Patents Assigned to Ikonisys Inc.
  • Publication number: 20110079640
    Abstract: A method for automated microscopic analysis wherein the test protocol is obtained from interrogatable data affixed to each microscope slide. The method further comprises the algorithms that implement the test protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Young Min KIM, Yanning ZHU, Yash AGARWAL, Xiuzhong WANG, Aaron ARMSTRONG, Robert BORGERDING, Andrew MACGINITIE, Antti SEPPO, llia ICHETOVKIN, Michael KILPATRICK, Petros TSIPOURAS, Triantafyllos TAFAS
  • Patent number: 7901887
    Abstract: In various embodiments methods for automated screening for gene amplification in biological tissue samples using an automated fluorescence microscope to analyze fluorescence in situ hybridized samples are provided. Various additional embodiments provide methods of high throughput screening for gene amplification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Triantafyllos P. Tafas, Michael Kilpatrick, Xiuzhong Wang, Youngmin Kim, Michael Thomas, Petros Tsipouras
  • Patent number: 7902814
    Abstract: A displaceable light-tight enclosure system housing an automated robotic microscope having electronically controllable components and an image capture device. The enclosure system includes a device(s) for displacement, an externally viewable monitor, and a plurality of electrical power receptacles. The light-tight enclosure system also incorporates an anti-fall support leg that may be extended from the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Triantafyllos Tafas, Yash Agarwal, Youngmin Kim, Wei Guo, Richard Eberle, Joseph Turgeon, Michael Kilpatrick, Petros Tsipouras
  • Patent number: 7897900
    Abstract: An imager system is disclosed comprising a image intensifier and a CMOS image sensor. The system provides fast capture speed and high sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventor: Triantafyllos Tafas
  • Patent number: 7885449
    Abstract: A method for recognizing an object in an image is disclosed wherein a fractal map of the image is generated by estimating the fractal dimension of each pixel in the image. The fractal map may be segmented by thresholding and locations of candidate objects are determined. The pixel value of the image pixel corresponding to the same location where the candidate object is found in the fractal map may be compared to a threshold value. If the pixel value is greater than the threshold value, the candidate object is recognized as a valid object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ikonisys Inc.
    Inventors: Triantafyllos P. Tafas, Michael Kilpatrick, Petros Tsipouras
  • Publication number: 20100315502
    Abstract: A system and method for remote control of an automated microscope via a widely distributed network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Triantafyllos P. TAFAS, Michael THOMAS, Robert H. BORGERDING, Fred C. WESTPHAL
  • Patent number: 7835869
    Abstract: A computer controlled method for detecting and diagnosing a rare cell type in a tissue sample is provided, said method comprising treating the tissue sample such that it generates a first signal indicative of the presence at a location of a rare cell, detecting the first signal, treating the location at which the first signal is detected to generate a second signal indicative of a diagnostically useful cellular characteristic and detecting the second signal. The first signal can be morphological or a color present in a sought cell either before or after staining. The second signal can be generated by in situ PCR or PCR in situ hybridization. In one preferred embodiment, the rare cell type is a fetal cell in a maternal blood tissue sample, said sample consisting of a smear of unenriched maternal blood. In another embodiment, the method is used to diagnose or genotype cancer cells in a blood or tissue biopsy sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Petros Tsipouras, Triantafyllos Tafas
  • Patent number: 7829868
    Abstract: A method for automated microscopic analysis wherein the test protocol is obtained from interrogatable data affixed to each microscope slide. The method further comprises the algorithms that implement the test protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Young Min Kim, Yanning Zhu, Yash Agarwal, Xiuzhong Wang, Aaron Armstrong, Robert Borgerding, Andrew MacGinitie, Antti Seppo, Ilia Ichetovkin, Michael Kilpatrick, Petros Tsipouras, Triantafyllos Tafas
  • Publication number: 20100238287
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a fractionator for collecting at least one of a plurality of segregated components from a segregated sample disposed in a sample tube. The fractionator has a head with a head surface at its forward end. The head may be configured to form a slideable seal with the inside surface of a sample tube. A collection port is disposed forward of the head surface, and a fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the collection port and is configured and arranged to allow fluid transport from the sample tube to a sample receptacle. The fractionator may have a valve in fluid communication with the collection port and may have a valve controller configured and arranged to operate the valve based, at least in part, on the location of the collection port with respect to a sample disposed in the sample tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventors: E. James Arking, Triantafyllos Tafas
  • Patent number: 7706061
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automating microscopic analysis of a plurality of data-encoded microscope slides. In embodiments, the data written to or read from the slides may comprise images, analysis protocols, analytic results and other pertinent data. Embodiments also encompass a magazine that contains a plurality of data encoded slides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventor: Triantafyllos Tafas
  • Publication number: 20100046068
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automating microscopic analysis of a plurality of data-encoded microscope slides. In embodiments, the data written to or read from the slides may comprise images, analysis protocols, analytic results and other pertinent data. Embodiments also encompass a magazine that contains a plurality of data encoded slides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventor: Triantafyllos Tafas
  • Patent number: 7660454
    Abstract: The invention herein includes a method for combining immuno staining and FISH using covalently bound small molecule tags. Among embodiments included are methods of tagging immuno and FISH probes for treatment of biologic material. Embodiments comprise directing the fluorescently labeled immuno probe(s) to non-chromosomic portions of a biologic sample and directing labeled FISH probe(s) to chromosomic portions of the biologic sample for further identification of subcellular components. Embodiments also comprise the automatic connection of information regarding the sample to image analysis, to subcellular component identification and enumeration in order to affect biomedical decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kilpatrick, Antti Seppo, Triantafyllos Tafas
  • Publication number: 20100012822
    Abstract: An imager system is disclosed comprising a image intensifier and a CMOS image sensor. The system provides fast capture speed and high sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventor: Triantafyllos Tafas
  • Patent number: 7639139
    Abstract: A system for automatically locating positions on an object and uniquely identifying the object employing an electronic tag positioned in or on the object. The system utilizes a plurality of sensors to locate the electronic tag and identify the object, and triangulation techniques to locate positions on the object where the object may be manipulated according to instructions coded with respect to the positions. Advantageously, the present invention may be used for automatically locating specimens on a microscope slide without regards to their positions on the slide, and for uniquely labeling a microscope slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Triantafyllos P. Tafas, Youngmin Kim
  • Publication number: 20090250629
    Abstract: Operational means for automatic microscopic detection and analysis of fluorescent signals from a treated biological sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Young Min Kim, Yanning Zhu, Yash Agarwal, Xiuzhong Wang, Aaron Armstrong, Robert Borgerding, Andrew MacGinitie, Antti Seppo, Ilia Ichetovkin, Michael Kilpatrick, Petros Tsipouras, Triantafyllos Tafas
  • Publication number: 20090253145
    Abstract: A method for detecting and quantitating multiple and unique fluorescent signals from a cell sample is provided. The method combines immunohistochemistry and a fluorescent-labeled in situ hybridization techniques. The method is useful for identifying specific subcellular components of cells such as chromosomes and proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kilpatrick, Triantafyllos Tafas
  • Patent number: 7589309
    Abstract: An imager system is disclosed comprising a image intensifier and a CMOS image sensor. The system provides fast capture speed and high sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventor: Triantafyllos Tafas
  • Publication number: 20090208965
    Abstract: Automated methods for detecting cancer and related hyperplasias in biological samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Triantafyllos P. Tafas, Petros Tsipouras, Michael Kilpatrick, Gary Sarkis
  • Publication number: 20090116101
    Abstract: A light-tight enclosure system for housing an automated microscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Triantafyllos Tafas, Yash Agarwal, Youngmin Kim, Wei Guo, Richard Eberle, Joseph Turgeon, Michael Kilpatrick, Petros Tsipouras
  • Patent number: 7522757
    Abstract: A computer controlled method for detecting and diagnosing a rare cell type in a tissue sample is provided, said method comprising treating the tissue sample such that it generates a first signal indicative of the presence at a location of a rare cell, detecting the first signal, treating the location at which the first signal is detected to generate a second signal indicative of a diagnostically useful cellular characteristic and detecting the second signal. The first signal can be morphological or a color present in a sought cell either before or after staining. The second signal can be generated by in situ PCR or PCR in situ hybridization. In one preferred embodiment, the rare cell type is a fetal cell in a maternal blood tissue sample, said sample consisting of a smear of unenriched maternal blood. In another embodiment, the method is used to diagnose or genotype cancer cells in a blood or tissue biopsy sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Ikonisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Petros Tsipouras, Triantafyllos Tafas