Patents by Inventor Andrew Moulds
Andrew Moulds 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: 7364702Abstract: A liquid dispensing device. The liquid dispensing device has a tray for holding a liquid at a relatively constant level. A syringe is used for drawing fluid from the tray. A liquid container containing a liquid is positioned upside-down in the tray such that the opening of the liquid container defines a vertical position that is slightly below the liquid level in the tray. Atmospheric pressure on the liquid in the tray and a vacuum inside the liquid container prevents liquid from draining from the container until the fluid level in the tray drops to a level approximately equal to the vertical position of the opening. The positioning of the syringe for drawing fluid is simplified by reason of the fact that the level of fluid in the tray is maintained at an approximately constant level despite withdrawal of quantities of fluid from the tray.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Inventors: John Hoffman, John A. Adams, Brian L. Ganz, David W. Jewell, John Andrew Moulds, Janet M. Newman
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Patent number: 7352889Abstract: A device and method for the automated storage and retrieval of trays holding subject matter. A computer system is programmed to control a storage gantry to move the trays between a storage rack and an automated machine. In a preferred embodiment, the subject matter in the trays is a plurality of micro-well plates in which microscopic crystals may be growing and the automated machine is configured to inspect and classify microscopic crystals. The automated machine has an indexing device for sequentially placing microscopic crystals in camera-view of a camera and a control computer is programmed to control the indexing device and to cause the camera to take images of the microscopic crystals and then transfer the images to a classifying processor where the images are classified. In a preferred embodiment, the microscopic crystals are protein crystals that have been grown in the wells of micro-well plates.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2003Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, John Andrew Moulds, Christopher T. Brovold, David W. Jewell, Mandel W. Mickley, John A. Adams, Benjamin M. Liedblad, James A. Benjamin
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Patent number: 7176809Abstract: An environmental data recorder for recording environmental factors acting on micro-well plates. The environmental data recorder has sensors for sensing environmental factors and it has a microcontroller programmed to receive and process inputs from the sensors. The sensors and microcontroller are housed in a recorder housing unit. The recording housing unit has exterior dimensions that are approximately equal to the exterior dimensions of the micro-well plates enabling the recorder housing unit to be handled by the same robotic device handling the micro-well plates. In a preferred embodiment, the environmental data recorder's sensors are a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor and an accelerometer.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2004Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: Robo Design International, Inc.Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, John A. Adams, Joseph Gottlieb, John Andrew Moulds, Jason Kovach
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Patent number: 7025933Abstract: A microarrayer for spotting solution onto a receiving surface in an automated microarray dispensing device. Elements of the present invention include: at least one dispense head for spotting the receiving surface, at least one light source capable of illuminating the receiving surface, at least one camera operating in conjunction with the at least one light source. The at least one camera is capable of acquiring and transmitting surface image data to a computer. The computer is programmed to receive the surface image data and analyze it. The computer will then generate post analysis data based on the analysis of the surface image data. The post analysis data is available for improving the spotting of the solution onto the receiving surface. In a preferred embodiment, the surface image data includes information relating to receiving surface alignment, information relating to spot quality, and receiving surface identification information.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2003Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: RoboDesign International, Inc.Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, Mandel W. Mickley, John Andrew Moulds, Christopher T. Brovold
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Patent number: 6985616Abstract: A method and device for inspecting and classifying a plurality of microscopic crystals. An indexing device sequentially places microscopic crystals in camera-view of a camera. The camera takes images of the microscopic crystals and then transfers the images to a computer where the are received. The computer then classifies the images. The computer is also programmed to control the indexing device and the camera. In a preferred embodiment, the microscopic crystals are protein crystals that have been grown in the wells of micro-well plates. Also, preferably, the computer is programmed to automatically classify the images.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2001Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: RoboDesign International, Inc.Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, David W. Jewell, Mandel W. Mickley, John Andrew Moulds, Christopher T. Brovold, John A. Adams
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Patent number: 6979425Abstract: A high capacity microarrayer for spotting solution onto slides in an automated microarray dispensing device. A microplate indexing device automatically moves, in sequence, a plurality of microplates to a solution removal area. A dispense head accesses each microplate at the solution removal area to remove solution from the microplate. The dispense head then moves to a slide positioning station to spot slides at the slide positioning station. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the microplate indexing station has at least one input stacking chamber for stacking microplates, and at least one output stacking chamber for stacking microplates. A walking beam indexer is disposed between the at least one input stacking chamber and the at least one output stacking chamber. The walking beam indexer is for moving microplates from said at least one input stacking chamber to said at least one output stacking chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2000Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: RoboDesign International, Inc.Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, Mandel W. Mickley, John Andrew Moulds, Chritopher T. Brovold
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Publication number: 20040206419Abstract: A device and method for the automated storage and retrieval of trays holding subject matter. A computer system is programmed to control a storage gantry to move the trays between a storage rack and an automated machine. In a preferred embodiment, the subject matter in the trays is a plurality of micro-well plates in which microscopic crystals may be growing and the automated machine is configured to inspect and classify microscopic crystals. The automated machine has an indexing device for sequentially placing microscopic crystals in camera-view of a camera and a control computer is programmed to control the indexing device and to cause the camera to take images of the microscopic crystals and then transfer the images to a classifying processor where the images are classified. In a preferred embodiment, the microscopic crystals are protein crystals that have been grown in the wells of micro-well plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2003Publication date: October 21, 2004Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, John Andrew Moulds, Christopher T. Brovold, David W. Jewell, Mandel W. Mickley, John A. Adams, Benjamin M. Liedblad, James A. Benjamin
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Publication number: 20040105575Abstract: A device for inspecting microscopic objects. A plurality of LEDS is arranged in an array underneath a lens. Some of the LEDS are lighted and some of the LEDS are unlighted. A computer is in control of the LED array. The computer turns on selected LEDS from the array to form the lighted LEDS. Also, the computer turns off selected LEDS from the array to form the unlighted LEDS. The lighted LEDS form a pattern of lighted LEDS underneath the lens. In a preferred embodiment, the lens is connected to a computer controlled camera and the microscopic objects are microscopic crystals.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, John A. Adams, James Hutchings, Andrew Provost, Joseph Gottlieb, David W. Jewell, Mandel W. Mickley, John Andrew Moulds, Christopher T. Brovold
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Publication number: 20040062686Abstract: A microarrayer for spotting solution onto a receiving surface in an automated microarray dispensing device. Elements of the present invention include: at least one dispense head for spotting the receiving surface, at least one light source capable of illuminating the receiving surface, at least one camera operating in conjunction with the at least one light source. The at least one camera is capable of acquiring and transmitting surface image data to a computer. The computer is programmed to receive the surface image data and analyze it. The computer will then generate post analysis data based on the analysis of the surface image data. The post analysis data is available for improving the spotting of the solution onto the receiving surface. In a preferred embodiment, the surface image data includes information relating to receiving surface alignment, information relating to spot quality, and receiving surface identification information.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, Mandel W. Mickley, John Andrew Moulds, Christopher T. Brovold
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Patent number: 6637473Abstract: A device and method for the automated storage and retrieval of trays holding subject matter. A plurality of trays is inserted into an access device. A computer system is programmed to control a storage gantry to move the trays between the access device, a storage rack and a work cell gantry. The computer system is also programmed to control the work cell gantry to move the subject matter to and from an automated receiving machine. In a preferred embodiment, the subject matter in the trays is a plurality of micro-well plates in which microscopic crystals may be growing and the automated receiving machine is configured to inspect and classify microscopic crystals.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2002Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: RoboDesign International, Inc.Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, John Andrew Moulds, Chritopher T. Brovold, David W. Jewell, Mandel W. Mickley, John A. Adams
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Publication number: 20030099382Abstract: A method and device for inspecting and classifying a plurality of microscopic crystals. An indexing device sequentially places microscopic crystals in camera-view of a camera. The camera takes images of the microscopic crystals and then transfers the images to a computer where the are received. The computer then classifies the images. The computer is also programmed to control the indexing device and the camera. In a preferred embodiment, the microscopic crystals are protein crystals that have been grown in the wells of micro-well plates. Also, preferably, the computer is programmed to automatically classify the images.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2001Publication date: May 29, 2003Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, David W. Jewell, Mandel W. Mickley, John Andrew Moulds, Christopher T. Brovold, John A. Adams
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Patent number: 6558623Abstract: A microarrayer for spotting solution onto slides in an automated microarray dispensing device. Elements of the present invention include: at least one dispense head for spotting the slides, at least one light source capable of illuminating the slides, at least one camera operating in conjunction with the at least one light source. The at least one camera is capable of acquiring and transmitting slide image data to a computer. The computer is programmed to receive the slide image data and analyze it. The computer will then generate post analysis data based on the analysis of the slide image data. The post analysis data is available for improving the spotting of the solution onto the slides. In a preferred embodiment, the slide image data includes information relating to slide alignment, information relating to spot quality, and slide identification information.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2000Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: RoboDesign International, Inc.Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, Mandel W. Mickley, John Andrew Moulds, Christopher T. Brovold
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Publication number: 20030000597Abstract: A device and method for the automated storage and retrieval of trays holding subject matter. A plurality of trays is inserted into an access device. A computer system is programmed to control a storage gantry to move the trays between the access device, a storage rack and a work cell gantry. The computer system is also programmed to control the work cell gantry to move the subject matter to and from an automated receiving machine. In a preferred embodiment, the subject matter in the trays is a plurality of micro-well plates in which microscopic crystals may be growing and the automated receiving machine is configured to inspect and classify microscopic crystals.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2002Publication date: January 2, 2003Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, John Andrew Moulds, Christopher T. Brovold, David W. Jewell, Mandel W. Mickley, John A. Adams
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Patent number: 6360792Abstract: An automated machine for filling a plurality of microplates. The automated machine includes at least one input stacking chamber for stacking empty microplates, at least one output stacking chamber for stacking filled microplates, and a microplate filling assembly disposed between the at least one input stacking chamber and the at least one output stacking chamber. The microplate filling assembly has a walking beam indexer, a lid lifter for lifting the lid off each microplate to permit the microplate to be filled, and after filling to replace the lid, and a fill mechanism in communication with a media source and positioned to fill the empty microplates after their lids have been lifted off.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2000Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: RoboDesign International, Inc.Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, John Andrew Moulds, Christopher T. Brovold
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Patent number: 6148878Abstract: An automated machine for filling a plurality of microplates. The automated machine includes at least one input stacking chamber for stacking empty microplates, at least one output stacking chamber for stacking filled microplates, and a microplate filling assembly disposed between the at least one input stacking chamber and the at least one output stacking chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1999Date of Patent: November 21, 2000Assignee: RoboDesign International, Inc.Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, Andrew Moulds, Christopher T. Brovold
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Patent number: D487518Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2002Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: RoboDesign International, Inc.Inventors: Brian L. Ganz, John Andrew Moulds, Christopher T. Brovold