Patents Represented by Attorney Edwin T. Grimes
  • Patent number: 6015534
    Abstract: A one-piece sample tube for use in a PCR thermal cycler having a first substantially cylindrically shaped upper wall section having an external conically beveled shoulder moulded around the entire circumference of the section, the thickness of the wall section above the shoulder being about 0.022 inches and the thickness of the wall section below the shoulder being about 0.015 inches. The sample tube further includes a second lower wall section having a frustrum of a cone shape with an included angle of about 17 degrees, the lower wall section having a thickness of 0.009 inches the second section holding about 100 microliters of liquid. The tube is compliant and made from polypropylene and is autoclavable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventor: John Girdner Atwood
  • Patent number: 5876118
    Abstract: A calorimeter apparatus includes a facility for rapid cooling of a heating vessel therein. A jacket surrounds the vessel wall. A partition member between the jacket and the vessel wall defines an inlet plenum adjacent the jacket and a spatial gap adjacent the vessel wall. Pressurized cooling gas is conveyed into the inlet plenum after termination of heating the vessel. The partition member has a distributed plurality of orifices such that the gas is jetted through the orifices to impingement cool the vessel wall. The gas is discharged from the spatial gap through an outlet plenum at an end wall of the vessel. The plurality of orifices are distributed in a pattern of varying density across the partition member such that uniform cooling of the vessel wall by the jetted gas is effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventor: Herman Vogel
  • Patent number: 5808739
    Abstract: A Michelson-type interferometer which includes apparatus for producing a suitable collimated interferometer input beam; a beam splitter and recombiner for first splitting the input beam into two beams which have components arranged to travel along parallel forward paths and then to recombine them into a single output beam as they are returned along reverse paths to the beam splitter and recombiner; an OPD scanner for scanning the optical path difference between the two split beams travelling along said paths while substantially maintaining the parallelism between the components, and a beam reverser common to the parallel beam components for reversing their direction of travel along the reverse paths and returning them for recombination into the single output beam at the beam splitter and recombiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Perkin-Elmer Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Turner, Henry Manifold Mould
  • Patent number: 5766889
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining an unknown starting molar concentration of target nucleic acid molecules at the beginning of a polymerase chain reaction in a sample reaction mixture containing suitable buffers, two complementary kinds of oligonucleotide primers, a molar excess of four kinds of nucleoside triphosphates, a DNA polymerase, and the unknown starting molar concentration of target nucleic acid molecules, wherein the two kinds of primers are provided in a known concentration (C.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventor: John G. Atwood
  • Patent number: 5762381
    Abstract: A connecting apparatus for conveyance of cryogenic fluid has a pair of connecting members formed of thermal insulating material. Each has a flange with an axial tubular protrusion and a rim extending over the protrusion so as to form an annular cavity therebetween. Each flange and its protrusion has a central bore. When the two members are fitted together, the combined bore conveys of cryogenic fluid therethrough. The protrusions have overlapping lips with a snug fit to substantially retain the cryogenic fluid in the combined bore. A detachable retainer holds the members in union with an o-ring seal between the rims. The respective cavities form an enclosed cavity that provides thermal insulation between the ring seal and the tubular protrusions for the cryogenic fluid in the common bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventors: Herman Vogel, Richard T. Ferranti
  • Patent number: 5742388
    Abstract: The invention relates to optical instrment engineering. It is suggested that a liner solid state detector (photodiode array detector, charge coupled device, charge transfer device) that is positioned along the image of entrance slit of the monochrometer be used in an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. This will improve the analytical performance of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer--lower the detection limits, extend the range of concentrations to be measured, increase the reproducibility of measurements by taking into account the temporal and spatial non-uniformities of the analyte distribution over the atomizer volume and will simultaneously provide atomizer walls and of the platform temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Bodenseewerk Perkin-Elmer GmbH
    Inventors: Albert H. Gilmutdinow, Konstantin J. Nagulin
  • Patent number: 5720923
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction and preferably a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a reaction mixture in at least one capillary tube. Several different embodiments are disclosed. One embodiment cycles a sample through a capillary tube loop passing through two thermostatted fluid baths. Another embodiment has the capillary tube routed alternatingly between two heat exchangers to that the sample makes only one pass through the tube. Other embodiments maintain the heat exchangers stationary and translate the samples between them. Still further embodiments maintain the samples stationary and either automatically translate or rotate the heat exchangers past the samples contained within the capillary tubes to perform the thermal cycles necessary for the amplification reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Haff, Enrico Picozza, Will Bloch, Robert Ragusa, Joseph DiCesare, David Tracy, Paul Saviano, Timothy M. Woudenberg
  • Patent number: 5716082
    Abstract: A cryogenic fluid conveying device has removable connection of a metal tube and a receptor for the tube. The receptor is formed of a housing member with an aperture therein for conveying the fluid. A tubular member of resilient PTFE has a bore size so as to be slidingly receptive of the rigid tube. A ferrule is disposed on the tubular member which is positioned in the housing member. An annular nut is threaded onto an end of the housing to constrict the ferrule and thereby constrict an annular section of the tubular member. This constriction provides a sealingly tight fit for the rigid tube such that the metal tube can be inserted into and removed from the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventors: Herman Vogel, E. Joel McCorkle
  • Patent number: 5703342
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling the temperature of a system in accordance with a desired temperature curve which is divided into predetermined time intervals. It is the object of the present invention to control the temperature of the system in such a manner that the predetermined and desired temperature curve is observed as exactly as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Bodenseewerk Perkin-Elmer GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Hoffmann, Christian Ludke, Jochen Skole
  • Patent number: 5681741
    Abstract: A complete in situ PCR system for amplification of nucleic acids contained in a prepared cell or tissue sample. The containment system for the PCR sample comprises a glass microscope slide, a specimen sample containing the target nucleic acid sequence mounted on the slide, a flexible plastic cover over the sample, and a retaining assembly fastened to the slide and to the cover to retain and seal a reaction mixture against the sample during thermal cycling. The retaining assembly includes a rigid ring on a rim portion of the cover, a cross beam having spaced parallel rails joined by opposite flat ends, and a pair of clips which are pressed over the ends and opposite sides of the slide to fasten the cross beam and cover to the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventors: John G. Atwood, Enrico Picozza
  • Patent number: 5675700
    Abstract: A complete in situ PCR system for amplification of nucleic acids contained in a prepared cell or tissue sample. The containment system for the PCR sample comprises a glass microscope slide, a specimen sample containing the target nucleic acid sequence mounted on the slide, a flexible plastic cover over the sample, and a retaining assembly fastened to the slide and to the cover to retain and seal a reaction mixture against the sample during thermal cycling.The retaining assembly includes a rigid ring on a rim portion of the cover, a cross beam having spaced parallel rails joined by opposite flat ends, and a pair of clips which are pressed over the ends and opposite sides of the slide to fasten the cross beam and cover to the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventors: John G. Atwood, Lawrence A. Haff
  • Patent number: 5671603
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling level of cryogenic liquid in a vessel includes a transfer duct to a pressure supply tank. Pressure pulses are applied to the tank at one rate when the level is below a primary sensor in the vessel, and at a lower rate when the level is above the sensor, so as to compensate for intrinsic declination of the level. At startup a constant pressure is applied to the tank until the level reaches a lower sensor, and a relief valve over the tank is opened when the level overshoots to an upper sensor. Turbulence in the vessel is reduced by a pair of coaxial baffles at the liquid inlet to the vessel, and by a housing with tubular extensions enveloping the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventors: E. Joel McCorkle, Herman Vogel, Marcel Margulies, Richard T. Ferranti
  • Patent number: 5672289
    Abstract: A Control circuit for a differential scanning calorimeter which includes a sample heater, a reference heater, a system for generating a sample heater DC voltage and a system for generating a reference heater DC voltage. A balanced operational amplifier arrangement is provided which includes a circuit for controlling the differential heater voltage and a circuit for independently controlling the average heater voltage, so that the average heater power and the differential heater power are independently controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 5619041
    Abstract: An atomic absorption spectrometer for measuring mercury concentration in a sample which includes an arrangement for producing emission lines of 184.9 and 253.7 nm at the same time, a sample accommodating chamber which can be irradiated with radiation of the emission lines, two electro-optical transducers responsive, with different sensitivities, to the radiation emission lines and arranged so that radiation passing through the sample chamber simultaneously impinges thereon, each extinction measuring means having a preselected extinction value range, and a comparator for switching between respective measurement ranges to determine the mercury concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Bodenseewerk Perkin-Elmer GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Hoffmann, Christian L udke
  • Patent number: 5594547
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multielement atomic absorption spectrometer for simultaneously performing measurements for determining both one element and a plurality of elements under optimum conditions. The atomic absorption spectrometer comprises at least two lamps respectively emitting lines of at least one analyte element, a furnace heating the analyte sample into its atomized state, at least one optical dispersion element having an entrance slit arranged upstream thereof, detector elements, as well as means for passing radiation emanating from the lamps through the furnace, through the entrance slit and the dispersion element to the detector elements, and measuring means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Bodenseewerk Perkin-Elmer GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Rodel, Bernhard Radziuk, Michael Zeiher, Herbert Stenz
  • Patent number: 5590537
    Abstract: An apparatus to provide a laminar curtain of dry gas over a cryogenic working surface includes a housing duct extending longitudinally from the working surface. A honeycomb member fills a section of the duct adjacent to the working surface, each honeycomb cell having a through channel in the longitudinal direction. A porous foam with through porosity fills a section of the duct adjacent to the honeycomb member oppositely from the working surface. A plenum is adjacent to the porous member oppositely from the honeycomb. Dry gas is supplied to the plenum to flow through the foam and honeycomb to effect the laminar curtain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventor: Herman Vogel
  • Patent number: 5585920
    Abstract: An Atomic Absorption Spectrometer in which background absorption is compensated by means of a magnetic field causing a periodic line shift due to the Zeeman Effect, including a line emitting light source, an atomizing device, an optical system, by means of which the measuring light beam can be passed through an atom cloud of the atomizing device, an electromagnet, a converter circuit for converting the mains a.c. voltage into d.c. voltage applied to a capacitor, the winding of the electromagnet being located in the diagonal of a bridge circuit which is supplied with the d.c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Bodenseewerk Perkin-Elmer GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Roedel, Klaus P. Rogasch
  • Patent number: 5565983
    Abstract: A spectrometer includes a pair of crossed reflective gratings to effect a spectrally dispersed beam that is focussed to an array detector. The second grating is a plural grating with a surface formed of a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a groove density for effecting ultraviolet in the dispersed beam. The second portion has a groove density for effecting visible radiation in the dispersed beam. A shutter blocks or exposes the second portion of the grating surface so as to select the first spectral range or the second spectral range for detection. The plural grating surface preferably may be contoured to compensate for aberrations in focussing of the beam to the detector. A computer may be used for selecting spectral lines for analysis, particularly selecting such lines in the second range that are not interfered with by the first range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas W. Barnard
  • Patent number: 5545252
    Abstract: A gas chromatographic system includes a column and an injector for delivering into the column a test portion of flow. The injector has an exit passage for discharging a split portion of carrier flow. A flow controller for regulating the inlet flow rate includes a variable outlet restrictor for the split portion, a flow rate detector disposed to detect inlet flow rate, and a feedback flow controller to regulate the outlet restrictor to maintain the inlet flow rate substantially constant. Pressure at the inlet to the injector is regulated by detecting pressure at an outlet and providing feedback control to an inlet restrictor. An integral module for the gas components is used on each side of the injector. Calibration and correction for gas characteristics are provided in the feedback for a chromatographic system and for other flow controller regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventors: John V. Hinshaw, Paul E. Schallis
  • Patent number: 5527510
    Abstract: A complete in situ PCR system for amplification of nucleic acids contained in a prepared cell or tissue sample. The containment system for the PCR sample comprises a glass microscope slide, a specimen sample containing the target nucleic acid sequence mounted on the slide, a flexible plastic cover over the sample, and a retaining assembly fastened to the slide and to the cover to retain and seal a reaction mixture against the sample during thermal cycling. The retaining assembly includes a rigid ring on a rim portion of the cover, a cross beam having spaced parallel rails joined by opposite flat ends, and a pair of clips which are pressed over the ends and opposite sides of the slide to fasten the cross beam and cover to the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventors: John G. Atwood, Lawrence A. Haff