Patents by Inventor Donald M. Barnett
Donald M. Barnett 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: 11579053Abstract: Systems and methods that enable automated processing of specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. Aspects of the technology are directed, for example, to automated slide processing apparatuses capable of dispensing liquids onto microscope slides. Additional aspects of the technology are directed to methods of replacing a reagent pipette in automated slide processing apparatuses. The apparatus can include, for example, a reagent pipette assembly including a reagent pipette moveable between at least one loading position for obtaining reagent from a reagent container at a filling station and at least one dispense position. The apparatus can also include a retainer for releasably securing the reagent pipette. In some embodiments, the reagent pipette assembly includes a locking mechanism for transitioning the retainer from an open configuration for receiving a pipette and a closed configuration for securing a pipette, in e.g., an aligned position within the retainer.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Donald M. Barnett, Robert Javier Cisneroz, Timothy Brett McDonald, Christopher OHaire, Jason Ruhl, John Charles Tessen
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Publication number: 20220268673Abstract: At least some embodiments of the technology are directed to an automated slide processing apparatus configured to apply at least one reagent to a specimen carried by a microscope slide. The slide processing station can include a support element with a support surface, at least one vacuum port, and a sealing member having a non-round shape. In an uncompressed state, the scaling member can extend upwardly beyond the support surface. In a compressed state, the scaling member can be configured to maintain an airtight seal with a backside of the microscope slide as the microscope slide is pulled against the support surface by a vacuum drawn via the at least one vacuum port.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2022Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: Luke Dyson-Holland, Daniel C. Malberg, Timothy B. McDonald, Donald M. Barnett, Kevin D. Marshall, John Douglas Willems, JR., Timothy Durrant, Simon Spence, Benjamin James, Joshua David Kenneth Harrison, Matthew Ketterer, Brian Kram
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Patent number: 11274998Abstract: At least some embodiments of the technology are directed to an automated slide processing apparatus configured to apply at least one reagent to a specimen carried by a microscope slide. The slide processing station can include a support element with a support surface, at least one vacuum port, and a sealing member having a non-round shape. In an uncompressed state, the sealing member can extend upwardly beyond the support surface. In a compressed state, the sealing member can be configured to maintain an airtight seal with a backside of the microscope slide as the microscope slide is pulled against the support surface by a vacuum drawn via the at least one vacuum port.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2018Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Luke Dyson-Holland, Daniel C. Malberg, Timothy B. McDonald, Donald M. Barnett, Kevin D. Marshall, John Douglas Willems, Jr., Timothy Durrant, Simon Spence, Benjamin James, Joshua David Kenneth Harrison, Matthew Ketterer, Brian Kram
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Publication number: 20220026321Abstract: Systems and methods that enable automated processing of specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. Aspects of the technology are directed, for example, to automated slide processing apparatuses capable of dispensing liquids onto microscope slides. Additional aspects of the technology are directed to methods of replacing a reagent pipette in automated slide processing apparatuses. The apparatus can include, for example, a reagent pipette assembly including a reagent pipette moveable between at least one loading position for obtaining reagent from a reagent container at a filling station and at least one dispense position. The apparatus can also include a retainer for releasably securing the reagent pipette. In some embodiments, the reagent pipette assembly includes a locking mechanism for transitioning the retainer from an open configuration for receiving a pipette and a closed configuration for securing a pipette, in e.g., an aligned position within the retainer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: Donald M. Barnett, Robert Javier Cisneroz, Timothy Brett McDonald, Christopher OHaire, Jason Ruhl, John Charles Tessen
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Patent number: 11162878Abstract: Systems and methods that enable automated processing of specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. Aspects of the technology are directed, for example, to automated slide processing apparatuses capable of dispensing liquids onto microscope slides. Additional aspects of the technology are directed to methods of replacing a reagent pipette in automated slide processing apparatuses. The apparatus can include, for example, a reagent pipette assembly including a reagent pipette moveable between at least one loading position for obtaining reagent from a reagent container at a filling station and at least one dispense position. The apparatus can also include a retainer for releasably securing the reagent pipette. In some embodiments, the reagent pipette assembly includes a locking mechanism for transitioning the retainer from an open configuration for receiving a pipette and a closed configuration for securing a pipette, in e.g., an aligned position within the retainer.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Donald M. Barnett, Robert Javier Cisneroz, Timothy Brett McDonald, Christopher OHaire, Jason Ruhl, John Charles Tessen
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Publication number: 20180252623Abstract: At least some embodiments of the technology are directed to an automated slide processing apparatus configured to apply at least one reagent to a specimen carried by a microscope slide. The slide processing station can include a support element with a support surface, at least one vacuum port, and a sealing member having a non-round shape. In an uncompressed state, the sealing member can extend upwardly beyond the support surface. In a compressed state, the sealing member can be configured to maintain an airtight seal with a backside of the microscope slide as the microscope slide is pulled against the support surface by a vacuum drawn via the at least one vacuum port.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Luke Dyson-Holland, Daniel C. Malberg, Timothy B. McDonald, Donald M. Barnett, Kevin D. Marshall, John Willems, Timothy Durrant, Simon Spence, Benjamin James, Joshua David Kenneth Harrison, Matthew Ketterer, Brian Kram
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Patent number: 9989448Abstract: At least some embodiments of the technology are directed to an automated slide processing apparatus configured to apply at least one reagent to a specimen carried by a microscope slide. The slide processing station can include a support element with a support surface, at least one vacuum port, and a sealing member having a non-round shape. In an uncompressed state, the sealing member can extend upwardly beyond the support surface. In a compressed state, the sealing member can be configured to maintain an airtight seal with a backside of the microscope slide as the microscope slide is pulled against the support surface by a vacuum drawn via the at least one vacuum port.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Luke Dyson-Holland, Daniel C. Malberg, Timothy B. McDonald, Donald M. Barnett, Kevin D. Marshall, John Willems, Timothy Durrant, Simon Spence, Benjamin James, Joshua David Kenneth Harrison, Matthew Ketterer, Brian Kram
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Publication number: 20170097289Abstract: Systems and methods that enable automated processing of specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. Aspects of the technology are directed, for example, to automated slide processing apparatuses capable of dispensing liquids onto microscope slides. Additional aspects of the technology are directed to methods of replacing a reagent pipette in automated slide processing apparatuses. The apparatus can include, for example, a reagent pipette assembly including a reagent pipette moveable between at least one loading position for obtaining reagent from a reagent container at a filling station and at least one dispense position. The apparatus can also include a retainer for releasably securing the reagent pipette. In some embodiments, the reagent pipette assembly includes a locking mechanism for transitioning the retainer from an open configuration for receiving a pipette and a closed configuration for securing a pipette, in e.g., an aligned position within the retainer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Inventors: Donald M. Barnett, Robert Javier Cisneroz, Timothy Brett McDonald, Christopher OHaire, Jason Ruhl, John Charles Tessen
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Publication number: 20150323776Abstract: At least some embodiments of the technology are directed to an automated slide processing apparatus configured to apply at least one reagent to a specimen carried by a microscope slide. The slide processing station can include a support element with a support surface, at least one vacuum port, and a sealing member having a non-round shape. In an uncompressed state, the sealing member can extend upwardly beyond the support surface. In a compressed state, the sealing member can be configured to maintain an airtight seal with a backside of the microscope slide as the microscope slide is pulled against the support surface by a vacuum drawn via the at least one vacuum port.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2015Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: Luke Dyson-Holland, Daniel C. Malberg, Timothy B. McDonald, Donald M. Barnett, Kevin D. Marshall, John Willems, Timothy Durrant, Simon Spence, Benjamin James, Joshua David Kenneth Harrison, Matthew Ketterer, Brian Kram