Patents by Inventor Gilles Lefebvre
Gilles Lefebvre 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: 10746751Abstract: An apparatus including at least one of a stainer module and a coverslipper module; an imaging module; a storage module; an automated transport module for transporting at least one slide between at least one of the stainer module and the coverslipper module, the imaging module and the storage module; and a controller. A method including processing at least one slide; determining whether an imaging module is available for imaging of a biological specimen on the at least one slide; transporting the at least one slide to the imaging module using an automated transport module; and transporting the at least one slide to a storage module using the automated transport module when it is determined that the imaging module is not available. A system including a processing module for processing at least one slide including a biological specimen thereon. A machine readable medium.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2016Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: SAKURA FINETEK U.S.A., INC.Inventor: Gilles Lefebvre
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Patent number: 10576637Abstract: Apparatus and methods for integrating tissue processors and embedding systems. An apparatus, of one aspect, includes a robot. The robot has a work envelope that encompasses a location having a tissue holder and an input of an embedding system. The tissue holder has at least one processed tissue. The robot is configured to transfer the tissue holder from the location to the input of the embedding system. A method, of one aspect, may include moving a robot to a location having a tissue holder. The tissue holder may have at least one processed tissue. The robot may engage with the tissue holder at the location. The robot may move the tissue holder from the location to an input to an embedding system. The robot may disengage from the tissue holder at the input to the embedding system. Other methods, apparatus, and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2017Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.Inventors: Gilles Lefebvre, Robert E. Evans
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Publication number: 20170129107Abstract: Apparatus and methods for integrating tissue processors and embedding systems. An apparatus, of one aspect, includes a robot. The robot has a work envelope that encompasses a location having a tissue holder and an input of an embedding system. The tissue holder has at least one processed tissue. The robot is configured to transfer the tissue holder from the location to the input of the embedding system. A method, of one aspect, may include moving a robot to a location having a tissue holder. The tissue holder may have at least one processed tissue. The robot may engage with the tissue holder at the location. The robot may move the tissue holder from the location to an input to an embedding system. The robot may disengage from the tissue holder at the input to the embedding system. Other methods, apparatus, and systems are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2017Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Gilles Lefebvre, Robert E. Evans
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Publication number: 20170089937Abstract: A system and method that enables automated reagent dispensing for tissue stainers. The stainers receive staining protocols from a central controller. The central controller may control a plurality of stainers simultaneously. The stainers obtain information provided on slide identifiers which is communicated to the central controller. The central controller determines a particular staining protocol to apply to a particular slide. The staining protocol is downloaded to the stainer which enables the stainer to operate without additional communication with the central controller. A user may manually initiate a staining protocol or the central controller may operate the stainers on a scheduled basis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Gilles Lefebvre, Patrick P. Jennings
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Patent number: 9573278Abstract: Apparatus and methods for integrating tissue processors and embedding systems. An apparatus, of one aspect, includes a robot. The robot has a work envelope that encompasses a location having a tissue holder and an input of an embedding system. The tissue holder has at least one processed tissue. The robot is configured to transfer the tissue holder from the location to the input of the embedding system. A method, of one aspect, may include moving a robot to a location having a tissue holder. The tissue holder may have at least one processed tissue. The robot may engage with the tissue holder at the location. The robot may move the tissue holder from the location to an input to an embedding system. The robot may disengage from the tissue holder at the input to the embedding system. Other methods, apparatus, and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.Inventors: Gilles Lefebvre, Robert E. Evans
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Patent number: 9518899Abstract: A system and method that enables automated reagent dispensing for tissue stainers. The stainers receive staining protocols from a central controller. The central controller may control a plurality of stainers simultaneously. The stainers obtain information provided on slide identifiers which is communicated to the central controller. The central controller determines a particular staining protocol to apply to a particular slide. The staining protocol is downloaded to the stainer which enables the stainer to operate without additional communication with the central controller. A user may manually initiate a staining protocol or the central controller may operate the stainers on a scheduled basis.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2006Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.Inventors: Gilles Lefebvre, Patrick P. Jennings
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Publication number: 20160245833Abstract: An apparatus including at least one of a stainer module and a coverslipper module; an imaging module; a storage module; an automated transport module for transporting at least one slide between at least one of the stainer module and the coverslipper module, the imaging module and the storage module; and a controller. A method including processing at least one slide; determining whether an imaging module is available for imaging of a biological specimen on the at least one slide; transporting the at least one slide to the imaging module using an automated transport module; and transporting the at least one slide to a storage module using the automated transport module when it is determined that the imaging module is not available. A system including a processing module for processing at least one slide including a biological specimen thereon. A machine readable medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2016Publication date: August 25, 2016Inventor: Gilles Lefebvre
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Patent number: 9354147Abstract: An apparatus including at least one of a stainer module and a coverslipper module; an imaging module; a storage module; an automated transport module for transporting at least one slide between at least one of the stainer module and the coverslipper module, the imaging module and the storage module; and a controller. A method including processing at least one slide; determining whether an imaging module is available for imaging of a biological specimen on the at least one slide; transporting the at least one slide to the imaging module using an automated transport module; and transporting the at least one slide to a storage module using the automated transport module when it is determined that the imaging module is not available. A system including a processing module for processing at least one slide including a biological specimen thereon. A machine readable medium.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.Inventor: Gilles Lefebvre
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Patent number: 9005980Abstract: A method including automatically displaying information obtained from a first identifier associated with a slide and a second identifier associated with a reagent cartridge. The method further including generating a staining log based on the information obtained from the first identifier and the second identifier. A further method includes displaying a location of a slide within a sample processing system and information obtained from a first identifier associated with the slide in a first table and displaying a location of a reagent cartridge within a sample processing system and information obtained from a second identifier associated with the reagent cartridge in a second table. The first table is then aligned with the second table.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Evans, Anthony L. Hartman, Richard A. Suchter, Gilles Lefebvre
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Publication number: 20140373875Abstract: Apparatus and methods for integrating tissue processors and embedding systems. An apparatus, of one aspect, includes a robot. The robot has a work envelope that encompasses a location having a tissue holder and an input of an embedding system. The tissue holder has at least one processed tissue. The robot is configured to transfer the tissue holder from the location to the input of the embedding system. A method, of one aspect, may include moving a robot to a location having a tissue holder. The tissue holder may have at least one processed tissue. The robot may engage with the tissue holder at the location. The robot may move the tissue holder from the location to an input to an embedding system. The robot may disengage from the tissue holder at the input to the embedding system. Other methods, apparatus, and systems are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2014Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Gilles Lefebvre, Robert E. Evans
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Publication number: 20140273086Abstract: An apparatus including at least one of a stainer module and a coverslipper module; an imaging module; a storage module; an automated transport module for transporting at least one slide between at least one of the stainer module and the coverslipper module, the imaging module and the storage module; and a controller. A method including processing at least one slide; determining whether an imaging module is available for imaging of a biological specimen on the at least one slide; transporting the at least one slide to the imaging module using an automated transport module; and transporting the at least one slide to a storage module using the automated transport module when it is determined that the imaging module is not available. A system including a processing module for processing at least one slide including a biological specimen thereon. A machine readable medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: SAKURA FINETEK U.S.A., INC.Inventor: Gilles Lefebvre
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Patent number: 8831776Abstract: Apparatus and methods for integrating tissue processors and embedding systems. An apparatus, of one aspect, includes a robot. The robot has a work envelope that encompasses a location having a tissue holder and an input of an embedding system. The tissue holder has at least one processed tissue. The robot is configured to transfer the tissue holder from the location to the input of the embedding system. A method, of one aspect, may include moving a robot to a location having a tissue holder. The tissue holder may have at least one processed tissue. The robot may engage with the tissue holder at the location. The robot may move the tissue holder from the location to an input to an embedding system. The robot may disengage from the tissue holder at the input to the embedding system. Other methods, apparatus, and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2009Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.Inventors: Gilles Lefebvre, Robert E. Evans
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Patent number: 8747746Abstract: An apparatus including at least one of a stainer module and a coverslipper module; an imaging module; a storage module; an automated transport module for transporting at least one slide between at least one of the stainer module and the coverslipper module, the imaging module and the storage module; and a controller. A method including processing at least one slide; determining whether an imaging module is available for imaging of a biological specimen on the at least one slide; transporting the at least one slide to the imaging module using an automated transport module; and transporting the at least one slide to a storage module using the automated transport module when it is determined that the imaging module is not available. A system including a processing module for processing at least one slide including a biological specimen thereon. A machine readable medium.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.Inventor: Gilles Lefebvre
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Publication number: 20140108907Abstract: A method including automatically displaying information obtained from a first identifier associated with a slide and a second identifier associated with a reagent cartridge. The method further including generating a staining log based on the information obtained from the first identifier and the second identifier. A further method includes displaying a location of a slide within a sample processing system and information obtained from a first identifier associated with the slide in a first table and displaying a location of a reagent cartridge within a sample processing system and information obtained from a second identifier associated with the reagent cartridge in a second table. The first table is then aligned with the second table.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: SAKURA FINETEK U.S.A., INC.Inventors: Robert E. Evans, Anthony L. Hartman, Richard A. Suchter, Gilles Lefebvre
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Patent number: 8580568Abstract: A method including automatically displaying information obtained from a first identifier associated with a slide and a second identifier associated with a reagent cartridge. The method further including generating a staining log based on the information obtained from the first identifier and the second identifier. A further method includes displaying a location of a slide within a sample processing system and information obtained from a first identifier associated with the slide in a first table and displaying a location of a reagent cartridge within a sample processing system and information obtained from a second identifier associated with the reagent cartridge in a second table. The first table is then aligned with the second table.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2011Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Evans, Anthony L. Hartman, Richard A. Suchter, Gilles Lefebvre
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Publication number: 20130164781Abstract: An apparatus including at least one of a stainer module and a coverslipper module; an imaging module; a storage module; an automated transport module for transporting at least one slide between at least one of the stainer module and the coverslipper module, the imaging module and the storage module; and a controller. A method including processing at least one slide; determining whether an imaging module is available for imaging of a biological specimen on the at least one slide; transporting the at least one slide to the imaging module using an automated transport module; and transporting the at least one slide to a storage module using the automated transport module when it is determined that the imaging module is not available. A system including a processing module for processing at least one slide including a biological specimen thereon. A machine readable medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2013Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.Inventor: Gilles Lefebvre
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Publication number: 20130073941Abstract: A method including automatically displaying information obtained from a first identifier associated with a slide and a second identifier associated with a reagent cartridge. The method further including generating a staining log based on the information obtained from the first identifier and the second identifier. A further method includes displaying a location of a slide within a sample processing system and information obtained from a first identifier associated with the slide in a first table and displaying a location of a reagent cartridge within a sample processing system and information obtained from a second identifier associated with the reagent cartridge in a second table. The first table is then aligned with the second table.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2011Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: SAKURA FINETEK U.S.A., INC.Inventors: ROBERT E. EVANS, ANTHONY L. HARTMAN, RICHARD A. SUCHTER, GILLES LEFEBVRE
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Patent number: 8388891Abstract: An apparatus including at least one of a stainer module and a coverslipper module; an imaging module; a storage module; an automated transport module for transporting at least one slide between at least one of the stainer module and the coverslipper module, the imaging module and the storage module; and a controller. A method including processing at least one slide; determining whether an imaging module is available for imaging of a biological specimen on the at least one slide; transporting the at least one slide to the imaging module using an automated transport module; and transporting the at least one slide to a storage module using the automated transport module when it is determined that the imaging module is not available. A system including a processing module for processing at least one slide including a biological specimen thereon. A machine readable medium.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2010Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.Inventor: Gilles Lefebvre
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Publication number: 20120163680Abstract: An apparatus including at least one of a stainer module and a coverslipper module; an imaging module; a storage module; an automated transport module for transporting at least one slide between at least one of the stainer module and the coverslipper module, the imaging module and the storage module; and a controller. A method including processing at least one slide; determining whether an imaging module is available for imaging of a biological specimen on the at least one slide; transporting the at least one slide to the imaging module using an automated transport module; and transporting the at least one slide to a storage module using the automated transport module when it is determined that the imaging module is not available. A system including a processing module for processing at least one slide including a biological specimen thereon. A machine readable medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2010Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: SAKURA FINETEK U.S.A., INC.Inventor: Gilles Lefebvre
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Publication number: 20110054679Abstract: Apparatus and methods for integrating tissue processors and embedding systems. An apparatus, of one aspect, includes a robot. The robot has a work envelope that encompasses a location having a tissue holder and an input of an embedding system. The tissue holder has at least one processed tissue. The robot is configured to transfer the tissue holder from the location to the input of the embedding system. A method, of one aspect, may include moving a robot to a location having a tissue holder. The tissue holder may have at least one processed tissue. The robot may engage with the tissue holder at the location. The robot may move the tissue holder from the location to an input to an embedding system. The robot may disengage from the tissue holder at the input to the embedding system. Other methods, apparatus, and systems are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2009Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: SAKURA FINETEK U.S.A., INC.Inventors: GILLES LEFEBVRE, ROBERT E. EVANS