Patents by Inventor Gary D. Lair
Gary D. Lair 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).
-
Publication number: 20240077509Abstract: A conveyor assembly for transporting a carrier coupled to a receptacle to a processing station located within a housing of an instrument. The conveyor assembly includes a spur conveyor subassembly and a buffer conveyor subassembly for transporting the carrier from a host conveyor assembly to the spur conveyor subassembly. The spur conveyor subassembly includes (i) a rotatable diverter having at least one recess for receiving and moving the carrier between the buffer conveyor subassembly and the spur conveyor subassembly and (ii) a gripper configured to grasp the carrier and move it from the diverter to the processing position located within the housing of the instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: George T. WALKER, Matthias MERTEN, Gary D. LAIR
-
Publication number: 20240069053Abstract: A conveyor assembly for transporting a carrier coupled to a receptacle to a processing station located within a housing of an instrument. The conveyor assembly includes a spur conveyor subassembly and a buffer conveyor subassembly for transporting the carrier from a host conveyor assembly to the spur conveyor subassembly. The spur conveyor subassembly includes (i) a rotatable diverter having at least one recess for receiving and moving the carrier between the buffer conveyor subassembly and the spur conveyor subassembly and (ii) a gripper configured to grasp the carrier and move it from the diverter to the processing position located within the housing of the instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: George T. WALKER, Matthias MERTEN, Gary D. LAIR
-
Publication number: 20240069054Abstract: An automated conveyor assembly for transporting a carrier coupled to processing receptacle from (i) a carrier conveyor assembly to (ii) a processing position within an instrument, where the automated conveyor assembly includes a gripper configured to selectively grasp a carrier and move between (i) a first position and (ii) the processing position in the instrument. The automated conveyor assembly further includes a diverter defining a recess configured to receive a carrier, the diverter being rotatable between (i) a first position at which the recess is aligned with the carrier conveyor assembly and (ii) a second position at which the recess is aligned with the first position of the gripper.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: George T. WALKER, Matthias MERTEN, Gary D. LAIR
-
Patent number: 11846644Abstract: A conveyor assembly for transporting a carrier coupled to a receptacle to a processing station located within a housing of an instrument. The conveyor assembly includes a spur conveyor subassembly and a buffer conveyor subassembly for transporting the carrier from a host conveyor assembly to the spur conveyor subassembly. The spur conveyor subassembly includes (i) a rotatable diverter having at least one recess for receiving and moving the carrier between the buffer conveyor subassembly and the spur conveyor subassembly and (ii) a gripper configured to grasp the carrier and move it from the diverter to the processing position located within the housing of the instrument.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2020Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATEDInventors: George T. Walker, Matthias Merten, Gary D. Lair
-
Publication number: 20200278369Abstract: A conveyor assembly for transporting a carrier coupled to a receptacle to a processing station located within a housing of an instrument. The conveyor assembly includes a spur conveyor subassembly and a buffer conveyor subassembly for transporting the carrier from a host conveyor assembly to the spur conveyor subassembly. The spur conveyor subassembly includes (i) a rotatable diverter having at least one recess for receiving and moving the carrier between the buffer conveyor subassembly and the spur conveyor subassembly and (ii) a gripper configured to grasp the carrier and move it from the diverter to the processing position located within the housing of the instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: George T. WALKER, Matthias MERTEN, Gary D. LAIR
-
Patent number: 10386381Abstract: A device for releasably holding an elongated object, such as a test tube, in a predetermined orientation includes a gripping element configured for circumferential expansion and contraction with respect to the object. An actuator element coupled to the gripping element is configured to effect circumferential expansion of the gripping element to an expanded configuration able to receive an end of the elongated object. A locking mechanism coupled to the actuator element is configured to lock the actuator element in a position holding the gripping element in the expanded configuration. A lock release mechanism is configured to be triggered by an elongated object inserted into the expanded gripping element and to release the locking mechanism, thereby allowing the biased gripping element to return to a contracted configuration gripping a portion of the object. The device and an object held thereby can be conveyed on a conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventor: Gary D. Lair
-
Publication number: 20190049378Abstract: A method of determining the presence or amount of a target nucleic acid in each of a plurality of reaction mixtures. In the method, a first plurality of reaction mixtures are provided to a heater and subjected to conditions for performing a first amplification reaction. The presence or amount of a first target nucleic acid in each of the first plurality of reaction mixtures is determined during the first amplification reaction. During the first amplification reaction, a second plurality of reaction mixtures are provided to the heater and subjected to conditions for performing a second amplification reaction. The presence or amount of a second target nucleic acid in each of the second plurality of reaction mixtures is determined during the second amplification reaction. At least a portion of the second plurality of reaction mixtures are removed from the heater during the second amplification reaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Gary D. LAIR, Thanh N. NGUYEN, Haitao LI, Florence LI, Byron J. KNIGHT, Robert E. HEINZ, Jerzy A. MACIOSZEK, Christopher B. DAVIS, Robert F. SCALESE
-
Patent number: 10006862Abstract: A continuous process for performing multiple nucleic acid amplification assays, where at least a portion of a second subset of reaction mixtures are transferred to a heater while a first subset of reaction mixtures are being subjected to conditions for performing a nucleic acid amplification assay. During the process, a plurality of reaction mixtures from the first and second subsets of reaction mixtures are simultaneously subjected to conditions sufficient to perform multiple nucleic acid amplification assays in the reaction mixtures. The presence or absence of a target nucleic acid in the first subset of reaction mixtures is determined while the reaction mixtures are in the heater.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2017Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATEDInventors: Gary D. Lair, Thanh N. Nguyen, Haitao Li, Florence Li, Byron J. Knight, Robert E. Heinz, Jerzy A. Macioszek, Christopher B. Davis, Robert F. Scalese
-
Publication number: 20170261431Abstract: A continuous process for performing multiple nucleic acid amplification assays, where at least a portion of a second subset of reaction mixtures are transferred to a heater while a first subset of reaction mixtures are being subjected to conditions for performing a nucleic acid amplification assay. During the process, a plurality of reaction mixtures from the first and second subsets of reaction mixtures are simultaneously subjected to conditions sufficient to perform multiple nucleic acid amplification assays in the reaction mixtures. The presence or absence of a target nucleic acid in the first subset of reaction mixtures is determined while the reaction mixtures are in the heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2017Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventors: Gary D. LAIR, Thanh N. NGUYEN, Haitao LI, Florence LI, Byron J. KNIGHT, Robert E. HEINZ, Jerzy A. MACIOSZEK, Christopher B. DAVIS, Robert F. SCALESE
-
Publication number: 20170254827Abstract: A laboratory automated system can include a host conveyor assembly configured to transport a plurality of carriers and receptacles coupled thereto between at least a sample processing instrument and at least one assay instrument. The system includes an intermediate conveyor assembly configured to transport a plurality of carriers and receptacles coupled thereto from within sample processing instrument to the host conveyor assembly. The system also includes an intermediate conveyor assembly for each assay instrument configured to transport a plurality of carriers from host conveyor assembly to a respective processing position within the assay instrument. The intermediate conveyor assembly coupled to the assay instrument can include a buffer conveyor subassembly configured to receive carriers from the host conveyor assembly, and a spur conveyor assembly configured to transport a carrier to the processing position of the assay instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: George T. WALKER, Matthias MERTEN, Gary D. LAIR
-
Publication number: 20170153262Abstract: A device for releasably holding an elongated object, such as a test tube, in a predetermined orientation includes a gripping element configured for circumferential expansion and contraction with respect to the object. An actuator element coupled to the gripping element is configured to effect circumferential expansion of the gripping element to an expanded configuration able to receive an end of the elongated object. A locking mechanism coupled to the actuator element is configured to lock the actuator element in a position holding the gripping element in the expanded configuration. A lock release mechanism is configured to be triggered by an elongated object inserted into the expanded gripping element and to release the locking mechanism, thereby allowing the biased gripping element to return to a contracted configuration gripping a portion of the object. The device and an object held thereby can be conveyed on a conveyor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2017Publication date: June 1, 2017Applicant: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATEDInventor: GARY D. LAIR
-
Patent number: 8349564Abstract: An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in sample vessels. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the sample vessels from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Jerzy A. Macioszek, Christopher B. Davis, Gary D. Lair, Thanh N. Nguyen, Haitao Li, Florence F. Li, Byron J. Knight, Robert F. Scalese, Robert E. Heinz
-
Patent number: 8008066Abstract: An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in sample vessels. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the sample vessels from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Gary D. Lair, Thanh N. Nguyen, Haitao Li, Florence F. Li, Byron J. Knight, Robert E. Heinz, Jerzy A. Macioszek, Christopher B. Davis, Robert F. Scalese
-
Publication number: 20110147610Abstract: An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in sample vessels. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the sample vessels from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2011Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATEDInventors: Jerzy A. MACIOSZEK, Christopher B. DAVIS, Gary D. LAIR, Thanh N. NGUYEN, Haitao LI, Florence F. LI, Byron J. KNIGHT, Robert F. SCALESE, Robert E. HEINZ
-
Patent number: 7964413Abstract: An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in sample vessels. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the sample vessels from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Jerzy A. Macioszek, Christopher B. Davis, Gary D. Lair, Thanh N. Nguyen, Haitao Li, Florence F. Li, Byron J. Knight, Robert F. Scalese, Robert E. Heinz
-
Patent number: 7932081Abstract: An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in sample vessels. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the sample vessels from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Gary D. Lair, Thanh N. Nguyen, Haitao Li, Florence F. Li, Byron J. Knight, Robert E. Heinz, Jerzy A. Macioszek, Christopher B. Davis, Robert F. Scalese
-
Publication number: 20110053169Abstract: An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in sample vessels. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the sample vessels from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATEDInventors: Jerzy A. MACIOSZEK, Christopher B. DAVIS, Gary D. LAIR, Thanh N. NGUYEN, Haitao LI, Florence F. LI, Byron J. KNIGHT, Robert F. SCALESE, Robert E. HEINZ
-
Patent number: 7897337Abstract: An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in sample vessels. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the sample vessels from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Jerzy A. Macioszek, Christopher B. Davis, Gary D. Lair, Thanh N. Nguyen, Haitao Li, Florence F. Li, Byron J. Knight, Robert F. Scalese, Robert E. Heinz
-
Patent number: 7794659Abstract: An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in reaction receptacles. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the reaction receptacles from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Gary D. Lair, Thanh N. Nguyen, Haitao Li, Florence F. Li, Byron J. Knight, Robert E. Heinz, Jerzy A. Macioszek, Christopher B. Davis, Robert F. Scalese