Patents Assigned to MWI, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6646742
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical system for an apparatus for multi-part differential particle discrimination to facilitate analysis, classification, and sorting of various fluid components for presentation. The optical system is characterized by one or more of the following: a synchronized illumination beam and flow cell conduit, a flow cell arrangement to control back reflection, and light sensor arrangement to particularly gather a specific range of light scatter, such specific range of light scatter directly corresponding to at least one type of particle capable of being identified by the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: MWI, Inc.
    Inventors: Mervin L. Gangstead, Wieland E. von Behrens, James R. Boyd, Jean-Charles Pina, Jerry B. West
  • Patent number: 6507400
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical system for an apparatus for multi-part differential particle discrimination to facilitate analysis, classification, and sorting of various fluid components for presentation. The optical system is characterized by one or more of the following: a synchronized illumination beam and flow cell conduit, a flow cell arrangement to control back reflection, and light sensor arrangement to particularly gather a specific range of light scatter, such specific range of light scatter directly corresponding to at least one type of particle capable of being identified by the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: MWI, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Charles Pina, Wieland von Behrens, Mervin L. Gangstead, James R. Boyd, Jerry B. West
  • Patent number: 5983735
    Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing particulates including solutes in a sample liquid suspension in which the sample liquid suspension flows through an aperture into a first region of a reservoir containing particle free liquid to form a jet which entrains particle free liquid to ensheathe the jet. The jet passes through a muffler which includes a funnel and a throat into a second region of said reservoir where the particle free liquid and particulates are mixed. The throat is configured to prevent regurgitation of liquid from the second region back into the first region. A return passage connects the second region of the reservoir to the first region. The energy of the jet stream causes liquid to flow from the second region to the first region to provide particle free liquid to the first region. The return passage is configured or contains means to continuously mix the advancing liquid to prevent central streamers and the peripheral Coanda effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: MWI, Inc.
    Inventors: Wieland E. Von Behrens, Roger Bourree, George Chappell, James G. Young
  • Patent number: 5895869
    Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing particulates including solutes in a sample liquid suspension in which the sample liquid suspension flows through an aperture into a first region of a reservoir containing particle free liquid to form a jet which entrains particle free liquid to ensheathe the jet. The jet passes through a muffler which includes a funnel and a throat into a second region of said reservoir where the particle free liquid and particulates are mixed. The throat is configured to prevent regurgitation of liquid from the second region back into the first region. A return passage connects the second region of the reservoir to the first region. The energy of the jet stream causes liquid to flow from the second region to the first region to provide particle free liquid to the first region. The return passage is configured or contains means to continuously mix the advancing liquid to prevent central streamers and the peripheral Coanda effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: MWI, Inc.
    Inventors: Wieland E. Von Behrens, Roger Bourree, George Chappell, James G. Young