Patents by Inventor James E. Sinclair
James E. Sinclair 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: 9250164Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for the developing of immuno-stained biological samples. The systems disclosed herein are automated and are configured to control one or more steps of the developing procedure. Reagents may be added using automatic syringe dispensing. Reagent temperature, reagent stirring, and wash procedures are programmable and can be separately controlled for separate immuno-staining procedures that are performed at the same time.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2014Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, IncorporatedInventors: Michael P. Emery, Matthew C. Wallace, James E. Sinclair, Raymond J. Gonzales, Brian Grot, Sanjay Shivayogi Magavi
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Patent number: 9038488Abstract: Methods and devices for inline sampling of a bulk material, such as a powder, are provided. The material's bulk density can be determined from samples drawn using methods and devices described herein. One embodiment of a method of sampling a material allows the material to flow through a sampling compartment, closes off the flow of material below the sampling compartment, builds up a column of material through the sampling compartment, shifts the sampling compartment to remove a slice of material in the column, and places the slice of material into a sample container. A device for sampling a material is provided in another embodiment. The device includes an inlet, an outlet aligned with the inlet, and a sample collector. The sample collector can include at least one through hole and be configured to move such that the at least one through hole can be moved into and out of alignment with the inlet and the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: James E. Sinclair, B. Albert Griffin, Minh Vuong
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Patent number: 8978491Abstract: Methods and devices for inline sampling of a bulk material, such as a powder, are provided. The material's bulk density can be determined from samples drawn using methods and devices described herein. One embodiment of a method of sampling a material allows the material to flow through a sampling compartment, closes off the flow of material below the sampling compartment, builds up a column of material through the sampling compartment, shifts the sampling compartment to remove a slice of material in the column, and places the slice of material into a sample container. A device for sampling a material is provided in another embodiment. The device includes an inlet, an outlet aligned with the inlet, and a sample collector. The sample collector can include at least one through hole and be configured to move such that the at least one through hole can be moved into and out of alignment with the inlet and the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: James E. Sinclair, B. Albert Griffin, Minh Vuong
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Patent number: 8852881Abstract: A device for characterizing the biological properties of cells can include a plurality of dual-compartment assay chambers wherein the compartments of each chamber are separated by a cell layer across which ions can flow. The biological properties of the cell layer in the presence or absence of experimental compounds can be determined by measuring an electrical gradient across the layer. A individual dual-compartment chamber of this type may be referred to as an “Ussing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2006Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: Paul A. Negulescu, Alec T. Harootunian, Philip E. Salzmann, Javier H. Flores, James E. Sinclair, Minh Vuong, Ashvani K. Singh, Fred F. VanGoor
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Publication number: 20140154151Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for the developing of immuno-stained biological samples. The systems disclosed herein are automated and are configured to control one or more steps of the developing procedure. Reagents may be added using automatic syringe dispensing. Reagent temperature, reagent stirring, and wash procedures are programmable and can be separately controlled for separate immuno-staining procedures that are performed at the same time.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2014Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, IncorporatedInventors: Michael P. Emery, Matthew C. Wallace, James E. Sinclair, Raymond J. Gonzales, Brian Grot, Sanjay Shivayogi Magavi
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Patent number: 8679406Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for the developing of immuno-stained biological samples. The systems disclosed herein are automated and are configured to control one or more steps of the developing procedure. Reagents may be added using automatic syringe dispensing. Reagent temperature, reagent stirring, and wash procedures are programmable and can be separately controlled for separate immuno-staining procedures that are performed at the same time.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, IncorporatedInventors: Michael P. Emery, Matthew C. Wallace, James E. Sinclair, Raymond J. Gonzales, Brian Grot, Sanjay Shivayogi Magavi
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Patent number: 8398941Abstract: Disclosed herein is a modular test tube rack. The rack contains multiple sub-racks that can be coupled together to form the test tube rack. The sub-rack can be designed to fit into a variety of scientific instrumentation including a fixed rotor centrifuge. The assembled test tube rack can be of a format and size that allows use of standard array pipetters. Thus, a system is provided allowing use of standard array pipetters and high g centrifugation.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2012Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.Inventors: James E. Sinclair, Brian Grot
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Patent number: 8337754Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for the developing of immuno-stained biological samples. The systems disclosed herein are automated and are configured to control one or more steps of the developing procedure. Reagents may be added using automatic syringe dispensing. Reagent temperature, reagent stirring, and wash procedures are programmable and can be separately controlled for separate immuno-staining procedures that are performed at the same time.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, IncorporatedInventors: Michael P. Emery, Matthew C. Wallace, James E. Sinclair, Raymond J. Gonzales, Brian Grot, Sanjay S. Magavi
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Publication number: 20120201727Abstract: Disclosed herein is a modular test tube rack. The rack contains multiple sub-racks that can be coupled together to form the test tube rack. The sub-rack can be designed to fit into a variety of scientific instrumentation including a fixed rotor centrifuge. The assembled test tube rack can be of a format and size that allows use of standard array pipetters. Thus, a system is provided allowing use of standard array pipetters and high g centrifugation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2012Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: James E. Sinclair, Brian Grot
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Patent number: 8178055Abstract: Disclosed herein is a modular test tube rack. The rack contains multiple sub-racks that can be coupled together to form the test tube rack. The sub-rack can be designed to fit into a variety of scientific instrumentation including a fixed rotor centrifuge. The assembled test tube rack can be of a format and size that allows use of standard array pipetters. Thus, a system is provided allowing use of standard array pipetters and high g centrifugation.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2009Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: James E. Sinclair, Brian Grot
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Publication number: 20110151482Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for the developing of immuno-stained biological samples. The systems disclosed herein are automated and are configured to control one or more steps of the developing procedure. Reagents may be added using automatic syringe dispensing. Reagent temperature, reagent stirring, and wash procedures are programmable and can be separately controlled for separate immuno-staining procedures that are performed at the same time.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: Michael P. Emery, Matthew C. Wallace, James E. Sinclair, Raymond J. Gonzales, Brian Grot, Sanjay S. Magavi
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Patent number: 7919047Abstract: An air displacement pipetter comprises a guidance sleeve positioned within a hole in a cylinder block and a piston within a portion of the guidance sleeve a piston penetrating the cylinder block, a spring energized seal disposed within the cylinder block, a seal capture plate contacting the spring energized seal, a carrier plate, a pipette tip attached to the carrier plate, and a manifold plate between said carrier plate and said cylinder block.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2006Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals IncorporatedInventors: James E. Sinclair, Michael P. Emery, Minh Vuong
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Publication number: 20090238727Abstract: Disclosed herein is a modular test tube rack. The rack contains multiple sub-racks that can be coupled together to form the test tube rack. The sub-rack can be designed to fit into a variety of scientific instrumentation including a fixed rotor centrifuge. The assembled test tube rack can be of a format and size that allows use of standard array pipetters. Thus, a system is provided allowing use of standard array pipetters and high g centrifugation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Applicant: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: James E. Sinclair, Brian Grot
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Patent number: 7553671Abstract: Disclosed herein is a modular test tube rack. The rack contains multiple sub-racks that can be coupled together to form the test tube rack. The sub-rack can be designed to fit into a variety of scientific instrumentation including a fixed rotor centrifuge. The assembled test tube rack can be of a format and size that allows use of standard array pipetters. Thus, a system is provided allowing use of standard array pipetters and high g centrifugation.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2004Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: James E. Sinclair, Brian Grot
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Patent number: 7429359Abstract: An apparatus for high-throughput screening and generation of chemical libraries. The apparatus comprises computer controlled mechanical displacement devices and storage queues capable of managing a large number of source well plates and target well plates. In one aspect of the invention, precession alignment mechanisms are provided for efficient transfer of liquid from source well plates to target well plates. The apparatus may be configured such that any source fluid in any of the source well plates may be transferred to any target location within any of the target well plates in any sequence defined by the user. The computer controller may track the location of all the source well plates and target well plates and allow user defined association of any source well with any target well in any order defined by the user, thus providing an effective platform for chemical and biochemical synthesis and screening.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2003Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: EDC Biosystems, Inc.Inventors: Charles A. Reichel, Michael J. Forbush, Tarlochan S. Jhutty, Marina Nasilevich, Michael R. Van Tuyl, James E. Sinclair, Humphrey W. Chow
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Publication number: 20070207062Abstract: An air displacement pipetter comprises a guidance sleeve positioned within a hole in a cylinder block and a piston within a portion of the guidance sleeve a piston penetrating the cylinder block, a spring energized seal disposed within the cylinder block, a seal capture plate contacting the spring energized seal, a carrier plate, a pipette tip attached to the carrier plate, and a manifold plate between said carrier plate and said cylinder block.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2006Publication date: September 6, 2007Inventors: James E. Sinclair, Michael P. Emery, Minh Vuong
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Patent number: 7169609Abstract: A device for characterizing the biological properties of cells can include a plurality of dual-compartment assay chambers wherein the compartments of each chamber are separated by a cell layer across which ions can flow. The biological properties of the cell layer in the presence or absence of experimental compounds can be determined by measuring an electrical gradient across the layer. A individual dual-compartment chamber of this type may be referred to as an “Ussing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceutcals, Inc.Inventors: Paul A. Negulescu, Alec T. Harootunian, Philip E. Salzmann, Javier H. Flores, James E. Sinclair, Minh Vuong, Ashvani K. Singh, Fred F. VanGoor
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Patent number: 7077018Abstract: A volume displacement pipette that includes a channel within the piston. The channel allows for cleaning fluids to be continuously run through the pipette tip for cleaning the tip. One end of the channel may be closed during normal operation of the pipette. Multiple pipettes may be combined into an array pipetter.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2004Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventor: James E. Sinclair
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Patent number: 6863362Abstract: An apparatus for high-throughput screening and/or generation of chemical libraries. In one aspect of the invention, a database is provided to track various parameters related to the source fluids in the source containment structure. Tracking changes of the source fluids in each source well may allow efficient utilization of source fluid and may also facilitate the high-throughput fluid transfer process. In one variation, data related to fluid level in each source well is maintained such that proper positioning of acoustic wave focus may be achieved. In another aspect of the invention, a database associated with one or more source fluid containment structure is provided and updated during the fluid transfer process. A second database providing a mapping profile with information regarding which fluid is to be transferred to what target is also provided. A third database may be generated to track fluid information in the target well plates.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2003Date of Patent: March 8, 2005Assignee: EDC Biosystems, Inc.Inventors: Charles A. Reichel, Michael J. Forbush, Tarlochan S. Jhutty, Marina Nasilevich, Michael R. Van Tuyl, James E. Sinclair, Humphrey W. Chow
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Publication number: 20040120855Abstract: An apparatus for high-throughput screening and generation of chemical libraries. The apparatus comprises computer controlled mechanical displacement devices and storage queues capable of managing a large number of source well plates and target well plates. In one aspect of the invention, precession alignment mechanisms are provided for efficient transfer of liquid from source well plates to target well plates. The apparatus may be configured such that any source fluid in any of the source well plates may be transferred to any target location within any of the target well plates in any sequence defined by the user. The computer controller may track the location of all the source well plates and target well plates and allow user defined association of any source well with any target well in any order defined by the user, thus providing an effective platform for chemical and biochemical synthesis and screening.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2003Publication date: June 24, 2004Applicant: EDC Biosystems, Inc.Inventors: Charles A. Reichel, Michael J. Forbush, Tarlochan S. Jhutty, Marina Nasilevich, Michael R. Van Tuyl, James E. Sinclair, Humphrey W. Chow