Patents by Inventor Daniel Ray Williams

Daniel Ray Williams 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).

  • Identification system for test sample cards in an analytical instrument
    Patent number: 5869006
    Abstract: An automatic sample testing machine for testing samples stored in test cards. The machine has a test sample positioning system for moving a tray containing a plurality of test sample cards and fluid receptacles among various stations in the machine. The machine has a diluting station for adding a predetermined quantity of diluent to the receptacles as needed. A pipetting station transfers fluid from one receptacle to another. A vacuum station is provided having a vacuum chamber moveable relative to the tray between upper and lower positions. The chamber cooperates with the tray to make a sealing engagement with the top surface of the tray when it is lowered to the lower position. A vacuum generator supplies vacuum to the chamber. When the vacuum is released from the chamber, the fluid samples are loaded into the cards from the receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: bio Merieux Vitek, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Fanning, Roger James Morris, Ron Robinson, William Ernest Seaton, Daniel Ray Williams, Craig Drager
  • Automatic sample testing machine
    Patent number: 5762873
    Abstract: An automatic sample testing machine for testing samples stored in test cards. The machine has a test sample positioning system for moving a tray containing a plurality of test sample cards and fluid receptacles among various stations in the machine. The machine has a diluting station for adding a predetermined quantity of diluent to the receptacles as needed. A pipetting station transfers fluid from one receptacle to another. A vacuum station is provided having a vacuum chamber moveable relative to the tray between upper and lower positions. The chamber cooperates with the tray to make a sealing engagement with the top surface of the tray when it is lowered to the lower position. A vacuum generator supplies vacuum to the chamber. When the vacuum is released from the chamber, the fluid samples are loaded into the cards from the receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: bioMerieux Vitek, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Fanning, Jean-Pierre Bernard Gayral, Clifford W. Karl, Bernard Jean Marie Limon, Donald Meyer, Roger James Morris, Ron Robinson, William Ernest Seaton, David B. Shine, Paul Springer, Daniel Ray Williams, James Clement Bishop, Craig Drager, Thomas Burchard, David Chastain, Stephen Guerrera, Andrew Moore, David Porat, Arthur Rousmaniere, Andrew Zeigler