Patents by Inventor Greg Liang

Greg Liang 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: 20120164751
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices for rapid testing of solid, semi-solid, or liquid specimens, such a stool, blood, urine, saliva, or swab specimens of the cervix, urethra, nostril, throat, and for environmental testing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Greg Liang, Yahong Liang
  • Patent number: 7871568
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices for rapid testing of solid, semi-solid, or liquid specimens, such as stool, blood, urine, saliva, or swab specimens of the cervix, urethra, nostril, and throat, and for environmental testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Quidel Corporation
    Inventors: Greg Liang, Yahong Liang
  • Patent number: 7794656
    Abstract: An apparatus for detection of an analyte of interest in a solid, semi-solid, or liquid biological sample, using a lateral flow assay test strip, is described. The apparatus minimizes sample handling and manipulation upon introduction of the sample into a sample-receiving chamber and transfer of the sample to a test chamber containing the assay strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Quidel Corporation
    Inventors: Greg Liang, Kevin J. Kirby
  • Publication number: 20090004058
    Abstract: An apparatus for detection of an analyte of interest in a solid, semi-solid, or liquid biological sample, using a lateral flow assay test strip, is described. The apparatus minimizes sample handling and manipulation upon introduction of the sample into a sample-receiving chamber and transfer of the sample to a test chamber containing the assay strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Greg Liang, Kevin J. Kirby
  • Publication number: 20080286831
    Abstract: Provided are devices and methods for testing solid, semi-solid, or liquid animal or environmental specimens. The multi-part device comprises a breakable seal that separates a specimen treatment chamber from a testing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: Greg Liang
  • Publication number: 20080105066
    Abstract: A device for testing a sample solution comprising a test chamber comprising a test component enclosed with air impermeable casing, a sample inlet distal from the test component capable of being connected to a sample solution and, in a test position, maintaining at higher altitude than the liquid level within the test chamber, a sealable air vent distal from the sample inlet capable of permitting air to exit the test chamber when a sample solution flows into the test chamber through the sample inlet and being closed by a sealing means and stopping sample inflow through the sample inlet when sufficient sample solution flows into the test chamber and before the liquid level within the test chamber reaches the level of the sample inlet. The device is useful for testing a portion of a sample solution without contaminating the remaining portion of the sample solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventor: Greg Liang
  • Publication number: 20070275475
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices for rapid testing of solid, semi-solid, or liquid specimens, such as stool, blood, urine, saliva, or swab specimens of the cervix, urethra, nostril, and throat, and for environmental testing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Greg Liang
  • Publication number: 20060147348
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of testing mucus for the presence of analytes, for example, drug analytes, and devices, kits, and methods for collecting test mucus samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventor: Greg Liang
  • Patent number: 6951545
    Abstract: Assemblies are provided for collecting a sample from a mouth using an integrated sample collection tip. A sample collection assembly includes a sample collection body configured for being placed within the mouth, wherein the sample collection body includes a bore and one or more pores. The sample collection assembly further includes a conduit that disposed within the bore of the sample collection body and that is in fluid communication with the one or more pores. The conduit is bonded within the bore. The sample collection assembly can further include a hand piece that has a tip on which the sample collection body is mounted, and through which the conduit can extend. The pores can include a plurality of micropores. The sample collection body can be hydrophobic, and a hydrophilic surfactant can be disposed on the outer surface of the sample collection body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Lifepoint, Inc.
    Inventors: Dave Smith, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Thomas J. Foley
  • Publication number: 20050112023
    Abstract: The current invention provides an assay device for detecting an analyte in a sample solution comprising a first reagent chamber having a soluble reagent cake comprising a labeled reagent in fluid communication with an immobilized reagent section having an immobilized reagent, which is further in fluid communication with a fluid receiving section. The assay method using the device of the invention comprises applying a sample solution to the first reagent chamber, dissolving the reagent cake, and flowing the sample solution comprising the dissolved labeled reagent through the immobilized reagent section to the fluid receiving section of the device. The assay result is determined by reading a signal of the label of the labeled reagent at the immobilized reagent section or the fluid receiving section. The device preferably comprises a flow control mechanism between the first reagent chamber and the immobilized reagent section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventor: Greg Liang
  • Publication number: 20050096563
    Abstract: A device for collecting an expectorated oral fluid specimen for testing comprises a collection chamber having a specimen reservoir space and a headspace, and a vent, and a hollow tube capable of conducting oral fluid from the oral fluid donor's mouth to the specimen reservoir space of the collection chamber. The headspace is for storing oral fluid foams and the vent is for air to escape the chamber when the oral fluid is being collected into the collection chamber. The tube and the collection chamber are either permanently connected or separate with the device having a connection mechanism allowing the connection of the two. The device may further comprise an assay reagent component for detecting an analayte of the oral fluid specimen. The device provides simple means for oral fluid collection and testing, and especially useful in point-of-collection testing of oral fluid specimens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventor: Greg Liang
  • Patent number: 6773289
    Abstract: A electrical plug mechanism and electrical receptacle is described. The present invention has an electrical plug, a plug guard and an electrical receptacle. The electrical plug has an end surface, and a plurality of protruding plates and a plurality of holes are defined on the end surface. A plurality of shafts correspond to and travel through the holes of the end surface. The plug guard has hollow protrusions corresponding to the protruding plates of the electrical plug, grooves corresponding to the hollow protrusions and holes corresponding to the shafts. The electrical receptacle has holders corresponding to the protruding plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignees: Allis Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Chi Chen, Ping-Kung Lin, Greg Liang
  • Patent number: 6686209
    Abstract: In this disclosure, novel caanabinol-based tracers suitable for use in immunoassays that detect cannabinoids in a biological sample are disclosed. These cannabinol-based tracers are particularly useful in a continuous flow displacement immunoassay. The disclosure also describes the processes for synthesizing the novel tracers, and the application of these tracers in fluorescence immunoassays for detecting and quantifying cannabinoids in biological samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Lifepoint, Inc.
    Inventors: Guohong Wang, Thomas Foley, Connie Chang, Greg Liang, Albert Avila
  • Publication number: 20030181826
    Abstract: Assemblies are provided for collecting oral fluid from a mouth of a subject using a hydrophobic/hydrophilic sample collection tip. A sample collection assembly includes a sample collection tip configured for being placed within the mouth, and a conduit in fluid communication with the sample collection tips. The sample collection tip includes a hydrophobic interior and a hydrophilic outer surface. In this manner, the tendency of analytes within the sample to stick to the interior of the sample collection tip is minimized, while allowing wetting of the outer surface of the sample collection tip with the sample to facilitate its collection. The sample collection assembly can further include a hand piece that has a tip on which the sample collection tip is mounted, and through which the conduit can extend. The sample collection tip can have a bore in which the conduit is disposed, e.g., by bonding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Dave Smith, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Thomas J. Foley
  • Publication number: 20030175820
    Abstract: Methods and assemblies are provided for flowing a single sample through a plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers. A flow immunoassay assembly for testing a single sample, includes a sample feed port, a plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers for performing a plurality of different assays on the sample, a plurality of sample flow channels in fluid communication between the sample feed port and the plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers, and one or more sample drive assemblies configured to pump the sample through the plurality of sample flow channels into the plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers. In this manner, several immunoassay tests can be simultaneously performed on the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Dave Smith, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Thomas J. Foley
  • Publication number: 20030170882
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing self sealing chambers by interference fitting barriers within the chambers are provided. A method of substantially sealing a chamber includes providing a die plate through which a channel extends and a compression plate through which a tapered channel extends. The tapered channel includes a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening. The second opening is equal to or smaller than the chamber opening. The method further includes providing a chamber adapter that has a female portion and a passage extending therethrough, mating the chamber adapter female portion with a compression plate male portion, and associating the chamber with the chamber adapter passage, e.g., by disposing the chamber within the chamber adapter passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Dave Smith, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Thomas J. Foley
  • Publication number: 20030170145
    Abstract: Method and assemblies are provided for selectively distributing and dispensing fluids using a rotary valve for purposes such as performing immunoassay testing. A rotary valve includes a stator and rotor disposed within the stator. The rotor is clockable between a dispense configuration, a first auxiliary dispense configuration, and a second auxiliary dispense configuration. When the rotor is clocked in the dispense configuration, it includes a plurality of dispense channels connected between a plurality of entry dispense ports and a plurality of exit dispense ports disposed in the stator. When the rotor is clocked in the first auxiliary dispense configuration, the rotor includes a first plurality of auxiliary dispense channels connected between a plurality of auxiliary entry dispense ports disposed on the stator and the plurality of exit dispense ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Dave Smith, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Thomas J. Foley
  • Publication number: 20030171697
    Abstract: A system, method, and assembly are provided for identifying one or more analytes within bodily fluids, such as saliva. The system includes an analyte tester, an oral aspirator, a conduit that is in fluid communication between the oral aspirator and the tester, and a pump in fluid communication with the conduit. In this manner, the aspirated oral fluid can be pumped directly from the aspirator into the analyte tester for identification of one or more oral fluid analytes. The analyte tester can be a flow immunoassay tester that identifies the five NIDA drugs-of-abuse, and can be configured to identify up to ten different drugs or other analytes. The analyte tester can also be portable, so that it can be conveniently used areas remote from laboratories. The tester may include a chemistry cassette and a test console configured for receiving the chemistry cassette. In this case, the conduit may be in fluid communication with the chemistry cassette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Dave Smith, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Thomas J. Foley
  • Publication number: 20030166264
    Abstract: Assemblies and methods are provided for performing an assay on a sample for drugs and alcohol. A drug and alcohol assay assembly includes a sample feed port, and immunoassay reaction chamber containing a drug reagent, and a first sample flow channel in fluid communication between the sample feed port and the immunoassay reaction chamber. The assembly further includes an alcohol reaction chamber configured for containing an alcohol reagent, and a second sample flow channel in fluid communication between the sample feed port and the alcohol reaction chamber. The assembly can further include a first buffer flow channel in fluid communication with the immunoassay reaction chamber, a second buffer flow channel in fluid communication with the alcohol reaction chamber, and a reagent chamber disposed within the buffer flow channel. The reagent chamber can contain dry alcohol reagent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Dave Smith, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Thomas J. Foley
  • Publication number: 20030166259
    Abstract: Methods for accurately mixing two solutions, e.g., buffer and sample solutions, are provided. A method of mixing first and second fluids using first, second, and third chambers includes selecting a fluid mixture r, providing the first chamber with a first cross-sectional area A1, providing the third chamber with a second cross-sectional area A2, disposing the first fluid in the first chamber, disposing the second fluid in the second chamber, moving a first plunger within the first chamber at a speed S1 towards a first port to dispense the first solution from the first chamber into the third chamber, and moving a second plunger substantially simultaneously with the first plunger within the third chamber at a speed S2 away from the second port to dispense the second solution from the second chamber into the third chamber, wherein A2S2=A1S1(1+1/r).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Dave Smith, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Thomas J. Foley