Patents by Inventor Albert C. Mossa

Albert C. Mossa 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).

  • Thermal cycler for automatic performance of the polymerase chain reaction with close temperature control
    Patent number: 5602756
    Abstract: An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing a sample block in microtiter tray format. The sample block has local balance and local symmetry. A three zone film heater controlled by a computer and ramp cooling solenoid valves also controlled by the computer for gating coolant flow through the block controls the block temperature. Constant bias cooling is used for small changes. Sample temperature is calculated instead of measured. A platen deforms plastic caps to apply a minimum acceptable threshold force for seating the tubes and thermally isolates them. A cover isolates the block. The control software includes diagnostics. An install program tests and characterizes the instrument. A new user interface is used. Disposable, multipiece plastic microtiter trays to give individual freedom to sample tubes are taught.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventors: John G. Atwood, Albert C. Mossa, Lisa M. Goven, Fenton Williams, Timothy M. Woudenberg, Marcel Margulies, Robert P. Ragusa, Richard Leath, Clive Miles
  • Thermal cycler for automatic performance of the polymerase chain reaction with close temperature control
    Patent number: 5475610
    Abstract: An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing a sample block in microtiter tray format. The sample block has local balance and local symmetry. A three zone film heater controlled by a computer and ramp cooling solenoid valves also controlled by the computer for gating coolant flow through the block controls the block temperature. Constant bias cooling is used for small changes. Sample temperature is calculated instead of measured. A platen deforms plastic caps to apply a minimum acceptable threshold force for seating the tubes and thermally isolates them. A cover isolates the block. The control software includes diagnostics. An install program tests and characterizes the instrument. A new user interface is used. Disposable, multipiece plastic microtiter trays to give individual freedom to sample tubes are taught.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventors: John G. Atwood, Albert C. Mossa, Lisa M. Goven, Fenton Williams, Timothy M. Woudenberg, Marcel Margoulies, Robert P. Ragusa, Richard Leath, Clive Miles