Patents by Inventor Bradley Kent
Bradley Kent 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: 11841376Abstract: A system includes a reagent selector valve controllable to select a reagent flow path from a plurality of reagent flow paths, and a pump coupled to the reagent flow path to draw a liquid through the reagent flow path in accordance with a prescribed test protocol. The system includes a discharge flow path to expel the drawn liquid, and a flow meter to measure liquid displaced by the pump and that outputs data representative of the measured flow. The system also includes a processor to access the data and to determine a volume of the liquid displaced by the pump.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Kevin James Cappa
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Patent number: 11840473Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical fiber, the method including drawing a bare optical fiber from an optical fiber preform along a draw pathway. The method further includes during the drawing step, moving a first fluid bearing from a first position to a second position, the first position being removed from the draw pathway and the second position being disposed in the draw pathway such that the movement of the first fluid bearing to the second position causes at least a first portion of the draw pathway to change direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Steven Joseph Gregorski, Kenneth Spencer Morgan, Richard Alan Quinn, Bradley Kent Shepard, John Christopher Thomas, David Andrew Tucker
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Publication number: 20230312390Abstract: A system and methods are described herein for preheating a preform in a preheater furnace and then transferring the preheated preform to a consolidation furnace for chemical treatment and sintering the preform into a clear glass which can be drawn into optical fiber. In addition, the preheater furnace is described herein which is configured to heat the preform per a predetermined heat-profile until the preform is uniformly heated to a temperature above 1000° C.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Raymond David Groh, Joseph Leroy Morse, Bradley Kent Shepard, Ian Anthony Smith, Eric Wade Thornton
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Patent number: 11713272Abstract: A system and methods are described herein for preheating a preform in a preheater furnace and then transferring the preheated preform to a consolidation furnace for chemical treatment and sintering the preform into a clear glass which can be drawn into optical fiber. In addition, the preheater furnace is described herein which is configured to heat the preform per a predetermined heat-profile until the preform is uniformly heated to a temperature above 1000° C.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2020Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Raymond David Groh, Joseph Leroy Morse, Bradley Kent Shepard, Ian Anthony Smith, Eric Wade Thornton
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Patent number: 11554981Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for processing optical fiber preforms are disclosed. According to one aspect, an apparatus generally includes a furnace body and a muffle disposed within the furnace body. A space between the muffle and the furnace body defines a first interior volume. The muffle defines a second interior volume sealed from the first interior volume. An annulus gas is supplied to the first interior volume and a process gas is supplied to the second interior volume. A differential pressure gauge is coupled to the interior volumes. A flow controller is coupled to at least one of the gas sources and to the differential pressure gauge. The flow controller receives a differential pressure signal from the differential pressure gauge and adjusts a flow of a gas such that the pressure differential between the first interior volume and the second interior volume is minimized.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2020Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Randy Allan Binko, Steven Bruce Dawes, Nikolay Anatolyevich Panin, Bradley Kent Shepard
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Publication number: 20220371005Abstract: A system includes a fluidic device, a flow control valve, a first reagent fluid reservoir fluidly connectable to the fluidic device by the flow control valve, a first fluid buffer reservoir fluidly connectable to the fluidic device by the flow control valve, and a common fluid buffer source fluidly connectable to the fluidic device by the flow control valve. The flow control valve permits flow comprising: (i) flow from the first reagent fluid reservoir to the fluidic device, (ii) flow from the common fluid buffer source to the fluidic device, (iii) flow from the fluidic device to the first fluid buffer reservoir, (iv) flow from the first reagent fluid reservoir to the fluidic device, and (v) flow from the first fluid buffer reservoir to the fluidic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Applicant: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Wesley A. COX-MURANAMI, Kay KLAUSING, Bradley Kent DREWS, Nicholas WATSON, Jennifer Olivia FOLEY, Murphy HITCHCOCK, Paul SANGIORGIO, Sz-Chin Steven LIN
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Publication number: 20220291250Abstract: An apparatus includes a fluidic circuit, a bypass fluidic circuit, a first set of fluid wells, a second set of fluid wells, a first valve, and a second valve. The first valve operatively associated with the first set of fluid wells such that the first selectively fluidly connects any one of the first set of fluid wells to a first valve outlet. The second valve operatively associated with the fluidic circuit, the bypass fluidic circuit, the first valve outlet, and the second set of fluid wells such that the second valve selectively fluidly connects any one of the second set of fluid wells and the first valve outlet to the fluidic circuit or the first valve outlet to the bypass fluidic circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Applicant: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Wesley A. Cox-Muranami, James Osmus, Paul Crivelli, Bradley Kent Drews
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Patent number: 11426723Abstract: A system includes a fluidic device, a flow control valve, a first reagent fluid reservoir fluidly connectable to the fluidic device by the flow control valve, a first fluid buffer reservoir fluidly connectable to the fluidic device by the flow control valve, and a common fluid buffer source fluidly connectable to the fluidic device by the flow control valve. The flow control valve permits flow comprising: (i) flow from the first reagent fluid reservoir to the fluidic device, (ii) flow from the common fluid buffer source to the fluidic device, (iii) flow from the fluidic device to the first fluid buffer reservoir, (iv) flow from the first reagent fluid reservoir to the fluidic device, and (v) flow from the first fluid buffer reservoir to the fluidic device.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Wesley A. Cox-Muranami, Kay Klausing, Bradley Kent Drews, Nicholas Watson, Jennifer Olivia Foley, Murphy Hitchcock, Paul Sangiorgio, Sz-Chin Steven Lin
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Patent number: 11372016Abstract: An apparatus includes a fluidic circuit, a bypass fluidic circuit, a first set of fluid wells, a second set of fluid wells, a first valve, and a second valve. The first valve operatively associated with the first set of fluid wells such that the first selectively fluidly connects any one of the first set of fluid wells to a first valve outlet. The second valve operatively associated with the fluidic circuit, the bypass fluidic circuit, the first valve outlet, and the second set of fluid wells such that the second valve selectively fluidly connects any one of the second set of fluid wells and the first valve outlet to the fluidic circuit or the first valve outlet to the bypass fluidic circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.Inventors: Wesley A. Cox-Muranami, James Osmus, Paul Crivelli, Bradley Kent Drews
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Publication number: 20220073408Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical fiber, the method including drawing a bare optical fiber from an optical fiber preform along a draw pathway. The method further includes during the drawing step, moving a first fluid bearing from a first position to a second position, the first position being removed from the draw pathway and the second position being disposed in the draw pathway such that the movement of the first fluid bearing to the second position causes at least a first portion of the draw pathway to change direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Steven Joseph Gregorski, Kenneth Spencer Morgan, Richard Alan Quinn, Bradley Kent Shepard, John Christopher Thomas, David Andrew Tucker
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Publication number: 20220040690Abstract: The assembly includes a docking console and a manifold. The docking console includes a cartridge support surface having a first end and a second end. The manifold has one or more wells defined therein. The docking console further includes a manifold retention bracket to releasably hold the manifold against a fluid cartridge supported on the cartridge support surface at an interface position such that the one or more wells are in fluid communication with the fluid cartridge and a biased seal bar to press the fluid cartridge against the manifold held by the manifold retention bracket. A hydrophilic porous frit disposed within at least one of the wells and is to permit liquid to flow through the outlet aperture but prevent gas from passing through the outlet aperture.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2021Publication date: February 10, 2022Applicants: Illumina, Inc., Illumina Cambridge LimitedInventors: Bradley Kent DREWS, Gudrun STENGEL, James Christopher BLAKE, Mohammed Kafeel AHAMED, Michael Steven BECKER, Michael Dangelo, Mark J. NIBBE, Daniel L. FULLER, Oliver Jon MILLER
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Patent number: 11192105Abstract: An analysis system may perform operations on an analyte that may be combined with multiple regents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a volume into which the reagents to be combined with the analyte are aspirated one-by-one. The volume may be formed as a serpentine channel in a valve manifold associated with sippers for aspirating the reagents. The reagents may then be mixed by cycling a pump to move the reagents within the mixing volume or channel. For this, the reagents may be aspirated from a recipient into the volume or channel, ejected back into the recipient, and this process may be performed repeatedly to enhance mixing.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Michael Dai Wang, Umberto Ulmanella, Stephen Wayne Clark, Johanna Lynn Whitacre, Steven Scott Phelps, Michelle L. Alvarez, Michael Adalbert Niziolek, Debra Sue Bryan, Joshua Augustin Darland
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Patent number: 11179724Abstract: The assembly includes a docking console and a manifold. The docking console includes a cartridge support surface having a first end and a second end. The manifold has one or more wells defined therein. The docking console further includes a manifold retention bracket to releasably hold the manifold against a fluid cartridge supported on the cartridge support surface at an interface position such that the one or more wells are in fluid communication with the fluid cartridge and a biased seal bar to press the fluid cartridge against the manifold held by the manifold retention bracket. A hydrophilic porous frit disposed within at least one of the wells and is to permit liquid to flow through the outlet aperture but prevent gas from passing through the outlet aperture.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2018Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignees: Illumina, Inc., Illumina Cambridge LimitedInventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Gudrun Stengel, James Christopher Blake, Mohammed Kafeel Ahamed, Michael Steven Becker, Michael Dangelo, Mark J. Nibbe, Daniel L. Fuller, Oliver Jon Miller
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Publication number: 20210270708Abstract: An analysis instrument may perform analytical operations on an analyte that is combined with multiple reagents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a nozzle sipper that aspirates reagents from a recipient, along with an analyte. The reagents may be directed to a volume and may be repeatedly moved into and out of the volume by cycling of a pump. The reagents may be ejected into a destination recipient with the nozzle sipper promoting vorticity in the recipient to enhance mixing. The repeated aspiration and ejection through the nozzle sipper effectively mixes the reagents and the template in an automated or semi-automated fashion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Applicant: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Michael Dai Wang, Umberto Ulmanella, James Michael Osmus, Stephen Wayne Clark, Johanna Lynn Whitacre, Steven Scott Phelps, Michelle L. Alvarez, Michael Adalbert Niziolek, Debra Sue Bryan, Joshua Augustin Darland
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Publication number: 20210260717Abstract: A rock tumbler apparatus having a dual barrel assembly with energy-absorbing air gaps is provided. The air gaps may be evacuated or back-filled or filled with a sound absorbing gas or other material. The rock tumbler may be operably attached to a programming system, which may include a sound dampening cover. The rock tumbler may be programmed, for example, to tumble during certain times of day, continually, to pause at various time intervals, and to tumble in one direction or another.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2020Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Joshua J. Gedlick, Bradley Kent Mina
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Publication number: 20210208177Abstract: A system includes a reagent selector valve controllable to select a reagent flow path from a plurality of reagent flow paths, and a pump coupled to the reagent flow path to draw a liquid through the reagent flow path in accordance with a prescribed test protocol. The system includes a discharge flow path to expel the drawn liquid, and a flow meter to measure liquid displaced by the pump and that outputs data representative of the measured flow. The system also includes a processor to access the data and to determine a volume of the liquid displaced by the pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2021Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Kevin James Cappa
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Patent number: 11016008Abstract: An analysis instrument may perform analytical operations on an analyte that is combined with multiple reagents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a nozzle sipper that aspirates reagents from a recipient, along with an analyte. The reagents may be directed to a volume and may be repeatedly moved into and out of the volume by cycling of a pump. The reagents may be ejected into a destination recipient with the nozzle sipper promoting vorticity in the recipient to enhance mixing. The repeated aspiration and ejection through the nozzle sipper effectively mixes the reagents and the template in an automated or semi-automated fashion.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Michael Dai Wang, Umberto Ulmanella, James Michael Osmus, Stephen Wayne Clark, Johanna Lynn Whitacre, Steven Scott Phelps, Michelle L. Alvarez, Michael Adalbert Niziolek, Debra Sue Bryan, Joshua Augustin Darland
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Patent number: 11002629Abstract: An analysis system includes a fluidic system includes a number of components that are interconnected to form a fluidic system having a plurality of flow paths. An example method of pressure testing the fluidic system includes (a) selecting a flow path from the plurality of flow paths through a flow cell in accordance with a prescribed test protocol; (b) actuating a pump to pressurize a fluid in the selected flow path; (c) generating pressure data representative of the pressure in the selected flow path; and (d) processing the pressure data to determine whether the selected flow path maintains pressure in a desired manner.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Kevin James Cappa
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Patent number: 10989728Abstract: A system includes a reagent selector valve controllable to select a reagent flow path from a plurality of reagent flow paths, and a pump coupled to the reagent flow path to draw a liquid through the reagent flow path in accordance with a prescribed test protocol. The system includes a discharge flow path to expel the drawn liquid, and a flow meter to measure liquid displaced by the pump and that outputs data representative of the measured flow. The system also includes a processor to access the data and to determine a volume of the liquid displaced by the pump.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Kevin James Cappa
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Patent number: 10975429Abstract: A system may include a flow cell through which a plurality of reagents may be pumped during a genetic sequencing operation, an effluent line that, in operation, is to conduct a used reagent, a used reagent valve to receive the used reagent from the effluent line and controllable to select one of a plurality of disposal paths for the used reagent, and control circuitry coupled to the used reagent valve that, in operation, is to control the used reagent valve to select a desired one of the disposal paths depending upon which reagent is being pumped though the flow cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.Inventors: Bradley Kent Drews, Kevin James Cappa, Matthew William Hage