Patents by Inventor Fred Eric GRAY

Fred Eric GRAY 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).

  • Apparatus and method for electromagnetic inspection of cannula alignment
    Patent number: 8861677
    Abstract: A syringe inspection device and method for determining the position of a cannula in a cannula shield attached to a syringe. An electromagnetic radiation emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation having a propagation axis. An electromagnetic radiation detector has an inspection window defined by a beam restrictor. A mount is configured to releasably retain the syringe between the emitter and the detector such that a longitudinal axis of the syringe is substantially coincident with the propagation axis. An image analyzer is operatively coupled to the detector. The image analyzer is configured to produce a syringe rejection signal when the cannula is irradiated and an electromagnetic image in the inspection window has two or less distinctly separate objects based on a contiguity of pixels having substantially like-valued intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Eric Gray, Justin Miller, Marla Meyer
  • Apparatus and Method for Electromagnetic Inspection of Cannula Alignment
    Publication number: 20120307972
    Abstract: A syringe inspection device and method for determining the position of a cannula in a cannula shield attached to a syringe. An electromagnetic radiation emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation having a propagation axis. An electromagnetic radiation detector has an inspection window defined by a beam restrictor. A mount is configured to releasably retain the syringe between the emitter and the detector such that a longitudinal axis of the syringe is substantially coincident with the propagation axis. An image analyzer is operatively coupled to the detector. The image analyzer is configured to produce a syringe rejection signal when the cannula is irradiated and an electromagnetic image in the inspection window has two or less distinctly separate objects based on a contiguity of pixels having substantially like-valued intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Fred Eric GRAY, Justin MILLER, Marla MEYER