Patents by Inventor Charles S. Vann
Charles S. Vann 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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Publication number: 20090071830Abstract: A system for collecting target nucleic acids from a sample can include at least one sample chamber configured to receive a sample containing target nucleic acids and other material, at least one collection chamber removably mountable relative to the at least one sample chamber and configured to collect target nucleic acids separated from the other material, a filter removably mountable relative to the at least one sample chamber and configured to be disposed between the at least one sample chamber and the at least one collection chamber when the at least one collection chamber is mounted relative to the at least one sample chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: Applied Biosystems Inc.Inventors: Charles S. Vann, Maxim G. Brevnov, David W. Ruff, Kenneth J. Livak
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Publication number: 20090017554Abstract: Apparatuses and methods in which detection is integrated with various liquid processing and environmental control functions to create integrated bioanalysis systems are disclosed. Though the various integrated bioanalysis systems are useful for any number of analysis formats, they are adaptable to high-throughput processing of samples.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2008Publication date: January 15, 2009Applicant: Applera CorporationInventor: Charles S. Vann
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Publication number: 20080281466Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that can include a storage and retrieval robot operating under program control to extract a selective number of support beads from a storage or retainment region, for dispensing to titer wells or other vessels for assays and other purposes. According to various embodiments, the storage and retrieval robot can position a capture device over any one or more storage wells containing oligonucleotide or other material support beads, and withdraw or extract those support beads into a collection tube under vacuum pressure or other force. According to various embodiments, a selected number of support beads can be extracted, using a linear motor piston to limit available space for support bead insertion. According to various embodiments, the collected support beads can be dispensed into one or more destination tubes, wells, or other containers, surfaces, vessels, receptacles or mixture containment region, for use in assays or other purposes.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2007Publication date: November 13, 2008Applicant: Applera CorporationInventor: Charles S. Vann
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Patent number: 7384606Abstract: A bead dispensing system is provided for delivering small amounts of substances onto substrates. The system can include, for example, a movable support structure having an array of spaced-apart projections depending from its lower side. An attraction source, such as a vacuum, magnetic, and/or electrostatic force, is operable at each projection end region to attract and retain one bead. The projection array can be aligned with an array of bead-receiving regions of a substrate, e.g., an array of spaced-apart wells of a micro-plate or card. In one embodiment, a plurality of reagent-carrying beads are picked up, retained at respective projection end regions, and moved to a location over a multi-well plate. The beads are then released in a fashion permitting each bead to land in a respective well. The system of the invention is particularly useful for fabricating arrays of reagents.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2003Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Applera CorporationInventors: Charles S. Vann, Dennis Lehto
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Publication number: 20080113361Abstract: A system is provided that can include: a plurality of retainment regions, where each retainment region is adapted to retain a respective type of an oligonucleotide supported on a respective support; a mixture retainment region; a handling device; a control unit adapted to control the handling device; and a separating unit adapted to simultaneously separate different supported oligonucleotides from their respective supports. A method is provided that can include: pooling together a plurality of supported oligonucleotides to form a mixture; and simultaneously separating the oligonucleotides of the supported oligonucleotides in the mixture from their supports.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2007Publication date: May 15, 2008Applicant: Applera CorporationInventor: Charles S. Vann
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Patent number: 7361309Abstract: The present invention provides a system and process providing variable access to, as well as quick and accurate dispensing of, numerous selected reagents from a mass storage arrangement. According to one embodiment, an array of reagent dispensers is supported over a movable platform assembly. The platform assembly aligns a designated receiving receptacle under a selected dispenser of the array so that a respective reagent can be dispensed therein. Advantageously, the apparatus and process can be carried out under the control of a programmed computer.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2006Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Applera CorporationInventors: Charles S. Vann, David M. Cox
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Patent number: 7347975Abstract: A bead dispensing system is provided for delivering small amounts of substances onto substrates. The system can include, for example, a movable support structure having an array of spaced-apart projections depending from its lower side. An attraction source, such as a vacuum, magnetic, and/or electrostatic force, is operable at each projection end region to attract and retain one bead. The projection array can be aligned with an array of bead-receiving regions of a substrate, e.g., an array of spaced-apart wells of a micro-plate or card. In one embodiment, a plurality of reagent-carrying beads are picked up, retained at respective projection end regions, and moved to a location over a multi-well plate. The beads are then released in a fashion permitting each bead to land in a respective well. The system of the invention is particularly useful for fabricating arrays of reagents.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2002Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Assignee: Applera CorporationInventors: Charles S. Vann, Dennis Lehto
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Patent number: 7323696Abstract: Beads coded with phosphor particles and methods of making and using them are provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2005Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Applera CorporationInventors: Charles S. Vann, Charles R. Connell, Aldrich N. K. Lau, Meng C. Taing, Steven M. Menchen
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Patent number: 7211148Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing a small volume of a selected liquid, such as a biological sample or reagent, onto a substrate. The device includes a tube adapted to contain the liquid. An elongated fiber is disposed within the tube for axial movement therein between raised and lowered positions. Upon shifting or oscillating the fiber between its raised and lowered positions, a liquid spot can be formed at a selected position on the substrate. The device is readily adaptable for the production of micro-arrays having a great number of individual spots.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2005Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: Applera CorporationInventors: Zbigniew T. Bryning, Charles S. Vann
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Patent number: 7147764Abstract: An injection system including a first electrical circuit for concentration of an analyte and a second electrical circuit for injection of the concentrated analyte into an electrophoretic device is described, as well as methods of using the injection system.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2003Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Applera CorporationInventors: Charles S. Vann, Timothy Z. Liu
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Patent number: 7101510Abstract: The present invention provides a system and process providing variable access to, as well as quick and accurate dispensing of, numerous selected reagents from a mass storage arrangement. According to one embodiment, an array of reagent dispensers is supported over a movable platform assembly. The platform assembly aligns a designated receiving receptacle under a selected dispenser of the array so that a respective reagent can be dispensed therein. Advantageously, the apparatus and process can be carried out under the control of a programmed computer.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2001Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: Applera CorporationInventors: Charles S. Vann, David M. Cox
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Patent number: 6982149Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for contacting at least two chemical species, comprising a support plate having a channel for receiving a mobile chemical species and a fiber, having a second chemical species immobilized thereon, disposed on the support plate. At least a portion of the fiber is exposed to the channel such that the mobile chemical species is capable of contacting the second chemical species. An apparatus and method for reading the fiber array, an apparatus and method for making the fiber array, and methods of using the fiber array of the present invention are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2003Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: Applera CorporationInventors: Charles S. Vann, Tim Geiser, Andrew J. Blasband
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Patent number: 6887431Abstract: A bead dispensing system is provided for delivering small amounts of substances onto substrates. The system can include, for example, a movable support structure having an array of spaced-apart projections depending from its lower side. An attraction source, such as a vacuum, magnetic, and/or electrostatic force, is operable at each projection end region to attract and retain one bead. The projection array can be aligned with an array of bead-receiving regions of a substrate, e.g., an array of spaced-apart wells of a micro-plate or card. In one embodiment, a plurality of reagent-carrying beads are picked up, retained at respective projection end regions, and moved to a location over a multi-well plate. The beads are then released in a fashion permitting each bead to land in a respective well. The system of the invention is particularly useful for fabricating arrays of reagents.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2000Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignees: Applera CorporationInventors: Charles S. Vann, Dennis Lehto
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Patent number: 6849127Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing a small volume of a selected liquid, such as a biological sample or reagent, onto a substrate. The device includes a tube adapted to contain the liquid. An elongate fiber is disposed within the tube for axial movement therein between raised and lowered positions. Upon shifting or oscillating the fiber between its raised and lowered positions, a liquid spot can be formed at a selected position on the substrate. The device is readily adaptable for the production of micro-arrays having a great number of individual spots.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2003Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Applera CorporationInventors: Charles S. Vann, Zbigniew Bryning
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Publication number: 20040188253Abstract: An injection system including a first electrical circuit for concentration of an analyte and a second electrical circuit for injection of the concentrated analyte into an electrophoretic device is described, as well as methods of using the injection system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2003Publication date: September 30, 2004Inventors: Charles S. Vann, Timothy Z. Liu
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Publication number: 20040086426Abstract: A bead dispensing system is provided for delivering small amounts of substances onto substrates. The system can include, for example, a movable support structure having an array of spaced-apart projections depending from its lower side. An attraction source, such as a vacuum, magnetic, and/or electrostatic force, is operable at each projection end region to attract and retain one bead. The projection array can be aligned with an array of bead-receiving regions of a substrate, e.g., an array of spaced-apart wells of a micro-plate or card. In one embodiment, a plurality of reagent-carrying beads are picked up, retained at respective projection end regions, and moved to a location over a multi-well plate. The beads are then released in a fashion permitting each bead to land in a respective well. The system of the invention is particularly useful for fabricating arrays of reagents.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Applicant: Applera CorporationInventors: Charles S. Vann, Dennis Lehto
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Patent number: 6700216Abstract: Windmill blades are magnetically levitated such that there is no physical contact with the support, avoiding friction. Furthermore, the electromagnetic resistance is varied relative to the rotation speed of the blades. When the blades are at rest, the electromagnetic circuit is inactivated such that the blades have no force to prevent their rotation, friction or electromagnetic, enabling the blades to start rotating at near zero wind speed. As the blades gain rotational momentum, the electromagnetic generators are progressively activated, providing the maximum power generation without stalling the windmill.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2003Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Inventor: Charles S. Vann
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Publication number: 20030232381Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for contacting at least two chemical species, comprising a support plate having a channel for receiving a mobile chemical species and a fiber, having a second chemical species immobilized thereon, disposed on the support plate. At least a portion of the fiber is exposed to the channel such that the mobile chemical species is capable of contacting the second chemical species. An apparatus and method for reading the fiber array, an apparatus and method for making the fiber array, and methods of using the fiber array of the present invention are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2003Publication date: December 18, 2003Inventors: Charles S. Vann, Tim Geiser, Andrew J. Blasband
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Patent number: 6664655Abstract: The multiaxel windmill has multiple blades attached to a rim that rotates on multiple wheels rather than about a single axel. The blades are many and short and positioned far from the axis of rotation such that the full blade length rotates at maximum velocity. This allows blades to be oriented for high-efficiency lift. This design is more easily scaled to large power because larger weight and more blades are easily supported. A starter motor permits use of optimum-efficient, pure-lift blades, and no blade twist and double-end support enables those blades to be simpler, lighter, and cheaper. Multiple blades surrounded by supports are easily seen and avoided by birds.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2002Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Inventor: Charles S. Vann
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Patent number: 6649404Abstract: The invention provides a method for contacting at least two chemical species by immobilizing an immobilized chemical species on a fiber, placing the fiber on a support having a channel, and disposing a mobile chemical species into the channel such that the immobilized chemical species contacts the fiber. The invention also provides methods for analyzing the contact between at least two chemical species, detecting the binding of two chemical species, making a microchip, and synthesizing a chemical species on a fiber.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2000Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Applera CorporationInventors: Charles S. Vann, Tim Geiser, Andrew J. Blasband