Patents by Inventor Alex Flamm
Alex Flamm 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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Patent number: 10527574Abstract: A system, device, and method for receiving, preparing and identifying a biological sample. Some parts may be user held and actuated. The sample may be detected by an array of sensors. The system may comprise reusable and disposable components arranged to be connected together. The biological sample may contain nucleic acids, proteins, or other molecules to be detected.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: DNAE GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITEDInventors: Panteleimon Athanasiou, Alpesh Patel, David Whitaker, Hua Bai, John Palmer-Felgate, Daniel Coomber-Alford, Jessica Fisher, Chad Schneider, Alex Flamm, Ben Lane, Samuel Reed
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Patent number: 10363558Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for the real time processing of nucleic acid during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and thermal melt applications. According to an aspect of the invention, a system for the rapid serial processing of multiple nucleic acid assays is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes, but is not limited to: a microfluidic cartridge having microfluidic (flow-through) channels, a fluorescence imaging system, a temperature measurement and control system; a pressure measurement and control system for applying variable pneumatic pressures to the microfluidic cartridge; a storage device for holding multiple reagents (e.g., a well-plate); a liquid handling system comprising at least one robotic pipettor for aspirating, mixing, and dispensing reagent mixtures to the microfluidic cartridge; systems for data storage, processing, and output; and a system controller to coordinate the various devices and functions.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2015Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Ivor T. Knight, Kenton C. Hasson, Johnathan S. Coursey, Hongye Liang, Sami Kanderian, Gregory H. Owen, Weidong Cao, Ying-Xin Wang, Scott Corey, Ben Lane, Conrad Laskowski, Alex Flamm, Brian Murphy, Eric Schneider, Takayoshi Hanagata, Hiroshi Inoue, Shulin Zeng, Brian Bean, Franklin Regan
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Patent number: 10258740Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit has a housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture. The cassette unit housing cavity is arranged for receipt of a syringe. The syringe has a barrel for containing a volume of a liquid drug formulation, the barrel defining a flange at the rear end thereof and a forward shoulder at the forward end thereof; a hollow needle at a front end of the barrel, the hollow needle defining a needle tip; and a plunger that is axially movable within the barrel. The cassette unit includes, in contact with the plunger and axially movable within the barrel, a plunger slaving part arranged such that when a drive load is applied to a rear drive-receiving face thereof the drive load is evenly transmitted to the plunger.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: UCB BIOPHARMA SPRLInventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Darrell P. Morgan, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Michael Schumann, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Ilario Melzi, Jonathan Bodnar
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Patent number: 9962692Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for ensuring that multiple components of a mixture are fully mixed in a continuous flow microfluidic system while ensuring that mixing between segments flowing through the chip is minimized. In some embodiments, the present invention includes mixing fluids in a droplet maintained at the tip of a pipette before the mixture is introduced to the microfluidic device. In another aspect, the present invention provides a pipette tip having a ratio of an outside diameter to an inside diameter that provides sufficient surface area for a droplet comprising up to the entire volume of the liquid to suspend from the pipette tip intact. In yet another aspect, the present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for delivering a reaction mixture to a microfluidic chip comprising a docking receptacle, an access tube and a reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2011Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Ivor T. Knight, Scott Corey, Ben Lane, Conrad Laskowski, Alex Flamm, Brian Murphy
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Patent number: 9901673Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit has a housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture. The housing cavity is arranged for receipt of a syringe suitable for delivery of a drug to a patient. The syringe has a barrel for containing a volume of a liquid drug formulation, the barrel defining a flange at the rear end thereof and a forward shoulder at the forward end thereof. The cassette unit includes one or more shoulder support features for supporting the forward shoulder of the syringe. In use, the one or more shoulder support features act to direct a major part of an applied load path to travel through the shoulder at the forward end of the syringe and lesser load to pass through the flange at the rear end thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: UCB BIOPHARMA SPRLInventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Michael Schumann, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Ilario Melzi
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Patent number: 9901674Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit has a housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture. The housing cavity is arranged for receipt of a syringe for injected delivery of a drug to a patient. The cassette unit includes a removable cap that in a capping position fits over and thereby acts to close off the needle projection aperture; and connecting to the removable cap, a needle cover defining a needle sheath for sheathing the needle tip of the syringe. The removable cap is provided with one or more first engagement features arranged for selectively engaging one or more second engagement features of the cassette unit housing when the removable cap is in the capping position to thereby restrict/prevent rotation of the removable cap and needle cover relative to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: UCB BIOPHARMA SPRLInventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Darrell P. Morgan, Michael James David Heald, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Michael Schumann, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Ilario Melzi
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Patent number: 9884152Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit has a housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture. The cassette unit housing cavity is arranged for receipt of a syringe suitable for use in the injected delivery of drug to a patient. The cassette unit includes a needle cover defining a needle sheath. The removable cap is provided with a connector defining one or more needle cover gripping elements for gripping the needle cover. The connector defines a central hub and the one or more needle gripper elements attach to the central hub and in spaced arrangement relative to each other. The connector locates within the removable cap such that the central hub of the connector is in spaced relationship with a far end wall or surface of the cap interior.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: UCB Biopharma SPRLInventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Darrell P. Morgan, Michael James David Heald, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Michael Schumann, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Ilario Melzi
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Patent number: 9878092Abstract: There is provided a cassette unit that is suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit has a housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture. The cassette unit housing cavity is arranged for receipt of a syringe that is suitable for use in the injected delivery of drug to a patient. The cassette unit includes a removable cap that in a capping position fits over and thereby, acts such as to close off, the needle projection aperture. The cassette unit includes a cap lock feature movable from a first cap locking position in which it prevents removal of the removable cap from the capping position with the cassette unit to a second cap non-locking position in which it no longer prevents such cap removal.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: UCB Biopharma SPRLInventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Darrell P. Morgan, Michael James David Heald, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Heather Martin, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Michael Schumann, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Keith Lipford, Ilario Melzi
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Patent number: 9808575Abstract: There is provided a cassette unit that is suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit has a housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture. The cassette unit housing cavity is arranged for receipt of a syringe that is suitable for use in the injected delivery of drug to a patient. The cassette unit includes a removable cap that fits over and thereby, acts such as to close off, the needle projection aperture; and connecting to the removable cap, a needle cover defining a needle sheath for sheathing of the needle tip of the syringe. The removable cap is provided with a finger-grip feature that is sized and shaped for gripping by the finger of a user to allow for removal of the removable cap and needle cover from the cassette unit housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: UCB BIOPHARMA SPRLInventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Darrell P. Morgan, Michael James David Heald, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Heather Martin, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Michael Schumann, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Keith Lipford, Ilario Melzi
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Patent number: 9795734Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit has a housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture. The housing cavity is arranged for receipt of a syringe suitable for use in the injected delivery of drug to a patient. The syringe has a barrel for containing a volume of a liquid drug formulation, the barrel defining an end flange at the rear end thereof and a forward shoulder at the forward end thereof. The cassette unit includes a sleeve form adapter arranged for receipt by the syringe barrel and to fit at least partly over the end flange of the syringe barrel. Accommodation of different syringe sizes within the same cassette unit geometry is achievable by selecting a sleeve form adapter tailored to the particular sizing of the barrel of each different syringe.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: UCB BIOPHARMA SPRLInventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Michael Schumann, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Ilario Melzi
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Patent number: 9764084Abstract: There is provided an auto-injector for a syringe that is suitable for use in the injected delivery of drug to a patient. The auto-injector comprises a cassette unit arranged for receipt of a syringe provided with a needle cover and removable cap. The auto-injector also comprises a drive unit arranged for docking receipt of the cassette unit at a docking position and a drive arrangement. The drive unit is provided with a timer that starts a time count on removal of the removable cap and needle cover from the cassette unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: UCB BIOPHARMA SPRLInventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Darrell P. Morgan, Michael James David Heald, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Heather Martin, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Ilario Melzi
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Patent number: 9739743Abstract: A plug side surface of a plug housing is provided with a claw portion. The claw portion includes a plug lock surface facing in a direction away from a connector mounting surface. Each assistant fitting of a receptacle connector includes a receptacle lock surface that faces in a direction approaching the connector mounting surface and is opposed to the plug lock surface in a mated state. The plug lock surface includes a lock maintaining surface and an unlocking surface. Assuming that an angle formed between a reference plane and the lock maintaining surface is a lock maintaining angle and an angle formed between the reference plane and the unlocking surface is an unlocking angle, the lock maintaining angle is smaller than the unlocking angle.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2013Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: DNAE GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITEDInventors: Panteleimon Athanasiou, Alpesh Patel, David Whitaker, Hua Bai, John Palmer-Felgate, Daniel Coomber-Alford, Jessica Fisher, Chad Schneider, Alex Flamm, Ben Lane, Sam Reed
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Patent number: 9669158Abstract: Provided is an auto-injector for a syringe suitable for the injected delivery of drug to a patient. The auto-injector comprises a cassette unit arranged for receipt of a syringe. The cassette unit and/or syringe is movable from a rest position, in which the syringe needle tip is within the drive unit housing to a use position, in which the needle tip protrudes from a needle delivery aperture thereof. The auto-injector comprises a drive unit arranged for docking receipt of the cassette unit at a docking position and a drive arrangement. The drive unit is arranged for initial receipt of the cassette unit at an intermediate pre-docking position and for subsequent transport of the cassette unit to the docking position. In embodiments, the drive unit is arranged such that transport of the cassette unit to the docking position is permitted only following verification of an identifier at the intermediate pre-docking position.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: UCB BIOPHARMA SPRLInventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Darrell P. Morgan, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Conrad Laskowski
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Publication number: 20170106371Abstract: A system, device, and method for receiving, preparing and identifying a biological sample. Some parts may be user held and actuated. The sample may be detected by an array of sensors. The system may comprise reusable and disposable components arranged to be connected together. The biological sample may contain nucleic acids, proteins, or other molecules to be detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2016Publication date: April 20, 2017Applicant: DNAE GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITEDInventors: Panteleimon ATHANASIOU, Alpesh PATEL, David WHITAKER, Hua BAI, John PALMER-FELGATE, Daniel COOMBER-ALFORD, Jessica FISHER, Chad SCHNEIDER, Alex FLAMM, Ben LANE, Samuel REED
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Publication number: 20160051985Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for the real time processing of nucleic acid during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and thermal melt applications. According to an aspect of the invention, a system for the rapid serial processing of multiple nucleic acid assays is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes, but is not limited to: a microfluidic cartridge having microfluidic (flow-through) channels, a fluorescence imaging system, a temperature measurement and control system; a pressure measurement and control system for applying variable pneumatic pressures to the microfluidic cartridge; a storage device for holding multiple reagents (e.g., a well-plate); a liquid handling system comprising at least one robotic pipettor for aspirating, mixing, and dispensing reagent mixtures to the microfluidic cartridge; systems for data storage, processing, and output; and a system controller to coordinate the various devices and functions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2015Publication date: February 25, 2016Applicant: Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Ivor T. KNIGHT, Kenton C. Hasson, Johnathan S. Coursey, Hongye Liang, Sami Kanderian, Gregory H. Owen, Weidong Cao, Ying-Xin Wang, Scott Corey, Ben Lane, Conrad Laskowski, Alex Flamm, Brian Murphy, Eric Schneider, Takayoshi Hanagata, Hiroshi Inoue, Shulin Zeng, Brian Bean, Franklin Regan
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Patent number: 9114399Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for the real time processing of nucleic acid during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and thermal melt applications. According to an aspect of the invention, a system for the rapid serial processing of multiple nucleic acid assays is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes, but is not limited to: a microfluidic cartridge having microfluidic (flow-through) channels, a fluorescence imaging system, a temperature measurement and control system; a pressure measurement and control system for applying variable pneumatic pressures to the microfluidic cartridge; a storage device for holding multiple reagents (e.g., a well-plate); a liquid handling system comprising at least one robotic pipettor for aspirating, mixing, and dispensing reagent mixtures to the microfluidic cartridge; systems for data storage, processing, and output; and a system controller to coordinate the various devices and functions.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2011Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Ivor T. Knight, Kenton C. Hasson, Johnathan S. Coursey, Hongye Liang, Sami Kanderian, Gregory H. Owen, Weidong Cao, Ying-Xin Wang, Scott Corey, Ben Lane, Conrad Laskowski, Alex Flamm, Brian Murphy, Eric Schneider, Takayoshi Hanagata, Hiroshi Inoue, Shulin Zeng, Brian Bean, Franklin Regan
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Patent number: 8992860Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating diffusion effects. Diffused regions of a segmented flow of multiple, miscible fluid species may be vented off to a waste channel, and non-diffused regions of fluid may be preferentially pulled off the channel that contains the segmented flow. Multiple fluid samples that are not contaminated via diffusion may be collected for analysis and measurement in a single channel. The systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating diffusion effects may be used to minimize or eliminate diffusion effects in a microfluidic system for monitoring the amplification of DNA molecules and the dissociation behavior of the DNA molecules.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2014Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Brian Murphy, Scott Corey, Alex Flamm, Ben Lane, Conrad Laskowski, Chad Schneider
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Publication number: 20150076008Abstract: A plug side surface of a plug housing is provided with a claw portion. The claw portion includes a plug lock surface facing in a direction away from a connector mounting surface. Each assistant fitting of a receptacle connector includes a receptacle lock surface that faces in a direction approaching the connector mounting surface and is opposed to the plug lock surface in a mated state. The plug lock surface includes a lock maintaining surface and an unlocking surface. Assuming that an angle formed between a reference plane and the lock maintaining surface is a lock maintaining angle and an angle formed between the reference plane and the unlocking surface is an unlocking angle, the lock maintaining angle is smaller than the unlocking angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Panteleimon Athanasiou, Alpesh Patel, David Whitaker, Hua Bai, John Palmer-Felgate, Daniel Coomber-Alford, Jessica Fisher, Chad Schenider, Alex Flamm, Ben Lane, Sam Reed
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Publication number: 20150045734Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit has a housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture. The housing cavity is arranged for receipt of a syringe suitable for delivery of a drug to a patient. The syringe has a barrel for containing a volume of a liquid drug formulation, the barrel defining a flange at the rear end thereof and a forward shoulder at the forward end thereof. The cassette unit includes one or more shoulder support features for supporting the forward shoulder of the syringe. In use, the one or more shoulder support features act to direct a major part of an applied load path to travel through the shoulder at the forward end of the syringe and lesser load to pass through the flange at the rear end thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2012Publication date: February 12, 2015Applicant: UCB PHARMA SAInventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Michael Schumann, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Ilario Melzi
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Patent number: D799713Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Brian Murphy, Alex Flamm, Eric Schneider, Chris Felice, Kazuhiko Hasegawa, Ronald Kurz, Scott Sundberg, Ralph McCann, Jason Clemons