287555Abstract: An assembly that utilizes reusable sheaths for covering magnetic rods for collecting particles in an inverse magnetic particle process. The magnetic rod is removed from the reusable sheath to release particles at the same or a different location. The reusable sheaths can be assembled in a cylindrical plate, which can be rotated to position a clean sheath for each step of the inverse magnetic particle process. When not being used for particle separation, the sheaths can be washed of potentially contaminating solution in wash receptacles.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: Abbott LaboratoriesInventors: Douglas M. Campbell, Gregory E. Gardner
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Publication number: 20110147294Abstract: A system for separating a solid magnetic substrate from liquid contents of a reaction vessel, the system comprising at least one micro-well plate having a plurality of rows and a plurality of magnets arranged in at least two rows. In one embodiment, the at least two rows of the plurality of magnets are controlled so as to cause the magnets in the at least two rows of magnets to move in unison. In another embodiment, one row of the at least two rows of the plurality of magnets is controlled so as to cause the magnets in said one row to move at a first velocity in the vertical direction and another row of the at least two rows of the plurality of magnets is controlled so as to cause the magnets in that other row to move at a second velocity in the vertical direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: ABBOTT LABORATORIESInventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner
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Publication number: 20110150704Abstract: A device and method for extending the useful life of a liquid in a container used in an automated clinical analyzer. The liquid comprises a material subject to deterioration, the subject material capable of deteriorating as the result of reaction with a contaminant in a gas present in the atmospheric air surrounding the container. Atmospheric air surrounding the container that displaces the liquid consumed from a container is routed through a gas scrubber insert in order to remove or at least reduce the quantity of at least one contaminant present in that air. The gas scrubber insert is positioned between the liquid in the container and the atmospheric air surrounding the container. The gas scrubber insert contains a reagent that is capable of reacting with a contaminant in the atmospheric air surrounding the container, whereby a required characteristic(s) of the liquid does (do) not change excessively prior to the date that the liquid is consumed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: ABBOTT LABORATORIESInventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner
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Publication number: 20100322822Abstract: A system for managing bulk liquids for an automated clinical analyzer. The system comprises (a) at least one local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use, (b) at least one container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir, and (c) a controller for monitoring the level of a bulk liquid in a local reservoir. The local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use can be a trough. The use of troughs for storing a reagent, a diluent, or some other treating agent for impending use enables an aspirating/dispensing device having a plurality of pipettes to aspirate and dispense the reagent, diluent, or other treating agent at a high rate of throughput. The controller can monitor the level of a liquid in (a) a local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for imminent use and the level of liquid in a (b) container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2009Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: Abbott LaboratoriesInventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner, Richard W. Mahoney
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Patent number: 7688207Abstract: A system for automation of laboratory analyzers that utilizes radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and radio frequency identification (RFID) readers to identify containers and vessels, and the contents thereof, that are employed in the system. Radio frequency identification tags, conforming to the guidelines of ISO 14443 or ISO 15693 or ISO 18000, are positioned on the items of interest, such as, for example, reagent containers, sample containers, and microplates. These tags can be read by and written to by either a moving antenna of a RFID reader or a stationary antenna of a RFID reader. Reading of RFID tags and writing to RFID tags are controlled by software.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Inc.Inventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner, Richard W. Mahoney, Oscar F. Schwartz
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Publication number: 20090117620Abstract: A laboratory automation system that is capable of carrying out clinical chemistry assays, immunoassays, amplification of nucleic acid assays, and any combination of the foregoing, said laboratory automation system employing at least one of micro-well plates and deep multi-well plates as reaction vessels. The use of micro-well plates as reaction vessels enables the laboratory automation system to assume a variety of arrangements, i.e., the laboratory automation system can comprise a variety of functional modules that can be arranged in various ways. In order to effectively carry out immunoassays by means of micro-well plates, a technique known as inverse magnetic particle processing can be used to transfer the product(s) of immunoassays from one micro-well of a micro-well plate to another.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2008Publication date: May 7, 2009Applicant: ABBOTT LABORATORIESInventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner, Richard W. Mahoney
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Publication number: 20090117004Abstract: A component of a laboratory automation system that integrates (a) separating a solid magnetic substrate from the liquid contents of a reaction vessel, (b) management of the thermal characteristics of the component of the laboratory automation system, (c) automated loading of multi-well plates and tip combs into the component of the laboratory automation system, (d) automated unloading of multi-well plates and tip combs from the component of the laboratory automation system, and (e) reading of radio frequency identification tags attached to multi-well plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2008Publication date: May 7, 2009Applicant: ABBOTT LABORATORIESInventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, Gregory E. Gardner, Richard W. Mahoney
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Patent number: D837401Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2016Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Abbott LaboratoriesInventors: Gregory E. Gardner, Roger Simonsen, Douglas Campbell